Queeda Mantle Walker’s book, “The Mantle Ranch,” is truly a local story.

Walker, a Moffat County native, wrote the book about a Moffat County family. And, if you ask the publisher, most of the people buying the book are from Moffat County.

“I have never had a response like this one,” publisher Bill Pruett said.

Since the book hit the shelves in April, about 2,000 copies have been sold.

“For a regional book, that’s pretty good,” Pruett said. “People are talking about this book a lot.”

The first printing sold out, said Pruett, who estimates that at least half of the buyers are from Craig.

The book tells the story of the Mantle family and its life on a ranch in the Yampa Canyon in Western Moffat County.

At the Museum of Northwest Colorado, 590 Yampa Ave., the book has been especially popular

As of last week, the museum had sold 300 copies of the book, Director Dan Davidson said.

The museum has never sold that many copies of a book, Davidson said.

The book is so successful, in part, because the Mantle family and its life in the remote canyon are a part of Moffat County folklore, Davidson said.

New business brewing

The long-term result of a Craig coffee shop’s closing could mean a new shop in town in a few months.

Serendipity Coffee Shop, 576 Yampa Ave., closed its doors last week.

J’Lea Driver, owner of the business and the building it occupies, said she has a buyer “from back East,” who wants to open the shop again.

Just when the shop again would make espressos and sandwiches hasn’t been decided.

The shop’s former manager, Jason Bugay, said he’s looking for another property in town to open a coffee shop.

Energy discussion

Two Moffat County commissioners will preach to the choir next week.

Commissioners Saed Tay–yara and Darryl Steele will give a presentation to the Northwest Colorado Energy Producers Association at the Craig Holiday Inn at 8 p.m. Thursday.

The presentation is titled “Economy, energy and growth in the Yampa Valley.”

The association is made up of representatives from the area’s mines and power plants and the companies with which they do business.

Brandon Johansson can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 213, or bjohansson@craigdailypress.com.