
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 30, 1993                   TAG: 9310290191
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-11   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Becky Hepler
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

B&BS GUIDE'S POPULARITY NATURALLY CALLS FOR 2ND EDITION

"I was getting embarrassed to be selling the old one," Bruce Muncy said of his book, "Bed and Breakfast and Unique Inns of Virginia," now out in its second edition. Muncy is the photographer and the chief organizing force behind the book. Lynn Davis is the author.

The first edition, published in 1988, was No. 1 on a regional book list for 67 weeks and went through several printings. The new edition promises to be equally successful. "We've already sold almost half of the first printing," he said.

One of the positive features of the book's success is that a larger publishing house has picked up the distribution rights. Muncy's own Crystal Springs Publishing handled all the marketing and distribution of the first edition, which limited the book primarily to independent bookstores. The new book will be handled by John F. Blair Publishing, which will get the book into the larger chains.

Muncy had figured on a shelf life of two to three years for the book, and he was on the money. "Over 40 percent of the innkeepers listed in the first book had changed, and there were so many new places opening, like Mode's" he said, citing Mode Johnson's Brush Mountain Inn. "So it was time to do a new one."

There are more than 600 B&Bs in Virginia, and Muncy sent out more than 400 inquiries. Of the ones who responded, he chose 57 from 38 localities to include in the book.

While there are financial arrangements to get into the book, Muncy did have a list of minimum criteria each inn had to meet.

"There couldn't be dust bunnies under the bed, the bathroom had to have a lock on it, and the people running it had to be friendly," he listed. "I ran into a couple that weren't up to snuff."

The Virginia guide is not Muncy's only project. He has done a similar book on B&Bs in Pennsylvania and will soon be doing one in North Carolina. He sees B&Bs as a growing market.

"B&Bs are more than just a romantic getaway," Muncy said. "Women travelers, especially, find them a safe alternative to hotels."

Whether it's the antiques, the homey atmosphere or the high level of pampering and personal service to be found in B&Bs, Muncy said more business travelers are discovering the smaller inns. The increased business is a boon for the innkeepers who have a dearth of weekday traffic.

Assembling the book was not without its drawbacks, what with all those cholesterol-laden breakfasts and the tea and pastries beside the fireplace. Muncy found he had to start packing a bicycle to get some exercise while on the road photographing the inns.

by CNB