Author Michael Winter, getting stuck while describing Jack Award winner Richard Bachmann’s A Different Drummer bookstore: “Is there still a cat?”

Richard Bachmann, on receiving the award, a hefty, metal jack: “Where’s the ball?”

On being this year’s winner: “This is very gratifying, though I can’t feel entirely humble about it.”

On why he opens his store up to so many authors and events: “I get to spend a lot of time with very smart people.”

On his old bookselling philosophy: “If we know what works, we do it again.”

On his new one: “Nothing works, but everything does help.”

On the relative gentleness of his acceptance speech: “I’m only giving you one barrel tonight.”