Who We Are

Chaucer Sees America is a project of The Armarium Press, a New Hampshire-based independent publisher of business and educational books. Founded in 2000 by partners Carmen Madrid and Robyn Larson McCarthy, the company is a proud member of The Independent Book Publishers Association, the New England Independent Booksellers Association, and the Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Before launching their book publishing venture, Miss Madrid was a founding partner and chief financial officer of the Reed-Marec Consulting Group. A project manager with more than 20 years experience in IT, she has worked on independent projects for the Los Angeles Times, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Transamerica Insurance Group. Before relocating to New Hampshire, Miss Madrid served two years as board chairman of the Create the Magic of Giving Foundation for homeless children in Southern California.

A former editor for both consumer and trade publications, Ms. McCarthy has written on business and current affairs for The Wall Street Journal, the Journal of Commerce, USA Today, and other publications. Her current freelance writing projects include serving as an executive editor for the award-winning online magazine Automotive Traveler. Ms. McCarthy has been a long-time volunteer for the animal-rescue group SPARE, to which The Armarium Press donates 10 percent of the sales of Chaucer´s books.

Chaucer, who describes himself as a "wily and wonderful wire-hair fox terrier," has been traveling the U.S.A. for much of his 16 years. He launched his website in 2003 during a four-month RV trek as a means of educating his young friends and family members about the cultural and historical sites he was visiting. He gathered much of the research for his first book during that trip as well, and Tube-Sock Tricks, and 101 Other Tips for RVing Success was published in October 2007. Road-trippers and campers, even sailors and soccer moms gave him rave reviews!

With the successful launch of his road-trip book, Chaucer turned his attention to writing non-fiction titles for the elementary school set. Launched in 2008 under the imprint Canterbury Tails Books, the Chaucer in the Classroom series began with Learning Is Cool… It’s the First Day of School! Chaucer is currently wrapping up his second book in the series, Stand Up and Cheer… Make it a Drug-Free Year! The 32-page case-bound books combine illustrations by award-winning artist John Clarke with photographs of Chaucer in actual classrooms around the country. Details about the series are available on the website’s Classroom Series page.

Chaucer has recently been joined by a younger sister, a yellow lab named Brontë, whose insightful reviews are starting to grace the pages of ChaucerSeesAmerica. She has proven particularly helpful in investigating those dog hotels and day camps that are a bit too high-activity-oriented for a terrier of Chaucer’s mature years.

Where to Find Chaucer's Books

Of course you can order my books by the glow of your computer screen at 2:00 a.m. by visiting Amazon! Nothing beats browsing the shelves of a great brick-and-mortar bookshop, however. To support the independent booksellers (and other specialty retailers) who support my independent publisher, I’ve set up this section of the website to tell you all about the stores where you can find my books. Support the indies!!!!

Blue Chair Children’s Books
177 North Glendora Avenue
Glendora, California
Telephone: (626) 335-8630
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Closed Sundays

Story times, book-themed tea parties, infant music groups, even a climbing wall. This independent specialist owned and operated for the last three years by two former teachers is doing everything it can to fuel local children’s love of reading. We visited recently (on a Sunday, alas), but The Boy and I were able to peek through the windows and see copies of my first-day-of-school book in a great spot just to the right as you walk in! If you find yourself strolling through Glendora’s quaint downtown, stop in and say hello. As a sign by the door proclaims, “We EXIST because of YOU!”

The Book Nook
136 Main Street
Ludlow, Vermont
Telephone: (802) 228-3238
Website: TheBookNookVT.com
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Open Tuesday – Sunday 10:00-5:00 (summer hours)

“The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, And all the sweet serenity of books.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s quote is a favorite of bookseller Patty Greenwood’s, and mine. Behind the register of the store she runs with husband Scott Sterns is a “Quote Board” that features the opening line of a book. Guess which book, or the author, and you’ll receive 10% off any item in the store. No penalty for wrong guesses or group effort! These independent specialists will special-order titles that are available new and in print, and are happy to look online or contact local used bookstores to assist customers in the hunt for out-of-print titles. E-mail them anytime at TheBookNookVT@hotmail.com. For those of you who are writers as well as readers, The Book Nook also offers beautiful pens and tooled leather journals. My personal assistant did not have the camera on my first visit to The Book Nook – grrrr – but we’ll be back toodling around Vermont to see the fall foliage soon enough and will post photographs of The Book Nook then.

RV Art Gallery
500 West 53rd Street
Texarkana, Texas
Telephone: (800) 467-5521
Website: RVArtGallery.com
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Open every day

Glossy coffee table books celebrating Americans’ love affair with the open road aren’t the only things on display at this extensive and fun store, nestled within the Texarkana KOA (barking distance to the freeway). If there’s a camper, RVer, or automobile buff in your life, this is the spot to find that person a truly unique gift, most of which this traveling terrier has seen nowhere else. Shiny silver Airstream-shaped slippers… handmade camper- and RV-themed shirts… salt-and-pepper shakers in the shape of the classic VW Bug and Bus… plus everything from RV- and camper-themed bracelet charms to wooden birdhouses and limited editions of original artwork celebrating the free-wheeling RV lifestyle. And, as is only fitting, genuine “paw-tographed” copies of my very own road trip book! (Yes, it’s also available on Amazon, but not signed by my very own furry self.)

Media & Events Queries

For media enquiries or to schedule an event with Chaucer, please call our Media Relations Department at (603) 769-9474. You may also write to us using the contact form below.