The man behind key OKC landmarks also runs a community bookstore William C. Wertz

As winter approaches, the fireplaces at the Full Circle Bookstore in Oklahoma City are already putting out a warm glow. Every fall there's a ceremonial lighting, says owner James R. Tolbert, III, an occasion both employees and patrons look forward to.

The fireplaces are part of an atmosphere and ambience that have helped Full Circle become the largest independent bookstore in Oklahoma and hold its own against giant national competitors like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Staying alive was and remains difficult for many small bookstores, a struggle highlighted in the 1998 romantic comedy "You've Got Mail."

"We've been able to survive because of the ambience in the place, the quality of the staff, and our inventory," Tolbert said in a recent interview. "We probably have a bigger inventory than