Whether it’s Antiques Roadshow or American Pickers, or any of the number of TV shows on flea markets, the world of collecting inspires a cult following of millions of Americans. Celebrated author Maureen Stanton takes readers behind the scenes and deep into the “flea-o-sphere,” following master antiques dealer Curt Avery from the populist mayhem of flea markets, to the rarefied realm of high-end antiques shows, to the heart-pounding competition of auctions. Killer Stuff and Tons of Money is a captivating tour of the outrageous world of American antiques, jam-packed with colorful characters, high-stakes scores, and insider tips for all who seek hidden treasure. "Endlessly interesting, the writing is superb." Favorite Books of 2011 Chicago Sun-Times "Page-turner." San Jose Mercury News " Killer Stuff is a killer read ." BookPage "Utterly engaging." Washington Post "An intoxicating read." Parade "[F]ull of interesting tidbits told in a fascinating way...hard to put down." Coastal Breeze News "[D]ynamite...one of those books you'll start early and won't really be able to put down...Stanton's a great writer [and] she's a great guide." The Kenyon Review "A treasure-trove of a book." Kirkus "[A] deeply researched, memorably written narrative...For already obsessed shoppers who frequent flea markets, antiques stores and auctions, Killer Stuff will become quickly addictive. For outsiders, the book is a pleasurable education...[S]uperb writing, the book will please page after page." St. Louis Post-Dispatch "[ Killer Stuff ] is quite a read, often hilarious, well written and a great mix of trivia and story-telling ... [Stanton's] book had me from the moment I began reading." Pure Green Magazine "Stanton captures the lower and middle echelons of the [antiques] business with great skill...her diverting and wholly unpretentious book makes a fine companion for a day at the beach--or a weekend treasure hunting." Wall Street Journal As evidenced by Antiques Roadshow, American Pickers, and any of the number of television shows on flea markets, the world of collecting inspires a cultlike following of millions of Americans. Celebrated author Maureen Stanton takes readers behind the scenes and deep into the "flea-o-sphere," following master antiques dealer Curt Avery through the populist mayhem of the flea markets, the rarified realm of high-end antiques shows, and the heart-pounding competition of auctions. Killer Stuff and Tons of Money is a captivating tour of the outrageous world of American antiques, jam-packed with colorful characters, high-stakes scores, and insider tips for all who seek hidden treasure. Maureen Stanton 's writing has appeared in Creative Nonfiction , Fourth Genre , River Teeth, The Florida Review , Crab Orchard Review , The Sun , and many other journals, as well as several anthologies including Best of The Sun , Best of Brevity , and Best Texas Writing .  Five of her essays were listed as "Notable Essays" in Best American Essays series. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Pushcart Prize, a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship, a MacDowell Colony Fellowship, the Iowa Review nonfiction award, and the American Literary Review nonfiction prize. Used Book in Good Condition