Make sure and put your literary party hat on Saturday.
This Saturday, April 28 is Independent Bookstore Day, a national celebration of indie bookstores. Join over 500 independent bookstores in 48 states for parties, author readings and in-store events.
Indie bookstores across the country will also offer exclusive day-of merchandise created especially for Independent Bookstore Day by major publishers and authors.
The fourth annual National Independent Bookstore Day is sponsored in part by Penguin Random House, Ingram and The American Booksellers Association. A host of publishers and authors such as Neil Gaiman, George Saunders, Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, James Patterson, Stephen King and many others have donated work in support of the event.
This year’s Independent Bookstore Day author ambassador is Celeste Ng (Little Fires Everywhere, Everything I Never Told you).
[blockquote align=”none” author=””]”Bookstores are more than just repositories of knowledge, they’re living, breathing, evolving representations of our best selves. I love Independent Bookstore Day because it asks readers, writers, and booksellers to join in celebrating all that bookstores represent. It’s a gathering to remind ourselves that the written word can change both us and the world, and of what’s possible when we all come together,” Ng said.[/blockquote]
Indie bookstores offer so much from author readings, book club meetings to creative writing classes. It’s a place that brings comfort and enjoyment and is good for the soul. Whenever I travel, one of the key places I seek out is a local indie bookstore. Each bookstore is unique and independent and has its own personality that reflects its community. I can spend hours at one (and have on many occasions).
There are several different indie bookstores in the Phoenix area. And I plan to visit one on Saturday and participate in all the book festivities. Here’s the Independent Bookstore Day map so you can see which bookstores are participating in your area. Bring your bookish friends and also those who aren’t readers, maybe the event will get them motivated. If you participate in the day, send me a note or reach out via Instagram (@bookclubchat).
