Independent Bookstore Day Celebration, Part 2

Find a local independent store and help them celebrate their special day

Hi readers,

If you haven’t read yesterday’s newsletter, part 1 of my feature on independent bookstores and their celebrations this coming Saturday, you can check it out here. I found so many bookstores worthy of acknowledging that I had to do a second newsletter featuring six more. There are still so many more I could feature, but so little time available; maybe I’ll do this again next year for Independent Bookstore Day. I tried to find bookstores that had a unique take on the activities for their customers, and I think I found some good ones.

If you haven’t checked out your local independent bookstore to find out what they are doing, I hope both newsletters will encourage you to do so. Independent bookstores provide wonderful author and community events and fill a need that the big box stores and Amazon can’t fill—a connection with authors and other readers that we crave and want to be a part of on an ongoing basis. Let’s check out some more bookstores.

Flintridge Bookstore, located in La Cañada Flintridge, CA

A bookstore having another reason to celebrate is Flintridge Books; they are celebrating their fifteenth anniversary along with Independent Bookstore Day. The activities take place inside and outside the store (let’s hope for good weather) and include seven different author events and book signings, along with poetry readings from two different poets. There will be drawings for books, a Where’s Waldo challenge, and many other activities for all ages.

Roundabout Books and Cafe, located in Bend, OR

While some bookstores are celebrating anniversaries on Independent Bookstore Day, Roundabout Bookstore and Cafe is celebrating their grand re-opening. Get there early for a free tote (first 40 customers) and stay for the author speed dating event with six Oregon authors. In between will be plenty of time for shopping for books and exclusive merchandise, and fun for all ages all day long.

Bridgeside Books, located in Waterbury, VT

A full day of author visits and books signings await visitors to Bridgeside Books. Children’s and middle-grade authors and drawing and science activities take up the morning. In the afternoon, there are two adult authors signing books. In between is a big sale on books, spin the prize wheel for gifts and swag, and other activities all day long. I couldn’t help but look ahead to the Not Your Average Mother’s Day event on May 8th. If you are local, be sure to check this out, it sounds like a fun way to spend an hour or two with your children.

River Bend Bookshop, located in Glastonbury, CT

Celebrating this special day in their unique way is River Bend Bookshop. Sign up for their newsletter, and you will be entered in a raffle for a $25 gift card. Promote the bookshop on social media, and you have a chance to win a $20 gift card. There will be social media codes available on Facebook and Instagram for special discounts and prizes throughout the day. Spin the prize wheel for free books, bookstore merchandise, and other bookish goodies. There will be special guest booksellers and author signings all day long and many other fun activities for all ages.

Blue Willow Bookshop, located in Houston, TX

Be sure to stop in at Blue Willow Bookshop for books, drinks, giveaways, and community. Begin your day by putting your name in the drawing hat for a giant plush Gaston. Check out the free and available for purchase exclusive Independent Bookstore day merchandise available on this day only. Adults are sure to enjoy the surprise cocktail to sip while listening to the book and drink pairing recommendations from the bookshop employees. Blue Willow would love to see you on their special day.

Highland Books, located in Brevard, NC

An Indie Bookstore Day themed literary photo booth and the first annual “design a bookmark” contest for adults and kids highlight this special day for Highland Books. The guests’ day begins with spinning the prize wheel for a chance to win literary-themed prizes, and every purchase qualifies the customer to pick a book from a special cart. For children of all ages, there is an hour of storytime with Fairy Bookmother reading new and popular picture books. Design a bookmark that the public will vote on via social media, and if you win, the bookstore will give those bookmarks out to future customers. There will be an author signing and a poetry reading, and on your way out, don’t forget to stop at the photo booth to capture your memories of the fun day you just had at Highland Books.

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Along with bookstores, Libro.fm is celebrating this special event with a week-long sale on selected audiobooks and other activities, including a Zoom event tonight (Wednesday) with Angie Thomas. You can get a free audiobook when you refer a friend to Libro.fm, and there is a searchable map of member bookstores participating in their revenue-sharing program. Indieboung.org also has a searchable map of bookstores across the country. Find an independent bookstore and help celebrate this special day with them.

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I’d love to hear if any of the featured bookstores are in your community and if you attended their events on Saturday. Please save this email, return to it, and tell me about it in the comments. If one of these isn’t located in your community, but you visited an independent bookstore to help them celebrate, I’d love to hear about that too in the comments below.

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None of these are in my community, and I’ve only visited one of these before, but all are on my list of bookstores to visit in my future travels.

Thank you for being here; I appreciate you. I hope you have a great week and go support your independent bookstore on Saturday, April 30th. Happy reading!