Indie bookstores by name alone, sound like a hip place to hang out. “Indie” started with the music scene and by nature connotes feelings of creativity, freedom, uniqueness and independence. It’s a world of happiness and happenings—a cool place to be.
One of my favorite things about a local bookstore is the personal recommendation by the bookseller. I figure if they are reading books all the time and single out one to promote, it must be excellent. The brick-and-mortar options of fingering through pages of a book or judging a book by its cover, are also a treat.
Indie Bookstores are building community in distinctive ways with author talks, in-house book clubs and plenty of discounts for the clubbers. Some indies offer meeting space for aspiring writers or a stage for readings from the local college. Special events with coffee or wine create a festive atmosphere for the happening spot. I know from experience because I was one of those students from Berkeley Extension that read aloud a personal essay my teacher was impressed by. I have also attended luncheons with salad and wine at a author talks.
Indie authors, share the “indie” sensibility in that we write and publish what is meaningful to us and not what’s trending like a slick pop band. As a proud member of this group, I appreciate more than ever the presence of the local Indie Bookstore. They give us little guys a chance when they display our books.
East Bay Booksellers in Oakland believes so strongly in supporting local authors, a table is placed front and center for undiscovered writers like me. The snazzy book cover for Alive And Fixable is my best hope of catching a reader’s eye and making it to their bedside table.
For an Indie Bookstore to support a local author is a very big deal. The Indie Bookstore has choices in books to carry, a lot of choices. Anywhere between 800,000 and one million books are published in a year, the largest chunk, the self-published.
So imagine how honored I am that Orinda Books, my local bookstore and “cool place to be,” invited me to host a book talk in concert with a fundraiser for Project Second Chance, an adult literacy program through the county library. I am over the moon to be a “cool kid” in a “cool place” with compassion!
Saturday, April 27th is Indie Bookstore Day where local bookstores across the nation celebrate their very existence and the people who love them with cupcakes, special books, presentations, mugs, t-shirts and unique giveaways. Why?
Because Indie Bookstores Rock!
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Too cool. I am so proud of you, Francie!!!!
My book has a mind of its own; it’s taking me places I never expected.:-)
Indie bookstores, our heroes! Right up there with gals who stay the course and reach their awesome writing goals!
Awww. Thank you Teresa! I’m here partly because of you and Joanie!
Thank you Francie for sharing this. I didn’t know that April 27th is Indie book store day. Indie bookstores do a lot for authors, especially for authors who are new and not famous yet. As authors it is our turn to pay it forward also. I will share it on my wall too. Best of luck with your book reading
Dita.
Dita! You know better than I how much indie bookstores are a new author’s friend. Thank you for sharing!
Indie bookstores definitely Rock! Wonderful post, great photos, Francie. Congrats on your upcoming author talk! Joanie
Thank Joanie! You and Teresa helped me get here. XOXO