Saturday, April 04, 2015

'I Think Heaven Is an Independent Bookstore'

Shelf Awareness
"I love bookstores. I love independent bookstores. I think heaven is an independent bookstore, or I hope it is. Laguna Beach Books is my favorite. We go there once a month; it feels like one of those writers' salons. They always have great writers come to this little bookstore; they get big names even though they're small. Another local independent bookstore that I love, which isn't quite local [to San Juan Capistrano, where I live] is Mysterious Galaxy. They do great local author events and will be doing two with me."


--Aline Ohanesian, author of April's #1 Indie Next List Pick Orhan's Inheritance, in a q&a with Bookselling This Week

NYC Indies Set Independent Bookstore Day Activities, After Party

Two dozen New York City indies are teaming up for Independent Bookstore Day NYC on Saturday, May 2: the participating stores will collectively publicize their own and each other's events, host a full day's worth of activities and get together for a Bookstore Day NYC afterparty at Powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Saturday night.

Among the participating stores are Astoria Bookshop in Queens; Community Bookstore, Greenlight Bookstore and WORD in Brooklyn; and Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, McNally Jackson, Strand Bookstore, La Casa Azul Bookstore and Book Culture in Manhattan. Stores are planning everything from portrait drawings, scavenger hunts and Pictionary games for children to book-based trivia games, author photo booths and cocktail hours for adults. In addition to the official Independent Bookstore Day merchandise that will be available around the country, some stores will also offer exclusive Bookstore Day NYC artwork created by author and illustrator Brian Floca.

The after party is co-sponsored by Literary Hub, Tumblr and Book Riot, and will feature authors Emma Straub (The Vacationers), Jami Attenberg (Saint Maze) and Angela Flournoy (The Turner House). Festivities will include drinks and giveaways.

More information on participating stores, specific plans and the after party can be found here. --Alex Mutter

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