Saturday, April 30, is Independent Bookstore Day, an event celebrated by more than 400 bookstores nationwide. Here’s what’s happening in North Carolina:
Supporting the efforts of self-published and small press authors, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines has a full day of readings scheduled, showcasing indy writers as part of their “Authors in the Country” event. Doors open at 10:00 am.
Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill will host special guest John Shelton Reed, who will discuss his new book Barbecue. They’ll have free barbecue samples from the legendary Allen & Sons to share, with music afterward by Jake Xerxes Fussell. Event time is 1:00-3:00 pm.
Asheville’s Malaprop’s Bookstore will keep the party raging all day long, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. While nothing officially special has been announced, they’ve got it on their events calendar, so it’d be worth dropping by that day if you happen to be out in Western NC.
At McIntyre’s Fine Books in Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, they’ll be kicking off the day at 10:00 am with music from ColeSlaw, followed by a reading by beloved New York Times bestselling author and North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame inductee Lee Smith.
Page 158 Books in beautiful downtown Wake Forest offers Storytime at 12:00 pm and live music from 1:00-3:00 pm.
Quail Ridge Books in North Hills, Raleigh, will host an all-day party, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, with “refreshments, exclusive items for sale, give-aways every hour, and activities for kids and adults.” Storytimes for kids happen at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm; free (temporary!) tattoos; and an art wall where patrons can leave their “tag” and create colorful memories.
Durham’s The Regulator Bookstore opens at 10:00 am. Their all-day celebration includes a 10:30 am storytime, hourly giveaways, and at noon, the world’s longest tattoo chain, where customers can get a free temporary tattoo from the text of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland—wear it proudly, snap a pic, upload it to Litographs (details at the store), and be part of the complete telling of Alice in Wonderland via tattoo!
In downtown Greensboro, Scuppernong Books offers “Grannies Galore Children’s Storytime” for kids at 11:00 am, and that night at 7:00 pm, contributors to Lez Talk: A Collection of Black Lesbian Short Fiction will read.
Eight Piedmont bookstores, including many listed above, are also offering prizes to any patrons who visit all eight participating bookstores in April. Pick up your Indie Booksellers of the Piedmont, N.C. Field Guide at the first local bookstore you visit in April. Each participating store will stamp your “passport.†Visit all eight stores and you’ll be entered into major prize drawings!
We rely on our indy bookstores not only as readers, but as writers and as citizens of our community. Support them Saturday, April 30, and celebrate Independent Bookstore Day!