Bookstore fans – your day is almost here!
Saturday, April 27th is Independent Bookstore Day, a day to celebrate and shop at your local independently-owned bookstore. IBD is a one-day national party that takes place at indie bookstores across the country every year.
Bookstores large and small around the region have special events planned for Saturday. We spoke to a couple of area booksellers to learn more.
Laurie Sutherland, owner of Island Books in Middletown has some unique programming going on Saturday. “We are planning to have ‘Blind Date with a Book,’ she says. “We wrap up ARCs (advance reader copies), put a copy of the first page on the outside of the book and customers get to pick a book for free based on the first page – our customers love this!”
In addition, she’ll be running an hourly raffle throughout the day. “Anyone who makes a purchase is eligible to fill out a raffle ticket,” she adds. “We draw a raffle every hour – you don’t have to be present to win. This year we are having a yard sale as well. Everything is $5 or below. We will have treats, too!”
Expect some big discounts at Charter Books in Newport, where they will also be celebrating their third anniversary. Owner Steve Iwanski shares the details below.
“Saturday is the BIG DAY, so we’re pulling out all the stops. Here’s what we have going on:
The first 50 customers of the day can draw a coupon for an added discount. Spend $50, pick out one free book from the shelf. Sign up for the Charter Kids Book Box, get the first book free and we’ll have 30% off all Charter Books apparel.”
You might also want to stop by Charter on Friday, April 26 for some pre-IBD fun. “We’re excited to welcome beloved New England children’s author/illustrator Bob Shea to Charter Books for the first time,” says Iwanski. “Bob will spend the day with students at local schools before joining us at our store at 4PM for a special reading and book signing event. Bob’s book with illustrator Jarvis is Oh, Are You Awake? and it’s the latest selection for our Charter Kids Book Box.”
Other area bookstores have special events throughout the day.
Barrington Books is hosting two local book launches. Marc Kuchner, author of Asteriod Vs. Comet and Laurel Aylesworth, illustrator of My House, My Family, will read and sign copies of their books.
There will also be live music with Aztec Two-Step’s Rex Fowler performing in-store at 1 PM. Fowler will perform some of the songs featured in his newly released book, See It Was Like This, and will be accompanied by his wife Dodie Pettit, an original cast member of The Phantom of the Opera.