NEW ORLEANS – The 2nd annual Independent Bookstore Day (IBD) was celebrated last Saturday, April 30, 2016, by independent bookstores nationwide.
In New Orleans, it will be celebrated this Saturday, May 7, so it doesn’t compete with the second weekend of Jazz Fest.
Activities in New Orleans will take place at four independent stores including: Octavia Books, Garden District Book Shop, Tubby & Coo’s Mid-City Book Shop and Maple Street Book Shop.
Each store is planning special activities and together they are offering the chance to win $100 in gift certificates to book lovers who visit all four participating bookstores as part of a fun scavenger hunt. Each store will be selling exclusive literary-themed books, art, and gift items created just for IBD.
The stores have also joined together to give away a limited number of Blackbird Letter Press New Orleans City Notebooks (printed in Louisiana) to customers who purchase a limited edition IBD book or item or who spend $25 or more on May 7.
IBD is sponsored in part by Penguin Random House, Ingram, and The American Booksellers Association. Last year participating bookstores across the nation saw an average increase in sales of 70% on IBD.
“I love Bookstore Day because it is a large-scale communal event that joyously celebrates the literary ecosystem and shows how symbiotic the relationship is between readers, writers, and bookstores is, and how essential they all are in sustaining the contemporary written word,” noted Lauren Groff, 2016 Bookstore Day Author Ambassador. Groff is the author of “Fates and Furies, Arcadia, Delicate Edible Birds, and The Monsters of Templeton.”
On IBD, booksellers will offer is a selection of exclusive books and art pieces. Some or all of these limited edition, unique items will be available only at participating New Orleans IBD stores on May 7. Not before. Not online. And not in chain stores.
Children’s items include:
• Raymie Nightingale – A special signed and numbered edition of the new novel by two-time Newbery Award winner Kate DiCamillo. Includes a special note from Kate.
• Draw Me! – Draw Me! includes step-by-step instructions on how to draw characters like Mo Willem’s Pigeon, Curious George, Fly Guy, and many more.
• X is For…” – This vinyl record companion to the New York Times bestselling Rad American Women A-Z features Angela Davis, Rebecca Solnit and is great for kids of all ages.
• Duck & Goose Print – This wonderful pro-reading, pro-friendship print was drawn especially for Bookstore Day by Tad Hills, the bestselling creator of the Duck & Goose books.
• Neil Gaiman Coloring Book – This book features colorable illustrations by Chris Riddell from Neil Gaiman’s Coraline; The Graveyard Book, and Fortunately, the Milk.
• Curious George® plush doll – This collectable Curious George® plush doll sports a T-shirt that reads READ TO ME on the front and the IBD logo on the back.
Adult items include:
• A $6 Story from Ann Patchett – The first in what is sure to become a favorite IBD series, “$6 Story: The Care & Feeding of an Independent Bookstore” by Ann Patchett includes three instructive essays and is signed by Ann Patchett.
• Literary Tea Towels – This set of two 100% cotton flour sack tea towels feature quotes on reading from David Mitchell and Anna Quindlen.
• Perfect Burger Print – A limited, signed print, this beautifully illustrated guide to making the perfect burger from Anthony Bourdain is perfect for hanging in your kitchen.
• Bad Citizen Stencil – The third edition of our collectable Bad Citizen stencil series features Fran Lebowitz’ quote: “Think before you speak. Read before you think.”
• Bookstore Cats Pouch – This handy 100% cotton canvas zippered pouch was designed by Out of Print and featuring portraits of real bookstore cats.
This year, stores will also feature a selection of free items from Brandon Sanderson and Terry Tempest Williams.
IBD is produced by writer and former bookseller Samantha Schoech in partnership with the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association. Pete Mulvihill, co-owner of Green Apple Books in San Francisco, spearheaded the launch of the event in 2014 after noting the success of Record Store Day.
Octavia Books
Garden District Book Shop
www.gardendistrictbookshop.com
Tubby & Coo’s Mid-City Book Shop
Maple Street Book Shop
