Professional book authors and members of the Writer's Union will visit Independent Canadian book stores all across Canada on Saturday April 30th. From Beaver Creek, B.C. to Blackhead Newfoundland or from Windsor,Ontario to Yellowknife, N.W.T. independent bookstores will have authors helping sell books, chatting, perhaps sipping coffee and recommending their favourite reads to customers.
Here in Brighton we support
Kathryn and Dan Corbett are new owners of Lighthouse Books. They are old (well, not old but long-time) friends of ours, and Kathryn is a fellow retired teacher. Kathryn ensured I had my first-ever Book Launch in a school in 2010. This was at Stockdale school where she was teacher/librarian.
For book-lovers in Brighton on April 30th, drop in and meet the following authors:
Elizabeth Abbott from 11:00 - 1:00 pm
Peggy Dymond Leavey from 12:00 to 2:00 pm
Rene Schmidt (moi) from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Kurt Palka from 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Suppose you are a book-lover but will not be in Brighton on that day? No problems. Just attend any independent book store in Canada and chances are they will have a local author or three ready to chat. They won't be flogging their own titles necessarily, but will also be recommending who they like to read.
So Why Are They Doing This?
Independent book stores across Canada have been struggling. Big box stores like Chapters and Indigo (and Walmart) have taken over much of the book selling business by buying and selling at wholesale discounts titles the American based owners deem worthy. Local managers have little say in ordering and much quality literature, Canadian content and local talent is ignored.
Several years ago a Giller Prize winning novel from a small publishing house was not even available at Chapters or Indigo! Not because it was sold out, but because the publisher was a little Canadian company that had been ignored by the big box stores.
Several years ago a Giller Prize winning novel from a small publishing house was not even available at Chapters or Indigo! Not because it was sold out, but because the publisher was a little Canadian company that had been ignored by the big box stores.
