Independent Bookstore Day 2015

May 2, 2015, is the first-ever National Independent Bookstore Day (Think National Record Store Day, only better!). I hope you’ll join Chapters and independent bookstores across the country on that day for parties, author readings, in-store events, and exclusive one-day merchandise.

Chapters will be celebrating Independent Bookstore Day by spotlighting local authors. Ted Kooser, Stephanie Grace Whitson, Karen Shoemaker, and Lydia Kang will be here, as will Lucy Adkins, Sumerlyn Daywitt (writing as Echo Ardour), Sydney Olson, Jeff McArthur, Michael Curd, Shawn Farritor, Toni Morehouse, Les Williams, Brian Hale, and Greg Kuzma. If we’re lucky, Al Capone’s nephew may make an appearance as well.

We’ll also offer some of the exclusive books and art pieces which have been commissioned specifically for Independent Bookstore Day. Items include a signed, original Chris Ware print, a Margaret Atwood stencil, a color broadside from Stephen King’s forthcoming novel Finders Keepers, a signed Captain Underpants print, a “Guess How Much I Love to Read” onesie, and more. The items are all limited editions, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

Another highlight of the day will be a display of our 100 favorite books of all time, chosen by the Chapters staff. The books in our display will each be 20 % off on Independent Bookstore Day only. I’ve just started compiling the list, and there will be something for everyone on it.

The first National Independent Bookstore Day is sponsored in part by Penguin Random House and The American Booksellers Association.

“The entire purpose of Bookstore Day is to celebrate our collective success and thank our customers and the community of readers,” says IBD Program Director, Samantha Schoech. We at Chapters also want to thank our customers and celebrate readers, and we're excited to be participating in this event.