Latest news with #IndieBookstoreDay
Axios
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Cleveland Poetry Festival returns this weekend
Literary Cleveland's annual poetry festival returns this weekend with a jam-packed lineup of readings, workshops and panel discussions. State of play: The literary arts nonprofit has hosted the Cleveland Poetry Festival since 2022 to celebrate the work of regional poets and engage the community. Driving the news: This year's festival theme is "The Body Politic" and will focus on the physical bodies of poets and poetry's role in the current political moment. Visiting poets include Ajanaé Dawkins from Columbus, Aditi Machado from Cincinnati, Brittany Rogers from Detroit and Sony Ton-Aime from Pittsburgh. Festival events include: Friday: An opening reading hosted by the CSU Poetry Center at Transformer Station in Ohio City. Saturday: A "poetry crawl" with readings at six local bookstores on Indie Bookstore Day. Sunday: Workshops and panel discussions at CMA Community Arts Center at PIVOT. What we're watching: After the crawl on Saturday, the Cleveland Review of Books and Community Mausoleum will host a bonus reading in the parking lot of the Cedar Lee movie theatre. All poems will be parking lot-related. The last word: "...poetry is not a shopping list, a casual disquisition on the colors of the sky, a soporific daydream, or a bumpersticker sloganeering," wrote poet June Jordan.
Forbes
26-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
6 Must-Read Books For Creators In Celebration Of Indie Bookstore Day
Indie Bookstore Day is April 26th. Creators today aren't just making content. They're building businesses. As the creator economy evolves, more creators are stepping into entrepreneurial roles, creating their own digital products, courses, memberships, and services to build sustainable income streams. In honor of Indie Bookstore Day on April 26, it's the perfect time to support independent bookstores and invest in your business knowledge. a platform dedicated to financially supporting over 1,900 independent bookstores worldwide, has raised more than $37 million for local stores since 2020. They give over 80% of their profit margin back to bookstores, keeping essential community hubs thriving. This year, show your support by picking up one (or more) of these seven must-read books every creator should have on their shelf to build income, confidence, and long-term success. "Sponsor Magnet" by Justin Moore Brand deals can feel like a mystery for many creators, but Sponsor Magnet breaks it down with clear frameworks and actionable templates. Justin Moore teaches creators how to attract sponsorships, price partnerships confidently, and turn one-off deals into recurring revenue. If you're tired of waiting for brands to find you, this book gives you the tools to proactively build a sponsorship business. "We Should All Be Millionaires" by Rachel Rodgers Financial empowerment is a must for creators building businesses. In We Should All Be Millionaires, Rachel Rodgers proves that most financial advice is outdated and offers a step-by-step path to creating wealth, especially for women and people of color. This book will change the way you think about money, earning potential, and building a business that supports your biggest life goals. "Buy Back Your Time" By Dan Martell With many creators running their creator business on top of a full-time job, time is the most valuable resource. In Buy Back Your Time, entrepreneur Dan Martell teaches how to scale your business by outsourcing and delegating strategically. Creators often burn out trying to do it all themselves, and this book offers the blueprint for reclaiming your schedule, focusing on your zone of genius, and accelerating your success without sacrificing freedom. "10x Is Easier Than 2x" By Dan Sullivan Creators are no stranger to imposter syndrome, and thinking small won't build a big brand. Dan Sullivan's 10x Is Easier Than 2x challenges creators to expand their mindset around growth. Instead of working harder, he teaches how to focus on the few activities that create the most impact, multiplying income, relationships, and purpose without multiplying stress. "Rich AF" By Vivian Tu Vivian Tu, known on social media as 'Your Rich BFF'', brings her Wall Street wisdom to creators and entrepreneurs looking to master personal finance. In Rich AF, she shares strategies on maximizing income, navigating taxes, overcoming money fears, and investing for the long term. This book empowers creators to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck, even if their income fluctuates with platform changes. "The Big Leap" By Gay Hendricks Many creators unknowingly limit themselves and don't truly understand where they are meant to spend their energy (mostly because they feel they have to do it all alone). The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks explores how self-imposed barriers prevent people from achieving their true potential. Learning how to operate from your 'zone of genius' (and what your 'zone of genius' even is) is critical for creators who want to build businesses that are both fulfilling and profitable. The future of the creator economy is entrepreneurship. You don't need a million followers to earn a full-time living. Rather, you need systems, mindset shifts, and scalable offers. These books offer the financial, entrepreneurial, and personal development knowledge needed to thrive beyond the next algorithm change. And by investing in your education via some new reads on Indie Bookstore Day (and beyond), you're helping support independent bookstores that keep creativity and curiosity alive in our communities.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Birmingham bookstores to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day this weekend
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Saturday is Independent Bookstore Day, and some locally owned bookstores around Birmingham are getting ready to celebrate. Created by the American Booksellers Association, Independent Bookstore Day is held each year on the last Saturday in April to celebrate non-corporate bookstores across the country. 'It's sort of like a Christmas in the indie bookselling world,' said Kristen Iskandrian, co-owner of Thank You Books in Birmingham. 'It's a day to celebrate the store, the community around the store. Bookstores around the country often celebrate and do so in different ways with events, programs and giveaways. It's sort of intended to be an all-day party, and the real focus of it is to draw attention to the importance of independent bookstores in local economies and the importance of small businesses in our communities.' The celebration at Thank You Books will last from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and will feature a story time, exclusive deals, a happy hour and more. 'There will be a craft for kids and coffee for the adults. We have some really cool giveaways, including a Warby Parker $95 gift card, as well as some other fun items. We have a really cute Richard Scarry 'Lowly Worm' photo booth that we'll set up outside, and we'll have a camera so we can take photos of folks for little keepsakes that they can take home with them,' Iskandrian said. Discussing the future of Pepper Place with Leigh Sloss-Corra and Cathy Sloss Jones The slogan for Thank You Books is 'Find your book. Find your people,' and Iskandrian says there are plenty of ways to get involved. 'We feel so lucky to get to be an actual neighborhood bookstore, so we always want to center and celebrate our neighborhood,' Iskandrian said. 'We are so busy with events and programming that's dotting the calendar over the next few months, and the best way to stay in the know about that stuff is to sign up for our newsletter on our website,' she added. A list of the upcoming author events, book clubs and other events being offered by Thank You Books can be found here. Little Professor, another independently owned bookstore, will host an Indie Bookstore Day celebration at both its Homewood and Pepper Place locations. From 9 a.m. 2 p.m. Saturday, Little Professor will host a 'Local Love Market' at their Homewood location, giving people the chance to buy products from local artists and small businesses. Other events hosted by can be found here. More information on Independent Bookstore Day can be found on the Alabama Booksellers Association's website. More independently owned bookstores in Alabama can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Where to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day in Greater Boston
So if you're wondering where to begin celebrating this tight-knit community, here is a guide to Independent Bookstore Day celebrations happening in Greater Boston. Lovestruck Books Advertisement Shelves of books at Lovestruck Books. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff Lovestruck Books, the romance bookstore and café-and-wine bar in Harvard Squard, will spend Indie Bookstore Day inaugurating its outdoor patio. The store 44 Brattle St., Cambridge. Papercuts Bookshop Papercuts Bookshop owner Kate Layte, stands outside the Jamaica Plain locale. Issac Fitz At Papercuts Bookshop, the IBD celebration will be extra sweet with free slices of gluten-free coconut-pineapple cake courtesy of residential bakery 60 South St., Jamaica Plain. Advertisement Side Quest Books & Games Side Quest Books & Games is an indie fantasy bookstore in Bow Market. The store will celebrate Independent Bookstore Day this Saturday at its Somerville location. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff All things fantastical can be found at Side Quest Books & Games, but its commitment to showcasing the underrepresented is entirely nonfiction. The Somerville shop will be debuting new swag displaying graphics commissioned by local artists. Other items customers can snag to rep their bookworm ways include Indie Bookstore totes and stickers — the latter of which will be given out for free with every purchase. 1 Bow Market Way, Somerville. Porter Square Books Porter Square Books in Cambridge handout Porter Square Books is more than just its two retail locations in Cambridge and Boston's Seaport neighborhood. The retailer's foundation of the same name works to make reading more accessible within the Cambridge community through sponsored visits by authors to local schools and book donations. To support their efforts on IBD, PSB will be holding a Stuffed Animal Portrait Fund-raiser at its Cambridge location, during which attendees can bring their favorite cotton-brain friend to get their portrait drawn by professional illustrators. Later in the day, PSB employees will partake in a bake-off, where the 'Undisputed Baking Champion of the Year' will be determined by the audience's taste buds. 1815 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Read My Lips Boston Twin sisters Lily (left) and Hannah Barrett will be organizing an Independent Bookstore Day celebration in Malden. JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE For romance readers, Read My Lips has a bit of everything. From raunch-filled pages you hide in public to sweet tropes that have you kicking your feet, they carry it. Therefore, it's only fair that things get a bit hot and heavy during the IBD event. The pop-up bookstore will be setting customers up on blind dates with books at Idle Hands Craft Ales, where readers may find a $25 gift card lying seductively between the pages. The romance pop-up will also be donating 10 percent of the profit from book-themed merch to the pop-up's nonprofit of the month, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. 89 Commercial St., Malden. Advertisement The Purple Couch Bookshop Purple Couch is fittingly decorated with colorful furniture at its North Andover location. The Purple Couch Bookshop North Andover's Purple Couch Bookshop is taking Independent Bookstore Day a step further by making its celebration a two-day event, extending to Sunday. Throughout the weekend, customers can play a game of banned books bingo, take a peek around with the little ones for a kids' scavenger hunt, or go on blind book dates. On Saturday and Sunday night, the store will remain open until late and provide light refreshments for celebrating customers. 350 Winthrop Ave. Unit 9B, North Andover. Boujee Bookstore Located in Norwood, Boujee Bookstore will spend Indie Bookstore Day in the company of various New England-based authors. Boujee Bookstore The vibes at Boujee Bookstore are typically light, fun, and girly, and so are its Independent Bookstore Day activities. Customers (21+) can snag a free cocktail or fill a bag at the all-pink candy bar while browsing the store's tidily shelved titles. Alongside other bibliophiles, customers can spend time with eightindie fantasy authors, including Amanda Sinatra and Allie Maddox, to get their books signed by locally-based writers. 61 Endicott St., Norwood. Marianna Orozco can be reached at
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shopping indie: How those at local bookstores say it helps the community
(WKBN) — Saturday marks an important day for some small local businesses — it's Independent Bookstore Day. The national day of recognition spotlights the importance of indie bookstores and the role that they play in the community. Read next: Local greenhouse still blooming after 30 years April 26 marks the 12th anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day, celebrated by bookstores and booklovers alike. It's hosted by the American Booksellers Association, a 125-year-old non-profit trade organization that supports over 2,800 bookstores across the country, offering education regarding business practices, providing an e-commerce platform, and taking part in advocacy work. 'In many ways, it's honoring the legacy of Record Store Day, which has been so popular in the record industry, and it's really an opportunity for all of these independent bookstores across the country to have a day where they celebrate their communities and they celebrate their place in their communities, and their communities get to celebrate them,' said Allison Hill, CEO of the association. Two local participants of Indie Bookstore Day include Leana's Books & More and POP! Art Books Culture. Both are offering 20% sales on all products in celebration — with POP!'s sale running Saturday and Leana's running both Saturday and Sunday. Over in Greenville, Boundless Books will host a soft-opening in recognition of the day's importance. A complete map of participating bookstores is available on While Leana Hillard, owner of Leana's Books & More, says it's not easy running an indie bookstore, it is also great. 'We try to give back to the community as much as we can, because that's the only reason we're here: is because of the communities,' Hillard said. When visiting local bookstores, shoppers are getting far more than simply a physical book. 'One thing that separates the indie bookstores from the big box [stores] is we do a lot of things for the community,' Hillard said. 'We have book signings; there's no charge for the authors. We set up the tables, [and] they sell their own books so they can make 100%, and our hope is they're bringing in people to see our stores.' Both POP! and Leana's go beyond a physical store — they're community spaces offering respective book clubs, hosting author groups and much more. And not only are shoppers supporting the local stores, but also local authors. 'There's a lot of really great authors that have come through here, and I've yet to have somebody come back and say, 'You know what, I really didn't enjoy this book.' All of the local authors are fantastic authors and we've had really, really good luck with them,' said Craig Duster, owner of POP!. Over 1,200 indie bookstores have opened in the U.S. over the last five years, but Hill says despite the increasing number of stores and sales, it's more challenging than it has ever been to be an indie owner, with thin margins paired with rising costs. But supporting local stores will help keep money in a shopper's own community, Hill said. 'One thing is purely economic, that when you shop with an independent bookstore, about 29% of the revenue recirculates in the local economy,' Hill said. 'So that compares to say, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, in that it's about five times more than Amazon and over two times more than Barnes & Noble.' 'I think local big box stores have their purposes, and even online, major online retailers have their purposes, too, but for the most part, if you can shop local when you can, it keeps a lot of that money in the community,' Duster said. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce states the sales tax shoppers pay at these local spots supports the community's public schools, parks, roads, and sidewalks, as well as funds public service workers, like firefighters. Hill said in current times, when a lot of communities are seeing cuts, that type of revenue is especially important. 'I definitely think there are people who are very mindful of where they're spending their dollars right now and what kind of values they're supporting,' Hill said. 'There are people who really want to support, say their neighbors who have returned to their community to share books and make a difference, versus supporting a billionaire or an algorithm or a hedge fund, which is sometimes the alternative in the book world.' Hill emphasized the importance of supporting local stores, or else risk losing them. 'I think some of it is coming off the pandemic, too. I think we all lived through a period where we saw some of our favorite places close … and I think people really began to realize that we really have to support these local businesses or they won't be sustainable.' For those who may not want to leave the comfort of their favorite reading chair or are looking for something niche, there is an alternative to visiting indie bookstores in person. is a platform designed to support independent bookstores. 'It's financially helping the stores, it's raising visibility around shopping indie, it's providing a 'buy' button to a lot of media outlets who normally might have Amazon but now they have an indie alternative,' Hill said. Hill said in times where money is tight, it's not just a matter of how much you're spending, but also where you are spending it. 'I think there's a return to some values around supporting local and aligning your shopping with your values and connecting in a very human way that we're all really hungry for,' Hill said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
