Authors Sherman Alexie and Garth Stein headline a list of local writers who will serve as booksellers at Queen Anne Book Co. (1811 Queen Anne Ave. N.) on Saturday, Nov. 30, dubbed Indie’s First Day by Alexie, the creator of the international movement.
Indies First is a grassroots effort spearheaded by Alexie that calls on authors to show their support for independent booksellers by signing up to work at their favorite indie bookstore on Small Business Saturday, celebrated this year on Nov. 30, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The American Bookseller Association (ABA) teamed with Alexie to take the movement national and ultimately international.
The idea originated last spring, when Queen Anne Book Co. co-owner and manager Janis Segress and Alexie came up with the idea of authors as booksellers to help launch the new bookstore on Queen Anne.
In September, Alexie took the idea one step further by writing an open letter to authors to join his Indies First movement. To date, 700 authors have signed up to sell books at more than 400 bookstores, according to the ABA, which is serving as a clearinghouse for author signups.
Back on Queen Anne, authors are lined up to spend Saturday, Nov. 30, in the neighborhood bookstore recommending their favorite titles. The schedule includes Laurie Frankel (11 a.m. to noon), Sherman Alexie (2 to 4 p.m.), Garth Stein (3 to 4 p.m.) and Lesley Thomas (4 to 5 p.m.).
Alexie will also be at the University Book Store (4326 University Way N.E.) from noon to 1 p.m. The Indies First event there will include host Nancy Pearl, Mary Jane Beaufrand, Patrick Flores-Scott, Carly Anne West, Ryan Boudinot, Peter Mountford, Kyle Bolton, Jennie Shortridge, Kim Baker, Cat Patrick, Jaime Garbacik, members of the APRIL Festival and Kristin Halbrook.
[[In-content Ad]]