Ever heard of a thing called Bookstore Tourism?
I hadn't until today, and now I'm completely enamored of the idea:
Bookstore Tourism is a type of "cultural tourism" that promotes independent bookstores as a group travel destination. It started as a grassroots effort to support locally owned and operated bookshops...
The movement encourages schools, libraries, reading groups, and organizations of all sizes to create day-trips and literary outings to cities and towns with a concentration of independent bookstores. It also encourages local booksellers to attract bibliophiles to their communities by employing bookstore tourism as an economic development tool.
Here's a fun introduction:
Most of us who read and write around here also naturally love books and the shops that sell them. One of the biggest perks of going on a book tour, is having a chance to visit indy booksellers.
Well, Larry Portzline (whose blogis fascinating) created the idea of bookstore tourism, a pseudo spin on every city's haunted house tours with a bit of a Napa Valley wine-tasting getaway splashed in for good measure. So, you don't have to be an author to have the opportunity to go on a book tour anymore. Cool. And what a great way to help those stores that most reflect a community's unique flavor and vibe. Tour bus or not, I hope you'll join me this week at:
June 3, 2007 - Online (everywhere)
11 am Phoenix, 12 pm Mountain, 1 pm Central, 2 pm Eastern
About Face program appearance on 1480 KPHX - Phoenix AAR.
Listen and call in at 800-989-1480.
June 5, 2007 - Berkeley, CA (San Francisco area)
Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Moe's Books
2476 Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley CA 94702
510-849-2087
books@moesbooks.com
June 6, 2007 - Tempe, AZ (Phoenix area)
Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 S McClintock Dr (at Guadalupe)
Tempe, AZ 85283
480-730-0205
chb.inbox@gmail.com
June 8-9, 2007 - Oceanside, CA (San Diego area)
Friday night, 6 - 9 p.m.
Beachside candlelight vigil and reception (#see below)
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Saturday afternoon, 12 - 3 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
El Camino North Shopping Center
2615 Vista Way
Oceanside, CA 92054
760-529-0106
Additional last-minute updates and event details:
- From Barbara of ePluribus Media, the following invite:
Dear All,
You are all invited to join me in welcoming Ilona Meagher, author of "MOVING A NATION TO CARE" (see attachments please).
A PEACE VIGIL on June 8th from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. on the beach next to OCEANSIDE PIER. We will be designing a large PEACE sign with luminares again!
_____________________
6 p.m. - 7 p.m. - Setup
7 p.m. - 8 p.m. - Reception to welcome ILONA MEAGHER.
More details as this gets better organized. Munchies and Refreshments (BYOB if you have 'special' needs and/or a munchie to pass)
8 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Lighting of the luminares, time to reflect on the sacrifices of our military members and their families, music and 5 minutes of silence.
8:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. - Clean up
Please contact me ASAP to RSVP and let me know if you can help with setup/breakdown. [Will add in Barbara's contact info when available.]
NOTE: Ilona hopes to have books with her at the VIGIL that she will sign for any Iraq/Afganistan veteran that attends...there will be a LIMITED quantity.
SECOND NOTE: PLEASE pass this invitation FAR AND WIDE. Ilona would love to meet as many VETERANS as she can...this book is for them!!!
NEEDED ITEMS:
Folding tables
BRING YOUR OWN CHAIRS
Muscian with guitar
PA system
OTHER?
And, as if that weren't enough. Are you ready for more?
- Next Saturday, I'm one of three authors invited to take part in a special event sponsored by Barnes & Noble and Mission San Luis Rey. Features a musical presentation, too:
June 8-9, 2007 - Oceanside, CA (San Diego area)
Friday night, 6 - 9 p.m.
Beachside candlelight vigil and reception
------------------
Saturday afternoon, 12 - 3 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
El Camino North Shopping Center
2615 Vista Way
Oceanside, CA 92054
760-529-0106
12:00 PM
Fiction & Literature, History Author Event
Bruce Clarke: Expendable Warriors
Ilona Meagher: Moving A Nation to Care
Matt Reed: In The Death of Night
01:30 PM
Musical Performance
Emmalyn Moreno: Mind, Body and Soul
Hope to see some of you. And please share the details.