If you live in the Seattle area, Holiday Bookfest is a great way to meet and directly support local authors. The event also supports the tutoring center at Bureau of Fearless Ideas and the event host, Phinney Neighborhood Association. You can also support the community by bringing new or lightly used children's books to be donated to Pocket Libraries, which provides them free to nonprofits and agencies across the Puget Sound that serve people who are homeless, refugees and immigrants, and others who don’t have easy access to books.
This year's event features 28 authors from the Pacific Northwest, and includes works fiction and non-fiction, youth and children’s books, memoir, nature, cooking and poetry--something for everyone on your holiday shopping list! There will be author readings and signed copies of their books.
What: Holiday Bookfest
When: Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, 2pm - 4pm
Where: Phinney Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N, Seattle, Upper Blue Bldg.
Why: Support local authors and the community!
If you're not able to make the event, don't live in Seattle, still don't feel comfortable being around other humans in enclosed spaces, or just prefer to shop online, many independent bookstores also have online shopping. If your local shop does not have direct online ordering, you may still be able to support them with your online book purchases. As of 2020, there is a new champion in the online bookstore market: Bookshop.org, whose mission is "to help local, independent bookstores thrive in the age of ecommerce." The 1,600+ indie stores represented on the site benefit from direct sales and a shared profit pool. Digital gift cards are also available!
It's a great alternative to the "Big A"! I'm in the process of changing all book links on my site to Bookshop.org wherever possible, including clients' published works in my Portfolio and recommended reading in my Writer Resources.
Happy shopping and reading!
