May 1st is "International Buy Indie Day", a movement spearheaded by author Joe Finder. Participating is simple: just buy a book — any book, paperback, hardcover, audiobook — at an independent bookstore. To find a list of local independent bookstore near you, check out this store finder. You can also join the "Buy Indie" Facebook group for more info and a list of local activities in your area. Also, looking ahead to June, mark the 15th through the 22nd on your
calendar, as those are the dates for the 2009 Independent Booksellers Week which has so far signed up 175 stores.
Author Kevin Guilfoile, part of the Outfit Collective blog, summarized the importance of indies, thusly:
"But any writer who has been out peddling his work knows — and I think this is especially true in the mystery/suspense community — there is no greater friend than a passionate indie bookseller who loves your novel. They are gasoline on the word-of-mouth fire, and like almost every small business right now, they are hurting."
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