Today is Independent Bookstore Day!
Many brick and mortar stores host events throughout the year, though today is one of the biggest as it’s celebrated across hundreds of bookstores as readers descend upon their local stores for fun times and book shopping galore. If you have a moment before you head out, I’d hope to get a quick word in about two of my favorite (yet obvious) ways to support indie bookstores.
1. Preorder Books
Buying a book or store merchandise is always welcome to small shops. Maybe you want to offer monetary support but nothing immediately catches your eye. That doesn’t mean you have to buy something for the sake of buying it, especially if you’ll regret the purchase later. You can preorder instead! Better still, you can do so year round! I have three preorders currently (a fairly low number by my personal standards) that might spark interest enough for you to preorder yourself.
“Forged in Fiyah” Edited by Davaun Sanders
Releases 9/29/26
Coinciding with the tenth anniversary of FIYAH Magazine, the collection features eighteen stories. Kindhearted killing machines, funeral homes appearing between worlds, second chances at an afterlife, just to name a few the stories to expect from new and well-known genre writers alike.
“Daughter of a Thousand Faces” by Velinxi
Releases 8/25/26
With no powers of her own, her mother killed for treason and over twenty suitor rejections, Shen Yuhua seems destined to be a disappointment to her father and sect. Until one day she frees Chu Tian, the Demon with a Thousand Faces, from the abyss her father imprisoned him within decades ago. Worse still, she has to become the demon’s disciple!
“Veil” Volume 5 by Kotteri!
Releases 10/20/26
He was an on-duty police officer in the city. She was a runaway heiress. When he learned that she is looking for work, he decided to welcome her as the police station’s telephone operator. This was the beginning of the everyday lives of he and she, and the delicate distance between them.
The best part? The store gets future profits; an author, support from a reader; and you, a new book to look forward to!
2. Support a New (to you) Shop
If you have the leeway to do so, supporting a new bookstore can be fun. And you don’t have to worry about going in person if it’s not feasible to do so. Buy from stores directly or you can use Bookshop.org to select a bookstore to support. Or! If you’re looking to splurge a little, you can see if stores offer curated book boxes!
For example, Black Walnut Books offers a variety to choose, from the “Strength in Community” box to their “Indigenous & Lit” monthly box.
Or you can have a look at “The Books” from archiving books, where Taylor, the owner, curates a selection of 12 books each month that you might want on your shelf. Books you may have otherwise never considered for yourself in passing. I know there’s at least two that I’ll be checking out!
By the time this post goes up, I’ll be clocked into work. But I have plans to swing by Book House afterwards to grab a book and partake in the festivities. I hope you’re able to enjoy the celebration with us in your favorite bookshop and that you get something good to read tonight.
Until the next post,
.chel
Reading Rites 