This weekend is Thanksgiving here in the U.S., which means that today is Black Friday -- the big first holiday shopping day. But you might not know is that tomorrow is....
Small businesses are the heart and soul of many communities across the US and around the world.
To enter Freebie Friday, please tell me about your favorite independent bookstore. I hope you have one in your community, but if you don't, you can tell me about any indie bookstore that you've visited or would like to visit.I don't know about you, but when I travel, the first thing I do is check out the bookstore situation. Some of my favorites are King's English in Salt Lake City, Utah; Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon; and Hatchards Books in the UK. I'd love to visit Blue Willow Books in Houston!
If you'd like to try to find your nearest indie bookstore, use the Indie Bound Store Finder.
I'd like to tell you about Books of Wonder.
Books of Wonder is the oldest independent children's bookstore here in New York City. It was the inspiration for Meg Ryan's bookstore in You've Got Mail. And the store has been a huge supporter of YA literature and authors. They hosted the midnight launch for Mockingjay, attended by Suzanne Collins, as well as dozens of other great events.
The store has been having financial difficulties and has been fundraising. I'd love to support them by buying my winner ANY book they have in stock up to $20. And, yes, I'll also mail it to you :)
Check out the store's selection of signed books here. You can pick one of those and I'll do my best to run down and grab it. At the time this post was written, those signed choices included books by Lauren Oliver, Holly Black, David Levithan, and Maggie Stiefvater.
But you don't have to pick a signed book. There's a great selection on the BoW website, from picture books to YA.
As the store charges $35 for international shipping, this part of today's giveaway is U.S. only unless an international winner wishes to pay for shipping while I pay for the book.
If the winning name I draw is international, that person will win a swag pack (pictured below) that includes a Crewel World bracelet and an assortment of cool YA bookmarks, one of them signed by Diana Peterfreund. Then I will draw again until I have a U.S. winner.
I'm sorry about the disparity in prizes, but most of my giveaways are open internationally. And the point of this giveaway is to support this great independent bookstore :) Thanks for understanding!
Okay, time to show some love for your favorite indie bookstore. And don't forget those small businesses when you do your holiday shopping!
If the account you comment under does not link to a blog or email address, please leave email in the Google Doc below!
Accepting entries until Monday, November 26 at 9:00 am EST.
This is a fantastic giveaway. During my last trip to NY, I made sure to include a visit to Books of Wonder. It is a wonderful bookstore and when the bakery shop was still there, it was how I envisioned my own bookstore. Pipe dreams. I love how you want readers to show love for the favorite indie stores. I have a feature on my blog called Love My Indie where I authors and readers do the same thing. Indie bookstores are becoming so rare and we don't have one in my town. The closest is over 30 miles away, but worth the trip. The name is Coffee Buy the Book. They have several book clubs for readers and it's always a fun place to visit.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for this giveaway!
I know -- I think we probably all wanted to be Meg Ryan after seeing that movie!
DeleteLove the name Coffee Buy The Book!
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I'm going to be honest and say that the lovely bookstore pictured above is my favorite. It's the only one I've been to and the one I keep going back to since I'm just about 30 mins out from NYC. I love it. It's cute and warm and has such an amazing feel. I was able to meet some authors there for their Fierce Reads tour and LOVED it. I'm also going to THE STRAND in NYC in a few weeks. SOOOO excited! <3
ReplyDeleteI also love the Strand. I'm there a lot! Have fun :)
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not a clue! the only independent book store that i can think over over here is a book seller who has a stall on our local market. can't think of another :( i buy a lot of books second hand from charity shops too, i love getting a bargain!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so charming -- a book stall :)
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I admit that I don't go to indie bookstores often enough. Part of the problem is that the Richmond one is located downtown and I hate going downtown. Next year I plan on making a bigger effort to go there though, cause really, indie bookstores are so cute! And they smell so good.
ReplyDeleteYes, maybe they have events that you can go to!!
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I wish I traveled more to check out some great indie bookstores. I would LOVE to visit Books of Wonder. We do have a small local indie called Lift Bridge Books. They have a great children's section with lots of books and toys. I used to go there a lot when I was a kid. Their YA section is on the smaller side but I do like to check it out once in awhile. I had signed up to join a YA book club there but was the only person who did. :(
ReplyDeleteAw, sorry about the book club....
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I haven't found one where I live, but I would love to check one out. I love indie books!!!
ReplyDeleteYou can use the store finder -- linked above -- and see where your closest indie store is!
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Great giveaway, Jen! Unfortunately my town has no indie book stores, and I'm not sure if Pensacola, our neighbor city, has anything that isn't strictly christian books ( I live in the BIBLE BELT after all!)
ReplyDeleteSo one indie book store I plan on visiting soon is in New Orleans, about a 3 1/2 hours drive from me. Octavia Books is located uptown and often hosts great YA author events and signings. John Green was there earlier this year.
And if I could visit any other book store I think I would choose The Strand in YOUR city. I think it's an independent bookstore? Have you been there? I loved how it was featured in Dash and Lily's Book of Dares:)
Ooh, I've always wanted to go to New Orleans. I wish I could meet you there.
DeleteLOVE the Strand. I go there a lot!
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I don't have an indie bookstore close, but there is one I've went to before. A local writing group meets there in there back. I went there once and it was a great experience. I wish the place was closer. I love bookstores.
ReplyDeleteBookstores and libraries are my favorite places!
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Thank you!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I live in the middle of nowhere and there aren't any indie bookshops, but the one you're featuring is one of the best and I'm sure it would be my favorite:)
Sorry to hear that -- but I think it's hard to run a bookstore in a very small community!
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There are two indie bookstores around here that I love. One is World Eye Bookstore in the next town over, and the other is about a 40 minute drive, Odyssey Bookstore. You can order their books online and they have quite a good selection of signed books too. I love going to both.
ReplyDeleteI am positive that I've been to the Odyssey bookstore!
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We don't have any indie bookstores. We have one Barnes & Noble and that is it. The next town over does have a cool bookstore but it mostly sells used books. I do love visiting them because they have great deals and they let their cats run around in the store which I always thought was cool. I've heard great things about Books of Wonder!
ReplyDeleteThese days, Barnes and Noble needs love too :) Funny that they were the villain in the Meg Ryan movie and now times have changed.
DeleteIt's hard to be a bricks-and-mortar bookseller.
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Here in my city most bookstores belong to big chains of bookstores... and most people tend to buy online... but I do miss going to indie bookstores and having a good time there... it is so cool that you have those!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway ^^
Buying online is very convenient, but there is nothing like being around all those books!
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My local indie is called Jabberwocky and it's a children's bookstore. I don't go all too often, but they do host a lot of authors and I try to make it to signings whenever I can.
ReplyDeleteI love the names of all these stores!
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My local book store just closed down for good.. I'm pretty sure I was one of their only consistent customers, but it was seriously my favorite. They'd been having financial difficulty for awhile now, so it wasn't unexpected just really sad. There is another one about an hour away I haven't been to yet, and it's the same distance as Barnes & Noble so I think I'll start shopping there.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I hope everything works out for Books of Wonder!
Aw, sad. Yes, even in a big city like NY there have been a lot of closings.
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I don't have any indie book stores near me :(
ReplyDeleteHowever, we do have a books for less, which is a second hand book storethat I frequent!
Whatever works to get the books :)
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I would love to say I have one but I don't :( Before BORDERS closed down, I would spend all day any day there that I could (that was my happy place)...and yes, I realize thats not indie....now I spend time (don't have much these days) at the local library. There have been several bookstores I have visited over the years across the country but I missed out on Books of Wonder. ^.^
ReplyDeleteI still pass by the place where my Borders used to be and feel sad.
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Thanks so much for the awesome giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
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My favorite indie bookstore here in San Francisco is Green Apple Books, which is just an amazing place! They have more books crammed in there than you'd think possible. They have two storefronts on the same block, one filled just with used books, and the other with both used and new. The selections are terrific, the salespeople are knowledgeable, and the whole place has just a great vibe for booklovers.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Lisa
That sounds amazing! I haven't been to San Francisco in a long time!
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The local bookstore in Shelbyville, IN is called Three Sisters Books & Gifts. It's run by three sisters (hence the name) and they are some of the sweetest women I have ever met. They have a little cafe attached, aptly named The Bookmark, and they make wonderful paninis and specialty drinks. :)
ReplyDeleteI just liked them on Facebook -- that place sounds amazing!!!
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The nearest, really great bookstore is over an hour away, in Little Rock, it's WordsWorth Books, and I only discovered it b/c I went to a Lauren Kate signing there. The employees were so kind and helpful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway!
Yeah, indie stores often have amazing signings and events!
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I work at b&n....so I don't shop a lot at other book stores. We have this really cute little used book store downtown but I don't get there as often as I would like!
ReplyDeleteLucky you! I would love to work at a bookstore :)
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We only have one in town, that I know of. It's called Amanda's Bookstore. I like going there every once in a while...plus she has a really cute cat! lol
ReplyDeleteI think it's a rule that indie bookstores must have a cat :)
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Jen you're EXACTLY what book loving is all about. I only wish I knew more indie bookstores, I aspire to run my own Children's Bookstore one day! Dare to dream! Haha :)
ReplyDeleteAw, that's sweet. We can go into business together. I'll run the US store and you can run the Canadian one.
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There's a small indie bookstore called the Bookworm in Carbondale, IL. I love going there; it's so cozy. They even have a bookstore cat prowling around :)
ReplyDeleteYes -- university towns often have great indie stores!!
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I haven´t find and indie store here, not a good one. so I have to go to B&N but when it cames to signed books I always buy from the indie bookstores that the author recomend.
ReplyDeletethanks for the giveaway.
B & N has great events too! And I give them plenty of business....
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We used to have one in my town but unfortunately it closed due to money issues and because the owner had personal issues going on to. I miss it so much but I love The Strand bookstore.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the Strand so much!
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There is a cute little bookstore in La Verne, California that I adore. It's called Miss Nelson's Bookstore. The staff is helpful and personable, the feel of the bookstore is warm and homey, I always find a great selection of books there, and the owner has author book signings held there!
ReplyDeleteI love the name of that one!!
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My favorite is Watermark Books in Wichita, KS. Lenore Appelhans will have her launch there in Jan for Level 2!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you're going to that!
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There are NO indie bookstores in my area but I'd LOVE to visit BoW! One of my friends said that if I ever go to NYC again she'll take me! :D
ReplyDeleteToo bad, but come here -- we have a lot of them!
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Oh wow, I would LOVE to visit Books of Wonder! Though I don't think it'd be good for my wallet! XD Sadly, I don't really go to any indie bookstores. Can't find any good ones. :(
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that, but at least you can shop online!
Delete30
Sadly there are no indie stores in my town. Honestly, all we have is one B&N about a half hour away and a few Christian bookstores. That's it. I wish there were a few indie stores, I would seriously be there like non-stop!
ReplyDeleteJesse @ Pretty In Fiction
I'm guessing that it's tough for an indie bookstore to stay in business without a larger city to support it!
Delete31
There aren't any small indie bookstores by me but I really wish there were. I would probably live in them if there were. We have a B&N and a Half Price books about 20 minutes away but that is it.
ReplyDeleteAll these other ones sound so wonderful!
Yeah, I spend a lot of time in bookstores!
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There aren't any indie bookstores around where I live. There is a small used bookstore where you can trade in your old books for credit towards others. They get in some new books, but mostly used. :)
ReplyDeleteI love used bookstores!
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My favorite indie is in Calgary, Alberta where I used to live. It's a little place near the downtown core called Wordsworth Books. Just a messy old store that smells like old books. The owner's kinda grumpy but I didn't care, I could spend hours in there.
ReplyDeleteThat one sounds great!!
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I haven't seen or been to indie bookstores around here but I totally want to. I'm sure they are ADORABS. and probably cheaper? LOL. Thanks Jenni!
ReplyDeleteYep -- use the store finder!!
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sadly..there's not much indie bookstores near my place.:( but it's always nice to support local bookstores; they have different appeals.
ReplyDeleteIt's great if you can do it -- but clear that a lot of people don't have stores near them!
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I don't know any nearby indie bookstores unfortunately. Books of wonder sure sound pretty awesome. I would love to go check out the store if I ever get a chance to go.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great store!
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We've got one independent bookstore where I live and another one down where we used to go to the beach and I try to buy books there when I can : ) I've never been to Books of Wonder, but I have ordered books from there. I would hate for them to have to close!!
ReplyDeleteI'm really hoping they can stay open!
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What an awesome giveaway! Such a great cause! I have an indie bookstore by me called Novel Destination. The owner is wonderful and she has such great prices and an awesome selection.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! New follower via Candace's Book Blog. :D
LOVE these store names!!!! Welcome to my blog :)
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I am very fortunate to live in Richmond VA because we have lots of small independent book stores! I was so happy to pick up a signed and doodled copy of The Raven Boys at Fountain Bookstore on Cary Street, which also features Chop Suey Books where I've gotten several readathon books in the past. And The Cracked Book store helped me get all the Stephanie Plum books back when I first discovered them!
ReplyDeleteYay for Richmond!
DeleteI was there a few years back and had a great time.
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I hate seeing any independent business close, including book stores. Your post made me realize that I don't know what Indie book stores are by me. That Indie finder was great! I have two stores now just a couple of miles away that I plan on visiting. One is called Changing Hands Books and the other is East West Exchange Books. Great post!
ReplyDeleteGlad it was helpful :)
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I don't have the pleasure of living anywhere near an indie bookstore- and I have searched hard and long for one! It's so strange, especially because I live in a pretty big metropolitan area, so it would only make sense for an indie book store to be here, but apparently, there's not. =( But I really want to visit Blue Willow Bookstore as well. My uncle lives in Houston, so the next we visit him, I plan to drag my parents to Blue Willow. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt was so neat to read about Books of Wonder! I've heard about that indie book store- they always have such awesome authors! Like, Suzanne Collins?! I am JEALOUS!
Thanks for sharing this post, and for the giveaway, Jen! <3
If you go to Blue Willow, I want a full report, please!
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My favorite is about 45 mins away so its not an everyday store for me. But they do a lot of great events so I try to make a few of them a year and buy a few extra books while there.
ReplyDeleteYeah, 45 minutes is far but those events are worth it!
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I love Books of Wonder! I try t go every time I'm in NY.
ReplyDeleteThey have great events and a lot of hidden (& signed) gems.
I'm so excited that I get to go shopping there!
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My favorite is an hour away from where I live, but I still try to get to go every now and then. It has some awesome events and they also sell used books. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteEvents!!! That's what sets these stores apart.
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I live in a tiny town that is surrounded by more tiny towns, so I don't know of any indie bookstores close by. I searched through that link you gave, but I still have to drive a little while to get to one. I do love the "feel" of the ones I've seen on TV, though! :) I try to support other types of independent stores in my town, even though I really wish we had some bookstores around! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you support other small businesses!
Delete46
Indie bookstores in my area usually don't last long. However, there's one not too far away that I'd be willing to travel the distance for. It's called Page & Palette in Fairhope, AL. They're great about hosting events. That's even where I met Richelle Mead and got my copy of Spirit Bound signed. They're great they. Authors of all different genres, local or not. I definitely wish they were closer to where I live so I could visit them more often.
ReplyDeleteSandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
Jealous!!!! Richelle Mead never seems to come to the east coast :(
Delete47
Aww what a great idea! I don't think there is a indie bookstore in my area which is a shame. :(
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day!
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Thanks so much for mentioning Blue Willow Bookshop! If you make it down to Houston let me know! I would love to organize lunch with the Houston TX bloggers!
ReplyDeleteI would love that so much!!!!
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