BREMERTON — April 29 is Independent Bookstore Day this year. It’s the perfect time to support locally owned bookstores in the community, like Liberty Bay Books in Bremerton and Poulsbo.
“It’s basically a day of celebration and for people who love reading books and talking about books, and all the things that are nerdy and fun like that,” said Kate Daniels, manager of Bremerton’s Liberty Bay Books location.
Liberty Bay Books is one of many participating independent bookstores on the Kitsap Peninsula; Daniels said that they all participate in the celebration on April 29.
“If you get a passport from any local bookstore on that day, you can get it stamped at three different book stores and then turn it in at the third store to be entered into a raffle,” Daniels said.
“Then, if you get it stamped at every single bookstore that day in Seattle and on the Kitsap Peninsula, you get 25 percent off at all indie bookstores for a year.”
There are about 23 participating book stores included in that area. In
Kitsap County, there are four locations: Liberty Bay Books, 409 Pacific Ave., Bremerton; Liberty Bay Books, 18881 Front St. NE, Poulsbo; Eagle Harbor Book Company, 157 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island; and The Traveler, 256 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island.
“It’s probably our second-busiest day of the year,” Daniels said; the first is Small Business Surday, two days after Thanksgiving. “We are going to be doing special things for it that not everybody’s doing.”
At the Bremerton location, they will host “an hour with the author,” with at least two different local authors that day. Laura Coffee will be there from 2-3 p.m. to talk about her book, “My Old Dog,” which includes stories of people adopting senior dogs from humane societies. During that time, 10 percent of the sales made will be donated to the Kitsap Humane Society. KHS will also bring by a couple of adoptable senior dogs during that hour.
Then, from 4-5 p.m., Kate Breslin will be there with myriad teas and will be talking about the history of English high tea and why it’s so important in England.
“It’s important to celebrate your local businesses, especially your local bookstore, because it’s really a place of community, where you can get involved with book clubs, meet local authors,” Daniel said.
“You can get so much more out of the experience of going to a book store, versus a big box store where they just want you to go in, get your book and then leave. This is more a place of fellowship with fellow book lovers.”
Liberty Bay Books will also give away advanced-reader copies of books they’ve received from publishers, which have since been published, “as a thank you for coming in and celebrating and supporting Independent Bookstore Day,” Daniels said.
Another perk of Independent Bookstore Day is the exclusive items for sale only at participating indie bookstores that day. Some of the items include a vinyl audiobook of “Welcome to the Night Vale” by Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink, artwork by “Furiously Happy” author Jenny Lawson, and literary-themed items such as tea towels, onesies and, um, condoms — yes, prophylactics (bet that got your attention).
Not all independent bookstores have every item, so visiting multiple stores could give you different selections. But the items tend to sell out quickly — in 2016, Liberty Bay Books had a Neil Gaiman coloring book that sold out well before the day was over.
“It will be very busy, but it will be a lot of fun,” Daniels said, “and people should come because it’s awesome.”
To learn more about Independent Bookstore Day, visit www.indiebookstoreday.com. Or go to www.libertybaybooks.com.
Suzanne Droppert is the owner of Liberty Bay Books. Visit the bookstore on April 29 in its Bremerton or Poulsbo location to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day. Michelle Beahm / Kitsap News Group
