It’s one day to make a statement. To adhere to the old adage, “Put your money where your mouth is.” It’s also, perhaps, an opportunity to run into your favorite author.
It’s Indies First, taking place on Nov. 29 at two independent Kitsap bookstores.
Eagle Harbor Book Co. on Bainbridge Island and Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo will host a crowd of authors that day. The authors, however, will not be behind a table with their books, but rather behind the cash register, helping customers with their literary shopping needs.
“It’s a real independent movement to get people to shop at their local bookstore instead of the chains,” said Madison Butler of Liberty Bay Books. “We bring in your local author and they sell books for us.
“It’s trying to bring awareness to the fact that independent book stores are still here and we aren’t falling away.”
It’s an opportunity to meet local authors — many of whom are best-sellers — pick their brains, get an autograph, and get some shopping done.
And it all started because of a missed date.
“This started last year with Sherman Alexie,” said Victoria Irwin of Eagle Harbor Book Co.
“He was supposed to do an event at a (Seattle) book store and he forgot about it because his kids were playing a soccer game.
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As Irwin tells it, Alexie — an award-winning and best-selling author — made up for the missed appearance by coming into the bookstore to work a shift as a bookseller. The author, widely known for his works “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven,” and “The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” stood in as a staff member, helping customers among the bookshelves. Many were surprised to find the face from a book jacket in front of them in the flesh.
“Who wouldn’t want Sherman Alexie as a book seller?” Irwin said.
Alexie didn’t stop at the one-day appearance. He put a challenge out to other authors to come into their own independent bookstores.
“He challenged other authors to do the same,” Irwin said. “He put out an open letter. A lot of booksellers did it. Seattle was a big location because (Alexie’s) from here.”
Indies First now coincides with Small Business Saturday, an annual event that encourages conscientious shopping at local, small businesses. This year it is on Nov. 29, the day after the Black Friday shopping blitz.
The challenge attracted legions of authors to their local, independent bookstores in 2013. This year, author Neil Gaiman and musician-author Amanda Palmer have written an open letter asking for the same support, and in Kitsap, authors are returning.
Author Garth Stein, of the best-seller “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” will start the day at Liberty Bay Books, and then will work the aisles at Eagle Harbor Book Co. that afternoon.
“Last year, we introduced him to lefse,” Butler said.
Liberty Bay is not only bringing Stein back to their store, but will also have more lefse — a traditional Norwegian flatbread — on hand.
“Lefse and lattes with Garth,” Butler said.
Eagle Harbor will open the event with David Guterson, author of the award-winning novel turned film “Snow Falling on Cedars.” The setting of the novel closely mirrors Bainbridge Island’s own history.
The stores will have additional attractions. Butler said Liberty Bay has preordered extra books from the featured authors, as well as books the authors recommend.
“They will be in here signing their own books and we asked them to pick books that they’d like to sell,” she said.
Eagle Harbor Book Co. will have cider and cookies to go with its authors.
Butler said last year’s author event, and Small Business Saturday, made a difference for the independent shops.
“It was our best selling day, it was very successful,” Butler said. “It brought so many people downtown and it brought people to other stores too.”
Irwin agrees with that sentiment.
“It made a difference (last year),” Irwin said. “We got a good start to our holiday season. That day was above what it would have been.”
Irwin admits the stores are businesses and therefore want to make a profit, but the money traveling through independent cash registers have a greater impact locally.
“A dollar spent here stays more locally than a dollar spent online,” she said, noting that local shopping contributes to local tax dollars and more.
“We are a place where we know our customers, we know our community,” Irwin said. “When you shop here, you are giving back to your community.
“In the long run, we feel our deals are as good, if not better (than chains). It’s not just about saving money, it’s about shopping at a place that you are going to get more value for your dollar.”
Liberty Bay Books
18881 Front St., Poulsbo
www.libertybaybooks.com
8:30 a.m.: Garth Stein (“The Art of Racing in the Rain”)
10 a.m.: Lynn Brunelle (“Mama Gone Geek,” “Pop Bottle Science”)
Noon: Lance Weller (“Wilderness”)
1 p.m.: June Cotner (“Back to Joy,” “Garden Blessings”)
2:30 p.m.: Patrick Jennings (“Guinea Dog,” “Lucky Cap”)
3:30 p.m.: Megan Chance (“In the Shadows,” “Inamorata”) and Kristin Hannah (“Fly Away,” “Home Front”)
Eagle Harbor Book Co.
157 Winslow Way, Bainbridge Island
www.eagleharborbooks.com
9 a.m.: David Guterson (“Snow Falling on Cedars”) and Lynn Brunelle (“Mama Gone Geek”)
10 a.m.: Laurie B. Arnold (“Hello There, We’ve Been Waiting For You”)
11 a.m.: Jonathan Evison (“The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving,” “West of Here”), Arleen Williams (Alki Trilogy), Wendy Hinman (“Tightwads on the Loose”) and Barbara Winther (“They Like Noble Causes,” “The Tiger Drums”)
Noon: Dylan Tomine (“Closer to the Ground”)
12:30 p.m.: Lance Weller (“Wilderness”)
1 p.m.: John and Colleen Marzluff (“Welcome to Subirdia,” “Dog Days,” “Raven Nights”) and Tessa Arlen (“Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman”)
2 p.m.: Garth Stein (“The Art of Racing in the Rain”), Lewis Mandell (“What to Do When I Get Stupid”) and Jeannette Franks (“To Move or Stay Put”)
3 p.m.: Susan Wiggs (“Lakeshore Chronicles”), Carol Cassella (“Gemini,” “Healer,” “Oxygen”), Toni Yuly (“Early Bird”)
4 p.m.: Naomi Spinak (“Year in Cookies”)
*Appearing but not yet scheduled: Kristin von Kreisler (“Unexpected Grace”) and George Shannon (“Stories to Solve”)
