Supporting your local bookstore is good for your community, good for readers, good for writers, and good for our culture. Every community is enriched when locally owned and operated book shops thrive, providing a safe haven for readers of all ages. They provide something that mega-internet-based stores can not. A place to mingle, chat, and share stories. A place to support those who make a living ensuring we have quality reading material. A place where authors can be seen and heard, and can pass along their stories. A place where authors can inspire the next generation of writers. Each of these is critical to the expansion of our culture.
Book Carnival in Orange, California, is an inspiring example of such a place. It specializes in mystery and romantic suspense, and has shelves full of thrillers, horror, and other suspenseful tales. Need a rare book? They’ve got those. Need it signed? They’ve got those. Want to come hear authors speak and ask them about the craft and business of writing? Book Carnival provides that opportunity several times a month, with both famous, established best-selling authors, to opportunities for those breaking into the business.
I recently had the privilege of appearing at Book Carnival. I shared the stage with Lance Charnes, a talented local author who has been a member of Pure Fiction league, a critique group we both attend. Lance read from his thriller, DOHA 12, and then I interviewed him. Once the audience had asked him a bevy of questions, I read from The Zeus Payload, and then Lance interviewed me. Finally, the audience asked me a variety of questions, and we had a great conversation. It was a grand experience, and I’m confident everyone went away a winner.
In an age where local bookstores are becoming rarer, I encourage you to get engaged with those in your neighborhood. Even if you can’t get there personally, you can order books just as easily as going to any online store. If you’re in Southern California, Book Carnival is a place worth visiting. If you’re not, you can order from the store’s owner, Anne, and keep the business up and running.
As Anne states on her website – “If you appreciate walking in here, speaking to people who have a passion for and deep belief in the value of books, who are widely read and devoted to matching you with a book we think you’ll love (not necessarily the book that’s on the best seller list)– if this service is something you value, then for goodness sake, buy that book from us!”
It’s good for everyone. You can find her here: https://www.annesbookcarnival.com.
Book Signing at Book Carnival – Feb. 13, 2016