Underground Books, Carrollton, Ga: "We're still straight up levitating from the best Indie Bookstore Day ever!"

Saturday was the first Independent Bookstore Day to be held in person across the country since 2019, leading to more celebration and joy on the parts of both booksellers and customers than even in previous busy years. And this year the excitement started early at many stores in the week running up to IBD with various daily Spirit Week themes such as wearing bookstore T-shirts, dressing in plaid and or dressing as their favorite book character.

This year's Independent Bookstore Day ambassador Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give, On the Come Up, Concrete Rose and Blackout, celebrated IBD with unofficial canine ambassador Kobe. The two visited bookstores in Decatur, Ga.: Charis Books & More/Charis Circle, Brave and Kind Books, and Little Shop of Stories. Thomas tweeted, "If Kobe could Tweet, he'd say he had a fantastic #IndependentBookstore Day."

Following the accident earlier this week, Papercuts celebrated IBD with a "car crash slash sale."

Papercuts Bookshop in Jamaica Plain, Mass., which was hit by not one but two cars on Wednesday morning, was open and bustling on IBD. The windows through which the cars had crashed were boarded over, and owner Kate Layte and her staff held a "car crash slash sale," with all the "run-over books" marked down. Bookseller Katie Bircher said most of those titles were new nonfiction, as that section had been stocked below the damaged front window; Bircher added that most damaged titles were 60% off and all sold in the 45 minutes or so after opening. Papercuts also held giveaways and raffles and featured local author Neema Avashia (Another Appalachia, West Virginia University Press) as a guest bookseller.

On Saturday, Watermark Book Co., Anacortes, Wash., celebrated IBD and its fourth anniversary of current ownership. "Boss Lady" Brandy Bowen wrote that day, "We are happily and merrily slinging books. What a fun day... and everyone that has come in seems to be in really good spirits, so this adds to the celebrations." Events on Saturday included mystery grab bags, free IBD tote bags with a purchase of $75 or more, and an appearance by Howard Shapiro, co-editor of Crossing Paths: A Pacific Crest Trailside Reader (Mountaineers Books).

Brookline Booksmith

In Brookline, Mass., Brookline Booksmith held a bookstore scavenger hunt asking shoppers to peruse the aisles and answer questions such as "what famous cook is quoted in our cookbook section?" and "how many rolling ladders do we have?" Customers who completed the scavenger hunt won fame, glory and $1 coupon to use on any purchase that day. There were raffles for three book baskets, as well as a game of "Hookline Bookfish," in which shoppers could fish for books.

At Skylight Books, Los Angeles

Changing Hands, Tempe and Phoenix, Ariz., celebrated IBD with a discount of $5 off any purchase of $25 or more in-store or online through today, Monday. The store wrote on Saturday, "Today is Independent Bookstore Day! But honestly, one day just didn't feel like enough this year... However you shop, thank you for your support this Indie Bookstore Day weekend and beyond! It means the world to us. With ❤️, great books, and gratitude."

Riffraff, Providence, R.I., celebrated IBD by offering all books, in-store and online, at 10% off. In addition, the store gave tote bags to everyone who spent $50 or more, and in-store customers who spent $100 or more received a free tee short. There was also live jazz in the bar in the evening.

The store wrote, "Thanks as ever to everyone who's supported us over the years--this may be a day to celebrate the independent spirit of bookstores, but it's customers like you who've made this particularly independent store what it is. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Hanif Abdurraqib

Author Hanif Abdurraqib celebrated IBD by purchasing 25 gift cards each at three bookstores in Columbus, Ohio, to be given to young people in the city, with some going to graduating seniors in city schools. The three stores are Two Dollar Radio, Prologue and the Book Loft. He explained on Instagram: "Like every year, I have immense gratitude to live in a place with bookstores and booksellers that support local writers & look after the community... Wandering libraries and bookstores made me a writer more than anything else did, even when I didn't know it. Love & gratitude to all of the bookstore workers around the country who have been so warm and kind to my work and--much more importantly--to me as a person. Hope to see many of you again soon."

IBD at Blue Willow Books, Houston, Tex.

Libro.fm celebrated the full week with its 1,700 bookstore partners by having more than 300 titles on sale and promoting memberships by offering customers a free audiobook when they join Libro.fm. Sales rose 88% compared to the same week last year, and there was a 219% increase in new customers who purchased an audiobook for the first time or signed up for a membership.

Libro.fm's bestsellers last week were:
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Tantor Media)
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich (HarperAudio)
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan (HarperAudio)
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu (HarperAudio)
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett  (HarperAudio)

Bookshop.org celebrated by offering free shipping over the weekend.

Across the country, booksellers, authors and readers celebrated Independent Bookstore Day with extra enthusiasm this year.

Pilsen Community Books in Chicago, Ill. reported: "Our first #IndieBookstoreDay customers were the legendary Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn!" And at the end of the day: "Thanks to everyone for a great #IndieBookstoreDay AND our busiest day EVER! Here's to celebrating with the ones you love."

Bookends & Beginnings, Evanston, Ill., celebrated IBD with a relay reading of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, along with giveaways of B&B and IBD merchandise.

Fans came out to meet Esteban the Magnificent Pea Green Crayon and enjoy music by the Unlikely Strummers at An Unlikely Story in Plainville, Mass.

At Loyalty Bookstore, Washington, D.C., "Hannah, Amani, and Amy are toasting with these ~incredibly aesthetic~ Indie Bookstores Are My Jam mugs!"

Sausalito Books by the Bay, Sausalito, Calif., hosted a dock party/open house with 30+ local authors (some of whom are pictured here), libations & live music. Hundreds of locals joined to help celebrate IBD.

The Bookshop, Nashville, Tenn.: "Oh my. Today was simply incredible. It had been three whole years since our last 'regular' Independent Bookstore Day--we were still doing appointment shopping even last year--and I feel like the stress, uncertainty, and endless pivoting of the last two years (especially) were leading right up to today. Thank you to each and every one of you who stopped by today... or any other day."

At Solid State Books in Washington, D.C.

Social media was buzzing Saturday with #IndependentBookstoreDay excitement. As the day came to an end, many posts from indie booksellers expressed gratitude and joy--not to mention the best sort of exhaustion--regarding the festivities. Here's a sampling:

Exile in Bookville, Chicago, Ill.: "We cannot possibly express our gratitude to each and every one of you for making our one year anniversary so damn wonderful. Thank you for supporting independent bookstores. How does this much happiness exist? We raise multiple bottles of champagne to you all!"

Chalkboard at Eagle Harbor Book Co., Bainbridge Island, Wash, quotes IBD Ambassador Angie Thomas.

Tubby & Coo's Mid-City Book Shop, New Orleans, La.: "We had our best Indie Bookstore Day of all time, thanks to all of YOU! Thank you SO SO much for supporting us, we love you all and are EXTREMELY EXCITED to throw books at all of you again!"

Novel Bay Booksellers, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.: "Makes our hearts sing! Thanks to everyone who is dodging raindrops and puddles to visit indie bookstores today."

City Lit Books, Chicago, Ill.: "This little City Lit crew is *bursting* with gratitude for all of our amazing customers today (and everyday)! Thank you for making IBD 2022 such a rousing success. We can't wait til next year and til then, happy reading."

"Three hours to go, and we're still having fun!" at Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, Minn.

Read Spotted Newt, Hazard, Ky.: "My heart is full after a day with book lovers! I'm grateful for a community that continues to show up and support Read Spotted Newt. Readers and writers are the reason why I'm here. Thank you!"

Eleanor's Bookshop, Tulsa, Okla.: "WOW! That's a wrap on Independent Bookstore Day 2022. We had the BEST DAY with you, Tulsa! Thanks to EVERYONE who came out to support our sweet shop."

Silver Unicorn's stickers for IBD.

The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton, Mass.: "The store was full of smiling people, and we had great events... in general this week, culminating with Independent Bookstore Day, was a great reminder of why we do what we do. Thank you, as always, for your support."

Main Street Books, St. Charles, Mo.: "Thank you so much for coming out to see us today. We've loved seeing your smiling faces and your photos all day! This has been our best Indie Bookstore Day ever, and it could not have happened without you."

Story time at the Frugal Frigate

The Frugal Frigate, A Children's Bookstore, Redlands, Calif.: "Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate Indie Bookstore Day 2022 with us! And a big thank you to all of you who tagged us in photos and stories so we have memories to look back on."

Greedy Reads, Baltimore, Md.: "Another soul soothing Independent Bookstore Day is in the books! I am so happy to share in this city with a group of phenomenal bookstores, amazing booksellers, and all of you! Thank you!"

Deadtime Stories, Lansing, Mich.: "WOW. What a day! Half the city lost power, the weather wasn't great, it rained pretty hard at times... but still, you came out in droves to support us on Indie Bookstore Day! From other cities, from other states, new friends, old friends. We are SO grateful for you all!... Now, we must rest. Because we are exhausted. See you tomorrow?"

Sidewalk chalk art in progress at Main Street Reads.

Main Street Reads, Summerville, S.C.: "A fantastic day on Indie Bookstore Day--thanks to YOU! We indie bookseller adventure guides got to hang with readers and authors from as close as up the street and as far as Seattle, Washington. Our sincerest thanks to all of you... y'all ROCK!"

Newtonville Books, Newton, Mass.: "That's a wrap!!! We'll recap #indiebookstoreday tomorrow--right now, I am full of gratitude to our lovely booksellers and kind customers!"

Itty Bitty Bookstore, Stoughton, Wis.: "You guys came through and crushed it yesterday for Itty Bitty Bookstore's very first independent bookstore day! Yesterday was the very first day since opening that we had a line of people waiting outside for the doors to open at 10 a.m. and you guys didn't quit! We had our store packed with book lovers all the way until 5 p.m. when our shop closed for the day! Thank you sooooo much!"

Author Annie Hartnett (Unlikely Animals) at Newtonville Books, Newton, Mass.

Point Reyes Books, Point Reyes, Calif.: "Happy #IndependentBookstoreDay! We're catching our breath from a busy day of bookselling and great conversations in the store. We're grateful to you, our community both locally and around the world, for your dedication to this special place--and to reading more books, always."

Source Booksellers, Detroit, Mich.: "Thank to everyone that celebrated with us today. We were delighted to see all the mentions and posts."

Blue House Books, Kenosha, Wis.: "WHAT A DAY! Thank you so much to everyone who came out for Indie Bookstore Day! It was an amazing celebration of books, the people who make them, and the people who read them. You all truly made this day great."

Subterranean Books, St. Louis, Mo.: "Whew. Yesterday was somethin' else! Independent Bookstore Day 2022 went down as our single highest sales day in our 22 years. Thanks to all of you for coming out yesterday and for your support every day. Without you we are nothing."

Booktowne, Manasquan, N.J.: "Thank you to everyone who made our Independent Book Store Weekend so memorable!  Thanks to all the authors, great books, and finally, some great LIVE discussions!"

Books & Books, Miami, Fla.: "Our stores and our hearts are full, and our shelves a little emptier, this #IndependentBookstoreDay! THANK YOU to everyone who stopped in, purchased from us online, or supported an #indiebookstore closer to you."

"We're still buzzing from the incredible turnout yesterday for Canadian #IndieBookstoreDay. We love this community," the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association posted on Facebook yesterday. Canadian Independent Bookstore Day relaunched last year after the CIBA took over the event from the Retail Council of Canada. 

"It's an important recognition of the place that bookstores hold in communities," Jessica Walker, managing partner of Munro's Books, Victoria, B.C., told CBC, adding that CIBD is also a chance to celebrate Canadian readers and books. "Yes, we are retailers of books, but we are also places for cultural connection. Indie bookstores traditionally host the majority of author events, sell books at literary festivals, support school sales and book fairs." 

Many Canadian indie booksellers shared their CIBD excitement on social media, including:

Moonbeam Books, Toronto, Ont.: "It's Canadian Independent Bookstore Day! We've been having a great time chatting with fellow book lovers all day and handing out a gajillion balloons to our little readers. It's not too late to drop by and celebrate but if you miss today, fear not--our neighbourhood scavenger hunt is running all weekend."

Beggar's Banquet Books, Gananoque, Ont.: "Free balloons for everyone!! We're celebrating on this sunny Saturday! Canadian Independent Bookstore Day brings together readers and booksellers coast to coast to celebrate reading and writers and all things bookish. Join us for giveaways, prizes and sales--door prizes and special offers in the pictures below."

Bookmark, Halifax, N.S.: "Balloons and giveaways! Something's happening at your local indie! It's Canadian Independent Bookstore Day! Join us in the celebration."

At A Novel Spot, Toronto

Brome Lake Books, Knowlton, Que.: "You too can write Haiku! Happy Independent Bookstore Day!"

The Yellowknife Book Cellar, Yellowknife, N.T.: "Happy Independent Bookstore Day! Thank you for supporting us and to celebrate you we have French titles, Great Pretenders and Out of Print all 10% off as well as prizes and Barren Grounds coffee (after 11ish)."

Saga, Montreal, Que.: "It's Canadian Independent Bookstore Day 2022!!! And it's been intense fun non stop since we opened at noon! To mark the day, we are launching a new special project, called #SAGAFAM, whose name have been voted by member of our beautiful bilingual Discord book club! Each month, we'll offer a free professional photoshoot by Danila Razykov Photography to a member of our SAGA family, and showcase them on our platforms."

Type Books, Toronto: "Happy Canadian Independent Bookstore Day! It's a really amazing day to be out showing some love to the wonderful independent bookstores in your life. Here at Type Books we're always overwhelmed with gratitude for the support we get from our community. So thank you all so much. And come by the store today for amazing prizes, raffles, and giveaways all day long!"

Glass Bookshop, Edmonton, Alb.: "Happy Canadian Independent Bookstore Day from your favorite bookseller crushes! We love you so much and can't wait to spend the day celebrating with you! Our little indie wouldn't be here without the devoted love and care that you have all shown us over the years, and we want to thank you for it!"

River Bookshop, Amherstburg, Ont.: "It's here! It's finally here! Canadian Independent Bookstore Day! Come in today to browse our front windows full of local authors--for grownups and the littles!"

Whodunit Bookshop, Winnipeg, Man.: "Happy Canadian Independent Bookstore Day! We're happy to be here in your neighborhood, and so thankful for your continued support. Shop in-store today to win tons of free swag, plus be entered into the excellent contest @cibabooks is hosting."

A Different Booklist, Toronto: "...to the many first-time & long-standing supporters who included @ADFRNTBooklist on your bookstore round today! The conversations have been thrilling. Also to authors like @Author_YTM who took time to visit & graciously sign copies of their books. Happy #IndieBookstoreDay!"

Analog Books, Lethbridge, Alb.: "Thank you Lethbridge for a phenomenal Independent Bookstore Day celebration. Today reaffirms our belief that so many of us long for an analog refuge in our digital world. A special shout out to our wonderful staff who brought all the plans together and to the Lethbridge book loving community who visited all three downtown indie bookstores."

DIESEL, A Bookstore, in Brentwood, Calif., celebrated May Day this weekend with a display of relevant titles, headed by a copy of poet Gary Snyder's "May Day Toast to the Workers of the World."

Stefanie Kiper Schmidt, manager of Water Street Bookstore in Exeter, N.H., "is a true fixture at Water Street and in the local literary community," Boston.com reported in a profile of the bookseller.

"I really lucked into a career in bookselling," she said. "I was an English major but didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I moved back home after college and sort of stumbled into a job at Water Street. Pretty quickly, I knew I had found my place. Soon I was running our events and then I became buyer and manager. I love being a buyer--being able to curate the titles, building this beautiful kingdom of books in my store season after season, it's a wonderful feeling."

Noting that it is the little details that make a local bookstore a true hub, Kiper Schmidt observed: "From curating books to hosting events to donating books and money to local organizations, indie bookstores do so much to bring flavor and life to communities."

Water Street helped establish the Exeter Literary Festival in 2018, which highlights the rich range of writers--past and present--in the area. "I'm sure every bookstore thinks their local writers are the best! We've been so honored to be present for the launch of so many great writers into the world," said Kiper Schmidt. "From John Irving to Dan Brown to tons of wonderful novelists, poets, and nonfiction writers, it's been really lovely to recognize all of our local talent and commune together over the written word." 

Lily Yengle has been promoted from senior marketing manager to associate director of children's marketing at Bloomsbury US.

Deep Water by Emma Bamford (Scout Press). Also check out this version.

Today:
Good Morning America: Jennifer Grey, author of Out of the Corner: A Memoir (Ballantine, $30, 9780593356708). She will also be on the View tomorrow.

Drew Barrymore Show: David Sedaris, author of Happy-Go-Lucky (Little, Brown, $29, 9780316392457).

Tamron Hall: Gabrielle Bernstein, author of Happy Days: The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom and Inner Peace (Hay House, $25.99, 9781401965495).

The View: Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns, authors of This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future (Simon & Schuster, $29.99, 9781982172480).

The Tonight Show: Norman Reedus, author of The Ravaged (Blackstone Publishing, $28.99, 9781094166803). He will also appear on Live with Kelly and Ryan.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Alton Brown, author of Good Eats: The Final Years (Abrams, $40, 9781419753527).

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Rick Martínez, author of Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in Mexico (Clarkson Potter, $35, 9780593138700).

Tamron Hall: Sonya Curry, author of Fierce Love: A Memoir of Family, Faith, and Purpose (HarperOne, $27.99, 9780063051485). She will also be on Good Morning America.

Late Night with Seth Meyers: Hernan Diaz, author of Trust (Riverhead, $28, 9780593420317).

Also on Late Night: Minnie Driver, author of Managing Expectations: A Memoir in Essays (HarperOne, $27.99, 9780063115309).

Robert Eggers (The Northman, The Witch) made his directing debut in 2008 with a short film adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's story "The Tell-Tale Heart." He recently chose to show it exclusively on IndieWire, which reported the short had "helped Eggers develop the period horror aesthetic that he perfected in The Witch, and established his relationships with several key collaborators."

"I am pleased to share The Tell-Tale Heart," he said. "It is an uneven film, but my first film that I was proud of making. It is also my first collaboration with my DP Jarin Blaschke and editor Lousie Ford, and we have worked together ever since, so it is an important film for all three of us. It is also my first collaboration with sound designer Damian Volpe."

The Mystery Writers of America has announced the winners of the 2022 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction and TV.:

Best Novel: Five Decembers by James Kestrel (Hard Case Crime)
Best First Novel by an American Author: Deer Season by Erin Flanagan (University of Nebraska Press)
Best Paperback Original: Bobby March Will Live Forever by Alan Parks (Europa Editions/World Noir)
Best Fact Crime: Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon Green (Celadon Books)
Best Critical/Biographical: The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock: An Anatomy of the Master of Suspense by Edward White (Norton)
Best Short Story: "The Road to Hana," Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine by R.T. Lawton (Dell Magazines)
Best Juvenile: Concealed by Christina Diaz Gonzalez (Scholastic Press)
Best Young Adult: Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (Holt Books for Young Readers)
Best Television Episode Teleplay: "Boots on the Ground" Narcos: Mexico, written by Iturri Sosa (Netflix)
Robert L. Fish Memorial Award: "Analogue," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine by Rob Osler (Dell Magazines)
The Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award: Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara (Soho Crime)
The G.P. Putnam's Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award: Runner by Tracy Clark (Kensington Books)

Special awards included:

Grand Master: Laurie R. King
Raven Award: Lesa Holstine (Lesa's Book Critiques, Library Journal reviewer)
Ellery Queen Award: Juliet Grames (Soho Crime)

In Future Stories: What's Next?, David Christian, one of the founders of the field of Big History, applies the same expansive approach to a fascinating excursion into the future of humanity and the planet where we reside. For him, it's a logical extension of his pioneering course, which covers the existence of the universe from the instant of the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago to the present. And in taking on the future, Christian (Origin Story: A Big History of Everything), Professor Emeritus at Australia's Macquarie University, makes a persuasive argument for the "basic future-thinking principle that visions of possible futures must rest on knowledge of powerful trends in the past."

Christian organizes his book around four broad questions: 1. "What is the future?" 2. "How do living organisms cope with the future?" 3. "How do human beings try to glimpse, understand, and prepare for the future?" 4. "What sort of futures can we (plausibly) imagine for humanity, planet Earth, and the universe as a whole?" Within these headings, Christian engages with topics as diverse as Einstein's theory of relativity and a comparison of the way single-celled organisms like E. coli differ from human beings (with our some 30 trillion cells of 200 different types) in the way they adapt to the future's demands. In any given chapter he's as likely to be discussing the writings of St. Augustine as he is Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five.

The most intriguing section of Future Stories is its final one, entitled "Imagining Futures," when Christian moves on from more methodologically-oriented material to substantive attempts to peer into the future at different time scales. Even at a mere century's length, Christian admits that our "maps of possible futures" are "tentative, blurry, speculative, lacking in detail, and may sometimes be as fantastical as medieval maps of unknown lands." At this shortest of his time scales, Christian identifies four basic scenarios--"collapse," "downsizing," "sustainability," and "growth," and then proceeds to spell out what each of those scenarios might look like in the real world. He concludes with a warning that "much will depend on politics," an unsettling prospect given the dysfunction of political life in some of our most advanced societies.

Christian approaches the project with the enthusiasm of a highly educated generalist and, of necessity given the scope of his undertaking, a relatively broad brush. For those looking to pursue a given topic in more depth, there's an extensive bibliography, as well as a glossary to help decode unfamiliar terminology. Christian's style is lively and inviting, and he takes pains to distinguish when he's proceeding from a solid evidentiary grounding and when he's indulging in more speculative musings. Future Stories is simultaneously entertaining and sobering, and is recommended reading for anyone who may be curious about what's ahead of us. --Harvey Freedenberg, freelance reviewer

Shelf Talker: Big History founder David Christian enthusiastically turns his attention to humanity's short- and long-term future, and offers intriguing projections.