Hi friends! A few months ago, I had the privilege of joining the team at A Mighty Blaze, a movement that promotes books, authors, and booksellers during the time of COVID-19 and beyond.
With a partner, I run the Authors ♥ Bookstores program, an online conversation between authors and their favorite independent bookstores. These interviews are held weekly on A Mighty Blaze’s Facebook page.
What fun, these interviews have been! I’ve had the opportunity to speak with some of my favorite authors about their novels, writing and reading during the pandemic, and why independent bookstores are so vital to our communities. (I even managed to keep my author fangirling to a minimum–a miracle!)
Most of all, these interviews have been an excellent way to connect with booklovers all over the country. I’ve learned how well indie bookstores have responded to the pandemic (online orders! online author events! contactless delivery! curbside pickup!), which has helped their businesses thrive in an uncertain world. I’ve had the chance to hear how authors are finding ways to be inspired and connected during quarantine, and I’ve discovered some terrific new books.
Some of my Authors ♥ Bookstores interviews have included:
Jenna Blum & An Unlikely Story
Judy Blume & Books and Books @ The Studios in Key West
Marisa de los Santos & Hockessin Books
Janet Fitch & Skylight Books
Julia Glass, Three Lives & Company & California Independent Booksellers Alliance
Marjan Kamali & Belmont Books
Lily King & Print: A Bookstore
Ann Patchett & Parnassus Books
Rebecca Makkai & Madison Street Books
Carter Sickels & Downbound Books
More interviews are scheduled, and I’ll add them here.
Be sure to tune into Authors ♥ Bookstores or the many other events sponsored by A Mighty Blaze (debut novelists! mystery writers! celebrity author conversations!).
