Toronto Reference Library Blog

On Saturday April 30, 2016, more than 800 Canadian authors will show their love for independent bookstores by volunteering as guest booksellers for the day.

Visit an indie bookstore on Authors for Indies Day and you'll have the chance to meet and chat with local authors, find out what they're reading and recommending, and maybe even buy a book — or two (or, if you're anything like me, many more than you can possibly afford) — in support of your city's great independent bookstores.

To help you make the most of #AFI2016, check out this map of Toronto's indie bookstores by illustrator Tania Howells, commissioned by Coach House Books. Click the image to enlarge. Click on over to the Coach House website for a larger PDF version you can download and print. The map will be available for sale at several indie bookstores too!

Like libraries, independent bookstores are important places in our communities, vital to the cultural well-being of our city and, for many of us, our everyday lives. They support local writers and small presses, ardently promote books and reading, and can guide readers to wonderfully surprising discoveries. They are cool neighbourhood spots that offer a welcome alternative to the ice cold corporate conformity of conspicuous big box consumption. And, also like libraries, indie bookstores work very hard, and sometimes struggle, to survive and thrive. But they can and they do — with a little help from their book-loving friends.

So if you're a book lover, why not swing by an indie bookstore on Saturday? Show a little love for your local indie, be a part of this celebration of books, bookstores, writers and readers, and, you never know, you may just bump into your favourite author working behind the cash register!

Many participating authors have links with Toronto Public Library, having made appearances in library programs such as our eh List Series. 

I asked three local authors who are taking part in Authors for Indies Day why they love independent bookstores:

Farzana Doctor, author of the novels Stealing Nasreen, Six Metres of Pavement, and All Inclusive:

"Independent bookstores champion authors, especially those who might not get shelf or stage space at the larger big box stores. When I was an unknown writer promoting my first novel, a number of indies responded to my cold calls and e-mails, and agreed to host my readings and launches."

You can check out some of Farzana's past recommended reads here. To find out what books she's recommending now, meet her at Type Books (883 Queen Street West), 11am-noon, and Another Story Bookshop (315 Roncesvalles Avenue) 1-2pm.

Bianca Lakoseljac, author of the book of poetry Memoirs of a Praying Mantis, the short story collection Bridge in the Rain, and the novel Summer of the Dancing Bear:

"I think of independent bookstores as anchors of our communities. They are gathering places in the neighbourhoods where books are launched, stories are read and patrons are welcomed by enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. I will be helping out at my two neighbourhood bookstores which have supplied me and my children with many inspirational reads over the years.

My reading tastes are eclectic and I will be promoting three fiction and two non-fiction books by wonderful Toronto authors — a collection of short stories, two novels, a window into Canadian history, and a perspective on the feminist movement in Canada — in hopes of helping book lovers discover exciting new reads. As authors, we write for our readers. Is there anything more magical than walking into a neighbourhood bookstore lined with shelves of hand-picked titles, populated with readers passionate about books, and authors keen to discover readers' interests?"

Curious to know what Bianca's eclectic selections are? Meet her at Another Story Bookshop (315 Roncesvalles Avenue) noon-2pm, and Book City in the Bloor West Village (2354 Bloor Street West), 3-4pm, to find out.

Nathan Whitlock, author of the novels A Week of This: A Novel in Seven Days and, just published this month, Congratulations on Everything:

"Literature is a human-sized activity — anything book-related starts to feel a little alien when it gets super-sized. Indie bookstores are human-sized, you can still see the connections between readers and books. The staff picks are the best example: instead of paid-for marketing placements, you get odd and unexpected endorsements from people actually working in the store.

Lately I've been reading a lot of very funny female writers, writers who cut right to the bone, so I'm going to be recommending books like Jenny Offill's Dept. of Speculation and Rachel Cusk's Outline."

To congratulate Nathan on his new book, and everything, and find out what else tickles/cuts his funny bone, meet him at Book City in the Beach (1950 Queen Street East), 10:30-11:30am, and Book City on the Danforth (348 Danforth Avenue), 12:30-1:30pm.

For a complete list of participating bookstores and authors, and for author appearance times, visit www.authorsforindies.com and select Find a Store.