Around Indies

Greenlight Launches Radio Hour Podcasts

Brooklyn’s Greenlight Bookstore has launched the podcast series Greenlight Bookstore Radio Hour. Episodes, which are being posted twice a month, will focus on author events, book reviews, and news of upcoming releases.

The podcasts, created in partnership with multimedia production company CitizenRacecar, will be available for free download and subscription via popular services such as iTunes and Stitcher.

“It’s been a dream of ours to somehow preserve the amazing conversations between authors that happen here at the store,” said Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo, Greenlight co-owner and events coordinator. “These incredible moments with brilliant people just disappear into the past, and we wanted a way to hang on to them and share them, even with people who couldn’t be there on one particular night. We’re so delighted to be working with David to capture those moments and make them available in this wonderful new way. “

Books mentioned in each episode, including event books and staff recommendations, will be included on a dedicated show notes page linked in each episode. Each podcast will also include a discount code for 15 percent off one purchase on greenlightbookstore.com.

The first podcast, available now, is Colum McCann in conversation with Phil Klay. Upcoming episodes include an evening of debut authors hosted by One Story Magazine; Khaled Hosseini in conversation with Anand Giridharadas; and Elizabeth Gilbert in conversation with Rebecca Mead. 

Left Bank Hosts Writing Institute, Celebrates 45 Years

Left Bank Books in St. Louis, Missouri, which will be celebrating its 45th birthday this weekend, recently hosted a group of high-school creative writing students from Washington University’s Summer Writing Institute. The students visited Left Bank on July 2 to experience an independent bookstore, shop, and take part in a writing exercise based on the bookstore setting. Afterwards, they posed with the T.S. Eliot statute in front of the store, and Left Bank gave the future authors this piece of advice: “Don’t ever let anyone tell you books are dead.”

To celebrate its birthday, Left Bank has created a window display featuring a collection of memorabilia from the past 45 years, including photos of former staff, visiting authors, and its three famous store cats; posters and fliers from the store’s previous location; artwork created exclusively for Left Bank Books by Mary Engelbreit; merchandise; and more.

Left Bank is also hosting two special events: a sale for the Friends of Left Bank Books Literary Society and a Writers Under Glass event on July 11.

“Left Bank Books, at 45, is a survivor,” said co-owner Kris Kleindienst in an interview with Kirkus Reviews in April. “I think what indie bookstores can be is flexible and elastic, responding quickly to our communities’ interests...there is always something new to look forward to.”

Books Inc. Staff Member and YA Author Sara Farizan Wins Lammy

Congratulations to Books Inc. staff member Sara Farizan, whose YA debut, If You Could Be Mine (Algonquin), won a 2014 Lambda Literary Award for Best Young Adult Novel in June. If You Could Be Mine was a featured title in the Fall 2013 Indies Introduce promotion, and last November Farizan talked to BTW about her debut novel.

Readers can catch Farizan at Books Inc. Laurel Village, where they can get their books signed by the award-winning author. Farizan’s next novel, Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel, is due out this September.

Nightbird Books Holding Weeklong Fundraiser

Eight-year-old Nightbird Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is in the midst of a weeklong fundraiser to bring together its community for seven days of events and entertainment. Attendees can pay by the event, or can purchase a $75 pass for admission to all events, which began July 7 and run through July 12.

The Feed the Bird Celebration will offer attendees opportunities to participate in fundraising events, including the jailing in a birdcage of local celebrities, who will need to be bailed out; a community sing-along; a cocktail presentation and quiz show; local food samples and talks; author readings; live music; a middle grade writing workshop; and family craft projects, story times, and book discussions.

See the full schedule on Nightbird’s calendar.