Seattle Bookstores Band Together for Independent Bookstore Day

Independent booksellers in the greater Seattle, Washington, area are banding together to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on May 2. In addition to parties, author readings, in-store events, and exclusive literary-themed merchandise, 17 booksellers will be collaborating to crown some of their most dedicated customers as Indie Bookstore Champs.

Customers declared Indie Bookstore Champs will win a discount of 25 percent at all participating bookstores for the year.

To become an Indie Bookstore Champ, a customer must pick up a passport at any of the participating bookstores on May 2 and visit each and every store to get a unique passport stamp. Those turning in completed passports at the last stop on their daylong tour will be crowned an Indie Bookstore Champ and will receive the 25 percent discount. Official Indie Bookstore Champ discount cards will be mailed to winners on May 7.

Those who visit three or more bookstores but do not complete the whole tour will be entered into a drawing to win a variety of prizes, including gift cards, first edition books, and more. A grand prize of $425 in gift certificates — $25 to each of the 17 stores — will also be awarded. The drawing will be held on May 7.

The 17 Seattle-area bookstores coming together to participate in Independent Bookstore Day are Book Larder, Eagle Harbor Book Co., Edmonds Bookshop, The Elliott Bay Book Company, Fantagraphics Books, Island Books, Liberty Bay Books, Mockingbird Books, Open Books, Parkplace Books, Phinney Books, Queen Anne Book Company, Seattle Mystery Bookstore, Secret Garden Books, Third Place Books, and University Book Store.

Special in-store events on May 2 include a relationship advice booth at Elliott Bay Book Company, a prize wheel at Island Books, the “Ask Johnny Hour” with Jonathan Evison at Liberty Bay Books, and poem writing with the editors of Poetry Northwest at Phinney Books.

More on Seattle-area booksellers’ Independent Bookstore Day plans can be found on Facebook and Twitter and by following the hashtag #SEABookstoreDay.