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Authors back indie bookstores

Independent bookstores are getting a three-coast wave of national support this weekend.

Independent bookstores are getting a three-coast wave of national support this weekend.

Saturday is the first official Authors For Indies Day in Canada, a time when the top writers of the country get up close and personal in their support of the shops that retail their works to the public using a small-business and owner-operator model.

Prince George is taking part with a menu of writers swarming Books & Company with supportive visits.

"We have more than a dozen authors coming in to act as in-store ambassadors and guest book sellers," said store manager Kayli Van der Meer. "I'm so excited to see so many authors here. We will have their books out on display, the writers will be signing them for customers, and they will be in-store for whatever discussion you want to have with them. They will talk about writing, publishing, what inspires them, maybe what they're working on, it's just a great time to celebrate books with people who write them."

Van der Meer said they were excited to be among the first indie bookstores in Canada to take part in the inaugural year, and expected the event to grow nationally. It already had the outspoken support of many in the Canadian literary elite. She said it was writer Ann-Marie MacDonald who drew the most attention to the event, for her.

MacDonald said this was an opportunity for authors to show their gratitude to booksellers, and perhaps inspire in the public a new level of understanding about the close relationships connecting readers, writers and retailers.

"We all know how tough things are for Canadian independent bookstores," said MacDonald. "Year after year they support us. They stock our books, invite us for readings, and put our titles on their Staff Picks shelf. Let's do something to support them back."

At 9 a.m. on Saturday Books & Company will host L.A. Fielding, Krystal Etter, Barb Rayment and Gillian Wigmore. At 11 a.m. they will be joined by Melanie Watts, Keith Billington and Mike Nash. At 1 p.m. the next shift of writers will be Jacqueline Baldwin, Valerie Giles, Ray Olson and June Chamberland. From 3 p.m. to closing time, the visitors will include Ed Zaruk, Derek Sale and Rob Budde.

There may well be surprise author appearances and unscheduled visits as well. Attendance is free, but thousands of titles will be on sale all around the store, as always.