Best-Selling "Bookshop Authors" Rally for Fellow Indie Bookshops

DEDHAM, MA. Dedham author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds will be uniting with fellow best-selling authors Authors Jeff Kinney and Ann Patchett and for a virtual fundraising event, “Bookshop Authors Unite!” on Thursday, July 23. The three have more in common than their best-selling author status -- they all own their own independent bookstores. Kinney, the author of the wildly popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, opened his store, An Unlikely Story, in Plainville, MA in 2015; internationally-renowned author Ann Patchett started her store, Parnassus Books, in Nashville in 2011; and Peter H. Reynolds, children’s book author and illustrator of bestsellers like The Dot, Say Something, and The Word Collector, opened The Blue Bunny Bookstore in his hometown of Dedham, MA in 2003.

In response to the economic challenges that bookshops are facing during the COVID19 pandemic crisis, the three authors decided to come together remotely on July 23 at 7 p.m., to support Binc, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation through an innovative virtual fundraising event. The only nonprofit in the country dedicated to assisting booksellers and comic retailers, Binc was formed to strengthen the bookselling community and support employees and their families with financial need arising from severe hardship or emergency circumstances. Ann Patchett, Binc’s inaugural ambassador, considers this event to support Binc as an opportunity to “weave a safety net for all booksellers and a way to thank the people who have given so much” to the industry. Jeff Kinney, who will be moderating the discussion, is excited to be part of the conversation, “talking with like-minded individuals about what it’s been like in our communities” during these challenging times.

Binc’s executive director, Pamela French, applauds the initiative. “We are incredibly grateful to these friends of Binc, Ann Patchett, Jeff Kinney, and Peter H. Reynolds, and all those organizing the Bookshop Authors Unite! conversation. We already know that it’s sure to be an enlightening, funny and informative discussion. These best-selling authors are in a unique position to understand Binc’s mission, being bookstore owners themselves. And we couldn’t be more grateful for their continued and ongoing support of Binc and their dedication to our shared mission of helping booksellers and bookstores thrive.” Since its inception, the organization has provided over $9 million in financial assistance and scholarships to more than 9000 families. More information about Binc can be found at bincfoundation.org.

As strong supporters of independent bookstores, Kinney, Patchett and Reynolds will share what led each of them to take a leap of faith and invest in their own bookstores and how the stores have changed their lives and work. Due to the pandemic, the challenges of the past few months have affected every aspect of their businesses and they are hoping this conversation will allow their community of supporters a chance to invest in the industry through the important work of Binc. In addition to the fundraising component of the meeting, Peter Reynolds looks forward to talking with the others about the role of bookstores in a complex world. “Kindness, generosity of spirit, multiple viewpoints, creative thinking, and being open to new ideas are all ideals of a great bookshop and big ideas that lead to a better world.”

Staff members from all three bookstores have been working together to arrange the details and promote the event. Free registration is open to the public through any one of the three bookstores’ facebook pages and websites. While there is no charge to attend, participants will be encouraged to make a donation to Binc at the close of the conversation. Other booksellers, industry professionals, educators and librarians, as well as fans of the authors, are encouraged to join the event.

Author Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid book was published in 2007 and became an instant bestseller. The series has remained on the New York Times bestseller lists since the publication of the first book, for more than 500 weeks total, and more than 350 on the series list. Jeff Kinney was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world. Learn more about Jeff’s store at anunlikelystory.com.

Ann Patchett’s books have been both New York Times Notable Books and New York Times bestsellers. She has been the recipient of England’s Orange Prize, the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Book Sense Book of the Year, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the American Bookseller’s Association’s Most Engaging Author Award, and the Women’s National Book Association’s Award. Visit Ann’s bookstore Parnassus Books at parnassusbooks.net.

Blue Bunny Bookstore owner Peter H. Reynolds’ books focus on protecting and nurturing the creative spirit. Since 2009, each September, educators and students have participated in International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity in the classroom inspired by his bestselling book The Dot. In total, Peter’s children’s book career includes the publication of over 50 titles and he has received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Fitchburg State University, among other awards and honors. Learn more about Peter’s store at bluebunnybooks.com.

For more information and free registration: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/bookshop-authors-unite.

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