Around Indies

La Casa Azul Owner Picks Up Front-Door Keys

Last Saturday, Aurora Anaya-Cerda picked up the keys to the storefront at East 103^rd Street in East Harlem, New York, that will be transformed into the bricks-and-mortar location of La Casa Azul Bookstore, as reported by the New York Daily News. In September, Anaya-Cerda, who has been running an online bookstore for the past three years, launched a 40-day campaign to raise $40,000. Earlier this month, she announced that the campaign had been a success.

“I’ve been dreaming of this moment for five years,” Anaya-Cerda told the Daily News. She is now aiming to host a ribbon-cutting at her new store in the spring. The community can follow La Casa Azul’s progress on the Lucha Libros blog, where Anaya-Cerda will be posting photos, videos, and commentary.

Seven Indies Recognized for Effective Facebook Marketing

Several independent bookstores were recently featured on the Swipely blog for their successful Facebook marketing techniques. Among the clever ways that Russo’s Books, in Bakersfield, California, draws attention to itself, Swipley said, is by posting a photo of the first book sold on a particular day. Diesel, A Bookstore, which has three locations in California, was applauded for posting quick book reviews to its Facebook Wall several times a week. And, in addition to posting controversial articles and great photos, Strand Book Store, in New York City, was recognized for using Facebook to promote and invite customers to in-store events.

Other stores cited for their exemplary use of Facebook were Kepler’s in Menlo Park, California; Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver, Colorado; Moe’s Books, in Berkeley, California; and Brattle Book Shop, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Author Elves Stop at Anderson’s

Last Saturday, several authors were on hand at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, Illinois, to offer their own book suggestions to customers. The “author elves” included Melanie Benjamin (The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb, Delacorte Press); Luis Alberto Urrea (Queen of America, Little Brown), who came with his wife, Cindy; and Karen Doornebos (Definitely Not Mr. Darcy, Berkley Trade). Sally M. Walker (Blizzard of Glass, Henry Holt) was also a visitor to the store.