Around Indies

Phoenix Books’ New Location Under Construction

Phoenix Books & Cafe, which will be opening its second location in Burlington, Vermont this May, is documenting the construction on the store’s Facebook page. The Facebook album’s description reads, “Join us in this adventure! Watch our upcoming location on Burlington’s Bank Street turn into your local, indie bookstore.” Phoenix’s original location was opened in 2007 in Essex, Vermont.

Skylight Works With Lambda Literary Book Club Donation Program

Lambda Literary Foundation has partnered with Skylight Books in Los Angeles to launch My Story, a national online book club donation program for LGBT youth. My Story, scheduled to launch on May 1, aims to provide readers 14 years old and up with the opportunity to read and discover LGBT works in the safe and protective atmosphere of Goodreads. Supporters are encouraged to show their commitment to diversity and acceptance by giving a flat-rate $20 donation. Skylight Books will then send a copy of the My Story monthly selection to a community center, high school, or non-profit organization in need.

As part of My Story’s dedication to community and diversity, “we wanted to partner with an independent bookstore that reflected our mission and values,” explained Program Coordinator Monica Carter. Skylight Books has always been a thriving cultural center in the local community and a proponent of LGBT literature. We are proud to have Skylight Books as our official partner.”

New Bookstore to Occupy Common Good Books’ Former Space

In June, a new bookstore called Subtext is slated to open in St. Paul, Minnesota, in the 2,400-square-foot space that was previously home to Garrison Keillor’s Common Good Books (CGB). Sue Zumberege, former manager of CGB, will run the store in partnership with her landlord, June Berkowitz, the owner of Nina’s Coffee Cafe, which occupies the space above the bookstore.

“This will be a neighborhood store, geared to the community,” Events Coordinator David Unowsky told the Pioneer Press. Subtext’s inventory will include fiction, poetry, biography and young-adult titles.

Houston’s TeenBookCon Draws a Crowd

It was sitting room only in the panel "Reality Bites" featuring authors Jesse Andrews, Elizabeth Eulberg, Lisa McMann, Ruta Sepetys, and Siobhan Vivian.  Photo credit: Ann Nguyen

The third annual TeenBookCon drew a crowd of more than 1,100 people to Houston, Texas, last Saturday to celebrate teen reading. The event featured a keynote address by Orson Scott Card, as well as six different panel sessions. Cathy Berner, children’s/YA specialist and event coordinator for Blue Willow Bookshop, in Houston, Texas, worked with publishers to organize author appearances, in addition to creating panels that would foster inspiring discussions.

Changing Hands May Open Second Location

Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona, is working on plans for a second location, according to Jackalope Ranch, the Phoenix New Times’ culture blog. An offer was made by Jon Kitchell and Lorenzo Perez of Venue Projects, who — if all goes smoothly — will own the building where Changing Hands will come in as a retail partner. The potential space in Phoenix is now in escrow, giving both buyer and seller 60 days for due diligence before the deal is official.

“We are extremely hopeful and excited about the possibility of having a second Changing Hands at that location,” said bookstore co-owner Cindy Dach. “But at this point there is no way any one of us can say it’s a for sure thing.”