Local bookstore brings in local authors for holiday signing event

Those who want to support a local business and local artists -- in this case authors -- will have the opportunity to do both Dec. 15 at Kazoo Book's Author Day.

 

The event at the independent bookseller's Parkview location features begins at 11 a.m. with children’s book authors Leslie Helakoski, author of Woolbur, Janet Ruth Heller, author of How the Moon Regained Her Shape, Kathryn Seifert, author of Hank the Hanger and Mara McKay, author of Haylee's Treasure.

 

Authors are scheduled throughout the day. Owner Gloria Tiller says the daylong event is one that the store began to offer three years ago when an author called during the holiday season and said she would be available for a booksigning. Tiller was skeptical that anyone would take time out of Christmas shopping to go to a booksigning, but it turned out to be a big success. So Tiller scheduled a second event the following year and it was an even bigger success. That encouraged her to set up the third annual authors' day.

 

"We have 21 authors who will be signing books," she says, "but what happens is authors come out during the day to support their friends."

 

A festive atmosphere takes over the shop with "all kinds of refreshments" and all the Christmas titles in the store are on sale. "There are a lot of reasons to come out in addition to seeing your favorite authors," Tiller says.

 

"We start out the day with children's authors, then later in the afternoon we have inspiration with Mark Nepo," she says. "And (David Small and Sarah Stewart) have a new book, The Quiet Place, they will be signing at the end of the day." 

 

A complete schedule for the authors signings can be found here. 

 

"It's a great chance to meet authors one-on-one and get books signed," Tiller says. "It's very informal and everyone is here to have fun."