ST. GEORGE — Independent Bookstore Day is coming on April 24 all over the country, and The Book Bungalow is kicking it off in advance with a special virtual event the evening before.
Due to the pandemic, the store, located at 94 West Tabernacle Street in downtown St. George in Green Gate Village, has made all its events virtual, but this one will have a special resonance for residents, old and new, of St. George and other neighboring Southern Utah communities, according to owner and manager Tanya Parker Mills.
“Local authors Kathleen Broeder, Dianne Aldrich, and Loren R. Webb will share pictures and stories published recently in their books Images of America: St. George and Southern Utah Memories,” Mills said. “We’re calling the event ‘A Southern Utah Retrospective,’ and during it I will interview them about the history of this area, as brought forth in their books.”
Registration for the event is now open, Mills said, and the link is included in the full list of IBD events, offers, and special deals for on the home page of The Book Bungalow’s website at www.thebookbungalow.com.
The next day, as part of Independent Bookstore Day, all three authors will be available to sign copies of their books on the front porch of The Book Bungalow, Mills said, noting that a limited supply of their books will be on sale in the store.
Webb will sign from 10-11 a.m., according to Mills, and co-authors Broeder and Aldrich will be on the porch from 1-2 p.m., and then again from 4-5 p.m., depending on demand.
“In addition, we will have another local author, Elaine Vickers, signing copies of her latest novel, Fadeaway, a YA suspense about the mysterious disappearance of a local high school basketball star and the revelations that emerge about his town as the search begins for him,” Mills said. “She’ll be on the porch to sign from 2 to 3 p.m.”
All of that only covers part of what will be available on Independent Bookstore Day, Mills pointed out.
“This is being celebrated nationally, so the American Booksellers Association has put together a menu of other free virtual events before or on that day, featuring the likes of authors like Glennon Doyle of Untamed fame, along with special offers and a fun shout out campaign with prizes,” she said. “Just go to our website’s home page for details.”
“As for our store, there will be free cupcakes and tote bags for the earliest customers, lots of other giveaways, and special items available for sale that day only,” she said. “Stop on by and show your love and support for your local independent bookstore. We were fortunate to make it through the pandemic, but it was in large measure due to a strong, loyal customer base—a base we’d like to see grow as our business grows.”
The Book Bungalow is a full service local, independent bookstore servicing St. George, Washington, Santa Clara, Ivins and other surrounding communities.