George Cooper and Judy Blume from the Massachusetts “branch” of Books & Books @ The Studios
Hello Book Friends,
Independent Bookstore Day, celebrated nationally in April with an in-store party, giveaways, and exclusive merchandise, will be held this year on Saturday, August 29. Okay, we’ll take any kind of celebration we can get, right? And on this Indie Bookstore Day we want to celebrate you, our customers – to thank you for your loyalty and support over a difficult time for all of us. You’ve kept us going. You’ve shopped online, by phone, and in person wearing masks and gloves. You’ve ordered books for yourselves, your families, and your friends. You’ve ordered Starter Libraries for newborns and as birthday gifts for toddlers. You’ve ordered books you’ve read about, both new and old, you’ve had bookish conversations with our staff – and a better staff doesn’t exist – that’s how we feel anyway. So let’s celebrate them too. Hey, Emily, Gianelle, Robin and Lori, we’re talking about you!
This year you can celebrate Indie Bookstore Day at the store, wearing your favorite mask. Or join us online, just follow us on social media and we’ll try and make sure you feel the booklove from afar. How I wish George and I could be there in person. We miss being at the store more than we can say. It’s what our grown children call the vulnerability thing. Something we don’t readily admit to, or even feel. But we’ll be back, that’s a promise. For now, we continue to work from home. Right now we’re in Massachusetts for a month, in a house right across the street from my daughter’s. Our morning walks have grown longer and more vigorous (running the bases at the ball field a few blocks away) since my daughter has been baking and making us delicious dinners.
I’m signing books and George has set up a mailroom on the dining room table so we can get books to you promptly. I’ve promised myself I’ll spend the first hour after breakfast every day working on my family memoir – something I’ve been thinking about for years. It will be from the point of view of the child I was and cover my first thirteen years, the ones that really count. I’m at the notebook stage and have been doing some very rough pieces. I never know exactly what might happen once I start writing. I envision charming illustrations a la Maira Kalman. And who knows, maybe this will help explain what makes a person write. Or maybe it will fizzle and no one will ever see it.
Keep in touch. Let us know what’s new with you. Hope you’re all staying well – glad our Key West friends who have had the dreaded virus are recovering. And whatever you do, keep reading and listening. George just finished reading Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. He enjoyed it. Now he’s 
listening to Caste by Isabel Wilkerson and says it’s so smart – an eye opening book that might change the way you think about the U.S. Good for George! When I’m trying to write I’m not reading as much though I’m enjoying The Glass Hotel 
by Emily St. John Mandel. To be honest, I’m addicted to reading everything I can about the virus, and, as if that’s not depressing enough, throw in politics. By the time I finish I’m exhausted. But I’ve just ordered Sue Miller’s new novel, Monogamy. 
I’ve been a fan of hers since her first book and I’m excited for this new one. Also looking forward to so many books coming out next month.
For now, Happy Indie Bookstore Day to you, our readers! You are loved and appreciated.
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