Authors wrap for Audreys

An independent bookseller is an integral component of a community’s culture, and that’s why a special event at Edmonton’s Audreys Bookstore today is meant to be a kind of community celebration.

Today is a special edition of the bookstore’s Authors for Indies, an event usually held in the spring. It’s a symbiotic relationship between the two anyway, but this event does so much to benefit the patrons of the literary arts.

“We think of ourselves as a community place where people can gather,” said Audreys’ co-owner Sharon Budnarchuk. “So we thought what better way to celebrate that and our local authors and Christmas and all is to have some of them come in and gift wrap for customers, help them find things, sign their own books, but also to suggest things that they’ve just read.”

The 2015 event was a wonderful success, she continued and not just because the authors love to meet their avid readers. They also get the added benefit of meeting other authors too. They don’t often see each other, giving Budnarchuk another big reason to love hosting parties like this for all of her friends.

“We value our local authors very, very highly. It’s another opportunity for us to wave the flag for them, and to say that we’re different, we’re special, and that we have a very specially selected library in the store.”

There’s a full slate of writers set to make their appearances, doing their bit to offer assistance to winter shoppers. One of these familiar faces in the crowd is St. Albert-raised Bridget Ryan, author of the children’s book Who is Boo? series that is illustrated by Jason Carter.

“As an indie book author, one cannot possibly describe in words the importance of a place like Audreys for supporting an event such as this,” Ryan exclaimed, noting how she loves it when children recite passages about compassion and understanding from the book.

“I feel like right now, there could not be a more important message for children to learn: to stop and consider not just what you are feeling, but what the other person is feeling. It’s a message of compassion, helpfulness and ultimately – connectivity – something that this world has a false sense of, what with all the 'social media' ... but with Boo, he actually meets people, and attempts to be helpful and create a better situation for everyone.”

If connectivity is the message then it gets further weight when Ryan comes out in person to connect with the readers. That’s important for so many reasons, she ended, and it sure helped the three Boo books get bestseller numbers, even if they don’t make the bestseller charts because they were self-published.

Other special guests include Todd Babiak, Theresa Shea, Mike Boldt, Wayne Arthurson, Marty Klinkenberg, Janice MacDonald, and Laurel Deedrick-Mayne. Oh, and a guy named Hawksley Workman too, who’s in town for a series of sold-out performances at the Citadel’s Club Theatre.