Blue House Books joining the Independent Bookstore Day party

No one likes to miss a party.

Independent Bookstore Day is a national-wide event celebrating small businesses since 2015. This year’s event, set for April 24, finally extends an invitation to Kenosha now that Blue House Books has solved our city’s long bookstore drought.

The lineup of events is as big as the joy shop owner Sam Jacquest feels finally being part of it.

“This is a day to celebrate everything that makes (our)  indie bookstore special,” she wrote on her website. “We will have readings and book signings from local authors, live music, a costume contest, raffles and of course books!”

The celebration, set for 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Saturday will spread over two businesses: Blue House Books and Kenosha Creative Space 624 Gallery are both located in the same complex at 56th Street and Seventh Avenue. Indoor and outdoor events are planned, weather permitting.

Here’s a list of local Independent Bookstore Day events:

All Day

Costume contest: Come dressed as your favorite literary character and pose in the photo area. Pictures will be posted to social media, and followers will vote for their top three favorites. Winners will receive BHB gift certificates.

Other day-long events include raffles, give-aways and  book-shopping specials.

10:30 a.m.

Children’s Story Time: LaTia Russell of Ties that Bind Publishing will be leading story time for children to kick off the day’s events. LaTia will be reading from books stocked at Blue House Books that are filled with diverse characters.

She will also have a coloring activity to promote her children’s coloring book “Live in Color: Positive Affirmations Coloring Book for Children.”

Russell is the owner of Ties that Bind Publishing, which also includes her husband and son, William and CJ Russell.

“Our mission is to help combat illiteracy with the creation of fun, transformational and engaging content for parents, children and adults who are seeking to find inclusively representative content through reading, writing and coloring,” the team said in their mission statement.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Live music:  Folk trio Violet Wilder will perform a window concerta at the Kenosha Creative 624 Space Gallery. The show is free and can be viewed from the outdoor seating area Tips are appreciated and go straight to the band.

2:30 p.m.

Local author appearances: Writers from Kenosha and surrounding cities will read from their books, take questions and be available for signings inside the Kenosha Creative Space 624 Gallery. The lineup includes Meg Bonney, Greta Kelley, Sean Michael Malone, Danielle Rose, and Lorelei Savaryn.

• Meg Bonney, a paralegal and TV writer by day, made a huge splash with “Everly,” a dark and twist-filled YA tale. Her first novel netted a slew of awards including Feathered Quill’s Best Debut Author and Best Juvenile/YA Fiction and the 2017 Readers’ Favorite in the action genre.
• Greta Kelly is a rising star in the fantasy genre with her 2021 debut “The Frozen Crown” and the upcoming “The Seventh Queen.” The “Frozen Crown” features two stories intertwined as one, rich with treachery, magic and war.
• Sean Michael Malone is the author of “Spring City Terror, 1903” and “Ocean’s Grave, 1907.” His historical fiction novels bring together paranormal activity, thrilling investigations and real historical events, all wrapped up in entertaining pulp-fiction style adventures.
• Lorelei Savaryn will do a reading from her debut middle grade adventure, “The Circus of Stolen Dreams.” “Readers have been loving the fantastical adventure of a girl who escapes to a magical circus in order to avoid the pain of a family tragedy,” Jacquest wrote.
• A USA Today bestselling author, Danielle Rose is the creator of the “Darkhaven Saga,” an action-packed YA series about Ava Lopez, a young witch who quickly has her life completely destroyed when a pack of vampires moves to town.

Books by these local authors are available at Blue House and online.

Nation-wide events: The American Booksellers Association offers an online event featuring   bestselling author and 2021 Bookstore Day Ambassador Glennon Doyle in conversation with wellness author Alexandra Elle.

“Glennon Doyle in Conversation with Alexandra Elle” is set for Thursday from 6:30 to7:15 p.m. This event is free with an option to make a donation to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation.

Click for more information on the nationwide Independent Bookstore Day celebration including virtual events and promotions.