When Letty Bartels bought Oliver’s books in 2003 and turned it into Otter Books, she commissioned portrait photographer Fred Rosenberg to capture images of local authors. Lining the walls of Nelson’s only independent bookstore are photographs of Rita Moir, Jennifer Craig, Steve Thornton, Eileen Delahanty Pearkes, Ross Klatte, and many more.
The gesture set the tone for a warm relationship between bookstore and author, one that is recognized annually in a bigger way each April in Authors for Indies Day. On Saturday, authors across the country become guest booksellers in their local independent bookstore.
“It’s a way of saying thanks to hometown booksellers who keep the flame of literature love burning bright,” says author Anne DeGrace. “Letty, Samara, Dzitka, and Catherine hand-sell our books to Otter customers every day.”
On hand will be Kootenay authors DeGrace, Jane Byers, Rita Moir, Jenny Craig, Avi Silberstein, Eileen Delahanty Pearkes, Sean McGinnis, and Ernest Hekkanen, as well as visiting author Adam Lewis Schroeder. Also participating in a group photo a 9:30 and baking goodies for the day’s customers are Donna Macdonald, Vivien Bowers, and Deryn Collier.
“Book lovers should come down, get reading recommendations from the guest booksellers, sample an author-baked cookie, and enjoy a friendly, low-key event celebrating and supporting Otter Books,” says DeGrace.
Go to authorsforindies.com for author testimonials and more information on a uniquely Canadian celebration. Otter Books is at 398 Baker St. in Nelson.