To celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, August 29, 2020, James Bostwick, author of Acts of Omission, is sharing 6 Ways To Support Your Local Bookstore.

Independent bookstores are not just stores, they are the anchor to a community where friends gather and out of towners come to visit. They spur ideas and creativity and range from quiet places where perusing is a day well spent to lively performance spaces.

While Covid-19 has made it difficult for many local bookstores to keep their doors open, there are still simple ways you can support them:

Find Your Local Bookstores: There are over 2,300 independent bookstores across the U.S. and your local bookstores need support! If you don’t know where your local bookstore is located or want to explore new ones, use this handy bookstore finder from IndieBound.org.

Shop by Phone or Online: Most bookstores are standing by their phones, email, and online ready to help you find a book and take your order! They will either ship the books to you or most offer curbside pick-up. Some even have their doors open depending on the location. You can also shop online at Bookshop.org, an online bookstore that financially supports local, independent bookstores.

Enjoy Audiobooks through Libro.fm: Audiobooks are all the rage right now. Listening to an audiobook helps time fly while road tripping, walking, jogging, biking, washing dishes, cleaning the house, or simply relaxing. One of the best ways to get audiobooks is through Libro.fm because each purchase directly supports an independent bookstore of your choice! And, of course, if you enjoy legal thrillers, mysteries, suspense, and courtroom drama, Acts of Omission is now available as an audiobook!

Pre-order, Pre-order, Pre-order: Pre-ordering a book helps bookstores know what you want to read so that they can order it, have it in stock, and in your hot hands as soon as it’s released. When you pre-order, it also lets publishers know that there is a demand for an author’s work –  a win, win all around!

Buy Gift Cards: You can’t go wrong buying a bookstore gift card for someone you care about! Call or go online and purchase gift cards from your local bookstore.

Follow on Social Media: Stay in the know, get updates on book releases, author talks, giveaways, and more. Most have Facebook and Instagram, so start following your favorite local bookstores today!

To honor Independent Bookstore Day, author James Bostwick will be purchasing gift cards to some of his favorite local San Francisco Bay Area independent bookstores, including Book Passage, City Lights, Green Apple Books, and Sausalito Books by the Bay.

Be sure to follow Acts of Omission on Facebook and Instagram for news and updates.