Indie Bookstore Day Reads Between the Lines
A flyer signifies Ante Books and Creative Studio’s participation in Indie Bookstore Day posted on their front door. Pulse/Anthony Tinay
Anthony Tinay | Pulse
Ante Books and Creative Studio celebrated Independent Bookstore Day April 26 with discounts on titles and merchandise, a Horoscope Workshop hosted by Golden Mirror Fortunes, and a coffee popup by And Soon Coffee.
Independent Bookstore Day is a nationwide event created by the American Booksellers Association made to highlight independent bookstores and their importance in the literary industry.
Selina Herrera, owner and bookseller at Ante Books and Creative Studio, believes the human connection aspect indie bookstores offer is what separates them from larger bookseller corporations.
“I curate a lot of what we sell here,” Herrera said. “A lot of it is also what you might not find at Barnes and Noble.”
She said online retailers such as Amazon, and bigger franchises such as Barnes and Noble are a threat to independent bookstores.
“Unfortunately this year, Amazon decided to host their own book sale,” she added. “But again, we’re still going strong.”
Ante Books and Creative Studio, located in Mcallen, Texas, has been tailored by Herrera and her team to be a space for the Rio Grande Valley community to connect over readings and events. The bookstore has been open for 10 months, and thus far has been fulfilling work for the team.
As part of the festivities for Independent Bookstore Day, Ante Books offered a 10% discount on all sales. The event also featured a Horoscope Workshop hosted by Fernando Salinas from Golden Mirror Fortunes.
In Herrera’s eyes, independent bookstores, not having to answer to a larger corporation, offer a more personable and engaging literary experience for the common book lover.
“Independent bookstores are here, we’re here to stay,” she said.
