The Liar’s Club kicked off its Truth Tour at the Doylestown Bookshop yesterday, and while none of us knew quite how it might turn out, I have to admit, it rocked.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to to proprietors Pat and Phil Gerney, who graciously opened their place up to the Philly Liar’s Club where we signed books, told bald-faced lie after lie, gave away some cool stuff, talked to a ton of nice people, and eventually, when a gun was put to our heads, told the truth about independent bookstores.
We talked a lot yesterday about the reasons we were there. I heard words like ‘passion” and “value”, “choice” and “community”, but owner Pat Gerney said it best when I asked how she came to be an independent bookseller.
“I just had to be around books.” Smiling to her husband, Phil, she added, “We certainly aren’t in this for the money. We do this out of our love for reading, and our love for books. Luckily we have staff who feel the same.”
As the Philly Liar’s Club Truth Tour heads to the Clinton Bookshop for next month’s party, let’s remember, we’re doing this for the fun of it, and yeah, to sell a few books, but the stakes are much higher for our friends running the Indies, and that brings home why we’re really doing this.
Before you click that mouse to buy your next book online, or browse a big box bookseller, remember; you provide value, choice, and independence to your community every time you support your independent bookseller.
You provide the breath and life’s blood of a consumer experience and community resource as seminal and American as a visit to the local hardware store, deli, or music shop. Support the Indies and you support Choice; choice for yourself and choice for the next generation of readers.
Join the Philly Liar’s Club as we raise awareness for our friends at the Indies. Take an hour this week to reacquaint yourself with a local bookseller, then come back here and tell me about it. I’ll write a feature about your neighborhood book shop over on the Philly Liar’s Club blog, and maybe we’ll even throw a party there.
And that’s no lie.
—Don
The Philly Liar’s Club Tells the Truth About Independent Bookstores at the Doylestown Bookshop
The Philly Liar’s Club with the staff of the Doylestown Bookshop
Producer Laura Schrock, directs Todd, the star of the canine comedy, It’s Todd’s Show
PATIENT ZERO author, Jonathan Maberry chats with L.A. Banks, author of the Vampire Huntress Legends and her new Crimson Moon series.
Marie Lamba, author of WHAT I MEANT
Author of SHADOWBRIDGE and LORD TOPHET, Gregory Frost
It’s Todd’s Show videographer, Tim McMurtry shoots Philly Poe Guy, Ed Pettit
Merry Jones, author of THE BORROWED AND BLUE MURDERS
Kelly Simmons, author of STANDING STILL
Actor and author, Keith Strunk with his book, PRALLSVILLE MILLS AND STOCKTON
Jon McGoran aka D.H. Dublin, author of FREEZER BURN Dennis Tafoya signs his debut novel, DOPE THIEF
L.A. Banks, Big Thrill contributing editor, Janice Gable-Bashman, and me.
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The Philly Liars Club Tells the Truth About Aaron’s Books
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