Fundraiser Launch + Awards + Events!
Dear friends,
Christmas came early for us at Friendly City Books this year. Since we announced that we're moving the bookstore, over 50 of you have donated to our fundraiser. Do we have the best community or what?
It's admittedly been an emotional process as we count down the days to our move at the end of the month and pack up four years of memories, even though our new location will be just around the corner. But we feel so supported by all of you who have stepped up to pitch in.
As I look at the list of each day's donors, it's been particularly profound to think of what each person means to me. These contributions tell the story of every stage of my life, from my family and friends growing up to my college classmates and colleagues in DC to the folks who have welcomed me here in Columbus. I couldn't ask for a more special gift than this.
There's one more day to give to our fundraiser and receive our thank you rewards in time for Christmas. The most popular item so far has been our limited edition sweatshirt, which you'll get for a donation of $50 or more, and we've got all sorts of goodies to offer you for a donation of any amount. Plus, everyone who contributes to our moving fund or our nonprofit will be honored in store with a paper plane with your name on it.
We will keep the fundraiser going until we hit our goal of $7,500 to cover all of our moving expenses, but we had to set a deadline tomorrow because of fulfillment and shipping time. In fact, all orders in store and at Bookshop.org must be made by December 16 to ensure arrival by Christmas.
It feels a little grinchy to complain about shipping deadlines, so let me tell you about something else that made my heart grow three sizes this holiday.
We recently received incredible news from the Mississippi Humanities Council that Friendly City Books is the recipient of their annual Humanities Partner Award! We are so grateful for this recognition of our work and honored to be among this amazing lineup of winners.
Last but not least, I hope you'll help us wish our friend Beth Kander a very happy book birthday for her new novel I Made It Out of Clay. It officially goes on sale today, and it's getting all kinds of great buzz in the book world. My blurb even made the American Booksellers' Association monthly picks list!
“In her adult debut, award-winning playwright Beth Kander dreams up a charming romantic dramedy that even hearts made of stone — er, clay — won’t be able to resist, served with a healthy dose of pathos and a twist inspired by Jewish folklore.” — Emily Liner, Friendly City Books, Columbus, MS
Y'all may remember that Beth was one of the featured authors at our first ever Possumtown Book Fest this year and led a room full of kids in a spirited reading of her picture book Do Not Eat This Book.
We are thrilled that she is coming back to Columbus to visit us on December 21, and we've planned a fun activity inspired by the book. We're taking over Fired Up Studio in downtown Columbus and everyone will get to make their own golem. (It's actually a gingerbread man ornament, but that can be our little secret.) Please RSVP in advance if you can join us!
Happy reading,
Emily
