Independent Bookstore Tour

It's been a couple of years since I wrote about bookstore tourism, a trend just getting itself organized then. Since that time, Larry Portzline's website and blog have flourished. Now he's planning an exciting-sounding Cross-Country "Why Indie Bookstores Matter" Tour. The intent of the ten-week road trip starting next April is "to raise consumer awareness of independent bookstores and celebrate the indie spirit." He plans to visit at least 200 locally owned book stores in all 50 states (flying to Alaska and Hawaii). Along the way, he'll be posting notes, photos and podcasts of his interviews with store owners and customers of whom he'll ask, "Why do indie bookstores matter?" The tour has it's own special blog site. We have a few indies in San Diego, and I'll have to pass along the info and perhaps persuade Larry to visit here.