By Chris Olsen

National Independent Bookstore Day takes place annually on the last Saturday in April. Organized by the American Booksellers Association and now in its 12^th year, the event was created to give indie booksellers an opportunity to celebrate with the community, gain new customers and increase sales. Bookstores note that the event significantly impacts revenue, with many reporting it’s their biggest day of the year.

Every spring, Minnesota-based nonprofit literary organization Rain Taxi publishes the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Passport. The pocket-sized directory offers an incentive to support local brick-and-mortar shops the week of Independent Bookstore Day. Between Wednesday, Apr. 23 and Sunday, Apr. 27, book lovers are encouraged to pick up a passport at participating locations and collect stamps to receive future discounts and qualify for prizes.

Publish Her supports women-owned indie bookstores throughout the U.S. and in our home state of Minnesota and is a proud sponsor of the passport. Join us in visiting these shops owned by women who are participating in the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Passport:

BABYCAKE’S BOOK STACK BOOKMOBILE: A Minnesota-based, Black woman-owned mobile bookstore traveling to neighborhoods, schools and community events throughout the Twin Cities; founded by Zsamé Morgan. BabycakesBookStack.com

BIG HILL BOOKS: A woman-owned bookstore offering an engaging and inclusive inventory of books and merchandise, located in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota; owned by Beth Thompson. BigHillBooks.com

BIRCHBARK BOOKS AND NATIVE ARTS: A Minneapolis, Minnesota-based, Native woman-owned shop specializing in Native American literature, art and jewelry; founded by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louise Erdrich. BirchBarkBooks.com

BLACK GARNET BOOKS: A St. Paul, Minnesota-based, Black- and LGBTQ-owned bookstore specializing in adult and young adult contemporary literature by Black and racially diverse authors; owned by Terresa Moses. BlackGarnetBooks.com

BLACK LETTER BOOKS: A woman-owned bookstore located in Stillwater, Minnesota, specializing in rare and used books and focusing on literary fiction, poetry and philosophy; founded by Cecelia Loome. BlackLetterBook.com

CHAPTER ONE BOOKS: A welcoming, woman-owned bookshop located in Victoria, Minnesota, offering a diverse selection of new and gently used books and community events to bring readers together; founded by Angie Ross. ChapterOneMN.com

CHAPTER2 BOOKS: A Hudson, Wisconsin-based, women-owned bookstore offering a wide range of books and genres and fostering a love of reading; founded by Gillette Kempf and Shelly Weinstein. Chapter2Books.Indielite.org

COMMA, A BOOKSHOP: A woman-owned bookstore in Minneapolis, Minnesota, offering a curated selection of books, gifts and stationery and focusing on contemporary literature; founded by Victoria Ford. CommaBookshop.com

CREAM & AMBER: A Hopkins, Minnesota-based, women-owned shop serving local beer, coffee and sandwiches alongside new and used books; founded by Kacey Hruby Wyttenhove and Katie Terhune. CreamAndAmber.com

INKWELL BOOKSELLERS COMPANY: A Minneapolis, Minnesota-based, woman-owned bookstore offering a variety of titles and genres for adults and young adults; founded by Elizabeth Foster. InkwellBooksellersCo.com

LAKE COUNTRY BOOKSELLERS: A women-owned bookshop in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, offering a wide selection of books and personalized recommendations and service; owned by Roberta Kiemele, Susie Fruncillo, Nancy Thysell and Faith Basten.

NICHE BOOKS: Located in downtown Lakeville, Minnesota, this woman-owned independent bookstore carries new and used books for all ages, along with bookish gifts; founded by Ashley Christopherson. NicheBooksMN.com

RED BALLOON BOOKSHOP: A woman-owned bookstore in St. Paul, Minnesota, offering a wide range of books for all ages and hosting regular author events and story times; owned by Holly Weinkauf. RedBalloonBookshop.com

STORY LINE BOOKS: A woman-owned bookshop located in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, offering beloved classics and contemporary gems and featuring local authors and community events; founded by Danielle Miller. StoryLineBooks.com

STRIVE PUBLISHING AND BOOKSTORE: A Black woman-owned, Minneapolis, Minnesota-based shop featuring books from diverse authors as well as Strive Publishing, an organization using publishing to heal, teach, learn and earn; founded by Mary Taris. StrivePublishing.com

SUBTEXT BOOKS: A cozy, woman-owned bookstore in the heart of downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, offering new and used books and cards and gifts; founded by Sue Zumberge. SubtextBooks.com

THE THINKING SPOT: A woman-owned, Wayzata, Minnesota-based bookstore featuring science-themed books and gifts, plus a community space for exploring science; founded by Rima Parikh. TheThinkingSpot.us

TROPES & TRIFLES: A Minneapolis, Minnesota-based, women-owned romance-only bookstore offering a curated selection of romance novels and hosting events for enthusiasts of the genre; founded by Caitlin O’Neil and Lauren Richards. TropesAndTrifles.com

VALLEY BOOKSELLER: Located in Stillwater, Minnesota, this woman-owned and operated bookshop offers a curated collection of mostly new and some used books, plus merchandise and personalized recommendations; owned by Molly Rice. ValleyBookseller.com

THE VINTAGE STORYTELLER: A Maple Plain, Minnesota-based, woman-owned bookshop celebrating the art of storytelling through a curated selection of vintage books and journals and locally crafted items; founded by Kari Ramstrom. TheVintageStoryteller.com

Photo: Terresa Moses, Black Garnet Books

About the Author

Chris Olsen is a book designer, publisher, educator and the author of “Whyography: Building a Brand Fueled by Purpose.” The founder of Publish Her and Publish Her Story, Chris has helped thousands of women tell their stories and publish their books.

About Publish Her

Publish Her is a female-founded publisher dedicated to educating authors and elevating the words, writing and stories of women. We are passionate about amplifying the voices of women of color, women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to make publishing an attainable, exciting and collaborative process for all.