At a time when many independent bookstores are struggling to stay open, Edmonton’s literary scene is bucking the trend — not just surviving, but growing. In the past few years, several new shops have opened, reflecting a deep and enduring love for books in this city. That passion is on full display this weekend at the second annual Edmonton Indie Bookstore Extravaganza, a two-day celebration of the city’s diverse and vibrant bookselling community.
To get an inside look at what it’s really like to run a bookshop, we turned to one of our own: Edify’s contributing culture editor, Michael Hingston. A longtime book critic, publisher and author, Hingston recently pivoted careers to open Porch Light Books, a new and used bookstore in Mill Creek. Just a few months in, he’s already learned plenty about what goes on behind the counter — from merchandising surprises to the unexpected power of community support.
“With no pressure to try to be everything to everyone, we can all focus on the things we love. For example, Magpie Books has a section called “Care,” curating books about self-care and care of others, which reflects their values. At Porch Light, that means an emphasis on literary fiction, arts and culture, nature, essays, and interesting editions and series — not to mention a lot of Grateful Dead on the sound system.”
“Even as an author myself, I had no clue how labyrinthine the process of actually getting a book into a bookstore is. I’ll skip the flow chart and instead just assure you that booksellers do everything they can to get the books you want, when you want them. We appreciate your patience.”
“A bit of a cliché, yes, but undeniable from day one. Case in point: Audreys Books has for decades been a destination for local writers to launch their books and connect with readers across the city. Nothing makes me happier than seeing Porch Light act as a hub for our surrounding neighbourhoods of Mill Creek and Old Strathcona — the pickup spot for a kid’s lost mitten, or the place busy couples meet up after long days at work.”
“The bestselling items in my store aren’t books at all, but rather stickers featuring our beloved store monster/mascot. Maybe it shouldn’t have been a surprise that people love repping their favourite bookstores in public — keep your eyes peeled for how many Paper Birch tote bags you see around in McCauley, for instance. Big readers tend to bring a book with them at all times, so it makes sense they also want a literary-coded bag to keep it in.”
“It was a thrill to discover that the spirit among the other independent bookshops in town is primarily as colleagues, not competition. After all, we’re each fighting for the same ideals in the face of corporate megachains and faceless websites that don’t even work properly anymore. There’s no better proof than this weekend’s Indie Bookshop Extravaganza. Visit one store, or ten, or all nineteen. Edmonton’s indie bookstores are ready to welcome you. You never know what you’ll walk out with — maybe a great read, maybe your new favourite neighbourhood haunt.”
