Dartmouth Book Exchange- 2019 in review
2019 was a year of firsts, with new ideas tried, new community connections made and just some plain old fun to be had.
We held our very first ‘World Read Aloud Day’ in February hosting Angela Jeffreys and her picture book ‘The Purple Frog’ in both English and translated into Mi’kmaw. We also did our first video interview during this event and served some special purple frog cupcakes.
Photo by Marc Geuzinge Photography
Dartmouth Book Exchange was honoured to be chosen to introduce Carolyn j. Morris’ Railfence Bunch picture books to Dartmouth. We held our very first Facebook event over the July Long Weekend to introduce this wonderfully illustrated series of picture books starring Chick & Duckling. We continue to be only one of 2 stores in Nova Scotia to carry these books.
Dartmouth Book Exchange was one of only 2 stores in Canada to join in the celebration of the ‘First Annual Bookstore Romance Day’. The diversity of the genre Romance Fiction was represented at our event with New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Cathryn Fox, Historical Romance Author Michelle Helliwell, and Paranormal Romance Author Taryn Blackthorne. We were really excited to have Global News cover this event
With the help of Professional Story-Teller Cindy Campbell- Stone, we held our very first Spooky Stories night in October- which grew to include storyteller & author Steve Vernon. It was such a huge success, that we planned another stories night in December. On the eve of the Anniversary of the Halifax Explosion, we did a Halifax Explosion Stories Night with Marilyn Davidson Elliott, the daughter and Author of The Blind Mechanic. She joined Cindy in telling some very interesting stories that happened in the aftermath of the Explosion on both sides of the Harbour. These nights were so well attended and were given such great reviews, that more story nights in 2020 are definitely a must.
Throughout the year we held many fun draws for book theme baskets and books on Social Media and in-store. These were donated by Still Moments Magazine, Anne Louise O’Connell & OC Publishing, Local Authors Donna Alward, Michelle Helliwell, and Cathryn Fox.
We continue to support Local Authors by hosting events to promote their books. We held our very first Book Launch this year. Diane Lynn McGyver launched her book Revelation Stones, the third book in her Epic Fantasy Castle Keepers series in June.
Other events at the store included 2 events with Author Anita Johnston Gazzola & Illustrator Melissa J.K. Conrad and their picture books ‘As I Walk’ and ‘As I Wander’, events with Authors; C.A. MacKenzie, & Barbara Carter, Author & Illustrator Dawn Sinclair, Author & Publisher Anne Louise O’Connell of OC Publishing, Children’s Authors Clare O’Connor, Anne C.Kelly and Sarah Sawler. In July, in a spur of the moment event, we played hosts to a Bachelorette Shopping Party, another in the list of firsts for the store.
Our Website was updated this spring giving us a more modern look, as was our bookmarks which now match our latest “My Weekend is Booked” canvas tote. Speaking of our tote, we continue to see pictures of our Tote’s Adventures from all sorts of unique and wonderful places. #dbextoteadventures
For 2020, we have many exciting events already planned and posted for the year on our website. We are looking at ordering “My Weekend Is Booked” coffee cups and the Owners will be celebrating 20 years of owning the store in September. We hope to continue making more community connections in the New Year and we thank you for your continued support of the store.
