In sunny Albuquerque lives one of the most active independent bookstores I’ve come across. Hosting a book related event nearly every day of the year (seriously. they do like 300 events a year!) at their store, at nearby University of New Mexico and at other community locations. The owners and staff at Bookworks love books and connecting readers with books, and they show their love every day.
Do you live or have you visited Albuquerque? Take a look at Bookworks’ website, this looks like a place I could spend days and days at!
Amanda Sutton handles marketing and events at Bookworks, and she was kind enough to answer a ton of questions I sent her way. Amanda handles all their event marketing, including handling their social media, like Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. Amanda’s pretty amazing as is the entire Bookworks family, read for yourself:
Can you tell us a little about the history of Bookworks?
Bookworks was founded in 1984 by Nancy Rutland, who owned the store for about 25 years, first near the campus of the University of New Mexico and Nob Hill, then later from its present location next door to Flying Star Cafe in Albuquerque’s North Valley. Danielle Foster and Wyatt Wegrzyn, former employees of Ms. Rutland, bought the store from her and are our current co-owners. Bookworks has always been a staple in the Albuquerque literary community. The store continues to bring in nationally touring authors with new releases in literature, history, biography, politics, science and other fiction and nonfiction genres, as it has since its inception.
What are some titles that have been recent staff favorites at the store?
Ruth Ozeki’s A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING, Emily Rapp’s THE STILL POINT OF THE TURNING WORLD, Louis Erdrich’s ROUND HOUSE, Junot Diaz’s THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE HER, Sherman Alexie’s BLASPHEMY, Robin Sloan’s MR. PENUMBRA’S 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE.
What’s your favorite thing about being part of the independent bookstore community?
Independent bookstores across the country share some of the same triumphs and challenges. It’s great to have the camaraderie to be able to share ideas with one another and learn from our respective histories, victories, and maybe mistakes.
Do you have any book clubs that meet at your store?
Yes, we have a few book clubs that meet at our store and others that purchase books from us. Our longest running book club, The Bookworks Book Club, meets the second Wednesday of every month at the store and usually reads new fiction or nonfiction in paperback. Another book club, Vamos a Leer, meets the first Monday of the month at the store and focuses on quality fiction for young adults from Hispanic authors. We are trying to collaborate more with our book clubs to coordinate monthly selections with visiting authors.
As the Marketing and Events Coordinator for Bookworks, can you tell us more about what you do? Why is it important for a bookstore to have a Marketing Coordinator?
. The other is a rude one, so I will spare you (see, me not being a dick).
