It's not unheard of for an obituary to be published by mistake. A few years ago, People.com put up an obit for actor Kirk Douglas, who – at 100 – is still alive.
Something similar happened to Dallas-based Half Price Books chain, Austin’s BookPeople and independent bookstores across the country when the first e-reader made its debut. The death knell never rang so loud.
But it turns out bookstores aren't dead after all, at least not some of the best-known ones in Texas.
This weekend, several independent booksellers across Texas are celebrating the fact they've survived the e-book trend, and thanking the people who keep the shops going. Texas Independent Bookstore Day – an idea BookPeople Director of Marketing Abby Fennewald says began with CEO Steve Bercu years ago – kicks off its inaugural event Saturday.
With Half Price Books achieving sales of $260 million last year, BookPeople experiencing growth and more small bookstores popping up around the state, Fennewald is optimistic about the future. Because of their adaptability, Fennewald says independent bookstores can remain successful.
Written by Louise Rodriguez.
