Yes, I added 2024 because I certainly hope we’ll have Portland Book Week 2025! I offer buckets of thanks to the folks who made Portland Book Week happen: organizers, bookstores, authors and supporters, readers. I had much more fun than I anticipated. And, I too was exhausted from all the excitement even though I only actively participated in two official bookstore events. As an author, reader and many generation Oregonian, I am proud and grateful for our thriving independent book industry. I also understand how tough it can be for those involved in the making and selling of books, especially in our world of today.

The timing of this colossal event was perfect for me, honestly, as I had been laid off from work effective June 1. This allowed me to not only visit many bookstores, but to be able to take the time to travel by e-bike to many while living in Clackamas County and outside the cycling world of PDX. I was pleasantly surprised to uncover shops I didn’t know about, or had never visited. I found myself repeating…”how did I not know…?”

What an amazing array of books and shops. If you didn’t already believe there is something for everyone, you’d certainly get that after visiting our fabulous independent shops. I was sad I didn’t make it to all though have added them to my list for future trips. I am pleased that I did visit the following – including a few that have one or more of my titles on their shelves (THANK YOU!): Wallace Books, Spoke and Word Books, Laurie’s Books, White Rabbit Books & Gifts, Annie Bloom’s Books, Chaparral Books, Rose City Book Pub, Parallel World’s Bookshop, Monograph Bookwerks, Green Bean Books, Mellville Books, Rose City Book & Paper Fair, Third Eye Books, Belmont Books, Jan’s Books, and Powell’s Books on Hawthorne…Whew! And I didn’t simply stop in for a stamp….because, I have to support with a sale naturally, including one finger puppet for my wee grandchild. I should link to each store…but I’m still a bit tired, thanks for understanding. However, thanks to Portland Book Week website, folks can easily check them out.

Now, I don’t tend to be a big raffle or bingo player at this point in my life, though my friend Adam did egg me on. Just saying. (And yes, he visited more stores than me. He’s younger…just saying.)

I also owe a shout out to Laurie at Jan’s in Beaverton for inviting me to her Saturday author signing event where I was grateful to share a table and conversation with the amazing and artistic Nadia Shaik.

Finally, and it may be a bit sappy, but I did think of my 2nd great grandfather through some of this, especially as I traveled past his grave while riding through Riverview Cemetery. He who first opened his Salem bookstore in 1866, followed by the legendary J.K. Gill Company in Portland 1872. Gill’s operated for 150 years. Yes, he was privileged by skin color, education and gender. I’m grateful today for the diversity that embodies our book choices, shop owners and authors. Although J.K. was said to be a fairly serious guy, I’m certain he’d be thrilled to know that Portland area independent bookstores are alive and well.

Read more about J.K. Gill and other family members, including author Richard G. Montgomery, Sr.

Learn more about Dede’s books.