Zibby Books has launched a challenge to book lovers to visit 22 bookstores in 2022. The house was founded last year by publisher, author, podcaster and influencer Zibby Owens and author and publishing veteran Leigh Newman, and will publish 12 books a year with a focus on memoir and fiction.
Using the hashtag #22in22, the initiative already has the support of a long list of indies. There are a range of rewards, increasing from visiting one store ("an electronic badge" and "an invitation to the private Facebook group") to 22 ("custom certificate of achievement, a special electronic badge, entered to win a $500 gift card to your favorite bookstore [and] the satisfaction of knowing you won." And for an "extra credit" bonus, "every time you post on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter about a bookstore visit and add the hashtag #22in22 and #zibbybooks (and please tag @zibbybooks), you'll get entered to win one of two $500 gift cards that you can spend at your favorite bookstore." Participants register online and update their visits and stories as they occur.
The initiative emphasizes the many benefits of visiting a bricks-and-mortar store:
- Because there's something that gets lost in purely transactional online shopping.
- Because you'll discover a book.
- Because being surrounded by books can improve any mood.
- Because you'll be mingling with other like-minded people.
- Because bookstores are so important, especially to their local communities.
- Because bookstores suffered during Covid and we want to help.
- Because you'll feel good once you do it.
- Because authors depend on readers showing up for them.
- Because it's super fun.