Indie Bookstore Profile: Another Story Bookshop plus WHERE ARE MY BOOKS? May 14th launch, 6-8 pm EST

[Edited May 15, 2015: Thanks to everyone who came out to my book launch! I've posted about the event, with photos.]

Excited about my upcoming WHERE ARE MY BOOKS? Toronto Book Launch at Another Story Bookshop (315 Roncesvalles Ave. Nearest subway station: Dundas West) on Thursday, May 14th from 6-8 pm. Thanks to both Another Story and Simon & Schuster Canada for helping to make this event possible! See my mini-interview with Another Story Events Manager Anjula Gogia further down in this post.

You can find out more about my first solo picture book as well as read reviews, download a free Teacher's Guide, read about how the book was created, and other bonus material at the Where Are My Books? Bonus Page.

For those on Facebook, here's the event page. If you're planning on attending, I'd appreciate you RSVPing above or posting a comment below, so I can make sure the bookshop has enough copies.

Here's a great Open Book Toronto video profiling Another Story Bookshop owner Sheila Koffman and her staff:

Another Story's wide selection of titles for children, teens and adults cover all subjects, with an emphasis on issues of social justice. As Open Book says, the bookshop's titles truly reflect Toronto's diverse community. Another Story also provides books to Toronto schools and libraries. 

Thanks to Another Story for supporting I'M BORED when it came out!

I love this bookstore. Such a great atmosphere and the staff are super-knowledgeable. Sheila Koffman has a customer service mandate of knowing the material inside and out. From YP.ca (and I just verified that this is still true): "While the wall of 'Staff Picks'represents what her employees are reading at home, not all of them have children, so she pays her staff to read young adult literature and children’s books so that families visiting the store receive accurate recommendations." 

Anjula Gogia was kind enough to answer a couple of questions for me:

Q. How did you become involved with Another Story Bookshop?

Anjula, who is the former co-manager of the Toronto Women's Bookstore (1997-2006): "Of course I knew about Sheila and Another Story Bookshop, and always loved the store. A few years ago I was looking for some part-time work, and I walked into Another Story and knew immediately I wanted to be a bookseller again! I now organize all the book launches and events."

Q. How did Another Story begin?

"It began as a dream by the owner, Sheila Koffman, 30 years ago. An unrealistic dream. It started off as a bookstore for adults, and when we realized need for book for good books for children in the school system and the neighbourhood that section blossomed. We started off in the east end of the city and moved to the west end 8 years ago. We love both areas, and the Roncesvalles has embraced us wholeheartedly. Although it's been a difficult dream, it's also been a blast!"

Anjula Gogia and Sheila Koffman with Jack Layton.