On National Independent Bookstore Day, April 25, I went to my local Books and Books. While I didn’t buy the beautiful jewelry made by locals or screen-printed t-shirts, I did drink a hot chocolate and purchase some recommendations for a book challenge as well as a copy of Gender Queer for myself. It’s not the annotated edition, but the copy I got is good, long-lasting and durable.

It seems fitting, that we writers buy books to help the indie stores survive. Other so-called “authors” have been caught using ChatGPT, including one that hit the New York Times bestseller list. Barnes and Noble said that they would not object to selling generative-AI novels that disclosed they were generative AI, something that has made people threaten a boycott.

Tech bros really want to replace the creative mind with cheap slop using gallons of drinking water and electricity; Sam Altman has admitted as much. That’s why writing has become much harder in terms of building a career. We are competing with the quick buck and tech bros that want to avoid the work.

The independent bookstore keeps our shelves filled with real people creating. They also remind us why hot chocolate is worth it.

Links

Personal blog:

Sitting Out of National Poetry Month Last April

Medium:

Amphibia Recap Season 2, Episode 19

The Cafe of Infinite Doors Opens A View into Domestic Abuse And Legendary Sibling Rivalry

Why A Devil Wears Prada Sequel Has Big Shoes to Fill (That Aren’t Gucci or Valentino)

The Underwood Tapes Asks What To Do When You Can’t Bring Killers to Justice

National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett Sabotaged His 2026 Book Releases With His “97.4 Percent” Statement

Superjump:

Booktrovert Arcade Shows Conflict Between Fun and Faceless Competition

Time to Suit Up Against Cynicism in Clean Up Earth

Removing Doki Doki Literature Club from Google Is a Bad Idea (for Google)