Philly's Liars Club Goes on Truth Tour of Indies

"The Philly Liars Club" (PLC) is a Philadelphia-based group of professional writers who, as the group notes on its website, "lie for a living." Since May 2009, the 13 authors who belong to PLC have been on a Truth Tour of independent bookstore parties, with signings, giveaways, games, and general mayhem. Paige Poe, ABA IndieBound outreach liaison, recently interviewed members of PLC.

The following is an excerpt of Poe's article, which was originally posted on IndieBound.org on September 23.

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The Philly Liars Club

By Paige Poe

The Philly Liars Club, a Philadelphia-based group of authors who "lie for a living," tell the truth about independent bookstores. Since May 2009, the 13 professional liars of the PLC have been on a Truth Tour of independent bookstore parties (Truth Tour Parties), with signings, giveaways, games, and general mayhem. I recently asked them a few questions about the club, their parties, and why they choose indies. I think they were telling me the truth. Thanks, Liars Club!

Why does the PLC choose independent bookstores?

Jon McGoran aka D.H. Dublin: We love all bookstores, and libraries, too, but independents are special. Time and again, I've heard writers talk about how independent booksellers have been the difference in their success as authors, about how one or several independent booksellers have taken on their book as a cause, and hand sold that book because they felt so strongly about it. We also realize that it is not easy to be an independent. We appreciate all the hard work and sacrifice that goes into it, and we are grateful for it.

L.A. Banks: I think we chose indies because they are the last bastion of actual entrepreneurial knowledge of the books they shelve and handselling. My books would have never taken off like they have and many people wouldn't have known about my obscure hip-hop vampire series without strong recommendations from independent booksellers saying, "If you like Buffy and other vamp tales you have to try Minion!"

Dennis Tafoya: For me, that's a no-brainer. Independents buy my books, they're open to events and flexible about when and how they're done, and they tend to be much more supportive of local authors. It doesn't seem to mean much to the local chain stores that I'm from the area and that Dope Thief is set locally. Doylestown Bookshop has hosted me alone, hosted me with the Liars Club and they're setting up a Crime Movie Night at the local theater to promote Dope Thief. The local chain store doesn't even know who I am.

Jonathan Maberry: Indie bookstore people know books. They also know their demographic and tailor what's on their shelves to the browsing history of the folks who walk through the door. You're more likely to find something rare and unusual -- but wonderful -- on the shelf at an indie. What a lot of people don't realize is that indies can get any book. Everyone orders books from the same handful of distributors, so readers can get bestsellers and really obscure titles just as easily from the indies. Most of them do online sales, too. For me, I like standing around chewing the fat about books with bookstore people. In the indies you can always strike up a good conversation about books.

Don Lafferty: Since I was a little kid I loved going to the local hardware store. I'd go in with a scrawled list of stuff my dad asked me to pick up and hand it to the owner who'd give me a dime for a Coke. I'd zig-zag around the store behind him while he gathered everything up and talked to me about school or little league or the Phillies. Sometimes I'd go in even when I didn't have to just because I knew I'd get the Coke and maybe even earn a little money moving boxes or sweeping the floor. My kids consider that one of my stories from "the old days" because by the early '90s those hardware stores were long gone here in Philly, driven out of business by Hechinger's and Home Depot.

Twenty years later, I see vividly the parallel threat faced by the indie bookseller, but just as importantly, the parallel threat to future generations' access to this irreplaceable, unique brand of enlightenment, entertainment, and community. Hard as they try, the big boxes can't afford to provide a community with this level of personal experience or diversity of choice. We're doing this with indie bookstores because we want book buyers to know that a slight change in their book buying habits can help to preserve this experience for their kids and maybe even their grandkids.

Merry Deedee Jones: The tradition of local, personal, even eclectic bookselling seemed, for a while, to be vanishing, replaced by interchangeable, supermarket type venues managed by distant and indifferent corporate heads. So if, for example, a shopper wants to pick up a mid-list writer's book and skim a few pages, he/she often can't, because it simply isn't in the shelves of these big stores.

Independent sellers, on the other hand, put their individual touches to sales, selecting titles of special interest to them, or that intrigue them, or that they think will interest their customers. They don't simply take direction from corporate headquarters. It's an old-fashioned but well cherished process. As a writer, I want to keep that process alive. So I want to promote the independent bookseller and his/her vital role in the world of reading.

Marie Lamba: Quite simply, because we love them. I know, it sounds cheesy, but it's true. If you are a book lover, you want to go to a place that knows books inside out and that makes thoughtful choices on what to stock. Plus, the support we have received from indies throughout our writing careers has been phenomenal. They are so open to carrying our titles, to hosting author events, to actually learning what is in our book and sharing their opinions about it with their customers. As authors, how can we not choose independent bookstores?

Keith Strunk: In a society where the value of everything seems to be measured by profitability, the independent bookstore provides a sanctuary for the community that is created through the love of the written word. While the large chain bookstores are forced into a corporate-driven sameness, each independent bookstore is defined by its own unique quirks and passions, which draw folks that are equally passionate about what they read. Where the large chains are about the business of books, the independents are about the love of books. This makes for a very exciting place to be when you're an author. A place to make a connection with folks who are as passionate about your work as you are.

What's next for the PLC?

Lamba: Our next event will be at Moravian Books in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on October 3. The store has two ghosts, and we have plenty of authors who write about things like zombies and murders, so we're expecting a spooky twist. On November 7, we are honored to be doing a splashy special 60th anniversary party for Womrath's in Tenafly, New Jersey. And on December 5, we'll be visiting Wellington Square Books in Exton, Pennsylvania. The store is elegant, with antique cabinetry, a fountain, and a cafe that serves fancy coffees. I'm sure it's going to be a classy day.

An important part of each party is the press we put together and send out beforehand. This is our chance to quote the bookseller about what makes their store special, and we Liars tell the truth in each feature, bragging about all the great stuff a particular shop offers. It's our simple way to spread the word and educate the public. And we are more than happy to do so.

Lafferty: The PLC is still evolving. We've gained a lot of momentum in a short time and recognize If you're interested in setting up one of our parties at your indie bookstore, hit me with an e-mail or a phone call to get the party started. don@liarsclubphilly.com or (215) 698-6900

Maberry: If you love books and can appreciate the value of independent bookstores, I urge you to join IndieBound at www.indiebound.org. It's also a great way to find an independent bookstore, no matter where you go.

Read Poe's interview in full.