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Philly Book Crawl
Past event
About This Event
A whole day of stories, right here in Fishtown.
Midsummer Books is joining the citywide Philly Bookstore Crawl, a yearly celebration of Philadelphia’s wildly vibrant and wonderful bookstore scene, with a full day of author signings, giveaways, and deals alongside our friend, Fingerprint Bookshop.
Expect author signings, a discount bin worth digging through, a raffle, bonus prizes, and a raffle.
Come spend the day with us at Our Mutual Friend
Get a free tote
Spend $35 or more in the shop and take home a free Our Mutual Friend tote — the perfect way to carry out everything else you find.
Enter our raffle
Enter to win a swag bag stuffed with Midsummer goodies and books — because who doesn't love free stuff?
Low-priced books
Dig through our discount bin for gently used books looking for a new home. Great finds, better prices.
Featured Authors
EM Elliot
E.M. Elliott grew up on a steady diet of Goosebumps, a series he credits for his life-long love of all things spooky. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, daughter, and dog. He hopes Bigfoot is real. Some of his Favorite Books: The Summer Book (Tove Jansson); The Silver Chair (C.S. Lewis); Dracula (Bram Stoker); The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien); Never Let Me Go (Kazuo Ishiguro); IT (Stephen King);
Laura Genn
Laura Genn writes about queer teens confronting fantastical challenges. She graduated with a BS in strategic communication and enjoys building with LEGO® bricks, having TV marathons, and playing competitive Street Fighter. She lives with her girlfriend and three goofy rescue cats somewhere in New Jersey, surrounded by an ever-growing collection of dragon tchotchkes. Follow her on Instagram and Threads @lauragennauthor.
Brittan Morris
Brittney Morris is an award-winning writer of novels, comics, and video games. Her written works include SLAY, The Cost of Knowing, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Wings of Fury, The Jump, and others. Her video game titles include Marvel's Wolverine, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Subnautica: Below Zero, and The Lost Legends of Redwall. Brittney is an NAACP Image Award nominee, an ALA Black Caucus Youth Literary Award winner, and an Ignite Award Finalist. She has an economics degree from Boston University and when she's not talking to schools across the US about the power of interactive storytelling, she spends her spare time reading, playing video games, and teaching yoga. She lives in Philadelphia.
About the Venue
More at Midsummer Books
YA in 100 Days: A Workshop for Teen Writers and the Writers Who Write for Them
Whether you're a teen with a story that won't leave you alone or an adult working on a coming-of-age or teen-centered novel, this workshop is for you! Learn how to build a YA novel with an authentic voice, a compelling main character, and stakes that feel as big as they do at 16. Award-winning YA author Kim Purcell (This Is Not a Love Letter, an NPR Best Book of 2018, and Trafficked) brings her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults and 25 years of teaching experience to this hands-on workshop. You'll leave with a story premise, a character, an opening scene, and a 100-day plan to help you finish your draft. The workshop includes a copy of Write a Novel in 100 Days, which you'll receive at the event and can keep using as your daily guide to help you get your novel written. Space is limited, so sign up to save your spot! Can't make the workshop? You can still grab a copy of Write a Novel in 100 Days [here] (link to our online shop). About the Author Kim Purcell is the acclaimed author of Trafficked and This Is Not a Love Letter. A passionate teacher of novel writing for kids, teens, and adults, she founded Purcell Publishing, an international company that helps writers of all ages find their voices, finish their novels, and get published. Kim was the first Curriculum Director of WriteGirl, the nationally recognized writing and mentoring organization for teen girls. Drawing on her years as a novelist and educator, she's developed her own approach to helping writers take a story from that first spark of an idea all the way to a finished manuscript. About the Book For anyone with a million ideas but not enough time to write them all down, this guide helps even the busiest people finally finish the book they've always dreamed of writing. Do you dream of writing a novel but can't seem to find the time? Maybe you've started and stalled, or you're waiting for the “perfect” moment that never seems to come. With humor, proven strategies, and inspiration from your favorite authors, novelist and writing teacher Kim Purcell shows you how to finish your book, even if you only have 15 minutes a day. In Write a Novel in 100 Days, you'll learn how to: Build a consistent, joyful writing habit with just 15 “Magic Minutes” a day. Use a simple four-act structure and 22 essential plot points to keep your story moving. Turn overwhelm into steady progress with daily exercises that build your skills and nurture creativity. Beat self-doubt, perfectionism, and writer's block with fast, playful strategies. Break your novel into short, focused steps and create a complete, compelling draft in 100 days. Whether it's your first book or your fifth, this guide will help you get your story out of your head and onto the page. Practical, supportive, and full of encouragement, Write a Novel in 100 Days will help you write forward with confidence and finally hold that finished book in your hands.
Grace Lin shares the story of The Little Stone Buddha
What happens when a little stone Buddha leaves his mountain home to see the world? Along the way, he discovers the many ways people find happiness, connection, and meaning in their lives. Come meet Grace for a special presentation featuring her work and a live drawing demonstration. Readers will get a peek into the creative process behind the books they love and see how an author and illustrator brings stories to life. We’ll also have a selection of Grace’s books available for purchase, so you can discover more of her work, find a new favorite, and bring home a little bookish magic. About Grace Lin Grace Lin is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books celebrate culture, family, imagination, and belonging. Her work invites readers to explore new perspectives and discover the connections that bring us together. She is the author of more than 20 titles