MONTREAL -- The author of a series of popular Quebec books and co-author of a future book with former American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is coming to the defence of a Mile-End bookstore that's threatened by rising rent.
Louise Penny, the writer behind the Armand Gamache Investigates novels, currently lives in Estrie but once called the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough home. On Friday, she took to her Facebook page to encourage residents to continue frequenting local shops.
“We need to support and defend our bookstores. They are a vital part of a vibrant community, like all small, independent businesses,” she wrote.
By Sunday, the past nearly 10,000 likes and thousands of shares.
Penny has gained international attention for her upcoming collaboration on a mystery novel with Clinton.
She gave kudos to a citizen movement called Mile-End Ensemble, which has rallied around the S.W. Welch bookstore.
“People are welcome to bring a book and read in line while they wait their turn to buy a book in store (if they can afford it) and come together to support history, culture and Mile-End small business owners,” she wrote.
An event scheduled for March 13 has been dubbed “Who still buys books today?”The event's name is a reference to a comment made by the owner of the bookstore's St-Viateur St. building, who had suggested the store's business model was outdated.
This article was produced with financial assistance from the Facebook and The Canadian Press News Scholarships.
