Independent bookstores have absolutely been the foundation of my success. Their willingness to consider books from less mainstream sources is a huge bonus for unknown authors (but the authors have to ensure it's a win-win for the stores - I sold my first book at cost to independents to preserve their margin, so no profit or royalties to me.) And the Indies' gift of hand selling is essential for building the buzz and enthusiasm required for a book's success.

As an organization, IndieBound shrewdly recognizes these Indie "value adds" and the IndieNext list is a perfect example of how IndieBound serves both authors and booksellers. My publisher is a small, regional publisher, so my new book was ignored by the standard review sources. But Indie bookstores across the country were willing to step up and say, "Hey, this book is good!" And that's made all the difference! Yay, Indies! Dan, let me know how I can support your store!

Thanks Carol! But my deepest thanks go to all the Indie bookstores around the country that've shown such enthusiastic support for "The Grey Ghost"! Making #3 on the list is terrific, but the real thrill for me comes with each call and e-mail I receive from Indie bookstores. The excitement I'm hearing and reading from storeowners, managers, and children's book buyers is infectious and I know they'll spread it on to their customers! Thank you, Indies—you guys ROCK!