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INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY 2025

  • Flintridge Bookstore 858 Foothill Boulevard La Cañada Flintridge, CA, 91011 United States (map)

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES CELEBRATING YOUR LOCAL INDIE BOOKSTORE…Please come out and show your support!

Children’s and adult author appearances & booksignings, artist displays, activities for all ages,

Win a selection of books! Giveaways!

Local Author Appearances

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Children’s Book Activities

JUDY CAMPBELL-SMITH: Ice Cream Everywhere  Everyone eats ice cream! And while some spoon up sundaes and some savor Syrian bouza, no matter where you live in the world, ice cream is always joy! (ages 6-9)

Judy writes books that spark curiosity & celebrate diversity. She lives in southern California.

ANN SUK WANG: The House Before Falling into the Sea A child and her family take in refugees during the Korean War. This story is about how showing kindness in the darkest of times is a gift we’ll never regret. (ages 6-9) JOIN HER IN A UKELELE SING ALONG!

Born in Korea, Ann has degrees in mass communications from Boston University and UCLA. A former journalist, she lives in Pasadena with her husband, two sons, and a canine son.

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Meet & Greets

NEAL ENGSTROM: Your Lifepath: How to Make Each Stage of Your Life Exceptional This “manual” for personal fulfillment explores how greats such as Giorgio Armani, Beyonce Knowles, Tom Brady, Coco Chanel, Jane Goodall, Jay-Z Carter, and many others, have successfully lived life on their own terms.

Neal is a Harvard graduate and Stanford MBA. He was a flight instructor and skydive jump pilot prior to founding the investment firm Engstrom Realty Fund. He lives in southern California with his wife of 27 years, Giselle, with whom he has raised three children.

NORMA SAKEN: May I Have Seconds Please: Personal Memoir and Cookbook Celebrating the Art of the Pivot – A series of circumstances led Saken to earn her living cooking and entertaining. Recipes included in the book come from her mother-in-law, her catering days, her Bed and Breakfast Pine View House; and the years she spent working for her favorite CEO.  

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Norma currently lives in Palm Desert with her fur baby, Spanky.

Local Artist Displays

11:00 AM-3:00 PM

ANN CUTTING: Ceramics Porcelain and stoneware mugs, bowls and wind chimes.

Ann’s ceramics are primarily wheel thrown, many incorporating transfer techniques and decals. She earned her BA in Biochemistry and Cell Biology at UCSD and a BFA in Photography at Art Center College of Design. She lives in southern California.


VAL ECHAVARRIA: Handmade Goods for the Body and Home Hand-painted leather, crocheted and woven accessories and home goods.

Val has many years of experience as a visual artist and graphic designer. Influenced by this background, she has created a collection of handmade functional items. She lives in Pasadena with her four dogs and her cat.