Read Local Month casts spotlight on B.C. publishers, authors

A new initiative from the Association of Book Publishers of BC (ABPBC) is pushing book loversto read books published in their home province by declaring April as Read Local Month.

"There's something abouthaving [books] mirrored back to you your own experience," executive director Margaret Reynolds told Daybreak South.

"If the subject matter is located in a place like Kelowna then I think you have a better attachment to it."

Reynolds said people often choose a book based on the author or an interest in the subject, and Read Local aims to encourage people to look for local publishers as well.

"We publish books that are highly regional that wouldn't be published by international companies. They wouldn't know the subject matter was of interest or the authors were as good as they are," she said.

The ABPBC puts out a weekly bestsellers list, which Reynolds said is a good place for readers to find local titles.

"I was thinking about on of my favourite books and one of them that I've read in recent years is a book called Crossings which is by Betty Lambert," she said.

"It's a book that's set in the 70s on the coast and it's not a book that is well known but it's one of those important books of fiction and it's a wonderful book."

A number of Read Local events will be held throughout April in communities around the province.

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To hear the full interview with Margaret Reynolds, click the audio labelled: B.C. book publishers want you to read local.