Winners Circle

You may remember that on April 30, I participated in Seattle’s Independent Bookstore Day “Champion Challenge,” which required contestants to visit at least 17 of 21 participating bookshops around the city within one day. Everybody who succeeded received a 25-percent discount at all 21 establishments for a year.

Only 42 book lovers took on the “Challenge” in 2015, the first year this race was run. But as I learned last evening, during a crowded celebration at Ada’s Technical Books and Café on Capitol Hill, between 118 and 120 people finished in the money last month—almost three times as many. We’ll have to see whether organizers change the rules for 2017, to cut down on the number of winners. I hope not. I’m already planning to try again next year.