{"data":{"id":"fe414609-14bf-4f32-a6fd-a9e942a8c7fa","originKind":"SYNDICATED","title":"Edmonton book crawl connects readers with local indie bookstores","summary":"We independently select everything we recommend. Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work.\n\nInspiration for an event struck local author Kylie Doyle via a meme.\n\n“It said, ‘What if we had pub crawls, but for bookstores?’ And I sent it to my business partner, and I said, ‘Let’s do a book crawl,’ ” said Doyle.\n\nWith that, the Bound By Books Book Crawl was born. The event ferries local readers around Edmonton via bus on a curated tour of indie bookstores, offering door prizes, store perks, author interactions and the chance to rub shoulders with fellow bibliophiles. The first book crawl earlier this summer sold out and a Calgary tour was organized. A second book crawl in Edmonton, set for Saturday, only has a few tickets left.\n\n“It was really important to us that we did it with the indie bookstores as opposed to the big box stores,” said Doyle. “This company started with two indie authors, and it’s really important to us that we give back to the community.”\n\nThis weekend’s book crawl will take readers to Audreys, the Book Boudoir, Daisy Chain Book Co., Variant Edition and Wee Book Inn, before wrapping up at a cafe.\n\nDoyle started Novel Night Events with fellow author Veronica Talliss. Together, they’ve curated events such as romance book swaps, author meet-and-greets, book crafts and other gatherings for fans of the written word. Doyle said they found out via surveys that Alberta readers wanted to meet other readers.\n\n“It’s something you do by yourself (reading), but people really love the idea of book clubs. They love the idea of going to a book-themed event and meeting other readers who like the same genres,” said Doyle. “It’s about community and connection.”\n\nThe success of the Bound By Books Book Crawl has made it a permanent event for Novel Night Events, with plans for it to return next summer.\n\nNovel Night Events’ next event draws inspiration from the genre Doyle and Talliss both work in: dark romance.\n\n“Dark romance is the darker side of romance. Contemporary romance is a lot of rom-com, a lot of meet-cutes — it’s basically a Hallmark movie, which is great, but not everybody loves that,” said Doyle. “I find it very predictable for me personally, and so I like something a little edgier, something that shocks me a little bit, something that challenges my view on things.”\n\nThe After Dark event was started as a gala for the dark romance genre, which Doyle said is under-represented and misunderstood in Canada. The second After Dark gala will take place on Sept. 26 at the Wyndham Edmonton Hotel and Conference Centre.\n\nOver 20 dark romance indie authors will be on hand, along with entertainment including aerialists, tattoo artists, a burlesque show, and other spicy activities. More information, including ticket purchases, can be found online.\n\nchuculak@postmedia.com\n\nRelated Todd Babiak offers his take on coming-of-age tale in What Gentlemen Do\n\nLove and deception: Leduc author pens account of romance fraud\n\nEdmonton writer breaks new ground with picture book for seniors with dementia\n\nBookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.\n\nYou can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.","url":"https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/books/edmonton-book-crawl-bookstores","imageUrl":"https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/edmontonjournal/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/oilkings-1367-copy_54016049.jpg","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T16:15:09.000Z","sourceLabel":"Edmonton Journal Music","tags":["Books","Business","Entertainment","Local Business"],"authorName":"Chad Huculak","contentHtml":"\"This

We independently select everything we recommend. Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work.

Inspiration for an event struck local author Kylie Doyle via a meme.

“It said, ‘What if we had pub crawls, but for bookstores?’ And I sent it to my business partner, and I said, ‘Let’s do a book crawl,’ ” said Doyle.

With that, the Bound By Books Book Crawl was born. The event ferries local readers around Edmonton via bus on a curated tour of indie bookstores, offering door prizes, store perks, author interactions and the chance to rub shoulders with fellow bibliophiles. The first book crawl earlier this summer sold out and a Calgary tour was organized. A second book crawl in Edmonton, set for Saturday, only has a few tickets left.

“It was really important to us that we did it with the indie bookstores as opposed to the big box stores,” said Doyle. “This company started with two indie authors, and it’s really important to us that we give back to the community.”

This weekend’s book crawl will take readers to Audreys, the Book Boudoir, Daisy Chain Book Co., Variant Edition and Wee Book Inn, before wrapping up at a cafe.

Doyle started Novel Night Events with fellow author Veronica Talliss. Together, they’ve curated events such as romance book swaps, author meet-and-greets, book crafts and other gatherings for fans of the written word. Doyle said they found out via surveys that Alberta readers wanted to meet other readers.

“It’s something you do by yourself (reading), but people really love the idea of book clubs. They love the idea of going to a book-themed event and meeting other readers who like the same genres,” said Doyle. “It’s about community and connection.”

The success of the Bound By Books Book Crawl has made it a permanent event for Novel Night Events, with plans for it to return next summer.

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Novel Night Events’ next event draws inspiration from the genre Doyle and Talliss both work in: dark romance.

“Dark romance is the darker side of romance. Contemporary romance is a lot of rom-com, a lot of meet-cutes — it’s basically a Hallmark movie, which is great, but not everybody loves that,” said Doyle. “I find it very predictable for me personally, and so I like something a little edgier, something that shocks me a little bit, something that challenges my view on things.”

The After Dark event was started as a gala for the dark romance genre, which Doyle said is under-represented and misunderstood in Canada. The second After Dark gala will take place on Sept. 26 at the Wyndham Edmonton Hotel and Conference Centre.

Over 20 dark romance indie authors will be on hand, along with entertainment including aerialists, tattoo artists, a burlesque show, and other spicy activities. More information, including ticket purchases, can be found online.

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chuculak@postmedia.com

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You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.

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