Independent Bookstore Day 2026

Come take part in Independent Bookstore Day 2026! We will be open from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM in celebration of the special role that independent bookstores hold in our communities. We can’t wait to see you there!

Francie & Finch Bookshop is pleased to welcome the following authors during this celebration:

Alan Bartels will be at the shop from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, presenting his new book Secret Nebraska Sandhills: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.
About the Author:
When not writing, lifelong Nebraskan and US Army veteran Alan J. Bartels works a day job devoted to natural resources conservation. He’s been published in National Geographic, USA Today, and Smithsonian’s Air & Space Magazine. In 2025 Alan received the Friend of the Byway award from the Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway and the Friend of Tourism award from the Nebraska Tourism Commission. A past governor bestowed Alan with the honorary title of Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska–quite a feat considering Nebraska’s triple landlocked location.
About the Book:
In Secret Nebraska Sandhills: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure, longtime Nebraskan storyteller and photographer Alan J. Bartels provides a one-of-a-kind look into the region’s lesser-known history and culture, discovered sometimes by accident but also through dogged research, and folklore, memories, and mythology shared by generous Sandhills residents.

Patti Cherney will be at the shop from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, presenting her new children’s book Mikey the Monkey Meets the Dentist.
About the Author:
With over 45 years of experience as a dental hygienist, author Patti Cherney is passionate about educating patients and promoting lifelong oral health. Her clinical background spans pedodontics, periodontics, and general dentistry. For more than 25 years, she has also served as an educator for dentists and dental hygienists, and currently teaches as adjunct clinical faculty in periodontology at Creighton University School of Dentistry.
About the Book:
A toothache turns into a teachable moment when Mikey the Monkey meets a kind and clever dentist who helps him smile again. Through four simple steps, Mikey learns how to keep his teeth healthy—making dental visits less scary and a lot more fun! Written by a real dental hygienist, this charming story helps kids:
• Learn what happens at the dentist
• Build good brushing and fl ossing habits
• Feel confi dent about dental care