Happy 32nd book giveaway! To celebrate National Poetry Month, we partnered on a few exciting things! First, I collaborated with the UA Poetry Center to help sponsor the creation of a visual poetry of Tucson zine – Seeing Sun Spots. This gorgeous zine was designed and printed by the amazingly talented Amanda Meeks of Oustpokin’ & Bookish and includes contributions from many of our local poets and artists! This zine was hidden with each of my books this month, AND copies are also available for free at the UA Poetry Center and at this weekend’s Zine Fest.

Second, all the books I hid this month (45 total copies of Gabriel Dozal’s The Border Simulator) were signed by the author! Gabe is a local poet and kindly visited the Poetry Center to sign all the hidden copies (huge thanks to Gabe and our friends at the UA Poetry Center for helping to make this happen!). Signed books are always super special ❤

The books I hid downtown along the Haiku Hike were sponsored by a “Downtown Tucson For Everyone” grant through Downtown Tucson Partnership’s Social Justice Committee! This program awards grants to events and programs presented in Downtown Tucson that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion – and reach underserved communities. Thank you to the Downtown Tucson Partnership and HSL Properties for sponsoring this program and supporting the Tome Gnome. Between now and June, I’ll be hiding 10 books a month downtown!

If you’re new here and didn’t get a chance to find a book last Sunday, I also hide an additional 15 books of each month’s selection (on top of the 30) around Tucson after the book-hiding weekend. So keep your eyes peeled over the next week or two, as 15 more signed copies of The Border Simulator (along with the zine!) will be hidden around town! I do not post any hint photos of these books, as they are truly meant to be a random act of kindness for those who happen upon them. Yay for random bookish joy and delight (and a special shoutout to the guest gnomes who are helping me hide those extra copies this month!!!).

We have another great book planned for May and I can’t wait to share it with you! So keep an eye out here, on Instagram, and on our Facebook page for updates.