A Magical Evening at Joie de Livres: Meeting Imani Erriu
A magical start to my indie bookstore goal, filled with warmth, wine, and wonderful stories…
As I mentioned in my last post, one of my goals for 2026 is to visit at least 10 different indie bookstores. With the new year giving me a bit of motivation, I decided to start this goal right away—and luck was on my side: Joie de Livres was hosting a book event I simply couldn’t pass up.
On Saturday, January 17th, Joie de Livres welcomed Imani Erriu for an intimate evening celebrating the launch of the Deluxe Edition of Heavenly Bodies, the first book in her series. When I saw the event announcement, I jumped at the chance to attend. At the time I purchased my ticket, I hadn’t read any of Erriu’s books, but I made sure to read the first book before the event—and let me tell you, she is a phenomenal storyteller and an ethereal, kind soul.
During the evening, Erriu shared insights about her upbringing, her inspiration for the series, and the many changes the story underwent before becoming the Heavenly Bodies we know today. For example, there was an earlier version of the story where Elara was a simple kitchen maid and Lorenzo a pirate—before they ultimately became the Princess and Prince of enemy kingdoms.
Even more fascinating was hearing about her journey as an author. She started out self-publishing her first three books in the series, and now they are being re-issued under a traditional publisher, with the remaining two books in the series being directly published traditionally. She also spoke about her Italian-Sardinian heritage and her dream of eventually writing a story set there—leaving the audience eager for more.
The evening itself was magical. Joie de Livres provided a warm, welcoming space with delicious coffee and wine for the intimate gathering. The staff were kind and enthusiastic, matching the excitement of the audience. I had the chance to connect with fellow book lovers and chat beyond just Erriu’s work in a cozy, lushly furnished space. I also had a few moments with Imani herself! She took the time to meet every single guest, signing and personalizing books, engaging in one-on-one conversations, and making everyone feel truly special. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a wonderful experience with an author.
I initially worried that visiting 10 indie bookstores this year would feel like a chore, especially with work and life obligations, but if even half of my visits are as magical as my evening at Joie de Livres with Imani Erriu, I know this goal is completely achievable—and deeply enjoyable.
I read Heavenly Bodies before attending this event, and meeting Imani Erriu afterward made the story feel even more special. If you’d like to read my full, spoiler-free review of the book, you can find it linked here.
