National Independent Bookstore Day April 27

National Independent Bookstore Day celebration will be at The Story Peddler bookstore in Bellville. It will be held on Saturday, April 27. The celebration begins at 11 a.m. with Children’s Story Time, face painting, and an appearance by our Book Dragon mascot. At 1 p.m., local poets will be reading from various selections of their poetry. Live music will begin at 2 p.m.

At 3 p.m., featured author Diane Kramer will be reading from the book she co-wrote with the late Dr. Ralph Lilly. “Second Lives: The Journey of Brain Injury Survivors and Their Healers” is about Ralph’s experience as a neurologist and traumatic brain injury survivor and how that injury not only affected his neurology practice but his life and personality. Ralph wanted to write the book to help other people grappling with the aftermath of a TBI as well as shine a light on their healers/ caregivers. After Dr. Lilly’s miraculous recovery from a coma and his brain injury due to extensive rehabilitation and plenty of love and care, he changed his vocation from neurologist to behavioral neurologist. Dr. Lilly passed away three years ago at the age of 85 due to complications from Covid. He continued to practice as a behavioral neurologist until he got ill. His wife, Joyce Stamp Lilly helped Diane finish the book.

Diane will read from her book at 3 p.m. and be available to sign books until 4:30 p.m. You may visit the website, www.readsecondlives.com to listen to a message from Joyce and Ralph and to read the bios on all the authors.