50 Years of Rainy Day Books: A Celebration with Vivien Jennings

We want to use this monumental anniversary to gather our literary community. Hear from Rainy Day Books' founder, Vivien Jennings, in conversation with local author and personal friend, David Von Drehle.

Discussing Rainy Day Books' foundation, highlights from the last 50 years, and our continued legacy of literacy, this event in Unity Temple's Sanctuary will delve into our history as never before seen on stage.

Attendees will also enjoy a visual story of Rainy Day's evolution through iconic images from the last 50 years.

100% of event proceeds will go to Rainy Day Books' Books for All program, bringing books and book fairs to students in need.

Vivien Jennings is the Founder of Rainy Day Books, Inc., Kansas City's Community Bookseller, and the oldest Independent Bookstore in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Vivien led Rainy Day Books in promoting a Legacy of Literacy throughout Kansas City since November 1975.

In the early 1990s, Rainy Day Books began placing a greater emphasis on Author Events as a form of community outreach. Through community partnerships and innovative Author Event planning, the bookstore quickly became known nationally for the new strategy. Authors and publishers alike began to solicit appearances at Rainy Day Books.

Vivien was honored by The Kansas City Business Journal as one of the "Top 25 Women Who Mean Business" in 2001," and was named "Business Executive of the Year" in 2002 by Rotary Club Number 13 of Kansas City, Missouri, the first woman to be so honored.

David Von Drehle is a Kansas City-based writer. He retired earlier this year from his position as Associate Editor and columnist for The Washington Post, where he wrote about national affairs and politics. He joined The Post in 2017 after a decade at Time magazine, where he wrote more than 60 cover stories as editor-at-large. He is the author of several books, including the award-winning “Triangle: The Fire That Changed America” and the New York Times bestseller “The Book of Charlie.”

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