ALERT - Please listen to an interview I did for "ALL THINGS CONSIDERED" on NPR this Thursday May 1st between 3 and 7 p.m. about the closing of famed indie bookstore Dutton's Books.

On Wednesday April 30, 2008, Dutton's Brentwood Books closed its doors for the last time after 24 years of service as one of the most famous and revered independent bookstores in the Los Angeles area.

NPR correspondent Karen Grigsby Bates interviewed myself and others about the store's closing. You can hear her report on "All Things Considered" on NPR on Thursday May 1, 2008 between 3 and 7 p.m. Please check your local listings.

I moved to Los Angeles in November 2005. I discovered Dutton's a few months later. I loved the crammed bookshelves, the nooks and crannies, and the U-shaped setting where each section of the store was named North, South, East, and West and surrounded a stone courtyard filled with palm trees. I attended dozens of author readings and book signings at this store, hosted by the elegant Diane Leslie, who would later go on to become a bestselling author herself.

They had a charming, rustic cafe where you could order a cappuccino and fresh pastries and sit for as long as you wanted at one of their little tables, reading the paper or your favorite novel.

I used to hang out in their cafe whenever I had a free afternoon, scribbling away in my notebook. At some point, part of GOOD ENOUGH was written at Dutton's cafe.

I used to dream about one day selling my novel and giving a reading at Dutton's.

When my novel, GOOD ENOUGH (HarperCollins '08) was released on February 5, 2008, like most debut novelists, I wanted to celebrate with a book launch party. I called Dutton's because I thought it would be a great place to have my party. I wanted to have a band perform at my party, and the courtyard was the perfect place.

The folks at Duttons could not have been more helpful, gracious, and supportive as I planned my party. When rain threatened to shut down my party, Diane Leslie and the Dutton's employees helped escort everyone inside for an impromptu performance inside the store as opposed to out in the courtyard. The food, fortunately, stayed dry and covered during the drizzle!

Here are some links with more information about Dutton's and its history. Please check out my picture gallery, too, where I will feature photos from today's last day of business for Dutton's plus more story details about the experience on that day. Goodbye, Dutton's... you will be missed dearly...

Huffington Post blog on Dutton's Closing

ABC News Channel 7 Report on Dutton's Closing

Dutton's Brentwood Books Official Website

Paula Yoo's Good Enough Book Launch Party at Duttons 2/23/08, Pt. 1

Paula Yoo's Good Enough Book Launch Party at Duttons 2/23/08, Pt. 2

Paula Yoo's Picture Gallery of Dutton's Closing Business Day 4/30/08