Local Author Reading Falls Victim to Borders Shutdown

The timing turns out to be a few days off for a pair of Metro Detroit authors ready to promote new books at in Birmingham, which notified their publishers Tuesday that the appearances this week are canceled.

The news came a day after the national bookstore chain , with some closing as soon as Friday.

"It is with great regret that we must cancel this event on Friday. Please accept our sincere apologies," Denise Quinn, a project manager at Borders' corporate headquarters, said in a message to the New York-based publicist representing .

Whitall had planned to read and sign hardback copies of the book Friday evening, accompanied by the two sons of soul singer Little Willie John, the subject of her biography. 

"Borders is no longer in possession of the Birmingham store," according to Katharine Carroll, U.S. publicist for Whitall's London-based publisher. "All contents, including the 100 Fever books (it ordered), are now in the hands of the liquidators."

Whitall, who had a reading July 12 at the independent Book Beat shop in Oak Park where Fever sold out, said she hopes an appearance can be arranged at a Barnes & Noble location.

"I thought we could sort of serve as a goodbye party" for Borders in Birmingham, she posted on Facebook on Tuesday.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court is expected to approve the backup bid from Hilco Merchant Resources and Gordon Brothers Group, liquidation firms, on Thursday. A proposed takeover of the chain by the Najafi Companies was rejected by creditors last week.

Borders has not released a list of store closing dates, though liquidation could begin at some stores by Friday. The chain's 399 stores, including 26 in Michigan, are scheduled to close by September.