BOOK STORE ROAD TRIP

Many of you who follow me on Facebook know that I post Kindle specials on a regular basis. Why you might ask am I encouraging more dollars into the pocket of Amazon and Jeff Bezos when independent book stores have struggled, especially after 15 months of a global pandemic?

First, there’s the bargain hunter in me I cannot quell. When I see an amazing deal, I want to share it. Second, not everyone has the means to buy recently released hardcovers nor paperbacks at $10 and up and wait times for library copies can be months long. Third, a high number of purchases (because the price is low) helps an author’s ranking in sales. Amazon looks at volume with their algorithms. This pushes authors higher on lists and gains more exposure for them.

However, when I splurge and treat myself to a hardcover or paperback to hold it in my hands and be able to pass along to a friend, I shop local. Even better, when I’m traveling, which I do often with our nomad life which is back on track (thank you, Pfizer and Moderna), I love discovering hidden gems of independent book stores. Recently, I put a call out through Facebook to celebrate those stores and gather recommendations from readers across the country.

How wonderful to see the passion so many have for their local store. Seventy-three submissions yielded 68 stores in 31 states (there were a few duplicates). If you’re planning any travel this summer, I’ve got plenty of book recommendations in my favorite genre, historical fiction, before you check out one of these shops – owners and authors will thank you!

While you’re traveling around, don’t forget Little Free Libraries. They are also a fun way to discover new-to-you books. There’s a handy online map to help you find these hidden gems.

LOCAL BOOK STORES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

Local Book Store Store City Store State
Alabama Booksmith

Ernest & Hadley Booksellers

Birmingham

Tuscaloosa

AL

AL

Mostly Books Tucson AZ
Peregrine Books Prescott AZ
Book Passage Corte Madera CA
Vroman’s Pasadena CA
Black Bird

Copperfield’s Books

Pages

San Francisco

Calistoga

Manhattan Beach

CA

CA

CA

Book Barn Niantic CT
Syds Book Shack Guilford CT
Browseabout Book Store Rehoboth Beach DE
Hockessin Book Shelf Hockessin DE
Back in the Day Books

Writers Block

Dunedin

Winter Park

FL

FL

E Shaver Savannah GA
Pretty Good Books LaGrange GA
Book Love

The Bookshelf in Thomasville

The Bookworm Bookstore

FoxTale Book Shoppe

Story On the Square

Senoia

Thomasville

Powder Springs

Woodstock

McDonough

GA

GA

GA

GA

GA

Love’s Sweet Arrow Tinley Park IL
Brain Lair Books South Bend IN
Rainy Day Books Kansas City KS
The Green Door Overland Park KS
Carmichael’s Louisville KY
An Unlikely Story Plainville MA
Harvard Book Store Cambridge MA
Tatnuck Booksellers Westborough MA
Titcomb’s Book Shop East Sandwich MA
Jabberwocky  Newburyport MA
The Brewster Book Store Brewster MA
Yellow Umbrella Books Chatham MA
Books By the Sea Centerville MA
Eight Cousins Falmouth MA
Sea Howl Orleans MA
Market Street Books Mashpee MA
A Likely Story Bookstore

Rudolph Girls

The Last Word

Sykesville

Westminster

Mt. Airy

MD

MD

MD

Curious Iguana  Frederick MD
The Ivy Bookshop  Baltimore MD
Ballyhoo Books Alma MI
Saturn Booksellers  Gaylord MI
Content Bookstore Northfield MN
Zenith Book Store Duluth MN
Lemuria  Jackson MS
Bookmarks  Winston-Salem NC
Page 158 Wake Forest NC
Riverrun Bookstore Portsmouth NH
Toadstool Peterborough NH
Innisfree Bookshop Meredith NH
Books and Greetings Northvale NJ
Sparta Books Sparta NJ
Town Book Store

Collected Works Bookstore

Westfield

Santa Fe

NJ

NM

The Book Nook Saranac Lake NY
The Book Revue Huntington NY
Gramercy Books Bexley Bexley OH
Joseph-Beth Booksellers Cincinnati OH
Powell’s Books Portland OR
Let’s Play Books Emmaus PA
The Kennett Bookhouse Kennett Square PA
Reads and Company Phoenixville PA
Towne Book Center & Café Collegeville PA
Harriett’s Bookshop Philadelphia PA
Barrington Books Barrington RI
Mr. K’s North Charleston SC
Parnassus Books Nashville TN
Bookpeople Austin TX
Fabled Bookstore Waco TX
Texas Star Abilene TX
Interabang  Book Store Dallas TX
Scrawl Books Reston VA
Northshire Bookstore Manchester VT
Literary Leftovers Battle Ground WA
Village Books and Paper Dreams Bellingham WA
Novel Bay Bookstore Sturgeon Bay WI

When I posted the call for suggestions, I asked folks to use an online form to help me organize the information. I also requested email addresses (optional) to encourage sign-ups for this blog, as well as to reward one lucky person for sharing their recommendation. I pulled the winner on June 1st. She had recommended Content Book Shop in Northfield MN. I promptly ordered a $25 gift card for her and a copy of The Social Graces by Renee Rosen for me. Even if the store is hundreds of miles away, you can still support them through on-line ordering, or Bookshop.org.

I’m sure there are tons of other stores out there to support. What’s your favorite? Add it to the list. Another way I’ll use this list is early planning for when my novel publishes. I’ll want to make sure your favorite local shop has copies on hand for you, and your book club, to buy. Maybe I can even schedule an event. Now that would be cool and I could meet you in-person. Win-win!

Until then, I hope your summer days are filled with sunshine and pages.

 


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7 Comments

  1. Mitzi Keithly on April 17, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    I’ve stopped at Haslams in St. Petersburg before. It’s the largest bookstore in Florida. I think it’s temporarily closed. I did start the 22in22 challenge in January! It’s so fun. I’ve enjoyed seeing all the bookstore pictures!

  2. Mitzi Keithly on April 17, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    Thank you for sharing this list! I love stopping at bookstores on the road. Here are a few that I’ve discovered:
    Pages in Manhattan, CA
    Square Books in Oxford, MS
    Back in the Day Books in Dunedin, FL
    Black Bird in San Francisco, CA
    Ernest & Hadley Booksellers In Tuscaloosa, AL
    Collected Works Bookstore in Santa Fe, NM
    Story On The Square In McDonough, GA
    FoxTale Book Shoppe In Woodstock, GA
    The Bookshelf in Thomasville, GA
    Book Love in Senoia, GA

    • Janis Robinson Daly on June 1, 2022 at 10:14 pm

      Just saw your adds! Updating the list now. Will definitely check out Back in the Day Books. We spend two weeks in the Clearwater area every January and have friends in Dunedin. Fun spot!

  3. Karen Brandin on April 17, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    Thank you for the Indie bookstore list, it’s wonderful. So many books, so little time, as they say. Happy reading (and writing)!

  4. Gail Olmstead on April 17, 2022 at 4:49 pm

    This is fabulous!!

  5. Deb Kiley on April 29, 2022 at 9:55 am

    Two more local bookstores for me: Rudolph Girls in Westminster, MD (former teachers begin this store in 2021) and The Last Word in Mt. Airy, MD (new and used books).

    • Janis Robinson Daly on April 29, 2022 at 10:09 am

      Thanks Deb! I’ll be updating the list. Do you know if Rudolph Girls does any author events? I’m adding to my outreach list as well 😉

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