The Independent
Bookstore Search

Your Guide To Bookstores Of The West!

About The Independent
Bookstore Search

Woman sitting on a beanbag chair searching for bookstores on her laptop

The independent bookstore search is…

  • A resource to help small-press and self-published authors plan events at independent bookstores
  • A fun way for readers to explore independent bookstores and support small businesses
  • A tool to spread awareness about the importance of independent bookstores in our communities

Our goal?

Create a list of all the indie bookstores in the American West!

So far, we’ve added 10 out of 13 states!

Our story

Stack of books

Welcome! I’m Francesca, a small-press author and the founder of the Independent Bookstore Search. I first had the idea for this website way back in 2014 when I was planning my very first book tour. I spent hours searching for a list of independent bookstores in my state, but, to my surprise, I couldn’t find one!

So I did my own research, going city by city, zooming in on Google maps to find bookstores that didn’t show up in more general searches. Eventually I compiled a list of every single independent bookstore in my home state of Oregon.

Laptop computer
Woman searching for bookstores

As time went by, I began to realize that my fellow authors (and readers!) could benefit from a similar resource. And so I decided to go even bigger and create a website that lists not only all the independent bookstores in Oregon, but all the independent bookstores in the Western United States!

This is a big task, and that’s why the Independent Bookstore Search is an ongoing project. At the moment I’ve completed Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Alaska, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico, and I plan on adding the other states as soon as I have them done.

Map of bookstores in the west
Bookshelf

Once completed, the Independent Bookstore Search will offer detailed lists of bookstores (organized by the major regions and cities within each state) and information about bookstores’ receptivity to author events. And not only that—it will also be a place to celebrate all the amazing independent bookstores and authors we have here in the west!

Kickstarter logo

Thank you to everyone who helped fund the Independent Bookstore Search on Kickstarter!

Person on laptop searching for bookstores near them

Connect with us on social media

Follow the Independent Bookstore Search on social media for website updates, bookstore highlights, and real-life stories from readers like you! Use the hashtag #indiebookstoresearch, and we’ll share your pictures on our Instagram page.

Follow us

Ready to search for indie bookstores?

Map of bookstores with pins on it

On the search page, click on the STATE you want to explore (example: Oregon) and you’ll be taken to a page that lists all the independent bookstores in that state, organized by region and by city.

To narrow your search, click on a REGION within that state (example: Willamette Valley) and you’ll jump to a map of all the independent bookstores in that region, as well as a list of all the major cities in that region.

To narrow your search even further, click on one of the CITIES in that region (example: Portland) and you’ll jump to a list of all the independent bookstores in that city, organized alphabetically.

  • On the search page, click on the STATE you want to explore (example: Oregon) and you’ll be taken to a page that lists all the independent bookstores in that state, organized by region and by city.
  • To narrow your search, click on a REGION within that state (example: Willamette Valley) and you’ll jump to a map of all the independent bookstores in that region, as well as a list of all the major cities in that region.
  • To narrow your search even further, click on one of the CITIES in that region (example: Portland) and you’ll jump to a list of all the independent bookstores in that city, organized alphabetically.
Go to search page

Our team

Francesca Varela holding a copy of her book, Blue Mar

Francesca Varela

Founder & researcher

Francesca is the award-winning author of four environmental and science fiction novels: Call of the Sun Child, Listen, The Seas of Distant Stars, and Blue Mar. She lives in Portland, Oregon and enjoys hiking, playing piano, figure skating, doing yoga, kayaking, identifying wild plants, and playing with her dog, Cashew. You can learn more about Francesca’s novels and copy editing services at www.francescavarela.com!

A scruffy terrier dog wearing a bandana

Cashew Varela

service dog & goodest girl

Cashew’s role is to provide emotional support, encouragement, and love. Francesca adopted Cashew from the Oregon Humane Society in 2021, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. Cashew has been awarded with the goodest girl award three years in a row. In her free time, Cashew enjoys going for walkies, playing with her carrot toy, napping on the couch, having playdates with her corgi cousin, Basil, and breaking into zoomies.

Want to suggest a bookstore?

Did I miss one of your favorite independent bookstores? Or has a new bookstore opened up that you’d like me to add to the list? Let me know using the form below!

(Please note that the Indie Bookstore Search is a long-term project being completed by one person; some states haven’t been added yet, but I’ll incorporate your suggestions when I can!)

Bookstores we exclude:

  • Bookstores that aren’t in the Western United States
  • Bookstores that only sell used or rare books
  • Bookstores that only sell highly specialized genres (humanities books, religious books, art books, children’s books, etc.)
  • Bookstores that don’t have a brick-and-mortar location