Welcome to the Independent Bookstore Search! I’m Francesca, a small-press author. 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. Ten years and four books later, I still use this list to help me plan and organize book events. 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 create a website that lists all the independent bookstores in not just Oregon, but the entire United States!
This is a big task, and that’s why the Independent Bookstore Search is an ongoing project. At the moment I’ve only completed my home state of Oregon, but I plan on adding more states as soon as I have them done. Once completed, the Independent Bookstore Search will offer detailed lists of bookstores in each state (organized by the major regions and cities within those states), and information about bookstores’ receptivity to author events. And not only that—it will also be a place to celebrate independent bookstores and indie authors around the country!
I hope you’ll take the time to browse our website, and please check back soon for more states! Again, welcome to the Independent Bookstore Search!