American writer, bookseller, explorer of memory and place
Independent, author-owned bookstores have expanded in the U.S., with a surge in ABA membership and ventures from Patchett, Erdrich, Groff and Straub. Stores range from Birchbark in Minneapolis to An Unlikely Story in Plainville, reflecting a broader mission beyond selling books.
A wave of author-owned bookstores across the U.S. is reshaping independent bookselling. Notable spaces founded by Judy Blume, Louise Erdrich, Lauren Groff, Jeff Kinney and George R.R. Martin are expanding in Brooklyn, Minnesota, Florida, Massachusetts and New Mexico, offering community hubs beyond Amazon-dominated retail.
Booker Prize Foundation launches All Around the World, a short story collection by Booker winners and nominees to widen access to reading. The collection accompanies the Quick Reads program, with 12,000 copies donated and free digital access, addressing barriers such as time, cost, and representation.