My North Georgia Indie Bookstore Tour
Me at Hullabaloo Bookstore in Clayton, Georgia, loving BACK TO BLUE HOLLY’S little nook.
Anyone who has shopped for books online knows what a noisy and crowded planet that is. Online bookstores are convenient for consumers and more accessible for self-published authors trying to reach readers. Still, there is something idyllic about an independent bookstore that online retailers will never have. After three days of knocking about North Georgia on my indie bookstore tour, I know what that special something is.
I visited seven independent bookstores in North Georgia because my newly-released novel, Back to Blue Holly, is set primarily in a small mountain town similar to many in the region. The bookstores you'll read about soon were interested in carrying it, so I wanted to meet them and thank them in person.
When I began my research, I was surprised to learn independent bookstores in the United States have almost doubled since 2016. There are roughly 2500 indie bookstores with storefronts today, and that's an impressive statistic for a competitive marketplace that includes the Big-A disruption (whispering here—Amazon) rent, staffing, shipping costs, etc.
Takeaway number one is that indie bookstore owners and operators are passionate about creativity, storytelling, and community-building.
How are they staying put?
Indie bookstores have gotten creative with space, retail, and services. Almost all I visited have retail or event spaces that expand and deepen the consumer experience and build raving fans and revenue.
Independent bookstores focus on community engagement. Whether hosting book clubs, silent readings, Thursday night mahjong, author events, or Galentine parties, the big A can't compete with getting people who love books together.
Here's my map. What follows is a takeaway from each of the seven bookstores I visited. This blog is my genuinely grateful shout-out.
Not every town is lucky enough to have an indie bookstore. I traveled 366 miles and roughly 8 hours to visit almost all that exist north of Atlanta.
I launched my North Georgia indie bookstore tour at The Copper Fox in Blue Ridge, GA. The cute store sits on a historic block just steps from the scenic railway that Blue Ridge is known for. The store feels pub-like, with dark walls, leather chairs, and flickering fireplaces for adults and little kids alike. There's a beautiful mahogany bar and a collaboration with the local Mountain Mama coffee, and upstairs, writers or any professional who needs a quiet place to work can rent a day, week, or month in this thoughtful, comfy space.
A cozy reading nook at The Copper Fox Bookstore in Blue Ridge, GA.
I drove to Milton, Georgia, a horsey Atlanta suburb without a traditional historic downtown. Crabapple, a collection of shops, restaurants, and residential areas, hosts a fabulous independent bookstore called Poe and Company. The sun spills through the Milton bookstore's front windows, lighting the small stage where authors and storytellers regularly take readers into their imaginary worlds. There are gobs of books on modern stacks with end caps that dangle stuffies, journals, and bookish graphic tees. I noticed the coffee station at the front of the store, and if you turn left past the big farm table, you'll find an opening to another world yet to come. Poe and Company is expanding, and I cannot wait to see it.
Two-lane roads and Cherokee County roundabouts later, I arrived in Woodstock, Georgia, where Foxtale Bookshoppe has served readers for seventeen years. That's longer than some homes just across the train tracks parallel to the historic main street. Woodstock is a blended town of old and new. Still, Foxtale Bookshoppe, tucked in the rear corner of a retail enclave, feels like a step through the wardrobe—indie eclectic with funky chandeliers, faux fireplaces and plush reading chairs, and a spacious kid's spot where they can romp and play or sit and listen at the children's story time for which this store is known.
Day two was Book Bound Bookstore in Blairsville, Georgia, conveniently settled on the town square, walkable and friendly. The store is as cute as can be, with round table displays of thematic selections like romance for Valentines, fantasy, or all the rage, and an adjacent room with children's books and a whimsical space for book readings. My mom quickly found a gem of a book about the Serviceberry tree, which we bought, and she read it to me on the way to the next stop. I suspect this grab-and-go book learning happens often in the North Georgia mountains, thanks to local spots like Book Bound Bookstore in Blairsville.
A few steps down under North Georgia Wander in Clayton, Georgia is a magical world of books.
Hullabaloo Books in Clayton, Georgia, is a store within a store where you can buy hiking shoes at the flagship Wander North Georgia on Main, then pop downstairs and buy a book about where to hike in North Georgia, or grab a pajama set and a copy of Back to Blue Holly for reading in front of your cabin fire. This bookstore was one of my favorites, and not just because they had copies of my books on their shelves to greet me. Their merchandising was so engaging. All their books face out with extras stacked vertically adjacent, so it feels like a book gallery, a mountain museum of books. The retail was exceptional--unique puzzles, toys, and nick-nacks—there was something for every age and stage in that underground store.
Narrative Books is in Murphy, North Carolina, which may as well be North Georgia, and it is so close to the state line, so I'm tossing it in. This fun little store had the grand allure of being right next to Buck Bald Brewery in a newly remodeled warehouse turned mini-mall concept with original art on the walls—very cool. I loved the young owner and her space, especially the shelves open and waiting for local recommendations. I would have loved to grab a book and beer and settle in for the afternoon.
This charming space in the back of River and Hill Bookstore in Rome, Georgia is made for bookworms of all sizes.
Day three was a visit to Rome, Georgia, my hometown, where my grandmother and many friends still live, and where I can't wait to be on March 15 for a book signing at River and Hill Bookstore on Rome's vibrant Broad Street. I couldn't wait to see Claire's store, so I popped in after a Meme visit and was blown away. The store is lovely, with refurbished wood floors and exposed brick walls. There are tables and stacks loaded with books and nooks with creative retail galore. I loved the "Blind Date with a Book" table where mystery books wrapped in brown paper awaited the curious. In the back of the store is a big room with loads of children's books, a low table with poofs just their size, and ready for the kids' story time on Saturdays. The big people's chairs are stacked neatly against the walls until the next book club, Galentine party, or author event. This bookstore beckons the community. I can tell.
The indie bookstore is back to stay, offering a warm and familiar place for people who love stories to commune with others who feel the same, parents and kids looking for a fun morning away from the screen, the tourist who needs a hub, and local authors like me who sincerely appreciate the support. They deserve our support, too, so please patronize your local bookstore if you are lucky enough to have one wherever you live.
