On the Road with the Badass Women's Book Club: Badass Women Author-Owned Bookstores
Welcome to the 3rd edition of On the Road with the Badass Women’s Book Club! In this latest edition, we're all about celebrating badass women authors who not only write awesome books but also run their own kickass independent bookstores. Whether you're strolling through the buzzing streets of Brooklyn or in sunny Key West, these spots aren't just places to buy books—they're havens where lit-loving communities come together. Picture shelves stacked with diverse reads handpicked by these awesome ladies, each store oozing with charm and character. Get ready to dive into their world and discover the magic these badass women authors bring to their bookstores!
Speaking of magic, can you even call yourself a bookstagrammer if you haven’t taken a selfie in front of the Books Are Magic mural?
Author Emma Straub is the co-owner of Books Are Magic, a charming independent bookstore nestled in the heart of Brooklyn. Known for her insightful storytelling and keen observations of contemporary life, Straub has captured readers' hearts with novels like The Vacationers and All Adults Here. Drawing on her passion for literature and community, Straub co-founded Books Are Magic in 2017 with her husband, Michael Fusco-Straub. The bookstore quickly became a beloved literary haven, offering a carefully curated selection of books across genres and hosting a vibrant array of author events, readings, and book clubs. With its inviting atmosphere and dedication to fostering a love of reading, Books Are Magic has become an integral part of Brooklyn's literary landscape, embodying Straub's commitment to sharing the magic of storytelling with readers near and far.
Ann Patchett, of Bel Canto, Commonwealth, and the recent Tom Lake, is also the co-owner of Parnassus Books, a beloved independent bookstore in Nashville. Patchett's literary prowess and passion for storytelling are reflected in Parnassus Books, which she co-founded in 2011 with publishing veteran Karen Hayes. Situated in Nashville's vibrant Green Hills neighborhood, Parnassus Books offers a carefully curated selection of titles across various genres, catering to readers of all ages and interests. Beyond its shelves, the bookstore serves as a thriving literary hub, hosting author events, book clubs, and community gatherings. With Patchett's dedication to fostering a love of literature and supporting emerging and established authors, Parnassus Books has become a cherished destination for book lovers in Nashville and a highly desired stop for any author on tour!
Judy Blume, alongside her husband George Cooper and a group of local book enthusiasts, addressed the absence of a premier bookstore in Key West by establishing Books & Books @The Studios of Key West, a nonprofit venture affiliated with Books & Books, renowned for its Coral Gables origins. Inspired by Key West's rich literary tradition and cultural events like the Key West Literary Seminar, this independently minded bookstore, nestled within The Studios of Key West—a hub for multidisciplinary arts and artist residencies—serves as a community center, offering curated book selections and hosting author events. Judy Blume, a key figure in this endeavor and also known for founding the Tropic Cinema in Key West, often frequents the store, reflecting its integral role in the island's literary and artistic landscape.
Founded by Jenny Lawson, author of Furiously Happy and Broken, Nowhere Bookshop is an independent bookstore in San Antonio, Texas. The store's name is inspired by that feeling you get when lost in a good book. According to Jenny: "Growing up I spent more time in the land of books than I did in real life. I lived in those neverlands that you can only visit in stories. The places you grew up in that never actually existed. The ones you got lost in and the ones you found yourself in. Those strange countries that are real and important, in spite of the fact that they exist nowhere at all but inside you." Nowhere Books features new books, author events, unique gifts, and a coffee, wine and beer bar.
Leah Johnson, a literary star celebrated for her powerful debut novel You Should See Me in a Crown, is the owner of Loudmouth Books, a queer, black and woman-owned independent bookstore in Indianapolis, Indiana. Loudmouth is a bookstore and community space intended to uplift banned books and highlight the work of marginalized writers. Johnson opened Loudmouth Books in the spring of 2023 after one of the most regressive anti-LGBTQIA legislative sessions in Indiana history as a means of keeping lifesaving, life-affirming diverse books in the hands of Hoosiers.
Birchbark Books & Native Arts is operated by a spirited collection of people who believe in the power of good writing, the beauty of handmade art, the strength of Native culture, and the importance of small and intimate bookstores. Owned by author Louise Erdrich, Birchbark Books was started as a place to showcase Native American literature, history, politics, culture, and art. Birchbark also offers the latest novels, memoirs, poetry, nonfiction, and young-adult and children's books.
Located in the bookstore-rich community of western Massachusetts, Book Moon is an indie bookstore run by the husband-and-wife team of Kelly Link — author of the Pulitzer finalist Get in Trouble , White Cat, Black Dog, and The Book of Love — and Gavin J. Grant, publisher of Small Beer Press. Book Moon carries mostly new books with a focus on fiction, science fiction and fantasy, poetry, activism, graphic novels, and kids books as well as a few collectible first editions, cards, T-shirts, candles, puzzles, tea, and some very tasty chocolate. They welcome dogs large and small and offer mysterious book bundles in brown paper packages tied up in string.
And, here are two new bookstores opening soon!
Lauren Groff, author of Fates and Furies and Matrix, has established The Lynx Books, an independent bookstore focused on writers of color, Florida, and LGBTQ+ writers as well as books banned in the state of Florida. It will be opening in Gainesville in early April.
Coming this summer, Maura Cheeks, author of the recently-released Acts of Forgiveness, will be opening Liz’z Book Bar in Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens neighborhood. She plans to carry “a pretty strong selection of classics” with an emphasis on fiction and nonfiction by Black authors.