Booksellers came out, signed up, and are representing! We're thrilled to have 162 member stores (15 of these are brand-new members) and 50+ nonmember stores queued up to be included on our Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap.

Industry folks - Will you please join us by becoming a roadmap partner? We're getting close to reaching our goal, but have room for more to join us. 75,000-80,000 free copies of the print roadmap will be shipped to our member stores in time for Bookstore Day--with your ad on the back.

This year, the print component includes a sizable digital upgrade: 1) a one-month feature on our consumer-facing shopping guide 2) year-round placement on our partner page and 3) ongoing roadmap partner thank-yous in our communications.

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Books & Burrow

Pittsburgh, KS

Owner Darcie Shultz

"We are a small, independent and Indigenous-owned bookstore and specialty shop. We strive to provide diverse, quality books for readers of all ages and inspire early literacy through our book selection and programming in hopes of building a community of lifelong readers."

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To celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, when customers spend $15 in-store or virtually at any independent bookstore between April 24th and April 26th, they will get a free audiobook from Libro.fm.

Customers who submit their purchase details between 4/24 and 4/26 (a form will be added to libro.fm/ibd on 4/24) and will get to select from 10-12 new and bestselling audiobooks, which will be revealed early in April.

Direct your customers to libro.fm/ibd for more details and to sign up for updates, and you can find resources and graphics here. You do not need to be a Libro.fm partner bookstore to participate, the offer is valid for all bookstores and all customers. Any questions can be directed to bookstores@libro.fm.

The Wisconsin Historical Society Press is seeking Sales Specialist to join their team. See the post on our job board.

March 9: Danny Caine's launch event for How to Resist Amazon and Why. Register for the event; order the book

March 11: Register for the cross-regional roundtable session on the topic of budgeting for buying, hosted by NEIBA

May 25-27: U.S. Book Show (register for the event)

April 24: Independent Bookstore Day

June 8-9: Edelweiss BookFest; registration to come

August 21: Sign up for Bookstore Romance Day

Jahna Riley is off and running, making waves in Kansas City, MO with her new bookselling endeavor Aya Coffee + Books focused on serving the Black community. Her second sales event made the news, sharing her love of coffee, community, and plans to open a permanent storefront. Bookseller friend and board member Danny Caine stopped by for a visit.

After a burst pipe forced a flood that took over much of their basement and backlist stock, we're happy to report that Irreverent Bookworm is doing well, recovering, and super grateful for the outpouring (dare we say, a flood) of community support.

Danny Caine's homegrown zine on resisting Amazon has done so well, he responded to bookseller encouragement to turn it into a book. How to Resist Amazon and Why will be released on March 9 by Microcosm Publishing. Check out the publisher's #ResistAmazon display contest as you place your order.

"Black Sun was recommended to me by Shane Mullen at Left Bank and I'm so glad he did, since I'm not typically a fantasy reader. This compelling read set in a pre-Colombian, non-European world is hitting all the right buttons with gorgeous backdrops and characters full of pluck and determination." —Carrie

"I got this lovely book in a surprise bag from Main Street Books, MO. It only took seven months to dig in, but well worth the wait. Ancestry.com meets Practical Magic meets The Feminine Mystique in this alternate-history of a family witches. A fascinating exploration of mothers/daughters, family inheritance, and feminine power."

—Kate