While more homebound these days, reading is a perfect pastime and a less-screentime activity, and buying books from an indie bookstore helps the small shop.

I am reading more these days. Yes, because I am home more, but also because I am writing and trying to get my picture book manuscripts published. Reading picture books teaches me to write better. And I miss spending time in bookstores, browsing, dreaming, reading, and buying new books.

But there are great options for me to get my hands and eyes on more books while staying safe.

Waco Library Curbside

Waco McLennan County Library has a curbside service. This service has been such a blessing. I reserve my books online, call them, and they check the books out to me, and I drive and pick them up. I appreciate my library.

Buying Books the Indie Bookstore Way

 

Bookstore Curbside

Many small shops have curbside pickup but buying books online is much easier. Click. Pay. Receive. And if you’re using the big guy, you can get it quickly in prime time.

But that doesn’t help indie bookstores like Fabled Bookshop and Café, in Waco.

Indie bookstores are hurting like all small shops and restaurants across America.

Buying Books the Indie Bookstore Way

I believe indie bookstores are the heart of the community, especially when they are also a coffee shop (or serve wine!). You can find a nook and tuck away with a book. And you can enjoy a beverage of choice with a friend. You can also buy wonderful bookish gifts, and you can buy your next great read.

Bookstores and libraries smell like my childhood.

When I walk in, I am lifted. Transformed into a dreamy book wonderland.

Buying Books Online

But if you are being safe and staying home, you aren’t getting the feels of a bookstore. And you are probably buying your books online.

What if you could buy your books online and help your favorite indie bookstore?

Well, you can! Meet Bookshop.com!

Bookshop.com is an online bookstore that has a mission to support local, independent bookstores financially. And is a perfect option to help small bookshops, get your books online, and not use the prime guy.

While on their website, you search the specific local bookstore, like Fabled, to support. After you purchase your books, the book shop receives the entire profit off your order. Full profit!

If you don’t pick a specific indie bookstore, your order will go into an earnings pool that distributes evenly among independent bookstores across America.

Per the website, “By design, we give away over 75% of our profit margin to stores, publications, authors and others who make up the thriving, inspirational culture around books!”

“We hope that Bookshop can help strengthen the fragile ecosystem and margins around bookselling and keep local bookstores an integral part of our culture and communities.

Bookshop is a benefit corporation—a corporation dedicated to the public good.”

And Bookshop has raised almost $13,000,000 to date for local bookstores.

So, the next time you want a new book and don’t want to go into a store, click Bookshop instead. Help the indie bookstores, help Fabled Bookstore, help the small shop, and keep Waco strong! And keep reading!

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Hi, I'm Dedra!! I am a late-in-life writer trying to fulfill a lifelong dream and emerge into the kidlit world. I am writing, editing, and querying while learning patience and failing forward. I hope to be a published children's book author with my picture books and YA novel. I graduated with a degree in Journalism from the UTA in 1988, but because of raising three beautiful children and life in general, I started writing professionally in 2014. My husband of 34 years and I raised our children in China Spring, right outside of Waco. Even though my children are all in their late twenties, all out of college, and all have careers (yay!!!), I am still a mother in their daily life—mothering, loving, worrying, and praying never stop—no matter how old they are. I am proud to be a late-in-life writer--journalist, freelancer, blogger, and magazine contributor. My work includes online and print magazines, including Modern Texas Living, Unread Magazine, Culture Trip, Everything Home Magazine, The Groove, The Outfitter, Victoria Lee Magazine, Holl and Lane Magazine, and Taylor Magazine. My (other) absolute favorite thing to write about is our ever-growing and evolving, small-urban town, Waco. I am thrilled to be part of Waco Moms and write about motherhood and Waco! I also write about life around me to enlighten, entertain, and make people think. If I make them smile, that's a bonus! You can read my blog at http://www.dedradaviswrites.com