These days, any author of note has some kind of online presence — at the very least, a website or Twitter page where they can keep in contact with their fans. Chances are, you follow a couple of your favorite writers yourself. But, with the time and legwork it takes to get these profiles off the ground and attracting followers, it’s no wonder authors question whether it’s worth the effort to create an online presence.
Read more5 Inspiring Commencement Speeches from Authors I Admire
It comes as no surprise that authors often offer the best words of wisdom. Here, I collected the five most inspiring commencement speeches given by authors.
Read moreAmazon's First Brick-and-Mortar Store
A week ago in Seattle, Amazon opened the doors to its first real life bookstore. It’s a curious move, considering the online giant’s founding goal was to offer more books for sale, and at lower prices, than any brick and mortar could possibly offer.
Read moreIndependent Bookstores: BookPeople, Austin
Not only is it a wonderful place to shop, but BookPeople is the epicenter of Austin’s fantastic literary community.
Read moreIndependent Bookstores: Wicked Good Books, Salem, MA
The space is beautiful, with hardwood floors, exposed brick, and giant Palladian windows. With the right touches, it could be the ultimate cozy winter spot. The current layout, however, feels more suited to storage than solace. Industrial carts on either side of center become the focal points of the store, with stacks upon stacks of five-dollar hardcovers.
Read moreBook Review: All the Bright Places
The editors tout it as a combination of Eleanor and Park and The Fault in Our Stars but a more appropriate comparison would be to Paper Towns and Thirteen Reasons Why. And, in my book, that’s so much better.
Read moreIndependent Bookstores: Harvard Bookstore, Cambridge, MA
The first time I popped into Harvard Bookstore was a little over a year ago. I’d just gotten accepted to Emerson and my mom and I had come up to Boston to check it out. On a free afternoon we made our way to Harvard Square and stumbled upon the bookstore. I fell in love immediately, due largely to the tall, tall wooden bookshelves and the ladders that lead to the tops of them. After all, I’ve always been envious of the castle library in Beauty and the Beast.
Read moreIndependent Bookstores: Commonwealth Books, Boston
Keep your eyes peeled as you come up Washington Street. As you approach the Chipotle on School Street, look the other way. Because that Chipotle used to be the store that published and sold Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, and now it’s a burrito factory. But also because Commonwealth Books is across the street and it’s easy to miss.
Read moreIndependent Bookstore: The Grolier Poetry Bookshop, Est. 1927
The phone rang behind the desk and the clerk turned away from our chat to answer it. I was the only customer in this 400-something square-foot space, so I couldn’t help overhear her end of the conversation. She used words like “marketing campaign,” “Facebook,” and “Tumblr.” Those words sounded strange in this space, as if it were still 1927 inside.
Read moreActually, Not-So-Young Adults, Please Don't Be Ashamed
Just like “Adult Fiction,” “Young Adult Fiction” describes an audience, not a template. And “realistic fiction,” for readers of any age, encompasses much more than puppy love.
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