Nancy: A Shout Out To Some Great Indies

So many bookstores – so little time. I am blessed in New York's Hudson Valley to have so many terrific indie bookshops within a short drive. Actually, there are so many I couldn’t single one out to write about for this post. I thought of nearby Blackwood and Brouwer Booksellers in Kinderhook, New York – a wonderful small shop near the village gazebo run by Rondi Brouwer and her mom and dad. Rondi is one of those owners who know her merchandise and her clientele so well it is scary. Just mention a book you're interested in and Rondi can pull it off the shelf immediately or has it on order already. Her mom, Jean, makes the best snacks for book events. When I appeared at the shop to sign and read Pizza for the Queen she had made wonderful cookie pizzas and when I appeared at the shop for a program for my book, Oceans, she had made a jello-filled aquarium for the kids complete with gummy fish!


Not too far away is Oblong Books and Music with shops in Millerton, NY and also in Rhinebeck, NY. Former children’s buyer, Michelle Charles, had the brilliant idea to showcase a local children’s author or illustrator in the Millerton window each month with their recent title. Artists constructed their own window display. It not only drew shoppers to the store each month, but even was mentioned in Publisher’s Weekly. Author/illustrator, Kyra Teis will be removing her window display featuring her new title, The Magic Flute, in the coming days – so drop on over this weekend to catch a glimpse before it leaves.


The Little Book House in Albany, NY has been undergoing a major renovation along with their neighboring adult side – The Book House. Even though Barnes and Noble and Borders are within a mile of this indie, shoppers still flock there for the personal service and great staff recommendations. Another branch of the shop has opened up in Troy, NY, just a short drive away. I still have to get on over to that one!
There are still more to talk about - including The Open Door in Schenectady, Merritt Books in Red Hook and Millbrook. Those will come in a later post!