Non-Amazon Online Bookstores

As Amazon announces their priorities during the COVID-19 crisis, maybe we should take a little pressure off them. They may have trouble shipping books now or in the near future, temporarily.

With the help of a bunch of people on Facebook, I’ve collected some online paperback book sources for you to consider. You NEED to buy some books when you’re shut in, right? Many of these also sell e-books, too. Though I don’t think Amazon/Kindle is interrupted, a lot of people have other kinds of e-readers, including me.

I’m giving preference to my own publishers’ sites—can’t blame me for that, right? I haven’t tried all of these, but they’ve all been recommended. Some of them offer curbside pickup. Some are beloved local bookstores and some of those have had to close the physical building to customers.

Feel free to add your favorites in the comments. Let’s keep reading!

Untreed Reads

https://www.untreedreads.com/
(paperbacks and hardcovers: https://www.untreedreads.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=720)
(large print: https://www.untreedreads.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=887)

Wildside Press

http://wildsidepress.com/

Black Cat Mystery and Science Fiction

https://bcmystery.com/

Darkhouse Books

http://darkhousebooks.com/

Barnes &Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/

Books-A-Million

https://booksamillion.com/

Mystery Loves Company

https://www.mysterylovescompany.com/

Powell’s Books

https://www.powells.com/

Indie Bound

https://www.indiebound.org/

Bookshop

https://bookshop.org/

Print

https://www.printbookstore.com/

Book Depository

https://www.bookdepository.com/

Walmart

https://www.walmart.com/

AbeBooks

https://www.abebooks.com/

Mystery Lovers Bookshop

https://www.mysterylovers.com/

Mysterious Galaxy

https://www.mystgalaxy.com/

Books Inc.

https://www.booksinc.net/

Better World Books

https://www.betterworldbooks.com/

Third Place Books

https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/

eBay books

https://www.ebay.com/b/Fiction-Literature-Books/171228/bn_1865444

Copperfish Books

https://www.copperfishbooks.com/

Once Upon a Crime

https://www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimebooks/?hc_location=ufi

Kepler’s Books

https://www.keplers.com/

Book People

https://www.bookpeople.com/

Half-Price Books

https://hpb.com/home?#product-panel-home

Village Books

https://www.villagebooks.com/book/buying-books-online

Beaverdale Books

http://beaverdalebooks.com/

Malaprop’s Books and Café

https://www.malaprops.com/

Thrift Books

https://www.thriftbooks.com/

The Book Rack

http://bookrackarcadia.com/

One More Page Books
https://www.onemorepagebooks.com

Happy Anniversary to My Hometown Favorite

By Julie Tollefson

This week, I want to give a shout out to the Raven Book Store in Lawrence, Kansas, on the occasion of its 30^th anniversary.

When Borders came to town twenty years ago and built a huge (by comparison) store half a block away from the Raven, there was much trepidation. Could the little store survive in the face of big competition? Short answer: yes. Borders, however, closed as part of corporate bankruptcy proceedings six years ago.

The Raven, which celebrated its anniversary with a weeklong series of parties, readings, and special events, is a tremendous supporter of local authors and the mystery community, even relative unknowns like me. When my first story appeared in an anthology, the Raven ordered copies, indulged my squeee-ing over the display at the counter, and even took my photo for me.

Last year, the store invited me to participate in one of its more-or-less monthly Big Tent events featuring local authors reading pieces of their work, from poetry to fiction to memoir and other nonfiction.

The Raven is also the sponsor of a book club that I joined by accident. Author-friend Diana Staresinic-Deane (Shadow on the Hill) was scheduled to speak, so I dropped by to support her only to find that she was speaking to a book club rather than the public event I expected. I joined that night and have been happily reading and discussing a wide variety of books with the Last Wednesday Book Club ever since.

I can’t imagine our town without the Raven. It’s vital to our quirky, thriving literary scene. My everlasting thanks to the store and the people who make it special.

What’s your favorite local bookstore?