[margins.] meets is back starting next week! And with a new exciting change: each meet up will now include breakout sessions for LGBTQIA2S+, Black, Disabled/Neurodiverse, Indigenous, Latinx, and AAPI. Come join us to create and commune :)

The conference is almost here. Last day to register!!! www.thewordfordiversity.org/marginsregis... What do you hope to leave a writing conference with? At [margins.], we hope it's more than notes and business cards.

What are you carrying into your creative practice? For many writers, creativity exists alongside uncertainty, grief, fatigue, hope, and joy. We don't stop being human when we sit down to write.

We all love the idea of a bookstore meet-cute. Wandering the shelves. Picking up a recommendation from a bookseller. Reaching for the same book as a stranger. Spending an afternoon getting lost among the stacks. But those moments only happen if our independent bookstores can keep their doors open.

Thinking about attending the 5th [margins.] Conference? Don't wait too long. www.thewordfordiversity.org/margins

#MarginsBookselling is winding down and we want to take some time to reflect on everything this community has made possible. Together, we've celebrated booksellers, discovered bookstores across the country, explored new perspectives, and shared a love of stories that bring people together.

Today we're featuring recommendations from Alexa Chang of Under the Umbrella Bookstore. Her reading list explores mutual aid, disability justice, public health, and community care, offering thoughtful perspectives on how we support one another and create more inclusive communities.

There won't be any [margins.] meets for August as will be gathering at [margins.] conference instead. Come join us there! Link in bio to register. #marginsmeets #MarginsConference #WritersLife #CreativeWriting #Publishing #LiteraryCommunity

Preparing to query literary agents—or wondering if you're ready to begin? The querying process can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to.

Independent bookstores help us discover books that ask difficult questions, broaden our perspectives, and introduce us to voices we may not encounter elsewhere.

We've reached the final week of the #MarginsBookselling Action Calendar, but the journey doesn't end here. This week's actions are all about celebrating the people and places that make independent bookstores so special.

Behind every thoughtful book recommendation is a bookseller who believes in the power of stories to connect people and ideas. Today we're featuring recommendations from Oriana Peñaranda of Xolo Books @xolobooks and Artika Tyner of Planting People Growing Justice @plantingpeoplegrowingjustice

Curious about what happens in an Agent 1:1? These 10-minute conversations are an opportunity to connect directly with a literary agent, ask questions about the publishing process, receive feedback, and practice sharing your work in a supportive setting.

Great communities are built together. As #MarginsBookselling continues, we'd like to take another moment to recognize the organizations helping make this celebration possible.

Every writer deserves a space where they feel seen, supported, and connected. At the [margins.] Conference, our cohort meet-ups create intentional opportunities for writers to gather in community through shared lived experiences.

Every independent bookstore adds something unique to its community. Together, BIPOC-led bookstores help create a richer, more vibrant bookselling landscape where more stories are shared, more voices are celebrated, and more readers can find books that inspire, challenge, and connect us.

Independent bookstores connect us with stories we might never have found on our own. Today we're featuring recommendations from Alecia Reddick of Wallflower Bookshop and Sarah Schoonhoven of BookWoman Book Store.

This week's #MarginsBookselling Action Calendar is all about discovering something new. One of the best parts of visiting an independent bookstore is talking with the people who know the shelves best.

Today we're featuring recommendations from Raquel España of Peninsula Books and Laia Forns of The Shop at MATTER. From contemporary fiction to books that challenge the way we see the world, their picks remind us that independent bookstores help readers discover stories that stay with them.

Some of the most meaningful communities begin in bookstores. LGBTQIA2S+ bookstores bring people together through stories, conversation, and carefully curated collections that help readers find representation, resources, and new perspectives.

Books have the power to preserve history, celebrate culture, and inspire what's possible. Today, we're highlighting Black-led bookstores.

Every writer's journey is different, but none of us should have to navigate it alone. At the [margins.] Conference, every part of the experience is designed to foster meaningful conversations, creative growth, and authentic connection.

Every bookstore has its own story. The ones on this list reflect the many cultures, languages, and traditions that make our communities stronger.

"This is precisely the time when artists go to work." Toni Morrison's words are at the heart of this year's [margins.] Conference. Writing has always been more than an act of creation. Stories provide a means of preserving the past, imagining new possibilities, and building connection.

The BIPOC Bookseller Awards recognize the many ways booksellers strengthen independent bookstores and their communities. Whether through advocacy, innovation, or leadership, these awards celebrate the people creating lasting change in bookselling.

Looking for your next great listen? Our friends at Libro.fm have curated a special #MarginsBookselling Month audiobook playlist featuring stories that celebrate the voices, perspectives, and communities at the heart of this campaign.

A few small actions can make a big difference. This week's #MarginsBookselling Action Calendar highlights simple ways to support independent bookstores, discover new books, and share your love of reading with others.

Some bookstores do more than sell books, they become places where people find connection, community, and a sense of belonging.

This week, we're highlighting LGBTQIA2S+, Disabled, and Neurodivergent-owned bookstores that create spaces where people can discover stories, find resources, and connect with communities that see and celebrate them.

No God but Us by Bobuq Sayed is a powerful debut novel that explores identity, resilience, and the lengths people will go in pursuit of freedom. Brought to life by narrators Shawn K. Jain and Nas Mehdi, the audiobook adds even more depth and emotion to an already unforgettable story.