This Saturday, April 26, is Independent Bookstore Day, and while a certain mega-retailer is throwing a big sale 🙄, we’re celebrating something more meaningful: the indie bookstores that make space for our writers and help Southern literature thrive.
📍 Six Southern Bookstores We Adore
Here are a few of our favorite shops—places that have welcomed us, supported our titles, and created stages (and shelves) for emerging voices across the South:
City Lights Bookstore (Sylva, NC) – A cornerstone of Appalachian literature with a big heart and a deep bench of Southern authors.
Union Ave Books (Knoxville, TN) – A bright light in downtown Knoxville with a community-first approach to books and events.
Bagatelle Books (Asheville, NC) – The best poetry section in town, tucked next to a garden shop and always full of surprises.
Sassafras on Sutton (Black Mountain, NC) – Thoughtfully curated, beautifully arranged, and always ready to support local presses.
Highland Books (Brevard, NC) – A beloved community shop with a long-standing love for regional writing and independent voices.
Firestorm Books (Asheville, NC) – Worker-owned, radically welcoming, and consistently ahead of the curve in the books they champion.
Bonus: Downtown Books & News (Asheville, NC) – Where you can find all of our titles on the shelves—right where they belong.
If you're able, consider skipping the algorithm this week and buying your next read from a place that truly believes in the power of story to connect us. These stores are more than just points of sale—they’re part of the reason Loblolly exists at all.
🎙️ Clint Bowman Reads James Tate
We’re still thinking about Clint’s recent episode on Loblolly In Conversation. This month, we’re sharing a bonus clip: Clint reads “The Promotion” by James Tate—a gem of a poem.
→ Listen above, here on Substack or where you get your podcasts!
Clint’s audiobook of If Lost was recorded locally at The Talking Book Studios, and it’s out now:
🎧 Get the audiobook
📚 Paperback
📱 Ebook
📦 Loblolly Poets to Read Right Now
💚 Distant Relations by Cheryl Whitehead
We’d love to get 20 more copies of this gorgeous debut into the world this month. It’s lyrical, sharp, and filled with tension and grace. Free shipping if enter the green heart emoji 💚 at checkout.
→ Order now
🐻 Beasts of Chase by Andrew Mack
This chapbook explores black bear hunting in Appalachia with intimacy and bite. Personal, political, and grounded in the wild.
→ Pick up your copy
Thanks for being part of our community.
Whether you’re listening to a poet read in your headphones or browsing your local indie bookstore, we hope you find something that stays with you.
— Andrew
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