Rust Belt Books is the exact kind of bookstore I look for when I travel or move to a new city...
It has with a nice selection of thought provoking and unexpected books, the owner is friendly and encouraging, it hosts community events like book releases and open mics, and there’s a whole shelf full of local authors...
I always appreciate coming across places that are willing to take a chance on art from people who might not have industry connections or a distributor...
And for early-career authors especially, publishing and selling can be daunting, confusing, disheartening even...
An approachable shop owner can play a big role in boosting an independent artist’s confidence to keep trying...
I remember years ago how seeing my comics, zines, or CDs in stores added an extra sense of legitimacy to the work I put into creating them...
And I’d like to think that for other aspiring artists, seeing bookstores that give smaller artists a platform sends a message that when they do eventually follow through on their idea, there could be a place for them too...
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Little by little I’ll be getting Fruitless… stocked in bookstores around the country in 2024, but I was happy to stock it first at a place that invests in its community!
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