Find your bookish Midwest.
Find Midwest authors, independent bookstores, literary events, bookish destinations, and communities worth knowing. Start exploring what’s here now, and come back as we uncover more across the region.
Find something worth discovering.
Meet Midwest writers, find independent bookstores, and follow the trail to your next read, favorite shop, or unexpected discovery.
The map is getting bigger.
We’re expanding beyond authors and bookstores to help you find more of the people, places, and communities that make the Midwest bookish.
Bookish Businesses
Book-adjacent shops, makers, services, cafés, and businesses built for readers and writers.
Book Clubs
Reader communities organized by place, genre, identity, interest, or simply a shared love of books.
Writing Groups
Critique circles, write-ins, workshops, and communities where Midwest writers can connect.
Literary Organizations
Nonprofits, libraries, collectives, associations, and organizations supporting literary life.
Bookish Destinations
Places worth putting on the itinerary, from literary landmarks to unusual reader-friendly stops.
Places
Explore literary life by city, metro, and state, with local authors, bookstores, events, and destinations gathered in one place.
Find the bookish side of the Midwest.
Planning a weekend away? Looking for what’s nearby? Our place guides will make it easier to discover authors, bookstores, events, literary landmarks, and unexpected bookish stops city by city.
There’s more happening around the Midwest.
Find something to do, somewhere to go, or something useful for your own bookish work.
See what’s happening.
Browse Midwest Book Beat festivals, markets, workshops, partner events, and literary gatherings.
Make the work easier.
Browse practical guides, tools, and resources for writers, readers, businesses, and literary communities.
Know something the Midwest should be able to find?
Tell us about an author, bookstore, bookish business, group, organization, destination, or event we should know about. If something already listed needs an update, send that too.
Suggest or update a listing