Find your bookish Midwest.
Find Midwest authors, independent bookstores, literary events, organizations, writing groups, bookish destinations, and communities worth knowing. Start with the directories and calendar already live, then come back as we uncover more across the region.
Find something worth discovering.
Meet Midwest writers, find independent bookstores, browse bookish events, connect with literary organizations, and find writing groups where writers can critique, create, and build community across the region.
Authors
Meet regional writers and search by author, book title, genre, reader age, or keyword.
Bookstores
Find independent bookstores, pop-ups, specialty shops, and reader-friendly places across the region.
Bookish Events
Find author appearances, signings, bookstore events, book clubs, festivals, readings, workshops, and literary gatherings beyond Midwest Book Beat’s own calendar.
Literary Organizations
Find nonprofits, literacy programs, associations, collectives, poetry communities, storytelling organizations, and other groups strengthening literary life across the Midwest.
Writing Groups
Find critique circles, write-ins, workshops, accountability groups, and recurring communities where writers can connect and keep the work moving.
The map is getting bigger.
We’re continuing to expand the map with more places, businesses, and reader 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.
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.
Our regional Bookish Events calendar helps you discover what the broader literary community is doing. Our Events page is where you’ll find Midwest Book Beat’s own programming.
Come find us in person.
See Midwest Book Beat festivals, markets, workshops, shared tables, partner events, and appearances.
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, writing group, organization, destination, or event we should know about. Bookish events, literary organizations, and writing groups now have dedicated submission forms so these directories can keep growing.