My Book Trail: Read Write Austin
To get us in the spirit of this year’s Austin Texas Book Trail on April 12 + 13, we asked a few of our favorite local readers, writers, and community orgs about bookshops on their must-stop list. Keep scrolling to learn which bookstores Read Write Austin is hitting up this year.
✽ Meet Read Write Austin, local literary news source
Founded by Jackie Rangel in 2022, Read Write Austin began as the go-to source for news of literary happenings around town. Beyond promoting lit-minded gatherings like author talks, reading clubs, writing groups, book launches, and more, RWA also produces unique reading and writing-adjacent experiences.
What’s on Read Write Austin’s Book Trail?
One of the things I most enjoy doing is sharing my love of bookstores with as many people as possible, so I'd invite friends and family to join me at different stops on my trail route. Hopefully they'd then be inspired to spin off on their own adventures.
I recently made it up to Paper Bark Birch in Cedar Park – what a special treat. Just a short drive up north, this gem of a bookstore is a children-focused shop that caters to kids of all ages in a way that's engaging, delightful, and warm. I'd start my trail by inviting my two young nieces and nephew to join me in exploring PBB's nooks and crannies and maybe even catching their 11am story time on Saturday morning.
Then I'd head to Austin Books & Comics where I'd meet a friend who recently moved to Austin and has been looking for a nearby comic book shop to build his collection. I'd introduce him to the friendly staff at ABC before pointing him in the direction of our two other comics-centric shops in town - Tribe & Dragon's Lair.
Next up I'd invite my fellow art-loving friend to treasure-hunt with me at Time Being Books. Addie (Time Being's founder) curates the most eclectic selection of titles. Mass (the art gallery next door) will also be hosting a closing reception for their current exhibit from 12-3 on Saturday, so we can check out some art and enjoy the courtyard as well.
I'll then head further east and ask my dad to join me at Resistencia Books where they will be serving coffee and pan dulce to trail-goers looking to discover this unique community hub and home of Red Salmon Arts, Austin's own Indigenous and Latinx-based cultural arts org.
I'll round out the day by meeting my partner at Alienated Majesty where we love to take our time with the incredibly well-stocked Environments section. Stephen (AMB buyer & bookseller) always keeps these shelves brimming with unique and new-to-me titles and topics.