Since our last roundup, literary Texas has been celebrating, relocating, fundraising, and fighting back. 

AUSTIN 

Sunday Bookshop opened in the Austin suburb of Dripping Springs on June 22, 2023 and held a grand opening party two days later. Owner Dixie Frechette decided to open the bookstore after realizing that ‘one day’ should be now! The store offers books, home décor, gifts, and more. 

BAY CITY 

Clem & Rosie, a pop-up bookstore in Bay City, hosted a celebration for their first anniversary. Congratulations! 

BRYAN 

Whimsy & Wild Emporium announced that its rent has been doubled on the store space, plus doubled electricity bills to keep the air conditioning running, has placed a great strain on the business, which is in danger of closing. In support of the store owner, the store’s employees shared this link to a GoFundMe effort to help keep the store open. 

BUDA 

Em Dash Books announced that as of July 1, 2023, it has a home base located at 408 N Main St., in the food truck park Oak on Main in downtown Buda. The owner said, “We will still be doing pop ups and events because outreach is an important part of our mission. But I’m excited to see what it’s like to have a home base for a little bit!” 

DALLAS 

Interabang Books celebrated its sixth anniversary on June 17, 2023.  The celebration lasted all day and included a special story time with Ha Dinh, juggling, refreshments, tarot card readings, and a book signing/discussion with Julia Heaberlin. Congratulations! 

EL PASO 

Literarity Book Shop celebrated six years in business on July 5, 2023. The staff are “grateful for everyone who has helped us over the years and for the new friends we’ve made along the way.” It celebrated with a six-day sale. 

FORT WORTH 

Thompson's Bookstore is aiming to reopen on July 29, 2023, following extensive renovations, FortWorth.com reported. The bookstore and cocktail bar, which opened in 2015, also features an event space and cigar lounge, is in a downtown building dating back to 1910. From 1972 to 1993, it housed the original Thompson's Bookstore. 

HOUSTON 

The Book Cycle in Houston is adjusting its hours this summer in response to the extreme heat. The store will be open every Thursday from 9 am to 1 pm, and the first and third Saturdays of the month from 9 am to 1 pm and will likely not be hosting volunteers again until it cools after the summer. 

LONGVIEW 

Books & Barrels celebrated its third anniversary on June 30, 2023. Congratulations! 

PFLUGERVILLE 

The Book Burrow recently learned it had to vacate their current space due to required renovations/code updates. Owner Kelsey Black received a flood of community support and was thrilled to announce that the store will reopen in late August at 401 W. Pecan St., Ste. G in Pflugerville.  

RICHARDSON 

Barnes & Noble announced that it plans to open a new store in Richardson’s Pavilion East Shopping Center—the first in the area with B&N’s updated floorplan. Three other new stores are planned for the Dallas area, but no specific locations have been announced. 

OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS: 

Blue Willow Bookshop and BookPeople, along with the American Booksellers Association, Association of American Publishers, The Authors Guild, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund announced that they have filed suit to argue that the new book-rating law in Texas is unconstitutional.  

The Fort Worth Central Library location is closing but is looking for a space that would help them create, “a more usable and accessible” library space for the city and stated that patrons should expect some downtime. 

Gemini Ink received a $20,000 Grants for Arts Projects award from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support public literary arts programs. The grant will support year-round literacy arts programs by funding writing workshops, author talks, community open mics, and more. 

TCU Press announced that it is no longer part of the Texas Book Consortium and all fulfillment and distribution is now through Longleaf Services.  

Trinity University Press announced a robust list of twelve books to be published under its new Tinta Books imprint, which plans to release five to ten books a year focusing on Mexican and Mexican American culture, history, and current affairs.  

The Writer’s Garret has recently been awarded grants by the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) and The Arts Community Alliance (TACA) to support their summer youth program Rail Writers and The Garret’s general operations, respectively.