In the last 15 years or so, the amount of independent bookstores in Tampa Bay has grown.
I have met most of the bookstore owners in Tampa Bay in an attempt to get my books on their shelves. Most of them carry my novel, Curveball at the Crossroads. Some bookstores do consignment, some order from Ingram Spark, and some buy directly from me. Some don’t carry my books at all. And a few I have yet to meet.
To date, there are 24 bookstores in Tampa Bay from Brooksville to Sarasota.
This list is broken down into how the bookstores acquire my books. There is no preferential order. I have a great relationship with every bookstore I work with. I hope this list comes in handy for other authors (as well as readers!) in the Tampa Bay area and beyond. This is my experience. Yours might be different.
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— Order from Ingram Spark —
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Oxford Exchange Book Store (Tampa)
Point of contact: Laura Taylor, Bookstore & Programming Director
Best way to contact: visit and email — Laura(@)oxfordexchange.com
The Oxford Exchange is in downtown Tampa. The bookstore only orders from Ingram Spark and does not do consignment. Hence, they are looking for books that are known or authors that will move product. I was part of the Oxford Exchange Book Fair in 2022 and 2023 and did well. Then I approached their front counter and asked how they would carry my novel on their shelves. I emailed Laura Taylor and asked how my book can be on their shelves. Laura ordered two copies. During my next visit, I signed the books and made social media content letting my followers know the book was available at the Oxford Exchange Book Store.
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Tombolo Books (St Pete)
Point of Contact: Alsace — owner
Best way to contact: visit and email — authors(@)tombolobooks.com
Tombolo Books is one of the most high profile bookstores in the Tampa Bay area. If New York Times Bestselling authors are going to visit, they are going to go to Tombolo. While the folks at Tombolo are nice, they are busy. Getting your book approved for their shelves takes time. That said, once I was listed on Ingram Spark, I immediately filled out their local author form.
At the time, the local author form required Ingram Spark, reviews from other local authors, and an active social media presence. They now do consignment as well. Whatever the requirement, it is Tombolo, they are busy, and people buy plenty of books there.
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BookendsYbor (Tampa)
Point of Contact: Teresa — owner
Best way to contact: visit and email — read(@)bookendsybor.com
BookendsYbor does not have a brick-and-mortar storefront yet (as of March 2026). But they are working on it. They do however have a bookmobile they bring to local pubs and breweries as well as the Ybor Saturday Market.
I found BookendsYbor via Bookshop.org. I followed them on social media, dropped them an email, told them how much I am looking forward to their opening, and mentioned my book. They said they would look into ordering it from Ingram. Within two weeks, they had copies in hand. I then visited their next bookmobile event, chatted with a few customers, and their copies of Curveball at the Crossroads were sold. I have seen them several times since and they carry my novel often.
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Bookstore1 (Sarasota)
Point of contact: Byrn — Director of Programming
Best way to contact: email — bryn(@)sarasotabooks.com
Bookstore1 is located in downtown Sarasota. I was part of the Bookstore1 Book Fair in 2023 and 2024. In preparation for their event, Bookstore1 orders five books per author every book fair via Ingram Spark. If authors don’t sell all five, the store will carry the book on their shelves until they sell. Bryn and the team are great and very nice. They do a great job of promoting the book fair and the authors. Bookstore1 is an hour away for me, so it is a little difficult to visit regularly. However, they host author events and book club readings regularly.
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The Gilded Page (Tarpon Springs)
Point of contact: Julia — owner
Best way to contact: visit and email — thegildedpagebookstore(@)gmail.com
The Gilded Page is in Tarpon Springs. I visited The Gilded Page first, and while there, I discussed how they carried an author I am friends with. Then I mentioned my book and how it might be a fit on their fiction shelf. Julia agreed and ordered a copy of Curveball at the Crossroads.
The Gilded Page both orders local books on Ingram if possible or they do consignment. If doing consignment, they ask for up to five books from the author. If they order on Ingram, they order one at a time. I prefer the upfront revenue of Ingram so I opted for that.
Additionally, The Gilded Page hosts the Tarpon Book Fair in April. Highly recommended for authors to be a part of. I crushed it there. The Gilded Page also hosts author signings on the first Friday evening of every month. That is a great opportunity to meet readers and sell books.
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Book & Bottle (St Pete)
Point of contact: unknown
Best way to contact: visit or website
Book & Bottle is a bookstore/coffee shop/wine store in downtown St Petersburg. They have a small selection of books on one wall of their store. Nice people and great ambiance. They are preferential to new books. They do carry local authors, but it is kinda tough due to their limited selection. If your book fits, they will order it from Ingram.
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Portkey Books (Safety Harbor)
Point of contact: Crystel — owner
Best way to contact: Visit
Portkey Books is a small bookstore in Safety Harbor, Florida and the most recent store to carry my debut novel. As a small store, they are very selective in the books they carry. To echo my pro tip above, you have to be on Ingram and a return policy is recommended.
Portkey Books asks that local authors donate their first book to the store as an act of good faith. After that book sells, they will continue to order the book from Ingram as long as they sell. As my publisher cost is $6, that’s worth it to me.
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Back in the Day Books (Dunedin)
Point of contact: Boe Rushing — owner
Best way to contact: email: backinthedaybooks(@)yahoo.com
Back in the Day Books is particular on which local and independent books they carry. You have to fit their store and show that you can move books. After a face-to-face talk with the owner, I convinced him that my book would fit his store and I am now in his fiction section.
Due to the size of his store, he doesn’t do signings, but you can do signings at Skip’s Pub at the end of the plaza. I should do another post on the places I have done book signings.
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— Consignment —
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Wilson’s Book World (St Pete)
Point of contact: Michelle — owner
Best way to contact: visit
Wilson’s Book World is a family owned and operated, used and antiquarian bookshop in St. Pete. They have a steady and loyal clientele and are very personable. They don’t carry new books, but they do carry local authors on consignment. They accept three books per author and they put a copy of the book in the front of the aisle for a month before putting all the copies in their associated section. Their percentage return on consignment is the best in the area (80/20), although they don’t provide the money for the books until all the books are sold.
I have sold several copies at Wilsons. Always have your books in your car when you visit, because they might have sold them and need to restock.
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Mojo Books and Records (Tampa)
Point of contact: Melanie — owner
Best way to contact: visit and email — mojotampa(@)comcast.net
Mojo Books and Records is a combination music and book store. They have been around for a long time and have a strong underground following. They mostly carry used books and cater to the University of South Florida market. They do consignment for local authors and will carry two books at a time.
I like Mojo Books and Records a lot. They are nice folks and very responsive, but although their store is divided 50/50 between books and music, their focus isn’t books. If they can do more for books, and especially local authors, they could become a powerful ally.
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The Paperback Exchange (Port Richey)
Point of contact: Joanie — owner
Best way to contact: visit or Instagram
The Paperback Exchange is a classic used bookstore in Port Richey, Florida. Like Wilson’s in St Pete, they mostly carry used books. They also carry a wide selection of new books by local authors. I was surprised how many local authors they carry and honestly, how few I recognized. They do consignment and give 50% on each sale. I left two books there but some authors have left more.
The Paperback Exchange has rows and rows of used books. If your book is there, create videos, take pictures, and post about the store on social media. They are great folks and they are doing a great service by carrying your book, but you have to create the demand.
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The Book Rescuers (Largo)
Point of contact: George — owner
Best way to contact: visit or email / phone: thebookrescuers(@)gmail.com / (727) 222–0495
The Book Rescuers is a giant used book warehouse in Pinellas Park. Since they moved to their current location a few years ago, they have been very friendly with local authors. They recently created a huge island in the store for local authors.
They typically take three books at a time from local authors and give a considerable consignment, only keeping $3 from every sale. For me, that’s $15 in my pocket each sale. They pay via Zell, so make sure you have that set up before visiting.
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The Book Lounge (St. Pete)
Point of contact: Natalya and Pamela at (727) 545–0245 and info (@) thebooklounge .com
Best way to contact: Visit and email
The Book Lounge opened in November 2025. They primarily cater to romance/romantasy/fantasy, and women readers, but are open to everything. They offer a 60/40 split with authors and ensure authors sign a contract with the store. They ask for up to 6 copies of the book for 90 days, which is different from other stores in both quantity and time. They do a “date with a book” mystery wrapping offers with books that don’t move off their shelves quickly.
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This Bookstore Kills Fascists (Mobile)
Point of contact: Tiffany — owner
Best way to contact: visit or Facebook
This Bookstore Kills Fascists is a niche pop-up/mobile bookstore run by Tiffany Razzano. Tiffany sets up at street markets and festivals all around Tampa Bay from Sarasota to St Pete to Tampa and anywhere else that will have her. Her selection is very focused on bring attention to marginalized or minority voices. She is an outspoken advocate for freedom of speech and a proponent of provocative media.
This Bookstore Kills Fascists sells both new and used books that fit her niche. Tiffany does consignment for local authors giving 50% on sales. She carries my book The Man Makes You Work among her wares.
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— Purchase from author —
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Tiger Dust (Tampa)
Point of contact: Jason and Laura — owners
Best way to contact: visit or Instagram DM
Tiger Dust is not a traditional bookstore. They are an oddities and novelty store in the Seminole Heights area of Tampa. They feature a small room of occult, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and hard-to-find books. My book about someone who makes a deal with the Devil fits their selection of books. They bought three books from me at a 33% discount.
If your novel fits their store, Tiger Dust is recommended.
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Citrus and Sage Bookshop (Brooksville)
Point of contact: Andrea — owner
Best way to contact: visit, email ( citrusandsagebookshop (@) gmail), phone (352–741–8870)
Citrus and Sage is one of the newest bookstores in Tampa Bay, if you count Brooksville as Tampa Bay. Located an hour and a half north of Tampa, Citrus and Sage is super cute, quaint, and charming. They are also really nice and receptive to independent, self-published authors.
This is another case of doing the work. I drove from Tampa and met Andrea and her team. We talked, I bought a book, and they bought two of my books from me for 33% off. They make $6, I make $12. They were very optimistic about my book, saying it was good fit. I also made a social media video from the store to tell my followers where to find it.
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— Stores that do not (yet) carry my books —
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Black English Bookstore (Tampa)
Point of contact: unknown
Best way to contact: Unknown
Black English opened in December 2023. I haven’t checked on them since their founder, Tampa City Councilwoman Gwen Henderson, passed away. They are predominantly focused on African-American authors and books on the African-American experience. They are a small store and are very welcoming but I have not yet discussed my novel with them. If your book is a fit, I encourage you to reach out to them.
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Novel in the Neighborhood (New Port Richey, FL)
Point of contact: Tiffany Butts — owner
Best way to contact: novelintheneighborhood@gmail.com
Novel in the Neighborhood just opened in March 2026. They are a small independent store in a strip mall off Old Country Road 54. They have a small space for local authors currently, but hopefully that increases as they get more established. They order from Ingram if your book fits their store.
Novel in the Neighborhood also allows local authors to do book signings. To date, they are scheduled until fall 2026.
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Inchstone Books (New Port Richey, FL)
Point of contact: unknown
Best way to contact: unknown
Inchstone Books is scheduled to open in April 2026.
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Pages and Perks (St. Petersburg)
Point of contact: unknown
Best way to contact: unknown
Pages and Perks is currently a mobile bookstore settling into a physical home soon.
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The Wandering Shelf (Tampa)
Point of contact: Sandra & Suzanne
Best way to contact: Instagram
The Wandering Shelf is a mobile bookstore in Tampa. I met them at a brewery in the end of 2025. I gave them a copy of my novel. I am not sure if they ordered one or more.
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Steamy Lit Romance Bookstore (Tampa)
Point of contact: Unknown at (813) 724–1002
Best way to contact: visit
Steamy Lit Romance Bookstore is a new bookstore in South Tampa. They are tiny and niche, catering mostly to romance, fantasy, and fiction. I visited to say hello. My book is not in their market, but we had a good conversation and they are very nice. If your book is a fit, definitely check them out.
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Haslem’s Bookstore (St Pete)
Point of contact: Unknown
Best way to contact: Unknown
I am listing Haslem’s out of respect for one of the area’s oldest local bookstores. Unfortunately, they closed during the pandemic and have not been open since. If I had to guess, my book will never be in the store and the property will turn into condos.
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Barnes & Noble (various locations)
Point of contact: Unknown
Best way to contact: email — crm3429(@)bn.com
Barnes & Noble is obviously not an independent bookstore. They are however the biggest box bookstore chain in Tampa Bay. That said, they don’t carry self-published authors. As a chain, they don’t do consignment. They also don’t order print-on-demand, which includes Ingram Spark.
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I hope this helps other authors in Tampa Bay area and beyond. Self-publishing is a hustle and is a lot of work. You are not only an author, but a marketer, an event planner, and a salesperson. But the more places you place your book, the more chances it has to be bought. It is a numbers game, but by working with local bookstores, you increase your chances of success.
Good luck!
