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Independent Bookstores

Los Angeles

A list of independent bookstores located in and around Los Ángeles, arranged by category: New, Used and Other/Specialty. Some bookstores sell both new and used books, but are listed under the category that best fits the individual store. Each bookstore is linked to its website or Facebook Page, where you can get information on author readings, books in stock, book signings, etc.

New books 
Used books 
Other/Specialty 
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Independent Bookstores

Independent Bookstores

Easily find an independent bookstore near you under the following categories, new, used and other/specialty. Click on the link to your region below.
los angeles    Johannesburg, za
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Martina Reisz Newberry

Martina Reisz Newberry

Martina Reisz Newberry is the author of 8 books of poetry. She has been awarded residencies at Yaddo Colony for the Arts, Djerassi Colony for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Disciplinary Arts. Passionate in her love for Los Angeles, Martina currently lives there with her husband, Brian, a Media Creative.

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Conney D. Williams

Conney D. Williams

Conney D. Williams is a Los Angeles based poet, actor and performance artist originally from Shreveport, Louisiana where he worked a radio personality. His latest poetry collection entitled “The Distance of Observation was released on World Stage Press in August 2021. He is also the co-founder of World Stage Press. He released two critically acclaimed cds (2015) of his poetry accompanied by music: “Unsettled Water” and “River&Moan." He has two previous poetry collections “Leaves of Spilled Spirit from an Untamed Poet (2002)” and “Blues Red Soul Falsetto (2012).” He’s been published in various journals, publications, and anthologies (Voices from Leimert & Voices from Leimert Redux, Writers Resist, Drumming between Us, and Wide Awake). He’s the former Artistic Director at the World Stage Performance Gallery where he facilitated the Anansi Writers Workshop. He is a community activist and has worked with youth for over 35 years; he was an ordained minister and Youth Pastor in the Church of God in Christ. He hosted a cable television show and recorded a gospel rap cd called L.I.F.E (1985). He was Poet’s Stage Coordinator for the first 10 years of the Leimert Park Village Book Fair; and also the Annual Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival for three years (2012-2014). He has performed his poetry on television, radio (KJLH, KPFK), universities (USC, UCLA, Claremont, CSLB, Antioch, CS-Northridge, and others), cultural events & organizations (Black Arts Festival, CAAM), for the City & County of Los Angeles, across the U.S., and he regularly curates poetry events in Los Angeles.

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Pam Ward

Pam Ward

LA native, Pam Ward recently released her first poetry book, "BETWEEN GOOD MEN & NO MAN AT ALL, World Stage Press. Pam is the author of two novels, "WANT SOME GET SOME," Kensington, chronicling a heist after the '92 riots and "BAD GIRLS BURN SLOW," Kensington, a tale of a mother working funeral homes. A UCLA graduate and recipient of a "California Arts Council Fellow" and a "Pushcart Poetry Nominee," Pam edited the first anthology of Los Angeles black women poets entitled, "The Supergirls Handbook." While operating a design studio and teaching at Art Center College of Design, Pam merged writing and graphics to produce "My Life, LA" documenting Black Angelinos in poster/stories. Pam's literary showcase, "I Didn't Survive Slavery For This!" a multi-media poetic riff on life post emancipation, featured a collective of poets of The World Stage. Pam currently designs, runs her community imprint Short Dress Press and hosts Beyond Baroque's Wednesday Night Poetry Workshop, the longest running workshop in Los Angeles. Pam recently completed her third novel "Bury My Dress on Central Ave.," about her aunt's connection to the Black Dahlia murder, a crime so horrific it shocked the whole world happening inside Pam's very own hometown.

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Imani Tolliver

Imani Tolliver

Imani Tolliver (she/her) is an award-winning poet, artist, educator, and producer. She is the author of Runaway: A Memoir in Verse. She is a graduate of Howard University where she received the John J. Wright Literary Award, served as Poet Laureate for the Watts Towers Arts Center, and was awarded literary fellowships from the Cave Canem Foundation, the Lannan Foundation, and George Washington University. Imani received a Certificate of Congressional Recognition by the U.S. House of Representatives for her work as the Cultural & Fine Arts Supervisor for the City of Buena Park and a Certificate of Recognition by the City of Los Angeles for her work as a promoter, host, and publicist in support of the literary arts in Southern California. Rooted in social justice, Imani has curated and produced a wide portfolio of arts and cultural programming that celebrates, reflects, and amplifies the voices of diverse communities. These programs have included art festivals, poetry readings, concerts, community theater, youth theater, and special events for large municipalities in Southern California.

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Irene Suico Soriano

Irene Suico Soriano

Born in Zamboanga, Philippines in 1969, poet, independent literary & film curator, Irene Suico Soriano immigrated to the US in 1981. She grew up in the neighborhoods of East Hollywood, Rampart/Temple, and the Wilshire Corridor, now known as Koreatown, fed on catholic school angst, 1980s punk, goth, new wave and UK music rags. She obtained a BA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Poetry and a minor in Playwriting from Loyola Marymount University. Irene is the author of the poetry collection Primates from an Archipelago (Rabbit Fool Press, 2017) and chapbook, Safehouses which Disorient Journalzine published as part of their Emerging Writers Chapbook Series in 1998. A PEN Center USA Emerging Voices fellow, her poems have appeared in Flippin': Filipinos on America (Asian American Writers' Workshop); Babaylan: An Anthology of Filipina and Filipina American Writers (Aunt Lute); Short Fuse: The Global Anthology of New Fusion Poetry (Rattapallax Press), Philippines Free Press, Solidarity Journal, Clamour dyke zine, Maganda's Eleben queer issue and Traffic Report. Irene founded LA's first Asian Pacific American literary reading series "Wrestling Tigers" at the Japanese American National Museum, curating the series from 1994-1998. She was featured in the LA Times in 2000 for her role in co-curating the NEA-funded World Beyond Poetry Festival that featured over 100+ poets from the diverse communities of Los Angeles. Irene has curated literary readings for the Festival of Philippines Arts & Culture (FPAC), the Getty Center, LitFest Pasadena, Highways Performance Space, Pacific Asian Museum and Puro Arte. Irene served as the Fall 2021 Intercollegiate Department of Asian American Studies (IDAAS) Artist/Activist-in-Residence at the Claremont Colleges and co-taught Art & Revolution: Filipinx Diaspora Aesthetics and Poetics with Pitzer professor, Todd Honma.

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Tanique Somers

Tanique Somers

I was born in Jamaica W.I, raised in the Bronx, N.Y and spent some time in Polk County, Florida. I am an avid reader, world traveler, and aspiring polyglot. I fell in love with the Spanish language in Jamaica where I was introduced to Dora the Explorer, while I lived in Spanish town, St. Catherine. (Go figure). I enjoy watching series and movies from countries like South Korea, Taiwan,India, Ghana, Nigeria, Colombia, Mexico and picking up some linguistic gems along the way. Not to mention trying out the cuisine as well. I am a lifelong learner. In my time in school, I have acquired a BA in Spanish for Translation & Interpretation from Andrews University (Berrien Springs, MI) and MA in Spanish: Language and Literature/ Advanced Certificate in Caribbean and Latin American Studies from St. John's University (Queens,NY). My best learning experience, however, was my study abroad year at River Plate Adventist University (Entre Rios,Argentina). My Spanish skills blossomed there. I have worked as a Special Education Coordinator, Direct Support Professional, Language Tutor and also in the Human Services sector as a Case Manager for unaccompanied minors. I believe my life work is to advocate for the "least of these " in whatever capacity life leads me to. Nací en Jamaica W.I, crecí en el Bronx, Nueva York y pasé algún tiempo en el condado de Polk, Florida. Soy una ávida lectora, viajera del mundo y aspirante a políglota. Me enamoré del idioma español en Jamaica, donde me presentaron a Dora la Exploradora, mientras vivía en la Spanish Town, St. Catherine. (¿Que ironía?) Disfruto viendo series y películas de países como Corea del Sur, Taiwán, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Colombia, México y recogiendo algunas gemas lingüísticas en el camino. Por supuesto, probar la cocina también. Soy un aprendiz de por vida. En mi tiempo en la escuela, he adquirido una licenciatura en español para Traducción e Interpretación de la Universidad Andrews (Berrien Springs, MI) y una maestría en español: Lengua y Literatura / Certificado Avanzado en Estudios Caribeños y Latinoamericanos de la Universidad de St. John (Queens, NY). Mi mejor experiencia de aprendizaje, sin embargo, fue mi año de estudio en el extranjero en la Universidad Adventista del Plata (Entre Ríos, Argentina). Mis habilidades en español florecieron allí. He trabajado como Coordinadora de Educación Especial, Profesional de Apoyo Directo, Tutora de Idiomas y también en el sector de Servicios Humanos como Administradora de Casos para menores no acompañados. Creo que el trabajo de mi vida es abogar por los "marginados" en cualquier capacidad a la que la vida me lleve.

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Brytney Reeves/Queen Ex

Brytney Reeves/Queen Ex

Queen Ex is a Los Angeles-born poet who started writing at age 10, published at age 12, and performed spoken word starting at age 16 in Oakland. Three years later, her writing became works of fiction that remained unpublished as she pursued a communications career in her hometown. As a poet she toured the L.A. indie scene, won a Rising Star Music Award in 2014, was briefly an erotic fiction ghostwriter, and worked with various entertainment professionals while studying media communications at Full Sail University. In 2015, her work as a host and production assistant on Callywood Media Network founded her ambitions to produce more podcasts and eventually radio-plays. Two years later, she joined the Community Literature Initiative Program and became the author she dreamed she could be. In 2019, her first collection of fiction, HIDDEN MOMENTS, was published by World Stage Press. Periodically she gives guest lectures on the creative process, writes for online publications, and recites poetry at events. As of 2021, bringing financial literacy to creative professionals has been a major focus of her public platform. She currently lives in Los Angeles and expects to publish more works in the future. "As a poet and an optimist, I believe I can change lives through unique outreach and communication skills. I have seen it happen firsthand. My story has value and I make it a priority to help others tell theirs." - Queen Ex

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Sequoia Olivia Mercier

Sequoia Olivia Mercier

Sequoia Olivia Mercier is a poet, community organizer, mother, and mental health facilitator. She is a Harlem, New York native who has lived in Los Angeles for the majority of her life. She is a member and former Executive Director of The World Stage Performance Gallery in Leimert Park, Los Angeles. Author, Midnite Rainbow, 2005 

Her work appears in several other publications some of which include: Go, Tell Michelle: African American Women Write to the New First Lady (Excelsior Editions) 2009; Voices from Leimert Park 2006; Voices from Leimert Park: Redux 2017; and  Angels in the Village  2000. In 2021 her Story Portrait was on display in Leimert Park and the California African American Museum as part of a collaborative art project titled, Creating Our Next L.A., organized by LA Commons / We Rise. She was chosen by the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN) in  September 2021 to receive an award for her poetry which appears in The Right to Heal Zine.