Every Story Deserves the Spotlight

Person using a typewriter writes "Every Story Deserves the Spotlight" with a cozy setting including books and flowers.

We’re readers who want to lift up independent bookstores, local authors, and the cozy little communities that love them. Bookish spaces matter — the warm corners, the quiet aisles, the familiar smell of pages, the gentle hum of people discovering their next favorite story.

These places connect us. They preserve culture, spark imagination, and give new voices a chance to be heard.

Through our platform, we shine a gentle spotlight on the bookstores and storytellers who make reading feel like home.

Feature My Bookstore / Feature Me (I'm an Author)

Why We Do This

As readers, we’ve often struggled to find a cozy little bookstore nearby — a place to wander, sip something warm, and get lost in stories. But the closest one to us is an hour away, and every time we step out hoping to find that bookish comfort, we’re reminded of how rare those spaces can be.

At every book festival we attend, we hear from authors about how difficult it is to reach readers.

We realized these feelings aren’t just ours. So many readers long for welcoming bookish spaces, so many authors need visibility, and so many small bookstores simply need a little support to keep their doors open.

What We’re Here to Do

  • Support independent bookstores
  • Spotlight indie authors
  • Inspire readers to choose local when they can
  • Help keep bookish spaces alive
  • Build a community that celebrates stories

We started small, and we’re growing with you—one story at a time.

How We Support Stories

Visit or Feature
We visit bookstores or they send us videos/photos to share.

Share Their Story
We post about them on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and here on our site — always free.

Help Readers Connect
We highlight how to visit, shop, follow, and support them directly.

Can’t travel to you? No problem—send video/photos. We’ll edit and share.

Want to Be Featured?

We’d love to shine a light on your bookstore or your book.

Features for bookstores and indie authors are always free — no matter where you are in the world.

If you're nearby, we can meet in person and film your feature together. If you're far away, we’re happy to schedule a cozy Zoom chat to walk you through everything — how to introduce your shop or your book, the questions we’ll ask, and simple tips for filming your space or your story with just your phone.

Whether you’re a bookstore owner or an author, we’ll guide you through the whole process so you feel comfortable, supported, and ready to share your story.

📧Email us to plan your feature:

contact@stephshappynook.com

We are wearing t-shirts with our bookish graphic designs, one with books and a person, the other with colorful sci-fi design.

How You Can Help

  • Support your local bookstore

  • Buy directly from indie authors when you can

  • Follow & share our features on social media

  • Tell us who to feature next (via email!)

  • Join our community and help stories shine

  • Support our small business — your orders and engagement help us keep this mission alive and allow us to dedicate more time to lifting up bookstores and authors.