A big independent bookstore -- in Dallas??!

Attempting once again to locate an Authors touring DFW site I found your article addressing why publishers ignore N Texas.
Thought it might interest you to know that Janet Evanovich was in Plano last week at B&N drawing over 900 readers, according to store employees.
Having recently attended appearances by Louise Erdrich (fortunately promoted by Writers Garrett among others thankfully did have an enthusiastic crowd at the Eismann Center), Jeremy Scahill, Lee Child, and Robert Parker all seemed resigned to the few dozen attendees at local stores.
Is there a site collecting all visiting or local author appearances?

I appreciate this article and I especially appreciate the sentiments expressed by Clay Reynolds. As a debut Texas author in the midst of planning a summer tour of independent bookstores to line up fall signings, I would love to see a resource of local writers such as Clay recommends-- because I'd love to be on it!
I look forward to visiting book/daddy-- and thanks for the heads-up!

Beth Fehlbaum, author
Courage in Patience, a story of hope for those who have endured abuse

One of the biggest problems many writers, particularly local or regional writers who often publish with regional or university presses face, is that people who want their books cannot find them in the big box bookstores. Borders and B&N will usually not carry these, and if they do, they only carry them in very small numbers and seldom or never feature them or even display them in a way they can be found. Of course, such titles can be ordered on line, but book buyers are notoriously impulsive in their selections, and quite often, they prefer to hold and handle their selections, leaf through them, and consider them carefully before buying.

One feature an independent shop could offer would be a section of local and regional authors' (legitimate press publications) books, perhaps displaying them in an area so labled. (Before it's disappearance, the mall shops of B. Dalton and Waldenbooks did this, and the famous Dallas shop, Taylor Books, did this very well.) If desired--and it may not be--the Legacy shop could easily arrange for readings, signings, workshops, lectures, and other events that are featured prominently in independent bookshops in New York, Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles and San Francisco regularly. If properly publicized (which B&N and Borders never do when they stage such "events"), these could become an attractive regular feature. It wouldn't be hard to assemble a reasonable list of authors who are in the area and whose public appearances around the Metroplex or even the whole state or region have stimulated an interest in their works on the part of potential customers. There are several individuals in the area (not necessarily writers, themselves) who could provide an attractive list of individual writers (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, even plays and books on visual and performing arts and film) who will be delighted by the presence of an independent bookstore and eager to contribute to its success, particularly if it meant that they could direct their patrons, students, and even casual contacts to someplace that would actually have their work in stock.

Just an idea.