Halliday in the Books

For over a year, I've been visiting and recording every indie bookstore in Massachusetts one by one. I now have more than 60 videos. Last night, I finally added features to my website to make these more searchable, including an interactive map! writing.hallidaynelson.com/find-a-books... #booksky

One of my eco horror authors has a new book out today! This time we’re out of the woods and fully facing my thalassophobia. Readers will face all the allure and terror the ocean has to offer in Scorpion Deep, the latest YA horror by CG Drews. writing.hallidaynelson.com/scorpion-dee... #bookreview

This past week's bookstore was Aviary Books in New Bedford, MA! They first opened up two years ago when the town needed a new bookstore, and they've already had to upsize their space for the collection of ~10,000 books! www.aviarybooks.com #booksky #massachusetts #indiebookstore

Share a movie that immediately puts you in a good mood! 🎥🖤😁

ALSO! Pro tip! If you've got a book, and you want it audio, just, like, do it yourself. Reaper is really good recording software with an exceptionally generous free trial. Steam has an Audiobook Converter to convert the files to Audiobook files (allowing bookmarks, and stuff)

My writing group does our own version of "write a whole bunch in November" and I've been hammering together an outline for a couple months to prepare (still not ready). One weekend of inspiration and a whole new project is now further along. Guess I'm writing a different book next month.

Behind the cat is my Kobo. I *had* been planning on reading, but she disagrees I guess.

Last week's bookstore was Mill City Book Outlet in Fall River, MA! This is not your typical secondhand bookstore. It's two whole warehouse stories of overstocked books. You never know what you might find! millcitypub.com #booksky #fallriver #massachusetts

"You can't read in a dream" "You never see your cell phone in a dream" In my dream last night, I read a text message off my phone screen. I could tell it was a dream largely because the emoticon didn't get turned into an emoji

I spent more on books than groceries this week. It's possible to survive a couple weeks without food, but without books I have to raw dog reality.

A DEADLY ENTANGLEMENT is a month old! To celebrate, I’m running a #giveaway of three (3) hardcover copies, signed/personalized as you wish! Pop on over to this doc forms.gle/RLwKvmxFu4JRmAzZ8 Contact me if it doesn’t work 😛 Open thru 10/17. Winners will be contacted sometime on 10/18! #booksky

Last week's indie bookstore was Wickham & Willoughby in Dunstable, MA! This gorgeous space was created by readers for fellow readers. It's obvious why the locals love the place so much! wickandwill.com #booksky #indie #readers #massachusetts

Last week's indie bookstore was Word on the Street in Marlborough, MA! They're a fantastic space that's incredibly supportive of local authors & has lots of bookish events. Stop by and make sure to say hi to the wonderful bookworm who owns the place! wordstreetbooks.com #booksky #independent #mass

What Feeds Below is a mesmerizing new ecohorror from Tatiana Schlote-Bonne. You won't be able to look away from this one. Everyone has a phobia. Whatever yours is, you're sure to encounter it in The Void. The darkness is not empty. It's hungry. Full review writing.hallidaynelson.com/what-feeds-b...

This year’s #BannedBooksWeek coincides with ALA’s official 150th anniversary. To mark the occasion, ALA has released a list of the 150 most challenged books documented from 1990, when ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom began tracking book challenges, through 2025. ala150.org/150books

Sometimes, after reading a historical fiction that takes a lot of liberties, I feel the need to listen to a meticulously researched non-fiction text about the same event or period. It soothes my nerd brain.

Our indie bookstore last week was Manchester by the Book in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA! It feels much bigger on the inside than it looks like from the outside, and it's remarkably accessible for all the twists and turns through the shelves. It also has gorgeous murals! #booksky #indiebookstore #ma

Use a vid, GIF, or pic to describe your mood today! 🖤

I've been sick all week. I thought being sick in bed would translate to reading, but there were no words on the wall I ended up starting at.

The Women Who Sold Books Door to Door By Livia Gershon Three nineteenth-century memoirs reveal the risks and rewards of life on the road as a traveling bookseller. daily.jstor.org/the-women-wh... Original article: www.jstor.org/stable/48647... #books #literature

A humbling reminder from Carl Sagan: Even if you read 1 book a week for your entire life, you'd only scratch the surface of human knowledge.

Much as we love bookshops, they need more than love to keep going. A bookshop can be the centre of a whole community. Bookshops support authors; organize events. A thriving bookshop teaches the next generation that literacy matters. So don't just love your bookshop: actually buy books there.

This week's indie bookstore is actually a lot of stores. Oh My Gosh Antiques & Collectibles has over 200 vendors in their marketplace, a huge number of whom offer a selection secondhand, vintage, and antique books. It's a massive place that's worth some heavy exploration! #booksky #indie #market

The second book in the Harriman & Mancini Mysteries is out tomorrow! A Deadly Entanglement by Cathy Pegau is a sapphic historical fiction with some savvy undercover investigators and very lovable characters. Full review at writing.hallidaynelson.com/a-deadly-ent... #bookreview #💙📚 #sapphic

This week's indie bookstore was Readmore Books in Taunton, MA! They've been here since 1975 with about 3,500 square feet of retail space, with thousands upon thousands of new &secondhand reads. They're one of the largest and most diverse book selections in the area. readmorebooks.com #indie #💙📚

Buzzard by Inez Ray is already starting to generate hype, and every single word of that is well deserved. It publishes Sept 22 as the latest release from Left Unread, a publishing imprint focused on platforming BIPOC authors. Full review: writing.hallidaynelson.com/buzzard-by-i... #bookreview #💙📚

Ruby Bridges was 6-years-old when she stepped into the history books. Bravely accompanied by her mother, she was the first Black child to desegregate an all-white school in the South. It was not long ago… Today is her birthday. She is still with us. She is 72. Happy birthday, Ruby Bridges 💜

This week's indie bookstore was An Unlikely Story Bookstore & Cafe in Plainville, MA. This place is huge, and their kids' section is amazing. That's not surprising at all if you already know that one of the owners is the author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. anunlikelystory.indiecommerce.com #📚💙 #mass

Last week's indie bookstore was Annie' Book Stop in Raynham, MA! Once a part of a larger chain, this store has now functioned independently for decades. Last year it was bought by two local moms who live in town. www.anniesbookstop02767.com #booksky #indie #bookstore #massachusetts

A Broken Heart of Blackened Stone by Gina Denny publishes tomorrow! While this is technically a debut work, Denny has been working as an editor and ghostwriter for many years and gives phenomenal writing advice online. I was so excited to get an ARC! writing.hallidaynelson.com/broken-heart... 📚💙

Me to others: It's ALWAYS okay to DNF a book for any reason whatsoever. Reading should be enjoyable, and forcing it risks burnout. You won't leave a positive review if you struggled to the end. ANY REASON IS FINE. Me alone: Thinking about reading another page makes me want to cry BUT... #booksky

Last week's bookstore was The Outer Limits in Waltham, MA! They have a lot of the typical novels you'll find in secondhand stores, but their main focus is comics. There's a ton of incredible memorabilia too. eouterlimits.com #booksky #massachusetts #comics

Happy release day to Heir of Prophecy, the new magic academia novel from Analeigh Sbrana, the same author who gave us Lore of the Wilds and Lore of the Tides! Full review at writing.hallidaynelson.com/heir-of-prop... #booksky #review #releaseday

Our featured indie bookstore last week was Commonwealth Books in Boston, MA! This store has texts dating all the way back to the Medieval period and everything up until current day. They even have their own publishing imprint for new books! commonwealthbooks.blackwidowpress.com #boston #booksky

Last month, The Nerd Fam's Early Reads Book Club got to read KOBRA, by Cris G. Wells, which releases today, August 18th! This one has a murder mystery and conspiracy investigation with deadly puzzles, and an utterly unique magic system! Review at writing.hallidaynelson.com/kobra-by-cri... #booksky

The Cost of Runes by K.R. House comes out tomorrow, August 18! This is book 2 in the Unmarked series & even better than the first! This world is getting larger & more complex with every new page. Review: writing.hallidaynelson.com/the-cost-of-... Preorder signed copies: krhousebooks.com #booksky

1984 has some interesting shit to say about data centers. Would be amazing if anyone listened.

Last week's indie bookstore was Good Dog Records & Books in Newton, MA! It's been here for three years, but has the feeling of a much older store with all the hidden gems it has tucked away on the shelves and in the bins. gooddognewton.com #booksky #massachusetts #bookstore

I love reading queer horror. Make it Gothic & throw in a cool magic system, and I'm hooked. This is the story of a queer love that even death cannot sever, thanks to the art of necromancy! The Halls of the Dead by S.M. Hallow out Aug 18. writing.hallidaynelson.com/the-halls-of... #booksky #review

The latest indie bookstore added to my map is Booklink Booksellers in Northampton, MA! They have two whole floors' worth of books here inside Thorne's Marketplace. This makes 75 stores mapped (and even more videos!) booklinkbooks.com #booksky #bookstore #massachusetts

Ooh ooh! Happy August -- turns out THE BUTCHER OF THE FOREST is discounted at ebook retailers this month! :D $1.99 CAD at Kobo! The Tyrant's children have gone missing... and Veris Thorn is the only one who's gone into the magical forest and returned. So who better for a coerced rescue mission?

Last week's indie bookstore was Barefoot Books in Concord, MA! They're not your typical bookstore. They're a children's book publisher who also have a retail and event space. All the books they offer were published by them. www.barefootbooks.com #booksky #indiebookstore #concord #massachusetts

Happy Monday afternoon #BookSky! More people are using AI tools to find their next reads & friends (putting aside the environmental costs, which, we really shouldn't) there are better ways. Even online! Here's a thread with some resources to pass on to your ChatGPTing friends...

Our latest independent bookstore is Broadside Bookshop in Northampton, MA! This pillar of the community has been here for over 50 years now and it feels so much bigger on the inside. broadsidebooks.com #booksky #indiebookstore #massachusetts

Leaving for a trip tomorrow and am currently approaching the heartbreaking moment of deciding which of my books won't get to join me. #booksky #travel

Do you read non-fiction books? I usually consume them via audiobook and my favorite topics are health, writing craft, sexuality, and reading about experiences of people different from me. If you don't, I think you should. Learning at all stages of life is crucial for continued growth/development.