"Bookstores are like home to me, and so I just don’t ever feel uncomfortable in one. I walk into a store and can feel connected to every section; at first glance, I get a read on the staff vibe, how the buyer curates the selection, and how current the store is. My experience running the Bookworm made me extremely picky about what I could stock, and so as a writer, I challenged myself and my team — including the illustrator, editors, designers and printer — to make an absolutely excellent book that deserved a spot on the shelf right next to award winners and classics. Shelf space comes at a great premium — there are more books published than ever before — and so I feel honored when a store decides to stock Read Island." Read more ...