New Indie Bookstore Alert! One More Page Books in Arlington, VA

Today's post comes from Alma Katsu. She told me about a great new Indie bookstore in Arlington, and I encouraged her to write about it for FPP. Next time I'm in Arlington I'll be sure to check it out. If you, Dear Reader, want to highlight the work of an Indie bookstore, let me know. Here's Alma.


Members of The Writer’s Center living in Northern Virginia should be sure to visit a new independent bookstore in Arlington: One More Page Books (2200 N. Westmoreland St, #101, Arlington VA 22213). There is good reason for writers and readers to get to know the store: for one thing, owner Eileen McGervey is a big fan of supporting local, from the other businesses in the area to local writers. She has a steady stream of author events: Ellen Crosby, Brad Parks and Richard Thompson are among the first writers to appear at the store since its January 2011 opening, with more presenting every month.

Another reason to visit is that One More Page Books is a jewel box of a store. McGervey and her staff have an instinct for pulling together tempting choices, whether it’s with books, wine or chocolate. The adult fiction shelves are better than the library, seemingly edited down to a rich collection of books you’ve been meaning to read or ones that are already favorites (I don’t read as much non-fiction so I can’t comment on that section.) She aims for a broad selection that’s just plain good, not restricting herself to only the bestsellers’ list, to give her local customers, who come back often, a variety of intriguing choices. McGervey is a mystery fan, so look for the selection there to be particularly good, and the store hosts a mystery book club every Tuesday night. There’s also a children’s section with miniature table and chairs, and a story hour every Saturday led by one of the staff.

Then there’s the wine. I had stopped drinking wine a long time ago but McGervey’s selection has tempted me back. Sign up for the mailing list – or even better, follow the store on Facebook (One More Page Books & More) or one Twitter (@justonemorepage) – and find out when the next wine and chocolate tasting will be held, because there is no better way to sample a variety of their well-edited wine offerings.

I initially went to One More Page Books to drop off an ARC of my novel but find myself heading over to One More Page Books every couple weeks, not because there aren’t any bookstores closer to home but because it’s a great place to hang out. Not only are the staff a lot of fun to talk to – naturally, being booklovers and deep readers – but several area book bloggers hang out there, too.

So, there you have at least a half-dozen reasons to get to know Eileen McGervey and One More Page Books. The best reason is that you’re just going to love it. It’s like book heaven.

Photos: Brad Parks and Jenn (Top). Brad Parks (Bottom). Credit: Eileen McGervey.

About Alma Katsu:
Alma has written about Social Media for Writers on FPP, and about the Virginia Festival of the Book. She is the author of The Taker, due to be released in the UK in April 2011 and in the U.S. in July 2011. Learn more about her at her Web site: almakatsu.com.