Nashville bookstores accepting local authors & zines
These 9 shops publicly say they accept submissions. Each card links to a listing with the exact pitch instructions from the shop's own website. Read how to pitch to retailers and grab the free line sheet template before you hit send.
The 9 shops
Parnassus Books
Ann Patchett's independent bookstore in Green Hills, with a large local-author section and hundreds of author events a year.
Heads up: Middle Tennessee authors and illustrators only.
Landmark Booksellers
Independent bookstore on Franklin's Main Street with a big local-author shelf, signings and story times.
Heads up: Middle Tennessee authors are prioritized.
Bound Booksellers and Gifts
Franklin independent bookstore and gift shop with a local-authors shelf and author events.
Heads up: Limited shelf space; they can't carry every book submitted.
Novelette Booksellers
Highly curated East Nashville independent bookstore in the Eastwood Village building, with book clubs and author events.
Heads up: Highly curated and works with specific publishing houses.
Fairytales Bookstore
Nashville's tiniest children's bookstore (168 sq ft) in Five Points, owned by local author Kelly Byrd: kids' books, toys, crafts, games and art supplies, with local authors' and artists' work.
Heads up: Children's books for ages 0-13 only.
The Open Shelf Books
New and used independent bookstore in Mt. Juliet.
Heads up: Independent bookstore, not affiliated with Open Shelf. No books written, made or designed with AI.
The Grand Exchange
Woman-owned independent bookstore on the Murfreesboro square, with book clubs and author signings.
Heads up: They won't buy through Amazon (they'll buy direct if the book is only on Amazon).
Romance on Board Bookstore
Romance-only bookstore in Murfreesboro that began as a bookstore in a van and opened a storefront in 2026; book clubs, local-author events and workshops.
Heads up: Romance novels that follow genre conventions are preferred (others considered if noted); diverse and queer/BIPOC stories welcome.
Honey Rock Books and Cafe
Bookstore and cafe on the Gallatin square with popular, local and rare reads, internationally inspired coffee and desserts, and author talks.
Heads up: They get hundreds of submissions and may respond only if interested.
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