The Portland Book Festival reports general admission passes sold out early for 2026. Starting November 2 and running through November 8, the festival has grown from its Wordstock origins to embrace the city with multiple ways for readers, writers, and booksellers to connect. Tickets are still available for the November 6 “Reader’s Night” early access to the exhibition and free walk-up tickets for kid’s events at the Judy will be available on November 7.
Additional events throughout the week hosted by Portland bookstores and galleries are still available. On November 3, the Lincoln High School Romance Book Club offers a way to skip the stress of doom scrolling on election night by discussing romance book in their “Vote for Love” event. On November 4, Broadway Books celebrates Wandering Aengus Press with their editor and writers. More can be found on the festival’s Cover-to-Cover calendar: https://pdxbookfest.org/bio/cover-to-cover/.
In Seattle, the Short Run Comix Festival returns on Saturday, November 7. More than 200 small press comix and book artist-exhibitors from 27 states and 5 countries are expected including Swedish alternative comics publisher Lystring. This year’s festival takes place at Seattle Design Center and admission is free.
Emphasizing that they are not a corporate “comic-con,” Short Run offers a full slate of talks ranging from creative conversations to the history of comics revealed by the Library of Congress collection. Additional readings and art shows will be held in conjunction with the festival. A complete calendar of events can be found at: https://shortrun.org/festival-programming-schedule/
Death by TBR Books offers a wide range of horror reads through an online bookstore specializing in horror, dark fiction, and diverse authors. The owner and author Stephanie Rose recently released the novella Small Town Slasher and edited the anthology Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night. We asked Rose, a Washington state resident, to tell us more about combining bookselling and publishing. All the Death by TBR Books are available via https://deathbytbrbooks.com/
Can you tell us what inspired the name Death by TBR Books?
The name is really a joke about every reader’s completely out-of-control TBR pile. You keep buying books knowing full well you may never live long enough to read them all. Death by TBR felt funny, a little morbid, and perfect for a horror bookstore. Once we expanded into publishing, it still fit us really well.
How many books do you plan to publish in 2026?
Four! We started the year with Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: Another Halloween Horror Anthology, followed by my adult slasher novella Small Town Slasher which is the first in the new Woods Bay series. My middle grade horror novel I Wish I Was a Vampire came out on September 15, and then we finish the year with Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Yuletide Horror Anthology in November. It’s definitely been a busy year and 2027 is shaping to be busy too!
What aspect of Small Town Slasher do you think will surprise horror fans?
Probably how much is going on underneath the slasher story. There are absolutely murders and blood and all the things you want from a slasher, but I was also really interested in what happens to a town after something horrific becomes part of its identity. There’s grief, survivor trauma, true crime culture, and this obsession people have with turning real tragedy into entertainment. I think people expecting a straightforward slasher may be surprised by how much the aftermath matters.
Your upcoming releases include a middle grade horror novel. Did you have a favorite horror author as a kid?
R.L. Stine was huge for me. I read Goosebumps constantly then Fear Street. I’ve loved horror for as long as I can remember, whether it was vampires, ghosts, witches, monsters, haunted houses, or anything Halloween. I Wish I Was a Vampire definitely comes from that part of me that still remembers how exciting it was to find something spooky at the bookstore or school book fair and immediately need to read it.
What’s the most rewarding part of being a writer, publisher, and bookseller of horror?
Getting to be involved in horror from basically every direction. I get to write the stories I want to read, help other authors get their stories into the world, and then put books directly into the hands of horror readers. Publishing other writers is especially rewarding because I know how much it means when someone believes in your work. I also love being able to champion indie horror and books that might not always get the same attention from larger parts of the industry.
What would you advise someone considering jumping into indie publishing?
Do your research before you spend money, and understand that publishing the book is only one part of the job. You’re also dealing with editing, formatting, covers, distribution, metadata, marketing, accounting, contracts, deadlines, and about a hundred things you didn’t realize were part of publishing.
I’d also tell people not to feel like they have to copy what the bigger publishers are doing. One of the best things about indie publishing is being able to take chances, publish weird books, work with voices that are being overlooked, and figure out what works for you. Just go into it knowing that loving books and running a publishing business are two very different things.
Richard Hugo House in Seattle is offering “Industry Talks” for exploring “the many professional paths within the world of writing, publishing, and literary production.” While Hugo’s classes are primarily focused on writers and writing skills, these talks examine careers in all aspects of the publishing and bookselling industry.
In June, pop-up bookstore owner Roxanne Guiney will talk about her experiences running Haunted Burrow Bookstore. A writer and editor, Guiney created a temporary bookstore, aided by a Seattle program supporting pop-up businesses to fill empty storefronts. At her store, Guiney hosted a wide variety of events catering to the readers and writers of horror, science fiction, and fantasy fiction over the past year. Haunted Burrow is scheduled to close its physical location on June 21, as reported in the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog.
Fans of the economics podcast Planet Money were treated to a specal two-part series on publishing in March. The series was inspired by the decision to create a Planet Money book because “books have the power to shape whole economic systems… and everything else in our world.”
Fans of the podcast can also learn more about the final book produced at a Literary Arts event on April 14 in Beaverton, Oregon, at The Reser. Tickets are available through the Literary Arts website at https://literary-arts.org/.
Planet Money’s two-part series started with “Inside a BOOK auction” and concluded with “Our BOOK vs. the global supply chain.” Both episodes are available for listening from a variety of podcast services or transcripts can be downloaded by clicking on the NPR/Planet Money image above.
The IBPA Publishing University, a learning and networking event for indie publishers,moves to Portland, OR, in 2026. The conference will take place May 14-16, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Portland, Oregon Convention Center.
The 2026 Pub U is organized around the theme “Together We Are Stronger” with their partner, Book Manufacturers’ Institute. This reimagined combination of Pub U and BMI’s Pubwest features 15 breakout tracks dedicated to Established Publishers, Newer Publishers (including Author-Publishers) and Industry Hot Topics, all led by publishers and publishing experts. Three keynote speakers will be announced later.
The Washington Center for the Book is currently accepting books for the 2026 Washington Book Awards. Physical books must be mailed to the judges and received no later than January 16, 2026.
The Washington State Book Awards are administered by The Washington Center for the Book (an affiliate of The Library of Congress Center for the Book).
Any book published in 2025 and written by an author currently living in Washington state may be eligible. The award recognizes books by Washington state authors in multiple categories including adult fiction, adult nonfiction, poetry, young adult literature, books for young readers, and picture books. See the Washington Center for the Book website for submission guidelines and further information at https://washingtoncenterforthebook.org/submit-books-to-wsba/.
The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) holds its 2025 Fall Tradeshow in Spokane, Washington. The tradeshow takes place September 28-30 at the Downtown Convention Center. Attended by bookseller and librarian members of PNBA, the three-day event offers two days of exhibition for publishers and other vendors.
The exhibitor experience kicks off on Sunday, September 28, with afternoon setup followed by “The Big Pitch Rep Picks” event. The show floor officially opens with an “Explore the Floor” reception in the evening. On Monday, September 29, features a morning setup window before the exhibit hall opens for the majority of the day, concluding with exhibitor tear-down. An evening event, “Reps Behind the Desk Spotlight Picks,” also takes place on Monday.
The event concludes on September 30, which is designated as an Education Day with no exhibits.
PNBA offers several opportunities for exhibiting companies to enhance their visibility. Each exhibitor will have a profile promoted on the official Tradeshow page. Additionally, exhibitors hosting authors in their space during the opening night reception will receive website and show program listings for those authors. Further details regarding “Authors on the Floor” and other promotional opportunities will be released in June.
Separate sign-ups will be announced for the “Rep Picks” and “Reps Behind the Desk” events. Participation in these spotlight sessions is exclusive to exhibiting companies, with priority given to formal sales representatives who are PNBA members. Remaining slots will be offered to member in-house sales and marketing personnel.
Literary Arts awarded two 2025 Oregon Literary Fellowships of $3,500 each to publishers Fuente Fountain Books and Some People Press. The organization received 24 applications from publishers for the 2025 Oregon fellowships, which were judged by an out-of-state committee.
According to their announcement, Literary Arts has honored over 900 Oregon writers and publishers, and distributed more than $1 million in fellowships and award monies through the Oregon Book Awards & Fellowships program since 1987. To find out more about their programs, see literaryarts.org.
Fuente Fountain Books publishes progressive and bilingual feminist multicultural books in the categories of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, memoir, and translation. Adela Zamudio: Selected Poetry & Prose, translated from the Spanish by Lynette Yetter, was a finalist for the 2023 PEN Award for Poetry in Translation.
Some People Press publishes the Same Times series of autobiographies by currently and formerly incarcerated people. Their 2025 publication schedule includes three more titles in the series. In addition, Some People Press is planning “100 in 1,” a series of 100-page books created in one day by emerging and established artists.
Both publishers are located in Portland, Oregon. The publishers and Oregon writers who are 2025 Oregon Literary Fellowship Recipients will be honored at the 2025 Oregon Book Awards ceremony on April 28, along with the winners and finalists of the 2025 Oregon Book Awards.
Start marking the calendar with conferences and book fairs of interest to indie authors and publishers.
IBPA Publishing University: This year’s three-day conference will take place May 15–17, 2025 at the Intercontinental Saint Paul Riverfront in Saint Paul, MN. It will feature hands-on sessions, workshops, and other educational opportunities for independent, hybrid, and author publishers, as well as university and association presses. The Independent Book Publishers Association is in the process of finalizing the schedule. To find out more, check https://www.publishinguniversity.org/.
U.S. Book Show: Formerly known as Book Expo America (BEA), this conference takes place in May 2025. No details posted yet on the website but sign up for further information at https://usbookshow.com/.
Looking to sell books at book fairs? Connect with readers? Here’s a few ideas for the Pacific Northwest:
Get Lit! Festival, April 10-13, 2025; Spokane, Washington. The state’s “longest-running annual literary festival” (as per organizers) offers four days of readings, writing workshops, craft classes, panel discussions, literary happy hours, virtual events, and a book fair. Find more information at https://inside.ewu.edu/getlit/.
Worldcon 2025, August 13-17, 2025; Seattle, Washington. A giant international science fiction and fantasy convention that shifts cities every year, Worldcon is coming to Seattle. Applications for dealer tables and for author participation in panels are currently being accepted at https://seattlein2025.org/.
We’ll be adding information on other book festivals and conferences as these become available. Staging an event of interest to indie authors and publishers? Send us the information at bpnwnews at aol.com.
Show Your Art: A 2025 Guide to Seattle Art Spots for New and Emerging Artists seeks to connect artists with local businesses and venues interested in showcasing their work. Set to launch in January 2025, this guidebook features over 100 artist-friendly spaces, including galleries, coffee shops, theaters, and other venues willing to display the work of artists
Curated by Northwest artist Sarah E. Miller, this guidebook is designed specifically for new and emerging artists looking to break into Seattle’s dynamic art scene. With detailed information on venue themes, submission processes, commission structures, and more, Miller wants to provide a helpful tool for artists to get their work out into the world.
“Inclusivity and accessibility are at the heart of this project,” Miller said. “The guide is designed to demystify the process for artists who may feel intimidated or unsure about how to start showcasing their work.”
Miller launched a crowdfunding campaign this winter on Indiegogo to create a print edition of the guide. Funds raised will go toward printing, distribution, and creating an online platform to further support artists. The initial goal is $3,000, with a stretch goal of $6,000 to fund a dedicated website to this project and additional resources. To learn more, see https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/show-your-art-100-seattle-spaces-for-artists/x/38164224#
Starting a publishing project? Have an event of interest to indie publishers and authors? Send your news to bpnwnews at aol.com.
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