For this Fresh Insights update, I wanted to show you what I’ve been up to lately. I, along with two other indie authors (Teresa Keefer & Joye Konig, aka J.J. Devine) opened a local bookstore!
We are in our “soft opening” phase from February 13-April 24, 2026, which means limited hours while we continue setting up and getting more books in from local authors and authors from around the world.
We’re off to a great start with several indie authors consigned with us, including Sheri Ann Richerson, Erin Hayden, Teresa McRae, T.N. Finn, Leland Gamson, Shae Smith, D.L. Reavis, Morgana Shae, Jill Ebstein, and many more!
You can see some of the authors’ books on Bookshop.org/shop/bookwormorchard. Be sure to select Bookworm Orchard as your preferred store — it’s a great way to help support your favorite indie bookstore!
More Than A Bookstore
Our mission is to be more than a bookstore. We want to offer a variety of workshops for all levels of writers and authors. Our first workshop will be on Celtic Folklore (in the video I pronounced it with a soft “S” instead of a hard “K” — I’m sure that’s like nails on a chalkboard to some Celtic fans. Sorry!)
Teresa Keefer, Bob Freeman, and Connor Freeman will lead the Celtic Folklore Workshop on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 11 AM - 1 PM. It will be in the banquet room across from Bookworm Orchard, 428 S Washington St, Suite 121, Marion, Indiana. The cost is $20 per person. You can pay at the door or at the bookstore.
We also want to be involved in the arts community and are starting with a Poetry & Prose Open Mic night at Los Amores Restaurant located a few steps away from our bookstore. Our first open mic will be Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 6-8 PM.
Fellow poet Stacy Savage and I will be the MCs. Matt Wilson, with the Marion Arts Commission and owner of the Psychedelic Cellar record store also plans to attend and help with the project, which we plan to continue the first Wednesday of every month. If you are in the area, we would love to see you at an upcoming event!
We also want to help the community and nonprofit organizations. We have a community table with items visitors can donate any amount. The donations will be sent to a different local charity every month. For the month of February, we will give donations to Grant County Cancer Services.
For the month of March, we are selling used books for one dollar each and donating the proceeds to the American Red Cross. These books have not been scanned and could be worth money if you are into reselling books instead of collecting them, like me!
What do you love about your local bookstore?
We are excited to be part of the growing arts community and are open to your suggestions!
Be sure to check out the March newsletter for new book releases and upcoming events!
