Featured, the AI co-pilot for PR, has launched Find Bookstores, a searchable database of 1,093 independent U.S. bookstores designed for authors and book publicists planning signings and book tours. The tool, available on every Featured plan including the free tier, lets users name a place or genre in Featured's chat and receive a list of stores that host author events, complete with each store's website or events page and, where published, an email address.
The timing matters. Independent bookstores are in the middle of a remarkable expansion. The American Booksellers Association's 2025 annual report counted 605 new bookstore businesses opened in 2025, including 399 storefronts, against just 65 closures, with openings up 87% from 2024. ABA membership reached 3,417 members operating 3,783 locations, nearly double the 1,775 members the association counted in 2016 and, according to the Associated Press, the highest since the late 1990s.
For authors, that growth represents opportunity, but also a logistical challenge. Each store is a potential venue and audience, yet identifying which shops host events and how to reach them has traditionally required tedious research. Find Bookstores aims to simplify that path. Users can type a request such as Bookstores in Texas that host author signings or Mystery bookstores in California and receive matching stores with details on their programming. They can then ask Featured to draft the pitch in the same chat.
The database's reach is broad: stores span all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 796 cities. Of the 1,093 stores, 59.9% link to a public events or calendar page and 37.6% publish an email address, while 36.6% describe author events, readings or signings in their own words. The tool runs inside the same Featured chat users already use to find Substack publications and TV stations, and book publicists can plan entire tours in one place, as Featured also answers requests for speaking opportunities and its Find Podcasts feature covers interviews around each stop.
Brett Farmiloe, founder and CEO of Featured, said the inspiration came from his own experience as a first-time author. "When my book came out, I pitched Changing Hands in Tempe for a talk and signing," he said. "What made it tough is that as a first-time author, I had no idea what I was doing when it came down to promoting my book. Featured simplifies that path, and connects authors with the stores that host events and can move product."
The launch could have broader implications for the publishing industry. As independent bookstores continue to multiply, tools that streamline author outreach may help more writers access physical retail space, potentially boosting book sales and strengthening the relationship between authors and local bookstores. Featured, which also owns and operates HARO and Connectively, is positioning itself as a central hub for public relations workflows. Find Bookstores is live now at featured.com, free to start and with no credit card required.
