Blacksburg Books, "the realization of a lifetime dream for Blacksburg attorney Laurie Kelly," opened on August 6 in Blacksburg, Va., the Roanoke Times reported. The store has 7,000 new and used books for all ages, as well as cold drinks and locally made snacks and artisan gifts. (For more on Kelly's background, see our story from July 14.)
Besides large children's and literary fiction sections, the store also features mysteries, Appalachian titles, memoir, young adult, thrillers, nonfiction and more. The oldest book for sale was published in 1861: Half Hours with Best Authors. The store also has local-interest titles, including a shelf dedicated to works by Virginia Tech University Distinguished Professor Nikki Giovanni. In addition, the store will soon begin hosting talks by local authors, including thriller writer Sarah Warburton and Virginia Tech professor Lee Vinsel.