Where Are The Airport Bookstores?
In which I go looking for Agatha, finish a story, and read something.
I’m writing this on the flight home after a couple of week’s consulting and writing research related travel, and I’m feeling a bit frustrated.
Last week while killing time at San Jose airport I stumbled across the appropriately named Authors’ Bookstore and started browsing the shelves for some Agatha Christie titles.
I’d had the idea to start a series of “Agatha at the Airport” videos to help promote our Chronological Christie podcast on various socials.
This was the result.
This week I knew I knew I’d be flying through Charlotte and Atlanta - two major international airports - thinking if a smaller airport like San Jose has a bookstore, then surely they would too?
Nope. They both had stores on the terminal maps that had the word bookstore in the title - but dedicated purveyors of the printed word they were not.
All were more of what I think of as newsagents - great for me to pick up a Snickers bar, a last minute gift, a magazine, or even a book - just as long it’s one of the twenty titles on their self-proclaimed “Best Sellers” list.
It seems a real shame that these large airports don’t have dedicated bookstores. Just based on my own unscientific observations, over the last few years I’ve seen an increasing number of folks reading print books while traveling. My seatmate at the moment has a Lee Child thriller in his hand.
So I’m sure that if a smaller airport can sustain a dedicated bookstore, the larger ones could too.
End of rant…
Alan
Other Stuff
Welcome new folks
Thanks to the new folks who have signed on in the last few weeks, and welcome.
But the number of views each week exceeds the number of subscribers, so if you aren’t a member of my wonderful group of subscribers yet, then click the button below and join our growing community of readers and commentators to get these missives delivered directly to your email inbox every-other Friday.
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Lemon Hog Publishing
Trust Issues, the first in the Brightwater series, will be released in eBook format across multiple platforms on April 30th and in paperback at the end of May.
When her ex-husband is found murdered Ellie Brightwater must delve deep to find the strength to protect her daughter. Ellie has to break out of the protective shell she has created and learn to trust friends and ex-lovers while not being sure who is working with her or against her.
You can reserve a copy of the eBook right now at a special discounted pre-order price of just 99c at your favorite online book retailer or direct from Smashwords right HERE.
Exciting times are ahead, and you can keep up with our progress at the Lemon Hog Publishing instagram account.
Brabazon Bits
On September 13th, I will be presenting a talk on the ‘Mighty Brab’ followed by a signing at my local indy bookstore, Snug Books in north Baltimore.
And of course, a regular reminder that we will celebrate the UK launch of the Brabazon book at the Aerospace Bristol Museum on Saturday, June 7th.
“Bristol Brabazon: The Ocean Liner of the Skies and its Ongoing Legacy” will be published on 30 MAY, 2025 in the UK and 30 JULY, 2025 in the US.
There is now an increasing list of online bookstores where the book is available for preorder
Bookshop.org (US) - helps independent stores
Pen & Sword (publishers) -
Waterstones (UK) - Free shipping in the UK -
Word Slinging
Things are also still moving along on the Casino Royale book, and as this edition of the newsletter drops, Alan will be on the way home from a week-long research trip. But that’s about all we can share about that at the moment.
I was right about some airplane seat-time last week being productive. I managed to write about 4,500 words of the work-in-progress short story while traveling. In fact it’s no longer a work-in-progress. It’s done and now in the hands of the anthology editor who described it as a “fun read.” More on this story when the project is officially announced.
Next up - a Brabazon related article for an aviation magazine.
One fun aside - As part of my ongoing project to recatalog all our books, I thought it would also be interesting to see if I could find and collate all the book reviews I've posted online in various places over the years starting with my original LiveJournal blog from 2004.
It's been a couple of weeks since I've managed to find any new ones, so I am calling that particular voyage of discovery done.
The final tally? - 759 reviews written and posted online.
If you want to catch up with them, the most consistent run has been over the last five years on my main Tumblr blog,
Podcast Procrastinations
Back on the podcast front, the latest episode of the Chronological Christie podcast on The Man In The Brown Suit dropped last Sunday.
And it was another record breaking release in terms of single-day download numbers on the day it dropped. We were delighted to see that we also now have listeners in 25 different countries.
Thanks to everyone who has listened, subscribed, and sent comments.
You can check it out at https://creators.spotify.com/pod/chronologicalchristie
And for updates and reminders, you can also follow the podcast's Instagram account - https://www.instagram.com/chronologicalchristie/
Pages and Screens
Books Read in 2025 - “The Book At War” by Andrew Pettegree
An informative look at the role of the printed word and conflict. Covering how books help prepare those who fight, how they are used to persuade and comfort those left behind, and more.
The narrative is most compelling when focused on how books and libraries were used, abused, distributed, looted, smuggled, and rescued during the two world wars.
Over at our online bookstore at Bookshop.org I’ve now added a new section listing books read so far in 2025, so you can pick up copies of any that interest you, while also helping out local independent bookstores.
Weekly Web Round-Up
Batman On The Cover - We continue our chronological look at Batman’s publishing history as we start a whole new decade with a look at the translated editions from France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, and the UK in January 1970, - All were based on translated reprints so no real standouts this time around.
Forest Comics and Books - We just did a restock of our online store, and this time around we’ve added some actual comics (gasp!) along with the usual assortment of media tie-in related collectibles. - There’s more to come, so make sure to visit often.
Where on the Web is Alan?
You can now find links to all the places you can find me online, websites, newsletters, social media, and more in a single LINKS page on my personal website.
As always, thanks for joining me this week. If you know someone else who might enjoy the contents of this week’s newsletter, or just my weekly ramblings in general - please feel free to share by clicking the button below.
See you next time
Alan J. Porter
The Can’t See The Forest (TM) newsletter is a production of Megrin Entertainment, a division of 4Js Group LLC
If you fly through DIA, check out the Tattered Cover bookstore at the airport or Downtown!
Try cafe intermezzo next time you’re in the Atlanta airport. It’s both a great place for crepes, cheesecake, and excellent tea and also a bookstore. The walls of the whole cafe are lined with bookshelves.