This is an introduction to the merger of my two main blogs: The Book Shopper blog which dates back to 2008 and the Destination Books blog dates back to 2019 when I began my book selling business Destination: Books.

This merger was somewhat forced upon me because Typepad my original blog platform was shutting down. However, it was very limited in its functionality so as a “optimistic” kind of guy that I am I looked upon it as an opportunity

The Book Shopper

In the early years of the blog it was primarily a conduit to promote my 2009 book The Book Shopper: A Life in Review published by Paul Dry Books of Philadelphia. Later it shifted its focus on the literary world of the Atlanta-Decatur book and author scene including reviews of events, but that idea went over like cold cakes. Finally it shifted to the broader “Musings about books and book culture.” Once a week postings in the beginning downshifted to about once a month.

The book is no longer in print, but don’t be concerned there are still many copies floating around.

Destination: Books

Don’t be concerned if you want a copy of The Book Shopper. As a matter of fact, my book selling enterprise Destination Books sells copies here and there. But I sell other books as well but either as a pop-up book stall (think of me as kind of bouquinista on the banks of Seine in Paris) or online. No bricks and mortar for me. My financial advisor insists

This began as a retirement gig in 2019, but the breakthrough came when I approached the Freedom Farmer’s Market at the Carter Center in Atlanta in early 2020 with the idea of selling gardening, sustainability and nature-themed books once a month. After taking a Pandemic sized pause in 2020, I resumed the popup about once a month and continues to this day.

I also became a member of the American Booksellers Association and established purchasing accounts with Ingram several publishers directly.

Naturally, I created another blog to promote the business and it because a mix of event promos, gardening chat and related books. One of my other retirement activities is gardening. I don’t have a yard, but I have a plot at the community garden and I have been working on a pollinator garden at the development where I live in Decatur, Georgia.

Moving Forward

Beginning on October 1, 2025 I am baking all these ingredients into one blog. Topics include personal takes on books, book culture, bookselling, publishing, gardening. It could be a cluster, but maybe it will taste good.