Welcome to Litsy!

Bookstore Tourism is a new, innovative grassroots campaign to promote and support independent bookstores by marketing them as a travel and tourist destination. The primary goal of this groundbreaking effort is to encourage book-lovers across the United States to organize day-trips and other kinds of literary outings to cities and towns with interesting, fun and unique bookstores that people in their own communities may not be able to visit regularly. "Bookstore Tourism: The Book Addict's Guide to Planning & Promoting Bookstore Road Trips for Bibliophiles & Other Bookshop Junkies" was written by the creator of the Bookstore Tourism concept, Larry Portzline, a professional writer and part-time college instructor. The book is more than just an enjoyable, easy to read how-to; it's also a call for book-lovers across the country to unite in support of indie bookstores, many of which are disappearing due to heavy competition from the mega-chains, online giants and other retailers who dominate the bookselling industry. Bookstore Tourism is for anyone who has a personal or professional interest in books, education, travel or the arts: book-lovers, reading groups, teachers, writers, artists, historians, schools, colleges, continuing ed programs, libraries, non-profits, churches, bus and motor coach companies, travel agents, tourism bureaus, chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, downtown revitalization projects, "One Book" programs, book festivals, publishers, and of course booksellers. It has tremendous potential as an outreach, economic development, community relations or fundraising activity. Portzline's book provides a guide for those interested in taking ownership of theBookstore Tourism idea in their communities -- as well as those who just want to go along for the ride! -- to create a new travel niche for book-lovers; to keep independent bookstores open through grassroots support; and to promote reading and literacy.