Featured, an AI co-pilot for public relations, 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, allows users to name a location or genre in the Featured chat and receive a list of stores that host author events, complete with links to each store’s website or events page and, where published, an email address.
The launch comes as independent bookstores are experiencing a resurgence. According to the American Booksellers Association’s 2025 annual report, 605 new bookstore businesses opened in 2025, including 399 storefronts, against 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, these stores represent potential venues and audiences. Brett Farmiloe, founder and CEO of Featured, recalled the difficulty of promoting his own book. “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 database covers stores in 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 for the store. Additionally, 36.6% describe author events, readings or signings in their own words. Users can type requests such as Bookstores in Texas that host author signings or Mystery bookstores in California and receive matching stores with relevant details. They can then ask Featured to draft a pitch in the same chat.
Find Bookstores operates within the same Featured chat that users employ to find other media contacts, such as Substack publications and TV stations. The tool is live now at featured.com and is free to start with no credit card required. Featured also owns and operates HARO and Connectively as standalone products.
