From The New York Times, “Dragons, Sex and the Bible: What Drove the Book Business This Year”.

This year, 422 newly opened stores joined the American Booksellers Association — nearly a hundred more than joined last year. . . .

“It’s exciting to see so many people shopping in alignment with their values, and I see that reflected in the tremendous support communities have given indie bookstores this past year,” said Allison Hill, the C.E.O. of the A.B.A. “In some ways, I think that’s a response to the turmoil of 2025 in this country and reflects a backlash against billionaires and algorithms. Indie bookstores are proving to be an antidote for the time we’re living in.”

My draft novel is about a hopelessly promiscuous dragon experiencing an existential crisis.