A Novel Concept

09/15/2026

WE ARE SO BACK.

Our nostalgic (definitely not Scholastic) book fair catalog is now LIVE! Stop by the Kinshops to snag your paper copy and get ready to cozy up and circle everything on your wish list. You can also head over to A Novel Concept’s website to pre-order through the online version of the catalog: https://www.anovelconcept517.com/book-fair

Pre-orders will be open through October 17th—you can either drop off your physical order sheet to us in person or order online. We’ll have your stack wrapped up and waiting for you at our Kinshop Birthday Book Fair on Saturday, November 7th.

A treasure trove of comfort reads awaits!

09/08/2026

As part of this month’s "One Year of No Care" protest, the Kinshops are teaming up with local trans rights organizer Jen Crispin to host a letter write-in on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 4–6 p.m.!

It’s been one year since the University of Michigan revoked gender-affirming care for minors and 18-year-olds. Come use free materials (courtesy of Jen and Dear Ollie & Co.) to write the Board of Regents to demand care be reinstated. If you’re itching to get your scratchings down earlier, we will have supplies up front at the coffee table along with a note drop box available through next Tuesday’s event!

Questions on how to support this initiative? Reach out to Jennifer Crispin!

09/03/2026

We’re closing this Saturday (9/5) for Labor Day, but are open regular hours tomorrow. Come by to check out our books and craft supplies for a vibrant, restful weekend!

08/28/2026

We are thrilled to be hosting author A. Rae Dunlap on Saturday, Sept. 19, to celebrate Lansing Lit!

Join us at 5 p.m. to find out more about USA Today Bestseller A. Rae Dunlap’s recent historical thriller “The Dreadfuls,” a darkly atmospheric and gruesome tale of Jack the Ripper set against the backdrop of an 18th-century British reform school. As if getting lost in the backdrop of London for a night isn’t enough, we will also be getting gothic with some Penny Dreadful Mad Libs, with Dunlap reading out the wackiest creation(s) to cap off what promises to be an eerily delightful evening.

Check out the event listing here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KQBXoaCMX/

Michigan! I'll be at the Lansing LIT Festival on September 19! Come say hi at A Novel Concept from 5-6:30PM

08/22/2026

Have you collected your scout badge for supporting local bookstores yet this summer? No? Fear not, because the bugs are still a-buzzin’ and the goldenrod are still a-bloomin.’ Swing by our summer camp display and grab yourself a wildlife guidebook before hitting the trail, a puzzle book for downtime at the cabin, or tales of local natural wonders to read around the campfire.
And don’t forget to do your good turn daily! (IYKYK)

08/21/2026

🚨 WE'RE BACK BABES! 🚨

The air will soon be crackling with the fresh smell of fall, bringing the familiar crunch of leaves, hint of spice, and, we hope, a cozy warmth. Maybe it’s romance lighting a fire under your hearth this season, or maybe it’s a sense of adventure as we embark into the last vestiges of fall.

Let us add to whatever kind of autumnal magic you’re seeking by conjuring up some Fall Fantasies at our 2nd Annual Kinshop Birthday Book Fair Bash! on Saturday, November 7!

We’re bringing back our nostalgic (definitely not Scholastic) catalog! Delight in the excitement of circling your wish list, the anticipation of picking up a stack of new stories, and the feeling that maybe—just maybe—this next book will become your favorite. Pre-order your books ahead of time, and we’ll have your stack wrapped up and waiting for you.

Prefer to let serendipity do the choosing? We’ll have a curated selection of titles from the catalog available to shop that day, as well as an abundance of paper treats and bookish-themed delights from Dear Ollie & Co.

CATALOGS LAUNCH 9/15! Mark your calendars!!

07/31/2026

Happy Stationery Store Day (TOMORROW!) to our favorite Kinshop, Dear Ollie & Co.!

This little shop of marvels Sara Pulver and her team have cultivated offers more than an incredible selection of goods to help stoke your creative soul. Yes, they carry more than 100 makers with a focus on q***r and women artists, but they also hold close the values that are literally lettered all over their shop, and in doing so help uplift all their partners. You, too, have probably felt this sense of authenticity if you’ve come into the shop, whether it’s a genuine welcome or a heartfelt hug — a piece of care to take home with you along with that new journal you’ve been eyeing or a card you might have picked up to brighten someone’s day.

But they aren’t just our favorite partners, they are also our favorite gremlins. Authenticity can mean getting dirty sometimes, and whether it’s the dust flying in the downtown construction or cleaning the shared bathroom, we wouldn’t want to wade through the muck with anyone else. Thank you for helping to make our space and our world a prettier place to be.

We love you Dear Ollie & Co.! (And thank you as always to Wondergold Pictures for capturing some of our finer moments!)

07/30/2026

For the book club this month, we are savoring the dog days of summer with a book that focuses on the relationship between a human and an animal.



Join us TONIGHT at 6:30 pm to discuss what you read in the sultry, orange heat of July!

07/24/2026

We had the supreme (surprise) pleasure of getting to hang with Kate Flannery when she popped by to say hi. We didn’t have to hit her with our company vehicle to find out about her upcoming book, “Observed: The Lucky Life of the Office Drunk”!

She’s in town to throw out the first pitch at Jackson Field for this evening’s “Sit Com Night,” starting at 7:05 p.m. Put on your casual Friday outfits and go see one of the most iconic Office employees open for our beloved Lansing Lugnuts.

If we had the power we’d award her a Dundie for being the sweetest and most genuine, and we’re hoping to welcome her back after her book releases in December. If you’re looking to snag some early pre-orders, feel free to place them with us via the preorder link on our website at www.anovelconcept517.com/preorders!

07/20/2026

Between unexpected closings due to hazardous health conditions outside and the construction surrounding downtown, we understand why you might forego stopping by. Luckily, our online collections at Bookshop.org are always available and, ICYMI, they also offer ebook options!

Browse our virtual shop for available reads from your browser, phone, or Bookshop.org’s ebook app. Because we needed a way to channel some of our own feelings, we’ve curated a special selection of books that deal with processing ecological grief and finding new ways to move forward even when things are literally in flames around us. You can find these (and other titles) on our Bookshop.org page: https://bookshop.org/shop/anovelconcept

PSA: We all know books are said to be transportive. This is not a strange fiction. It’s so important to keep expanding our worldviews to better understand one another, ourselves, and what the hell might be happening out there. Books can help. Let us help you get them.