After 3 years in Assembly Row, Boston's only queer, inclusive bookstore is being displaced. In the past two years, All She Wrote Books's rent has increased by 130%, and in the last four months alone, we have spent about $8,000 on HVAC issues, flooding repair, and more (and that doesn't include rent!). It's clear to us that staying in Assembly is untenable for our small business—one of two local-owned shops on the Row. It's time for us to grow in a new space, one that aligns with our values and will allow us to flourish without fear of displacement.

So, the good news is that we're not going anywhere. We love this community and are committed to serving it with the passion and warmth you've come to expect from us. That's not changing just because our address is.

Our new home in East Somerville is mighty but small, so we'll have to reimagine how we do things. We need new bookshelves, a checkout counter, and other fixtures. And we need to be able to pay our staff fairly during this transition period. In addition to reimagining the bookstore space, we also want to deepen our impact on the community by offering foods from local, mission-driven vendors and by making free resources like food, drinks, and toiletries available to anyone who needs them. With these expenses in mind, we've set a goal of $60,000 and we'd be so grateful for your help in getting there.

Safe, inclusive queer spaces are essential, especially now with the violent resurgence of anti-LGBTQ+ hatred. We need a space to learn, to gather, to love and be loved, and it's always been our goal to create that for our community. With your help today, we can continue to live our mission and keep the spirit of All She Wrote Books alive and strong.

ABOUT ALL SHE WROTE BOOKS

All She Wrote Books is more than just a feminist/queer independent bookstore. When we think of the words “intersectional”, “feminist”, “queer” that are in our mission statement — we think of them as guiding lights for those who are not only actively seeking queer/feminist spaces out like ours, but for those who want more spaces like ours in the world.

Our bookstore is a place where people can find themselves in the pages of the books we have curated on our shelves. It is a place where having conversations about meaningful topics with people is just as important as getting them their next read or helping them build on their TBR pile. It is a safe, inclusive space where you’re loved, cared for, and respected no matter what walk of life you come from. Bottom line: accessibility and community are at the core of what we do, day in and day out.

Aside from our mission, All She Wrote Books works to ensure our community isn’t just represented by the books that we stock, we also build connection in the community. For example, the “Gay it Forward” program allows shoppers to sponsor a free book for someone else through the purchase of a store gift card. If anyone comes into the store and can’t afford a purchase, the gift cards ensure they walk out with something.

All She Wrote Books also donates curated book bundles and gift cards to The Network/La Red and RESPOND Inc., two organizations that work to end domestic abuse. Additionally, All She Wrote Books sponsors a free library at Connexion United Methodist Church in East Somerville. Our free library has distributed more than 300 books in the last year.

Programming is important to All She Wrote Books as it provides new avenues for us to interact with our community in more interactive ways. We collaborate with the Somerville Public Library on events like open mic nights. At the bookstore itself, we hold author talks and monthly drag story hours for families.

All She Wrote Books’ owner Christina Pascucci-Ciampa started All She Wrote Books back in 2019 by partnering with local businesses in Somerville such as the Canopy Room at Bow Market and Winter Hill Brewing Company, asking them if she could bring her 3-shelf, beige Ikea cart of new and used books written by these authors and set herself up in a small section of their stores. In July of 2020, All She Wrote Books opened its 1st brick-and-mortar location at Assembly Row in Somerville, and had been there for over 3 years.

As a survivor of domestic abuse, Christina went digging for stories that she could relate to, and found that they were out there—but they tended to get less shelf space and be shortchanged by publishers and book reviewers. Being an avid reader, she often felt unrepresented by bookshelves and online recommendations showcasing what was already popular.

Woman-owned. Queer-owned. Independent. Displaced—but not for long.

By All She Wrote Books

Woman-owned. Queer-owned. Independent. Displaced—but not for long.

Help All She Wrote Books for its Next Chapter!

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