The vibrant community of independent booksellers came together in Indianapolis for the Heartland Fall Forum 2025, a joint event organized by the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association (MIBA) and the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association (GLIBA). This year, GLIBA played host, welcoming over 300 booksellers, nearly half attending for the first time.
Held at the Indianapolis Marriott Hotel, the three-day event (October 14–16) pulsed with energy, connection, and optimism. Attendees praised the new leadership of MIBA’s Grace Hagen and celebrated the thriving indie bookstore scene in Indianapolis, which has seen a surge of new openings in recent years.
The forum opened with the traditional Heartland Awards Ceremony, honoring standout authors and books chosen by member booksellers. Winners included Anton Treuer, Travis Zimmerman, and Marcie Rendon, with Ross Gay receiving the Voice of the Heartland Award.
Booksellers also participated in local tours, including a visit to the Indy Reads literacy center and bookstore, where they networked, shared experiences, and reaffirmed their dedication to community-driven reading spaces.
The event wrapped with a charity auction organized by Binc, which raised more than $8,000 to support booksellers facing financial hardships, an inspiring reminder of the solidarity within the indie book world.
As independent publishing continues to evolve, gatherings like Heartland Fall Forum highlight the strength, creativity, and resilience that keep small bookstores at the heart of the literary community.