Hastings to close in Joplin

A bit of sad news for those of us in Joplin who have patronized the business for the past 18 years, but Hastings announced yesterday it would close its Joplin store March 21.

Over the years, Hastings has developed a reputation as a store which worked well with local authors and I have enjoyed holding numerous signings for my books there over the years.

Unfortunately, it continues a nationwide trend of bookstores closing.

(Accompanying this post are a couple of photos from my Hastings book signings over the years. The first is from the original Devil's Messenger signing in October 2006 with some of my former Diamond students, while the second is John Hacker signing books in September 2011 for our book, 5:41: Stories from the Joplin Tornado.)