Aurora Books

Aurora Books, San Miguel’s beloved bookstore known for its thoughtfully curated selection of new and popular English and Spanish titles, is now under the ownership of the San Miguel Literary Sala.

Founded by author Kim Malcolm in mid-2023 at Hacienda La Aurora, the book shop quickly became a community favorite.

“Aurora Books has been a labor of love for me. But I have always been a nomad at heart. I am passing the baton to new leadership so that I can pursue my love of travel,” said Kim.

“I’ll still be based here in San Miguel, and I’ll be cheering and supporting the new management of the store. I’m confident that Aurora Books will grow and thrive with the support of the Literary Sala,” she added.

The store is a natural fit with the Literary Sala, the nonprofit organization that produces the annual San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival. It is also the umbrella organization that hosts the monthly San Miguel Prose and Poetry Café, the Poetry Mesa, the Solamente en San Miguel anthology, and other events and programs.

Aurora Books is the official bookstore partner of the San Miguel Writers’ Conference and will supply books to the Conference’s on-site bookstore.

“We are thrilled to support this vibrant community book shop and excited about the crossover possibilities to benefit authors and literary events,” said Susan Page, president and founder of the Literary Sala and the Writers’ Conference.

“Authors who are Literary Sala Members are already entitled to sell their books in the Tesoros Bookstore at the Biblioteca Publica de San Miguel, and at the Writers’ Conference Bookstore; to promote a free literary event such as a book launch using the Literary Sala network; and to showcase their books on the Literary Sala website and newsletters.

“Now Aurora Books will offer a new showcase for local authors, with a special section for books by Literary Sala members,” she added. (See sidebar.)

Local author and poet Catherine Marenghi will become the new director of the store. “My hope is to maintain the wonderful welcoming atmosphere at Aurora Books and the superb quality of books that Kim Malcolm has nurtured,” Catherine said. “We are fortunate to have had the enthusiastic support of the local community, and we look forward to soliciting ideas to provide even more benefits to authors and readers.”