Our Harbor Books Story
Harbor Books was started in 2017 by Greg and Ruth Zschomler as a place to showcase and support local authors. When the Zschomlers retired in 2021, the store was purchased by Melinda Einander and was moved from Aberdeen to its current location in Hoquiam, WA.
Harbor Books carries many books by local authors and books of local interest, including local history, nature guides, and travel guides. We encourage local authors to let us know about your work, and we host a monthly writer's group open to all (see our events page for more details). We often host book signings and readings in our space.
Our nonfiction offerings include science, history, religion, health, self-help, biography, memoir, education/homeschool, true crime, current events, travel, business, cooking, and hobbies.
Our fiction section includes books for teens and older kids, science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, westerns, mysteries, historical fiction, Christian fiction, thrillers and suspense, and more. We also have a selection of large-print books and audio books on CD.
Our children's section has current and vintage picture books, children's classic literature, sturdy board and fabric books for babies and toddlers, short chapter books for beginning readers, children's graphic novels, children's nonfiction, children's bibles and religious books, and books for parents on child development and family life. You're invited to curl up together and read on our cozy bench or let your child play with the toys while you browse.
We stock a selection of greeting cards made by local artists, board and card games for children and adults, journals, and activity books. We also have a selection of coffee table books, poetry, and classic literature.
We've expanded our online shopping options–you can order books using our Special Order form for store pickup or home delivery, purchase audio books and ebooks, or shop online for home delivery from an extensive catalog of new books through our affiliate program. Need a gift certificate? Pick one up in the store, or let us know, and we can mail one to you in any amount.
At Harbor Books, we welcome you to browse, linger, and explore. We're a small store and offer a hand-picked selection of books. We aim for a wide variety so that no matter your taste, you will find something to treasure here. Our new and used books are shelved side by side; the price labels will let you know which are which. We accept many types of books for store credit–let us know if you'd like to bring in books to trade.
About the Owner
Melinda Einander has always loved books and never imagined she would own a bookstore. But when the opportunity arose to purchase the store when the previous owners of Harbor Books retired, she couldn't pass it up. Melinda and her wife Kaide moved with three of their children to Aberdeen, just a few blocks from the original location of Harbor Books. She fell in love with the shop the first time she entered it and wanted to be sure there continued to be a place on the Harbor where locals could meet and shop for books, local authors could have their works displayed, and visitors to the area could find a vacation read.
Melinda has a special love of children's and young adult literature, having worked for many years as a Montessori teacher and as a religious educator. She loves helping readers get acquainted with new books and loves the squeal of recognition when a customer (of any age) finds that perfect book.
Part of the joy of having a new and used bookstore is the many times customers discover something they didn't know they were looking for but are so excited to find! The other joy is conversing about books and life and connecting with neighbors and folks passing through.
When not surrounded by stacks of books, Melinda enjoys attending local theater and other community events and exploring the area's natural beauty. She is interested in learning about the local area's history and hearing people's stories. She is happy to be making Grays Harbor home and helping to grow a welcoming space for book lovers.
