Unique Southern bookstores: Turnrow Book Co. of Greenwood, Lemuria of Jackson, Mississippi

All summer I will be spotlighting unique Southern bookstores. And there are plenty!

First up is Turnrow Book Co. of Greenwood and Lemuria Books of Jackson, both in Mississippi. Our neighboring state is home to some of the world’s finest writers and both bookstores honor this heritage with special events. For instance, Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Russo signs his latest book, "Everybody's Fool" at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 2, with a reading from the book at 4:30 p.m.  Charles Shields discusses and signs copies of “Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, from Scout to ‘Go Set a Watchman,’” at 5 p.m. Monday, June 6, at Lemuria and at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, at Turnrow. One of my favorite authors, Rheta GrimsleyJohnson, author of “Poor Man’s Provence: Finding Myself in Cajun Louisiana,” will sign her latest “The Dogs Buried Over the Bridge: A Memoir in Dog Years” at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, at Lemuria.

Both bookstores sell signed and first editions of books as well. So if you can't make one of their amazing author events, stop by, call or sign up for their emails to learn about books on their shelves signed by the authors.

Cheré Dastugue Coen is the author of several Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. She is also the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.