01/04/2026
A devastating fire recently swept through Arcata, claiming businesses and homes. The cause of the fire is still unknown, and the full scope of the loss is still coming into focus. Our hearts are with everyone impacted.
Today, we’re writing to share a reflection centered on Northtown Books —not because this loss stands alone, but because of our fifteen-year relationship with the store, its staff, and the role it has played in our lives and work.
For more than sixty years, Northtown Books has been a foundation of the Arcata community: a place where curiosity is encouraged, conversations unfold, and stories find their readers.
Northtown Books has sold thousands(!!!) of Backcountry Press books over the years, helping us and other small, independent publishing thrive. But beyond any financial impact, the loss is deeply communal. Independent bookstores like Northtown are cultural infrastructure. They strengthen local economies, elevate local voices, and remind us—especially in a digital age—that learning is relational and place-based.
We believe (and hope!) Northtown Books will return. Arcata is a community that shows up, and we’ve already seen that support gathering. From ash, new shelves will hopefully rise.
If you’re able, please consider supporting Northtown’s recovery and helping keep the reading alive. Here’s 2 ways:
👉 Donate here: https://giveahand.com/fundraiser/northtown-books-fire
👉 When you purchase a book from our online shop, put “Northtown” in the purchase note and we’ll donate 50% to their recovery fund.
Thank you for being part of a community that values stories, science, and connection—on the page and beyond it.
With gratitude,
Michael & Allison
Photo 1: by
Photo 2: by
