Katie Mitchell

Katie Mitchell is an Atlanta-based author, bookseller, and storyteller whose work focuses on the celebration and preservation of Black literary culture.

As the founder of Good Books, an online and pop-up bookstore, Mitchell has contributed to increasing the accessibility of Black literature by curating both vintage and contemporary works by Black authors. Good Books has received national attention, with features in The New York Times, NBC, NPR, and PBS, and is recognized for its commitment to community engagement and literary advocacy.

Mitchell is the author of "Prose to the People: A Celebration of Black Bookstores," a book that profiles more than 50 Black bookstores across the United States. The work blends essays, photography, poetry, and interviews, and includes contributions from writers such as Nikki Giovanni and Kiese Laymon. Through this book, Mitchell documents the historical and cultural significance of Black bookstores and highlights the voices and stories that have shaped these community spaces. Her research and writing emphasize the importance of Southern voices in the national literary landscape, and the book serves as a resource for those interested in book culture and Black history.

Mitchell is a public speaker who has shared her expertise on Black literature at events across the country and internationally. She is a Dorothy Porter Wesley fellow and is known for presentations that draw from her knowledge of Black literary traditions. Mitchell’s career as a bookseller and author reflects her dedication to cultural preservation and her commitment to promoting the transformative power of literature and community.