Get to know us

Welcome to Aber Stoat Books! We are an independent, community-focused bookstore and publishing house right in the heart of Carlsbad, California. If you’re looking for generic shelves or shallow, diluted collections, you won’t find them here. Guided by our tagline, "Faerytales, Romance, Thrillers & Occults," we intentionally focus on the dark, the weird, and the unique. Our main shelves are packed with curated Adult and Young Adult Fiction, alongside dedicated sections for horror and science fiction, and a small, selective collection of Tween and Children’s books. We also carry a unique selection of bargain books sourced directly from publishers' overstock and retailers' returns of unsold books, giving you a chance to discover hidden gems at an incredible value.

Looking for that special edition, a signed gem, or a book with unique sprayed edges? I want this to be the place where you can get lost in a story and forget the real world.

Our Story: Building Community First

When I first formed in January 2024, I didn’t want to dive headfirst into a brick-and-mortar storefront without building genuine connections first. I believe an independent bookstore belongs to its community, which is why I’ve spent the last two years cultivating local roots, industry bonds, and author relationships before taking the leap into a physical space.

You might already know me from around town. For the last two years, I’ve been running Aber Stoat Books as a curated online and pop-up shop, hosting the Olde Carlsbad chapter of the Silent Book Club, and organizing our monthly community Audiobook Walks. Every single pop-up market, book club meetup, and neighborhood stroll has been a stepping stone toward building a permanent literary hub designed entirely around you.

From a Solo Project to a Publishing House

Aber Stoat actually started as a boutique publishing company dedicated exclusively to my own self-published work. But my passion for indie storytelling grew fast, and we have officially merged into a unified bookstore and active publishing house proudly representing four incredible San Diego County based authors.

Moving forward, my mission is to champion the indie literary world from both sides of the counter:

Selective Publishing: We plan to publish 2 to 4 new books per year, focusing on fresh, unique voices in fiction.
Immersive Events: Our upcoming physical storefront will host community events, book crafting, writing seminars, intimate author events, meet-and-greets with book signings, a community literary segment on our blog for poetry and short stories, bringing writers and readers together.
Behind-the-Scenes Q&As: For the past year and a half, I’ve been interviewing a new author every month for our dedicated blog and newsletter. I’m excited to keep going and grow these in-depth question-and-answer sessions, highlighting the incredible authors whose books I cover in our early release review program.

Our Mission

As the owner and operator, my goal is to cultivate a thriving, resilient literary ecosystem right here in Carlsbad Village. Aber Stoat Books is a passion project, which means the absolute focus stays where it belongs: on our books, our authors, and our neighborhood.

I am committed to community engagement and am always happy to collaborate with fellow booksellers and creatives to nurture a thriving indie creative community. Come visit our shelves, join our next silent read, and explore the unconventional side of fiction with me!

A woman with blue eyes and split-dye blonde and black hair wearing a striped shirt.

Mandy Parrey

Founder / ChIEf Bookmonger

Bookmonger

Behind the scenes, Aber Stoat Books is a family-owned operation powered by a shared love for stories—and a whole lot of spousal patience.

Mandy Parrey (Owner & Founder): With a professional background in publishing and retail management, I handle the creative vision, inventory curation, and author relations. Whether I’m vetting upcoming releases for our review series, interviewing indie authors for our blog, or sourcing special editions, my goal is to connect passionate readers with beautifully unconventional fiction. As a true one-woman show right now, I also completely run the publishing side of the house. Between curating the shop and managing our authors, I am still actively trying to find time to write my own fantasy novel and keep up with my other pen name projects!

Silent Supporter: My wonderful husband.

Together, we are thrilled to bring a dedicated, independent literary experience to our neighbors in Carlsbad!

Join the Journey

Right now, Aber Stoat Books is a lean, passionate team of one (plus a very supportive husband!). As we plant our physical roots in Carlsbad Village, our ultimate goal is to grow enough to create sustainable, paid jobs for local fellow book lovers.

In the meantime, building this sanctuary takes a village! If you want to get involved, we would love to welcome volunteers to help out with:

Setting up for special midnight releases and author events.
Chatting with customers and sharing your favorite recommendations.
Helping keep our moody, beautiful shelves perfectly organized.

If you’re interested in trading a few hours of your time for bookish perks, early access to pre-releases, and a front-row seat to building Carlsbad’s newest literary hub, we’d love to have you.