Arts & Culture

Except perhaps for dedicated Russophiles, composer Vissarion Shebalin will most likely be a welcome new discovery. He was a student of Nikolay Myaskovsky, highly respected by Prokofiev and a close friend of Shostakovich.

Now in their third year at the Pearl complex, The Twig Book Shop is finding solid footing in San Antonio and continues to stay visible by partnering with non-profits and having author signings in-store.

Though they are one of the most well known of the stores featured in these profiles, it's the way they have adapted to the modern book industry that makes them worth taking a closer look at.

Hello, e-reader. Nice to meet you.

The book industry finally settled down in 2012, and thanks to a big push for buying local, independent book stores are feeling good about where they are right now -- and what 2013 may bring.

There are still worries about physical book store locations, especially since so many small stores closed during the recession and Borders, one of the majors, closed in 2011, but there is hope.