Valerie Koehler opened Blue Willow Bookshop in west Houston in October 1996. With only 1400 square feet, Blue Willow Bookshop has become a neighborhood destination with a vibrant children’s department, a haven for book clubs, and a place to meet authors of all kinds. Blue Willow has also become a leading partner for many city wide initiatives, including TeenBookCon, Tweens Read, and Bookworm Bookfest. Blue Willow also partners with many non profit literacy organizations. Valerie is the general manager, buyer, and oversees all operations with a great team of people making it all work.

Valerie was named a Champion of Literacy from Literacy Advance of Houston .She has served on the boards of MidSouthIBA, Mountains and Plains IBA, American Booksellers for Children, and American Booksellers for Free Expression. Her latest service was serving as a board member of the American Booksellers Association.

Valerie has a very patient husband and two grown sons and one precious grandson. They give her great joy along with her large, boisterous family of siblings, nephews and nieces, and her 95 year old mother, the matriarch.