Whistler's Daughter Books is COMING SOON! See you this fall!
Made by a Family of Dreamers, Built for Everyone.
A soulful space for stories and community, where everyone’s invited and wonder lives on the shelves.
Situated in the heart of Ferndale, we’re a bookstore built by a family of artists and readers. We can trace our lineage to artist James McNeill Whistler, so it feels only right that the Whistler’s Daughter name is a nod to our history. We want to share our love of creativity and connection with you. Inside, you’ll find handpicked books, local artwork, and a space in which everyone is welcome.
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We believe in creating a space that reflects OUR VALUES:
Education breaks all barriers
Reading changes lives
Readers can change the world
Censorship and book banning are dangerous
Affirmation is stronger than tolerance
Love is love
No human is illegal
Gender is not biology
Climate change is real
Sustainability practices promote social and economic justice
Social, economic, gender, and racial justice are human rights
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A natural outgrowth of these values is OUR VISION to provide the community with a place to share the written word; gather in safety and with acceptance; enjoy camaraderie with neighbors; learn about, from, and with other creatives.
This vision informs OUR CORE MISSION to expand intellectual curiosity, educate one another, explore the wider world, and experience a connected community.
Stop by to say hello, relax with a good book, and get to know your neighbors. We can’t wait to meet you.
Meet W.D.B.
Jay Whistler
Owner & Book Buyer
I’ve been a technical writer, college instructor, literary submissions reader, and freelance fiction editor, and for nearly two decades, an author. Now in my sixth career, I run a bookstore made for people who love books as much as I do.
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Favorite Genre:
I gravitate toward contemporary, historical, and literary fiction; suspense and thrillers; horror (but never with violence against women, children, or animals, that’s not okay); magical realism; and, well, don’t get me started on children’s fiction or we’ll be here all day. I love books that make me think, question reality, revisit places I thought I knew, or introduce characters who make me cry in the best way. Middle-grade and young adult stories hold a special place in my heart for their honesty and the strength they reveal in young people. I’ll drop everything for a new Frederik Backman, Alice Hoffman, or Gary D. Schmidt. And apparently, I have to stop now because this webpage is running out of room.
Linnea Whistler
General Manager
Years of working in various soul-sucking corporate jobs left me feeling like an empty shell of a person, and I constantly found myself filling that void with books. For years, conversations with my mom centered around me venting about work and then both of us sharing book recommendations until I felt a little bit less like exploding. Next thing I knew, I was quitting my corporate gig and opening up shop! I'm so happy to be here, and can't wait to help introduce you to your new favorite book.
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Favorite Genres:
An impossible question, truly. I read a little bit of everything, but always find myself coming back for more speculative fiction, dystopian, "weird girl" fiction, magical realism, and non-fiction in the realm of current events & social justice. Books I'll never stop recommending: How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu, A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers, Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey, The Overstory by Richard Powers, A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck, Code Dependent by Madhumita Murgia.
Hannah Whistler
Assistant Manager
Kent Whistler
Facilities & Operations
As the eldest Whistler daughter, I’ve been in training for assistant manager duties since birth. After studying art history and later earning a master’s degree, I spent ten years in Texas before returning to my Midwestern roots. Along the way, I worked just about every job you can imagine—leasing apartments, pulling espresso shots, endless retail hours, consulting on software, and managing events at a performing arts center. After all those loud and busy careers, I’m thrilled to be settling into something a little quieter (well, at least until the next author event).
At the store, I’ll be curating the art and cookbook sections (expect to find cheese celebrated). Outside of work, I’m usually hanging out with my senior pit bull Penny, reading in my hammock, or cooking for the people I love.
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Favorite Genre:
My own shelves are full of dystopian fiction, sci-fi, satire, and literary novels, though I have a soft spot for the occasional beach romance or thriller when I’m in the mood for something fast and fun. I also can’t stop collecting cookbooks and big, beautiful coffee table art books. Half the joy is flipping through them and imagining the meals I’ll make or the museum trips I might someday take.
As the son of two teachers, I’ve always been a reader. During my years in the corporate sector, I read hundreds of business books... though I wouldn’t exactly call that “reading for pleasure.” Now that I’m enjoying retirement, I spend my time volunteering at the local SPCA, traveling, tending my vegetable garden, and finally reading more fiction.
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Favorite Genre:
Business books aside, I love suspense and thrillers, mystery, espionage, and dystopian novels. Ask me about Robert Parker, Steve Hamilton, John Sanford, or Sue Grafton. More interested in Blake Crouch or Jeffrey Deaver? Chances are, I’ve read at least a couple of theirs. If you’re in the store, I’ll be the guy in the deerstalker hat carrying a meerschaum pipe. (Okay, not really... but I would if I could.)