Our Story

In 2015, Erin started her journey into online retail by opening a bookmark shop on Etsy called BibliophilePrints. In 2020 she moved to the Orlando area and reimagined her now much bigger business as an independent bookstore. She knew she would have to start small and online and she transitioned to her store being called Erin Decker Creative to encompass everything she was doing and selling. She imagined her bookstore would be a brick and mortar in 20 years or so. During this time she met Tania, through their work as school library media specialists in Osceola County. 

In 2021, the state of Florida was experience extreme changes in the public school setting which was making the work of a school library media specialist not only impossibly difficult, but in Erin and Tania's opinion, dangerous for our students' freedom of expression and access to truth and learning. They started to brainstorm ways to fight back. They spoke at school board meetings, were interviewed by the press, followed the Florida Freedom to Read Project, spoke at Board of Education meetings at the state level, but it wasn't enough and the book challenges kept on coming and effecting their work. 

In early 2023 they hit a breaking point and knew that they needed to have a plan B for their careers - and the way they could effect change for students in the state of Florida. They decided to create their own safe space and in March of 2023 they incorporated White Rose Books & More together. Tania has a background in corporate marketing and has lived in Kissimmee for 29 years so together Erin and Tania knew they were unstoppable. 

White Rose Books & More opened to the public in mid-October of 2023 and has been serving the public since. Tania and Erin continue to speak out against what is happening in Florida and tracking bills that they know will be harmful to students in Florida and to literacy. They have created a safe space for themselves, and for all people in their community that need to know they are loved, cared for, and appreciated. 

 

 

Places We have been Featured:

The Washington Post: 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2023/florida-book-bans-school-rules/

The Librarian Linkover: 

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/ZExJcZeqLDb

Specifically for Seniors: 

https://www.specificallyforseniors.com/tania-galianes/

#BecauseMiami Podcast - The Dan Le Batard Show: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/becausemiami-managed-retreat/id934820588?i=1000635192190

Living Out Loud Live (Podcast) 

Season 2, ep 2 - The ban on books and thought: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=560VcvFsTGo

Season 1, ep 13 - WTF (Our Grand Opening!) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iNDPSHNJy8

 ABFE - American Booksellers for Free Expression: 

WESH Early Learning Coalition Collaboration

 Publisher's Weekly | Children's Institute 2024 - Banned Books Panel

Indie Bookstores expanded in 2023

Our Press Kit