Castle Books and Tea: Tristan Evarts' Hidden Gem

Tristan Evarts is a librarian, part time archivist, and owner of Castle Books and Tea in North Haven, Connecticut. He will be showcasing a myriad of books, comics, prints, and old letters at the Northampton Book Fair this November, including a signed first edition copy of This Immortal by Roger Zelanzy, a vintage copy of Meteors, Areolites, and Falling Stars by Thomas Lan Phipson, and even a few civil war era letters. This will be the second year that Castle Books is exhibiting.

Evarts has always had a passion for books and science alike, and began his college career at UMass, Amherst studying astrophysics, but moved on to major in English and Philosophy. His love for science has never left him however, as he was “steeped in Science Fiction from childhood.” He is now the editor of Utopia Science Fiction Magazine and always looks for vintage and rare Science Fiction for the Castle Books extensive 3,000 book catalog. He adds fifteen to twenty books to the online catalog every single day, and has garnered quite the collection. Evarts sources the books from auctions in Ireland and England, as well as donations, estate sales, and private collectors reaching out to him. Though the three year saga of acquiring the “hole in the wall” 250 square foot space for Castle Books was difficult, he remained motivated and it is here to stay. Evarts’ goal is to create not only a cozy place for bookworms, but also for the environment to be a safe space for neurodivergent people, as he noticed a lack of such spaces and wanted to be sure he made one. A portion of Castle Books profits goes to organizations for neurodivergent people and those affected by trauma every year.

For more information on taking a visit to Castle Books and Tea, check out their website: https://www.castlebooksandtea.com/ and make sure to stop by the Northampton Book Fair this fall to take a look at what Evarts is exhibiting. We hope to see you in Northampton on Friday, November 21st, 5-8 pm and Saturday, November 22nd, 10am - 4pm at the Community Arts Trust at 33 Hawley Street for the antiquarian book, ephemera, small press, and book arts fair. For tickets and fair info: www.northamptonbookfair.com

written by Hallie S. Krause, September, 2025