Cozy Calico Books is located in the heart of Occoquan, Virginia. A short drive south of Washington, D.C., this picturesque 18th-century town curves along a beautiful bend of the Occoquan River. Filled with local artisans, restaurants, and boutiques, Occoquan makes the perfect day trip to enjoy delicious food and shop local businesses.
Here at Cozy Calico Books, we believe that books teach empathy, joy is an act of resistance, and community is more important than ever. We aim to provide a safe, inclusive space for you to enjoy the newest books and bookish gifts. We host book clubs, creative writing classes, story times, author visits, and more!
OWNERS & FOUNDERS
A Maryland native and proud Ravens fan, is better known by her pseudonym, Tracy Banghart. Under this name, she’s published a variety of books for children and young adults with Macmillan, Little Brown, and Candlewick, including the Grace and Fury series, Perfect Girl, and Love Like Chocolate. Under the name Elizabeth Hart, she’s published an additional young adult novel, Red as Royal Blood, with Harper Collins.
Soon after moving to northern Virginia in 2020, Occoquan became one of her favorite places to visit. It seemed like such a perfect place for a bookstore; she kept waiting for someone to open one. It wasn’t until late 2025 that she realized shecould be the person to bring the bookshop of her dreams to this beautiful, historic town. Cozy Calico Books is a family affair—Tracy’s husband and children are integral members of the team, and she wouldn’t have been able to fulfill this lifelong dream without them.
Tracy holds a BA in English from Davidson College, in NC, and a Master of Arts in Publishing from Oxford Brookes University, in Oxford, UK. For more information on Tracy and her books, check out her author website at www.tracybanghart.com.
Tracy is our resident expert in young adult, romance, and fantasy.
Tracy Blanton
Andy Blanton
A North Carolina native and proud BBQ afficionado, retired from the US Army in the fall of 2025 after more than twenty years of service. He’s using his training as a strategist to help Cozy Calico Books meet the needs of its community, all while enjoying the *slightly* more relaxed life of a bookstore owner. He’s the store’s resident expert in non-fiction, particularly history, business, and strategy.
Andy holds a BA in History from Davidson College, in NC, and a Master’s in Public Policy from Duke University, in NC. He is a senior fellow at George Washington University.
OB’s interests include robotics, ninja warrior, Zelda, and anime. His favorite author is Rick Riordan. He’s our resident expert in Virginia Readers titles, Percy Jackson, and manga.
OB and MB were the inspiration for Love Like Chocolate and are considered “minor celebrities” by their friends for being in a book!
“Wonder Kitty” OB
MB is an avid piano player, artist, Lego enthusiast, and ninja warrior. She loves books with lovable, silly creatures, like Dan Catrow’s Fun in the Sun and Nathan Lane’s Naughty Mabel. She’s our resident expert in picture books and middle grade graphic novels.
OB and MB were the inspiration for Love Like Chocolate and are considered “minor celebrities” by their friends for being in a book!
“Snowball” MB
Take a look at our staff pics shelf for the team’s current favorite reads.
Take a look at our staff pics shelf for the team’s current favorite reads.
The Blantons are blessed with two calico cats, Checkers and Ouija. Calicos cats aren’t a breed but a particular color pattern of white, black, and orange, almost exclusively found in female cats. Calicos are thought to be lucky. The calico is also the state cat of Maryland.
While Checkers and Ouija are a bit too high strung to visit the store, we hope their penchant for curling up in a comfy chair for a delicious nap will inspire you to relax, grab a good book, and enjoy your time at Cozy Calico Books!