Mark Shaw, Six Dogs Bookstore and the Books for Life Foundation are gone. After two years of working to help local writers find publishers for their words and selling books by local authors in his tiny Fountain Square storefront, Shaw decided to relocate his foundation to Aspen, Colo.

Shaw hopes the arts community in Aspen will lend more support and interest to what his foundation is doing. He feels the literary scene in Indianapolis leaves plenty of room for improvement. “Nobody really stepped forward to help financially to keep us going in Indianapolis,” Shaw said. “This city seems to have no problem raising money for sports teams and for some aspects of the arts. But the literary community is always sat at the end of the line."

“People don’t seem to realize that nothing is more powerful than the written word.”

Shaw said he’s happy to continue helping Indiana authors long-distance. He can be reached through the foundation’s Web site, www.booksforlifefoundation.com, or by phone at 970-544-3398.

“I hope people in Indiana continue to work with us,” Shaw said. “I’m one who truly believes in the talent of Midwestern writers.”