Where Misfits Make Their Magic
A Bookstore. A Game Store. A Place to Belong.
Books, games, coffee, events, and a little room to be exactly as nerdy as you want to be.
The Secret Lantern Books & Games was built around a simple idea: people need places where they can wander in, discover something unexpected, and feel like there’s room for them at the table.
We’re especially proud to champion voices and creators who haven’t always been given enough space, highlighting Black and Brown authors, designers, game developers, artists, businesses, and other marginalized creators as part of the everyday fabric of what we stock, host, and celebrate.
How We Got Here
Our Story
The Secret Lantern started with a question: what would happen if we took everything we loved about storytelling, games, books, creativity, and community and gave it a physical home?
After years working in the video game industry, we wanted to build something tangible in Cedar Park, a place where people could linger over a book, meet friends for a game, write over coffee, discover a new obsession, or simply exist without feeling like they had to earn their way into the room.
What began as an idea for a bookstore and game store quickly became something bigger: a neighborhood gathering place built around curiosity, imagination, and the belief that community is something you make on purpose.
Who Gets a Seat at the Table Matters
Stories Worth Making Room For
We believe the worlds we read, play in, and create are better when more people get to shape them.
That means intentionally seeking out and celebrating Black and Brown writers, marginalized authors, independent creators, designers, game developers, artists, local makers, and businesses whose work deserves to be discovered.
Not as a special category tucked into a corner, but as part of the everyday fabric of what we stock, recommend, host, partner with, and celebrate.
On Our Shelves
Books, games, and creative work from voices and perspectives worth discovering.
At Our Tables
Events, clubs, games, workshops, and gatherings designed to make room for more people to participate.
In Our Partnerships
Creators, makers, businesses, organizations, and collaborators from across our wider community.
What This Place Has Become
More Than We Imagined
What started as a bookstore and game shop has grown into a place where people read, play, eat, drink, learn, make things, meet people, and keep coming back.
Books & Games
New releases, staff favorites, tabletop games, RPGs, collectible card games, and plenty of rabbit holes to fall into.
Events & Gatherings
Book clubs, RPG sessions, workshops, release parties, performances, game nights, and community gatherings.
Bar & Café
Coffee, cocktails, zero-proof drinks, local food, and another good reason to stay a little longer.
Community Partnerships
Local makers, authors, artists, food partners, organizations, and collaborators helping us build something bigger.
The Humans Behind the Counter
Meet the Founders
A game-industry producer and a UX designer walked into a bookstore idea. Somehow, this happened.
Dianna
Founder & OwnerA longtime video game producer with a background in storytelling, licensing, partnerships, and bringing big creative ideas to life, Dianna dreamed up The Secret Lantern as a place where books, games, creativity, and community could all collide. She can usually be found recommending something strange, planning the next event, or finding one more thing to add to the store.
Dan
Co-OwnerA longtime UX and UI designer with a love of games, strange hobbies, and esoteric nerdery, Dan brings a designer’s eye and a practical hand to The Secret Lantern. After years building digital experiences, he wanted to help create something tangible, welcoming, and made for people to enjoy together.
Supporting Cast
The Rest of the Party
Every adventuring party needs a little chaos. Maia, Vega, Ajax, and Phoebe provide ours, usually from the comfort of home.
Your Next Adventure Is Probably Here
Come Find Your People
Stop in for a book. Stay for a game. Come back for a workshop, a drink, a new obsession, or the people you didn’t know you were looking for.