Village Books announces the following schedule for August 2015. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and take place in the Readings Gallery at Village Books, 1200 11th Street, Bellingham, WA, 98225. Changes, additions and cancellations do occur. Please visit www.villagebooks.com for the most complete information about our author events. Summer store hours at Village Books and Paper Dreams are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 1, 10:30 a.m.
Story time with Claire featuring What Pet Should I Get?
Story time introducing a newly published Dr. Seuss book! It’s called What Pet Should I Get? and we’ll be reading it along with other classics from our favorite “doctor.” Author not attending.
Sun., Aug. 2, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Socrates Café
The Socratic Dialogue is a search for truth by questioning, probing, defining terms and clarifying meanings of important, complex questions. Any participant may propose a question to be discussed using the Socratic dialogue. One question is chosen for discussion during each session. The resulting discussion provides an opportunity to improve our individual and collective skills of civil discourse. We invite you to join in. The group meets the first and third Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Readings Gallery.
Sun., Aug. 2, 3:15-5:15 p.m.
VB Writes…Nonfiction & Memoir Writing Group
We have eclectic tastes that range from biography, history, nature writing, and self-help, but tend to focus primarily on the memoir. Our process is to bring a printed copy of your piece for each member of the group to follow while you read aloud. The group critiques aloud and also writes notes on your print out, and returns the print outs to you for you to keep. Critiquing is honest and encouraging. We ask that new members attend at least two meetings before submitting their own works for critique. This group meets on the mezzanine level of Village Books, near the poetry section, on the first and third Sunday of each month, from 3:15-5:15 p.m.
Monday, August 3, 7pm
VB Reads…General Literature Book Group
Join Cindi and discuss books from a variety of genres at 7 p.m., the first Monday of each month. Authors DO NOT Attend. Everyone is welcome.
The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan
At the height of World War II, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was home to 75,000 residents, and consumed more electricity than New York City, yet it was shrouded in such secrecy that it did not appear on any map. Thousands of civilians, many of them young women from small towns across the U.S., were recruited to this secret city, enticed by the promise of solid wages and war-ending work. What were they actually “doing” there? Very few knew.
Tues., Aug. 4, 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday Story Time with Claire
Join Claire in the Kids section every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for a half an hour of stories, songs, and movement as we read and get silly about books!
Tues., August 4
VB Writes…Creative Non-fiction, 6-8 p.m.
Looking for an inspiring writing group? Join this crew of Creative Nonfiction writers. Be prepared to share your work and give thoughtful, supportive critiques to others. We meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month in the Writer’s Corner on the Mezzanine.
Wed., Aug. 5, 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
VB Writes…Poetry II
Are you a poet in search of a poetry group? Please bring at least one original poem of yours to share and be read out loud. Come meet other writers as we discuss the art of poetry, give feedback, and help you with your writing goals. We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month in the Writer’s Corner on the Mezzanine.
Wed., Aug. 5, 6-8pm
VB Writes…Fiction II
The VB Writes Fiction Group features a unique array of members, whose experience ranges from those attempting to discover their voice, to those aspiring toward that completed novel. All members come to the group with an open mind, ready to critique a wide variety of writing styles. We ask that new members attend at least two meetings prior to submitting their own work for critique. We look forward to learning more about your current or upcoming fiction project, as well as your background in writing. Meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine level of the store near the poetry section & Book Fare Cafe.
Wed., Aug, 5, 7 p.m.
Elizabeth Little, Dear Daughter – Fiction
Former “It Girl” Janie Jenkins is sly, stunning, and fresh out of prison. Ten years ago, at the height of her fame, she was incarcerated for the murder of her mother, a high-society beauty known for her good works and rich husbands. Now, released on a technicality, Janie makes herself over and goes undercover, determined to chase down the one lead she has on her mother’s killer. The only problem? Janie doesn’t know if she’s the killer she’s looking for. A gripping, electrifying debut novel with an ingenious and like-it-or-not sexy protagonist, Dear Daughter follows every twist and turn as Janie unravels the mystery of what happened the night her mother died-whatever the cost.
Elizabeth Little was born and raised in St. Louis and graduated from Harvard University. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among other publications, and she has appeared on All Things Considered, The World, and Here and Now. She has written two works of nonfiction: Biting the Wax Tadpole: Confessions of a Language Fanatic and Trip of the Tongue: Cross-Country Travels in Search of America’s Languages. Dear Daughter is her first novel. Elizabeth lives in Los Angeles with her family.
Thurs., Aug. 6, 5:30-7 p.m.
VB Writes…Poetry Writing Group
Are you a writer in search of a writing group? Village Books is hosting a poetry-writing group on the mezzanine level of the store near the poetry section and Book Fare Café. Come meet other writers who can help you get organized, give feedback, and help you with your writing goals. This group is open to newcomers and drop-ins and meets the first and third Thursday of each month from 5:30-7pm.
Thurs., August 6, 7 p.m.
Tara Austen Weaver, Orchard House: How a Neglected Garden Taught One Family to Grow
Award-winning author Tara Austen Weaver’s rich memoir Orchard House explores the nourishing, complicated, and sometimes painful facets of the mother-daughter bond, set in the most surprising of places—an overgrown backyard garden. For many people, the Seattle real-estate listing would have sent them running in the other direction. But for Tara, the neglected property, eventually purchased by her mother, is a second chance—not only for the edible bounty the garden could yield for her family, but for the personal renewal she and her mother might reap along the way. In vivid detail, Tara recounts her trials and triumphs, detailing what grew and what didn’t at Orchard House, and sharing the obstacles overcome and lessons learned. As the fruits of her and her mother’s labor begin to flourish, hope emerges from the darkness of their past.
Tara Austen Weaver is the author of the memoir The Butcher and the Vegetarian, and also writes the award-winning blog “Tea & Cookies.” Her writing on food, travel, culture, and the environment has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Magazine, and on Chow.com. Weaver is a master gardener and certified permaculture designer. She lives and grows things in Seattle, where she is the editor of Edible Seattle.
Friday, Aug. 7, 7 p.m.
Ted Kosmatka, The Flicker Men – Fiction
Eric Argus is a washout. His prodigious early work clouded his reputation and strained his sanity. But an old friend gives him another chance, an opportunity to step back into the light. With three months to produce new research, Eric replicates the paradoxical double-slit experiment to see for himself the mysterious dual nature of light and matter. A simple but unprecedented inference blooms into a staggering discovery about human consciousness and the structure of the universe. His findings are celebrated and condemned in equal measure. But no one can predict where the truth will lead. And as Eric seeks to understand the unfolding revelations, he must evade shadowy pursuers who believe he knows entirely too much already.
Ted Kosmatka was born and raised in Chesterton, Indiana. He is the author of Prophet of Bones and The Games, a finalist for the Locus Award for Best First Novel and one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2012. His short fiction has been nominated for both the Nebula and Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Awards and has appeared in numerous Year’s Best anthologies. He now lives in the Pacific Northwest and works as a writer in the video-game industry.
Sun., Aug. 9, 2-3 p.m.
VB Reads…Motherhood by the Book
Motherhood by the Book is led by Claire, VB staffer, mother of a toddler and stepmother of an adolescent.
The book group meets on the second Sunday of every month at 2 p.m. on the mezzanine level, next to our poetry section and near the Book Fare Cafe, for an hour of spirited discussion of books that celebrate the trials, tribulations, and rewards of motherhood, and what it means to be a mother. This group is by no means exclusive to moms with kids still at home, but much of the selection may be geared toward issues that those moms face. We will read fiction, non-fiction and parenting books. Authors DO NOT attend.
The Good Mother Myth: Redefining Motherhood to Fit Reality by Avital Norman Nathman
In an era of mommy blogs, Pinterest, and Facebook, The Good Mother Myth dismantles the social media-fed notion of what it means to be a “good mother.” This collection of essays takes a realistic look at motherhood and provides a platform for real voices and raw stories, each adding to the narrative of motherhood we don’t tend to see in the headlines or on the news.
Sun., Aug. 9, 4 p.m.
Not Your Typical Summer Reads Tour! With Sharon Huss Roat, Hilary T. Smith and Stephanie Oakes – Young Adult
Join us as we welcome three Young Adult novelists to Bellingham. These are stories of rebellion and the dangers of blind faith, deep friendship, the weight of secrets and what happens when life as you know it flips completely upside down.
Sharon Huss Roat is the author of Between the Notes. Stephanie Oakes is the author of The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly. Hilary T. Smith is the author of A Sense of the Infinite.
Monday, Aug. 10, 4-6pm
VB Writes…Prompts
Join us as we respond to two to three prompts each session. Let your imagination go wild. We will time each write for 15-20 minutes then share our stories in a safe, supportive setting. Meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine level of the store near the poetry section and Book Fare Cafe.
Mon., Aug. 10, 7 p.m.
Jason Stoane, The County – Memoir, Local Author
Gun Shots, Riots and Deadly diseases: Kings County Hospital is one of the oldest and largest hospitals in the US. The centerpiece of Crown Heights Brooklyn, the County is where some of the sickest and most broken people are brought for their care after being shot, injured or stricken with the HIV virus. The first of its kind, this memoir is a collection of short stories that took place from the 1980’s to the new millennium told through the eyes of a young doctor in training at the County. These vignettes are his story of surviving the Killing Fields.
Jason is Chi-Na’s husband and the father of their two boys, Caden and Asher. He has lived in Bellingham for 17 years and practices Neuroradiology at Mount Baker Imaging. Jason finally finished this memoir that he has promised to write since he left Brooklyn in 1997. In lieu of working on it, he wrote three children’s books: Gerrith the Swordmaster Goblin, Hadassah the Hanukkah Honey Bee, and Mystique the Mermaid and the Lost Island of Atlantis for his boys. Jason can be found on his time off spending quality time with his family and friends on his snowboard, bikes or paddling mostly in majestic Whatcom County.
Tues., Aug. 11, 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday Story Time with Claire
Join Claire in the Kids section every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for a half an hour of stories, songs and movement as we read and get silly about books!
Tues., Aug. 11, 6-8 p.m.
VB Writes…Spec Fiction/Sci Fi Writing Group
Does your fiction writing lean toward the fantastic? Do any of these terms apply to your stories: science fiction, fantasy, mythic, magical, horror, folk/fairy tales, magical realism, slipstream, steampunk, urban fantasy, sword and sorcery, space opera, alternative history, or any of the hundreds of other sub-genres of speculative fiction? Then come join this supportive group of like-minded writers of this wide-ranging and diverse genre for your creative writing outlet. We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 6-8 p.m. on the mezzanine level, near the poetry section and Book Fare Café.
Tues., August 11, 7 p.m.
Phoebe Wahl, Sonya’s Chickens – Children’s Book, Local Author
Sonya raises her three chickens from the time they are tiny chicks. She feeds them, shelters them and loves them. Everywhere Sonya goes, her chicks are peeping at her heels. Under her care, the chicks grow into hens and even give Sonya a wonderful gift: an egg! One night, Sonya hears noises coming from the chicken coop and discovers that one of her hens has disappeared. Where did the hen go? What happened to her? When Sonya discovers the answers, she learns some important truths about the interconnectedness of nature and the true joys and sorrows of caring for another creature.
Artist Phoebe Wahl’s work focuses on themes of comfort, nostalgia and intimacy with nature. She grew up unschooled in Washington state, and credits her free-spirited childhood in the Northwest for much of her inspiration and work ethic. She works in a variety of mediums, from watercolor and collage to fabric sculpture. Phoebe graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in illustration and currently lives in Bellingham, Washington.
Wed., Aug. 12, 1 p.m.
VB Reads…Afternoon Book Chat
Join Sittrea in the Readings Gallery on the second Wednesday of each month for an open book chat, at 1 p.m. Authors DO NOT attend. Bring a latte and enjoy! Everyone welcome.
The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America by Timothy Egan
On the afternoon of August 20, 1910, a battering ram of wind moved through the drought-stricken national forests of Washington, Idaho, and Montana, whipping the hundreds of small blazes burning across the forest floor into a roaring inferno. Egan narrates the struggles of the overmatched rangers against the implacable fire with unstoppable dramatic force. Equally dramatic is the larger story he tells of outsized president Teddy Roosevelt and his chief forester, Gifford Pinchot.
Wed., Aug. 12, 6-8 p.m.
VB Writes…YA & Children’s Literature
Looking for an inspiring writing group? Join this crew of writers who focus on the Young Adult and Children genres. Be prepared to share your work and give thoughtful, supportive critiques to others. Meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine level of the store near the poetry section & Book Fare Cafe.
Thurs., Aug. 13, 6-8 p.m.
VB Writes… Fiction Writing Group
Are you a writer in search of a writing group? Village Books is hosting a fiction-writing group on the mezzanine level of the store near the poetry section and Book Fare Café. Come meet other writers who can help you get organized, give feedback and help you with your writing goals. This group is open to newcomers and drop-ins and meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 6-8 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 13, 7 p.m.
Dean R. Blanchard, Sarah Covington – Fiction, Local Author
Sarah Covington opens with a double tragedy and its consequences as they affect the everyday lives of its small-town citizens. The Covington family history is a passionate account of shady real estate dealings, treachery, and dangerous assumptions. Yet one gets glimpses of the untold and sometimes secret motives that pull both friends and enemies into the intrigues and mysteries that some prefer would remain in the closet. Open the doors in the various Covington closets and pull out the images that are stored there, some lovingly, and some not.
Dean R. Blanchard served for twenty years in the United States Navy before he began healing from his past through writing. He is also the author of the short story collection Pieces of Broken China. He currently lives in Washington state.
Sun., Aug. 16, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Socrates Café
The Socratic Dialogue is a search for truth by questioning, probing, defining terms and clarifying meanings of important, complex questions. Any participant may propose a question to be discussed using the Socratic dialogue. One question is chosen for discussion during each session. The resulting discussion provides an opportunity to improve our individual and collective skills of civil discourse. We invite you to join in. The group meets the first and third Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Readings Gallery.
Sun., Aug. 16, 3:15-5:15 p.m.
VB Writes…Nonfiction & Memoir Writing Group
We have eclectic tastes that range from biography, history, nature writing, and self-help, but tend to focus primarily on the memoir. Our process is to bring a printed copy of your piece for each member of the group to follow while you read aloud. The group critiques aloud and also writes notes on your print out, and returns the print outs to you for you to keep. Critiquing is honest and encouraging. We ask that new members attend at least two meetings before submitting their own works for critique. This group meets on the mezzanine level of Village Books, near the poetry section, on the first and third Sunday of each month, from 3:15-5:15 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 17, 7 p.m.
Toni Weschler, Taking Charge of Your Fertility: 20th Anniversary Edition
For two decades, Taking Charge of Your Fertility has helped literally hundreds of thousands of women avoid pregnancy naturally, maximize their chances of getting pregnant, or simply gain better control of their gynecological and sexual health. Toni Weschler thoroughly explains the empowering Fertility Awareness Method (FAM), which in only a couple of minutes a day allows you to: Enjoy highly effective and scientifically proven birth control without chemicals or devices. Maximize your chances of conception before you see a doctor or resort to invasive high-tech options Expedite your fertility treatment by quickly identifying impediments to pregnancy achievement. Gain control and a true understanding of your gynecological and sexual health. This new edition for the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking national bestseller provides all the information you need to monitor your menstrual cycle along with updated information on the latest reproductive technologies. This event is presented in partnership with Fairhaven Health.
Toni Weschler, MPH, has a master’s degree in public health and is a nationally-respected women’s health educator and speaker. She is also the author of Cycle Savvy, a book for teenage girls about their bodies. A frequent guest on television and radio shows, she lives in Seattle, WA.
Mon., Aug. 17, 7 p.m.
VB Reads…Speculative Fiction
Come discuss thought-provoking speculative fiction in a group that welcomes diversity. Science fiction and fantasy can be a great escape, but it can also be a great way to examine social issues and alternative viewpoints or identities. Historically, science fiction has often been used as a way of commenting on the biases of the age in which it is written, using metaphors such as the creation of robots, alternative relationships between alien species, and the colonization of other worlds to show contemporary problems or questions in a new light. The aim of this group is to enjoy reading provocative science fiction (and occasional fantasy) stories and discussing the themes they might present, in both the original context and for us as individuals today. This group meets the third Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the writing corner on the mezzanine level of Village Books. Authors DO NOT attend.
Radiant by Karina Sumner-Smith
Xhea has no magic. Born without the power that everyone else takes for granted, Xhea is an outcast – no way to earn a living, buy food, or change the life that fate has dealt her. Yet she has a unique talent: the ability to see ghosts and the tethers that bind them to the living world. With two extremely strong female protagonists, Radiant is a story of fighting for what you believe in and finding strength that you never thought you had.
Tues., Aug. 18, 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday Story Time with Claire
Join Claire in the Kids section every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for a half an hour of stories, songs, and movement as we read and get silly about books!
Tues., Aug. 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
VB Reads…Sharpen Your Saw Business Book Group
No matter what business or profession you have chosen the most important asset you have to preserve and develop is your mind. Staying sharp is a continuous and intentional process. It takes conscious effort to maintain a practice of renewal. We have partnered with the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce and Sustainable Connections to offer you an alternative approach to keeping your saw sharp and be part of a continuous learning community in the process. Join us the third Tuesday of every month from 11am-1pm in the Readings Gallery of Village Books for a fast paced dialogue facilitated by Mike Cook, local business coach and faculty member at WWU. We promise you your time will be well spent and we’ll all want to know what you have learned. Authors DO NOT attend.
Book Fare Café on the mezzanine level of Village Books offers brown-box lunches for pre-order to anyone interested in having a lunch at the book discussion. Lunches are $12 and are available for ordering through BrownPaperTickets.com. Orders must be placed 24 hours prior to the meeting.
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
In studying the leaders who’ve had the greatest influence in the world, Simon Sinek discovered that they all think, act, and communicate in the exact same way – and it’s the complete opposite of what everyone else does. People like Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and the Wright Brothers might have little in common, but they all started with why.
Tues., Aug. 18, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
VB Reads…Bellingham Mysterians: A Book Group for Mystery Readers
Do you love a mystery? So do we! The Bellingham Mysterians is a book group for adults who are fans of the genre in all its sub-categories and micro-niches. If you’re interested in discovering new authors, sharing your favorite books, and exploring fresh twists on old themes, then join us every third Tuesday of the month at 4 p.m. upstairs in the Writers’ Corner. Authors DO NOT attend. Follow us @bhammysterians on Twitter for updates on all things mysterious.
The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye
1845: New York City forms its first police force. The great potato famine hits Ireland. These two events will change New York City forever. The image of a brutal killer is slowly revealed and anti-Irish rage infects the city, and the reluctant copper star is engaged in a battle that may cost him everything.
Tues., Aug. 18
VB Writes…Creative Non-fiction, 6-8 p.m.
Looking for an inspiring writing group? Join this crew of Creative Nonfiction writers. Be prepared to share your work and give thoughtful, supportive critiques to others. We meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month in the Writers’ Corner on the mezzanine.
Tues., Aug. 18, 7 p.m.
Stacy Weber, Trailer Park Gospel – Memoir!
For Stacy Weber, faith comes in mysterious ways – and sometimes the Good News shows up in not-so-good places. Weber’s debut memoir takes us on a profound, often hilarious quest, from the trailer parks of San Francisco, to the bodywork table of an “unconventional” therapist named Phillip. As Weber confronts her darkness head on, she learns some surprising truths, especially about her faith. Trailer Park Gospel teaches us how to jump into our lives as Jesus meant them to be—full of relationships, love, and forgiveness. And, of course, to look for the Good News wherever we go.
Stacy J. Weber is a scientist, a cartographer, and a writer. She grew up in Southern California and has explored the West from former homes based in Bellingham, Washington and Durango, Colorado. Stacy now lives with her husband in the San Francisco Bay Area. Trailer Park Gospel is her first book.
Wed., Aug. 19, 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
VB Writes…Poetry II
Are you a poet in search of a poetry group? Please bring at least one original poem of yours to share and be read out loud. Come meet other writers as we discuss the art of poetry, give feedback, and help you with your writing goals. We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month in the Writer’s Corner on the Mezzanine.
Wed., Aug. 19, noon-1:30 p.m.
VB Reads…Engaged Citizens Book Group
Read and discuss a variety of books exploring how to create a more civil and engaged community. Join Mary Dumas on the third Wednesday of the month from noon to 1:30. Authors DO NOT attend. Meetings are in the Readings Gallery — brown bag lunches are encouraged. Anyone interested in exploring their role as an engaged citizen is welcome.
White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son by Tim Wise
Using stories from his own life, Tim Wise demonstrates the ways in which racism not only burdens people of color, but also benefit those who are “white like him.” He discusses how racial privilege can harm in the long run and make progressive social change less likely. Using anecdotes instead of stale statistics, Wise weaves a narrative that is at once readable and yet scholarly.
Wed., Aug. 19, 6-8 p.m.
VB Writes…Fiction II
The VB Writes Fiction Group features a unique array of members, whose experience ranges from those attempting to discover their voice, to those aspiring toward that completed novel. All members come to the group with an open mind, ready to critique a wide variety of writing styles. We ask that new members attend at least two meetings prior to submitting their own work for critique. We look forward to learning more about your current or upcoming fiction project, as well as your background in writing.
Wed., Aug. 19, 7 p.m.
Jennifer Steil, The Ambassador’s Wife – Fiction
When bohemian artist Miranda falls in love with Finn, the British ambassador to an Arab country, she finds herself thrust into a life for which she has no preparation. The couple and their toddler daughter live in a stately mansion with a staff to meet their every need, but for Miranda even this luxury comes at a price: the loss of freedom. Trailed everywhere by bodyguards to protect her from the dangers of a country wracked by civil war and forced to give up work she loves, she finds her world shattered when she is taken hostage, an act of terror with wide-reaching consequences.
Jennifer Steil is the author of The Woman Who Fell from the Sky, a memoir about her experiences running a newspaper in Yemen. She lives in Bolivia, where her husband is the European Union ambassador.
Thurs., Aug. 20, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
VB Writes…Poetry Writing Group
Are you a writer in search of a writing group? Village Books is hosting a poetry-writing group on the mezzanine level of the store near the poetry section and Book Fare Café. Come meet other writers who can help you get organized, give feedback, and help you with your writing goals. This group is open to newcomers and drop-ins and meets the first and third Thursday of each month from 5:30-7 p.m.
Thurs., August 20, 7 p.m.
Anker Frankoni, Mexican Eskimo – Fiction!
Spend an evening with author Anker Frankoni as he shares poems, songs, stories, and passages from the first release in his Mexican Eskimo trilogy, to explain the complex turn of events that led him down the writers’ path. An intricate layer-cake of commingled family trees and karmic collisions, Frankoni’s novel tackles the problem—and blessing—of being made human, and managing the people who invited us here. Mexican Eskimo is a love story that weaves the silken threads of faith, trust and hope into a lifeline of spiritual guidance that tethers our present-day experience to a world of creation magic that existed so long before now, that time itself had not yet started to measure itself in years.
Anker Frankoni is part Joker, part Thief, part Joyful, part Grief, but he strives above all to be a Defender of the Right and Pursuer of Lofty Undertakings. His first novel, Mexican Eskimo, is a tale of two lives, separated by the one he’s currently occupying, which he calls #Fictionwithamission — 10 percent of all his writer’s income goes directly to non-profit groups working to help stop child-abuse.
Fri., Aug. 21, 7 p.m.
William Ritter, Beastly Bones: A Jackaby Novel
Detective of the Paranormal R. F. Jackaby and his assistant, Abigail Rook, embark on a new case in Beastly Bones, the second book in the Jackaby young adult series, when a string of mysterious murders suggests a mythological monster may be on the loose.
William Ritter began writing the Jackaby series in the middle of the night when his son was still an infant. After getting up to care for him, Will would lie awake, his mind creating rich worlds and fantasies—such as the one in New Fiddleham. Ritter lives and teaches in Springfield, Oregon. Beastly Bones is his second novel.
Sat., Aug. 22, 4 p.m.
Samuel Fromartz, In Search of the Perfect Loaf: A Home Baker’s Odyessy – Presented in Partnership with BreadLab
Sam Fromartz never set out to be a baker. All he wanted was good bread to eat at home. Commissioned to write an article about learning to make a perfect baguette, he set off on an adventure that took him to bakeries in Paris, California, Oregon, Vermont, Berlin and New York. So began his quest to hone not just his homemade French loaf – which later beat out professional bakers to win “Best Baguette of D.C.” – but his knowledge of bread, from seed to table. After sweating and learning in the baking rooms of the world-famous Pichard, and Delmontel boulangeries, and talking to farmers, millers, and bakers in Berlin, the south of France, and all around the US, Fromartz distilled his experiences into a book. With the curiosity and sharp investigative skills of a journalist, he discovers what makes a great flour, how grains are grown and milled. He reveals the science of sourdough and how anyone who is willing to try and fail at first can replicate magnificent bakery-quality bread at home. In Search of the Perfect Loaf is a treat for anyone interested in good food writing. Fromartz teaches us to appreciate real bread and will lead readers who are not already bakers to learn what it means to bake and eat a good loaf.
Samuel Fromartz is a longtime journalist and editor. He began his career at Reuters, where he was a correspondent covering business and economic issues. Fromartz began baking bread at home around 1996 and has been making bread ever since. In 2010, he helped found the non-profit Food & Environment Reporting Network, an independent non-profit journalism organization focusing on food, agriculture and environmental health that is supported by foundations and individual donors. He is now its Editor in Chief. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, among other publications. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Mon., Aug. 24, 4-6 p.m.
VB Writes…Prompts
Join us as we respond to 2-3 prompts each session. Let your imagination go wild. We will time each write for 15 to 20 minutes then share our stories in a safe, supportive setting. Meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine level of the store near the poetry section and the Book Fare Cafe.
Mon., Aug. 24, 7 p.m.
VB Reads…Pacific Northwest Book Group
Bellingham is uniquely situated in one of the most beautiful places on earth, marked by rugged mountains, serene islands, dense forests and dynamic waterways. It is a place of exploration and adventure, but also rest and relaxation. Unsurprisingly, the writers and writing that emerges from this area is also uniquely beautiful. This book club will explore this writing, focusing on writers from the Pacific Northwest and writing set in or about the Pacific Northwest, both fiction and non-fiction. This group meets the fourth Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Writers’ Corner on the mezzanine level of Village Books. Authors DO NOT attend.
Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings by Jonathan Raban
Raban conducts readers along the Inside Passage from Seattle to Juneau, transversing a gulf of centuries and cultures, and offering captivating discourses on art, philosophy, and navigation with an unsparing narrative of personal loss.
Tues., Aug. 25, 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday Story Time with Claire!
Join Claire in the Kids section every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for a half an hour of stories, songs and movement as we read and get silly about books!
Tues., Aug. 25, 6-8 p.m.
VB Writes…Spec Fiction/Sci Fi Writing Group
Does your fiction writing lean toward the fantastic? Do any of these terms apply to your stories: science fiction, fantasy, mythic, magical, horror, folk/fairy tales, magical realism, slipstream, steampunk, urban fantasy, sword and sorcery, space opera, alternative history, or any of the hundreds of other sub-genres of Speculative Fiction? Then come join this supportive group of like-minded writers of this wide-ranging and diverse genre for your creative writing outlet. We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 6-8 p.m. on the mezzanine level, near the poetry section and Book Fare Café.
Wed., Aug. 26, 6-8 p.m.
VB Writes…YA & Children’s Literature
Looking for an inspiring writing group? Join this crew of writers who focus on the Young Adult & Children genres. Be prepared to share your work and give thoughtful, supportive critiques to others. Meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine level of the store near the poetry section and Book Fare Cafe.
Thurs., August 27, 6-8 p.m.
VB Writes… Fiction Writing Group
Are you a writer in search of a writing group? Village Books is hosting a fiction-writing group on the mezzanine level of the store near the poetry section and Book Fare Café. Come meet other writers who can help you get organized, give feedback, and help you with your writing goals. This group is open to newcomers and drop-ins and meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 6-8 p.m.
Thursday, August 27, 7 p.m.
John Morgan, Archives of The Air – Poetry!
As caribou encounter the oil pipeline on Alaska’s North Slope and cranes navigate the towering mountains of the Alaska Range, Archives of the Air brings the reader in contact with the fascinating world of the far north. Explorations of history, art, and family round out this wide-ranging collection by one of Alaska’s most celebrated poets.
In 1976, John Morgan moved with his family to Fairbanks, Alaska, where for many years he directed the Creative Writing program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, The American Poetry Review, The New Republic, The Paris Review, and many other magazines. In 2009, he served as the first writer-in-residence at Denali National Park. Annie Dillard writes that Morgan’s poems “are strong and full of carefully controlled feeling. They are tender and precise evocations of the moral and sensory life of man.”
Fri., Aug. 28, 7 p.m.
Robert L. Slater, Straight Into Darkness – Local Author
What if safety felt like prison? How does a girl who never had a place in the world before it ended, find her place in the new world? Ninety-five percent of the people on the planet are dead. Lizzie is pregnant from an end of world one-night stand, and the situation is complicated. Her family, her friends, the government of Provo – now known as “The City” and one of the last outposts of civilization: all want to keep her safe. And it’s driving her nuts. She should be staying safe inside the walls of The City, but she’s got to get out. A dangerous mission is exactly what she needs right now.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Robert L. Slater wanted to be an astronaut or a rock star. At 42, he gave up those dreams to become a writer of science fiction and fantasy, where he can pretend to be both. Like some of his characters, he has a propensity for speaking in lines from 80s movies, drinking Mountain Dew and eating pizza. He loves music as a listener, a zealous fan, a guitar player, and a singer/songwriter.
Sun., Aug. 30, 4 p.m.
Judith Kirscht, Hawkins Lane – Fiction
The son of a murderer, Ned Hawkins has resigned himself to an outsider’s existence until he meets Erica Romano, daughter of the town’s new doctor. Their love of the mountains overcomes their dissonant background, and they fall in love and create a life for themselves as forest rangers in the North Cascades—until the release of Ned’s father from prison disrupts the harmony. Ned’s renewed fatalism sets off a chain of disasters that bring both face-to-face with the destructive power of their pasts and throw their future into doubt.
Originally from Chicago, Judith Kirscht raised her family in Michigan and taught writing at the Universities of Michigan and California, Santa Barbara before moving to Washington State to devote herself to writing fiction. She has previously published Nowhere Else to Go, The Inheritors, and Home Fires. Home Fires was a finalist for the Nancy Pearl Award, given by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association for the best mainstream novel published in 2013 and finalists for the Readers Favorite Review 2014 Awards in the general and realistic fiction categories.
Mon., Aug. 31, 7 p.m.
Open Mic with Laurel Leigh
Village Books invites everyone to enjoy local talents as they share their own stories, poems and essays. Published and unpublished writers are encouraged to attend and enjoy a welcoming audience. Bring your stories or poems inspired by Whatcom County – or any creative work in progress. Open mic is usually held the last Monday of each month at 7pm in the Readings Gallery. Sign up at our main counter on the first floor or call (360) 671-2626. Laurel Leigh, local writer and teacher, will emcee. Read Laurel’s monthly re-caps of the open mic nights, as well as writerly news & updates at www.DearWriters.com.