Kittens in vending machines, hippos rising out of dark water, broom handles made of gold: in his first novel, King of Joy, Seattle writer Richard Chiem blends comforting absurdity with the most profound reaches of grief. The result is a strange, unsettling harmony that is typical of his writing. Drawing from themes also present in …
“This novel has humor, romance, a touch of suspense, but most of all love—love of books and bookish people and, really, all of humanity in its imperfect glory.” —Eowyn Ivey, author of the Pacific Northwest Book Award-winning novel The Snow Child and author of this bookstore essay. Buy the book about an indie bookstore from Ivey’s …
Last weekend, two Washington bookstores celebrated birthdays: Queen Anne Book Company in Seattle celebrated its first birthday, and A Book For All Seasons in Leavenworth celebrated its 22nd. Congratulations! Queen Anne’s co-owners Judy and Krijn de Jonge and Janis Segress, together with all the staff, signed a Thank You card for the customers to display …
Fishtrap, a non-profit dedicated to “promot[ing] clear thinking and good writing in and about the West,” is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday March 15 in Portland to support its programs for writers, such as its annual Summer Gathering. The fundraiser’s theme is “Fishtrap Sampler.” Hear “literary bites” from Brian Doyle, Teresa Jordan, Robin Cody, Kim …
Have you heard about Indies First Storytime Day on May 17, 2014? Children’s book authors will be storming indie bookstores on May 17, sharing favorite books! The American Booksellers Association (ABA), a community of independent booksellers, publishers, wholesalers, and other book-loving folk, posted this great announcement in Bookselling this Week. Excerpts are below, but for all …
There is doubtless a right way to do this sort of thing. People do it all the time. Professionals, even. No doubt careful planning, experience, good taste, connections, all of that is required to successfully launch a new book. I’m sure that’s right. Good times. On the other hand… When one has produced just a …
I’ve been doing a lot of book touring recently, which means that I often live out of one small carry-on suitcase for weeks and even months at a time. In many ways I quite like this. I can step away from the clutter that is my real life and pretend that I am a monkish …
The Book Awards Committee of the Pacific Northwest Bookseller Association (the pro-indie bookstore professional organization behind this blog) announced the six 2014 PNBA Book Award winners today! Over the next month, nwbooklovers.org will publish essays from the winning authors and local independent northwest stores will host the winners for celebrations. Committee comments for the winners (as …
Bryce Andrews made a strong impression on his bookseller audience at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association tradeshow in October. His memoir, Badluck Way: A Year on the Ragged Edge of the West, is a thoughtful adventure into the windswept plains of Montana, across which he maps the physical and spiritual endurance necessary to keep himself …
I am not, by nature, a joiner. Do I have to? is my gut reaction when the word “community” is bruited about. Maybe it has to do with being a writer. I think most deeply and live most fully when I’m alone with the screen and keyboard. Community has always struck me as a distraction. I …
