The Literary Lions Gala is the KCLS Foundation’s signature celebration of libraries, literacy, and community. This year, the event returns to the Bellevue Library for a rare and special after-hours experience—an evening that brings together supporters, authors, and book lovers to uplift the programs that keep curiosity and connection thriving across King County. The 2026 …
Ah…Italy in the Springtime. The war is over and it’s time to return home to Valetto, where few citizens remain. The village has been devastated, leaving it in ruins. But it is beautiful in its setting. Yes, even the three widowed sisters seem more lovely than they should be. But not everything is as it …
The Angel of Rome by Jess Walter One of the most popular authors at Madison Books, and one of my own favorites, Jess Walter is an infallibly engaging storyteller, equaled by few in that regard. More than that, he has a quality that even fewer writers share, that of continual reinvention—every book is different in …
Every Wednesday, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association publishes the regional bestseller list. On Thursdays, we celebrate Thursday Themes to shine a spotlight on some of the books from the list and give our brains a different way of thinking about books. Sometimes the themes come from the covers, sometimes the titles, but today we’re looking at …
Every Wednesday, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association publishes the regional bestseller list. We thought it might be fun to have Thursday Themes where we shine a spotlight on some of the books from the list. Is it a trend? A coincidence? An eccentric millionaire seeking comfort by purchasing books from independent bookstores around the region to …
Fiction Winner: The Cold Millions by Jess Walter (HarperCollins) Fiction Finalists: The Second Star by Alma Alexander (Crossroad Press) Living Color: Angie Rubio Stories by Donna Miscolta (Jaded Ibis Press) Vera Violet by Melissa Anne Peterson (Counterpoint Press) The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite (Avon Impulse) Biography and Memoir Winner: The Magical Language of Others by E.J. …
Every Thursday, we shine a spotlight on some of the titles featured in this week’s Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association regional bestseller list. This week, we noticed a lot of numbers in titles. Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service by Carol Leonnig (Hardcover Nonfiction, #7) The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (Hardcover …
The gorgeous writing, vivid setting, compelling characters, and engrossing story aren’t even the best parts of this novel. Instead, I just keep marveling at how Jess Walter takes events from history to illuminate our present while keeping them rooted in their own time, from the labor movement to class, race, and gender equality and civil …
From the awesome organizers of Lit Crawl Seattle… Lit Crawl Seattle is back! Our third annual romp through Capitol and First Hills happens Thursday, October 23rd from 6pm until the squirrels go home. This year’s lineup features more than 65 authors in 21 readings, all presenting their work free to the public, with many venues …
