Saturday, Feb. 23rd, 5pm
Join us for a Book Reading and Signing with author Dana Bate. Dana’s new book, The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs, is a charming, romantic comedy. A perfect story to warm your heart during these cold February days. Books will be available to purchase.
Make it a Girls’ Night Out and join us for this special event. Bubbly and sweet treats will be provided. Time to sit back and enjoy.
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Friday, January 4th, 6pm-9pm
For the next First Friday in Manayunk, we are happy to feature artist Nicole Cournoyer. We are hosting a reception to launch the month-long showing of Nicole’s colorful and abstract paintings. All paintings will be available to purchase. Refreshments will be provided. Come on out and support local talent!
Artist Statement:
I am a physician assistant in bone marrow transplant, but I have been painting for 12 years. At first it was simply a past time, but since I became a healthcare practitioner, it has transformed into my therapy, and release. I’ve devoted my life to helping people with terminal cancer, and the only way that I can grasp the suffering and simultaneous strength that I witness regularly is through art.
My paintings aren’t necessarily dark- I paint adversity, hope, the souls of the people I’ve lost-what they’ve imprinted on me, forever. My paintings are taking over my life and living space, and I’d love to get them out into the world. I want people to see the beauty and honesty that I am so privileged to have a glimpse of every day.
Be sure to visit your favorite Manayunk shops to see what they are up to for First Friday this year!
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The holidays are upon us, and now is the time to find that special gift for your loved ones. Besides books, I am happy to carry a gorgeous array of gifts this season. Here are my seven gift picks from the shop!
1) The Spiral Bookcase Mugs: $8.00 - Perfect to ward against the winter chill- fill with tea, coffee, or brandy, repeat.
2) Book Ornaments: $10.00 – Hand-made with love by The Spiral Bookcase. Specifically, inventor and craftsman extraordinaire – Adam. These gorgeous ornaments will look perfect in your house year-round. Write a special message inside.
3) Book Necklaces: $42.00 – $54.00 – Made by Philadelphia duo Peg and Awl. Impossibly adorable books made with impeccable craftsmanship from reclaimed leather.
4) Holiday Cards: $4.00 – $8.50 – Made by Portland artist Quill & Fox. Eye-catching and endearing, these cards are perfect holiday keepsakes.
5) 1820 House Candles: $20.00 – Hand-poured in Ohio. Fill your house with these glorious seasonal scents. My favorites (today) – Elemental Winter and Dark Cocoa with Peppermint. (pic courtesy of 1820 House)
6) Moleskine Journals: $8.95 – $19.95 – The quintessential notebook for drawing, note-taking, or starting the next great American novel. (They will be in the shop very soon!)
7) The Spiral Bookcase Gift Certificates: $1.00 – $100.00 (or more) – A gift certificate is a perfect gift for a book lover. They can browse our ever-changing stock and pick out the perfect books to enhance their personal library. A favorite pick for the hard-to-shop-for.
There you have it, seven special gifts for this holiday season. Up next – my holiday book recommendations.
Happy Reading!
Ann
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Please join us Friday, November 16 at 7 PM for our first Beechwood Writers’ Workshop reading. This special free event will feature authors who are participating in the Beechwood Writers’ Workshop at the shop. Refreshments will be provided.
Find out more about the Beechwood Writers’ here. We hope to see you there!
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Thursday, Nov 15th, 7pm-830pm
This fall we are launching a weekly author series! Thursday evenings throughout the fall and early winter we are hosting a bevy of wonderful authors in the shop!
Thursday, Nov. 15th, we welcome Gregg Feistman into the shop! Gregg will be sharing his newest book The War Merchants. We hope you can join us for this special event!
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Sunday, November 11th, 8pm, World Cafe Live
I love working outside events. We’ve been asked to work at The Three Stooges yearly conference, the Mutter Museum, literary conferences, and musical venues. This weekend, we have a chance to work with World Cafe Live (one of my favorite venues) and promote Mike Scott’s new book: Adventures of a Waterboy.
I don’t know how you got through life in the 1980s and early 90s without listening to or knowing about The Waterboys – the heyday of the band. But, if you did miss out, it’s not too late. Go out, buy an album and give it a go.
I don’t even remember how or why I started getting interested in The Waterboys, I just knew that I thoroughly enjoyed their music. So, when we were offered a chance to help promote Mike Scott’s new autobiography and get involved with the show, well, I could barely contain my excitement. I still haven’t figured out how to express glee on a blog – would it be !!!! or *&$@ or wooooooweeeeee? In any case, I’m thrilled – the books are packed and I’m ready to go. I’m even listening to The Waterboys right now, prepping for the show.
***If you are holding an outside event and need someone to handle book sales, please give me a ring: 215-482-0704. We are professional, courteous, prompt, and we love what we do. I always take care of event booking, and I am there to sell the books directly to your audience.
Ann
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Thurs, Nov. 8th, 7pm-830pm This fall we are launching a weekly author series! Thursday evenings throughout the fall and early winter we are hosting a bevy of wonderful authors in the shop!
On Thurs, Nov 8th, we welcome local author Caroline Ludovici. She will be promoting her new young adult book, The Obsidian Mask. An adventure story set on a hot, middle-eastern, archaeological dig. This kid-friendly event will even feature a class on how to write in ancient cuneiform. Join us for this wonderful event!
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We are so happy to host the Beechwood Writers’ Workshop this fall! Sign up here, session starts on Weds., Oct. 3rd.
Beechwood Writers’ Workshop welcomes writers of all levels who are interested in developing fiction and/or memoir in a supportive, creative environment within a small group. BWW is led by published novelist and essayist Elise A. Miller.
We meet once a week for six weeks. Each meeting lasts three hours. Writers create on the spot using writing prompts gathered from a variety of sources, then share and discuss these exercises. After a short break, two participants workshop previously written pieces with the group.
The price is $240. That boils down to a little over $13 an hour, in which participants learn the most effective way to critique one another’s work as well as their own. Writers receive editorial and story help, a heavy toolbox of writing skills, and a creative boost within a supportive community.
Additional time is allotted to pow-wow about publishing opportunities, contests and networking strategies, if publishing is your goal.
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My trip to Maine was inspirational and relaxing. It was nice to take a breath and step away for a couple of days.
My idea of heaven (besides a bookshop).
I am ridiculously in love with the ocean - especially the New England coast. So, waking up to the crashing waves, rain or shine, was bliss.
I swam in the icy ocean, read War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells and The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap by Wendy Welch, took longs walks on the beach, ate many many lobster rolls, went antiquing, and had some great talks with my mom, dad, and great aunt.
Nubble Lighthouse, York, ME
I also spent a lot of time scheming. I kept a little notepad around, to jot down all the little ideas I have for the shop. SO MANY IDEAS! Ah, vacation brain is so free and open.
One idea materialized as I was visiting bookstores in the area. It must be said that I ADORE bookstores. Surprising, eh? For me the only feeling that rivals stepping into a used or new independent bookstore would be the gleeful awareness of waking up on Christmas morning. The anticipation! The books waiting – The time slowing. It still happens, every. single. time.
I am completely appreciative that I can create that kind of experience for my friends, family, and customers that walk through my door. I am completely appreciative of the other folks who can create that experience for me.
The Crow Bookshop, Burlington, VT. One of my favorites. Still an absolute joy to visit. (Pic courtesy of shereadsandreads.blogspot.com)
So, I am starting a series documenting all of the brick-and-mortar independent bookstores that I come across; a way to support my literary kin and a way to bring their singular and special bookstores right to you. My new series – The Keepers – will share glimpses of American bookstores through notes and pictures. I hope you’ll come along for the ride!
Stay tuned…
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We are so excited to be involved with this year’s Barrelhouse Conference set for Saturday, September 22nd. Barrelhouse is a pop culture-obsessed literary magazine based in Washington, DC that publishes fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. This conference is a fun, non-traditional look into the world of writing, editing, and publishing. Hob-nob with like-minded folks and have a chance to learn from the best in the business.
Barrelhouse kindly asked us if we would be interested in joining the event to sell copies of the keynote speaker’s, Stewart O’Nan, recent publications. Back in April of 2011 we were proud to host Mr. O’Nan at the Philadelphia Book Festival, and we are so happy for the chance to work with him again. So, sign up now (check out the info below) and join us for this highly anticipated event.
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