Summer is here and hot and ready for us! Are you ready for summer? If not, our little 65 James Street “bigger on the inside” bookstore can help.
Do you need summer reading for school or fun or both? We’ve stocked our shelves with information we’ve received from schools, frequent summer reading list titles from the past, and we’re ordering extra whenever someone brings in a summer reading list from their school. One of our spinners is filled with classic literature, we’ve got a display in the children’s room, and we still have our Newbery Award and children’s classics shelves to make your search easier.
Also, because we want to support out students, don’t forget about our Report Card Rewards! Until June 30 – so three more days – we are rewarding students for their good grades. If your highest grade is an A, you receive two free used books. If your highest grade is a B, you receive one free used book. If you have a straight A report card (including A- and A+), you will receive a $10 gift certificate to ABSW. If you have a straight B report card (including B- and B+), you will receive a $5 gift certificate to ABSW. One prize per report card.
Thank you to everyone who came out to the Worcester Storytellers Open Mic featuring Sharon Healy-Yang and our Banjos, Attitude, and Modern Magic events this past weekend. It was great to see some of our old friends and meet some new ones!
This week brings us two more events.
TODAY, Monday, June 27, we have our monthly Free People’s Artists Workshop meeting, co-sponsored by the Worcester County Poetry Association at 7:00 PM. Join us for an evening of creating, networking, and getting feedback from other artists.
And then on Wednesday, June 29, we have our Cat in the Hat Day! Join us for a whimsical, Seussical celebration of one of the best loved books with readings and crafts through the day.
Normally we save our big highlights for week-of newsletters, but we’ve got some major events next week that you might not want to miss, so here are some detailed listings for what we’re doing next week:
On Tuesday, July 5, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM, ABSW is happy to host award-winning authors Paul Tremblay and Jeffrey Thomas for a reading, talk, and signing. Paul Tremblay is the author of this year’s Stoker-award winning novel, A Head Full of Ghosts, that Stephen King said “scared the hell” out of him, and he’s presenting his newest title, set in Massachusetts, Disappearance at Devil’s Rock. Jeffrey Thomas is an award-winning short story author and best known for his Punktown series of dystopic horror.
And then on Friday, July 8, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM, the award-winning authors of Liaden ® Universe, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are returning to ABSW with their latest release, Alliance of Equals, and are our second set of heavy-hitting authors for the week. They will be here talking about their work, reading, and chatting with their fans.
The very next day, Saturday, July 9, from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM our bookstore is Hunting Ghosts: Real and Otherwise with a full day of phantasmic activities. For the morning and early afternoon, we’ll be reading our favorite short scary stories and sharing an episode of The Scarifyers, a British ghost-hunting audio drama series. Later in the afternoon, we’ll have author and ghosthunter, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, and ghost hunter and entertainer, Nathan Drake Schoonover.
After that, on Sunday, July 10, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM, if you are a fan of romance, join local author Misty Jae Ogert for our Do You Love Love? event, where she’ll be talking about how she writes her contemporary romance novels.
And, even though it’s edging into the following week, let’s highlight Monday, July 11, for our ALL DAYSPECIAL Pre-Brimfield Flea Market Vintage Book Sale! In addition to being able to peruse our vintage selection again, take an additional 10% off our vintage titles.
Phew! That’s a lot happening in a short time, so drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Of course, there’s still a lot of July left, so here’s what else is happening so you can mark your calendars accordingly.
Saturday, July 16, 12:00 – 5:00 – Final Poets Assemble! of 2016
Saturday, July 16, 6:00 – 8:00 – Rainbow Readers LGBTQA Book Club reads Dates! A Queer Historical Comics Anthology.
Wednesday, July 20, All Day – Take Your Poet to Work Day. Post the pictures of your Poets Assemble! crafted poets as you bring them to work!
Thursday, July 21 – Sunday, July 21 – Necon! ABSW owner and staff members Patty, Suzanne, and Trish will be at this wonderful writers conference.
Monday, July 25, 7:00 – 8:00 – Free People’s Artists Workshop.
Wednesday, July 27, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Berenstain Bears Craft and Reading Day
Thursday, July 28, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Doctor Who Discussion.
SPECIAL WEEKEND EVENT! Saturday, July 30, 8:00 PM – 1:30 AM; Sunday July 31, 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM – Happy Birthday Harry Potter; Welcome Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. In fact, you can pre-order you copies of the stage play now to ensure you get your copy before we run out.
For your convenience, here’s a list of our regular events!
Spinning Yarns Craft and Audiobook Social, every Monday 7:00 PM (except for when the Free People’s Artists Workshop meets the last Monday of the month). Bring a craft and enjoy an audiobook or audio drama with other crafty booklovers!
Worcester Storytellers, the fourth Friday of every month from 7-8:30 PM. July’s featured readers are Sam Lalos and Michel Duncan Merle. For the complete updates and schedules, follow Worcester Storytellers on Facebook! Next meeting on July 22.
The Free People’s Artists Workshop, the last Monday of each month from 7:00-9:00 PM. Networking and feedback from other artists and creators of all types. Co-sponsored by the Worcester County Poetry Association. Next meeting, June 27.
Doctor Who Talks, the third Thursday of every month from 7:00 – 8:00 PM. Join us for a discussion of our favorite science fiction serial. Every month will have a different topic! For July only, special meeting date on July 28.
The Rainbow Readers of Massachusetts is an LGBTQA book club that will meet once a month on third Saturdays from 6:00-8:00 PM. Next meeting on July 16.
Rainbow Readers Youth of Massachusetts is an LGBTQA book club specific to teens, meeting once a month on first Fridays from 7:00-9:00 PM. THERE IS NO JULY RAINBOW READERS YOUTH. But stay tuned for something special in August!
As always, keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.
May your world be filled with wonderful words!
Annie's Book Stop of Worcester 