As we approach Memorial Day, Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester gives thanks to all of our soldiers and military who gave their lives defending our country and our rights. We couldn’t be a place of free thinking and free speech without them.
For those who also celebrate Memorial Day as the kickoff to summer, we wish all of you safe travels and wonderful time spent with your families and/or friends.
Thank you to everyonne who came out to all our great events this weekend! We talked about families amongst our Doctor Who Discussion Night family. We discussed the importance of queer characters and writing authentic queer characters with Jeremy Flagg, and we continued LGBTQIA discussions with our Rainbow Readers of Massachusetts Book Club. Finally, we rounded out our weekend with some Myth and Magic Storytime and Crafts. It was a lot of fun, and we were so glad to spend time with our guests and patrons!
Don’t forget, too, our 65 James Street shop will be open for our Regular Hours on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29.
In case you forgot, our Regular Hours are:
Monday-Thursday – 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday-Saturday – 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday – 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
ABSW has started getting in the required titles for our local schools’ Summer Reading Lists, but feel free to keep bringing them into us and making your requests. Summer Reading books fly off the shelves here, so take advantage of the perennial favorites on our sale cart and let us know what you need as early as possible.
With June just on the horizon, get ready for Report Card Rewards! From June 1 to June 30, bring your final 2017 report card into our 65 James Street store and receive free books!
If your highest grade is an “A”, you’ll receive two free used books.
If your highest grade is a “B”, you’ll 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 Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester.
If you have a straight “B” report card (including B+ and B-), you will receive a $5 gift certificate to Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester.
One prize per report card.
THIS WEEK we are happy to host Worcester Storytellers Open Mic and Featured Reader Karen Sharpe on Friday, May 26, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM. Come and share your writing—poetry, prose, nonfiction, fiction, anything in between—and then sit back and enjoy the work of Karen Sharpe.
Karen Elizabeth Sharpe was selected by Marge Piercy for the sixth annual Marge Piercy Juried Poetry Intensive in June 2015, and the inaugural Marge Piercy Returning Poets group in October 2016.
Karen’s work is forthcoming or has appeared in the Art with Poetry Exhibition 2017, Worcester, MA, Verse Virtual, Columbia Journal of Arts & Literature: Catch & Release, Canary: The Journal of the Environmental Crisis, Silkworm, The Worcester Review, the Sprinkler Factory, Triple Moon Arts, The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review, Poetpourri, The Comstock Review, the Ledge, Yankee Magazine, and in her collection, This Late Afternoon. She is a past first place winner of the Worcester Review’s annual poetry contest, the Frank O’Hara Prize (judged by Hugh Ogden) and the Prentiss Cheney Hoyt contest at Clark University. She has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
Karen is a regular workshop leader for the Mass Poetry’s annual Student Day of Poetry and has recently joined the editorial board of the Worcester Review as a poetry reader, and is a member of the PoemWorks workshop group in Newton, MA.
Karen is the Assistant Vice President for Advancement at Worcester State University.
And THIS SUNDAY, May 28, 12:00 – 3:00 PM, join us for Colorful Robots, a drop-in craft and activity day! We’ll be offering robot-themed crafts and coloring pages for children of all ages and parents. Children MUST be accompanied by an adult at all times.
And to finish up the month with some Music and Magic…
Wednesday, May 31, 6:00 – 3:00 PM – D.J. Butler Witchy Eye Signing, Speaking, and Music
D.J. Butler is the author of the multiple science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, superhero, alternate history, and horror novels. On Wednesday, May 31, from 6:00-8:00 PM, he celebrates the release of his latest book, Witchy Eye, at 65 James Street, with music, historical research, and a little Appalachian magic.
And June is right around the corner…
June is National Pride Month, and Rainbow Readers with Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester have a busy month filled with LGBTQIA events. Here’s a peek!
UPDATED LINK / PRIDE SPECIFIC: Saturday, June 3, 3:00 – 5:00 PM – A History of Queer Culture with Sarah Prager.
UPDATED LINK! Saturday, June 10, 3:00 – 5:00 PM – Leah DeCesare presents Forks, Knives, and Spoons.
PRIDE SPECIFIC: Sunday, June 11, 2:00 – 4:00 PM – Brave Boy World, an anthology of transman stories with editor Michael Takeda and artist Dante Saunders.
Thursday, June 15, 7:00 – 8:00 PM – Doctor Who Discussion Night
PRIDE SPECIFIC: Friday, June 16, 6:00 – 8:00 PM – Love is Love Part 1, LGBTQIA Romance Authors share their stories.
PRIDE SPECIFIC: Saturday, June 17, 6:00 – 8:00 PM – Rainbow Reader’s Book Club discusses Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver.
PRIDE SPECIFIC: Wednesday, June 21, 6:00 – 8:00 PM – Donna Minkovicz talks about Memoirs and Journalism in the Queer Community.
Friday, June 23, 7:00 – 8:30 PM – Worcester Storytellers
PRIDE SPECIFIC: Saturday, June 24, 3:00 – 5:00 PM – Love is Love Part 2, LGBTQIA Romance Authors share their stories.
As a reminder, here are 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 fourth 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. Join the Worcester Storytellers for their open mic and featured reader every month.April. Next meeting is May 26.
The Free People’s Artists Workshop, the fourth 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 is TODAY May 22.
Doctor Who Discussion Nights, the third Thursday of every month from 7:00 – 8:00 PM. Join us for a discussion of our favorite science fiction series. Next meeting is June 15.
The Rainbow Readers of Massachusetts is an LGBTQIA book club that will meet once a month, usually on the third Saturdays, from 6:00-8:00 PM. Next meeting is June 17..
As always, keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.
If you had a great time shopping or at any event at Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester at our 65 James Street location, you can leave us a review on TripAdvisor or leave us a review on Yelp.
May your world be filled with wonderful words!