Living in the DC area, we don’t judge spring by the temperature but instead by the amount of pollen found on our cars each morning! Judging by the amount of yellow dust (and the amount of sinus pain!) I’ve noticed over the past several days, Spring is here!
Spring, to me, is a sign of new life & new beginnings. A new beginning that is really flourishing this spring is my home away from home, One More Page Books in Arlington, VA. Open only a few months, OMP already has a great following of “regulars” and has brought in some really great authors! One of my favorite events they host is a wine & choc0late tasting. The most recent one was last night and I thoroughly enjoyed the new wines & chocolates we tasted but most importantly the wonderful company. The one thing I missed about having an indie bookstore before OMP was the feeling of family; that’s definitely something I feel when I walk through the doors.
On Friday night, I attended a visit at Hooray for Books, an independent children’s bookstore, by A.S. King, author of the fabulous Please Ignore Vera Dietz (see my review here). She discussed what it was like writing a YA book, including some of the things she’s received criticism for including in her books. A.S. is a wonderfully hilarious & intelligent writer it was an honor to meet her!
Although it took me an hour and a half to get to this event, this, and the events at One More Page Books, remind me of the wonderful literary community we have here in Washington, D.C! I’m excited for the rest of this spring & the wonderful bookish events!
Yet another sign of spring for me is BEA, Book Expo America. That, and Book Blogger Con (BBC) that immediately follows BEA, are two events I look forward this spring. I’m excited to be on one of the panels at BBC this year! These are two great events that bring together the booking community! If you have a chance to attend one, or both, of these events I highly recommend you do so!
Here’s what happened on the blog this past week:
- Review: Planting the Wild Garden by Kathryn O. Galbraith
- Frightful Friday: So Close the Hand of Death by J.T. Ellison
- Review: The Third Rail by Michael Harvey
- Review: The Priest’s Graveyard by Ted Dekker
- Review & Giveaway: A Place for Fish by Melissa Stewart
- Going to BEA/Book Blogger Con? Let’s Meet Up!
This week, look for reviews of Jonathan Hayes’ two forensic thrillers, A Hard Death and Precious Blood as well as The President’s Vampire the next book in Chris Farnsworth’s vampire series of the same title.
But until then, it’s off to do some spring cleaning! Have a great Sunday!
Tags: The Sunday Salon
Twitter: debnance
says:
Wish I could attend the expo. It hits at such a bad time for me. One more week and I’d be free to attend. Maybe next year.
Here’s my Sunday Salon for today. Hope you will stop by.
Twitter: emperorsclothes
says:
Spring is here for us in London, too. The chocolate and wine tasting sound like great ways to build community/get people to socialise at the bookstore.
I left a comment on your BEA post – I’ll be there for the first time this year and I’ll thrilled about it.
Twitter: bermudaonion
says:
I love my indie too – you just don’t get the same feeling when you go to a big box store.
Twitter: thebirdsistersgmail.com
says:
Happy Sunday honey!
Hooray for independent book stores! I read an article that said these small bookstores are doing well in this economy even when places like Borders are struggling. It definitely has to do with the great events and family feeling the indies provide. My dream is to own one of my own someday.
Twitter: laurelrainsnow
says:
Oh, I long for indie bookstores! And to go to BEA in NY!
Enjoy!
Here’s MY SUNDAY SALON POST
Hmmm. Is it just coincidence, or are you some kind of literary psychic? Chris and I are going to be doing a joint appearance at the Poisoned Pen in Phoenix on May 17th (at least, I *think* it’s the 17th). I think Chris’ll be surprised by the depth of my knowledge about vampires – I contributed an autopsy report of a vampire victim to Bekka Black’s fantastic digital/networked take on the legend, iDRAKULA.
Twitter: jennbookshelves
Reply:
April 19th, 2011 at 8:38 AM
You’ve guessed it! I am a literary psychic! That’s pretty awsome about your contribution to iDRAKULA! I’ll have to check it out; I’ve been meaning to read it.
If you do, you should pick up the iPhone or iPad version – ONE of the digital versions, anyway! It’s laid out as a series of text messages and IM’s and web URL’s. Plus there’s sound – including the thrill of yours truly playing the part of “Dr. Jonathan Hayes, New York City Medical Examiner”, calling a colleague to consult about the bizarre autopsy I’ve just completed…
It really is a fun thing, very inventive use of the medium. And a good read: I don’t read YA fiction, and was surprised by how witty and sophisticated and grown-up the thing was. I guess I don’t really know enough YA’s!
Spring has definitely sprung!! UGH
It was great to see you at Hooray For Books. I’m looking forward to visiting One More Page.