Why We Say Hello.

Erin writes…

As we were opening the shop this morning, Carrie and I were listening to NPR’s piece on the importance of locally-owned independent bookstores. Obviously none of the information presented was new to us, but it struck a chord with me due to a very recent experience I had at a not-so-local-or-independent store just last week. It really got me thinking not only about the importance of what we do here at Skylark each and every day, but of how our care, concern, and passion for our customers truly sets us apart.

Last week my boyfriend and I were on a mission to find the perfect jigsaw puzzle to get us through the next bout of bizarre weather that Missouri threw our way. After looking for one at the places we thought were the most obvious, and coming up empty-handed at each place, we trekked to the Big Store in hopes of finding one there, as we knew they had a fairly decently-sized selection. The first thing I noticed was that, immediately upon entering, nobody even realized we were there. No one greeted us, no one offered assistance, (or even asked if we needed any), and no one seemed concerned about the fact that we were wandering, clearly in search of something specific. In fact, I quickly realized that our presence there did not really factor into the ways in which anyone there was doing their job. We could walk out and no one would notice. We were just two people in the store among many others, and it felt strange to me, not only because I work at a locally-owned business, but also because I was raised in the locally-owned and independent business world.

My father owned a record shop for twenty-some-odd years and my very first job was dusting and alphabetizing records and tapes in his store, Four Seasons Records in Louisville, KY, a store where we knew every customer by name. Not only that, but we knew their children’s and pet’s names, where they were from, what they did, and, more than anything, their musical likes and dislikes so that we could assist them in the best way that we possibly could. Even now, twenty-five years after my father closed his doors, he still has customers contact him simply to say that they truly miss what he had, because customer service matters. This same attention to customer service is one of my favorite things about working at Skylark Bookshop, that it is a place not unlike Cheers, “where everybody knows your name,” and that is exactly what I did not feel in the Big Store last week. 

Here at Skylark, we truly care about our customers and we want each and every person and pet that walks into our shop to feel that care. We have a commitment to making our customers happy because we value and appreciate the fact that they, YOU, have made the decision to shop locally. Not only are you keeping your dollars local, but on a larger level you are becoming a part of our vibrant community and readership and we could not continue to open our doors day after day without each of you making the choice to do so. Sometimes I wonder if our greetings and offers to assist come off as annoying or pushy, but this experience has reiterated to me once more the importance of customer care. We greet you because we are truly happy to have you in our shop. You will never be simply a face among many here, but a unique reader with unique tastes that we are so excited to explore with you. From all of us to all of you, thank you for giving us the opportunity to get to know you through our little bookshop. We are so happy to see you, and we will continue to greet you and offer our assistance, because that is how we get to know you better. Caring for our customers matters, and it’s just what we do here at Skylark Bookshop.

Announcing Cal's Book Club! THIS TUESDAY!!

We’re pleased to announce a brand new book club for readers who are 12 and under. This was the brainchild of one of our amazing younger customers, Cal. We’ll let him tell you about it. See you on Tuesday?

I’m Cal. And I’m starting a kids’ book club. I am doing this because I enjoy reading books and talking about them. Kids twelve and under are invited to come. The first book we will be reading is Stick Dog by Tom Watson. We’ll vote on the next book together. The goal is to read at least 20 different books. And any kind of reader is welcome! Please note: every child MUST be accompanied by an adult.

Our first meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28 at Skylark Book Shop. I hope you’ll be able to come!

On Reading Diversely

Faramola writes…

A couple of weeks before Christmas, I called my mom because I made a decision. She had been nagging me about what I wanted for Christmas, and while I had been racking my brain, I could not think of anything that I really wanted. My siblings had already submitted their lists to her, while I was yet to mention a single object of my desire. Then, it sort of came to me, but at the same time...it was always there in the back of my head. So I called her, and I finally told her what I wanted: “Mom, I just want a gift certificate from Skylark.”

While my request was met with a bit of speculation (I think she was hoping for an excuse to spice up my closet) that is what I was granted come Christmas morning. And while I knew it was coming, I was filled with elation, for I could not wait to walk through those doors not as an employee as I usually do, but simply as a book loving customer. 

Armed with my handy “to be read” journal, coffee, my gift certificate (which was indeed fat) and myself, I waltzed (yes, I like to think that I am truly that graceful when I walk) into the store knowing that I would likely not walk out of there for hours.

And so I browsed, I created stacks, I made really tough decisions that made my soul hurt when I put some books on my “save for later list”, until I walked out with a selection of books that made my heart sing. 

However...it was not until I got home and I took a closer look at all thirteen of my books that something struck me. All of these books were written by minorities- that is either women, people of color, and/or  writers of the LGBTQ+ community. I was surprised because I did not seek out minority writers while I was finalizing my stack of books. This was not a standard that I held, as my only intention was to get books that I was truly and genuinely interested in reading, nevermind who the author was. Honestly, I was captivated by the stories, not by who wrote them. But the more I think about it, I think that while it was unintentional, there was a subconscious part of me that gravitated to the likes of Toni Morrison, Salman Rushdie, James Baldwin, and Naomi Alderman. I think it's because they have this ability to tell stories that I can relate to, but also stories that I could not relate to, stories that are bound to make me uncomfortable because that is oftentimes the condition of the minority writer, reader, and human being.

A single (fat) gift certificate reminded me how important it is to read diversely, to read the stories of people that you identify with as a minority, but also stories of people from other minority groups. While there is not always the promise of enjoying the book that you read, there is always the promise of learning something new about the world and the people around you, and that is the best gift that you could get. 

So, while there was no initial planning on my part, I got, as Chigozie Obioma so tactfully named his book, “An Orchestra of Minorities”.

Faramola’s Christmas haul!

Our Top Sellers of 2019: Local Heroes

One of the most fun things we’ve done since opening Skylark has been learning our customers’ tastes and interests, and catering to them. When we meet with sales reps from the major publishing companies, we usually know right away whether a particular title will work in the shop - because we know our customers so well. It’s a frequent refrain in this industry that every bookstore is unique, and it’s true.

We present, as evidence, our list of our bestselling titles for 2019. We’re willing to bet that no other list from any other bookshop in the country looks anything like this. Three of the titles are by Jill Orr, Laura McHugh, and Deborah Zemke, beloved local authors who launched their latest novels at Skylark, and three are by speakers at last year’s Unbound Book Festival - George Saunders, Jacqueline Woodson, and Garrard Conley. Three more - Wright Thompson, Emily Wilson, and (in absentia) Jeff Kinney - did events at the shop during the year. The other titles are there because we loved them so much and couldn’t stop talking about them. Which, you know, is kind of the point. We’re proud of this quirky, idiosyncratic list of fabulous books!

1. The Ugly Truth by Jill Orr

2. The Wolf Wants In by Laura McHugh

3. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney

5. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

6. Field Guide to Dumb Birds by Matt Kracht

7. The Cost of these Dreams by Wright Thompson

8. The Book of Delights by Ross Gay

9. Homer’s Odyssey by Emily Wilson

10. Nomadland by Jessica Bruder

11. Bea Garcia - The Tree and Me by Deborah Zemke

12. Boy Erased by Garrard Conley

13. The Overstory by Richard Powers

14. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

15. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Unbound Book Festival and CoMoGives: Can You Help?

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and that you got all the books you were hoping for! We were very busy at the shop, right up until the last minute, and we're grateful to everyone who did their shopping with us. If you received a Skylark gift certificate, we'll look forward to seeing you soon and helping you spend it!

Unlike most of our newsletters, this is not really about things going on at Skylark, but it is about books. Specifically, it's about the Unbound Book Festival, the literary festival that takes place in Columbia every April. We are sponsors of the festival, and are proud to be the official bookseller at the event. (Our owner, Alex George, is also the founder and director of the festival, but the bookshop and the festival are wholly independent entities.)

If you've never attended Unbound, here's a short movie to give you a sense of what you're missing...

Unbound is a nonprofit organization that brings acclaimed writers and poets to Columbia to read from and speak about their work. Last year, 57 authors attended the event and over 9,500 people attended an Unbound event. Next year's festival takes place from April 23 to 26, 2020. The keynote speaker will be the Pulitzer Prize winning U.S. Poet Laureate, Tracy K. Smith. Past keynotes have been Michael Ondaatje, Salman Rushdie, Zadie Smith and George Saunders.

Through their "Authors in the Schools" program, last year over 3,500 local students had the opportunity to see a writer in the flesh - including 1,100 very excited middle schoolers who filled the Missouri Theatre to hear Jacqueline Woodson.

We think Unbound is a pretty great thing for our community, and it's absolutely free for everyone to attend. Which is why we're writing.

Throughout December, Unbound is participating in CoMoGives, the annual online charitable giving campaign for mid-Missouri charities. Because the festival doesn't charge for tickets, it largely relies on donations to meet the considerable expenses of bringing those wonderful writers to Columbia every year. So may we ask a favor? If you love books and reading (and since you're receiving this, you probably do), would you please consider making a gift to help keep the festival free before the end of the year? It's tremendously easy to give, and every little helps. And because Unbound is 100% volunteer-run, every cent goes directly to bringing those amazing authors to town.

Thank you, thank you! We look forward to seeing you in the shop (and at the festival!) in 2020.

New Release News - Fantasy Binge Edition

Beth writes…

Are you exhausted from hearing about holidayish-this and Christmasy-that?  You might feel continually bombarded by ultimate “best of “ lists, cheerful holiday pop music, frazzled shoppers, crazy crowds….it all can feel quite overwhelming.  Fortunately, we’ve got you covered at Skylark.  To get you thinking ahead to 2020, here’s a nice announcement about an upcoming reading possibility, especially for you, fantasy fans.  

The first volume of a projected four installments in the brand new Nine Realms series, A Queen in Hiding by debut author Sarah Kozloff is being released in January. This title includes significant world-building, a huge host of characters, and--yes--battles.  

This news is exciting enough, but the coolest and most unique factor is that it’s being released monthly over a four-month period.  How perfect for winter binging is this?!  You can’t beat the price either: at $12.99 for a 496-page paperback version, you’ll be lounging in fantasy heaven. The Queen of Raiders is released in February, A Broken Queen in March, and finally, The Cerulean Queen is out in April.  

Give us a call to order the first volume.  If it’s a good fit for you, you won’t have to wait years for the subsequent volume, just the next month!

December Gift Giving (Non-Holiday Edition)

Not actually Erin. But let’s all pretend that it is.

Erin, the December baby on our staff, writes…

Ah, December.

Who doesn’t love December? Even if you hate cold weather like I do, there’s just something about December that just gets you right in the heart, regardless of what, if, or how you celebrate. Maybe it’s the lights, the music, the end of the semester, or just the general spirit of good cheer that accompanies the darkest month of the year, but most people find something to enjoy about December. I like December so much that I even have a special name for it, one that my Skylark friends have kindly (if, perhaps, halfheartedly) accepted, as well. So, let me begin again, if I may.

Ah, Erin’s Birthday Month.

That’s right. It’s my birthday month.

Those close to me, and quite a few not-so-close acquaintances, know that my birthday is December 27. I know that they know this, because when I sent out The Most Important Text Of The Year on June 27, which read, “HEY, GUESS WHAT?!?!” my family and friends knew exactly how to answer – “Six months till your birthday!” Clearly, they are well-versed on how this goes, and each month on the 27th they are counting down with me (or at least to humor me) to that most important date, December 27, (which is in just a couple of weeks, by the way). I have been doing this as long as I can remember (in fact, there was a countdown on the chalk board in the band room of Louisville Male High School during all four of my years there, because people should just know), and no matter how old I get, I will continue to advertise my birthday.

You may laugh or roll your eyes, and that’s fine. However, it’s not easy being born so close to the Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp in a society that pegs December as a holiday month. Those of us born during this time know the annoying irritation that comes from being given a pair of anything as a gift and being told, “one for Christmas and one for your birthday!”

This does not work for us.

Though my parents were always good about differentiating between the two, they did try to celebrate my birthday in January for several years when I was young. Their reasoning was that they didn’t want me confused about the conflation of days. My brother and sister, both born in July, still ridicule me when I remind them of my birthday, but they have nothing else in July to compete with. My own children have birthdays in August, October, and May, so they will never know the real struggle that we late-December babies are forced to endure yearly, so this post today goes out to my late-Sagittarius and early-Capricorn cohort because I hear you, I feel your pain, I support you, and we deserve the best birthday gifts of all for being forced to share our birthday with no less than four major holidays this month (I’m looking at you, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Yule).

The biggest question birthday shoppers face this month is HOW DO WE LET OUR DECEMBER BIRTHDAY PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE RECOGNIZE THEIR BIRTHDAY AS A DISTINCT AND SEPARATE HOLIDAY, and that’s an excellent question that I would love to answer. Skylark Bookshop comes to the rescue here with two fantastic gifts that your book loving Sagittarius or Capricorn will appreciate more than anything – the monthly book subscription and the Skylark Reading Spa.

Both are based on the recipient’s preferences, so there is very little work for the buyer to do. These are truly gifts that keep on giving long past December and are nice reminders to your December birthday friends that you remember their birthday all year long, because trust me, we need that. Both are like giving your loved one a personal book shopper, and who doesn’t want that? Email, call, or stop in to find out more about these unique gift ideas that will keep all of your December-born friends feeling remembered and loved this month and beyond, and know that, from the bottom of my heart, I am wishing you and yours a peaceful and lovely Erin’s Birthday Month season.

Oh, and one more thing: do not wrap my presents in Christmas paper.

Under The Covers - A Guest Blog Post!

Hi, my name is Faith Koo, a senior at Rock Bridge High School, and under the guidance of James Meyer and Carrie Koepke, I have an EEE internship at Skylark Bookshop for which I’m carrying out an event tomorrow, Sunday December 9, called Under the Covers. This is a book-focused, sleepover-like party. The beginning of the event will start with a discussion of books and will end with a read aloud and is aimed toward high schoolers and college students who love books or just want to leave the house and relax in a cozy environment with books and food. The event is free to all and will have free cookies and hot chocolate, (If you don’t go for the books, go for the food!)

High schoolers and college students aren’t often given opportunity to relax in a public space. I am hoping to give young people a chance to open up and de-stress before finals season. We hope to see you there. The fun starts at 5:00 p.m.

Make sure to bring pillows and blankets!

All Aboard for Polar Express Story Time!

In what has quickly become a Skylark tradition, please join us for a special evening edition story time on Saturday, December 14, at 7:00 p.m.

We will be reading the beloved classic, The Polar Express, by Chris van Allsburg. There will be celebrating with cookies, cocoa, and crafts galore! Wear your favorite pajamas and join us for a fun evening!

This event is free, but please let us know if you'll be coming either by indicating on this page that you'll be coming, or by dropping us an email at mail@skylarkbookshop.com.

Psst... if you didn't win our raffle on Saturday...

We had a wonderfully busy weekend in the shop, what with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Now We Can Breathe Again Sunday (OK, we made that one up.) Our thanks to everyone who came out to support us and other small businesses! We can’t do it without you!

If you were not one of the three lucky raffle winners on Saturday, we wanted to let you know that if you would still like to win an Advance Reading Copy of THE PARIS HOURS by Skylark owner Alex George, then his publisher, Flatiron Books, is presently doing a giveaway on its Instagram page. There are five copies up for grabs, but the contest closes tomorrow at midnight, so zip on over there and enter before it’s too late! Good luck!

Cyber Monday Audiobook Deals With Libro.fm!

We’ve written on this blog before and on the website about our friends at Libro.fm, providers of quality audiobooks to listeners and book lovers everywhere. When you purchase your audiobooks from Libro.fm, you’ll be supporting your local bookshop rather than putting yet more billions of (tax-free) dollars into the coffers of the Evil Behemoth Corporation whose name we shall not speak. Audiobooks are awesome, Libro.fm are awesome, and we’re big fans.

To encourage more people to become new members, on December 2 - Cyber Monday - Libro.fm will give all new members four new audiobooks for the price of one. For $14.99 you’ll get three audiobook credits plus a copy of Circe, by Madeline Miller - the audiobook of the year (which is completely brilliant on audio. Ask Alex to do his impression of the narrator next time you see him.)

This offer lasts for one day only - and all you have to do is click here.

And for those of you who have already signed up, there’s an offer for you, too - if you refer a new member who signs up tomorrow, then you’ll receive two audiobook credits for yourself!

For more information on audiobooks generally, click here.

Small Business Saturday is Here!

All This Could Be Yours.

Well, it’s finally here - one of our busiest days of the year, Small Business Saturday!

There is free parking in all garages in downtown Columbia all day today and to celebrate all things local we will be doing a number of fun things:

Raffle: every $20 you spend qualifies you for one entry into our grand Small Business Saturday raffle. We’ve put together a bunch of cool things (pictured above) and will endeavor to squeeze them all into that adorable tote bag for the winner. There are also two runners-up prizes of T-shirts and exclusive advance copies of Alex George’s new novel, The Paris Hours, which doesn’t come out until next May.

Free Ice Cream: everyone who buys a book from us and from our friends down the road at Yellow Dog Bookshop will be eligible for a token for free ice cream from Sparky’s. (And, you guys, it’s supposed to get up to 65 degrees today. It’s like someone knows, or something.)

Discounts: We have a ton of delicious titles all of which are 50% off for today only.

Hey Big Spender! Bonuses: We have lots of other stuff that we’ll be giving away as bonuses for people who GO LARGE.

It’s going to be fun! Come out and support small businesses throughout the District - there are so many wonderful shops and boutiques to visit! And come and check out Alex’s T-shirt, which he’s very proud of:

A Thanksgiving Message from Carrie

During this season of gratitude, it is easy to have Skylark Bookshop on my list. Thankful seems too simple a word, really. Indie shops are treasures, and Skylark has brought much more than a bookshop into my life. Everyone I have the fortune of working with is now family. And everyone who walks through our doors brings their own light.

Alongside my to-do list for today . . . AKA "All the Things," I thought I would share some gratitudes running through my mind.

1. Walking into the empty shop (almost) every morning. It is a calming deep breath, peaceful, beautiful. I treasure my rituals, taking stock of myself and of Skylark. And yes, I really do a cartwheel up the isle each and every morning I am there.

2. Those events that make me glance over at Alex. We smile, silently say "this." And it means more than "this." It means "this is what we dreamed about, this is more than we dreamed, this is why."

3. Speaking of Alex . . . I am a supremely independent person. This dude gets it, pushes me when I need to be pushed and lets me be stubborn when I need to dig in. We vaguely knew one another going into this adventure. We definitely know each other now. It is pretty wonderful and I couldn't ask for a better business partner and friend.

4. The rest of our family is a special mix of spirit and soul. Becky, Beth, Carol, Chris, Erin, & Faramola are ridiculously wonderful people. They each stamp the shop and my life with their own vibrant skills and enthusiasm. I get to work with each of them every week, and know that there will be laughter, new knowledge, victories, and warm fuzzies every single time.

5. Also, Theo. He is literally warm and fuzzy.

6. You people.

When you walk in for the first time and we see your eyes turn into book shaped hearts.

When you bring in a friend for the first time and watch them come through the door to see them fall in love. Someday, I will get that little intake of breath on film.

When you curl up with your kid in the Treehouse reading and neither of you want to leave.

That guy who rushed in after the first ultrasound to get a book on being a dad. Because that moment made his heart explode and everything was suddenly real. And he had seen the book before he had all the feels. And with the feels all he could think about was what comes next.

Our Storytime littles. The ones who have been coming from the start and are getting SO BIG. The ones who are new or peek in every so often. We love seeing you growing into the pages.

The dude who wins at being a boyfriend and drops in for a carefully chosen book whenever his girlfriend is having a rough day. Seriously, be that dude. He wins.

The kid who said they finally felt like they were safe and had a home.

Every last one of you we get to talk bookish with.

When you know it when you see it and don't need a bag, because you really just need to see it and hold it right away.

When you want a suggestion and we get to know you better.

When you finish a book you bought from us and have to come back to talk about it.

Those of you who are more than "regulars." And sometimes we talk about books, but sometimes we celebrate and/or cry together.

When inside our doors is a break from the world.

When inside our pages helps you understand the world.

When you come inside our lives and make our world better.

That friend who knew they were going to lose at chess but went upstairs and sat down anyway. And when they walked out they were happier than when they walked in.

Our Authors, Storytellers, and knowers of things. You leaked a little bit of yourself on our stage and we love how crowded it is getting up there. Also, we finally moved the light up. Sorry about your head. I am short and oblivious.

When your parent is in town and they ask "can I buy you a book?" Then you get a little giddy. We feel you.

That lady who lives pretty far away and loves us anyway . . . even if we might only ever meet through email and packages.

Speaking of packages? Subscription day is one of the best days. I hope it is as fun on the other side of the wrapping paper.

Our neighbors (cheers, Shelly), who make our neighborhood shiny (with glitter).

Oh my word. I could keep going. For a very long time. But I have eight dishes to finish making in the next hour . . . 

So, in case you are wondering, I see you, too. I adore you. And truly, I can't wait to see your smile again.

Shop Local on Small Business Saturday!

Whether or not you choose to participate in the snarling, hand-to-hand combat experience that is mall shopping on Black Friday, we are please to offer a soothing, restorative antidote the next day. Saturday, November 30 is Small Business Saturday, where folks celebrate all things local by shopping at their friendly neighborhood stores (that would be us, people.)

To help matters go with a swing, we'll be offering discounts, teaming up with our friends at Yellow Dog Bookshop so you can get some FREE ICE CREAM, and we'll do a grand raffle to give away a ton of stuff, including some Advance Reading Copies of The Paris Hours, Alex George's new novel. It’s not actually coming out until next May, so this is what you might call an exclusive sneak peak. He'll even sign them for you, if you ask nicely.

And, we promise, no brawls.

Wimpy Kid Event Expanded!

We’ve had a wonderful response to our Wimpy Kid Wrecking Ball party on Sunday, November 10 - the event has sold out! But we don’t want to disappoint anyone, so we’ve expanded the event to accommodate more families! If you have tried to reserve free tickets and been told that there are no more available - try again! More have now been put online. Just click here to reserve your spot.

See you on Sunday! The fun starts at 11:00 and goes to noon!

Gabriel Bump is coming in February!

All right, we know it’s a long time away, but we’re excited to announce that one of the most talked-about debut authors for years will be coming to Skylark on Wednesday, February 12, to discuss his astonishing novel, Everywhere You Don’t Belong. Mark your calendars!

The experience of being young and black on the South Side of Chicago is largely portrayed in the media in one of two ways: either a childhood defined by gang warfare, police brutality, and hopelessness, or the diametrically opposite story of someone like Michelle Obama who rose above her origins to achieve greatness. Yet, for the majority of people navigating day-to-day life on the South Side (or in similar urban neighborhoods across America) reality falls well between these extremes. In his alternately witty and heartbreaking debut novel, Gabriel Bump portrays the life of just such a young everyman. Claude McKay Love isn’t dangerous or brilliant—he’s just an average kid coping with abandonment, violence, riots, failed love, and societal pressures as he steers his way past the signposts of youth: childhood friendships, basketball tryouts, first love, first heartbreak, picking a college, moving away from home.

Bump’s assured narrative is driven by fierce energy and percolates with an astute awareness of the ironic contradictions of our times. As a young black man trying to keep his head above water in the urban vortex, Claude is fundamentally searching for a place where he can fit. Raised with principles by his civil rights-era grandmother, he tries to escape issues of race when riots consume his neighborhood. But leaving Chicago for college (in Columbia, Missouri!) he discovers he can’t escape his own skin. There is no safe haven for a young black man in this time and place called America.  

Come and listen to this wonderful author and important new voice speak about his work.

Gabriel Bump grew up in South Shore, Chicago. His nonfiction and fiction have appeared in Slam magazine, the Huffington Post, Springhouse Journal, and elsewhere. He was awarded the 2016 Deborah Slosberg Memorial Award for Fiction. He received his MFA in fiction from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, and he currently lives in Buffalo, New York.

Lit Lunch next Wednesday - Asian Fiction

In case you missed it, this week’s Lit Lunch on Transgender Books caused something of a stir, and got us on the local news. We had a wonderful turnout for the event, and the conversation that ensued was engaging and respectful, and (we hope) enlightening for some.

Next Wednesday, Carrie will be talking about Asian books that she loves. She spent two weeks in Japan when she was . . . well, younger than her kids are now. While a return trip is overdue, she likes to visit as often as possible via literature. Come hear about some of her favorites, as well as titles representing India, Korea and other neighboring countries. As usual, things start at 12:15 (ish) - come bring your lunch and enjoy some bookish chat!

Newsflash: Wimpy Kid Party Just Announced!

We are VERY excited to announce that on Sunday, November 10, we will be hosting a special party to celebrate the publication of the next installment in the Diary of A Wimpy Kid series - WRECKING BALL.

And this will be no ordinary party. We will have copies of the book specially SIGNED BY JEFF KINNEY for sale - exclusively available for people who attend the event - but so much more…

• There will be a Wrecking Ball-branded TOUR BUS parked outside the shop, and you’ll be able to have your photo taken in front of it.

• We will have a, um, “real” Greg Heffley on-hand for fun photo ops! #selfie

• There will be a THREE FOOT WIDE wrecking ball piñata FULL OF CANDY which people will have a chance to bust open!

• We’ll be playing Wimpy Kid Bingo, with fun prizes for the winners

• There’ll also be specially-designed Wimpy Kid cookies for everyone

• There will also be a ton of other fun games, activities and prizes.

This event is free for everyone to attend, but you’ll need to register here as numbers are limited and we do expect demand to be heavy.

This Wednesday's Lit Lunch...

As many of you will know, recently there has been some local controversy about remarks made by a pastor of one of Columbia’s churches regarding transgender people. In light of that, and because we ardently believe that books can help all of us understand things better and facilitate dialogue over difficult issues, we thought it would be a good idea to discuss some fiction and nonfiction books that address this topic. Pastor Simon, you would be more than welcome to join us.

Drag Story Time is this Saturday!

Just a reminder that we’ll be having our regular Drag Story Time on Saturday, October 19 at 1:00 p.m. - but since it’s (almost) Halloween costumes will also be welcome for audience members! Come by and enjoy what is always one of the most joyful events we put on. We can’t wait! See you there?

Also, don’t forget that on Saturday morning we’ll also be welcoming architect Lynn Craig to Skylark for a talk about architectural drawing - we’ll be opening our doors early for this, at 9:00 a.m. The talk will be followed by a morning of building drawing by participants throughout downtown, culminating in a second gathering at Sager Braudis Gallery at noon.

Both events are free and open to the public.