Hobart Book Village – Catskills, NY

Set in the Northern Catskills, Hobart Book Village is home to seven independent bookstores, art galleries, and more. Founded in 2005, the Village now hosts the annual Festival for Women Writers and Winter Respite Lecture Series. 

The Gold Cities – Grass Valley and Nevada City, CA

Booktown Books is a collaborative of 14 independent bookstores all housed within 4,000 square feet in Grass Valley, CA. Over in Nevada City, visitors can check out Toad Hall Books and Hardy Books, both of which specialize in antique books and Western Americana. 

Providence, Rhode Island

Home to 8.6 libraries per 100,000 residents, and having 326% more independent bookstores than the average city, Providence is a great destination for anyone who loves getting lost in the stacks. Providence also has a myriad of entertainment options including historical tours, a zoo, and shopping, if you’re traveling with folks who don’t care much for books. 

Formal Fantasy Balls

With fantasy’s resurgence and growing popularity, many young folks have started hosting formal balls for readers. Hosted for the first time in 2023, Bookish in Baltimore’s The Starfall Ball celebrated the fantasy genre, featuring hundreds of readers traveling from across the country to wear their finest outfits adorned with bookish accessories, whether subtle or obvious. The Bookworm Ball will be hosted in Indianapolis, IN, in August 2023 with a similar dress code. 

Book Festivals

Hosted across the country, book festivals offer gathering places for readers of all genres. They can range from general to niche, and you’ll likely be able to find a handful within your state. Don’t forget to check out your local bookstore, as they often host author readings and book signings. Staying close to home can also save time and money if you’re not able to travel elsewhere for a festival! Bookreporter.com keeps an updated list of book festivals across the country.

Author Homes 

Homes of famous American authors are scattered throughout the U.S., from Stephen King’s home in Maine to John Steinback’s home in California. Many of these have been turned into museums honoring the work of the author. Below are just a few incredible museums to visit:

1. Emily Dickinson’s Homestead – Amherst, MA
2. Edith Wharton’s The Mount – Lenox, MA
3. Frederick Douglass’ Cedar Hill – Washington, DC
4. Ernest Hemingway’s Estate – Key West, Florida
5. Langston Hughes’ House – Harlem, New York
6. The Edgar Allen Poe House and Museum – Baltimore, MD
7. Laura Ingles Wilder’s Rocky Ridge Farm – Mansfield, MO

What are ‘literary’ books?

Literary books are stories that are character-driven, realistic, filled with symbolism, and aim to leave you with a message at the end. More often than not, literary novels err on the stoic side of life and can be rather tragic. This isn’t the case for all of them, but it’s a common theme.

If it helps, think of ‘literary’ and ‘literature’ together. Modern literary fiction is different from classic literature, and that discussion could fill a book in itself. When you think of literature, you probably think of those books read in high school english: Catcher in the Rye, The Scarlet Letter, Of Mice and Men, etc. These books are all symbolic on varying levels, and the main story is driven by the characters and their changes. 

Modern literary fiction includes books like All the Light We Cannot See, The Vanishing Half, and Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. They follow a similar format as classic literature but focus on more modern themes and struggles, and tend to blend more with genre fiction than classic literature. Literary fiction can encompass elements of fantasy, horror, and more, but the main focus is on the message of the book. 

What are ‘genre’ books?

Genre books tend to be plot-driven, are based on specific genre tropes, and are written more for entertainment, though many have important takeaways for life, just like literary fiction. There are countless genres and sub-genres, but the main ones are: action/adventure, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, mystery, romance, and speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, horror). Genre books often blend different genres together, or include subplots of other genres; an example would be a historical fiction with a romance subplot. 

Genre fiction is not a new concept, as there have been books throughout history written for entertainment purposes. Straying from literary themes and instead writing for entertainment created many of the genres we know today. Some of the best known mystery-detective stories like Sherlock Holmes or anything written by Agatha Christie are genre novels. H.P. Lovecraft is considered the father of modern horror due to his extensive genre writing in the early 20th century. 

There are different kinds of entertainment that genre can write towards, so it’s important to know what you want. If you want tear-jerking entertainment, you might look to historical or contemporary fiction. If you want to be swept off into magical lands or faraway galaxies, check out speculative fiction. A sucker for a story about people falling in love? Romance is the genre for you. All of the genres mentioned have hundreds of sub-genres, so you can find your niche in any of them. Some examples of sub-genres include cozy mysteries, epic fantasy, space opera science fiction, paranormal romance, and World War Two historical fiction.

Looking for Recommendations?

There are so many great ways to find your next read, but the tips below will help speed up the process if you’re overwhelmed by the choices or are still unsure:

• Check out various book lists on GoodReads or Storygraph. These sites also allow you to track the books you’ve read, join reader groups, and more.
• Ask your local librarian! I guarantee your local library has lists of recommendations, but asking for a personal favorite from the librarian is always a good option.
• Join a local book club. Most towns and cities have book clubs, and they often range across genres and literary fiction.
• Follow social media accounts focused on book content. These accounts (called ‘Bookstagram’ and BookTok on Instagram and Tiktok) always post recommendations and their current reads. Most accounts are curated towards a certain type of book, so if you find your niche, there are plenty of people sharing recommendations for it!

#1 Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover is probably one of the most well-known authors on BookTok. Known for her suspenseful romance novels that capture the hearts of Gen Z readers, Hoover has probably benefitted the most from the rise of readers on social media platforms. She released Reminders of Him on January 18th, and BookTok was quick to devour the novel and turn it into another sensation for Hoover.

#2 Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy

Kennedy’s YA novel, Good Girl Complex, is a perfect example of one of BookTok’s favorite trends: sweet romance books with a pastel-themed, hand drawn cover. This became popular in 2021, with favorites such as People We Meet on Vacation, The Love Hypothesis, and more. Kennedy’s novel is right up the lane of many young readers and is a perfect introduction for any Gen Z wanting to start reading again. 

#3 The Maid by Nita Prose 

A thriller featuring a neurodivergent maid in her mid-twenties, a 5-star hotel, and a dead mogul, Prose’s novel is for those who still think reading has to be “boring”. An excellent introduction to the world of suspense and murder mysteries, Prose has been on BookTok’s radar since the release of this novel in January. The novel has also earned other acclaims such as the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller’s List and being picked for the Good Morning America book club.

#4 To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara

From the author of A Little Life, one of the most popular books on TikTok in 2021, fans of the novel were excited to hear that Yanagihara would be releasing a new novel in 2022. Spanning 300 years, in three different timelines in America, with three very different settings. All three timelines are intertwined by themes of love, loss, identity, family, and other touching topics that Yanagihara is known for having an exceptionally skilled hand in writing about. 

#5 The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Another thriller novel surrounding family disappearances, Foley’s novel was just released this month but has already garnered a lot of interest on BookTok. Set in Paris with a missing brother and a building full of possible suspects, The Paris Apartment is perfect for BookTok’s target audiences. They’ll enjoy the twists and turns of Foley’s novel just as much as binging a thriller series on Netflix or scrolling through true crime videos for hours. 

We never thought social media would be the reason that the younger generations start reading again, but with so many great reads only two months in to 2022, readers can be sure to find great reads on BookTok all year long.

“The amazing customers and associates of Books-A-Million support the holiday Book & Toy Drive in a tremendous way,” said Scott Kappler, Executive Vice President of Operations. “It’s because of their generosity that this incredible campaign spreads holiday cheer to children and organizations in need during this special time of year.”

Among the many charities across the nation that benefit from this campaign are various branches of The Ronald McDonald House, The Salvation Army, children’s hospitals, and Toys for Tots.

This annual Book & Toy Drive has become a highlight of the season of giving, allowing generous Books-A-Million customers to make a positive impact on the community in a way that’s just as easy as it is rewarding. By choosing a particular book or toy to donate, they can ensure that their donation has personal meaning for them—and brings a welcome boost of holiday joy to those who receive it.

ABOUT BOOKS-A-MILLION

Books-A-Million is a well-established source for books, toys, games, collectibles and gifts for every age and interest. Operating more than 200 locations in 32 states as well as a thriving online store, Books-A-Million delivers top-notch customer service and remarkable value through special offers, exclusive sales, and the award-winning Millionaire’s Club.

Books-A-Million has seen exponential growth over more than 100 years in business, from its humble origin in 1917 as a newsstand in Florence, Alabama, to its current status as the second-largest bookseller in the United States.

Find your nearest Books-A-Million store at booksamillion.com/storefinder, and follow Books-A-Million on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

CONTACT: 
Melanie Smith 
Vice President, Marketing 
205.909.3517 
smithme@booksamillion.com

SOURCE Books-A-Million, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.booksamillion.com

Participating in a virtual book club meeting brings readers together to do what they do best, read and discuss. There are some health benefits associated with reading; people say reading is like a software update for the brain. Reading can offer solace and present a distraction while it provides a way to combat loneliness in the wake of the coronavirus. A virtual book club meeting will allow you an opportunity to meet in a safe and intimate place. 

Reading a book from home while alone is a pleasure, sharing your thoughts and views with other people about the book is another pleasure. A virtual book club will break boundaries that will allow readers to meet while social distancing. The most important thing is bringing readers together and lifting each other up as they participate. They can feel comfortable knowing in advance that they’re going to be safe. 

Getting started with the process of starting a virtual book club is easy. The first thing you will need to do is select a name for your book club. Set up a zoom platform to launch your meetings, send out invitations by email; it doesn’t matter if the members you invite are in the same city or halfway across the world. The power of the internet through zoom, allows everyone to be in one space. There is a raise hand option in a zoom that allows readers to discuss the book, while avoiding everyone trying to talk at the same time. 

There you have it, your virtual book club is ready, all there is to do now is schedule the meeting and select your book. Technology has created a space for us to meet and greet, as we dive into that great book discussion. 

Traversing through her adolescence and into adulthood, Harrington’s story reads like a collection of diary entries with an overarching theme of family, God, and forgiveness. From a time when playing limbo led to a trip to the emergency room to a moving entry on domestic violence, each entry offers spiritual advice on how there is a plan for everything and each setback offers an opportunity to begin again. This book will inspire and offer a great piece of advice for even the darkest of times: Treat every day as an opportunity to learn and forgive yourself for those times you didn’t. 

Make sure to visit www.ubeginagain.com for more information and to purchase the book!

If you are an Author or Inspiring Author, click here for more information on how to participate in City Insight’s Author Insight

 A fairly new company, Progress Promoter has been working since late 2015 to “inspire, ignite, and inform women to be the bold and better versions of themselves through a sense of community!” This is achieved through a variety of ways including speaking engagements, workshops, and written works like books and webinars that participants can purchase. All of this works to empower women and enable them to recognize the potential they have as “difference makers”. In turn, this creates a community of women using their power and potential to help other women and build on that foundation. This helps to build a future where women are empowered to not only better their own lives but work to better the lives of all women in the country. 

This mission began when Phyllis Williams was a timid and unsure thirty-year-old woman. Looking to change that, she joined an organization (Toastmasters) that helped her to blossom and realize her great potential. It was a coach within the organization that encouraged Williams to realize that there was so much purpose and potential within her, waiting to be used for good in the world. Noticing that Williams enjoyed writing, her coach, Billie, suggested she write a book. While working towards this goal, Williams found herself being asked to engage in speaking events. This led to Williams finding a new path as an entrepreneur!

Soon, Williams was inspired to create Progress Promoter after realizing that there were countless women who have experienced the same hardships as her. From a feeling of not belonging to general heartaches, Williams knew she had to work to change this so that no women had to go through that! 

One of the ways that this is achieved is through Williams’ workshops. These workshops, known as “Authenticity and Authority”, are conducted in living rooms as well as larger community centers. These two-hour events address many of the issues that women face using written work, performances, and artistic activities. These workshops are ideal for coworkers, sorority sisters, former classmates, and church members. Basically, all women are encouraged to attend and unlock their full potential as “difference makers”. 

Something that Williams hopes to change through Progress Promoter is the role women are given in entertainment. Williams wants the world to know that women are “difference makers”, supporters, and the backbone for families and communities alike. It is time that society embraces women for all they are! 

Williams also offers her time as a volunteer and gives donations throughout the year to help bolster women in the community. Her Facebook group, The Progressive Tribe, encourages others to contribute to society, especially in helping fight social injustice for marginalized people. 

So, if you can see the change happening in our society and want to empower, not only yourself, but also the lives of the women around you, then contact Progress Promoter and take that first step towards a better you! Visit https://www.progresspromoter.com.

“We should excel, not just exist!”

-Phyllis Williams

Wright Foot Consulting is a professional development consulting business that works closely with those entering the job market and those transitioning within. Whether you are changing your career or simply looking for new opportunities, WFC will provide comprehensive employment consulting and match your skills with employers in need. They also offer assistance in researching the market to help you find the right position for your skills, helping you create a resume, building a professional image, and preparing for potential interviews. With the help of WFC, there is no goal unobtainable in the job market! 

WFC was founded by Ashley V. Ray in February of 2018. Her background in Human Resources and Executive Administration allowed her to notice that many of the applicants she interviewed for various positions were ill-equipped. From resumes that were in desperate need of updating or interview skills that were severely lacking, she saw the need to help those looking for employment to transform themselves into the applicants that employers wanted to hire. 

Of course, there are plenty of other firms that potential hires can seek out for help, but WFC is set apart in their personalization. WFC is a rather small consulting firm, meaning they are able to provide individual and personalized assistance based on what clients are specifically in need of. No two clients are alike, so WFC makes it a priority to develop a strategic plan for each client in order to increase their chances for successfully securing employment. 

It also doesn’t hurt that WFC has a “spy on the inside.” With Ms. Ray’s nearly decade-long experience in the human resource industry, she knows what employers are looking for. She is a subject matter expert that is able to provide tips to ensure that clients are knowledgeable, which in turn prepares them for what they can expect to encounter in their job search. 

At Wright Foot Consulting, they also care about the community. Though they are currently a new start up and focus largely on individual sessions, it is their goal to facilitate master classes to large groups, schools, churches, and other organizations to provide comprehensive sessions on how to properly prepare for interviews and build a resume. They want to make sure everyone feels empowered, prepared, and confident when they embark on the journey to find job opportunities. So, if you want to head into any job interview with the tools to ace an interview and the confidence to hold your head high knowing you deserve to be in that room then seek out Wright Foot Consulting. 

Place Your Order Today!

Ms. Ray is also a published Author of the self-help book, “What They Don’t Tell You About Personal Success”, which can be found on Amazon.com. This book will help you maneuver through life’s hardships to become the person you were meant to be. Make sure to check it out as you improve your personal success!

“We help you put your best foot forward toward turning your dreams into reality” – Wright Foot Consulting

Make sure to visit Wright Foot Consulting’s Website at https://www.wrightfootconsulting.com

Now more than ever it is important that we begin nurturing the education of our children. In our world, knowledge is power and is vital that we employ our children with all of the knowledge we can. Therefore, we should be starting early in our nurturing of education and the learning process. One of the best places to begin with such nurturing is through the educational book “What Is Blue Blue Blue – What is Blue To You?”. 

Crystal Horton’s new book “What Is Blue Blue Blue – What is Blue To You?” was birthed two years ago and is an adorable and unprecedented tool in teaching young children about color and developing reading skills. Her book helps to build color associations through real-life examples and encourages young readers to explore the colors of the world around them. By simply encouraging young minds to actively seek out the colors of the world, they will also be absorbing the skills they need to be intelligent and successful adults.

Ms. Horton is an expert in associating color with active reading and life skills, as she obtained the knowledge of how children learn over the years and applied it to others. Born in North Carolina as the youngest of fourteen siblings and with two children of her own (plus a grandson), Ms. Horton has a great fondness of children. Add to that her twenty plus years of experience in working with young children and her previous ownership of a licensed five-star Family Child Care Home, and you will find quickly that she is fully able to provide valuable knowledge to others. With an A.A.S Degree in Early Childhood Education and a B.S. Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences/Concentration in Child Development and Family Relations, Ms. Horton is clearly qualified to offer insight into how we can provide our children with the tools necessary for them to thrive in the world.

“What is Blue Blue Blue – What is Blue To You?” helps children to learn colors by intentionally using color words and colors at the same time. By creating the connection between the color words and their colors, children are more likely to retain the information and seek out those associations themselves. The book goes beyond just color learning and helps to initiate creative thinking within young children, as well as promoting creative expression and asking open-ended questions. This book teaches children education fundamentals, while also promoting a parent-child interaction in the learning process that helps to build confidence in children and establish connections. By engaging with your children as they begin the learning process, parents can see how important knowledge is for their child and help nurture a learning environment.

What the book is able to do is take colors, which are the most recognizable attributes of the world around us and utilize them in the learning process. Colors are everywhere, from buildings and plants to clothing and food, color invades a child’s world from the moment they are born. That means that colors are the way that children begin to observe the world and categorize what they see. The use of primary and secondary colors characteristics helps to encourage children to begin defining and categorizing the world. That is what “What Is Blue Blue Blue – What is Blue To You?” does for children in a fun and educational way. 

Currently, Ms. Horton is seeking out partnerships with any organizations or individuals that would love to work together to help make learning a more interactive experience for every child. To become involved and to purchase or learn more about “What Is Blue Blue Blue – What is Blue To You?”, check out https://www.whatisblue15.com.

Goldsboro, NC August 21, 2017– Newly released JIGSAW, Part II picks up after JIGSAW (2010) ends the first novel in the JIGSAW series. Captain Cape Thomas has suffered a gunshot wound to the head, rendering him semicomatose for over three years. On the eve of his discharge from the hospital after two more years of physical therapy, a night nurse–either a figment of his imagination or his worst living nightmare–attacks him out of nowhere. Convinced in daylight by staff and his doctor that the attack was a trick of a healing mind, Cape bids farewell to the facility, his home for the past five years.

Once home with family in the Fisher mansion, strange things continue to beset him. Nooses and miniature coffins turn up in odd places and Cape begins to suspect that his old nemeses, Walter Cronus Kress and William Johnston, are responsible. These new terrors are real, but the cause for this unwanted, and ostensibly unwarranted, attention is still murky.

Veiled threats turn into a string of murders and there is no safe haven for Cape Thomas, even in the familiar cities, towns, and backwaters across Eastern North Carolina…danger lurks. When asked his simplified view of life, Brogden says, “I’ve always tried to face life like an oyster does—when given grit, give back a pearl.”

 About Author Ted Miller Brogden:

Ted Miller Brogden is an instrument-rated pilot, certified diver, internationally published author, and practicing raconteur. He spends most of his time in eastern North Carolina and points South, but his favorite city is New York.

Book Formats: Paperback (M E Publishing) Ebook: Kindle, Nook, iBooks. Available online:Amazon Books, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and book sellers around the world.