Short Literary Bites

There is a whole bunch of stuff (quite the wordsmith, eh?) coming up that I want you all to know about.  Here they are in the order that I wrote them down in my notes:

1.  The JCC in Los Gatos has added a new literary program called Let's Do Lunch Literary Circle.  They've got 3 events lined up - September, December, and February.  It's a combination of lunch and meeting with the author.  Go to their website, svjcc.org, for more details.

2.  Kepler's, in Menlo Park, is having another book swap.  This one is September 13 from 6:30-9.  The author that will be in attendance is Natalie Baszile, who wrote Queen Sugar. It's her debut novel, and it has gotten tons of positive press.  And if you remember my report from the last Kepler's book swap, it is enormous fun.  For $25, you get food/wine and at least 1 book to bring home.  All you have to do is bring one of your favorite books to give away.

3.  Village House of Books #2 (at 21 Main Street in Los Gatos) will be opening in 1-2 weeks.  I will keep everybody in the loop for more news.

4.  On August 23, the Los Gatos Library, Friends of the Library, and Village House of Books will be hosting the 1st annual Literary Fair.  It's 12-3 and will include over 25 local authors, 15 who will be speaking for 5 minutes each.  There will also be 2 keynote speakers - Laurie R. King and Jay Elliot - who will speak for 20 minutes each.  Laurie will open the proceedings, and Jay will close them.  And all of the authors will be signing books.  It will happen on the Civic Center lawn, on Main Street.  Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company will offer food and beverages for sale.

5.  Local author, Shelly King, will be launching her debut novel, The Moment of Everything, at Books,  Inc., Mt. View, on September 2.  She will also be our October VHOB Book Club author.  (She will be at VHOB on Tuesday, October 28).

6.  Steve and Cheryl have purchased a pedicab, which Steve will be driving around town. If you see him, and want to visit either, or both, of the bookstores, please flag him down. Here's what it looks like.  It is so cool.

7. One of our very favorite authors (even though she's not local), Beth Hoffman, just got a huge award. It's the 2014 Ohioana Book Award for Fiction for Looking for Me (Toni Morrison won the award in 2004).  It was certainly a 4/4 when I read it and reviewed it. Beth was one of our VHOB Book Club authors for April.  She came to us by phone, and everybody was blown away by how engaging and personable (yet humble) she is.  We are all very proud of her.

8.  Daniel Silva's latest Gabriel Allon adventure, The Heist, is #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.  This is no surprise.  It happens every year.  And although I haven't read this one yet, I've read all of the others.  I have to say that his writing keeps getting better. He's a huge literary star, but it's very encouraging that he has not gotten lazy.

9.  VHOB just wrapped up its Where's Waldo event for the month of July.  About 24 stores in Los Gatos took part, and VHOB had its wrap party this past Thursday, the 31st.  A lot of prizes were given out to many of the 60+ kids who took part.

10. I have just finished my 3rd shift at VHOB.  I am loving it.  I will be working full days on Friday and Monday, either at #1 or #2.  I will also be working a couple/few Sundays each month.  I would love to see everybody stop in and say hello.

11. Green Apple Books in San Francisco just opened their 2nd location, this one in the Sunset District. That means that both Green Apple and Village House of Books are adding to the independent bookstore market, not subtracting from it.  Personally, I couldn't be happier to see another independent bookstore, besides VHOB #2.  This is great news indeed.

That's it.  I know that's a lot to throw at you at one time.  But it's all good, and it's all about enhancing book world.  What could be better than that?  I feel like Jim Harbaugh, 49er's coach, when he asks his team:  "Who's got it better that us?"  And they all answer "Nobody!"  I wholeheartedly agree with them.