The Toadstool Bookshops of Keene, Milford, and Peterborough, NH

Please join the discussion when local author STEVE ULFELDER joins us to chat about The Whole Lie. We're happy to have Steve back in the store since the release of his Edgar finalist first mystery featuring Conway Sax, Purgatory Chasm. Both bookstake place partly in tour area and are staff picks of Brian's.

We are thrilled to have radio talk show host, journalist, and author HOWIE CARR visit in support of his books exposing life in the Boston mob. Come on down, browse our newly relocated store, and get an autographed copy of one (or more!) of Howie's books, featuring...

Now in paperback: Hitman, the Untold Story of Johnny Martorano (Forge Bks,$15.99)

and: The Brothers Bulger, How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston for a Quarter Century (Grand Central Bks, $9.99)

New this year, and in hardcover: Hard Knocks, A Novel (Forge, $24.99)

If you missed NYT bestselling author KATHERINE HOWE'S last visit in support of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, you missed an unforgettable evening of great food and conversation.

Now she is back to discuss and sign copies of her latest historical novel, The House of Velvet and Glass.

We hope you can join us and attend (another) enlightening event right here in your own independent, local bookstore!

Please join us in welcoming NESSA FLAX to our store for a presentation and book signing about life in Vermont with, Voices in the Hills: Collected Ramblings from a Rural Life.

"With a mellow, but sharp weather eye on colors, sounds, shifting seasons, dogs, and moose in the road at night, Nessa Flax sails beautifully through her own childhood in Virginia to her present life in the upper Connecticut Valley. Vermont is the richer that she is here, is watching, and is writing." -Willem Lange, Public Radio broadcaster and newspaper columnist

(Bunker Hill Publishing, 22.50, pbk)

Join us Saturday, July 21, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in welcoming Vermont author Nessa Flax! She has just published her book, Voices in the Hills: Collected Ramblings from a Rural Life. Meet and chat with the author, and get your copy specially autographed.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders said, "Any reader of this book will understand more about Vermont - who lives here, and what our values are, and why we love our state."

Nessa Flax began writing for the Journal Opinion in 1994 and launched her “Rambling Reflections” weekly column the next year. Initially attending Riverside City College and SUNY at Stony Brook, she received her degree from Dartmouth College with the first graduating class of women in 1976. Her professional career has taken her from a secretarial desk to selling motorcycles, into a sixteen-year teaching career that included establishing and coaching the only varsity fencing program in Vermont and New Hampshire public high schools. From her home in Ryegate Corner, Vermont, Nessa writes, provides writing services for individuals and small businesses, and communes with the forest.

Fitzwilliam author ERIC STANWAY visits our new location to unveil the story behind MADAME SHERRI.

Take a walk through West Chesterfield, NH, and hidden in the woods, you will discover the crumbling remains of Madame Sherri's castle. Eccentric, theatrical, and utterly impossible, Sherri scandalized the locals for 30 years. Now for the first time, Eric draws back the curtain and tells the full tale of this Diva and the bizarre legends that have grown up about her.

(CreateSpace, $9.95, pbk)

To learn more about Eric and his books, or more on Madame Sherri, visit his website: www.ericstanway.com

On Sat., July 28 at 2:00 p.m., G.M. Browning will sign and talk about his YA fantasy adventure, Cerulean Isle, a high-seas adventure with pirates and mermaidens!

Kidnapped as a boy and kept as a slave on a pirate ship, young Jacob dreams of freedom, and of one day discovering the fabled island of the Mer people. With fellow shipmate Grant, Jacob escapes and finds refuge in Granada. But stories of Cerulean Isle, land of the Merfolk, continue to haunt him. One day a stranger appears and Jacob and Grant must embark on a dangerous voyage to flee from the pirates that seek their lives. In the process, Jacob at last discovers the truth behind legendary Cerulean Isle.

New Hampshire author G.M. Browning has been writing fiction since elementary school. As an older brother to two, spinning tales of magic, fantasy and adventure was an important job throughout childhood. Storytelling is but one passion, as Browning draws inspiration from the many facets of his life. Playing the guitar, cruising in his old Firebird, bass fishing and video games are the simpler joys; though nothing makes him happier than spending time with his wife, Devin.

BabelDoKu puzzles match the fun of Sudoku for all age levels with the challenge of finding hidden words. JEFF will be here to give us a tutorial on how the game is played and be available to sign copies of the first book of his puzzles.

JEFF CLEGHORN lives in Brookline, NH and credits his children with being the inspiration behind the creation of BabelDoKu puzzles.

(Outskirts Pr., $12.95, pbk)

On sale 8-7-2012! Please join us in welcoming GINA ROSATI when she visits to talk about (and sign!) her debut paranormal novel for Young Adults, AURACLE.

Anna, who has the ability to astrally project, finds her body taken over by a dead classmate, and must find a way to reclaim it if she wants to save herself and her friend who is accused of murder.

Gina grew up in Boston suburbia and now lives with her husband, two teenagers and two chubby guinea pigs in Merrimack, NH. She is a long-time volunteer in the Merrimack school libraries, a member of SCBWI, the Apocalypsies (more on them coming this Fall 2012!), and the Class of 2k12 debut authors groups. Visit her website www.ginarosati.com to learn more!

(Roaring Brook Pr, $16.99)

EMILY visits to sign and discuss her mystery novels (NYT Notable Crime Book of the Year - The Broken Teaglass), In Search of the ROSE NOTES, and just released, Miss Me When I'm Gone.

Author Gretchen Waters made a name for herself with her bestseller Tammyland - a memoir about her divorce, and her admiration for country music icons. But Gretchen's career is cut short when she dies from a fall down a set of stone library steps. Her best friend from college, Jamie, is named literary executor and comes into possession of an unfinished manuscript. In its pages Gretchen seems to be speaking from beyond the grave - suggesting her death was no accident - and Jamie must piece together the story someone would kill to keep silent.

Author EMILY ARSENAULT has worked as a lexicographer, an English teacher, and a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa. She grew up in Connecticut and now lives in Shelburne Falls, MA. 

*Please note: click on any of the displayed titles for more information about the book. 

Cooking With Feeling by local Spofford author Pat Haley is a new collection of charming essays on the pleasures of cooking and eating. In this cookbook Ms. Haley treats the themes that readers can touch, taste and feel - friendship, healing, beauty, fun, contentment and more.

Each of Cooking With Feeling's thirty delightful essays celebrates such joys as cooking with flowers, brewing fresh fruit liqueurs, appreciating our Native American potato and tracking down the ultimate community baked bean supper.

Pat Haley offers a culinary journal that explores the traditions, myths and people that have created our contemporary foodstuffs. Each topic - from aphrodisiacs to the autumn chestnut crop, from an August garden feast to a macadamia nut orchard tour - is accompanied by five tempting recipes tested by Ms. Haley, a Cornell-trained economist.

Pat Haley is a national award-winning journalist and her work has appeared in McCall's, The Boston Globe and Country Journal.

Among the Elms Writers Group meets the first and third Wednesday of every month (holidays permitting). For lovers of the written word, come for fellowship and feedback, inspiration and information. All writers welcome.

CHUCK HOGAN is the author of several acclaimed novels, including The Standoff, The Blood Artists, The Killing Moon, The Prince of Thieves (aka The Town) which won the 2005 Hammett Award and was called 'one of the ten best novels of the year' by Stephen King, and was an Academy Award-nominated film from Warner Brothers starring Ben Affleck. Chuck has also co-authored with writer/film director Guillermo Del Toro the terrifying vampire trilogy The Strain.

Tonight's event coincides with the release of his latest crime novel in paperback, Devils In Exile. Neal Maven comes home to Boston from his tour of Iraq with nothing - no job, friends, or future. Then he meets Brad Royce, a fellow vet, charismatic and confident. Royce offers Maven a spot on his team of vets who intercept major drug deals, take the dirty money, and destroy the product - an adrenalin-charged scheme utilizing all their combat talents with a clear moral objective. But is it too good to be true?

Sorry, no spoilers from Brian, who's had 'Devils' in staff picks for quite some time. Come have a beer with us, meet Chuck and discover one of the hottest thriller writers in the business today!

In 2010, Kari Chapin’s The Handmade Marketplace became an overnight phenomenon, teaching crafters how to apply marketing savvy to develop smart, distinctive product presentations for success in online selling venues such as Etsy. Chapin’s advice has set thousands of crafters on the entrepreneurial track, with 90,000 copies of The Handmade Marketplace in print.

In her new book, Grow your Handmade Business: How to Envision, Develop, and Sustain a Successful Creative Business, Chapin answers the most common questions asked by readers of her first book: “What’s next? Can I make a living doing this?” Chapin coaches her readers on exactly how to make a livelihood from their passion, in a friendly voice that everyone can relate to. Not only for crafters, but for all creative entrepreneurs who want to own a business, this book guides them through the intimidating process of creating the important business plan.
From determining goals and finding mentors to the nuts and bolts of developing business plans, budgets, marketing strategies, and investor relations, Grow Your Handmade Business covers it all.

Vermonter Kari Chapin combines her background in marketing and publicity with an avid enthusiasm for crafts and social networking to offer personal coaching and creative business e-courses at www.karichapin.com.

Among the Elms Writers Group meets the first and third Wednesday of every month (holidays permitting). For lovers of the written word, come for fellowship and feedback, inspiration and information. All writers welcome.

Hilary, NH-based author of Reunited and Kristen-Paige of the novel Fingerprints of You, both road-trip stories published by Simon and Schuster, will read from their books and invite Young Adult fans of all ages to join them for a night of books, fun, and road-trip themed prizes!

"Kristen-Paige and I saw an opportunity to use the plot of our books as a way for us to go out into the world and connect with readers. And of course, we both love road trips," said Francestown based Hilary Graham. The ladies also plan to blog about their New England road trip book tour. Visit their websites to learn more: hilarygraham.com and kristenpaigemadonia.com

Click on the books shown below to find out more about them and their authors. We look forward to seeing you here!

Lisa Greenleaf, local New Hampshire award-winning author and artist will be signing her picture book for children John Greenleaf Whittier's The Barefoot Boy.

Lisa fulfilled a dream of bringing her ancestor's poem and story back to life. Her book features 26 gorgeous illustrations that takes readers back to Mr. Whittier's childhood. Also included is a brief biography of his countless achievements and accomplishments as a New England Quaker, poet, and abolitionist.

(Apprentice Shop Books, $17.95)

We are truly blessed to live in such a vital and creative area. Jeanine has just moved to town, came in to introduce herself, and show us her impressive first three books. Please join us in welcoming her to our community and listen to the author chat about her writing process and a bit about each of the books:

Black Raspberries is an autobiography and tribute to the human spirit, telling the inspiring story of a dysfunctional family and the hardships faced by the children.

Maggie's Mirage features the title character's rags to riches rise and fall through the frenzied financial craze of the 1990s.

Unworthy - set in a small town northwest of Boston, Pastor Keller's grown children are caught in a web of secrets and murder.

Sound good? Come discover another gem living in our midst. Jeanine Malarsky was born in upstate New York. She had 19 different addresses by the end of high school and before attending college back in New England. After 36 years in business, Jeanine is now retired and living with her husband, a retired airline pilot. She now devotes her energy to travel, reading and writing.

(Cambridge Bks, $18.95 each)

Both Katina Makris and Laura Piazza are living with Lyme Disease and both women have written books on the subjects that cover differing topics.

Katina Makris' book Out of the Woods: Healing Lyme Disease - Body, Mind & Spirit is her vivid story that offers practical information for diagnosing and treating the bacterial invasion, as well as powerful guidance for mending the broken spirit, mind and physical form.

Laura Piazza's book (co-written with her mother Gail Piazza) is Recipes for Repair: A Lyme Disease Cookbook was written when she discovered that the food she was used to was not suitable for someone wih Lyme Disease. So she did some research and contacted the author of one of the books she found. She and her mother came up with a cookbook full of recipes both suitable and tasty. 

Join us and meet both authors!

Among the Elms Writer’s Group meets at the Keene Toadstool the first and third Wednesday of the month.  Among the Elms is a writer’s group for those with a love for the written word.  Come for feedback, fellowship, support, inspiration, and information.  All writers are welcome.

Among the Elms Writer’s Group meets at the Keene Toadstool the first and third Wednesday of the month.  Among the Elms is a writer’s group for those with a love for the written word.  Come for feedback, fellowship, support, inspiration, and information.  All writers are welcome.

*The book pictured is not one being discussed or used, it is just one of the books in our selection of titles on writing.

Simon has dreams of fame and fortune. Mrs. Annand has bran muffins of doom. Only one of them can win.

Beloved local author and artist MARTY KELLEY wants to know how many people can fit in a bookstore. So we are counting on you to come and participate in the challenge. And of course, he'll be talking about and signing his brand new chapter book for middle schoolers: Fame, Fortune, and the Bran Muffins of DOOM. There will be boatloads of fun and surprises - including a chance to win an original piece of Marty's artwork - you can enter to win now in the Milford store, but you must be present on the 22nd to win!

Simon's latest scheme is to gain everlasting fame by winning the school talent show. What stands in his way? A lot. The fact that he has no talent, for one. Utter humiliation is looking a lot more likely than stardom for the gang.

Marty is the author and illustrator of seven picture books for young readers. He taught second grade for several years before becoming a full-time artist and part-time rock star. Check out his website: martykelley.com to learn more about him and his amazing chickens.

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Barbara Meyers lays the foundation for engaging the natural world as wise teacher for both our personal lives and the well-being of the planet. In her book Common Ground, Uncommon Gifts: Growing Peace and Harmony through Stories, Reflections, and Practices in the Natural World she invites us to enter the world of nature to awaken our senses, our sensibilities, and our soul to answer profound questions regarding the meaning of life. Through stories, musings, and practices woven together through the paradigm of the Native American Medicine Wheel, readers find direction for
answering those questions, so that they may bring their unique gifts into the
world and become effective stewards of planet Earth.

Barbara Meyers, MSW, is a clinical social worker with a private psychotherapy practice in new Hampshire. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families and often draws upon stories and lessons from the natural world in her work. In 2006 she was named New Hampshire’s Social Worker of the Year. Introduced early to the wonders of nature, Barbara has been a lifelong outdoorswoman.

Join us for Local Authors Night as we feature some of the area's best writers sharing their latest books.

Scheduled to appear so far is Bonita L. Pleisch the author of Generation L the first in the "Generation WIT" series about a family of psychics that form a powerful collective to defeat dark forces that traditional law enforcement can not.

We welcome back Joe Boulay the author of If That Car Could Talk: How to Locate and Maintain a Good Used Car an indispensible guide for those who don't want to end up with a lemon.

We also welcome Squire Malloy the author of Swerving Down the Highway: Selected Reflections on the Golden Age of Drunken Driving. Within theser pages you will find tales of the brave young men who took to their vehicles, beer
can in hand, fearing nothing but incompetent sober drivers and the
occasional moving telephone pole.

Please join us in welcoming home JIM SALMON.

We all have days when we think to ourselves: "I wish I could get away from it all". Jim did just that - left his day job as an insurance underwriter and embarked on a nineteen month trip around the world. The Rime of the Ancient Underwriter: How I Stowed the Day Job and Went to Sea is his personal account of the journey aboard the Picton Castle, a three-masted barque sailing out of Nova Scotia.

Jim weathered storms, tramped through jungles, climbed Kilimanjaro, and shadowed wildlife in the Australian Outback. There are pirates and a mutiny, but mostly his account is about the people, places, and the human condition as seen through the eyes of a corporate exec turned seafarer.

The author, whose ancestors were also seafarers, lives in New Hampshire and continues to stay close to the water, spending his summers as a part-time schooner captain.

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Among the Elms Writer’s Group meets at the Keene Toadstool the first and third Wednesday of the month.  Among the Elms is a writer’s group for those with a love for the written word.  Come for feedback, fellowship, support, inspiration, and information.  All writers are welcome.

*The book pictured is not one being discussed or used, it is just one of the books in our selection of titles on writing.

It's official! TESS GERRITSEN will honor us with a drive-by signing at around Noon in the midst of her busy national tour for her new Rizzoli & Isles thriller, LAST TO DIE.

Whether you're a fan of her books, the hit TNT series, or both, here's your chance to meet the bestselling author and get your book(s) signed!

*Please note: Tess will just be signing stock and not doing a formal presentation. You are most welcome to visit, say hello, and get a book autographed. Or if you cannot make it, feel free to leave your book to be signed for you.

Visit her website: www.tessgerritsen.com

Best-selling authors R.A. & Geno Salvatore return to our store to talk about and sign their new novel in the Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms series, Stone of Tymora.

Maimun is an orphan who couldn't imagine how unfortunate it would be to discover a stone that makes him forever lucky. Fleeing a powerful demon, he stows away aboard the ship Sea Sprite where he encounters a cast of characters well-known to Salvatore fans. Hunted by the demon, haunted by a mysterious spellcaster, and chased by a pirate, Maimun must unravel the secrets of the Stone of Tymora before his luck runs out!

R.A. Salvatore is the author of more than forty novels, including dozens of NYTimes best-sellers. He makes his home in central MA.

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Simon's latest scheme is to gain everlasting fame and glory by winning the school talent show. What stands in his way? A lot. There's the fact that he doesn't sing, dance, or play a musical instrument. There's Stacy and her distracting brown eyes. There's the evil Mike McApline and his cronies. And last, but certainly not least, is the aged Mrs. Anaand, who insists on bombarding Simon and his friends with dangerously hard muffins while they rehearse their act. Utter humiliation is looking a lot more likely than fame and glory for Simon's band, The Groovy Guys.

This hilarious chapter book features illustrations, pages from Simon's secret notebook, and a glossary.

Marty Kelley is the author of seven picture books for young readers. Also a musician, he taught second grade before becoming a full-time author-illustrator. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife, two children, three chickens, and one duck. This is his first novel for kids.

Teacher Appreciation Week Fall Sale

Mon., Oct. 8 - Sun., Oct. 14

25% OFF

books, cards, calendars, DVDs, CDs ... everything in stock (except certain "short discount" special orders)

This sale, held at all three stores (Peterborough, Keene, amd Milford, NH) during our normal store hours, is to express our gratitude for your commitment to educating our children and applies to all teachers and professors of grades kindergarten through college, school personnel, and homeschoolers. Buy books for the classroom, as gifts ... even treat yourself! Please bring some form of teacher ID. Thanks!

Please note, also, that our school discount policy includes a year-round 20% discount on "trade titles" to all teachers and homeschoolers purchasing books for classroom use. Please ask us for details!

Teacher Appreciation Week Fall Sale

Mon., Oct. 8 - Sun., Oct. 14

25% OFF

books, cards, calendars, DVDs, CDs ... everything in stock (except certain "short discount" special orders)

This sale, held at all three stores (Peterborough, Keene, amd Milford, NH) during our normal store hours, is to express our gratitude for your commitment to educating our children and applies to all teachers and professors of grades kindergarten through college, school personnel, and homeschoolers. Buy books for the classroom, as gifts ... even treat yourself! Please bring some form of teacher ID. Thanks!

Please note, also, that our school discount policy includes a year-round 20% discount on "trade titles" to all teachers and homeschoolers purchasing books for classroom use. Please ask us for details!

Teacher Appreciation Week Fall Sale

Mon., Oct. 8 - Sun., Oct. 14

25% OFF

books, cards, calendars, DVDs, CDs ... everything in stock (except certain "short discount" special orders)

This sale, held at all three stores (Peterborough, Keene, amd Milford, NH) during our normal store hours, is to express our gratitude for your commitment to educating our children and applies to all teachers and professors of grades kindergarten through college, school personnel, and homeschoolers. Buy books for the classroom, as gifts ... even treat yourself! Please bring some form of teacher ID. Thanks!

Please note, also, that our school discount policy includes a year-round 20% discount on "trade titles" to all teachers and homeschoolers purchasing books for classroom use. Please ask us for details!

Teacher Appreciation Week Fall Sale

Mon., Oct. 8 - Sun., Oct. 14

25% OFF

books, cards, calendars, DVDs, CDs ... everything in stock (except certain "short discount" special orders)

This sale, held at all three stores (Peterborough, Keene, amd Milford, NH) during our normal store hours, is to express our gratitude for your commitment to educating our children and applies to all teachers and professors of grades kindergarten through college, school personnel, and homeschoolers. Buy books for the classroom, as gifts ... even treat yourself! Please bring some form of teacher ID. Thanks!

Please note, also, that our school discount policy includes a year-round 20% discount on "trade titles" to all teachers and homeschoolers purchasing books for classroom use. Please ask us for details!

Teacher Appreciation Week Fall Sale

Mon., Oct. 8 - Sun., Oct. 14

25% OFF

books, cards, calendars, DVDs, CDs ... everything in stock (except certain "short discount" special orders)

This sale, held at all three stores (Peterborough, Keene, amd Milford, NH) during our normal store hours, is to express our gratitude for your commitment to educating our children and applies to all teachers and professors of grades kindergarten through college, school personnel, and homeschoolers. Buy books for the classroom, as gifts ... even treat yourself! Please bring some form of teacher ID. Thanks!

Please note, also, that our school discount policy includes a year-round 20% discount on "trade titles" to all teachers and homeschoolers purchasing books for classroom use. Please ask us for details!

Join us for a Books'N'Brews event when HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN talks about her explosive new suspense novel, The Other Woman.

Jane Ryland was a rising star in television news, until she refused to name a source and was disgraced. Now on the low rung at a local paper, Jane suspects a Senate candidate is hiding a secret - and it's days before the election. Detective Jake Brogan is on the hunt for a killer. The media is convinced a Bridge Killer is hunting Boston's young women. Could the cases be connected?

HANK is the investigative reporter for Boston's NBC affiliate (channel 7) and the author of the award-winning Charlotte McNally mystery series. She has won twenty-seven Emmys and a multitude of other journalism awards. She is on the national board of Mystery Writers of America and vice president of Sisters in Crime.

Teacher Appreciation Week Fall Sale

Mon., Oct. 8 - Sun., Oct. 14

25% OFF

books, cards, calendars, DVDs, CDs ... everything in stock (except certain "short discount" special orders)

This sale, held at all three stores (Peterborough, Keene, amd Milford, NH) during our normal store hours, is to express our gratitude for your commitment to educating our children and applies to all teachers and professors of grades kindergarten through college, school personnel, and homeschoolers. Buy books for the classroom, as gifts ... even treat yourself! Please bring some form of teacher ID. Thanks!

Please note, also, that our school discount policy includes a year-round 20% discount on "trade titles" to all teachers and homeschoolers purchasing books for classroom use. Please ask us for details!

It promises to be a superlative afternoon when poets W.E. BUTTS and J. KATES pay us a visit in support of their volumes in the Granite State Poetry Series.

W.E. BUTTS is the current Poet Laureate of New Hampshire (2009-2014) and the author of four previous books of poems. His new volume is titled Cathedral of Nervous Horses. Each poem evokes some haunting memory, transporting the reader to anther place and time. He is the recipient of numerous awards including a Pushcart Prize nomination, a finalist for the Philip Levine Prize in Poetry, and a winner of the 2006 Iowa Source Poetry Book Prize.

J. KATES is the author of The Briar Patch, a collection of poems and literary translations. Along with the witty playfullness of the poems, there is an urgent exploration of contemporary human relationships in this volume. He is the author of three previous volumes of poetry and a dozen translations from French and Russian. Mr. Kates is also the co-editor of Zephyr Press, which publishes literature in translation from around the world.

To learn more about them and many other fine writers, please visit hobblebush.com - they're located right here in Brookline, NH!

Teacher Appreciation Week Fall Sale

Mon., Oct. 8 - Sun., Oct. 14

25% OFF

books, cards, calendars, DVDs, CDs ... everything in stock (except certain "short discount" special orders)

This sale, held at all three stores (Peterborough, Keene, amd Milford, NH) during our normal store hours, is to express our gratitude for your commitment to educating our children and applies to all teachers and professors of grades kindergarten through college, school personnel, and homeschoolers. Buy books for the classroom, as gifts ... even treat yourself! Please bring some form of teacher ID. Thanks!

Please note, also, that our school discount policy includes a year-round 20% discount on "trade titles" to all teachers and homeschoolers purchasing books for classroom use. Please ask us for details!

Among the Elms Writer’s Group meets at the Keene Toadstool the first and third Wednesday of the month.  Among the Elms
is a writer’s group for those with a love for the written word.  Come
for feedback, fellowship, support, inspiration, and information.  All
writers are welcome.

We welcome special guest Eva Murray the author of Island Schoolhouse: One Room for All who will be speaking this evening.

It is the Depression of 1935, and Dez Spaulding abandons her move for NYC and returns to Cascade, Massachusetts to help her ailing father. But her fading dreams and difficult marriage are no match to losing her father's legacy, the Cascade Shakespeare Theatre, as the State decides whether to flood the town and create a new reservoir for the city of Boston.

Based on the actual flooding for the Quabbin Reservoir, MARYANNE O'HARA transports us back in time and recreates the era and its people vividly in her acclaimed debut novel, CASCADE.

Maryanne was an associate editor at Ploughshares, Boston's award-winning literary journal. She is a graduate of Emerson College's MFA program and has had several short stories published. American and Irish, she lives on a river near Boston.

Please join us on Pumpkinfest day as Fitzwilliam author Eric Stanway reads W. W. Jacob's "The Monkey's Paw".

Written in 1902, "The Monkey's Paw" remains a classic of raw, visceral terror. Join Eric Stanway as helps us kick off the Halloween season with a reading of this nail-biting ghost story.

He will also be signing copies of his two new horror anthologies, The Blood is the Life: A Treasury of Classic Vampire Tales and Mad Ghosts and Englishmen: A Treasury of Classic British Ghost Stories.

Join us for the kickoff of the Halloween and take a break from the Pumpkinfest madness!

Eric Stanway is a writer, artist and musician with over three decades of
experience. As an artist, he has illustrated a number of adaptations of
classic horror stories by Ambrose Bierce, Robert Louis Stevenson and
Charles Dickens. He is notable for his his adaptation of the film Night
of the Living Dead, followed by his collaboration with Clive Barker, Night of the Living Dead: London. He also writes a history/food column
for the Nashua Telegraph, entitled “A Taste of History.” He lives in
Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, with his significant other, an extended
family and Duncan, a huge black cat.

His most recent book is Madame Sherri.

Please join us and Professor Corey Olsen (born and raised right here in Wilton, NH) when he visits to lead a discussion on his new book, Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.

Tolkien's The Hobbit is one of the most widely read and best-loved books of the twentieth century. Corey takes readers on an in-depth journey, chapter by chapter, revealing the stories within the story. The delightful tale of Bilbo Baggins steps off the page in a whole new way as the world celebrates his 75th anniversary and readies for the new film this winter.

Dr. Olsen is assistant professor of English at Washington College in Maryland and the president and founder of the Mythgard Institute, an online teaching center for the study of Tolkien and other works of imaginative literature.

Monkey's Paw: Five Wishes Can Be Yours! Come celebrate Halloween and Classic Horror with a reading from W.W. Jacob's The Monkey's Paw.

Join author ERIC STANWAY as he digs through his musty old bookshelves to unearth classic tales of terror from such luminaries as Bram Stoker, M.R. James, Algernon Blackwood and others. The Blood is the Life contains dark tales of the undead, hailing from the 19th and 20th centuries. Mad Ghosts and Englishmen delves into the dark side of the British psyche, revealing the twisted secrets that lurk beneath the civilized exterior.

The author lives in Fitzwilliam, NH with his significant other, extended family, and huge black cat Duncan. Both volumes are $14.95 each from EMU Books. Visit www.EricStanway.com.

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Jane Schoenberg will be joining us to celebrate the release of the second Stuey Lewis book! Stuey Lewis Against All Odds: Stories from the Third Grade.

He's back! Stuey Lewis conquered second grade, but third grade's no piece of cake, either. Armed with more clever tricks up his sleeve, he's ready to face Lilly and the challenges of another year at school. So what are the odds he can transport his entire class to outer space, navigate a first-time flying fiasco, pull off the best-ever Mother's Day scheme, and come up with a cool-enough critter for the class's pet show? All bets are off!

“The large type and occasional pen-and-ink illustrations make this a great choice for reluctant readers. The unique cast of characters, including a very outspoken classmate named Lilly, creates many of the laughs in this engaging early chapter book.”--School Library Journal

Jane Schoenberg is a lyricist and the author of  The One and Only Stuey Lewis, My Bodyworks and The Baby Hustle. She lives in western Massachusetts.

Join us in welcoming Kenn & Kim Kaufman for the release of their newest field guide the Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of New England.

Whether you’re walking in the woods or along the beach, camping, hiking,
canoeing, or just enjoying your own backyard, this book will help
identify all your nature discoveries. With authoritative and broad
coverage, using nontechnical and lively language and more than 2,000
color photographs, this guide is an essential reference for nature
lovers living in or visiting New England.

Kenn Kaufman, originator of the Kaufman Field Guide series, is one of the world's foremost naturalists.

Kimberly Kaufman is the executive director of Ohio's Black Swamp Bird Observatory and a contributing editor to Birds & Blooms.

Drew was a normal 10 year old. On a sunny day in June 2009, he was given a death sentence he didn't deserve, an illness no child should face; the treatment options as frightening as the illness itself.

Anatomy of a Miracle: Drew's Story is Drew and his family's journey to the brink of darkness and the return of the boy who was born smiling.

Jennifer is a wife, full-time mother, and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in pediatrics. Her faith, education, and experience give her a perspective on this journey that is relevant to all who read the book. She resides right here in our community with her husband, three teenage sons and faithful dog Ginger. Please join us for what promises to be an ispirational event.

Let your inner DORK shine! Come to our party in support of the DORK DIARIES series. Kids 8-12 (Gr. 4-6) are invited to join in the fun, featuring snacks, prizes and FUN! Children attending are asked to bring a plain t-shirt and get creative as part of the activities. Sign up is required to reserve your spot in DORKville. See you here!

Join us and other authors and aspiring authors for discussion, critique, fellowship, support, and laughter with the AMONG THE ELMS Writing Group.

Don't forget - November is National Novel Writing Month!! Check out Nanowrimo.org for more information.

AMONG THE ELMS meets every first and third Wednesday of the month, they will NOT be meeting November 21st due to Thanksgiving falling the next day.

Please note: the book displayed will not necessarily be discussed.
Rather, we present it to let you know about new titles in our writing section.

LOIS McMASTER BUJOLD is one of the most respected writers in the field of speculative fiction, and we are honored to have her at the store.

Fans have been clamoring for the next installment in the Vorpatril saga, and will not be disappointed.

Though his predicament is complicated, at least Ivan doesn't have to worry about his family. Or so he believes... Find out what happens when you stop by to meet the author and pick up a signed copy of Captain Vorpatril's Alliance.

On sale Tuesday, November 6th. Reserve your copy today!

"I just want things to go back to the way they were, me and Brianna just friends, none of this bizarre, supernatural crap. I wish Phoenix would fade back into the shadows of the school. I wish Luke would go back to California. Now I'm stuck between, and don't have any idea what they are, but that doesn't even matter now because I don't know what I am."

KT BRADLEY was born and raised in Nashua, NH. Although he never aspired to be an author, he has been inspired by the fictional characters of Stephanie Meyer, Lewis Carol, and Zach Snyder; their vast landscapes helped to shape WAKING TESTAROSSA. KT currently lives in Milford, NH with his wife.

Six authors from the Rivier Institute for Senior Education (RISE) program will read and discuss their prose and poetry from DAWN: The Literary Journal of RISE.

This is an excellent opportunity to come and hear some of the very talented writers we have amongst us in our community. Copies of the journal will be available for purchase and signing for just $5.

Please don't miss this literary evening!

On a cold, icy winter day (and they're coming!) when "the world was ice and we were skaters without skates," seven children set out on a sledding adventure that soon soars to epic proportions in: The Iciest, Diciest, Scariest Sled Ride Ever!

Acclaimed New Hampshire storyteller REBECCA RULE infuses this story with her trademark sense of humor and authentic New England language. JENNIFER THERMES' vivid watercolors animate the winsome characters and winter action, as the children borrow Grampa Bud's runner sled and scramble their way up the mightiest sledding hill on Old Mountain Road. You'll be holding on for dear life and screaming for joy with this one!

Rececca Rule is the author of several books, including Live Free And Eat Pie! and Headin' for the Rhubarb: A New Hampshire Dictionary (well, kinda). She is best known for her live storytelling events, many sponsored by the NH Humanities Council. This one should prove no exception!

Jennifer Thermes is a children's book author and illustrator whose books include Maggie & Oliver and A Bone of One's Own. She lives in CT, where she also creates illustrated maps for publishing and magazine clients.

Please join us in welcoming Archer Mayor back to the Keene Toadstool for the signing of his 23rd Joe Guntehr novel Paradise City.

Joe Gunther and his team at the Vermont Bureau of Investigation are alerted to a string of unrelated burglaries across Vermont. Someone, in addition to flatscreens, computers, and stereos, has also been stealing antiques and jewelry.

Meanwhile, in Boston, an elderly woman surprises some thieves in her Beacon Hill home and is viciously murdered. The Boston police find that not only is the loot similar to what’s being stolen in Vermont, but it may have the same destination. Word is out that someone powerful is purchasing these particular kinds of items in the Paradise City of Northampton, Mass.

Gunther, the Boston Police, and the vengeful niece of the murdered old lady convene on Northampton, eager to get to the bottom of the mystery and find the “responsible parties”—although each is motivated to mete out some very different penalties.

Archer Mayor is the author of the highly acclaimed, Vermont-based series featuring detective Joe Gunther, which the Chicago Tribune describes as “the best police procedurals being written in America.” He is also a past winner of the New England Independent Booksellers Association Award for Best Fiction—the first time a writer of crime literature has been so honored.

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The latest in Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series centers on Winchester. This book boasts more than 200 vintage images and memories of days gone by.

Winchester’s early history was determined by two natural resources: the Ashuelot River and the Pisgah forest. The river was a source of water, power, and transportation for early settlers. The vast old-growth trees in the area known as Pisgah naturally led to sawmills, pail and box shops, and wood flour production. With industrialization in the 19th century and the coming of the railroad, Winchester became an ideal place for factories. The addition of two woolen mills and a cotton mill created jobs that drew immigrants to the area. By the turn of the 20th century, Winchester was a bustling, up-to-date place boasting 23 stores and almost as many schools. Townspeople had two banks and four churches to serve them, and the fertile valley kept them fed. The 1900s were less kind to Winchester as the mills closed one by one. Today, it is the rural landscape, the rich history, the recreational opportunities, and life in a place “where everybody knows your name” that induce nearly 5,000 people to proudly call Winchester home.

Carol Lamprey Poole is curator of the Sheridan House Museum and a former writer and editor for the Return of the Winchester Star. Most of the pictures included in this title come from the collections of the Conant Library and the Winchester Historical Society.

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Anyone attending Joe's signing in Milford on Saturday, and has a CHECK ENGINE light on will have it looked at for FREE! and he'll tell you what the code means.

Buying a used car can feel like a risky experience. You need a good, reliable vehicle that isn't going to break the bank with payments or unexpected repairs. But all you can know about the car is what you're told, and what you can see...right? In this concise, engaging, and friendly guide, expert mechanic JOE BOULAY shows you how to 'see' a car before you spend your hard-earned money. Even if you have no mechanical knowledge or aptitude, Joe's clear explanations, supported with photographs, can give you a wealth of information about what to look and listen for. You'll also find advice about how and where to shop for a car, the ins and outs of maintenance, and how to find a good mechanic. Whether you're looking at your first used car or your tenth, If That Car Could Talk: How to Locate and Maintain a Good Used Car is an invaluable resource for getting the most out of your next car purchase.

JOE BOULAY
has been fascinated with all things mechanical since childhood. He progressed from resurrecting defunct lawnmowers to becoming a certified automotive technician, earning a Platinum designation from Honda. After twenty years, JOE moved on to independent auto shops, learning and working on a variety of makes and models. JOE is excited to share his wealth of experience as a car owner and mechanic to help his readership find a safe, reliable car and a good, trustworthy mechanic.

Outskirts Press, $14.95)

Please join us as we welcome Dr. JESSICA BIRCH to come speak about and sign her honest, hearfelt memoir of coming out and transitioning - Confessions of a Transsexual Physician.

"This story is in part about the metamorphosis of a man becoming a woman, but the transformation is more than a simple change of physical appearance; it's one of spiritual and emotional change as well. Along the way, I've learned things about trust, friendship, love, and the infinite ways of being human."

To learn more about the author and her work, please visit jenniferemadden.com.

The Among the Elms Writers Group meets the first and third Wednesday of every month (holidays permitting). Join others who love the written word and get feedback, inspiration, critique, fellowship and and join in the fun, laughter and commiseration. All writers are welcome!

*The books shown are not ones that will be discussed, they simply highlight new and interesting books in our writing section. 

"Sometimes you're already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one."

In MEANT TO BE, when NYU professor Daniel Gardner's career-obsessed wife convinces him to move to the suburbs, he hopes it's a first step toward starting the family he longs to have. Instead of domestic bliss, he finds his neighbor, Marienne Valenti. She loves her freelance job, but contends with a growing sense of isolation created by her husband's indifference. A penchant for good books and bad movies sparks a powerful bond between Daniel and Marienne. Their friendship helps them weather every hardship, from divorce to widowhood, leaving them both secretly wondering if it can survive a first kiss.

Please join us in welcoming author KAREN STIVALI from Mont Vernon with her first in a series of Romance novels. "Like real life, only hotter." Visit her website: karenstivali.com to learn more. (Turquoise Morning, $16.97, pap)

It's a CD release Party!

For your holiday shopping enjoyment, JOHN OGRODOWCZYK will be here to sing in the holiday season featuring selections from his new music CD, Christmas Memories.

Opening the album is like coming home. John's performance draws us into the songs that fill our hearts with fond memories of this joyous season. After he sings, John will be available to speak about the CD and sign copies for you. Just $15!

Christmas Memories by John Ogrodowczyk 1. Home for the Holidays 2. Ding Dong! Merrily On High 3. Lullaby, Sweet Jesus 4. Children Run Joyfully 5. O Holy Night 6. Mary's Little Boy Child 7. There's a New Kid in Town 8. Ave Maria 9. Silver Bells 10. One Cold and Blessed Winter 11. Silent Night 12. Medley: Angels We Have Seen On high, O Come All Ye Faithful, Adeste Fideles, Joy to the World 13. White Christmas

New Hampshire scribe ERIC STANWAY returns to enlighten us with tales both creepy and obscure about the dark side of our Granite State with, Mysteries of Monadnock.

This gem of a book will make a perfect stocking stuffer for the history buff on your list. Autographed books make the best gifts! 

It wouldn't be Christmas without a visit from our master storyteller FRITZ WETHERBEE. The NH Chronicle TV personality will be here to share all new stories about the people and places that make our Granite State unique. In this eighth and final volume, Fritz has achieved his goal: 1000 tales with New Hampshire: Milestone.

Here you will meet: *The Baby-Bringer of Croydon *Fritz's Dad, the Media Star *The Bristol Witch *Mother Wadleigh and the Wildcat *The Civil War Brothers of Colebrook

And you will learn about: *Paul Revere's Bell in Milford *The Toughest Winter on Record *The Portsmouth Marine Bicycle *Four Towns Named for the Same Guy

So come join the fun and pick up a signed copy (or several) for everyone's stocking. Plaidswede Press, $19.95, in paperback.

Join us in welcoming Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan for a signing of their new book and documentary The Dust Bowl: An Illustrated History

In this riveting chronicle, which accompanies a documentary to be broadcast on PBS in the fall, Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns
capture the profound drama of the American Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
Terrifying photographs of mile-high dust storms, along with firsthand
accounts by more than two dozen eyewitnesses, bring to life this
heart-wrenching catastrophe, when a combination of drought, wind, and
poor farming practices turned millions of acres of the Great Plains
into a wasteland, killing crops and livestock, threatening the lives of
small children, burying homesteaders' hopes under huge dunes of dirt.
Burns and Duncan collected more than 300 mesmerizing photographs, some
never before published, scoured private letters, government reports,
and newspaper articles, and conducted in-depth interviews to produce a
document that may likely be the last recorded testimony of the
generation who lived through this defining decade.

We will have both the book and the documentary available for purchase.

Join us in welcoming Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace on Sunday, December 16th at 2pm where they will be discussing and signing copies of their children’s books Little Joe and the Kickers series.

It’s a cold December night and Fancy, the Stegner family’s cow, is about to give birth. Out pops Little Joe, a huge bull calf, and with him comes nine-year-old Eli’s first chance to raise an animal to show at next fall’s county fair. Over the next ten months, Eli, and Little Joe, learn some hard lessons about growing up and what it means to take on bigger responsibilities, especially when it comes to taking care of another living thing. But one thing Eli is trying not to think about is what will happen to Little Joe after the fair: it’s auction time, and he’ll have to sell Little Joe! In this appealing and heartwarming story that’s reminiscent of James Herriot’s books, Eli comes to terms with some of the realities of life on his family’s farm, and in the outside world, as he raises his first bull calf for competition.

For more than fifteen years, Sandra Neil Wallace reported on and anchored network news, then became a sports announcer with ESPN. Little Joe is her first novel, she has a young adult novel coming out in 2013.

Nine-year-old Ben is brand-new to soccer, but he's a good athlete and knows he'll do well on the Bobcats, his team in the local Kickers soccer league. If he can only work around his obnoxious teammate Mark, The Ball Hog, Ben is sure he'll score his first goal. But Coach Patty, and Ben's own teammates, show him a little something about teamwork. And suddenly it dawns on him: he's a ball hog, too. Can he change his ways before the Bobcats lose their shot at the Kickers play-offs? This is the first book of four in the Kickers soccer series, filled with lively black-and-white art and fast-paced, on-the-field action. The four books cover the early season through the playoffs in easy-to-read style.

Award-winning sports novelist Rich Wallace introduces the Kickers soccer series, filled with lively black-and-white art and fast-paced, on-the-field action.

Just inside our door and to your right, please nod a hello to PHYL MANNING, a local author paying us a visit in support of her books. She's written something for everyone - kids to grandparents. Have a chat, check out her titles, and get an autographed book for you or a loved one.

Originally from Nebraska, Phyl took advantage of an opportunity to teach abroad, and with her family went first to Saipan, then Pohnpei in the West Pacific. After several years, they went from there to work and live in (and travel around) other places until Phyl can say she has spent time on every continent except Australia ("Still a bucket destination") and Antarctica ("No thanks"). The stories herein are some of the adventures of this "ordinary woman in extraordinary places."

Phyl Manning was a Finalist in the 2012 International Books category "Narrative NonFiction" for her memoir Here, There and Otherwhere.

The Among the Elms Writers Group meets the first and third Wednesday of every month (holidays permitting). Join others who love the written word and get feedback, inspiration, critique, fellowship and and join in the fun, laughter and commiseration. All writers are welcome!

*The books shown are not ones that will be discussed, they simply highlight new and interesting books in our writing section.