It's Been Awhile

It's been awhile since I've posted anything here, but that doesn't mean we haven't been busy at Chapters. I should have posted photos from our fall and Christmas events and our signing with Jan Brett at Concordia in December--they're on Facebook if you want to see them. I'll try to do better about posting them here, too.

2016 is off to a great start. We hosted a book fair at Immanuel Lutheran School in Columbus this month, and the school earned more than $450 for their library. Our writers' group continues to meet the first and third Wednesday of each month. If you're interested in joining us, everyone is welcome.

Next week, we're looking forward to a busy week as we kick off our special events for the year. Monday night, February 29, Rachel Pozehl of Two Dog Pond will join us for a Zentangle workshop. Registration is closed as the session is full, but we'll offer another in March, so don't despair. Rachel says zentangling is easy. I'm not so sure. I'll let you know after the workshop!

Next week is also Read Across America Day and a celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday. Highlights of our week will include a storytime and signing with author Rebecca Gomez at Seward Elementary School on Wednesday, March 2, and birthday cake at Chapters on Saturday, March 5. To pre-purchase a book for Rebecca to sign, contact Chapters by March 1. An Omaha resident, Rebecca is the co-author with Corey Rosen Schwartz of What About Moose? Illustrated by Keika Yamaguchi, it's a fun, rhyming picture book with a gentle lesson about teamwork. Rebecca's May release with Corey Rosen Schwartz and illustrator Dan Santat, Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks, is an action-packed fractured version of the traditional story that's anything but traditional.

In April, we'll participate in the second annual Independent Bookstore Day, again hosting a day of local authors and special merchandise available only on that day. So far, eleven authors are on the schedule. Many are returning to Chapters for repeat visits, but a few are new to us, so you won't want to miss this opportunity to meet them and purchase signed books. More details, a list of participants, and author biographies will be coming soon. For now, put Saturday, April 30 on your calendar.

Add Saturday, May 7, to your calendar, too! That's when we'll host Ted Kooser in a release party for his new picture book, The Bell in the Bridge. Look for this to be a unique event. We visited a "house held up by trees" for his last picture book's release. This time, we're hoping to head to a steel bridge like the one in the book. The book is a sweet story about a lonely boy who finds a way to entertain himself while visiting his busy grandparents. You'll never look at a bridge the same again after reading it.