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Established 2016

Evergreen News

News on Events, Authors, and Programs offered at Foggy Pine Books

Indie Bookstore Day 2020

8/26/2020

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This year's Indie Bookstore Day was postponed from April & we've been waiting patiently to celebrate with you! We hope you'll join us this Saturday, August 29th to show your love for indie bookstores, as we show our love for you. We have a lot of really cool giveaways, special events from the official IBD event planners, and a special virtual event with our owner, Mary. Keep reading to see how awesome your weekend is about to get!

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The second giveaway you should be aware of is for an Indie Bookstore Day tote bag. We have 3 of them to give away to the first 3 customers who spend $50 or with with us on Saturday, August 29th. The winner will be announced on Monday, August 31st. 

Make your purchase online, via email, or over the phone from 9am to 5:30pm. You don't have to be able to pick this one up, we will ship it with your order, if you need your books shipped!
This year, we are offering several giveaways. You can enter this one for a tote bag full of goodies by making ANY purchase from us on Sat. August 29th from 9am to 5:30pm. This goodie bag must be picked up by the winner; we cannot ship.

You can win Edgar Allan Poe enamel pins, a Little Engine That Could t-shirt, a Banned Books heat-reactive mug, a Bookstore Day candle, buttons & bookstore swag--all packed away into a commemorative bag! 

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Finally, the Grand Prize Giveaway of 2020's Indie Bookstore Day. You can enter by spending $30 or more with us online, over the phone, or via email this Saturday from 9am to 11:59pm. The winner will be announced on Monday, August 31st.

If you win, you will get a $40 gift card to Foggy Pine Books & a private, in-store shopping experience! This shopping appointment is good for up to 3 people for up to an hour & a half, masks are required, and the appointment must be made before the end of 2020. 

Want to spend less with a chance to win big? Then the Raffle is perfect for you. Buy a raffle ticket for $5 & you will be entered to win 1 of 2 private, in-person shopping experiences. The winner will be announced on Monday, August 31st.  

​This shopping appointment is good for up to 3 people for up to an hour & a half, masks are required, and the appointment must be made before the end of 2020. 

You can buy your ticket online here, over the phone, or via email. 
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Giveaways & raffles aren't the only special things we have going on this year! We also have some EXCLUSIVE Indie Bookstore Day items for you to snag!

We have:
(2) Shuri Poster Signed by Nic Stone ($5.99)
(2) copies of Space Bandits ($26.99)
(5) Supa Capes ($10.99 & free DOAAFK swag bag w/ purchase)
(5) Bookstore Day Frostbeard Studio Candles ($11)

The double-sided Supa Capes say #DoGood on one side and Reading Makes You A Superhero on the other. You will get a free Diary of a Friendly, Awesome Kid swag bag with your purchase of a Supa Cape for $10.99. 


​Do you just want something free? We have "Reader Born & Raised" stickers available for anyone who wants one, all day long on Saturday! We also have 5 reader's journals, Read for Joy by Katherine Center, that we will be giving out for free to the first 5 people who make a purchase with us! We also have Foggy Pine Books bookmarks that we'll be giving away, as well, to anyone who asks. 
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Foggy Pine Events

​Join us via FB Live while Mary reads Watty Piper's classic children's book, The Little Engine That Could. The storytime begins at 3pm ET and we can't wait to "see" you there!

We will be giving away a Little Engine That Could shirt to one of the storytime attendees! All you have to do to win is be there until the end of the storytime!

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​We are still meeting virtually for our August Book Club so come and join us online for a lively discussion of A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow. If you haven't finished it (or didn't like it) we still want to hear from you! We are meeting here @ 7:30pm and we hope to "see" you there!


​WEATHER PERMITTING we will be continuing our (very new) tradition of Saturday tent sales! From 12:30pm to 5:30pm we will have tables of used & new books out in front of the store for you to browse through. Masks and social distancing are REQUIRED--we cannot provide masks so please bring your own. See y'all soon!
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Virtual Events


​Join us for a fun and interactive drawing demonstration with illustrator and author Lisa Brown. Her books include Goldfish Ghost, The Airport Book, The Phantom Twin, Mummy Cat, Long Story Short, and others. The event begins at 10 am PT/1 pm ET and is presented via Zoom.
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​IBD is excited to host a discussion and drawing class with Gene Luen Yang, author of the graphic novel Dragon Hoops. The event begins at 10:30 am PT/ 1:30 pm ET and you can follow this link to the Zoom meeting room.


​​Authors Renee Watson (Ways to Make Sunshine) and LeBron James (I Promise) will be hosting an event for middle-grade students that's sure to be tons of fun. They will be joined by Isaac Fitzgerald (How To Be A Pirate) as moderator. Join us at 11 am PT/2 pm ET for this engaging and hilarious event.
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​Join bestselling YA fantasy authors Kat Cho (Wicked Fox, Vicious Spirits), Rena Barron (Kingdom of Souls, Reaper of Souls), and Rebecca Kim Wells (Shatter the Sky) as they discuss world-building in YA feminist fantasy fiction. This event starts at 12 pm PT/ 3 pm ET.



​Explore the very near future with Amor Towles as he reads from the exclusive,  Bookstore Day edition of his story You Have Arrived At Your Destination. This event will take place at 4pm ET.
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​Join authors Reyna Grande (The Distance Between Us), Rishi Reddi (Passage West: A Novel), and Lauren Francis-Sharma (Book of the Little Axe) REYNA GRANDE (THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US), as they discuss reexamining the history, culture, and myths of the West through their fiction.


​Join co-hosts Jennifer Haupt, editor of Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of COVID-19, and Garth Stein, Author Leadership Circle Campaign Chair for Binc, for readings and conversations with Alone Together contributing authors Faith Adiele, Gayle Brandeis, W. Ralph Eubanks, Jamie Ford, Major Jackson, Sonora Jha, Scott James, Jessica Keener, Jean Kwok, Roberto Lovato, Ada Limón, Claudia Castro Luna, Kevin Sampsell, and Luis Alberto Urrea.
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Join three of Bookstore Day's past Author Ambassadors for a lively discussion of books, bookstores, and the writing life. Tayari Jones (An American Marriage, Silver Sparrow), Lauren Groff (Fates & Furies, Florida), and Emma Straub (All Adults Here, Modern Lovers, The Vacationeers and owner of Books Are Magic in NYC). 

Let us know which events you're most excited for and know that we can't wait to see you this weekend! Read on!
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July 2020

7/3/2020

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Hello bookworms! We've made it half-way though this crazy year and things don't seem like they'll be slowing down anytime soon. Don't worry though, we are here for you. We have curated several reading lists sure to keep you flipping those pages. But before we get to the fun stuff, let's get the business updates out of the way. We're going to start with a letter from the owner, Mary Ruthless. 

A Letter from the Owner

As many of you know, we have taken Covid-19 very seriously. We continue to keep up with the status of cases in Watauga County as a way to inform our decisions about store policies. Since even before Phase 2 started, the number of active cases & individuals being monitored has continued to increase. Despite that, we felt that we could keep ourselves and our customers reasonably safe with the proper precautions which is why we opened up by appointment in June. Initially, we were very excited to welcome our customers back to the store. However, as the month progressed, we were met with hostility & anger. Folks who hadn't scheduled an appointment wanted to be let into the store immediately. In one case, a customer actually attempted to push our bookseller out of the doorway so they could enter the store. Folks who did schedule appointments were always respectful but, as customers became more comfortable within our space, we found that some were increasingly forgetful of the rules we put in place to keep our everyone safe. Everything from wearing a mask to social distancing while in the store became an argument. 

I, as an business owner, have a moral imperative to put my staff's safety & the safety of ALL our customers above the desires of a few. It is not reasonable to ask my booksellers to continue to serve folks who will not respect our policies & boundaries, especially while cases continue to rise. After a discussion between myself & our booksellers, we have decided to revert back to pickup, delivery, and shipping only.

This was not an easy decision to make. The book business is notorious for being a career that you go into because you love, not because you want to make money. However, the pandemic has been extremely hard on Foggy Pine Books. We're doing our best to hang on through this difficult time but, with a lack of resources & income to help keep us here, the struggle has been ongoing. So, closing our doors to folks isn't something I do lightly. I am deeply concerned about the future of the store but that concern is minuscule compared to my concern for the health & safety of myself, my staff, our customers, and our community. I hope that you understand and will continue to shop with us online, over the phone, and via email.  

Books have been a great comfort to us during these stressful times. We hope you will allow us to continue serving you in this limited capacity so we can all stay safe and, hopefully, return to business as usual when this is over. If you have any questions, please reach out to us by phone or email. ​


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​This Saturday, July 4th, we will be closed. We will reopen to our usual hours on Monday. If you are struggling to know how to move forward with a celebration that is problematic to many of our fellow Americans, we have found this article to be a helpful navigational tool.
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As you know, we have put together an antiracist reading list for our community of readers. We have over 250 titles on our master list and will continue to add to it as we move forward. The list includes titles for all ages (kids & teens included) and has expanded to include antiracist titles by authors of all backgrounds.

You can browse see them in their individual categories or scroll through the main list to see more titles. Please be aware many titles are backordered right now but will be arriving soon. We have tried to include as many books as possible that are currently in stock but if you want to be sure before placing an order, just give us a call at 828-386-1219 to check on inventory status.
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Foggy Pine Books + Black in Boone


​We are partnering with local community group
Black in Boone to promote one title by a Black author every month. The proceeds from the sale of those books will be donated to Black in Boone. For July, we are promoting So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo.

So, place your order with us online, over the phone, or via email & your purchase will benefit our community!
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Summer Reading

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​Kids don't want to think about school starting up again but the next school year is just around the corner! Now's the time for assigned summer reading and we carry all the high school summer reading titles & the ASU common core reading program titles. We have multiple copies of each in stock & you can order them directly from our website! You can do that here or you can call us at 828-386-1219 or email us at
orders@foggypinebooks.com

Upcoming Book Clubs

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Free Books for Boone

We have updated our guidelines for participants of Free Books for Boone! Through this program, we are providing free books to those in Watauga County. You simply fill out a short application stating your interests, books you've liked before, and your personal info and we will pick the perfect book for you.

We're also accepting financial and book donations from members of the community who would like to help us keep the program going.

Have questions? Send us an email at: bookseller@foggypinebooks.com.
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Browsing Catalogs

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Spanish Bookshelf 2020
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Cooking 2020
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June 2020

6/22/2020

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Hello bookworms! As you may know, we're not quite out of the woods when it comes to public health and safety. To that end, we are continuing to be open by appointment only. Bring your mask and "browse" for some new books. The booksellers will pull titles based on your interests and you can enjoy a personal shopper style book experience. You can schedule your appointment online, over the phone (828-386-1219), or via email.

Now there are even more ways to get your book, no matter how you placed your order. In addition to our curbside pickup, local delivery, and free media mail shipping options, we have recently added a drive thru window!
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Check out the video below & our IG page for more details! For more information regarding safety precautions and customer requirements, check out the May blog post on the website. We can't wait to see you all back in person!

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In light of recent events, we felt compelled to put together an antiracist reading list for our community of readers. Many of you have been asking about books for kids and teenagers, so we made sure to include books for all ages. This is just the beginning of what will be a very large list. We have over 250 titles on a master list and will continue to add to it every day.

Right now, we are featuring books by Black authors only. While there are many aspects to antiracism that we feel are important for folks to read about, we do not want to distract the conversation away from Black lives and stories right now. So, you'll see included in these lists stories about Black joy and family, Black magic and pain, Black dreams and desire, Black love and friendship. 

You can browse see them in their individual categories or scroll through the main list to see more titles. Please be aware many titles are backordered right now but will be arriving soon. We have tried to include as many books as possible that are currently in stock but if you want to be sure before placing an order, just give us a call at
​828-386-1219 to check on inventory status.
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If you're not quite ready to venture out (we totally get it) you can spend some time looking through these beautiful catalogs from Ingram, featured below. Give us a call when you find that perfect title & we'll get it to you as quickly as possible!
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Spring Inspirations
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Summer Reading
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Biography and History
Our book clubs are still in full, online swing! The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Book Club is meeting June 25th @ 6:30pm. Come tell us what you thought of E. Latimer's newest story, Witches of Ash and Ruin! And last, but certainly never least, Foggy Pine Book Club is reading The Tale of Gengi (after an enthusiastic vote via Instagram). Join us online June 27th @ 7:30pm for a lively discussion, even if you didn't like it!

If you're looking for something to read now, look no further! We have selected a few fun quizzes and articles to keep you entertained while you are stuck at home.

Articles:

On Letting Go of Certainty in a Story That Never Ends -- Finding Communion in the Fairy Tales We Tell by Rebecca Solnit
A murderess, a black mass, a scandalous literary salon: Welcome to Paris in 1920 by Corinne Segal

Quizzes:

Match the Author with the Ailment: Dementia, Scurvy, Bipolar Disorder, some of these will surprise you!
Opening Lines: Dickens, Melville, Vonnegut, and more - name the novel from it's opening lines!

​You can also sign up to receive our newsletter, which is packed with goodies! Normally for PRIDE we partner with App State's SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Alliance) for a Queer Lit Night, creating a safe place to talk about the books we have loved and sharing them with each other. In lieu of lit night, we have compiled a LGBTQIA+ newsletter complete with a curated queer ​reading list, quizzes, stories, merchandise and more. This newsletter will be sent out this week. 
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Staff Picks

Mary:

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Elly:

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Deion:

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Katharine:

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Josh:

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Stay safe, stay healthy, read on!
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May 2020

5/7/2020

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By Katharine Brown
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Hello fellow bookworms! May is our anniversary month and, on May 23, we will have been open for 4 years. Can you believe we've been here that long?! While we're sad that we can't have a big party, we have a few fun things planned for later this month. Keep your eye on our Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for the latest updates! 

We've been holed up like hobbits for what feels like forever and it seems that there will be more second breakfasts ahead of us. But don't despair! Foggy Pine Books is always here for you. Even if we can't host events or chat with you while you browse, we are finding ways to keep your mind busy and sharp and hold boredom at bay. Take a peek below for reviews, quizzes, articles, and book suggestions we've been tracking down for you. And drop a comment to let us know what you're doing to have fun on the home front.​

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​We are closing tomorrow, Friday, May 8th so that we can rearrange to store to better welcome our guests and implementing some new features to keep everyone safe.

We are still offering curbside pickup for anyone that would like to grab their order for the weekend, however, we will not be taking orders.

If you'd like us to review your order request first thing on Saturday morning, please email us at: orders@foggypinebooks.com. You may also place online orders anytime!

In an effort to reduce contact as much as possible, we are re-opening this Saturday, May 9th, by appointment only .

You can schedule your appointment online , over the phone (828-386-1219), or via email. We are excited to welcome guests back into the store and will be implementing a personal shopper style experience for each appointment. We'll also offer complimentary tea or coffee!
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To start, masks are required for anyone in the store for a personal shopping appointment. This is for everyone's safety and there are no exceptions. Also, guests will be required to wash their hands immediately upon entering the store. Then, they will take a seat somewhere they feel comfortable and a bookseller will sit and talk with them about what kind of books they're looking for. Then, the bookseller will go pull books that they recommend for guests to review. Browsing is allowed but only booksellers are allowed to remove books from the shelves. Finally, appointments are limited to two people at once and can only be booked for an hour at a time. If you need more time to shop, please email us to set up your appointment.

Before and after each shopper, the store will be sanitized, as well as any items that may have been touched previously by another customer. Finally, our staff will wear masks at all times.

These may seem like extreme measures but we are committed to safety for our guests & our staff. Each step of the process has been thought through to ensure that we are reducing contact as much as possible. If you have questions or concerns about any of this, please don't hesitate to reach out to us!
Book your appointment now

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It's the last day to enter our amazing giveaway! Thanks to a generous donor, we are offering anyone who purchases a mystery box an entry into a drawing for a $50 gift card to Foggy Pine Books. You can enter until 11:59pm tonight so hurry and fill out your mystery box form here. Best of luck to you!

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This month, we are excited to introduce you to our newest venture. We know this year has been trying, for all of us in the community. We also know that the escape and comfort a book offers is something many of us are taking advantage of during social distancing. In order to be sure this pastime is something that is available to all members of our community, regardless of means, we have started Free Books for Boone. Through this program, we will provide free books to those in Watauga County who are unable to buy their own. Just fill out a short application stating your interests, books you've liked before, and your personal information so we can pick the perfect book for you. We're also accepting financial and book donations from members of the community who would like to help us keep the program going. You can learn more about that here. Have questions? Send us an email at: bookseller@foggypinebooks.com.

​Finding yourself pacing the floor, desperate for something to do? What about organizing your bookshelves? Our brilliant intern Elly has gathered up some popular (read: staff) ideas about how to set up your shelves. Check out her post here and let us know how your shelves are organized (or not). Can't wait to read more? Elly has written engaging posts on other topics too. Try Mythology, Up & Coming Books of 2020, or her report on the upcoming Netflix original, Sandman, which is based on the popular graphic novel series.

Ready to try something new? You've got to get your hands on one of the IndieNext or Okra Picks for 2020! Okra Pick books have been chosen by SIBA Indie Bookstores as the books they are most excited to handsell to customers, books that inspire conversation and broaden horizons. IndieNext titles are similar, but feature recommendations from booksellers across the country. Click on the photos below to be taken to the full lists and find the perfect title for you!
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2020 IndieNext List
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2020 Okra Picks

And for those of us who just love to browse, spend some time looking through these beautiful catalogs from Ingram, featured below. Give us a call when you find that perfect title & we'll get it to you as quickly as possible!
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Graphic Novels & Comics
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Gift Books
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Lifestyle

Can't wait for your mystery box or your new orders? Need something book related to read right now? Check out these articles, quizzes, and various sundry we've been enjoying the last few weeks. 

Articles:

Quizzes

-- A Brief History of Books that Do Not Exist A beautiful read about the interconnectedness of our lives...and ghost books.
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-- The Women's Prize for Fiction Shortlist Formerly the Orange Prize, this list is full of great titles for your TBR pile.
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--  Fairy Tales and Facts: How We Read in a Pandemic ​In times of upheaval, do you read towards your fear or away from it?​​​
-- Which Magical City Should You Live In? Did you enjoy The City We Became by NK Jemisin? Find out what city soul matches your's with this fun quiz!

-- What's Your Reading Personality? 7 questions to discover what kind of a reader you are (anyone else eclectic?)

-- What Classic Book Are You? And just think, if you haven't read it, you'll have another title for your TBR!

Just a reminder, we are still holding our book clubs at the end of the month. You can join us via Google Meet to share all your thoughts and feelings on our May titles. Find the link to join, information, and details about our Fantasy/Science Fiction title here and our Foggy Pine Book Club pick here.​ Silent Book Club has also moved online so we hope to see you there!

Staff Picks:

Here's a peek at what our awesome booksellers are reading!

Josh:

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Mary:

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Elly:

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Katharine:

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Deion:

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Stay safe and cozy, we will see you soon. Read on!
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Book Shelfies

4/7/2020

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By Elly Murray
Hello fellow book nerds! I hope you’re all keeping safe and not going too stir-crazy during this Coronavirus upheaval. While we’re all stuck at home, I thought I’d write a post about how we organize our bookshelves! There are few things in this world that bring me more joy than re-organizing my bookshelf. Something about having everything in a nice, neat stacks (and also getting to go through all my books and remember what I actually have) is just really satisfying. So, I’ve created this little post to examine all the different methods of book organization that our booksellers here love to employ at home. That way if anyone is inspired to reorganize, they have plenty of time on their hands to do that.  I’m not sure how many of you enjoy organizing your books as much as I do, but if you do, this post is for you!

I suppose we’ll start with me; most of my books exist on “shelves” of sorts. In order to have a place for all my books I’ve had to stretch the term “shelves” to include several things that are not shelves, including two plastic purple bins, a space under my bed, and a “shelf” that I built myself from pieces of discarded wood. It leans atrociously to one side, doesn’t have a bottom, and could honestly come apart at any minute.

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I usually stick to the classic by-author’s-last-name means of organization, but as I’ve accumulated more and more books (to the point where my roommates fear an impending avalanche), I’ve noticed that there are certain books that just don’t work with that method of organization. So, I’m hoping to gain some inspiration from some of our booksellers and how they organize their books!
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Elly's bookshelf
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Under Elly's bed
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Elly's "extra" shelf
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Elly's desk stack

Our esteemed Mary Ruthless also has two separate shelves, but for paperbacks and hardcovers. Both shelves are organized alphabetically by author’s last name (a woman after my own simplistic taste). She also has all of her comics arranged by main character and size, and then the books on her headboard and bedside table are in order of what’s most appealing to read next, with most appealing on the top and least appealing on the bottom

l imagine the separate shelves for hardcovers and paperbacks must make it difficult if you have several books from the same author or in the same series, when some are paperback and some are hardcover. However, I really like the idea of sorting my books based on what I would like to read next! That would certainly help me wade through the mountain of books that I own but probably won’t read.
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Paperbacks
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Hardcover
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Paperback Continued
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Headboard
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Bedside

Josh has a total of three bookshelves throughout his home, in varying places such as his basement and living room. He says there isn’t really an organization system to his books, except that one of the shelves is mostly outdoor books and graphic novels. However, his shelves are decorated with all sorts of cool knick-knacks! I definitely like to spice up my shelves too, except my knick-knacks are all tiny action figures of sorts. 
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Josh living room
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Josh outdoor graphic novel
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Josh basement

Katharine's books exist in one of three places: in her closet, her nightside stack, or under her bed. The ones in her closet are designated as “already read” or “not going to read anytime soon.” The category of “not going to read anytime soon” includes classics that she’s saving for when her kids need them, favorites that she’s not ready to re-read yet, and gifts that she can’t toss yet. The ones under her bed are “currently reading” or “next on the list to read.” 

Again, I really like the idea of organizing my books based on what I’m going to read next. I do have a small shelf that sits on my desk where I put books that I’m either currently reading, about to read, or borrowing from fellow literary nerds. I also completely understand the notion of not being able to get rid of books that people have gotten you just yet.
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Katharine's closet
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Katharine's "next-to-read"
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Katharine's "been-read" stack

​Well, all of these lovely organization techniques from our booksellers have certainly given me a ton of new ideas on how to re-organize my bookshelf, and hopefully they have sparked some schemes in your heads too. 

And please feel free to let us know in the comments what methods of organization you like to use! I hope you’re all keeping safe during these tumultuous times, and maybe you have some time now to get cozied up with your favorite books. As always, read on!
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Important Store Updates

3/31/2020

1 Comment

 
Hello, Foggy Pine Readers! I hope you're  all safe & healthy, staying at home as much as possible, and (of course) reading, reading, reading! As many of your are already aware, the governor issued an executive Stay At Home order this Friday, which went into effect yesterday at 5pm. Under that order, our store is considered essential as a bookstore that sells educational materials. We are deeply grateful that we are allowed to remain open and are taking extra precautions to keep our staff and our customers safe, while also providing for your needs. We will remain closed to the public and will continue taking orders through our online store, via email, and over the phone. Phone orders and pickup will be taken Monday - Saturday from 9am to 5:30pm. However, we have made some changes to the way we're offering curbside pickup and local delivery. We will still be offering free media mail shipping. Keep reading to find out what's changed!

Curbside Pickup

​We are still offering curbside pickup, however, we are altering the way we do it to eliminate person-to-person interaction. There will now be a pickup station for you to pick your book up from outside the store. If it is sunny, we will put a bench out on the parking lot side of the store so that you can drive up and grab your order easily. Please call us a couple minutes before you arrive or when you're headed our way and we will put your order out on the bench. Your order will have your name on it but there's not usually more than person picking up at the same time. If it's raining, the bench will be in front of the door. 

Local Delivery

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Due to the small size of our staff, we have decided to reduce the size of the area in which we will deliver. A map is included above, however, if you aren't sure whether your address is in our area, please reach out to us. Before we make deliveries, we will let customers know that we're on the way and ask where to place the order outside. Please do not meet your delivery bookseller outside or at the door. If no location is given, the order will be placed at your front door.

Other Info & How to Order

Some folks have asked us what the best ways are to support us right now. So, we thought that we would give you some ideas.

First, if you are supporting us by placing an order, we prefer taking orders over the phone or via email. This ensures that we receive the most money from your purchase, in a more timely fashion. If you want to see what we might be able to order, the online store we currently have is a great place to start. Unfortunately, we don't have our current inventory online so if you want to know what we have on hand, please reach out to us. If you prefer to shop online, please don't feel guilty. We are happy to serve you in that capacity. We are working diligently to get books on our shelves into a digital home. Stay tuned!
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Second, if you have plenty to read right now but still want to help out, we have a tip & donation jar set up on our website. Absolutely anything is welcome and helpful. Your donations will be spent helping us pay our bills and our staff. If you want to leave a tip for a certain employee, please name them in the comment box and we will give 100% of that money to them.
Third, we always recommend gift cards. There are several good reasons to buy gift cards right now. They act as small no interest loans so that we get a much needed influx of cash. Gift cards make excellent gifts for pretty much any occasion and buying them reduces the pressure on warehouse workers to work in cramped environments.
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Finally, check out our brand new mystery box option! You can purchase any size box to get books handpicked for you, your family, or someone who needs a gift. Just choose what size box you want and tell us about yourself (or the person/people getting it): genres you like to read, books you've really enjoyed, books you've hated, interests and hobbies, or things you're interested in learning about or trying. This will help us find something awesome for you to read!
How does this help us though? Ordering the mystery box option allows us to choose from the books we already have on hand first before ordering anything from our distributor or publishers. This reduces the amount of people involved in your order, reduces the pressure on delivery and warehouse workers, and allows us to sell inventory we've already purchased. Plus, it's a lot of fun!

That's it for our updates! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We'll be happy to assist you with anything you need. The April newsletter and blog posts will be coming out soon, as well as some new blog posts from our amazing intern, Elly. We're putting together some fun stuff for you to read because, if you're like us, there's only so much bad/sad/frustrating news that one can read in any given day. And remember, if you want news and updates first PLUS coupons every month, sign up for our newsletter! 
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Mythology

3/24/2020

0 Comments

 
By Elly Murray
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© paracast
If you were a huge fan of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, and loved the mythology element of it especially, check out this list of books about mythology and folktales! This list spans several cultures, including African, German, Native American, Japanese, and Islamic, to name a few. The books on this list explore the fairytales and folklore that we used to explain our world, to terrify children, to develop morality, or as a source of entertainment. Over time, original fairy and folk tales have evolved into common threads that tie together many of our stories today. Several of the books on this list are re-tellings of beloved fairy tales. They share overarching themes with the original tale that allow readers a sense of familiarity, but with a modern twist that brings a new and interesting take.

1. The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley

Sabrina and Daphne Grimm have been through a lot of rather unpleasant foster homes since their parents disappeared. However, things start to get a bit strange when they’re finally taken to their long-lost grandmother in Ferryport Landing.

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​Between working as detectives to unravel the mysteries surrounding their parents’ disappearance, trying to keep an evil band of fairytale characters from spilling out into the normal world, and Puck being, well, Puck, these two sisters will have to stick together. They’re all they have left to rely on in this topsy-turvy world.

This 9-book series introduces thrilling variants of characters from the Grimm fairy tales you know and love, as well as characters from other stories, such as the Wizard of Oz, Arthurian folklore, and Russian folklore, to name a few.
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2. African Tales: A Barefoot Collection by Gcina Mhlophe

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African Tales: A Barefoot Collection pulls together several tales from countries all over the African continent, including Malawi, Lesotho, and Senegal, among others.

This particular collection has three unique aspects that I love. First, the illustrations weave their way across pages, enhancing the flow of the story with their beauty. Second, each tale ends with “Cosi cosi iyaphela” which means “Here I rest my story.” It's just such a unique touch that I feel really brings the reader a sense of the power behind the words of these tales.  And finally, this book contains a tale about my favorite African god, Ananse the trickster, called Ananse and the Impossible Quest. Be sure to check it out!

3. Merlin: The Lost Years by T.A. Barron

Everyone knows of Merlin, the great wizard who instructed King Arthur and was his ally through many victories. But what of his youth? How did he come to be such a powerful wizard? His story begins when he nearly drowns as a young boy and washes up on shore with no memory. When he discovers his magic through a tragic accident, he sets off to find his true home, and encounters many strange beings and allies along the way. 

This saga is a must for any Arthurian legends buffs and is just a really engaging series overall. The Merlin Saga spans a total of 12 books, but only the first five are about Merlin himself.
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4. Japanese Fairy Tales by Y.T. Ozaki

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This collection explores many of the beautiful fairy tales of Japanese origin, including The Adventures of Kintaro, the Golden Boy, The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Child, and The Mirror of Matsuyama.

Ozaki took the time to translate her native fairy tales because, as she says in the preface, “I have always found eager listeners to the beautiful legends and fairy tales of Japan, and in telling them I have also found that they were still unknown to the vast majority, and this has encouraged me to write them for the children of the West.”  

Highlighted by their original 1903 illustrations, these tales are a wonderful way to learn more about the tales that shaped Japanese storytelling.

5. Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Seventh grader Nizhoni Begay has been noticing a lot of monsters lately. Specifically, ones disguised as humans. And when her dad’s new boss, Mr. Charles, takes an unusual interest in Nizhoni, her twin brother Mac, and their Navajo heritage, things get a bit more complicated. When Nizhoni’s dad disappears, she, Mac, and their friend Davery embark on a rescue mission with the help of a few Navajo gods.

This book is perfect for any Percy Jackson fan, as the story follows a young hero and their respective gods, and provides the opportunity to learn about a new culture and its mythologies. It is the newest book in Rick Riordan’s imprint, Rick Riordan Presents, which gives voice to writers from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds.
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6. Girls and Goddesses: Stories of Heroines from Around the World by Lari Don

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Girls and Goddesses: Stories of Heroines from Around the World is a truly inspirational collection that pulls together so many amazing tales of heroic women from all over the world. There’s Chi and the Seven-Headed Dragon, based on a Chinese legend, The Giant’s Heart, a retelling of a Scottish folktale, Hervor and the Cursed Sword, a twist on an old Norse legend, and many others!
Lari Don explains her process for selecting these tales and retelling them for a modern audience in the back of the book. She says that “I’ve always been disappointed that so many traditional tales are about girls who need boys to save them...I’ve been searching for authentic traditional stories with strong girls. There are lots of them out there, if you look hard enough…”

7. Latin American Folktales: Stories from Hispanic and Indian Traditions by John Bierhorst

This colorful anthology stitches together tales from Latin American storytelling traditions. It includes one hundred tales, collected from 20 countries into a velorio, or wake, a common occasion for a weaving of tales. The Coyote Teodora, Aunt Misery, Juan María and Juana María, and The Fox and the Monkey are just a few of the lively tales that comprise this book.

Latin American Folktales: Stories from Hispanic and Indian Traditions is the best place to start if you want to learn more about traditional Latin American folktales. It encompasses such a vast array of cultures and stories, and through them you can really start to see the unique ideals of each country.
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8. An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales by Theresa Breslin

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An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales is a classic collection of stories about brownies, stoorworms, selkies, and all the mythical enchantments of Scottish fairy tales. This endearing anthology includes tales such as The Wee Bannock, The Water Kelpie, and Rashie Coat, among others. 
Breslin also includes lovely little blurbs at the beginning of each tale about where it originated, where she first heard it, what tales they are similar to, and other pleasant details. There is also a glossary at the back for those uniquely Scottish words. 
Although this is a children’s anthology, it’s so beautifully illustrated and presents such an opportunity to learn Scottish folktales, that adults will love it too.

9. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

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A modern twist on the old Grimm tales, the Lunar Chronicles follow the stories of futuristic versions of characters like Cinderella, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, and others.

​The first book
 centers on sixteen-year-old Cinder, a cyborg and gifted mechanic living in New Beijing. When her stepsister falls ill, Cinder’s step-mother blames her and volunteers her for plague research. The scientists discover something about her that she never knew, and that others would kill her for.
 

A complex world and a host of political agendas make this book a spectacular kick-off for the Lunar Chronicles. Reader beware: once you read one, you’ll want to read the next four!

10. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Charles “Fat Charlie” Nancy has always been thoroughly embarrassed by his father and his jovial antics. When his father dies in, of course, a most embarrassing fashion, Fat Charlie learns that not only was his father an incarnation of the West African trickster god Anansi, he also had another son, who is every bit the trickster that Fat Charlie never was. The two brothers attempt to cope with the idea of being family, while dealing with a power-hungry tycoon and a host of ticked off gods.
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We have a copy of Anansi Boys here in the store, complete with a retro 1960s comic-style cover by Robert E. McGinnis! You can also purchase a copy online, with the same amazing cover.
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11. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton

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Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes covers such a vast array of mythology, from creation myths to heroic tales of demi-gods, to forbidden love stories. Odysseus’ journey is included, as well as the adventures of Perseus, the Greek hero who inspired the character Percy Jackson. 
This classic anthology explores the Ancient Greek, Roman, and Norse tales that the Percy Jackson books, and a few of the later series, are based around. Edith Hamilton, who compiled this anthology and a few others of a similar vein, was very passionate about mythology. In fact, she was made an honorary citizen of Athens in 1957, in gratitude to all her dedication.

12. The Blue Fairy Book edited by Andrew Lang

The Blue Fairy Book is the first of twelve colored fairy books that Andrew Lang began arranging in 1889. Each book has its own unique collection of well-known fairy tales. The Blue Fairy Book includes such favorites as The Story of Pretty Goldilocks, Rumplestiltskin, Snow-white and Rose-red, and over 30 others. 
According to the preface, Lang had to get permission from several other fairy tale collectors, including the Grimm Brothers themselves, to publish this book. With its stunning original 1889 illustrations, this book is a must-have for any fairy tale lover!
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 The Blue Fairy Book is available for online purchase, and we also have a copy here in the store. And while you’re at it, check out the next book in the series, The Red Fairy Book.
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13. The Wise Fool: Fables from the Islamic World by Shahrukh Husain and Micha Archer

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The Wise Fool: Fables from the Islamic World explores tales of a popular character in Islamic folklore; Mulla Nasruddin, the wise fool. He is traditionally depicted with a smart little jacket, a big turban, and a donkey, and he happily gives advice to peasants and emperors alike.

It is unknown whether this character was based on a real person, but nevertheless, the tales of Mulla Nasruddin’s eccentric antics and sage wisdom have spread throughout the Islamic world and even to neighboring regions. Accompanied by gracefully unique illustrations, this mirthful collection of stories is sure to make you chuckle.​

14. Gris Grimly’s Tales from the Brothers Grimm

Everyone’s heard of Cinderella: plucky maid who overcomes adversity to win the heart of a prince. But did you know, in the original Grimm tale, the stepsisters cut off parts of their feet to try to make the slipper fit?

Explore the grisly origins of some of your favorite tales, including Rapunzel, Little Red-Cap, Hansel and Gretel, and many others. This collection of Brothers Grimm tales, complete with ghastly illustrations from Gris Grimly, is a must for any fairy tale buff!

You can find a copy of Gris Grimly’s Tales from the Brothers Grimm on our website or in our store. I’ve already got two books of Grimm tales, but I’m seriously considering buying a copy of this one as well!
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15. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

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Norse Mythology is a re-telling of the classic Norse myths, with all the favorite characters such as Thor the mighty but not very wise, Odin the All-Father, and, of course, the cunning trickster, Loki. This collection of wonderous stories includes tales such as The Apples of Immortality, The Mead of Poets, The Last Days of Loki, and Ragnarok, the Final Destiny of the Gods.

Neil Gaiman often draws on the realms of mythology for his fictional stories, and in this book he revisits and remakes the Norse myths that so often inspired him. He begins with the formation of the legendary nine worlds and then dives into tales of mighty dwarves, terrible giants, and fiercely competitive gods.

16. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

Okay, so Aru may have fibbed. Just a little. But it was only to impress her classmates at her private middle school, who are all embarking on exotic vacations while she’s stuck at the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture for her autumn break.

She doesn’t count on three of her schoolmates showing up and daring her to prove her claim that the museum’s Lamp of Bharata is cursed. She hesitantly lights it and unleashes an ancient demon that can only be defeated by finding the reincarnations of the legendary Pandava brothers and journeying through the Kingdom of Death. Apparently, her autumn break will be just as exciting as she pretended it was.

Aru Shah and the End of Time was the first book in Rick Riordan’s imprint, Rick Riordan Presents, 
which gives voice to writers from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds.
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17. Tales from Old Ireland by Malachy Doyle, Niamh Sharkey, and Maura O’Connell

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Tales from Old Ireland includes such stories as The Children of Lir, Lusmore and the Fairies, and The Twelve Wild Geese, to name just a few. The author explains in the introduction that these tales were originally told orally, and that they sound best that way, if you’d like to read them out loud to yourself. This collection also includes a helpful list of pronunciations of Irish words in the beginning.
Endearing illustrations and an entrancing storytelling feel make this book a great opportunity to learn more about Irish folklore. I actually got extremely distracted by the book while writing this little blurb. I kept going back to read more and more of it, as well as to admire the artwork. So, I can definitely tell you that it is an engaging read that won’t let you go!

18. The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

This thought-provoking book is based on the 1998 PBS special Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth, which explored the nuances of myth in six one-hour long discussions between Campbell and journalist Bill Moyers. In this book, Moyers provides detailed conversations that the two had about several aspects of our modern mythology including married life, sacrifice, religious ideals, and more.  
This book is perfect for anyone who wishes to delve a little deeper and explore the impact that mythology has on our understanding of the world. As Campbell said, “Myths are clues to the spiritual potentialities of the human life.”
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19. An Illustrated Treasury of Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales

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Along with the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Andersen’s collection of tales are widely regarded as classic fairy tales. An Illustrated Treasury of Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales includes favorites such as The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, The Princess and the Pea, and The Snow Queen.
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This collection also includes a section at the end about Hans Christian Andersen’s life. It describes how he came up from humble beginnings and how he even includes little details about his childhood in some of his tales. Featuring beautiful artwork by accomplished illustrator Anastasiya Archipova, this magnificent book of fairy tales would be perfect for your shelves!

20. The Mabinogion

The Mabinogion is the name given to eleven medieval Welsh tales found in two manuscripts: The White Book of Rhydderch and The Red Book of Hergest. The authors of these manuscripts are unknown, but the 12th and 13th century tales within the Mabinogion are spell-binding stories of Aurthurian quests, Celtic myths, wizards and dragons, kings and heroes, and all the wonderful things that make up a good story.
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In addition to the riveting tales, this copy also includes a guide to pronunciation, a bibliography, an index, explanatory notes, and a map—just in case you get lost in the world of the Mabinogion.
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Twenty books ought to be enough mythology and folklore to get you started, but if you run out, please call or email the store and talk to us! Mary, Katharine, and myself have an extreme love for these sorts of tales, and we can give you more recommendations than you’ll know what to do with. And once again: read on!
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Foggy Pine Books, COVID-19, and You: Store Updates & Concerns

3/13/2020

2 Comments

 
by Mary Ruthless

​Our entire country is on red alert right now as we work together to contain and slow down the spread of COVID-19 and protect the most vulnerable members of our society. Foggy Pine Books is no exception to this work and we’ve had to make some difficult decisions in the past week about how we can best help our community while still keeping our business open. The main points here are: 


  1. We’re canceling upcoming events & putting book clubs online.
  2. We are remaining open but returning to regular hours on Friday & Saturday (closing at 7pm), starting immediately.
  3. In these changing economic times, on already thin margin lines, we are struggling. If you can, please shop with us online (though we are sanitizing EVERYTHING in store, if you do want to come browse). If you can’t shop, please share this post with your friends & family. 
  4. We’re offering FREE media mail shipping for all orders (online, phone, or in-store).

Appalachian State University and the Town of Boone have taken precautionary steps to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 and Foggy Pine Books will be joining in that effort. While there have been no suspected cases of the new coronavirus in Watuaga or Ashe counties, social distancing is still an important step in reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Though none of our events are over 100 people, they would put the attendees in very close contact. Effective immediately, we are canceling all our events EXCEPT for book clubs which will be moved online. Mary will host the Silent Book Club, Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Club, and Foggy Pine Book Club meetings via Zoom/Facebook Live/Google Duo (truly not sure yet, still working those things out) so that our longest running events will still be accessible to our customers. All author events for March, the Story Slam, and our new So Chill events will be pulled from the calendar effective immediately. These have been canceled on all platforms with information on the book clubs in each event description. Furthermore, we are reducing our hours on Friday and Saturday, starting today. We will now close at 7pm every day, except Sunday when we close at 6pm. Please let us know if you have any questions about these decisions or upcoming online events. 

With precautionary measures taken care of, we must now confront our current standing as a small, independent business. I don’t like sharing the store’s financial status publicly but I think it’s important to be transparent during this very stressful time. As many of you know, indie bookstores operate on a very thin margin. We are flexible and adaptable but can only do so much. This winter and it’s lack of, well, winter did a number on us. For the first time since we opened our doors, we did not meet sales projections. This has put us behind and behind and behind in almost every way. We are doing everything that we can but, with the addition of the current health situation, we are in dire straits. Having to cancel events is going to hurt us. Reducing hours is going to hurt us. Running on a limited staff is going to hurt us and our staff. So, if you value having a bookstore in your community, I am asking for your help. If it’s within your power to do, please keep shopping with us. I know that many people simply cannot or do not feel comfortable going out into public while the transmission of COVID-19 is a widespread concern. To that end, we are offering free shipping on ALL orders. You may order from home by placing your order online or by calling the store and we will ship your books to you for FREE via media mail. We don’t want folks to risk their health but we need the financial support of sales in a serious way. 

If you do not have the resources to support us in this way, you can still help! Share this article with your friends and family. Encourage people who do have the resources to shop not just with us but with as many local businesses as possible. We aren’t the only ones struggling to manage the current economic changes.  Like our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), like & comment on our posts, share them on your social media, read/share/comment on our blog posts. The more exposure we get on these platforms, the better chance we have of surviving the shifting tides of the current economy. These things may seem small to you but bigger social media numbers generally translate to higher sales--sales that we, and many other small, local businesses, need very much right now. 

Finally, I want to thank our customers for their patience and support during this time. We’ve already had quite a few of you reaching out to check on us, make purchases, and are telling your friends to shop here. I cannot tell you how much that means to us. Having such a wonderful, loyal customer base who truly believes in the value of the work that we do makes us feel much more confident in our ability to weather the current economic & social climate. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

Keep reading, wash your hands, and support local businesses!
2 Comments

March 2020

3/9/2020

0 Comments

 
by Katharine Brown
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Hello fellow bookworms! Spring is here with grey mornings, soggy afternoons, and chilly evenings but don't you worry, we have some great opportunities to keep you from getting bored as we wait for the sunshine. We have our monthly book clubs, an open mic, author events and more. Or, if you'd rather stay inside and snuggle up with a good book, check out our staff picks and new releases. There's something for everyone at Foggy Pine Books!
We are always excited to be partnering again with Out of Your Mind, a local, non-profit mental health community, to bring you Foggy Minds Open Mic! This open mic will provide a space for our local high school students and extended community to creatively express themselves and socialize with other artists! Musicians, poets, comedians, and magicians are welcome. Foggy Minds Open Mic will take place every second Monday of the month from 5:30-7:00pm at Foggy Pine Books. Our next meeting is Monday, March 9th, TODAY, and we hope to see you there. You can learn more and RSVP here on our Facebook page.
We are continuing to host Silent Book Club and have meetings twice a month, the second Tuesday @ 1pm and the third Saturday @ 6pm. Getting involved is simple. Just show up with the book you’re currently reading, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and read for an hour curled up in one of our chairs or couches. When you're finished, you can chat with other members in the conference room or you can head out. No pressure. If you're interested in a more traditional book club, our Foggy Pine Book Club meets on the last Saturday of the month @ 7:30pm and a Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Club that meets the last Thursday of the month @ 6:30pm. Check out this month's selections on the book club blogs where you can read author interviews, book reviews, and more.
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Come join us for a community event featuring local author Meredith Leigh and Blue Ridge Women In Agriculture (BRWIA) in celebration of the second edition release of Ms. Leigh's book, The Ethical Meat Handbook. Foggy Pine Books will host a conversation between Ms. Leigh and BRWIA on assuming responsibility for the food on your fork, integrating animals into your garden or homestead, and the economics and parameters for responsible meat production. For more information or to RSVP check out our Facebook event.
Last month, we introduced you to Elly, our new professional writing intern. She has been hard at work researching literary news, writing reviews, and crafting blog posts. If you've read The Golden Compass you'll love her take on the award-winning YA book and, if you're a Gaiman fan (and who isn't?) you'll be over the moon when you read her piece about The Sandman. Take a peek, leave a comment, and let her know what you think!
You may have heard that the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is offering an opportunity to recognize the best and brightest of our community and we think we know just the person to support! Mary works tirelessly to make sure your community book store is a safe place for all & would be a great nominee. Contact us with any questions, then follow the link to make your nomination today!
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As you know, we have partnered with Libro.fm to bring you the hottest new audiobooks at great prices that support your local indie bookstore (that's us!). They have everything you want to listen to, including a Foggy Pine Books Staff Picks list and a playlist for Women's History Month. Want to earn two free book credits? Switch from Audible & use the code SWITCH when you sign up to get your free credits! We want to reward you for choosing your local indie bookstore.
We do have a bit of housekeeping to cover when it comes to parking. We know how difficult it is to find parking on King St. but, with the amount of downtown traffic, we are having to enforce our customers-only parking policy more strictly. The 6 spaces marked by 3 signs on the Turchin Center side of the lot and the handicapped parking space are for Foggy Pine customers currently in the store ONLY. You may not leave your car & walk elsewhere. If you do this, we will have you towed, at your expense, according to the signs posted clearly in our lot. If your car has been towed, you may pick it up from Bill's Garage. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Staff Picks:

Take a peek at what we're reading behind the scenes this month. As always, if you've read any of these titles, we'd love to chat with you about them!

Mary:

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Josh:

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Raj:

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Deion:

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Elly:

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Katharine:

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Before we wrap up this post, we have some sneak-peeks at events coming soon that we know you'll be as excited about as we are. April 25th is Independent Bookstore Day and we have lots of exciting things planned to celebrate. Keep your eyes peeled for a blog post detailing all the discounts, giveaways, and other surprises we have in store! Then, in May, we are thrilled to bring author Brian Panowich to Foggy Pine Books to launch his new book, Hard Cash Valley. Finally, keep your eyes peeled for an announcement later this week about a new series of low stress social events. If you’re an introvert, new in town, or just want to socialize in a casual, task-oriented environment, these events will be perfect for you. More details will be forthcoming so make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter! We can't wait to see you all there!

​Read on!
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Up & Coming Books of 2020

2/26/2020

0 Comments

 
By Elly Murray
Hey there! Are you looking for some interesting new reads in the coming year? Look no further; we’ve gone ahead and picked out some of our favorites for you. This list of 10 books coming out this year includes powerful stories of historical fiction, memoirs that challenge the society we live in, a few books for younger readers, and books suited to many other interests.
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Read on for descriptions of each book, as well as where you can pre-order them, and when they’ll be available at Foggy Pine Books. In addition, several of these books can be used to check off your 2020 Reading Challenge!

1. Docile by K.M. Szpara

“Docile is a science fiction parable about love and sex, wealth and debt, abuse and power, a challenging tour de force that at turns seduces and startles. To be a Docile is to be kept, body and soul, for the uses of the owner of your contract. To be a Docile is to forget, to disappear, to hide inside your body from the horrors of your service. To be a Docile is to sell yourself to pay your parents’ debts and buy your children’s future.”

Elisha, a young farmer, must become a Docile to provide a better future for his sister. However, he’s going to do it without the aid of Dociline, the drug that makes Dociles blissfully unaware of their pain and surroundings. The same drug that permanently damaged his mother after years of use. What he doesn’t bank on is becoming the Docile of Alexander Bishop III, whose family created Dociline.

K.M. Szpara is a queer and trans author who has already recieved Hugo and Nebula nominations for “Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time,” a novelette about a gay trans man who gets bitten by a vampire. Docile is his debut novel and it promises to be a riveting book. Bonus: Mary loved this book & highly recommends you give it a read!
Pre-order online or purchase in-store on March 3rd.
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2020 Reading Challenge:

14. A book with a one word title
or
22. A book by a trans-gender/non-binary author

2. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

Pre-order online or purchase in-store on March 3rd.
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2020 Reading Challenge

24. A historical fiction
“Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant, the first factory located near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. He is also a Chippewa Council member who is trying to understand the consequences of a new “emancipation” bill on its way to the floor of the United States Congress.

It is 1953 and he and the other council members know the bill isn’t about freedom; Congress is fed up with Indians. The bill is a ‘termination’ that threatens the rights of Native Americans to their land and their very identity. How can the government abandon treaties made in good faith with Native Americans ‘for as long as the grasses shall grow, and the rivers run’?”

Louise Erdrich is an American author who writes stories featuring Native American characters and settings. She is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. The Night Watchmen is based on the life of Erdrich’s grandfather, as well as a few other characters central to the story.

3. The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane by Kate O'Shaughnessy

“Eleven-year-old Maybelle Lane collects sounds. She records the Louisiana crickets chirping, Momma strumming her guitar, their broken trailer door squeaking. But the crown jewel of her collection is a sound she didn't collect herself: an old recording of her daddy's warm-sunshine laugh, saved on an old phone's voicemail. It's the only thing she has of his, and the only thing she knows about him.

Until the day she hears that laugh--his laugh--pouring out of the car radio. Going against Momma's wishes, Maybelle starts listening to her radio DJ daddy's new show, drinking in every word like a plant leaning toward the sun. When he announces he'll be the judge of a singing contest in Nashville, she signs up. What better way to meet than to stand before him and sing with all her heart?”
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Kate O’Shaughnessy’s debut novel promises to be a heart-wrenching, spectacular read about the difference between blood relatives and the family you choose for yourself.

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​Pre-order online or purchase in store on March 3rd.
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2020 Reading Challenge

7. A middle-grade novel
or
20. A book with a coming of age story

4. The Story of More by Hope Jahren

Pre-order online or purchase in store on March 3rd.
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“Hope Jahren is an award-winning geobiologist, a brilliant writer, and one of the seven billion people with whom we share this earth. The Story of More is her impassioned open letter to humanity as we stand at the crossroads of survival and extinction. Jahren celebrates the long history of our enterprising spirit--which has tamed wild crops, cured diseases, and sent us to the moon--but also shows how that spirit has created excesses that are quickly warming our planet to dangerous levels.

In short, highly readable chapters, she takes us through the science behind the key inventions--from electric power to large-scale farming and automobiles--that, even as they help us, release untenable amounts of carbon dioxide. She explains the current and projected consequences of greenhouse gases--from superstorms to rising sea levels--and the science-based tools that could help us fight back.”

In a time where everyone is throwing out random information about climate change, some true and some false, Jahren provides an uncompromised guide to understanding just what is going on in our world, and what we can do about it. 

5. Recollections of My Non-Existence by Rebecca Solnit

“A landmark memoir from the author of Men Explain Things to Me: an electric portrait of the artist as a young woman that asks how a writer finds her voice in a society that prefers women to be silent.

In Recollections of My Nonexistence, Rebecca Solnit describes her formation as a writer and as a feminist in 1980s San Fransisco, in an atmosphere of gender violence on the street and throughout society and the exclusion of women from cultural arenas. She tells of being poor, hopeful, and adrift in the city that became her great teacher; of the small apartment that, when she was nineteen, became the home in which she transformed herself; of how punk rock gave form and voice to her own fury and explosive energy.”

This pivotal memoir examines the voicelessness and abuse that women are forced to struggle through every day, as well as Solnit’s own experiences with that sort of helplessness. She recounts how she was liberated and became a voice for women’s rights.
Pre-order online or purchase in-store March 10th.
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6. Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Pre-order online or purchase in-store on March 10th.
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2020 Reading Challenge

14. A book with a one-word title
“There is a voice of longing inside every woman. We strive so mightily to be good: good mothers, daughters, partners, employees, citizens, and friends. We believe all this striving will make us feel alive. Instead, it leaves us feeling weary, stuck, overwhelmed, and underwhelmed. We look at our lives, relationships, and world, and wonder: Wasn’t it all supposed to be more beautiful than this? We quickly silence that question, telling ourselves to be grateful. We hide our simmering discontent—even from ourselves. Until we reach our boiling point.

Four years ago, Glennon Doyle—Oprah-endorsed author, renowned activist and humanitarian, wife and mother of three—was speaking at a conference when a woman entered the room. Glennon looked at her and fell instantly in love. Three words flooded her mind: There. She. Is. At first, Glennon assumed these words came to her from on high. Soon she realized that they came to her from within.”

Best-selling author Glennon Doyle has produced yet another impactful book about the power of women to overcome society’s expectations and recognize themselves.

7. So We Can Glow by Leesa Cross-Smith

“From Kentucky to the California desert, these forty-two short stories—some long, some gone in a flash, some told over text and emails—expose the essence of girls and women in moments of obsessive desire and fantasy, wildness and bad behavior, brokenness and fearlessness, and more.

Teenage girls sneak out on a summer night to meet their boyfriends by the train tracks. A woman escapes suffocating grief through a vivid fantasy life. Members of a cult form an unsettling chorus as they extol their passion for the same man. A love story begins over cabbages in a grocery store. A laundress’s life is consumed by obsession for a famous baseball player. Two high school friends kiss all night and binge-watch Winona Ryder movies after the death of a sister.
​

Leesa Cross-Smith’s sensuous stories will drench readers in nostalgia for summer nights and sultry days, the intense friendships of teenage girls, and the innate bonds felt between mothers, while holding up the wild hearts of women so they can catch the light.”
Pre-order online or purchase in-store on March 10th.
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2020 Reading Challenge

20. A book with a coming of age story

8. Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed

​Pre-order online or purchase in-store on April 7th.
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2020 Reading Challenge

24. A historical fiction
“It’s August in Paris and 17-year-old Khayyam Maquet—American, French, Indian, Muslim—is at a crossroads. This holiday with her professor parents should be a dream trip for the budding art historian. But her maybe-ex-boyfriend is probably ghosting her, she might have just blown her chance at getting into her dream college, and now all she really wants is to be back home in Chicago figuring out her messy life instead of brooding in the City of Lights.

Two hundred years before Khayyam’s summer of discontent, Leila is struggling to survive and keep her true love hidden from the Pasha who has “gifted” her with favored status in his harem. In the present day—and with the company of a descendant of Alexandre Dumas—Khayyam begins to connect allusions to an enigmatic 19th-century Muslim woman whose path may have intersected with Alexandre Dumas, Eugene Delacroix, and Lord Byron.

Echoing across centuries, Leila and Khayyam’s lives intertwine, and as one woman’s long-forgotten life is uncovered, another’s is transformed.”

9. Conjure Women by Afia Atakora

“Conjure Women is a sweeping story that brings the world of the South before and after the Civil War vividly to life. Spanning eras and generations, it tells of the lives of three unforgettable women: Miss May Belle, a wise healing woman; her precocious and observant daughter Rue, who is reluctant to follow in her mother's footsteps as a midwife; and their master's daughter Varina. The secrets and bonds among these women and their community come to a head at the beginning of a war and at the birth of an accursed child, who sets the townspeople alight with fear and a spreading superstition that threatens their newly won, tenuous freedom.

Magnificently written, brilliantly researched, richly imagined, Conjure Women moves back and forth in time to tell the haunting story of Rue, Varina, and May Belle, their passions and friendships, and the lengths they will go to save themselves and those they love.”

Afia Atakora’s debut novel is a riveting historical fiction that for once presents the unique point of view of African-American women during the Civil War,  while adding just a hint of magic.
Pre-order online or purchase in-store on April 7th.
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2020 Reading Challenge

24. A historical fiction

10. Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd

Pre-order online or purchase in-store on April 7th.
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2020 Reading Challenge

12. A picture book
“In my family, when the sun goes down, our hair goes up!
My brother slips a durag over his locs.
Sis swirls her hair in a wrap around her head.
Daddy covers his black waves with a cap.
Mama gathers her corkscrew curls in a scarf.
I always wear a bonnet over my braids, but tonight I can't find it anywhere!
Bedtime Bonnet gives readers a heartwarming peek into quintessential Black nighttime hair traditions and celebrates the love between all the members of this close-knit, multi-generational family.”
​

Nancy Redd is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Bedtime Bonnet is her first children’s book, and so far it’s been described as “the best children’s book of 2020” by TheGrio. This book is a cozy story of a family’s bedtime rituals, and is a great read for families who enjoyed Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry. 

All of these exciting new books at Foggy Pine promise for a year of snuggling cozily into your armchairs with some hot chocolate and a good read. If you'd like any recommendations on books for the 2020 Reading Challenge or just for fun, our booksellers are always happy to help. Remember, all pre-orders are 15% off the list price. And as always, read on!
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