Bookworks kicks off summer with a slate of events that will please all types of readers in June. The highlight of the month is June 13th's A Word with Writers literary fundraiser for the Albuquerque Public Library Foundation at the KiMo Theater. This installment features New Mexico writers Mira Jacob and Kirstin Valdez Quade, both young fiction writers who've garnered praise for their new debut collections.
Jacobs' novel, A Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing, was published last summer to much fanfare and is available in paperback in June. Kirstin Valdez Quade was named a 5 under 35 writer by the National Book Foundation, and WW Norton published her short story collection, Night at the Fiestas, to critical acclaim in March. Both books have New Mexico settings.
Tickets are $20 for seating and signing priority and $7 general admission, at kimotickets.com or holdmyticket.com. The 2014 event with Diana Gabaldon and George RR Martin sold out.
June also brings popular fantasy writer Deborah Harkness to Albuquerque on paperback tour for Book of Life, the third book in her All Souls Trilogy, after A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night. In The Book of Life, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies.
The event is free but requires a ticket, available at Bookworks or at bkwrks.com. The event is sponsored by ABC Library at the new Central & Unser library at 8801 Central NW, south of I-40 at Unser. Attendees are invited to meet Harkness, with Bookworks purchases receiving priority.
Don Winslow, a former investigator and now screenwriter and best-selling author of The Power of the Dog, brings the border mystery The Cartel to Bookworks June 25th. The Cartel is a story of power, corruption, revenge, and justice in the Mexican-American drug wars of 2004.
Poetry is always a focus of Bookworks events and June is no exception. June 4 Bookworks sells books at A Night of Poetry at the NHCC with Jimmy Baca, Jessica Helen Lopez, Hakim Bellamy, and other area writers, and again on June 5 for Baca's film showing of A Place to Stand at the KiMo. Both events are part of the Albuquerque Film and Music Experience. June 26th, poets Orlando White and Sherwin Bitsui read new and favorite work at Bookworks.
Bookworks pays homage to dads in June, with a story time for dads on June 18th, an event with Jean Reagan for her book,How to Surprise a Dad, on June 20, and a special father's day event June 21 with David Gurule for his book Tortillas and Butter. Treat dad to a day at the bookstore and a new book!
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MAY RECAP
May 5, 7pm: Anne Hillerman, Rock With Wings. Navajo Tribal cops Jim Chee and Bernadette Manuelito, and their mentor, the legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, investigate two perplexing cases in this exciting Southwestern mystery. Doing a good deed for a relative offers the perfect opportunity for Sergeant Jim Chee and his wife, Officer Bernie Manuelito, to get away from the daily grind of police work. But two cases will call them back from their short vacation and separate them--one near Shiprock, and the other at iconic Monument Valley. Under the guidance of their mentor, retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, Bernie and Chee will navigate unexpected obstacles and confront the greatest challenge yet to their skills, commitment, and courage.
May 12, 6:30pm: Kiera Cass, The Heir, New Young Adult Fiction. Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon--and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible. But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection--no matter how fervently she protests.
May 16, 3pm: Sean Prentiss, Finding Abbey. When the great environmental writer Edward Abbey died in 1989, four of his friends buried him secretly in a hidden desert spot that no one would ever find. The final resting place of the Thoreau of the American West remains unknown and has become part of American folklore. In this book a young writer who went looking for Abbey's grave writes a creative biography of Abbey. Sean Prentiss takes readers across the country as he gathers clues from his research, travel, and interviews with some of Abbey's closest friends and along the way, Prentiss examines his own sense of rootlessness as he attempts to unravel Abbey's complicated legacy, raising larger questions about the meaning of place and home.
ALL JUNE EVENTS
June 2: Diane Thomas, In Wilderness. After she is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Katherine abandons her successful advertising firm and seeks refuge in the solitude of her wilderness cabin. Living off the land in complete isolation brings her peace--until the day she realizes she's not alone, and never was. Katherine's sudden and unanticipated arrival at the cabin unsettles Danny, a Vietnam veteran tormented by the demons of his past, who has been squatting in the previously abandoned cabin.
June 3, 4:30 pm: Waldo Wednesdays. June 3 marks the beginning of a month of Waldo Wednesday happenings. We will begin with a party at 4:30 pm. Join us for games and a craft activity as we ask, "Where's Waldo at Bookworks?" More info:kids@bkwrks.com.
June 3, 7pm: Carolyn Flynn, Literary Shorts. Albuquerque writer Carolyn Flynn reads recently published and prize-winning fiction and pays tribute to other authors, including mentor Rick Bass.
June 4, 10:30am: Story Time: Growing Season. It's growing season so we'll read books about vegetables and fruits, including the story of the enormous turnip and the teamwork it took to harvest it. More info at kids@bkwrks.com.
June 4, 6pm: Albuquerque Film & Music Experience, A Night of Poetry at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Bookworks sells books at a Night of Poetry, part of this year's Albuquerque Film and Music Experience. Authors include Jimmy Baca, Jessica Helen Lopez, Adam Jones, Hawah Kasat, Jose Ponce, Nicole Gramlich, Hakim Bellamy, and Lucia Ortega. Tickets are $10 and are available at https://holdmyticket.com/checkout/event/197600. More info athttp://abqfilmexperience.com.
June 4, 7pm: David Wilde, Scuttlebutt: The Life and Times of Commander EC Zeke Cortez. Join historian David Wilde for a talk about Commander EC Zeke Cortez.
June 5, 7:30pm: Jimmy Baca, A Place to Stand Movie Screening at the KiMo Theater, 423 Central, Downtown. Part of the Albuquerque Film and Music Experience. More info at http://abqfilmexperience.com. Tickets are $7 and are available at https://holdmyticket.com/checkout/event/202087.
June 6, 10:30 am: Stories on Saturday: Fancy Nancy Tea Party. Fancy Nancy is 10 years old! Wear your best fancy hat and join us for a charming, mid morning tea! Please call 505 344 8139 or email kids@bkwrks.com to reserve your space. This event is free and open to the public and will be oh so posh and glittery and glamorous!
June 6, 3pm: Lee Maynard, Cinco Becknell. Cinco Becknell is the story of a homeless man with no memory. Locked in the emptiness of his mind is a secret, a past, which will either keep him alive or get him killed. This novel, based on generations of violent, local family history, is set in the underbelly of the pseudo-glitzy streets of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
June 7, 3pm: Earl Pittman, Rebels in the Rockies. Earl Pittman talks about his new book on the civil war in the west.
June 9, 7pm: Deborah Harkness, Book of Life. Bookworks and ABC Library present Deborah Harkness at the new Central & Unser Library, at 8801 Central NW. Deborah will be reading and signing books in the community room. All attendees will be allowed to have books signed but a priority ticket in the signing line comes with your purchase from Bookworks, on site or prior to the event. Entry to the event does require a ticket. Tickets are free and can be reserved online athttp://www.bkwrks.com/deborah-harkness-tickets, or you can pick one up at Bookworks. About Book of Life: After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness's enchanting series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. In the trilogy's final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowledge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago.
June 10, 7pm: Bookworks Book Club. Bookworks longest-running book club is open to all readers and meets the secondWednesday of the month. June's reading selection is Gulp by Mary Roach.
June 11, 10:30 am: Story Time: Horses! Our theme for today is horses. Don't say nay say neigh! More info atkids@bkwrks.com.
June 11, 7pm: Natalie Scenters-Zapico, The Verging Cities. UNM MFA grad Natalie Scenters-Zapico presents new work in the poetry collection, The Verging Cities, published by the Center for Literary Publishing at Colorado State University in their Mountain West Poetry Series.
June 12, 7pm: Colin Wright and Josh Wagner, Word Tasting Tour. Starting in the spring of 2015, The Minimalists and Asymmetrical Press are sending a team of writers-Colin Wright and Josh Wagner-on the road for a 42-city "Word Tasting" tour to showcase their diverse work, from memoirs to novels, self-help to YA fiction, and more. New York violinist/songwriter Skye Steele will accompany them.
June 13, 10:30 am: Stories on Saturday: Joel Nakamura, Go West! Written and illustrated by renowned Santa Fe artist Joel Nakamura, this beautiful picture book will enthrall your little ones with its unique vision of life in the West!
June 13, 7pm: A Word with Writers, featuring Kirstin Valdez Quade and Mira Jacob. A Word with Writers, a literary fundraiser for the Albuquerque Public Library Foundation presents Mira Jacob, author A Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing, and Kirstin Valdez Quade, author of Night at the Fiestas in conversation. Doors open at 6pm. Join us to celebrate the work of these two native New Mexicans and raise money for APLF. Kimo Theater, 421 Central. Tickets available at the KiMo website, kimotickets.com, or at HoldMyTicket.com.
June 14, 7pm: Scott Archer Jones, The Big Wheel. Robko Zlata is sprinting across America, on the run with a call girl-his ex-wife-on a hot red motorcycle. Robko is a thief, and he has stolen the wrong thing, a device that can guarantee immortality. His wrathful target, a corrupt billionaire politician, wants the world's greatest piece of technology back. Robko's new worst enemy unleashes his fortune and corporate security in unrelenting pursuit. "Golden Boy" Thomas Steward is asked to follow the money and uncover the thief with massive illegal surveillance. Throw in the underground world of thieves and billionaires, drugs and punk clubs, five-star hotels and cheap motels, and Robko and Thomas are in for one hell of a crash.
June 15, 7pm: Reading Purls Book Club, Knitting for Tommy: Keeping the War Soldiers Warm. Free book club for all readers who like to knit. Bring your socks, scarf, shawl or whatever else is on your needles and let's purl on! This month's reading selection is Knitting for Tommy: Keeping the War Soldiers Warm. More info: kids@bkwrks.com.
June 16, 7pm: Liz Prato, Baby's on Fire. Baby's on Fire is a collection of twelve stories set in the West with strong female protagonists who are trying to find their way in the world as the ties of intimacy are damaged and broken. Stories in the collection have been previously published by Portland writer Liz Prato in many national literary magazines.
June 17, 4:30 pm: American Girl Book Club Growing Suspicious. This month, we'll talk about the new book Growing Suspicion: A Rebecca Mystery. The club is free and new members are always welcome. Join us to talk about the book, a craft, and a snack. More info: kids@bkwrks.com.
June 17, 7pm: Katie Snapp, Brave Transitions: A Woman's Guide for Maintaining Composure through Changes in Work and Life. Katie Snapp's first book, Skirt Strategies, offered women 249 tips for success. Her new book,Brave Transitions helps women deal with change more easily and effectively.
June 18, 10:30 am: Story Time: Books for Dad. We will read stories, make a small gift and have snack. Dads - take the morning off from work and join us! More info: kids@bkwrks.com.
June 18, 7pm: Poetry with Carol Aronoff and Max Early. Join us to celebrate poetry and art with writer-photographer Carol Aronoff, author of Blessings from an Unseen World, and poet-artist Max Early, author of Ears of Corn: Listen.
June 20, 10:30: Jean Reagan, How to Surprise a Dad. From the creators of the New York Times bestsellers How to Babysit a Grandma and How to Babysit a Grandpa comes a charming new how-to book about surprising dear old Dad! More info: kids@bkwrks.com.
June 20, 3pm: Sharon Niederman and Kitty Leaken, The New Mexico Farm Table Cookbook. The New Mexico Farm Table Cookbook passes on the state's most treasured recipes and techniques and its fresh takes on traditional ingredients. Recipes include the best green chile cheeseburgers, sourdough biscuits, chile rellenos, empanadas, mole, and more with readily accessible ingredients and simple, clear directions.
June 20, 4:30 pm: Teen Book Club, Noggin by John Corey Whaley. The book selection for the month is Noggin by John Corey Whaley. It's time for summer reading! Our teen book club is growing but we still need more members. More info:kids@bkwrks.com.
June 21, 3pm: David Gurule, Tortillas and Butter. For Tommy Chavez, growing up in Northern New Mexico had been great, but one horrific accident changed his life forever. With the help of his girlfriend Melanie and best friend Weasel, Tommy pushes forward. Follow Tommy through his senior year of high school as he attempts to regain some kind of meaning to this life of his. One thing is certain though: the love of "familia" is like nothing else in this world.
June 23, 7pm: Meredith and Win Blevins, The Darkness Rolling. A thrilling, heart-pounding read of family, adventure, romance, and vengeance, The Darkness Rolling is the first in an evocative historical mystery series by award-winning authors Win and Meredith Blevins.
June 24, 4:30pm: Magic Treehouse Book Club: High Tide in Hawaii. Join us at our version of a magic tree house for book talk, a craft activity, and snack. It's free and new members are welcome. More info: kids@bkwrks.com.
June 24, 7pm: Richard Melzer, A River Runs Through Us. The Rio Grande Valley south of Albuquerque, commonly referred to as the Rio Abajo, is a treasure trove of legends, stories, and characters. In Murder, Mystery and Mayhem, the first volume of this series, readers were introduced to characters such as Bronco Bill Walters, Solomon Luna, and Jose Francisco Chavez. This second volume takes the reader on another 33 adventures in the Rio Abajo.
June 25, 10:30am: Story Time: Summer Time! We're leaving the theme wide open with the big old umbrella of books about summer! More info: kids@bkwrks.com.
June 25, 7pm: Don Winslow, The Cartel. From the internationally best-selling author of the acclaimed novel The Power of the Dog comes The Cartel, a gripping true-to-life, ripped from the headlines epic story, of power, corruption, revenge, and justice spanning the past decade of the Mexican-American drug wars.
June 26, 7pm: Orlando White, Letterrs, and Sherwin Bitsui, Flood Song. Letterrs is a book of poems by Navajo poet Orland White that examines and interrogates language to its core, the shapes and sounds. Sherwin Bitsui reads from his works as well.
June 27, 10:30 am: Big on Animals, Frogs! Our BOA program continues with some help from the community. Jump on over to Bookworks to learn about frogs! Representatives from the NM Natural History Museum will be here to talk about the importance of frogs and how to protect them. More info: kids@bkwrks.com.
June 27, 3pm: Sage and Jared's Happy Gland Band. Come say hello to one of our favorite house duos, Sage Harrington and Jared Putnam, who play Happy Gland Band music. Donations welcome.
June 28, 1pm: Jennifer Jacobsen reads Soul Cards. $10 for a 10-15 minute session.
June 28, 3pm: Linda Silk, Survival Manual for the Modern Mystic. This metaphysical survival guide is a self-help manual that encourages body, mind, and spirit to leap joyfully into the Golden Age of Enlightenment.
June 30, 7pm: JD March, Dance with the Devil. Johnny Fierro's a gunfighter whose hunted trouble and a reputation all his life, but the killings and the range wars have worn him out and brought him to a point where he would welcome death--until he hears that his estranged and hated father faces a battle to hold onto his land in the Cimarron Valley. Fierro has sworn to kill his father and this is too good an opportunity to miss. What he hasn't bargained for is a share of the ranch, a brother he never knew existed, or the unwelcome realization that his mother didn't tell him the whole story about the past. He doesn't know what to believe, but he has to make a choice when the bullets start flying.
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