Beacon Elementary School in Montesano announced the results of the school’s Great Pumpkin Reading Challenge. Beacon students read a total of 33,204 minutes during the challenge.
Montesano PTO is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair which wraps up Friday, Nov. 14, in the library at the Simpson Avenue Elementary School. Students have the option to set up an eWallet to shop with. The Book Fair eWallet is a convenient, secure digital payment option. It’s an easy way for kids to shop independently for books they want to read, and easy for others to contribute funds.
A 2023 Education Week article stated, “Book fairs help engage students in recreational reading, which research has shown can improve reading scores.” According to Scholastic’s official website, more than 49 million books were sold to students at more than 100,000 book fairs held during the 2024–25 school year.
UPCOMING AUTHOR EVENTS
Grays Harbor College
Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield
Friday at 6 p.m.
Join Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield for a reading with the community at Grays Harbor College. Hailing from the Wenatchee Valley, Sheffield is the author of Not for Luck, selected for Wheelbarrow Books Poetry Prize, and Through the Second Skin, runner-up for the Emily Dickinson First Book Award. He is the co-editor of Cascadia Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry, which won a 2024 Washington State Book Award. The first in his family to attend college, Sheffield is now on the English faculty at Wenatchee Valley College and is the poetry editor of Terrain.org.
Browsers Bookshop — Olympia
Grief, Grit and the Gits: Music Memoirs with Melissa Meszaros and Steve Moriarty
Saturday from 4 to 5 p.m.
We will host a joint author event featuring two memoirs that speak to the deep cultural and emotional legacy of Pacific Northwest music. Join authors Melissa Meszaros (Song Over The Bones) and Steve Moriarty (Mia Zapata & The Gits) for an intimate conversation about survival, legacy, and the enduring power of music.
Randy Woodley and Edith Woodley
Friday, Nov. 21 at 5:00 p.m.
Randy and Edith will discuss their new book, Journey to Eloheh: How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Well-Being. Rooted in 10 Indigenous values, this thoughtful, holistic book written by Randy Woodley, a Cherokee descendant recognized by the Keetoowah Band, and Edith Woodley, an Eastern Shoshone tribal member, helps readers learn lifeways that lead to true wholeness, well-being, justice, and harmony.
Erica Rodgers
Saturday, Nov. 22 at 4:00 p.m.
Olympia-native Erica Rodgers will be back in her hometown to talk about her latest book Lord of Blade and Bone — a harrowing companion to the romantic fantasy adventure, Lady of Steel and Straw. Copies of both of her books will be available for purchase and signing.
Orca Books Co-Op – Olympia
Author Talk with Aidan Key and Ren Cedar Fuller
Sunday, Nov. 30 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Join Aidan Key, founder of TransFamilies, and Ren Cedar Fuller, TransFamilies parent facilitator, for a conversation about helping trans children thrive. Aidan’s book Trans Children in Today’s Schools was featured on NPR’s Fresh Air. Ren’s essay collection, Bigger, explores raising a gender-diverse child.
Barnes & Noble — Olympia
New Release Party: A.L. Hampton’s Dark Skies
Dec. 2 from 4 to 7 p.m.
A.L. Hampton celebrates the launch of her highly anticipated new release, Dark Skies, the fourth book in the beloved Crown of the Seven Realms Series. Meet the author in person and chat about her latest adventure. Bring your existing books from the series for signing, too. Books will be available for purchase on-site.
WRITERS GROUPS
Browsers Bookshop — Olympia
(Nearly) Silent Writing Club – Sunday Edition
Sunday from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Browsers Bookshop hosts the (Nearly) Silent Writing Club on Nov. 16 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. We say hello, have a brief conversation, and then write together in silence for an hour. Any type of writing, from journaling to an epic novel, is welcome. At the end, we do a quick check in. There is no critique or feedback on your work. Just time and space to write together. Meetings take place upstairs at Browsers — bring your notebook/pens/computer. (Please note: we are brimming with community but lacking in electrical outlets.) Feel free to bring a snack and/or beverage for yourself. There is no cost to attend. Star Wuerdemann hosts.
Harbor Books — Hoquiam
Hoquiam Writers Group
Dec. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m.
This group is open to all writers who want to attend: writers, poets, journalists, wordsmiths, and storytellers. The group meets on the first Thursday of each month.
BOOK GROUPS AND CLUBS
Harbor Books — Hoquiam
All-Genre Book Club
Nov. 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The All-Genre Book club meets the last Sunday of the month to discuss the book selected by group members the previous month. November’s read is Everything that Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor.
Flights of Fancy Book Club
Dec. 8 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Flights of Fantasy is a monthly book club for lovers of Fantasy and Magical Realism. We meet the second Monday of each month from 6-7:30 at Harbor Books. December’s read will be When Among Crows by Veronica Roth. Copies available for purchase at Harbor Books (purchase not required for participation).
Ocean Shores Public Library
Book Group
Monday Nov. 17 from 3 to 4 p.m.
The book being discussed at this meeting is a fiction novel, Lulu Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller.
Bring Your Own Book (3rd Wednesday of every month)
Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 5 to 6 p.m.
Share what great books you have been reading with other book lovers and get ideas for your “to be read” pile.
Timberland Regional Library
Aberdeen
PageTurners Book Group
Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Join community members and library staff for a monthly book discussion. This month we will be reading 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harris.
Elma
PageTurners Book Group
Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Join community members and library staff for a monthly book discussion. This month we will be discussing The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer.
Hoquiam
Books on 8th: Off Site Event at Hoquiam Brewing Company
Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
This library-sponsored event is occurring off-site at Hoquiam Brewing Company located at 526 8th St. If you’re an adult who is 21+ and likes to read Young Adult books, then this book club is for you. This month we will be discussing Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis. New members are always welcome! Email Sarah at slivingston@trl.org if you would like more information.
McCleary
McCleary Book Club: Off Site Event at McCleary Museum and Event Center
Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 11:00 a.m. to Noon
This library-sponsored event is occurring off-site at 426 S 3rd Street in McCleary. Join community members and library staff for a monthly book discussion. Copies of each month’s selection are available at the McCleary Library service desk.
Montesano
PageTurners Book Discussion
Thursday, Nov. 20 from 5 to 6:00 p.m.
Join community members and library staff for a monthly book discussion. This month we will be discussing The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. This month’s meeting is happening one week earlier than usual due to the Thanksgiving holiday on November 27.
Westport
PageTurners Book Group
Saturday, Nov. 22 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Join community members and library staff for a monthly book discussion.
Browsers Bookshop — Olympia
November Browsers Book Club
Tonight from 6 to 7 p.m.
November’s book is Small Rain by Garth Greenwell. Please purchase the book at Browsers to reserve your spot. This is a searching, sweeping novel set at the furthest edges of human experience, where the forces that give life value — art, memory, poetry, music, care — are thrown into sharp relief.
STORY TIME
Ocean Shores Public Library Story Time
Saturday from 10:30 – 11 a.m.
Books, rhymes, interactive stories, songs and FUN! Ages Birth – 5. This week’s theme is music. Presented by Niko.
Timberland Regional Library Family Storytime
Aberdeen and Montesano
Thursdays from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Elma
Friday, Nov. 14
10 – 11 a.m.
Raymond
Saturday, Nov. 15
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Westport
Wednesday, Nov. 19
10: 30 to 11:30 a.m.
McCleary
Wednesday, Nov. 19
11 a.m. to Noon
Stories and early learning activities that include music, movement, art, and early STEM play for children birth to 8 years old. This is an early learning program.
Hoquiam Timberland Regional Library Preschool Storytime
Friday, Nov. 14
10 – 11 a.m.
Stories and early learning activities for preschoolers that include music, movement, art, and early STEM play. This is an early learning program.
Barnes & Noble — Olympia
Barnes & Noble in Olympia hosts Storytime every Saturday at 11 a.m. featuring a different picture book each week.
Raymond Timberland Regional Library
Book Babies
Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Books, bounces, music and play time for babies and their participating caregivers. This is an early learning program.
Erica Rodgers
A.L. Hampton
