Book of the Week (12/29/2025)

Headless in Hancock, 1882 by Sebastian Lockwood (LUX Press, 2025)

"Headless in Hancock, 1882" is a historical fiction novel set in the New England village of Hancock at the close of the nineteenth century. At the center of town stands the Hancock Inn where stagecoaches bring travelers from Boston, Concord, and beyond. Each arrival brings new stories—adventure, conflict, romance, and danger—that ripple through the quiet village.

Innkeepers Jarvis and Susan Blood, with Jeanette Winterstone at the front desk and Caleb in the barn, keep the tavern running as strangers arrive with tales to tell and secrets to hide. Among the visitors are both imagined and real figures: Ralph Waldo Emerson, frail but still profound; Washington Irving, haunted by his Headless Horseman; and Fly Rod Crosby, America’s first professional woman guide, challenging expectations of her time.

The novel immerses readers in the texture of nineteenth-century New England—autumn storms sweeping over Mount Monadnock, stone walls marking the fields, blizzards that test every roof beam, and suppers of cider-braised pork and johnny cakes by the fire. Folklore and superstition linger in the shadows, even as science and modern ideas reshape the world. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Storyteller and podcaster Sebastian Lockwood tells the great epics: Gilgamesh, Odysseus, Caesar, Beowulf and Monkey. His studies in Classics and Anthropology at Boston University and Cambridge University in the UK laid the foundation for bringing these great tales into performance. Lockwood’s performances are designed to take complex texts and make them accessible and exciting for audiences from 5 to 95. Lockwood has tutored and taught classes in higher education for 25 years. Lockwood launched two storytelling podcasts in 2022: Blowing Up Stumps- tales from New and Old England (with Maine storyteller Matt Gile), and Monkey- the Journey to the West.  He now concentrates on performance, podcasting, workshops, and audiobook narration. Lockwood lives under New Hampshire's Crotched Mountain in a 1792 house with his wife, jazz singer and LUX Lifestyle founder, Nanette Perrotte.

Join Sebastian at The Toadstool Bookshop in Keene, NH on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 2 pm where he will be presenting his newest book!

Book of the Week (12/22/2025)

This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin (Berkley, 2023)

Fake dating gets a magical twist in this enchanting queer romantic comedy where a witch worries that the real feelings brewing between her and her crush were sparked by an accidental love potion, and the only way out of the disastrous spell is a healthy dose of the truth—drink up, witches.

Potion maker and self-proclaimed “messy witch” Morgan Greenwood is sure she was hexed at birth. Not only did she drunkenly offer to fake date the woman of her dreams during the biennial New England Witches’ festival, but Rory Sandler, spellcasting champion and brilliant elemental witch—for reasons known only to the Goddess—accepted. It’s like every good luck spell Morgan ever cast came through at once, and it doesn’t take a crystal ball to predict this charade will end with a broken heart.

Or is the magic between them real? As Morgan and Rory prepare to fool everyone at the festival, their relationship starts to feel a whole lot less fake—right until Morgan realizes she might have screwed up the common relaxation potion she made for Rory and given her a love potion instead, breaking one of the most sacred Witch Council Laws.

To fulfill her promise to Rory, Morgan must somehow keep playing pretend while under the watchful eyes of Rory’s family and legion of fans. But to break the love potion, she’ll also have to prove how incompatible she and Rory really are. For a screwup like her, ruining their relationship should be easy—except every day, Morgan is becoming more bewitched by Rory herself. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Tori Anne Martin is the USA Today bestselling author of "This Spells Disaster", as well as romance and fantasy under other not-so-secret names. She lives in New Hampshire, along with her partner and their two cats, where she collects pen names, tattoos, and hoodies in shades of gray and black. If you can’t find her online, it’s because she’s lost in the woods.

Book of the Week (12/15/2025)

Whispers in the Pines: A Teenage Killer and the Silence of New Hampshire by Jacobson P. Stewart (Independently published, 2025)

In the still woods of small-town New Hampshire, a single gunshot shattered the quiet and the belief that everyone knew everyone.

In 1985, local mechanic Daniel Paquette was found dead in his driveway, one bullet through the chest. For twenty years, the case sat cold. No suspects. No closure. Only silence thick as pine sap and just as suffocating.

But truth doesn’t die. It hides behind loyalty, fear, and the fragile code of a town that prefers to forget. When the past finally cracked open, it revealed more than a killer: it exposed teenage secrets, buried guilt, and a community forced to reckon with what its silence had cost.

Whispers in the Pines: A Teenage Killer and the Silence of New Hampshire blends deep reporting with a restrained, haunting narrative to follow the investigation, confession, trial, and the long echo that reshaped an entire town. It asks the question no verdict can settle:

When everyone shares the secret, who carries the blame? --Publisher's blurb

Book of the Week (12/8/2025)

Campsites, Hostels, and Huts: Completing a 160-mile section hike of the New Hampshire portion of the Appalachian Trail in style by Rich DiSalvo (Independently published, 2025)

Get a taste of some of the best hiking and mountain scenery along the entire 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail (AT). Campsites, Hostels, and Huts is the story of a father/daughter section hike of the AT in New Hampshire from the streets of Hanover and Dartmouth College to the Maine state line in the middle of the rugged Mahoosuc Mountains. You don't have to always "rough it" when hiking through the White Mountains in New Hampshire, as there are plenty of great lodging options, from backcountry campsites and shelters to roadside hiker hostels to the famous Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) High Huts. Come experience all of that and more in this firsthand account of an 18-day trek through some of the most breathtaking mountains in the northeast. --Publisher's blurb

Book of the Week (12/1/2025)

Scary Stories from New Hampshire: Terrifying Tales & Folklore by Rex Eldritch (Wildfire Fiction, 2025)

What lurks in the dark woods of New Hampshire? Whose footsteps echo on the covered bridge at night when no one’s there?

Scary Stories from New Hampshire is a collection of supernatural horror drawn from the Granite State’s ghost stories, legends, and chilling local lore. Inside you’ll encounter cursed towns abandoned to the wilderness, haunted orchards where old rules are broken at your peril, and cold, dead hands that clutch at swimmers from below. Each tale pulls from real places and unsettling folklore, blending the strange with the terrifying in ways you won’t forget.

Grim, nightmarish illustrations bring these stories to life, making every page an eerie journey into New England’s haunted heart. Perfect for sharing aloud at night or reading alone with the lights low, this book offers an unforgettable descent into shadows.

Dare to read it—if you’re brave enough. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Rex Eldritch is an author and visual artist inspired by the eerie folklore and haunted landscapes of New England. His work combines supernatural storytelling with a folkloric sense of place, drawing on ghost stories, legends, and the darker side of local history. A resident of New Hampshire, he creates fiction that is both unsettling and accessible, written for readers who enjoy tales of mystery, horror, and the uncanny. Beyond writing, he is also an illustrator and game designer, with a lifelong passion for storytelling in many forms.

Book of the Week (11/24/2025)

When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray (Chronicle Books, 2024)

Somewhere, a rock is waiting for you. One just the right color for your windowsill, or just the right shape for drawing a face.

Maybe it is a rock from the heart of a mountain that will remind you of how big YOU are inside, too. Maybe it is a rock washed by the sea that knows all about the backs and forths and ups and downs of things. Maybe it is a small rock, just the right size to close your hand around and know that the rock is with you and it is just right.

Through vibrant illustration and evocative text, When You Find the Right Rock carries readers along on a journey of discovery, from the mountains to the sea, that’s all about learning the beauty of being in the moment, connecting with nature, and the thrill of finding a precious keepsake to call your own.

COOL ROCKS: Whether it’s a special pebble for a pocket or a colorful collection in a box, rocks offer a special kind of companionship and a portable and lasting connection with the natural world.

MINDFULNESS FOR KIDS: Our connections with nature reduce stress and increase happiness and resilience. This book is an ode to the presentness that we find in the natural world.

NATURE BOOK FOR ALL: A love of the natural world is easy to instill in kids, and it’s so rewarding—both intellectually and emotionally. Here is a wonderful reminder that when we see ourselves in nature, we get in touch with our own depth and texture and lastingness.

Perfect for:

Parents, grandparents, and caregivers of children who love the natural world

Teachers and librarians looking for a poetic picture book on rocks and nature

Anyone who has found the secret joy of a special rock

Readers of A Stone Sat Still, A Rock Is Lively, and Ricky, the Rock That Couldn't Roll

--Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Mary Lyn Ray is a children's book author, conservationist, and historic preservationist. In 1984, she bought an old farm and farmhouse in South Danbury, New Hampshire, which would inspire many of her future books. Ray's 2011 book 'Stars' was nominated for The E.B. White Read Aloud Award. 'Go to Sleep, Little Farm' and her 2015 book 'Goodnight, Good Dog' received Charlotte Zolotow Award commendations. Ray has also received several commendations for her conservation work, including New Hampshire Conservationist of the Year in 1989.

Book of the Week (11/17/2025)

Identifying the Pathogen by Jennifer Militello (Tupelo Press, 2026)

A hybrid collection blending historical research and contemporary essays to consider the nature of oppressive marriage and gender inequity.

Composed as a lab notebook recording various surgeries, autopsies, and experiments, Identifying the Pathogen tells the story of a scientist on an obsessive quest to document an ailment that resists classification. The book considers the body in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, woven through with the story of Anna Morandi Manzolini—an eighteenth-century Italian anatomist and artist who struggled to support a husband suffering from depression—as well as several essays detailing accounts of a ruptured appendix, a splintered cello, and an ill-fated rock climbing excursion.-- Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Jennifer Militello is the Poet Laureate of New Hampshire. She is the author of the hybrid collection Identifying the Pathogen, named a finalist for the 2024 FC2 Ronald Sukenick Innovative Fiction Prize, The Pact (Tupelo Press/Shearsman Books, 2021), and the memoir Knock Wood, winner of the Dzanc Nonfiction Prize (Dzanc Books, 2019), as well as four previous books of poetry. Militello has taught at Brown University, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and the Rhode Island School of Design, and currently teaches in the MFA program at New England College.

Book of the Week (11/10/2025)

Courtship in Purgatory: A Novel by Robert B. Perreault (Peter E. Randall Publisher, 2025)

Set in the conservative French-speaking community of Sagamore Falls, a fictional New Hampshire mill town, Courtship in Purgatory portrays parental control over middle-aged offspring in an upper-middle-class family. When protagonist Victoria discovers a disturbing entry in her deceased father’s journal, she relives a painful episode dating back a quarter-century, from which she had healed. At 33, Victoria lived a sheltered existence with her parents. Although she adored them, especially her father—she worshipped the water he walked on—she hoped to marry Lucien, whose working-class status did not measure up to her parents’ standards. Consequently, her father separated the lovers via a secret plot that threatened to smear Lucien’s image in Victoria’s eyes. Caught between the two men she loved, she wondered: Should she follow her conscience by obeying her father? Or should she follow her heart without knowing if Lucien was the morally upstanding man he appeared to be?-- Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Robert B. Perreault is a bilingual writer of mostly nonfiction books and articles about the New England Franco-American experience and/or the history of his hometown, Manchester, New Hampshire. He holds a BA in Sociology from Saint Anselm College (1972), including a year of study in Paris; an MA in French/New England Franco-American Studies from Rhode Island College (1981); and an MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction/Nonfiction) from Southern New Hampshire University (2008). His writings in French, English, or both languages include seven books and more than 175 articles published in the US, French Canada or France.

Join Robert at one of the following events where he will be discussing his newest book:

Thursday, Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m., Gibson’s Bookstore, Concord, NH

Monday, Nov. 17, 7:00 p.m., Dana Center, room 1-D, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH

Saturday, Dec. 6, 2:00 p.m., Millyard Museum, Holiday Open House, Manchester, NH

Book of the Week (11/3/2025)

All for You: A World War II Family Memoir of Love, Separation, and Loss by Dena Rueb Romero (She Writes Press, 2024)

Emil, a Jewish man in 1930s Germany, loves Deta, a Lutheran, but Nazi racial purity laws forbid their marriage. Desperate to find a place where their love can survive, they must separate to get away. Deta leaves for England, but Emil has to overcome red tape, resistance from his aging parents, and his own ambivalence before he can embark for America. With only telegrams and letters from Deta to sustain him, he does all he can to bring her and his family to America. But the clock is ticking as the war breaks out and the Nazis tighten their stranglehold.

From the heartbreaking news of November 10, 1938 (Kristallnacht) to the horrific revelations after the German surrender in 1945, Emil’s story runs the course of the war. Can he make his way in this new world? Will he be reunited with his beloved Deta? And will he ever see his family again?

Told by Emil’s daughter with the help of letters and historical documents, All for You is a true story about love overcoming despair and the impact the Holocaust continues to have on the rising generation.-- Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Dena Rueb Romero grew up in Hanover, New Hampshire, the daughter of a Lutheran mother and a Jewish father, both refugees from Nazi Germany. She graduated from Brandeis University and received an MA in English from the University of Virginia and an MSW from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work. "All for You" is her first full-length book. Dena still lives in Hanover, where she sings in a women’s chorus, volunteers at a daycare center, and works with a recently arrived refugee family.

Book of the Week (10/27/2025)

Pedal, Balance, Steer: Annie Londonderry, the First Woman to Cycle Around the World by Vivian Kirkfield (Calkins Creek, 2024)

Annie Londonderry proves women can do anything they set their minds to—even cycle around the world—in this nonfiction picture book for cycling enthusiasts, budding travelers, and anyone who dreams of reaching a difficult goal.

In the 1890s, times were tough, and opportunities for women were few and far between. When mother-of-three Annie Londonderry saw an ad promising $10,000 to a woman who could cycle around the world in a year, something no one thought possible, she decided it was time to learn to ride. She waved goodbye to her family in Boston and set off for Chicago.

Annie was exhausted when she arrived fifty-nine days later—and she realized she’d never make it across the Rockies before winter, and certainly not riding a heavy women’s bike and wearing a corset and petticoats. So Annie got herself a better bicycle and comfortable bloomers, and headed back East to try a different route. Facing robbers, sprained ankles, and disapproving stares, Annie missed her family and wanted to quit. But she journeyed on, all over the world. And, when she finally reached California and the Southwest, she kept pedaling. Her family was counting on the prize money, and people around the world, especially women, were watching.

Annie came through for all of them, arriving in Chicago fourteen days before her deadline and proving that women could do just about anything. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Vivian Kirkfield is a retired kindergarten teacher with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Vivian encourages new writers through her critique and editing services, shares her love for reading and writing with children through school visits, and offers advice and resources for aspiring authors through her blog, Picture Books Help Kids Soar. She lives and writes in Bedford, NH.

Book of the Week (10/20/2025)

Udder Nonsense: More Tales from Frost Heaves by Ken Sheldon as "Fred Marple"(Harmon House, 2025)

Welcome back to Frost Heaves, New Hampshire, where the coffee's strong, the winters are longer, and common sense is about as rare as a reasonable property tax bill.

In this delightful new collection, Yankee humorist Fred Marple returns with more tales from New England's most charmingly unpredictable town. When the Loon Lodge decides to raise funds with a duck race, nobody counted on the ducks having their own agenda. Young Albert Cooper discovers that prize sows and romance don't mix, And when Millard Tuttle spots a certain red-suited fellow in distress, Christmas in Frost Heaves takes an unexpected turn.

From the church basement to the town square, Pastor Woodstead questions his calling while a champion bingo player meets her match in an overly chatty newcomer. Plus, catch up on all the local news through Fred's signature "News Nuggets" and police reports that prove truth really is stranger than fiction.

Fred Marple has been called the Garrison Keillor of New England and the voice of New Hampshire as Bert & I once were to Mainers. Nobody captures small-town Yankee life with more warmth and wit.

Whether you're a longtime New Englander or just wish you were, Udder Nonsense serves up the perfect blend of gentle humor, quirky characters, and the kind of storytelling that makes you feel right at home-even if home has more than its share of stubborn livestock and well-meaning folks with questionable judgment.-- Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Ken Sheldon was a pre-med art major at the University of New Hampshire. The medical schools of America were not amused, which is why he's a writer today. Ken is the creator of Frost Heaves, a comedy show set in the mythical town of the same name, winner of a "Best of New Hampshire" award. He is also a freelance writer and editor, with articles published in numerous magazines ranging from Acoustic Guitar to The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Join Ken at Gibson's Bookstore on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 6:30 pm where he will be discussing his latest book!

Book of the Week (10/13/2025)

The Shopkeeper of Alsace by Laura Knoy (Bedazzled Ink Publishing, 2025)

When WWII comes for her family, Sarah thinks she’s ready. She’s had training, after all, coming of age in Poland during World War I.

In 1920, Sarah leaves behind the ruins of Poland for France, full of youthful hope and ambition. Jewish immigrants are welcome, and soon, she’s built the Perfect French Life. In the postcard-pretty Alsatian town of Colmar, she runs a thriving clothing store, gaining a reputation as a stylish and savvy businesswoman. She has three adorable children, a gorgeous husband, and a close extended family. Sarah’s legendary sixth sense for trouble grows through the 1930s as Germany gathers strength under a frightening, new nationalist party. Everyone around her insists that France is doing all it can to avoid another war. But Sarah calls upon the lessons she learned in World War I. Stockpile essentials. Have an escape plan. And always be ready to run, hide, lie...whatever it takes to protect those you love. 

From the Great War in Poland to the long-contested borders of Alsace to the remote refuge Sarah finds in the Cévennes mountains, The Shopkeeper of Alsace is an uplifting tale of family, love, resilience, and one unstoppable woman. Perfect for fans of We Were the Lucky Ones, The Nightingale, and The Alice Network, this dramatic debut brings to life a little-known corner of wartime history—and an inspiring real-life heroine you’ll cheer for. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Laura Knoy is an award-winning journalist. She founded New Hampshire’s most widely respected and recognized public radio program, “The Exchange,” which she hosted for 25 years. Laura has also worked at the national level, newscasting, hosting, and reporting for NPR. Today, she’s an in-demand narrator, podcaster, and public speaker. In her free time, Laura can be found reading or somewhere in NH’s great outdoors.

Join Laura at one of the following upcoming events promoting her new book:

Wednesday, November 12, 2025- Authors on Main- Concord, NH

Monday, November 17, 2025- Beliveau Arts Series- Manchester, NH

Tuesday, November 18, 2025- Lit at the Lounge- Portsmouth, NH

Thursday, November 20, 2025- Authors at the Pope with White Birch Books- North Conway, NH

Book of the Week (10/6/2025)

A Killer Serve by Mark Okrant (Independently published, 2025)

Old guys don’t always play nice. Lawrence Peters arrives at the historic Beachmere Inn in Ogunquit, Maine, with two simple goals: win the first ever regional ping pong tournament and save his crumbling marriage. But, when a fellow competitor is found brutally murdered at the start of the event, Peters’ plans—and his future—are thrown into chaos. As suspicion spreads and secrets surface, Peters must navigate old rivalries, his rocky marriage, and a relentless investigation. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Mark Okrant is an author and professor emeritus of tourism management at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. Research has taken him to South Dakota, New Hampshire, Maine, Alaska, Canada, and Romania. He is past president of the Travel and Tourism Research Association. He is the author of fifteen books, including murder mysteries, non-fiction books, and one tourism planning textbook.

Join Mark at Gibson's Bookstore on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 6:30 pm where he will be discussing his newest novel!

Book of the Week (9/29/2025)

King Sorrow: A Novel by Joe Hill (William Morrow, 2025)

Arthur Oakes is a reader, a dreamer, and a student at Rackham College, Maine, renowned for its frosty winters, exceptional library, and beautiful buildings. But his idyll—and burgeoning romance with Gwen Underfoot—is shattered when a local drug dealer and her partner corner him into one of the worst crimes he can imagine: stealing rare books from the college library.

Trapped and desperate, Arthur turns to his closest friends for comfort and help. Together they dream up a wild, fantastical scheme to free Arthur from the cruel trap in which he finds himself. Wealthy, irrepressible Colin Wren suggests using the unnerving Crane journal (bound in the skin of its author) to summon a dragon to do their bidding. The others—brave, beautiful Alison Shiner; the battling twins Donna and Donovan McBride; and brainy, bold Gwen—don’t hesitate to join Colin in an effort to smash reality and bring a creature of the impossible into our world.

But there’s nothing simple about dealing with dragons, and their pact to save Arthur becomes a terrifying bargain in which the six must choose a new sacrifice for King Sorrow every year—or become his next meal. --Publisher's blurb

About the Author:

Joe Hill is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels (King Sorrow, The Fireman, NOS4A2, Horns, Heart-Shaped Box), fiction collections (Strange Weather, Full Throttle, 20th Century Ghosts), and a comic-book series (Locke & Key). Much of his work has been adapted for film and TV. Joe Hill lives in Exeter, NH.

Book of the Week (9/22/2025)

The Book of Fairies by Susie Spikol (Gibbs Smith, 2025)

Discover the enchanting world of fairies and how to find them in secret hiding places you would never expect.

Meet the Earth, Air, Fire, and Water fairies! From rainbows in bubbles to dandelion seeds on the wind, come meet the wee folk who enchant our everyday world. Wake with dainty Auroras who paint the sky each dawn. Let the rascally wind fairies dance up some mischief in your life and open your heart to the dear Brownies who keep your home tidy and your garden growing.

Search for secret fairy signs in snowflakes and the sparkle of a stone. Find out which animals are best friends to each fairy, which fairies have dragon blood in their veins, and how to spot these charming beings in your neighborhood. Which enchanted fairy are you most like?

Look inside and discover:

How to make friends with the fairies that live around your home

That pigs really do fly, with the help of a little pixie dust

The best jokes to share with cheeky Knockers

How to make a wish on a magical fairy feather

A wildflower that opens the gate to the fairy realm

About the author:

Susie Spikol is a beloved local author, educator, and naturalist. When not catching frogs with preschoolers, making gnome homes with second-graders, tracking bobcats with middle-schoolers, or hawk-watching with her own three children, Susie tucks away time to write. Susie is the Community Programs Director and Naturalist at The Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, NH.

Book of the Week (9/15/2025)

Henhouse by Emily Prescott (Penny Luck Studio, 2025)

Effie and Hope Thatcher grew up knowing that their grandmother found the last good man. Heartbreak and disappointment were as familiar in Thatcher house as estrogen and town gossip. Hope's unexpected pregnancy announcement has twenty-three year old Effie realizing that she's the only woman in their all-female house that hasn't even dared to find love. 

With Hope's beloved under scrutiny and the arrival of a surly safety inspector in Effie's orbit, the lives of the Thatcher women are turned upside down as they question everything they thought they knew about how disappointing men could be. Fear encounters fate, independence confronts traditional family structures, and wistfulness challenges commitment as misconceptions and presumptions lead to heartache and emotional rifts. In this reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice light-hearted contemporary romance is mixed with the earnestness of family dynamics to tell a story about intricate family bonds, the romance of a small town, and the insecurities that arise when everything you've ever wanted is yours for the taking. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Emily Prescott is an award winning screenwriter and author living in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Her love of storytelling led her to study film and receive her MFA in screenwriting, before exploring prose. When she's not pursuing her first Hollywood premiere or polishing her upcoming novels, she can be found sipping tea, crafting, and drawing.

Join Emily at Gibson's Bookstore on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 6:30 pm where she will be discussing her debut novel.

Book of the Week (9/8/2025)

Granite Lives: A Day in New Hampshire by Jonathan Michelizza (Independently published, 2025)

Fifteen towns. Fifteen voices. One unforgettable day.

From icy lakes to quiet libraries, from the bustle of Manchester to the stillness of Alton's hills, this poignant collection captures a single day—March 27—in the lives of everyday people across New Hampshire. A cook dreams of freedom between orders. A boy finds courage in the woods. A caregiver hears echoes of her own grief in a stranger’s silence. Each of these fifteen stories reveals the quiet resilience, heartbreak, humor, and grace that thread through our daily lives.

Told with warmth and realism, Granite Lives invites readers to witness the extraordinary in the ordinary. Perfect for fans of Olive Kitteridge and Our Town, this deeply human mosaic explores what it means to live with purpose, even when no one is watching.

Whether you're from the Granite State or simply drawn to stories that honor place and people, Granite Lives is a literary journey you'll carry long after the last page.

Step into New Hampshire for a single day—and discover how much a life can hold. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Born in Connecticut and raised for 28 years in New Hampshire, Jonathan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and works closely with autistic youth in school settings. With a strong focus on education and neurodiversity, Jon is dedicated to creating supportive, inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive. His work blends compassion, structure, and a deep understanding of individual needs, making him a committed advocate for equitable education.

Book of the Week (9/1/2025)

Something I Keep Upstairs by J.D. Barker (Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster, 2025)

For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die.

In the sleepy coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler's life is about to take a terrifying turn. When his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems like the perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. No parents. No police. No responsibilities.

As they dig into the island's dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations. What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.

"Something I Keep Upstairs" is a haunting exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and the darkness lurking just beyond our understanding. It will keep you on edge until the final, chilling page. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

J.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and the wildly popular 4MK thriller series. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.

Book of the Week (8/25/2025)

Float by Larry Daley (Bookling Media, 2026)

Dive into the fun as first grader Rosie leaps into action to retrieve her soggy snacks from a stealing seagull! Enjoy the many colorful creatures swimming in this wild aquarium adventure. Spot Bubbles the octopus sneaking through the pages as she plans her escape, find the twenty sea turtles hidden in the artwork, and explore the back pages to learn what these animals love to eat! You might even uncover a few new facts before your next trip to your favorite aquarium.

Larry Daley creates an immersive story about anticipation, frustration, and the power of pausing when things get tough. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Larry Daley spent fifteen years as both an Art Director and Editor at DC Comics Entertainment and Warner Bros. Studios, helping to develop DC's library of characters for media development and licensed products. His work with characters like BATMAN and SUPERMAN has appeared in several feature films & television series, as well as toys, video games, licensed publishing, custom comics, theme parks, corporate branding and global promotions. Today, Larry dedicates his efforts illustrating full-time at his studio on the New Hampshire seacoast.

Book of the Week (8/18/2025)

Here in New England: Unforgettable Stories of People, Places, and Memories That Connect Us All by Mel Allen (Earth Sky + Water, 2025)

From the time he published his first story in Yankee in 1977 to the day he retired as its editor in 2025, Mel Allen’s writing has captured the unique essence of New England and the people who call it home. Here for the first time, Allen has collected 45 of his favorite pieces, adding intimate new introductions and postscripts to put them in context. The feel and flavor of New England lives within the covers of this engaging collection. --Publisher's blurb

About the Author:

Mel Allen has spent nearly half a century finding fascinating people and places he wanted to write about and telling the stories of New England. He became Yankee Magazine’s fifth editor in the summer of 2006, after previous roles as writer, senior editor, and executive editor. Mel’s career at Yankee Magazine spanned more than four decades, and he has written for every department in the magazine. In his pursuit of stories, he has raced a sled dog team, crawled into the dens of black bears, and fished with the legendary Ted Williams. In 2018, he was inducted into the Folio Magazine Hall of Fame for editorial excellence. He has taught magazine writing and creative nonfiction for the past 25 years, divided between the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and MFA program at Bay Path University. He lives and writes in New Hampshire.

Join Mel Allen at Gibson's Bookstore on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 6:30 pm where he will discuss his new book!