August Brought the Second Annual
Reading Road Trip

These five great bookstores: Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery, Big Pine Books (formerly The Willow), Bluebird Books, Cherry Street Books, and Four Pines Bookstore joined to create an experience. You would get a passport at your first stop, have it stamped at each store, and leave it at the last store you visited. It went in a drawing for a fabulous gift basket of books.

William Kent Krueger

See Lee's review of Spirit Crossing.

Chris Norbury
August 9

Chris Norbury, author of the award-winning Matt Lanier mystery-thriller series and Little Mountain Big Trouble, an adventure novel for middle grade readers, was in the store!

Andrew DeYoung
August 3

Andrew DeYoung was in the store signing copies of The Day He Never Came Home and chatting about writing thrillers. Andrew works as an editor at a children's book publishing company, and he lives with his wife and two children in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. The Day He Never Came Home is his third book.

See Rebekah's review.

Photo by Sarah DeYoung.

When it's July—Where’s Waldo?

This is one of Park Rapids’ favorite summer activities—during the month of July, Waldo hid in a number of PR businesses such as retail shops, art galleries, the Chamber of Commerce and the library. Those who found Waldo in participating businesses and got passports stamped at each business were rewarded with a small prizes AND were eligible to win the GRAND PRIZE drawing including a gift from each participating business—the gift from us was a BUNCH of Waldo books! Also, lucky folk spotted a live Waldo and his sidekick Wenda wandering around town...

Joe Egan
July 27

Joe Egan was in the store, signing copies of his books and chatting with readers.

Don Carr
July 20

William Kent Krueger calls this novel, "...a joyride of a thriller."

Lisa Malice
July 6

Lisa came to visit with us about her thriller, Lest She Forget, and to sign copies.

After surviving a car crash, Kay Smith wakes from a coma with amnesia, a battered face, and no one to vouch for her identity. Her psychiatrist is convinced that her memory loss is connected to the horrific flashbacks and nightmares haunting her. As she digs for clues to her past, Kay uncovers a shady character following her every inquiry. Who is he? What does he want from her?

As Kay’s probes deepen, she realizes everyone around her has deadly secrets to hide—even her. Emerging memories, guilty suspicions, and a headline-screaming murders push Kay to come out of the shadows and choose: will she perpetuate a horrendous lie, or risk her life to uncover the truth?

Lisa Bolt Simons

Moving to a new town isn't easy, especially when you're in high school. But at least you have basketball. It's a great way to keep busy and to make new friends—or so you think. Not everyone in this small town is eager to welcome you. No matter how hard you practice, no matter how well you play, you feel like an outsider.

You're the main character in this interactive sports adventure that's two stories in one Play as Isiah, and try to earn your way into the starting lineup. It won't be possible unless you convince the coach and his star player—his son—the importance of teamwork. Then become Imani, and see if you can overcome bullying by a few of your teammates. You'll need to win them over to have a shot at winning the big game.

It's a game within a game. Here's how it works:

• Become the main character. Make choices that affect what happens.

• Collect points along the way to upgrade your skills.

• Utilize your upgrades to win the game at story's end.

Interactive books for kids are more popular than ever. Create your own adventure with the Choose to Win book series for boys and girls. You're the main character. You make the choices. Will you find your way to a championship finish?

Mike Doughtery
June 29

Mike Dougherty signed copies of Como Flats. 

This is a tale of human authenticity told through a sweet-souled alcoholic who means well and sees good in people.

When the residents of Como Flats see Lonnie Klipsen in the same bar, drinking the same beer, telling the same stories, night after night, year after year, they ask themselves, "How can a man with so little lose so much?"

With no close family and no significant other, Lonnie and his longtime roommate, Stan, etch out an obscure corner of Como Flats to live their lives in modest simplicity.

When personal losses hit close to home, Lonnie struggles to process the feelings, cultivate friendships, and search for a place of belonging and love. A colorful cast of characters kaleidoscopes in and out of Lonnie's life, proving the perceived unrequited love of his life wasn't so unrequited after all.

Mike is an attorney is St. Paul and has been selling beer at Twins’ games since he started law school. He had some great stories to tell!

Linda Grover

We welcomed the store’s friend Linda Grover: we had copies of her latest book, A Song Over MIskwaa Rapids, as well as her earlier books. She is one of the loveliest authors you can ever meet.

Three Irish GIrls Photography

Author Fest
June 15

Author Fest, our annual celebration of Minnesota authors and their books, is a great chance to visit with authors, meet new authors, and purchase signed books.

Will Weaver was at this year's Author Fest! If you’d like to hear him speak at length, check out this podcast of his interview with Zachary Johnson of Northwestern Voices.

Lunch with Leif
May 18

We gathered at the Good Life Café for a light lunch and an opportunity to meet Leif Enger. Leif talked about his new book, I Cheerfully Refuse, and signed copies.

Photo by Robin Enger.

The theme of this year’s Children’s Book Week was "Reading is Magic," which celebrated the power of reading stories to transport minds. The week encouraged children to be curious about the world around them. There was even a jingle for it!

We gave away Children’s Book Week posters.

Kathy Thompson
May 4

Kathy has written a fascinating book about homesteading on the Hubbard Prairie, based on journals kept by Mary Blunt. Mary was the great-grandmother of Kathy’s husband, John. We enjoyed talking to Kathy about the book; and she signed copies for our customers.

2:30 to 3:30

Six poets read their work! They are part of the Agates IndyBookStore Tour—from October ’23 to October ’24, more than 60 Minnesota poets reading in 30 bookstores across the state. Poets reading in our store were Charmaine Pappas Donovan, Dawn Loeffler, our friend Laura Hansen, Ann Marie Newman, Shawna Bullen-Fairbanks, and Marlys Guimares. For more information about the sponsor of the Agates tour, the Minnesota Poets League mnpoets.com.

Also going on throughout the day

Golden ticket Search for Golden Ticket hidden in the store and win 12 free audiobooks from Libro.fm!

Celebrate IndieBookstoreDay with this amazing opportunity—it's your lucky ticket to listen to some great stories!

All day there were drawings for prizes...

...and give aways, including 25 posters for Children’s Book Week!

We offered additional sizes, styles, and colors of our popular new t-shirt!

Whew—there was a lot going on!