Allen Eskens
May 1

Allen Eskens, a Minnesota author with many fans at the store, was with us to talk about his new book, The Quiet Librarian. (Note that it’s a rare weekday event.)

Here’s Lee’s review:

This is really, really good … one of those “I could not put it down” books.

Hana Babic is a middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants to be able to live without disturbance. She appears a bit dowdy, with her worn cardigan sweaters and long skirts, and she performs her work without fanfare.

When she learns that her best friend has been murdered, she knows that danger is coming from their shared past as young militia members fighting with the Bosniak forces against the Serbs in the early 1990s. In fact, she was not just a soldier: She was the much-feared Night Mora, with a huge bounty on her head. Now, she must leave the quiet librarian behind.

This is an outstanding novel of historical fiction, as the chapters alternate between Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Minnesota. And it is also an excellent mystery and thriller.

Independent Bookstore Day
April 26, 9:00 to 5:00 

We love Independent Bookstore Day! Indies across the country all celebrate, each in their own way. We always celebrate the day as the birthday of Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery (ten years since we combined Sister Wolf Books and Beagle Books and Bindery!)

This year, we’ll be celebrating another birthday as well—Jen’s 50th!!! (And we have permission to say so.) Stop in to wish her well, have a birthday cupcake, and check out what else is going on in the store that day!

Here’s what we did at Beagle and Wolf:

Regional Authors Signings

Two authors from our area signed copies of their new books!

Janet Preus signed copies of The Thirteenth Crime, which came out in January. It’s a ghost story based on historical information, with perhaps some Embellishments.

Selina Li Bi signed copies of Sunlight Playing Over a Mountain, which will be released early this month. Selina’s magical debut perfectly portrays the pain of growing up in aless-than-magical world and introduces a remarkable new voice in young adult fiction.


All day

All day we had drawings for prizes and some great giveaways, including:

• The 2025 Midwest Independent bookstore maps
• "Independent Bookstore Day" Bookmarks
• A free Advance Readers Copy with ANY purchase!
• Did we mention cupcakes?
• Book banning bingo! 

Sally and Jen enjoying last year's
Independent Bookstore Day

Also going on throughout the day

12 provided free audiobooks from Libro.fm! was awarded to the finder of
a Golden Ticket hidden in the store.

Oh, and we had cupcakes!

Last year's winner.

Spring Retreat
April 12

Early spring weather in Minnesota is so unpredictable! Will it rain? snow? will the driveway be frozen or muddy? We like to side-step all the weather unknowns and schedule a day inside, talking about books.

Our theme was "Who Am I, Really?” We each read the same two books ahead of time: The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson by Ellen Baker, and Wintering by Katherine May.

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson moves from present day Minnesota, when Cecily is the widow of a beloved town doctor and matriarch to four generations of her own family, and the 1930s, when Cecily is a seven-year-old orphan sold to a traveling circus. In Wintering, Katherine May examines the reality of the cold times in our lives, showing that wintering can’t be avoided, but need not be feared.

14th Annual Chili Challenge
March 4

A record-breaking $18,000 was raised to support the important work of the Hubbard County Food Shelf. Our own Chef Tom was there with Beagle and Wolf’s chili—Fahrenheit 451.