Spring, hobbies, and things to look forward to :)

 Hello my fellow bookworms!

Spring is almost upon us! The birds are back singing, the sun is staying out longer, the days are sunnier, it is a nice time to start reading outside again (with a hot cup of coffee or tea, of course).

(c) Race Point Publishing, Kate Macdonald

It feels nice to not be stuck inside as much all day, though there are quite a few hobbies you can do if you are stuck inside. I have been quite fond of baking lately, especially tarts! There is a book based on the recipes from Anne of Green Gables that you can buy (or borrow from your local library), called The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook: Charming Recipes from Anne and Her Friends in Avonlea. Written by the granddaughter of L.M. Montgomery herself, Kate Macdonald shares with us the recipes that Anne created and also her own grandmother! I can't wait to try them!

You can also listen to free audiobooks from Amazon Prime for a new fairy tale collection called Faraway: Fairy tales for the here and now. These are quick, 35 - 50 minute reads, written by popular YA authors. The collection includes: The Prince and the Troll by Rainbow Rowell, Hazel and Gray by Nic Stone, The Princess Game by Soman Chainani, The Cleaners by Ken Liu, and The Wickeds by Gayle Forman. 

If you feel in the mood for writing, there are also a number of works from 1925 that are in the public domain, that you can adapt in a new way. As an article from NPR, by Neda Ulaby, states: each year on January 1st, a new list of published works with expired copyrights are released. Besides being the start of a new year, it is also Public Domain Day! The newly released from copyright novels include, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald,  The Trial (in German) by Franz Kafka, The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie, A Daughter of the Samurai by Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto, The Writing of Fiction by Edith Wharton, and more.

There are also quite a few virtual events to look forward to. On June 8th to 9th, Edelweiss BookFest will be hosted by Edelweiss Above the Treeline. They are still accepting applications for those interested in booth space or sponsorships, so more information will be released on the event closer to the days. 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Barnes and Noble has been great at keeping up author/reader events, catering to all ages. Many events are hosted by Zoom, and some are ticketed, which means you will have to purchase an entry into the Zoom chat. But, there are quite a few virtual events on B&N Facebook live, which means it is a live showing and free! 

If you are itching to get out of the house and outside, Litographs has a list of indie bookstores (some that even I did not know of yet!) that you can go visit. 

What have you guys been up to lately? Any good book recommendations? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time! :)

Happy Holidays!

Hello fellow bookworms!

The holiday season is upon us! Between binge-watching Sugar Rush: Christmas, trying out new recipes, and beginning my holiday cards this year, I have been trying to catch up on my reading. I have a fun paranormal book to share with you in my next post! It is called Fingerprints and Phantoms: True Tales of Law Enforcement Encounters with the Paranormal and the Strange, by Paul Rimmasch (in case you want to read ahead, I've linked the Amazon page).

Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels

In the meantime, since it is the holiday season, I thought I would share with you some book-related gift ideas:

• Litographs has a collection of shirts, bags, scarfs, and more consisting of a variety of much-loved books from over the years. If you don't see your favorite book, you can always request it! They have added quite a few books over time, as well as a variety of designs per book. 

• If someone you know likes to collect signed books, Barnes & Noble has released a collection of books that you can pick-up at your local bookstore, you can check out the options here.
  

• FlyPaperProduct's candle, called The Library, has been quite popular for bookworms. It smells like old books, lavender, and eucalyptus. For only $20.00 from the Etsy shop, your home can smell like it, too! 
  

• Speaking of candles, another popular Etsy favorite is Frostbeard's Bookstore. For only $5.67 for a wax melt, your home can smell like mahogany, leather, and coffee.
  

• Miniature chocolate books, anyone? Another Etsy product, by ChoconCho this time, features a selection of mini books made out of white and milk chocolate that will be temptation to eat, yet not want to, because they're so cute!
  

• What would a book lover's gift list be without a mention of Out of Print? My favorite area to shop from the company is their library collection, one I was introduced to by the New York Public Library gift shop. It was the first time visiting a gift shop in a library and the first time I was able to buy a lovely book-themed bag from the brand! 
  

• Speaking of the New York Public Library, if you would like to buy something from their gift shop, but cannot due to travel restrictions or do not live close enough to stop over, you can buy gifts online! Check out the gift shop here, which has puzzles, apparel, jewelry, and more.
  

• If you are particularly crafty, you can create a book necklace or bracelet using a necklace chain and book charms, such as the ones at Hobby Lobby. They even have a fairy tale section, so you could make a fairy tale book necklace! If you are not crafty, that's okay! There are a variety of options on Etsy and eBay that you can choose from!
  

• Speaking of necklaces, Sullivan Entertainment has the nicest present for fans of Anne of Green Gables: Anne Shirley's pearl necklace! Similar to the one Matthew gave Anne, the necklace even has Anne's initials inscribed on the clasp. There are also other gift ideas in their shop, if you are not looking for jewelry, such as dolls and tea.
  

• How about pins? I love them! If you do, too, or know someone who does, check out Ideal Bookshelf's collection of book pins, $11.00 each, which range from children's literature to adult literature. 
  

• Are you more of a tea or coffee person? I love both! However, if you are more into tea, Noveltea sells book-shaped tins of tea based on books! Delicious and thoughtful!

Do you have a suggestion you would like to share? Please let me know in the comments - I would love to hear from you! 

As always, stay safe and healthy. Happy reading! Until next time!