QuailMail #999 - TONIGHT: Christopher Ruocchio; Sidewalk Sale this weekend

Open Monday–Saturday 9 am–9 pm • Sundays 10 am–6 pm

From Jason:

We believe that North Carolina is the best state to live in both as a writer and as a reader, and that we deserve to have an annual event that celebrates the richness and diversity of our literary culture in our capital city. So in February of this year, we held the first of the now annual North Carolina Book Festivals, with the goal of not only celebrating the literary culture and writers who are already here, but of attracting writers from elsewhere.

In order to maintain momentum between annual Festivals, we have established the Arts & Lecture Series , which will feature three large author events per year. This year, we are featuring award winning and bestselling authors such as Ann Patchett , Karl Marlantes , Wiley Cash , Sarah Rose Etter , and Jeff Jackson . For $85, you get a copy of the featured book for each event, priority seating and signing line access for every Arts & Lecture Series event, along with priority seating and signing line access for the 2020 North Carolina Book Festival (February 21-23).

We appreciate your support in helping us build these annual programs from the ground level, and in solidifying North Carolina as the Writingest State (slogan courtesy of the NCWN)!

* * *

Staff Picks

From Mamie: The Nickel Boys , Colson Whitehead. A young black boy, Elwood Curtis, is wrongly accused of a crime. He is sentenced to hell in the form of Nickel Academy. The psychological and physical abuse of Curtis and his fellow “students" was beyond anything I could imagine—something out of a Stephen King novel. Set in the 60’s, the novel drives home the fact that some things haven’t changed much, including the unfair suspicion and incarceration of young black men, our system of creating hardened criminals instead of rehabilitating them, and the public’s ability to turn a blind eye to injustice. This is an important, if difficult, read.

From Kaley: Silver in the Wood , Emily Tesh. This is a beautiful, atmospheric story that draws from folklore in creative and enchanting ways. Immerse yourself in the forest with the mythical Wild Man, his dryads, and his pet cat.

Summer Sidewalk Sale!

The annual North Hills Summer Sidewalk Sale is this weekend! Come browse for great finds and bargains in the shade. Our tent will be up from Thursday, 7/18, through Sunday, 7/21.

Enter to win a $500 North Hills shopping spree!

Pre-Order Offers

(available while supplies last)

Selections from Lizzy's Take Ten , Part 3

The Sun Does Shine

Anthony Ray Hinton

My only non-fiction pick on the list, this is the story of a wrongly convicted Death Row inmate and his time in prison. I saw Ray speak at a conference where he had his best friend stand up in the audience to be recognized as his greatest supporter through it all. Ray's tragic story from our broken system still holds hope thanks to his support system and resilience.

Fangirl

Rainbow Rowell

On a happier note, this book features a college freshman named Cath who goes to school with her “built-in best friend” and twin, Wren. The sisters have vastly different personalities, as Cath prefers to stay in her room writing fan fiction about her favorite Harry Potter-esque series. This is Cath's story but one of the things that gives it depth is the way her relationship with her sister changes and grows.

In this week’s episode of Bookin’ , host Jason Jefferies talks to Charles Fishman , author of One Giant Leap . They discuss flying in zero gravity, the scent of moondust, reporting on the Challenger disaster, initial resistance to the Apollo program from the American population, JFK's mandate to send an American to the moon, and much more.

Bookin' is sponsored by indie supporter Libro.fm Audiobooks --tune in for a special offer for Bookin' listeners. The podcast can be found at at QuailRidgeBooks.com/Podcast and on other platforms like iTunes , Stitcher , and Spotify .

Upcoming Events

TONIGHT! July 17 at 7:00 PM

CHRISTOPHER RUOCCHIO

Howling Dark

Determined to make peace and bring an end to nearly four hundred years of war, Hadrian Marlowe must venture beyond the security of the Sollan Empire and among the Extrasolarians who dwell between the stars. There, he will face not only the aliens he has come to offer peace, but contend with creatures that once were human, with traitors in his midst, and with a meeting that will bring him face to face with no less than the oldest enemy of mankind.

Friday, July 19, at 7:00 PM

ACE ATKINS

The Shameless

Buried secrets, dirty lies, and unbridled greed and ambition raise the stakes down South in the lauded crime series from New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins.