Welcome to your monthly update from

Watermark Book Company!

Below, you'll find what's new in the store, upcoming events,

book reviews, and more!

Hello to all of my happy readers!!!

Happy fall, y'all!

I cannot believe how busy September was! Jaycee and I had a lovely time at the PNBA book show/conference in Portland, OR. We met so many cool authors and socialized with our book and gift reps. A lovely time was had by all. On the way home from Portland, we stopped by the Seattle airport to pick up my boy, Tristan. He came into town to celebrate his 21st birthday with us. I miss him so much. His birthday was on Monday, September 25th. The girls and I took him to the Angel of the Winds Casino, and six of his friends met up with us, and I think he had a really nice time. There was much laughter and fun had by all. He and I also spent every moment of my free time watching Ted Lasso; he had never seen it, and we needed to finish the series from the last time he was visiting.

Above Left:

Jaycee and I on the balcony of our hotel room at the conference. Our hotel was on the Columbia River.

Above Right:

Tristan with his friends for his 21st Birthday. He is the one in the center wearing the gray shirt.

I am leaving for the Dominican Republic in two days, and I am absolutely not ready for the trip. I am really looking forward to it. I just cannot seem to get all of my "to-do" list completed. It is supposed to rain and storm the whole time that we are going to be there. But it will be warm. I am going to bring four books with me—more about those later.

I finished reading Our Town, and it was wonderful—a book about nothing and also about everything. I will say that I finished reading Psycho, and I really did like it...so creepy and good and the right amount of slasher-horror. I wanted to follow up and say that I did watch the movie, and I did not really love it—sorry. I thought these elements really worked better in the book than the movie. I read September House,

by Carissa Orlando, and it was creepy and haunting. I will say it is not something I could recommend to everyone. This book is very gory, and there is domestic violence and mental illness. I really did like the story, and how you didn't quite know what was going on. I do think I would have trimmed 30-plus pages. I finished Shark Heart: A Love Story, by Emily Habeck. What an odd and interesting little story. Overall, I thought it was good and well written, and I think it would make a good book club book. I think it was a very expansive and deep topic, and I think that maybe the author bit off more than they could chew...no pun intended.

I listened to Vampires of El Norte, by Isabel Cañas. It was awesome. I really liked it.

I thought the romance was a little basic and commercial. The story was good. I really liked this take on vampires. Nicely done. Properly creepy and good. I also listened to Richard Osman's fourth book in the Thursday Murder Club series,

The Last Devil to Die. It is simply wonderful. Funny, quick witted and smart. That series makes the perfect gift.

Books I am taking on my vacation: Woman, Captain, Rebel: The Extraordinary True Story of a Daring Icelandic Sea Captain, by Margaret Willson. I love all things Iceland, and this human is still alive and just a strong person! Beholder, by Ryan

La Sala, the author of The Honeys. They were at the PNBA show, and I thought it sounded very interesting. Everyone but Myself, by Julie Chavez. I met her at the conference and I felt an instant connection. I am looking forward to reading her story. I will also be looking at Bruce Rolfe's fourth book, Cinderella Evidence. I am looking forward to seeing what Bruce has been up to as of late. I will listen to Not Forever but For Now, by Chuck Palahniuk. I also hope to listen to Nineteen Steps,

 by Millie Bobby Brown—it sounded interesting. Lastly, The Twenty-One: The True Story of the Youth Who Sued the US Government Over Climate Change, by Elizabeth Rusch, who was at the conference.

Happy Reading and Stay Safe!

Brandy~

Author Events, Book Signings, and Shop Events

Brandy had a great time selling books at the Harry Smith's Hometowns Tour!

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Brandy and Jaycee went to the PNBA Trade Show!

They saw and met a lot of cool authors...

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Watermark Book Company's 34th Anniversary Celebration

Monday, November 13th—Sunday, November 19th

Watermark Book Company's 34th Anniversary Celebration

Our 34th Anniversary Celebration is next month!

We have so many fun things planned...

For the week of Monday, Nov. 13th–Sunday, Nov. 19th, we will be running our raffle basket special: when you spend $100+, you may enter to win the basket of your choice! We will have five baskets to choose from, with at LEAST a $300 value each.

Wednesday, Nov. 15th, we will offer a special 20% off sale! You must pay using cash or check to take advantage of this sale, and few exclusions apply. 

Saturday, November 18th from 5:00–8:00pm...a celebration so big, we needed TWO locations...

• Author Takeover at Sugar Mama Cafe—we will host SIX local authors! There will be two time slots: one at 5:00pm and one at 6:00pm, and, if you RSVP for either time slot, we will give you a coupon to take back to Watermark for that evening.
• Back at the bookshop—we're throwing a party!
• We will have an awesome photo booth with Dunraven Photo, and email you your pictures!
• Custom macarons from Frankie's Bakery.
• Mary Gold Tales Illustration will be here making 5" by 5" original watercolor keepsakes.
• Tarot Card readings by Dyanna Marshall—15-minute readings, 12 spots available for $30.00/reading. Respond to this email or call the shop at 360-293-4277 to RSVP.

This event is NOT to miss.

Friends of the Forest Annual Benefit

Featured Artist Joe Treat's Sculpture HERE at Watermark!

Watermark is honored to have the art from Friends of the Forest's featured artist, Joe Treat, HERE. The Annual Benefit is November 4th,

and you can learn more about the event here.

Come into the shop to look at this beautiful piece of art that you can bid on! 

Halloween Is October 31st!

🎃Get ready for Spooky Season with books, toys puzzles, games, and activities.🎃

⬇️⬇️⬇️

This Just In

New stationery and list pads from Kartos

⬇️⬇️⬇️

New Trivia Games

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Classic Board Games

⬇️⬇️⬇️

🧩 New autumnal puzzles from White Mountain.🧩

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Reusable bags from Ark Made

⬇️⬇️⬇️

New Journals

⬇️⬇️⬇️

This Just In for Kids

We love these clever new games for kiddos.

⬇️⬇️⬇️

New Merrymakers!

⬇️⬇️⬇️

You asked for orca stuffed animals, and we answered—

we have this cute new Orca plush from Squishables!

⬇️⬇️⬇️

New puzzles and old favorites.

⬇️⬇️⬇️

📙 New in Paperback📙

⬇️⬇️⬇️

📗 New in Hardcover📗

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Upcoming Events

🍂October🍂

Sunday, October 1st-Saturday, October 7th

Banned Books Week!

Banned Books Week is the week we celebrate all of the books that have been banned or challenged by schools and libraries in the United States.

Yes, books are still being banned in this country.

Join us in fighting censorship by reading a banned book this week!

Tuesday, October 31st

Halloween

We will be open our regular hours for Halloween!

Downtown Trick-or-Treating will take place from 4pm–6pm,

and we will be happily handing out candy.

November

Wednesday, November 1st at 6:00pm

Days for Girls Event at the Anacortes Public Library

We are partnering with The Anacortes Public Library for this author event with

Celeste Mergens, founder of Days for Girls International.

Don't miss this interesting presentation! We will be there selling copies of her book,

The Power of Days:

A Story of Resilience, Dignity, and the Fight for Women's Equity.

Friday, November 3rd–Open Late Until 8:00 pm

Art Walk

We will stay open late for the November Art Walk! Come see us!

Saturday, November 4th–5:00pm at the Port Warehouse

Friends of the Forest Annual Benefit Auction

We are selling tickets for the Friends of the Forest Annual Benefit Auction!

If you'd like to purchase your ticket here at the shop, please bring cash or check.

We are happy to help.

Wednesday, November 8th at 6:00pm

Wednesday Night Programs at the Anacortes Public Library

Watermark Writing Company Presents: Writing Your Memoir

Did you know that there are more than eight styles of memoir writing? Watermark Writing Company will be holding a class on these different types and how to start your own story. 

Saturday, November 11th

Veterans Day–OPEN

We will be open for our regular hours on Veterans Day.

Anniversary Week

Monday, November 13–Sunday, November 19th

We'll see you then!

Thursday, November 23rd

Thanksgiving–CLOSED

We will be closed Thanksgiving Day! Please come see us for

"Book" Friday and Small Business Saturday!

Friday, November 24th–Saturday, November 25th

Book Friday and Small Business Saturday

Sale: 20% Off When You Use Cash or Check

We're celebrating the start of the holiday shopping season with a special sale:

20% off your purchase when you pay using cash or check!

Few exclusions apply. Take advantage of this rare sale and get ready for the holidays!

Friday, November 24th–12:00-5:00pm

Book Friday Author Meet-and-Greet with Bruce Rolfe

We're kicking off the first day of the holiday shopping season with a meet-and-greet

with local author Bruce Rolfe! Bruce will join us from 12:00–5:00pm to celebrate the release of his new book covers and his latest book, Cinderella Evidence.

Come meet the author, get your books signed,

and get started on your holiday shopping!

Saturday, November 25th–12:00-3:00pm

Small Business Saturday Author Meet-and-Greet

with Matthew Sullivan and Stephen D. Orsini

We're celebrating Small Business Saturday with two local authors:

Matthew Sullivan with his mystery novel, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore,

and Stephen D. Orsini with his memoir, Nightmare on the Scottie.

Our authors will be here from 12:00–3:00pm

to sign copies of their books and chat with YOU!

Watermark Book Club

Watermark Book Club is on hiatus!

In the meantime, we'd like to feature some of the books the team members are reading!

Jaycee just read Stay True, by Hua Hsu. Here's what she thought:

"Stay True, by Hua Hsu, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir and I see why. This is Hsu's journey through the grief and loss of his college best friend; he speaks of the death like it happened yesterday. He also incorporates his Taiwanese upbringing, 1990's pop culture and commentary on how friends can change your life in ways you'd never expect. "