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!!!

Oh my goodness! Happy JUNE, happy PRIDE month, and happy birthday month to ME! I love June. It is busy, fun, and full of hope and promise. Graduation season is upon us. I love growth and change. I had such a good trip visiting my kiddos. John's graduation was really fun—the day itself was wild! Amberly and I drove a little over 2 hours each way, finally getting back to our hotel around 2:30 in the morning. It was a night graduation, and then I took all of my kids and their friends out to a big dinner, and it was really fun. The dinners were some of my favorite parts of the trip. We arrived in Sarasota on graduation day at lunchtime and went to my ex's home and had lunch with my kids, my ex, his wife, and my mom. It was a weird lunch. I am so grateful that I had Amberly there to help be my mental buffer. The graduation wasn't till 7:30 that night, and it was sooooo hot. It was 92 degrees at 7:30 and 90% humidity. I was uncomfortable in that heat. The graduation lasted till about 9:30. I sat next to my mom during the graduation; it was outside in that heat. We chatted a little. I asked her about herself, and I learned some things about her. While we didn't mend anything, perhaps a bridge has been built, and I can see that she does have strong feelings for my kiddos. If they get a better version of my mom than I had, I can live with that.

For the rest of the week, we spent plenty of pool time, just lounging and laughing. The boys came and stayed with us, and it was fun. I forgot how tired teenage boys are. They napped a lot. Us old folks were happy to just keep going all day long. We had soooo much fun in Universal Studios; the rides were awesome. We spent two days at their volcano waterpark. SOOOOO fun! I won't ruin you with pictures of us in swimsuits, but I do have some pics from the week that I will share.

Above: Dinner post-graduation—really one of my favorite dinners. So much love and fun!

Congrats John-Johnny.

Left: Me and Brian with John-Johnny. So proud of him.

Above: Janet with Puss in Boots...too cute.

Left: Posing in front of the Mummy ride, one of my favorite rides at the park. I really like the Mummy movies. Funny fact—I dated this guy in the pic in college. Hahaha! It was nice to see him again; he was taller than I remember.

Above: Ben and Janet having a decadent dessert at one of our favorite places. They look so hot because we were so hot. Ben and I went back alone for a date night later in the week, a lovely time.

Above: To know me is to know that I love the Transformer movies. I, of course stood in line for pictures with each of them. All of my family and kids were there and no one except Janet would stand with me. So I stood by myself and that is okay. Bumblebee, the yellow one, sang to me and it made me smile all day.

We had a really nice time, and coming back to chaos at the shop was a little less than fun, but we are plugging along. We had a truly wonderful visit and time spent at the book launch party on Bainbridge for Julie Farley's new book, Cozy Cabins and Ferry Tales. I am so excited about what is to come and looking forward to announcing future surprises sooner than later.

I colored and did a great deal of art this month. I will be putting up my Pride art in the front window this Sunday. I read quite a bit, and I listened to books, but not as much as my heart would have liked. I read The Husbands, by Holly Gramazio. This was suggested to me by Diane and it was wonderful. A really fun, propulsive read. A page turner and perfect vacation read. A woman comes home from a party to find a man, her husband, in her home, except she does not have a husband. She soon discovers that when the "husband" goes up to the attic, he comes down a different person. Really fun and interesting premise. I also finished The Once & Future Witch Hunt: A Descendant's Reckoning from Salem to the Present, by Alice Markham-Cantor. Other than having a shockingly similar name to another book, this is a really great non-fiction book. The first one I have read like it, from the perspective of a family member. Lots and lots of research went into this book. Very good read.

I listened to The Manicurist's Daughter, by Susan Lieu. I really enjoyed this one. I love to read about immigrant stories. I did not LOVE the main character, and I know the book is about her, but I still managed to very much enjoy the story. I am glad it is something that she shared. It is not my favorite in this genre but it is good. I am grateful that someone told the story of this hardworking woman who was promised something and she was willing to pay for it, she just didn't know that it would be with her life.

This month I hope to listen to Table for Two, by Amor Towles. I also hope to listen to Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies, by Catherine Mack. I want to read some horror and such. I will let you know.



Happy Reading and Stay Safe!

Brandy~

Author Events, Book Signings, and Shop Updates

We were so happy to host local author Kerri Hakoda with her new book,

Cold to the Touch.

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Reverend Terry Kyllo gave a presentation at the Anacortes Public Library.

We have copies of his book at the shop!

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A bumblebee decided he liked our shop so much, he kept coming back!

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Dr. Katie Eastman signed copies of her new book,

Uplifting: Inspiring Stories of Loss, Change, and Growth

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Get A Personalized Copy of a Rosanne Parry book!

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June Is Pride Month

Last week, we overheard a passerby outside saying, "Oh, that's the Pride place."

Celebrate Pride month with us! We have fun accessories and all kinds of books.

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Father's Day Is June 16th

Looking for a great Father's Day gift? Ask us for a recommendation!

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This Just In

Sock It to Whom? New sock designs for you!

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🎨 New to the shop: Ooly art supplies. 🎨

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We love this new line of journals.

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This Just In for Kids

Gorgeous new picture books—and some matching plushies, too!

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Carry-Along Coloring Kits from Ooly.

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📙 New in Paperback📙

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📗 New in Hardcover📗

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Upcoming Events

June

Wednesday, June 5th at 6:00pm

Author Event with Heather Plett

Join us after hours on Wednesday, June 5th at 6:00pm for a presentation from

Heather Plett. Her new book, Where Tenderness Lives, is about healing from trauma. Purchase a copy to have personalized by the author!

Saturday, June 8th

Brandy's Birthday!

🎂 Are you excited for Brandy's birthday? We sure are!!! 🎈

Saturday, June 15th 12:00pm–3:00pm

Local Author Meet-and-Greet with Susan Marie Conrad

Susan Marie Conrad will join us to celebrate the reissue of her book

Inside: One Woman's Journey Through the Inside Passage.

Stop in between 12:00pm and 3:00pm to meet the author and buy a personalized copy!

Sunday, June 16th

Father's Day–We Are Open!

Wednesday, June 19th

Juneteenth

We will be open on this holiday!

Thursday, June 20th at 6:00pm

Author Event with Don Hall

We are partnering with Transition Fidalgo to bring you this author event!

Join us at the shop to welcoming Don Hall as he presents his book

The Regeneration Handbook: Transform Yourself to Transform the World.

Saturday, June 22nd

Anacortes Pride

🌈We will have a booth at the celebration at Causland Park!🌈

Visit us for all things Pride!

July

Thursday, July 4th

Independence Day–CLOSED

We will be closed for Independence Day. Have a safe and happy holiday.

Saturday, July 20th

Author Meet-and-Greet with Bobbi Illing and Bill Soroka

We are thrilled to be hosting co-authors Bill Soroka and Bobbi Illing! They will be here on Saturday, July 20th from 12-3pm to promote their book

Dandelions: A Pandemic-Era Writing Adventure with Two Unlikely Friends.

This book will help you rediscover or expand your passion for writing (and reading).

Every chapter is a writing prompt with two perspectives: a loving 79-year-old feisty grandmother and a 46-year-old nerdy serial entrepreneur with two dogs

and aversion to the word "moist." 

For every book purchased, you will get to enter a raffle

with prizes that support local businesses!

Everyone who purchases a copy of Dandelions (phone orders okay) will receive a lifetime subscription to the Legacy Vault by My Life and Wishes- the ultimate in secure digital storage of your most important family documents (a $497 value). 

Watermark Book Club

This month, Watermark Book Club is reading

The Once and Future Witch Hunt, by Alice Markham-Cantor.

This is a closed book club. If you'd like to join the waitlist,

please respond to this email and let us know!

In the meantime, feel free to follow along with what we're reading.

Here is what Jaycee has to say about it:

This is a non-fiction book set in both the past and the present. It's about a woman researching her family history dating back to the Salem witch trials. She then proceeds to tell you her ancestor's journey through the trials. An immersive book about an important part of history.