Gosh, where to begin?

For starters, yesterday we celebrated the debut publication of longtime bookstore friend Linnae Klutchko, who was published in the Ember & Vine fiction anthology. She was joined by Grace Personnett, who in the spring self-published the young-adult romance book Dear Elena.

Most launches earn six to eight attendees. Linnae suggested as many as twenty. We ended up with thirty-six brave souls, including an adorable infant:

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Look at all the people!

Just wow.

November Schedule

This month, in Ye Olden Days, was known as "national novel writing month." The now-defunct nonprofit entity that ran NaNoWriMo has since shed its moral coil, and for good reason, but the spirit of an autumnal writing frenzy lives on in That November Thing sponsored by the West Michigan Author Alliance.

TNT's big activity is The Day of Knockout Noveling. DoKN is a day-long celebration of writing and community. It'll be held at the bookstore this year from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 21. The rules are simple: show up, write, have fun. We typically see between 25 and 50 authors cycle through in any given year. You're not obligated to stay the entire time – drop in for as much or as little as you can! – and focus on your story project. The bookstore is also open; I ask that you do not arrive early for DoKN, but you are welcome to come in from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. if your purpose is to shop for books. 😺

DoKN is also a community potluck. You are welcome (but not required) to bring a dish to pass. We only ask that you have it already prepared when you arrive, as we cannot allow cooking or food prep on site under county regulations. It's helpful to label your food if it contains common allergens or is unexpectedly spicy.

Want to write in silence? Although we suspend our formal Wednesday evening programming in November because of TNT, anyone is welcome anytime, year-round, to drop in during normal business hours to grab a table to write. No purchase or RSVP necessary. And we're still doing the Thursday Night Silent Writing stuff – it's in the conference room (because the bookstore is closed and karate is going on!) from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., with the only catch being you will suffer if you're allergic to cats.

Theon and Kali supervise Thursday Night Silent Writing. Theon, alas, is rarely silent despite the clearly posted rules. And Kali was originally a feral, so she hasn't learned the art of not stepping on keyboards.

December and Beyond

On Friday, December 11, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., we're hosting an all-writers holiday party. Bring a dessert to pass if you like. It's an open/social mixer and a chance to network. No RSVP required.

The December party will be light on activities, but there will be one big thing – the announcement of what 2027 will look like from a programming perspective.

Here's a hint: The bookstore and the Lakeshore Literary Foundation are both led by Jason. Jason also happens to be the current president of the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, a 12-state regional trade association for small presses and self-published authors who have distribution. The LLF, which is a 501c3 public charity, has run programs like the Grand River Writing Tribe and the West Michigan Author Alliance. WMAA, GWRT, MiPA, and the bookstore have been "disconnected" from a programming perspective.

What might it look like if there were a smoother, choose-your-own-adventure infrastructure to support authors and small presses? Is it possible to build a welcoming third space for literary-minded folks who all stand in different places in their journeys? Still figuring it out, but – more to come on December 11.

Stay warm and well read!