Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard More than a Bookstore

Volunteer to be a part of World Book Night

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:27:00 PST

The goal of World Book Night is to get 50,000 people to go out to places in their communities on the evening of Monday, April 23, 2012, and give a book to a stranger or to people you might know but believe aren’t frequent readers.

One million free books, representing 30 titles, will given away by these 50,000 volunteer book lovers across the U.S. on World Book Night.

The # 1 mission of World Book Night is to encourage reading by those who are light or non-readers, for whatever reasons, including economic or location constraints.

WBN asks that you go to a coffee shop or hospital, church or community center, an after-work party or nursing home, shopping mall or local school -- and give out 20 free paperbacks. These paperbacks will be specially-produced, not-for-resale World Book Night U.S. editions, and there will be 30 titles for you to choose from.

Time is short to register but you do have several more days and this could be a great outreach to many of the young people in the area.

The best way to get people to read is to share your passion for the worlds that become accessible in the pages of a book and then to get a good book, that speaks to that person, into his or her hands.

Please think about this and sign up before the deadline.

By the way, the books will be provided -- all you are asked to do is fill out the application and then go out, spread the word and give away the books.

The registration process for those wishing to become volunteer book givers is open through February 1, 2012.

Visit www.us.worldbooknight.org for complete details

Allison: the One-Flippered Sea Turtle to visit Paragraphs

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:12:00 PST

Discussion, Book Signing, and Reception

Monday, February 6, 2012

1-3PM

with David Cromwell

and Allison

Allison is a Green Sea Turtle living at Sea Turtle Inc. on South Padre Island. Greens are endangered. They are considered to be the second-largest and longest-lived of the sea turtle species. Allison was found on the beach at South Padre Island on June 16, 2005, one of 73 sea turtles that became stranded that year.

She was missing three flippers, an injury that is thought to have occurred from a shark encounter. Weighing a mere .73kg (1.6 lbs), she was taken to Sea Turtle Rescue for evaluation and medical care. Her story of survival and rehabilitation is chronicled in this new book "Allison: The Mostly True Story of a One-Flippered Sea Turtle" by David Cromwell. Combining fiction with the true rescue of Allison, this book is an entertaining and educational work that appeals to all ages.

We are really excited to be able to announce that Allison will join us on the courtyard at Paragraphs along with David and several of the knowledgeable and hard-working Sea Turtle Inc. volunteers or employees who work to protect and save these incredible creatures. While Allison is not able to autograph her biography, missing her flippers and all, David will be happy to oblige.

Cromwell likes to brag about having three careers where he couldn’t wait to get to work in the morning. First 22 years in television and news production, second as Media Service Director with the Sacramento Police Department and third rescuing turtles. David currently lives in Brownsville, Texas with his wife, Riley

William J. Cobb to visit Paragraphs

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:11:00 PST

In February we will be entering our third year of business and what a couple of years we have had. I hope to get a chance to sit down and write a post looking back on what we have accomplished, what we still haven't gotten around to that we have wanted to do since day one, and also look ahead to what things we hope to do in the near future. But, alas that is not what is on my mind right now.

One of my main goals when opening Paragraphs was to offer the community an opportunity to meet a variety of authors and to let the publishing world know that there are book lovers and readers that live and work in the lower Rio Grande Valley, regardless of what the management of Walden and Barnes and Noble may think. To date we have had a variety of authors appear at the store and we work hard to support our local, self-published authors by providing them with a venue to sell, promote, and discuss their books. But, my vision is to become as recognized a book seller as my role models the Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver and BookPeople in Austin. Both of these stores have active event calendars full of the biggest names, which appear on all the best selling book lists.

I not only want to provide a service to our residents and visitors but it is my goal to make Paragraphs a destination itself, which many independent bookstores are, and as such add to the economic strength of the island by helping to attract tourists from the valley and beyond to our little sandbar.

So, I was thrilled, excited and did I say really stoked, when I received an email from Rich Rennicks, who is in charge of bookstore outreach and event planning for Unbridled Books, a well-respected, independent, national publisher, asking if we would be interested in hosting an event for William J. Cobb upon the release of his new novel The Bird Saviors which will be published in June, 2012.

William J. Cobb is the author of a book of stories and two previous novels, including the critically acclaimed Goodnight, Texas. His short fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and many other magazines. He has received numerous awards, including a National Endowment for the Arts grant, a Dobie-Paisano Fellowship, and the Sandstone Prize. He was raised in Texas and currently lives in Pennsylvania, where he teaches in the writing program at Penn State, and in Colorado. So, I think you can see why I am so excited about having the opportunity to welcome this talented author to Paragraphs.

There are a couple of publishers that I consistently rely on to provide books of quality literary merit that I can always feel good about recommending for visitors to the store. One of the things we pride ourselves on is helping an undecided reader find a great read from an author or publisher that they are not familiar with and the books from Unbridled Books are always welcome additions to our shelves. I have recommended several of their titles in previous blog posts. Although on my list of books and titles that looked interesting, and which I wanted to read, I had not actually taken the opportunity to read anything by William J. Cobb until Rich sent me a galley of The Bird Saviors to consider for review.. I don't have the time tonight to give this novel justice -- but once I finished it I immediately ordered Goodnight, Texas which is another incredible read written by Cobb.

So, put October 20, 2012 on your calendar and plan to show up to give Mr. Cobb a true South Padre Island welcome.

Mystery Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:54:00 PST

Join us on Saturday, the 21st of January and meet several of our most popular local mystery writers. Several of these authors have written books that take place on South Padre Island and Port Isabel, some in wider Texas and all are exciting adventures written to keep you turning the pages.

We will be providing everyone with a list of places mentioned in the books so you can walk in the same footsteps as the heroes and villains.

Each author will speak for approximately 15 minutes beginning at 1:15. There will be plenty of time remaining to hear each author, ask questions, or purchase and have books signed if desired.

As usual this event is free and open to the public. Everyone is invited to attend and no purchase is necessary.

Can't You Sleep Little Bear

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:40:00 PST

We have been in business for two years and as many of you know when we first opened the doors our shelves had a lot of empty spaces on them. I have had a wonderful time adding new releases but probably even more enjoyable has been the search for the perfect backlist titles that I want to make a permanent part of our inventory and that I know I can always enthusiastically recommend.

This is particularly true in our childrens section. There are so many books to evaluate: different genres, dozens of series, commercially popular characters. They come in all sizes and shapes, there are books for early readers, chapter books, picture books for all ages and oh, my, where to begin and end.

As a part of this search I was pleased to discover a series of podcasts offered through iTunesU featuring David Beagley and his classes on Children's Literature from LaTrobe University. When discussing picture books, Beagley used "Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?" as an example. His description of this story and the illustrations about Big Bear and Little Bear intrigued me enough that I ordered a copy for the store.

I have fallen in love with this wonderful little picture book. The story is simple enough -- Little Bear can't sleep because he's afraid of the dark. After several attempts of banishing the dark with lanterns increasing in size and brilliance, Big Bear "saw that Little Bear was right" and he "thought about it for a long time" but as we find out Big Bear finally has an idea and is able to make Little Bear feel so safe that "he didn't say anything, for he had gone to sleep, warm and safe in Big Bear's arms."

The recent publishing sensation of "Go the F**k to Sleep" (available as an ebook here) is based on the same familiar tribulations which parents often experience at nighttime when putting their little angels to bed, but I definitely prefer Big Bear's patient way of dealing with his growing but very visible frustration as he tries to finish his book but is interrupted over and over again by a Little Bear that just doesn't want to go to sleep. This story will be loved by the little one -- there is enough repetition to allow them to follow along -- and the adult reading the book will empathize with Big Bear and be able to recognize their own resignation at the loss of a quiet evening to themselves.

The edition we carry comes with a CD that can be used in a variety of ways. Some interactive activities are included and the story is read in a couple different ways that parents can use in a variety of situations. The paperback book is sturdy and the pictures large enough to be easily viewed and read by adult and child. You can find other editions at our online store located here

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:48:00 PST

You can buy this wonderful new children's book by the popular writer Debbie Macomber at the store or online here.

Alaska History: "The Aunt Phil's Trunk" series

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:43:00 PST

Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs

Saturday, 14th January 2012 4-6 PM

Alaska History: “The Aunt Phil’s Trunk” series

Lecture followed by book signing and reception with author, Laurel Bill

Third-generation Alaskan, Laurel Downing Bill, is author of the recently released “Aunt Phil’s Trunk” series.
The four volume series developed after Laurel inherited newspaper clips, research and rare Alaska history books from her Alaska historian aunt, Phyllis Downing Carlson, who died in 1993. The series started in July 2002 as a weekly newspaper column, “Aunt Phil’s Trunk”, in The Anchorage Chronicle.

Each volume contains over 300 historical photographs to complement vivid stories about Alaska's history.

Laurel is also scheduled for a Writer's Workshop, hosted by the Valley Byliners, at the Harlingen Public Library in February. The subject of her presentation will be "Getting that Book Published" and we are pleased to have her stop by Paragraphs for our Literary Mercado, on Saturday.

Born in Fairbanks in 1951, Laurel moved to Juneau in 1959 after her father, Richard Downing, became the state’s first commissioner of public works.

She graduated from an American high school in Mallorca, Spain, in 1969 and then attended one year of college in Leysin, Switzerland. Laurel returned to Alaska in 1970, where she eventually met her husband, Don, in Fairbanks. In 1974, the couple moved to King Salmon – a small village about 360 air miles southwest of Anchorage. There they raised their two children, Kim and Ryan, in the remote community while Don worked as area biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commercial Fisheries Division and Laurel worked her way up to assistant general manager for the Bristol Bay Telephone Cooperative Inc.

After 24 years, they retired into Anchorage. That’s when Laurel decided to go back to college. She graduated from the University of Alaska with a degree in journalism in 2003.

"Aunt Phil's Trunk: Volume 1," released in 2006, features a spectacular photo essay following the harrowing routes rugged prospectors traveled to get to the Klondike, including the all-water route from Seattle to St. Michael and on to Dawson, as well as the Stikine, White Pass and Chilkoot Pass trails.

"Aunt Phil's Trunk: Volume 2," hot off the press May 2007. includes stories about Alaska’s early lawmen – and the criminals they pursued – along with its pioneering postmen and rugged adventurers who challenged the Great Land’s highest peaks.

Released in May 2008, volume 3 spans 1912-1935 and highlights the pioneering spirit of early Alaskans as they enter a new era as a territory of the United States with stories about early Anchorage and the Alaska railroad, epidemics and rescues in the Far North and the daring flyboys of the 1920s.

"Aunt Phil's Trunk: Volume 4" captures the essence of life in Alaska between 1935 and 1960. Its vivid stories highlight major events of World War II, the Cold War era, a secret Russian mission to Fairbanks, Alaska's 91-year struggle for statehood, heroic Alaska Airlines flights for freedom, Alaska Natives battles against discrimination and how Anchorage blossomed into a jewel on the tundra.

Discover more about Laurel and the Aunt Phil’s Trunk series at www.auntphilstrunk.com This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard,
5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX
For information call us at 956-433-5057

Children's Story Hour

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:28:00 PST

We have been approached at various times and have had residents and visitors with small children ask about the possibility of hosting a Children's Story Hour at Paragraphs. I have wanted to do this for some time now, but did not have the time to devote to the organization, planning, and public outreach that starting an ongoing activity would involve.

So I was thrilled when one of our area mothers, with several children, which she teaches at home, offered to plan and lead a weekly story hour for the 2 to 5 year old group and their parents.

Children's Story Hour with Carrie
focused on children from 2-5 years of age
Offered every Tuesday beginning
January 17, 2011
1-2 pm
Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard

Please help spread the word to your friends and neighbors with small children. I believe this will be a wonderful opportunity for the mother's of young children to meet one another and just have an enjoyable afternoon while introducing the little ones to the joys to be found in a great story.

As usual this event is free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome to attend and no purchase is necessary.

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:37:00 PST

El Paseo Arts Foundation

Presents

The Voxare String Quartet In Concert

January 26, 2012

South Padre Island Convention Center

6:30 p.m. Complimentary Hors d’oeuvres and Cash Bar

7:30 p.m. Concert

“Gifted, passionate, and personable, Voxare provides a high-spirited, high-energy evening of music.”

Tickets $25 per person/$20 members

Tickets available for purchase at SPI Visitors Center, Paragraphs Bookstore, Designer Consigner, or online at www.elpaseoarts.org

Story Hour with Santa

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:36:00 PST

Santa seems to be just about everywhere this time of year and we know he is pretty busy, but, Santa knows there is nothing quite as important to the future success of young people as discovering a love for reading.

Since Santa also loves to tell a good story he has agreed to take a break from his busy schedule and spend a few hours with us at Paragraphs to visit with the kids (both young and old) and read a selection of Christmas tales. Santa has not told us what he will be reading but I am sure he will end the evening with "The Night Before Christmas".

Hopefully we can also convince him to stay around if anyone would like to have a picture taken.

Everyone is welcome and there is no charge to attend. Refreshments will be provided.

This is becoming a Paragraphs tradition for young and old alike. Hope you can make it.

December 22, 2011

6:30 p.m.

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard
5505 Padre Blvd
South Padre Island, TX
956-433-5057

Shop the Island and Register to Win

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:03:00 PST

Author of "The Padre Predator" to be at Paragraphs

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:27:00 PDT

Shortly after we opened David and Mary Tannenbaum came into Paragraphs and we fell into that easy conversation that develops naturally between avid readers. So we were honored and pleased when he asked us to carry and help promote his first mystery novel, The Padre Puzzle.

The Padre Puzzle is a mystery/thriller set on South Padre Island, Texas. And as the author says in a recent article, "Where do you start a mystery? With a dead man on a beach." The novel introduces us to Jimmy Redstone, an aging and somewhat irreverent Texas Ranger and his unlikely partner Angella Martinez a rookie beat cop.

Now David brings us the much anticipated sequel, The Padre Predator, another Jimmy Redstone /Angella Martinez thriller. Jimmy and Angella are given a special assignment from the President -- find the security breach within the highest level of the government, track down the remaining terrorists before they carry out their plan, keep the bomb (or bombs) from exploding, and, keep it all quiet. In this sequel to The Padre Puzzle, author David Harry takes us on a ride with more twists and turns than Pikes Peak and as the search for the bombs and for the plotters intensifies, Jimmy and Angella are swept from South Padre to Washington D.C. and to the jungles of Mexico, unsure who to trust as suspicion spreads to include even themselves. With each turn, it becomes obvious that things are not as they seem. Jimmy and Angella soon suspect that they are pawns in a game that they might not be able to win.

While Harry writes to entertain his audience his ideas do reflect his genuine concern for the security of our country. Harry reflects on his inspiration for the Redstone novels, as reported in the Port Isabel Press:

We know that guns are getting smuggled at an ungodly rate. We know that people are getting smuggled into the country. If they can get those two things in, why nor smuggle other things? I start thinking about them bringing an atomic bomb into the country.

Harry adds that his series, including the second title, The Padre Predator, isn't meant to scare his readers, but to arouse their awareness of serious issues the United States faces. He hopes that his novel illustrates how the threat of smuggled weapons is real, and that at times our country, with its numerous bureaucracies and agencies, may struggle to stop the threat.

Since its debut, we have sold over 230 copies of The Padre Puzzle and it is becoming a top selling title at Paragraphs. Readers enjoy the many references to Island establishments and the novels contain a sense of local color that visitors and residents both can appreciate.

In advance of the formal release of his novel this fall, David is having a low-key meet and greet on August 13 between 1 and 3 to sign books and meet the growing number of Redstone and Martinez fans. So stop by and say hello, he would love to meet and visit with you -- and who knows you may be a character in his next novel!

David Harry at Paragraphs

August 13, 2011

1-3 pm

David Harry is a Texas transplant, arriving in Dallas in 1989 from Pennsylvania by way of Ohio, New Jersey, and Florida and has been a part time resident of South Padre Island since 1992. An engineer and patent lawyer for most of his professional life, David, and his lovely wife Mary, are planning to move to the Island permanently within the coming year and he hopes to devote more time to his writing. That will be good news to the ever increasing number of Redstone and Martinez fans.

"El Valle" wins Book Award

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 09:22:00 PDT

For 16 years the Independent Publisher Book Awards have been conducted annually to honor the year's best independently published titles. The "IPPY" Awards reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing. Independent spirit and expertise comes from publishers of all sizes and budgets, and books are judged with that in mind. All independent, university, small press, and self-publishers who produce books intended for the North American market are eligible to enter.

We are happy to announce that the beautiful book -- which was produced by Gorgas Science Foundation and includes the personal perspectives of over 29 authors, all of whom are familiar with the history, diversity, and natural beauty of the lower Rio Grande Valley, and features the incredible photography of Brownsville, Texas, resident Seth Patterson -- has been named the Best Regional Non-Fiction Book published in the South.

"El Valle - The Rio Grande Delta" is a 284 page coffee table book, written in English and Spanish, that offers the reader a visual introduction to this often misunderstood or overlooked region that is shared by two great nations.

I have been lucky enough to get to know Seth since the publication of this book. He is an enormously talented young man who is a joy to be around and we congratulate him on receiving this well-deserved award.

This award is also a great way of introducing the Rio Grande Valley, including South Padre Island, to a national audience. These awards are followed by many people and this is wonderful exposure for us.

We had discontinued carrying this book for a few months because of a flaw in some of the bindings. But, the printer has resolved all outstanding issues and replaced all of the books published. So, we are thrilled to again have this book on hand at Paragraphs and welcome you to stop in and enjoy our display copy. If you happen to have an early copy of the book and notice any problems with the binding, please bring it to Paragraphs and we will make sure it is replaced. I know that Seth and the people at Gorgas Science Foundation want you to be completely satisfied with your copy of "El Valle."

We again offer our congratulations to Seth, as well as the many contributors, all those who provided donations or sponsorships and everyone else who helped to get this book published.

Music in the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:43:00 PDT

This is an awesome town committee. They have been putting together some great events for our visitors and residents. A snow cone sounds pretty good right now!

What Do I Do With Your Donated Books?

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:17:00 PDT

I have been blessed with many generous folks that stop by and say "We have a lot of books that we don't know what to do with. Will you take them?"

As we begin our third year I am now feeling buried in used books. We do buy some books but we are beginning to be more selective in what we will pay for and we are going to need to develop some guidelines so our customers know that we cannot buy back used books that we previously sold at a deep discount and that we need to restrict our purchases of books from other used paperback stores.

But that is not the purpose of this post. We have the policy of always accepting donations of used books, and that won't change -- I can't bear to see books thrown away when there are so many less fortunate for whom a book is a treasured luxury. My problem has been deciding how to get my ever-expanding and towering piles of books to those in need.

That is where Better World Books and the Reuse First Internet Service comes in.

Reuse First: Making sure books get to readers – wherever they are!
The Reuse First Division collects tons of unwanted books to help fund literacy initiatives locally, nationally and around the world. We have raised $8.6 million dollars for global literacy by capitalizing on the value of so-called “no-value books.” Whether you are an individual, student group, library, or bookstore, we have a program that is perfect for you.

As a for-profit social venture, Better World Books’ success is measured by the positive impact that we make in addressing specific social issues; for us, that issue is literacy. Our collected books benefit five major nonprofit literacy programs as well as 80+ other literacy-based nonprofits.

I signed up with this company last year and sent a box of books to them. The great thing is they handle all the shipping and so the donation to them does not cost us anything. My main objective was to try and make sure that the books our customers gave to us, that we could not use, would go to support literacy in our own country and abroad.

So anyway, I boxed up some books, sent them away and forgot about it. Then, today, I decided to check out what had happened to this box of old, less than pristine and well-used books. That was when I discovered the "Green" part of what Better World Books achieves. The environmental impact of recycling these 14 books resulted in saving 1 tree, 82 gallons of water, and reduced landfill space by 1 cu. yd. Okay, I know that isn't much but when you look at this program on a national basis the results are phenomenal

Since its founding in 2003, the company has raised over $7.3 million for its non-profit literacy and library partners; diverted more than 29 million pounds of books from landfills; achieved 11,000 tons of carbon offsets through carbon-neutral shipping, and created more than 200 full-time jobs with meaningful benefits.

Better World Books diverts books from landfills by conducting book drives on 1,800 college campuses, and by collecting discards from over 2,000 libraries nationwide. It then sells those used books and contributes a portion of the revenue on each sale to its non-profit literacy and library partners. Books that cannot be sold are frequently donated to at risk communities in the U.S. and African schools by the truckload..

So my next project is to see how we can arrange to have a Book Drop Box set up at Paragraphs. But, until I get that done I will be sending some of those books you all have been kind enough to donate to us to Better World Books. And, I encourage each of you to consider transferring any of your online buying from Amazon to Better World Books. Of course, we prefer you shop with us, but, please consider using Better World Books for some of your book purchases because at Better World Books every purchase you make helps to change the world.

But, don't worry, we will always have plenty of used books to pick from on our shelves.

AUDITIONS for "Murder At the Tonylou Awards"

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:02:00 PDT

El Paseo Arts Foundation is kicking off its 7th season with a Mystery Theatre Production and "Chair-ity" Auction on September 15, 2011, at the Hilton Garden Inn. We'd loved to have you as part of the show.

AUDITIONS for "Murder At the Tonylou Awards" will be held

on August 8, 2011

at 7:00 p.m.

at Paragraphs

No previous acting experience is required. All you need is a sense of humor and a desire to have some fun. The play is a mystery spoof set at Hollywood style awards show and the audience gets to play detective and solve the crime. There are speaking parts for 6 females and 4 males and there's one non-speaking female role for a Trophy Girl.

Even if you're not sure you're ready for "prime time" auditions are always fun, especially for a spoof like this one. So come on the 8th and just watch if you just want to see what it's like. We can always use an audience.

Man Booker Prize Longlist Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:35:00 PDT

This is the list of the titles nominated for the 2011 Man Booker Prize

Julian Barnes The Sense of an Ending (Jonathan Cape - Random House)
Sebastian Barry On Canaan's Side (Faber)
Carol Birch Jamrach's Menagerie (Canongate Books)
Patrick deWitt The Sisters Brothers (Granta)
Esi Edugyan Half Blood Blues (Serpent's Tail - Profile)
Yvvette Edwards A Cupboard Full of Coats (Oneworld)
Alan Hollinghurst The Stranger's Child (Picador - Pan Macmillan)
Stephen Kelman Pigeon English (Bloomsbury)
Patrick McGuinness The Last Hundred Days (Seren Books)
A.D. Miller Snowdrops (Atlantic)
Alison Pick Far to Go (Headline Review)
Jane Rogers The Testament of Jessie Lamb (Sandstone Press)
D.J. Taylor Derby Day (Chatto & Windus - Random House)

The chair of judges, Dame Stella Rimington, comments:

'We are delighted by the quality and breadth of our longlist, which emerged from an impassioned discussion. The list ranges from the Wild West to multi-ethnic London via post-Cold War Moscow and Bucharest, and includes four first novels.'

Shelf Awareness for Readers

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:11:00 PDT

One of the newletters that I try to make sure I read every day is Shelf Awareness. This online resource does a good job of keeping me, as a bookseller, caught up to date on new releases, media appearances by authors, and what is going on in the book publishing and retail world. I also find their book reviews useful. So, I am pleased to announce that they are making this resource available to readers.

Shelf Awareness: Enlightenment for Readers is a FREE emailed newsletter with reviews on the 25 best books publishing each week along with author interviews, book excerpts, giveaways and more. Right now they’re running a contest for new subscribers.

Sign up below and you will be eligible to win a free book.

Plants of Deep South Texas: A Field Guide to the Woody and Flowering Species

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:51:00 PDT

Slide Show and Lecture
Plants of Deep South Texas: A Field Guide to the Woody and Flowering Species
Dr. Alfred Richardson
Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard
5055 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, TX
Thursday, March 31, 2011
5:30 – 7:00 pm

You are invited to join us on Thursday evening, March 31 at 5:30 for a slide show and lecture which will be presented by Dr. Alfred Richardson about the "Plants of Deep South Texas: A Field Guide to the Woody and Flowering Species" The event will begin at 5:30 and the slide show and lecture will be at 6pm. This book as well as other titles by Dr. Richardson will be available for purchase and for signing.

Over ten years in the making, Dr Richardson and biologist, Dr Ken King, travelled thousands of miles trying to find the right time to take photos and find many of these plants. This is your opportunity to meet and hear from one of the foremost experts in flora of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Dr. Alfred Richardson is professor emeritus of biological sciences at the University of Texas at Brownsville. Ken King, of Weslaco, Texas, has a MS in biology with an emphasis on herpetology. He serves on the board of directors for the Native Plant Project and is well known in the valley as a self-taught naturalist.

This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided

For information call us at 956-433-5057

More about the book:

Covering the almost three million acres of southernmost Texas known as the Lower Rio Grande Valley, this user-friendly guide is an essential reference for nature enthusiasts, farmers and ranchers, professional botanists, and anyone interested in the plant life of Texas.

Alfred Richardson and Ken King offer abundant photographs and short descriptions of more than eight hundred species of ferns, algae, and woody and herbaceous plants—covering two-thirds of the species that occur in this region, excluding grasses.

Plants of Deep South Texas opens with a brief introduction to the region and an illustrated guide to leaf shapes and flower parts. The book's individual species accounts cover: Leaves, flowers, fruit, blooming period, distribution, habits, common and scientific names.

In addition, the authors' comments include indispensable information that cannot be seen in a photograph, such as the etymology of the scientific name, the plant's use by caterpillars and its value from the human perspective. The authors also provide a glossary of terms, as well as an appendix of butterfly and moth species mentioned in the text.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 09:23:00 PDT

This book has been on my to be read list for ages. I think the time has come to actually sit down to it. From everything I have read this would be a great book club selection.

One reviewer comments:

Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.

We now have it in stock in a trade paperback edition.

From the Prologue:

The Woman in the Photograph

There’s a photo on my wall of a woman I’ve never met, its left corner torn and patched together with tape. She looks straight into the camera and smiles, hands on hips, dress suit neatly pressed, lips painted deep red. It’s the late 1940s and she hasn’t yet reached the age of thirty. Her light brown skin is smooth, her eyes still young and playful, oblivious to the tumor growing inside her—a tumor that would leave her five children motherless and change the future of medicine. Beneath the photo, a caption says her name is “Henrietta Lacks, Helen Lane or Helen Larson.”

No one knows who took that picture, but it’s appeared hundreds of times in magazines and science textbooks, on blogs and laboratory walls. She’s usually identified as Helen Lane, but often she has no name at all. She’s simply called HeLa, the code name given to the world’s first immortal human cells—her cells, cut from her cervix just months before she died.

Her real name is Henrietta Lacks.

Part science, biography, and history this book deals with the many of the issues we see in the front pages of the news every day and which are at the center of some of the most fierce culture wars and ethical debates. I am really looking forward to reading this book.

We now have it in stock in trade paperback. You can also buy the book online, read this book on your ereader or download the audio book to listen to on your ipod or MP3 player.

Purchase at our online store here: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Download the audiobook at this link

Or, download it to read on your ereader of choice (Kindle excepted) here: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Kind Words from the SPI Flip Flop Foodie

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:22:00 PST

Every once in a while I have to share some very nice thing someone has said about the store. One of our frequent visitors who stops by often and always generously shares some latest culinary experiment -- cookies, cake pops or some other decadent tasty treat -- writes a delightful blog The South Padre Island Flip Flop Foodie. Anyway, Debbi wrote this very nice blog post about Paragraphs and I had to share some of the highlights.

Paragraph's "Meet the Author Series" are like a "social"...people visit, there's usually snacks of some sort, frequently wine, coffee, or tea...it's like we've gone to Joni's home and she has entertained us at a fine, yet comfortable, soiree. (I can come with no make-up, shorts, and flip flops...

she continues ..

There are no whispering library voices in Paragraphs...just lots of happy and interesting people.

What I really liked about Debbi's kind words is her reinforcement that we are providing the atmosphere that has been the driving force behind the development of Paragraphs from the very beginning. Our logo was even designed to represent the social hub idea that is what we want Paragraphs to be all about.

So, I do appreciate the kind blog post by Debbi. If you cook, or like me just like to eat, The Flip Flop Foodie is a great blog to follow. And if you live on the island and haven't gotten to know Debbi Hook, she is a person you should meet.

She continues:

This week, Joni shared a fabulous little rum cake...I am determined to duplicate it. She said a friend shipped it to Griff from the Caribbean...something like a Tortuga Rum Cake. If I get around to making my take on it, I'll blog about it you can be sure! Past events have featured yummies from Zeste, cheese and crackers, chocolates, and other little yummies. What book store does that? We are so fortunate to have them.

Now, I am waiting for her to try the Tortuga Rum Cake! I can't wait to sample some of those experiments!

A Great Read to Listen to

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:23:00 PST

I love audio books. I listen to them whenever possible - walking the dogs, working outside, driving, actually, I am listening to a book whenever I can't sit down and read. I must admit, most of the time I find this a good way to catch up on classics that are in the public domain and available at Librivox. What is better than getting a classic story read to you, for free? These volunteer narrators are quite good.

But, I am always surprised when I listen to a professionally produced audio book. Right now I am listening to "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman and read by the author. This had been on my TBR pile for ages but I just couldn't sit down to it. After hearing the audio version recommended by Michael and Ann, at Books On The Nightstand I have been waiting for it to become available at the Denver Public Library, but I finally decided to splurge and download a copy from Audible.

I have not been disappointed. Everyone knows Gaiman can write a great story but he is also a wonderful storyteller. I have been drawn into the story in a way I don't think I would have been by reading the book.

The publisher says:

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead.

There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack - who has already killed Bod's family.
Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times best-selling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, The Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.
Music arrangement of "Danse Macabre" copyright 2008 by Béla Fleck and Ben Sollee, Fleck Music (BMI), admin. by Bug Music.
©2008 Neil Gaiman; (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

This is a young adult novel that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. A little scary in places for sensitive readers -- it is Neil Gaiman, after all -- but generally a tale to keep your interest. You can purchase the book for download here.

Writer's Roundtable at Paragraphs

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:38:00 PST

We have started a new group at Paragraphs for anyone interested in improving their writing skills. Any type of writing is welcome and there is no previous experience necessary. If you use words to communicate then you are wanted for this group -- songwriters, poets, historians, fiction writers, memoirists, manga -- whatever genre you are interested in, you are welcome. I am also setting up a Discussion tab for this group on the store FB page. Feel free to ask questions, offer suggestions to your fellow authors, post tidbits of information, whatever - the page is there for your use.

The group will have a variety of formats. Some months we will have individuals read a sample of their work and if they choose to, ask the rest of the group for suggestions or a critique of their work.

So that this is kept positive and no one is afraid to come to a meeting or intimidated by the thought of having their work critiqued, let me emphasize that sharing and requesting criticism is always voluntary. You are welcome to attend and listen and then share as you become more comfortable with the group. To be a good listener and to be able to provide helpful suggestions will add to the success of the group but will also improve the quality of ones own writing. To facilitate this I am going to share some basic guidelines. (Thanks to Pat Avery)

Critique Guidelines for Writer Round Table Discussions at Paragraphs

Basic Information:

1. Comments about a fellow writer's work should be constructive criticism of the material. Always show respect. A member of the group should never criticize the writer personally or ridicule his or her work.

2. Start with positive comments and then offer suggestions. Writers are creative personalities who write from the heart and intellect. Whether a person is writing a memoir, a novel, nonfiction or poetry it is uniquely personal.

3. Think in terms of cleaning up, strengthening, tightening and trimming the work. Help the writer whittle away unnecessary words and thoughts. Whatever the genre, a tightly written document generates more interest. Suggest improvements that add color and clarity to the work.

Areas for Critique:

Story
Does it make sense? Did you like it? Did it keep your interest?

Plot
Is the plot consistent? Is it believable, understandable and well-organized?

Characters
Are the characters well developed? Were they consistent and true to their character throughout the manuscript? Could you form a mental image of each character?

Setting
Did the setting support the plot and characterizations? Were you able to form a mental image of place and time?

Conflict
Did the writer develop a conflict? Did the conflict create tension? Did the plot keep your attention? Should the action be faster or slower? Were there too many subplots to stay focused? Did the plot come to a resolution?

Dialogue
Did the dialogue match the characters personalities? Was it believable and true to time and place? Did it move the plot forward or create a diversion? Did it build the conflict? Did the author use dialogue to show rather than tell the story.

Grammar
Was the story easy to follow? Were sentences or paragraphs too long or short? Did the story flow smoothly? Was point of view established and maintained? Did the writer use too many -ly adverbs or were common words overused -- like very, many or just? Were grammar rules such as gender and tense consistent?

Of course, depending on the type of writing the above guidelines may vary but the basics are here and hopefully we will add to and revise these as we go along.

President's Day Lecture at Paragraphs

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 07:41:00 PST

Daniel Ruddy
Lecture and Discussion of
Theodore Roosevelt's History of the United States

Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard
February 21 at 7pm

If you could talk with any living or dead person about American history, who would it be?

For historian Daniel Ruddy the answer to that question is Theodore Roosevelt. As he states in the introduction to his book "Theodore Roosevelt's History of the United States", published by Harper Collins,

Knowing I could not resurrect the dead, I decided to do the next best thing and create Roosevelt's part of the conversation. The result is this book, which is based exclusively on Roosevelt's own words. I have not added a single word of my own to the main text, reserving my comments for the Explanatory Notes.

Beginning with Herodotus and Thucydides men have chosen to write about history with the hope that studying the great deeds of the past and the characteristics of the great men who performed them will be of service to the present.

Roosevelt claimed to be a historian and he did publish numerous books on history. His one wish was to write a history of the United States. While he never had the time to actually accomplish this goal, this volume, compiled by Mr. Ruddy, is just that, Theodore Roosevelt's History of the United States.

Ruddy, invites us in his Introduction to

..transport yourself back in time to a pleasant summer evening in the year 1918, to Roosevelt's home, Sagamore Hill, high on a hill in Oyster Bay, New York. Pull up a rocking chair and join TR on the veranda, with its fine view of Long Island Sound. after you settle in you can engage him in the topic that interests you most -- American history. It is a good topic to bring up because it interests him, too; in fact, it is one of his passions.

So I am pleased to welcome Daniel Ruddy to Paragraphs on Monday, February 21, in recognition of President's Day, for an informative evening celebrating the fine mind and astute observations of the 26th President of the United States.

Daniel has appeared on BookTV and been featured on Fox and friends. It is truly a pleasure and wonderful opportunity to welcome him to South Padre Island and Paragraphs.

Daniel Ruddy grew up on Long Island, New York, where a childhood trip to Roosevelt's home, Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay triggered a lifelong interest in TR. He is a marketing consultant for Fortune 500 companies, and he holds a master's degree in international relations from the London School of Economics He is an avid researcher into U.S. history and the presidency.

Nelly Venselaar Book Signing

noreply@blogger.com (Joni) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:46:00 PST

I was pleased with the nice crowd we had at Paragraphs for the signing of "Musical Voyage" a book by Valley Byliners author and poet Nelly Venselaar.

Nelly is a quiet, reserved and delightful lady, originally from Holland, who now divides her time between the Rio Grande Valley, TX and Manitoba, Canada.

I was touched by Nelly's tears of happiness when her daughter surprised her by driving the 100+ miles from Corpus Christi to present Nelly with a dozen beautiful roses in honor of Nelly's first event upon the publication of her debut novel.

The book tells the story of three generations of a family, who first escaped from Nazi occupied Holland, and eventually emigrated to Vancouver, Canada. Through all the joys and hardships of their lives, music and art sustained them. "Musical Voyage" celebrates all that is good in people and family, and does so in a way that testifies to Nelly's love of language.

As Nelly describes the book:

Colette at first lives in wartime Holland and England then moves to Vancouver, Canada where she and her husband establish their family. As a teacher and later on a writer of children’s books she needs an enormous imagination as well as a good work-ethic. Both help her deal with the loss of family as does her music.
Her daughter Ashley who follows in her mother’s footsteps is a gifted musician. She uses her abilities to teach music. Through her music and her work she is able to deal with her heartache when she thinks she has lost the love of her life. With discipline and energy she keeps striving for her goals and attains them. Though not exactly a feminist, Ashley shows that women can reach the top of the ladder through hard work and strength of mind.

This was a special event and it was truly rewarding to see the smile, pride, and sense of accomplishment on this lovely lady's face as she discussed her characters and the importance of the themes in the novel on her life. It was one of those times when I truly felt the joy of being a bookseller.

Nelly Venselaar swore to see the world and managed to do that. She has played piano all her life and started to write poetry when she retired. She worked as a teacher while raising a family and earning a university degree.

I can't wait to read her next novel which she tells me is about a family that buys a bookstore!