Category: Literary Locals Page 1 of 8

Saturday is the annual celebration of Indie Bookstore Day, a day where small bookstores across the country conspire to get people like me to open up their wallets without complaining. A few weeks back, I thought it’d be fun to get some Q&As done with local shops about the store and what they were doing for Indie Bookstore Day.

Good idea, right? Well, it’d have been better if I’d sent the invitation to participate and the questions. I had them ready, just needed to copy and paste into an email and send. About a week ago, I realized I’d dropped the ball and opted for this instead–a quick look at the stores in the area that I’m most familiar with, and a list of what they’ll be up to Saturday. Locals should check all of these places out (not necessarily on Saturday, but why not?)

If you’re not a local, you should still come and check them out–let me know when you’re in town, we’ll do something. 🙂

Or, if you don’t want to travel hundreds of miles just for these bookstores, check out IndieBound.org’s Participating Stores Map and find somewhere local to support.

Rediscovered Books

Location: 1576 W Grove St, Boise, ID 83702
Website: https://rdbooks.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rediscoveredbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rdbooks
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RediscoveredBooks
Twitter: https://x.com/rdbooks
Shop Online: https://rdbooks.org/books
Librofm: https://libro.fm/rdbooks

This is the Indie Bookshop juggernaut in the area. Well, as much of a juggernaut as an Indie Bookshop can be. They’ve been around for 20 years, are on their 3rd main location (they had one for a brief period of time closer to me, but that didn’t last). They’ve got a good stock and a knowledgeable staff—yes, I have temporarily stumped them with a question or two, but that was always a temporary thing (and along the way I typically got a recommendation that I wasn’t looking for, but ended up enjoying).

Most of the region’s author events/other literary happenings have them to thank in some way (the percentage is decreasing because other groups are stepping up, not because they’re backing down). They have a good number of book clubs and other regular happenings, too. Their new location even has an event space you can rent out.

If you’re in the area and haven’t been there, I’d question your bookish credentials, if that didn’t make me a jerk.

Announced activities for Indie Bookstore Day

Their website states:

Golden Ticket Hunt – find the Golden Ticket in-store and get a year’s worth of audiobook credits from Libro.fm!
Bookish Flash Tattoos from local artist Deb Bryant – check out her work here – from 10 AM to 4 PM – flash sheets coming soon
Food Truck – Tango’s Empanadas from 11 AM to 2 PM
Indie Bookstore Day Exclusive Items – Special Edition books, totes, activity sheets, and more–only available in-store on April 25th

Canary Books

Location: 1403 3rd St S, Nampa, ID 83651
Website: https://canarybooksnampa.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Canary-Books/61550654169548/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canarybooksnampa/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@canarybooks
Libro.fm: https://libro.fm/canarybooksnampa

This is a tiny used bookstore that just celebrated its 2nd anniversary (or “bird-day”). Which is probably why it doesn’t have that used bookstore smell (I’m not the only one that thinks they all smell the same, am I?—it’s a nice smell, but distinct to the species). I’ve gotten away from used book stores in the past few years—but Canary Books has made me rethink that (I first went in for a special new book for a charity drive thing they did).

It’s a cozy and friendly atmosphere–stocked with “a curated selection of second-hand literary fiction, mystery/thriller, sci-fi & fantasy, narrative non-fiction, young adult, and children’s books.” Curated well, and in really good condition, too. I’ve spent double my budget for the day each time I went in there.

Announced activities for Indie Bookstore Day

A Facebook post states: Double punches on loyalty cards, a new Treasure Valley Bookstore Crawl challenge kicking off, and search the store for the “golden ticket” for a year of free audiobooks from @librofm.

Kuna’s Book Habit

Location: 102 E 2nd St, Kuna, ID 83634 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kunasbookhabit/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kunasbookhabit/

As far as I know, this is Kuna’s first bookstore—and it needed one, especially as the community keeps growing the way it is.

It is a tiny place, practically bursting at the seams with new and used stock of a wide variety of genres/tastes. (okay, I haven’t been in their “new” location, but it’s in the same building as the old, so I have a pretty good idea what it’s like). When you walk in, you feel surrounded by friends/prospective friends (for those of us who consider books as friend material).

The proprietor is Bryan McBee, a local indie author who is very supportive of other local authors. There are signing events so often that I can’t keep track of them (and I have an unerring ability to find out about the ones that I want to attend too late, I really need to do better about checking those earlier). Kuna’s Book Habit is the local place for Indie Authors.

It’s a real, too-often-overlooked, gem of a shop.

Announced activities for Indie Bookstore Day

They haven’t announced any particular activities for the day, however they will be having a signing by a local author and their semi-annual Fill-a-Bag Sale, which would mandate me buying a new bookshelf unit.

Oldspeak Book Bear Bar

Location: 3640 West Chinden Boulevard Garden City, ID 83714
Website: https://www.oldspeakbar.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisroomislit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldspeakbar/
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/thelitroom

This is a combo bookstore/bar/coffee shop. Technically, they “have a wide variety of non-alcoholic beverages including a tea and light coffee program, NA beer options, ERTH BEV switchels, sparkling water, kombucha, etc.” I haven’t sampled deeply from their drinks menu (I tend to get stuck on something I like right away and have trouble moving on), but I’m told by the more adventuresome folks I’ve gone there with that what I haven’t tried is good.

To me, this feels like an art-house movie theater from the 90’s morphed into a bookstore. The selection isn’t large—but it’s deep and varied. I remember one time seeing these deep, award-winning literary works cramming one shelf, and just one over, they had a front-facing copy of Dungeon Crawler Carl. They feature local writers, and indie publishers. Their non-fiction section is pound-for-pound the best in the area. There’s a decent selection of translated works—just a few selections per language, but in translation from more languages than I’m used to seeing (then again, I’m not used to seeing books in translation separate from everything else).

The atmosphere is just great—you can sit and chat, play a tabletop game, talk books, or just sip a drink and read. I’ve been there with non-readers who were as eager to go back as the readers.

In my (limited) experience, you need to be in the store at the right time to talk to staff about books, so far, I haven’t been. The staff behind the counter could ring up the purchases and fetch/pour/make your drink just fine—but talking about the books, answering questions? I haven’t had that much luck (although I’ve overheard others with better timing doing well on that front)

Announced activities for Indie Bookstore Day

Facebook and Instagram state:
• Free cake by @wickedcakes.co
• Book sales! Buy two get the third half off.
• Cool vendors! @samarchide @rollinrecsboise @thesnarkyswede

Plus, our new food vendor @lastbiteinc will be serving their tasty light bites from 11am-6pm.

Shared Stories

Location: 106 South Kimball Avenue Caldwell, ID 83605
Website: https://sharedstoriesbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Shared-Stories-61558055019022
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/profile/sharedstoriesbooks.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@sharedstoriesbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharedstoriesbooks
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharedstoriesbooks
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/sharedstories
Libro.fm: https://sharedstoriesbooks.com/audiobooks

I can’t promise that I’ll make it to any of the above stores on Saturday, but I will be here. Shared Stories came to town around this time in 2024 (there’s a Q&A with the owner here) and quickly became my go-to brick-and-mortar stop for books. It’s also the host of the two book clubs I attend (and several more I don’t have time for).

Beyond selling books, gifts, and so on, their goal is to be a Third Space for the area “where we could meet, spend time and talk about our different stories.” And it’s as warm and welcoming as you’d want for that space.

The staff is friendly and knowledgeable–and ready to chat about books (and more) at the drop of a hat. They get to know regular customers and their tastes to a degree that makes you wonder if they’re using cookies on you.

They have plenty of events, too–cooking classes, craft days, local author signings, and more–including an upcoming Speed Friending event.

Announced activities for Indie Bookstore Day

I combined an Instagram post and their event page to come up with:
✰In-Store Raffle
✰Find the Libro.fm Golden Ticket
✰Exclusive Sticker
✰Blind Date with a Book Drop
✰Snacks & Music
✰Walk Up & Craft Book Bedazzle Station
✰Flash Tattos by @magpie.mady and apprentice @posietattoos

…..& More TBA!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Quotes About Books and Reading

By HCNewton

On February 24, 2026

In Literary Locals, News/Misc., Top X List

The topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesdays is “Quotes From/About Books (Share book quotes you love, quotes about being a reader, etc.)”

Once upon a time, I had a really good list of these going–and I have no idea what happened to that (it was before this blog). But I do have a decent collection of quotations that I’ve used once or twice over the years in my Saturday Miscellany posts, so I picked the ten best of those.

HC Chats with Glen Gabel about Through the Corner of Circles and some other stuff

By HCNewton

On January 20, 2026

In HC Chats, Literary Locals, Miscellany, News/Misc.

HC sat down with Literary Local, author, screenwriter, and all around good guy, Glen Gabel to talk about his mother’s passion project, <b.Through the Corner of Circles

You can see HC’s written Q&A with Glen here: https://irresponsiblereader.com/2025/05/20/literary-locals-a-qa-about-writing-in-idaho-with-glen-gabel/
Glen’s website: https://glengabel.com/
and Meg Ashely’s website: https://meg-ashley.com/

(repost) LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Jerome Goettsch

By HCNewton

On November 11, 2025

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Literary Locals

This author asked me to repost this, and given the subject of his book, Veteran’s Day seemed to be a fitting day.

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Goettsh’s memoir had only been in print for a couple of weeks before I met him at the Library Book Fair. I wish I’d noticed that before I sent him my questions–I’d have tweaked them a little bit–not that there’s any problem with his responses, I’d just have framed things in light of the date.

Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
I’m a veteran of 9 years in the Marine Corps, 16 years in the Army, and 7 years working as a Navy civilian. I did 2 tours of duty in Vietnam. The first tour the book is based on as a rifleman and Fire Team Leader for 13 months, and a second tour for 12 months in ordnance. Over 25 years in the military I worked as a rifleman, an ordnance man, a military policeman, a rifle, and shotgun coach, and in administration. As a civilian for the Navy, I worked on the docks unloading munitions off ships and as a document editor. I edited operations manuals for navigation systems on nuclear submarines.

What brought you to Idaho in the first place? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
My wife and I moved here 21 years ago to be with our children. We have 2 children, 2 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren in Idaho now.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
This is all very new to me. I’m learning to tread the waters of authorship. I have a Facebook page: The Cocoa Kid, and I belong to a few Facebook groups: The Writer’s Forum, Writers For Writers, and Creative Writing. Also, the Kindle Community is very supportive.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
I did my first book fair at the Nampa Library where we met. I made a few good contacts there. I’ve been talking with local librarians and hope to have something in the future. I need to reach out to new bookstores and book clubs. It’s challenging balancing my book promotion with my artwork.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
My readers are from all over the US, but mostly veterans like myself. However, I like to point out the book is not just all about the war. It’s not all shoot ’em up bang bang. It’s about a young man’s journey from childhood to war. About struggle, loyalty, and sacrifice in the face of adversity. It’s about survival and moving on.

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
It’s not just Treasure Valley. It’s the book community in general. Lots of people are going to e-books. Paperback books are slowly but surely going the way of hardback books. They will be obsolete collectors’ items someday. I’m not a Luddite; or a technophobe in today’s vernacular. I’m going to be putting an e-book version out soon.

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
I consider myself an Idahoan as I’ve been here 21 years now. I have family and roots in Idaho. But I was born and raised in Green Bay Wisconsin. Later I lived in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Chicago Illinois, Dallas Texas, Phoenix Arizona, and California. After joining the military I was stationed in California, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Indiana. I did 2 tours (still not sure why they call them tours) in Vietnam. I’ve visited Mexico, Japan, China, Greece, Africa, and most of Western Europe. Working as a civilian for the Navy I traveled to Washington DC, Washington state, New York, Florida, and Georgia. I’m like a sponge, and have picked up some of the customs and language of most everywhere I’ve been.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
I’m a rockhound and photographer, as well as a writer and artist. I love to explore Idaho, so I have several books such as Rockhounding Idaho, Roadside Geology of Idaho, and books on Idaho’s history. I found reading about how Idaho’s Capitol was moved from Lewiston to Boise most interesting. I would highly recommend reading about the State Capitol’s history. Overall I’m a history buff, and I’m in the habit of reading a few books at a time. I like to pick one up and read a chapter or two, then put it down, pick up another, and repeat. I am presently reading Eiffel’s Tower by Jill Jones, The Greater Journey by David McCullough, and a book written in 1890, How the Other Half Lives by Jacob A. Riis. Riis was part of a movement that led to changes in society such as the Audy Home that I was locked up in, and which is in my book. Riis wrote his book in 1890 and the Audy Home was created by the women of Hull House in 1899.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!

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Typewriter Repair Shop by Troy Lambert: A Story That Simply Must Be Written

By HCNewton

On October 10, 2025

In Fiction, Literary Locals

Typewriter Repair Shop

by Troy Lambert

DETAILS:
Series: Ridge Falls, #1
Publication Date: October 20, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 66 pg.
Read Date: September 19, 2025

There are times when I sit down, ready to write, with no idea what words might begin the story. It’s like an itch in the mind. Words are the only cure, calamine lotion for the desire to create.

What’s Typewriter Repair Shop About?

Jake Randall is a writer who has been struck by the muse—it’s one of those times that he just has to get a story out of his mind and onto paper (or screen). He typically likes to bounce around between his laptop, a notepad, or an actual old typewriter. This time, however, he can’t quite seem to write anything without that typewriter—but that’s okay with him, he enjoys the sensations.

Well, until one of the keys stops working—the letter just won’t strike. Which is infuriating—or would be, if a typewriter repair shop hadn’t just opened across the street from a bar and grill that Jake likes to frequent.

Sure, it seems like a dumb business idea in the 2020s, but at the moment, he’s not looking a gift horse in any orifice. He takes it in, gets the letter repaired (while he enjoys some fish and chips at the grill), and goes home to write more, he really wants to tell this story.

Then a different letter stops working. And so, Jake repeats the sequence. But now he’s more driven to tell the story. And then…yeah, a different key…

The Look of the Thing

So, I don’t know how well an eBook would do with the funky typography/handwriting things that Lambert does here. Probably fine, but also…it could be a mess.

The dead-tree version, however, looks very cool. We frequently get to “see” the typewritten portions with the missing letters, and sometimes where Jake filled them in by hand.

This makes it easy to see why he’d give up—it’s easy to think to yourself, “tough it out, fill it in by hand.” But when you see it in front of you and then think about the effort? No thanks. Back to the repair shop for sure.

So, what did I think about Typewriter Repair Shop?

I’ve got to be quick about this—if I talk too much, you won’t have a reason to pick this up—and I want you to.

This is a very Twilight Zone-y kind of story. You may get to the point where you think you know everything that’ll happen (and you might be right), but that’s not the point. The point is to go on this fast, twisty, and strange ride with Lambert.

Revel in the creepiness, the atmosphere, the…whatever it is that’s going on in Jake’s mind.

This novella is absolutely worth your time and money. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next from this series.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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A Tail of Mystery by Paul Regnier: A Cozy Mystery. A Talking Dog. What More Could You Want?

By HCNewton

On July 16, 2025

In Dogs, Fiction, Literary Locals, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

A Tail of Mystery

by Paul Regnier

DETAILS:
Series: Luke and Bandit Cozy Mystery, Book 1
Publication Date: December 03, 2020
Format: Kindle Edition
Length: 244 pg.
Read Date: July 10-12, 2025

I rubbed my temples. “I’m losing it. I’m talking to my dog.”

Bandit walked over and sat beside me. What do you mean? We always talk.

“Not like this!” I stared at him. “Doesn’t this seem different to you?”

He tilted his head. I guess. I mean, sometimes you’re a little thick. You seem to have trouble understanding me. Like when you don’t want to go for a walk, but the weather is perfect. Or you’d rather sit on the couch than play fetch. Or it’s dinner, and we could have steak, but you make a cheese quesadilla. Or—

What’s A Tail of Mystery About?

Luke has hit a little roadblock in his journalism career—his editor fired him. The newspaper industry being what it is now, he didn’t have a lot of options. So he—and his Australian Shepherd, Bandit—are off to his old (small) hometown to live with his mother for a little bit and to lick his wounds.

He has a fairly well-to-do uncle who lives in the same town, too. He’s more eccentric than he is well-off, too—and runs some ethically questionable animal experiments in his home. Luke didn’t realize exactly how ethically-flexible Uncle Zeke is, but by the time he realized it, he’d already agreed to let Zeke use him in his experiments (Luke really needed money, it should be stressed).

Something goes wrong during the experiment—and when Luke wakes up he can hear Bandit’s thoughts in his mind. And vice versa. It’s not unlike Hearne’s Atticus and Oberon, although Bandit seems to have a stronger command of English (and math). Even more wrong, Zeke has been murdered. As the only person at the scene, Luke’s the prime suspect of most of the police town.

And he really can’t tell them “I didn’t do it, but my dog smelled another human around there.”

So, faster than you can say, “Spencer Quinn,” Luke has to team up with his mother (who assures him she’s watched enough Murder, She Wrote to be qualified) and his best friend from High School to see if they can clear Luke’s name, with an assist or two from Bandit.

Crystal Falls

Crystal Falls was just off Highway 55, nestled in a mature forest of pines and firs. A short walk from the center of town took you to the Crystal Falls River. On quiet nights you could hear the musical trickle of water as it flowed over the smooth rocks. The more ambitious hiker, heading north for twenty minutes, would arrive at Crystal Falls, the landmark that gave the town its name. The waterfall was two stories high, and thundered down to a pool of water large enough for the adventurous swimmer or college skinny dipping dare. I left the highway, and took Crystal Road.

Childhood memories flooded back as I drove the curving ascent into town. The road, flanked by thick firs, led through a dense mountain forest. I cracked the window, letting the fresh, cool air fill the car. A choir of chirping birds was scattered among the trees.

The center of town was laid out in a giant oval. One and two-story city buildings and retail stores ran along the edges, and a circular park the size of a football field sat dead center. The park was dotted with Douglas firs, and a colorful variety of deciduous trees displaying a canvas of fall colors. The orange-yellow leaves of willows ringed the outer edge, ushering me into town. A large, white gazebo marked the center of the park, a sentimental landmark of small town America. Roads branched off into the hills, leading to residential homes.

Doesn’t this sound like the perfect, quaint little town? It might as well be Stars Hollow or Del Sol, New Mexico. It’s the kind of small town where everyone knows each other, knows each other’s business, and the biggest scandal is that someone might be cheating in the annual Cinnamon Festival Bake-off (the investigation into this is Luke’s first assignment for the local paper). A murder of an infamous crank definitely gets folks talking—as is any clumsy investigation not done by the police.

We don’t get to see much of it in this book, but we get enough to know that I’m going to enjoy spending time here and getting to know the populace over the next four books.

Bandit

Bandit crept closer, sniffing the fallen body. I’m guessing raccoons… They’re devious creatures, you know? Totally capable of an attack like this.

So, you know I have to talk about Bandit, right? I’d forgotten the whole thing about Luke and Bandit being able to talk to each other when I started this book, and I already thought Bandit was a good boi before he started communicating. He’s a big dog with a lot of heart, and will surely catch a bird or squirrel soon. He’s convinced that raccoons are not to be trusted (and he’s probably right), and has strong opinions on baked goods as well as other foodstuffs.

His personality is great—he’s generally upbeat, devoted to Luke (but he has a soft spot for some of the other humans around, even the ones who smell). It didn’t take me long at all to know I was going to read more of these books just for Bandit (although the rest of the book warranted reading the sequel, too—but I had to wait to decide that).

So, what did I think about A Tail of Mystery?

It’s getting late, so I won’t take the time to get into all the colorful characters we meet here—also, I’d risk giving something away about the murder. But I’ll talk about Luke’s mother, his friend, Kenny, and some of the other memorable folks in a future post. For now, I’ll just repeat myself from above—I want to get to know this Crystal Falls and its populace more. (see what I said about Del Sol and Stars Hollow)

The murder was well-plotted and just mysterious enough to keep you guessing—it would’ve been very difficult (but not impossible) for someone to figure out without Bandit’s nose. Which is one of those notes that I’m always going to love.

I liked Luke—even if he could be a little whiny, hopefully Book 2 doesn’t involve him being accused of murder, so we can see more of the good side of his personality. Regnier’s narrative voice is charming enough that you’ll enjoy the book despite Luke’s misery.

It’s a fun, quick, easy read that hits all the right notes. I encourage you to pick it up—I’m getting the next one soon myself.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

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Promise by Christi Nogle: Wonderfully Weird, Unequivocally Unnerving

By HCNewton

On July 2, 2025

In Fiction, Literary Locals, Science Fiction

Promise

by Christi Nogle

DETAILS:
Publisher: Flame Tree Press
Publication Date: September 12, 2023
Format: Paperback
Length: 208 pg.
Read Date: February 1-10, 2025

What’s Promise?

This is a collection of 21 short stories. The cover calls them “weird Science Fiction” stories—this is true. When Nogle described herself in a Q&A here last year, she described herself as “focusing on horror and horror-adjacent work.” I’d say most of these qualified as Horror-adjacent; there’s just something unnerving about just about every one of these. Now, I grant you that my tolerance/acceptance of Horror is pretty low, so while I might call these Horror-adjacent, real Horror fans might roll their eyes. That’s fine, I get it. But some of these are really unnerving/creepifying.

When trying to come up with a good way to describe this collection, I saw the back of the cover blurb and decided that I couldn’t do better.

A young woman confronts her digital doppelganger at a creepy academy. A mother and daughter struggle underground, finishing robots the rich will use. A loving couple find that their mirrors are very different than mirrors used to be. You can order a headset to speak with your dog, and your devices sometimes connect not just to the web but to the afterlife.

Be prepared for strangeness here. We have several types of aliens, cults devoted to contacting alternate dimensions, virtual-reality writing retreats, time-travel games and timetravel tragedies, augmented consciousness, cosmic artforms and living paintings, haunted Zoom meetings, giant worms, and guesthouses for the dead. These stories reflect the weird and unknowable future. They are often bizarre and dreadful, but they also veer towards themes of hope, potential…and promise.

I Have So Many Questions…

A little over halfway through my notes, I wrote, “I have so many questions about her process.” I can’t tell you exactly what prompted that, but I’m pretty sure the question had been building. And I’d still like to ask a few now that I’ve been prompted.

Sure, there’s the old chestnut of “where do you get your ideas?” I know authors hate that question (and I get it), but…just how does someone come up with these? And beyond the generic planner v. pantser, I really wonder how much of these strange worlds she has worked out before she starts to tell a story in them, and how much she figures out along the way.

But also—what does the first draft look like compared to the final? Does she write everything and then pare it down to just the essentials? How does she choose the starting point for these? I know my reflex would be to start most of these stories about 8 paragraphs of story earlier than she does (and generally to give another few paragraphs at the end). How does she choose the twist/reveal/whatever it is that clues the reader into everything that’s going on?

I guess I’m just looking for a DVD commentary on each of these. Something about Nogle’s construction makes me more curious about her approach than I usually am.

So, what did I think about Promise?

So, two of these stories did nothing for me (2 out of 21 is a great number). Several I’d just qualify as “good,” but a handful wowed me. There are a couple I’m still thinking about all these months later (not steadily, mind you, but every now and then the mind will wander a bit—or I’ll see this cover, and…pow, I’m back in it).

I love Nogle’s prose and approach to storytelling. There’s some variation because no two stories have the same voice—but generally, I can say she gives you just enough to know what’s going on, but you have to use your imagination and think about it to really understand the story. There’s no spoon-feeding here, but nothing so cryptic or ambivalent as to be obscure or oblique.

Was I satisfied with the conclusion of every story? No—but I’m pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to be. Particularly the couple that really don’t conclude, but just end.

Creepy, mind-bendy, the kind of short story you can vanish into and leave the world behind. These stories will leave you feeling the way that the Black Mirror or The Twilight Zone episodes do. I rather enjoyed almost all of these and think you will, too. (and many of you will really get into the ones that left me cold, and won’t be wigged out by those that got me…we can compare lists later)

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

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Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books by Authors Who Live In Idaho

By HCNewton

On July 1, 2025

In Literary Locals, News/Misc., Top X List

The topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesdays is a Freebie/Throwback, I started (and did most of the work) on this one back in April, but didn’t quite get around to finishing it, so here’s my chance to talk about the Top Ten Books by Authors Who Live In Idaho.

When I saw the prompt, “Authors (or books by authors) Who Live In My State/Country,” I figured this would be a piece of cake–I have a feature focused on authors from my state. Just pick the best 10 books from that list, and there you go. Of course, it wasn’t that easy. For one, I hadn’t updated my Literary Locals hub for a year (apparently)–so that wasn’t good. I’ve taken care of that now. But the list of books was a bit more daunting than I assumed that it’d be. This may not be a perfect list, but it’s one that I can live with. I thought about authors–but since I’ve met all of the authors in Idaho that I’ve talked about, it feels weird, like I’d be ranking them by personality. (Sure, I’ve done that, but I’m not telling anyone the ranking. How gauche!)
Top Ten Books by Authors Who Live In Idaho

(alphabetically by author)

	Bearded by Jeremy Billups I’ve talked about Bearded several times over the years, and I’ve commissioned a few images from Billups, too. So forgive me if this is too familiar. This is the story of a little girl traveling the world with her bearded bear, having all sorts of adventures and meeting a bunch of different animals who happen to have beards. The art is simple and arresting. As a bonus, the endorsements on the back cover are a lot of fun. Great art, cute story, fun rhymes–everything you want in a picture book. Even better–animals with beards are the best animals that aren’t dogs. This is a charming little book that’s sure to please. In case you’re curious about what I said about the book, click here.
	Conjured Defense by J.C. Jackson There are seven books in this series, and I had a hard time picking just one. But I think I have to go with this one by a nose. Everything gelled a little better in this one, the magic and the technology combined in just the right way to show just how far this world can take that combination, and the fight scenes were top-notch. Basically, the series follows an arcane researcher and her paladin partner as they look into crimes on behalf of a magical equivalent of the FBI in a world where Middle Earth went through the Industrial and Digital Revolutions. Action, magic, magical creatures, gun fights, and more. It’s so fun. In case you’re curious about what I said about the book, click here.
	Aether Powered by James T. Lambert This is not the best novel that Lambert has given us, but there’s something about the charm of it that endears it more to me than the others. A 21st Century college student coming into possession of Steampunk tech and letting loose with it is pure fun. Throw in an oddball bunch of wanna-be pirates, and you’ve got something to remember. In case you’re curious about what I said about the book, click here.
	Harvested by Troy Lambert A solid P.I. story involving a dog-napping ring? You know that’s going to get my attention. Troy Lambert has the chops, too and you see that on every page. Great characters–both primary and supporting. The PI’s backstory is sets up a wonderful arc that I’m sure will pay-off well. A good, twisty start to a series. In case you’re curious about what I said about the book, click here.
	Burnt by Lance Olsen This is goes back to 1996, far before I started doing this sort of thing. It’s a fantastic mix of academic satire, environmental fiction, and just general postmodern shenanigans. It’s funny, it’s strange, it’s touching, and more.
	However Long the Day by Justin Reed A The Prince and the Pauper-esque story set in New York in 1918, that’s so much more. You’ve got a nice little touch of crime thriller, a cute romance, some decent social commentary. But most importantly, it’s just a well-written and engaging read. While trying to think of what to put here to beef up this paragraph, I’ve really just convinced myself that I need to re-read it soon. In case you’re curious about what I said about the book, click here.
	Bard Tidings by Paul Regnier It bothers me greatly that I haven’t written a post about this book. It’s a stand-alone fantasy that just made me happy. The characters are wonderful. The story has just the right number of twists and the pacing is spot-on. I love Regnier’s take on werewolves, which is not to downplay his giants or the dragon. And the companion that our titular bard brings along for the adventure is a great twist.
	Cover of Fuzzwiggs: The Switcheroo by Amy Maren Rice This MG novel–definitely written for a young male audience (but not solely), features a silly kind of magic creature that activate their powers through flatulence (see what I meant about young males?). But there’s more than that, it’s a sweet family adventure, that’ll leave you demanding another book (we’re waiting, Amy). I can–and have–recommended this to readers young and old. In case you’re curious about what I said about the book, click here.
	Big Trouble in Little Italy by Nicole Sharp This is a book I will not recommend to the young (and I don’t think Sharp would mind that). This is a silly rom-com/mafia novel. It kicks off when she has to track down the “joke marriage” that came from a college weekend in Vegas, so she can get married. He reveals that he’s with the FBI and her fiancé is very involved with the mafia. Hilarity (frequently) and tension ensues. It’s fun, it’s foxy, it’s totally not my thing, but I had a blast with it. In case you’re curious about what I said about the book, click here.
	The Wizard’s Heir by Devri Walls This is Walls’ only non-YA book, and I really wish that wasn’t the case (not a complaint about her YA). This is a solid stand-alone fantasy that turned me into a fan. It’s been nine years since I read this, so my recollection on the details is pretty shot. I do remember being very engaged and entertained. There’s excitement, a dash of romance, some magic and a few good fight scenes–pretty much what you want from a fantasy In case you’re curious about what I said about the book, click here.

LITERARY LOCALS: Author Story Time with Chad Otis

By HCNewton

On June 24, 2025

In Literary Locals, Miscellany

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I’m just trying to help spread the word about this great local event.
Author Story Time with Chad Otis poster
July 28 10:15am-11am
at Nampa Public Library
with Shared Stories Books

Come celebrate the release of Hazel Is All That. Meet the author, share a fun read aloud, and snag a copy of Hazel from Shared Stories Books and get it signed by Chad Otis.

Hazel has things all figured out—she is one clever girl. But then something happens, and soon she sees that dogs—and people! —are not just one thing. We’re each our own special mix of all sorts of emotions and behaviors. We’re all that—and more! Hazel Is All That: NEW THIS JULY 2025 from Rocky Pond Books.

Chad is the author and illustrator of four children’s books; including The Bright Side (Rocky Pond Books, 2023), which has received several starred reviews, and was chosen for the 2023 National Book Festival of the Library of Congress. He is also the author and illustrator of A Little Ferry Tale (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books 2022), which is an Amazon Editor’s Pick and Barnes & Noble Bestseller. Chad lives on the edge of the Rocky Mountains in Idaho.

I’m borrowing the above text from Shared Stories’ IG post about the event. Hope no one minds.
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LITERARY LOCALS: Oldspeak Bar

By HCNewton

On June 18, 2025

In Literary Locals, Miscellany

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After weeks of trying, my wife and I finally got our act together enough to check out one of the Treasure Valley’s newest establishments, Oldspeak, a “book beer bar.” Now the first two words of that description are among my favorites in the English language–so I was pretty sure I was going to have a good time.

And I was right.

Oldspeak sign
It’s a quiet place, a low buzz of conversation, there was a table of people playing a board game, a few tables of people just talking and drinking, a couple of people reading. There’s a very booksih vibe to it all (as you’d expect). There’s a coziness to it, so you could take out the books, and it’s still the kind of place I’d want to hang out. Still, better idea to leave the books.
Shelves at Oldspeak
So this is the bulk of their selection–I didn’t get a picture of the shelves in another room, or a small table display near the door. The other room features books in translation–from Chinese, Japanese, and French. Maybe some others, I didn’t get that much time to look around there.

These–carefully curated–shelves above feature some big-name books, best sellers—and almost as many indie press novels (one of which I’ve featured here, which made me feel pretty good). There are some local authors, and other assorted bits and pieces. The non-fiction section is almost as big. I particularly enjoyed the “History” section right next to “History, but with Women” (or words to that effect, it made me chuckle).

While small, it was a very nice selection. I’d love to know how the books there are selected (the staff I asked wasn’t sure).

NPL Indie Fair Book Haul
Lastly, of course, we need to talk about the beer. They sell a few things from other breweries, but most come from their own Alliteration Ales. This Borealis Baltic Porter was pretty darn tasty. As was the Carters Classic Märzen. I’d have probably appreciated the Märzen more if I drank it first—that was my mistake.

I should mention there are several other kinds of beverages available–there are mocktails, various teas and coffees, and whatnot. Their “Are You There God, It’s Me Margarita” mocktail seemed tasty, and Mrs. Irresponsible Reader enjoyed it.

I liked the names of their drinks–the aforementioned nod to Blume, the C.S. Brewis English Pale Ale, and so on.

All in all, we had a great time, picked up some good looking books, and we’ll be back. Local folks—go check it out.

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	“The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours.” Alan Bennett (Source)
	I love people who read. I think it screams humility. When someone reads, they are essentially admitting they want more, that the world is not enough for them. They want more knowledge, more experience. Whatever this life is, they want more of it. – Nicholas Browne (Source)
	I couldn’t decide which one of these to keep; they’re variations of the same idea, so I’m sticking with them both. The person who doesn’t read lives only one life. The reader lives 5,000. Reading is immortality backwards. – Umberto Eco (Source) I do not read for I have renounced life, I read because one life is just not enough for me. – Abbas Al-Akkad (Source)
	Do not read, as children do, to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live. — Gustave Flaubert (I don’t remember where I got this image)
	“Books are delightful society. If you go into a room and find it full of books—even without taking them from the shelves they seem to speak to you, to bid you welcome” The Right Hon. William E. Gladstone Prime Minister. UK, 1809-1898 (Source)
	At one magical instant in your early childhood, the page of a book—that string of confused, alien ciphers—shivered into meaning. Words spoke to you, gave up their secrets; at that moment, whole universes opened. You became, irrevocably, a reader.” ― Alberto Manguel (Source)
	When I think of all the books still left for me to read, I am certain of further happiness. Jules Renard (Source)
	Reading books is the most glorious pastime that humankind has yet devised. Wislawa Szymorska (Source)
	“I cannot remember a time when I was not in love with them–with the books themselves, cover and binding and the paper they were printed on, with their smell and their weight and with their possession in my arms, captured and carried off to myself.” ― Eudora Welty (Source)
	Books are everywhere; and always the same sense of adventure fills us. Second-hand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack. Besides, in this random miscellaneous company we may rub against some complete stranger who will, with luck, turn into the best friend we have in the world.― Virginia Woolf (Source)