Dear Gentle Reader,

We are announcing the Beltie Longlist, aka Pete’s Best Crime Fiction of the Year, on Thursday. It is so big, the 8 titles deserve their own email, so stay tuned…

Big week in the store. We kick things off with the final visit this year (things are winding down, folks!) of our dear friend and writing tutor Margot Lester on Wednesday, November 5th, from 1:30 to 3:30pm. Margot is a professional writer who holds office hours at McIntyre’s to help anyone who might need a nudge with a memoir, short story, or homework.

Thursday night, November 6th, at 6:30pm Hal Crowther and Gene Nichol visit McIntyre’s with their new books. Hal Crowther, an award-winning essayist and H.L. Mencken Writing Award-winner has a new collection of essays, Bible Belt Blues. Like most progressive Southerners, Hal is decidedly angry about current social and political events, but few writers are more able than he to articulate the problems, the issues, and even the bitter humor of our present situation like he does in these essays. Gene Nichol has also turned his attention to current events in Now What? How North Carolina Can Blaze a Progressive Path Forward. Nichol is a law professor, commentator, and author of Indecent Assembly: The NC Legislature’s Blueprint for the War on Democracy and Equality and The Faces of Poverty in North Carolina: Stories from Our Invisible Citizens. In Now What?, Nichol offers inspiration and ideas for blazing a progressive path forward in North Carolina, a decidedly purple state. Join us for what promises to be a sparky evening!

Can’t believe it is finally here! Saturday, November 8th, at 11am Lily King joins us for a ticketed event in the Barn where she will discuss her novel, Heart the Lover.  Buy a copy of Heart the Lover, and you and a friend can attend. As it is in the Barn, we still have some tickets available, but don’t tarry. Ms. King will discuss her book with her former UNC classmate and Algonquin Books Executive Editor, Kathy Pories.

“King is a genius at writing love stories . . . Her mostly sunny version of the campus novel is an enjoyable alternative to the current vogue for dark academia. Tragedies are on the way, though, as we know they must be, as nothing gold can stay and these darn fictional characters seem to make the same kinds of stupid mistakes that real people do. Tenderhearted readers will soak the pages of the last chapter with tears. That college love affair you never got over? Come wallow in this gorgeous version of it.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) To buy your copy, click here. 

And to finish out our busy week we have an amazing event for kids! On Sunday, November 9th, at 2pm Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris are putting on a Theatrical Spectacular in the Barn. On tour for the latest book in their best-selling graphic novel series, The First Cat in Space and the Baby Pirate’s Revenge. Shawn Harris is an award-winning author/illustrator of picture books, and the illustrator of the Newberry winnerThe Eyes and the Impossible. Mac Barnett is our current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and picture book author extraordinaire. Together they are best friends and collaborators. This graphic novel series is hilarious and adventurous – perfect for ages 7 and up! Order a copy of the new book for two to attend the event. If you want to bring a larger group, purchase another book from the series for each additional kid.

Looking ahead, next Saturday, November 15th, at 11am Ellery Adams visits to discuss her latest Book and Scone mystery, The Tattered Cover, with Kelly Mullen, This is Not a Game. Ellery loves to support book clubs, so this is a great event to attend with friends.

And, as a final aside, our holiday cards are out! Come check out our assortment!

The Usual Suspects,

Pete, Johanna, Sarah G., Tyler, Amy, Juliana, Sarah C. and Keebe