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SUMMARY:Honor Book Weekend Lets You Put a Loved One’s Name Inside the Mystic & Noank Library
DESCRIPTION:Honor Book Weekend Lets You Put a Loved One’s Name Inside the Mystic & Noank Library Friday and Saturday\, when a collaboration with Bank Square Books turns buying a book into something that can remain on the library’s shelves for years. \nThe idea is wonderfully simple. \nMystic & Noank Library librarians have pre-selected books they would like to add to the collection. Visitors browse those titles at Bank Square Books\, choose one or more to purchase for the library and dedicate the donation to someone they want to honor or remember. \nThe book then becomes part of the library’s collection\, complete with a custom bookplate creating a permanent record of the donation. \nOne transaction supports the library\, supports an independent Mystic bookstore and creates a lasting tribute to someone who matters to you. \nThe Librarians Have Already Done the Shopping\nHonor Book Weekend isn’t a general book drive. \nInstead of purchasing an arbitrary title and hoping the library needs it\, visitors choose from books selected in advance by Mystic & Noank Library staff. \nThat distinction matters. \nModern libraries have limited shelf space and collections that are continually changing. Librarians have to consider demand\, gaps in the collection\, condition\, relevance and what their particular community actually reads. \nHere\, that selection work has already happened. \nThe donor’s job is the fun part: browse the choices and find the book that feels right. \nPerhaps it’s a children’s book dedicated to a new grandchild\, a novel honoring someone who never went anywhere without a book\, a history title for the person who loved the past or something chosen simply because it reminds you of somebody. \nOnce donated\, the custom bookplate connects that person to the book. \nIt’s a small memorial that doesn’t have to feel like one. \nOne Purchase Helps Two Mystic Institutions\nThere’s another layer to the weekend. \nThe books aren’t being ordered from a warehouse. They’re being purchased through Bank Square Books\, Mystic’s independent bookstore. \nBank Square has been part of the community since 1988 and describes its mission as extending beyond selling books. The store hosts author appearances\, book clubs\, children’s programming and workshops while also donating books and money to local nonprofit organizations. \nIts relationship with Mystic & Noank Library is visible throughout the year. \nThe two organizations collaborate on literary programming and author events\, creating the sort of relationship that makes sense in a town where an independent bookstore and independent library serve many of the same readers. \nHonor Book Weekend makes that partnership particularly direct. \nBuy one book and the bookstore makes a sale. \nThe library gains a title its librarians have already decided belongs in the collection. \nAnd the donor gets to attach someone’s name to it. \nMystic & Noank Isn’t a Municipal Library\nThere’s also a financial reason events like this matter more than people might assume. \nDespite serving the community as a public library\, Mystic & Noank Library is a private nonprofit rather than a municipal library. \nAccording to the library’s 2025 annual report\, roughly 27 percent of its operating funding came from the towns of Stonington and Groton and the State of Connecticut. \nThe rest has to come from the library itself through fundraising\, philanthropy\, its endowment and careful financial management. \nThat means community support isn’t merely paying for extras. \nIt helps sustain the institution. \nDonating a requested book is a particularly tangible way to contribute because you can see exactly where the money goes. \nIt goes onto a shelf. \nA Library Built by a Gift\nThere’s something especially fitting about honoring someone through a donation to Mystic & Noank Library. \nThe institution itself began with philanthropy. \nIn 1891\, Mystic ship captain Elihu Spicer announced plans to build a library for the communities of Mystic and Noank. He died before seeing the project completed\, but his sister\, Sarah Dickinson\, continued the effort. \nThe Roman-brick library was dedicated in January 1894 and remains one of downtown Mystic’s most recognizable civic buildings. \nMore than 130 years later\, the model has changed considerably. The library now offers digital books and audiobooks\, streaming services\, computers\, children’s programming\, workshops\, book discussions\, museum passes and community events alongside the shelves of physical books. \nBut the basic idea behind Spicer’s gift remains remarkably recognizable. \nSomeone gives something because they believe other people should be able to use it. \nHonor Book Weekend reduces that idea to its smallest possible unit. \nOne book. \nOne donor. \nOne name inside the cover. \nAnd then\, potentially\, hundreds of readers who will never know the person being honored but will continue benefiting from the gift. \nTwo Days to Choose a Book\nHonor Book Weekend runs Friday\, Sept. 25\, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday\, Sept. 26\, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. \nThe event takes place off-site at Bank Square Books rather than at the library. \nOne important location note: although some older library calendar information still displays Bank Square Books’ former downtown address\, Bank Square Books is now located at 80 Stonington Road\, Suite 8\, in Mystic\, and the event description specifically directs participants to the new location. \nThere’s no requirement that the person being honored be a reader\, donor or library patron. \nThe permanence comes afterward. \nYears from now\, somebody may pull the book from a shelf at Mystic & Noank Library\, open the cover and find a name waiting inside. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: MNL Honor Books at Bank Square Books\nDates: Friday\, Sept. 25 and Saturday\, Sept. 26\, 2026\nFriday Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.\nSaturday Hours: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.\nLocation: Bank Square Books\nCurrent Address: 80 Stonington Road\, Suite 8\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nWho Can Participate: Everyone\nHow It Works: Browse books pre-selected by Mystic & Noank Library librarians\, purchase one or more for the library’s collection and dedicate the donation in honor or memory of someone\nBookplate: Donated books receive a custom bookplate creating a permanent record of the gift\nBenefits: Mystic & Noank Library and Bank Square Books\nLibrary Contact: Christine Bradley\nPhone: 860-536-7721 \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/honor-book-weekend-lets-you-put-a-loved-ones-name-inside-the-mystic-noank-library/2026-09-26/
LOCATION:Bank Square Books\, 80 Stonington Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bank Square Books
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T170000
DTSTAMP:20260924T160515Z
CREATED:20260924T160515Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T160515Z
UID:10008601-1790330400-1790355600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Honor Book Weekend Lets You Put a Loved One’s Name Inside the Mystic & Noank Library
DESCRIPTION:Honor Book Weekend Lets You Put a Loved One’s Name Inside the Mystic & Noank Library Friday and Saturday\, when a collaboration with Bank Square Books turns buying a book into something that can remain on the library’s shelves for years. \nThe idea is wonderfully simple. \nMystic & Noank Library librarians have pre-selected books they would like to add to the collection. Visitors browse those titles at Bank Square Books\, choose one or more to purchase for the library and dedicate the donation to someone they want to honor or remember. \nThe book then becomes part of the library’s collection\, complete with a custom bookplate creating a permanent record of the donation. \nOne transaction supports the library\, supports an independent Mystic bookstore and creates a lasting tribute to someone who matters to you. \nThe Librarians Have Already Done the Shopping\nHonor Book Weekend isn’t a general book drive. \nInstead of purchasing an arbitrary title and hoping the library needs it\, visitors choose from books selected in advance by Mystic & Noank Library staff. \nThat distinction matters. \nModern libraries have limited shelf space and collections that are continually changing. Librarians have to consider demand\, gaps in the collection\, condition\, relevance and what their particular community actually reads. \nHere\, that selection work has already happened. \nThe donor’s job is the fun part: browse the choices and find the book that feels right. \nPerhaps it’s a children’s book dedicated to a new grandchild\, a novel honoring someone who never went anywhere without a book\, a history title for the person who loved the past or something chosen simply because it reminds you of somebody. \nOnce donated\, the custom bookplate connects that person to the book. \nIt’s a small memorial that doesn’t have to feel like one. \nOne Purchase Helps Two Mystic Institutions\nThere’s another layer to the weekend. \nThe books aren’t being ordered from a warehouse. They’re being purchased through Bank Square Books\, Mystic’s independent bookstore. \nBank Square has been part of the community since 1988 and describes its mission as extending beyond selling books. The store hosts author appearances\, book clubs\, children’s programming and workshops while also donating books and money to local nonprofit organizations. \nIts relationship with Mystic & Noank Library is visible throughout the year. \nThe two organizations collaborate on literary programming and author events\, creating the sort of relationship that makes sense in a town where an independent bookstore and independent library serve many of the same readers. \nHonor Book Weekend makes that partnership particularly direct. \nBuy one book and the bookstore makes a sale. \nThe library gains a title its librarians have already decided belongs in the collection. \nAnd the donor gets to attach someone’s name to it. \nMystic & Noank Isn’t a Municipal Library\nThere’s also a financial reason events like this matter more than people might assume. \nDespite serving the community as a public library\, Mystic & Noank Library is a private nonprofit rather than a municipal library. \nAccording to the library’s 2025 annual report\, roughly 27 percent of its operating funding came from the towns of Stonington and Groton and the State of Connecticut. \nThe rest has to come from the library itself through fundraising\, philanthropy\, its endowment and careful financial management. \nThat means community support isn’t merely paying for extras. \nIt helps sustain the institution. \nDonating a requested book is a particularly tangible way to contribute because you can see exactly where the money goes. \nIt goes onto a shelf. \nA Library Built by a Gift\nThere’s something especially fitting about honoring someone through a donation to Mystic & Noank Library. \nThe institution itself began with philanthropy. \nIn 1891\, Mystic ship captain Elihu Spicer announced plans to build a library for the communities of Mystic and Noank. He died before seeing the project completed\, but his sister\, Sarah Dickinson\, continued the effort. \nThe Roman-brick library was dedicated in January 1894 and remains one of downtown Mystic’s most recognizable civic buildings. \nMore than 130 years later\, the model has changed considerably. The library now offers digital books and audiobooks\, streaming services\, computers\, children’s programming\, workshops\, book discussions\, museum passes and community events alongside the shelves of physical books. \nBut the basic idea behind Spicer’s gift remains remarkably recognizable. \nSomeone gives something because they believe other people should be able to use it. \nHonor Book Weekend reduces that idea to its smallest possible unit. \nOne book. \nOne donor. \nOne name inside the cover. \nAnd then\, potentially\, hundreds of readers who will never know the person being honored but will continue benefiting from the gift. \nTwo Days to Choose a Book\nHonor Book Weekend runs Friday\, Sept. 25\, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday\, Sept. 26\, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. \nThe event takes place off-site at Bank Square Books rather than at the library. \nOne important location note: although some older library calendar information still displays Bank Square Books’ former downtown address\, Bank Square Books is now located at 80 Stonington Road\, Suite 8\, in Mystic\, and the event description specifically directs participants to the new location. \nThere’s no requirement that the person being honored be a reader\, donor or library patron. \nThe permanence comes afterward. \nYears from now\, somebody may pull the book from a shelf at Mystic & Noank Library\, open the cover and find a name waiting inside. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: MNL Honor Books at Bank Square Books\nDates: Friday\, Sept. 25 and Saturday\, Sept. 26\, 2026\nFriday Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.\nSaturday Hours: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.\nLocation: Bank Square Books\nCurrent Address: 80 Stonington Road\, Suite 8\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nWho Can Participate: Everyone\nHow It Works: Browse books pre-selected by Mystic & Noank Library librarians\, purchase one or more for the library’s collection and dedicate the donation in honor or memory of someone\nBookplate: Donated books receive a custom bookplate creating a permanent record of the gift\nBenefits: Mystic & Noank Library and Bank Square Books\nLibrary Contact: Christine Bradley\nPhone: 860-536-7721 \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/honor-book-weekend-lets-you-put-a-loved-ones-name-inside-the-mystic-noank-library/2026-09-25/
LOCATION:Bank Square Books\, 80 Stonington Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bank Square Books
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END:VEVENT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T190000
DTSTAMP:20260917T180029Z
CREATED:20260917T175857Z
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SUMMARY:Don Winslow Brings Crime\, Corruption and The Final Score to Mystic & Noank Library Author Talk
DESCRIPTION:Don Winslow Brings Crime\, Corruption and The Final Score to Mystic & Noank Library Author Talk on Saturday\, Sept. 19\, when the bestselling crime novelist sits down with writer and longtime local arts journalist Rick Koster inside Snediker Yacht Restoration in Old Mystic. \nThe Mystic & Noank Library’s fifth annual Author Talk runs from 5 to 7 p.m.\, beginning with an hour-long reception featuring wine and hors d’oeuvres before Winslow and Koster take over the conversation at 6 p.m. Bank Square Books will also be there with copies of Winslow’s books available for purchase. \nThis isn’t simply a stop on a book tour. The $125-per-person evening is one of the library’s major annual fundraisers\, with proceeds helping support its programs and services. It also brings together an interesting combination: a crime writer who grew up in coastal Rhode Island\, a Connecticut journalist and novelist who has spent decades writing about this corner of New England\, and a working Old Mystic boat shop devoted to preserving vessels from another era. \nDon Winslow Took a Long Road to Crime Fiction\nBefore Don Winslow became a bestselling novelist\, he accumulated the kind of résumé that sounds suspiciously like research for one. \nThe son of a sailor and a librarian\, Winslow grew up in a small coastal community in Rhode Island. He left at 17 to study journalism at the University of Nebraska\, where he also earned a degree in African Studies. \nThen things got less conventional. \nWinslow traveled through southern Africa\, worked as a movie theater manager in New York and became a private investigator in Times Square. He earned a master’s degree in military history\, worked for a photographic safari company in Kenya\, led hiking expeditions in China and directed Shakespeare productions during summers in Oxford\, England. \nThrough all of it\, he was writing. \nHis first novel\, A Cool Breeze on the Underground\, introduced private investigator Neal Carey and earned an Edgar Award nomination. Investigative work later took Winslow and his family to California\, where they lived in hotels for nearly three years while he worked cases and served as a trial consultant. \nEventually\, a publishing and film deal for The Death and Life of Bobby Z allowed him to leave investigative work behind and write full time. \nThe detective work\, travel and years spent watching people in unusual circumstances left fingerprints all over the fiction that followed. \nFrom The Power of the Dog to City on Fire\nWinslow has written more than 20 novels\, but two sprawling crime sagas account for a large part of his reputation. \nThe Power of the Dog\, published in 2005\, opened an ambitious fictional chronicle of the drug trade and the decades-long conflict surrounding it. Winslow continued the story with The Cartel and The Border\, creating a trilogy stretching across roughly four decades of the war on drugs. \nThen he came back toward home. \nCity on Fire\, published in 2022\, begins another trilogy\, this time centered on Irish and Italian organized-crime families in Rhode Island. City of Dreams followed in 2023 and City in Ruins completed the trilogy in 2024. \nThe Rhode Island setting brings Winslow’s crime fiction back to the landscape where he grew up. It’s also likely to give Saturday’s Old Mystic audience something familiar beneath the gunfire and betrayals: coastal New England\, family loyalties\, neighborhood identities and communities where everybody seems separated by only a few degrees. \nWinslow’s books have also repeatedly attracted Hollywood. Savages became a 2012 Oliver Stone film\, while The Death and Life of Bobby Z was adapted for the screen earlier. His work has drawn interest over the years from filmmakers and actors including Michael Mann\, Martin Scorsese\, Ridley Scott\, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio. \nSix Crimes\, Six Stories in The Final Score\nSaturday’s conversation arrives with a newer book on the table. \nThe Final Score trades the enormous canvas of Winslow’s trilogies for six shorter crime novellas. The stories stand independently\, but Winslow returns to familiar territory: criminals making calculations\, ordinary people being pushed into extraordinary choices\, corruption\, loyalty and the moment when somebody decides the risk is worth taking. \nThe title story begins with an irresistible premise for crime fiction: an impossible multimillion-dollar casino robbery. \nA legendary thief facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars sees precisely what everyone else sees. The score can’t be pulled off. \nThat’s what makes him want to do it. \nElsewhere\, a college-bound teenager delivering illegal alcohol finds his future threatened by a crooked police officer\, a customer and a phony guru. Two mobsters swap stories over breakfast in another tale\, while The North Wing puts an otherwise honest patrol officer between loyalty to his profession and loyalty to a troublesome cousin. \nThe shorter form changes the machinery. Winslow doesn’t have hundreds of pages to slowly tighten the screws. Characters have to arrive quickly\, choices have to matter almost immediately and the trapdoor beneath them can’t take forever to open. \nThose six stories\, along with the much larger novels that preceded them\, give Koster plenty to work with Saturday night. \nRick Koster Takes the Other Chair\nThe person asking the questions is a writer himself. \nRick Koster spent decades as an arts journalist and columnist at The Day in New London\, covering music\, books\, food and the cultural life of southeastern Connecticut. Before journalism\, he spent years playing rock music\, and he’s also the author of several books. \nHis fiction includes White Ghost Blues\, a supernatural story steeped in New Orleans music\, along with other novels and nonfiction. \nKoster has become a familiar interviewer for the Mystic & Noank Library’s annual event. He also sat across from bestselling Connecticut novelist Wally Lamb during the library’s 2025 fundraiser at Snediker. \nThat local connection should make Saturday’s conversation different from a generic promotional interview. Winslow grew up in coastal Rhode Island and later returned to the state as the setting for the City on Fire trilogy. Koster has spent much of his professional life documenting southeastern Connecticut and its arts community. \nThere’s plenty of common New England ground between them. \nA Book Talk Inside a Wooden Boat Shop\nThe setting might be the most unusual part of the evening. \nSnediker Yacht Restoration isn’t an event hall dressed to resemble a boat shop. It’s the real thing. \nThe Old Mystic company has spent more than 30 years building\, repairing and restoring classic wooden boats using traditional construction techniques. Its small crew collectively represents about 150 years of boatbuilding experience. \nThe projects vary dramatically. Some boats return to the water to race or cruise. Others are museum pieces that may never sail again. \nAmong Snediker’s recent restorations is The Kid\, the last surviving American Yacht Club One-Design Class Raceabout. Designed by B.B. Crowninshield and built by Rice Brothers in 1902\, the boat was originally constructed for yachtsman Oliver Harriman Jr. and later raced on Long Island Sound under owner Clifford D. Mallory as Cliphora. Following an extensive restoration at Snediker\, the century-old boat sailed again. \nFor an author fundraiser in Mystic\, it’s hard to imagine a setting more rooted in the character of the region: wooden hulls\, old boats and the smell and machinery of a working restoration shop rather than rows of seats in a hotel ballroom. \nThe library has made the location part of the tradition\, too. Its 2024 annual report notes that author and historian Hampton Sides appeared for a fundraiser at Snediker while promoting The Wide Wide Sea. Wally Lamb followed in 2025 with The River Is Waiting. \nNow Winslow becomes the fifth annual Author Talk’s featured writer. \nAn Evening That Supports the Library\nBefore the books take center stage\, the evening begins socially. \nDoors open for a reception from 5 to 6 p.m.\, with drinks and hors d’oeuvres included in admission. Bank Square Books will offer Winslow’s books for sale\, and the conversation with Koster follows from 6 to 7 p.m. \nThe library will also recognize its 2026 Volunteers of the Year\, Friends of the Library Co-Presidents Kathy Busse and Patricia Menno-Coveney\, for their service to the organization and community. \nMost importantly\, the night raises money. \nThe Mystic & Noank Library is a nonprofit organization\, and the Author Talk is part of its 2026 annual fundraising effort. Proceeds help sustain and expand the library’s programs and services. Tickets are limited\, and the library says it expects the event to sell out. \nSo\, yes\, there’s a bestselling crime writer in the middle of a wooden-boat restoration shop on Saturday night. \nBut there’s also a library behind him. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: 5th Annual Author Talk with Don Winslow at Snediker Yacht Restoration\nDate: Saturday\, Sept. 19\, 2026\nTime: 5–7 p.m.\nReception: 5–6 p.m. with drinks and hors d’oeuvres\nAuthor Conversation: 6–7 p.m.\nFeatured Author: Don Winslow\nInterviewer: Rick Koster\nFeatured Book: The Final Score\nLocation: Snediker Yacht Restoration\nAddress: 35 Campground Road\, Old Mystic\, CT 06372\nAdmission: $125 per person\nAge Group: Adults\nBooks: Bank Square Books will have Winslow’s books available for purchase\nFundraiser: Proceeds support Mystic & Noank Library programs and services\nHonorees: 2026 Volunteers of the Year Kathy Busse and Patricia Menno-Coveney\, co-presidents of the Friends of the Mystic & Noank Library\nAvailability: Space is limited\, and the library expects the event to sell out\nContact: Chris Bradley\, 860-536-7721 \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/don-winslow-brings-crime-corruption-and-the-final-score-to-mystic-noank-library-author-talk/
LOCATION:Snediker Yacht Restoration\, 35 Campground Rd\, Old Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Snediker Yacht Restoration
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END:VEVENT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T163000
DTSTAMP:20260915T013244Z
CREATED:20260915T012934Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T013244Z
UID:10007606-1789828200-1789835400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:WDA Heather Cox Richardson Watch Party Brings a National Democracy Event to Bank Square Books
DESCRIPTION:WDA Heather Cox Richardson Watch Party brings a nationwide Writers for Democratic Action event to Bank Square Books in Mystic on Saturday\, September 19\, as historian and bestselling author Heather Cox Richardson receives the inaugural Gitlin-Auster Defender of Democracy Award. \nThe local gathering begins at 2:30 p.m. with refreshments\, conversation and an opportunity to submit questions before the national livestream starts at 3 p.m. \nRichardson will receive the new award before sitting down for a conversation with novelist and essayist Siri Hustvedt\, a founding member of Writers for Democratic Action and author of the 2026 memoir Ghost Stories. \nBank Square Books is one of a network of locations around the country holding what WDA calls Solidarity Watch Parties. The Mystic event adds a decidedly local component: a representative from the League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut will be available to register voters and answer questions about voting in Connecticut’s upcoming elections. \nAdmission is free\, but Bank Square Books is requesting advance registration. \nA Watch Party Connected to a National Event\nThis isn’t a prerecorded author talk being shown at the bookstore. \nWriters for Democratic Action is bringing together hundreds of its members online while people gather simultaneously at bookstores\, libraries\, homes\, retirement communities and other locations around the country. \nAt 3 p.m. Eastern\, those separate gatherings will join the same livestream honoring Richardson. \nThe national organization says the watch parties have a second purpose beyond recognizing her work. They also mark the launch of WDA’s Book the Vote campaign ahead of the November election. \nWriters for Democratic Action describes itself as a national community of more than 4\,000 writers committed to defending democracy\, freedom of expression\, truth and justice. \nIts membership includes novelists\, poets\, journalists\, essayists and other writers who have chosen to become actively involved in civic issues rather than keeping their political concerns separate from their literary work. \nSaturday’s event puts one of the country’s most widely read historians at the center of that effort. \nHeather Cox Richardson Has Turned the Daily News Into a History Lesson\nRichardson is a professor of history at Boston College\, but the audience for her work now extends far beyond a university classroom. \nShe’s a specialist in 19th-century American political and economic history whose academic work has examined the Civil War\, Reconstruction\, the Gilded Age\, the American West and the development of the Republican Party. \nHer books include The Death of Reconstruction\, West from Appomattox\, Wounded Knee: Party Politics and the Road to an American Massacre\, To Make Men Free: A History of the Republican Party\, How the South Won the Civil War and Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America. \nBut millions of readers know her primarily through Letters from an American. \nRichardson began what became the newsletter in 2019 as she tried to explain rapidly developing political events by putting them into a larger historical context. \nRather than treating each day’s political news as an isolated story\, she connects contemporary developments to earlier periods in American history. \nA dispute over the power of the presidency might lead backward to Reconstruction. \nA modern argument over voting rights can become a discussion of the post-Civil War amendments. \nPolitical rhetoric can be traced across generations to show where ideas came from and how their meanings changed. \nThe approach turned an academic historian into a major national voice. \nBy 2026\, Letters from an American had grown into an audience measured in the millions across Substack and social media. \nRichardson’s Subject Is Increasingly Democracy Itself\nRichardson’s academic specialty might be 19th-century America\, but a common thread running through much of her recent public work is a much larger question: \nHow does a democracy survive? \nHer 2023 bestseller Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America examines the historical forces Richardson argues brought the United States to its current political moment. \nThe book moves between the country’s founding\, abolition\, Reconstruction\, the rise of modern political movements\, the Nixon era and the events surrounding January 6\, 2021. \nRichardson’s central method is historical rather than predictive. \nToday’s conflicts become easier to understand\, she argues\, when they’re placed beside earlier struggles over political power\, economic opportunity\, citizenship and who gets to participate in American government. \nThat combination of scholarship and public engagement has brought Richardson recognition beyond the academy. \nShe was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2022 and has received the Authors Guild Award for literary activism. \nOn September 19\, another award will be added to that list. \nThe First Gitlin-Auster Defender of Democracy Award\nWriters for Democratic Action will present Richardson with its inaugural Gitlin-Auster Defender of Democracy Award during Saturday’s livestream. \nThe names behind the award are significant. \nTodd Gitlin was a writer\, sociologist\, political activist and longtime commentator on American politics and culture. As a young man\, he served as president of Students for a Democratic Society and later became a prominent scholar and critic. \nPaul Auster was the acclaimed novelist\, essayist\, poet\, screenwriter and filmmaker whose books included The New York Trilogy\, Moon Palace\, The Book of Illusions and 4 3 2 1. \nBoth were among the writers involved in creating Writers for Democratic Action. \nGitlin died in 2022. \nAuster died in 2024. \nNaming WDA’s new democracy award for them ties the organization’s present work to two writers who believed that literary and intellectual life could not always remain separate from public life. \nRichardson becomes its first recipient Saturday. \nSiri Hustvedt Joins Richardson for the Conversation\nFollowing the award presentation\, Richardson will be joined by Siri Hustvedt. \nHustvedt is a novelist\, essayist and scholar whose work has frequently crossed boundaries among fiction\, philosophy\, psychology\, neuroscience and art. \nHer books include What I Loved\, The Summer Without Men\, The Blazing World and numerous collections of essays. \nShe’s also a founding member of Writers for Democratic Action. \nThe connection to Saturday’s award is particularly personal. \nHustvedt and Paul Auster were married for 43 years\, until Auster’s death from lung cancer in April 2024. \nHer latest book\, Ghost Stories\, published in May 2026\, is a memoir of their life together and her experience of grief following his death. \nThe book incorporates previously unseen material from Auster\, including letters and unfinished writing\, while exploring memory\, love\, loss and what remains of a shared life after one person is gone. \nThat makes the pairing Saturday more than a conventional author interviewing another author. \nHustvedt is helping present an award that carries her late husband’s name\, then joining its first recipient for a public discussion about the ideas that led WDA to create it. \nMystic’s Watch Party Has Its Own Civic Component\nThe livestream is national. \nWhat happens around it at Bank Square Books is local. \nGuests can arrive at 2:30 p.m.\, giving them about half an hour to mingle\, have refreshments and submit questions before the livestream begins. \nA representative of the League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut will also be at the bookstore. \nThe League representative can help eligible residents register to vote and answer practical questions about voting and Connecticut elections. \nThat gives people an immediate way to move from a national discussion of democracy to one of its most basic local functions. \nConnecticut’s next general election is Tuesday\, November 3\, 2026. \nFor someone uncertain about registration\, election procedures or where to find reliable nonpartisan voting information\, Saturday provides an opportunity to ask a person rather than sort through conflicting information online. \nBank Square Books Has Become a Gathering Place as Well as a Bookstore\nThe setting also fits the event. \nBank Square Books has served Mystic-area readers since 1988. \nIts current location at 80 Stonington Road\, Suite 8\, gives the independent bookstore enough room to regularly hold author talks\, signings\, book clubs and other community programs. \nThat role matters in an era when books can be purchased without ever entering a bookstore. \nAn independent bookstore can sell the same book that arrives in a cardboard box on someone’s doorstep. \nWhat it can do that the box can’t is put readers in the same room. \nSaturday’s watch party takes that idea a step further. \nThe featured historian won’t physically be in Mystic. Neither will Hustvedt. \nBut the audience will. \nRather than watching the livestream individually at home\, people can hear the same conversation together\, discuss it and connect it to the civic work happening where they actually live. \nThat’s the entire idea behind WDA’s Solidarity Watch Parties. \nYou Can Arrive at 2:30 or Join for the Livestream at 3\nBank Square Books is inviting guests to arrive at 2:30 p.m. for the social portion of the event. \nRefreshments will be available\, and attendees can submit questions. \nThe national program begins at 3 p.m. \nThere is a slight discrepancy in the published ending time. Bank Square Books’ current event calendar lists the event from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.\, while regional event calendars list the gathering through approximately 4 p.m. The national WDA schedule describes the livestream itself as running from 3 to 4 p.m. \nAnyone attending should therefore plan on the main livestream running until about 4 p.m.\, with the bookstore’s event window potentially continuing afterward. \nThe event is free. \nAdvance registration is requested. \nAn Author Event Where the Book Isn’t the End of the Conversation\nThere’s an interesting inversion at the heart of Saturday’s event. \nRichardson became famous in part by using history to explain politics. \nWriters for Democratic Action is using writers to encourage political participation. \nBank Square Books is using a bookstore as a place for civic gathering. \nAnd the League of Women Voters will be there to turn some of those conversations into the decidedly practical business of making sure people can vote. \nBooks are still at the center of it. \nSo are writers. \nBut the WDA Heather Cox Richardson Watch Party is built around the idea that reading about democracy and participating in one are related activities. \nOn Saturday afternoon\, those two things meet at a bookstore in Mystic. \nDetails\nEvent: WDA Heather Cox Richardson Watch Party\nDate: Saturday\, September 19\, 2026\nArrival/Mingling: 2:30 p.m.\nNational Livestream: 3 p.m.\nLivestream End: Approximately 4 p.m.\nBank Square Books Calendar Window: 2:30–4:30 p.m.\nLocation: Bank Square Books\nAddress: 80 Stonington Road\, Suite 8\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nAdmission: Free\nRegistration: Advance RSVP requested\nFeatured Guest: Heather Cox Richardson\, historian\, author and Boston College professor\nAward: Inaugural Gitlin-Auster Defender of Democracy Award\nConversation: Heather Cox Richardson and Siri Hustvedt\nPresented Nationally By: Writers for Democratic Action\nLocal Host: Bank Square Books\nLocal Civic Resource: League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut representative available for voter registration and election questions\nBefore the Livestream: Mingling\, refreshments and question submission\nGeneral Election: Tuesday\, November 3\, 2026\nBank Square Books Phone: 860-536-3795 \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo reserve your spot\, click the Event Registration link below. \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown. \nResources\nWriters for Democratic Action\nHeather Cox Richardson – Boston College\nHeather Cox Richardson – American Academy of Arts and Sciences\nDemocracy Awakening – Penguin Random House\nGhost Stories – Siri Hustvedt\nConnecticut Voter Information
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/wda-heather-cox-richardson-watch-party-brings-a-national-democracy-event-to-bank-square-books/
LOCATION:Bank Square Books\, 80 Stonington Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bank Square Books
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WDA-Heather-Cox-Richardson.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260808T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260808T120000
DTSTAMP:20260806T011716Z
CREATED:20260806T011716Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T011716Z
UID:10007119-1786186800-1786190400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Jane Carlson-Pickering (Have You Seen the Berry Monster) Saturday Storytime
DESCRIPTION:Jane Carlson-Pickering (Have You Seen the Berry Monster) Saturday Storytime comes to Bank Square Books in Mystic on Saturday\, August 8\, inviting young readers and their families to enjoy an interactive storytime\, meet the author\, and have books signed after the program. The event introduces children to a playful mystery while encouraging curiosity about the natural world. \nCentered around the picture book Have You Seen the Berry Monster\, the story follows two children as they investigate why their blueberries keep disappearing. Through observation\, asking questions\, and using simple scientific reasoning\, they discover that solving a mystery often begins by paying close attention to the world around them. \nHosted by one of Mystic’s favorite independent bookstores\, this Saturday Storytime offers families an opportunity to combine reading\, learning\, and meeting an experienced educator who has spent her career helping children discover the excitement of science. \nAbout the Book\nHave You Seen the Berry Monster is a rhyming picture book that blends storytelling with early science concepts. As the mystery unfolds\, young readers learn about animal habitats\, food chains\, and the importance of making observations. \nThe story encourages children to think like scientists by asking questions\, gathering clues\, and using inductive reasoning to reach their own conclusions. Its colorful illustrations and engaging format make it well suited for preschool and elementary-aged readers. \nMeet the Author\nJane Carlson-Pickering spent 34 years as a K–college educator with a focus on gifted education\, technology integration\, and science curriculum development for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Her background in education helped shape Have You Seen the Berry Monster\, making science approachable through storytelling and hands-on thinking. \nFollowing the reading\, families will have an opportunity to meet the author and have books signed. \nA Great Event for Young Readers\nSaturday Storytime is ideal for families looking to encourage a love of books while introducing children to STEM concepts in an enjoyable way. Parents\, grandparents\, caregivers\, and teachers will find plenty of opportunities to continue conversations about nature\, wildlife\, and scientific discovery long after the event ends. \nRecommended Ages\nWhile children of many ages are welcome\, the program is best suited for preschoolers and elementary school students\, generally ages 4–8. \nEvent Details\nDate\nSaturday\, August 8\, 2026 \nTime\n11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. \nLocation\nBank Square Books \nAddress\n80 Stonington Westerly Road\nMystic\, CT \nAdmission\nFree \nParking\nParking is available at Olde Mistick Village. \nAge Restrictions\nNone. \nImportant Notes\nThe event includes a storytime followed by an author signing. Arriving a few minutes early is recommended\, as seating may be limited. \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \n  \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/jane-carlson-pickering-have-you-seen-the-berry-monster-saturday-storytime/
LOCATION:Bank Square Books\, 80 Stonington Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bank Square Books
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Jane-Carlson-Pickering-Have-You-Seen-The-Berry-Monster-Saturday-August-8-11am-12pm-Bank-Square-Books.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260723T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260723T200000
DTSTAMP:20260708T222104Z
CREATED:20260708T222005Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260708T222104Z
UID:10006756-1784829600-1784836800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Windie's Cookbook Club: Cake From Lucie
DESCRIPTION:Windie’s Cookbook Club invites home bakers and dessert lovers to gather for an evening of cooking\, conversation\, and community on Thursday\, July 23. This month’s featured cookbook is Cake From Lucie: Recipes and Techniques from the French Countryside to New York City by Chef Lucie Franc de Ferriere\, founder of the acclaimed East Village bakery From Lucie. Guests will prepare recipes from the book at home\, then come together to share their creations over drinks and light bites. \nDesigned to feel like a neighborhood dinner party\, the monthly cookbook club celebrates great food and the joy of cooking together. Everyone brings a dessert to share\, samples a variety of homemade treats\, and spends the evening discussing recipes\, techniques\, and favorite discoveries from the cookbook. Windie’s provides savory snacks\, cocktails\, wine\, and non-alcoholic beverages to complement the desserts. \nEach ticket includes a personal copy of Cake From Lucie to keep\, along with a take-home box filled with sweet treats to enjoy after the event. Whether you’re an experienced baker or simply enjoy trying new recipes\, the Cookbook Club offers a welcoming way to connect with fellow food lovers. \nEvent Details\n\nEvent: Windie’s Cookbook Club: Cake From Lucie\nDate: Thursday\, July 23\, 2026\nTime: 6pm – 8pm\nPrice: $95 per person\n\nFeatured Cookbook\nCake From Lucie: Recipes and Techniques from the French Countryside to New York City \nBy Chef Lucie Franc de Ferriere of the East Village bakery From Lucie. \nWhat’s Included\nYour ticket includes: \n\nA copy of Cake From Lucie to keep\nThe full Windie’s Cookbook Club experience\nSavory snacks\nCocktails\nWine\nNon-alcoholic beverages\nA take-home box of sweet treats\n\nHow It Works\nParticipants will: \n\nPrepare a recipe from the featured cookbook before the event\nBring their dessert to share\nSample treats made by fellow attendees\nEnjoy food\, drinks\, and conversation in a dinner-party atmosphere\n\nImportant Information\n\nTickets are $95 per person.\nTickets are non-refundable.\nTickets are non-transferable once purchased.\n\nTickets\nTickets can be purchased by clicking the Event Ticketing link at the bottom of this page. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/windies-cookbook-club-cake-from-lucie/
LOCATION:Windie’s Westerly\, 80 High Street\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:Windie's Westerly
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Windies-Westerly-Cookbook-Club-Cake-from-Lucie-July-23-6-to-8pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260722T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260722T190000
DTSTAMP:20260714T030908Z
CREATED:20260714T030559Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260714T030908Z
UID:10006778-1784743200-1784746800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Kate Eberle (If Books Could Kill) Author Talk and Signing
DESCRIPTION:Kate Eberle (If Books Could Kill) Author Talk and Signing comes to Bank Square Books in Mystic on Wednesday\, July 22\, for a free evening celebrating the Connecticut author’s debut novel. Readers will have the opportunity to hear Eberle discuss her first book\, her writing journey\, and the inspiration behind her genre-bending romantic comedy before meeting the author and having books signed. \nIf Books Could Kill follows Roxie Mitchell\, an adventure-loving romance reader who jokingly wishes she could become the heroine in her favorite author’s next novel. Her wish comes true—but not in the way she expected. Instead of finding herself in a swoon-worthy romance\, Roxie discovers she’s been dropped into a crime thriller where her charming first date tries to murder her. Forced to rely on Grant Hoffman\, an English professor with a love of crime fiction\, the pair must navigate a world where the boundaries between fiction and reality disappear. \nA Connecticut author and Boston University journalism graduate\, Kate Eberle turned to fiction after rediscovering her love of storytelling. If Books Could Kill marks her debut novel\, blending romance\, mystery\, suspense\, and humor into an imaginative story for readers who enjoy clever twists on familiar genres. \nEvent Details\n\nEvent: Kate Eberle (If Books Could Kill) Author Talk and Signing\nDate: Wednesday\, July 22\, 2026\nTime: 6:00-7:00 p.m.\nVenue: Bank Square Books\nLocation: Mystic\, CT\nAdmission: Free\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout If Books Could Kill\n\n\n\nWhen romance reader Roxie Mitchell wishes herself into her favorite author’s next novel\, she expects a perfect love story. Instead\, she lands inside a crime thriller where surviving the plot becomes just as important as finding romance. \nThemes include: \n\nRomantic comedy\nMystery and suspense\nBooks and storytelling\nFiction versus reality\nUnexpected adventure\n\nAbout Kate Eberle\n\nConnecticut author\nGraduate of Boston University with a degree in journalism\nFormer journalist turned novelist\nIf Books Could Kill is her debut novel\nSelf-described lifelong theater enthusiast\n\nBook Signing\nFollowing the discussion\, attendees will have the opportunity to meet Kate Eberle and have copies of If Books Could Kill signed. \nMore Information\nAdditional event information is available by clicking the Event Website link at the bottom of this page. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/kate-eberle-if-books-could-kill-author-talk-and-signing/
LOCATION:Bank Square Books\, 80 Stonington Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bank Square Books
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Kate-Eberle-If-Books-Could-Kill-Author-Talk-and-Signing-Wednesday-July-22-6pm-to-7pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260721T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260721T203000
DTSTAMP:20260714T015154Z
CREATED:20260714T015154Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260714T015154Z
UID:10006776-1784658600-1784665800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Lisa Scottoline (This Changes Everything) Author Talk and Signing
DESCRIPTION:Lisa Scottoline (This Changes Everything) Author Talk and Signing brings the bestselling thriller author to the Garde Arts Center in New London on Tuesday\, July 21\, for an evening of conversation and book signing presented by Bank Square Books and the Garde Arts Center. Fans will hear Scottoline discuss her newest novel before having the opportunity to meet the author and have copies of the book signed. \nScottoline’s latest novel\, This Changes Everything\, follows Julia Pritzker\, whose peaceful life in Tuscany is shattered when her best friend\, Courtney\, discovers her grandmother has been murdered on a Pennsylvania farm. As the two women search for the truth behind the crime\, they uncover long-buried secrets and find themselves caught in a deadly conspiracy. Blending suspense with themes of friendship\, resilience\, and personal empowerment\, the novel continues Scottoline’s tradition of fast-paced\, emotionally driven thrillers. \nA #1 bestselling author and Edgar Award winner\, Scottoline has written 38 novels with more than 30 million copies in print worldwide. A former trial lawyer\, she is president of Mystery Writers of America and has been named a Thriller Master by International Thriller Writers. Her legal background and talent for crafting compelling characters have made her one of today’s most popular suspense writers. \nEvent Details\n\nEvent: Lisa Scottoline (This Changes Everything) Author Talk and Signing\nDate: Tuesday\, July 21\, 2026\nDoors Open: 6:30 p.m.\nAuthor Talk: 7:30 p.m.\nVenue: Garde Arts Center\nAddress: 325 State St.\, New London\, CT 06320\nAdmission: $44\n\nAbout This Changes Everything\nJulia Pritzker returns from Tuscany after her best friend discovers her grandmother has been murdered. As they investigate the crime\, the women uncover dangerous secrets that place Julia in the path of a deadly conspiracy\, forcing her to rely on her own strength to survive. \nThemes include: \n\nMystery and suspense\nFemale friendship\nJustice\nPersonal empowerment\nSmall-town secrets\n\nAbout Lisa Scottoline\n\n#1 bestselling author\nEdgar Award winner\nAuthor of 38 novels\nPresident of Mystery Writers of America\nNamed a Thriller Master by International Thriller Writers\nFormer trial lawyer\nCo-author of several memoirs with her daughter\, Francesca Serritella\nMore than 30 million books in print worldwide\n\nBook Signing\nFollowing the author talk\, attendees will have the opportunity to meet Lisa Scottoline and have copies of This Changes Everything signed. \nTickets\nTickets are required for this event. \nTickets can be purchased by clicking the Event Ticketing link at the bottom of this page. \nMore Information\nAdditional event information is available by clicking the Event Website link at the bottom of this page. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/lisa-scottoline-this-changes-everything-author-talk-and-signing/
LOCATION:Garde Arts Center\, 325 State Street\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:Garde Arts Center
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Lisa-Scottoline-This-Changes-Evrything-Author-Talk-and-Signing-at-the-Garde-Arts-Center.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260717T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260717T190000
DTSTAMP:20260713T193434Z
CREATED:20260713T193434Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260713T193434Z
UID:10006770-1784311200-1784314800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Ethan Joella Author Talk and Signing for The Top of the World
DESCRIPTION:Ethan Joella visits Bank Square Books in Mystic on Friday\, July 17\, for a free author talk and book signing celebrating the release of his newest novel\, The Top of the World. Readers will have the opportunity to hear Joella discuss his latest work\, his writing process\, and the themes that have made his novels favorites among fans of contemporary literary fiction before meeting the author and having books signed. \nThe Top of the World follows Maggie Bishop\, a recent high school graduate in the summer of 1975 who is struggling to understand the death of her older brother\, Chip. Her search for answers leads her to the Red Maple Inn\, a mountaintop resort in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains\, where she uncovers the relationships her brother formed during his final months while discovering her own path toward healing. Told across two transformative summers\, the novel explores grief\, family\, memory\, and the enduring impact of human connection. \nJoella is the bestselling author of A Little Hope\, a Read with Jenna Bonus Selection\, along with A Quiet Life\, The Same Bright Stars\, and The Top of the World. An English and psychology instructor at the University of Delaware\, he is known for writing emotionally resonant novels centered on ordinary people facing life’s defining moments. \nEvent Details\n\nEvent: Ethan Joella Author Talk and Signing\nFeatured Book: The Top of the World\nDate: Friday\, July 17\, 2026\nTime: 6:00-7:00 p.m.\nVenue: Bank Square Books\nLocation: Mystic\, CT\nAdmission: Free\n\nAbout The Top of the World\nSet during the summer of 1975\, the novel follows Maggie Bishop as she searches for answers about her late brother’s mysterious final months. Her journey leads her to a mountaintop resort where unexpected friendships and long-hidden truths help her—and those around her—find healing and hope. \nThemes include: \n\nFamily relationships\nGrief and healing\nComing of age\nMemory and hope\nSmall-town community\n\nAbout Ethan Joella\n\nAuthor of The Top of the World\nAuthor of A Little Hope\, a Read with Jenna Bonus Selection\nAlso wrote A Quiet Life and The Same Bright Stars\nTeaches English and psychology at the University of Delaware\nLives in Rehoboth Beach\, Delaware\, with his wife and two daughters\n\nBook Signing\nFollowing the discussion\, attendees will have the opportunity to meet Ethan Joella and have copies of The Top of the World signed. \nMore Information\nAdditional event information is available by clicking the Event Website link at the bottom of this page. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/ethan-joella-author-talk-and-signing-for-the-top-of-the-world/
LOCATION:Bank Square Books\, 80 Stonington Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bank Square Books
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ethan-Joella-Author-Talk-and-Signing-for-the-Top-of-the-World-at-Bank-Square-Books-Friday-July-17-6pm-7pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260626T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260626T190000
DTSTAMP:20260531T231819Z
CREATED:20260531T231524Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260531T231819Z
UID:10003438-1782496800-1782500400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Glitz and Gays: A Pride Month Book Bedazzling Party!
DESCRIPTION:Glitz and Gays: A Pride Month Book Bedazzling Party! is the perfect night of books\, creativity\, and LGBTQ+ celebration at Bank Square Books in Mystic this Friday\, June 26. Bring your favorite queer book from home or add a copy of One Last Stop to your ticket to personalize at the event. With rhinestones\, decorative supplies\, snacks\, wine\, and good friends\, this June 26 evening is for readers\, crafters\, and those in the LGBTQ+ community looking to make their own sparkling masterpiece or just have a queer-friendly book club alternative. \nSprinkle on some glitter\, enjoy a themed snack\, and bedazzle your favorite LGBTQ+ reads into new works of queer art. Great for celebrating Pride Month\, girls’ night out\, or any occasion in between\, Glitz and Gays: A Pride Month Book Bedazzling Party! is perfect for anyone who loves self-expression\, community\, and books. Leave with a one-of-a-kind literary work of art and a night spent with fellow book lovers! \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/glitz-and-gays-a-pride-month-book-bedazzling-party/
LOCATION:Bank Square Books\, 80 Stonington Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bank Square Books
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Glitz-and-Gays-A-Pride-Month-Book-Bedazzling-Party-June-26-6pm-to-7pm.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260620T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260620T120000
DTSTAMP:20260617T011428Z
CREATED:20260617T011428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T011428Z
UID:10005985-1781953200-1781956800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Saturday Storytime at Bank Square Books
DESCRIPTION:Saturday Storytime at Bank Square Books offers young readers and their families a fun and welcoming way to start the weekend in Mystic. Held every Saturday morning\, the free program invites children to gather for a shared reading experience featuring engaging picture books and occasional themed activities designed to spark imagination and a love of reading. \nEach session includes one or two children’s picture books selected by the bookstore’s staff\, creating an interactive experience that encourages curiosity\, creativity\, and storytelling. Depending on the week’s theme\, children may also have the opportunity to participate in simple activities connected to the stories being read. \nWhether you’re introducing a child to the joy of books or looking for a family-friendly activity in downtown Mystic\, Saturday Storytime offers a relaxed\, enjoyable environment where young readers can discover new stories and connect with other book-loving families. \nEvent Details\nDate: Saturday\, June 20\, 2026\nTime: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.\nLocation: Bank Square Books\, 80 Stonington-Westerly Road\, Mystic \nHighlights\n\nFree weekly storytime\nChildren’s picture book readings\nFamily-friendly atmosphere\nOccasional themed activities\nPerfect for young readers and caregivers\n\n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/saturday-storytime-at-bank-square-books/
LOCATION:Bank Square Books\, 80 Stonington Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bank Square Books
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Saturday-Storytime-at-Bank-Square-Books-Saturday-June-20-11am-to-12pm-Free.jpg
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END:VCALENDAR