The Toadstool Bookshops of Keene, Milford, and Peterborough, NH

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K.
SPIRITO signing and
discussing her latest book SUMMER
AND AUGUST: A CAPE COD MURDER MYSTERY

It's official! Lisa visits just two weeks after her new DD Warren novel hits the streets to chat and sign copies of "Live to Tell".

An entire family is wiped out in a senseless act of violence. But to look closer is to see that sometimes the most devastating crimes are the ones closest to home. It's a case that will push DD right to the edge.

If you haven't been to a signing with Lisa, you don't want to miss a great time talking 'shop'! Visit lisagardner.com for information and don't forget to sign up to 'kill a friend, maim a buddy!'

Julie Dozois will autograph and talk about The Apple Pie Thief, her children’s book about a rabbit family in Deering, N.H. whose quiet country life is disrupted one day by a neighbor’s child who is stealing the apple pies they’ve made. The rabbit family considers whether to inform the other family of their son’s very unusual thievery or to just let it go. Their decisions belie the moral fiber of their family and of those in the neighborhood during tough economic times.

Join Among the Elms Writer's Group for a poetry reading and discussion with Matthew Guenette. Matthew is the author of Sudden Anthem, winner of the 2007 American Poetry Journal Book Prize from Dream Horse Press.

Denise Duhamel says, "Sudden Anthem is a raucous, boisterous song of praise. Matthew Guenette's outrageous poems romp across the page then make a beeline for your gut, your heart, and your intellect. Guenette is both a nimble purveyor of pop culture and a singer of the most intimate of songs. Sudden Anthem is a deliriously witty collection."

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The
bookstore is open until 9 pm and there’s a concert next door with “Moving Pictures” (that’s Ben Rogers,
Randy Patrick, and Jentri Jollimore with drums, guitar, and keyboard) also “Maryse” and “Miss Olivia Kennett” beginning at 6:30 pm and for all ages. $5.00

That's right. When we're not reading and helping you find the the best books, we are creating magnificent works of art! Now for the first time, we've banded together for a show and invite you to visit the store and view our work - even the Peep Show!

That's right. When we're not reading and helping you find the the best books, we are creating magnificent works of art! Now for the first time, we've banded together for a show and invite you to visit the store and view our work - even the Peep Show!

On Saturday, August 7 at 2:00, K Spirito will sign and talk about her new thriller, Summer and August, which is part of her La Rosa Chronicles.

Peek behind the idyllic setting of summer on Cape Cod to a place filled with secrets, deception, and a dead body or two! Several Chatham, Massachusetts locations are featured in this great summer read. Unexpected twists and turns abound!

For lots more information about Summer and August and other books by K Spirito, visit her Web site: kspirito.com

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CHANA BLOCH reading
from her poetry and discussing her poetic contribution to Monadnock
Music’s  summer project “Music For The
Mountain” , poems celebrating Mt Monadnock,
set to music by visiting composers and to be premiered at Monadnock Music’s
free concerts this summer.

That's right. When we're not reading and helping you find the the best books, we are creating magnificent works of art! Now for the first time, we've banded together for a show and invite you to visit the store and view our work - even the Peep Show!

The local author stops in to autograph and talk about her new book for early readers.

In the tiny hamlet of Deering, NH, someone is stealing fresh baked pies! Who the thief is and their reason for crime will leave you with a bigger picture of life in a small town.

Please bring your eager elementary school reader and grab a copy of "The Apple Pie Thief". (ppk, $8.95)

That's right. When we're not reading and helping you find the the best books, we are creating magnificent works of art! Now for the first time, we've banded together for a show and invite you to visit the store and view our work - even the Peep Show!

That's right. When we're not reading and helping you find the the best books, we are creating magnificent works of art! Now for the first time, we've banded together for a show and invite you to visit the store and view our work - even the Peep Show!

Cape Cod author William Powers has written a book, Hamlet's BlackBerry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age, in which he argues that we need a new way of thinking, an everyday philosophy for life with screeens. Part intellectual journey, part memoir, Hamlet's BlackBerry sets out to solve what Powers calls the conundrum of connectedness. Lively, original, and entertaining, Powers' new book will challenge you to rethink your digital life.

That's right. When we're not reading and helping you find the the best books, we are creating magnificent works of art! Now for the first time, we've banded together for a show and invite you to visit the store and view our work - even the Peep Show!

That's right. When we're not reading and helping you find the the best books, we are creating magnificent works of art! Now for the first time, we've banded together for a show and invite you to visit the store and view our work - even the Peep Show!

That's right. When we're not reading and helping you find the the best books, we are creating magnificent works of art! Now for the first time, we've banded together for a show and invite you to visit the store and view our work - even the Peep Show!

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“MOVING PICTURES” in concert part two with appearances by “MMOSS” and “REDWING
BLACKBIRD”  -all ages. $5.00

That's right. When we're not reading and helping you find the the best books, we are creating magnificent works of art! Now for the first time, we've banded together for a show and invite you to visit the store and view our work - even the Peep Show!

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JAMES GODDARD signing and discussing FREEDOM
FOR A DAY in which he takes the concepts offered in the bestselling
book The Secret, applies them to his own life, and encourages the reader
to imagine “what if you believed for just one day that everything would work
out perfectly?”

Hallman set out to document the history of utopian thought and literature and to visit a handful of modern utopian projects. He lived three weeks at the world's oldest "intentional community." He sailed on the first ship on which it's possible to own real estate. He trained at the world's largest civilian combat school. He toured a $30 billion megacity built from scratch on an artificial island off the coast of Korea. Now he has come to The Toadstool in Keene to tell you about his experiences and to autograph his new book on the subject, In Utopia. We look forward to seeing you!

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Joyce Maynard will sign and talk about her book, Labor Day: A Novel. In a manner evoking Ian McEwan's Atonement and Nick Hornby's About a Boy,  Maynard tells a story of love, sexual passion, painful adolescence, and devastating betrayal as seen through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old boy – and the man he later becomes – looking back on the events of a single long, hot, and life-altering weekend.

Joyce Maynard, acclaimed author of At Home in the World and To Die For (among others), started her writing career when she was fourteen. She is the mother of three grown children and lives in northern California.

Kids over the age of 10 are invited to sign up and take part in our very dangerous and potentially educational (for summer!) time conducting questionable experiments based on "The Book of Catastrophic Science" by Sean Connolly.

Parachute an egg from an upstairs window! Distill DNA from a half-eaten banana! Spark lightning in your mouth! This book contains detailed information about the most DANGEROUS scientific discoveries of all time. Try 'em at home.

There will be prizes, refreshments and bandaids for all! Safety goggles and kevlar optional. Don't forget to sign up to save your place in the lab. 

Sean is also the author of "The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science" and assures you that every experiment demonstrates real science at its most memorable.

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long time nuclear industry reporter STEPHANIE COOKE autographing and discussing IN MORTAL HANDS: A CAUTIONARY HISTORY OF THE NUCLEAR AGE in
which she reminds us again, as nuclear power is seeing a “renaissance”, that
hubris and wishful thinking are inappropriate in those trying to manage the
“unmanageable”.

The way she sees it, volunteer fire chief Gwen Fifield's life is about as good as can be. Sure she's gained twenty pounds and her property taxes increased just in time for Christmas, but the basement hasn't flooded for the first time in years and the General Store has started delivering pizza.

Good that is, until an arsonist burns the local museum flat and a charred body is found in the ruins.

Come meet Jessie, purchase a signed copy for your reading pleasure and find out what happens to Gwen and the small town of Winslow Falls, NH. If you're a fan of Janet Evanovich, try "Live Free or Die".

Editors Tom and Judith visit to sign and discuss their new book, "Visions of Tomorrow: Science Fiction Predictions That Came True".

In this stunning anthology of never before collected stories, our worlds' greatest science fiction writers demonstrate the truth can be just as strange as fiction.

(Skyhorse Pub, $12.95 ppk)

Join us for Local Authors Night as we feature three of the area's best writers sharing their latest books. Mystery writers Jessie Crockett (Live Free or Die) and Walt Schnabel (Blood Club) join fantasy writer Kristina Schram (Chronicles of Anaedor) to read from and discuss their novels and take questions from the audience. Come support local authors and find out about great new books written in our region!

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former NHPR host JOHN
WALTERS signing and discussing ROADS
LESS TRAVELED: VISIONARY NEW ENGLAND LIVES extended  profiles of two dozen accomplished
people  he interviewed for his “Front
Porch” program on NHPR.

Please join us for a special reading and signing with local writer Evelyn Blanchard for "Peace and other poems". As she says in the preface:

"Most of the poems presented here reveal what was in my heart at the time of its conception. It is to be noted that I am a lover of the divine and the beauty of nature; that I have deep feeling for the joys and sorrows, loves and fantasies of people of all ages, and that I can still see the amusing side of life. Children will find poems here written especially for them." 

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CYNTHIA AMIDON- autographing and discussing REMEMBERING
HANCOCK: TALES FROM A QUAINT NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN an illustrated
collection of historical incidents from Hancock’s storied past. 

John Walters, of New Hampshire Public Radio's The Front Porch, has published Roads Less Traveled: Visionary New England Lives. In the course of his work as a writer and radio personality, Walters has interviewed some of the most extraordinary people in New Hampshire and Vermont. For Roads Less Traveled he has written extended profiles of some of his very favorite people. Walters writes of brilliance, talent, dedication, and persistence; of devotion to an art, craft, a cause; or simply of a life lived long and well. He writes of people who have, quite literally, taken a road less traveled. They have pursued their own visions. Their stories testify to the breadth of human intelligence and creativity, and the indomitability of the human spirit.

John Walters is a writer, editor and radio journalist. He was the creator and host of The Front Porch, an award-winning interview show on NHPR. He is a former resident of Elkins, N.H., and now lives in East Montpelier, VT. He is the managing editor of The Bridge, a weekly newspaper, and is the 2009 winner of the Donald M. Murray Outstanding Journalism Award presented by the New Hampshire Writers' Project.

Our Socrates Cafe, hosted by Rick Branch, meets on the first Wednesday each month for philosophic discussion.

New members or curious thinkers are always welcome. Come join the forum!

The SF&F group meets the 2nd & 4th Wednesday each month to talk about the books they have read recently.

Open to older teens and adults.

Just for kids! Join fellow readers and take home free (yes, free!) books to review for the following meeting. Many of these titles are compliments of the publishers, in advance of the official 'on sale' date.

Sign up is required; please ask for Sue. Meetings are usually on the second Thursday each month. Did we mention snacks?

Area authors of all genres meet each Friday evening here at the store to share, critique, and explore their craft of writing.

Your host is Tammy. Please give her a call for more details as space is limited, or email her: tammyattoadstool@aol.com

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EDIE CLARK signing and discussing STATES
OF GRACE: ENCOUNTERS WITH REAL YANKEES . The “Yankee Magazine” writer’s
newest book is a collection of profiles of over 30 extraordinary New Englanders
“with one deep abiding passion at the center of their lives”, “each of them
living in a state of grace”.

Look - a squirrel! But not just any squirrel. Join us and NH author Jacqueline Heistman as she talks about the inspiration for her new picture book, "The Adventures of Tommy the Tailless Squirrel".

This little fellow is different and shunned by all the other animals. When Tommy acts selflessly and performs a brave deed, the others realize that being different doesn't mean you can't be a good friend!

Get yourself a personalized copy and share a very important lesson with your child. 

Bring your knitting and join hostess Patty Poisson for an informal evening of knitting, chatting and tea on the 2nd Monday evening each month.

Exquisite tea is generously provided by Danielle Beaudette of The Cozy Tea Cart in Brookline, NH. www.thecozyteacart.com

Please note that this group is open to all experienced knitters.

A new group! Please join us and our host, April Coughlin for rousing discussions on foreign policy.

You'll be engaged in a variety of issues revolving around international relations - subjects to be determined by the group.

They will meet every 3 weeks on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.

Whether building new, adding onto, or remodeling your existing building, come learn about the many different options in environmentally friendly building products and construction techniques. Many manufacturers these days are claiming that their products are green ... but how green are they?

Christina O'Brien, AIA, and Doug Stewart, AIA, LEED AP, will start out their discussion by clarifying the difference between "green" and "sustainable" products (and, yes, there is a difference). They'll also focus on the importance of a well-designed building envelope (foundation, insulation, windows, roofing).

The book Green $ense for the Home by Eric Corey Freed and Kevin Daum will be highlighted during the discussion.

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in concert next door: TAYLOR HO BYNUM, FORBES GRAHAM,  & SISTERS
AND BROTHERS Taylor Ho Bynum has played and recorded
extensively with Anthony Braxton over the past ten years, and is considered one
of the great trumpeters of this generation.  He has played with other
luminaries such as Cecil Taylor, Bill Dixon, and Mary Halvorson.  He is on
a bicycle tour of the U.S., and will be riding into Peterborough on Wednesday
September 15.  Opening the show will be area freeform experimentalists
Sisters and Brothers, and returning for the first time since the inaugral Thing
in the Spring, is the mind-expanding trumpeter Forbes Graham.   The concert will be $7, and is as always, all ages.  Please come
to listen, and open yourself up to some new sounds.  

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MARY CATHERINE BATESON – autographing & discussing COMPOSING A FURTHER LIFE: THE AGE OF ACTIVE WISDOM a follow
up to her 1991 best seller Composing A Life. The new book is an
exuberant exploration of a new stage in the life cycle, “Adulthood 2”, created
by unprecedented levels of health, energy, time, and resources.

Rich and Sandra Wallace, husband and wife, will sign and talk about their books for young readers, Little Joe, Kickers 01: Ball Hogs, Sports Camp, and Winning Season: Second-String Center.

Welcome to our monthly meeting for teens, where YOU become the star!

The group will select FREE books (many in advance of publication) and review them the following month. It's a great way to meet fellow readers, try something new, and polish your editorial skills. Perhaps one day soon we'll be reading YOUR book!

Our host is Sue Carita, give her a call and sign up to reserve your place at the table. Meetings are usually held on the fourth Thursday each month.

The Classics Crowd meets every other month on the THIRD Thursday to discuss titles voted on by concensus. New readers of timeless literature are encouraged to join. Snacking is welcome!

Month and selection (so far)...

September 23 is the FOURTH Thursday: "Frenchman's Creek" by Daphne du Maurier.

November 18: "Of Human Bondage" by W. Somerset Maugham. 

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HOWARD MANSFIELD signing and discussing TURN
AND JUMP: HOW TIME AND PLACE FELL APART . In the days before “Standard
Time” towns kept their own time pegged to the sun. With the rise of the
railroads time needed to be synchronized to make scheduling possible and the
hour no longer reflected the exact position of the sun overhead. In a series of
essays Howard examines what time has meant to us in New England, from the days
of continuous vaudeville, to Swanzey’s famous “Old Homestead” play that
depicted chores “measured by the task, not by the hour”, to the long years of
Derby’s department store in Peterborough.

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JUD HALE, long time editor of “Yankee
Magazine” autographing and discussing INSIDE NEW ENGLAND. his newly
republished book about what it’s really like here in our corner of the States.