Book Notes: Lilac Festival book hits Barnes & Noble

The Spokane Lilac Festival will be at a book fair next Sunday at the Valley Barnes & Noble promoting “Pride, Parades and Princesses,” a photographic history of the Lilac Festival.

Festival volunteers will be on hand from noon to 4 p.m. at the store, 15310 E. Indiana Ave. In addition to local Barnes & Noble stores, the book is available at Auntie’s Book Store, the Spokane Hastings stores and the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center gift shop.

The photos featured in the book are from The Spokesman-Review archives.

September at Auntie’s

It’s September, and Auntie’s is gearing up for fall with a month full of author events.

Among the highlights is an appearance Saturday by Kenn Nesbitt, the U.S. children’s poet laureate. Nesbitt, a longtime Spokane writer, will read from his new poetry book for young children, “Kiss, Kiss Good Night,” which has been published as a sturdy board book. Nesbitt’s talk begins at 2 p.m.

At 3 p.m. Sept. 13, Michael Houbrick will read from “The Rat Pack of Hollywood Saves the Circus,” the third picture book in his series for children. Houbrick is a former Ringling Bros. clown and comedian.

Author Jane Porter, creator of the Brennan Sisters trilogy, is back with “The Good Wife.” Her event, at 3 p.m. on Sept. 14, will feature cupcakes and coffee.

That same night, at 7, Penn Wallace will read from “Blue Water & Me,” the adventure story of his first summer fishing with his father.

Jan Martinez, founder of Spokane’s Christ Kitchen, has a new book out called “Christ Kitchen,” about women living in poverty. She’ll read at 7 p.m. on Sept. 26.

Two big names will be at Auntie’s this month. First up is Jamie Ford, author of “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” and the brand new “Songs of Willow Frost.” He’ll read and answer questions at 7 p.m. Sept. 11. On Sept. 16, the doyenne of Seattle mystery writers, J.A. Jance, will read from her latest J.P. Beaumont novel, “Second Watch,” and her new poetry collection, “After the Fire: A Memoir in Poetry and Prose.”

Auntie’s is at 402 W. Main Ave. For more information on Auntie’s events, visit www.auntiesbooks.com.