Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
THE PAUSE BUTTON: A Monthly Poetry Gathering
The Pause Button is an informal monthly gathering for poets and poetry enthusiasts! We will gather around the big table and take a moment to pause for poetry exploration. Bring a poem or two to share - poems can be written by you or by another poet. We will listen, discuss, and do a little writing with a writing prompt.
Free and open to writers of all levels of experience. No need to sign up, y’all just come!
5:30-6:30 on first Mondays.
Partners & Pages Community Book Club hosted by Partners in Care
Join Partners In Care for our first community book club! This book club is free and open to anyone in the community and will be held the second Wednesday of each month from 10 – 11 am at Paulina Springs Books.
Partners In Care will provide books to everyone attending. This summer’s book is The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer.
If you are interested, kindly RSVP so the appropriate number of books can be ordered! You can RSVP by calling the Book Club leader Bethany Benefield at (541) 706-0567 or by emailing communityevents@partnersbend.org
Bethany Benefield, the book club leader, is the Partners In Care Transitions Coordinator for the Redmond and Sisters communities, where she is dedicated to supporting medically fragile folks and their families. With a background as a licensed Community Health Worker and a B.S. in Social Entrepreneurship, she is passionate about promoting equity and empowering others. Outside of her work, Bethany enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two children, nurturing her lifelong love of reading, and sharing her enthusiasm with those around her.
About Partners In Care:
Partners In Care has been serving Central Oregon for over 45 years as the region’s leading and most trusted nonprofit hospice, home health, and palliative care provider, redefining hope for our community since the beginning.
We provide care to communities throughout Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. Our largely mobile workforce of over 200 employees serves patients and their families in a 10,000 square mile area. Nearly 200 local volunteers work with Partners In Care in fundraising, resource coordination, and other areas of community support.
As the name Partners In Care suggests, our multi-disciplinary team not only serves patients with life-limiting illness and families during a most difficult time, but it’s also a valuable partner with other community resources and organizations, coordinating compassionate care and meeting a broad spectrum of care needs for many population segments.
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
IN PERSON EVENT: Teresa Duryea Wong Meet & Greet/Book Signing
Join us for a meet & greet/book signing with Teresa Duryea Wong books during the quilt show! Teresa will be signing her beautiful book Kawaii Appliqué Quilts from Japan: How One Country's Love of All Things Tiny Powers Today's Most Intricate Quilts from 10 am to noon.
About Kawaii Appliqué Quilts from Japan : How One Country’s Love of All Things Tiny Powers Today's Most Intricate Quilts:
By Naomi Ichikawa and Teresa Duryea Wong
Understand how Japan’s beloved kawaii style began centuries ago, the world’s fascination with it, and its connection to the kawaii quilting phenomenon: appliqué quilts made with tiny pieces, typically tens of thousands of carefully manipulated bits of fabric in one quilt.
Meet master quilters Yoko Sekita, Aki Sakai, Reiko Kato, Akiko Yoshimizu, Megumi Mizuno, and Hiroko Akita, who share with readers their techniques, studios, and masterpieces.
Hundreds of colorful photos allow close-up appreciation of Japan’s kawaii culture and, of course, the contemporary quilts that express it.
To allow readers to experiment with kawaii style, five step-by-step projects exclusive to this book are featured, designed by these master quilters.
Whether you travel the world or simply release your imagination, let the Japanese kawaii quilt genre expand your appreciation of modern expressions in quilting.
Author bio:
Teresa Duryea Wong is an author, lecturer, and quilt historian, serves on the International Advisory Board of the International Quilt Museum and on the board of the Quilt Alliance. She's a contributing writer for Quiltfolk. She lives in Houston, Texas. TeresaDuryeaWong.com
Knitting Circle
Knitting Circle - Second Saturdays at 4 pm!
Bring your own project and supplies! This is not a workshop but there are experienced knitters in the group who are happy to help those just starting out.
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
IN PERSON EVENT: Paul Iarrobino presents Defiant Moments: Unyielding queer voices. Unstoppable change.
Defiant Moments, edited by Paul Iarrobino, explores multigenerational defiance, and is sure to spark meaningful conversations that offer comfort, strength and resilience. These 90 minute sessions include a handful of Defiant Moments authors reading story excerpts followed by Q&A and book signings. We hope you’ll join us!
About Defiant Moments:
Many people immediately think of the Stonewall riots when they talk about acts of defiance in the queer community, as it is a well-known event in modern American history. However, the reality is much more nuanced and complex. Stonewall was not the only moment of rebellion; it was part of a long history of struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Defiance comes in many forms, from small acts of bravery in everyday life to larger protests for equal rights. We have fought against discrimination and for our rights long before Stonewall. These efforts continue today as we work for equality, acceptance, and understanding. While Stonewall was a turning point, it is important to recognize the many individuals and events that have contributed to the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Understanding this history helps us appreciate the courage and resilience of those who came before us.
Defiant Moments shines a light on the lives and stories of LGBTQ+ people across the United States and Canada. It brings together a collection of stories that explore intersectional identities during times when we lacked role models or the words to fully express our identities. Through these stories, we celebrate resilience, bravery, and acceptance across generations.
In today's world where division rips apart friends, families, and countries, this book offers a refreshing source of hope and positivity. Each story shares the strength and resilience of individuals who embrace their true selves. By highlighting these experiences, Defiant Moments encourages readers to stand together and support one another, reminding us all of the power of kindness and community.
Author bio:
Paul Iarrobino is the founding director of Our Bold Voices. Iarrobino has spent over three decades raising awareness about the intersections of aging, historical oppression and lived experience of LGBTQ+ older adults as an advocate for equity and inclusion. He combines his storytelling background, field experience, latest research and sense of curiosity to engage audiences across the country and inspire policy shifts to meet the unique needs of the older LGBTQ+ community. He is one of the founding members of Elder Pride Services and received their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for providing leadership during their formative years. Paul is the proud recipient of Gay & Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest’s 2021 Queer Hero Award for his groundbreaking work engaging and inspiring community dialogues during the pandemic.
Sisters Leadership Book Club: Rising Strong by Brene Brown
We are delighted to host Sisters Sisters Leadership Book Club discussing Rising Strong by Brene Brown. Facilitated by Stefanie Siebold, Leadership Coach & Co-Owner of PIQue Coaching and Jenn Masse, Leadership Coach & Owner of Conshy Coaching.
Looking to grow personally and professionally, alongside a community that values thoughtful conversation? This book club is for individuals who want to reflect, connect, and take action. We’ll meet every two weeks to dive into the book Rising Strong by Brené Brown, and more importantly, explore how its ideas show up in our real lives.
This isn’t just about reading, it’s about rising strong as a community.
IN PERSON: Cindy Scharkey presents Permission For Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
Join us in welcoming Sisters author, nurse, and health educator Cindy Scharkey celebrating her book Permission For Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden. Cindy will offer a short reading, Q&A, and a fun environment to explore, discuss and learn about women’s sexuality.
About Permission For Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden:
Popular culture would like us to believe that problems in our sex lives can be solved with a quick list of new positions for mind-blowing orgasms, but that’s not where women will find the answers they’re looking for. Permission For Pleasure takes a different approach.
Women are invited to embark on this pocket-sized sexual wellness retreat to uncover the roots of what they believe—or have been told—about sex and their bodies.
Permission For Pleasure is a unique guidebook filled with easy-to-read explanations as well as journaling prompts and practices aimed at equipping women with knowledge and confidence in their sex lives. This guided exploration goes deep into the core questions and education women must consider to embrace and enjoy their sexuality for themselves.
Author bio:
Cindy Scharkey, RN, BSN, has been consistently exposed to the taboo and silence surrounding women’s sexuality over nearly four decades in healthcare as a Certified Childbirth Educator, OB/GYN nurse, and speaker.
Cindy is passionate about providing women with the education and self-confidence they need to find freedom on their own sexual wellness journey. As a podcast host and producer, workshop facilitator and speaker, she aims to open the door to healthy conversations about expressing, experiencing, and enjoying our sexuality.
She was married to the love of her life for 37 years and has three adult daughters who she adores. Learn more info about Cindy and her work on her website: www.cindyscharkey.com.
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
IN PERSON: Stranger Drawings: A Creativity Playshop with Krayna Castelbaum
Join us for an afternoon creativity Playshop with poet/creativity instigator/transformational coach Krayna Castelbaum! A Playshop is a space for the convergence of free-play, uncensored self-expression, and imagination!
We often go through life looking at but not really seeing each other. With pen, paper, and curiosity, we'll remedy that. No drawing, art or writing skills required! Materials supplied.
Ages 10 and up. Limited seating; walk-ins are welcome if space permits.
Krayna Castelbaum, Creativity Instigator & Transformational Coach, honors the creative impulse through writing, artmaking and other creative acts. She’s known for co-creating spaces where spontaneity, creativity, and imagination converge. Krayna publishes Poem of the Month and facilitates monthly Playshops. Learn more: clearlenscoaching.com
Sunday, July 20 from 3:00– 4:30 pm at PSB.
Heart Offerings: Donations will go to Sisters Festival of Books. Payment via Venmo (@Krayna-Castelbaum) guarantees your seat. Cash day of also accepted.
Contact/Registration: Krayna@clearlenscoaching.com
PSB Fiction Book Club
We are excited to host PSB Fiction Book Club! Third Mondays from 5:30-6:30 pm.
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
PSB House Concert with Avery Hill & Jaspar Lepak
Songs are literature! Join us for an intimate evening of song and story with singer-songwriters Avery Hill and Jaspar Lepak.
What is a house concert? A house concert is an intimate listening event where music is the focus. A community gathering in support of artists and their work.
Seating is limited. We are asking for a $20-$25 suggested donation per person attending. All donations go to the artists! Please RSVP to reserve your seats at events@paulinaspringsbooks.com.
About Avery Hill:
Avery Hill is a singer-songwriter, storyteller, and teaching artist. Her performances range from thematic presentations to community campfires to a nice old-fashioned “good show.” Integrating intricate melodies with insightful lyrics, Avery’s voice is at once both wise and curious, telling and investigating. Her latest album is The One Who Remembers (2024).
Since 2013, Avery has been a staple instructor of the Portland (OR) ‘ukulele community. Over the years, she has run her own studio of classes and workshops, and has been a featured instructor at regional ukulele events. More recently, she has begun teaching songwriting, including at the Songwriter Soireé Retreat. Whatever the classroom, Avery strives to educate everyone’s inner musician, to elevate their self-knowledge and confidence, and to enchant them with insight, presence, and a handful of good jokes. Learn more at www.averyhill.studio.
About Jaspar Lepak:
Jaspar Lepak (pronounced JAS-per LEE-pack) writes feminist folk songs from the heart—poetic, profound and “always evocative” (Mostly Minnesota). Drawing comparisons to Kate Wolf and Nanci Griffith, her pure voice rings out above the pack, creating classic-sounding folk songs inspired by the many places she has called home (Tucson, Durban, Seattle, and currently Minneapolis). Her 2024 release So Strong landed at #6 on the Folk Radio Chart, and her 2021 release Desert Ghosts also charted in the Top 10 on folk radio. So Strong is a powerful and timely album that perfectly weaves the personal with the political. Inspired by the overturning of Roe, the loss of her childhood friend to cancer and her own experiences with pregnancy, childbirth and caregiving, the songs are bravely honest, deep, sweet and even playful at times. "So Strong is comforting and charmingly unpretentious.” (89.3 The Current) Learn more at https://jasparlepak.com/
Sisters Leadership Book Club: Rising Strong by Brene Brown
We are delighted to host Sisters Sisters Leadership Book Club discussing Rising Strong by Brene Brown. Facilitated by Stefanie Siebold, Leadership Coach & Co-Owner of PIQue Coaching and Jenn Masse, Leadership Coach & Owner of Conshy Coaching.
Looking to grow personally and professionally, alongside a community that values thoughtful conversation? This book club is for individuals who want to reflect, connect, and take action. We’ll meet every two weeks to dive into the book Rising Strong by Brené Brown, and more importantly, explore how its ideas show up in our real lives.
This isn’t just about reading, it’s about rising strong as a community.
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
THE PAUSE BUTTON: A Monthly Poetry Gathering
The Pause Button is an informal monthly gathering for poets and poetry enthusiasts! We will gather around the big table and take a moment to pause for poetry exploration. Bring a poem or two to share - poems can be written by you or by another poet. We will listen, discuss, and do a little writing with a writing prompt.
Free and open to writers of all levels of experience. No need to sign up, y’all just come!
5:30-6:30 on first Mondays.
IN PERSON EVENT: Stacy Moe-Kean presents The Nazi Housewife of Queens, New York
About The Nazi Housewife of Queens, New York:
Discover the intersection of two lives in 1950s America—an ordinary Queens housewife harboring a dark Nazi past and a survivor seeking justice. In this tense and shocking tale, their paths collide, unraveling a complex quest for truth across time. Based on actual events, this astonishing story follows the path of two women seeking to establish peaceful new lives in America and leave the devastation of WWII behind, but a shocking discovery upends their lives and locks them in a decades-long journey to confront the past.
Author bio:
Stacy Kean is a first-time author of the historical fiction novel, The Nazi Housewife of Queens, New York, based in part on the true story of the first Nazi war criminal who lost her U.S. citizenship and was extradited to Germany in one of the longest war crime trials in German history in the 1970s. She is a native Oregonian and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Oregon. An award-winning communicator, she has built a career in nonprofit communications and marketing. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, The Historical Novel Society, and The Oregon Historical Society. The mother of an adult daughter, Stacy and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, with a three-legged cat. In her free time, she enjoys traveling around Oregon and baking.
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
Knitting Circle
Knitting Circle - Second Saturdays at 4 pm!
Bring your own project and supplies! This is not a workshop but there are experienced knitters in the group who are happy to help those just starting out.
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
Sisters Leadership Book Club: Rising Strong by Brene Br
We are delighted to host Sisters Sisters Leadership Book Club discussing Rising Strong by Brene Brown. Facilitated by Stefanie Siebold, Leadership Coach & Co-Owner of PIQue Coaching and Jenn Masse, Leadership Coach & Owner of Conshy Coaching.
Looking to grow personally and professionally, alongside a community that values thoughtful conversation? This book club is for individuals who want to reflect, connect, and take action. We’ll meet every two weeks to dive into the book Rising Strong by Brené Brown, and more importantly, explore how its ideas show up in our real lives.
This isn’t just about reading, it’s about rising strong as a community.
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
PSB Fiction Book Club
We are excited to host PSB Fiction Book Club! Third Mondays from 5:30-6:30 pm.
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
Sisters Leadership Book Club: Rising Strong by Brene Brown
We are delighted to host Sisters Sisters Leadership Book Club discussing Rising Strong by Brene Brown. Facilitated by Stefanie Siebold, Leadership Coach & Co-Owner of PIQue Coaching and Jenn Masse, Leadership Coach & Owner of Conshy Coaching.
Looking to grow personally and professionally, alongside a community that values thoughtful conversation? This book club is for individuals who want to reflect, connect, and take action. We’ll meet every two weeks to dive into the book Rising Strong by Brené Brown, and more importantly, explore how its ideas show up in our real lives.
This isn’t just about reading, it’s about rising strong as a community.
IN PERSON EVENT: George Sorensen presents Hot Dish Confidential : That Year My Friends Taught me to Cook
About Hot Dish Confidential:
Join George Sorensen’s culinary revolution and be prepared for an unforgettable journey of flavor, camaraderie, and adventure.
George wants to learn how to cook, Not just cook, but to prepare a truly great meal. He recruits a group of amateur gourmets to come to his little Minneapolis bungalow, prepare a meal together, and show him the ropes. George embarks on a year-long gastronomic journey from goose to rattlesnake. He samples the delights of wild mushrooms, the flavors of the oceans, and a Charles Dickens Christmas with a mouthwatering pheasant pie. Along the way there will be wine, lots of wine.
Join George on a culinary journey that will transform your taste buds and ignite your passion for cooking. As a bonus, you might even find yourself earning a blue ribbon for your homemade jam at the Minnesota State Fair or stumbling upon your future wife amidst blooming apricot trees.
Author Bio:
George Sorensen has written books about freelance writing and a history of an army unit in Montana who tried to replace the horse with the bicycle, titled: Iron Riders. For years he wrote marketing communications and documentation for 3M, Nike, Boeing and other companies. He helped launch new products to market including PostIt Notes and worked with NASA on the Mars Program. Now he writes novels and non-fiction books. George lives in the Pacific Northwest
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
Sisters Leadership Book Club: Rising Strong by Brene Brown
We are delighted to host Sisters Sisters Leadership Book Club discussing Rising Strong by Brene Brown. Facilitated by Stefanie Siebold, Leadership Coach & Co-Owner of PIQue Coaching and Jenn Masse, Leadership Coach & Owner of Conshy Coaching.
Looking to grow personally and professionally, alongside a community that values thoughtful conversation? This book club is for individuals who want to reflect, connect, and take action. We’ll meet every two weeks to dive into the book Rising Strong by Brené Brown, and more importantly, explore how its ideas show up in our real lives.
This isn’t just about reading, it’s about rising strong as a community.
Sisters Leadership Book Club: Rising Strong by Brene Br
We are delighted to host Sisters Sisters Leadership Book Club discussing Rising Strong by Brene Brown. Facilitated by Stefanie Siebold, Leadership Coach & Co-Owner of PIQue Coaching and Jenn Masse, Leadership Coach & Owner of Conshy Coaching.
Looking to grow personally and professionally, alongside a community that values thoughtful conversation? This book club is for individuals who want to reflect, connect, and take action. We’ll meet every two weeks to dive into the book Rising Strong by Brené Brown, and more importantly, explore how its ideas show up in our real lives.
This isn’t just about reading, it’s about rising strong as a community.
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
IN PERSON: Sister's Writes Pop-Up Book Fair
Join us for Sisters Writes Pop-Up Book Signing Event!
Sisters Writes is a group of local authors who meet weekly to support each other’s work. Come by during The Big Ponderoo weekend to meet local authors, learn about their work, and buy their latest books! Featuring books by Valarie Anderson, Linda Jones Weber, Chuck Lesowske, Dawn Jackson, Melody Carlson, and Kit Tosello.
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
IN PERSON: Gary Lark presents Coming Down the Mountain
About Coming Down The Mountain (poetry):
"Poems of place" doesn't come close to describing what Lark does with a hayfield, a kitchen, a tackle shop-he brings the reader along to inhabit them, breathe them, wade in them, and to feel the passage of loved ones and reticent strangers who guard the secrets of their own rich lives, even as we watch. Coming Down the Mountain never strays far from home, but instead goes deep into the soil, rivers, and people, examining past and present with the steady eye of someone who loves this place and also keenly understands that our time here is fragile and finite.
“Coming Down the Mountain is so lean and direct-and so artfully rendered-that the social realities, geographies, family narratives, and moral concerns of the poet rise up from the page with all their contradictions and revelations. The imperative in this collection is to name and to witness, to bring forth the raw elements of the everyday, to move across great swaths of time the way a raptor moves its weightless shadow across open water. Seasoned with just the right amount of wry observation and humor, and driven by sharp-edged truths, this book will keep you barreling ahead, astonished.”
-Michael McGriff, author of Angel Sharpening its Beak and Eternal Sentences
Author bio:
Gary Lark is the author of seven books and four chapbooks, Coming Down the Mountain is the most recent. Lark says. “I have a desire to feel the resonance of words coalescing in an endless consciousness. Stories give me joy when the words create something new. I seek that joy”.
His work has appeared in Beloit Poetry Journal, Catamaran, Rattle, Sky Island and others. Gary and his wife Dorothy live in Oregon's Rogue Valley.
Cursive Writing Course
Join us at Paulina Springs Books for a fun, hands-on introduction to cursive writing!
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
IN PERSON: Kate Hamberger presents Dances With Fire: Lessons in Life, Faith & Firefighting
About Dances with Fire:
The challenging world of wildland firefighting is brought to life in Dances with Fire, a powerful new memoir released this summer. The captivating narrative takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the intense challenges, camaraderie, and personal transformations experienced on the front lines of some of the most dangerous fires in history.
In Dances with Fire, Hamberger, a wildland firefighter with years of experience battling blazes across the West, shares her gripping personal story. With an unflinching eye, she delves into the physical and mental demands of the job, the complex dynamics within firefighting crews, and the profound impact that this high-stakes profession has on those who risk their lives to protect our national forests and wildlands.
“I wrote Dances with Fire to give people insight into what it’s like on the fireline,” says Hamberger. “It’s more than just a job; it tests you in every possible way. I wanted to share the stories, both the triumphs and the tragedies, to honor those who have dedicated their lives to this work.”
The memoir offers vivid accounts of the eerie beauty of fire in the wilderness, and the emotional toll of witnessing nature’s fury. But it’s also deeply personal, revealing how Hamberger navigated the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and how the experience shaped her identity and worldview.
Dances with Fire is not just a memoir for those interested in firefighting; it’s a compelling read for anyone drawn to stories of resilience, courage, and the human spirit. Hamberger’s narrative is both a tribute to her fellow firefighters and a call to action, raising awareness about the growing threat of wildfires reaching our communities and the need for greater support for those who fight them.
Author bio:
Kate Hamberger was a wildland firefighter on several hotshot crews and a helicopter crew on the front lines of some of the most significant wildfires in history while working her way through college. She enjoys being outside and resides in Silverton, Oregon.
Cursive Writing Course
Join us at Paulina Springs Books for a fun, hands-on introduction to cursive writing!
PSB Fiction Book Club
We are excited to host PSB Fiction Book Club! Third Mondays from 5:30-6:30 pm.
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
Knitting Circle
Knitting Circle - Second Saturdays at 4 pm!
Bring your own project and supplies! This is not a workshop but there are experienced knitters in the group who are happy to help those just starting out.
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
IN PERSON EVENT: Lareida Buckley presents Stories From The Sheriff's Daughter
About Stories From The Sheriff’s Daughter:
Dive into the heart of rural Texas with Lareida Buckley's Stories From the Sheriff’s Daughter, a captivating novel that paints a vivid portrait of life in a small-town community. Through Buckley's skillful storytelling, readers are transported back to the 1950s and 60s, where the simple joys and complex challenges of everyday existence come to life. From the bustling atmosphere of the county jail to the quiet moments of introspection, this novel offers a rich tapestry of experiences that will resonate with readers of all backgrounds.
In Stories From the Sheriff’s Daughter, Buckley explores the intricate journey from childhood to adulthood against the backdrop of a unique upbringing. Through a series of engaging episodes, readers witness the protagonist's evolution as she grapples with the complexities of family, community, and identity.
Buckley crafts a poignant narrative that offers a glimpse into the unique upbringing of a young girl growing up next to a small-town Texas county jail.
Author bio:
Lareida Buckley's journey is one of remarkable achievements and a pioneering spirit. Born with a thirst for knowledge and a drive for excellence, she embarked on her academic path at Texas A&M University, where she graduated with honors in 1968. As one of only thirty-four women in her graduating class, Lareida distinguished herself through her academic brilliance and determination to succeed in a predominantly male dominated campus.
Following her undergraduate studies, Lareida pursued her passion for literature and information sciences by enrolling in the University of Hawaii's prestigious Graduate School of Library Science. It was here that she honed her skills in research, cataloging, and information retrieval, laying the groundwork for a fulfilling career in library services.
After completing her graduate studies, Lareida made the bold decision to make Hawaii's Big Island her home. Drawn to the island's natural beauty, vibrant culture, and sense of community, she found herself captivated by its charms and decided to establish roots there. For almost fifty years, Lareida has immersed herself in the island's rich tapestry of life, becoming an integral part of its fabric and contributing to its diverse communities.
Cursive Writing Course
Join us at Paulina Springs Books for a fun, hands-on introduction to cursive writing!
Partners & Pages Community Book Club hosted by Partners in Care
Join Partners In Care for our first community book club! This book club is free and open to anyone in the community and will be held the second Wednesday of each month from 10 – 11 am at Paulina Springs Books.
Partners In Care will provide books to everyone attending. Info about our summer book coming soon!
If you are interested, kindly RSVP so the appropriate number of books can be ordered! You can RSVP by calling the Book Club leader Bethany Benefield at (541) 706-0567 or by emailing communityevents@partnersbend.org
Bethany Benefield, the book club leader, is the Partners In Care Transitions Coordinator for the Redmond and Sisters communities, where she is dedicated to supporting medically fragile folks and their families. With a background as a licensed Community Health Worker and a B.S. in Social Entrepreneurship, she is passionate about promoting equity and empowering others. Outside of her work, Bethany enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two children, nurturing her lifelong love of reading, and sharing her enthusiasm with those around her.
About Partners In Care:
Partners In Care has been serving Central Oregon for over 45 years as the region’s leading and most trusted nonprofit hospice, home health, and palliative care provider, redefining hope for our community since the beginning.
We provide care to communities throughout Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. Our largely mobile workforce of over 200 employees serves patients and their families in a 10,000 square mile area. Nearly 200 local volunteers work with Partners In Care in fundraising, resource coordination, and other areas of community support.
As the name Partners In Care suggests, our multi-disciplinary team not only serves patients with life-limiting illness and families during a most difficult time, but it’s also a valuable partner with other community resources and organizations, coordinating compassionate care and meeting a broad spectrum of care needs for many population segments.
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
Storytime With Sloth! With special guest Fern Wexler Presenting Families of a Feather
Join us in welcoming Portland writer and wildlife photographer Fern Wexler celebrating their book Families of a Feather at Storytime with Sloth! Our weekly storytime event features books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
About Families of a Feather:
Explore the Wonderful World of Bird Families! Perfect for families with young children ages 4-8, this beautifully illustrated hardcover book invites readers to discover the rich tapestry of family structures found in the avian world. Through captivating illustrations and engaging storytelling, Families of a Feather explores how various bird species care for and nurture their young, showcasing the many forms love and family can take.
Did You Know?
● Emu fathers and Ruby-Throated Hummingbird mothers raise their chicks entirely on their own.
● Laysan Albatross chicks can be cared for by two mothers who take turns incubating their eggs.
● Acorn Woodpeckers raise their young in large family groups, with multiple parents and siblings lending a helping hand.
● Black Swans can grow up with two dads, illustrating the beautiful spectrum of family dynamics in nature.
Through the lens of these fascinating bird families, Families of a Feather conveys a powerful message of love and acceptance, reminding readers that no matter the shape or size of a family, the love they share is what truly matters.
The book also includes a short field guide providing additional information about the bird species featured, making it an engaging educational resource for young readers and their families.
Families of a Feather serves as a wonderful introduction to the concept of family diversity for young children, fostering understanding and compassion in a beautifully illustrated format. With its heartwarming message and captivating artwork, this book is a perfect addition to any family's bookshelf.
Author bio:
Fern Wexler is a writer and wildlife photographer in Portland, Oregon. They are a dedicated naturalist and birdwatcher, with a passion for helping kids experience nature. Winner of the 2020 Audubon Youth Leadership Award, Fern volunteers at the Bird Alliance of Oregon, teaching others to appreciate the world around them. Social: @fernwex
IN PERSON EVENT: Sarah Greenman presents The Creative Alchemy Cycle: Activate Your Creativity to Wake Up and Get Free
About The Creative Alchemy Cycle: Activate Your Creativity to Wake Up and Get Free:
The Creative Alchemy Cycle is a year-long journey that will deepen your relationship with the natural world, shake up limiting beliefs about your own creativity, and inspire you to make your own mark. At a time when we are experiencing shock waves of collective grief due to racism, sexism, late-stage capitalism, colonialism, and compounding climate loss, Greenman lays out a nature-centered approach for embodied healing, joyful expression, and meaningful action. Her work offers a radical invitation for readers to tap their creativity as a force for social change. With deep permission and generous guidance, Greenman reminds us why creativity is a powerful tool for healing, justice, joy and collective liberation.
Author bio:
Sarah Greenman is an artist, story-teller, theater-maker, facilitator, mother, and community organizer. Her work has appeared in a range of publications, including The Huffington Post, Advocate, Texas Monthly, D Magazine, Curbed, Elle Décor, Spirituality & Health, Houzz, Apartment Therapy, and Country Decorating. Her plays have been produced in New York, Seattle, Dallas, Berkeley, and Oakland. She lives in rural Oregon.
THE PAUSE BUTTON: A Monthly Poetry Gathering
The Pause Button is an informal monthly gathering for poets and poetry enthusiasts! We will gather around the big table and take a moment to pause for poetry exploration. Bring a poem or two to share - poems can be written by you or by another poet. We will listen, discuss, and do a little writing with a writing prompt.
Free and open to writers of all levels of experience. No need to sign up, y’all just come!
5:30-6:30 on first Mondays.
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!
Storytime With Sloth!
Exciting news for little booklovers: join us for a new weekly storytime event, Storytime with Sloth! Featuring books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. Free and open to all. Kids of all ages are welcome!
IN PERSON EVENT: G. T. Marcyk presents Encounter
About Encounter:
Encounter is a fast-paced novella of legendary proportions. When four-year-old Eliot goes wandering alone into the Hoh Rainforest, a peaceful family camping trip becomes a daring search-and-rescue operation. Just when the situation seems hopeless, Eliot is saved by a protector with his own motivation. But the government is trying to cover up the existence of Eliot's rescuer, and the FBI and park rangers will stop at nothing to keep their secrets safe. Eliot's unlikely guardian must find a way to return the boy to safety without exposing himself to danger.
Author bio:
G.T. Marcyk is a retired engineering manager who lives in Oregon. His first novel was The Heretics, a story of truth and disinformation set in 177 AD Rome. His second novel, Silicon Barbarian, was a tale of insult and revenge set in 1980 Japan.
He has led an eclectic life. He earned a doctorate in Electrical Engineering, holds two US patents, and is a distinguished alumnus of the University of Illinois ECE department. He also has been charged by a grizzly bear in Alaska, rescued by his fiancé from drowning in Hawaii, made and lost a million dollars on separate days, earned college tuition by cleaning toilets, working in an onion processing plant and as a dishwasher in a gourmet restaurant, witnessed two total solar eclipses, survived a heart attack, snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef, sank an outrigger canoe in Bora Bora, and has been surrounded by angry elephants on safari in South Africa. He is an avid cook, traveler, fly fisherman, and enjoys Italian food, wine, and culture.
IN PERSON EVENT: Let's Read - Fire In Paradise
Citizens4Community and Sisters Festival of Books present Let’s Read - a discussion of Fire In Paradise: An American Tragedy by Alastair Gee and Dani Anguiano.
This event is an opportunity to examine these similarities, reflect on our own community’s preparedness for wildfire, and discuss what else Sisters Country might do to avoid becoming the “next” Paradise.
This event is free, but registration is required.
Scrabble Club
Come play Scrabble with us!
Beginning Sunday, November 5th, we’ll be hosting a Sunday Scrabble Club. Every Sunday at 11am, come hang out at the store, drink coffee, play Scrabble, and meet other word nerds! Boards and dictionaries will be provided and players are encouraged to use North American Scrabble Players Association Rules. Eventually, we hope to run months long leagues and tournaments with prizes!