Did you know that an entire kingdom is coming to life right here in West Seattle? We’re Connie Watts and Jen Olson, publishers of a new eBook series for kids called the Kingdom of Hamelot, stories based in a mythical, Elizabethan-era kingdom (kind of a mixture of Harry Potter and Downton Abbey). The world is rooted in historical facts about the time period and includes tales of magic, intrigue and deception, as well as friendship, acceptance and love. Our eBooks are enhanced, meaning the words on the (digital) page are accompanied by music and narration, challenging vocabulary words, and rich illustrations—and even entertaining supplemental videos.

We have just released Series I: Menagerie of Murder and have four more series planned for this year. Series II: With Mettle and Grit is due out in March. Our eBooks and audiobooks are available on Amazon, iTunes, Audible, and Barnes and Noble.

Connie’s mom, Sharon, is the author of these amazing stories. We are going head-to-head with the big boys of the publishing world by doing all of the planning, production and publicity ourselves, right here on Alki. We are really interested in partnering with local businesses, teachers, and organizations in creative ways. (We are currently offering our Series I eBook to teachers for free.)

Have an idea about partnering or an event? Please let us know! We’ve already held some events in the area and look forward to holding many more. Visit our website at kingdomofhamelot.com or like us on Facebook at facebook.com/KingdomofHamelot. And if you have suggestions, ideas, comments or an unpublished bestseller (we are publishing other eBooks by different authors), please send us e-mail at jen@kingdomofhamelot.com. We’d love to hear from you!

We thank Kingdom of Hamelot for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

‘Tis the season to cook festively. And that’s why the holiday-season Shop Late Thursdays in The Junction kicked off tonight with a triple bill at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) – from left, cookbook authors Jeannette Sauvage, Cynthia Nims, and Kim O’Donnel – all Seattleites, though their work has fans far beyond. O’Donnel’s newest book is another guide to vegetarian offerings that will please carnivores, “The Meat Lover’s Meatless Celebrations“; Nims has cooked up a book to help you make your own “Salty Snacks“; and Sauvage has published her first cookbook, “Gluten-Free Baking for the Holidays.” (All three books can be purchased at Click!) They brought samples, too. So what’s up for NEXT “Shop Late Thursday” on November 29th (next week obviously will be skipped for the holiday)? Check out your favorite shops; the participants are all listed here.

Big booksigning tonight for West Seattle first-time novelist Michael G. Hickey – he had already sold a box of books by the time we stopped by the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) to check in. Full house, too, wishing him well as he promotes “Counterclockwise” – fans on hand included Mike’s standup-comic wife Mona Concepcion (below left) and his boss Gary Oertli (below right):

You probably recognize Oertli as president of South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), where Hickey is on the faculty. Wondering what “Counterclockwise” is about? Hickey’s description: “It’s 1980, Tucson, Arizona, and a grocery store clerk becomes friends with a world-famous rock singer. Their friendship inspires each to face their respective pasts and the demons that seem to be sabotaging their respective futures.” It’s 34 years in the making – with its roots in a series of short stories of ihs from back in 1978!

Hickey is also a South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) faculty member, and he says “some former students have organized a ‘flash mob’ purchase” of his novel, “Counterclockwise,” at exactly 11 am tomorrow (Thursday, November 1st). He says it’s an attempt to at least briefly “break onto the Amazon.com bestseller list, albeit for a brief duration.”

What’s the book about? “It’s 1980, Tucson, Arizona, and a grocery store clerk becomes friends with a world-famous rock singer. Their friendship inspires each to face their respective pasts and the demons that seem to be sabotaging their respective futures.” He adds, “This book started as a series of related short stories in 1978. It is a thirty-four-year-old dream come true!”

Even if it sounds interesting now, Hickey says, consider waiting till 11 am tomorrow (Pacific time) – he’s asking friends and relatives (and you if you’d like to help!) to spread the word everywhere they can. (You can share this on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, multiple other places by using the “Share This” link below the story, same as ANY story on WSB.) Just to see what happens. The link for buying it from Amazon is here.

You can also meet Mike (who you may also know as Seattle’s Poet Populist) at his book-launch party, 7 pm November 14 at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – “free appetizers and lots of fun.”

Second – Next Saturday, a book-signing (and more) event at West Side Presbyterian Church, whose longtime Senior Pastor Paul Smith is a contributor. Here’s the church’s announcement:

All are invited to a “book launching” of David Marshall’s new book, “Faith Seeking Understanding,” on Saturday, September 8, from 7 to 9 pm in the Howell Auditorium of West Side Presbyterian Church. The book is a compilation by David and “a few of his friends” to, first of all, honor Dr. Paul Brand (former WS resident, Orthopedic surgeon and pioneer in reconstructive surgery to leprosy patients, missionary, and author), and Ralph Winter (U.S. Center for World Missions). Other contributors to “Faith Seeking Understanding” include Philip Yancey (Christian author of 29+ books), Earl Palmer (Pastor Emeritus of University Presbyterian; founder, Earl Palmer Ministries), Miriam Adeney (SPU professor and author), Ben McFarland (SPU biochemistry professor), and Paul Smith (senior pastor of West Side Presbyterian for more than 30 years). Several will be joining David Marshall for the “book launching!” Books will be available for just $12. It’s a unique opportunity to hear and meet the authors, be among the first to get your book “hot off the press” and have it autographed!

Users of The Seattle Public Library take note: a weeklong systemwide budget closure begins Monday, Aug. 27. Regular Library operations of the Central Library, 26 branches and Mobile Services will resume Tuesday, Sept. 4, after the Sept. 3 Labor Day holiday.

Now is the time to stock up on Library books, music CDs and movie DVDs and pick up any items on hold. No Library materials will accrue fines or will be due during the one-week closure.

City departments have made significant cuts to address a continuing budget shortfall. The Library is funded from the city general fund.

The systemwide closure will produce approximately $613,000 in savings. The Library closure will mean salary reductions for nearly 620 employees who will not be paid during that week. The closure week was selected because general Library use is not as high as other weeks of the year, school is not in session and there are fewer Library programs scheduled.

“While there were no good options, closing for a week will keep us from having to make further cuts in operating hours or the book budget,” said City Librarian Marcellus Turner.

The Library’s $50 million operating budget is mainly allocated for personnel who run the libraries and provide direct public service, books and materials, and fixed costs, such as telecommunication and Internet services and utilities.

Library service impacts

Most Library services will be unavailable during the one-week closure and will have the following impacts:

No materials will be due and no fines will be charged.

The last day to check out Library items before the closure is either Saturday, Aug. 25, or Sunday, Aug. 26, depending on which library you use. Visit www.spl.org or call 206-386-4636 for more information on Library locations and hours.

No book drops will be open. Do not leave books and items outside Library locations during the closure. You will be responsible for theft, loss or damage to Library items left outside buildings.

There is no need to return items during the closure because no items will be due and no fines charged.

· Limited access to the online catalog. Patrons will be able to search the catalog and check their Library record, but will not be able to place holds on items.

Limited access to the website (www.spl.org). The online calendar, databases, downloadable books and media, digital special collections, podcasts, SPL Mobile app and blogs will be available, but other online information and features will not be available. No staff members will be working to maintain the site or troubleshoot problems.

No Library computers will be available. You will not be able to reserve a computer for the week the Library system is closed.

No access to Wi-Fi.

No programs or events in Library meeting rooms.

No TeleCirc, the Library’s telephone circulation service that provides patrons with information on their Library account.

Quick Information telephone service will not be available.

No mail will be received during the closure. The Library will have the U.S. Post Office hold all mail until the Library reopens. Staff won’t be able to accept deliveries.

Email a librarian or chat with a librarian will not be available.

Mobile Services deliveries will not be made.

No parking in Library garages. The Central Library, Capitol Hill Branch, Montlake Branch, Greenwood Branch and Ballard Branch garages will be closed.

Some electronic services available

Some electronic resources will be available for patrons to access remotely during the closure. Patrons should understand that staff will not be available to help them use these online services. The online services available by going to www.spl.org will include:

· Calendar of Events. Patrons will be able to see information about upcoming Library programs.

· SPL Mobile page. Patrons will be able to view information about using the Library’s app for Web-enabled phones, called SPL Mobile.

· Online databases. Patrons will have access to more than 95 premium databases, including Britannica Online, ChiltonLibrary.com, Mango Languages, Consumer Reports and Morningstar Investment Research Center.

· Downloadable media. Patrons will have access to more than 34,000 items in the digital collection, including e-books and audiobooks, song titles and downloadable movie titles. There will be links to instructional videos on how to download digital media.

· Digital collections. Patrons will have access to special collections that have been digitized, including: photos from the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Collection; the Northwest Art Collection and The Seattle Historical Photograph Collection; the Seattle City Directory Collection; and the Century 21 Exposition Digital Collection.

· Adult blog Shelf Talk and teen blog Push to Talk.

· Library podcasts.

Online payment of fines/fees.

This book is a first in the college success genre to a) tackle the student-professor dynamic (if you can believe that); b) give students the exact appropriate, professional words to say to deal with challenging, but common everyday classroom issues, such as absences, late work, grades, boring classes; and c) lift the veil on college policy in a conversational way that takes students insight the faculty mind, empowering them to feel informed when tackling tough issues or standing up for themselves with professors.

But don’t take her word for it. She’s linked to some reviews, too. You can of course buy the book online.

Two of the events we covered on Saturday had a fortuitous meeting of the minds afterward .. thanks to Martha for the followup photo and report:

After its book sale yesterday, Sanislo Elementary generously donated its leftover books to the West Seattle Rotary Club’s “Books for the World” book drive. Photo is of Sanislo and Rotary volunteers. Both the sale and the book drive were successful thanks to the help of all the donors, shoppers, and volunteers (and WSB coverage)!

Martha Sidlo
West Seattle Rotary

If you haven’t caught up with yesterday – our report on the Rotary book drive was here, and the Sanislo sale here.

Earlier this month, Skylark Café and Club hosted an afternoon-long reading event featuring that quartet of writers – from left, Dave O’Leary, Cherry Tigris, Pam Summa, and Roberto Carlos Ascalon. O’Leary’s book is “Horse Bite,” a novel published this fall telling “the story of Dave and his efforts to find a bit of permanence in the balance of the things we create and the things we do to sustain ourselves” – read more, and excerpts, on his website (where you also can order the book). Tigris is a child-abuse survivor who has written a collection of short stories. Summa’s book is “Groping for Luna,” subtitled “Guerrilla Girl Meets Guitar God: A Comedy of Manners.” Ascalon is a poet you can find in various anthologies.

Also this month, The Beer Junction hosted a booksigning session for two photography books focused on West Seattle history – one titled “West Seattle,” the other “Luna Park,” both published by Arcadia Publishing. Reps of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society signed “West Seattle,” while AJ Naff signed “Luna Park”:

You can get the books through the links on each title.

Last but by no means least, here’s something you can get absolutely free – today, anyway (afterward, it’ll cost you 99 cents). Local author Jason Kirk has written a mini-e-book called “The Other Whites in South Africa” – which he describes as “an extended essay about sharks and race relations.” You can find it on Amazon by going here; Jason says, “It can be read on pretty much any screen you’ve got, including computers, iPods, phones, tablets, and Amazon’s Kindle e-reader.” Specific links:
For iphones and iPod touch
For Blackberry
For Android
For Windows 7 phone
For iPad
Jason adds, “If you happen to have a Kindle, you can order and read the essay directly from it. Just search for ‘jason kirk’.”

(Photo courtesy Kris Wilder)
They’re veteran karate teachers at West Seattle Karate Academy (35th/Roxbury) – and they’re authors. Kris Wilder (left) and Lawrence Kane are about to release what Kris says is the 10th book between the two of them, “How to Win a Fight.” He says the book “helps you understand what’s worth fighting for, how to win when you must, and how to walk away when you should.” Penguin Books is publishing it, and its release date is October 4th – one week from Tuesday (it’s available for Amazon pre-order now). He says they’ve even been “assigned a promotional team” and might have a couple of book-signing events. Their previous co-authored book, “The Little Black Book of Violence,” came out two years ago, and Kris says it “was a finalist in both ForeWord Magazines’ Book of the Year award and USA Book News’ Best Books award.”

Thanks to Susan Eng for sharing the photo of West Seattle author Paul Schmid signing his new children’s book “A Pet for Petunia” as it launched Thursday night at Secret Garden Books in Ballard. She says he cited daughter Anna as inspiration for, and consultant on, the book, which he wrote and illustrated. (Previously, he was published as illustrator of “The Wonder Book” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.)