Pirate Meet the Author Story Time with Melinda Long

Come Dressed as a Pirate!

Ahoy! During this arrrrrsome event, each scallywag will learn to speak a little pirate, make a pirate hook, and receive an eye patch, all on top of meeting the author of these jolly books, getting their books signed, and hear the tale all pirates tell: of how they became one!

How I Became a Pirate

Pirates have green teeth—when they have any teeth at all. I know about pirates, because one day, when I was at the beach building a sand castle and minding my own business, a pirate ship sailed into view.

So proclaims Jeremy Jacob, a boy who joins Captain Braid Beard and his crew in this witty look at the finer points of pirate life by the Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator David Shannon and the storyteller Melinda Long. Jeremy learns how to say “scurvy dog,” sing sea chanteys, and throw food . . . but he also learns that there are no books or good night kisses on board: “Pirates don’t tuck.” A swashbuckling adventure with fantastically silly, richly textured illustrations that suit the story to a T.

Pre-order Your Books for Signing!

Want your pirate book signed? Be sure to pre-order by February 10th to guarantee yourself a copy!

An Invitation to Celebrate

Now, when you book your birthday celebration, baby or bridal shower with The Story Shop, order your invitations as well!

• Order invitations tailored to your theme designed by the talented Gratuity Paper Co.

• Quantities of 15, 25, or 35 available for purchase. Envelopes included.

• All pertinent information for invitations is pulled from your celebration reservation.

Moonlight Magic and Powerful Characters

An Evening in Conversation with Authors
Isabel Ibanez and Rebecca Ross

Join us for a cozy and magical evening with two phenomenal young adult authors January 17 at 6:00pm! See below for more details.

“A lush, vibrant feast of a book, set in a world as colorful and inventive as the fierce heroine’s magical tapestries. I could have remained lost in its pages forever.”

— Margaret Rogerson, NYT bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens

Woven in Moonlight

 A lush tapestry of magic, romance, and revolución, drawing inspiration from Bolivian politics and history.

Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.

When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.

She hunts for the relic, using her weaving ability to hide messages in tapestries for the resistance. But when a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princess, and a thoughtful healer challenge Ximena, her mission becomes more complicated. There could be a way to overthrow the usurper without starting another war, but only if Ximena turns her back on revenge―and her Condesa.

Carpe Noctem! Seize the Night!

Isabel Ibañez was born in Boca Raton, Florida and is the proud daughter of two Bolivian immigrants. A true word nerd, she received her degree in creative writing and has been a Pitch Wars mentor for three years. he currently lives in Winter Park, Florida with her husband, their adorable dog, and a serious collection of books. Say hi on social media at @IsabelWriter09.

The Queen’s Resistance

If you haven’t read the first in this tapestry of a world, The Queen’s Rising, skip the below and see the summary here.

Brienna is a mistress of knowledge and is beginning to settle into her role as the daughter of the once disgraced lord, Davin MacQuinn. Though she’d just survived a revolution that will return a queen to the throne, she faces yet another challenge: acceptance by the MacQuinns.

But as Queen Isolde Kavanagh’s closest confidant, she’ll have to balance serving her father’s House as well as her country. 

Then there’s Aodhan Morgan, formerly known as Cartier Évariste, who is adjusting to the stark contrast between his pre-rebellion life in Valenia and his current one as lord of a fallen House. As he attempts to restore the Morgane name, he let his mind wander—what if he doesn’t have to raise his House alone? What if Brienna could stand by his side?

But Brienna and Cartier must put their feelings aside, as there are more vital tasks at hand—the Lannons' trial, forging alliances, and ensuring that no one halts the queen’s coronation. Resistance is rumbling among the old regime’s supporters, who are desperate to find a weakness in the rebels’ forces.

And what makes one more vulnerable than love?

Rebecca Ross grew up in Georgia, where she continues to reside with her husband, lively dog and endless piles of books. She received her bachelor's degree in English from UGA and enjoys rainy days, endless cups of coffee and DIY projects.

Register today for this magical event!

Each ticket gets one book for signing, a hot chocolate bar, & delicious biscotti!

The Story Shop Holiday Gift Guide

Keep reading. It's one of the most marvelous adventures anyone can have. -Lloyd Alexander

Struggling to find that perfect gift for your book-loving child, spouse, or friend? Find some of our favorite gifts for fellow bookworms below!

The Obvious

A book they’ll treasure. One of the best gifts for anyone is a book that they will read over & over again or a beautiful edition that’s an old favorite. Not sure what to pick? Ask one of our booksellers. We love helping find a next favorite or beloved title.

Subscription

Never run out of new reading material with a new release sent right to their door every month:

• Gift a monthly subscription for a period of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, or 1 year

• Picture books recommended for ages 1-9

• Middle grade books recommended for ages 8-12

• Subscription will contain 1 recently-released book per month & will include promotional goodies related to that book as available through the publisher

• Shipping included in the subscription cost

• Automatic recurring payments set up upon purchase of a several-month subscription

• Billing will go through on the 10th of each month

• Holiday boxes will ship December 15th!

• Subscribe here

Audiobooks

Get your audiobooks through Libro.fm & support us at the same time!

• Comparable pricing with Audible, but supporting local indie bookstores

• Gift a 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, or 12 month membership

• OR gift a certain title

• Use credits whenever AND purchase extra titles with membership discount

• User friendly app for iPhone or Android

• Listen on multiple devices

• Subscribe here

Bookish Wearables & Accessories

Let them wear their favorite book in the form of a bookish t-shirt or onesie, drink their morning brew with a book-related mug, mark their place with adorable magnetic bookmarks, or read into the wee hours of the morning with a book light.

Continuing the Adventure

Do they love a certain series? Continue the adventure with an activity book or a character plush!

October Ladies' Book Club: The Shadow of the Wind

Join us for the October session of our Ladies Book Club! This month, we will be reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, the next book in the beautiful Penguin Drop Caps series. Here is the publisher's summary: 

Z is for Zafón. Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in what he finds in the “cemetery of lost books,” a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax’s books in existence. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets–an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.

Cost is $25. Included with our price is a copy of the Penguin Drop Caps Collector's Edition of the book, light refreshments, and good conversation. We will meet in our celebration room on Thursday, October 17 at 7:00 p.m. Call or come by to register! (678-635-8801)

September Ladies' Book Club: When You Are Old

Join us for the September session of our Ladies Book Club! This month, we will be reading When You Are Old by William Butler Yeats, the next book in the beautiful Penguin Drop Caps series. Here is the publisher's summary: 

Y is for Yeats. A specially compiled edition for the Penguin Drop Caps series, When You Are Old will include the most accessible, best-known poems by W.B. Yeats from his early years that made the Nobel Prize winning writer and poet popular in his day.  The volume will include all the major love poems written most notably for the brilliant yet elusive Irish revolutionary Maude Gonne. Recalling Yeats’s 1890s fascination in  aestheticism and the arts and crafts movement, selections will draw from the first published versions of poems from works such as Crossways, The Rose, The Wind Among the Reeds, In the Seven Woods, The Green Helmet and Other Poems, Responsibilities, The Wild Swans at Coole, and Michael Robartes and the Dancer. A selection Irish myths and fairytales including “The Wanderings of Oisin,” a Celtic fable and his first major poem, represent his fascination with mysticism, spiritualism and the rich and imaginative heritage of his native land.  

Cost is $25. Included with our price is a copy of the Penguin Drop Caps Collector's Edition of the book, light refreshments, and good conversation. We will meet in our celebration room on Thursday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m. Call or come by to register! (678-635-8801)