Creekside to host poetry reading to include three award-winning regional poets on Thursday, June 18th at 7:30 in the coffeehouse.

[Skaneateles, NY] Creekside Books & Coffee, an independent bookstore and coffeehouse in Skaneateles, is honored to be hosting local poets Martin Walls, Karen Swenson and Phil Memmer on Thursday, June 18th, 2009 at 7:30 in the coffeehouse.  These award winning poets will be reading from recently published books of poetry and will be available to sign their new releases after the reading. 

“Our poetry readings in the coffeehouse offer an intimate and relaxed setting to enjoy the amazing work of award winning poets from our area,” says Erika Davis, owner of Creekside Books & Coffee.  “And the introduction of Creekside’s new wine and appetizer menu is sure to enhance the experience!”

About the Poets

Martin Walls
A native of Brighton, England, Martin Walls is the author of three books of poems, including most recently The Solvay Process (Tiger Bark Press, 2009). A Witter Bynner Poetry Fellow of the Library of Congress, elected to that position by former Poet Laureate Ted Kooser, Walls’ poems have appeared in FIELD, The Nation, Commonweal, The Gettysburg Review, Beloit Poetry Journal, Five Points, Stone Canoe, and elsewhere. Other poetry awards include a The Nation/”Discovery” award and a Breadloaf Writers’ Conference scholarship. His collaboration with photographer Philip MacCabe can be viewed online at smallhumandetail.com. Walls is also the communications manager of the Syracuse Center of Excellence (syracusecoe.org).

Karen Swenson
Karen Swenson’s five books of poems span a period of 35 years.  Her first book was published by Doubleday when that sort of thing happened.  Her middle books were published by Copper Canyon Press and her most recent by the happily burgeoning new press, Tiger Bark.  The last has been published by THE NEW YORKER, SATURDAY REVIEW and most of the notable literary magazines.  She has taught all over the country as Poet-in-Residence and most recently at Barnard College in New York.

Philip Memmer
Philip Memmer is the author of three books of poems, including his newest release, Lucifer, Hagiography, as well as three chapbooks of poetry. His work has appeared in such journals as Poetry, Poetry Northwest, Tar River Poetry and Epoch, and in several anthologies, including 180 More: Extraordinary Poems for Every Day. He is Associate Editor for Tiger Bark Press, and the founder and director of the Downtown Writer’s Center, the Syracuse affiliate of the YMCA National Writer’s Voice. He lives in the rural village of Deansboro, New York, with his wife and two children.

Creekside Books & Coffee is located at 35 Fennell Street in Skaneateles.  The bookstore is the only retail store in the village selling new hardcover and paperback books as well as toys, gifts, greeting cards and other merchandise. The coffeehouse features the freshest roasted coffee in town, a light fare menu and a pleasant atmosphere to relax and enjoy.

Laura’s List: Books for Women and Creekside Books & Coffee, co-host 2nd annual Summer Book Lover’s Party, Thursday June 25, 2009 at 6:30 pm at Creekside Books & Coffee.

Grab a friend, bring your book club or come solo. Indulge in hot new releases and sizzling summer reads.  If you long for a good read, a great conversation starter, a thought provoking read, or just love the company of friends in an inspirational atmosphere, the Books Lover’s Party is for you!
Join us as we kick off summer reading previews with the founder of a local Breast Cancer organization, Positively Pink Packages and Breast Cancer survivor, Jennifer Tom; author of East Hope, Katharine Davis; creator of Laura’s List: Books for Women, Laura Ponticello, and owner of Creekside Books & Coffee, Erika Davis.  A portion of the evening’s book and wine sales including a raffle prize from Mirbeau Inn & Spa, will help local Skaneateles resident, mother and inspirational speaker, Susan Major, recently diagnosed with breast cancer.   The goal is to raise $1,000, with the clock starting at the Book Lover’s Party and continuing for 24 hours.
Jennifer Tom, of Positively Pink Packages shares, “One of the greatest challenges facing newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients is feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for the many physical and emotional challenges that lie ahead. Positively Pink takes the best information, coping tools and comfort aids and puts them all in one place.  Positively Pink supplies Diagnosis Care Packages and Chemotherapy Care Packages to breast cancer patients across Central New York, free of charge.  For more information about Positively Pink Packages, visit Jennifer Tom’s website .
During the Summer Book Lover’s Party, Jennifer will share her inspiring story. Laura Ponticello, of Laura’s List tells us, “This evening is near and dear to my heart because my Nana Rose, was a breast cancer survivor. This evening is about laughter, amazing conversation, a fabulous captivating summer read, called East Hope, and Sowing Seeds of Hope in our community! I expect standing room only and a lot of women united together creating hope for each other.”
Author, Katharine Davis began writing fiction in 1999.  Capturing Paris (St. Martin’s Press, May 2006) was her first novel.  Recommended in Real Simple Spring Travel 2007, the novel was also included in the New York Times suggestions for fiction set in Paris.  Her second novel, East Hope, was published by New American Library in February 2009.  She is an Associate Editor at The Potomac Review.
Erika L. Davis, owner of Creekside Books & Coffee says, “We hope to see a big crowd come out for our 2nd annual Book Lover’s Party.  Laura and I are excited to be introducing our favorite books for everyone’s summer reading list.  We are also honored to be hosting our guest speakers and humbled by the evening’s cause to help support Susan Major and her family during this difficult time.  Susan is a dynamic, passionate individual and a valued community member.  Through our prayers and efforts, we can be sure that Susan will also be a survivor.”
 
Creekside Books & Coffee is located at 35 Fennell Street in Skaneateles.  The bookstore is the only retail store in the village selling new hardcover and paperback books as well as toys, gifts, greeting cards and other merchandise. The coffeehouse features the freshest roasted coffee in town, a light fare menu and a pleasant atmosphere to relax and enjoy.

Creekside Books & Coffee to host author and field biologist, Maureen Akey for an educational  puppet show about butterfly life, on Thursday, June 11th, 2009 at 7:00 pm

[Skaneateles, NY] Creekside Books & Coffee, an independent bookstore and coffeehouse in Skaneateles, is hosting author and field biologist, Maureen Akey on Thursday, June 11th at 7:00 PM in the bookstore.  Ms. Akey will perform her puppet show about butterflies.  Her puppet show was the catalyst for her new book, The Adventures of Molly the Monarch Butterfly and Friends.  Maureen will al so be available after the puppet show to answer questions and to sign her book for the children.

“We always love hosting events for children, especially fun, educational events that combine entertainment for the whole family,” says Erika Davis of Creekside Books.  “Children are always fascinated by butterfly life and their transformations.  Maureen’s puppet show and her book are wonderful educational tools that encourage this curiosity about the life of a butterfly.”

About the Author and her book, Molly: A Butterfly Story
Maureen Akey is one of eight children who grew up on a farm in Northern New York State, surrounded by her favorite pets, including a guinea pig and several horses.  She spent her summers chasing butterflies and horseback riding in the mountains.  She holds three degrees in the biological sciences and currently teaches biology at a local college in her hometown in Florida.  Her past times include training horses, working as a field biologist most days and rearing butterflies at her farm “Butterfly Showplace”.  Maureen conducts adult seminars on butterfly garden design, butterfly courtship rituals and also presents her children’s puppet shows about butterfly biology at schools, libraries and bookstores.  Maureen’s book, The Adventures of Molly the  Monarch Butterfly and Friends, grew out of her educational/environmental puppet show.  She is currently completing two other books in the Molly the Monarch and Friends book series.

About the Puppet Show
Kids get excited about butterfly biology when they watch Maureen Akey-Myerson and her puppets Molly, Polly and Jean-Claude explain the stages of butterfly life. “Children immediately relate to these lovable characters, and folks of all ages find them appealing,” said Akey-Myerson.  The puppet show is interactive and hands-on. It includes plants and flowers that provide butterfly habitat, and may have butterfly eggs, a pupa (immature butterfly), and live specimens.

“This is a busy time of year for most families.  I hope this event encourages a relaxed yet entertaining ‘family night out’ for many in our community”, says Creekside owner, Erika Davis.

Creekside Books & Coffee is located at 35 Fennell Street in Skaneateles.  The bookstore is the only retail store in the village selling new hardcover and paperback books as well as toys, gifts, greeting cards and other merchandise. The coffeehouse features the freshest roasted coffee in town, a light fare menu and a pleasant atmosphere to relax and enjoy.

 
 Thursday , May 28, 2009 6:30-8 pm
Cooking Class & Demonstration
“Easy Summer Appetizers and Cold Soup”
with local caterer Cheryl McDonald
$25 class fee. Registration is required. Call
Creekside at 685-0379 or stop by the bookstore to sign up!
Also, just confirmed! (please see press release and images attached)
Bestselling, Award Winning Author of the Biscuit and Katy Duck books, Alyssa Satin Capucilli back at Creekside!
Saturday, May 30th, 1 pm
Children’s Author, Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Alyssa will be back at Creekside to delight children of all ages with her wonderful Biscuit (the puppy) and Katy Duck books.  She will be doing a presentation/reading and then will be available to sign books.  Don’t miss this opportunity for your child to meet a famous author!

Creekside Books & Coffee
35 Fennell Street
Skaneateles, NY  13152
315-685-0379
Fax: 315-685-0389
erika@creeksidebooks.com
www.creeksidebooks.com

SPECIAL EVENTS & AUTHORS VISITS

Thursday, May 21st, 2009
Local author, Anthony Gero to introduce his new book, Black Soldiers of New York State.
Anthony Gero, author of the new SUNY Press book Black Soldiers of New York State: A Proud Legacy, will speak about his work and sign copies of the book at Creekside. Gero, a Fellow of the Company of Military Historians, worked for more than ten years on the research for the book, trying to answer the basic question of why these African-Americans would serve a country that denied them the full rights of citizenship. “It is essentially a book about dreams,” said Gero. He also includes this quote from Martin Luther King Jr. in the book, which provides further insight: “If a man hasn’t discovered something he would die for, he isn’t fit to live.”

Creekside Books & Coffee
35 Fennell Street
Skaneateles, NY  13152
315-685-0379
Fax: 315-685-0389
erika@creeksidebooks.com
www.creeksidebooks.com