Watermark Book Company
612 Commercial Avenue, Anacortes WA 98221
Phone 360-293-4277
watermarkbookcompany@gmail.com
Open Monday-Saturday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sunday 11 am - 4 pm


Welcome to your monthly update from

Watermark Book Company!

Below, you'll find what's new in the store, upcoming events,

book reviews, and more!

Hello to all of my happy readers!!!


I am here! Phew, this last month was a wild ride. So many hours worked and so many happy faces to see and fun hugs to give and receive. Our store Anniversary was such a fun event. It was not as well attended as I would have liked, but I was so very happy watching the shopping that happened and the conversations and connections that took place. I felt like there was magic in the air.


This month is THE MONTH... for obvious reasons 😁. Please come out and support us and shop local. We have an author in-shop at the end of the month and a couple of story times...We are trying to do so many fun things, and also to be responsible members of our community. I love this time of year. I really like taking my personal dollars and spreading them around town.


Little bit of info: I think I mentioned that I fell at the store about 8 weeks ago. My knee is still giving me troubles, but I am back to dancing and rollerskating. I am just taking it slow. I am in skating lessons with my daughter, and we are genuinely having so much fun. Speaking of my daughter, her birthday is this month. Hers is December 27th, and she is sooooooo excited for all of it, the holidays and her birthday. It is very exciting to watch her feel all of this.


Two out of my three boys are coming home for Christmas, so I think I may personally take the week after Christmas off. The store will still be open and run by the team. I want to soak up my time with my kiddos. I miss them so much...They have all reached out to say what they would like for me to cook while they are home. As far as the crocheted blanket goes, I am four long rows away from being done. I am looking forward to giving it to my kiddo.


This month I listened to Dinosaurs, by Lydia Millet, and I am halfway through listening to Monsters Born and Made, by Tanvi Berwah. Dinosaurs was such a good book, very reminiscent of The Lincoln Highway. The story follows one man in particular, and a family in addition to him. The man is very reflective and good. He makes lots of observations, and I really enjoyed this title. Monsters Born and Made, I am smack dab in the middle of listening to, so I will have a full report next month. So far I am enjoying the story--I do NOT like the narrator of this title. This is a Young Adult title and for the most part it is fun and exciting. It is giving me Hunger Games vibes. More to come on that. At work I am reading A Girlhood: Letters To My Transgender Daughter, by Carolyn Hays. I am also about halfway through this book. I will keep reading and report back next month on this one. I will say that so far I LOVE IT!!! Carolyn Hays is a delightful wordsmith, and already I have parts and sections where I either laughed out loud or shouted "YES! YES! THIS!" So more on that later.


I read The Getaway, by Lamar Giles, and this is a Young Adult title. I really enjoyed this book as well. I really appreciated this title for being a Young Adult title but not being afraid to be sophisticated. The characters were fun, smart, and they made sense. This book has a creepiness to it. Set in a post-climate-changed world, this special resort (feels like Disney) is a safe place to live for the select few that are there, and a wonderful place to visit for those who are elite and have the money to spend. Secrets come out and the world takes a very cyber-tech turn. There is a great deal of racial injustice represented and I just really appreciate Lamar's writing. I also read the debut novel Wildoak, by C.C. Harrington. This title is a Middle-Grade read--and that means that it is best suited for ages 8 to 12 years. I really thought this book was LOVELY! It reads like a classic, truly. This book follows a young girl, probably middle school age, and she has a stutter. Her father thinks that she needs to be sent away for help with it. She ends up going to stay with her grandfather and his character is awesome. There is a snow leopard involved. My only criticism is that when the author writes from the perspective of the snow leopard, it would have been better if she didn't give names and ideas to a snow leopard that wouldn't know them. I hope that makes sense. I also read Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan. This little book is so FULL of big things. What a gem--it is set in Ireland and follows a family. I think there is a lot to discuss over this book.


This month I will finish listening to Monsters Born and Made, and then I will listen to Now is Not The Time To Panic, by by Kevin Wilson. I am going to read The Tryout: A Graphic Novel by Christina Soontornvat. This is a Middle Grade Read, and I just think it will be interesting, and it is also featured in the holiday catalog. I am going to read Wild Is The Witch, by Rachel Griffin. This is a Young Adult title and it is about witches...I mean, come on! I am going to read The Hollows, by Daniel Church, and I am so excited about this creepy title. I can NOT wait.


Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Please stay safe, happy, and healthy...Happy Reading!!

Brandy~

Author Events and Book Signings

We sold copies for Jennifer Bradbury's author event at the Burlington Public Library!

She is so delightful that we invited her back for our Small Business Saturday author event later in the month!

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The 33rd Anniversary After-Hours Party was so much fun! Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us, customers and authors alike.

We couldn't do this thing without you!

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Small Business Saturday was a blast! Our authors were so much fun.

We still have signed copies of their books in shop--stop in and pick up a copy!

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For information on future events, please take a look at our calendar featured later in this newsletter, or you can check the Events Calendar on our website here.

We have so much fun planned.

Featured Artist: Zach Wight and Post-Art to Anacortes

This is what happens when you send in your Post-Art to Anacortes postcards!

Zach has compiled them into an awesome art piece that we are happy to display here at the shop. This is an ongoing project, so please keep sending in your postcards.

Come on in and take a look at all of the fabulous submissions.

Watch Brandy on The 10 Minute Book Talk!

Once a week, bestselling authors Marie Bostwick, Rachel Linden, and Katherine Reay post a "10 Minute Book Talk" about all things bookish! This week, Brandy was the featured guest, talking about great books for the holiday season! Check out the video here!

The PNBA Holiday Catalog Is Here!

If you haven't started your holiday shopping yet, it's time to start! The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association curates a catalog every year to help you with your gift giving.

We have most of the titles here in the shop!

You can also view the catalog using this link.

Give the Gift of Audiobooks!

We love Libro.fm here at the shop--

we are so grateful for a local and independent audiobook platform.

This year, Libro is making your gift giving easy with giftable credit bundles!

Find more information on gifting credit bundles while supporting your favorite indie bookstore here.

This Just In--Gifting Edition!

Are you ready for the holiday season? We are!

The shop is full of the things you need for a jolly holiday season. 

Entertain your loved ones with a holiday puzzle!

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We have a huge selection of new cookbooks, which make great gifts!

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New Moleskine pens are great gifts for the writer in your life.

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This Just In for Kids

New Minecraft journals

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Super Cool Science Activity Advent Calendars!

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Donate to Toys for Tots 

Our shop is proud to host a drop-off box for Toys for Tots again this year!

We will have our Toys for Tots box here until December 10th--

our good friend John is picking it up on that date, so get your donations in!

New and Noteworthy
New in Hardcover
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New in Paperback
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Upcoming Events

December

Friday, December 2nd--7:15pm

Art Walk Story Time with Brandy

To celebrate December Art Walk, Brandy is going to give a special story time reading after the tree lighting! She will read Joy to the World! Christmas Around the Globe, by

Kate DePalma. Get yourself in the holiday spirits with this delightful story!

We will be open until 8:00 on Art Walk.

Saturday, December 10th at 2:00pm

Story Time with Diane 

Join us at the shop for a special story time! Diane will read aloud from the newest book by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen: The Three Billy Goats Gruff! 

The part of the goats will be played by Brandy.

We have plenty of copies here at the shop--if you love the story,

pick up a copy of your own! 

Sunday, December 18th 

Hanukkah Begins

Happy Hanukkah! 

Tuesday, December 20th--4-6 pm

Author Event with Bruce Rolfe

Local author Bruce Rolfe will be here on Tuesday, December 20th from 4:00-6:00pm!

He is the author of the Chip Hale Handyman Series, which would be a great holiday gift for the mystery readers in your life! Stop in to chat with Bruce

and get copies of your book signed!

Saturday, December 24th

Christmas Eve--OPEN

We will be open our regular hours on Saturday, December 24th for Christmas Eve!

Come celebrate with us!

Sunday, December 25th

Christmas Day--CLOSED

We will be CLOSED Christmas Day. Have a fun and safe holiday!

Saturday, December 31st

New Year's Eve--OPEN

We will be open regular hours for New Year's Eve, and closed on New Year's Day.

Enjoy your holiday!

January 2023

Sunday, January 1st

New Year's Day--CLOSED

We will be closed on Sunday, January 1st for New Years Day--it's our tradition to close and start doing inventory! Happy New Year to all of our happy readers.

Monday, January 16th--Friday, January 20th

CLOSED-Store Vacation!

We will be CLOSED for our annual store vacation

from Monday, January 16th-Friday, January 20th!

We will be checking emails and voicemails upon our return on Saturday, January 21st!

Ask us what we're reading on our vacation!

Sign Up for Our Book Club!

Sign up for the Watermark Book Club!

For this book club season, we will meet on the second Thursday of every month from 6:00-7:00 pm.

We will begin on December 8th with a meet-and-greet, and,

until further notice, we will meet via Zoom. 

Sign up for the Book Club by responding to this email, 

calling 360-293-4277,

or coming into the shop to see us!