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

Hello to all of my happy readers!!!

I sit writing this the day before Thanksgiving, and I am sooooo grateful for this store and my family and my team. These are good days. The busy, busy season has begun. We are feeling everyone's excitement for the holidays. The store is warm (despite the open door) and full of fun, items, and laughter. Thanksgiving is hands down my favorite holiday. I have some of the most splendid memories at this time of year. I love food, and conversation, and a day off. I have such good memories of spending this day with my Grandma and my Great Grandma and the rest of the family, laughing, joking, and eating. I hope that my children grow up to have a lot of the same feelings about this day that I do. I used to love to eat ham on this day...but I am very different now. Now I look forward to the savory vegetables, and of course the stuffing. I also worship the mighty pumpkin pie. So what I guess I am getting at is that I hope you have spent this day safely with the ones you love and the food that makes you have all the feels.

I feel that this is good spot to share that I have been leaving work on time. After this last year and going to the doctor repeatedly for some grief symptoms that my body is going through, I have made an excellent effort to take care of me. It is what the good doctor has, in fact, ordered. So I come in a little earlier and I leave from 4:00 to 4:20 promptly (hahaha). I have some customers tell me that they never see me anymore and that I am never there when they come in. My team is so strong and they also want me to be healthy--so, for now, this is the way it is. What am I doing during my on-time-ish departures, you ask?? My hubby and I have been going for walks every day and it is lovely. We take Janet with us and then we come home and we are using the time to cook together as a family. This has been immensely healing for me. SO...if I miss you, know that I "miss you" but that I will see you next time.

December is a month chock-full of things going on. It means everything to us that you choose to spend your hard-earned dollars here with us. Shipping issues are a REAL problem, shop early and let us help you.

Brandy's Book reads: I tried to listen to Before The Coffee Gets Cold,by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, and I am sorry to say that it was not a book for me. I did not finish it. I just couldn't, and I felt bad because the idea for the story was a good one. This happens, so I moved on.

I read Klara and The Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro, and wow! What a complex and interesting read. The idea is that, in the future, children will have access to AFs (artificial friends), and the story primarily follows one AI in particular, Klara. And though she is not the most advanced or special of models, she has something very special about her. I also appreciate that the book does not wrap up all neat and beautiful, that it ends with you being left with a lot to consider. I also listened to the memoir Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner, and this book was absolutely wonderful. Sad, powerful, and all at once completely breathtaking. Michelle tells the story of her life, growing up as Korean-American and then dealing/struggling with her mother's diagnosis and eventual death. Simply marvelous.

I am now reading Wish You Were Here, by Jodi Picoult, and These Precious Days--a book of essays by Ann Patchett. I will report back next time.

Please stay safe, happiest of Holidays and as always ... Happy Reading!!
Brandy~
Watermark's 32nd Anniversary
Thank you to everyone who helped make this store anniversary such a great one! We had such a great time at our author event! And we had so many participants in our raffle basket entries--we're so excited for all of our winners, and we can't wait for the next raffle. Check out pictures from this event below!!!
The excited winner of our Casual Cook Basket!
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The winner of our Nature Lover Basket!
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Pam won a runner-up prize--a Watermark Book Company tote bag!
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Linda flew all the way from Chicago to come to our event!
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Toys for Tots
We are participating in the Toys for Tots drive here at Watermark! You can drop off toys, books and goodies for children anywhere from babies to teenagers. You are also welcome to purchase anything in-store and drop it in the box! The Toys for Tots box will be here until the end of December. We love being able to participate in this wonderful program.
Shop Local and Shop EARLY
You may be hearing all about product shortages and delays this holiday season. This is a real problem we are experiencing along with all of the other businesses. Right now, your local bookshop is FULL, and we suggest you start your shopping early this year! We are here for you! If you don't see it on our shelves, ask us about it! We can try to order it for you, OR we can make a suggestion or two of items we have in shop. Let us help you with our PNBA catalog (we have almost everything in it in stock right now--but it is going fast!!!), knowledgeable recommendations, huge inventory of gifts and accessories, complimentary gift wrapping, and amazing team full of holiday cheer.
PNBA Catalog
This year's PNBA Holiday Catalog is HERE! If you didn't receive a copy with your newspaper, we have copies here in the shop for you, and you can follow this link to view it online. Between the PNBA and your local book shop, we will help you pick out the best presents for this holiday season.
'Tis the Season
We are READY for this holiday season! Are you? We have books, cards, and activities to get you excited and in the holiday spirit. We have your gifting needs COVERED, from your loved ones' favorite books to fun gifts they didn't even know they needed. Let us help you make this season a great one.
Winter Puzzles
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Holiday Crafting and Activity Books
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Smell like the holidays with our seasonal soap!
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Limited Edition Holiday Chocolates
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Holiday Cards
Winter Solstice Cards
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Hanukkah Cards
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Happy Holidays and Christmas Cards
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Boxed Cards
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This Just In
Book Art Bookmarks are a special and decorative way to keep your place!
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We have new journals from Peter Pauper!
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In this busiest of seasons, take a little time for yourself with these journals and card sets.
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Our favorite Micro-Line pens are FINALLY back! We also have Ink Pad sets and Fine Line Marker sets. These go so fast--get them before they're gone!
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The colder weather makes it perfect for cooking and baking, and we have brand new cookbooks here for you.
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Fun for Kids
Box Sets make a GREAT gift, and we have all of your favorites for younger readers, middle grade readers, and young adults.
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We have new activity sets, including a new sticker activity set, a Christmas-themed Fingerprint Activity, and new Trace Along books. Don't forget Snifty Scented Pens when you're planning for stocking stuffers!
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Check out the latest and greatest Middle Read books!
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New and Noteworthy
New in Hardcover
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New in Paperback
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Upcoming Events
December
Friday, December 24th-Christmas Eve
OPEN
We will be open regular hours on Christmas Eve! Come see us, do your last-minute Christmas shopping, and celebrate with us! We're super festive.
Saturday, December 25th-Christmas Day
CLOSED
Have a safe and happy holiday.
Friday, December 31st-New Year's Eve
OPEN
We are open regular hours this New Year's Eve! Come see us!
January
Saturday, January 1st-New Year's Day
CLOSED
We will be CLOSED for inventory on New Year's Day. The team will be here doing inventory and getting a fresh start to the new year! Have a safe and happy holiday.
Monday, January 10th-Friday, January 14th
Store Vacation! CLOSED
The team is taking a much-needed vacation after the holidays. Ask us what we'll be reading during our time off!
Watermark Book Club
Watermark Book Club is on Zoom! It is a closed book club, and you can let us know if you would like to be added to the waitlist. In the meantime, feel free to read along with us! This month we are discussing The Thirty Names of Night, by Zeyn Joukhadar. Here's what Brandy has to say about the book:
"This book is about a Syrian trans-gender boy who is growing up in New York, and it takes place after his mom passes away. It is very much a coming of age story. His mom was an ornithologist--there are bird references throughout, and they are so beautiful. The main character becomes obsessed with what his mom was researching, and he becomes obsessed with who he is and what to call himself. Then he finds a journal by this person that his mom really studied, and this journal creates another level of awareness. There is so much to unpack--really lovely and magical."