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 have FALL on my mind. I am sitting here wearing a warm and cozy sweater. This week I have been soooo busy with holiday prep. The planning for the shop hullabaloo starts in late August and continues until mid-November. It is wild, but I have nearly everything ordered that I want, and almost all of the books and gifting items are in shop. I have worked very tirelessly this year to curate a fun and festive collection.  

Halloween is almost here as I write this, and I am so excited to see all of the littles come in their costumes and make my heart happy. My daughter just wore her costume for her dance class this week and she is soooooooo cute! She wanted to be a shiny fox. I am excited--I think 2 out of my 3 boys will be home for Christmas, and one just called me and told me ALL of the things he wants me to cook for him while he is in town. I will love having them home. If I am off work the few days following Christmas...it is because I am chilling with my kiddos. The team will still be here making the magic happen.  

For those following my crochet journey, I am trying to finish a blanket for Tristan so that I can give it to him when he is here for Christmas. I am also working on a hat for a friend, and a green pumpkin for Janet. I also found a wonderful pattern the other day. This time of year always makes me want to create.

Last month I listened to Mistakes Were Made, by Meryl Wilsner--it was very steamy, maybe too steamy for me. I am down with a little romance, but for a few chapters I was blushing. The story was kind of fun for the most part, but overall not my cup of tea. The characters weren't very relateable. I also listened to Our Missing Hearts, by Celeste Ng, the author of Little Fires Everywhere. This book is really well written, with such a nice tone and timing to it. She is such a thoughtful writer. This book will really open your eyes once again to racism and its effects on families. I was captivated from the first sentence. I also read Solito, by Javier Zamora, one of the poets at the Poetry Festival. This book is his memoir about his family leaving for the US without him, and then his journey to the USA. It is so transparent, and coming of age. There is an honesty and an innocence to this storytelling of his. I also read A Little Bit of Land, by Jessica Gigot. This book is a set of essays recording her story/journey to becoming a sheep farmer in the Skagit Valley. Very fun, and I learned a great deal. My spooky read was The Fear Zone, by K R Alexander, and it is a middle grade read. The characters are in middle school, and it was the perfect amount of creepy and fun. I liked his characters, and I feel like this is a good scary book for 8-11 year olds. The resolve in the book is ultimately when the kids in the story face their fears. I also read a little gifty book called Northwest Know How: Haunts by Bess Lovejoy. This is a PNBA Holiday Catalog title and it covers Washington, and there are PLENTY of nearby haunts, some that I was very familiar with and a couple of new ones. Fun month of reading.

This month I will read The Getaway by Lamar Giles, which is also a PNBA holiday title. Should be scary and creepy. I'm going to read A Girlhood: Letters To My Transgender Daughter, by Carolyn Hays. My book rep, Lise Solomon, said this book was so incredible, and I am looking forward to reading it. I am also going to read Wildoak, by C.C. Harrington, and my Scholastic rep just said that it was such a good book. I have heard from others that it is beautiful. Wildoak is a middle grade read, meaning it is perfect for the 8 to 12-year-olds in your life...or in my case, the grown up looking for an inspiring read. This month I am going to listen to Dinosaurs, by Lydia Millet, who wrote The Children's Bible. I am intrigued by this title. I also hope to have time to listen to When Life Gives You Vampires, by Gloria Duke. It just sounds sassy and fun. 

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

Brandy~

Author Events and Book Signings

We have had SUCH a fun and busy month! 

Nikki McClure was awesome at The Port!

Thank you to everyone who came out and made this event so much fun. 

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Brandy sold books at the Skagit River Poetry Festival all weekend long, and the Girls joined her on Friday night for a poetry reading.

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Stephen Orsini came to the shop to sign copies of his new book, Nightmare on the Scottie--Brandy says it will be a GREAT Christmas gift,

and we have signed copies for sale.

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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.

Mark Your Calendars...

Our Anniversary Celebration Is On its Way!

The shop's 33rd Anniversary Celebration is approaching quickly,

and we are SO excited for everything that we have planned! 

Raffle Baskets!

For the week of Sunday, Nov. 13th-Sunday, Nov. 20th, we will be running our raffle basket special: when you spend $100+, you may enter to win the basket of your choice! Check out our raffle baskets below:

The Well-Read Basket

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The Food-Lover's Basket

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The Outdoorsy Basket

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The Family Fun Basket

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The Kiddo Basket

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20% off Sale

Wednesday ONLY, Nov. 16th, we will offer a special 20% off sale! You must pay using cash or check to take advantage of this sale, and few exclusions apply. 

After-Hours Private Shopping Event

RSVP NOW for our special after-hours event. To celebrate Watermark's 33rd anniversary, we will host seven amazing local authors: Margaret Carpenter Arnett, Helen Furbush, Kathleen Kaska, Rachel Linden, J. Bradley Meagher, Matthew Sullivan, and Jan Wright. You MUST RSVP to attend, and we will have three time slots available at

5:00, 6:00, or 7:00pm. Call the shop at (360) 293-4277, email us at [email protected], or come on in and sign up in person! 

Attendance is limited--RSVP as soon as possible!

Please join us in celebrating the shop we love so much.

We can't wait to see you here!!!

The PNBA Holiday Catalog Is On its Way!

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!

Catalogs will go out in local papers mid-month, we will have copies in the shop,

and you can also view the catalog using this link.

James Patterson Bookstore Bonus...

You know, in case you wanted to nominate one of your favorite booksellers. 😏😏😏

James Patterson is running the Holiday Bookstore Bonus again! A handful of nominated booksellers will receive a reward of $500.

Booksellers can be nominated by following this link. 

'Tis the Season!

Are you ready for the holiday season? We are!

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

Wrappily gift wrap is made with recycled newsprint, and is recycleable and compostable!

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Pick up a box of Christmas cards to let your long-distance loved ones know

that you're thinking of them.

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Get in the Christmas spirit with great holiday reads,

young and grown up and everywhere in between.

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These Christmas Crayon stuffies are unbelievably cute. 

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Get your decoration on with these Paint-your-Own Porcelain Tree Lights!

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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!

Starting mid-November, please bring your new, unwrapped donations--

or make it easy and do a little shopping here and leave them in the donations box!

This Just In

We are filling up for the holiday season! Come check out all kinds of new inventory

and start your  shopping soon--when it's gone, it's gone! 

New Adult Coloring Books!

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Gorgeous new hardcover journals from Bushel and Peck--for every journal sold,

they donate a book to children in need.

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New gifty guides to your Sun Sign.

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New tarot and oracle decks.

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This Just In for Kids

All Kinds of Awesome New Origami and Paper Products!

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Paint By Numbers are a great way to have creative fun.

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Upcoming Events

Friday, November 11th-OPEN

Veteran's Day

We will be open for our regular store hours on Veteran's Day.

Sunday, November 13th-Sunday, November 20th

Store Anniversary Celebration

Celebrate Watermark Book Company's 33rd Anniversary with us! We are planning such a fun celebration, including our annual raffle baskets, which you get to enter into with a purchase of $100 or more. On Wednesday, Nov. 16th, we'll run our 20% off with cash or check sale! We will also have an RSVP-Only Private Shopping After-Hours Event on Friday, November 18th, featuring several local authors--see below for more information on this event! This is a great opportunity for unique holiday shopping while supporting and celebrating your favorite local bookshop. 

Wednesday, November 16th

20% off Sale!

As part of our anniversary celebration week, Wednesday will be a SALE day! Take 20% off your purchase when you pay using cash or check. Few exclusions apply. 

Friday, November 18th--5pm, 6pm, or 7pm

RSVP-Only After-Hours Event

RSVP NOW for our special after-hours event. To celebrate Watermark's 33rd anniversary, we will host seven amazing local authors: Margaret Carpenter Arnett, Helen Furbush, Kathleen Kaska, Rachel Linden, J. Bradley Meagher, Matthew Sullivan, and Jan Wright. You MUST RSVP to attend, and we will have three time slots available at

5:00, 6:00, or 7:00pm. Call the shop at (360) 293-4277, email us at [email protected], or come on in and sign up in person! 

Attendance is limited--RSVP as soon as possible!

Thursday, November 24th--CLOSED

Thanksgiving

We will be CLOSED for Thanksgiving. Have a safe and happy holiday! 

Friday, November 25th and Saturday November 26th

Black Friday &

Small Business Saturday 

Shop local this holiday season! To help kickstart your holiday shopping, we're running our annual Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sale: 20% off your purchase when you pay with cash or check!

Take advantage of this sale--it's a GREAT time to do your holiday shopping!

Local author Ashley E. Sweeney will be here with copies of her new book, Hardland!

We will also have her other books, Eliza Waite and Answer Creek.

Come celebrate your local businesses AND local authors this Small Business Saturday!

December

Friday, December 2nd--7:15pm

Art Walk Story Tim

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! 

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!

Sign Up for Our Book Club!

It's time to sign up for The Watermark Book Club! Book club meets on the first Thursday of every month. We will begin in December 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!