Blydyn Square Books

Let's Discuss Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
2025-10-23 17:45 - 18:45 (America/New_York) | Online Event
Join the Blydyn Square Book Club as we discuss Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.

Book Launch for A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace
2025-10-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Boonton Coffee Company, 602 Main St, Boonton, NJ, 07005, United States
Join us LIVE to celebrate the release of author Carrie Birde’s debut novel, A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace. Carrie will be on hand to give a reading and sign copies of the book. Hope to see you there!

About the book:
Grace has always been a little bit unusual, but the people in her small town have learned to accept her. Things change when she wakes up one day suddenly able to talk to animals . . . and understand what they’re saying in return.
The townsfolk don’t know how to react. Sure, there are upsides: Farmers can communicate with their livestock. And the local veterinarian has a much better rapport with his “patients.”
But not everyone sees Grace’s new talent as a good thing—including her own parents, who wish everything could just go back to normal.
A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace is a fairy tale for our modern world, asking us to ponder the question: What if those who seem like they might be “witches” are the very same people who can save the world?

Virtual Book Launch for Author Carrie Birde
2025-09-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Online Event
Join us to celebrate the release of author (and ECALL member) Carrie Birde’s debut novel, A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace.
Grace has always been a little bit unusual, but the people in her small town have learned to accept her. Things change when she wakes up one day suddenly able to talk to animals . . . and understand what they’re saying in return.
The townsfolk don’t know how to react. Sure, there are upsides: Farmers can communicate with their livestock. And the local veterinarian has a much better rapport with his “patients.”
But not everyone sees Grace’s new talent as a good thing—including her own parents, who wish everything could just go back to normal.
A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace is a fairy tale for our modern world, asking us to ponder the question: What if those who seem like they might be “witches” are the very same people who can save the world?
Carrie will be with us to talk about the book and take any questions.

Let's Discuss Ironweed
2025-08-14 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
Join the Blydyn Square Book Club as we discuss William Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Ironweed.

Let's Discuss No Two Persons
2025-06-12 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
Join the Blydyn Square Book Club as we discuss Erica Bauermeister’s novel No Two Persons.

Happy Hour
2025-05-15 17:00 - 18:00 | Online Event
Bring the drink of your choice and join us as we chat about books and writing, art, music, theater, or whatever comes up! This event is co-sponsored by nonprofit arts organization ECALL (East Coast Arts & Literature League).

Author Chat with Mike Radice
2025-04-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Online Event
Join us to celebrate the launch of our latest title, Glinda’s Ruby Slippers. Author Mike Radice will take questions from readers and tell us about the origins of the book, a historical novel based on the life of Billie Burke, who starred as Glinda the Good Witch in the iconic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
Here’s a brief summary of the book:
It’s 1939. The set of the soon-to-be-classic film The Wizard of Oz is alive with tension.
The demanding director has an explosive temper that threatens to erupt anytime something goes wrong.
The teenage star has a hauntingly beautiful voice, but her youth and naivete keep causing delays on an already pricey production.
In the midst of it all, aging starlet Billie Burke—wearing her ephemeral “Glinda the Good Witch” gown—watches everything unfold, hoping this movie will rejuvenate her sagging career . . . and perhaps help her hide a few secrets of her own.

Hope to see you there!

Let's Discuss I Who Have Never Known Men
2025-04-17 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
This month, we’re discussing Jacqueline Harpman’s novel I Who Have Never Known Men.

Ask Me Anything with Editor in Chief Tara Tomczyk
2025-03-07 19:00 - 20:00 | Online Event
As we get ready to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Blydyn Square Books, we’re giving readers and writers a unique opportunity to meet (via Zoom) with Tara Tomczyk, our editor in chief and founder, to discuss the publishing industry, writing tips, Blydyn Square’s vision for the future, or whatever comes up!

Let's Discuss The Teacher
2025-02-20 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
This time at Blydyn Square Book Club, we’ll be talking about Freida McFadden’s popular novel The Teacher. Hope to see you there!

Happy Hour
2025-01-16 17:00 - 18:30 | Online Event
Join the authors and staff of Blydyn Square Books and members of the East Coast Arts & Literature League (ECALL) for a virtual happy hour. We’ll talk books, writing, art, creativity . . . or whatever comes up! Hope to see you there!

2024 Reading Challenge
2024-12-31 17:00 - 23:59 | Online Event
Read 24 books for 2024! Use our list below as a suggestion or just read ANY 24 books and you’ll be eligible to win our annual prize. (We’ll give you credit for completing the challenge as long as you read at least 10 books!)
Just post your list of books here, on our Facebook page, or email us before midnight on December 31, 2024, and you’ll be entered into the drawing. Happy reading!

Let's Discuss Ask Again, Yes
2024-12-05 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
Join the Blydyn Square Book Club as we discuss Mary Beth Keane’s novel Ask Again, Yes.

Book Launch for Jack the Pit Bull
2024-11-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Online Event
Join us and author Taylor Evans for a virtual launch party celebrating the release of Jack the Pit Bull, our very first children’s picture book!

Happy Hour
2024-11-07 17:00 - 18:00 | Online Event
Join us for Happy Hour (virtually, on Zoom)! We’ll talk about books, writing, working with a small press, or whatever comes up. This event is cohosted by our sister organization, the nonprofit East Coast Arts & Literature League.

Let's Discuss The Razor's Edge
2024-10-03 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
Join the Blydyn Square Book Club to talk about Somerset Maugham’s novel The Razor’s Edge.

Let's Read The Latecomer
2024-08-15 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
Join the Blydyn Square Book Club to discuss The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz.

The Long Walk Home Fitness Challenge
2024-06-15 09:00 - 23:00 | Lakeside School, 111 Chestnut Ln, North Wales, PA 19454, 111 Chestnut Ln, North Wales, PA, 19454, United States
PLEASE NOTE: This event is being rescheduled. Instead of having a kickoff event on June 15 (which has proven to be a difficult date for most attendees, thanks to graduation/Father’s Day events), we’ll be hosting a closing event in September (official date to be announced). The Fitness Challenge will still go on throughout the summer, though, so please see the details below or on our announcements page.

See you soon!

In his debut memoir The Long Walk Home: How I Lost My Job as a Corporate Remora Fish and Rediscovered My Life’s Purpose, author James Brian Kerr tells the story of how he reacted to the news that he was about to lose his job of almost 30 years by walking home . . . 22 miles.

What started off as just a walk home from the office became a meditation and a transformative journey to self-discovery and a whole new life.

We challenge you to follow in Kerr’s footsteps and take your own “Long Walk Home.” It’s your chance to take a break from the “hamster-wheel” existence that so often rules our lives and get out for a meditative walk while raising money for charity: the Lakeside School in North Wales, Pennsylvania!

Although this will be an ongoing challenge you can do anytime (more details to come!), we hope you’ll join us for the kickoff event at the Lakeside School!

Let's Discuss The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
2024-06-06 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
Join the Blydyn Square Book Club as we discuss James McBride’s The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.

Let's Discuss Remarkably Bright Creatures
2024-04-11 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
Join us to discuss Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures.

Happy Hour
2024-03-07 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-01-11 17:00 - 18:00 | Online Event
Join Blydyn Square Books and the East Coast Arts and Literature League as we discuss books, art, music, or whatever comes up!

Let's Discuss The Midnight Library
2024-02-15 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
Join us to discuss Matt Haig’s novel The Midnight Library.

2023 Reading Challenge
2023-12-31 | Online Event
Read 23 books for 2023! Use our list below as a suggestion or just read ANY 23 books and you’ll be eligible to win our annual prize. Just post your list of books here, on our Facebook page, or email us before midnight on December 31, 2023, and you’ll be entered into the drawing. Happy reading!

2023-12-07 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
Join the Blydyn Square Book Club as we discuss the novel The Vanishing Half.

Let's Discuss Cloud Cuckoo Land
2023-10-19 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
Join us to discuss Anthony Doerr’s novel Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Celebrate Thirty-three Cecils Day!
2023-09-01 19:00 - 21:00 | The Belmar Pub and Grill, 95 Main St Binghamton, New York 13905, 95 Main St, Binghamton, NY, 13905, United States
Join us for the first annual celebration of Thirty-three Cecils Day on September 1, the date in the award-winning novel when the two main characters, Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher, were murdered. We’ll be meeting at Binghamton’s famous Belmar Pub (Dutch’s favorite spot in the novel) to enjoy refreshments, some book chat, and an appearance by the author himself, Everett De Morier. Hope to see you there!

Let's Discuss Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes
2023-08-24 17:45 - 18:45 | Online Event
Join the Blydyn Square Book Club as we discuss Kathleen West’s novel Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes. Hope to see you there!

Happy Hour
2023-07-13 17:00 - 18:00 | Online Event
Join the staff, authors, and readers of Blydyn Square Books for our bimonthly Happy Hour. We’ll chat about books and writing, getting published, and whatever else comes up. Hope to see you there!

Illustration Contest
2023-07-01 12:00 - 23:59 | Online Event
Blydyn Square Books is looking for an illustrator to create the drawings for an upcoming children’s book (early reader, approximately ages 5 to 9) we’re developing.
No experience required. The contest is open to all artists, whether they’re professionals, amateurs, or students.

How It Works:
Read the text below, which is an unedited portion of the book we’re hoping to have illustrated. Using the excerpt, come up with your best artistic interpretation in an illustration to accompany the text.
We’ll consider art in any medium. Please submit at least one image, but no more than five. All artwork should be entirely done by hand. Although we may allow the chosen illustrator to utilize computer enhancements for the final product, for this contest, we need to see your actual, all-human artistic skill. 🙂
Submit your illustration(s) by email to info@blydynsquarebooks.com no later than July 1, 2023. We’ll announce the winner on our website and social media on July 20, 2023.
The winner will receive a contract to illustrate the complete book and a cash prize.

Excerpt:
A long time ago there was a village called Wensley, which, as you know, is the town where all the liverwurst in the entire world is made. In fact, most of the people who lived in Wensley made liverwurst. Oh sure, there was a baker, a tailor, a shoemaker, a blacksmith, and a bookstore, but everything else had to do with the production of, the sale of, or the shipment and packaging of liverwurst.
Now, Wensley was a very old town and the people there had been making liverwurst for a very long time. Most of the liverwurst makers in Wensley remembered their parents making liverwurst and their parents before them making it. It was assumed that when a young person reached a certain age, he or she would go to one of the factories and start making liverwurst. Because, after all, why would anyone want to do anything else?
And because Wensley was a very old town and because the people did things pretty much the same way day after day and year after year, there were very few things that were different in Wensley from one day to the next. A Tuesday in June was pretty much the same as a Tuesday in October—or a Thursday or a Saturday, for that matter. Things remained the same and there were very few surprises.
In fact, most of the people of Wensley had never even heard of that word: surprise. If you were to ask someone on the street what that word meant, most would not know or understand it, even if you explained it to them. Why would something different happen, or why would you even want it to?
One day, a stranger came to Wensley. He was a short, fat man with a yellow hat. The short, fat man went to the bakery to get a loaf of bread because he was passing through town and was getting hungry. The man who owned the bakery didn’t see very many strangers, so he asked the unknown man his name.
“Cecil,” the man said. And he paid for his bread and left.
Cecil? That’s a funny name, the baker thought, because the baker had never met anyone named Cecil before and he thought it was very odd to do something you’ve never done before.
