News

Country Bookshelf and Books in Common NW is so excited to spend our lunch hour with New York Times bestselling author John Grisham discussing his newest legal thriller A Time For Mercy. Jake Brigance is back! The hero of A Time to Kill, one of the most popular novels of our time, returns in a courtroom drama that showcases #1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham at the height of his storytelling powers.

Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/books-in-common-nw-john-grisham-tickets-125213241175 to register today, and add a copy of A TIME FOR MERCY when you do! We have signed copies available so be sure to purchase your copy while supplies last!

Dear Country Bookshelf Readers,

Thank you for your continued support through this chaotic year. 2020 has been unprecedented in many ways, including this note about the holidays -- which may seem out of season but stick with us. In short, we are highly encouraging folks to shop early for holiday gifts. 

We’ve never been one to rush the holiday season, but 3 primary factors this year have coalesced to make this necessary.

Printing issues

Shipping issues

COVID safety and capacity issues

When the country shut down back in March, many spring book releases were postponed or canceled because manufacturers, warehouses, and shipping companies had to abide by local lockdown mandates and social distancing guidelines. Those postponed releases are all happening now -- along with those already scheduled for this fall. This has led to paper shortages and backlogs at the two (yes, only two) book printers in the US. 

We expect this year’s hottest titles to sell out FAST. If the publishers run out and can’t reprint, we may not be able to restock. So, if you see something you like, don’t wait, as it might not be available later. This also goes for our nonbook merchandise like puzzles, cards, calendars, and other gift items. Most of those we will not be able to reorder again before the holidays.

Shipping is taking longer than usual -- to us from our suppliers and to you. All the major shipping companies are working extra hard while having an extra heavy load, and this will likely only get worse as the season progresses. 

Country Bookshelf may be large, but we still must limit our capacity for everyone’s safety. Our first priority is people: customers and staff. Shopping early avoids crowds and gives everyone time to select special holiday gifts. We don’t want you to suffer waiting outside in wintry Montana weather. 

So what should you do?

SHOP EARLY: Usually a last-minuter but have specific titles in mind? Shop in October and November for the best selection or to allow time for us to get in your special requests.

PREORDER: If you already know you want new books such as The Promised Land by Barack Obama, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 15: The Deep End by Jeff Kinney, or The Best of Me by David Sedaris, preordering now will guarantee your copy. This also helps us know how many to order and keeps you from being disappointed.

SHOP ONLINE: The safest way to shop is at countrybookshelf.com. Not quite sure what you’re looking for? Call or email and our booksellers will personally shop for you. And yes, we still gift wrap for free. Just leave a note in the comments section. We offer easy in-store pick up, local delivery, and nationwide shipping.

SHIP EARLY: To guarantee delivery in time, we recommend shipping gifts no later than October 25 for Hanukkah and November 15 for Christmas and Kwanzaa.

We are working our hardest to make this a safe, fun, memorable holiday season for everyone. We hope to see you downtown soon!

Be safe and be well, 

Country Bookshelf Staff

Yes! You can place your pre-order now for the just-announced new book by Barack Obama, A Promised Land. 

Prefer digital audiobooks? No problem! Pre-order through Libro.fm and still support Country Bookshelf.

When you pre-order A Promised Land by Barack Obama in print from Country Bookshelf between October 27th and November 3rd, you will get to select one of these audiobooks for free, courtesy of Libro.fm!

Customers will choose from these audiobooks:

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
Thanks, Obama by David Litt

Just email hello@libro.fm with the receipt* from Country Bookshelf (a picture of the physical receipt or a forward of the email purchase confirmation), along with the title of the free audiobook you'd like from the three choices above, and we’ll send them an email by 11/5 with a link to redeem their free audiobook.

Join Senator Jon Tester for a virtual discussion of his new book Grounded: A Senator's Lessons on Winning Back Rural America. An inspiring and eye-opening memoir showing how Democrats can reconnect with rural and red-state voters, from Montana’s three-term democratic senator.

Buy Tickets Your ticket includes a copy of Grounded  with signed book plate, and a unique link to join this virtual conversation.

Senator Jon Tester is a rare voice in Congress. He is the only United States senator who manages a full-time job outside of the Senate—as a farmer. But what has really come to distinguish Tester in the Senate is his commitment to accountability, his ability to stand up to Donald Trump, and his success in, time and again, winning red state voters back to the Democratic Party.

In Grounded, Tester shares his early life, his rise in the Democratic party, his vision for helping rural America, and his strategies for reaching red state voters. Leaning deeply into lessons on the value of authenticity and hard work that he learned growing up on his family’s 1,800-acre farm near the small town of Big Sandy, Montana—the same farm he continues to work today with his wife, Sharla—Tester has made his political career a testament to crossing the divides of class and geography. The media and Democrats too often discount rural people as Trump supporters; Tester knows better. His voice is vital to the public discourse as we seek to understand the issues that are important to rural and working-class America in not just the 2020 election but also for years to come.

A heartfelt and inspiring memoir from a courageous voice, Grounded shows us that the biggest threat to our democracy isn’t a president who has no moral compass. It’s politicians who don’t understand the value of accountability and hard work. Tester demonstrates that if American democracy is to survive, we must put our trust in the values that keep us grounded.

Buy Tickets

Tester will be joined in conversation by author Sarah Vowell.

Sarah Vowell is the New York Times’ bestselling author of seven nonfiction books on American history and culture. Her most recent book is entitled Lafayette in the Somewhat United States.

We’ve partnered with some of our indie bookstore friends - Paulina Springs Books in Sisters, Oregon and Madison Books in Seattle, Washington - to offer Books in Common NW: A Regional Literary Event Series. From literary fiction to mystery and fantasy, from nature writing to memoir and history and all the spaces in between, we’re packing the calendar with authors to inform and delight. You'll find interesting authors, engaging discussion, and maybe even your next great read. Enjoy world-class authors brought to your living room each Thursday, all while staying safely socially distant and supporting your favorite local bookstore!

We kicked things off on Thursday, July 7th with mystery mavens Elizabeth George and Iona Whishaw. If you missed it, you can still watch it here: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/vkitbcc8. Don’t forget to grab copies of their books while you’re here.

And there’s even more where that came from with a great lineup for July, August - AND September! When you attend live you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions of the authors, and interact with other attendees in the live chat. If you can't make it in real time, still sign up for the event to get the link to watch later. 

7/9/20 - Phillip Margolin
7/16/20- Kendra Atleework
7/23/20 - Erica C Barnett and David Schmader in conversation
7/30/20 - Steve Olson and Sharma Shields in conversation
8/6/20 - Larry Watson
8/13/20 - Sarah Smith and Bookstore Romance Day
8/20/20 - Catherynne M Valente and Jeff VanderMeer in conversation
8/25/20 - Keith McCafferty and Craig Johnson
8/27/20- Daniel Mathews and Valerie Trouet in conversation
9/1/20 - Vanessa Veselka & Peter Geye
9/3/20 - Jane Kirkpatrick & Greg Nokes
9/8/20 - Geraldine Woods
9/10/20 - Janet Fox & Rosanne Parry in conversation
9/15/20 - Chuck Palahniuk & Grady Hendrix
9/17/20 - Jason Diamond & Andi Zeisler
9/24/20 - Ginger Gaffney and Pam Houston in conversation

And this is just the beginning. We’re adding more authors and dates all the time - so keep watching our calendar for more special virtual events.

Father's Day is coming up quick! Check out these great gift options. 

We have a limited supply of FASTER by Neal Bascomb with signed bookplates. It's a narrative non-fiction history of an American heiress, outcast Jewish driver, and an old, almost bankrupt automobile company who take on Hitler’s Silver Arrow Grand Prix cars at the brink of WWII. 

We also have signed bookplates for SALMON by Mark Kurlansky. It's a tribute to a magnificent species whose cycles of life are entwined with every aspect of nature -- freshwater, saltwater, and land -- and whose survival is inextricably tied to the survival of the planet. A tribute to a magnificent species whose cycles of life are entwined with every aspect of nature -- freshwater, saltwater, and land -- and whose survival is inextricably tied to the survival of the planet. 

Let us know if you would like a signed bookplate verison of the book while completing your purchase. Supplies are limited!

After you've checked out these books, take a look at our selection of Father's Day cards avaliable here. Just tell us the number for card you want, or have a bookseller pick one for you. 

As always, we offer free gift wrapping for all occassions. Give us a call, email, or order online and we will help you out. 

Much love,

Country Bookshelf Staff

Check out this clip from our virtual event with Dr. Gretchen Minton! If you'd like to watch the whole video, click the link below the clip. 

Tracing more than two centuries of history, Shakespeare in Montana uncovers a vast array of different voices that capture the state's love affair with the world's most famous writer. From mountain men, pioneers, and itinerant acting companies in mining camps to women's clubs at the turn of the twentieth century and the contemporary popularity of Shakespeare in the Parks throughout Montana, the book chronicles the stories of residents across this incredible western state who have been attracted to the words and works of Shakespeare. 

powered by Crowdcast

We checked in with local author Russell Rowland about his newest book Cold Country: 

He was kind enough to answer some fan questions for our blog! 

Mike Penfold asks: I love Cold Country. The characters you developed in Cold Country seemed real. Did you have in mind specific people you know as you developed these people? 

Russell Rowland: Thank you, Mike! This book is very loosely based on a period in my life, when I was ten years old and my father took a job managing a ranch near Ranchester, Wyoming. So yes, many of these characters are based on people from that small ranching community. Which is why I moved the story to Paradise Valley and obviously changed the names.

LuAnne Halligan Carbaugh: Do you have different strategies when approaching writing your books? You’ve written both fiction and non-fiction, so I was just wondering if the process was different as you worked through your writing.

RR: Hello LuAnne! Yes, each book does seem to require a slightly different approach. And of course that's especially true in the case of nonfiction vs. fiction. I was kind of surprised when I started writing Fifty-Six Counties, how hard it was for me to stick to facts. It's so much more fun to make shit up. But in the case of my novels, the story really dictates what's different about how I tell the story. In the case of Cold Country, the more times I edited this book (I was working on it for more than 15 years), the more I realized I needed to pull back on the drama. I think the initial tendency in writing a story that has action in it is to go overboard with the action. But understatement has always been way more effective, in my opinion. Plus it's closer to real life. And it's more my style. Great question!

Patricia Calaghan: A reviewer found the opening scene shocking. I found it powerfully real and moving, maybe because I grew up on a farm. Were you surprised at her reaction and have you heard that reaction from others? 

RR: Hey Pat - I'm not sure what review you're referring to, but I suppose it might be shocking to someone who hasn't grown up around that kind of thing. That opening scene is lifted directly from an incident that happened when I was ten, and accompanied my dad as he checked on the pregnant cattle on the ranch where we lived. It obviously made a huge impression on me, and I thought it provided a nice metaphor for much of what happens later in the book.

Sarie Mackay: Why did you write the book, and how does it fit into your growth as an author?

RR: Hey Sarie! Thanks for this excellent question. My main goal with this story was to explore how tragedy impacts a small, tight-knit community. And one of the secondary themes was how pretty much everyone in a community like this ends up feeling like a bit of an outsider, depending on how secure they are in themselves. So you have a couple like Junior and Angie, who are pretty comfortable in their own skin, and are thus less affected by the events around them. But people like Babe and Tom, or even the Logans, because they are fighting with some demons of their own, always feel a little out of step with what's happening around them, no matter how popular they are. The murder is really a secondary event in this story. It's much more about community dynamics. How Cold Country fits into my growth as a writer is harder to answer, but one thing this book allowed me to explore more is branching out into a new narrative approach. I've always stuck pretty closely to one point of view in my novels, but this one demanded more than one narrative POV in order to tell the story. It was harder than I expected to tell a story that way, but once it clicked, it was very satisfying to learn this new approach.

Don’t miss this great small town mystery- be sure to pick up your copy of Cold Country from Country Bookshelf today!

UPDATE: SUNDAY MAY 10TH

Hi New York Times Fans - we just received word that the papers did not arrive today, and so will not be making their way to JOE'S PARKWAY MARKET this afternoon. We are hoping they will make it tomorrow afternoon. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Friday, May 1st, 2020

We have updated the website to reflect what our staff are currently recommending, and added more resources for Kids and YA. First, we added new faces to our staff recommendations. Please give our booksellers Kaycee and Maris a big welcome, and check out what books they loved.

Kaycee just finished reading Barn 8 by Deb Olin Unferth . “Witty, dark, passionate, and absurd. This novel had me suddenly engulfed in a plot to steal thousands of chickens and the perps behind it. It was a sheer joy to read, but I would not recommend it to the faint of heart. I switched to the Libro.FM audiobook about halfway through so I could listen to it on my way to work, and it really made the words come to life.”

Maris picked Falcon Thief by Joshua Hammer. “I am gripped by Joshua Hammer's The Falcon Thief, a new true crime/wildlife adventure book that follows the exploits (both hair-raising and ire-provoking) of a man who stole rare birds and rare bird eggs from the wild to sell on the black market. Along the way, I'm learning about wonderful birds of prey, the history of wildlife crime and the inexplicable fascination some people have with rare eggs.”

We're working on a virtual reading with local author Russell Rowland and his new book Cold Country- submit your questions about Cold Country and his writing here. Get your questions in by Monday, May 4th

Lastly, do you need a card with that? Add Mother’s Day or graduation cards to any book purchase, or individually on their own for $5 each. Click the links to see photos and for more information. More cards coming to our website soon or ask a bookseller to pick something out for you.

Happy Reading,

Country Bookshelf

Monday, April 27, 2020

Dear Country Bookshelf Readers,

Big thanks to all of you for your continued support! Our staff have been working hard filling your orders safely, delivering and shipping them to you. Please keep the orders coming! Just be patient that it takes a bit longer than usual for us to respond, and our suppliers and delivery companies are taking longer to fulfill orders on their ends.

Although we now have permission to be open to the public, we have decided not to open immediately for the continued safety of our staff and our community. Before we can reopen, we will have to make a lot of changes in the store, and these will take time. Watch our email newsletter, website, and social media for updates.

The good news is that we are offering pick up service again! Once you have been notified that your order is ready, and if you have selected the Pick Up option, we will send you a link to sign up for a pick up time slot. We are offering pick up from 12-4pm Monday through Friday and other times by special appointment. Pick up orders will be placed on a table at the front door, labelled with your name. Just open the door and grab your order. We are not open for browsing or in-person transactions at this time. And remember that orders can’t be ready immediately, so please wait to hear from us. We are also still offering local delivery and shipping around the country.

We are also now doing our best to answer the phones between 12pm and 4pm Monday through Friday, and other times as we are able, so please call to have a bookseller personally assist you! Note that we have limited staffing on weekends and are less able to answer the phones these days.

The Sunday New York Times will continue to be available at Joe’s Parkway Market until further notice, though the last two weeks the Saturday evening flight they arrive on from Seattle has been cancelled, and we expect that to continue which means that papers are not available until around 4pm on Sundays. 

Thank you again for keeping us slinging books! Watch for other news coming soon.

Happy reading,

Country Bookshelf