This workshop welcomes writers at all stages in their craft and even those who seek to begin their creative journeys. The goal of this group is to foster a nurturing community of individuals who wish to share their stories with others, receive feedback, and even find a little inspiration. This workshop will be like a slow burn, as we wish to build trust amongst everyone before we dive into workshops. Our host will offer activities, prompts, and writing expertise along the way. We are so excited to help you create and hear your stories!

If you would like to participate, you can sign up here.

Here’s what to expect for Week 2:

We’ll be reviewing the results of last week’s assignments, diving into group discussion about favorite/loathed tropes in fiction and nonfiction, and then break-out sessions delving into these issues in greater detail and writing toward addressing the points arising from the conversations.

We are thrilled to welcome Hallam George back to Skylark to play an intimate set of original songs with his band. If you want to check out his latest album, you can do that here. (You should, by the way. It’s fabulous.)

Hailing from the Midwest but currently based in Tuscaloosa, AL, Hallam George and his band the Hallelujah Chorus bring forth a delicate yet infectious blend of folk, funk, and psychedelia. Hallam writes, arranges and produces for his band as well as singing, playing guitar, tenor and alto saxophones, and piano. Having graduated from Berklee College of Music with a bachelors degree in Songwriting and a second degree in Contemporary Writing and Production, Hallam has been on two national tours as a guitarist and vocalist with rock and funk bands, and has worked as an engineer, producer, and writer with various upcoming singers, bands, and rappers.

Join us for a super special storytime event with the wonderful Saralinda on July 5th at 11:00 to kick off our Kid Summer Series! Saralinda will read books out loud to children and their accompanying adults and then we will follow up with coloring activities related to the books (or, honestly, unrelated—sometimes crayons and paper inspire greater artistic creation). We hope to see you there!

Our latest installment of Skylark’s Summer Series is presented in collaboration with our neighbors at 573tees. From 2 to 5:30pm on Thursday, July 3rd, we’ll be hosting a trucker hat bar. 

What is a trucker hat bar? You mean you don’t know?

Well.

You will be able to design your own hat with the help of 573tees. This is not a ticketed event and you are free to come anytime between 2 and 5:30pm. You will pay for your hat as you go! 

It’s finally here - the Skylark Creative Block Workshop!

This workshop welcomes writers at all stages in their craft and even those who seek to begin their creative journeys. The goal of this group is to foster a nurturing community of individuals who wish to share their stories with others, receive feedback, and even find a little inspiration. This workshop will be like a slow burn, as we wish to build trust amongst everyone before we dive into workshops. Our host will offer activities, prompts, and writing expertise along the way. We are so excited to help you create and hear your stories!

If you would like to participate, you can sign up here.

Here’s what to expect for Week 1:

Our inaugural meeting will be a fun, get-to-you session, with introductions, games, activities, and writing prompts. We know that sharing creative work can be difficult, and we’ll be creating a supportive environment and developing trust. We’ll be working to get your creative juices flowing and build motivation for what lies ahead! Bring something to write with - we’ll provide paper, but if you prefer to use a journal, you totally should. (We sell some really nice ones!)

Our latest installment of Skylark’s Summer Series is presented in collaboration with our friends at Blooms and Wishes. From 6 to 8 on Friday, June 27, we’ll be presenting a flower bar in the shop.

What’s a flower bar? It’s an informal evening where you can arrange your own bouquet and chat about flower-related books. This won’t be a formal flower-arranging class, so will be very relaxed! Attendance is free, but if you make an arrangement to take home, you’ll pay for the flowers you use!

Fredrik Backman (author of A Man Called Ove and many other wonderful novels) has been a perennial favorite at Skylark since we opened, and we’re excited to feature his newest book, My Friends, as our chosen title for June’s Skylarking Bookclub. If you’ve ever enjoyed a Backman novel before, you’ll know that there will be plenty of good stuff to talk about!

As always, the discussion begins at 6:30 p.m. upstairs at the shop. Attendance is always free, but we do ask that you purchase your copy of the book from us!

My Friends is an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life twenty-five years later.

Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise, and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier, telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be placed into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more nervous she becomes about what she’ll find. Louisa is proof that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship and art.

Our Skylarkians are a crafty bunch. Not only do we sell books, we make things!

This week’s event in the Skylark Summer Series - designed to give everyone a break from All That Is Going On - is an evening of relaxing crafting. Come and join Sophia, who will show you how to crochet your very own cozy book sleeve (see below)! Bring one full ball of yarn and hook! Session is free!

On June 19 we are thrilled to welcome Rita Omokha to Skylark to discuss her critically important book, Resist: How a Century of Young Black Activists Shaped America. This is going to be a really extraordinary and important talk and we urge you to mark your calendars now!

What do the struggles of the past teach us about the urgent challenges in our own time? Resist chronicles the inspiring story of young Black activists who have fought tirelessly at the helm for justice over the last century, from the 1920s to the Trayvon generation—how they reshaped America, left an indelible mark on history, and pave the way for the crucial work that must be done today.

In Resist, Rita Omokha charts the last century of civil rights activism, from the early years of renowned activist Ella Baker and others she inspired, to the first glimpse of allyship in the Bates Seven and a renewed examination of the Black Panther Party, all the way to the current generation of young Black revolutionaries who walked American cities in the wake of the murders of countless Black people. Rita also draws on her own experiences as a Black immigrant living in America, offering a unique and insightful perspective on this ongoing struggle for justice.

Rendered with empathy and care, Resist ties these pivotal stories together—and so many more that are lesser known—into an essential and gripping narrative of resilience and unity, and how young Black activists redefined American history.

Rita Omokha is an award-winning Nigerian American journalist. Her research, writing, and commentary have been featured in several publications and outlets, including CNN, Cosmopolitan, The Daily Beast, Elle, Glamour, The Guardian, MSNBC, New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, The Washington Post, and WIRED. She’s an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, where she graduated at the top of the 2020 class, receiving some of the institution’s highest awards, including the Pulitzer Prize Traveling Fellowship. She lives in Manhattan.

All right. We did the midnight release party, we celebrated in the streets, we did all the things. Now the rubber hits the road: is EmHen’s latest all that we’d hoped for? Come and dish the dirt and share your opinions! The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18!

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century.

When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.

One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.

Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.

Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.

But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.

And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad . . . depending on who’s telling it.

We know that the world doesn't feel as kind or as easy or as safe as it should, and so we've decided to design a series of events to help. This summer, we're offering an escape series. For each week of the series we will host an evening event and a table activity. There will be quite a variety to select from and we hope you find some comfort here.

Starting on June 9th there will be a free Create Your Own Book Bingo station for the entire week. Bring your buddies and team up to create a group challenge, or come on your own to set some personal goals!

On Thursday the 12th, join us after hours for a Silent Book Club. From 6 to 7:30 scatter around the shop and get lost in the sound of turning pages. Bring your own book or buy a new one when you arrive! We don't have a plethora of cozy chairs, so please consider biringing your own pillows and blankets to make your own cozy nests. Both of the activites will be free on this first week! Note: This series is meant for grown-ups. Stay tuned for the Kiddo Series coming in July!

Join us for June’s TOOBB when we will be discussing The Incandescent - Naomi Novik's Scholomance series meets Plain Bad Heroines in this sapphic dark academia fantasy by instant national and international bestselling author Emily Tesh, winner of the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards.

Doctor Walden is the Director of Magic at Chetwood School and one of the most powerful magicians in England. Her days consist of meetings, teaching A-Level Invocation to four talented, chaotic sixth formers, more meetings, and securing the school's boundaries from demonic incursions.

Walden is good at her job—no, Walden is great at her job. But demons are masters of manipulation. It’s her responsibility to keep her school with its six hundred students and centuries-old legacy safe. And it’s possible the entity Walden most needs to keep her school safe from—is herself.

We are thrilled to be teaming up with the excellent people at the Tiger Hotel to put on an evening of boozy and bookish fun! Over the course of the evening we’ll be sharing details about all of our regular monthly book clubs, and introducing Creative Block, a unique program designed to spark creativity and literary inspiration. Whether you're an avid reader, aspiring writer, or simply curious, this is a chance to connect with our amazing, vibrant literary community.

Enjoy specially crafted feature cocktails and delicious desserts throughout the evening. There will also be a curated selection of books available for purchase—perfect for adding to your personal library or finding your next great read.

Come for the conversation, stay for the creativity, and leave with a book (or two) in hand!

Tickets for this fun event can be purchased here. Price includes one signature cocktail and one dessert, so (obviously) strictly 21 and over!

Join us on Thursday, May 29 for this month’s Skylarking bookclub, where we’ll be discussing Song So Wild And Blue, Paul Lisicky’s luminous memoir and reflections on the music of legend Joni Mitchell, and how her extraordinary catalogue of songs has influenced his life.

This is a must-read book not just for Mitchell fans, but for lovers of all music. It speaks to the obsession that artistry can provoke in us, and is a beautiful reminder of why and how music still retains the capacity to move us so profoundly. It’s going to be a great discussion!

UPDATE: Exciting news! Paul Lisicky will be joining us via Zoom for this discussion!

May’s New Romantics selection is perennial Skylark favorite Abby Jimenez’s newest, Say You’ll Remember Me. Come and join us at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21. Attendance is free and there’s no need to register - just show up ready to talk! (And laugh.)

There's no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediate yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong . . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake.

But after one incredible and seemingly endless date, Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be. Only no amount of distance or time is enough to forget what's between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life—and even a love—worth remembering.

Join us on Tuesday, May 20 (not the 13th, as previously advertised!) to discuss this month’s title for our brilliant new fantasy book club! Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea is a cozy tale of mishaps and mysteries in the tradition of Skylark favorite, Legends and Lattes. Discussion starts at 6:30! We’d love to see you there!

All Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters… all complemented by love and good company. Thing is, Reyna works as one of the Queen’s private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn’t so easy.

But after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she’s thoroughly done risking her life for a self-centered queen. Meanwhile, Kianthe has been waiting for a chance to flee responsibility–all the better that her girlfriend is on board. Together, they settle in Tawney, a town nestled in the icy tundra near dragon country, and open the shop of their dreams.

In a story brimming with hurt/comfort and quiet fireside conversations, these two women will discover just what they mean to each other… and the world.

We’re very pleased to welcome Dr. Michael Seabaugh to Skylark on Monday (note!) May 19 to discuss his delightful and heartwarming novel, Gwendolyn and Eddie. Set in Missouri, this a surefire winner for bookclubs!

It begins with a monkey. It ends with an inescapable tragedy.

In 1957, Gwendolyn is living the domestic dream as the prized wife of the dashing Dr. Paul Stanley Bollinger, with three beautiful, healthy children and a charming Edwardian home in the historic town of Cape Girardeau.

Enter Eddie, an inebriated monkey brought home as a poker prize by her equally drunk husband. Thus begins Gwendolyn's yearslong struggle to domesticate two unruly fellas. Eddie is a hilarious handful but no match for Paul Stanley and his increasing penchant for bourbon and nurses. Meanwhile, as the predictable 1950s evolve into the increasingly tumultuous '60s and beyond, Gwendolyn finds her conservative beliefs challenged by the realities of racism, homophobia, traditional masculinity, the sexual revolution, and the struggle for women's rights.

For over forty years, a time marked by hilarity, heartbreak, and tragedy, Eddie serves as her clown prince, her unexpected confidant, and when all is said and done, her solace. The story of Gwendolyn and Eddie is ultimately about cages-the ones we are born into, those we construct for ourselves, and the ones we impose on those we love.

Dr. Michael Seabaugh is a clinical psychologist and author who lives in Santa Barbara, California. A Missouri native, he graduated from Mizzou’s School of Journalism before heading west to get an MFA from UCLA’s Film School and eventually a doctorate in Psychology from USC. An abiding interest in the complex stories of human struggle, conflict, and redemption has always guided his professional endeavors. After years of listening to these stories, he now turns to telling them through the artifice of fiction, for as Picasso said: “Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth.”

We’re very excited to welcome author Matthew Goldberg to Skylark on May 15 to introduce his collection of short stories, Night Watch, which recently won the Spokane Prize for Short Fiction. In addition to winning prizes, the collection has been garnering rave reviews from literary luminaries. Take, for example, this from Deesha Phiyaw, author of the 2021 PEN/Faulkner winner, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies: “I couldn’t stop reading.  The stories in Night Watch are as heart-piercing and tender, as they are propulsive and clever. Goldberg’s style and approach to characterization makes me feel like a voyeur…Goldberg’s razor-sharp stories remind me there are extraordinary, sometimes diabolical narratives we don’t see, hidden in the ordinary.”

Mathew Goldberg received his MFA from The University of Arkansas and teaches at Missouri University of Science and Technology. His work has been published in The Atlantic, American Short Fiction, and Boulevard, among others. He’s received an Individual Artist Fellowship from the Arkansas Arts Council and a Special Mention for a Pushcart Prize. He lives in Missouri with his wife, their son, and their long-eared dog.

Mathew Goldberg is a dedicated author. He writes short stories and novels while working as a professor at Missouri S&T. His academic experience with a BSE in Electrical and Biomedical engineering from Duke University along with an MFA from the University of Arkansas creates a special perspective and edge in his writing.

We are excited to welcome NPR’s Steve Inskeep to Columbia to discuss his bestselling book, Differ We Must, an engrossing exploration of Abraham Lincoln’s political brilliance. In today’s deeply divided times, this book contains lessons that seem more relevant than ever.

Steve will be speaking at the Missouri Theatre at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 as the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democary’s Distinguished Biennial Lecture. The event is free and open to the public - get your ticket by registering here.

Skylark will be selling pre-signed copies of the book at the event - we look forward to seeing you there! You can order your copy ahead of time by clicking here.

Just in case this year’s Unbound Book Festival didn’t quench your literary thirst, the following Saturday we’ll be participating in the annual party celebrating independent bookstores across the United States - Independent Bookstore Day.

We’ll be announcing details of this book bonanza soon. There’ll be all the usual fun, including exclusive products, giveaways, and a prize drawing for a bumper bag of goodies to be won by one lucky customer. We’re also planning, for the first time, a fun joint endeavor that we’ll be doing with our friends at Columbia’s other indie bookshops! Watch this space!

Join us for April’s Skylarking Bookclub when we will discussing Dream Count, the first novel from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for over ten years. It’s a fantastic book and it will be a fantastic discussion, as always! Attendance is free but we do ask that you purchase your copy of the book from us.

Chiamaka is a Nigerian travel writer living in America. Alone in the midst of the pandemic, she recalls her past lovers and grapples with her choices and regrets. Zikora, her best friend, is a lawyer who has been successful at everything until—betrayed and brokenhearted—she must turn to the person she thought she needed least. Omelogor, Chiamaka’s bold, outspoken cousin, is a financial powerhouse in Nigeria who begins to question how well she knows herself. And Kadiatou, Chiamaka’s housekeeper, is proudly raising her daughter in America—but faces an unthinkable hardship that threatens all she has worked to achieve.

In Dream Count, Adichie trains her fierce eye on these women in a sparkling, transcendent novel that takes up the very nature of love itself. Is true happiness ever attainable or is it just a fleeting state? And how honest must we be with ourselves in order to love, and to be loved? A trenchant reflection on the choices we make and those made for us, on daughters and mothers, on our interconnected world, Dream Count pulses with emotional urgency and poignant, unflinching observations of the human heart, in language that soars with beauty and power. It confirms Adichie’s status as one of the most exciting and dynamic writers on the literary landscape.

April 23 is The Day of Books & Roses! Blooms & Wishes and Skylark are thrilled to partner again to celebrate this unique and special day. All day long, pop by the shop to find Rose and Book pairings, filled with symbolism. Treat yourself (you deserve it) or find the perfect unexpected gift for someone special in your universe! Each pairing will have a description of the rose color meaning and accompanying book.

Come and join us for April’s New Romantics Book Club, where we’ll be discussing Shoot Your Shot, by the excellently-named Lexi LaFleur Brown. Rachel Reid calls it: “A hilarious, sexy debut from an author who truly knows her hockey.”

Jaylen "JJ" Jones's hockey career is over. After not securing an NHL contract with the Seattle Rainiers, Jaylen decides to bid the city farewell with a final night of fun, blowing off steam with an anonymous one night stand. But when a last-minute roster spot opens up on the Rainiers, he connects his luck to the girl he spent the night with. Superstitious Jaylen is desperate to keep her around--his career depends on it.

Aspiring tattoo artist Lucy Ross isn't so sure about the proposition to remain Jaylen's lucky charm--she's been called a lot of things in her life, but good luck has never been one of them. But stuck in a career slump, Lucy has everything to gain. Hoping for an apprenticeship hasn't offered much stability, and Jaylen is willing to pay any price to get Lucy to agree...so maybe sending him a routine text message before each game won't be too hard.

What starts as an agreement to trade favors--a good luck text in exchange for tattooing practice for Lucy's portfolio--quickly turns into sizzling chemistry that's too delicious to deny. But Lucy's been in too many situationships to even think about getting attached again, and Jaylen is clearly only with Lucy as long as it's helping his gameplay...

Neither of them expecting getting lucky could be so complicated.

Come and join us for the second gathering of our new Fantasy/Romantasy book club, THE ORDER OF BOOKS AND BANTER, where we’ll be discussing D.L. Taylor’s new romantasy novel, The Beasts We Bury. The discussion starts at 6:30 p.m., and it’s completely free to attend - although we do ask that you purchase your copy of the book from us.

In this electric enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy, the heir to the throne falls for a thief who plans to manipulate her into helping him steal from her father in an act of revenge. Perfect for fans of Adrienne Young, Brigid Kemmerer, and Tricia Levenseller.

Will he steal her heart or her chance at the throne?

Daughter and heir to the throne, Mancella Cliff yearns for a life without bloodshed. But as a child, she emerged from the Broken Citadel with the power to summon animals—only after killing them first. Her magic is a constant reminder of the horrors her father, the ruler of the realm, has forced upon her to strengthen their power.

Silver is a charming thief struggling to survive in a world torn apart by Mancella’s father’s reign. When a mysterious benefactor recruits him for the heist of a lifetime, a chance to rob the castle, Silver relishes the opportunity for a real future—and revenge. But he'll have to manipulate Mance and earn her trust to pull it off.

As the deception and carnage mount, Mance must find a way to save her realm without becoming the ruthless monster she's been bred to be. And when Silver discovers that his actions are fueling the violence that Mance wants to prevent, he'll have to choose between his ambition and the girl he’s falling for.

Many Skylark regulars will already be familiar with the award-winning food writing of one of Columbia’s finest, Nina Mukerjee Furstenau, and we’re thrilled to welcome Nina back to Skylark to celebrate the launch of her newest book, The Pocket Rhubarb Cookbook, a handy little cookbook that puts the humble rhubarb in the spotlight. 

There’s more to rhubarb than you thought. The distinctive plant was initially used as an herbal medicine, and it eventually became a favorite baking ingredient and was known stateside as the “pie plant.” Today, it’s considered a superfood thanks to its high levels of vitamin C and K and fiber. 

In over sixty recipes, Nina takes readers on a journey through the extensive applications of the tart red stalk. From classics desserts like strawberry-rhubarb pie to savory main dishes, plus preserves, relishes, and even drinks, the best-dressed member of your garden shines in ways you never would have dreamed of. 

Nina Mukerjee Furstenau is a food journalist and writer with interest in food, identity, and culture. She has written five books, including her memoir, Biting Through the Skin: An Indian Kitchen in America's Heartland, which won the MFK Fisher Book Award, among other accolades. In addition to the books Green Chili & Other Impostors, Food & Culture, Tasty! Mozambique, and Savor Missouri, her podcast, Canned Peaches, is available through NPR. She also writes stories and essays for magazines and current media.

For March’s Skylarking Bookclub, we will be reading Pachinko by the keynote speaker at this year’s Unbound Book Festival, Min Jin Lee. Come and share your views of this stunning novel ahead of Min’s appearance at Jesse Auditorium on April 18!

Min Jin Lee is a writer whose award-winning fiction explores the intersection of race, ethnicity, immigration, class, religion, gender, and identity of a diasporic people. Pachinko, her second novel, is an epic story which follows a Korean family who migrates to Japan; it is the first novel written for an adult, English-speaking audience about the Korean-Japanese people. Pachinko was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, runner-up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, winner of the Medici Book Club Prize, and a New York Times 10 Best Books of 2017. A New York Times Bestseller, the novel was also a Top 10 Books of the Year for the BBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the New York Public Library. It was a selection for “Now Read This,” the joint book club of PBS NewsHour and The New York Times. It was on over 75 best books of the year lists, including NPR, PBS, and CNN. Pachinko has been translated into over 35 languages and is an international bestseller. President Barack Obama selected it for his recommended reading list, calling it, “a powerful story about resilience and compassion.” In 2024 Pachinko was named one of the New York Times Book Review’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. 

Fancy a “riotously fun debut romance?” Yep, us too. That’s why we’ll be reading Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen for this month’s New Romantics Book Club!

Ada’s little sister is getting married. Which should be a happy thought, right? But the once close sisters have been in a year long fight, the wedding is all the way in Ireland, and Ada is so broke that she just barely managed to get a ticket on a budget airline. And as if things couldn’t get worse, said airline just cancelled her connection. Which means Ada is stuck in London with no way to make it to the wedding.

Surely she’s hit rock bottom?

So, there’s no reason for her not to spill her heart out about the over-the-top wedding, her sister’s worryingly quick engagement, and the womanizing best man she’s dreading meeting to a handsome also-stranded stranger at the bar. Until she realizes the stranger is headed to the same wedding. Oh, and he’s the infamous best man.

Now, Jack and Ada must put their simmering attraction behind them to make it to Belfast before they miss the nuptials. But between flat tires, missed trains, and suspect hostels, Jack and Ada start to question whether their feelings are worth going the distance, or just a distracting detour along the way.

We are thrilled to welcome long-time Friend of Skylark Gabriel Fried to the shop on Tuesday, March 18, to celebrate the launch of his beautiful third poetry collection, No Small Thing.

The collection is already getting some stellar raves. Consider this from poet Paula Bohince: “A preternatural intelligence infuses No Small Thing as Gabriel Fried climbs and descends childhood’s lattices of fear, wonderment, and becoming. These quietly profound, radiant poems crystalize those sensations with a playfulness and technical brilliance that feel like a kind of faith. They glimmer and refract into parenthood, an age with its own questions and awes… A superb collection.”

Gabe will be joined by A. Kendra Greene, who will be reading from her stunning new collection of essays from Tin House books, No Less Strange or Wonderful.

It’s going to be a night to remember!

Gabriel Fried is the author of three collections of poetry, Making the New Lamb Take, The Children Are Reading, and No Small Thing. He is also the editor of an anthology, Heart of the Order: Baseball Poems.  He lives in Columbia, where he is Associate Professor and Director of Creative Writing at the University of Missouri.

A. Kendra Greene is a writer and book artist. She is the author and illustrator most recently of No Less Strange or Wonderful: Essays (Tin House) and  The Museum of Whales You Will Never See. Her work has come into being with fellowships from Fulbright, MacDowell, Yaddo, Dobie Paisano, and the Library Innovation Lab at Harvard.