First Friday Artwalk: MOCK TAXIDERMY!

WHAT: First Friday Artwalk opening of MOCK TAXIDERMY: A Curious Collection of Rare Beasts by Elise Smorczewski
WHERE: The Green Hand Bookshop, 661 Congress Street, Portland ME
WHEN: Friday, December 4th, 2015 from 5:00-8:00 (on display through the end of February 2016)
FMI: contact Michelle Souliere at (207)253-6808 or michelle.souliere@gmail.com

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/776602882484844/

Greetings from the Green Hand Bookshop! Please join us for our 2015 holiday First Friday opening.

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MOCK TAXIDERMY: A Curious Collection of Rare Beasts

During December's First Friday Artwalk, disembark at the Green Hand Bookshop to explore a never before seen exhibition of man-made monsters!

Artist Elise Smorczewski is solely responsible for this exhibit's marvelous contents. This menagerie of fanciful creatures was captured and brought back to civilization for your viewing pleasure during one of her many forays into the wild depths of the Land of Imagination.

Viewers may remember Elise's past work with real and imagined animal themes, including her fabulous "Beasts & Botany," "Flights of Fancy," and "Hamsters & Popcorn" shows.

These remarkable creatures will be displayed for only a short time, so don't delay! Since this show coincides with the holidays, we are allowing patrons to take their purchases with them so as not to delay gift-giving abilities.

Viewing hours at the Green Hand (beyond First Friday Artwalk) are the store's usual open hours: Tues-Fri 11:00-6:00, Sat 11:00-7:00, Sun 12:00-5:00 PLUS!!! We will be open on Mondays through December for extra holiday mischief.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Horror section fun for you...!

Happy Halloween everyone! We'll have candy and Halloween tunes all day at the shop for treats, but for those of you who have never explored our horror section, here is a video peek at what we do there. For some of you, this means spooky treats all year! :D Enjoy!!

Photos from Joe Lansdale / Christmas with the Dead screening

Wow! YES!!! It really did happen. Author Joe R. Lansdale and his wife Karen came to Portland, Maine the weekend of September 17-19, 2015. It was their first visit to Maine. We hope they enjoyed themselves! Their visit was sponsored by the Green Hand Bookshop and Coast City Comics, and was the brainchild of Christmas with the Dead star Damian Maffei.

We had a small but enthusiastic turnout for the screening of Christmas with the Dead, in spite of the local press ignoring the event press releases (clearly they don't know how awesome author Joe Lansdale is). The film was produced by the Lansdales, with Damian Maffei starring in the lead role.

The screening at Geno's Rock Club produced a variety of shouts of horror and laughter from the audience, and went over very well. The following Q&A session featured Joe and Damian, who were joined by Maine musician Judy Pancoast (featured heavily on the soundtrack). The Q&A exchange with audience members was lively and we found out the REAL horror of filming in 100+ degree Texas summer weather with zombie makeup, among other things.

Sasha: "The gingerbread war is harsh."

Everyone got zombie Christmas cookies made by local talent Sasha Leppanen, and Max Alex won the costume contest with her over-the-top blood-drenched presence.

The next morning Joe was kind enough to hang out at my shop, making himself available for anyone who missed the event and wanted their books signed, before taking it easy for the rest of his and Karen's last afternoon in Portland. At the end of the day, we handed the Lansdales off to their daughter, musician Kasey Lansdale, who lives not far down the east coast.

For those of you who missed the event, limited edition screenprinted posters are available at Coast City Comics (artwork by Ben Bishop!), and I have a stock of signed Lansdale books here at the Green Hand for as long as they last.

Here are a few more photos of the weekend's doings!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/darkbrilliance/albums/72157658461396300
or view them on Facebook if you prefer:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153637069031115&type=1&l=59719067fe

BONUS Joe R. Lansdale signing event SATURDAY!

Hooray! Joe Lansdale will be in the shop tomorrow from 11:00am-12:30pm to sign books for anyone who can't make the screening and signing tonight. Come on down on Saturday (tomorrow 9/19) if you would like to meet him! Or heck, come tonight AND tomorrow! -->

WHAT: BONUS book signing with author Joe R. Lansdale!
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 from 11:00am-12:30pm
WHERE: The Green Hand Bookshop, 661 Congress Street, Portland, Maine
FMI: (207)253-6808 or michelle.souliere@gmail.com

We should still have some of Joe's books in stock from tonight's event at Geno's (more about that event here: http://greenhandbooks.blogspot.com/2015/08/its-official-joe-r-lansdale-is-visiting.html) for you to purchase on site if you don't have any of your own, or are missing any.

Meanwhile, he's intown through tomorrow evening. Please say hello to him and make him feel at home if you run into him and his wife Karen if you see them in their wanderings! :)

It's official! Joe R. Lansdale is visiting Maine!

We're so excited!!!

Poster art by Ben Bishop

WHAT: Joe Lansdale’s Christmas with the Dead film screening & author signing
WHERE: Geno’s Rock Club, 625 Congress St, Portland, ME
WHEN: Friday, September 18, 2015. Doors open 7:30pm, films starts 8:30
FMI: https://www.facebook.com/events/409292709268471/

Joe R. Lansdale, bestselling author, will be visiting Portland, Maine, for the first time ever on September 18, 2015. His visit will herald a screening of his horror movie Christmas with the Dead paired with an author signing event.

The event will be held at Geno’s Rock Club, located at 625 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101. Doors will open at 7:30pm and the screening will start at 8:30pm. Cover price at the door will be $5.00, (21+ only).

The event will also feature a Zombie Costume Contest to get into the spirit of the movie. Bonus points for zombie Santas and elves! Zombie gingerbread cookies also welcome.

Joe Lansdale will be on hand at the event to sign books. I'll have a bunch of his novels in stock at the screening, including brand spanking new Pandi Press reprints of Big Blow, Freezer Burn, and Fine Dark Line, all with great new cover art by Daniele Serra. See more of Serra's delectably spooky art here! http://theoriginalvangoghsearanthology.com/2013/03/11/the-art-of-daniele-serra/

He will also stay for a Q&A after the movie, alongside star Damian Maffei (House That Cried Blood, Closed for the Season, Ghost Lake).

Christmas with the Dead is not your typical holiday movie. Instead, star Damian Maffei advises that viewers should expect “a Lansdalien holiday spin on zombies. Those not familiar with Lansdale will discover a bizarre little movie with a lot of heart -- and East Texas sweat mixed with good cheer!”

Grammy-nominated songwriter Judy Pancoast, who contributed to the film’s soundtrack, will also be attending (Weird Things Are Everywhere CD, and the hit song “The House on Christmas Street”). Born in Waterville, Maine, Pancoast is known for radiating joy in her music. Tristan Gallagher, event sponsor and owner of Coast City Comics, reassures viewers that “while definitely a horror movie, Christmas with the Dead does have a message of joy for viewers -- once you get past all the bloody bits.”

Texan Joe Lansdale is best known for his Hap & Leonard book series, such titles as his Edgar Award-winning The Bottoms, and his novella Bubba Ho-Tep, which was adapted as a film by Don Coscarelli, featuring superstar Bruce Campbell. His most recent novel is The Thicket. He has won an astounding 8 Bram Stoker awards for his writing, as well as the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award. More info here: http://www.joerlansdale.com/bio.html

His title of “Mojo Storyteller” is well-deserved. Lansdale’s writing is addictive. The last person I handed a copy of The Bottoms to missed all their appointments for the rest of the day when they just meant to read the first few chapters.

This event is sponsored by both Coast City Comics and the Green Hand Bookshop, in yet another effort to team up and support the best in pop culture and entertainment as part of their mission to keep Portland awesome.

Joe R. Lansdale event in September!

Just a quick note to say that we're cooking up a treat for all you horror/Joe R. Lansdale fans out there!!! On September 18th, we're bringing the man himself to Portland, Maine for a signing/horror film event at Geno's Rock Club! Stay tuned... :D

Those of you who have talked horror (and just plain good storytelling) with me in the shop know how highly I hold the man in my esteem. For heavens sake, if I could get everyone to read The Bottoms, I would!

Please spread the word to friends, and let's give this Texan an enthusiastic welcome to Maine. I'll have copies of his recent book The Thicket, as well as The Bottoms, his Hap & Leonard books, and more on hand for you to get him to sign for your collection.

Huzzah!!!

Thanks to Coast City Comics for helming this event, and to Damian Maffei for getting the ball rolling in the first place. :D See you all there!

A video focusing on our SF/Fantasy section!

Here's a wee video that focuses on our science fiction and fantasy sections. If you haven't come in to see them in person, and that is your favorite niche of genre fiction, well -- you should give us a try!

I found that after Nancy Grayson retired and closed Cunningham Books, no one else in the area was really developing their SF collections (especially their paperback sections!), and felt it was high time that Portlanders had a good local place to go to get their SF fix!



Thanks again to Barry Dodd at Doddcom Productions for the excellent video services!

In case you haven't visited us yet...

I find myself pondering sometimes while working in my shop, and one of the things I ponder is this: How many people haven't been in the shop because they have no idea how much delicious bookishness is going on in here? Would they come if they knew???

So, with that in mind, my friend Barry over at DoddCom Productions has been helping me raise a little hell in the video world, with this as the result. If you haven't visited us yet, or if you have friends that you've been trying to tempt through the gate of this good bookshop, please take a look at this video and perhaps, just perhaps, another bookloving foot will step over the threshold into the Green Hand Bookshop. We need more of you!
Come see us sometime! :D

An important note... Odyssey Writing Workshops

Jeff Pert & his pup, Woody.

One year ago today, on April 4, 2014, I and a good number of my friends suffered a personal loss when Jeff Pert -- friend, writer, and cartoonist -- died unexpectedly. In the year since, his family has pulled together an excellent memorial to him and to his dreams.

Jeff attended the Odyssey Writing Workshops back in 2006, and for him it was a life-changing experience. Long a fan of horror and dark speculative fiction, Jeff used the opportunity to hone his already considerable writing skills (built over the years with a local writing group), and to begin a body of work that he hoped someday to publish. When Jeff died, it struck us that one of the things we could do in his memory was to start a memorial fund via Odyssey. With this fund, they could add to the workshop, ensuring that other aspiring writers could experience for themselves this once-in-a-lifetime chance.

In late 2014, the Jeff Pert Memorial Fund was established by family and friends. Because Jeff valued his experience at Odyssey so highly, the goal of the fund is to finance the appearance of a guest lecturer at each summer's workshop. This opportunity brings an added mentor to the workshop, giving additional resources to Odyssey students that they can use to improve their craft in Jeff's memory. One of the major elements that Odyssey offers its students is the opportunity for one-on-one and group experiences with a range of authors to increase the writer's understanding of various aspects and potentials of their own developing craft.

The fund was kicked off with the successful auction of two of Jeff's most prized possessions: Stephen King's Dead Zone and Danse Macabre in hardcover, both signed to Jeff. You can see them to the left in this shelfie. It shows a portion of one shelf in the glassfront bookcase where he kept the plums of his collection -- not all worth big money, you understand, simply books that were worth a lot to him.

Since its inception in 1996, the Odyssey Writing Workshop has become one of the most highly respected programs for writers of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Held for six weeks each summer at Saint Anselm College, the workshop combines an intensive, advanced curriculum with in-depth feedback on students' manuscripts. Fifty-nine percent of graduates have gone on to be professionally published. Top authors, editors and agents serve as guest lecturers, including such luminaries as George R. R. Martin, Terry Brooks, Ben Bova, Nancy Kress, and Dan Simmons.

If you would like to make a gift to the workshop in Jeff's memory, or simply to help add to the experience of tomorrow's writers, please consider doing so in one of the following ways. It would mean a great deal to all of us, and to the small batches of determined authors who find their way into the Odyssey program.

Supporters can make a donation to support the fund at http://www.sff.net/odyssey/donations.html or mail them to:
Odyssey
P.O. Box 75
Mont Vernon, NH 03057

Please specify that you would like your donation to go to the Jeff Pert Memorial Fund.

For more information, contact Odyssey Director Jeanne Cavelos at jcavelos@sff.net or phone (603)673-6234.

Jeff's family would deeply appreciate friends and fans helping to build the fund so it can create a lasting legacy in Jeff's name.

Below: Jeff and I had the great pleasure of meeting one of our favorite writers, Peter Straub, at Readercon in 2012. It was a very happy day. Jeff would want me to point out to you how the photos he took of me are completely blurry.

And in closing, my favorite Jeff Pert cartoon:

Good reading weather?

I don't do this very often, but I would like to announce that the shop is CLOSED TODAY due to ye olde blizzard! It is an excellent day for you all to curl up at home with a good book.  We'll be open as usual tomorrow (Wednesday).  See you then!