End Book Banning with the Pocono Liars Club next weekend
Some reflections on a new keyboard, a rainy day in Doylestown and updates from E.H. Jacobs
Is it wrong that I want to make my new, hot swappable, USB keyboard with its rainbow LED lights the top item of this newsletter?
With its retro yet futuristic merger, this keyboard has made typing fun again. Though my small hands do type more efficiently on the compact laptop keyboard, and this is definitely more stress on my wrists. I think I’ll be using it for creative projects, using the changing of keyboards a sign for my brain that I am switching from business to creativity.
Pocono Liars Club, author expo 6/21
A crew of us from Parisian Phoenix— Angel Ackerman, Larry Sceurman and Joseph Swarctz— will be attending the Pocono Liars Club book expo next week. This free event includes at least a dozen authors primarily from the Pocono region of Pennsylvania, members of the writers group that takes it name from a Philadelphia-based “Liars Club” founded by Jonathan Maberry. It’s a clever moniker for a writers group, and certainly shows that the group has a sense of humor.
This is the entire schedule of readings:
10:30 a.m., Sue Jordan
10: 50 a.m., Christopher Ochs
11:10 a.m., Joseph Swarctz (Parisian Phoenix, Echo City Capers)
11:30 a.m., Angel Ackerman (Parisian Phoenix, Fashion and Fiends)
11:50 a.m., Gabrielle Ferrara
12:10 p.m., Kayla Erin Woods
12:30 p.m., John Harvey
12:50 p.m., Kieran Ferrara
1:10 p.m., Tracy MacNish
1:20 p.m., Walter Stoffel
1:50 p.m., Laurie Batzel
2:10 p.m., Roseann Brooks
The event begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. at the Eastern Monroe Public Library in Stroudsburg, Pa., not too far from the Stroud Mall on Ninth Street, with the Weis Market next door. It’s also a lovely library. The Pocono Liars Club hosts a fun writers conference every spring, condensed into one day where you can attend for free and pay for extended sessions with the presenters who appeal to you most.
They have also compiled a great booklet of all the authors, publishers and books attending the event. It’s really sharp and a fun read even if you can’t attend. Think of it as a way to expand your to-be-read wish list. (As if any of us need that!) You can download the pdf here: Pocono Liars Club Author Expo.
A rainy day in Doylestown
Yesterday’s deluge did impact the amount of foot traffic on the sidewalk in Doylestown, Pa., where Larry Sceurman was part of a Local Authors Day at the Doylestown Bookshop. Doylestown is one of those places I visited a long time ago (the Volkssport walk I mentioned in the last newsletter— that was my first introduction to the town) and always meant to return.
Even on this visit, I didn’t get to go to any of the places on my list. But, art director Gayle Hendricks and I parked the car over by the Mercer Museum and meandered through town as much as the rain would allow.
We loved the bookshop! The staff was friendly, the collection of books impressive, and the gift items well curated. They even had a large section of jigsaw puzzles. And newspapers! And magazines! It very much reminded me of what the Moravian Book Shop was when I was in college thirty years ago. So, if you miss the jovial and eclectic atmosphere of Moravian Book Shop past, Doylestown might be worth a drive.
They are the first independent bookstore I have visited that had a copy of Sky Daddy by Kate Folk in stock, and I do so want that book… But it’s in hardcover right now and by budget won’t allow that. With our airplane historical fiction coming out in August, I’ve been reading a lot of plane-themed books.
According to the booksellers at Doylestown, people come to them for the latest and greatest in fiction. The bookstore organized the authors throughout the bookstore, but all in the main traffic area of the store.
Our other adventures in Doylestown included a visit to the stationery shop, Dept of Note; the purchase of baked goods from Le Macaron French bakery and Cup and Cake Company, and a visit to the Community Labyrinth. I was also impressed— to the point of distraction— with the amount of people at the local public library.
New blog post from E.H. Jacobs
When E.H. wrote Splintered River, it was a political drama with elements of absurdism. In light of the first few months of Trump’s second term, the role of Elon Musk in the government, and now the response to protests in California, it feels less satirical. Ed reflects on this in a blog post that will appear on ParisianPhoenix.com on Monday, June 16.
Here’s a taste:
We are all familiar with that old cliché about life imitating art.
The recent political and legal controversy about the president’s deployment of the National Guard in California eerily echoes the constitutional crisis depicted in my novel, Splintered River.
In the novel, the ambiguities in the Constitution about command of the National Guard troops—whether and when they are under the command of the governor or the president—get exploited by a power hungry politician to sow chaos and public unrest that eventually lurches out of his, and everyone’s control.
The history of our country’s founding, with the distrust of a standing army, the prohibition of having the armed forces deployed in domestic situations, the delicate and inexact balance of the sovereignty of the individual states within a strong federal system, and the need for a strong federal government to preserve the integrity of our country, comes into play in our current political situation as it does in the novel…
E.H. Jacobs displayed his political thriller Splintered River at the Vassar Artists and Authors Expo where it shared space with his nonfiction book on parenting children with ADHD.
Yesterday, Jacobs attended the New Hampshire Writers' Project annual 603 Writers' Conference in Manchester, N.H. (That’s the same city where Jacobs will have his event at The Bookery in July, see below.)
And on the radio…
And at the end of the month, The Writers' Den radio program on NH Talk Radio (WKXL FM), will air an episode June 29 at 11 a.m. where Jacobs discusses his novel.
On June 21, at WDVR 89.7 fm in the broadcast coverage area or WDVRfm.org online, Angel Ackerman hosts a special tribute to Steve’s Café, the working man’s tavern featured on the cover of Larry Sceurman’s novella, The Death of Big Butch. Maryann Ignatz curated the music to honor her father, Stephen Ignatz, and the 110th anniversary of Ignatz family ownership of the tavern. Maryann also contributed an essay to Not an Able-Bodied White Man with Money detailing her experience of the blue-collar history of Phillipsburg, N.J.
Last but not least, I have updated the Readers Resources page to include this essay/how-to of how to leave a review for authors on your favorite platform. Even if you don’t say much, leaving a review is the easiest way to help authors. Each review helps teach the algorithms more about the book. Consider leaving your favorite author a note in the form of a review: How to Write a Review.
DID YOU KNOW…
For less than $2 an issue, you can support PARISIAN PHOENIX BOOKISH BABBLE as a paid subscriber. Benefits include: 1. Free chapters and excerpts of new books. 2. Curated lists and annotated reviews of podcasts, writing books, and bookstores. 3. Full, unlimited access to ALL of my slides from my writing workshops. PLUS unlimited access to the archives of all my posts.
As always—
Angel
UPCOMING EVENTS (MOST ARE FREE)
ThrillerFest opens in New York City June 17 and Dianna Sinovic will be there as part of their Debut Authors Program promoting her supernatural thriller, Scream of the Silent Sun.
Dianna Sinovic will be discussing the uses of Canva for authors at the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group on June 28. Her free talk will be at 11 a.m. and her afternoon, hands-on workshop begins at 1:30 p.m. GLVWG meets at the Palmer branch of the Easton Area Public Library but is also available on Zoom. The workshop is free for members, $15 for non-members. Click here for more information.
On June 28, noon to 6 p.m., local historian and author of Phorgotten No More, Wayne Sherrer will be a part of “Authors Alley” at the Warren County Bicentennial Celebration at Warren County Community College, on New Jersey Route 57 in Washington Township. His book contains his original research into the African-American history of Phillipsburg, N.J.
July 4, the official release of Benjamin Goluboff’s and Mark Luebbers’ poetry chapbook, Group Portrait, a unique interpretation of a photographic portrait in the World War II era from Peggy Guggenheim’s art salon. We have seen the advance review copies and we are really excited about this little book!
At the Whitehall (Pa.) Library, 6 p.m., on July 9, Larry Sceurman will present a family story time.
July 12, E.H. Jacobs will be at The Bookery in Manchester, N.H., signing his debut novel, Splintered River, from 1 to 3 p.m. Jacobs has a sophomore novel on deck for 2026. For more information about The Bookery, click here. (This book is also available on Kindle Unlimited.)
July 14, the official release of Motorhome Gypsies, our RV Living book that is part memoir and part practical advice, by Rachel Thompson and Lisa Cross. We may have a cover reveal soon!
At 11 a.m. on July 16, Larry Sceurman will visit the Cops N Kids Reading Room on the southside of Bethlehem, Pa. For more information on Cops N Kids Lehigh Valley, click here.
Barnes and Noble in the Southmont Shopping Center in Bethlehem Township, Pa., will host a benefit for the children’s hospital on August 16. Larry Sceurman will present a children’s story time (and he hopes to have his second children’s book ready before that event). Details to come. See Larry’s books here.
Also August 16, I will be hosting a memoir workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. at Blank Space Community Center, 85 Makefield Road Unit 7, Yardley, Pa., 19067. Tickets will be $40 and will include print materials.
Also in August, the release of Any Landing You Walk Away from is a Good Landing, historical fiction about the airline industry in the throes of 1980’s deregulation. The author of that book is retired flight attendant Dawn O’Harra.
Angel, you have so much going on! Loved the photos from Doylestown, just down the road from me...