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Event Series Event Series: Booktopia 2024

Booktopia 2024 — Chris Bohjalian

April 28 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Books show bright spines on a windowsill in the sunlight. Creative Commons courtesy photo
Photo by Brittany Stevens

Northshire bookstore will gather readers and writers together for an intimate weekend of talks, signings, celebration and more, with an array of guest writers.

Booktopia 2024 highlights acclaimed writers Chris Bohjalian, Sylvie Cathrall, Ryan Chapman, Caroline Leavitt, Karin Lin-Greenberg, Mary Beth Keane, Amitava Kumar, GennaRose Nethercott, Shannon Reed and Simon Van Booy.

On Friday, April 26, Booktopians will hold a customized book recommendation event hosted by Northshire’s expert booksellers, gather for author presentations and then gather for a celebration dinner (including literary trivia) at the Kimpton Taconic Hotel.

Saturday, April 27, the bookstore will offer a full day of author presentations and the Saturday night “big event” – short readings and a group signing by seven remarkable authors. Simon Van Booy will present sessions on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning but will not be in attendance at the Saturday night reading.

This year’s festival will conclude on Sunday, April 28, at Southern Vermont Arts Center with Chris Bohjalian in conversation with Joe Donahue of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio on his book, The Princess of Las Vegas.

You can get tickets for all three days, Saturday and Sunday only, or just Sunday’s event with Chris Bohjalian. All Booktopia presentations on April 26 and 27 will take place either at Northshire Bookstore’s Manchester store or at the First Baptist Church, across the street from the store. Dinner on Friday, April 26, will be at the Kimpton Taconic Hotel at 3835 Main S. The event with Chris Bohjalian on Sunday, April 28th will take place in the Arkell Pavilion at Southern Vermont Arts Center.

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Friday, April 26

10 to 11 a.m.: Check in at Northshire Bookstore

Stop in to pick up your name badge, weekend schedule and $50 Northshire Bookstore Gift Card. Later arrivals will be able to check in with a bookseller at the front service desk.

11 a.m. — Booktopia Welcome & Announcements (First Baptist Church Sanctuary)

Join in the official kickoff to Booktopia 2024 with announcements by Northshire Bookstore co-owner, Nicole Ihasz. In addition to welcoming you all to Booktopia, we’ll review the schedule of events, make some announcements, and encourage you to tag us @northshirebooks in any social media posts and with #Booktopia2024, and go over any last minute information.

11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m: This Gift Card is Burning a Hole in My Pocket! (First Baptist Church Sanctuary)

You have a newly minted Northshire Bookstore gift card in your pocket: what should you buy? During this session, our expert booksellers Alden, Cathy, Stan, Nicole, Rachel and Jess will share with you some of their favorite book recommendations.

Lunch Break 12:30 to 2 p.m.

2 to 3 p.m. pm: Author Session F1 (Multiple Locations)

Simon Van Booy – Sipsworth – Northshire Bookstore Events Space
Mary Beth Keane – The Half Moon – First Baptist Church Vestry
Karin Lin-Greenberg – You Are Here – First Baptist Church Sanctuary

3:15 to 4:15 p.m.: Author Session F2 (Multiple Locations)

Ryan Chapman – The Audacity – Northshire Bookstore Events Space
Caroline Leavitt – Days of Wonder – First Baptist Church Sanctuary
Sylvie Cathrall – A Letter to the Luminous Deep – First Baptist Church Vestry

4:30 to 6 p.m.: Yankee Book Swap (meet in first Baptist Church Vestibule)

If you would like to participate in the Yankee Book Swap, bring (or buy!) a wrapped copy of a book that means something to you – most are new, but it could be very lightly used, something you are comfortable giving as a gift. Once someone chooses the book you brought from the pile, you will say something about that book and why you like it. When it’s your turn to choose, you can keep the book you opened, or ‘steal’ from (swap with) anyone who has already gotten a book. This is a wonderful way to get to know other readers at Booktopia, learn about books you may have never heard of, share some laughs, and perhaps go home with a book you really love.

6:30 to 9:30 p.m.: The Celebration Dinner at the Kimpton Taconic – 3835 Main Street

Enjoy a lovely buffet dinner and a cash bar, and chat with authors and booksellers. Northshire will host book themed trivia during dinner with small prizes from the bookstore.

Saturday, April 27

8:30– to 9 a.m. — Check in at Northshire Bookstore

Stop in to pick up your name badge, weekend schedule, and $50 Northshire Bookstore Gift Card. Later arrivals will be able to check in with a bookseller at the front service desk.

9 to 10 a.m. — Author Session S1 (Multiple Locations)

Simon Van Booy, Sipsworth – First Baptist Church Sanctuary
GennaRose Nethercott – Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart – First Baptist Church Vestry
Caroline Leavitt – Days of Wonder – Northshire Bookstore Events Space
10:00-10:30: Simon Van Booy book signing

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. — Author Session S2 (Multiple Locations)

Mary Beth Keane – The Half Moon – Northshire Bookstore Events Space
Amitava Kumar – My Beloved Life – First Baptist Church Vestry
Shannon Reed – Why We Read – First Baptist Church Sanctuary

11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. — A Conversation (and book picks!) with Emily Crowe (First Baptist Church Sanctuary)

Emily Crowe, one of Northshire’s Penguin Random House sales reps will discuss her career (and her recent transition from bookseller to publishing insider) with Northshire’s Director of Events Rachel Person. Crowe then will share some of her book recommendations and recent favorites.

Lunch Break 12:45 to 2:15 pm.

2:15 to 3:15 p.m. — Author Session S3 (Multiple Locations)

Karin Lin-Greenberg – You Are Here – First Baptist Church Sanctuary
Ryan Chapman – The Audacity – First Baptist Church Vestry
Shannon Reed – Why We Read – Northshire Bookstore Event Space
3:30–4:30 pm: Author Session S4 (Multiple Locations)

Amitava Kumar – My Beloved Life – First Baptist Church Sanctuary
GennaRose Nethercott – Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart – First Baptist Church Vestry
Sylvie Cathrall – A Letter to the Luminous Deep – Northshire Bookstore Event Space
5:00–7:00 pm: The Big Event! (First Baptist Church Sanctuary)

Sylvie Cathrall, Ryan Chapman, Caroline Leavitt, Karin Lin-Greenberg, Mary Beth Keane, Amitava Kumar, GennaRose Nethercott, and Shannon Reed will all read from their books. The reading will be followed by a group book signing at Northshire Bookstore on the main level.

Sunday April 28

1 p.m. — Chris Bohjalian in conversation – The Arkell Pavilion at the Southern Vermont Arts Center – 860 Southern Vermont Arts Center Drive

Bohjalian will discuss his new novel, The Princess of Las Vegas, with Joe Donahue of WAMC / Northeast Public Radio. The conversation will be followed by a book signing. Books will be available for purchase at Northshire’s sales table at the Southern Vermont Arts Center.

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Event Details

Details

Date:
April 28
Time:
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Series:
Event Categories:
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Event Location

Southern Vermont Arts Center
930 SVAC Drive, West Road
Manchester, VT
802-362-1405

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