It has been longer than usual since you have heard from us here, but rest assured we have been busy. This next week alone, there is a bigger load on our calendars than they are rated to carry.

We have readings from T.C. Boyle, Billy Collins and Tess Gallagher for the Writing Festival. John Vaillant comes to town. Today we are launching our new website. Oh and of course we cannot forget that this Saturday is Independent Bookstore Day.

So if we don't see you at one of this week's events, then consider dropping by the store for Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, as we will have 10% off all books and merchandise all day to celebrate.

We have been hard at work improving our website, portbooknews.com. We thought about replacing the carpet, since that had a positive effect in the store, but settled on an upgrade the to the usability and browsing experience, improving the search, adding useful product lists and related product links, wish lists, and more.

We're still moving some furniture around and unpacking everything, but we like the new digs so far. Let us know what you think!

This year's inaugural Raymond Carver and Tess Gallagher Creative Writing Festival is here, and brings with it multiple readings, a film screening, presentations, pie and poetry at Carver’s grave, workshops, and more.

Port Book and News has the privilege of selling books during the keynote events at Field Arts & Events Hall. Tickets for each of these events is $15.

• Tonight, Wednesday, April 25 at 7pm, acclaimed novelist T.C. Boyle will take the stage to read from his work with a Q&A and book signing to follow. More information can be found on our website.
• Thursday, April 26 at 7pm, poet Billy Collins will read from his beloved poetry, followed by a Q&A and book signing. For more information, check our website or just wander into the store and ask Alan to recommend some of his favorite Collins poems.
• Finally, renowned poet and Port Angeles' own Tess Gallagher will read, answer questions and sign books at 5pm on Saturday, April 27. More information is on our website.

The doors open for these books an hour before the start times. If you are thinking of getting books to have signed, it might be a good idea to arrive early. We are greatly looking forward to these events!

Spiders!

They are amazing creatures with eight legs and many eyes, capable of gravity-defying feats. Most of us have stories about an unexpected visit from a spider.

Have you ever found a fluffy spider nesting underneath your sofa like Betty does in Luigi: The Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten? Perhaps you discovered one making webs in a nice, dark well and hoarding spare change, like the newsboy in Spider in the Well. No? Spiders cannot be cute or collect salacious gossip you say. Au contraire! You only need to read these two books to learn otherwise.

-Helena

Go outside on with Scavenger Hunt Potions and collect magical, natural ingredients, then combine them to create special magic potions, with seven recipes and space to write in your own.

Explore the natural world and its inhabitants with Make A Bug Hotel—no tools required! Wait a few days, then take a look and see which creepy crawlies have checked in and use the included guide to identify some of your guests.

With Make A Butterfly House, no tools are required to build a shelter for butterflies to keep them safe from harsh weather and predators. Use the included guide to learn a little about butterflies.

These are perfect for getting children outside and appreciating their natural world.

Louis is in the hospital, on his death bed, breathing his last. His wife Muriel is at his bedside clutching his hand. The doctor rushes in exclaiming, “Muriel, we know what can save his life! He just needs a blood transfusion! We don’t know his blood type and there is no time to take a test! What’s his blood type, what’s his blood type?!” Muriel does not know and the doctor hangs his head and leaves. Louis clutches Muriel’s hand tighter and expires.

One week later Muriel is at the wake for Louis. In front of everyone gathered she is extolling his virtues, what a wonderful family man he was, how he always tried to inspire people, always tried to be uplifting. “Even on his deathbed, as he took his final breath, he clutched my hand tighter and said, “Be Positive.”

Take this as a public service joke, Know Your Blood Type.