There’s nothing quite like the energy in a bookstore. Whether you are looking for a specific title, reconnecting with a beloved series or just browsing the shelves – there’s always something special in the air. That’s especially true during a ‘Meet the Author’ event. Boy, do we miss our monthly gatherings. So, until we are able to host those once again, we’ll be introducing you to some wonderful Northwest authors via this page. Yay! First up: Meet biologist and award-winning author, Marcy Cottrell Houle. As well as being featured on NPR and national television programs, her work has been published in the New York Times, Reader’s Digest and Nature Conservancy Magazine.
Talk about a breath of fresh air! Even over the phone Marcy exudes an inviting, cheerful and positive demeanor. Speaking from her farm on Sauvie Island (just outside of Portland), we chatted about her passion for writing in a style that is both informative and inspiring. From her debut in 1991 with Wings For My Flight: The Peregrine Falcons of Chimney Rock to A Generous Nature: Lives Transformed by Oregon published in 2019; Marcy’s books incorporate a message of hope that overrides all else regardless of how dire or challenging the situation. Whether the subject is the falcons she studied at Chimney Rock or the welfare of her parents so movingly shared in The Gift of Caring: Saving Our Parents from the Perils of Modern Healthcare; the reader can sense the presence of an intelligent, caring individual who’s known heartache and setbacks and yet remains an advocate for a more natural, kinder world. Her newest book, The Gift of Aging: View from the Mountaintop (currently in the final editing stage and due to be published in 2021) promises to be a continuation of the author’s expertise at depicting the human experience with a positive and encouraging lens. When asked what message she’d like to share with our readers, Marcy quoted from Generous Nature: “The power to change the future lies in your heart … what matters is to try.” And what is the author reading during this pandemic time? Frederick Douglass, Brian Doyle’s latest and for “escape and courage” Harry Potter. Gotta love that.
We look forward to welcoming Marcy to La Conner sometime in the future. Meanwhile, connect with her by starting with her first book which is now on our shelves. Thank you, Marcy. Here’s to winged flights of wonder for us all!
Who would have thought that we’d be starting our 4th year in the midst of a pandemic?! But here we are. Along with thousands of independent bookstores across the globe, we have had to shake off the nerves and focus on a solution to staying in business. We had to figure out the answer to: when the doors are ordered closed, how does a walk-in operation survive? It is very much a two-part answer. First – we had to shift into full time phone and online orders. Second – we had to have customers continue to virtually come our way. The good news? Both seem to be working. And the even better news? The interaction with customers has been personal, heartwarming and encouraging. From the doctor who bought each staff member a gift certificate for the book of their choice; to the mom wanting to know the best books for her children; to the son ordering a cookbook for his mom – so many people connecting with love across the wires. They’ve expressed thanks for our selection help, sadness at not being able to visit in person, and thumbs up for hanging in there. The healing power of books is something Seaport Books has always known to be true. During times of crisis, that power is doubled by the community spirit that holds each and every page. Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to being here for you today, tomorrow and beyond!
“Authors are just like the rest of us – they like to soothe their anxiety by losing themselves in the pages of a beloved book.” That’s the opening line to an article that ran on March 23 in The New York Times. It followed with a selection of modern day authors and what their ‘go to’ book is right now … interesting to see their choices. Here are a few of those authors and their picks:
As the experts assemble their lists of the best in literature from 2019, we prepared our own little list of favorites. Here are our top eight title picks for 2019:
It’s hard to imagine not being able to read any book of your choice. Harder still to realize that a huge number of favorites were once banned from the shelves. The Color Purple by Alice Walker; The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou; Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck; One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey; To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – the list goes on and on. And banning books is not just a part of history. Every year, thousands of titles are challenged by individuals and groups. Most often occurring at the library level, common concerns tend to center around racial themes, profanity, sex, violence, witchcraft and religious views. We at Seaport Books celebrate the freedom to read and recognize that along with all the other freedoms we enjoy, this one shines a bit brighter in our hearts. Here’s to keeping the light on! Explore more information about banned books including an annual list of top ten banned titles as far back as 1990: 
As we head into our THIRD year at Seaport Books, we’re celebrating all the love that brought us here. The love of good books. The love of discovering new titles. The love of meeting and encouraging local authors. The love of book clubs and discussions about great reads. The love of introducing young adults to amazing stories. The love of working as a team to provide great customer service. The love of children smiling at picture books. The love of seniors reconnecting with a favorite title. And the love of being a vibrant part of the community. Thanks to all of you who appreciate and support our efforts. From the feedback we keep getting, it seems the love story is a mutual one. Here’s to happily ever after!
When Tom Hanks spoke at the 
Despite the line from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the fruit of the month club is not what we’d pick as the gift that keeps on giving. That distinction goes to (drum roll): BOOKS! Is there any other vehicle that offers discovery, adventure, romance, humor, intrigue and mind boggling fact finding all at your fingertips? In addition, books are portable, affordable, have a long shelf life and definitely able to weather generations of readers. And talk about easy to gift wrap! Our store has the best titles to choose from for every age and interest on your list. In fact, we love what one gentleman said a few weeks ago: “I see you have a book entitled 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die. I think you have them all here! Nice collection.”
SEAPORT BOOKS 360-399-1800 