Drinks in the Library

Our book this week is North Woods by Daniel Mason. When two young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become the home of an extraordinary succession of human and nonhuman characters alike. An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to growing apples. A pair of spinster twins navigate war and famine, envy and desire. A lovelorn painter, a sinister con man, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle: As the inhabitants confront the wonder and mystery around them, they begin to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.Sarah Sawyer is an English teacher at a boarding school in western Massachusetts, where she finds endless humor and inspiration in her colleagues and students. She has held both the Joseph C. Mesics Instructorship and the Henry and Judith Zachs Faculty Chair. Sawyer is a graduate of Amherst College and the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English, and she lives in Easthampton, Massachusetts, with her family. The Undercurrent is her first novel.Stone Fence CocktailIngredients2 oz bourbon, rye whiskey, or dark rum1 dash Angostura bitters4 to 5 oz chilled hard apple cider (to top)Fresh mint sprig or apple slice (for garnish)InstructionsFill a Collins or highball glass with ice.Pour the bourbon (or your spirit of choice) and the Angostura bitters over the ice.Top the glass with chilled hard apple cider.Stir very gently with a bar spoon to combine.Garnish with a mint sprig or an apple slice.

In Night Train to Memphis by Elizabeth Peters, Vicky Bliss, an assistant curator at Munich's National Museum, may not be an Egypt expert, but her Ph.D. in crime-solving comes in handy when an intelligence agency recruits her for a luxurious Nile cruise. Amidst the backdrop of the majestic Sphinx Vicky must navigate her personal frustrations and the deadly charms of a cunning criminal hiding in plain sight.Colleen Gleason, who also writes as Colleen Cambridge, is an award-winning, USAToday and NYT bestselling author. She’s written more than fifty novels in a variety of genres, but her current favorite to pen is historical-set mystery, usually featuring a famous person for the amateur detective’s sidekick, mentor, or friend. Her books have been translated into more than twenty languages, and have been bestsellers in several foreign markets.  An avid gardener, amateur mixologist, and vegetarian gourmet, Colleen lives in the Midwest United States with her family and two dogs, and is always working on her next book.Her latest book, Death Down the Aisle comes out October 27, 2026! Our drink this week is one of Colleen’s signature drinks, the French Bluet Martini!Ingredients1 oz Gin1 oz Crème de violette0.5 oz Vodka0.5 oz Lillet BlancIce cubesInstructionsAdd the gin, crème de violette, vodka, and Lillet Blanc into a mixing glass or cocktail shaker filled with ice.Stir (do not shake) until drink is chilled.Fine-strain the mixture into a chilled martini or coupe glass.• 4. Serve immediately

 Called a “magnificently crafted story . . . brimming with wisdom” by Howard Frank Mosher in The Washington Post Book World, Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner has, since its publication in 1987, established itself as one of the greatest and most cherished American novels of the twentieth century. Tracing the lives, loves, and aspirations of two couples who move between Vermont and Wisconsin, it is a work of quiet majesty, deep compassion, and powerful insight into the alchemy of friendship and marriage.C.B. Bernard is the author of two novels—Ordinary Bear, winner of the Barry Award for Best First Mystery or Crime Novel, and Small Animals Caught in Traps—as well as the Oregon Book Award nonfiction finalist Chasing Alaska: A Portrait of the Last Frontier Then and Now. He’s lived in nine states, built a boat, walked tens of thousands of miles with his dogs, and written about everything from fly fishing to wolves to maritime piracy. For much of his adult life he called Alaska and Oregon home, but can now be found on the Rhode Island coast with his wife Kim and their dog Nessie with his feet in the ocean and his head in the clouds.Drink this week is a Smoked Maple Whiskey - you can make this if you have a smoker - if you are like me and don’t, find some smoked maple syrup instead!🥃 Smoked Maple WhiskeyIngredients2 oz bourbon or whiskey½ oz smoked maple syrup2 dashes Angostura bittersLarge ice cubeOrange peel, for garnishInstructionsAdd the bourbon, smoked maple syrup, and bitters to a rocks glass.Stir to combine.Add a large ice cube and stir gently.Garnish with an orange peel.

An episode so good I’m re-airing it!If you have listened to the podcast for awhile, you have probably heard me reference the book Here For it: Or, How To Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas. It is a favorite of mine and had a big impact on me when I read it the first time in June of 2020, so I was SO excited when my friend and returning guest Izzie Call read it, loved it as well, and wanted to come on and talk about it with me. My guest this week is the always delightful Izzie Call. Izzie works as a museum educator for the VMFA coordinating projects related to the permanent collections and special exhibition displays including digital components, labels, and web resources. Izzie is a lifelong, passionate educator and feels most at home speaking about art with those who have an interest in learning.Also, thank you to Eric Thomas for sharing his favorite drink with me when in a moment of bravado (delusion?) I reached out to him on IG. It is a Cosmopolitan and he said he is bringing it back as a recession indicator!Cosmo Recipe 1 oz cranberry juice0.5 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice 1 oz triple sec (I use Cointreau)1.5-2 oz vodka Shake hard with ice, pour into martini glass, garnish with orange or lime, and enjoy!

The Only Good Indians is a 2020 horror novel by Stephen Graham Jones about four Blackfeet men haunted by a disturbing, deadly event that took place in their youth. Years later, they find themselves tracked by an entity bent on revenge, totally helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way. The companion book to this novel, Off the Reservation, is coming out October 13, 2026 - don’t miss it!Becky Spratford is a Librarian in Illinois specializing in serving patrons ages 13 and up. She trains library staff all over the world on how to match books with readers through the local public library. She runs the critically acclaimed RA training blog RA for All and RA Horror for All, writes reviews for Booklist and a Horror review column for Library Journal. Becky has been an elected Library Trustee and a former Board member for both the Reaching Across Illinois Library System and the Illinois Library Association. Known for her work with Horror readers. Becky is the author of three text books for library workers and the editor of the Bram Stoker Award winning Why I Love Horror. Becky was named one of the Chicago Tribune’s Chicagoans of the Year in 2025. She is on the Shirley Jackson Award Advisory Board and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association, currently serving as the Association’s Secretary and Co-Chair of their Libraries Committee. You can follow Becky on Bluesky @raforall.bsky.social.We paired this book with a bottle of Coors beer to reflect the opening scene in a bar in the Midwest!Tickets are on sale for the Urban Librarians Unite Gala on Wednesday October 14th - which I will be MCing in Brooklyn, NY! I hope to see you there in a night to support libraries and our staff.

Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series follows a fiercely independent Victorian lepidopterist who finds herself entangled in murder, mystery, and adventure in 19th-century England. Alongside her enigmatic partner, natural historian Stoker, Veronica uses her sharp wit, scientific knowledge, and unconventional methods to solve dangerous crimes.Carmela Dutra is a writer from the San Francisco Bay Area who loves food trucks, family, and cozy mysteries. She is the author of the Food Truck Mysteries, including A Murder Most Fowl and Hot Wings and Homicide. Her series has been praised by Kirkus Reviews, which called her debut “a serious set of crimes leavened by plenty of amusing moments,” and by Library Journal, which noted that Hot Wings and Homicide “is perfect for foodies.” Criminal Element highlighted the “juicy reasoning behind the sabotage that was almost as shocking as the murder itself,” and New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams described the books as “the perfect escapist read, brimming with banter and an extra helping of fun.” Carmela has also been featured in CrimeReads Magazine.A lover of humor, quirky characters, and all things geeky, Carmela spends her days sketching, sipping far too much coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She lives with her husband and two dinosaur-obsessed sons, drawing inspiration from rainy afternoons, bustling farmers’ markets, and the unexpected moments that make life memorable.Tickets are on sale for the Urban Librarians Unite Gala on Wednesday October 14th - which I will be MCing in Brooklyn, NY! I hope to see you there in a night to support libraries and our staff.Our drink this week was a Whiskey Sour, Whiskey is a favorite of Carmela’s and Veronica, and the little kick reflects Veronica’s spicy nature.Whiskey SourIngredients2 oz bourbon or whiskey3/4 oz fresh lemon juice3/4 oz simple syrupIceOptional: 1 egg whiteLemon slice or cocktail cherry for garnishDirectionsAdd whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. If using egg white, add it and shake without ice first.Add ice and shake vigorously until chilled.Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.• 4. Garnish with a lemon slice or cocktail cherry.

Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism is a 2025 memoir by Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former Director of Global Public Policy at Facebook. This book offers an explosive, first-hand look at the internal culture and decision-making practices at the highest levels of the tech giant.Lauren Comito is a cape wearing, sword swinging, activist librarian in NYC. Lauren is currently the Neighborhood Library Supervisor at the LeonardBranch of the Brooklyn Public Library and Executive Director of Urban Librarians Unite. She is committed to creating space for communities to connect and grow, whether in her neighborhood or among library workers.I will be with Lauren in person on October 15 for the Urban Librarians Unite Romantasy gala in Brooklyn NY! Get your tickets now for a night celebrating libraries, librarians, and the important work that we do!Our drink for this episode was an Old Fashioned, as Lauren said when we were planning: The book is one of those nightmare bureaucracy memoirs where you probably need a damn drink but don't want to drink it too fast? Well said. Cheers!Old-FashionedIngredients2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey1 sugar cube (or 1/4 oz simple syrup)2–3 dashes Angostura bitters1 teaspoon water (if using a sugar cube)IceOrange peel and cocktail cherry for garnishDirectionsPlace the sugar cube, bitters, and water in an Old-Fashioned glass. Muddle until the sugar dissolves. If using simple syrup, stir with the bitters instead.Add the whiskey and stir to combine.Add a large ice cube and stir until chilled.Express the orange peel over the glass, then garnish with the peel and a cocktail cherry.

Cory Doctorow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom is a sci-fi novel set in a post-scarcity future where death is curable and social status is run by a reputation metric called "whuffie". The protagonist, a centenarian named Jules, lives his dream managing classic attractions at Walt Disney World. When a rival faction stages a hostile takeover and figuratively and literally "kills" his project by modernizing the Hall of Presidents, Jules goes to war to protect the park's traditional artistic purityPhillip Hilliker is a creatively restless writer and illustrator with credits spanning many fields and genres. He has contributed to role-playing games such as Shadowrun and White Wolf’s World of Darkness, written voiceover scripts for too many whiteboard explanatory videos. He is a current board member of James River Writers and has served as their membership coordinator as well. Currently he’s employed by a puzzle company to draw primarily sports-centric projects. You can find him on social media: @philhillikerOur drink this week is a Piña Colada, which as you’ll hear ties back a bit to the Magic Kingdom!Piña ColadaIngredients2 oz white rum2 oz pineapple juice2 oz cream of coconut1 cup icePineapple wedge and maraschino cherry, for garnishDirectionsAdd rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and ice to a blender.Blend until smooth and creamy.Pour into a chilled glass.Garnish with a pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry.

Old Man's War by John Scalzi follows 75-year-old John Perry, who joins the Colonial Defense Forces in exchange for a chance to explore the stars and a new, younger body. Recruited into an interstellar war, Perry discovers that the universe is far more dangerous and morally complicated than he expected. Blending sharp humor, military science fiction, and big questions about aging, identity, and sacrifice, the novel offers a fast-paced and thought-provoking adventure.Donna Barba Higuera is an award-winning author who masterfully blends folklore with her lived experiences to create captivating stories for young readers. Growing up in the dust-filled oil fields of Central California, she spent her life weaving tales that sparked her imagination.Now residing in the Pacific Northwest with her family and a lively menagerie of pets, Donna is the acclaimed author of picture books like El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! and The Yellow Handkerchief. Her middle-grade novels have garnered significant recognition: Lupe Wong Won't Dance received the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor and a Pura Belpré Honor, while her second novel, The Last Cuentista, was awarded both the John Newbery Medal and the Pura Belpré Award. The Last Cuentista was also named a Best Book of the Year by The Boston Globe, Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Wall Street Journal, and TIME. Her newest book Xolo reimagines the Aztec myth of the origin of man-and man's best friend. Tickets are on sale for the Urban Librarians Unite Gala on Wednesday October 14th - which I will be MCing in Brooklyn, NY! I hope to see you there in a night to support libraries and our staff.Man of War CocktailIngredients1½ oz bourbon½ oz orange liqueur½ oz sweet vermouth½ oz fresh lemon juiceOrange twist, for garnishDirectionsAdd bourbon, orange liqueur, sweet vermouth, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice.Shake well.Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. • 4. Garnish with an orange twist.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster is a book in which generations of readers have journeyed with Milo to the Lands Beyond in this beloved classic. Enriched by Jules Feiffer's splendid illustrations, the wit, wisdom, and wordplay of Norton Juster's offbeat fantasy are as beguiling as ever. For Milo, everything's a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he's got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Rebecca N. Thompson, MD, MSc, is a family medicine and public health physician from Portland, Oregon, who specializes in women's and children's health. Throughout her career, she has sought opportunities to use written and spoken words to help build community and to make complex medical topics more accessible and more engaging for a wide range of audiences. Her critically acclaimed book, Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love (HarperCollins 2025), is the result of her decade-long collaboration with a remarkable group of women to share their most intimate true stories about personal relationships, professional identities, and health and healing across generations. Dr. Thompson trained at Harvard, Stanford, and Oregon Health & Science University and is always learning from her most influential teachers—her patients, colleagues, family, and friends. In her free time, she enjoys wandering through green spaces, reading in cozy nooks, playing unreasonably complicated board games, repurposing found objects, and accompanying her husband and children on all-weather adventures near and far.Our drink this week is a Capri Sun, always a good time and a great pairing for a classic children’s book.On Wednesday October 14th I will be MCing the Urban Librarians Unite Gala in Brooklyn NY, if you are in that area and would like to spend the night celebrating an organization that supports libraries, grab a ticket and join us! More info here: https://urbanlibrariansunite.org/romantasy-gala-2026/