Pardon My French

A New Year resolution should be personal. It should challenge you. Perhaps, you would like to hone a skill that has dulled from lack of use. As an American, I don't have much opportunity to use my high school German class. I'm not visiting Germany anytime soon, but I can still sharpen my language skills.

You could chose to read a book in a second language. No, you don't have to start with Goethe or even Voltaire. If it has been a while since you have parlez-vous français, you could start with J.K. Rowling. That's right, Harry Potter. My wife recently re-read the entire series in French.

I love the Harry Potter books, and they have been translated into several languages, but you can pick any children's book you remember fondly, and create a new memory. It's a great way to exercise that sedentary second language.


The French edition of Harry Potter. Yes, the bookstore stocks this

Come See Why We Made the Top Ten

Come See Why We Made the Top Ten

The Princess Diarist

The Princess Diarist is Carrie Fisher's intimate, hilarious and revealing recollection of what happened behind the scenes on one of the most famous film sets of all time, the first Star Wars movie. Named a PEOPLE Magazine Best Book of Fall 2016.

When Carrie Fisher recently discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Warsmovie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naivete, and a vulnerability that she barely recognized. Today, her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon is indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a teenager with an all-consuming crush on her costar, Harrison Ford.

With these excerpts from her handwritten notebooks, The Princess Diarist is Fisher's intimate and revealing recollection of what happened on one of the most famous film sets of all time and what developed behind the scenes. And today, as she reprises her most iconic role for the latest Star Wars trilogy, Fisher also ponders the joys and insanity of celebrity, and the absurdity of a life spawned by Hollywood royalty, only to be surpassed by her own outer-space royalty. Laugh-out-loud hilarious and endlessly quotable, The Princess Diarist brims with the candor and introspection of a diary while offering shrewd insight into the type of stardom that few will ever experience.

Merry Christmas From The Totally Ninja Raccoons

'Twas the day before Christmas (or close)

'Twas the day before Christmas (or close) and all through the town, people were scurrying and rushing around. Counting the last few dollars in purses; despite holiday cheer, I heard a few curses. Last minute gifts, for hard-to-buy folks; stockings longing for more than dollar-store jokes. I want to shop local, so I'll go have a look: Hark! Lo! It hits me: I'll go get some books!

It's Giveaway Time!

Penguin Classics Mad Libs

Experience the classics in a new way with Mad Libs
Both kids and adults who love to read the classics will flip over our newest Mad Libs, which borrows the first pages from some of the most well-known and loved books in the Penguin Classics line. With lines like "It was the best of times, it was the ____ of times" and "Call me ______," readers will love to fill in the blanks to reinterpret their favorite classic novels.

"The End?" Episode 7 Season One Finale of "From My Shelf Books Vs The Ev...

This is the last episode of "From My Shelf Books Vs. The Evil Empire" we filmed. This is the episode where Kevin finally receives the book that he published. That book, Hobo Finds a Home, is a real book, and because of this episode. We brought it back into print in a special memorial edition.

Keep Krampus in Christmas

Limited Time Offer...It's Critical

Get a free D & D Critical Hit D20 Ice Cube(a 13.99 dollar value) with a purchase of Operation Ragnarok. Offer is limited to the first ten buyers. So, don't wait. Offer is for the paperback version only.

Operation Ragnarok is a fantastical adventure with comedic elements about a group of gamers going through a mid-life crisis, instead of the little red corvette, they decide to steal a Viking longship from a museum and release an ancient evil. It's a story of friendship, sacrifice, and unleashing Hel on Earth...

Operation Ragnarok, think Night at the Museum meets The Big Bang Theory with a touch of Stand by Me vibe. Great for those who love mythology, gaming, and geek culture, but not needed to enjoy this fast-paced tale. If you've ever rolled the dice, you need this book.

Operation Ragnarok is available for just $7.99 in print version from www.wellsborobookstore.com, or wherever books are sold, as well as an ebook on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, or Apple products

Want to unleash Hel on Hollywood? Check out the Valhalla Project of Facebook

Advance Praise for Operation Ragnarok

Operation Ragnarok is a fast-paced, irreverent nerdfest with laugh out loud dialogue, like Big Bang Theory on steroids. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy! --Dana Fredsti, author of the Ashley Parker Plague Town series

"Hoist your geek flag with Operation Ragnarok, And remember to always bring your claymore with you when robbing a museum or trying to save the world!" --Patrick Thomas, author of the Murphy's Lore series and the Dear Cthulhu advice columns and books

"Let's face it; there's a little hell raising Norseman in all of us. So top off your drinking horn, shoulder your trusty Claymore, and board your very own Viking longship. Kevin J. Coolidge's "Operation Ragnarok" is about to set sail. Who says geeks and gamers can't save the world?" -- Max Hawthorne , author of the bestselling Kronos Rising series.

If you're a fan of Norse mythology, pop culture, action and humor this is the book for you! Operation Ragnarok is a wild romp of a read. --V.L. Locey, romance author and mythology aficionado

"A Dungeons and Dragons adventure comes alive with good friends and a hero who loves books!" -Ann Myers, mystery author of Bread of the Dead.

Are You a Member of Our Rewards Program?

Are you a member of our rewards program? It's free and members earn points with every dollar spent. Points can be turned in for free merchandise or saved up for dollars off your order. The points never expire. You even get a ten dollar gift certificate for your birthday every year.

Members of the reward program have access to special in store sales. Right now we are doing 50% off for all Christmas-themed books, but you have to be in the rewards program. Click on our logo below and see some of the great stuff you can earn!

Dog Man Unleashed (Dog Man #2): From the Creator of Captain Underpants

Dog Man, the newest hero from the creator of Captain Underpants, is still learning a few tricks of the trade. Petey the cat is out of the bag, and his criminal curiosity is taking the city by storm. Something fishy is going on Can Dog Man unleash justice on this ruffian in time to save the city, or will Petey get away with the purr-fect crime?

FROM MY SHELF BOOKS PRESS RELEASE

Life's Memories & More is the winner of the 2016 Independent Small Business of the Year Award organized by Independent We Stand, the national small business movement. The announcement was made Wednesday, Dec. 14.

The scrapbook store in Palmer, Massachusetts was chosen by a panel of judges from the top 10 semifinalists for the "Indie" award who were named when voting ended on Sunday, Dec. 11. Owner Tanya Bullock will receive prizes having a combined value of $10,000, including a $5,000 grand prize.

From My Shelf Books & Gifts at 7 East Avenue in Wellsboro is one of this year's top 10 semifinalists. "We made the top 25 in 2013,” said Kevin Coolidge, owner of the bookstore. "In 2015 and 2016 we made it to the top 25 and the top 10 and didn’t win," he said.

"My wife, Kasey and I are so appreciative for all of the people who helped us be in the top 10 by voting online. We might not have won the grand prize, but we didn't open From My Shelf to win prizes but because we love books," said Kevin. He opened the bookstore 10½ years ago in July 2006. Kasey has served as manager since then.

"Our customers have helped us get this far and that's a good feeling," Kevin said. "We are continuing to do what we do best…books, from maintaining a wide variety of genres to matching people to the right books and special ordering."

In October, after Huffman’s Office Products closed, Kevin decided to expand From My Shelf Books into the neighboring 450 square feet of space. “Now we have a little over 1500 square feet. We are using the new space to expand our popular genres, such as Christian literature and Bibles and showcase others, such as Star Wars and zombie fiction.” Also on display for the first time is artwork from Kevin’s children’s series, “The Totally Ninja Raccoons.” Readers can see the artwork and get a customized signature for their books.

Also in October, Kevin & Kasey opened a From My Shelf Books & Gifts booth at Red Rose Antiques at 17 North Main Street in Mansfield. “We wanted to show our more collectible and uncommon books and the Red Rose was a great place for that. We also offer a mixture of used books in good condition and some new books with local and regional interest.”

"It was a lot of work and a big risk for us but we want to bring even more books and gifts to Tioga County," Kevin said.

The Wellsboro store is open every day, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The bookstore’s booth in Mansfield is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.

For more information about From My Shelf Books & Gifts call 570-724-5793 or 570-662-1224.

One year ago today, the first book in the Totally Ninja Raccoon series was released.

One Year ago, the very first Totally Ninja Raccoon book released, The Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot. One month ago, I released a super-special Christmas edition and the fifth in the series, The Totally Ninja Raccoons and the Catmas Caper.


These children's books are set right here in Wellsboro Pennsylvania and surrounding Tioga County, and children and adults are loving the series. I originally came up with the concept, because I joked that cats wanted to take over the world, but were too lazy to do the work themselves, and would hire raccoons to do all the work, and thus the Totally Ninja Raccoons were born.

The series is geared towards children from second to fourth grade, though some children who are younger love them if they are read to them. My nieces are in kindergarten and love them. I have some who are older who enjoy them because they can go to, or have been to the places in the books, and I even have several adults who collect them.

I have several more planned, and have already started on the follow-up to the Catmas Caper, It's The Totally Ninja Raccoon and the Secret of Nessmuk Lake. It should be release in late winter or early spring.

Look for other forthcoming titles involving The Jersey Devil and Little Green Men from Outer Space, and perhaps a new nemesis for the raccoons...the Samurai Possums.

I'm loving writing the series and having children and adults letting me know they are looking forward to future titles. It's a blast...totally.

But You Just Can't Get Rid of Christmas!

But You Just Can't Get Rid of Christmas!" yelps Huck

We can read the want ads in the Wellsboro Gazette

"We can read the want ads in the Wellsboro Gazette."

Noooo! It's coal

"Noooo!It's coal," Cries Gypsy !

Book Giveaway for Operation Ragnarok

Win an autographed copy of Operation Ragnarok by author Kevin Coolidge



“We are all just killing time, until time eventually kills us. We go through life knowing death is waiting, but not knowing what comes next. I don't have to wonder anymore, because I died.”

Operation Ragnarok is a fantastical adventure with comedic elements about a group of gamers going through a mid-life crisis, instead of the little red corvette, they decide to steal a Viking longship from a museum and release an ancient evil. It's a story of friendship, sacrifice, and unleashing Hel on Earth...

Operation Ragnarok, think Night at the Museum meets The Big Bang Theory with a touch of Stand by Me vibe. Great for those who love mythology, gaming, and geek culture, but not needed to enjoy this fast-paced tale. If you've ever rolled the dice, you need this book.

Operation Ragnarok is available for just $7.99 in print version from www.wellsborobookstore.com, or wherever books are sold, as well as an ebook on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, or Apple products

Want to unleash Hel on Hollywood? Check out the Valhalla Project of Facebook

Advance Praise for Operation Ragnarok

Operation Ragnarok is a fast-paced, irreverent nerdfest with laugh out loud dialogue, like Big Bang Theory on steroids. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy! --Dana Fredsti, author of the Ashley Parker Plague Town series

"Hoist your geek flag with Operation Ragnarok, And remember to always bring your claymore with you when robbing a museum or trying to save the world!" --Patrick Thomas, author of the Murphy's Lore series and the Dear Cthulhu advice columns and books

"Let's face it; there's a little hell raising Norseman in all of us. So top off your drinking horn, shoulder your trusty Claymore, and board your very own Viking longship. Kevin J. Coolidge's "Operation Ragnarok" is about to set sail. Who says geeks and gamers can't save the world?" -- Max Hawthorne , author of the bestselling Kronos Rising series.

If you're a fan of Norse mythology, pop culture, action and humor this is the book for you! Operation Ragnarok is a wild romp of a read. --V.L. Locey, romance author and mythology aficionado

"A Dungeons and Dragons adventure comes alive with good friends and a hero who loves books!" -Ann Myers, mystery author of Bread of the Dead.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Operation Ragnarok

by Kevin Coolidge

Giveaway ends December 23, 2016.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Come See Why We Made the Top Ten

Wow, you might have read that From My Shelf Books & Gifts has made the top ten of the Indie Awards sponsored by independentwestand.org. Heck, if you are reading this, there's a good chance that you put us there. We couldn't have done it without your votes. I want to personally thank you for that.

This contest started way back in September, and a lot has happened since our nomination. From My Shelf Books opened a booth in Mansfield Pennsylvania at the Red Rose Antique Shop. A neighboring business, Huffmans, closed its Wellsboro office, and we expanded into that space. It was a lot of work, and a big risk, but we want to bring even more books and gifts to Tioga County.

On a personal note, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with colon cancer and has started chemotherapy. A life-long friend died an untimely death, and I lost close to seventy pounds, mostly by trying. Though there were times I didn't feel like eating. I also published my fifth book in the Totally Ninja Raccoon series, and feel it's my best one yet. Yes, it's been a year of good and bad stresses. Winning this contest would be ending 2016 on a positive note.

Will we win? I don't know. I sure hope so. We will have to wait until December 14th at 10AM to find out. It's hard to be confident. Every business in the top ten looks great. It's tough competition. We made it to the top ten last year, and didn't win. Will this be our year?

Regardless, our customers and fans helped us get this far, and that's a good feeling. From My Shelf Books & Gifts is going to continue doing what we do best...books. Talking about books. Matching you with the right book. Special ordering you books, and adding to the literacy of our hometown.

If you haven't been in for awhile, we'd love to see you, and if you haven't been in, why wait? Come see why we have consistently made the top 25, and have made the top ten two years in a row. We might not win the grand prize, but we didn't open a bookstore to win prizes. My wife and I opened a bookstore because we love books. Come on in and let's find your next great read...

FROM MY SHELF BOOKS PRESS RELEASE

From My Shelf Books & Gifts at 7 East Avenue in Wellsboro is one of the top 10 semifinalists in the 2016 Independent Small Business of the Year Award. The Indie contest is organized by Independent We Stand, the national small business movement.

At 10 a.m. this Wednesday, Dec. 14, the 2016 winner of "The Indie" award, chosen by a panel of judges, will be announced and will receive prizes with a combined value of more than $10,000, including a $5,000 grand prize.

Voting for the top 10 locally-owned businesses in the country began Monday, Nov. 21 and ended Sunday, Dec. 11.

The Wellsboro bookstore celebrated its 10th anniversary this July. Available to children and adults are a wide variety of hardcover, softcover and audio non-fiction and fiction books of all genres, educational materials for families, including homeschoolers; craft and activity kits and puzzles; thank you notes and greeting cards; and novelty gift items for book lovers from T-shirts to book bags.

From My Shelf Books hosts book signings for local and regional authors of newly released books; the Where’s Waldo Scavenger Hunt each July; craft and activity kit nights; book and writers’ clubs for children and adults that meet regularly; and special workshops on writing and self-publishing.

Manager Kasey Cox willingly provides helpful tips about books to purchase as gifts for children and adults or tracks down a book she thinks a customer may enjoy.

In addition to From My Shelf Books & Gifts, the other semifinalists are: Artsy Fartsy, an art gallery in Carson City, Nevada; Bonlife Coffee, a shop that roasts and brews coffees in Cleveland, Tennessee; Children's World, a toy store in Sarasota, Florida; Fuzzy Goat, a yarn shop and The Bookshelf, a bookstore, both in Thomasville, Georgia; Hipp Modern Builder's Supply, a local hardware store that in two years has also developed an online enterprise, in Mountain View, Arizona; Life's Memories & More, a store that offers unique, quality crafting products in Palmer, Massachusetts; Miss Ellie's Delights that offers custom and homemade desserts in Norfolk, Virginia; and Surviving Sisters' Boutique of Hyde Park, N.Y. that houses hundreds of local artists, vendors & consignees that sell clothing in all styles and sizes from baby to adult and merchandise hand-crafted by local artisans.

Nearly 13,693 votes were cast for the 222 nominees during Round 1, the nomination phase, to select the 25 quarterfinalists .

Independent We Stand is a movement of independent business owners across the country to inform their communities about the importance of “Buying Local” and how these efforts bolster their local economy. For more information about From My Shelf Books & Gifts, on the "Indie" or voting, call 570-724-5793.

We Made the Top Ten!

With your help, we made the top ten! Thank you so much! Will we be number one this year? We won't find out until Wednesday at 10AM. Tune in then to find out.

Hanging With Krampus

Krampus wrapped up his tour of Europe and spent some much needed down time in Tioga County. He was at From My Shelf Books & Gifts for photo ops and to talk about is minor role in The Totally Ninja Raccoons and the Catmas Caper

I was able to spend some time with the Yule lord and I think he really needs his story told. I'm going to be starting work on a book that's all about Krampus, and next year when he visits Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, he'll be able to see his story in print...


Hanging with Krampus to sign autographs for his part in "The Totally Ninja Raccoons and the Catmas Caper"

Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Star Wars

Feel like the weight of the galaxy is on your shoulders? Thinking about joining the dark side? To restore your inner peace with the Force, look no further than the timelessStar WarsLittle Golden Books This inspirational collection features illustrations of epic scenes from the entireStar Warssaga.It's the perfect gift forStar Warsand Little Golden Book fans of all ages.

101 Things to Do with a Dutch Oven (Spiral)

Dutch oven cooking has long been popular out West, but when people nationwide find out just how easy and delicious Dutch oven cooking is, they'll be scrambling to get one Whether used outside with charcoal briquettes or inside the regular kitchen oven, Dutch ovens provide a stable, even cooking temperature, easy clean up one-dish cooking, and hearty recipes for every meal. The book also includes a Helpful Hints section, and plenty of information about getting started with Dutch oven cooking for the beginner.

With 101 easy recipes to choose from-from breakfast to dessert, including breads and rolls-the Dutch oven might just become the most popular cooking method in your house. Recipes include the Mountain Man Breakfast, Sausage Spinach Wreath, Dutch Oven Stew with spicy Jalapeno Cheese Bread, Caramel Apple Cobbler, Stuffed Pork Roast, Cinnamon Rolls, Dutch Oven Pizza, Apricot Raspberry Glazed Cornish Hens, and White Chili.

The Final Countdown....

You may have already read that From My Shelf Books & Gifts has advanced to round two of the Indie Awards sponsored by independentwestand.org. Only twenty five businesses made the cut, and we couldn't have done it without your votes. Thank you so much!

We are now in the final stretch of the quarter-finals stage and every vote counts because the race for the 10 semi-finalists is very tight.

keeping those votes coming through Sunday, December 11. Encourage your friends and family to vote. Especially via social media.

You can vote once a day per IP address, that means some of you can vote from home, from work, Or when you are drinking your latte in the coffee shop. Voting continues until December 11th. Then the top ten businesses will proceed to Round 3, where a panel of judges will choose the winner.

Your vote can make that happen for From My Shelf Books. You can go to our Facebook page where we will have a link pinned to the top to make voting easier. If you haven't already liked our Facebook page, please do. We have lots of great cartoons, word play, and geek culture. If you love our store, please leave a review. It helps keep us visible and in the ratings.

If you don't do the Facebook thing, you can still vote by visiting www.IndieBizAward.com and entering From My Shelf Books & Gifts in Wellsboro Pennsylvania.

Thanks so much for helping us get this far.

The Staff at From My Shelf Books & Gifts


JUST CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO BE TAKEN TO THE WEBSITE TO VOTE FOR FROM MY SHELF BOOKS!!!

Choose Your Own Misery: The Holidays

From The Onion alum writers Mike MacDonald and Jilly Gagnon comes a hilarious choose-your-own-path story to ruin your holiday spirit.

Bah Humbug An ideal choice for holiday haters and readers who enjoy David Sedaris's hysterically funny take, Holidays on Ice. Library Journal
This is the year you re going to do it: you re going to avoid Christmas completely
...or you were, until your island getaway got washed out by a hurricane. Now you have to choose: should you spend the holiday with your shrewish sister and her Europhile husband, or endure your new girlfriend's family for a week? Help chop down a tree even though it might throw out your back, or endure the icy judgment of a woman who thinks only children and pussies help bake cookies? Jet off to the glamorous slums of Kingston, Jamaica, or accept the offer of a ride from a man who never stops smiling...and is probably going to turn you into a skin suit?
From the writers who brought you the hilarious parody Choose Your Own Misery: The Office comes a second helping of misery with a festive twist. Christmas is full of fun surprises for kids, but for adults, it's just an endless series of aggressive crowds, overwhelming credit card debt, and pretending to like the people you re forced to spend it with.
Once you unwrap all the holiday misery hiding in these pages, the blackness of your heart will rival any lump of coal.
"I played this book thirty times and the happiest ending I got was one where I got to eat turkey with a badly burned hand. Seems about right. Hilarious every time." Ryan North, New York Times bestselling author of Romeo And/Or Juliet

S.P.Q.R: A History of Ancient Rome

"Ancient Rome matters. Its history of empire, conquest, cruelty and excess is something against which we still judge ourselves. Its myths and stories - from Romulus and Remus to the Rape of Lucretia - still strike a chord with us. And its debates about citizenship, security and the rights of the individual still influence our own debates on civil liberty today. SPQR is a new look at Roman history from one of the world's foremost classicists. It explores not only how Rome grew from an insignificant village in central Italy to a power that controlled territory from Spain to Syria, but also how the Romans thought about themselves and their achievements, and why they are still important to us. Covering 1,000 years of history, and casting fresh light on the basics of Roman culture from slavery to running water, as well as exploring democracy, migration, religious controversy, social mobility and exploitation in the larger context of the empire, this is a definitive history of ancient Rome. SPQR is the Romans' own abbreviation for their state: Senatus Populusque Romanus, 'the Senate and People of Rome'"

Little Blue Truck's Christmas (Board Books)

It's the most wonderful time of the year Little Blue Truck is spreading cheer by delivering Christmas trees to his animal friends. Can you help count each green tree from one to five and back again? Don t forget to save one for Blue Beep Beep

With the gentle rhythm and signature illustration style that made Little Blue Truck a household name, Blue's new adventure is full of holiday warmth. Sturdy cardstock pages, a compact and child-friendly text, and flashing colored Christmas lights on the final page come together in a novelty gift book that's sure to be the favorite treat of the season.

Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad (Little Critter)

Mercer Mayer's very popular character stars in a getting-ready-for-Christmas picture book. Little Critter approaches Christmas with the intention of being a good helper. When he makes a mistake, he has a logical explanation. He couldn't wrap the Christmas package because the tape got too sticky. He couldn't buy his parents a present because there were too many toys to look at. He couldn't put up the tree lights because they were just too tangled. Little Critter means well, but every funny illustration shows him as tangled up as the Christmas lights.

Where Angels Walk: True Stories of Heavenly Visitors

We don't hear much about angels nowadays. When we do, they have often been secularized or commercialized. Instead of ministering angels who reveal God's love and mercy, we hear about angel investors or we gobble up foil-wrapped chocolate angels at Christmas. But Joan Wester Anderson trusts that angels still walk among us.
On mountain slopes, on desolate rural highways, in airplane cockpits these are just a few of the many places where ordinary people have felt the very real presence and power of God's angels at work in their lives. In this twenty-fifth anniversary edition of her New York Times best-selling book Where Angels Walk, Joan Wester Anderson (the Angel Lady ) offers dozens of reasons stories, actually for us to reconsider our rather limited view of angels. In addition to the original collection of angelic encounters, several new stories have been included.
Anderson, who holds traditional Christian beliefs about angels, was careful to select only those stories that had a ring of truth to them. But are they true? Do heavenly visitors really walk among us? Open this book along with your heart before you decide.

The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You!

Science has never been so easy--or so much fun

With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments. High school science teacher Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons--from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space.
You'll discover answers to questions like:

Is it possible to blow up a balloon without actually blowing into it?
What is inside coins?
Can a magnet ever be "turned off"?
Do toilets always flush in the same direction?
Can a swimming pool be cleaned with just the breath of one person?

You won't want to wait for a rainy day or your school's science fair to test these cool experiments for yourself

The Seventh Plague

If the biblical plagues of Egypt truly happened could they happen again on a global scale?

Two years after vanishing into the Sudanese desert, the leader of a British archeological expedition, Professor Harold McCabe, comes stumbling out of the sands, frantic and delirious, but he dies before he can tell his story. The mystery deepens when an autopsy uncovers a bizarre corruption: someone had begun to mummify the professor's body while he was still alive.

His strange remains are returned to London for further study, when alarming news arrives from Egypt. The medical team who had performed the man's autopsy has fallen ill with an unknown disease, one that is quickly spreading throughout Cairo. Fearing the worst, a colleague of the professor reaches out to a longtime friend: Painter Crowe, the director of Sigma Force. The call is urgent, for Professor McCabe had vanished into the desert while searching for proof of the ten plagues of Moses. As the pandemic grows, a disturbing question arises.

Are those plagues starting again?

Before Director Crowe can investigate, a mysterious group of assassins leaves behind a fiery wake of destruction and death, erasing all evidence. With the professor's body incinerated, his home firebombed, Sigma Force must turn to the archaeologist's only daughter, Jane McCabe, for help. While sifting through what's left of her father's work, she discovers a puzzling connection tying the current threat to a shocking historical mystery, one involving the travels of Mark Twain, the genius of Nikola Tesla, and the adventures of famous explorer Henry Morgan Stanley.

To unravel a secret going back millennia, Director Crowe and Commander Grayson Pierce will be thrust to opposite sides of the globe. One will search for the truth, traveling from the plague-ridden streets of Cairo to a vast ancient tomb buried under the burning sands of the Sudan; the other will struggle to stop a mad genius locked within a remote Arctic engineering complex, risking the lives of all those he holds dear.

As the global crisis grows ever larger, Sigma Force will confront a threat born of the ancient past and made real by the latest science a danger that will unleash a cascading series of plagues, culminating in a scourge that could kill all of the world's children . . . decimating humankind forever.

Huck & Finn Bookstore Cats Going For Number One!

You may have already read that our bookstore From My Shelf Books & Gifts has been nominated for the Indie Awards sponsored by independentwestand.org. Only ten businesses will make the next round and we can't do it without your votes.

Voting to advance us, Huck & Finn, to round three is ongoing now! You can vote once a day per IP address, that means some of you can vote from home, from work, AND when you are buying cat treats. Voting continues until December 11th. Then the top ten businesses will proceed to Round 3. Those businesses should have cats. You cat make that happen.

Your votes helped get us to the top ten last year, but we lost to a bigger business who didn't have a cat, or even a dog.

Your vote can make that happen for From My Shelf Books. You can go to our Facebook page where we will have a link pinned to the top to make voting easier. If you haven't already liked our Facebook page, please do. We have lots of great cartoons, word play, and geek culture. If you love our store, please leave a review. It helps keep us visible and in the ratings.

If you don't do the Facebook thing, you can still vote by visiting www.IndieBizAward.com

Thanks so much for helping us get this far.

Huck & Finn, Bookstore Cats at From My Shelf Books & Gifts


CLICK HERE HUMAN TO VOTE FOR HUCK & FINN!!!

The Story of From My Shelf Books

Once upon a time both Kevin and Kasey left their small, home town of Wellsboro. As fate would have it, they each moved back to Wellsboro and met while doing a local play festival. When Kevin and Kasey started dating, they found out they had both been selling books part-time. Joining inventories, they sold books from their tiny apartment, before taking the leap into retail, giving Tioga County the first bookstore of its kind, with new and used books, across a wide spectrum of genres and prices.

Kasey Getting Ready to Talk About the Latest Great Read

Kevin Thinking About the Next Totally Ninja Raccoon story!

From My Shelf Books & Gifts is located in beautiful, small-town Wellsboro, PA, in the historic district, just a block from the famous Wellsboro Diner. The bookstore is a customer-centered, independently-owned bookstore. The knowledgeable staff and eclectic inventory has garnered praise from big-city visitors and fellow small-town dwellers.




From My Shelf Books is just a block from the Wellsboro Diner!!

After seeing Jen and her son at least twice a week as customers, we finally just offered Jen a job. She accepted, and we've been a bookstore family ever since. Over the years, we've had great part-time help from many people, including book people during college breaks, and while job-hunting for more full-time work. We've learned something from each and every one, and have been glad to have this "extended family".

Jen with the famous Hobo the Cat, Our First Bookstore Cat

From My Shelf officially opened its doors for business in July of 2006 with only about 3,000 books on the shelves, mostly used, but with dreams of filling the 800 square feet, top to bottom, with books. From My Shelf Books & Gifts is now bursting with books, puzzles, cards, games, audio books, book-related gifts, friends, and general good cheer.

The bookstore is still clean and well-organized, and has more space and light in its new space. We continue to look for opportunities to grow, to serve our community, and to encourage each person to find the right book.

Each month, we sponsor a number of free, fun, family-centered gatherings such as author events, game nights, book club, writers’ group, book release parties, poetry nights, and more. Let us be your book matchmakers!


We're in a contest. You Can Vote For Us Until 12/11/16! Just Click on This Image!

The Shack

Mackenzie Allen Phillips's youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation. Evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in the midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note--apparently from God--inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment, he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change his life forever.

The 12 Days of Christmas: The Story Behind a Favorite Christmas Song

Discover the Christian symbolism in the classic Christmas carol, The 12 Days of Christmas. Explore this beautifully illustrated classic carol and the meaning behind the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6th). It will remind you and those you love of our life in Christ. At the end of the story readers will enjoy the Ideas for Celebrating page that lists holiday activities to be enjoyed by the whole family.

Pokemon Go: Diary of a Farting Pikachu: (An Unofficial Pokemon Book)

Pikachu is such a cute Pokemon. But when he gets gassy, he will become a fart whisperer. OR a fart shouterer. He's obsessed! Are silent farts worse? How can Pikachu save himself from those mega-embarrassing moments? Can Pikachu turn his fart into a deadly weapon or his butt will say otherwise? Ready to laugh your butt off? Grab it now while it's still available...

The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World

A lively adventure through history, natural science, and pop culture in search of how cats conquered the world, the Internet, and our hearts.
House cats rule back alleys, deserted Antarctic islands, and our bedrooms. Clearly, they own the Internet, where a viral cat video can easily be viewed upwards of ten million times. But how did cats accomplish global domination? Unlike dogs, they offer humans no practical benefit. The truth is they are sadly incompetent rat-catchers and pose a threat to many ecosystems. Yet, we love them still.
To better understand these furry strangers in our midst, Abby Tucker travels to meet the breeders, activists, and scientists who ve dedicated their lives to cats. She visits the labs where people sort through feline bones unearthed from the first human settlements, treks through the Floridian wilderness in search of house cats on the loose, and hangs out with Lil Bub, one of the world's biggest feline celebrities.
Witty, intelligent, and always curious, Tucker shows how these tiny creatures have used their relationship with humans to become one of the most powerful animals on the planet. The appropriate reaction to a cuddly kitten, it seems, might not be aww but awe.

Dickens of Christmas

We love Dickens of a Christmas here at From My Shelf Books & Gifts. We are happy to see it come, and relieved to see we survived another one. It's a hectic day at the bookstore and we often find ourselves just hanging on for the ride.

Our staff did a great job, but we didn't get to spend as much time with every customer as we usually do. Now that it has calmed down, come see everything we have to offer.

We have a large, diverse selection of books, gifts and games. We have opened up over 450 more square feet. We have a staff that is well-read and loves suggesting books. There are no long lines and always free parking, and we have Huck & Finn, the best bookstore cats in the business. All in a locally owned small town business that's been serving Tioga County for over ten years.

Bad Kitty Does Not Like Snow

It's snowing. Kitty has never seen snow. So Kitty looks it up on the computer.
Snow is wet.
Snow is cold.
Snow is slippery.
Okay. Bad Kitty can handle this. She'll just put on her snow gear and try. . .in Nick Bruel's Bad Kitty Does Not Like Snow.

Krampus is Coming to Town

Have you been naughty or nice in 2016? I think we all know the answer to that question. Face it. The fat man in red is NOT bringing you any thing this Christmas season. You might as well makes nice with the competition, Krampus. You can meet him at From My Shelf Books & Gifts December 9th 2016 from 4PM to 6PM AND just added December 10th from 4PM to 6PM!

Krampus is visiting From My Shelf Books after his European tour. He'll be staying at Wellsboro's Penn Wells Hotel . He's gracious enough to stop by the bookstore, sign a few autographs, talk about his role in the Catmas Caper, and do some photo ops for those that are naughty or nice.

Thriving Outside the Big Box

From My Shelf Books & Gifts named Quarter-finalist for Indie Award
Support From My Shelf Books & Gifts of Wellsboro Pennsylvania in national award by voting today

The national small business movement, Independent We Stand, announced the quarterfinalists, including From My Books & Gifts of Wellsboro Pennsylvania, of the 2016 Independent We Stand Independent Small Business of the Year or Indie Award. This announcement precedes Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26, encouraging holiday shoppers to support these businesses over big boxes and national chains.

From My Shelf Books & Gifts is located in beautiful, small-town Wellsboro, PA, right in the historic district. We're proud to be a customer-centered, independently-owned bookstore. Our knowledgeable staff and eclectic, ever-changing inventory has garnered us praise from big-city visitors and fellow small-town dwellers alike.


Store manager Kasey Coolidge said "Year-round, we welcome in-store shoppers to browse the more than 40,000 new and gently used books that we have in stock at any given time. In addition, we regularly help our customers with special orders of both new and out-of-print books, sharing our expertise and excellent track record for locating just the book you’re looking for."

“This year’s quarter-finalists represent a variety of independent businesses across the country, who are making an impact on their local economies,” said Bill Brunelle, co-founder of Independent We Stand. “This award is our way of recognizing their outstanding efforts in their respective communities.”

Voting is now underway at www.IndieBizAward.com through Dec. 11. Voters may visit the website to cast one vote each day.

The 2016 Indie winner will receive prizes with a combined value of more than $10,000, including:
$5,000 grand prize
$1,000 STIHL equipment certificate. STIHL products are sold exclusively through local, independent servicing dealers and support more than 9,000 STIHL dealers in communities nationwide.

“Small Business Web Starter Package” from independent web design firm – Meridian Group
Three days/two nights stay at an independent beach resort in Virginia Beach, Va. (valued at $1,000)
Plaque to display at winner’s business
Public relations and social media recognition
Quarter and semifinalists will receive a Premium Membership from Independent We Stand

Nearly 13,693 votes were cast for 222 nominees during the nominations phase. The quarter-finalists in alphabetical order are:

Afterwords Books, a bookshop in Edwardsville, Ill.
Anonymous Lacquer, a nail polish company in Newport News Va.
Artsy Fartsy an art gallery in Carson City, Nev.
Big Red's Equipment, a lawnmower and tractor store in Grandbury, TX.
BodyworksBall, a wellness company in Brick, N.J.
Bonlife Coffee, a coffee roaster in Cleveland, Tenn.
Children's World, a uniform supply company in Sarasota, Fla.
Collage, a gift shop in York, Pa.
Continental Earthworks, a forestry and wildland fire mitigation company in Avon, Colo.
Cornerstone Shop & Gallery, a lifestyle store in Lake Geneva, Wis.
From My Shelf Books & Gifts, a new and used bookshop in Wellsboro, Pa.
Fuzzy Goat, a yarn shop in Thomasville, Ga.
Gardiner Food Co-op & Cafe, a food co-op and café in Gardiner, ME.
Hipp Modern Builder's Supply, a hardware store in Mountain View, Ark.
Hungry Hound Beer Grain Treats, a dog treat company in Conklin, N.Y.
Life's Memories & More, a scrapbook store in Palmer, Mass.
Luxe Fiber Designs, a fiber mill in Stone Lake, Wis.
Lyons Lumber & Hardware, a hardware Store in Frankfort, Ky.
Miss Ellie's Delights, LLC, a bakery in Norfolk, Va.
Mower Man Lawn Service, a landscaping company in McKinney, TX.
Roe Brothers, Inc., a hardware store in Florida, N.Y.
Surviving Sisters' Boutique, a clothing boutique in Hyde Park, N.Y.
The Bookshelf, a bookshop in Thomasville, Ga.
The Cross Eyed Owl Gift Shop, a gift shop in Valatie, N.Y.
The Enrichery, a supplemental education company in Houston, TX.

The winner of the Indie will be announced Dec. 14.

For more information on From My Shelf Books & Gifts visit wellsborobookstore.com
For more information on the “Indie” or to vote, visit www.IndieBizAward.com.



About Independent We Stand

Independent We Stand is a movement of independent business owners across the country to inform their communities about the importance of “Buying Local” and how these efforts bolster their local economy. This movement supports all local and national causes committed to boosting local economic development projects. The Independent We Stand movement is co-sponsored by STIHL Inc. and FCA US LLC. Associate sponsors include PPG Pittsburgh Paints, Do it Best Corp. and Tire Pros.



JUST CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO BE TAKEN TO THE WEBSITE AREA TO VOTE FOR FROM MY SHELF BOOKS & GIFTS!!!

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