We Serve Everyone

A bookstore is one of the few community businesses that serves every age, every interest. Like a farm it feeds the neighborhood—its produces ideas , information and imagination. Not every book is for every person, but there’s a book for every person. And of course a little fertilizer never hurts…

Antifascism, Sports, Sobriety: Forging a Militant Working-Class Culture

The Austromarxist era of the 1920s was a unique chapter in socialist history. Trying to carve out a road between reformism and Bolshevism, the Austromarxists embarked on an ambitious journey towards a socialist oasis in the midst of capitalism. Their showpiece, the legendary Red Vienna, has worked as a model for socialist urban planning ever since. At the heart of the Austromarxist experiment was the conviction that a socialist revolution had to entail a cultural one. With the Fascist threat increasing, the physical aspects of the cultural revolution became ever more central as they were considered mandatory for effective defense. At no other time in socialist history did armed struggle, sports, and sobriety become as intertwined in a proletarian attempt to protect socialist achievements as they did in Austria in the early 1930s. Antifascism, Sports, Sobriety contains an introductory essay by Gabriel Kuhn and selected writings by Julius Deutsch, l Deutsch represented the physical defense of the working class against its enemies like few others. His texts in this book are being made available in English for the first time.

About the Author

Julius Deutsch (1884 1968) was one of the most renowned representatives of the Austromarxist tendency of the 1920s and 30s, chairman of the antifascist workers militia organization Republikanischer Schutzbund, president of the Socialist Workers Sport International, prominent spokesperson for the workers temperance movement, and military adviser for the Republican forces in the Spanish Civil War. Gabriel Kuhn is an Austrian-born author and translator living in Stockholm, Sweden. Among his publications with PM Press are Sober Living for the Revolutionand All Power to the Councils!"

Kids Love These Books!!

The judges of the Story Monsters Approved program, which recognizes accomplished authors in the field of children’s literature have spoken, and The Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot by Kevin Coolidge of Wellsboro Pennsylvania has earned approval.

The colorful, kid-friendly Story Monsters Approved seal attracts the attention of young readers much more than a sticker intended for adult scrutiny. Kids know when they see the Story Monsters Approved patch it means children their own age enjoyed the book and are recommending they read it, too.

How do they know that? Because after books pass the first round of rigorous judging – which is done by industry experts, the books are then judged by a panel of youth judges who must also endorse the books before they can receive the official seal of approval.

“Who better to judge children’s books than the children who read them?” explains Linda F. Radke, president of Story Monsters LLC., the same company that sponsors the Dragonfly Book Awards program. “Judging these books gives children a wonderful sense of importance and responsibility

In The Totally Ninja Raccoons meet Bigfoot, our protagonists discover they are not meant to be ordinary bandits, but rather carry the potential to be something extraordinary, ninjas.

In this origin story, the Ninja Raccoons begin their ninja training, and meet their first potential employer--Gypsy the Cat. Gypsy sends the Raccoons on their first mission, to capture the elusive Bigfoot.

Things aren't what they seem to be. Bigfoot isn't the monstrous beast, as he's been portrayed. Gypsy isn't the benign employer. Cats want to take over the world.

The Totally Ninja Raccoons is a new children's series for 2nd to 4th grade, sepcifically geared towards reluctant readers. The series is set right here in Tioga County and Wellsboro and there are five books out with more to come!

In the first book, The Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot, our heroes discover they are not meant to be ordinary bandits, but rather carry the potenital to be something extraordinary, ninjas!

Kevin Coolidge is the co-owner of From My Shelf Books in Wellsboro and you can visit the author, see art displayed from the books, and get your book personalized.

‘The Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot’ Earns Story Monsters Approval

CHANDLER, AZ (January, 2017) – The judges of the Story Monsters Approved program, which recognizes accomplished authors in the field of children’s literature have spoken, and The Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot by Kevin Coolidge has earned approval.

The colorful, kid-friendly Story Monsters Approved seal attracts the attention of young readers much more than a sticker intended for adult scrutiny. Kids know when they see the Story Monsters Approved patch it means children their own age enjoyed the book and are recommending they read it, too. How do they know that? Because after books pass the first round of rigorous judging – which is done by industry experts, the books are then judged by a panel of youth judges who must also endorse the books before they can receive the official seal of approval.

“Who better to judge children’s books than the children who read them?” explains Linda F. Radke, president of Story Monsters LLC., the same company that sponsors the Dragonfly Book Awards program. “Judging these books gives children a wonderful sense of importance and responsibility. Some of our judging coordinators have told us that students who usually don’t enjoy reading or have difficulty reading have gotten a much-needed boost due to their judging responsibilities and have requested to serve as judges again.”

Authors interested in having their books considered for Story Monster Approved designation should visit www.StoryMonsters.com and download an entry form. Books are divided into the following categories with distinctions made between fiction and nonfiction: Preschool to Kindergarten, Grades 1-3, and Grades 4-6.

In The Totally Ninja Raccoons meet Bigfoot, our protagonists discover they are not meant to be ordinary bandits, but rather carry the potential to be something extraordinary, ninjas.

In this origin story, the Ninja Raccoons begin their ninja training, and meet their first potential employer--Gypsy the Cat. Gypsy sends the Raccoons on their first mission, to capture the elusive Bigfoot.

Things aren't what they seem to be. Bigfoot isn't the monstrous beast, as he's been portrayed. Gypsy isn't the benign employer. Cats want to take over the world.

Nicotine

By turns philosophical and darkly comic, an ex-smoker's meditation on the nature and consequences of his nearly lifelong addiction

Written with the passion of an obsessive, Nicotine addresses a lifelong addiction, from the thrill of the first drag to the perennial last last cigarette. Reflecting on his experiences as a smoker from a young age, Gregor Hens investigates the irreversible effects of nicotine on thought and patterns of behavior. He extends the conversation with other smokers to meditations on Mark Twain and Italo Svevo, the nature of habit, and the validity of hypnosis. With comic insight and meticulous precision, Hens deconstructs every facet of dependency, offering a brilliant analysis of the psychopathology of addiction.
This is a book about the physical, emotional, and psychological power of nicotine as not only an addictive drug, but also a gateway to memory, a long trail of streetlights in the rearview mirror of a smoker's life. Cigarettes are sometimes a solace, sometimes a weakness, but always a witness and companion.
This is a meditation, an ode, and a eulogy, one that will be passed hand-to-hand between close friends.

About the Author

Gregor Hens is a German writer and translator. He has translated Will Self, Jonathan Lethem, and George Packer into German. Jen Calleja is a writer, translator, curator, and musician. She has translatedproseand poetry for Bloomsbury, PEN International, the Austrian Cultural Forum London, and the Goethe-Institut."

Cooking for Two--Your Cat & You!: Delicious Recipes for You and Your Favorite Feline

Cat lovers can forget about eating solo, and cats no more have to look longingly at the meals their caretakers have prepared in hope of getting a bite. Now, with the help of "Cooking for Two: Your Cat & You," felines and their friends can share a meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner
In this new two-species cookbook, Brandon Schultz has adapted dozens of unpretentious recipes for people food to fit both the palate of humans and the dietary limitations of cats. He covers what foods are and aren t safe for our furry companions, suggests resources for making day-to-day cat food, and gives tips on making food for special occasions appetizing for both human and cat. Each recipe has instructions and ingredient lists for both types of diners.
Some sample recipes include:

Breakfast frittata
Thanksgiving dinner
Vegetable stirfry
Spinach and quinoa side salad
Banana fool
And much more

"With Cooking for Two: Your Cat & You," you'll be on your way to happy mealtimes for owner and kitty

Hobo's Books: the blog for From My Shelf!: Book Giveaway for the Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet ...

Hobo's Books: the blog for From My Shelf!: Book Giveaway for the Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet ...: The book that started it all, " The Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot " is the first book in the Totally Ninja Raccoon series, ...

Freemasons at Gettysburg

Written as a tribute to the Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial, "Freemasons at Gettysburg" documents the presence of over 50 Masons at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Although it has been traced to the 10th Century, BC, history indicates that the fraternity of Freemasons was introduced into England in 926 AD. As an association that continues to thrive today, the brotherhood was confronted with a difficult conflict when the Civil War broke out in 1861. Freemasons, both northern and southern, were forced to choose a side and go against the very foundation of the society of Freemasonry. Written as a tribute to the Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial, "Freemasons at Gettysburg" documents the presence of over 50 Masons at the Battle of Gettysburg. Despite all of their differences, Masons continued to practice their principles of brotherly love and good will on the battlefield, thus proving that the men who joined under the order would not, under any circumstances, sever their bonds of Masonic unity. 8.5 x 5.5 perfect bound 142 pages w/dozens of vintage photographs and maps.

The Signal Flame

The stunning second novel from National Book Award finalist Andrew Krivak a heartbreaking, captivating story about a family awaiting the return of their youngest son from the Vietnam War.

In a small town in Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains Hannah and her son Bo mourn the loss of the family patriarch, Jozef Vinich. They were three generations under one roof. Three generations, but only one branch of a scraggy tree; they are a war-haunted family in a war-torn century. Having survived the trenches of World War I as an Austro-Hungarian conscript, Vinich journeyed to America and built a life for his family. His daughter married the Hungarian-born Bexhet Konar, who enlisted to fight with the Americans in the Second World War but brought disgrace on the family when he was imprisoned for desertion. He returned home to Pennsylvania a hollow man, only to be killed in a hunting accident on the family's land. Finally, in 1971, Hannah's prodigal younger son, Sam, was reported MIA in Vietnam.
And so there is only Bo, a quiet man full of conviction, a proud work ethic, and a firstborn's sense of duty. He is left to grieve but also to hope for reunion, to create a new life, to embrace the land and work its soil through the seasons. The Signal Flame is a stirring novel about generations of men and women and the events that define them, brothers who take different paths, the old European values yielding to new world ways, and the convalescence of memory and war.

Beginning shortly after Easter in 1972 and ending on Christmas Eve this ambitious novel beautifully evokes ordinary time, a period of living and working while waiting and watching and expecting. The Signal Flame is gorgeously written, honoring the cycles of earth and body, humming with blood and passion, and it confirms Andrew Krivak as a writer of extraordinary vision and power.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck-- all parade across the pages of this delightful book. Children will immediately respond to Eric Carle's flat, boldly colored collages. Combined with Bill Martin's singsong text, they create unforgettable images of these endearing animals.

Literacy Night Talk

I'm Kevin Coolidge. I work at From My Shelf Books in Wellsboro with my wife Kasey.

I'm here tonight to let you in on a big secret. You can't tell anyone. It's top secret. Are you ready?

Are you sure? OK? Don't say I didn't warn you. Your life is never going to be the same....Cats are trying to take over the world!

Did you ever notice how terrible cats are at spelling?


Now, if you have a cat at home, you may have suspected this already.

This is our cat Gypsy, who stays at home all day. She's head of the Cat Board.

Have you heard of the Cat Board?

I'm not surprised that you haven't. It's a super-secret organization run by cats from around the world.

So, who is going to stand against this super-secret organization run from the shadows?

Why, the Totally Ninja Raccoons of course!

The Totally Ninja Raccoons have decided they are not meant to be ordinary bandits, but rather carry the potential to be something extraordinary--ninjas.

In the Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot, the raccoons begin their ninja training, and meet their first potential employer--Gypsy the Cat. Yes, this Gypsy:

Gypsy sends the Raccoons on their first mission, to capture the elusive Bigfoot.

Things aren't what they seem to be. Bigfoot isn't a monstrous beast, as he's been portrayed. Gypsy isn't the benign employer. Cats want to take over the world, and it's up to the Ninja Raccoons to do something about it.

The Totally Ninja Raccoons learn that sometimes you have to choose your own path if you want to choose your destination.

I don't see any cats or ninjas around. So, I'm going to read you the first chapter of The Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigoot. Don't tell Gypsy!

....read the first chapter

A furry head pops up from a trash can, the lid tilted on his head like a hat. It's a raccoon, and he's holding a box of Chinese takeout. "Someone ate all the pork out of this pork-fried rice, and there aren't any chopsticks!" says Kevin.

Now, you might not believe cats want to take over the world, or that there really are ninja raccoons, though I think we can all agree that Chinese food will make you hungry soon after you it it. I made up the story about the Ninja Raccoons. I created them with the power of my imagination. I'm a writer.


Well, maybe there are ninja raccoons...

I'm here to talk about the writing process. I've heard that you've done some fiction writing with your teachers. You've probably been told to "write what you know"....well, I write where I know, and I make the rest up. The Totally Ninja Raccoons are set right here in Tioga County. You might recognize the front cover of The Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot as being at the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.

It is true, however, that it is easier to write about something you know. Now, I don't know any raccoons, or if Bigfoot is real or not, but I know cats, and mine can be pretty bossy, especially around dinner time.

I like to joke and say the cats are in charge, or would like to be, but we all know that cats sleep a LOT.

Cats would love to be in charge, but they don't want to do the work involved, and so they would have to find someone to do the hard work. Hmmm, who would cats hire?

Dogs already have jobs.

Monkeys want too much money...

and possums don't understand the question.

Why, raccoons would be perfect. They already have the masks and the skills to be ninjas.

...and the Totally Ninja Raccoons came to life! Ideas for stories are all around you!

Remember, the man with the broom called the Totally Ninja Raccoons "thieves", but the man had thrown his leftovers away. The raccoons decide that they are not going to let someone else chose what they are. The raccoons can be anything they want. They already have the masks. They chose to be ninjas!

Have you ever had anyone call you something that you aren't, or tell you that you can't do something? Well, if raccoons can decide to be ninjas, then you can decide to be a writer.

One of the great things about being a writer is that no one can stop you. No one can keep you from being a writer. You may not be tall enough to play professional basketball, but to be a writer, all you have to do is write.

There are books about everything, and you can write about anything you want--ninja raccoons, giant chipmunks, that the pizza in the lunch room tried to eat your homework...

...anything. You don't even have to write a book. Do you love movies?

Movies have to be written. The actors are told what to say and do. It's called a screenplay, and somebody has to write it. Why not you? There are all kinds of writers. People who write directions on how to put a bookshelf together,

to what's on a cereal box...

.... to real life stories like who was George Washington, to how to best train puppies.

You can write about anything.

Yes, you can write about anything, but it doesn't mean that people will want to read it. I remember the first time I wrote something. It wasn't very good, but I kept writing. To be better at writing, you have to write, just like you get better at playing the piano by playing the piano.

Writing can be a lot of work. Once you write the story, a writer goes back and edits the story. You have to correct the mistakes, make sure words are spelled right, and that everything makes sense to the reader. There are people who have the job of making suggestions to writers, these are called editors, and sometimes make corrections the writer didn't catch, or make suggestions to make the story even better.

Writers can run into other problems. I love to write, and I wanted to write about ninja raccoons, but I knew the stories about the Totally Ninja Raccoons would be even better if there were pictures. I don't draw very well, but I didn't let that stop me. I have a friend who loves to draw and is great at art.

He was interested in drawing the Totally Ninja Raccoons. I described what they looked like, and he helped create what the raccoon would look like.

Early Concept Art for the Totally Ninja Raccoons

He even added some of his own ideas. It was his idea to give one of the raccoons a Mohawk haircut. I loved the idea.

The Totally Ninja Raccoons stories have them foiling the plots of the Cat Board, but they also come across many strange creatures in their adventures--such as werewolves!

Bigfoot!

and Thunderbirds!

What creatures do you think the Totally Ninja Raccoons should encounter next?

Take some suggestions from the crowd. Have Kasey write them down...



Oh, those are some great suggestions. That will totally keep the Ninja Raccoons busy for a long time.

You can read all about the adventures the ninja raccoons have all ready had

and right now I am working on The Totally Ninja Raccoons and the Secret of Nessmuk Lake. That should be out in May.

Do you have any questions for me about writing, raccoons, cats or Chinese food?

Thanks for listening about the Totally Ninja Raccoons and remember The Cat Board won't rest until cats rule the world, but maybe just a little cat nap first...