There is something in the air this fall. Several of our longtime favorite authors have new books coming out in the next month or so. Some are continuing longtime series; some are revisiting characters that they introduced to us many years ago. Here are the ones that are making my stack, oh, so much higher!

Stephen King. His new novel, “Doctor Sleep,” revisits our young hero from “The Shining.” 36 years in between these 2 books. [and Danny is now all grown up.]

John Grisham. “Sycamore Row,” revisits Jake from “A Time to Kill.” 24 years in-between tales. [only about 3 years in Jake’s world]

Tom Clancy. One more Jack Ryan novel, “Command Authority,” 20 years after we first met him. [spoiler alert: it is now ‘President Ryan!’] [and, of course, RIP Mr. Clancy.]

Thankfully, some authors keep our favorite characters front and center:

Elizabeth George. Inspector Lynley appears in his 18th book this fall, “Just One Evil Act,” he has been in our lives since 1988.

Sue Grafton. The 23rd book featuring Kinsey Milhone, “W is for Wasted,” is now out. 31 years have passed in our world, but it is still the late 1980s for Kinsey, no cell phones, no computers on every desk, and she still makes it all work!

Janet Evanovich. 20 years of Stephanie Plum [how can that be true?!] and book #20 is coming out this month, “Takedown Twenty.”

November Events at Edmonds Bookshop.

Nov. 7 & 20. Our November Book Club choice is “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” by Rachel Joyce. Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does. One morning a letter arrives, addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl, from a woman he hasn’t heard from in 20 years. A chance encounter convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his reply in person. In his yachting shoes and light coat, he is determined to walk six hundred miles to the hospice, believing that as long as he walks, his friend will live. A novel of charm, humor, and profound insight into the thoughts and feelings we all bury deep within our hearts.

Find more information, and the list of books chosen for the rest of the year, on our Book Club page.

Nov. 9. Saturday at noon. Join us to welcome author Wendy Joseph and her novel, “The Witch’s Hand.” It is the thirteenth century, in southern France…

Malaxia, the most formidable witch on earth, chooses young Liana as her successor. But does Liana want to be the most powerful and destructive witch in the world? Liana gets help from a most unlikely source…

Visit her website for all kinds of great information.

Nov. 19. Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. We welcome Kris Saknussemm, author of “Sea Monkeys: A Memory Book,” and many well-received novels. He will read a bit from his memoir. He will treat us to a preview of a work-in-progress! And he will chat with us a bit about the art, science, and business of writing. Mr. Saknussemm is an engaging speaker – join us for what will, no doubt, be an entertaining and enlightening afternoon!

Visit his website for all the information you could ever want.

Nov. 21, Thursday. First Dibs night! In previous years, there have been special deals and discounts for one night only! The town is decorated early, and there are festive things happening all over! Join us for all the fun, and stay tuned for more information!

Third Thursday Art Walk. Nov. 21, 5-8 p.m., Join us for light snacks and beverages as we welcome award-winning author Paddy Eger to celebrate the publication of her first novel, “84 Ribbons”!

In this debut novel, a young dancer realizes her lifelong dream, if only for a little while. Seventeen-year-old Marta Selbryth realizes her dream of becoming a professional dancer when the Intermountain Ballet Company in Billings, Montana invites her to join their 1957 season. As Marta’s new life unfolds, she must learn to face not only the successes of dancing in the corps de ballet, but the challenges and setbacks that might crush the dream she’s had for so long.

Nov. 30, 2013. Small Business Saturday! Join us, and our special guest booksellers, Jim Lynch from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; and William Dietrich from 1-2 p.m.! More details on our website!

Recent book releases of note:
“The Luminaries” by Eleanor Catton. Winner of the Man Booker Prize, announced Oct. 15, 2013. “Youth and heft triumphed as 28-year-old New Zealander Eleanor Catton won the fiction award for an ambitious 832-page murder mystery set during a 19th-century gold rush.” The entire article here.

“The Circle” by Dave Eggers. What begins as the captivating story of one woman’s ambition and idealism soon becomes a heart-racing novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge.

“The House of Hades : Heroes of Olympus, Book 4” by Rick Riordan.

“Practice to Deceive” by Ann Rule. The bestselling author unravels a shattering case of Christmastime murder on Whidbey Island.

“Just One Evil Act” by Elizabeth George. The latest installment in the Inspector Lynley series.

“The Family: Three Journeys into the Heart of the Twentieth Century” by David Laskin. The Seattle-based author turns to his own genealogy to tell the story of three different paths in his extended family over 150 years.

For teen readers
“Allegiant : Divergent #3” by Veronica Roth.
“Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems” by Billy Collins.
“Johnny Cash: the Life” by Robert Hilburn. The life of one of the 20th century’s most famous and influential musicians — billed as definitive and no-holds-barred.
“A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five” by George R.R. Martin. In paperback! Finally!!
“The Dinner” by Herman Koch. The staff-recommended novel now in paperback.

And coming soon:
“The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon: No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency #14” by Alexander McCall Smith. Nov. 5

“The Valley of Amazement” by Amy Tan. Moving between the dazzling world of courtesans in turn of the century Shanghai, a remote Chinese mountain village, and the rough-hewn streets of nineteenth-century San Francisco, Tan’s sweeping new novel maps the lives of three generations of women connected by blood and history. Nov 5

“This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage” by Ann Patchett. Blending literature and memoir, Patchett examines her deepest commitments: to writing, family, friends, dogs, books, and her husband. Together these essays form a resonant portrait of a life lived with loyalty and with love. Nov. 5. Patchett reads from her new book at Seattle Public Library Nov. 21. The SPL website is www.spl.org

For ages 8 and up
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid #8: Hard Luck” by Jeff Kinney. Nov. 5
“Hild” by Nicola Griffith. The Yorkshire-born Seattle resident’s new novel is set in the world of seventh-century Britain, the story of a girl with seer-like qualities who is destined to become Saint Hilda. Nov. 12
“Dust: A Scarpetta Novel” by Patricia Cornwell. Nov. 12
“Takedown Twenty: A Stephanie Plum Novel” by Janet Evanovich. Stephanie Plum has her sights set on catching a notorious mob boss. If she doesn’t take him down, he may take her out. [yes, both Joe and Ranger get wrapped up the goings on! And for some reason, a giraffe named Kevin ends up running wild in the streets of Trenton.] Nov. 19
“Cross My Heart : An Alex Cross Novel” by James Patterson [and! no co-author!] Nov 25

As always, check our website for all the latest in book news!
Happy reading!

— By Elaine Mattson

Edmonds native Elaine Mattson has worked at The Edmonds Bookshop off and on since she was 12 years old, and has also worked at a book wholesaler, a book publisher, and for the book publishing division of a large local software company (yes, that one). “I was raised a book lover [thanks, Mom!],” Mattson says. “We got book lights by our beds as soon as we were old enough to read. And then I probably got in trouble for reading too late the very next night. And I still read too late!”