Events at The Sparkle Bookstore

Are you intrigued by this attractive, challenging game but a little daunted too? Please join us for what our family thinks is the best way to spend a cozy winter evening. No purchase necessary . . . but we hope you enjoy Wingspan so much you'll want to add every game in the series to your collection.

Play takes about 2 hours.

In the final two weeks of the Vietnam War, Chase Manhattan Bank sent Ralph White, a 27-year-old bank officer working in Bangkok, to Saigon. His assignment: keep the Saigon branch open as long as possible. With the North Vietnamese Army approaching, the Chase Vietnamese employees faced dire consequences for having worked for Americans. Asked if he were leaving them behind, Ralph committed to getting all the 113 Chase Saigon employees and their families out of the country. Getting Out of Saigon is Ralph’s eyewitness account of this illegal effort as tension in the doomed city built to the breaking point.

Post-9/11, Ralph traded his corporate finance career for public service and writing. He founded and, for ten years, served as the president of the Columbia Fiction Foundry, a writing workshop for alumni of Columbia University. He currently serves as its chairman.

D. Z. Stone (No Past Tense, A Fairy Tale Unmasked) is an author and journalist whose non-fiction books focus on the Holocaust and its aftermath. Her articles have appeared in The New York Times and Newsday. She previously interviewed author Ralph White and wrote about him for The Foreign Service Journal. She resides in Sparkill.

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1 to 5 pm

Join us in welcoming local crafters and vendors to our side yard, weather permitting!

Further details TBA. If you are interested in featuring your creations, please get in touch. Visit our About page for contact information. There is no fee to participate. Just good local vibes!

We also look forward to featuring local vendors in our snack bar every weekend until Christmas.

Early film star Zita Johann starred in the original movie The Mummy (1932) and in The Sin of Nora Moran (1933). After an illustrious film and Broadway career, Zita became an acting coach. Her acting techniques and her faith in the spiritual world had a major impact on the author, conjuring up ghosts of the past to pay a visit in one form or another.

This memoir involves Hollywood history, spiritualism, trust, theft, drama, and an ongoing pursuit for justice.

"Timing is everything."

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Join us as we welcome Barbara Viniar and celebrate the release of her new book, Little Bird.
**Please arrive promptly for the reading!

This historical novel traces the immigration of a Jewish girl from Russia to New York City in 1910, as her family seeks to save her from escalating violence. No longer her parents' dutiful and adored "little bird," she becomes dutiful wife to a wealthy cousin. When her husband's cruelty finally pushes her to risk leaving him, she parlays her embroidery skills into a job and self-reliance. But will daring to love again mean risking her independence again?

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Barbara Viniar started out in academia, teaching Women's Studies part time at the graduate and undergraduate levels and writing her doctoral dissertation on women's moral development in contemporary fiction. After retiring from her second college presidency, she turned to creative writing. A chance discovery about her grandmother compelled her to imagine the story that became Little Bird.

Let Martin Cahill read to you from his fantasy debut. Nesi, a would-be acolyte, auditions to serve the Fox, the trickster deity in a pantheon of spirit animals. But the Fox's idea of an appropriate trial uproots Nesi from her own peaceful place and time, and asks her to risk life and limb for justice.

“If you love my worlds, you’re going to love Cahill’s: stunning imagination, daring premises, and deep character dives. A new author to watch.”
—N. K. Jemisin, author of the Broken Earth series

Martin Cahill has published short fiction in venues including Fireside, Reactor, Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Shimmer, and Nightmare. Cahill’s stories “The Fifth Horseman” and “Godmeat” were respectively nominated for the Ignyte Award and included in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2019. He was also one of the writers on Batman: The Blind Cut and a contributor to Critical Role: Vox Machina – Stories Untold. Cahill lives in New York. Visit him on the web at https://martintcahill.wordpress.com/.

Free admission.

Purchase the book in advance or on the day of the event.

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Self-publication now involves a broad spectrum of possibilities. How does an indie author navigate the choices? Join Kenyatta Jones-Arietta and Tiera Rice, the team that produced Kenyatta's book Iron Love, for a discussion of the journey.

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Kenyatta lives in New York with her husband of 25 years, Rudy, their two sons, their Great Dane Bruce, and a family that inspires every chapter.

Tiera Rice-Royo is an indie author, coach, and mentor based in Rockland County, NY. A proud wife and mama of three, she fills her days with writing, painting, and crafting intention-based candles. A U.S. Army veteran and cancer survivor, Tiera's journey has been shaped by resilience and a deep love for storytelling. Through her books, art, and coaching, she empowers others to reconnect with their voice, embrace their truth, and live with authenticity.

Join us as we welcome Anne Bryant, author of The Happy Servant, a story about a gifted young boy with a captivating vision in mind and the family that pools its talents to bring his original ideas to the world.

Anne Bryant is a composer, an arranger-orchestrator, and producer of songs and well-known themes and scores for television, advertising, and film, including The Transformers main theme, The JEM Main Theme and song score, My Little Pony and Friends, The Great Space Coaster, and more.

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We look forward to bringing some sparkle to our friends at the Ramapo Senior Activity Center! We will have a selection of new and used fiction and nonfiction, some large print titles, puzzles, and coloring books. If you or a friend or loved one enjoys spending the day at the Center, we look forward to seeing you.

Join award-winning children's book author Victoria Oltarsh for a reading from her middle-grade fantasy novel The Boy and the Secret of the Stars! In an interactive reading, children are invited to participate in the story with props and costumes that the author will provide -- or to just sit and listen, let the stars be in your eyes! Victoria has been affectionately called the "fairy godmother of storytelling" for the magical experience she brings to her readings.

Recommended for readers and lovers of stories and the stars aged 5 to 12.

Victoria is a professional drama and playwriting teacher and theatrical director. The Boy and the Secret of the Stars won the award for Children's Sci-Fi Fiction in the BookFest Book Awards 2025.

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We are pleased to welcome Jonathan Kruk and the publication of his new book, The Magical, Wonderful Bul Bul Bird!

When a lonely king sends his sons on a quest to find the magical, wonderful Bul Bul Bird, they mysteriously vanish, leaving their courageous sister to embark on a perilous journey to uncover the truth and restore joy to the kingdom.

In this enchanting, lyrical retelling of a timeless fairy tale, master storyteller Jonathan Kruk weaves a tale of courage, mystery, and wonder brought to life with lush, vintage-inspired illustrations that will captivate children and adults alike.

Jonathan Kruk is a master storyteller, and the official Storyteller of the Archdiocese of New York. He has eight award-winning recordings, and two previous books, Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley, and Legends and Lore of the Hudson Highlands.

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Join us for our discussion of V. E. Schwab's latest, lush work of thrills and mind-bending twists!

Purchase the book in-store or at Bookshop.org (hardcover and ebook available).

We’re partnering with D’Vine again and gathering for a community potluck! Purchase a cookbook at The Sparkle, choose a recipe for an appetizer or side dish, and bring your dish to share. Enjoy the bounty with a taste of wines selected by Joe Printz for your fall and winter table.

Choose from these suggestions or purchase any cookbook from The Sparkle. If you’ve purchased a cookbook through our Bookshop.org portal, your proof of purchase will be your ticket to the event.

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Good Things by Saimin Nasrat, a new follow-up to the author's bestselling book Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.

True North Cabin Cookbook, vol. 2, by Stephanie Hansen, an influencer who specializes in "the cozy months" of October through April.

Beyond Delicious Cookbook by Mary Ann Winkowski and David Powers. Author Winkowski is known as "The Ghost Whisperer" who has received these recipes from the departed, sometimes at the request of the living, sometimes at the insistence of those who have passed on as a remembrance to their loved ones.

Simple Meal Solutions for Insulin Resistance by Megan Koehn is the latest in the Simple Meals Solutions series, designed to incorporate healthy and delicious foods into the lives of people who live with chronic health conditions.

Hosted by I. Buenaventura, a poet, martial arts practitioner and teacher, and LGBTQ+ activist from New Jersey.

Please join us for our Fall gathering!

~ We will feature 8 poets in 5-minute slots. Five minutes is about long enough to read 3 haikus or a single poem with 3 to 4 stanzas (but not long enough to read a canto from the Divine Comedy!).

~ Please arrive a little before our start time to sign up so that we can begin promptly.

~ At sign up, we will also ask you to write down a single line introducing yourself and your work. Our host will introduce you.

~ Please respect the time slots! We would like everyone to have the opportunity to read without feeling rushed.

We look forward to your work!

We'll have a selection of children's books and gifts at the Fair, corner of Hungry Hollow Road and Chestnut Ridge Road in Chestnut Ridge, New York. The Fair features vendors of gifts and crafts; students will serve baked goods, hot and cold drinks, and grilled fare. Our Sparkill store will still be open.

Join us as we welcome Jenna Schroeder, author of the comic romp Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza: Case of the Missing Hat, the lovely Are Enchanted Forests Real, and her newest book, the seasonally perfect Let Go, Little Leaf!

A perfect Friday evening for children aged 5 and up.

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Join us in welcoming Audrey Barbakoff as she reads from her new board book Mazel Toes, which celebrates generations of love for new babies with playful, Yiddish-inflected rhymes and sweet gestures for every part of the body, like a kiss on the keppie and a boop on the nose.

No purchase necessary.

Books will be available for purchase at the event, as well as in advance.

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UPDATE:
Saturday October 11 & Sunday, October 12
1 to 5 pm

We adjusted the vendor fair to include Saturday, October 11, to accommodate for a chance of inclement weather on Sunday.

Join us in welcoming local crafters and vendors to our side yard, weather permitting!

Further details TBA. If you are interested in featuring your creations, please get in touch. Visit out About page for contact information. There is no fee to participate. Just good local vibes!

~ Catique Boutique will bring retro home decor

~ Weiss Workshop will bring fanciful beeswax candles, 3D printed art, and more

UPDATE:
Saturday October 11 & Sunday, October 12
1 to 5 pm

We adjusted the vendor fair to include Saturday, October 11, to accommodate for a chance of inclement weather on Sunday.

Join us in welcoming local crafters and vendors to our side yard, weather permitting!

Further details TBA. If you are interested in featuring your creations, please get in touch. Visit out About page for contact information. There is no fee to participate. Just good local vibes!

~ Catique Boutique will bring retro home decor

~ Weiss Workshop will bring fanciful beeswax candles, 3D printed art, and more

Join us for an introduction to bookbinding. Learn how books evolved to the styles we see today, how we make them, and about bookbinding in the digital age. Make your own mini-notebook using basic techniques. All materials will be provided for this introduction and are easy to obtain for our future projects; we suggest a fee of $5 to cover expenses.

Manojit is a Sparkle "early adopter" in our community. We're so glad he can share his expertise with us!

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Welcome to our second author meet-and-greet!

Full of memorable characters, poignance, and humor, Suzy's crime fiction captures American families immersed in relatable situations: economic downturns, inheritance squabbles, Covid trauma . . . and murder.

Please join us in welcoming her and celebrating the release of her latest novel, The Bequest.

Books will be available for purchase in advance and at the event.

Respond on Eventbrite here.

Showing Up is:
~How readily we look into each other's eyes . . .
~How effectively our schools and workplaces function . . .
~How we build prosperous societies . . .
~How nations come together toward peace . . .
~And how our environment heals.

Want to hear more about how to truly show up more often and with greater ease?

Join us as we welcome award-winning author Marcy Axelrod in conversation with local entertainment artist Richard Skipper.

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Marcy has spent the past twenty-five years uncovering nature's model of how human beings are designed to thrive. Since 1999, her insights have helped individuals, teams, and some of the world's largest companies succeed.

Richard is an award-winning entertainer, storyteller, and legacy artist whose career spans more than 46 years. Through his platform Richard Skipper Celebrates and his website CallonDolly.com, he has interviewed thousands of artists and created tributes to icons like Carol Channing and Jerry Herman.

We're attending Suzanne's talk on her eagerly anticipated novel, Seeds of the Pomegranate. We have copies at the store too, but if you would like to meet Suzanne she will be signing books at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, 113 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, New Jersey at 2pm. Books will be available at the event.

Nym, a healer in a kingdom on the brink of war, is commanded to resolve the cold crown prince's mysterious ailment, which no other healer has been able to do. Much as she longs to leave the cruel court's twisted ways and return to her family's apiary, she pursues the cure, also finding herself unexpectedly drawn to the prince.

A chat and Q&A with Jennifer Kaufman, author of Grandparenting on the Spectrum.

Jennifer Kaufman MSET, MAEd, brings a rare dual perspective to autism education and family support. As both the principal of EPIC School, a specialized school for students with autism, and the grandmother of a child on the autism spectrum, she bridges professional expertise with deeply personal experience. With over 20 years in special education and 15 years as a school principal, Jen has transformed her unique insights into practical guidance for families navigating the autism journey.

Books will be available for purchase in advance and at the event.

Respond on Eventbrite here.

We look forward to bringing some sparkle to our friends at the Ramapo Senior Activity Center! We will have a selection of new and used fiction and nonfiction, some large print titles, puzzles, and coloring books. If you or a friend or loved one enjoys spending the day at the Center, we look forward to seeing you.

Not all heroes are human! In honor of National Dog Day we are hosting Tee for a meet-and-greet featuring her K-9 Special Ops series, a 3-book collection of fast-paced action, heart-stopping suspense, and spicy romance -- with hunky dogs as well as hunky heroes.

Enter a raffle to benefit Carnival for Canines -- you might win tickets, a basket packed with doggie swag worth over $100, or a blingy pawprint necklace! And sneak a nibble of chocolate with us in the Sparkle Snack Bar. Drawing at 4pm.

Hosted by poet laureate of Rockland Juan Pablo Mobili.

We hope to make open mics a regular invitation to the poetry community! Please join us for our first gathering.

~ We will feature 8 poets in 5-minute slots. Five minutes is about long enough to read 3 haikus or a single poem with 3 to 4 stanzas (but not long enough to read a canto from the Divine Comedy!).

~ Please arrive a little before our start time to sign up so that we can begin promptly.

~ At sign up, we will also ask you to write down a single line introducing yourself and your work. Our host will introduce you.

~ Please respect the time slots! We would like everyone to have the opportunity to read without feeling rushed.

We look forward to your work!

We're pleased to partner with our neighbors The Grape D'Vine for our first books-and-wine community meet-and-greet!

D'Vine owner Joe Printz's super power is to suggest wine to pair with whatever food combinations you come up with -- and we hereby make him a "lit" wine expert too. He's studying a list of books from our inventory and pairing them with fun wines. Sample them along with snacks and hang out with us! Non-alcoholic sparkling will also be available.

The Flealess Flea Market will take place in the side yard at 642 Main Street, Sparkill, right next to The Sparkle. Catique is pulling out all the stops to support Care About the Strays and Feed the Ferals. All proceeds from the sale of unique and excellent condition thrift household items and clothes will benefit the kitties.

Bring catfood, bagged or canned, and kitty litter to help provide for fostered strays.

You can also buy a raffle ticket to support the cause . . . and for the chance to win $10,000.

The Sparkle will provide space (and probably our tent), will sell food and drinks, and will also donate part of our sales that day to benefit the cats.

Cozy up with local authors in our cafe space!