Category: Reading

Reading and Writing Horror

Posted on by Kristin Nelson

Reading and Writing Horror with Corey Farrenkopf

Do you love the horror genre? Have you ever wondered how horror writers craft suspense, create memorable creatures or write fear all while avoiding clichés?  Join Corey Farrenkopf, author of Living in Cemeteries, in conversation about his love of reading and writing horror on Wednesday, October 23rd at 6:30 PM in the Hermann Room. Copies of his book will be available for purchase at the event from Eight Cousins Books.

Corey Farrenkopf is a Cape Cod based writer. His debut novel, Living in Cemeteries, was published by JournalStone in April of 2024.  He is the Fiction Editor for the Cape Cod Poetry Review. His work has appeared in The Southwest Review, SmokeLong Quarterly, Tiny Nightmares, Catapult, Three-Lobed Burning Eye, Bourbon Penn, Flash Fiction Online, Wigleaf, The Florida Review, Reckoning, and elsewhere. His work has been nominated for multiple Pushcart Prizes and a Best of the Net award. He has also been nominated for both the Year’s Best Horror Anthology and the Year’s Best Horror and Dark Fantasy Anthology. He is represented by Marie Lamba of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. He currently resides in a house on a hill with his wife, Gabrielle, and their tiny dog, Ooli. He works as a librarian.

Praise for Living in Cemeteries:

“Does friendship/love or ghostly determinism rule the day? The spirits are alive on Cape Cod in Corey Farrenkopf’s Living Cemeteries. A strange, beguiling, ghostly romp that reads as though Wes Anderson novelized Peter Jackson’s The Frighteners. I’m here for it.”

–Paul Tremblay, the nationally best-selling author of The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts 

For more information about Corey Farrenkopf: https://www.coreyfarrenkopf.com/

This event is free to the public and registration is required as seating is limited. Register HERE or visit/call the adult services desk at 508-457-2555 x7.

 

Halloween at the Library!

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Booooooo tooooo yooooooooo!!!!!

Through the month of October, we are offering some fun and interesting programming that is a little spookier than usual.  There are books, readings, writing, theatre and an Edward Gorey art and presentation (unfortunately, he won’t make it given the whole death thing).  We will even be screening double feature movies just like in the old days! October is one of our favorite months! See below for all of our events! 

 

Edward Gorey Gashlycrumb Tinies around the Library!
October, Anytime we are open!…..No registration needed

The Gashlycrumb Tinies: or, After the Outing is an alphabet book written by Edward Gorey that was first published in 1963 as the first of a collection of short stories called The Vinegar Works, the eleventh work by Gorey. The book tells the tale of 26 children (each representing a letter of the alphabet) and their untimely deaths. It is one of Edward best-known books and is the most notorious amongst his roughly half-dozen mock alphabets. It has been described as a “sarcastic rebellion against his childhood that is sunny, idyllic, and instructive.” The morbid humor of the book comes in part from the mundane ways in which the children in the story die, such as falling down the stairs or choking on a peach. Far from illustrating  and dramatic and fantastical childhood nightmares, these scenarios instead poke fun at the banal paranoids that come as a part of parenting.

Gorey has stated that the book to be inspired by “those 19th century cautionary tales, I guess, though my book is punishment without misbehavior”.

Each letter of the alphabet will be on display for all of October in the Library’s Adult Section. No need to register, come back and check it out!

Zoom Talk: A Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats with Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Wednesday, October 2nd, 2pm …… REGISTER HERE
Online via Zoom

For decades, scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have studied the remarkable biodiversity of bats on Barro Colorado Island in Panama, where an astonishing seventy-six species coexist. Now, for the first time, Smithsonian scientists’ expertise pairs with the stunning photography of National Geographic contributor Christian Ziegler for a captivating visual journey into the fascinating world of these elusive night creatures, to bring you the book Bat Island: A Rare Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats.

Bats are unique among mammals: they have acquired true flight, they provide essential ecosystem services, and represent the ecologically most diverse group of mammals worldwide. Synthesizing decades-worth of intensive study, Drs. Rachel Page, Dina Dechmann, Teague O’Mara, and Marco Tschapka provide authoritative insight alongside 150 photographs that showcase bats’ extraordinary environmental adaptations and rich natural history.

This virtual presentation will cover topics from the book, such as the diverse sensory abilities of bats, their foraging strategies, roosting ecologies, and social systems. Bat Island presents decades of study of the hyper diverse bat population on Barro Colorado Island in addition to the most comprehensive and long-term datasets on tropical bats. The book and this presentation highlights how bats are threatened by habitat fragmentation and land degradation, and communicate the initiatives needed to ensure the survival of these animals, which are critical to maintaining healthy, balanced ecosystems.

Double Feature Movie: Hocus Pocus (1993)
Tuesday, October 8th, 5pm …… REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“After moving to Salem, Mass., teenager Max Dennison explores an abandoned house with his sister Dani and their new friend, Allison. After dismissing a story Allison tells as superstitious, Max accidentally frees a coven of evil witches who used to live in the house. Now, with the help of a magical cat, the kids must steal the witches’ book of spells to stop them from becoming immortal.” Rated: PG Running; Time: 1hr 36mins

Double Feature Movie: Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
Tuesday, October 8th, 6:45pm …… REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century Sanderson sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve.” Rated: PG; Running Time: 1hr 43mins


Don DeCristofaro Paranormal Activity Professional
Thursday, October 17th, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM.

Register here!

Hermann Meeting Room

Don DeCristofaro, a professional ghost and paranormal activity investigator, will be joining us on October 17th at 4:30 in the Library’s Herman Meeting Room. He has worked in the Lizzie Bordon house, as well as the house that inspired the hit movie The Conjuring. 

His most recent investigation of paranormal activity is on the USS Salem. The USS Salem was a World War 2 Heavy Cruiser. He spends at the least once a week there using the technology that has been developed. 

The presentation will include showing the tools that they use to monitor possible “other worldly” guests. Since Don has been investigating the USS Salem, Don became to have “relationships” with those have who have passed on and left behind. 

At the end of the presentation, Don is offering his very own expertise and advice to any patrons who may have suspicion that there is another room mate who never pays their rent. All ages event! You can give us a call, email a request, or register online!

WatermelonAlligator Theatre Company Presents Spooky Stories for All Ages
Saturday, October 19th, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM …… Register here!
Hermann Meeting Room


On October 19th from 2-4 PM, enjoy some family friendly tales of ghosts, mysteries, and the supernatural performed by professional working actors. Maybe even outside if the weather is cooperating!

The tales are appropriate for all ages. Adults, children and everything in between will enjoy. Our horror and spooky fans in training will get a real kick with the whole family!

There will even be a cauldron for witches to make their brews!

 

Edward Gorey Talk with Gorey House Museum Director, Gregory Hischak
Tuesday, October 22nd, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM…..Register here!  
Hermann Meeting Room

Please join us for a talk and presentation of Edward Gorey’s work and its ties to Cape Cod and the community.

Terrible things unfold in an Edward Gorey Book – children are swept out to sea, abducted by murderous insects, fall into unsavory company, or get carried off by giant birds. Sometimes they die of boredom. Edward writes, and draws, about everyday life and, for reasons that will likely come up in this presentation, his books are a delight and extremely funny. Mostly, Gorey’s work as a book artist, an illustrator, and designer is frequently categorized as Whimsically Macabre, though we prefer the term Sinister Cozy. Hi works looks a hundred and thirty years older than it is yet he consistently remains thirty years ahead of us at all times. He also won a Tony award for best costume and scenic design for his work in the play Dracula. Edward is the perfect boss: open to endless interpretation and not prone to disagreement – as he is dead.

 

Reading and Writing Horror!
Wednesday, October 23rd, 6:30pm …… REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

Do you love the horror genre? Have you ever wondered how horror writers craft suspense, create memorable creatures or write fear all while avoiding clichés? Join Corey Farrenkopf, author of Living in Cemeteries, in conversation about his love of reading and writing horror.  Copies of his book will be available for purchase at the event from Eight Cousins Books.

Zoom Talk: New England Ghost Stories, REGISTER HERE

There’s nothing quite like a New England ghost story. From Peter Rugg’s ghostly carriage ride to the haunting of the Sterling Opera House, there is a wealth of spooky tales that are told all over the northeast. Come hear the cases of the most famous hauntings from each New England state, and decide for yourself if you ought to sleep with the lights on. Led by Sarah Hodge-Wetherbe, a librarian by day and a frequent speaker at ComicCons, conferences, and libraries on nights and weekend. This has been shared with us by the Tewksbury Library! Please note that this is virtual only, and does not take place in the library. Click the above link to register, and you will receive the link, and the recording later.

Double Feature Movie: Curse of the Blair Witch (1999)
Tuesday, October 29th, 6pm …… REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“A documentary exploring the life of the Blair Witch and the three missing student filmmakers who disappeared in October of 1994 while investigating the legend of the Blair Witch.”  Rated: NR; Running Time: 44mins



Double Feature Movie: Blair Witch Project (1999)
Tuesday, October 29th, 6:55pm …… REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“In October of 1994, three student filmmakers disappeared in the forest near Burkittsville, Maryland while shooting a documentary about a legendary 18th-century witch.  A year later their footage was found.  This is their footage.”  Rated R for language (children under 17 require accompanying adult or adult guardian);  Running Time: 1hr 18mins


Author Talk with Lawrence Millman

Posted on by Kristin Nelson

Outsider: My Boyhood with Thoreau with Lawrence Millman

 

Join us at the Falmouth Public Library on Tuesday, October 1st at 6:30 PM in the Hermann Meeting Room for an author talk and book signing with mycologist and author Lawrence Millman!  He will be discussing his latest memoir Outside: My Boyhood with Thoreau.  Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event from Eight Cousins Books.

Early on, Millman found in Thoreau a kindred spirit, far outside of the mainstream social, sporting, and educational interests he was expected to be cultivating. And like Thoreau, he would rather be out-of-doors — where he could socialize with mushrooms, insects, or earthworms — than stuck in any indoor locale.

“Lawrence Millman is my kind of guy–kind of like a cross between Henry David Thoreau and a badger (the Eurasian badger, as the American badger is sometimes considered ill-tempered). Like Larry, I am always happiest among the salamanders and caterpillars, but reading Larry’s vivid, honest, often hilarious accounts of how nature shaped his quirky, abundant life makes for excellent company. Everyone who loves animals and nature will love this.”

— Sy Montgomery, author of Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell

Writer, ethnographer, mycologist Lawrence Millman has made over forty trips and expeditions to the Arctic and Subarctic. His twenty-seven books include such titles as Last Places, Northern Latitudes, A Kayak Full of Ghosts, Our Like Will Not Be There Again, Hiking to Siberia, Lost in the Arctic, At the End of the World, The Book of Origins, Fungipedia, The Last Speaker of Bear, Foraging with Jeeves, and the Coyote Arts title Goodbye, Ice. He has written for Smithsonian, National Geographic, Outside, Atlantic Monthly, and The Sunday Times (London). He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

For more information about Lawrence Millman: https://lawrencemillman.com/This event is free to the public and registration is required as seating is limited. Register HERE or visit/call the adult services desk at 508-457-2555 x7.

Reference Book Bonanza!

Posted on by Kristin Nelson

 

Reference Book Bonanza

Join us for a daylong Reference Book Bonanza on Saturday, September 21st, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the Bay Meeting Room!

Celebrate the changing seasons and cozy up for long, chilly nights with fantastic additions to your home library. At the Reference Book Bonanza, you’re invited to take home as many reference books as you’d like from our collection of discards over the past year. Explore a wide range of topics—from bioethics and cartography to cryptozoology—there’s something for everyone!

Think you can name all the Dewey Decimal categories? If not, don’t worry—we’ll take you from the 001s to the 999s in no time!

Curious about philosophy? Wondering about the meaning of life? You just might find the answers here.

Don’t miss out!

This event is free to the public and registration is NOT required. Call the adult services desk at 508-457-2555 x7 or email them at info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org if you have questions. 

 

Maddie Day/Edith Maxwell Author Talk & Book Signing

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Join us at the Falmouth Public Library on Saturday, October 5th at 3pm in the Hermann meeting room for local author talk and book signing with Maddie Day – a.k.a. Edith Maxwell!  She will be discussing her new books A Case for the Ladies and Murder at the Rusty Anchor.  Copies of her books will be available for purchase at the event from Eight Cousins.

A Case for the Ladies: A Dot and Amelia Mystery

“This novel brings a pre-fame Amelia Earhart to life in 1926, when she lived in a Boston suburb and worked as a teacher and social worker at a settlement house founded to help immigrant women. After Amelia meets fictional lady PI Dot Henderson, and more than one young immigrant woman is found murdered, the two put their heads together to seek justice for the less powerful.”


Murder at the Rusty Anchor: A Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery

“A rainy July weekend in Westham means the beaches are empty and business is dead at Mac’s Bikes but couldn’t be livelier inside the Rusty Anchor Pub. But come Monday morning one patron is not so lively when the chef opens up and finds a body behind the bar. It’s last call for Bruce Byrne, an elderly high school teacher who’s been around so long it seems like he taught everybody.”

 

Maddie Day/Edith Maxwell is the Agatha Award and Macavity Award-winning author of the Cozy Capers Book Club Mystery series and the Country Store Mysteries, as well as other series. A member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, she is a regular contributor at Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen and belongs to The Wickeds, a group of six bestselling authors who blog at WickedAuthors.com. She lives with her beau north of Boston, though she knows both Indiana and Cape Cod intimately. She is a talented amateur chef and gardener and can be found online at edithmaxwell.com.

This event is free to the public. CLICK HERE to register online event calendar or visit/call the adult service desk at 508-457-2555 x7.

Dungeons and Dragons is back at FPL!

Posted on by Clint Johnson

We are very excited to have our Dungeons and Dragons club back at the Falmouth Public Library! Starting on Tuesday, 8/20, Cian McEneaney will bring patrons on an adventure of their own design. The only thing you need to bring is an open imagination. Cian was previously the Dungeon Master at the CapeCon this past June and is excited to bring his enthusiasm, knowledge, and animated self. We gladly welcome him back to continue the adventure!

The program will run every Tuesday from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM in the Young Adult room. The program is designed for patrons 12 and up! Young adults, adults, and anyone else who loves Dungeons and Dragons or would like to learn are welcome. We have a set limit of 5 players at once. Please sign up on our events page:

falmouthpubliclibrary.org/events, or call 508-457-2555 x 7.

If the program is full, please register for the waitlist as some players may leave the campaign for whatever reason. We will then contact you and you are welcome to jump in!

Dungeons and Dragons is one of the longest running role playing games and has been enjoyed by thousands throughout the years. It can be enjoyed by anyone with a wild imagination or someone that is more grounded. They are both important!

As always, Falmouth Public Library is devoted to creating a safe space for all. The Dungeons and Dragons campaign will remain appropriate for ages 12 and above but will not be censored in order for all ages to enjoy!

Creative Writing Workshop with Dominic Cappuccino

Posted on by Clint Johnson

Dominic Cappuccino is partnering with the FPL Young Adult Services to offer a creative writing workshop over the summer! Participants will have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of writing a short – story and their components like setting, character and plot. It will be a great opportunity to practice your creative writing skills over 4 sessions.

No pressure! Judgment free! Just writing with other writers and sharing their creations.

The program is intended to serve students entering grades 7 – 10. Registration is required.

Keep your creativity flowing during the summer!

You can certainly dive deeper into your own identity by writing about a fictional character that is really a reflection of you! Not only does the workshop allow you to grow creatively, it also opens doors to your own self. Like writing in a journal, mashes of words on paper are a great starting point.

Each session will hold a different part of writing your own story. Write in whatever genre and in whatever format you would like:

  • Writing about what you feel in the moment with your five senses
  • The creation of dialogue between two characters
  • The inclusion of our own experiences and emotions within our writing
  • Individual and group revision in the form of PQP (praise, question, proposal)

Writing is often thought of as a solitary activity but at FPL in the Young Adult room, we pride ourselves in trying new things. So, we can write together! We can look for examples in the literature held in the YA room, or anywhere else.

Each session is very important to the progression of your own story so don’t miss out! The sessions will be held from 10:30 – 12:30 on the dates listed below (all Wednesdays):

  • July 24th
  • July 31st
  • August 7th
  • August 14

You only need to register for the July 24th session and attend the following.

We look forward to seeing you and learning more about where your individual creativity brings you! When all is said and done, we can keep the stories in the YA room or you can take them home. Hey! We may even be able to bind them… 

Get Hyped for CapeCon!

Posted on by Clint Johnson

We have 3 programs this coming June to get ready for CapeCon!

Pokemon Snap Hunt starts on June 4thpokemon

Hunt the library for 20 different pokemon! Some include the elusive Charizard, Gengar, Magikarp, Mew, and of course! Pikachu! Take pictures of you with the pokemon and for every five pokemon you snap, come show Professor Clint so that he can reward you with an official gym badge! There are 20 pokemon hiding around the library…A badge for every 5 snapped! Can you snap them all??? The Professor would love some photographs hanging around the Young Adult room for all to study.

Demon Slayer

Anime on the Big Screen

Every other Wednesday from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM in the YA Room we will be showing numerous episodes of anime like…

6/5: Spy Family

7/3: Demon Slayer

7/13: Dragon Ball Super

7/31: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

8/14: Trigun

8/28: One Piece

No need to register! Just come on in! Check it out on our calendar!

 

 

Zoom Talk – Magical Girls and Fighting Dreamers: Queer Representation in Manga and Anime

Tuesday, June 18th at 7:00 EST

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We are thrilled to be partnering with the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood for this fantastic program! Join fellow anime-enthusiast and MML Youth Services Librarian Dina Delic to learn about the history of queer representation in manga and anime! This program will give an overview of queer representation throughout various series, from The Rose of Versailles to Yuri on Ice, and will answer your most pressing questions: What is shipping? What is the difference between yaoi and yuri? Why are the greatest love stories in anime always platonic?

Please register for this event and you’ll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails – make sure to check your spam folder for them. The email will be coming from Zoom. 

This virtual event is hosted by the Norwood Public Library and a collaboration between the several Massachusetts libraries. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library.

Two Authors, Two New Books, and their Writing Group

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Join us at the Falmouth Public Library on Thursday, June 6th at 1pm in the Hermann Room as we present Two Authors, Two New Books, and their Writing Group!

Did you ever wonder about starting or joining a writing group? Barbara E. Struna and Iris G. Leigh have been writing together since 2008. Come hear how they progressed from first pages to published books, and how as a writing group they support each other through the writing and publishing process.  Barbara, the author of six books, including The Old Cape House and her newest, The Old Cape Map, will discuss her books. Iris will talk about her debut novel, Liza’s Secrets.  Copies of their books will be available for purchase at the event.

Barbara Eppich Struna, international best-selling author and storyteller at heart, bases her tales on the history, myth, and legends of Cape Cod and her own personal experiences. Barbara is President of Cape Cod Writers Center; a member of International Thriller Writers and a member of Sisters In Crime, National and New England.

With the support of a long-standing writing group, Cape Cod resident Iris G. Leigh wrote, and edited her stories, eventually leading to the publication of her debut novel, Liza’s Secrets by Black Rose Writing.  She is a member of the Cape Cod Writer’s Center and actively takes part in book groups, supporting other writers.

This event is free to the public and registration is required as seating is limited. Register online by clicking here or visit/call the adult services desk at 508-457-2555 x7.

Upcoming Falmouth Reads Together Events

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

The Finest Hours Author Talk with Casey Sherman
Tuesday, May 14th
6:30pm-8pm
Hermann Meeting Room
……. Register Here

Join us for an author talk with Casey Sherman as he discusses our Falmouth Reads 2024 book pick The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S Coast Guard’s Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman.
 
“A breathtaking story . . . defies the imagination.” – The Cape Cod Chronicle
 
“A blockbuster account of tragedy at sea.” – The Providence Journal
 
“Captures the wit, grit, and sacrifice of Coasties and their boats.” – Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
Casey Sherman is an acclaimed journalist and author of ten books, including 12: The Inside Story of Tom Brady’s Fight for Redemption, a New York Times bestseller and CBS Films’s Patriots Day. A graduate of Boston University, he is also a contributing writer for Esquire, Time, The Washington Post, and Boston Magazine.


Friday Films – The Finest Hours
Friday, May 31st 3pm-5pm
Hermann Meeting Room ……. Register Here

“In February of 1952, one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast struck New England, damaging an oil tanker off the coast of Cape Cod and literally ripping it in half.  On a small lifeboat faced with frigid temperatures and 70-foot high waves, four members of the Coast Guard set out to rescue the more than 30 stranded sailors trapped aboard the rapidly-sinking vessel.”
Rated: PG-13; Running Time: 1hr 57mins

 


Historic Storms of Cape Cod with Don Wilding
Saturday, June 1st 3pm-4pm
Hermann Meeting Room ……. Register Here

Join us for an author talk with Don Wilding who will be discussing his latest book, Historic Storms of Cape Cod.

“Cape Cod has always been in the path of deadly hurricanes and ferocious storms. Unwelcome summer visitors include the “Long Island Express” Hurricane of 1938, the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944, the twin Hurricanes Carol and Edna in 1954, and Hurricane Bob in 1991. These storms destroyed countless homes and left several coastal communities under several feet of water. Surging tides carried away houses with residents inside who didn’t survive. Fall and winter brought the infamous “Portland Gale,” the benchmark “Blizzard of 1978,” the nor’easter of January 1987, and the infamous “Perfect Storm” of October 1991 which delivered some of the highest tides ever seen on the Outer Cape. Join local author and Harwich Conservation Trust walk leader Don Wilding as he revisits the Cape’s most severe weather events and their devastating impact.”

Don Wilding is the author of five books on Cape Cod history, a Cape tour guide and a regular speaker on Cape Cod lore in Massachusetts and across New England. He was an award-winning newspaper editor, writer, and designer in Massachusetts for 36 years, including a recent stint as a contributing history columnist and photographer for Cape newspapers.