Newest from Chelsea Cain

Did you see Jeff Baker's article on Chelsea Cain and her writing process in Sunday's Oregonian? It was the first in an occasional series of articles he'll be doing, looking into the "hows and whys of writing." Good stuff! And good timing too, because the newest book in Cain's Portland-based series goes on sale tomorrow. In The Night Season, Portland detective Archie Sheridan and Oregonian reporter Susan Ward both return, but they are hunting a different serial killer, as Gretchen Lowell, the evil beauty of Cain's first three books (Heartsick, Sweetheart, and Evil at Heart), is in jail...for now. While I'm not a big reader of thrillers, I'm really enjoying this series because she marries chilly dread with irreverent humor, so the menacing mood isn't nonstop. I'm looking forward to reading her newest one.

In his article, Baker noted that January Jones (who plays Betty Draper on the AMC series "Mad Men") has taken an option on Cain's series because she's interested in playing Gretchen Lowell. I think she could pull it off; she can be pretty creepy. He also mentioned that Cain is thinking about starting another Portland-based series -- happy news for all of us!

Doing Stairs with Laura Foster

Nice article by Rebecca Koffman in Saturday's Oregonian about Laura O. Foster and her new book, The Portland Stairs Book: Walks, Views, Stories, just published by Timber Press. We're thrilled that Laura will be returning to Broadway Books tomorrow night (Tuesday Oct 12) at 7 pm to talk about her newest book. I love exploring all the wonderful tucked-away stairs found in this neighborhood (although I'll freely admit that I much prefer exploring them by going down them rather than up!). I'm looking forward to hearing about the history of some of them and learning about staircases in other neighborhoods. Hope you can come join us!

A Guide to Portland's Hidden Stairways

Laura O. Foster's books about walks in and around Portland are some of our bestselling books. Her first book was Portland Hill Walks: Twenty Explorations in Parks and Neighborhoods. Her next book was Portland City Walks: Twenty Explorations in and around Town. Now comes her long-awaited stairs book: The Portland Stairs Book: Walks, View, Stories, just published by Timber Press.

This charming, pocket-size guide offers a guide to the intriguing and heart-pumping hidden stairways found throughout Portland. From Mount Tabor's 282-step climb, to the glass cupola atop 115 steps in the old Pioner Courthouse, Laura guides you through them all, providing trivia, stories, and stair vocabulary along the way.

Laura, who moved here in the 1980s from the midwest and discovered Portland's treasure trove of stairs, has this to say about neighborhood staircases: "There is something ineffably 'other' about a neighborhood staircase. It's not a road. Not a trail. Not a multi-use path. A staircase is a tangible concession that no, indeed, roads cannot be carved wherever humans want them. Their slightly subversive, escapist nature attracts urban explorers, runners, walkers, and anyone else who cannot comprehend how mall-walking could be a pleasurable activity."

The book offers helpful maps and directions, as well as photographs that make you want to be there now. The stair list at the back of the book covers a total of 207 public exterior staircases -- 10,155 steps in all. And in case you're wondering if Laura walked every stair in the book, the answer is yes, she did!

We're expecting this book to fly out of the store, like a ball tumbling down a flight of stairs tucked away in a tree-lined neighborhood, so don't delay coming in for yours.You might want to buy a few -- they'll make perfect gifts!

Where to Walk in Portland

Repaving of the 21-mile multi-use Springwater Corridor -- one of my favorite places to walk -- will take place starting in April and will continue through August. The repaving will involve periodic closures of the trail. Detours will be provided, and no continuous segment longer than two miles will be closed at any one time. But several small segments could be closed simultaneously. Bummer. But it will be so nice when it's all done.

In the interim, we've got lots of great books full of wonderful walks in and around Portland to get your through the construction phase. Two of our favorites are the ones by Laura O. Foster: Portland City Walks (for when you want your walks to be relatively flat) and Portland Hill Walks (for when you feel like going up and down). Metro publishes a great little pocket guide to local walks, Walk There! 50 Treks In and Around Portland and Vancouver. Or there's the little guide from Falcon, Walking Portland, by Sybilla Avery Cook.

If you want to get a little more rugged, there's Portland Forest Hikes: Twenty Close-In Wilderness Walks, by James D. Thayer. Or if you want to go even further afield, we've got lots and lots of guide books for you, including all of the William Sullivan books, and the new edition of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Portland, by Paul Gerald.

Walk on over -- we'll take care of your guidebook needs!

Help a Local School Library

Last year, thanks to your support, we provided a book for every first-grade student at James John Elementary School. This December we hope you'll join us in helping the library at Sitton Elementary School, a Portland Public School in St Johns. The staff is creative and dedicated and the students are bright and motivated, but the library is woefully understocked. We are determined to do something about that, and you can help! Throughout the month of December, we'll give you a 20% discount on every book you purchase for donation to the Sitton School Library. The library is particularly in need of nonfiction books for grades K-5. You may also donate cash -- every $8, for example, will buy $10 worth of books -- and leave the book selection to the school librarian, Diane Newton-Prior. Thank you for helping to support young readers!

And a good time was had by all!

The audience was captivated by Laura Foster last night, as she talked about the sights and scenes along the way of the twenty walks in and around Portland in her new book Portland City Walks. We now have autographed copies of this book in the store for you. At $19.99 this works out to just about a dollar a walk -- where can you find a bargain as good as that these days? Even with gas as cheap as it is, this is definitely the better bargain.

City Walks Reading Tonight!

Laura Foster, author of Portland City Walks: Twenty Explorations in and around Town (Timber Press), will be at the store at 7 tonight to talk about her new book and some of her favorite walks. The book is a rich collection of eye-opening walking routes that are flat, easy-to-follow, self-guided, and accessible by public transportation. It includes great maps, fascinating history, and tips on snacks and off-beat treasures to be found along the way. Laura is the author of the beloved Portland Hill Walks, and at least ONE owner of Broadway Books is thrilled to see her tackle walks of the flatter variety! Hope you can join us tonight. You might want to get there around 6:30 to snag a good seat. Signed copies of either of Laura's books would make great gifts for friends and family.