For immediate release
For more information contact:
Angel R. Ackerman, publisher
angel@parisianphoenix.com
Celebrating National Independent Bookstore Day, Arts Community of Easton Open Studio Tour, National Poetry Month & New Books from Local Authors
LEHIGH VALLEY, PA— Parisian Phoenix Publishing and Easton’s Book and Puppet Company will host events at the bookstore; April 29 is National Independent Bookstore Day, Arts Community of Easton’s Open Studio Tour, and the tail of National Poetry Month.
The collaboration also celebrates the importance of independent bookstores and the union of authors, artists and poets with the official launch of Thurston Gill Jr.’s The Phulasso Devotional: Engineering the Warrior Priest for Dark Times, Parisian Phoenix’s tenth title, a book that seeks to reconcile efforts of personal protection with spiritual values. Gill’s book cover features an original painting by ACE member Maryann Riker and an introductory poem by local poet Nancy Scott.
The day will kick off with music, art and children’s activities with Echo City Capers creators Ralph Greco Jr. and Joe Swarctz as they reveal their new expanded, updated second edition hardcover of Sometimes I Get…, their first book with Parisian Phoenix Publishing.
Local author and member of the Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild Larry Sceurman will entertain with his fabulous nostalgic storytelling style as he promotes his novella, The Death of Big Butch— the small town Americana based on Fullerton in the 1970s when the Lehigh Valley Mall opened— and his upcoming short story anthology, Coffee in the Morning, due out in early May.
Events officially kick off at 2 p.m.
2 p.m. outside Book and Puppet on The Crayon Experience corner of newly renovated Centre Square: music and art with Echo City Capers, coloring, other activities from Sometimes I Get…, merchandise and books for sale and author/illustrator signing
3 p.m. outdoor family-friendly storytelling with Larry Sceurman
3:30 p.m. (events move inside the bookstore)
3:30 p.m. Larry Sceurman, reading from The Death of Big Butch and Coffee in the Morning
3:50 p.m. signing The Death of Big Butch
4 p.m. Official Launch of The Phulasso Devotional with author Thurston Gill providing a spiritual blessing and discussion of the book, a devotional for Christians or anyone with a Judeo-Christian value system who is a first responder, security professional or just wishes to balance their spiritual beliefs with an increasing violent world.
4:30 p.m. Nancy Scott, in honor of The Phulasso Devotional, reading her poem Winter Solstice, which appears in the introduction of Thurston’s book. Her chapbooks will be available for sale.
4:45 p.m. Darrell Parry, Easton-based poet who recently served as judge of The Jean Corrie Poetry Reading and Ice Cream Social at Lafayette College, will read from the second edition of his book, Twists: Gathered Ephemera, released in March.
5 p.m. Open Mic for poets, writers or musicians.
In 2021, former journalist Angel Ackerman founded Parisian Phoenix, a boutique craft press dedicated to promoting unique voices and diverse perspectives. They currently have 10 titles, all from Lehigh Valley authors. Titles not mentioned in this press release include:
Trapped, a rom-com based on life in South Bethlehem, by Seneca Blue
Stops Along the Way, a holocaust memoir, by Charles Ticho
Not an Able-Bodied White Man with Money, an anthology of nonfiction pieces featuring marginalized voices
The Fashion and Fiends paranormal women’s fiction series by Angel Ackerman:
Manipulations
Courting Apparitions
Recovery
Not the Quiet French Kid
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Ebooks available upon request for review
Photos available upon request
Parisian Phoenix Publishing 