Here's a look at what's coming up. To see photos and whatnot of some of our recent events, check out our MySpace page.

For more information about any event, or to reserve books, please call us at (316) 682-1181.

This month's book is L'Amant de la Chine du Nord by Marguerite Duras. The club is led by Lily Fang-Yen; it reads and discusses in French and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, July  8. Classic Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

The Classic Book Club's summer selection (for July, August, and September) is War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy, in the new translation by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky. The club is led by Marilyn Parrish and is open to all.

 

Thursday, July 10. Billie Letts Reading & Signing. 7:00 p.m.

Watermark Books & Café is pleased to announce that Billie Letts will be coming to Wichita on July 10, 2008 to celebrate the release of her book, "Made in the USA." The 7:00 p.m. reading, presentation, and book signing will be held at the bookstore.

Letts is the author of acclaimed short stories, screenplays, and three novels. Her novel, “Where the Heart Is” was an Oprah pick in 1998. Her new novel "Made in the USA" recently received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly. To read this review or to order the book, look to our website.

Billie Letts is the proud mother of Tracy Letts, who recently won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play for his play, “August: Osage County.”

Friday, July 11. KMUW Literary Feast. 7:00 p.m.

(Note: This event has been moved from the First Friday to the Second Friday due to the holiday on July 4th.)

 

The July book will be The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. Literary Feast participants will enjoy dinner together, with a menu specially created by our Watermark chef, then take part in a book discussion over dessert.

 

Tickets are available at the Watermark book counter or by calling (316) 682-1181. Places are limited, and we recommend purchasing your ticket well in advance. Read more about the book and author on the KMUW Web site or on the Watermark Literary Feast page.

Monday, July 14. Chick Lit Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Forgive Me by Amanda Eyre Ward. The club is led by Anne Frey and is open to all.

Tuesday, July 15. Eoin Colfer One-Man Show: Live Broadcast. 7:00 p.m. Free admission.

Family event! Live from Chicago, Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling “Artemis Fowl” novels for young readers, will present his one-man show “Fairies, Fiends, and Flatulence” to mark the release of his new book “Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox.” Watermark is the exclusive Wichita venue for this performance.
 
Watermark will present the event live on its projection screen. Admission is free, refreshments will be available from the Watermark Café, and Colfer’s books will be for sale in the bookstore. Call (316) 682-1181 to pre-order the book. (Pre-orders will receive one of a limited number of author-signed bookplates, while supplies last.)
 
Written and performed by the hilarious Eoin himself, “Fairies, Fiends, and Flatulence” is a must-see for Artemis fans of all ages. A natural performer, Eoin brings his energy and talent to the stage as he exposes the inspirations behind his fan-favorite creation Artemis Fowl, the world's most brilliant teenage criminal mastermind.
 
“Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox” is the sixth book in the series, which mixes fairy magic, gadgets, espionage, humor, and adventure. Please note: books and a limited number of signed book plates will be available, but the author will not be present.

Wednesday, July 16. War and Peace Challenge. 11:00 a.m.

The War and Peace Challenge is a summer-long book club focused on reading Pevear & Volokhonsky's sterling new translation of the classic novel (discounted 20% in the bookstore). The group is led by Watermark’s own Mark David Bradshaw and will include group discussion and expert guests. For more details: Read here

Wednesday, July 16. Shakespeare Aloud. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

On this date, the group will continue reading Kenneth Branagh's screenplay of Hamlet. The group is led by Mark David Bradshaw and is open to all, no experience required.

Wednesday, July 16. Geoff Herbach. 7:00 p.m.

Watermark will host Geoff Herbach, author of The Miracle Letters of T. Rimberg, and his Lit 6 Project cohort Sam Osterhout for an evening of "Performance Literature" at Old Town's Caffe Moderne, 300 N. Mead St., #108.

For more information on the Lit 6 Project, check out http://www.lit6project.com/.

And read about Herbach's novel at http://themiracleletters.com/.

Friday, July 18. Twilight Circle reading group. 6:00-7:00 p.m.

This new group meets on four Fridays this summer to share, discuss, and debate everything related to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga. The book to be discussed at this second meeting: book two of the series, New Moon, now new in paperback. (For details on Watermark's August 1 release party for Breaking Dawn, visit: Save the Night.)

 

Tuesday, July 22. Longitudes Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolpho Anaya. The club is led by Shelly Walston and is open to all.

Wednesday, July 23. Spanish Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is La Reina Jade by Yxta Maya Murray. The group is led by Sarah Jane Leming and is open to all. Members read and discuss in Spanish.

Friday, July 23. Final Friday Art Reception. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Join local mother-and-daughter artists Barbara McKee and Andrea Mitchell for a reception marking the opening of their joint show of new work. Their show will run to Tuesday, September 23.

Wednesday, July 30. Shakespeare Aloud. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

On this date, the group will continue reading Kenneth Branagh's screenplay of Hamlet. The group is led by Mark David Bradshaw and is open to all, no experience required.

Friday, August 1. KMUW Literary Feast. 7:00 p.m.

The August book will be America, America by Ethan Canin (released June 24). Literary Feast participants will enjoy dinner together, with a menu specially created by our Watermark chef, then take part in a book discussion over dessert.

 

Tickets are available at the Watermark book counter or by calling (316) 682-1181. Places are limited, and we recommend purchasing your ticket well in advance. Read more about the book and author on the KMUW Web site.

 

Friday, August 1. SAVE THE NIGHT: Book-release party for Breaking Dawn. 9:00 p.m. to Midnight.

Come celebrate the midnight release of Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn, book four of the Twilight Saga. Find event details, how to pre-order, what to read while you wait, and how to get involved in Watermark's new Twilight Circle reading group here: Save the Night

 

(The third meeting of Watermark's Twilight Circle reading group will be held during the party. The book for this week is book three, Eclipse.)

 

Monday, August 4. French Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Le Chef D'Oeuvre Inconnu by Balzac. The club is led by Lily Fang-Yen; it reads and discusses in French and is open to all.

 

Monday, August 4. J. A. Jance Reading & Signing. 7:00 p.m.

Watermark will host award-winning mystery writer J. A. Jance for an evening reading and book signing for Damage Control, the newest novel to feature Sheriff Joanna Brady. It will be released July 22.

Tuesday, August 5. Mystery Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Inca Gold by Clive Cussler. The club is led by Melody Robinson and is open to all.

Wednesday, August 6. War and Peace Challenge. 11:00 a.m.

The War and Peace Challenge is a summer-long book club focused on reading Pevear & Volokhonsky's sterling new translation of the classic novel (discounted 20% in the bookstore). The group is led by Watermark’s own Mark David Bradshaw and will include group discussion and expert guests. For more details: Read here

 

Monday, August 11. Chick Lit Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz. The club is led by Anne Frey and is open to all.

Tuesday, August 12. Classic Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

The Classic Book Club's summer selection (for July, August, and September) is War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy, in the new translation by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky. The club is led by Marilyn Parrish and is open to all.

 

Friday, August 18. Twilight Circle reading group. 6:00-7:00 p.m.

This new group meets on four Fridays this summer to share, discuss, and debate everything related to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga. The book to be discussed at this fourth meeting: book four of the series, the brand-new Breaking Dawn. (For details on Watermark's August 1 release party for Breaking Dawn, visit: Save the Night.)

Tuesday, August 19. Watermark Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki. The club is led by Beth Golay and is open to all.

Thursday, August 21. Thomas Frank Reading & Signing. 7:00 p.m.

Thomas Frank, author of the bestselling political book What's the Matter With Kansas? and One Market Under God will visit Watermark to read and sign his new book The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule. This new book will be released August 5.

 

The founding editor of The Baffler and a contributing editor at Harper’s, Frank has received a Lannan award and been a guest columnist for The New York Times. "The Wrecking Crew" recently received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus. To read these reviews or to pre-order the book, look to our website.

During one of Frank’s past visits to Watermark, a tornado was spotted 5 miles to the south of the store. Not one person in the standing-room-only crowd took up our offer to retreat to the basement.
 

Call the store to reserve a copy of The Wrecking Crew: (316) 682-1181.

Tuesday, August 26. Longitudes Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Karma & Other Stories by Rishi Reddi (read Mark's review). The club is led by Shelly Walston and is open to all.

Wednesday, August 27. Spanish Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is La Muerte Lenta de Luciana B. by Guillermo Martinez. The group is led by Sarah Jane Leming and is open to all. Members read and discuss in Spanish.

This month's book is Tous les Matins du Monde by Pascal Quignard. The club is led by Lily Fang-Yen; it reads and discusses in French and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, September 2. Mystery Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is The Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber. The club is led by Melody Robinson and is open to all.

 

Monday, September 8. Chick Lit Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is The Devil, the Lovers, and Me: My Life in Tarot by Kimberlee Auerbach. The club is led by Anne Frey and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, September 9. Classic Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

The Classic Book Club's summer selection (for July, August, and September) is War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy, in the new translation by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky. The club is led by Marilyn Parrish and is open to all.

 

Thursday, September 11. Ethan Canin Reading & Signing. 7:00 p.m.

Watermark will host Midwest novelist Ethan Canin for an evening reading and book signing of his new novel America, America, a story of one man's rise to political power during the Nixon era. The new novel will be released June 24. Call the store to pre-order or reserve a copy: (316) 682-1181.

Tuesday, September 16. Watermark Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee. The club is led by Beth Golay and is open to all.

 

Thursday, September 18. Curtis Sittenfeld Reading & Signing. 7:00 p.m.

Watermark will host novelist Curtis Sittenfeld for an evening reading and signing of her new book, American Wife, a novel loosely inspired by the life of Laura Bush.

It's the sweeping story of a private, self-conscious girl who grows up to find herself thrust into the public glare, where she is forced to face contradictions in her life that were years in the making and face questions nearly impossible to answer.

 

Sittenfeld is the New York Times bestselling author of Prep and The Man of My Dreams. American Wife will be released September 2, 2008. To pre-order or reserve a copy, call (316) 682-1181.

 

Friday, September 19. Rolf Potts Reading & Signing. 7:00 p.m.

Watermark will host Rolf Potts for an evening reading and signing for Marco Polo Didn't Go There: Stories and Revelations from One Decade as a Postmodern Travel Writer. This is a perfect event for worldly vagabonds and armchair travelers.

 

For the past ten years, Potts has taken his keen travel sensibility to the far fringes of five continents for the National Geographic Traveler, Salon.com, and the New York Times Magazine. This new book documents his boldest, funniest, and most revealing journeys: being stranded in the Libyan desert, crashing the set of a Leonardo DiCaprio movie in Thailand, and learning the secrets of Tantric sex in a dubious Indian ashram.
 

Tuesday, September 23. Longitudes Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan (read Mark's review). The club is led by Shelly Walston and is open to all.

Wednesday, September 24. Spanish Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is El Infinito en la Palma de la Mano by Gioconda Belli. The group is led by Sarah Jane Leming and is open to all. Members read and discuss in Spanish.

Friday, September 26. Final Friday Art Reception. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Join local painter Rob Compton for a reception marking the opening of his showing of new work. The show will run to Tuesday, November 25.

This month's book is Pierre et Jean by Guy de Maupassant. The club is led by Lily Fang-Yen; it reads and discusses in French and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, October 7. Mystery Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Dust by Martha Grimes. The club is led by Melody Robinson and is open to all.

 

Saturday, October 11. Lois Ruby Reading & Signing. 10:30 a.m. -12:00 noon.

Watermark will host Lois Ruby, beloved children's writer and author of Shanghai Shadows, for a morning reading and book signing for her newest book, The Secret of Laurel Oaks.

Monday, October 13. Chick Lit Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Because She Can by Bridie Clark. The club is led by Anne Frey and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, October 28. Longitudes Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Away by Amy Bloom (read Sarah's review). The club is led by Shelly Walston and is open to all. Amy Bloom will be at Watermark on November 12th for the paperback release of Away. Read the book for book club, then come and meet her!

 

This month's book will be announced soon. The club is led by Lily Fang-Yen; it reads and discusses in French and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, November 4. Mystery Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Lost by Gregory Maguire. The club is led by Melody Robinson and is open to all.

 

Monday, November 10. Chick Lit Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Save Your Own by Elisabeth Brink. The club is led by Anne Frey and is open to all.

 

Wednesday, November 12. Amy Bloom Reading & Signing. 7:00 p.m.

Watermark will host Amy Bloom for an evening reading and signing for Away. Read Sarah's review.

 

Tuesday, November 25. Longitudes Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman (read Joni's review). The club is led by Shelly Walston and is open to all.

Friday, November 28. Final Friday Art Reception. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Join local artist Peggy Furan for a reception marking the opening of her showing of new work. The show will run to Tuesday, January 27.

This month's book will be La Maison aux Orties by Venus Khoury-Ghata. The club is led by Lily Fang-Yen; it reads and discusses in French and is open to all.

 

This month's book is An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson. The club is led by Melody Robinson and is open to all.

 

Monday, December 8. Chick Lit Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea. The club is led by Anne Frey and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, December 23. Longitudes Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The club is led by Shelly Walston and is open to all.

This month's book will be Monsieur Maulaussene by Daniel Pennac. The club is led by Lily Fang-Yen; it reads and discusses in French and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, January 6. Mystery Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Breach of Promise by Anne Perry. The club is led by Melody Robinson and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, January 27. Longitudes Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall. The club is led by Shelly Walston and is open to all.

This month's book will be The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (this is also the club's selection for March). The club is led by Melody Robinson and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, February 24. Longitudes Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is The Pick Up by Nadine Gordimer. The club is led by Shelly Walston and is open to all.

This month's book will be The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (this is also the club's selection for February). The club is led by Melody Robinson and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, March 24. Longitudes Book Club. 6:30 p.m.

This month's book is Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name by Vendela Vida (read a review). The club is led by Shelly Walston and is open to all.

 

Tuesday, May 5. Mystery Book Club. 6:30 p.m.