Community Calendar

Monday October 13th 7:00 to 8:00
“The Devil Wore White”
A Ghostly Ashland Shakespeare Mystery – Book Two
A spring wedding in Ashland’s flower-filled Lithia Park should be a dream come true. But when the radiant bride plunges to her death from the 9th-story window of the historic and haunted Globe Springs Hotel, the celebration turns chillingly tragic.
Was it an accident, or something darker blooming beneath the surface?
Former antiquities inspector William Mills and his spirited partner Carol Lindsey, with the aid of Dante the ghost cat, are swept into a mystery that winds through heirloom secrets, suspicious relatives, and a controversial exhibit of ancient Egyptian and Biblical artifacts. One centerpiece—a gold and gemstone necklace said to carry a deadly curse—seems to be waking something long dormant within the hotel’s walls.
With the ghostly Blue Lady whispering warnings, and the hotel’s shadowed past refusing to stay buried, William and Carol must untangle a ritual half-forgotten and a legacy someone will kill to protect.
Secrets blossom, ghosts stir, and danger blooms in the quaint Shakespearean town of Ashland, Oregon.

Monday October 20th 7:00 to 8:00 pm

Hood River author Kathy Watson will be at Bloomsbury Books in Ashland to read from her debut novel, Orphans of the Living. Watson will be joined in conversation by Shirleen Holt of Medford.

Watson and Holt worked together at Oregon Business magazine in the 1990s, where Watson was editor in chief and Holt was managing editor. The two will talk about how Watson adapted her mother’s family story for this novel, what is sometimes called “autofiction.” They’ll talk about how Watson created scenes in the long-ago town of Maxville, OR, in the Wallowa Mountains. They’ll discuss what it’s like to be writing and selling a novel in the chaotic world of book publishing, with nearly 2,000 new books coming out each week.

Orphans of the Living follows the Stovall family’s early 20th-century quest for home and redemption as they encounter racism, poverty and inequality across the American South and West.

The novel is a 2025 Literary Titan Book Award Gold Medalist in Fiction. Early reviews include this one from Willy Vlautin, winner of the 2025 Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and author of eight novels, including The Horse:

“Orphans is a stunning debut. Where has this writer been hiding? It’s all blood and soul and heartache and survival. A story of the powerful and the powerless. I can’t recommend it highly enough and I can’t wait to see what she does next.”

With the publication of her first novel, Orphans of the Living, Watson is returning to her first love: fiction. She lives in Hood River, where she writes, leads a chefs collective, and runs and hikes the Columbia River Gorge with Stu and Satchel, the world’s best dog.

Explore democracy, civic engagement, and social change through thought-provoking books and discussions. This club delves into historical and contemporary works that highlight the power of participation in a democratic society. Join us to read, reflect, and connect with others passionate about making a difference. All are welcome!

We will read:
The Constitution of the United States & The Declaration of Independence (September 18)
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century – Timothy Snyder (October 16)
The Fire Next Time – James Baldwin (November 20)

Monday October 27th 7:00 to 8:00 pm

EDEN ORLANDO is a local poet, artist, bookmaker, songwriter, and fashion designer. She will be reading from her three illustrated poetry memoirs, Seed Pearls: Kauai Poems (2020), My Perfect Offering: A Novel in Poems (2021), and The Ojai Poems: Best Poems (2025). The Ojai Poems details her stay at a spiritual retreat center when she was 22 years old, where she met a mentor who saved her life.

Blaine Lindsey is a living love poem. He has been writing and performing poetry in the Rogue Valley for more than a decade. He is also a chef, event host, and social worker. His poetry is emotional, observational, rhythmic, and full of visuals. You can find his debut book of poems, “How to Weep in Public Places, privately.” on the Blurb.com bookstore.

Nisha LeBaron, is a mother of 4, and a long-time social justice activist. She enjoys gardening and mushroom cultivation, has a past in the chocolate and coffee industry, as a Vegan chef, and as an in-home health care assistant. In her spare time, she enjoys writing and poetry.

Monday November 10th 7:00 to 8:00 pm

Join us to celebrate a groundbreaking new book!

In The Rooster Princess and Other Tales: Jewish Stories Repopulated with Spunky Heroines, Wise Women, Brave Crones and Powerful Prophetesses, women take center stage.

In this innovative collection, we’ve left plots and lessons intact, while substituting the leading male characters with females. Local authors Debra Gordon Zaslow and Deborah Rosenberg will talk about the process, tell stories, and sign books.

Explore democracy, civic engagement, and social change through thought-provoking books and discussions. This club delves into historical and contemporary works that highlight the power of participation in a democratic society. Join us to read, reflect, and connect with others passionate about making a difference. All are welcome!

We will read:
The Constitution of the United States & The Declaration of Independence (September 18)
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century – Timothy Snyder (October 16)
The Fire Next Time – James Baldwin (November 20)

Once a month, read and discuss a banned book. Explore what caused these books to be banned, what being banned means, and how this impacts us as a society. We will talk about the who and the why, and if we agree or disagree. Stop by the Medford Reference desk to pick up a copy of the month's current title while supplies last!

December: Beartown by Fredrik Backman

January: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: Three Books to Chill Your Bones by Alvin Schwarts

February: Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Once a month, read and discuss a banned book. Explore what caused these books to be banned, what being banned means, and how this impacts us as a society. We will talk about the who and the why, and if we agree or disagree. Stop by the Medford Reference desk to pick up a copy of the month's current title while supplies last!

December: Beartown by Fredrik Backman

January: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: Three Books to Chill Your Bones by Alvin Schwarts

February: Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Once a month, read and discuss a banned book. Explore what caused these books to be banned, what being banned means, and how this impacts us as a society. We will talk about the who and the why, and if we agree or disagree. Stop by the Medford Reference desk to pick up a copy of the month's current title while supplies last!

December: Beartown by Fredrik Backman

January: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: Three Books to Chill Your Bones by Alvin Schwarts

February: Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky