2017 has been a great year at Landmark Books punctuated with author readings, a book launch, writing contest and typing craziness.
Landmark Books hosted our fourth annual Type-In which drew forty-eight typewriters from all over the world. We had a rare 1911 Bennett Traveler typewriter from New York. There were three Smith Corona Super Ghia typewriters, a blue, an orange and a brown machine. There was a 1914 Corona Folding Typewriter with the original manual and cleaning kit. In all we had machines from seven different countries. Next year’s event will be held on June 23rd with a goal of fifty typewriters.
We held a special reading for National Poetry Month featuring visiting author Christina Nichol, from California and Traverse City poet Jennifer Sperry Steinorth. Nichol, a visiting instructor at Interlochen read from her award winning novel, “Waiting for the Electricity”. Steinorth read from an unpublished manuscript and from her previous work, “Forking the Swift”.
August saw the return of the Third Annual Haiku Contest with our friends from Squirrel Cane Press. This year’s wining haiku was entitled “Lunacy” by Ellen Lord. Squirrel Cane Press also published a broadside from the former Poet Laureate of Delaware, Fleda Brown and the first in a new series of poetry collection called the Condensed Poetry Series featuring poems by Paul Stebleton called “Short Order Poems”.
Our last official event of the year was a special fiction reading featuring former Detroiter Chris Minnick and UofM alum Paul Stebleton. Minnick, reading from his first novel “Ferment” entertained with stories of the circus while Stebleton read excerpts from his upcoming novel, “Bill’s Thumbnail Sex Manual”, a story of college dropouts who rob convenience stores. The event was a great close to our fourth year of business.
We have lofty goals for 2018 and look forward to bringing you more readings, events and contests as well as typing fun! Watch our website and facebook page for updates and postings or stop by the shop anytime. We are open year round for your book buying needs. Thanks for making 2017 a great year!