On Wednesday, December 11, from 6:30-7:45 p.m., Speculations presents its sixth annual ROUND ROBIN READINGS. Interested writers are encouraged to bring up to three five-minute pieces to read. We’ll continue until 7:30 or we run out of pieces, whichever comes first. Then we’ll go hang out at a bistro.

Speculations is a coproduction of DreamHaven and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural organization that also sponsors a mid-summer speculative fiction convention, DIVERSICON, the 28th edition of which will be held August 7-9, 2020, with Guest of Honor MICHAEL MERRIAM and Special Guest ABRA STAFFIN-WIEBE.

Local author Naomi Kritzer will be in the store Sunday, December 15th to read from her work and sign copies of her latest novel, Catfishing on CatNet, and her 2017 collection of stories, Cat Pictures Please and Other Stories. The title story of the collection won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 2016, and was the basis for the world in which her latest novel is set.

Copies of both books will be available for purchase.

On Wednesday, February 19 at 6:30 LYDA MOREHOUSE reads from her work. Lyda Morehouse leads a double life. By day, she’s a mild-mannered science fiction writer working as circulation staff in the Ramsey County Library system; by night, she becomes TATE HALLAWAY, a best-selling romance author. (She lives a third life as junko, a prolific fan fic author, as well.) Together, Lyda and Tate have published over a dozen novels. Lyda has won the Shamus, the Barnes & Noble Maiden Voyage Award, and the Philip K. Dick Special Citation of Excellence. Tate has a new book coming out from Wizard Tower Press, Unjust Cause, in spring of 2020.

Speculations is a coproduction of DreamHaven and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural organization that also sponsors a mid-summer speculative fiction convention, DIVERSICON, the 28th edition of which will be held August 7-9, 2020, with Guest of Honor MICHAEL MERRIAM and Special Guest ABRA STAFFIN-WIEBE.

On Wednesday, March 4 at 6:30 pm DAMIAN SHERIDAN will read from his work. Damian Sheridan is the author of The Collectors, an allegorical musical comedy, for the 2010 Minnesota Fringe Festival. The Judas Circle was a previous top pick at the 2004 Minnesota Fringe Festival. He was author and editor for the Parasitic Sands horror anthology. He featured in 2010 in the Northern Lights speculative fiction anthology  and in the Both Barrels 2011 anthology. He is also a visual artist/author of independent graphic novels.

Speculations is a coproduction of DreamHaven and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural organization that also sponsors a mid-summer speculative fiction convention, DIVERSICON, the 28th edition of which will be held August 7-9, 2020, with Guest of Honor MICHAEL MERRIAM and Special Guest ABRA STAFFIN-WIEBE.

This event has been postponed. We’re now looking at a date in May. We’ll let you know as soon as we know!

At 6:30 pm, Thursday, March 19th, Catherine Lundoff will be back to talk about her further adventures keeping her small publishing company afloat. If you’re interested in finding out more about Queen of Swords Press, or small presses and publishing in general, this is for you!

At 6:30 pm, Wednesday, June 17, Catherine Lundoff will be back to talk about her further adventures keeping her small publishing company afloat. If you’re interested in finding out more about Queen of Swords Press, or small presses and publishing in general, this is for you!

Catherine adds: “This time around, if we can’t do it in person, I’ll do an FB live presentation. I’ll be doing my annual talk about running a small press, things I’ve learned in the last year and what’s next! If you’re interested in small press publishing, this one’s for you. There’ll be a Q&A at the end, some resources that I’ve found to be handy and light refreshments (AKA chocolate).”

BAG SALE!!!!

We didn’t do a bag sale this spring like we wanted to, but we’re determined to get one in this fall, so what better way to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day? We won’t have the garage open like past sales, but we’re going to be bringing out tables of goodies for everyone to take home.

Buy a bag, take home a bag full of books and comics! Fill up your Little Free Library, stock up on your reading material for the winter…heck, insulate your house!

Join author Catherine Lundoff for a virtual on Facebook Live/very limited in person (depending on circumstances) book release from DreamHaven Books on Wednesday, March 17th from 6:30-7:45.

She’ll be reading on Facebook Live from her new book, BLOOD MOON
(Vol. 2 of the Wolves of Wolf’s Point, Queen of Swords Press 2021) and talking about her menopausal werewolves series. And there’ll be a drawing for signed copies of SILVER MOON and BLOOD MOON, as well as other prizes!

If you look “vinegar syndrome” up online, you will find this definitition:
“Vinegar syndrome is a chemical degradation that occurs with cellulose acetate film and is characterized by an obvious vinegar smell. A process in which acetate film begins to degrade. This applies to media (cinematographic and photographic film, microfilm) made with acetate backing; most film of this type was made prior to 1980. The degradation process releases acetic acid, the same substance in vinegar that gives it its smell which is the identifying characteristic of the degradation process.”

But if you go to VinegarSyndrome.com, you will find that it is a film restoration and distribution company with a catalogue of hundreds of feature films, produced primarily between the 1960s and 1980s.

Why am I telling you this? Because Vinegar Syndrome is coming to DreamHaven Books! Wednesday, July 28th between 4 and 8 pm, a representative from Vinegar Syndrome will be here at the store with lots of DVDs and Blu-Rays, and according to his e-mail, “deals and giveaways”.

Our very own Ryan describes them as “one of the best of the boutique DVD/Blu-Ray labels” – and if you’ve ever talked films with him, you’ll know he’s a big fan.

My suggestion would be to check them out online and if you like what you see, come on out to DreamHaven on Wednesday. We’re all looking forward to it.

After difficulties, the Speculations Readings Series returns in July to DreamHaven Books, 2301 38th St E, Minneapolis. As before, the readings will run from 6:30-7:45 p.m., including an autographing and reception with free soda pop and cookies. After the event, interested persons will adjourn to a bistro to hang out.

On Thursday, July 29, MICHAEL MERRIAM and ABRA STAFFIN-WIEBE will read from their works.

Michael Merriam is an author, performer, poet, and playwright, with ten books and over 90 pieces of short fiction and poetry published. His novel, Last Car to Annwn Station, was named a top Book by Readings in Lesbian & Bisexual Women’s Fiction.  His novella, Should we Drown in Feathered Sheep, was long-listed for the Nebula Award.  His stories and essays have appeared in such places as the Hugo Award winning Uncanny Magazine: Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction issue, and the Ditmar Award winning magazine, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine.  His scripts have been produced for stage and radio.  Michael  is a co-founder of the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers.

Abra Staffin-Wiebe loves optimistic science fiction, cheerful horror, and dark fantasy.  Dozens of her short stories have appeared in publications including Tor.com, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Escape Pod, and Odyssey Magazine.  She lives in Minneapolis, where she wrangles her children, pets, and the mad scientist she keeps in the attic.  When not writing or wrangling, she collects folk tales and photographs of whatever stands still long enough to allow it.  Her most recent book, The Unkindness of Ravens, is an epic fantasy coming-of-age novella about trickster gods and favors owed.  Check out her website: http://www.aswiebe.com/to read about fluffy pink murderbears, firebirds bearing gifts, and other things beautiful and bizarre.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural organization that also sponsors a midsummer speculative fiction convention, DIVERSICON, the 28th edition of which will occur at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West on July 30-August 1, 2021.