Bookworks' October Includes Dia de los Muertos and Halloween Features, Star Wars Reads Day, and More

Bookworks' October event calendar features author events in celebration of Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, a Star Wars Reads Day costume contest, and local and national author speaking on zines, beer, New Mexico history, among other topics.

The first two weeks of October are Balloon Fiesta week, and this year, Bookworks has features galore for creative types. On October 1, Marya Jones hosts a preview to the Albuquerque Zinefest with a zine making workshop. Then on October 6, authors visiting for Zinefest, Ariel Gore and Tomas Moniz read at the store. On October 7, Albuquerque greeting card writer, Natalie Kossar, talks about her book on sewing, Pattern Behavior.

Two poets also appear that week; Jules Nyqvist with a new collection, Homesick, then, on October 5 and Wil Gibson reading from a new collection on October 8. On October 9, we host our coloring group for adults and on October 10 a poetry workshop from the Wingbeats Anthology. Also on October 9, Bookworks will donate a percentage of sales from 5 pm to close to the kids playwriting program, Wrinkle Writing.

Speaking of creatives, on October 12, Bookworks partners with Bosque School to host award winning author-illustrator team, Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, at Bosque School's Budagher Hall. The event is free for all families but entry in the signing line requires a purchase of the duo's new book, The Wolf, The Duck and the Mouse.

Local history and culture is always a big draw, and this month Bookworks hosts Jim Hinckley talking Route 66 on October 13, Jennet Conant talking about her grandfather, scientists James Conant on October 14, and Chris Jackson talking Albuquerque beer later in the day. Local artist El Moises reads from and signs the new book he has illustrated for author Rudolfo Anaya, Owl in a Straw Hat/El Tecolote, on October 17.

In October we celebrate Halloween and Dia de los Muertos with events for the family. On October 4, Tracey Rollin talks about her book Santa Muerte, on the saint of death; on October 25, Cody Polston talks about his book and its controversial characters in Wicked Albuquerque; and on October 30, Riley Mitchell reveals a new Paranormal Bucket List.

Mystery authors also abound on the October calendar, with Oklahoma author Kris Lackey reading from Nail's Crossing on October 19; Joseph Badal reading from his new Danforth thriller, Sins of our Fathers on October 21; and Sue Hallgarth reading from her new Willa Cather novel, Death Comes on October 26.

Events for kids this month include Star Wars Reads Day on October 28, 12 pm. We'll have special visits from Star Wars characters, snacks, books, and host a Star Wars costume contest for a Star Wars goodie bag. As always, our events for kids includes our weekly story time, Thursdays at 10:30 am.

Albuquerque children's author Caroline Starr Rose reads from her new book, Ride On! Will Cody! at the Cherry Hills Library on October 14. David Clawson visits the store October 19 to read from his young adult novel, My Fairy Godmother is a Drag Queen.