A Survival Guide to NaNoWriMo
Gird your loins! The 19th Annual NaNoWriMo writing marathon is upon us. For those unacquainted, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and it is an annual writing marathon runs throughout the month of November. Whether you are a seasoned author or someone who hasn’t written…
Spooky Reads Sure To Give You A Fright
October if full of spooky tales and frightful fun at Bookmans. Whether it’s attending one of our many Halloween events or visiting the stores to stock up on classic horror the likes of Stephen King, it’s safe to say October is Bookmans favorite time of…
A Haunting Good Time in Phoenix
Phoenix is hosted to a wide variety of happenings. We have several major sports teams, restaurants claiming they are the creator of the almighty chimichanga, and scorching summers. In contrast, did you know that Phoenix is also home to many spooky sites and infamous spectral…
Witchy Women We Love
Witches. If you’re looking for an example of pure female badassery in literature, look no further than these powerfully wicked women. Witches are by far the coolest ladies in supernatural and fantasy novels. Honestly, wish I was one. It’s no secret I’m a bit obsessed with these…
Wanted: Flash Fiction Stories
As there are many different types of readers in this world. There is an equal if not a greater number of diverse writers, from epic fantasy tale-tellers to succinct poets, to memoirist, and journalists. While each is putting pen to paper or typing words out on…
Jimmy Santiago Baca’s Martín & Meditations on the South Valley
When I picked up Jimmy Santiago Baca’s semi-autobiographical, two-volume “novel in verse” poetry collection Martín & Meditations on the South Valley, I knew little about the acclaimed poet’s backstory. I did not know, for example, that like his narrator, Martín, Baca was abandoned by his…
4 Ways to Fight Censorship All Year Round
Throughout the month of September, Bookmans fought the good fight against banned books and censorship! You might have participated in one of our Banned Book events or even bought one of those mysteriously wrapped books at our stores from our Blind Date with a Banned…
5 Books & Authors To Help You Celebrate Latinx Heritage Month
September 15th marked the beginning of Latinx Heritage Month or Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s time to celebrate, honor, and recognize the artistic and cultural achievements of Latinx Americans. It’s also an amazing opportunity to show some love for a few of my favorite Latinx authors,…
For the Love of Language
Not a year goes by that you don’t daydream about taking off and seeing the world. Yes, you. You, me, and everyone else too. On our road to becoming the adventurers we would like to be, having a solid second or third language can make…
Books to Pair with a Pumpkin Spice Latte
Fall is finally here! The weather is cooling down, stores are filled with yellow, orange, red colors, and the famous pumpkin spice latte is available at most coffee shops. However, for book nerds like us, this isn’t enough! Autumn is one of the best times…
3 October Releases We Can't Wait To Read
We know it’s only mid-September, yet the idea of cuddling inside with a good book as fall foliage blankets our town has got us scouring the bookish blogosphere and getting our TBR list ready. The fall season is reading season. All bibliophiles know this. And…
To Ban or Not to Ban
It makes me sad that, as a society, we need to have a month dedicated to recognizing the impact of ignorance on literature and education. What is worse, books are still being challenged today with bans. Like, right now. Literature has been a staple of…
Join Bookmans for Fight Censorship Month
Bookmans fights censorship every month, but in September we intensify our focus. We believe in the freedom to read, watch, play and listen to whatever media we want. In conjunction with Banned Books Week, we highlight ways to speak up and speak out. The right…
Adventures in Book Arts and Crafts
As a cashier, I’m in the unique position to see nearly everyone’s epic finds. I meet great people and talk about my favorite games, bands, and books. I end those conversations with a reminder of our 7-day guarantee in the event there’s any problem with…
Great Reasons to Join a Book Club
Have you ever thought of joining a book club before, but not quite sure it’s for you? Well, I have to say that a book club can be for everyone and anyone. Truthfully, you don’t have to love books THAT much to enjoy yourself! Of…
The Art of Adaptation
What does it take for a movie to be considered a good adaptation? Is it how faithfully it follows its source material? Is how close it can keep the initial vision of its creator intact while keeping the story both new and exciting? Or can it be…
7 Genius Ways to Make Reluctant Readers Love Reading
It is every parent’s dream that their child will one day devour books like they do candy. Reading can be one of the most magical gifts a child can get, but in this day and age many children would rather sit at watch television or…
The Crime and Punishment of Classic Literature
Face it! Classic literature is intimidating. From the lengthy words to the old-fashioned ways of thinking, books written before the 21st century have this stigma of dryness and intelligence that feels beyond our own. You are not going to like every single book you read….
The Superstitions Surrounding Friday the 13th
Everyone knows that Friday the 13th is an especially unlucky day in Western culture, but how did it come to be this way? There are tons of superstitious myths about what causes bad luck, and Friday the 13th is some kind of special magnet to…
Which Ninja Turtle Are You?
I don’t know about you, but back in the day, I was obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. When I say obsessed, I mean it! I watched the cartoon, owned all the movies (my favorite being the second one), wore a Michelangelo costume nearly every…