Nearly 20 authors signing Thursday at BookPeople's grand re-opening

Bookpeople co-owner Carol Spurling and her employees Jonah Mix (left) and Jesica DeHart (right). Photo Lewiston Tribune.

That’s one of the things bookstores offer, including BookPeople in Moscow which will feature nearly 20 local authors from the area's fertile writing grounds Thursday at its grand re-opening.

Local authors are very important in the scheme of the store, says new owner Carol Spurling, who bought the longtime Moscow institution Dec. 29, 2011 with her husband Walter and Moscow couple Nicole and Steffen Werner.

“I always carry local authors. It’s nice for them to be able to send their fans and friends and family into the store to get the book,” says Spurling.

Among those signing Thursday are Daniel Orozco, whose critically acclaimed debut, “Orientation: And Other Stories,” comes out in paperback this month and was a Kirkus Reviews Best of 2011 Short Story Collections title. Moscow authors Kim Barnes and Robert Wrigley will be there. Wrigley is a nationally recognized poet. Barnes’ most recent book, “A Country Called Home,” was named a best book of 2008 by The Washington Post. Others participating include tireless chroniclers of regional and national history, like Terry Abraham, Priscilla Wegars and Buddy Levy, whose historical sleuthing landed him a role on the History channel’s “Brad Meltzer’s Decoded.”

On the subject of e-books, Spurling plans to stay on top of the fluctuating industry and offer them through the store’s website which is under construction.

BookPeople will be taking a new approach to used books, she says. Instead of buying them they will be accepted as donations and proceeds from their sales will go to the BookPeople Community Fund to support community literacy projects, arts education, and literary events.

“The reaction has been really positive. People seem really happy about the idea of being able to donate their books,” she says.

Besides signings and readings by local and visiting authors the store has added children’s storytimes at 3:30 p.m. Sundays and 10 a.m. Mondays. It also offers a 20 percent discount to teachers who purchase items for their classrooms.

“We’re trying to be a place that is important socially as well as in the business community, and we’re very family friendly,” says Spurling. What: Grand re-opening of BookPeople When: Thursday Where: 521 S. Main St., Moscow How Much: Free

Noon–2 p.m. Terry Abraham, Lynn Ate, Priscilla Wegars 2–4 p.m. Pat Cary Peek 3 p.m. Paula Coomer, Julie Monroe, Herman Ronnenberg, Jyotsna Sreenivasan 4 p.m. Ron McFarland, Brandon Schrand, Buddy Levy 5 p.m. Live music and hors d’oeuvres. Kim Barnes, Nancy Casey, Elyse Cregar, Daniel Orozco, Robert Wrigley 5–7 p.m. Terry Abraham, Lynn Ate, Priscilla Wegars Also signing will be N.D. Wilson.