Ransom Riggs to read from new series at Beastly Books

IN SANTA FE

Noted novelist Ransom Riggs will discuss and read from his new book “Sunderworld Vol. 1: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry” at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at Beastly Books, 418 Montezuma Ave., Santa Fe.

It is the first installment in a new fantasy series about 17-year-old Leopold, who notices some pretty weird things in and around Los Angeles.

Ransom Riggs to read from new series at Beastly Books

Things like a man who pops a tooth into a parking meter, a glowing trapdoor opens in a parking lot, a half-mechanical raccoon with its tail on fire won’t stop pestering Leopold.

These moments are taken from a cheesy 1990s fantasy TV show of Riggs’ invention. The show is called “Max’s Adventures in Sunderworld.” In the book, Riggs brings together the familiar with the peculiar in a tale of loss, friendship, triumph and magic.

Riggs is widely known as the author of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” which mixes fiction and photography.

“Miss Peregrine’s” spent two years on the New York Times bestseller list, and Amazon named it one of “100 Young Adult Books to Read in a Lifetime.” It was also adapted to a feature film.

AT TREASURE HOUSE BOOKS & GIFTS

Patricia Smith Wood of Albuquerque will sign her biography of her mother “Raising Ruby: The Amazing True Story of a 20th Century Woman” and her Harrie McKinsey mysteries series from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, at Treasure House Books and Gifts, 2012 South Plaza St. NW, Old Town.

NEW POETRY COLLECTION

Sharon Niederman’s new book, “Ungentrified: Poems of the North Valley and Beyond,” was published earlier this year. In the book’s introduction, Demetria Martinez writes that “for those of us who have known Niederman’s work as an essayist, reporter and photographer, these poems are a gorgeous summing up of what it means to live a life attuned to the muse.”

Niederman is also the author of the award-winning novel “Return to Abo,” which is about three generations of ranch women struggling to maintain their way of life, and “A Quilt of Words,” a collection of Western women’s diaries.

Niederman lives in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque.

DEBUT NOVEL

Albuquerque’s Valerie Santillanes is the author of the debut novel, “Little Flowers.”

As Rosalea Duran grows up, she is conflicted about her life. Should she accept the traditional path toward marriage and motherhood or should she be independent and bound to no one? Rosalea resolves to remain single, raise three daughters and still remain virtuous enough to be acceptable to her community. As they grow up, her daughters grapple with a similar quandary.

Santillanes will be selling and signing copies of the novel 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Aug. 25, Sept. 1, and Sept. 8, at Bike In Coffee, 949 Montoya St. NW.

— Compiled by David Steinberg / For the Journal