Past Events

Princess Storytime

Join Twinkling Tiara Parties on Sunday, July 5th from 12–1 PM for a Princess Storytime at the Otto Bookstore featuring Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella!

The princesses will lead this storytime with:

• A read-aloud of 5-Minute Princess Stories

A sing-along experience

• A hands-on craft for kids

• Snacks!

 

Only children need booked seats, parents come along!

Don't forget your storytime punch card! If you come to 12 storytimes within a year, your child gets a free book!

This event is free to attend, with free parking available.

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Location: Otto BookstorePresenter:
Princess Storytime 7/5
July Holiday Hours

We will be closing a little early this weekend for the holiday. Our hours will be 10AM to 3PM Saturday, July 4th and Sunday, July 5th. Have a great weekend!

Location: The Otto BookstorePresenter:
Holiday Weekend Hours
July Holiday Hours

We will be closing a little early this weekend for the holiday. Our hours will be 10AM to 3PM Saturday, July 4th and Sunday, July 5th. Have a great weekend!

Location: The Otto BookstorePresenter:
Holiday Weekend Hours
First Friday Author Meet and Greet: Kai Shanti

Join us for another wonderful First Friday Author event with Kai Shanti.   Kai will be here to sign copies of her book and talk with you about what inspired her to share this story with you.

About Kai Shanti  
Kai has a unique gift that allows her to transmit the energy of awakening to open and willing spiritual seekers.

She was introduced to the kundalini shaktipat tradition in 1996 when she was 27 years old. Her kundalini was awakened by a shaktipat master and within a few months she was in full manifestation of the Divine Mother.

She has since undergone a series of dramatic awakenings that have prepared her to work with others. As a result of working with her, many people report having dramatic life changes, spiritually and in their everyday lives. 

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Location: The Otto BookstorePresenter:
kaishanti
First Friday Author Meet and Greet: Brandy Withey

Join us for a special First Friday Meet and Greet with Brandy Withey as we celebrate the launch of her debut work: Too F*cked Up to Quit, Too Stubborn to Die.

Brandy never expected to survive her addiction - and she certainly never expected to find life worth staying for. What began as a desperate attempt to numb her pain became the very thing that nearly destroyed her. She lost herself piece by piece, trying to outrun a darkness she didn't know how to face. In this raw and unfiltered memoir, Brandy shares the truth of what it looked like to fall apart, relapse, get back up, and learn to live clean one day at a time. Through meetings, sponsorship, step work, and service, she discovered belonging, purpose, and a life she never believed she deserved. This is a story about survival, honesty, and the quiet miracles that happen when someone chooses to stay - even when staying feels impossible. For anyone who has ever struggled in silence, questioned their worth, or wondered if change was possible, this book is for you. It's a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is a way forward - and you never have to walk it alone.

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Location: The Otto BookstorePresenter: Brandy Withey
Brandy Withey Cover
Live from the Otto Bookstore: Open Mic Poetry Night

Calling All Young Poets! Join Our First Thursday Open Mic Poetry Night! 🎤

 

Hosted by James Inwright, our Open Mic Poetry Night invites all PA youth writers to share their words and let their voices be heard! Whether you’re here to listen or ready to step up to the mic, this evening promises inspiration and creativity.

Enjoy free coffee and parking as you immerse yourself in the beautiful rhythm of poetry with fellow enthusiasts.

Join us on each First Thursday night of the month for a celebration of young voices and poetry. Unleash your inner poet and connect with a vibrant community.

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Location: Otto BookstorePresenter:
Open Mic Poetry
July's Artist of the Month: Bill Wiist

Bill Wiist is a writer/artist who lives in central Pennsylvania. When he's not painting outdoors on the weekends, he writes, illustrates, and designs middle-grade fantasy novels, such as his recently published book, The Mystery of A Nubbins. Bill invites you to follow his weekly column about all things kid lit on Substack, where he also posts regular updates about his own work.

Location: Otto BookstorePresenter:
Bill Wiist , art work by bill wiist
Campfire Storytime

Join us on Sunday, June 28th from 12–1 PM for a Campfire Storytime at the Otto Bookstore!

One of our staff members will lead this storytime with:

• A read-aloud of Llama Llama Loves Camping

• A hands-on craft for kids

• Snacks!

 

Only children need booked seats, parents come along!

Don't forget your storytime punch card! If you come to 12 storytimes within a year, your child gets a free book!

This event is free to attend, with free parking available.

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Location: Presenter: Campfire Storytime
Campfire Storytime
Fairy Garden Storytime

Join us on Sunday, June 21st from 12–1 PM for a Fairy Garden Storytime featuring the Tinker Fairy and Garden Fairy at the Otto Bookstore!

Our guests from Twinkling Tiara Parties will bring the magic to life with:

• A read-aloud of Alice the Fairy

• Hands on crafts!

• A Scavenger hunt!

• Snacks!

• Opportunities for photos and interactive character moments
 

Only children need booked seats, parents come along!

Don't forget your storytime punchcard! If you come along to 12 storytimes in a year, your child gets a free book!

This event is free to attend, with free parking available.

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Location: Otto BookstorePresenter:
Fairy Garden Story Time
Ask Me Anything: A Book Launch Event with Barry Lyga!

NY Times Bestselling author Barry Lyga is coming to the Otto Bookstore!

Mark your calendar for June 20th! We’re welcoming special guest author Barry Lyga as we celebrate the release of his 28th book, Every Hunter is Hunted.

Set in the world of Barry Lyga’s New York Times bestselling I Hunt Killers trilogy, this gripping adult mystery follows the search for a terrifying serial killer.

Ask Me Anything is an opportunity for any aspiring writer looking for insights on the writing process from an author who has published 28 titles.

 

That's right: You get to ask any question and Barry will happily answer!

About the Author:

Called a “YA rebel-author” by Kirkus Reviews, Barry Lyga has published twenty-seven books in various genres in his eighteen-year career, including the New York Times bestselling I Hunt Killers. His books have been or are slated to be published in more than a dozen different languages in North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia.

After graduating from Yale with a degree in English, Lyga worked in the comic book industry before quitting to pursue his lifelong love of writing. In 2006, his first young adult novel, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, was published to rave reviews, including starred reviews from Booklist and School Library Journal. Publishers Weekly named Lyga a “Flying Start” in December 2006 on the strength of the debut.

His second young adult novel, Boy Toy, received starred reviews in SLJ, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus. VOYA gave it its highest critical rating, and the Chicago Tribune called it “…an astounding portrayal of what it is like to be the young male victim.” His third novel, Hero-Type, according to VOYA “proves that there are still fresh ideas and new, interesting story lines to be explored in young adult literature.”

He has also written Goth Girl Rising (the sequel to his first novel), as well as the Archvillain series for middle-grade readers and the graphic novel Mangaman (with art by Colleen Doran).

His most popular series is I Hunt Killers, called by the LA Times “one of the more daring concepts in recent years by a young-adult author” and an “extreme and utterly alluring narrative about nature versus nurture.” The first book landed on both the New York Times and USAToday bestsellers lists.

Since then, he has written a six-part epic based on The Flash, the inter-generational murder mystery Time Will Tell, and the origin of the MCU’s greatest villain in Thanos: Titan Consumed. He is also the editor of Generation Wonder: The New Age of Heroes, an anthology introducing a plethora of new superheroes to a world that desperately needs them.

Lyga lives near New York City with his wife, the novelist Morgan Baden, their nigh-omnipotent daughter, and their preternaturally chill son. His comic book collection is a lot smaller than it used to be, but is still way too big.

About the Book:

Brides are being murdered on their wedding nights. Soaked in blood and draped in lace. With nothing left behind to help them find the killer, the FBI is at an impasse. Their only, desperate hope is to convince Jasper Dent, the son of two serial killers and a former teen prodigy at hunting down such monsters, to emerge from his self-imposed exile.

When he was a teenager, both of Jasper’s parents were members of a secret society of serial killers. Today, his father is in prison, and his mother is in a coma, both results of their final confrontation with Jasper years ago. Now wealthy from a bestselling memoir about his parents, Jasper still carries the scars from their parenting—and the uncanny, unwanted ability to understand killers that they instilled in him.

Jasper wants nothing more than to hide from his past – cash his royalty checks and never think about murder and blood again. But he knows the only way to find any meaning or redemption in his life is to face his demons once again. His skills rusty, his confidence shaken, Jasper races against a ticking clock, frantically seeking to solve the impossible mystery before more women meet a horrific end.

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Location: Otto BookstorePresenter:
Barry Lyga
AI Awareness Night: A Community Experience

The conversations about AI are everywhere you turn these days. This event is a discussion about the real world applications of AI


This is an interactive community event designed to help people of all ages explore artificial intelligence in an approachable and engaging way.

The evening will begin with a presentation by author Frank Baker, followed by a panel discussion featuring Cindy Anderson, Dr. Chris Kulp, and Melissa Morral on how AI is impacting everyday life, education, business, and the future workforce.

Guests will also participate in hands-on activities, learning stations, and mini-sessions to explore how AI is being used in education and provide guidance for parents on helping children use AI safely and responsibly.

The event aims to spark curiosity, encourage thoughtful discussion, and provide practical resources for navigating the growing role of AI in our community.

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Location: Otto BookstorePresenter: Otto Bookstore
 AI Event 06.15.26
A First Friday Author Event: Jazz and Books with Sascha Feinstein

Join us at Otto Bookstore for an unforgettable celebration of literature and jazz with acclaimed author and poet Sascha Feinstein! We’re thrilled to host Sascha as he shares insights from his latest book, Writing Jazz: Conversations with Critics and Biographers, a fascinating exploration of the challenges and excitement of writing about jazz.

To set the perfect mood, we’ll have live jazz performed by an incredible lineup of musicians: Rob Byham, Tim Breon, Joel Vincent, Walt Straiton, and Bill Stetts.

🎶 The first 30 attendees will receive a stylish pair of shades - because what’s jazz without a little cool? 😎

Don’t miss this unique blend of books, music, and culture - come celebrate the art of jazz and literature with us at Otto Bookstore!

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Location: Otto BookstorePresenter: Sascha Feinstein
Underlord by Will Wight
Book Club! An evening with The Dead Romantics

Is romance dead? Is love dead? Join us for a special edition of the Otto Bookstore’s Book Club as we welcome a guest host from Lycoming College for an evening with The Dead Romantics!

Enjoy complimentary coffee and snacks while diving into this hauntingly beautiful and thought-provoking novel. Bring your thoughts, theories, and love for books as we explore the themes of love, loss, and second chances in this unforgettable story.

📚 Space is limited to 20 participants, so registration is required via Eventbrite—but it’s completely FREE! Plus, attendees receive an exclusive 20% discount on the featured book.

Don’t miss this engaging night of bookish conversation and literary fun—register today! ✨

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Location: Otto BookstorePresenter: Otto Bookstore’s Book Club
Dead Romantics: A GMA Book Club Pick by Ashley Poston
February's Artist of the Month: Erika Bohlin

Erika Bohlin is a local wood artist based in Trout Run, PA. 

Erika learned woodworking from her grandfather and her father. In middle school, she was removed from home economics class because of some mischievous behavior, and put in shop class, where she was able to hone her woodworking skills. Drawn to patterns in nature and music from an early age, Erika constantly tries to find new ways to create patterns in her wood and string art. Whether functional or decorative, each piece requires a mix of patience, problem-solving, and improvisation.


When not making art, Erika can be found working as an EMT, teaching piano lessons, or spending time in the woods with her wife and two sons.

Erika's work will be on display and available for purchase throughout the month of February. 

You can see her work @wood_and_string_designs on Etsy and Instagram  

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Location: Presenter: Erika Bohlin
Erika Bohlin