Wednesday is "Wands-Day"

Once again, we had a battalion of wand-makers on Wednesday. It was awesome!! Based on a poll with this group, Harry looks safe but Ron or Hermione might be trouble. :)

20 days until #7...

-Finn

(Make magic wands on Wednesdays at 4 pm, all summer long!)

Local Authors Come To Beach Bag Books & Music!

What a week!

This week two local authors dropped by to visit, give me a pat, and sign copies of their new books. It was great! Here's what Sarah has to say about the books...

Wendy Howell Mills (www.WendyHowellMills.com), author of fun beach mysteries "Callie, the Dealer, and a Dog Named Jake," "Death of a Mermaid," and "Island Intrigue" was in town signing her new book, "Island Blues."

ISLAND BLUES, by Wendy Howell Mills.
A fun, fast-moving mystery filled with quirky characters and a pleasantly neurotic heroine. It's a great mystery that takes place in a small beach community that's trying hard to integrate long-time locals with newer residents. The light style is similar to the books of Janet Evanovich.

Joe C. Ellis was also in town promoting his new book, "Murder at Whalehead."

MURDER AT WHALEHEAD, by Joe Ellis.
A well-written and suspenseful mystery. It takes place here in Corolla and offers very interesting insight into our local history, wrapped up in a good mystery with Christian overtones.

Here are some pictures of the other awesome people who dropped by to say "Hi!" this week. Have a great summer, everyone!

-Finn and Sarah

Harry Potter Is Here!

GUESS WHAT!

Harry Potter is here at Beach Bag Books & Music! He's not talking about Book #7, but he IS willing to let fans take photos with him :)

Actually, our Harry is a life-size cut-out, but it's cool all the same! Drop by and practice your spellwork with the Chosen One and talk about all your Potter-theories with Sarah.

We can't wait!

Love, Finn

RESERVE YOUR COPY OF "HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS" BY CALLING 252-453-2900 OR E-MAILING BEACHBAGINFO@YAHOO.COM.

31 Days Until "Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows"!

What ARE the "Deathly Hallows"?

Is Snape good or evil?

Did He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named find something of Gryffindor's?

Will we see Dumbledore again? (please...)

Will Hermione free the house-elves?

We'll all be finding out pretty soon! (Thank goodness!) In the meantime, people here at Beach Bag Books & Music are having a great time sharing theories, making wands, and re-reading the HP books.

Drop by to chat!

Love, Sarah

Tanner and Me

Hi again!

I love it when other dogs come to the store to visit me. People are fun too, but they always talk to Sarah and Ken. The dogs talk to me, though!

Last week Tanner and his people dropped by to play. Tanner's a Bernese Mountain Dog -- he's just as big as me! How cool is THAT? See you next summer, Tanner!

Love, Finn

#1 Beach of 2007!

Ocracoke Lightguarded Beach has been named the #1 beach for 2007!

The next time you're in Corolla, take some time to explore Route 12 South and head on down to Ocracoke....Especially if you visit the Outer Banks during the Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays. There's far less traffic at that time of year ;)

Finn's headed out to Ocracoke this fall to test the waters for himself, and we'll post photos of our trip before the Thanksgiving holiday.

In the meantime, I wanted to share this photo of Finn with his friends TJ and Tyler on our beautiful beach here in Corolla! Finn, TJ, Tyler, and their families had a great time on the beach with us one evening last week. Ahhhh....the water was so warm and nice.....See you guys next year!

: ) Sarah

Storytime at Beach Bag Books & Music

This week we had our biggest group ever at our afternoon storytime. Finn even laid down with us and listened to the story. It was great!

Drop by every Tuesday and Thursday at 4 PM for an afternoon story break :) Bring ice cream, candy, or your favorited stuffed toy.

Love, Sarah and Finn

Beach Reads: Books to Try!

The Outer Banks Guide to Duck, Corolla and the Northern Beaches has put together a list of books to try this summer! Finn and I haven't read them all yet, but I'm betting that they're all pretty great.

Here's a short recap, but you can go to www.outerbanksguides.com for the complete list.

• "Walking in Circles Before Lying Down" (Merrill Markoe, Villard, $22.95)
  
• "Washed Up: The Curious Journeys of Flotsam and Jetsam" (Skye Moody, Sasquatch Books, $16.95)
  
• "Abundance" (Sena Jeter Naslund, HarperCollins, $26.95)
  
• "The Book Thief" (Marcus Zusak, Random House, $16.95).
  
• "A Thousand Splendid Suns" (Riverhead, $25.95), is here!
  

Happy Reading!

Mysterious Adventures: Books To Try!

Need an escape from the summer heat? Try a thriller (or two) from these talented writers!

• Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child: "A Cabinet of Curiosities", "Relic", "Dance of Death"
• James Rollins: "Black Order", "Deep Fathom"
• Stephen Coonts: "The Traitor", "Deep Black"
• Stephen King: "Lisey's Story", "Carrie", "The Dark Tower" (the entire series)
• Michael Connelly: "The Lincoln Lawyer", "The Overlook", "Echo Park"
• David Baldacci: "Simple Genius", "The Collectors"
• Steve Berry: "The Templar Legacy", "The Romanov Conspiracy"
• Dean Koontz: "The Husband", "The Good Guy"
• Jonathan Kellerman: "Gone", "Rage"
  

Enjoy!

Vampire Fiction? Books to Try!

Hi everyone, Sarah here...

This morning, Finn dragged me down the stairs, up the street, across the deck and onto the beach. Usually we go to the beach in the afternoon so that we don't have a sandy, wet dog here at the store. But today that's not the case. I now have a shaggy, sopping wet Newfie sleeping under the Kids table. :) Silly Finn.

But that means that I can sneak onto Finn's blog and talk about a section in our store that gets more than a few funny looks and a lot of laughs...

VAMPIRE FICTION (cue creepy music)


In the last year, we've been astonished at the number of books about vampires that are out there. The genre covers everything from very steamy romances (J.R. Ward) to classic cop adventures (Laurell K. Hamilton) to silly light comedies (Mary Jane Davidson & Katie Macallister) to serious vampire-lore (Bram Stoker & Anne Rice). Plus my two favorite books of last summer, TWILIGHT (Stephanie Meyer) a wonderful romance written for young adults and THE HISTORIAN (Elizabeth Kostova) a serious, well-written piece of historical fiction.

So give the vampires a chance!

Don't be shy. Ask us about books by these and the many other authors that are exploring the serious, scary, funny, and sexy side of the night.

• Laurell K. Hamilton
• Katie Macallister
• Heather Graham
• Mary Jane Davidson
• Anne Rice
• Charlaine Harris
• J.R. Ward
• Christine Feehan
• Lyndsay Sands
• Brian Lumley
• L.A. Banks
• Sherrilyn Kenyon
• Bram Stoker

For Young Adult Readers...

• Stephanie Meyer
• Daren Shan
• Holly Black

What a Week!

Wow, what a week!

Sunny weather, a huge thunderstorm, and an influx of just a few (!) stinging flies. Luckly, the thunderstorm AND the bugs have passed so now we're back to lovely, sunny weather. :)

Check out these photos that the Beardsley family just sent us! See you guys next year :)

Goodbye, Merry Month of May!

Hi everyone,

I had the BEST time this week! Look at me and my friends! We hung out a lot this week...plus we all got to play together on the beach!! We dug in the sand (we were making crab traps) and played in the waves :) Let's see, what else happened this week? ...

Saturday & Sunday: Tons of people came into town for Memorial Day. I think that it's a holiday all about burgers and hot dogs, but I'm not really sure...all those BBQs really made an impression on me this weekend, anyway!

Monday: Happy Memorial Day! I had my first Water Ice from the Philadelphia Water Ice Factory today - YUMMMMMM! Mango....and Sarah says that it's low-fat, too!

Tuesday: Storytime was totally fun! "Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude" is one of my favorites. I like the ponies.

Wednesday: We made magic wands at Hogwarts Activity Hour! I got my paws all full of glitter-glue, but Sarah didn't mind.

Thursday: Storytime again! This time it was a new "Three Little Pigs" story and "Bats on the Beach".

Friday: During beach crafts we made bracelets and necklaces with pretty beads! I wanted to help but my paws are too big to string beads. Oh well. I took a nap by the front door instead.

Here's hoping for a June that's as much fun as May was!

Love, Finn

Join the Midnight Dueling Club at Beach Bag Books & Music!

What do think of our license plate?

Accio Wand!
It should say "Accio, Book #7".

Sarah's so excited about Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows that she's having trouble sleeping!

Sarah and Ken have figured out how to make wands that actually shoot things, so we're hosting a Dueling Club Party on Friday, July 20! Come at 8 pm and get sorted into a house. Compete for the glory of Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Sytherin, or Ravenclaw and to win GREAT PRIZES!

We'll also start selling Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows at midnight (July 20/21), so pre-order your copy today!

Contact us at 252-453-2900 or e-mail beachbaginfo@yahoo.com.

Summer Activities for Families!

This summer, Sarah has expanded the activities at Beach Bag Books & Music! Check them out below and drop by for some fun every afternoon at 4 pm!

Storytime Escapes
Tues./Thurs 4 p.m. – FREE
Sit back and enjoy a quiet story with Finnegan the Newfoundland Dog. A great escape from the mid-day sun for young children. (recommended for ages 2–8)

Hogwarts Activity Hour
Wed. 4 p.m. – $5 materials fee
Get ready for the new Harry Potter book (coming out July 21, 2007) and make something that’s usually only found on Diagon Alley! (for fans of all ages)

Beach Craft Hour
Fri. 4 p.m. – $5 materials fee
Create something cool to remember your Corolla vacation. (recommended for ages 4 and up)

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Midnight Release Party
Fri. July 20–Sat. July 21 -- 8 pm to 1 am
The house-elves are cooking, the paintings are being scrubbed, and old spells are being polished. Be a part of the magic at Beach Bag Books & Music.

Pre-order your copy today: (252) 453-2900 or beachbaginfo@yahoo.com

BEACH BAG BOOKS & MUSIC is located in the new Corolla Light Town Ctr., across from the Corolla Skateboard Park on Hwy. 12, Corolla, NC • (252) 453-2900

Welcome, Summer!

Summer has arrived on the Outer Banks!

The sand crabs and pelicans are back and the beaches are packed with sunbathers, surfers, and boogie boarders.

People are eating ice cream and cheese steak and all kinds of delicious vacation-food.

Stop by and share with me!!

Love, Finn

Happy Memorial Day!!

It's Memorial Day! A day for picnics, hamburgers, hot dogs, and maybe even some ice cream!

YUM YUM YUM!

Our store is so full and pretty! Sarah's been working very had and can't wait for you all to come and visit.

See you soon!
-Finn

New Art at Beach Bag Books & Music

Hi everyone! We have some amazing new art at the store by artist, Bernard Re, Jr (www.globalhome.com).

...Think quantam string theory meets Jackson Pollock.


...Think "The Force" as Obi Wan described it in Star Wars, "It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together."



But no one can explain art like the artist himself. Here's what Bernie has to say about his work: (It is) a story that flows and emerges as a process from mind to mind. The painting serving as the mental expression by the artist, opening a portal to an impression formed in the mind of the observer -- who brings meaning to the image as they view it and bring it into the world.

Stop by to see it for yourself!
-Sarah and Finn

Need Non-Fiction? Books to Try!

Hi everyone - Sarah, here!

Not everyone who comes to the beach wants to loose themselves in the latest Janet Evanovich or Tom Clancy paperback. Many (like me!) are more inclined to delve into a biography, true-life adventure, or weird science story.

Here are just a few to consider (in no particular order)!

1. A Short History of Nearly Everything (Bill Bryson)
2. Salt: A World History (Mark Kurlansky)
3. And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails (Wayne Curtis)
4. Team of Rivals (Doris Kearns Goodwin)
5. Marie Antoinette (Antonia Fraser)
6. Mayflower (Nathaniel Philbrick)
7. The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey (Linda Greenlaw)
8. Hatteras Blues: A Story from the Edge of America (Tom Carlson)
   
9. The Audacity of Hope (Barak Obama)
   
10. One Soldier's Story: A Memoir (Bob Dole)
11. Flags of Our Fathers (James Bradley/Ron Powers)
12. Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Trip Into the Heart of Fan Mania (Warren St. John)
13. Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd (Richard Zacks)
14. Running with Scissors (Augusten Burroughs)
15. Marley & Me (John Grogan)
16. Into Thin Air (Jon Krakauer)
17. Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battel of Thermopylae (Steven Pressfield)
18. How the Irish Saved Civilization (Thomas Cahill)
    
19. Helter Skelter (Vincent Bugliosi)
20. The Secret (Rhonda Byrne)

Unfogging the Future: Make Your Harry Potter Predictions at www.The-Leaky-Cauldron.org!

We're less than 100 days away from the release of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows -- can you believe it?


Sarah's favorite fan site www.The-Leaky-Cauldron.org has created a place that you can make your predictions about Book #7.

It's an interactive quiz that will be updated with new questions every 20 days. Then, once the book's released, the person with the most correct answers will win.

You can click on the picture to see Sarah's predictions...and to make YOUR OWN predictions! Clearly, Sarah's expecting the worst for poor Harry...I think he's gonna make it though! :)

See you on July 21!

Love, Finn

Our First Hogwarts Activity Hour!

EXPELLIARMUS!


We had our first Hogwarts Activity Hour today--we made our own magic wands--and it was SO MUCH FUN! Everyone ended up covered in glue, glitter, and paint but smiling and happily jinxing everything in our paths :)

Enjoy the photos and drop by to make a wand yourself! (Fridays, 4 pm)