The Macabre Librarian

04/10/2026

In the past 24-36 hours, my focus has been on two things: Processing my emotions, and having lengthy conversations with a few vendor friends.

And every conversation produced the same set of questions: How can we, sometimes unknowingly, continue to participate in systems of harm when we, ourselves, have been deeply affected by them and have seen them in action time and again? Despite what we confidently thought we knew, carefully concluded, or didn't know at all? What really are our "best efforts" not to cause harm? What could we do better, and how do we want to proceed?

After overcoming the initial shock, I have a deep-seated feeling that I was too impartial about this situation. Even after cutting ties with Wake and cancelling the book fair. Even though no one seems to be pressuring me to "do better". Quite the opposite, in fact. I have heard a lot of encouragement to give myself grace. So why does that not feel reassuring?

I think it's because I didn't lead publicly with, "I believe women." Instead, I led with my gut and an abundance of caution about my statements.

Affecting real change means believing women about their experiences with SA, and that is an active practice, not just an exercise in empathy. In a system that teaches even supposedly thoughtful people to disbelieve victims, we have to actively interrogate our usual ways of reasoning. Talk deeply with each other and with ourselves. Listen. Challenge. Give grace. Be wrong.

Even though I'm just a tiny piece of this whole situation and I arrived very late in its development, I think it's important to state this openly. It's a very small part, but it's a part. I want TML to be a safe place for people, and more importantly, I want people to be safe with me as a fellow human.

The plan for this month is to try to move forward with the rest of our events while continuing to process and recoup. This week's posts may feel like a weird tone shift. I don't think it will be a comfortable or natural transition, but at this time, I want to continue try to go forward.

03/10/2026

I'm coming here to be transparent about my thoughts and feelings surrounding the serious allegations surfacing (or resurfacing) toward one of the owners of Wake. These thoughts and feelings are complicated and lengthy, so please bear with me.

First, in light of this information, I have made the decision to discontinue our partnership with Wake. This means the fall book fair will be cancelled.

I want to address this situation and my role in the decision-making with honesty. Several months ago, I heard from someone outside the QC that there had been a long-ago allegation toward one of the owners of Wake. That concerned me. I decided to follow up, but after reaching out to a couple of people I thought may be close to the situation, I came up empty-handed. These were other women whose values and opinions I trust.

Next, I did some digging and learned that the owner in question was no longer affiliated with the business or profiting off of it. After that, I felt this had surely been addressed. Friends were still going there. No one, vendor friend or customer friend, shared any further concerns. No comments were made to me online (which, given the current discourse, I find a little miraculous). I decided to put it to rest, though I should have at least had a conversation with Debbie at the time.

Around 1 pm today, I was informed that a discussion was taking place on social media. This time, it was more than just an alleged, long-ago incident that had been addressed. It was multiple people discussing multiple alleged incidents.

I want to make it clear that I feel Debbie and the Wake staff that I have met are good women trying to do good things with good intentions. I am grateful, especially, for Debbie’s understanding and willingness to have a conversation about this, and for her support. During the process of co-hosting these events, I have learned from her strength, positivity, and genuine desire to see everyone succeed.

But I can’t make all of these emotions live together and go forward. TML will lose some folks’ support no matter what I decide to do– leave or stay. It all comes down to me sitting with myself.

I am an SA survivor, which is something I really never wanted to discuss on my business page. But it does live with me every day. I can’t be sure what happened in this situation. But if it may have happened and hasn’t been addressed, I can’t move forward.

There was a possibility that I could have moved the fair to a different location, but I have decided to postpone it until the spring when I have weighed my options. I know this will be a great disappointment to a lot of our vendors, especially after the rain reschedule. The joy that a book fair should bring is just not there at the moment, and I need some time to reflect and recoup.

01/10/2026

Saturday, October 24th, Indie Bookstores After Dark returns to The Last Picture House .

Mark your calendars. And don't lose your head. 🎃

Film tickets available soon.

30/09/2026

Quad Citizens, if you're going to travel out of town for a market, this is the one. It is absolutely massive! 💜🌛

26/09/2026

25/09/2026

This weekend! Paul will most likely be holding down the fort while I prep for the busy month of October. 📚❤

🏰The Greater Quad Cities Renaissance Faire is almost here!

And trust us… you’re going to want to make time for the entertainment! There’s a LOT happening throughout the faire grounds, so grab your friends, bring the family, and get ready for a weekend full of music, magic, mischief, battles, pirates, royals, and plenty of laughs.

~Here is the weekend #1 tentative entertainment schedule. This is subject to change if needed~

🎭 On the stages, you’ll find:
🏴‍☠️ The Pirate Stage — Incendiary NPCs & B***y Buccaneers will be bringing the fire & shenanigans all day long!
🌿 Theater on the Green — Clan McSwade, Molotov Stoopid Human Tricks, The Brotherhood of Steel, Inc, and Band of Iron Lions!
👑 Royal Stage — Meet the Faerie Queen Titania, encounter Barely Believable Magic with the Magic of Andrew and meet Queen Katherine of the Royal Merry Miscreants
🎶 Minstrel Stage inside the Lodge building — Cockatoo Encounter, Droopel The Barbarian and Orckes & Trolles / Top Hat Carolers.

🐴 And don’t miss the Joust with Equus Nobilis at 12:00, 2:00 & 4:00 on the Tournament Field!!

🐎 Loyal Horses will also be making appearances at 11:30, 1:30 & 3:30 in their arena!

And that’s not even everything! You’ll also find Odin, Mischief and Positivity, Juke the Song Dealer, The Wandering Pascal and more roaming the lanes. Plus, Band of Iron Lions and Brotherhood of Steele will be in encampment!

Basically… you could spend the entire day wandering from one bit of fun to the next. And we highly recommend you do. 😉

📅 September 26 & 27, 2026
⏰ Gates open at 10 AM and close at 6 PM
🏰 Credit Island Park, 2200 W. River Drive, Davenport, IA

And remember—Weekend #2 is October 3 & 4!

🎟️ Get your tickets and all the faire details at www.midwestfests.com!
Tickets are also available all day, every day, at the gate cash or card.
ATMs onsite
Free parking onsite
Bags & strollers are allowed
Water bottles & food needed for allergies/infants/children is allowed

Come for the jousting. Stay for the pirates. Laugh with the performers. Meet the royals. And maybe get into a little Renaissance mischief of your own.

We’ll see you at the faire!

23/09/2026

Our new bookmarks are here & looking oh so sharp!

18/09/2026

Due to the high probability of storms this Saturday, we postponed the book fair. Most folks were supportive; some were really vocally disappointed.

I don't think some people realize how easily-ruined books can be in this climate, so I did a little science experiment today to show you exactly what it can look like when you go through with an outdoor book event despite the forecast.

Sandra Brown is going to take one for the team, here. I chose a copy of one of her books in like-new condition. Today’s forecast was pretty comparable to tomorrow’s, with thunderstorms rolling through for an hour or two and 89% humidity.

I placed the book on our back steps underneath a wide awning to simulate the conditions of being near the edge of a tent without sidewalls. Keep in mind that it was not very windy at all, even during the rain, so water was likely not blowing sideways under the awning.

Five hours later (which would have been the duration of the book fair), I retrieved the book.

And this is what it looked like.

Completely ruined.

Not only has the humidity curled the cover, but water has seeped underneath it.

Now, imagine you’re a new bookseller, and you’re at the book fair. If you put your sidewalls up, it gets more humid in the tent. Books are only getting wet on one side of your tent, and you’ve only lost about 10 copies. That’s pretty minimal, right?

Wrong.

That’s still $120 down the drain.

Because of a little leak.

Because the wind blew in the wrong direction.

Because people insisted that you show up even when you knew a tiny amount of water could be a giant headache.

This is why we all made the difficult decision to reschedule. For bookstores, authors, and small presses, it’s not “just a little bit of moisture.” It’s the difference between a great event and being $120+ behind on your bills for the month. I’ve attended events where $250 tents were ruined, $80 bookshelves broken, and glass was shattered with one strong gust of wind, and the organizers still expected vendors to stay. We’re not doing that to our bookish friends, and we know you don't want that, either!

October 11 will have glasses overflowing with brews and arms overflowing with books. We look forward to seeing you then, and if you can’t make it, there is always next time!