Book Drives Near Me

📚 Quietly Thriving – Our Take on Silent Book Club 🌿

Pop-up Book Club 7: The Stories of John Cheever

Let's meet and discuss some of John Cheever's stories! Selections are from the anthology, The Stories of John Cheever, available at local libraries. We'll be discussing: Goodbye, My Brother; The Enormous Radio; The 5:48; The Swimmer: Reunion; The Country Husband: The Brigadier And The Golf Widow - and, a couple others, tba!

Paint a Pumpkin! - Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

Let's paint some mini pumpkins while we discuss our October pick: Phantasma by Kaylie Smith Event: Please bring a bag of individually wrapped candies to share! Pumpkins and Paint will be provided. Book description: Welcome to Phantasma. There are only two rules to the game. Stay alive. And don’t fall in love. When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish. Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals. Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain. Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life. Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer. Her life is on the line. But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart…

October Book Club, Horror / Paranormal 👻 🎃

The book we will be reading for October is The No-End House by Jeremy Bates. It is free on KindleUnlimited. Book Club will be at the Dublin library meeting room 3. Feel free to come whether or not you’ve finished the book!! Light snacks will be provided, but you’re welcome to bring snacks or drinks. -Let me know if you’d like to volunteer to bring snacks, themed or not themed ◡̈ -If you are not able to attend October’s Book Club, but still want to vote for November’s book or make suggestions for December’s book, feel free to message me here or on Instagram!

IxDA Chat ‘n Pancakes

Join the local UX and Design community for our casual monthly breakfast meetup. The [food menu](https://www.metsisitalian.com/park-service-coffee-breakfast) is a little limited this time, but we're all going to want the [little ricotta donut balls](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/696965720cb6ff5c10d9d304/1789418540860-2FODO7BMQZ12XDW3YEFG/PS_Metsis-03breaky.jpg?format=1000w) anyway. Thanks to the team at Nationwide for supporting the community.

Bad Girls Book Club October 2026

**Our October novel is: *The Drowning Kind* by Jennifer McMahon** **This month’s pick leans all the way into dark and creepy. Think ghosts, crime, and a heavy noir vibe—with plenty of suspense and supernatural twists mixed in. The book is 368 pages in print and 11 hours and 48 minutes on audiobook.** Be careful what you wish for. When Jax receives nine missed calls from her older sister, Lexie, she assumes that it’s just another one of her sister’s episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. And as she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined. In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns that the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting that the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives.

Monthly Book Club Meeting

Questioning the Voice

**A simple, repeatable tool for testing whether a thought you've been carrying is actually true — or just familiar.** Last time, we talked about the sentences that run quietly in the background — "I should be further along by now," "it's selfish to want this," "I'm too old to start over." If you were in the room, maybe you caught yourself thinking one of those this week. This time, we go a step further: what do you actually do with it? We're back with *Take Back Your Brain* by Kara Loewentheil for a simple, four-question tool you can run any thought through — no journaling for hours, no forcing yourself into false positivity, just a clear way to tell fact from story and land on something more useful. You do not need to have been at the last session for this one to work. If this is your first time with The What's Next Circle, you'll get a chance to name your own sentence right alongside everyone else's — same room, same process, no catching up required. What to expect: * 90 minutes, small group, real conversation * No prep required — if you've got a "should" or a "too late" sitting in the back of your mind, that's all you need to bring * A tool you can actually use again on your own, long after tonight

Book BINGO!

Join us for a monthly **Book BINGO** with Tucker-The-Book-Lover. Make sure to get there early to get a spot! *Win books and book prizes, no cost to play!* The **[Whispering Page Bookstore](https://whisperingpagebookstore.com/)** is a new concept bookshop in Old Worthington (in the historic Worthington Hardware Bldg). It features cozy nooks and social gathering spaces serving coffee, wine, beer and bakery (sweet and savory). PARKING: street parking and a large public parking lot behind the store.

Shut Up & Write! Kingsdale Shopping Center

Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington. The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo. Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine. We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you. The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly. Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome. The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit. Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times. Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have. Happy writing!

Shut Up & Write!™ Easton Town Center

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

Walk & Talk About Life's Big Questions

[The Board Walks](http://www.theboardwalks.com/) are for curious people who love deep conversations. If that sounds like you, **bring a thoughtful topic** and join us for a 5-mile walk (10,000+ steps!). **HOW IT WORKS** **Step 1: Bring a topic** Before you arrive, think of **one** topic you want to explore. A question. A thought that's been on your mind. An obsession you want to geek out on. This is your ticket to the event. **Step 2: Circle up & share** We gather in a circle. Your friendly walk host gives a speech to set the tone. Everyone shares: your name, what you're grateful for, and your topic. That's it. 60 seconds. **Step 3: Walk, talk & float** We walk 5 miles. You naturally drift into conversation with 2-3 people at a time, pulled by topics that spark your curiosity. When you're ready to move on, just say: "I'm going to float!" **Step 4: Feel more alive** Two hours flies by. You're back where you started — but you feel different. More alive. More energized. More connected to yourself and others. That's why regulars join 20+ times. *For more details, read our [Orientation Guide.](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation)* **HOW TO BRING A GREAT TOPIC** A great topic = something you're genuinely curious about. Recent topics include: * "What are you passionate about right now?" * "What makes a good friend?" * "What's a belief you used to hold that you've completely changed?" * "How do you want to be remembered?" * "What would you do if money wasn't a factor?" Think of your topic like the dish you're bringing to our conversational potluck. If everyone brings an A+ dish (i.e. energizing, uplifting, expansive), we'll all walk away feeling lighter and brighter. **WHAT TO EXPECT** This isn't a fitness event with casual chitchat. It's a walking think tank where we explore life's big questions together, beyond small talk. *If you're looking for light banter or a standard networking event, this probably isn't the right fit.* But if you crave depth, genuine connection, and conversations that make you feel alive? You'll love it here. **FAQ** * Wear casual athletic attire and sneakers. It's a long walk! * We have multiple first-timers at each event. We work hard to create a welcoming, inclusive, clique-free space. * We welcome people of **all** ages, backgrounds, and industries who align with the [intention](https://www.theboardwalks.com/ground-rules) of this space. * Rain or shine, we've been out here nearly every week since July 2022. If the event is cancelled, we'll let you know. * Dogs, babies in strollers, parents, and friends are welcome — please text/email them the event link so they can RSVP and prepare a topic! **LOGISTICS** * If you'll arrive over 10 minutes late, we suggest skipping the event. It's hard to find us once we start walking, and your host can't answer messages during the event. * This walk is designed for everyone to *move together at the same steady pace* (about 20 min/mile). This format works best when the whole group moves in unison. If you have mobility limitations, we kindly encourage you to find an event better suited to your needs. * Read our [Orientation Guide](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation) for full details. * If you enjoy the event, send **[this](http://www.theboardwalks.com/)** to a friend or sign up for our **[newsletter](https://theboardwalks.beehiiv.com/)**. We're in multiple cities with more on the way. 🤠👋 **IF YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER...** [The Board](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board) is the next step: a high-trust collective for renaissance people devoted to creating, connecting, and building lives that light us up. * This is a global HQ for people who crave big talk, deep connection, and dream collaborations with people across industries. If the walks feel like a spark... The Board is the fire. Apply [here](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board).