Silent Book Club

Shhhh. 

Nichole and I went to a Silent Book Club at the new library courtyard with the new greenhouse at the Orem Library.

It was so nice. We had a dedicated time to quietly read our books outside. If we wanted to talk (you know me- love to chat with those Orem librarians), there was an indoor space dedicated to talking about books and whatever else. They also had snacks in there. 

It was part of the Adult Reading Challenge so we got another sticker to put in our junk journals. My junk journal is getting a lot of use this year. I love it! 

It was a relaxing evening. 

Perfect Date

For the past couple of months I've been part of an Instagram book club with Megan Walker to read her books, Lakeshire Park and Miss Newbury's List, in preparation for her book, The Duke's Bargain, which comes out on May 5. It has been wonderful learning behind the scenes details from Megan as well as hearing experiences from other readers. Do you know how many of us have memories of berry picking from our youth?

When I found out Megan was coming to Utah to do an event at the Provo Library with Joanna Barker and Esther Hatch who both had books come out recently, as well as several other authors, I made sure to get a ticket. 

The event was a speed-dating/speed-friending kind of event. The authors each spent six minutes at a table with readers who got to ask questions and chat before they rotated to another table.

I loved how it was done because I got to chat with some authors I hadn't been able to chat with before.

Afterward was a Q&A session then book signing.

 

Before the event started, I met up with Amber from that same book club and we hung out the whole time, both got our hugs from Megan Walker, and got to be each other's picture takers with the authors (I didn't get pictures with all the authors but that's okay). It was fun.

Book Club Buddies!

I got a bunch of swag (not all pictured. Let's just say I have plenty of bookmarks to lose now), and got The Duke's Bargain (before release date) by Megan Walker, 

 

and If You'll Have Me by Esther Hatch, 

 

and A Love Most Daring by Joanna Barker. 

Those last two books I really got into when I read (or listened to) them earlier- see my March 30, 2026 post about A Love Most Daring.

 

I also got pictures with Jennifer Moore 

 

and Jentry Flint 

 

and Arlem Hawks.

 

It was a fun way to do an author event and I'm so glad I went.

I love events with the Provo Library.

 

P.S. That day was the perfect date to do this event since April 25 was Perfect Date Day. The speed-dating style fit right in with it.   

Jeremy took the kids out that morning for some birding. Their weather was not too hot and not too cold. It was also Celebrate Trails Day so they walked around the visitor's center at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

P.P.S. Since April 25 was also World Penguin Day, we ate fish sticks. Even though it was National Plumbers Day, I did not wear my Mario shirt to my event. I wore my Gentlemen's Gamble shirt. 

 

The Gentlemen's Gamble

You know I like when authors convince me (they don't have to try that hard) to read their books (if it's the type of book I would read). See my post from September 14, 2024.

I found out about a new series that came out this year written by multiple authors called The Gentlemen's Gamble series. The idea is that this group of friends make a wager when they're younger that whoever is the last to marry has to pay each of the others in the group 100 pounds. They kind of forget about it and then years later one friend writes to all the others that he has gotten married and reminds them all about the wager so it's a scramble for them all to get married.

A couple fun things about this series are: 1) the authors kept the release order of the books secret so we didn't know who was going to lose the wager. 2) each of the books have the same prologue but written from the hero of that book's point of view.

I haven't finished the series yet (I'm still two books away- I've listened to four on audiobook) but I do know the order of the books at this point. The series introduced me to a new author (and the last two books are from authors I have not previously read so I'm still waiting) and I got to read books from three authors who I have read books from before. One of them is Anneka R. Walker, who is one of my favorites, as you know.

In April, the authors held a Gentlemen's Gamble virtual event where they talked about the books and answered questions. It was pretty fun. Before the event they emailed BINGO cards so we could have fun catching little things that were mentioned throughout the event. 

They also did some giveaways and I won a tshirt. It says, "Team Gentlemen. Honor Intact. Hearts Compromised." 

I am enjoying this book series and I'm glad I found out about it.

 

 

Getting Into a Book

This is what happens when I get into a book.

I told my husband I couldn't listen to what he was saying because I was at the part of my book (A Love Most Daring by Joanna Barker) where it was grrr with the thing then aaaaaaaaagh then pew then blaaaaaah (tongue lolling out to the side and eyes closed). 

It's not always easy to type out sound effects. There were hand gestures, too.

My son came in a little bit later and asked, "Is this a kissing book?"

"Yes, it is, but also..." and I repeated the sound effects and gestures.

I was too in the moment to get a picture so you get a picture of one of the times I was waiting for kids and reading the book. I spent plenty of time in the past with the other books in this series while waiting to pick up or drop off kids.

And for the record, my husband was very forgiving about me not listening to him.

 

After I finished the book, I was able to go to an online book club with the author where we talked about the book, favorite scenes, characters, and lots of fun things.

Books are awesome! 
 

Why Did I Take This Picture?

You know how sometimes you're looking through pictures and you're like, "Why did I take this picture?" Sometimes you remember. Sometimes you don't.

While preparing to blog, I was transferring pictures from my phone and I got a glimpse of one of me with Christmas lights in the background. 

I looked at the date. It was January 22. That was a Thursday. I know the kids had school that day. How would I have gotten a morning walk picture that day at City Center Park? 

Then I remembered. That night, as part of the Orem Library Adult Reading Challenge, I went to an event- Favorites of 2025 Book Club Night. A big group of us sat around sharing our favorite reads from 2025. It was nice. I got some ideas of books that I wouldn't think to pick myself. I got a sticker for my junk journal. I got some refreshments. 

On the way out, I took a picture of me with lights near the entrance to the library. Ah ha. Because not only are the lights on at the park in the morning and at night, they are outside the library as well.

Mystery solved.

By the way, January 22 was also Polka Dot Day and National Hot Sauce Day so I went around wishing people Happy Polka Dot Day and I made pasta and encouraged family members to eat pasta with rotisserie chicken and hot sauce.

Happy Birthday, Charles Schulz

The birthday of Charles Schulz was November 26. We thought about getting Red Baron pizza but ended up making homemade pizza instead. We also had "peanuts," and "Peppermint Patties," and lemonade.

Jet was once again a big kitchen helper, from stirring lemonade to poking holes in the pizza crust. I appreciate him.

We also danced around while doo doo dooing Charlie Brown music.

 

That evening I was able to participate in the Ultimate Book Club of Book Clubs online with Sarah M. Eden for her book, Snapdragons, which I was able to finish in time for the book club. I enjoyed it, both the book and the book club. I love to hear little behind the scenes things about her writing, books, and the future Seeking Persephone movie.

Jet joined me for a little while until he got too wiggly and the kids had to come get him. He does like to snuggle with his Mommy, though.

November 27 was Electric Guitar Day. We talked about Jr. playing his guitar but I can't remember if he actually did or not. I know he did one day recently. Sigh. He doesn't have an electric guitar, though.

Shout Out to the Librarians

I want to give a shout out to all the librarians (and other library staff and volunteers) out there, both past and present. There are a lot of different types from church librarians, school librarians, public library librarians, and many more. I have friends and family members who either currently work at libraries or have in the past.

I wanted to take a little time right now to say Thank You specifically to the librarians (and other library staff and volunteers) at the Provo Library and Orem Library. I've mentioned before some of the adjustments that have been made at the libraries because of the pandemic. I appreciate the work those at the library have put into things so my family can continue to have good experiences through the public libraries.

 

We've done online events, 

I've had good communication through email when something wasn't working on a library website, librarians at the Orem Library have asked about us since I never got to bring my baby in to see them, so many things. I did text this picture to Jeremy when he was talking to one of the librarians one day so she could finally see my baby. 

Thank You, librarians!

 

In February, librarians at the Provo Library shared book recommendations twice a week on Facebook Live events. You know my kids are huge readers so they're always on the lookout for new books to try.

 

Also in February, Jr. Jr. and I participated in a virtual book club together through the Provo Library (I mentioned on my February 13 post about it). We got to read a book together, Jr. Jr. created a bridge out of craft sticks, got a treat, and we were able to chat with librarians about the book. Jr. Jr. had plenty to contribute at the meeting and we enjoyed it.

He and I are doing another one this month.

 

The Orem Library in February put together Literary Loot Boxes. The three oldest filled out an online questionnaire about what kinds of books/authors/genres they like and the librarians put together basically goodie bags (in box form) based on their answers. There were stickers, buttons, pens, treats, and the librarians included books the kids might be interested in that they could check out. On one of his trips to the library, Jeremy was told that while the librarians were putting together the loot boxes, they commented how one of the kids had read so many good authors, then they realized it was a Telford. It's nice to be recognized. Even the junior high and high school libraries recognize Jr. and Nichole as big readers since they go in there so often.

Since Lucky was too young for the Literary Loot Box activity, I had him fill out an online mad lib activity that the Orem Library also provided. Funny stuff. Jeremy put together a box for him with pens and treats and things and checked out a book that he would enjoy.

When the kids opened their loot boxes, this was the number one comment we heard from them. "They know me." The librarians (and Dad) had done a good job putting together these boxes and the kids wasted no time diving into the books (including some they actually hadn't read before) that were included.

 

Jeremy is involved with a writing group through the Provo Library. It's hosted by one of the librarians and meets monthly.

 

Jet and I have been participating in virtual Storytime through the Orem Library. Not only are there songs and books during the weekly broadcast but they've put together a Storytime page with other activities on the library website. We've had fun with tissue snowflakes falling on our heads and we did some drumming with chopsticks on a food storage can (and later on everything else the toddler could find).

 

I've already posted about the Summer Reading Program and the Winter Reading Program with the Provo Library. Now we're participating in the Spring Library Challenge. We don't have to log reading minutes but we do mark activities that we do (including some reading). 

 

The librarians (and other library staff and volunteers) put so much work into making things go smoothly, we often don't even think about how there is a real person behind that library blog, that Instagram or Facebook post, that library website that doesn't just come into being. So to all the current and past librarians (and other library staff and volunteers), I say a BIG THANK YOU!

Book Club

For bonding, Jr. Jr. and I signed up for a virtual book club this month through the Provo Library. We started reading the book together, taking turns reading aloud, and the rest of the family listened in. On February 11, as we were reading, we also ate peppermint patties to celebrate Peppermint Patty Day. Jr. also went around humming Charlie Brown music- get it? Because Peppermint Patty? Right? Right?

 

Anyway... earlier I told everyone to get creative with dinner since it was also National Inventors' Day and Thomas Edison's birthday. Lucky followed that advice.

 

Jr. Jr. brought home his propeller car he made in the STEM lab at school.

The next day, Lucky brought home his propeller car.

Have I mentioned I love creativity in my family? Because I do.