Library staff and booksellers who organize and present Whatcom READS have announced the literary program’s 2025 schedule of community and author events, celebrating No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister. The book presents a wide range of discussion and event opportunities leading up to the March 12-15, 2025, in-person author events.
Visit whatcomreads.org to learn more and to register. Borrow No Two Persons as a book, eBook or audiobook from the Bellingham Public Library or Whatcom County Library System. Or purchase a copy from Village Books, which donates 10 percent of each sale to Whatcom READS.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS EXPLORING THEMES IN THE NOVEL
All programs are free except where noted. Pre-registration is required for all events. Find more information and register to attend at whatcomreads.org.
Make a Meander Book Workshop: In this hands-on workshop for people ages 15 and older, participants will learn how to make a meander book from a single sheet of paper. Fran McReynolds, a member of Puget Sound Book Artists, will lead the session, which includes discussion of No Two Persons. All levels of experience are welcome in this beginner course. Supplies are included. Space is limited; registration is required.
Saturday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., North Fork Library
Saturday, Feb. 1, 1-3 p.m., Everson Library
Saturday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Lynden Library
Wednesday, Feb. 19, Noon-2 p.m., Sumas Library
Saturday, March 29, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Deming Library
Saturday, April 5, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., South Whatcom Library
Wednesday, April 9, 2-4 p.m., Ferndale Library
Saturday, May 3, 1-3 p.m., Island Library
Saturday, May 17, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Blaine Library
Buoy Painting Workship with Bellingham SeaFeast: Water is present throughout No Two Persons in a variety of storylines. In this program presented in partnership with Bellingham SeaFeast, we will celebrate our connection to the water. Each participant will be given a small buoy to decorate as we engage in a fluid discussion of the book. The buoys will then be incorporated in a large art installation that will be displayed at the 2025 SeaFeast celebration. Space is limited; registration is required.
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2-3:30 p.m., Ferndale Library
Saturday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Blaine Library
Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1-2:30 p.m., Point Roberts Library
Saturday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., South Whatcom Library
Thursday, March 6, 2-3:30 p.m., Lynden Library
Thursday, April 17, 1-2:30 p.m., Island Library
The Life of an Audiobook Narrator with Jayne Entwistle: Award-winning audiobook narrator and actress Jayne Entwistle will be in a wide-ranging conversation about her work with Thom Barthelmess, librarian and youth services manager, Whatcom County Library System. No Two Persons features a character who is an audiobook narrator. The novel received the 2024 Audie Award for Multi-voiced Performance.
Jayne Entwistle is known most notably for her narration of the Flavia De Luce series by Alan Bradley. She has received the Odyssey Award, Odyssey Honour Award and Voice Arts Award for narration. In addition to several Earphones Awards, AudioFile Magazine has included her narration on their list of Best Audiobooks of the Year. When not immersed in books, Entwistle can be found on-screen in television programs such as The Good Place, Grey’s Anatomy, Winning Time and You’re the Worst. Originally from the North of England, she currently lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Thom Barthelmess is an avid audio reader. He has taught graduate-level courses, served on committees, and presented nationally about audiobook production, evaluation and appreciation. In his role at WCLS, he selects digital materials for children.
Space is limited; registration is required.
Saturday, Feb. 22, 3-4 p.m.
Whatcom Museum Rotunda Room, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham
Whatcom WRITES: Listen (and applaud) as local writers read their work selected for the 2025 Whatcom WRITES anthology. This year’s prompt was “the book that changed my life.” The anthology is available to purchase at Village Books or to borrow from local libraries.
Sunday, Feb. 23, 2-3:30 p.m., Village Books in Fairhaven, 1210 11th St.
Sunday, March 2, 2-3:30 p.m., Village Books in Lynden, 430 Front St.
A Conversation on Bibliotherapy with Emely Rumble: In the 2025 Whatcom READS selection No Two Persons, we see characters who are impacted and even healed by reading the same book. In this virtual program, Emely Rumble, LCSW, will describe the transformative practice of bibliotherapy, which uses books to support mental health.
A distinguished member of The National Association of Poetry Therapy, Rumble’s work has been featured in Parents Magazine and other publications. Her debut book Bibliotherapy in The Bronx will be released April 29, 2025. She also shares her expertise through @Literapy_NYC, her dedicated platform on Instagram, TikTok and Podia. She will be in conversation with Meagan Wheeler, a public services assistant with Whatcom County Library System. She is pursuing a graduate degree in counseling. Her research focuses on somatic and creative interventions, which include bibliotherapy.
Pre-registration is required for this event.
Saturday, March 1, 1-2 p.m., online
Allied Arts Art Challenge: Create original artwork that explores themes in the book for display at the Allied Arts Gallery in Bellingham. See submission guidelines at whatcomreads.org/art-challenge.
Drop off submissions: March 4
Exhibition: March 7-29
Allied Arts, 1213 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham
Life Cycle of a Book: A panel of industry insiders discuss book publishing – conception, writing, editing, selling and beyond. Space is limited; registration is required.
Saturday, March 8, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Village Books, 1210 11th St., Bellingham
AUTHOR EVENTS WITH ERICA BAUERMEISTER
Life Between the Pages, a five-course meal inspired by the book: Enjoy a beautiful, five-course dinner created by Chef Christy Fox in honor of No Two Persons. There will be time for reflection and conversation about the book. Stay tuned for details, including menu and reservations. Tickets are $125, which includes gratuity. Seats will go quickly, so make your reservations as soon as possible.
Wednesday, March 12, 6-9 p.m.
Evolve Chocolate + Café, second floor, Village Books, 1210 11th St., Bellingham
Book Discussion with Erica Bauermeister: Lummi Island bears a suspicious resemblance to a nameless island featured in No Two Persons, so it’s only fitting that we gather there for this lively book discussion with the author. Space is limited; registration is required.
Thursday, March 13, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Lummi Island Grange Hall, 2215 N. Nugent Road, Lummi Island
Sip and Savor with Erica Bauermeister: Join us at Bellewood Farms for an evening of beverage and book pairings inspired by Erica Bauermeister’s personal selection of favorite books. Learn what books have impacted her life and what drinks go down best with each one. There will be a selection of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Space is limited; registration is required.
Thursday, March 13, 7-8:30 p.m.
Bellewood Farms, 6140 Guide Meridian, Lynden
Art and Craft of Writing with Erica Bauermeister: Gain insight into the writing process as Erica Bauermeister discusses the art and craft of writing. Bauermeister is an excellent writing instructor. This class is perfect for all experience levels or for anyone who is simply interested in the craft of writing. Space is limited; registration is required.
Friday, March 14, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Village Books, 1210 11th St., Bellingham
An Evening with Erica Bauermeister and Friends: Join us at the beautiful Mount Baker Theatre for our premiere Whatcom READS event. Following her lecture, Bauermeister will answer audience questions and sign books. We’ll also announce our 2026 Whatcom READS title. New this year: Bushwick Book Club Seattle will open the event with original music composed by local musicians and inspired by No Two Persons. This event is free. However, tickets are required and will be available in January 2025 via the Mount Baker Theatre website.
Friday, March 14, 7-9 p.m.
Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham
A Conversation with Erica Bauermeister: This year’s Whatcom READS author events close with a lively virtual conversation between Erica Bauermeister and Katie Bray, a librarian with the Bellingham Public Library (BPL) and a former member of the Whatcom READS steering committee. Bray is an avid reader and promoter of stories who loves to help others find their next great read. You can usually find her at BPL’s Central Library.
Saturday, March 15, 11 a.m.-noon, online. Pre-registration is required to receive the link.
About Whatcom READS: Northwest Washington’s premier annual literary event, Whatcom READS celebrates reading, readers and strong communities through the shared experience of one book. Entering its 17th year, Whatcom READS is presented by all the public and academic libraries in Bellingham and Whatcom County – Bellingham Public Library, Bellingham Technical College, Northwest Indian College, Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College and Whatcom County Library System. Village Books is Whatcom READS’ community partner. Learn more at whatcomreads.org.
About Erica Bauermeister: Erica Bauermeister is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels, including The Scent Keeper, The School of Essential Ingredients, and No Two Persons. She also has written a memoir, House Lessons: Renovating a Life, and is the co-author of two readers’ guides, 500 Great Books by Women and Let’s Hear It for the Girls. Her books have been Reese’s Book Club and Indie Next Picks selections and have been published in over two dozen countries. She lives in Port Townsend, Wash. Learn more about the author at her website, ericabauermeister.com.
Newsweek selected No Two Persons for its Best Books of 2023 list. The magazine’s Senior Editor Meredith Wolf called it: “A breathtaking novel about the power a book can have. It takes you inside the hearts of a complex web of broken personalities, empowered and made whole by the same book. The characters brought to life are delicately interwoven throughout, forming a seamless, beautiful fabric.” The audiobook of No Two Persons won an Audie Award for multi-voiced performance.