Nerdy Weekend Book Fun: Virtual and Non-Virtual

ST. PETERSBURG, FL —Whether you're a science fiction book lover who has seen every Star Wars movie or you're a reader who prefers a book over the movie it inspired type, here are some ways you can have a bookish weekend by supporting local authors through a virtual event, and with local crowd free bookstore purchases.

• Nerdier Than Thou - A Virtual Literary Con hosted by Wordier Than Thou

If you're a science fiction book fan, Nerdier Than Thou hosts a Florida-based sci-fi author event where writers talk about their newest titles and their literary work. This is a five-day event that lasts until Sunday. There are Q&A segments at the end of each discussion. On Thursday, July 23, at 7 p.m., author Tenea D. Johnson whose latest books include Blueprints for Better Worlds (May 2020) and Broken Fevers (November 2020) is the guest speaker.

Tiffany Razzano, the founder of Wordier Than Thou told Patch, "We've been hosting virtual events six days a week since mid-March. Well over 100 events at this point. Because of everything going on in the world, it was important to us to continue engaging and connecting with Florida's readers and writers."

Razzano said that Nerdier Than Thou would normally be held in person, and they almost canceled it altogether but thought it was a chance to pull together some fun programming. They wanted to create an option for folks disappointed by the cancellations of all the big comic cons that didn't have virtual events.

This is a free event; however, donations are accepted.

For the full schedule of Nerdier Than Thou events and links to access the author discussions, visit Wordier Than Thou.

• Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

If you've missed being in a real bookstore, Tomobolo Books, locally owned by Alsace Walentine and Candice Anderson, have safety precautions for book shopping that include appointment-only shopping and pickup/curbside service. There is hand sanitizer right at the entrance of the bookstore, and Walentine will politely recommend you help yourself to the hand sanitizer before perusing through the books while wearing your mask, as masks are required.

Walentine suggested books at Patch's request from Florida authors and other bestsellers available at Tombolo Books to purchase:

• "True Love," a book by Florida native Sara Gerard, is newly released fiction that is about a struggling writer and cheater in New York City who is on a mission of finding love amongst some interesting characters looking for the same, including her lesbian narcissistic mother who lives in a nudist polycule. Los Angeles Times reported that it captures the confused state of modern romance and the egos that inflate it in a dark comedy about a woman's search for acceptance, identity and financial security in the rise of Trump. *A portion of sales from this book goes to NAACP Legal Defense Fund until the end of July.
• "So you want to talk about race," by Ijeoma Oluo is a guide to breaking conversation barriers that cause words to either hit a brick wall or strike like a sword when talking about race and racism, and Oluo offers a reading group guide at the back of her book for group discussions. *A portion of sales from Oluo's book are donated to the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in St. Pete.
• "A Peculiar Peril" is a new fiction release by Tallahassee resident and bestselling author Jeff VanderMeer, in which three friends discover another world through oddities in the main character's grandfather's house that he inherits. They encounter talking animals and vegetables along with a notorious English occultist and have to save our world from the enemies in this other world.
• "Such a Fun Age," written by Kiley Reid, is a New York Times bestseller described by NPR as a complex, layered page-turner. The story of race and privilege shows what becomes of the mistrustful relationship between a Black babysitter and her wealthy employer.
• "The Vanishing Half," a New York Times bestseller written by Brit Bennett, is about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds, one black and one white.

To make a 45-minute in-store shopping reservation, visit Tombolo Books. Reservations are from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the hour Tuesday through Friday; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Curbside pickup is available every day of the week from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.