In case you missed the news, Sunday, December 7 (from noon – 4 pm) is a perfect opportunity to support local, buy holiday gifts, visit downtown Portland, and celebrate the joy of reading. All this within the beautiful Oregon Historical Society’s museum.

This annual event is my favorite book event hands down. Invited authors must have released a book during the prior year: maybe this is why I’m getting those books out! And it’s more than just the opportunity to sit among other Oregon authors and chat with visitors about books; even sell some. It’s about the deep history – the good and bad, happy and sad, overt and hidden – captured between its walls and archives.

Last week as I dropped my books off (A Map of Her Own, From First Breath to Last, and Humanity’s Grace) in anticipation of this upcoming event, I appreciated the large gathering of kids listening to their welcome in the adjoining room. Readying them for their visit. I’m particularly grateful for more recent efforts to retrieve and capture history ignored before; history none of us Oregon kids learned in the 1960s or 70s.

I too feel sentimental as this museum returns me to family stories captured within its walls, protected cabinets and online archives. During the writing of My Music Man, I enjoyed fingering through original journal pages of late 1800s steamboat engineer Sam Gill, and files about my third great grandfather William Willson. I like to think back to my author grandfather once being interviewed by OHS late in his life. (Hear a bit of his interview here.) And I’m grateful I said yes when Dad invited me to join Mom and him, shortly before his death, for the special exhibit about the Columbia River dredging after Mount Saint Helens erupted. (See Stories of Our Generation: Mt. St. Helens.) On this recent visit, I took the elevator up to the research library to ask about possible incorporation of a document I own: a copy of an unpublished diary of my second great-grandfather J.K. Gill.

But I digress. The Holiday Cheer gives us an opportunity to be in this beautiful space, and chat with folks about books we’ve sweated over to produce, some relating to Oregon history and others that allow us to escape into story. Many Holiday Cheer visitors review the list of authors and books ahead of time, showing up with a list in hand of books of interest. During my first Holiday Cheer, me a proud first time author of My Music Man, an older woman introduced herself to me. Yes, she recognized my name and was pleased to tell me she had dated Dad all those years ago at Lincoln High. She went on to let me know she had met my mom and even me as a child. She picked up a copy of my book, thumbed through the many photographs, sharing a story here or there. While I was surprised when she returned the book to the table and gave me her goodbye, I reminded myself – as I do over and over since then – it’s not about the selling, it’s about the connecting.

Yes, it’s important for us to support each other, buy local, and show our appreciation for organizations – many who are struggling during times when grants and funding have been cut. And if this month isn’t a time for you to buy a book, come anyway. Join in the positive energy, books and hot chocolate. Being in community is a feel good thing to do.

Here is the list of authors eager to chat with visitors on December 7. Come downtown (maybe catch music in Pioneer Square, visit the gingerbread house at the Benson), browse our books, ask a few questions, and even pick up a gift or two for people you love. After all, if you’re like me – when you see a book, sometimes you instantly know someone who would love it. And…of course…it’s okay to buy one for yourself too!