August 2025
August 1 5pm - 8pm
A Midsummer Murder
Picture it: Arthur Conan Doyle, Emily Bronte, Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley, HP Lovecraft, and Agatha Christie are sitting around a table for a seance… and then they discover that the powerful book publisher, Simon B. Schuster, is amongst the dead waiting to speak to them! But who would commit such a crime? With a room full of writers, any one of them could’ve been out to get their publisher. It’s up to you to solve the mystery of the Midsummer Murder!
On August 1st, the Narrow Gauge Book Coop takes you on a First Friday Murder Mystery adventure, in the style of a popular murder mystery board game! Collect clues from special characters around town and help connect the dots to solve the mystery! Be sure to explore the market for extra clues to figure out the murderer’s motive, and enjoy all of the normal First Friday specials and dining deals as you try to solve the mystery during this exciting takeover event!
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Be sure to start at the Narrow Gauge to pick up your maps and your first clues! If you arrive at 5pm, you’ll get to witness the seance, but you can pick up your maps and clues until 7pm. Be back at the Narrow Gauge by 7:45 to make your best attempt at deducing the murder’s identity, and enter a drawing for prizes!
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The Narrow Gauge is so excited to host the takeover as a great way to kick off our 7th Anniversary month, and we’re looking forward to connecting with you, our community that makes us possible!
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June 1 - August 31
Summer Reading Express
From June 1st through August 31st, we invite you to embrace the joy of reading! Our reading tracker provides a list of genres for you to read. You'll choose a book you want to read for each genre, and in case you aren't sure where to start, we'll have a list of suggestions for you!
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When it comes to reading, we encourage you to read what you love, in the way that you love. Audiobooks count, and you can check out Libro.fm if you're looking for an audiobook supplier, or you can ask the librarians at the Alamosa Public Library about using Libby for FREE audiobooks!
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As avid readers, we also understand the joy of finding a new genre, or experiencing a new type of book, so we encourage you to venture into new territory! Try out a new author, a new genre, read a graphic novel, go for a book that seems intimidatingly long, or give novellas a try if you're accustomed to epic chonkers. All we really care about is that you read and enjoy it!
Go to our Summer Reading Program page for full details.
August 8th, 6 pm
Michael Espinosa
Join the Narrow Gauge Book Cooperative for a reading, Q&A, and book signing with Michael Espinosa.
Michael Espinoza is a retired attorney. He was the Director of the Area Agency on Aging in Huerfano and Las Animas counties for six years, and did Pro Bono work for Colorado Legal Services. His father, L. Andres Espinoza, began the book, based on Humberto’s stories, though he was unable to find a publisher. Later, Michael edited and verified facts in the historical novel, and found a publisher: Vanishing Horizons in Pueblo.
Trail of the Espinosa Outlaws is a historical novel, first taken from the family stories of Humberto Espinoza, then written down by L. Andres, and finished and published by Michael Espinosa in 2023. The novel tells the story of the Espinosa outlaws their struggle to keep and preserve their land grants, and the atrocities committed by the land-seeking Americanos after the war with Mexico. After 150 years, and three generations of Espinosas, this novel speaks to the experience of the Spanish and their motivation for revenge against the Americanos, providing a more thorough view of the story than the sensational news stories focused solely on the violence.
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August 9th, 4 pm - 6 pm
Artist Reception:
Joni Franks
The Narrow Gauge Book Cooperative is pleased to welcome artist Joni Franks as our August featured artist. Join us at the Narrow Gauge for her Artist Reception on August 9th from 4pm - 6pm.
Joni Franks is an international award-winning author, artist and poet. She has been named the 2024 Will Rogers Medallion Award Illustrator of the Year. Her books have earned bestseller status and have won over fifty art and literary honors, including the prestigious Moms Choice Award, the International Readers Favorite Award, the American Fiction Award, and the CIPA EVVY Award. Most recently, her poem “Beyond,” from her illustrated poetry book, Heart Songs, was published in the 2025 Willow Creek Journal, an annual anthology produced by the Creede Arts Council. Heart Songs is the winner of the American Fiction Award for Poetry Chapbook and is a Finalist in the category of Poetry Nature. The Crooked Forest, Beyond, is the winner of the American Fiction Award for New Age Fiction and is a Finalist in the category of Novelette Fiction.
Known for her compelling narratives that challenge societal norms, Joni pens books about resilience, inspiration, overcoming adversity, equality, and conservation. Spending time on her San Luis Valley ranch with her Welsh corgis Sagebrush, Gyzmo and Willow, offers her the inspiration to create impactful books and artwork.
Joni is active in the artistic community. In May, she participated in the Grand Masquerade Art Gala, sponsored by the Alamosa Chamber of Commerce. Her piece, The Green Man, sold at auction.
On August 16th, you’ll be able to find Joni as part of the Silver Thread
Studio Tour in Creede, where she’ll be selling her books and artwork from 9-5 at The Studios at Bristol, 39542 W Highway 149, Creede.
August 16th, 6pm
Spadefoot Story Slam
Each month, we host the Spadefoot Story Slam community, sharing stories based on a theme, selected at the previous month’s Slam. While inspired by the Moth Story Hour, our monthly meetings are not a contest, but instead are a way to come together and practice sharing, and deep listening.
Join us this month for stories on the theme, "A Swing and a Miss." Have you ever gone for something, and watched it slip right through your fingers? Have you made the effort, and not made it anyway? Was it a whiff that lost the baseball game, a grand gesture to win someone's heart that went all wrong? Maybe you almost made it to the store before they closed, or were the next in line for those concert tickets when the sign was flipped to "sold out." When have you tried, and just not quite made it? These can be stories of disappointment or stories of serendipity - perhaps a mix of both! As always we encourage you to interpret the theme with creativity.
Stories should be true as remembered by you, and spoken from the heart, instead of read from the page. We don’t have an official time limit, but encourage stories that take 10 minutes or less, especially if we have a large group. We look forward to seeing you on August 16th at 6pm!
August 18th - 24th
7th Anniversary Week
In August 2018, the Narrow Gauge Book Cooperative opened through the support of our community, and we've been growing and thriving ever since.
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We love being your bookstore and are excited to celebrate with you this year! We couldn't be here without our members and owners, so to show our appreciation, members and owners get 5% off all week!
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New members will get a voucher for a free used book, and renewing members will get a $5 coupon.
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On August 22nd and 23rd, we'll be participating in SLV Pride Fest and hope to see you there!
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August 22nd, 4 pm - 6 ish
Reading Party in the Park
Join the Narrow Gauge Book Cooperative
and SLV Pride for a Reading Party!
Bring a book, a blanket, chair, or pillows, and settle in for a sensory-friendly time reading books in company with friends!
Light snacks and beverages will be provided, but feel free to bring your own!
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We have reserved the South Pavilion at Cole Park - the Pavilion nearest the Alamosa Public Library. After you're done reading, you'll be able to easily make your way over to SLV's TEA Spot for the Pride Kick-off Party!
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This year, we will not be erased, and we're excited to celebrate and kick off SLV Pride with you!
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August 31st, 3 pm - 5 PM
Summer Reading Express Pizza Party
Do you remember the thrill of getting that personal pan pizza when you completed your summer reading goals?
Come have a slice or two with us and talk about the books you read this summer!
Bring your reading tracker so you can enter the drawing for cool prizes!
And don’t worry: you get pizza whether you read 10 books or 1 page.