Welcome To 2026!

Indie Author of the Week!

Rita Spalding

Rita S. Spalding studied in London and graduated summa cum laude from Murray State University in December 2024. She is a recipient of the 2025 Murray State Outstanding Senior in Sociology Award. She has been published in 18 Calliope anthologies, National Library of Poetry, AX-POW Magazine, The Heartland Review, Kentucky Monthly Magazine, Keeping the Flame Alive, Fallen, Rebirth, The Rye Whiskey Review, Walden’s Poetry and Reviews, Poet-Tree Magazine, and Kentucky Humanities. Her first book, Abstract Ribbons, was published in 1992, and her two most recent books, published in 2025, are What is Beauty, and The Eighth.

Rita was formerly director of Women Who Write, where in 2006 she helped to establish the annual Kentucky Women's Book Festival, and had the pleasure of meeting writer and activist bell hooks. She also served as a panelist for the Dorothy Clay Norton Fellowships at the Mary Anderson Center and was on the committee to nominate Maureen Morehead as the 2011-12 Kentucky poet laureate.

In 2023, Rita was a featured poet at the Calloway County Public Library Kentucky Author Celebration and interviewed in the podcast Never Too Late Cafe Bloom Where You are Planted. In 2024, she was a presenter at the Kentucky Writers Celebration in Danville, Historic Penn’s General Store, and Insomniacathon. In 2025, she was a featured poet in the podcast Present Poetry and a presenter at the Jack Ellis Writers Workshop. Also in 2025, she did poetry performances with the Vagabond Poet Tour at Donaldson Cave in Mitchell, Indiana, and at the Gallery Cabaret and Loyola Park in Chicago, Illinois. She was a featured poet at two sessions of the 2025 Ohio Valley Folkways Symposium and gives poetry readings regionally and nationally.

Walk-In Wednesdays - Spirit Communication with Dr. Angela Faith from 1 PM to 4 PM the first Wednesday of every month in our Shepherdsville location, next event January 7, 2027

Receive messages from loved ones in Spirit, or gain insight around love, relationships, purpose and life direction.

Dr. Angela Faith is a Metaphysical Parapsychologist, Shamanic Practitioner, and Spiritual Mentor dedicated to helping others reconnect with their sacred essence and the unseen realms of Spirit. Through intuitive guidance, ancestral wisdom, and compassionate presence, she supports individuals in finding clarity, healing, and purpose.

Founder of New Moon Shamanistic Sanctuary in Shepherdsville, Angela offers private sessions, mentorship programs, and community gatherings that weave together ancient shamanic practices and modern spiritual understanding.

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Ink Happens Signing event with Author Rachel Enriquez, January 17, from noon till 4 PM, at our LaGrange location

Rachel Enriquez is a former tech professional turned literary fantasy author driven by a lifelong passion for immersive storytelling and imaginative world-building. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, she lives with her husband and their two sons. When not writing, Rachel enjoys creating visual art, diving into a great book or game, and spending time with her family. Her work explores identity, human connection, and the consequences of power, blending layered plots, emotionally resonant characters, and elements of the fantastic.

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Join Us for The Draft Room: Writers’ Group & Critique on January 18, at 3 PM in our Shepherdsville location

Mark Your Calendar—We meet the third Sunday of each month!

Are you passionate about writing or looking to sharpen your skills with the support of a welcoming community? We invite you to join us for The Draft Room (Writers’ Group and Critique)—a recurring event designed for writers of all levels, from amateurs just starting out to seasoned professionals.

All writers are welcome! Whether you’re putting pen to paper for the first time or you’ve published multiple works, you’ll find a supportive environment and constructive feedback in our workshop. Come prepared to share, listen, and engage with fellow writers.

Don’t miss this chance to kick off the new year with inspiration and community! We look forward to seeing you at our Shepherdsville location on January 18, at 3 PM.

Meet Stephen Zimmer at our Shepherdsville location during an Ink Happens  Signing Event - January 31, from noon till 4 PM. He will also be introducing his newest two novels.

Stephen Zimmer is an award-winning author, editor, podcaster, and publisher based out of Lexington, Kentucky.  A writer in several genres of speculative fiction, Stephen currently has 33 books in print.  The editor-in-chief of Seventh Star Press, a small press with multiple imprints, Stephen founded and co-directs The Imaginarium Convention, a 12th year annual convention held in Louisville, Kentucky for writers and storytellers of all genres. 

Stephen is also the co-host of the weekly Star Chamber Show live podcast, hosted on PodBean.

He is an active member of the Bluegrass Writers Coalition, the Kentucky State Poetry Society, and the Chicago Writers Association!

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The Tea House in our LaGrange Location is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 AM - 4 PM.

The Tea House will be closed the last 2 weeks of January.

These hours are different from our bookstore hours.  

Stop in and visit.  

We are now operating under a new “winter schedule”, in effect  January and February.

This schedule does not affect The Tea House hours.

LaGrange hours:

• Sunday: 12-3

• Monday: Closed

• Tuesday-Thursday: 11-4

• Friday-Saturday: 11-5

Shepherdsville hours:

• Sunday: 12-3

• Monday-Tuesday: Closed

• Wednesday-Thursday: 11-4

• Friday-Saturday: 11-5

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Other News

We are not hosting a holistic fair in January 2026. Beginning February, we will host the holistic fairs the first Saturday of each month. Please stay tuned for this and other exciting events!

What types of events would you like to see us host in 2026?  Please email Velena@ftgub.com with your recommendations or talk to our cashier when you are in either store!  We’d love to hear your ideas.