This article is usually about the new books at Smiley Library, however, since Halloween is creeping closer, let’s have a look at some goosebump-related items in the library that may have a little dust on them. Yes, there are plenty of scary movies and books to choose from, but we also have books about the people that were involved with writing, directing, and starring in these creative works. Come in and learn more about the people lurking behind the scenes….
“Psycho” fans may be interested in “The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock: An Anatomy of the Master of Suspense,” by Edward White, one of several selections about Alfred Hitchcock and his movies.
Stephen King has authored many hair-raising books, including “The Shining.” To learn more about the inner workings of King’s creativity, check out “Bare Bones: Conversations on Terror.” “The Shining” is also an unforgettable movie, and you can read up on the producer/director in “Stanley Kubrick: A Biography,” by Vincent LoBrutto. Can’t think of that movie without Jack Nicholson’s creepy performance? Look for “Five Easy Decades: How Jack Nicholson Became the Biggest Movie Star in Modern Times,” by Dennis McDougal, downstairs in the biography section.

An actor remembered for his spine-tingling role as Hannibal Lecter is featured in “Anthony Hopkins: The Unauthorized Biography,” by Michael Feeney Callan. A graphic novel of the famed Dracula actor is also on our shelves “Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula,” by Koren Shadmi. Another legendary performer with a lengthy resume of horror movies and a sinister voice is explored in “Vincent Price: The Art of Fear,” by Denis Meikle. A biography of the host with the deadpan voice from television’s “Twilight Zone” is “Serling: The Rise and Twilight of Television’s Last Angry Man,” by Gordon F. Sander.
Finally, here’s a selection about a female film pioneer who was pushed into obscurity by others who took credit, but the movie creature she created still gives me the shivers. “The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick.”
There are many other selections to choose from in our beautiful 124-year-old building. Pay us a visit, but beware of those past lives rumored to still linger in the stacks!

Award winning director James Burrows (with Eddie Friedfeld) has authored
Anyone who enjoys National Geographic films, likes adventure and conservation stories, or who has an interest in filmmaking, will likely find
Geology, wilderness, wildlife, seasonal weather, and vivid memories may come to mind when thinking about the Sierra Nevada mountain range. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to explore the mountains and surrounding regions. Our new book section can expand your knowledge and appreciation for the geology of these areas.
The drive up Highway 395 along the Sierra range is noteworthy for the evidence of volcanic activity in the region. Ancient cinder cones, old lava flows, craters, earthquake faults, and Mammoth Mountain are just a few of the geologic wonders of the area. Volcanologist and science journalist Robin George Andrews goes back in history, underground, above ground, and undersea in “
Since we are already in rocky territory, if you will pardon the pun, our new book section can also take you from the enormity of mountains and volcanoes down to the basic and infinitesimal building blocks of geology. “
New books are added to the collections of A.K. Smiley Public Library every day. Here’s a random sampling of a few of the new non-fiction books with a glimpse into what is between the book covers.
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, motivation, inventiveness, determination, discrimination, success, and a Pepsi executive are all topics covered in “
Archaeology, 3 million years, six continents, explorers, ancient cities, secret codes, treasures, tombs, looters, history, and curses. National Geographic’s “
Attention armchair adventurers, history buffs, and geography enthusiasts—the New Book Section at A.K. Smiley Public Library is calling out to you! Here are just a few selections from our bookshelves.
Another optimistic adventure in 1897 that also turned ill-fated is detailed in Julian Sancton’s “
Jack London and Dr. Frederick Cook also appear in Patrick Dean’s “
Here are a few more selections for your consideration: “


