Author Archives: Reese Traves

How to Throw a Literary Themed Party in a Speakeasy

Book themed parties are great for so many occasions and they work for both kids and adults. It’s a great theme for birthday parties, book launch celebrations, writing organization anniversaries, English degree graduation parties and so much more!

Cake layout for a literary themed party with two book shaped cakes, a candelabra, a globe and other vintage library decor.

A couple of weekends ago we celebrated one of the oldest writing organizations in the US with a book themed 1920’s Gatsby speakeasy party. The writing organization, THPW, was organized in April 1920 by two women and their first official meeting was in a hotel lobby. It only seemed fitting to celebrate the Centennial Anniversary (plus 2) in a 1920’s hotel and what better place in the hotel than their secret speakeasy with its very own hidden bookcase door.

The hotel, with its book-filled lobby, has its own literary ties which fit even more perfectly with the theme. It was built in 1927 by a woman who was instrumental in organizing the first public library in town.

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DIY Built-In Bookshelves with a Hidden Bookcase Door

DIY built-in bookshelves with a hidden bookcase door and color blocked book styling. A fun way to add character and book storage to a room!

We finally did it! I’ve wanted built-in bookshelves for FOREVER. I mean, really. Like 10 years or more. I came up with the idea a long time ago. Then over the years, I would occasionally say it again to my husband.

Then I came up with one of the coolest parts of our built-in bookshelves and that’s what sealed the deal and got my husband on board right-away!

We wanted to have a door from one room to the other next to the built-in bookshelves, but we weren’t sure how we wanted it to look and then one day I said, “Maybe we should make it a hidden door…”

My husband thought that was a great idea! So much so, that he then convinced me we should get started on these bookshelves the next week! That’s right, after 10 years of saying…”Don’t you think it would look good to have built-in bookshelves here?” All it took was a hidden bookcase door, our very own Scooby-Doo door to get him on board and fast!

This was our first “real” carpentry project, so we decided to start with a BIG one! We’ve always done a bunch of DIY house projects, but we’ve never built even a small table or anything. But, with YouTube and the internet we decided to build our built-in bookshelves and our hidden bookcase door, kind of on a whim! So, if we can do it, so can you!

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PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ARTICLE

It’s been a crazy year in 2020. COVID has made this year unlike any other. It’s also the year my first picture book, Wander New York: Fitz in the City, came out–which has definitely made the experience different than I expected & planned for pre-COVID. It’s about traveling to New York City. Traveling isn’t the best idea right now, but traveling there by book is conveniently the safest option currently!

I was lucky enough to be contacted for an article in Publishers Weekly about my publishing journey. You can check it out here.

Wander New York Book Birthday!

Today is my first ever book birthday! It’s been a long time coming. I’m so happy to finally be able to say that my debut picture book, WANDER NEW YORK: Fitz in the City, is officially available to order.

Little foxes are already giving it 5 stars!