Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Good morning, Reading Room! 🌻 There’s some behind-the-scenes coffee brewing today as we prepare for our next IN-PERSON Coffee Table experience! ☕ BEHIND THE COFFEE TABLE TODAY 🎙️ Jess Lore’al ☕ Coffee Before the Coffee 🕡 Tonight at 6:30 PM CT This prep session is just Jess and Zana—no audience for this one—but it means we’re officially getting closer to Jess pulling up a chair IN PERSON! 👀☕ 🎙️ NEXT AT THE COFFEE TABLE ☕ Jess Lore’al — IN PERSON 📅 September 23 🕕 6:00 PM CT 📍 The Book Readers Venue 802 First Street East, Suite 200 Humble, TX 77338 Readers in the area, this is your opportunity to physically pull up a chair and support an indie author at the Coffee Table. 📚🌻 📚 READER ENGAGEMENT MONTH How are we doing with those 5Rs? 📖 READ • ⭐ REVIEW • 🗣️ RECOMMEND • 📲 REPOST • 🔄 RETURN Today’s challenge: REVIEW. ⭐ Have you finished an indie book recently and never left the review? 👀 Go handle that. Even a short review can help another reader decide to open the book. 🎁 THE GIVEAWAY IS GETTING CLOSER! 🎉 Reader Engagement Month Giveaway LIVE 📅 September 30 🕕 6:00 PM CT Indie authors are able to contribute physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks, so keep watching The Reading Room as we get closer to drawing day! 🌻 COMING UP 🎙️ Jess Lore’al — In Person • Sept. 23 at 6 PM CT 🎁 Reader Giveaway LIVE • Sept. 30 at 6 PM CT 🎙️ April Finley — In Person • Oct. 14 at 1 PM CT 🎭 Unmask the Author • Oct. 23 at 6 PM CT And remember: The Reading Room is your side of the Coffee Table. Drop your reads, recommend books, talk about the interviews, and help another reader discover somebody new. ☕ That’s today’s brew. Your coffee is ready. Your next story is waiting. Open the book. 📚🌻

Monday, September 14, 2026 Good morning, Reading Room! 🌻 Fresh week, fresh coffee, and we have a new author pulling up a chair today. 🎙️ TODAY AT THE COFFEE TABLE ☕ Vivi D. 🕚 11:00 AM CT 📖 Loving Me Enough 🎙️ Coffee with the Characters LIVE Come meet the author, step into the story, and see what happens when the characters get their turn at the mic. 👀☕ If you can join LIVE, pull up a virtual chair, ask questions, and show some love in the comments. If you miss it, keep an eye out for the replay and clips afterward. 📚✨ 📖 READER ENGAGEMENT MONTH CONTINUES September is still all about the readers. Our 5Rs are: 📖 READ ⭐ REVIEW 🗣️ RECOMMEND 📲 REPOST 🔄 RETURN Today’s challenge is simple: Pick one. Read a few pages. Review a book you enjoyed. Recommend an indie author. Repost a book or interview. Return to an author you discovered through CWTC. That one action can help another reader find their next favorite story. 🎁 READER GIVEAWAY LIVE Mark your calendar: 🎉 Reader Engagement Month Giveaway LIVE 📅 Wednesday, September 30 🕕 6:00 PM CT Books, ebooks, and audiobooks from indie authors will be part of the celebration, with more details shared as we get closer. Keep checking The Reading Room so you don’t miss giveaway updates or entry opportunities. ✍🏾 10-MINUTE STORIES Readers can join the fun too. 10-Minute Stories returns on: 📅 Fridays 🕗 8:00 PM CT You’ll get four ingredients: 🎭 Genre 📍 Location 👀 Suspicious Object 🧍 Main Character Then you have ten minutes to write your story. You do not have to be a published author to participate. If you like stories, creativity, chaos, or seeing how wildly different people interpret the same prompt, this is for you. 😂📚 Check the 10-Minute Stories section here in The Reading Room for prompts and past rounds. 🎙️ COMING UP IN PERSON Readers will also have opportunities to physically pull up a chair for select Coffee with the Characters LIVE interviews. One confirmed upcoming date: ☕ Jess Lore’al 📅 September 23 🕕 6:00 PM CT