A civil engineer and professor of risk management, I strive to reduce our failures and broaden our successes. In my sci-fi noir books, I investigate the potential for calamity, mitigated by the resolve of those brave enough to face it.
Obviously, A Book Place
|
Originally Published September 11, 2026 Obviously, A Book PlaceThis week, my best friend moved to Thailand. He has a lot of books. I mean, a LOT of books. He's there, but his books aren't, yet. What kind of place did he move into? Judge for yourself, but I know what it will look like soon: A book place. Not a library, it's my friend's apartment! And he has many more shelves! My kid is contemplating marriage. I mean, they bought a condo this year; can marriage be far off? God, I hope not. I asked them where they might eventually tie the knot. Know what they said? Boston Public Library. A book place. Last month I had jury duty in Riverhead, New York. I'd never really spent any time there, so I did some advance reconnaissance to find some worthwhile places to explore. I was looking for a place that could absorb me for a two-hour lunch break, because that's how jury duty works. Know what I found? Obviously, A Book Place. No, really! That's the name of the boutique! Just beyond the aquarium is this beautiful, quaint little bookshop right out of an Al Stewart song. The space inside is beautiful, welcoming. The kind of space you don't want to leave. It's cozy somehow, without feeling limited. Imagine how hard it must be for the owner, Jocelyn, to curate a space like that--balancing literary fiction, memoirs, genre fiction, bestsellers, nonfiction, children's books, merchandise, and--dare I say it?--indie fiction. But she did, and the result is an absolute treasure chest. Yes, Native Species made the cut at A Book Place. This boutique demonstrates why people like my bestie ship countless boxes of books all over the world, why my kid is considering a library wedding, why we seek out places like this. They are just wonderful places to spend time. If you find yourself on the east end of Long Island, you owe it to yourself to visit this browser's delight: A Book Place. |
Michael Albergo
A civil engineer and professor of risk management, I strive to reduce our failures and broaden our successes. In my sci-fi noir books, I investigate the potential for calamity, mitigated by the resolve of those brave enough to face it.
Originally Published September 27, 2026 A Subway Ride I’ve been riding the NYC subway my whole life; teaching at NYU, I still do. Like most New Yorkers, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected when riding the subway. My novel, Native Species, while set in Los Angeles, offers a very similar ride: You’ll travel both above and below ground, with many stops along the way. You’ll see some amazing sights. Some you’ll wish you hadn’t seen. You’ll meet a lot of characters. Many are warm, charming, and...
Originally Published August 30, 2026 Why I Love Bethany Beach Books If you read my last newsletter about jury duty, you know I tend to proselytize when it comes to my book. (Sorry, but it’s the only one I’ve got, and I may never write anything better.) (In my defense, it DID win a Kirkus Star.) You: He’s never going to shut up about that star, is he? Me: Not a chance. Anywho, I found myself on family vacation this week at Bethany Beach, Delaware, one of the most beautiful beaches on the East...
Originally Published on August 7, 2026 A Jury of Readers A jury summons in your mailbox is about as welcome as a case of pink eye. But seeing as how the alternative is a justice system in which we have no say, maybe it's best not to complain too much. Besides, civic duty and all that. So when my summons came, I drove the 40 miles out to the county courts, hoping I wouldn't actually be called to be a trial juror. No such luck. I was Juror #12. I almost dodged it. Almost. If you've ever served...