The last day of the Real Twin Peaks 2024 event on February 25 started with a book signing with author Courtenay Stallings at the North Bend Trading Company in downtown North Bend, Washington. Courtenay read several passages from her 2020 book “Laura’s Ghost: Women Speak about Twin Peaks” before meeting with fellow Twin Peaks fans who gathered inside the shop.
LAURA’S GHOST: WOMEN SPEAK ABOUT TWIN PEAKS
“Laura’s Ghost: Women Speak about Twin Peaks” explores Laura Palmer’s legacy through the perspectives of women in the fan community and women involved in the show. Courtenay began working on the book in 2016 with a first draft completed in February 2020. The book was published a few months later with s portion of the proceeds from the first edition donated to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN).
The book features interviews with and essays from women involved with Twin Peaks including actor Sheryl Lee who examines the challenges of playing Laura Palmer. Filmmaker Jennifer Lynch discusses writing Laura’s backstory in “The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer.” Grace Zabriskie argues about the complicity of Sarah Palmer, Laura’s mother. Sabrina S. Sutherland, executive producer of Twin Peaks, talks about Laura’s legacy. Women in the Twin Peaks fan community also share their powerful and heart-wrenching stories of survival and what Laura Palmer means to them.
The book cover uses an image of Laura Palmer (Shery Lee) from the picnic scene footage captured at Snoqualmie Point Park in February 1989. According to a review by Sophia Stewart in November 2020, Courtenay was insistent about having an image of Laura that was alive, not the often seen “dead, wrapped in plastic” shot.
“When it came time to choose a picture for the cover of Laura’s Ghost, Stallings had only one request: it would not be Laura dead, wrapped in plastic. In the final cover photo, a rare still from the series, Laura is alive and radiant, hair whipping in the wind. Her eyes are bright and brows arched, and she casts an inquisitive but doleful sidelong gaze. Pink lips and rosy cheeks suggest health and vitality. This is Laura as she was, and as Stallings urges us to remember her: awake to the world and acutely aware of its failings.”
Here is the uncropped image from that photo shoot via The Mauve Zone. It’s a stunning and powerful image of Laura.
BOOK SIGNING: COURTENAY STALLINGS
This free activity with Courtenay Stallings was held on Sunday, February 25 beginning at 10:00 a.m. inside North Bend Trading Co. located at 111 E. North Bend Way, Suite A in downtown North Bend, Washington.
Shortly after 10:00 a.m., Courtenay welcomed attendees who gathered inside.
She introduced herself and explained details behind why she wrote the book.
Courtenay then read several passages as fans listened intently.
It was great hearing Courtenay speak about this important book about my favorite television show.
During her reading, I snapped this photo while a decorated wreath with Laura Palmer’s homecoming photo hung overhead.
It just caught my eye and liked how Laura’s ghost was looking down on the gathered crowd.
SIGNING BOOKS FOR TWIN PEAKS FANS
Following her reading, Courtenay signed several books for attendees.
It was delightful to see so many people gathered in support of her.
Courtenay posing with Emily Marinelli, host of the Twin Peaks Tattoo Podcast.
Aaron Cohen and Courtenay posed for a photo.
Fellow Twin Peaks Blog author Vinnie Guidera and Christin Carlano joined Courtenay for a photo.
I was also glad to see Jessica Self, Executive Director for the North Bend Downtown Foundation, and Britni Larson, President of the North Bend Downtown Foundation and manager at the North Bend Theatre, at the event. The entire Real Twin Peaks 2024 weekend would not have happened without these two wonderful women! Grateful for everything they did to make this dream a reality in Snoqualmie Valley.
NORTH BEND TRADING COMPANY
The North Bend Trading Company is a fantastic location for Real Twin Peaks and Twin Peaks-themed products. Owners Cheri Buell, Julie Chung and Heather Dean opened this location in early December 2022 as a sister location to their Snoqualmie Trading Company a few miles over in the town of Snoqualmie.
The former Alpine Blossom and Gift Shoppe in North Bend used to the mecca for all things wonderful and strange. It’s great having shops again in Snoqualmie Valley that carry Twin Peaks items.
During the Real Twin Peaks 2024 weekend, they carried replica patches designed by Karl Reinsch.
This “Let’s Rock” sticker is perfect for any car windshield.
The shop also carries several other Twin Peaks books by David Bushman, Scott Ryan, John Thorne and the boys from Twin Peaks Unwrapped, Ben Durant and Bryon Kozaczka.
I picked up these Owl Cave and Red Room-inspired socks.
They also carried specially designed Real Twin Peaks apparel
This National Park-like logo is great!
Twin Peaks-themed Stickers by Campfire Print shop.
Ghostwood Forest scented soap made locally by the Carnation Soap, Co. in Carnation, Washington (where some of Twin Peaks was also filmed).
Co-owner Cheri was excited to show me their newest item which was a screen shaped like a retro television that amplifies video and images from a mobile phone. How fun!
Thank you to North Bend Trading Co. for hosting this book signing and to all the Twin Peaks fans who attended the event. Congratulations to Courtenay on her incredible book that is a must read for any fan of David Lynch and Mark Frost’s show.
