The Belmar Public Library is excited to present the 2024 Fall Beach Reader’s Book Fair, a two day event featuring Local Jersey Shore Based Authors featuring their books to the public!

Authors who have published titles either with an established publisher or self published AND who are based in the Jersey Shore Region will be available for you to meet and engage with in this unique event solely for local Jersey Shore based Authors.

There will be TWO Book Fairs:

The Adult Book Fair is scheduled for Saturday, October 12, 2024, beginning at 1 pm through 5 pm.

The Children’s and Young Adults Book fair is Scheduled for Tuesday, October 29, 2024, beginning at 3 pm – 7 pm.

Both events will be at Taylor Pavilion, 500 Ocean Ave., Belmar.

Meet and engage with up to 30 different Local Jersey Shore Region Based Authors as they make their books available for you to acquire for yourself.

Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, adults or children, local authors have a lot to offer in quality story telling, information, inspiration, business and professional development, and many other genres of book topics.

FREE ADMISSION             FREE PARKING

MEET THE AUTHORS BELOW

Coming home to catch her husband with his face between the long, silky legs of another woman is the last thing Sofia expects-and on today of all days. So, after scratching an expletive into his Porsche and setting the cheating bastard’s clothes on fire, she cranks up her beloved Bruce and flees, vowing never to look back.

Seeking solace in the peaceful beachside town of Bradley Beach, NJ, Sof is determined to start over. And, with the help of best friends, new acquaintances, a sexy neighbor, and the powerful music of Springsteen, this may be the place where her wounds can heal. But, as if she hasn’t faced her share of life’s challenges, a final flurry of obstacles awaits.

In order to head courageously toward the future, Sofia must first let go of her past, find freedom, and mend her broken soul.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Barbara Quinn is an award-winning short story writer and author of a variety of novels. Her works have appeared in print, online, and in audio form, and her stories have received honors that include nominations for the Pushcart Prize and being chosen as Best of the Web. She’s a Founder and former Publisher of the Rose & Thorn Journal.

Barbara and her husband love to travel and have visited 47 states and five continents. She’s ridden a camel in the Canary Islands, hiked on Machu Picchu, attended the opera in Vienna, and spent time in an absinthe bar in Budapest. When she was 19, she hitched across Europe with a backpack. For a time, she owned a motorcycle, and a pink-suede biker jacket.

As a lawyer, she held the position of North Salem Town Attorney, and Westchester Assistant County Attorney, and spent time in private practice, writing everything from zoning ordinances to manure pile rules. Before that, she worked at many jobs including, process server, lingerie sales clerk, waitress, and postal worker. She’s a native New Yorker, born in the Bronx, and raised there, on Long Island and in Westchester. She enjoys spending time with her husband and with her son and his family. Barbara welcomes email at BAQuinn7@gmail.com

The Other Side of Rock and War is Billy Terrell’s struggle to save his life, his career, his country and the Vietnamese orphans he left behind.  Imagine being penniless, and nearly homeless at the age of 16, forced to quit school and try to find a job with your four front teeth missing. This is Billy Terrell’s inspiring story of how he overcame poverty, bullying and the horrors of Vietnam, before his near impossible climb to success as a songwriter, producer and later as a top stand-up comedian.

It also reveals Terrell’s deeply personal experiences at Mang Lang Orphanage near the village of Tuy Hoa in 1966 which as a soldier, he helped rebuild, and his determination to return to Vietnam and reunite with the nuns and former children of the orphanage.  Along the way he has a juicy tale of traveling with Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and Cream in the summer of ’68.

As a writer/producer he has placed 63 records on the national and international charts. As a producer he rebooted Frankie Avalon’s career and produced albums for Helen Reddy, Bobby Rydell and great jazz guitarist Larry Carlton, among many others. As a stand-up comedian he worked with several up and coming stars such as, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, Drew Carey and Chris Rock during their early days on the circuit.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Rock and roll was the rage as Billy Terrell entered his teen years during the 1950’s. Growing up in Asbury Park, he did odd jobs as he developed skills as a singer and musician. He was recognized by a New York Dance Show host who introduced him to talent manager Vic Catala who he signed with on July 16^th, 1963.  Inspired by Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell. Billy was making strides as a vocalist, composer and arranger, and had just closed on a significant career enhancing record recording deal in 1965 when he was drafted into the Army. 

Billy’s patriotic spirit overcame the loss of this career opportunity. He put his entire effort into being a good soldier. He excelled in basic and infantry training and soon found himself enroute to Vietnam. Participation in logistical operations from Phan Rang to Tuy Hoa and as far north as Duc Pho hardened him to the realities of war.  

 Billy learned about an orphanage near his base camp that had been damaged in a Viet Cong attack. Acting in coordination with his Lieutenant, they wrote home requesting donations to construct a new building for the Catholic nuns operating the orphanage. Money arrived and the orphans were soon living in a new building. Throughout his year tour Billy organized activities for the orphans and developed strong relationship with the youngsters.

When he came home from Vietnam he found that music tastes had changed. He struggled with a radically different music industry as he fought with post-traumatic stress, depression and alcohol. He overcame his demons and soon demonstrated extraordinary talent in the behind the scenes realm. This began a long and successful career as a composer and record producer. 

 Billy did not forget the people at the orphanage in Vietnam. He returned and visited the orphanage that continues to operate today. He had joyous, and often tearful, reunions with the old nuns and the now grown orphans who were still living in the region of his former base camp in Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen Province. It was a moment of closure that has given him some peace in his enduring struggle with Post Traumatic Stress 

Billy continues to perform today. He is appearing regionally in a one man show where he relates his life experience, on and behind the stage, in concert with his experiences in Vietnam. It is a dramatic story told in word and melody. 

Billy has come a long way since his early career as a Rhythm and Blues singer over sixty years ago. He is active in veteran support organizations and is a motivational speaker relating his pride of country and an unbridled demonstration of personal patriotism. 

Beyond The Laces is football at its best:  A story of America’s greatest pastime in which parents and their child overcome an obstacle that simply defines the will to keep fighting. Written to inspire, Beyond The Laces will be sure to appeal to ALL ages, tugging at the heart strings of anyone who has ever endured the storms of life. The story promises to take you on a rollercoaster of emotions that ends with showcasing the true gift of the professional athlete:  to influence and inspire children.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Bob Salomon, Author – A retired New Jersey State Correction Officer, Bob Salomon, has always had a passion for youth sports and working with children. In line with that passion, he worked to have the award winning children’s book, “A Glove of Their Own”, published and created a pay it forward movement surrounding the book’s theme.  The primary focus is simple; make a difference  in the lives of today’s youth.  In 2009, Bob established, Danjulie, LLC, to coordinate his efforts with professional athletes and a variety of organizations that share his vision and promote projects to inspire youth and benefit community outreach efforts.  Danjulie’s newest project the children’s book, “Beyond The Laces”, has united many to inspire through kindness and encourage children to never give up.  Join us!

Rick Young, Ph.D., Co-authorIs also author of “Combat Police: U.S. Army Military Police in Vietnam,” currently in the U.S. Library of Congress, and co-author with Michael E. Bolyog of the 3-book fantasy adventure “Aiden’s Cauldron Trilogy.” Rick is a retired senior special agent with over 28 years experience in Federal Law Enforcement, including an extended tour of combat duty in Vietnam (1968-69) as a military policeman. He has a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Cairn University and a Doctorate in Eschatology from Luder-Wycliffe Theological Seminary. In retirement, Rick Young has been a pastor in New Jersey.

What’s Your Favorite Type of Music?

A young boy explores different genres of music through expressive watercolor illustrations. A perfect bedtime story for music lovers with young children.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bruce Fahy is an illustrator/cartoonist residing in Belmar, New Jersey. When he’s not drawing or painting he can be found working at the Belmar Public Library. This is his first picture book.

The Adventure of Benny and Sam

The adventures of Benny and Sam begin with Benny at the Beach. This is a story about a city pigeon named Benny who accidentally ends up at the Shore. He meets a bunch of animals, including a Local Seagull named Sam who befriends him and shows him around. It is a great story about and unlikely friendship and making new friends who might be different than you. This rhyming tale is about their adventures exploring the beach together.

Now that they have explored the Shore, Benny wants to show Sam where he is from, the City. Sam in the City is the second book in this series. As their friendship continues to grow, Sam is introduced to all that the Big City has to offer. These two birds are sure to inspire lots of little laughs as they explore new places together!

I wonder where they will go next?

Benny at the Beach –

Benny at the Beach tells the story of the unlikely friendship between a city pigeon and a seagull. This rhyming tale is about their adventures exploring the beach together. These two birds are sure to inspire lots of little laughs!

Benny at the Beach is the perfect book for any beach-loving kid.

Sam in the City – 

Sam in the City tells the story of the unlikely friendship between a city pigeon named Benny and a seagull named Sam. Benny is excited to show his new friend Sam around the big city. This rhyming tale is about their adventures exploring together. These two birds are sure to inspire lots of little laughs!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The beauty of the beach has always been a profound inspiration for me. Growing up along the Jersey Shore, the ocean has significantly influenced both my personal and artistic growth. Inspired by my family, I embarked on writing and illustrating my first book, “Benny at the Beach,” after a humorous day at the beach with my two sons. Observing a pair of seagulls attempting to snatch our food, I captured their unique personalities in a photo. The birds’ comical expressions led me to create the painting “Fish Breath,” which sparked the idea of featuring seagulls as characters in a children’s book.

After writing my story, I taught myself to illustrate on an iPad and explored self-publishing options for my book online. This journey led to the creation of my first book, “Benny at the Beach,” which released in March 2023.

As “Benny at the Beach” concluded with a cliffhanger, I felt compelled to write a sequel. Less than 12 months later, “Sam in the City” was published in November 2023.

These charming birds embark on adventures in both the Shore and the City, where they make new friends and discover new places. The term “BENNY” has traditionally been slang at the Jersey Shore for summer visitors from North Jersey or New York. I aim for my books to highlight the joy of encountering individuals from various backgrounds. I hope that children can learn to value diversity instead of making judgments solely based on appearances. Infused with a touch of Jersey humor, I aspire for these books to challenge the stereotypes.

A highlight of my journey as a children’s book author and illustrator is engaging with students in schools and connecting with my young readers. My interactive presentations aim to inspire students to read enthusiastically and encourage them to explore their own storytelling and drawing abilities.

With “Sam in the City” also leaving readers hanging, I am confident that their story is not over.

When I’m not sketching on my iPad or brainstorming new story ideas, I dedicate my time to my art business, Caitlin Accurso Art. For a glimpse of my fine art seascapes and Beach Jewelry, please visit my website at www.CaitlinAccurso.com.

One Summer Night: Publishers Weekly Top 10 Fall Romance Selection!

Maggie Sinclair has been crushing on Owen for years but he’s the one man she can’t have.

There’s been bad blood between the Pierces and Sinclairs for years but Maggie can’t stop wishing things could be different. Whenever she visits her Jersey Shore home, she strolls the sand and remembers the innocent kiss they shared that one special summer night.

Owen has been watching Maggie from afar and when things heat up on the Jersey Shore, it’s hard to resist her temptation. Even if it risks angering his father who refuses to give up the feud with the Sinclairs.

When Owen learns Maggie’s business is in trouble, he jumps in to help. The marriage bargain they strike seems to be the perfect way to solve their problems until their love deepens and it all unravels before their eyes.

Is it possible for Maggie and Owen to break free of their families’ past and find happiness or will that bargain prove to be more than they can handle?

South Beach Love: Now a Hallmark Channel Original Movie! New York Times Bestselling Author Caridad Piñeiro delivers an uplifting and emotional story about rival chefs, glorious cooking, friendship, family ties—and romance.

It’s a recipe for drama as two talented chefs battle it out to cater rival parties for two feuding teens. Only one event will make the headlines in a local lifestyle magazine, but who will it be?

Tony Sanchez, a big-time celebrity chef, must cater his niece’s bash while visiting family in Miami. With his culinary reputation on the line, he’s determined to cook up a storm and make the night unforgettable.

Sara Kelly, a rising star in Miami’s culinary scene, sees her niece’s party as a chance to impress and prove that she’s no amateur. Coming out on top may provide the opportunity to either expand or open a second location.

Biscayne Bay Breach: Threatened by a deep-seated evil…

That they can only stop together.

When John Wilson realizes that his groundbreaking computer program is under attack, he enlists South Beach Security for help. Like it or not, SBS includes the alluring Mia Gonzalez. Beautiful, savvy Mia had enticed the tech billionaire in the past—before disappearing from his life. Now, whoever wants John’s brilliant invention is also after Mia and her family. This wasn’t the reunion John was hoping for, but only with Mia by his side can they hope to outsmart a killer…

Escape the Everglades: His son is in danger

And only one investigator and her K-9 can rescue him

Two years after his wife’s death, ex-marine Carlos Ruiz isn’t looking for romance. But then army vet and security expert Natalie Rodriguez and her incredible K-9 walk into his life in the Everglades. Before long, the purely professional relationship turns all too personal, especially once Carlos’s little boy goes missing. Now, as they follow the K-9’s every lead, uncovering the truth becomes vital to the child’s rescue. And to securing their all too precarious future…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Caridad Pineiro is a transplanted Long Island girl who has fallen in love with the Jersey Shore. When Caridad isn’t taking long strolls along the boardwalk, she’s also a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author with over a million romance novels sold worldwide. Caridad is passionate about writing and helping others explore and develop their skills as writers. She is a founding member of the Liberty States Fiction Writers and has presented workshops at the RT Book Club Convention, Romance Writers of America National Conference as well as various writing organizations throughout the country. You can connect with Caridad at www.caridad.com.

SUN DON’T SHINE

“Reece was abducted by her father when she was little. Now she’s sixteen and searching for a way out.” 

Fitzroy Books / Regal House (2024)

Sixteen-year-old Reece is an expert at keeping secrets. She has to be, since her father abducted her ten years ago. For as long as she can remember, she’s been on the run, sneaking food out of the dumpster and sleeping in the woods. Every time she moves, the same rules apply—cut your hair, change your name, and, above all, don’t let anybody get too close. Reece has no choice except to obey Dad’s orders. When Reece meets her first real friend, a boy named Shawn, she begins to realize that everyone else has secrets too. And the deadliest secret of all is the one her father has kept from her all these years.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Crissa-Jean Chappell was born in Miami and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her debut young adult novel, TOTAL CONSTANT ORDER (HarperTeen) is a NYPL Book For The Teen Age and a VOYA Perfect Ten. Chappell’s second novel, NARC (Flux Books) is currently optioned for film. MORE THAN GOOD ENOUGH (Flux Books) is a Florida Book Awards medalist, which Kirkus calls, “compelling and emotionally nuanced.” SNOWBIRDS (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). “…will keep readers on their toes…an engrossing mystery,” School Library Journal.

Chappell’s newest novel is SUN DON’T SHINE (Fitzroy Books, spring 2024) “An exceptional novel with an original perspective on memory and trauma,” Foreword Reviews. She holds a PhD and MFA from the University of Miami and is a professor of creative writing at Lehman College. When she misses South Florida, she talks to the parrots in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Voices of Newcomers: Experiences of Multilingual Learners: 

This is an easy-to-read guide for all teachers looking to meet the needs of Multilingual Learners/English Learners, in particular Newcomers and SLIFE (Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education). Educators may feel intimidated admitting that they need to learn more about ways to help their students; here they will find easy-to-implement and non-judgmental support that busy teachers can put into place from the first moment they pick up the book.

• How to manage the first days and first weeks to assist their Newcomers in adjusting (academically, emotionally, socially) to their new school and class
• Asset-based perspectives on the progress of Multilingual Learners (MLs)
• Information that will help teachers academically engage these students, in addition to ways to assess and motivate them
• Reflection questions and discussions for each chapter to guide book clubs or conversations in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
• Ready-to-use resources are provided to support educators as they meet the needs of MLs

This book is designed to be a go-to resource for general education teachers, preservice teachers, administrators, and ESL/ENL teachers who need support in teaching children who are new to the country and have little English. By amplifying the voices of these students, their families, and their teachers, this handbook includes real-life stories to help educators understand these diverse perspectives. This book is practical for educators of all ages who want to best empower their students to succeed.

Ben and the Amazing Animal Adventure: 

Our friend Ben is about to go on his first class trip ever! What sorts of adventures will he experience? Ben has severe allergies and is going on a trip to the zoo. Come with Ben as he experiences his own Amazing Animal Adventure.This is a bilingual (English-Spanish) book that explores friendship and empathy for others.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Denise Furlong is currently working her dream job as a teacher educator for Georgian Court University in New Jersey. She has over 20 years experiences teaching diverse learners and coaching their teachers in grades K-12. She lives at the Jersey Shore with her husband Tim, her kids (Ryan, Joey & Sarah), and their two dogs. You can connect with her on Twitter @denise_furlong.

Join the Sands family as they head out for a wonderful summer vacation at the beach. Sonny and Suzie and their two children, Sean and Summer, along with their hamster, Gidget, head for Wit’s End, a cozy cottage close to the ocean in Seaside Delight. Excited to play in the surf, Sean and Summer race to the beach where they meet Donnie Dolphin and his friends: Aaron the Seal, Ray the Stingray, and Ringo Starfish. Over the next several days, as the children play on the beach and swim in the water, they learn some important lessons about the ocean’s changing tides and currents.

Their new friends are good teachers, and they have lots of helpful advice. But Sean and Summer learn a few things the hard way, too. Fortunately, lifeguard Justin Tyme is always paying attention, and the ocean friends also come to the rescue. Even Sonny and Suzie learn some water safety tips. By the end of the summer, Sean and Summer are able to pass along what they learned about safe swimming to other children at the beach. Teach the Beach offers valuable information about how to safely enjoy swimming at the shore. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I grew-up on the Jersey shore and, as a child, you couldn’t keep me out of the water and you still can’t! I’ve been swimming in the ocean every month for the past 248 months in a row (20 years & 8 months). At age seventeen, I became an ocean lifeguard on Manasquan Beach with numerous rescues to my credit over the years. An avid ocean water swimmer, I’ve been competing in ocean races for over four decades in distances from one mile up to 6.2 miles (10K). I have also completed the 12.5 mile swim around Key West, a 21 mile swim down the Mays Landing River in New Jersey, the 28.5 mile swim around Manhattan three times (2 solo + 1 relay).

In 2006, I became the first person from New Jersey to swim around the Isle of Jersey in England, a distance of 41.5 miles. I have coached at the club, high school and college levels in addition to spending six years traveling across the country coaching high school, college and adult triathletes. I coached a triathlon team out of Chicago called “Team Dream,” we started a New York Chapter. For the past 26 years, I have been teaching Combat Side Stroke for the Navy SEALs and to date, I have mentored over 8,000 SEAL candidates. I also have a DVD produced by GOSWIM.TV “Combat Side Stroke with Don Walsh.”

My book in intended to provide guidelines so that families my enjoy the ocean safely. If my book saves one life, it’s worth everything!

James Rusher is a jaded young man who possesses extraordinary abilities. He is drawn to others like him with gifts of their own. As he begins to feel a kinship with them, a new development in James’ personal life demands his attention and causes his interests to conflict. Should he join his new friends and embrace who he is, or should he seize his opportunity to achieve the normalcy now within his grasp?

When the friends use their gifts to protect the innocent, their good intentions have unforeseen consequences. Forces at work beyond their imaginings cause events to quickly spiral out of control. Can these heroes survive in the new world they’ve inadvertently created? More importantly, can they save it?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Drew Gordon is an author from New Jersey. From an early age, he experienced an ever-present need to create. Drawing from the stories of his childhood as well as real-life events, Gordon presents his own addition to the ever-growing superhero craze. When he’s not writing, he’s spending time with his family and learning everything he can about the universe.

bird dreams, riding hope

A fable, weaving our connections to birds, meandering rivers and dragons, fermenting miso and consciousness, wetlands, our extended kin and ancestors, our mentors, and Wisdom. Inspired by actual events and a sense of place and belonging by a woman who addresses the reader on behalf of the earth.

riding the waves: a tale about being home in the world

riding the waves is a book about being home in the world. It is about making soup when you lose your memory because loss has taken you; and menopause has run through you and all that is left is riding the waves. The story that takes place in one late spring day follows Mrs. Scattergood’s movement from grief to resilience. It travels with her memories, her connections to nature, her loved ones and the mischievous but innovative goddess Baubo.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

i write about ecology and our relationship to the land and water – with a dollop of magic realism, fantasy and fable. i hope my words and bits support anyone who works toward helping our planet. together we are mighty. https://linktr.ee/fredakarpf

From bartending to the nunnery and back again.

Embark on a transformative journey with Shake The Dust Off Your Feet and Walk, a stirring memoir tracing Gina Economopoulos’s path from despair to redemption. From her humble beginning as a bartender to the sacred halls of the convent and through the trials of tumultuous relationships and alcoholism, she grapples with loss, grief, and the pursuit of self-discovery. With honesty, she invites readers to witness her quest to reclaim her life amidst chaos.

As the author navigates the labyrinth of her own emotions, readers are drawn into the landscape of her struggles. From the agonizing decision to leave the convent behind to the numbing embrace of alcoholism, every step of her journey is fraught with uncertainty and pain. Yet, through sheer resilience and unwavering determination, she begins the arduous process of healing, learning to let go of the past and forge new connections in the present.

Her unwavering faith serves as a guiding light through the darkest of nights, illuminating a path toward self-acceptance and forgiveness. Through her words, she offers a profound insight into the human condition, reminding readers of the power of resilience and the transformative nature of love.

Shake The Dust Off Your Feet and Walk is more than just a memoir—it is a testament to the power of the human spirit to find healing in faith, time, and self-discovery. By the journey’s end, readers are left with a profound sense of admiration for Gina’s courage and perseverance. Her story serves as a reminder that no matter how daunting the road ahead may seem, there is always hope waiting to be discovered in the most unlikely of places.

Join the author on a journey of self-discovery and redemption in Shake The Dust Off Your Feet and Walk. Let her words inspire you to confront your own struggles with grace and resilience and emerge stronger on the other side. This memoir is a testament to the enduring power of faith to rise above adversity and find peace amidst the chaos.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Summer My Grandmother’s Yard Tried to Kill Me is a neighborhood adventure filled with humor, mystery, and a message of acceptance. Readers of any age will love this eco-friendly tale, told from the point of view of a differently abled protagonist.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Harry Harvey lives in Point Pleasant, NJ with his family. His wife Robin is his supportive editor and partner-in-crime. His son, Ethan, played football for Manasquan High School and currently attends Rowan University. Harry is a high school teacher of AP Literature and Composition, Film, and Writing at Manasquan. Harry also teaches acting and improv–believing it is essential to be creative in some way to live a satisfying life.

Like Walter Mitty, Herman Lentz has delusions of grandeur and a rich imagination, but he uses his sarcasm and snark as coping skills to deal with the ironic and moronic.  Jewmorous is a humorous collection of essays about embarrassing events no matter how small, all viewed through a self-deprecating lens.

Much to his wife’s chagrin, the essays cover universal themes consisting of, clashing cultures and traditions, marriage, nude beaches, job interviews, drug use, prostate exams, raising kids, and more stories about marriage, to name a few.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Herman Lentz is a retired Chief Compliance Officer, who no longer shackled by the constraints imposed by his position is finally able to publish his first book without fear that his musings will cost him his career.

Always a story teller, he has put together a collection of essays about the adventures and misadventures in his life. A Long Island Jew with delusions of grandeur, he lives in New Jersey not by choice, but by marriage, as his first generation Greek Orthodox wife wanted to be close to her extremely extended family. He prides himself on his great head of hair and self-proclaimed rapier like wit.

When not working on his next essay, he can be seen cursing on the golf course, wishing his grandkids would take more naps when he babysits, avoiding any and all acts of physical labor, and looking for excuses to not go shopping with his wife. His goal is not to be recognized posthumously.

Learn more about his book at www.Jewmorous.com.

IRISH EYES, Book 1 of Hope’s American Songbook series, spans twenty-five years of Gilded Age through the Jazz Age Manhattan, as seen through the eyes of spirited Irish-born Rose O’Neill.

December 1898. In the aftermath of America’s war with Spain, Rose leaves her beloved Arans and boards a steamer for New York City. Herded through the emigrant landing depot at The Battery, abandoned and alone, she soon discovers that the New York streets are no more paved in gold than those of Galway. To survive, she must ford her way through Lower East Side tenements and sweatshops, Fifth Avenue mansions and tony hotels – tangling with Tammany Hall for the soul of the man with whom her fate is inextricably linked while fighting her feelings for the first love who still holds her heart. Just as she begins to make peace with the past, the Great War erupts in Europe, threatening to topple the dynasty for which she has sacrificed so much.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hope C. Tarr is the author of more than 25 genre fiction novels, including OPERATION CINDERELLA, optioned by Twentieth Century Fox. IRISH EYES (Joffe Books) is her historical fiction debut and the launch of her American Songbook series. Prior to embarking on her writing career, Hope earned a Master’s in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Education from The Catholic University of America. She and her husband live in Ocean Grove, NJ with their rescue cats. Connect with her on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook as well as her website at www.hopectarr.com.

About Jackie Galgey and the Gwen and Gabby Series:

The Gwen and Gabby book series, inspired by Jackie Galgey’s real-life daughters and their multicultural life, captures the essence of childhood adventures. These delightful stories resonate with the spirit of adventure and the bond of family, making them relatable and engaging for readers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jackie Galgey has harbored a passion for writing since her childhood, when she crafted her own TV show reviews and established a pop culture website. With a background in esteemed publications such as The Washington Post and Cosmopolitan, and experience in the digital world of Twitter, Jackie has a diverse and rich history in the realm of storytelling. Driven by a desire to create enchanting tales that her two daughters, Gwen and Gabby, could relate to, she decided to pursue her long-cherished dream of becoming an author. Inspired by her little heroes, Jackie weaves stories that are filled with fun and imagination. She resides in New Jersey with her supportive husband and two lively daughters, where she continues to dream up captivating worlds for children to explore. 

TEDDY THE AIRPLANE

This is the story of a little airplane, the smallest at the airport.  After listening to the other aircraft talk about their adventures, he is looking forward to his own adventures and wonders where he’ll go and what he’ll see.  When the time comes to fly he learns that it’s not how far you go but the importance of what you do.  Being the smallest is sometimes the most important.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janis is a retired airline pilot who began flying in the 1960s.  She has well over 23,000 hours of flight time.  She has flown everything from little single engine two seat trainers to wide body airliners.  She retired from the A 320 aircraft.  She is currently flight instructing.

She has been inducted into the NJ Aviation Hall of Fame at Teterboro, NJ.  The Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School, in Pennsylvania named her to the distinguished alum society.  Along with these awards, she also received an outstanding service award from the NJ Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics.  The Civil Air Patrol has awarded her the Commander’s Commendation Award for outstanding service and the Commander’s Award for exceptional service.

Janis is a member of the Ninety-Nines (International Organization of Women Pilots), Women in Aviation, Airline Pilot’s Association, Civil Air Patrol, Monmouth Area Flying Club, Silver Wings Fraternity, Experimental Pilot’s Association and the Belmar Woman’s Club.

“THE SUMMER AFTER YOU AND ME”

Will it be a summer of fresh starts or second chances?

For Lucy, the Jersey Shore isn’t just the perfect summer escape, it’s home. As a local girl, she knows not to get attached to the tourists. They breeze in during Memorial Day weekend, crowding her costal town and stealing moonlit kisses, only to pack up their beach umbrellas and empty promises on Labor Day. Still, she can’t help but crush on charming Connor Malloy. His family spends every summer next door, and she longs for their friendship to turn into something deeper.

Then Superstorm Sandy sweeps up the coast, bringing Lucy and Connor together for a few intense hours. Except nothing is the same in the wake of the storm, and Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and her broken home. Time may heal all wounds, but with Memorial Day approaching and Connor returning, Lucy’s summer is sure to be filled with fireworks.

“AUGUST AND EVERYTHING AFTER”

One last summer to escape, to find herself, to figure out what comes next. Fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han will love this contemporary, coming-of-age romance.

Graduation was supposed to be a relief. Except Quinn can’t avoid the rumors that plagued her throughout high school or the barrage of well-intentioned questions about her college plans. How is she supposed to know what she wants to do for the next four years, let alone the rest of her life? And why does no one understand that it’s hard for her to think about the future—or feel as if she even deserves one—when her best friend is dead?

Spending the summer with her aunt on the Jersey shore may just be the fresh start Quinn so desperately needs. And when she meets Malcolm, a musician with his own haunted past, she starts to believe in second chances. Can Quinn find love while finding herself?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jen Doktorski is the award-winning author of five young adult novels including the forthcoming FINDING NORMAL (Fitzroy Book 2025), FAMOUS LAST WORDS (Holt), a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year, THE SUMMER AFTER YOU & ME (Sourcebooks Fire), a YALSA Teens’ Top Ten nominee, and AUGUST AND EVERYTHING AFTER (Sourcebooks Fire). A proud Jersey girl, she spends summers down the shore, where everything is always all right. Visit her at www.jendoktorski.com or Instagram @jendoktorski.

Enduring the Waves:

Tagline: Kelly Lynch navigates the seas of friendship and the storms of grief as she ebbs and flows along a journey of self-discovery.

As Waterville High School’s newest English teacher, Kelly Lynch befriends fellow educator and James Joyce enthusiast Shannon Moran. While Kelly grapples with deep scars from her past, she struggles to balance her active life as a teacher and her stagnant marriage to shiftless alcoholic Wayne Coopersmith. Shannon’s encouragement resurrects Kelly’s passion for writing, while Kelly inspires Shannon to pursue her lifelong dream of studying in Dublin, Ireland.

After two devastating events fracture Kelly’s life, she searches for meaning in her grief by following a trail of mysterious clues that guide her from the New Jersey shore to Dublin. Sparks ignite her long-dormant creativity and a raging inferno in her heart while on the Emerald Isle as two unsuspecting Dubliners combine forces to hearten Kelly’s awakening. She returns home to the Jersey Shore having endured the waves spurred by her past, present, and future and ready to pursue her true calling.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jill Ocone has been a writer/editor for Jersey Shore Magazine/Jersey Shore Publications since 2014 and a high school communications/journalism and English teacher since 2001. Her debut novel, Enduring the Waves, was traditionally published by Wild Rose Press in November 2023 and placed 5th in the Women’s Fiction category of the 2024 National Excellence in Story Telling contest, sponsored by the Central Region Oklahoma Writers. She also served as guest editor for Red Penguin Book’s About Time: A Coming of Age Poetry Anthology, published in February 2024. She has penned 45 additional published pieces.

Jill is a 200-hour trauma informed registered yoga teacher and facilitates movement and writing workshops. She loves making memories with her nieces and nephews, exploring and traveling, laughing alongside her family and friends, and sharing her Point Pleasant home with her husband. Visit Jill online at jillocone.com.

Grateful Memories chronicles 10 years of my life on the road, primarily from 1979 thru 1989, following the Grateful Dead on tour in many different cities across the USA with a core group of friends while recording the music along the way. I describe my adventure while introducing my real life traveling companions, and new friends I meet along the way. Each chapter covers a group of shows or an entire tour, so each one is a story on it’s own. It doesn’t matter if you start from the beginning or the middle or anywhere in between, each chapter has a beginning, a middle and an end.

Deadheads Remember Englishtown ’77

Deadheads may disagree on which Grateful Dead concert was their best ever, but no one would argue that their performance at Englishtown on Sept. 3, 1977, was something special. For Jim Daley, who saw the band for the first time on that date, it was a life-changing experience that he looks back on with fondness more than forty years later. Like many others, he does n’t remember much about that day … but he sure does remember the music.

In this tribute to the band he loves so much, the author commemorates the landmark concert by sharing memories from those who were there.Together, the tapestry of recollections reveals a detailed picture of what that day was like, and why it was a defining moment for the band. Some people remember the day quite vividly, while others are a little foggy on details. For most people, however, the music is at the forefront of their recollections.

Discover what it was really like on that hot, humid day at Raceway Park in Old Bridge, New Jersey, and how – at least for the day – the Grateful Dead got everything “Just exactly perfect”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jim Daley, a lifelong Grateful Dead fan, is also the author of Grateful Memories: Ten Years on the Road Taping the Grateful Dead.  This is the first Grateful Dead Memoir written by a taper. Jim started recording the Grateful Dead in 1979, at Nassau Coliseum.

Death on St. Charles Street:

Veteran journalist Joe Strupp has covered numerous murders, corrupt officials and thousands of other crimes in his 35-year career.

But the one that struck closest to his family occurred three years before he was born.

That was on July 29, 1962 when four of Joe’s relatives were found shot to death in their South Dakota home.

The killer: Joe’s great uncle, John Bowman.

The victims: Bowman, his wife, and their two teen-age sons.

When Joe first heard about the family tragedy 20 years ago, he began a long and intense investigation into the family secret that revealed a tangled history of mental illness, alcoholism and still unanswered questions as to why this horrific crime occurred.

The result: a shocking tale of simmering tensions, mixed motives and deadly outcomes that still harbors a mystery – why did it happen?

Why did a quiet, frustrated father with no history of violence kill his family in cold blood and then take his own life?

Why did the priest who administered last rites leave the church sooner after?

And why did Joe’s family keep it secret for 40 years?

Death On St. Charles Street tells the story of this vicious killing, the decade of personal battles and strained relations that led to it, and the impact it had on survivors for decades to come.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An award-winning reporter for 35 years, Joe Strupp has worked in newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and the internet, including decades on a variety of crime beats and criminal cases on both coasts, with two stints in New Jersey, where he remains on the staff of the Asbury Park Press.

His writing has appeared in MediaWeek, San Francisco magazine, NJ Biz, New Jersey Monthly, Salon.com, and Poynter.org. He’s interviewed the likes of Rupert Murdoch, George W. Bush, Ben Bradlee, and O.J. Simpson, and spoken on Fox News, MSNBC, NPR, Voice of America, ABC News, and Sirius XM Radio.

Joe is also the author of four books: Killing Journalism: How Greed, Laziness (and Donald Trump) Are Destroying News and How We Can Save It (Willow Street Press, 2018), The Crookedest Street (Amarna Books and Media, 2020), A Long Walk Home (Amarna Books and Media, 2021), and death no St. Charles Street (Amarna Books and Media 2024).

Kevin runs multiple peer-support grief groups at Stephy’s Place, and in The ThresHold of Grief he shares his own insights as well as those from countless people he has accompanied over the years.  The book offers practical suggestions for mourners as well as inspiring stories and quotes to help people navigate through some of the most difficult times of their lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kevin J. Keelen is a Bereavement Support Specialist at Stephy’s Place Center for Grief and Loss in Red Bank, NJ.  Kevin is the author of The ThresHold of Grief, which is a collection of reflections and inspirational stories, prayers, and poems for all those who have suffered loss.  Kevin grew up in Monmouth County, NJ and has over 30 years’ experience in walking with the bereaved.  After experiencing the sudden death of his father when he was twenty, Kevin’s life continued to be impacted by many tragic losses including family members who died by suicide and overdose.

Down the Shore with a Seagull Named Sami 

For as long as I can remember, I was bothered by seagulls. They are loud & can disrupt a peaceful day on the beach. They swoop down & steal food right out your hands or out of your beach bag. They poop all over the boardwalk.

But, they can also be mesmerizing to watch – they talk to one another, follow each other and find all the leftover food at the end of the day. I often hear little children delight & yell to each other & their families — “look at the seagulls”! And, my golden retriever, Sammy, while walking with one of his many toys in his mouth, would look up at them and, I believe, enjoyed watching them.

Down the Shore with a Scaredy Cat Named Princess Cassandra

This children’s book, Down the Shore with a Scaredy Cat named Princess Cassandra is about a princess & her fear of cats.  She is afraid to leave her sandcastle at the Jersey Shore for fear of running into a cat.  This highlights some of the things the princess is afraid of but it also points out some of the wonderful & playful things the princess learns about kittens like how they love playtime, naptime & their humans to name a few.   And, once she learns about all these things, Princess Cassandra decides to get a kitten & just falls in love with Coco!

Down the Shore with a Golden Retriever Named Sammy

For those of you dog lovers, like me, you’ll likely enjoy reading the fun & heart-warming stories about Sammy.  And, for those of you who don’t consider yourselves dog-people, take a peak!  Maybe you’ll begin to appreciate your next-door-neighbor ‘s dog, or you’ll consider volunteering at an animal shelter or maybe you’ll find yourself fostering or even giving a dog in need a forever home.  Dogs can bring out the best in us!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kim Ciraulo is a Managing Director of GoHireRecruiting.. She loves what she does because she is able to connect talented individuals with organizations that value their employees. But, in her spare time, she has found that she also loves writing (ContagiousPhrases greeting cards & 3 children’s books). 

Her 1st book is about how annoying, but mesmerizing, seagulls can be. The 2nd is about her fear of cats but highlights some very fascinating facts about them. And, the 3rd contains heart-warming stories about her beloved golden retriever, Sammy.

The Contagious Phrases greeting cards are about those catch phrases, business jargon, clichés, etc. Do you ever wonder where they come from? Who started saying them and how did they catch on so that we all say them? These cards are meant to be a light-hearted look at the way we talk as well as the extent to which some phrases become contagious……. Our mission is to bring a smile to every person who reads our cards by reminding them of a phrase they’ve said or heard countless times that simply touches them.

My romcom beach read Cape May series includes three books: The Way to Cape May, A Cape May Kind of Love, and Cape May Ever After. They feature a Love Actually-inspired ensemble cast featuring 6 women over the course of 4 years, each seeking happily ever after in love and career.

The Way to Cape May

In this first book of the Cape May series, readers are introduced to four women. Delaney is a successful criminal attorney who leaves nothing to chance. All she wanted was a simple seaside wedding, but as countdown to the big day begins, her well-laid plans unravel at the hands of her over-the-top Groomzilla, with a life-altering secret that may veer this love story to Happily Never After before they can say, “I Don’t”. A seashell in the pocket of an old hoodie forces maid of honor Kate to question her life choices, until an accidental phone switch has her dialed into someone new. Free-spirited Cleo doesn’t believe in love or destiny, but a chance meeting with a stranger changes her beliefs about the past, and her hopes for the future. Aspiring attorney Marley is soon to be engaged to her longtime boyfriend, but can’t stop thinking about the one man with whom she doesn’t stand a chance—her best friend. Set between the courtrooms of Philadelphia and the sparkling beaches of the Jersey Cape, this Love Actually-style rom-com tells the story of choice and chance, love and loss, sunsets and cheesesteaks.

A Cape May Kind of Love

In this second book of the series, readers catch up with the four women in book one and are introduced to two new characters. Marley’s former beau bursts onto the reality TV dating scene as she’s about to embark on the most important event of her life: the dreaded bar exam. Between cramming the books and vying for a coveted lawyer job, the last thing Marley needs is to become a social media villain. If she can find a way to crawl out from the fall-out, she just may save her imploded career and fractured relationship with the man of her dreams. Charlotte, a socially awkward germophobe, is willing to do anything to reach her one and only goal: making partner at her law firm. Even if that means learning to socialize with the worse people on the planet, her knuckle-dragging co-workers. When she meets deckhand Jake on a work trip, he changes her outlook on life, and offers the one thing she never thought she’d find. Meanwhile, Bella is just trying to navigate the angst of her teen years—mean girls, a cringe-worthy mom, unrequited crushes—when she comes to discover what truly matters. And it isn’t what she thinks.

Cape May Ever After

In this third and final book of the series, readers will find out what happens when the six women reach their final destination at the end of the Jersey cape. Delaney will get a shocking discovery when she takes a DNA test. Marley learns that winning isn’t everything after an ultimate act of paying it forward leads to something far more valuable. One simple letter changes Cleo’s entire life, making the impossible possible—if only she can get out of her own way and open her heart to happiness. When Charlotte finally realizes she can’t control the direction of the wind, she adjusts her sails and reaches a destination beyond her wildest imagination. This final book in the series poses the question: is Exit 0 the end of the road…or just the beginning?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kimberly Brighton is the award-winning author of The Way to Cape May and A Cape May Kind of Love. She studied satirical writing and screenwriting at The Second City and is the author of The Shore Blog, a travel website, and BlaBlaBlog, a humor website. When not dreaming up swoony romance plots, she spends her time searching for food expiration labels and sitting at red lights. Married for 25 laugh-filled years, she’s discovered the key to a lasting marriage: takeout.

Bullet Proof Heart is 17-year-old Lena Novick’s journal entries from 1989, the year she lived with her grandmother in a small beach town in New Jersey. The year where everything changes: her friend group dissolves; her parents get divorced; she meets Ant, the Ukrainian boy across the street, and the year she discovers the truth about her family. The world around Lena and Ant is changing; punk rock is slowly evolving into something else, into grunge and communism tumbles with the Berlin wall.

BLOOD ROGUE

There is the blood and can only ever be the blood.

Only on a night born in hell could vampire cop Charles Tower meet the woman of his dreams, Stacy Morgan, and lose the only father he’s ever known. Mikhail Kirilenko’s gone rogue, unable to satisfy his thirst for blood. Mikhail marks Stacy as the last person he’ll drain dry before he dies, but Chaz needs Stacy alive.  She’s not supposed to know vampires exist, but as a forensic chemist/blood banker, Stacy might be able to figure out why vampires are going rogue before their time. 

In a race against the clock, Chaz will have to figure out how to keep her alive while facing his worst fear when Stacy decides to put herself out as bait. Can Chaz drink from her enough to knock her out but not kill her as he did his wife? And then what? Chaz knows that in the end he’ll have to give her up as humans are not allowed to know vampires exist. 

Will love conquer thousands of years of mistrust? Will love give him the strength to pull away? And what of the future? For Chaz is certain Mikhail isn’t the only BLOOD ROGUE he and Stacy are going to have to face.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As a major in Biochemistry with a minor in English literature, Linda always tried to mesh her love of science with her love of the written word. Once a clinical research scientist, now a NJRW Golden Leaf, N.N. Light’s Book Heaven 2021 Best Paranormal Romance Award winner, and 2022 HOLT Medallion Winner for Speculative Fiction, she creates unforgettable characters and puts them in untenable situations, much to their dismay. 

Choices always matter and love conquers all, so a happy-ever-after is a must. 

Linda is the current President of Liberty States Fiction Writers. She has served on the boards of other writing organizations, as a Mentor for RWA, and loves to teach the craft of writing at workshops and conferences. She recently signed a contract with Harlequin, and her book Reunion with The Single Mom is scheduled to release May 2025. She loves to travel, tries to bake, and lives in New Jersey with her son Chris, daughter-in-law Sara, and Audi and Archer, a pair of pooches who had her at woof! 

Robert Frost once said: I took the road less traveled and that has made all the difference.

Well, that’s good for ol’ Rob. He wasn’t a seventeen-year-old girl who met a boy that turned her world upside down weeks before leaving for college. The road less traveled isn’t always the easy one, but sometimes it is the right one.

Katie has been counting down the days she leaves for Northwestern University since she was seven years old. A self-acclaimed author turned college English major; she is ready to grow up. She is ready to leave childhood behind. She just needs to survive this summer. The summer after high school graduation. The summer he came into her life. With dreams and secrets of his own, Josh steps out from behind a Ferris wheel and, quite literally, takes her breath away.

This summer, this magically perfect yet heartbreaking in the best way summer, changes Katie. Growing up does not necessarily mean achieving your dreams… sometimes it means finding new dreams to chase. As the days laughing with Josh under the summer sun pass, Katie finds herself again and again questioning her favorite literature: ROMEO AND JULIET. Were they right? Should you risk everything for love?

Juliet was Wrong will remind you of your own first love… and how hard it is to let go.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lindsey Carver lives on the Jersey Shore with her patient husband, two adventurous kiddos, and their giant White German Shepherd. She’s been writing since she can hold a pencil and Juliet was Wrong is her debut novel. She loves connecting with her readers on Instagram – lmcarverwrites.

Learn Chess is a simple and fun summary of how to position and move the chess pieces. Geared for kids, but also contains rules and details for parents to help their kids learn the game of chess. 

Goodnight Bee: See what happens when Little Bee stays up late and has an amazing adventure right in his own bedroom!

Clean Bee: Little Bee decides not to take a shower for a few days. But he changes his mind after seeing the consequences!

Green Bee: Little Bee learns the hard way that eating vegetables is a really good idea!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lori Krein is an award-winning artist, writer, and photographer. She writes short stories, poetry, memoir and childrens books. She enjoys traveling, dancing, camping, and doing anything outdoors. Lori resides at the Jersey Shore. 

Hi. My name is Lori Herschkowitz-Skala. I am an elementary school teacher and a self published author of 2 children’s books. The first one, The Road to Rosie From Ruff to Rescue, is the story of how I met my rescue dog Rosie and to remind people that our darkest times can lead to our brightest. It teaches the importance of the power of “pawsitivity”.

My second book, The Hair Tie, tells the story of how a simple act of kindness can tie us together, and celebrates Shrewsbury and Red Bank small businesses. It inspires and ignites the human spirit to do good for others—as we are all part of one global community.

Only Gossip Prospers: A Novel of Louisa May Alcott in New York.

Lorraine Tosiello

Pink Umbrella Books, 2019

In late 1875 Luisa May Alcott spent a winter in New York City. Her journals give a rough sketch of the people she met, the salons she attended and a few outings that she enjoyed. She intended to stay “Until I am tired of it” but left abruptly in mid-January.

Filled with biographical references to Louisa’s family, New Yorkers of the time and Alcott’s literary works, Only Gossip Prospers intertwines the real people Louisa met, the actual events of New York City and a host of fictional characters who inhabit a world that Louisa Herself would recognize. Written in a style reminiscent of Alcott’s juvenile fiction and short stories, the book is part historical fiction, part lover letter to the charm of 1870s New York and part biography of Louisa and her contemporaries. Only Gossip Prospers enters the conversation that still hovers over Little Women as to what was “real” and what was “made up.” There are some twists and surprises, including the one that will satisfy the greatest question left unanswered for fans of Little Women: what really happened between Jo and Laurie?

Only Gossip Prospers mashes together fact and fiction to draw a realistic portrait of Louisa May Alcott at the height of her fame.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lorraine Tosiello read Alcott’s Little Women in the first grade and again and again most years of her childhood after that.  That set her off on her life journey of motherhood, travelling, general rabblerousing and work as a physician devoted to medical education and to the care of HIV infected people. Rereading Little Women in later adulthood rekindled her Alcott enthusiasm and years of study resulted in her first novel, Only Gossip Prospers. Visiting Alcott’s Orchard House and Dickinson’s Homestead on the same fateful weekend resulted in the “Aha” moment that inspired The Bee and the Fly: The Improbable Correspondence of Louisa May Alcott and Emily Dickinson. She lives with her husband in midtown Manhattan and at the New Jersey shore.

MOVING ‘ON BY!’  Leadership and Teamwork Case Studies for Self-Coaching

We build our intuition and instinct from experience; learn to self-coach and gain the confidence to achieve the career and life you seek.

Each chapter offers four views of a business situation:

TALES FROM THE TRAIL – Sled dog stories that inspire acceptance of new challenges. Set in the snow-filled outdoors, these exciting adventures will engage you to think beyond the worry of the moment, to consider unique options and risk as acceptable phases toward a life-changing goal.

CASE STUDIES IN LEADERSHIP – Move inside offices to examine change and transition. Study how others build relationships and achieve their goals while responding to the pressures and rewards inherent in developing a career and maintaining a satisfy home life.

INSIGHT – Review the situations presented by learning how trust, rapport, vulnerability, and respect influence the outcome of every relationship.  Learn what today’s subject matter experts offer about why we work, when we play, how teams form, and the importance of connecting with others.

TASK – Designed for immediate completion as well as take-away contemplation, the Tasks range from humorously determining your position on a sled dog team, to defining your personal values.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author of three books, four journals, and numerous articles. Recognized Author on RESEARCHGATE.

MOVING ‘ON BY’! HARNESSING THE INSTINCTS OF MY SLED DOG TEAM

Dr. Lucille Maddalena is a trailblazer in education and organizational dynamics. Leveraging her exceptional skill in integrating dog sledding principles into leadership, she takes your team on a transformative journey where real stories of teamwork come to life. Position your leaders at the helm of the sled, driving towards the rising sun, and witness the instinctual harmony of teamwork unfolding with breathtaking natural grace.

The two main characters in the stories are Joey and Gina. They are cousins sharing their experiences while working in the family pizzeria. With each book, the characters get a little older. Each book stands alone that can be considered a set/series.

There are “lessons“ that are brought out in these books, but are not considered at all. “preachy”, just good values often illustrated with honor.  

The Secret Ingredient reveals encouragement to do our best, work as a team, and every job is important.

Practically Perfect Pepperoni Pizza deals with perfectionism and anxiety.

Those Yucky Mucky Mushrooms offers awareness of differences, and the fact that things are not always what they seem, and also encouragement to not be afraid to try new things. There is a deaf child as one of the characters in this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I grew up in North Jersey and I began writing stories and plays when I was still in elementary school. I became an elementary school teacher and taught in elementary schools in New Jersey and upstate New York. I often wrote plays for my class and at times the entire school, particularly for holidays. Vacating “down the shore” as well as attending Broadway, where are my two favorite things about living in New Jersey.

In 1999 I moved to Pennsylvania after receiving my masters degree in counseling from Loyola University in Maryland and began my work as a mental health counselor. I did however, come at least annually to the Jersey shore and stayed in both Belmar and Spring Lake. I have been a resident of Toms River for over two years now. 

My first children’s book was published in 2020. I did receive a certificate from the Institute of Children’s Literature in 2016..

A nonprofit organization The Charles Bruce Foundation which works to assist the homeless and other underprivileged populations and also help writers artists and musicians in their work, was the organization that elected to publish my books after reading my manuscripts.

Through their efforts, I have participated in book signings, summer camps, and school presentations.

BEACH SANTA

Celebrate the power of generosity and teamwork with this heartwarming and silly tale that describes what Santa does the day AFTER Christmas! He needs a vacation and wants to catch some waves and a fish! But, as he finally dips his toes in the water, he catches wind of children in need and jumps into action!  Ultimately, he catches something…but it may not be what you think!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M.B. Paradise has always been a fan of stories, Santa, and the beach… so combining the three made perfect sense.  She earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and a Master of Education at the University of Virginia.   She is a former college anatomy professor and has worked as a Certified Athletic Trainer including positions at both Monmouth and Princeton University.

In addition to writing and marketing her book, she also works as a sports medicine consultant at the collegiate level.  She has climbed in the Rockies, barely survived two NYC marathons, and currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and three daughters. Beach Santa is her first children’s book.

Mystery Scars: a Story of Love and Healing

When Hurt Happens, Can We Forgive Others — and Ourselves?

A week ago, Jewel Jacob’s biggest worry was making it into the Teen Arts Show. So how did the talented freshman wake up in a hospital bed with pain shooting up her arms and no memory of hurting herself? Stuck in a support group circle with other kids who tried to end their young lives, she wonders how they all got there… how she got there.

Join Jewel on a journey far deeper than the scars on her wrists as she untangles confusing memories and learns that even in the darkest places, there’s always a way back to the light. Get ready for a story of healing and self-discovery, where friendship, love, and quirky humor shine through the toughest times.

“Mystery Scars is a compelling young adult novel that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Through heart-wrenching twists and turns, it explores the power of resilience, the importance of [teen] mental health, and the beauty of finding hope in unexpected places. Merry Brennan brings compassion and empathy to a complex subject. I cannot recommend her work highly enough.” Midwest Book Review (Available in paperback, e-book, audiobook.)

Eye Rolls & awe: a National Parks road trip with teens

Breathtaking beauty one moment… face-melting eye rolls the next!

Join the Brennans and their three teens on a 7,000-mile summer adventure that changed their family. Caves, peaks and whitewater rapids brought them closer to nature. Hours on the road in “The Couch” (their comfy SUV) brought them closer to each other. Were there fights and freak outs? Of course. Giggles? Every day. Get a front row seat to fears and wide-eyed wonder in a journey that forever deepened their relationships – with one another and our spectacular country.

The book includes trip planning advice, teen-focused tips, and fascinating facts about our amazing public lands. Also find the latest research on:

• Crucial Parent-Teen Connections
• Nature’s Healing Power
• The Future of Our National Parks

Peace Pilgrim: Walking Her Talk Against Hate

Imagine giving up everything you own and walking across the country for 28 years?

Meet Peace Pilgrim, who traveled the U.S. on foot with only the clothes on her back to spread her message of peace. The New Jersey native lived off the land and the kindness of those she met. Whenever she ran into trouble – physical or verbal – her sole response was love. She shared her steps to inner peace one step at a time, and her simple wisdom continues to touch people around the world. Never heard of her? Read the book and you’ll never forget her!

This biographical novel includes photos, glossary & reader’s guide, and fits historical fiction, anti-bullying & women’s history themes. Aimed at middle grades and up, it is inspiring for all ages and has gotten rave reviews from women’s book clubs.  (Available in paperback, e-book, audiobook.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As a kid, Merry Brennan dreamed of a grown-up life writing books and making art. She got sidetracked a bit – as a journalist, activist, columnist, naturalist, communications consultant, adjunct professor, and elected official. Now, she weaves all those roots into her daily living and couldn’t be Merrier! She explores the world through words, images, and joyful footsteps. Her writing and art invites others to savor nature, embrace inner peace, and compassionately care for each other on this gem we all call home.

Her latest book, Mystery Scars: a Story of Love and Healing, is a contemporary young adult novel offering hope and healing for those affected by today’s epidemic of teen anxiety, depression, and suicide. Her info-packed travel memoir, Eye Rolls and Awe: a National Park Road Trip with Teens, offers a front-row seat to the treasures of family and nature; and her middle-grade historical novel, Peace Pilgrim: walking her talk against hate, introduces readers to the remarkable woman who walked across the U.S. for 28 years with only the clothes on her back to spread a message of peace. In addition, Merry’s photographic and digital creations (www.EarthwaysArt.com) have been featured in many shows, shops, and publications.

The long-time Jersey Shore resident is always up for a good hike, sail or paddle; never turns down time with family; and looks forward to full moon meditations. She and her musician husband, Tom, have three terrific children, Ciarán, Aislínn and Seán.

The Belmar Series (Collected Trilogy)– Meet Jimmy Hanlon. It’s summer, 1987. Image is everything in his Jersey Shore hometown. Jimmy hasn’t kept up. An overweight grandfather in his late forties, he’s lost a cancerous larynx, and on top of that, A.I.D.S. has spiked fears of anyone with a questionable sexual history. Throughout his redemptive summer, Jimmy’s empathy reveals how individual compassion trumps social mores. 

Take the Lively Air– In May of 2019, a minor traffic collision escalates into a confrontation between two families haunted by their pasts and apprehensive of their futures. Rage and regret butt heads against the background of America’s toxic cultural climate. But saner voices discover that human frailties are best viewed through the microscope of compassion.

Beat the Blues– Bobby Kennedy has just been assassinated. Katie Kline, a hip, introspective eighteen year old, and rebellious next-door neighbor Ronny Hopkins fall in love. Circumstances and resentment derail them, but sometimes memories can become reality, and after twenty years, a reunion offers them  hope for one last chance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My hometown is Belmar, NJ. My father and mother moved from 13th Avenue to 22 Inlet Terrace soon after I was born. I attended Belmar Elementary, Manasquan HS, and Blair Academy. I earned a BA from Gettysburg College and an MA in English from Shippensburg University. I’ve published five novels. My short fiction has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and a collection is forthcoming from Unsolicited Press in 2026.  

Night of the Crescent Moon

Some wounds never heal.

Martine, a good witch and ER nurse must enlist Lukas, a mystical warrior to save her patient who is under the spell of a dark witch from the Second Realm. But she pushed Lukas out of her life years ago. When Lukas agrees to return to the realm where he was once held captive, he faces unexpected danger to bring the dark witch back to lift the spell. Many assist Lukas, but few are trusted through his travels in a realm with ugly memories. Will Lukas succeed in saving Martine’s patient from a fate worse than death? Will Martine open her heart, or lock Lukas out again?

The Champion Chronicles Series is a set in a world of vampires, mystical warriors and witches. Michael, a mystically enhanced vampire seeks retribution but also redemption. He chooses the most difficult path with fascinating outcomes. In book one, The Vampire’s Retribution, Michael battles sorcerers and hell-beasts for love and vengeance but is captured. Guided by an angel, he seeks hope. In book two, Mystical Consequences, Michael undergoes mystical healing after being rescued by his soulmate. Facing his past, strained relationships, and a brutal council demand, he seeks his true destiny. In book three, His Soul to Keep, Michael’s buried beast-within is resurrected in a teenage girl by dark magic, forcing him to confront his guilt and responsibility. He must defeat a vampire princess to prevent disaster. Awaken His Soul, a prequel set in 1929, highlights Michael’s first encounter with a good witch that begins his journey to redemption.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mickey Flagg writes paranormal tales of passion with a twist of fate. Her mystical warriors, witches, and not-so-normal creatures of the night speak to the heart. She is a contributor in a book on urban music education and has published a piece in Still Standing, a web-magazine about loss and healing. Mickey is a life-long New Jersey resident, a member of Liberty States Fiction Writers, NJ Author’s Network, and NJRW. Visit https://www.mflagg-author.com  for more about M. Flagg’s novels.

This Too…

Based on the popular phrase, “this too shall pass”, this book will give you a new perspective on that quote and on life in general. Often times when people hear this phrase they connect it to suffering, a rough patch, or difficult times. But it also pertains to the sweet spots, blessings, priceless moments, and the small achievements, reminding us to cherish and savor them.

Filled with inspirational words to embrace and act on, Natalie Friscia Pancetti penned life-isms that can serve as a reference for reflection or wisdom for guidance to help you find peace throughout any season of life.

This Too… is a resource for people of all ages. The topics range from family, feelings, lessons learned, signs & synchronicities, friendships, hopes & dreams, and faith & blessings. This Too… equips readers with lessons learned that can be applied to all aspects of their lives.

This Too…Companion Planner

A PLANNER TO HELP YOU SAVOR THE SWEETNESS OF LIFE AND CALM YOU THROUGH THE STORMS.

Be kind with your time. Filled with glimmers of inspiration and powerful, encouraging statements, this undated planner has space for you to plan and reflect, set intentions and dream, express gratitude and notice signs from above. It is designed to help you honor your time and cherish this precious gift of life.

A companion planner to Natalie Friscia Pancetti’s coffee table book This Too…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Natalie Friscia Pancetti has studied human behavior and habits for almost twenty years as a teacher (inside the classroom and out), tutor, and real estate agent. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a minor in Psychology and a Master’s in Education.

Her passions are her family, her dog, walking, writing, and living with a faith-filled positive attitude. Her dad always taught her that things will pass by quickly and not to sweat the small stuff. Natalie learned from him, and from her own life experiences, that difficult times will pass as well as the good times. Sweet spots in life need to be cherished, because they will also pass quickly.

THE EDGE OF THE SAND, first published in 2013, and MONEY LIKE SAND, recently published in January, 2020, and CASTLES OF SAND, just published in 2024, are the first three in the Jersey Shore Mystery series with shoreline reporter Bernie Ruane and his sketchy friends, family and hangers-on in Belmar, New Jersey, on the Atlantic Ocean. They are currently sold on Amazon.

In THE EDGE, an ode to Bruce Springsteen’s New Jersey, Bernie returns to his hometown from a 10 year quest to keep a job and a paycheck. He quickly gets a free-lance assignment to cover the midnight killing of a local young librarian in the parking lot of a run-down yacht club. The bloody, shocking crime drags Bernie Ruane into what will soon be called the Jersey Shore Murders – unsolved killings of other young local women over the 10 years Bernie’s been gone. Brutal murders of women going places. Women of promise and power who had it all. In solving the Murders, Bernie looks for home, and family, some place that is his. … At the edge of the sand …

MONEY LIKE SAND tells the story about a secret gift of deep gratitude to Native American allies by George Washington in the last days of his Administration, a gift that threatens to upend today’s social and economic order. It’s based on fact and folklore, and speculation. It’s a tale of greed and what it does. In MONEY, the last words of a dying art gallery owner send Bernie on a quest to find an unknown painting worth “millions.” His search, in the maw of oncoming Superstorm Sandy, pits him against an ancient clan of Native Americans said to have disappeared over two hundred years ago, the New Jersey mob, the US Government, and the ugliest man to walk the planet. Bernie discovers the painting is worth much more than money. It holds clues to a secret arrangement consummated in America’s earliest days.

MONEY made it to the semifinalist round in the 2015 James Jones First Novel Fellowship contest, meaning it was selected in the top 30 of over 675 submissions.

In CASTLES OF SAND, Bernie must identify the real triggerman who murdered President John F. Kennedy in cold blood on November 22, 1963, before the assassin’s possible daughter, Cerise Victoria Mertz, becomes the next Senator from New Jersey in a special election in 2022, and the next Democrat star with a future. The book is fiction, but weaves together fact, history, folklore and speculation. In running down who killed JFK, Bernie also resolves the three unexplained deaths that yet remain among the very many deaths associated with Kennedy’s assassination. These three unexplained deaths – still open cases – include the following. First, the death of Congressman Hale Boggs, the soon-to-be Speaker of the US House of Representatives and former Warren Commission member who disappeared along with three others when their plane traveling from Anchorage to Juneau, Alaska, vanished in thin air without a trace on October 16, 1972. Next was the death of socialite Mary Meyer who was murdered in mid-day while walking on October 12, 1964, along the C&O Canal Towpath in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown section. Lastly, there is the execution of Sam Giancana on June 19, 1975, once head of La Cosa Nostra’s Chicago Outfit, who was gunned down in his Chicago kitchen while cooking sausage and peppers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

P. M. (Mike) Nugent writes books and stories he likes to read, books about old and hidden mysteries that explode into our everyday lives, stories about who we are or will be. Mike is a member of Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver, Colorado, and lives near the Jersey Shore. His family’s time living in Belmar gave birth to Bernie Ruane and the Jersey Shore Mystery series. Mike’s business career includes corporate and law firm stints as lawyer and General Counsel, Washington lobbyist, appellate litigator, and senior business executive. He has always been a writer. 

Sage Across the River

A troubled teen. A wise old neighbor. The river that divides them, and how they cross it to help each other. Rhonda is a free spirit from the 1960’s counterculture living a simple life on her family farm, patiently bearing the scars of long-ago violence. Across the river, Elle lives at a school for troubled teens, trying to heal from her own recent trauma. Drawn together by their love of the natural world, they find friendship. When Elle goes missing in a raging storm, Rhonda must confront her past to save her new friend.

From a farm life brimming with herbal lore, to the eccentricities of teen girls in a boarding home, the story moves between two richly drawn worlds.

The Trouble with Cool: The power’s out, the pressure’s on.

Tess O’Day is ready for things to go back to normal weeks after a storm wiped out the power grid. Is it too much to be able to text her best friend, nuke a hot pocket, or break up with the high school quarterback?  Will she find the courage to own her Girl Scout skills, use them to aid her community, and stand up to the cheerleaders? The power’s out, the pressure’s on.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pat Heaney is an award-winning environmental educator who has spent a great deal of her life outdoors with children. She is always eager to learn something new and is currently learning to speak Lenape Unami, the language of the indigenous people of Lenapehoking. She lives with her husband in New Jersey.

An uplifting memoir of a former special needs child who has faced incredible adversity and became a leading motivational speaker and disability advocate.  Dr. Paul shares stories that have enabled him to triumph over cerebral palsy and hearing loss, achieving beyond what others believed he could do.  His experiences reflect a set of ideals on a journey of self-discovery that can help readers find the courage and confidence to accept and navigate life’s challenges.

READERS: For parents and educators of special needs kids as well as teens and young adults. This is an uplifting memoir from a leading motivational speaker and disability advocate whose story can inspire us to dream, achieve, and succeed.

Have you wondered why dreams seem to be running away from you and into the arms of someone else? When an illness, injury, disability, divorce, or other traumatic experience forces us to re-evaluate our future as we walk an uncertain path, we often find ourselves asking, “Why me?” How do we overcome the darkness and feelings of fear, doubt, and anxiety?

Each chapter focuses on a principle of self-improvement, such as self-love, a positive attitude, support group, self-esteem, perseverance, resilience, and empathy, which he embeds in captivating anecdotes. For instance, the chapter on positive attitude recalls moments of optimism and laughter that have helped him reject the effects of his disabilities by developing complete confidence in his abilities. Though written from a first-person point-of-view, he switches to the second-person narrative near the end of each chapter to offer readers strategies to adopt that same guiding principle into their lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul Wichansky has cerebral palsy and a hearing loss. Conquering these challenges to lead a confident, productive life, he shows, by example, how we can transform obstacles into opportunities for growth. His disabilities have not only inspired him to rise above tremendous adversity, but also achieve beyond what others believed he could do.

A master storyteller who shares anecdotes that combine character, optimism, and heart, he shows his readers, by example, how to face adversity and become Heroes. Only then can we also become the epic version of ourselves.

Let this book be a worthy addition to your home library. For shining your light is spreading your love.

Granddaughter of “The Pinelands Witch,” daughter of the self-styled Wizard of the Pines, and with powers of her own, eleven-year-old Florilla Munion finds herself abandoned deep in the New Jersey Pinelands. Rescued by the itinerant Dr. Peace, she is taken to Benderville, a model mill town in the heart of the Pines owned by the doctor’s old friend, the eccentric, progressive Benjamin Bender. Benjamin Bender takes Florilla in, and she becomes his pupil when he discovers her talent for his beloved Latin and Greek.

But Benderville is only the beginning of Florilla’s journey. Her abusive father is a constant threat. Jack Munion knows that his daughter has abilities that would be an asset to his traveling act. As Florilla nears her eighteenth birthday, Benjamin Bender, afraid he can no longer keep the magician at bay, tries to marry her off.

Devastated by this betrayal, Florilla runs away. Deep in the woods, she comes across Colin Drysdale, a young English botanist who has injured his leg. She bandages his wound and paddles him home in his canoe. Home is Woodland Place, a mansion at the edge of the Pines that houses a constant stream of artists and intellectuals. Florilla is persuaded to stay. Over a summer of collecting native orchids together, Florilla and Colin fall in love. When circumstances force them apart, the wizard returns to kidnap his daughter.

The story wends its way from the New Jersey Pinelands to the mill towns of Massachusetts as Florilla’s gift for healing becomes the center of Jack Munion’s traveling show. Separated by time and distance, Colin and Florilla continue to search for each other.

The novel explores the time period from 1848 to 1857 when various thinkers, reformers, and philosophers speculated on the best ways to organize life and work. Its portrayal of life in the Pines and on the road during those years is both fascinating and eye opening.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Perdita Buchan was born in England but came to America as a child. She has since lived in America, England and Italy. Her short stories and essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The Ladies Home Journal, House Beautiful, Fiction Network, The New York Times and The Christian Science Monitor among other publications. She has published two novels and a non fiction work on utopian communities. After many years in New England, she now lives on the New Jersey coast.

Timmy’s Wish is a young boy’s powerful declaration of his faith and purpose in life. Composed in response to a school writing prompt, he professes his desire to become a beacon of faith for those who will follow him. Several months after writing his ‘Wish’, Timmy is diagnosed with a brain tumor, and this sends him on a journey through the ravages of pediatric cancer surgery and treatment while he continues to live out his life’s purpose.

Timmy’s Wish is told through the experiences of his older brother who chronicles his younger brother’s amazing life and their relationship with each other and their family as they battle this disease together. The family, without warning, must now deal with the realities of life, death, grief, and resilience while also battling the challenge to their faith as prayer has failed to bring them the answers they seek.

For the many families who are faced with similar challenges, there are resources listed for those who wish to seek family care services and options for handling the grief that inevitably comes with this traumatic experience. Timmy’s Wish is the moving true story of how one life and one wish inspires his brother, his family, and a community and continues to do so through his lessons from heaven. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Kirk is a retired educator. After serving nearly forty years as a teacher, coach, and school administra-tor. he has returned to the classroom and currently serves as an Adiunct Professor of Education at Brook-dale Community College in New Jersey. He also coaches high school basketball. Richard is married to Cynthia, herself a first-grade teacher. They have two daughters, Sarah and Shannon. They live in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey.

Farmers and Nobles traces the research path of blogger and podcast host Bob Sorrentino. Bob began researching his family roots in 2008 beginning with his great-grandfather’s calling card brought from Italy by his paternal grandmother Maria Luigia Piromallo. In 2018, he decided to share his experiences in a blog and in 2020 created his podcast Italian Roots and Genealogy.

Bob gives us a glimpse into his two Italian-American families and how their lives in America were very similar, although centuries ago the families came from two very different socio-economic classes in Italy. While his mother came from farmers in Toritto, Bari, his father came from gentry and nobility from Naples. Bob traces back these noble roots to the kings and queens of Western Europe. While it is true that millions can trace back, Bob explains how one small piece of evidence can open up the door to centuries of family history. 

“You Can Bank On It” tells the author’s work career that spanned forty-five years. It begins with what he considers to be his first real job in 1969 working as a clerk in a prestigious Queens NY law firm. Working his way up from a senior clerk to an Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase, he shows how hard work and understanding can propel your career and make you a success. Be sure to catch his 60 second MBA at the end, a 10 point guide on how to be a successful manager. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert was born in Whitestone NY and grew up in College Point. During his childhood he spent a great deal of time at his maternal grandmother’s house in Corona. Both of his parents’ families had strong Italian roots and followed traditions from Italy. After retiring from banking in 2014, he began to dedicate his time to finding his roots in earnest. In 2018 he started a blog, and the following year a podcast, both to promote the research of Italian ancestry. His first book “Farmers and Nobles” traces his ancestry research for his two Italian American families. His second book “You Can Bank On It” is his abput falling into a long banking career with some tips at the end. 

Becoming Miss Maisy May shares my fostering experience while Maisy was a kitten.  Maisy May’s companion throughout was an Italian Greyhound named Portia.

Maisy May and the Kittens shares Maisy’s experiences attempting to adapt to changes as two kittens join the family.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robin Sharp is a retired educator. She resides in Ocean County.  Robin enjoys animals of any sort, working with flowers, time with friends, travel and reading mysteries. Her love of reading as well as her love of cats was the perfect combination to inspire the writing of two children’s books.  She can be contacted at authorrobin2020@gmail.com

Seoul Searching: Maria’s best friend is getting married! As Maid of Honor, she comes to find out that the wedding is being held in the fiancé’s home country. South Korea.

Flying more than halfway across the world, Maria encounters more than just a culture shock. He goes by the name of…

Lee Hwan Soo. An up-and-coming Korean drama actor and a damn near perfect specimen of man. But just when he gets his big break, his best friend announces his engagement to a woman from America.

Being jaded in love, Hwan Soo, puts off the idea of ever being in female company for longer than a date or two. Until he finds out that his best friend and the bride-to-be need him to ‘babysit’ the bride’s Maid of Honor, Maria.

Keeping her from making major cultural faux pas, preventing her from creating international incidents, and somehow teaching her how to speak an entirely new language in time for their friend’s big day…What could possibly go wrong?

Join Maria and Lee Hwan Soo on a crazy rollercoaster of life, language, and most importantly love.

Matching Set: Valerie Parker has her dream job. Assistant interior designer at Seung Designs for the well-to-do of San Francisco. And she just got handed her biggest client. Too bad her boss leaves out some key points of the design.

Millionaire, almost billionaire, and Valerie’s new client drops a bomb on her creation. He needs his apartment to look like a girlfriend, who doesn’t exist, lives with him.

What?!

Her job goes from crazy to full blown mental when, to cover up his lie, tells his mother Valerie is his girlfriend. That’s when they make a deal.

One contract. Two dates a week. Five months to make it believable.

But what happens when the line between fake and real feelings starts to blur? Could they possibly be a Matching Set?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hello, my name is Sammie.

I am born, raised, and still live in New Jersey. When I am not writing, editing, photographing, and all the other things that come with running a site, my full time job is working as an EDI Specialist for a kids clothing company. I am half Cuban (My mother) and half Italian, (My father) and speak more Korean than either language they tried desperately to teach me growing up.

I started writing when I was in the fifth grade. At first, it was your run of the mill journal entries. I still have those journals and have looked back on them several times and cringe. It then became stories, of things I wished I had said or done, and soon simply stories of other characters and creatures. I thank my mother forever for the creative writing gene as she is a New York Time Best-Selling author.

I came up with the concept of this from SAT books I read when I was in high-school. Yes, SAT books (Did you not grasp I was a nerd yet?). The concept of the books were to teach you SAT vocabulary by throwing the words into enjoyable books. I remember one that was a summer romance specifically and I remember reading it several times. Those books made learning enjoyable.

No More Darkness

Wedding Planner Aria Scirocco has her life on track after her divorce—or so she wants to believe. She’s engaged to a stable and pragmatic man and her biggest client will wed this weekend at a historic hotel on the beach. Nothing can jeopardize all her hard work—until a snowstorm derails her plans and dumps unfinished business in her path.

Hawk Egan wants his ex-wife back. When the storm strands Aria, he jumps at the opportunity to come to her rescue. Getting stuck in a hotel without power is a bonus. As long as the snow continues to fall, he has a shot to make her love him again.

But it’s not just the storm in Aria’s way. Her past is as unclear as the blizzard at the shore thanks to Hawk’s unexpected return. When the snow stops and the power turns on again, she will either embrace the new life she created and forsake her truths or admit she wants the life she left behind.

Through the Darkness

Mackenzie Scirocco grapples with the daily challenges of being a single mother of five-year-old twins and the responsibilities of running her bakery. Some days she fools herself that all the proverbial balls are in the air. Especially when the man she has a crush on asks her out. But her world—and those balls—crashes around her when her ex-husband questions her sanity and files for full custody of the boys.

Captain Phoenix Egan of the Water Course Fire Department gets trapped inside a burning building and can’t save himself from the consequences. His physical wound is nothing compared to the emotional one. He has to keep his fear of fighting fires a secret or risk his career and that makes him dangerous. Mack is the only person who can help him be whole again, and she can’t be with him.

A relationship for Mack will jeopardize her custody case, but her heart refuses to be denied.

If she can prove her ex-husband is actually the crazy one, she might find a way to be with the man she loves. And if she can’t… she and Phoenix will lose everything they hold dear.

Light Upon the Darkness

Liv Scirocco has screwed up again. She has a long road of bad decisions in her rearview. With nowhere else to go, she moves back to her hometown. Her sisters are tired of picking up her pieces and tell her this is her last chance. She’s determined to create a better life, but the only man she’s ever loved is back too, and avoiding him in this small town is impossible. He has the power to unravel her for good.

Hudson Lozado’s recent health scare has him questioning his life choices. He returns to his childhood beach town where the ocean can help him heal and find new direction. Instead, he finds the woman who blames him for their son’s death. The only woman he’s ever loved.

Lies are everywhere and as deep as the sea. Liv and Hudson don’t know what to believe about themselves or their lost son. Is the past the undercurrent of tragedy they thought or is there more? Now two damaged souls will need to trust each other to revisit their worst nightmare and discover the truth that might be better left in the dark.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

From an early age, best-selling and award-winning author, Stacey Wilk, told tales as a way to escape. At six she wrote short stories in composition notebooks, at twelve she wrote a novel on a typewriter, in high school biology she wrote rock star romances in her binder instead of paying attention.

But it wasn’t until many years later, inspired by her children and a looming birthday, that she finally took her story-telling seriously. And published her first novel in 2013. Since then, she’s gone on to publish twenty-seven more so women everywhere can indulge in books that hook them heart and soul.

She isn’t done telling stories. Not by a long shot. If you want to read her emotional and honest books about family, romance, and second chances, visit her at  www.staceywilk.com

Magical Margherita

During a walk in the park with her best friend Lorena, Margherita can sense how others are feeling and with a wave of her wand and the warmth of her smile, she magically shifts their mood and lifts their spirits!! This book shares such a beautiful message of empathy, compassion, and the power we all have to brighten someone’s day.

Hardworking Hadir

Hard Work Pays Off in Unexpected Ways…

When Hadir goes into his neighborhood in an effort to pick up jobs so he can save money for a drone, he befriends a neighbor named Mr. Sheeba. Sharing his old stories, his wisdom, and his skills, Mr. Sheeba teaches Hadir many valuable lessons! But when the unexpected happens, Hadir doesn’t hesitate to help his friend and use his earnings to do it! The fourth book in Victoria Karnatski’s Caring Kids A-Z series, Hardworking Hadir illustrates the power of the human connection, and that hard work pays off in more ways than you can imagine!

Exciting Evian

Excited Evian tells the story of a little girl with a neurodivergent brain who is encouraged by her dads to never change as she learns to embrace and manage her ADHD while leaving a trail of sunflowers and smiles everywhere she goes!

Rescuing Riva

Who Rescues Who?

Reeva is sad and lonely. She moved to a new town and the kids aren’t always kind. Her dad tries, but he just can’t seem to bring his daughter’s bright smile back since her mom left. Until one day, a classroom visitor shares about a local pet rescue shelter and Reeva feels a spark of excitement. When they visit the shelter, she meets some adorable furry friends. Feeling more hopeful than she has in a while, Reeva convinces her dad they can’t leave without a new loved one to bring home. She quickly learns that caring for others is the key that unlocks happiness within herself!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I was an elementary school teacher for the NYC Department of Education for over 23 years. I retired in April of 2022 and began writing children’s books to address the needs I saw in the schools I taught in. Caring Kids A-Z is a series of books featuring characters that have a range of life experiences and personality traits so all children can be represented in books. This series is designed to help create a connection through compassion and understanding. I want to address topics that are so needed in today’s world. My books foster connection and compassion, weaving together unique characters from different cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds.

I am a widow, an animal lover and I love to go to the movie theater and watch the latest blockbusters. I have a son and daughter-in-law and my terrific Mom. I have one dog and two cats. Of course, I love to read and work on writing my own book series. Please follow me and my book series as new books will continually be arriving each year.

Miranda and the Mermaid is a book about a fanciful connection forming between a woman and a mermaid. This is a true story of friendship after loss and grief, the power of imagination and play, and how our wishes can manifest in unexpected ways when we are open to the unknown.

Miranda is an older woman who has lived an interesting and fulfilling life, but she now struggles with the loneliness that comes when loved ones start to pass on. One day she is sitting by the water, reminiscing about her past, when she is suddenly caught by a magical surprise. What happens next is a “mertale” of adventure, play, and reconnecting with the joys of being alive!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Yamaya is a professional mermaid who performs underwater at aquariums and festivals all over the US. When she is not traveling to perform, she is based in New Jersey, where she teaches dance, yoga, and breathwork to people of all ages and abilities, in person and online.

You can follow her mermaid work on Instagram at @yamaya_the_siren, or learn more about her dance and yoga classes at www.sharqidance.com

Lisa Loeb is a storyteller with an array of experience telling other people’s stories as well as her own. She has worked as a journalist, freelance writer and has two published books: Wanna Taste and Ambassador Dogs.
As a former dog trainer and equestrian, she especially loves writing children’s books and books about animals. Storytimes are great fun for her, and she regularly volunteers to read books to children.