Local Authors Making an Impact

BOOKS BY THE BEACH SUPPORTING OCEANSIDE’S LOCAL AUTHORS

MIKE CASPER

Life as a storyteller began with Mike Casper’s children. They loved their bedtime stories so much that they encouraged him to write them down. Those words found a page—and the stories flowed. Mike has been married thirtytwo years, and those aforementioned children are all grown up. He is a first-time grandpa and will soon tell stories to his first grandchild, a beautiful little girl. Mike grew up in Upstate New York. As a youngster, while his brothers were outside playing, he lost himself in the world of books. Free time was for reading. His mind was filled with rocket ships, airplanes, history, and sports heroes. He devoured every Hardy Boys and Danny Dunn book. As a teenager and into adulthood, he was captivated by authors like James Michener, Robert Heinlein, John Steinbeck, Diana Gabaldon, and Ken Follett. When Mike came to faith in Jesus, he found a desire to share the Gospel. Like Frank Peretti, author of the excellent This Present Darkness, writing would be his means of introducing Jesus to others. Mike flew thirty-eight years as a flight attendant. As he was traversing the Las Vegas airport on duty one day, he saw a boy with autism walking behind his mother through the terminal. Watching him inspired his first Christian novel, The Sing Song Child, a tale of weakness, love, and redemption. Stone Thrower was born in 2019 out of his desire to know more about God’s stories and the briefly mentioned biblical characters. This journey drew him even deeper into his faith. Mike’s books can be found on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble, or on his website at mcasper.com.

LESLIE CLARK

Leslie Clark is a writers’ writer, who enjoys encouraging other writers as well as concentrating on her own writing. While teaching in Virginia, she started programs for student writers. After moving to Arizona, she taught creative writing and other writing courses at Cochise College. She also co-founded the Cochise Community Creative Writing Celebration and chaired its organizing committee for fifteen years. Leslie’s short stories, poetry, and essays have been published in many print and online literary journals and anthologies for more than thirty years. Her most recent publications are in the San Diego Decameron Project, Poetry Quarterly, and Persimmon Tree. Leslie is the author of two poetry collections, Cardiac Alert, and Ward Off the Night, both published by Finishing Line Press. In three different states, Leslie started writers’ groups, and organized open mic readings. From 2005 to 2021, she published and edited online poetry journal, Voices on the Wind, which featured work by poets from all over this country. After visiting San Diego County as often as possible, when she and her husband both retired from their jobs in Arizona five years ago, they happily moved to Oceanside. Leslie currently is moderator for a writers’ group, which meets the second Sunday of every month at 2:00, at the Mission Branch of the Oceanside Library. She also is a member of the committee which organizes Write On, Oceanside! Her books of poetry are available on the shelves at the Oceanside Public Library and from the publisher, Finishing Line Press.

DAVID V. DAUBENSPECK

David V. Daubenspeck grew up in a small city in western lower Michigan. At age 16 he was blessed with an opportunity to serve as a part-time radio news reporter and announcer, where he continued working on through his college years while majoring

in communications and focusing on biblical studies. It was during these formative years that his interest in political/social issues from a Christian vantage point began to take shape. David’s knowledge and worldview were further refined while participating in a National Association of Evangelicals chapter as part of helping grow the ministry of K-LOVE radio on the West Coast. His ability to understand and apply biblical principles in relation to evangelism, disciple-making, and addressing social concern issues developed as he served in various pastoral roles in northern and southern California and Minnesota. David’s Book, The Shocking Disconnect – Why Christians Fail to Impact Culture and Politics and How to Make a Comeback, is his conviction that many Christians (knowingly or unknowingly) have inserted other values, philosophies, and personal opinions above the Word of God, too often ignoring or reinterpreting His clear commands and eternal truth. In short, men and women of faith must recommit themselves to living obediently and with impact under the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the spheres of cultural and political engagement. What this looks like practically, and how it can apply to the worldviews, voices, and actions of beliefs in 21st-century America, is the focus and aim of this book! David’s book can be found on Amazon or at shockingdisconnect.com.

JUSTIN GARY

Justin Gary is an award-winning game designer, entrepreneur, and professional speaker. He started his career in gaming at the age of seventeen when he won the Magic: The Gathering US National Championships. He went on to play Magic professionally for several years, winning a Grand Prix, Pro Tour, and World Championship along the way. Justin started designing games working on the Vs. System trading card game and went on to lead-design the DC Comics: Infinite Crisis set. Afterwards, he created The World of Warcraft Miniatures Game before starting his own company, Gary Games, in 2010, which released its hit deck-building game Ascension that year. Justin’s book, Think Like a Game Designer teaches you how-to master the magic of the human mind: Creativity. Have you always wanted to be creative, make games, or start a company? Do you find yourself getting stalled and not knowing where to start? Do you get stuck half-way through and give up? Don’t worry, you are in good company! Justin wrote this book to break down the creative process in a simple step-by-step way that busts through creative blocks and gets you living out your creative dreams in no time! You can find Justin’s book, podcast and additional information at www. thinklikeagamedesigner.com.

JUSSTA

Jussta began writing her autobiographies beginning with the series entitled JOURNEY OF A SOUL – HOUSE OF WOUNDED HEARTS in 1989 and worked on writing and being her catharsis for years, first of all speaking to a crowd of ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS in Laguna Beach, California. Over the years, she continued writing autobiographies while traveling the world, spending two years traveling and teaching firewalking and dancing on the fire to thousands of people across Australia. She lived in a VW Travel CombiVan and traveled all over the country. While traveling, dancing, and teaching firewalking, Jussta wrote JOURNEY OF A SOUL – PART V – MIRACLES FROM THE FIRE. This paperback book was published and bound at an Australian prison and they were given as many free copies as they wanted. She sold or gave away most of those copies and came home and it became a part of her autobiographic series. Jussta is currently creating a Kindle book entitled, JOURNEY OF A SOUL – SOUL SEARCH THROUGH SOUL CARDS. It will contain images on one side and her prose on the opposite page. This book was created over the past two years during SoulCollage therapy classes with Dr. Sibelia Chaiyahat. Her books can be found on Amazon or at jussta. com.

ALEXA KINGAARD

Alexa Kingaard was born in San Diego and has lived most of her life in the area. She currently resides in Carlsbad and is the mother of a son and daughter who continue to be her biggest fans and cheerleaders. Her debut novel, KEEP FOREVER, was inspired by her late exhusband who battled the residual effects of the

Vietnam War for decades after his return. The burden he brought home is shared by combat veterans of all conflicts, and her fictional account highlights the collateral damage encountered by family members and loved ones living with PTSD in their midst. As a Lead Volunteer with the USO Camp Pendleton, she has contributed to the successful start-up of their Military Spouse Book Club. Honored to have KEEP FOREVER chosen as one of their first reads, she continues to be inspired by the wives who support and provide encouragement to their spouses and families throughout numerous relocations and deployments. Kingaard says this is where she has “parked her heart” and intends to continue working as many volunteer hours as her free time allows. Her second novel, MY NAME IS ROSE, departs from her personal experiences and focuses on the collective memories of her generation. She loves writing about nostalgia and the human condition, the common denominator of our lives. Both novels are Amazon #1 Bestsellers and International Book Competition Award winners. She recently completed the first draft of her third novel, MIRACLE, and hopes to have it ready for publication in early 2023. Anxious to return to in-person book events, she is available to speak at book clubs, service organizations, and schools. To learn more about Alexa and her novels, please visit her at www.alexakingaard.com or email at akingaard@gmail.com.

ANN ROBSON

Ann Robson was born and raised in South Africa, where she worked as a newspaper columnist. Since moving to Oceanside, Ann has written three novels. They are available on Amazon as paperbacks or on Kindle. MARULA RIDGE, set in South

Africa in 1989. SIMON, a 16-year-old black boy, leaves the farm where he was born to join Mandela’s underground army against Apartheid. SUSANNAH, a 13-year-old white girl is visiting her uncle’s farm while her parents are overseas. The tumultuous events these two young people experience will redefine their values and change the course of their lives. An excerpt won a Writers’ Digest short story award. GUADALUPE’S GIFT, set in Baja. KATE, a conscientious teacher, meets CARLOS, an impetuous sculptor. He persuades her to join him for a weekend in Baja. There, they discover a stash of drug money in the wreckage of a small plane. Carlos is ecstatic - a gift from Our Lady of Guadalupe. Kate is horrified, fearing cartel retribution. Kate is right. Never meddle in the workings of the drug trade! SEARCHING FOR A SHADOW, set in Mozambique. ZOE, 24, reluctantly follows her twin brother ZACK from San Diego to Mozambique to search for the father they never knew. There they encounter a deaf child, whom she rescues. Zoe came to Africa to search for her father. Instead she finds an orphaned child and a family of her own. A Submission to the SDSU Writers’ Conference received a First Choice Award.

ISABELLA STEELE

Isabella Steele is a full-time novelist, living with her wife and dogs. She loves gardening and raises chickens, koi and roses in her backyard. Her characters are strong women, holding positions of power. LGBTQ fans will be thrilled. Fresh approaches to the main and sub-plots will hold the readers in a vice. Strong female characters and stories filled with action sequences that flow at a breakneck pace. Readers will be clamoring for the next installments. She has crossed genres with ease and approaches each with an excitement that allows the readers to become engrossed, losing themselves in each type of novel. Steel’s ability to create such a memorable, upbeat fictional realm, with a fast-paced plot line, drawing on all our favorite fantastical creatures makes for amazing novels.

Currently she is at work on another horror novel using a biblical legend to put a new twist on the vampire myth. Isabella’s books can be found on Amazon or at blackraptorbooks.com.

DR. GAIL L. THOMPSON

Dr. Gail L. Thompson, the Founder and CEO of Inspirations by Gail LLC, provides professional development services to business organizations, schools, higher education, and prospective authors. Dr. Thompson has won numerous awards, and authored many articles and books, including the critically acclaimed The Power of One: How You Can Help or Harm African American Students; Yes, You Can! Advice for Teachers Who Want a Great Start and a Great Finish With Their Students of Color (coauthored with Rufus Thompson), Up Where We Belong: Helping African American and Latino Students Rise in School and in Life; What African American Parents Want Educators to Know; A Brighter Day: How Parents Can Help African American Youth, and Through Ebony Eyes: What Teachers Need to Know but are Afraid to Ask About African American Students. Dr. Thompson has given keynote addresses, and conducted workshops throughout the U.S., in Canada, Costa Rica, and Jamaica. She has also appeared on numerous television and radio programs, including NPR affiliates, and served as the Executive Director of Equity for a large corporation, Fayetteville State University’s “Wells Fargo Endowed Professor of Education,” a tenured professor at Claremont Graduate University, creator and Director of the “Black Men Teaching Program,” and member of the California State Board of Education’s “African American Advisory Committee.” Her latest book, Dear Beautiful! A Self-Empowerment Book for Black Women, was published in 2018. Her podcast “Inspirations by Gail” can be heard via her YouTube Channel. Dr. Thompson’s books can be ordered via amazon.com or bookstores.

DELORES WARDELL

Delores Wardell, a retired forensic psychologist, had a career spanning nearly 30 years as a therapist for dependency and criminal cases before the courts. Her four books draw upon her dealing with broken families and disturbed children, and her background of being reared in an orphanage in the “hollers” of Kentucky. Her first three books are a trilogy. Naomi’s Place begins the narrative of a young woman leaving New York in 1935 to teach at a small, improvised mission in the hills of Kentucky. In time, Naomi finds herself running an orphanage of over 100 children. The tales of sorrow and joy she vividly tells are recounted by a home child Jennifer. The second book, The Charm Bracelet, follows Jennifer’s life from when she left the orphanage to the last days of her life. An elderly Jennifer reveals to a caregiver stories hidden in a charm bracelet. Beset by tragedies, Jennifer perseveres to achieve a fulfilled life. My Sister’s Keeper: Maude’s Story reveals heartbreak from the day Maude ran away from the orphanage to when she ended up in prison, a story about loyalty and sacrifice. Shadows and Silhouettes, her fourth book, is a collage of life events reflecting shadows of places and silhouettes of people who touched her life. One reviewer wrote, “Wardell has a superb gift for storytelling. The ability to take ordinary events and tell them in a way that makes them universal. It has something to do with honesty.” In telling the stories Dr. Wardell drew upon her own experiences of growing up in such an orphanage. Although retired, she expanded her life experiences to writing, playing the harp, world traveling, performing on stage, and numerous other activities. Her books are available from Amazon and on Kindle.