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Book Club For the 12th year, Style brings you the latest stack of accomplished area authors and their Local Authors12 by TARA MENDANHA published works. In no particular order…

NONSENSE! The Curious Story of Edward Gorey by Lori Mortensen, Cameron Park Available at Face in a Book, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound Inspired by a podcast about Edward Gorey and a book from her childhood that he’d illustrated, Lori Mortensen would go on to write a memorable picture biography about a whimsical, one-of-a-kind artist. Kids will learn about Gorey, one of literature’s most creepily creative authors and illustrators, and the inspiration behind a generation of creators, from Lemony Snicket to Tim Burton. Lori Mortensen is an award-winning children’s author of more than 100 books—including Cowpoke Clyde & Dirty Dawg, one of Amazon’s best picture books of 2013.

Angel’s Gate by L. Becker, Sacramento Available at iBooks and Smashwords Returning home after a decade, A.G. Morris comes face to face with a new reality. The fantasies of her mother’s troubled mind are real. Angels are real. And they are fighting to protect the entrance to heaven. Pulled into a world she was born to save, A.G. is all that stands between humanity and the fallen. Angel’s Gate is the first book in the new ShadowGate series and was inspired by the question: What would you sacrifice in order to do what was right? L. Becker has been writing since childhood. Her first novel, Legend of Cauterhaugh, was published in 2000. She is excited to embark on her new ShadowGate series that chronicles a world of angels and demons and the inevitable war for heaven. Along Came Ryan…the Little Gosling King, Volume III, Free the Geese by Barbara Klide, Fair Oaks Available at alongcameryan.com This is Barbara Klide’s latest installment in the series Along Came Ryan…the Little Gosling King, a wild goose love story about the mated pair of Canada Geese, Hawkeye, and Mother Goose, who return to their little paradise—a fully enclosed business courtyard with no body of water—for the third year in a row. They’ve survived and thrived after a hawk attack and raised their young gosling Ryan in Zen-like fashion (Volume I). This third edition includes research with references to the National Geographic and National Audubon Society. Barbara Klide is currently working on Volume IV of Along Came Ryan… She’s also published in More Birds of a Feather: An NCPA Anthology, and will be published in Northern California Publishers and Authors’ upcoming travel anthology. Book profits are donated to several organizations dedicated to animals. Super Sushi Adventures: Monkey Idol Rescue by Krithi Munagala, El Dorado Hills Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble In this second book in the Super Sushi Adventures series, a special monkey idol with super powers disappears from the ZZY museum, and Super Sushi, Terrific Trixie, and Kool Krithi are given the responsibility to bring it back. A secret GPS on the idol indicates it’s somewhere deep in the Amazon rainforest. Who stole the idol? Will the team be able to brave the dangers of the jungle and find it? Seventh-grade student Krithi Munagala’s stories draw inspiration from her three-year-old pet brother, Sushi, capturing moments of compassion, friendship, hope, strength, and self-confidence, and spreading the message that one is never too small to make a difference. All funds from book sales go to animal welfare organizations around the world.

And It Took Two Years by Scott Spiess, Lincoln Available at Amazon When new author Scott Spiess discovered he had a life-threatening heart condition, his old life began to crumble, and through that crumbling, Spiess gave himself two years to make some serious changes. His new book chronicles that journey and how he went from a Type A, control freak to a peaceful reiki master, Buddhist, and massage therapist. Scott Spiess formerly worked as a columnist for the regional magazine California Computer News.

Snow Globe Wishes by Erin Dealey, Placerville Available at Face in a Book, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble Snow Globe Wishes is told in rhyme as a family snuggles up in a cozy blanket fort during a snowstorm and a young girl makes a wish on a snow globe. They awake to a magical morning of outdoor fun—“What if, on this snow globe day, everyone comes out to play?” Featured in Kirkus Review, this book was also in The Washington Post’s “10 great holidayseason books to enjoy with your little ones.” Erin Dealey, a former English and theater teacher, is the author of 16 picture books, with more in the works. She is also the "Drama Mama" at Sugarloaf Fine Arts Camp in the summer.

12 Local Authors

The Forest in the Trees by Connie McLennan, Rocklin Available at Face in a Book, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound In the branches of California's coastal redwoods, a hidden forest lives hundreds of feet above the ground. Unexplored until the ’90s, this "lost world" is home to various other trees, shrubs, giant ferns, salamanders, insects, and flying squirrels. A "House That Jack Built"-style verse introduces each new image, and sidebar facts explain scenes in reader-friendly scientific terms with vibrant illustrations, which the author hopes encourages continued preservation and study of our irreplaceable natural wonders. This is Connie McLennan’s 14th illustrated book and her first written work. A journalism major, she’s been awarded the California Reading Association’s Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award, among other accolades.

Super Agents Safety Squad by Denize Rodrigues, Rancho Cordova Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble This handy book is a tool for parents to help facilitate the conversation about child sexual abuse with their kids. With illustrations and appropriate language, it partners with parents to create a bond of trust and accountability, bringing safety to families. Children will be taken on a journey to learn and become agents with the “Safety Squad” and be taught what to do when their privacy is violated. On learning about the sexual assault of her young niece, Denize Rodrigues was not only deeply troubled, but as a mother of two young children, she also wondered what resources existed to help kids better protect themselves. Not finding any, she created Super Agents Safety Squad. An entrepreneur and a mother, this is Rodrigues’ first published work. The Screaming Silence by Lanser Howard, Roseville Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound Silence can be as sweet as the most beautiful symphony. Or it can be a scream so terrifying that you’ll be up all night trying to get it out of your head. Lanser Howard examines loss—the most barebones of human emotion—in his poetry. He takes readers on a merciless journey through the depths of agony and grief and into the light of hope in order to have the courage to fight on. Lanser Howard has worked extensively with combat veterans filtering their traumatic experiences in much of his work. He began his career as a journalist and transitioned into film where he wrote and produced an awardwinning documentary, among other screenplays.

Lettering from A to Z: 12 Styles & Awesome Projects for a Creative Life by Phawnda Moore, Rocklin Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble Written for all levels, this book blends traditional design principles, modern tools, and mindful practices, inspiring you to find your own artistic style. The full-color, 250-page book includes 200 images of Moore’s professional work, published articles, and guidance from her class demos to make beautiful projects via uncial, italic, script, brush lettering, faux calligraphy, rainbow lettering, monoline letters, handwriting, and drawn letters. A trained graphic designer, Phawnda Moore’s lettering art has been printed on apparel and home décor. She was the editor and designer for state and county offices of education and received national recognition for her work. Moore has taught calligraphy for 25 years. Her first lettering book was a 2019 winner in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Finding It: Your One-Week Guide Toward JobSeeking Success by O. Michele Giacomini, Loomis Available at Amazon This guidebook helps young adults and recent graduates navigate the job-seeking world to find their first "real" jobs or careers with the organizational strategies necessary to accomplish that goal faster. Humorist, award-winning educator, keynote speaker, and multiple business owner Michele Giacomini has been writing for over 30 years. She first started out as a reporter and quickly rose to the ranks of magazine editor. Giacomini balances her writing with various DIY adult learner books and her hysterical reflections on life's chaos, as @MissOMG.

Sunshine by Jesse Bennett, Roseville Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble Sunshine inspires children to shine their light and stick to friends who feel like sunshine. The story teaches that it’s also OK to not feel like sunshine every day, explains that it’s normal for children to have cloudy days, and includes a “Feel Better Toolkit” to help on challenging days when it’s hard to find your light. Helping families bring simple mindfulness into their homes, it includes affirmations, meditations, and journal questions. Sunshine is Jesse Bennett’s second children's book. Inspired by her two children, Bennett hopes her books can help children believe in themselves and lead with a kind heart. She travels to local schools reading her books, and 25% of every book sold on a visit goes back to the school.