#local author

[oneflawedlife]

Rainy cold Saturdays are for journaling and meeting a local author. I just adore small, locally owned bookstores. They're a magical third space where literally anyone can find safety and quiet. Books are the great equalizer.

[ehemlock]

First copies of Book 2 have officially come in! To Teach the Dead: Mark of the Maleficus picks up right where book 1 left off, following the organization as they work to orient to their new positions. Meanwhile, an unforeseen threat is walking the halls beside them, and is willing to play dirty in order to achieve their own goals. I am really excited to get this out into the world, and book 3 is already in the works! If you enjoy paranormal fantasy, ghost hunting satire, sassy Victorian ghosts, coffee versus tea debates, hot demons, and the tag-team of golden retriever and black cat personalities, this is definitely a series for you! Book 1 is available online and in person, and Book 2 is launching alongside it starting February 27th!

[sdpubliclibrary]

“Grumpy Unicorns” by Sam Viloria

[sayjoisme84]

Some people I know got new kids so I bought some kids books my friend, Melinda Zook, wrote.

This one is Tess Finds a Friend.

She also illustrated it. Below is the cover and my 2 favorite illustrations.

It’s about a ladybug who can’t fly who gets lost. 🐞

Text says” Tess Finds a Friend

Written and illustrated by Melinda M. Zook. “

Melinda also wrote L-E-T-T-E-R-S, a children’s book to help people learn to read.

She has a memoir called “Anxiously Me.” That’s in diary format.

A book of poetry called “Time in Pieces”

She has short ghost stories in a book called “Dead End”. An anthology various authors

Here’s here’s page on Goodreads.

Melinda M. Zook

[comicdiaries]

The questions on their list were pretty cute, like "When you draw, do your crayons come to life?" and "Did anything in your book actually happen to you?" (no, and yes!)

My graphic novel is available wherever you get your books, library included!

[justinkennonbooks]

I'm going to be here selling and signing my books. If you are able to make it, come on over and say "hi."

[escondidolibrary]

Biblioboard is an awesome eBook platform that allows you to read eBooks by local authors! You can also download the Biblioboard app for Android and Apple devices!

Are you thinking about self-publishing your own book? You can now create, edit, format and generate print-ready and eBook formats for your book—no matter how far along it may be by using the Pressbooks service by Biblioboard!

http://library.biblioboard.com/

[retconnc]

We are excited to announce that Aaron Christopher Drown will be a guest at Ret-Con 2023! An author and

award winning graphic artist, check out the Guest Q&A below to learn more.

If someone was interested in your work, what would you recommend they check out first?

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My new short story collection, The Gods Must Clearly Smile, would be a good place to start. It

runs the gamut of genres and I think makes for a decent primer on my work.

What is your most popular or best-reviewed work?

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At the moment, The Gods Must Clearly Smile.

What are you working on right now, and will it be out by Ret-Con (the last weekend of February

2023)?

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I’m working on the follow-up to my first novel, titled The Book of the Hated One. And no, it won’t

be ready by Ret-Con. In fact, I’m pretty sure my publisher thinks it will never, ever be done.

Who or what are your influences or inspirations?

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My father loaned me a copy of the first novel I ever read, Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey, which

enthralled me. After that, Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy. But the book that set me on my path was

“The Sleeping Dragon,” by Joel Rosenberg. Ray Bradbury is a key influence, as is Fredric

Brown. And the work of Joseph Campbell is a constant source of inspiration.

What are you reading, watching, listening to, playing, or otherwise enjoying that you'd

recommend to Ret-Con attendees or your own fans?

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Just finished The Night Circus by Erin Morgensten, and before that Project Hail Mary by Andy

Weir, The Once and Future King by T.H. White, and Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon

Meacham. I’ve just started This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. On the flatscreen I’m

enjoying Severance, and despite the argle-bargle I’m thoroughly appreciating The Rings of

Power. On the music front, I’ve just discovered the band Wet Leg and can’t get enough of them.

Is there anything you'd like to share with our social media followers that isn't included above?

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I’d never deny anyone the freedom to arrange their bookshelves by color, but if you do then you leave me no choice but to offer regular sidelong suspicious glances.