This is the first time I’m attending the full event and loving it! My first workshop was Anatomy of a Scene and the presenter was Lisa Cron. She was a wonderful speaker with great tips on how you can create a scene and the importance of keeping the theme moving along and minimizing unnecessary information. I also attended the First Timers’ Orientation with a 4 author panelists. They provided important tips, feedbacks and positive vibes. Who doesn’t love to twirl and have a moment? Tomorrow, will be a busy day of more workshops and book signings. So far, I’ve met new authors and new friendships.
Santa Claus gets thousands of letter every year. But this yea; Santa’s going to get a letter he’ll never forget. This enchanting Christmas story about one boy’s honest letter to Santa is sure to become a cherished part of your holiday traditions for years to come.
My Review
A children’s book filled with magical illustrations. The colors and images really make you feel the holiday spirit in any month. The story was a perfect example to teach children, not everyone is perfect. Sometimes you make mistakes, but they are made with a purpose. Parker knew he couldn’t just tell Santa he was very good for the year, like his classmates did. He knew he caused mistakes, but each one had a valid reason. Parker and Santa have something in common, they both dislike Brussels sprouts, so do I. I loved the diversity of the characters. Wonderful book that will bring joy to the kids and they will have the opportunity to write their Christmas list to Santa. The book has a couple sheets in the back with holiday decor.
Author Biography
Susanna Leonard Hill grew up in New York City with her mom and dad, one sister and two brothers, and an assortment of cats. She went to the Brearley School for K – 12, then received her B.A. in English and Psychology from Middlebury College. She then went on to get her M.A. and M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology and Special Education of Children With Learning Disabilities from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.
She worked for many years teaching dyslexic students, but stopped after her third child was born. Now she spends her time being a mom, writing, teaching writing, and visiting schools whenever she gets the opportunity.
While Maggie waits for her Witchy Hour, she works at the family diner with her mom, aunt Meme and Lilith, her sister – all witches. Soon Maggie gets entangled with a mysterious handsome stranger, Mick Jasper, and his secret U.S. organization, SKUL. Has she found her calling?
My Review
Another out of this world book series, that Tonya magically wrote for us to enjoy! I fell in love with the characters. Tonya worked very hard to bring a book that has mystery, laughs, hot men and she sprinkled some more magic. Maggie’s character is very lovable, fun and determine. Not scared of what might happen, since she can use her magic powers when she is in a bind. I loved Mick, he sounds sexy and strong. I just love how confused his character is with the unknown magic he has encountered. I loved that her familiar is this cool red car named Vinnie who is pretty despicable to Mick. I had so much fun reading this spell bound book. You need to pick this first book in the series, I can’t wait to see what Tonya will come up with next. I rated 5 out of 5 stars.
Me and Tonya at Mystery Train 2017
Author Biography
Tonya Kappes has written more than fifty southern cozy mysteries, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today . Best known for stories charged with southern charm, emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband in northern Kentucky. Now that her four boys have flown out of the nest, Tonya writes full-time.
You can find her all over social media and at Tonyakappes.com .
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Goodreads Blurb
The storm of the century is about to hit Little Bridge Island, Florida—and it’s sending waves crashing through Sabrina “Bree” Beckham’s love life…
When a massive hurricane severs all power and cell service to Little Bridge Island—as well as its connection to the mainland—twenty-five-year-old Bree Beckham isn’t worried . . . at first. She’s already escaped one storm—her emotionally abusive ex—so a hurricane seems like it will be a piece of cake.
But animal-loving Bree does become alarmed when she realizes how many islanders have been cut off from their beloved pets. Now it’s up to her to save as many of Little Bridge’s cats and dogs as she can . . . but to do so, she’s going to need help—help she has no choice but to accept from her boss’s sexy nephew, Drew Hartwell, the Mermaid Café’s most notorious heartbreaker.
But when Bree starts falling for Drew, just as Little Bridge’s power is restored and her penitent ex shows up, she has to ask herself if her island fling was only a result of the stormy weather, or if it could last during clear skies too.
Author Biography
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse — at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby–writing novels–for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy’s Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children’s series called Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn’t know he married a fire horse. Please don’t tell him.
This was Epic Reads second year opening their publishing house for their fabulous readers. This was my first time and I truly enjoyed myself. Epic Reads really knows how to party. They gave us a tote bag full of books and other goodies. I got more than what I paid for between the amazing panels, authors, goodies, snacks, giveaways and I got to spend time with my friends, I couldn’t ask for a better time. I had so much laughs between the authors and Epic Reads team members. I was so proud that Epic Reads had a diverse group of authors. They were able to share their views and how important having a book that have characters that look like them and share about their culture. I highly recommend you attend next year to have an epic day, full of bookish fun!
Welcome Sign
The program, snacks and goodies.
GIF Booth
Press machine
Tahereh MafiJustin A. Reynolds and Tiffany D. JacksonVictoria Aveyard and Shelby MahurinEverything free but the shirt
A stunningly ambitious and beautiful debut novel, perfect for fans of Sarah’s Key and All the Light We Cannot See, the story of a twelve-year-old girl’s harrowing experience fleeing Nazi-occupied Germany with her family and best friend, only to discover that the overseas asylum they had been promised is an illusion.
In 1939 before everything changed, Hannah Rosenthal lived a charmed life. Her family moved in Berlin’s highest social circles, admired by friends and neighbors. Eleven-year-old Hannah was often taken by her mother for an afternoon treat at the tea room of the beautiful Adlon Hotel, both dressed in their finest clothes. She spent her afternoons at the park with her best friend Leo Martin. But, in an instant, that sunlit world vanished. Now the streets of Berlin are draped with red, white, and black flags; their fine possessions are hauled away, and they are no longer welcome in the places that once felt like home. The two friends make a pact: come what may, they promise to have a future together.
As Hannah and Leo’s families desperately begin to search for a means of escape, a glimmer of hope appears when they discover the Saint Louis, a transatlantic liner that can give Jews safe passage to Cuba. After a frantic search to obtain visas, the Rosenthals and the Martins depart from Hamburg on the luxurious passenger liner bound for Havana. Life aboard the ship is a welcome respite from the gloom of Berlin—filled with masquerade balls, dancing, and exquisite meals every night.
As the passengers gain renewed hope for a bright future ahead, love between Hannah and Leo blossoms. But soon reports from the outside world began to filter in, and dark news overshadows the celebratory atmosphere on the ship; the governments of Cuba, the United States, and Canada are denying the passengers of the St. Louis admittance to their countries, forcing them to return to Europe as it descends into the Second World War. The ship that had seemed their salvation seems likely to become their death sentence.
After four days anchored at bay, only a handful of passengers are allowed to disembark onto Cuban soil, and Hannah and Leo must face the grim reality that they could be torn apart. Their future is unknown, and their only choice will have an impact in generations to come.
Decades later in New York City on her eleventh birthday, Anna Rosen receives a mysterious envelope from Hannah, a great-aunt she has never met but who raised her deceased father. In an attempt to piece together her father’s mysterious past, Anna and her mother travel to Havana to meet Hannah, who is turning eighty-seven years old. Hannah reveals old family ties, recounts her journey aboard the Saint Louis and, for the first time, reveals what happened to her father and Leo. Bringing together the pain of the past with the mysteries of the present, Hannah gives young Anna a sense of their shared histories, forever intertwining their lives, honoring those they loved and cruelly lost.
My Review
Truly a story that will touch everyone’s heart. Just imagine, living at a time where you weren’t accepted in your birth home because of your religion. A place where happiness disappeared at a blink of an eye and only terror and fear lingered in the four corners of your house and your mind. To then see hope and paradise in a ship named St.Louis that will bring you to a new Country that was suppose to be a place to keep you safe, but it turned out to be terror and agony. Hannah the 12 year old girl who was hoping that the ogres were left in Germany and that she could live happily with her family didn’t get her wish. She and her mom lived in Cuba behind closed doors in fear for their safety, while the government took over everyone’s freedom. This book brought me back in time to the Titanic. The time she spent on the St.Louis was the happiest time of her life. She was able to feel safe, happy and determined. Hannah and her family fled Germany in the St.Louis ship, which was suppose to drop off 900 passengers to Cuba, who later didn’t let but only 28 passengers dock off in Cuba the Country which was far from being paradise. Armando did an amazing job of bringing two different time periods and two different characters who were family to bond as one. You were able to see the struggle that Hannah went through for so many years and how Ana’s life and curiosity of her great aunts life brought them together. I rated 5 out of 5 stars.
Me and my mom got to meet Armando in 2016.
Author Biography
Armando Lucas Correa is a Cuban writer. He lives in Manhattan with his partner and their three children.
Correa is the recipient of various outstanding achievement awards from the National Association of Hispanic Publications and the Society of Professional Journalism.
His book En busca de Emma (In Search of Emma: Two Fathers, One Daughter and the Dream of a Family) was published by Rayo, Harper Collins in 2007 and for Aguilar, Santillana (Mexico) in 2009. It will be available in English, Spring 2020.
His first novel The German Girl/La niña alemana was published in October, 2016, in English and Spanish by Atria Books, a division of Simon and Schuster. The German Girl is an international bestseller and It has been translated to 14 languages and it is in more than 20 countries.
His second novel The Daughter’s Tale/La hija Olvidada was published in May 7th, 2019
In this dark, suspenseful thriller, Alex North weaves a multi-generational tale of a father and son caught in the crosshairs of an investigation to catch a serial killer preying on a small town.
After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes a fresh start will help him and his young son Jake heal. A new beginning, a new house, a new town. Featherbank.
But the town has a dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and murdered five residents. Until Frank Carter was finally caught, he was nicknamed “The Whisper Man,” for he would lure his victims out by whispering at their windows at night.
Just as Tom and Jake settle into their new home, a young boy vanishes. His disappearance bears an unnerving resemblance to Frank Carter’s crimes, reigniting old rumors that he preyed with an accomplice. Now, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis must find the boy before it is too late, even if that means Pete has to revisit his great foe in prison: The Whisper Man.
And then Jake begins acting strangely. He hears a whispering at his window…
My Review
Shhh!! If you’re awake and stay quiet at night, you might just hear the Whisper Man calling your name.
“If you leave a door half open, soon you’ll hear the whispers spoken. If you play outside alone, soon you won’t be going home. If your window’s left unlatched, you’ll hear him tapping at the glass. If you’re lonely, sad, and blue, the Whisper Man will come for you.”
A frightening, nail biting thriller until the very end. The Whisper Man was infamous for the killings of five children, 20 years before. Now, a little boy goes missing . A copy cat was out there doing the same acts that the Whisper Man used to do. Jake is such a special and smart kid. He couldn’t make friends, but had imaginary friends that he would talk to and play with. Jake and Tom had a tough time after the death of Jake’s mother. A new start lead them to the creepiest house in town filled with hidden secrets. After the move, everything started to go down hill. The readers learn three different father and son relationships. Sometimes, the one who is suppose to protect you can leave you with lasting scars and fears. Like father like son. The author did a spectacular job bringing this story together. It was a twisting story that revealed everything at its time. I dare you to read The Whisper Man, you won’t be disappointing. I can’t wait to see this in theaters. Summer 2019, book bragging thriller. I rated 5 out of 5 stars.
Author Biography
Alex North was born in Leeds, England, where he now lives with his wife and son. The Whisper Man was inspired by North’s own little boy, who mentioned one day that he was playing with “the boy in the floor.” Alex North is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name.
The night after the fourth of July, Layton Carlson Jr., of Red Wing, Minnesota, finally got lucky. And unlucky.
He’d picked the perfect spot to lose his virginity to his girlfriend, an abandoned farmyard in the middle of cornfields: nice, private, and quiet. The only problem was . . . something smelled bad—like, really bad. He mentioned it to a county deputy he knew, and when the cop took a look, he found a body stuffed down a cistern. And then another, and another.
By the time Lucas Davenport was called in, the police were up to fifteen bodies and counting. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, when Lucas began to investigate, he made some disturbing discoveries of his own. The victims had been killed over a great many years, one every summer, regular as clockwork. How could this have happened without anybody noticing?
Because one thing was for sure: the killer had to live close by. He was probably even someone they saw every day. . . .
My Review
Absolutely a book full of surprises that will keep the reader’s on their toes. This was my first novel from John and I was wonderfully surprised that he writes novels that rips your heart in pieces, while he makes sure he brings justice to the victims. I just couldn’t wait until R.A was finally caught. I wasn’t sure how many more deaths I could have endured, without throwing my book across the room. I fell out of my seat when I saw the true picture of R.A and Horn. That was truly unbelievable. If you love thrillers with psycho serial killers, then look no further. You will be mind blown. I rated 5 out of 5 stars.
Author Biography
John Sandford was born John Roswell Camp on February 23, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He attended the public schools in Cedar Rapids, graduating from Washington High School in 1962. He then spent four years at the University of Iowa, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies in 1966. In 1966, he married Susan Lee Jones of Cedar Rapids, a fellow student at the University of Iowa. He was in the U.S. Army from 1966-68, worked as a reporter for the Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian from 1968-1970, and went back to the University of Iowa from 1970-1971, where he received a master’s degree in journalism. He was a reporter for The Miami Herald from 1971-78, and then a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer-Press from 1978-1990; in 1980, he was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize, and he won the Pulitzer in 1986 for a series of stories about a midwestern farm crisis. From 1990 to the present he has written thriller novels. He’s also the author of two non-fiction books, one on plastic surgery and one on art. He is the principal financial backer of a major archeological project in the Jordan Valley of Israel, with a website at www.rehov.org In addition to archaeology, he is deeply interested in art (painting) and photography. He both hunts and fishes. He has two children, Roswell and Emily, and one grandson, Benjamin. His wife, Susan, died of metastasized breast cancer in May, 2007, and is greatly missed.
Stop by your local Barnes & Noble to meet with the book club and talk about this wonderful book. All stores will have event at 7 pm. If you didn’t read the book, I still highly recommend you stop by. This way you can meet new friends, check out the next book for next month and have an enjoyable time.
FabulousReader4Ever 