A Shark at the Park by Mike Kalmbach

A Shark at the Park

by Mike Kalmbach

A timeless story about the special relationship between father and son. This story will be enjoyed by fans of Love You Forever by Robert Munsch and Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney.

Follow one boy, his dad, and a host of animals as they encounter A SHARK AT THE PARK.




BIOGRAPHY

Mike Kalmbach grew up in a forest near Lake Michigan. Spending his summers chasing wizards and battling evil ogres, Mike has always had a creative mind. He'll often share stories from his past, and some of them are even true.

After time dragged him from childhood, Mike moved into freelance editing, helping other authors improve dozens of stories. During the daylight hours, he writes software to help with genetics research. He leads the Rochester MN Writing group and often speaks on topics from writing and editing to engineering and robotics.

Luckily, Mike now has two sons, so he has plenty of excuses to set down the pen and play. He lives in Minnesota with his family.

PURCHASE
Amazon

OTHER WORKS

• Revenge of the Dust Bunnies
• The Caldarian Conflict
• Writing Advice for Teens: Creating Stories 

FIND OUT MORE
Author page: http://mikekalmbach.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikekalmbachauthor
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/mikekalmbach
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mikekalmbach

You and No Other by Jane Weiss and Bonnie Zahn

You and No Other

by Jane Weiss and Bonnie Zahn

A memoir by two new authors who 30 years ago found themselves in a new and unique relationship - with each other - though both were married and each had four children.

Learn about the journey that changed their lives in ways they never would have imagined.

They describe their joy of finding each other while navigating through the pain each experienced during the early years of their relationship.  Come to understand how two separate families learned to navigate the challenges that changed the lives of these women and their children. After 30 years, their relationship with each other and their eight children continue to grow.

In telling their story, Bonnie and Jane hope to show that same gender relationships are healthy, nurturing ones that provide strong family connections, support, and love. They see this book as a message of compassionate tolerance, respect, and equality - and a positive message for gay youth and their families.

BIOGRAPHY

Bonnie Zahn and Jane Weiss write with true honesty as they take you on a journey through personal revelations, family turmoil, societal reactions, and resolution of a decision neither imagined they would face in their adult years.

They enjoy the opportunity to talk with readers and anyone interested in their book.  If you would like to suggest a speaking engagement, book reading and signing, or book club discussion, please feel free to contact them directly at:

                       bzahn42@gmail.com or  jmorgan2001@gmail.com

FIND OUT MORE
Book site: http://www.youandnoother.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#%21/pages/You-and-No-Other-by-Weiss-and-Zahn/117463741640020
Publisher: North Star Press

PURCHASE
Amazon and Barnes & Noble

The Great Way by Greg Schulze

The Great Way

by Greg Schulze

Omaha. There it lay across the river. Looking across that river was like looking at another world. Katherine died there. That’s why James had traveled so far. No one else would come, not even her parents. Hell, James thought, they probably didn’t even know that she died.

James has traveled from Maryland to Omaha, the gateway to the western frontier, to seek answers about the death of the one he loved. Searching deep for answers, James finds that there is more going on than the simple death of a young woman. Encapsulated in the machination of men, James meets an Indian from his past who sets him along his Great Way.


BIOGRAPHY

Greg Schulze is from Shoreview, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul. He graduated from Mounds View High School in 1989 and the University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus with a degree in Forest Resources in 1993.

Greg's first novel, "The Great Way", took two years to complete. After reading one too many novels that were too long, not interesting enough, and stuffed with filler just to increase the novel's word count, he thought that "I can do better" and decided to write a short novel. Believing that every sentence should spark the reader's imagination or further the plot of the story, Greg set ahead to write a novel inspired by the TV show "Lost", the movie "Donnie Darko", and Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse 5". He called it "The Great Way" in which the archetypical young man travels to a new land and discovers something more about himself and his life, but in a different way that is new and fresh.

Greg is currently working on two more novels, each one different than the other. The first not yet titled novel is a fictional autobiography inspired by humorous and absurd writers such as Vonnegut. The second is a fantasy novel titled "The Anarch", inspired by Greg's thirty plus years of playing Dungeons & Dragons and the stories that he shared with his friends and fellow players.

Greg lives in Centerville, Minnesota with his wife of 8 years, Wendy, and his 7 year old son Andrew, who promised to read "The Great Way" someday.

PURCHASE
Amazon

Revenge of the Dust Bunnies - Mike Kalmbach

Revenge of the Dust Bunnies

by Mike Kalmbach
illustrated by Christopher Osman

Book 1 of the Spooky Snacks series. "Scary short stories with a silly twist!"

Best for 4th-6th grade students. Perfect for fans of Goosebumps!

40 pages
Paperback: 5 B&W illustrations and 2 games
Ebook: 5 full-color illustrations

Don't clean your room!

Dust always seems to collect in strange places: on your dresser, behind the TV, and under your bed.

It's not random. There's something sinister going on. A hidden group is behind this.

And they have a plan.

BIOGRAPHY

Mike Kalmbach grew up in a forest near Lake Michigan. Spending his summers chasing wizards and battling evil ogres, Mike has always had a creative mind. He'll often share stories from his past, and some of them are even true.

After time dragged him from childhood, Mike moved into freelance editing, helping other authors improve dozens of stories. During the daylight hours, he writes software to help with genetics research. He leads the Rochester MN Writing group and often speaks on topics from writing and editing to engineering and robotics.

Luckily, Mike now has two sons, so he has plenty of excuses to set down the pen and play. He lives in Minnesota where he, his family, and a band of pirates can still be found battling ogres, dust bunnies, and even the occasional dragon.

FIND OUT MORE

Author page: http://mikekalmbach.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikekalmbachauthor
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/mikekalmbach
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mikekalmbach

PURCHASE
Exclusively on Amazon


OTHER WORKS

• The Caldarian Conflict
• Writing Advice for Teens: Creating Stories

Bullwhacked - Kathy Cohen

Bullwhacked

by Kathy Cohen

Retired bullrider Cooper Lydell is finally happy. After years of living in his truck, and eating more cheeseballs than he cares to count, meals are coming regularly. Sheets and pillowcases are the norm, too, and he’s got his eye on some property in Montana…all thanks to his very successful bullrider son Tommy.

And then, suddenly, Cooper is BULLWHACKED.

Son Tommy is gone . . . with a sexy blonde in a red Thunderbird. No more meal ticket, no more hotel rooms, no more RETIREMENT.

Cooper begins a grim search for Tommy, aided by a herd of his friends. Soon someone is following him. Then there’s a murder.

BIOGRAPHY

Kathy Cohen has lived in northern Virginia, Germany, Omaha, and the Washington D.C. area. She currently resides in Minneapolis. With a degree in English literature and some non-fiction credits, she has recently completed her first novel, Bullwhacked.

WEBSITE
Author - https://sites.google.com/site/kathykcohen/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KathyKloppCohen

PURCHASE
Amazon

ADDITIONAL INFO

Why I picked the rodeo circuit for my setting: I wanted to use something that was distinctive, but something I knew at least a little about. I grew up showing quarter horses in the Midwest, and my stepfather is a very good horse trainer. We went to rodeos for entertainment and marveled at how really dangerous the sport is. My stepfather once lent a pair of chaps to a contestant who was then killed in the arena. He felt too awkward to try to get the chaps back, under the circumstances.  

I thought it would be interesting to use such a dangerous sport and yet find some humor in it. Bull riders are pretty macho guys, so I thought I’d try to show something less stereotypical to readers.  I’d like to add that training and showing horses isn’t like lounging in a recliner and watching the television either. My stepfather suffered a fractured pelvis, brain trauma, and many lesser injuries over the years, and I had one side of my face kicked in by a horse. Thank heavens for plastic surgeons!

Jacqueline the Great! Runs for President by Christin Berger

Jacqueline the Great! The Pirate Captain

by Christin Berger

It is election time in the U. S. and Jacqueline has decided to run for President! It is her birthday and she has turned the birthday party into her opportunity to campaign for President in what promises to be a tight election. Jacob comes over early to help her set up only to find out that he is the Vice Presidential nominee! Will she win the election? You will have to read it to find out!

BIOGRAPHY

Christin Berger has a deep and abiding love of books and has been writing stories and poetry since she was a child.  Her passion for writing is second only to her passion for spending time with her family.

Ms. Berger sees childhood as a great adventure and grew up in a family that valued creativity and imagination.  Her love of both is evident today in her writing.  She will take you on a journey that will make you laugh and inspire you to re-discover the joy in parenting and play!

WEBSITE
Author - http://www.christinb.com
Book - http://www.jacqueline-the-great.com
Twitter -  https://twitter.com/ChristinBerger
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6541650.Christin_Berger
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christin-D-Berger/284701868260704

PURCHASE
Amazon

OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS
Jacqueline the Great! The Pirate Captain

Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta

Nighttime Ninja

by Barbara DaCosta

Late at night, when all is quiet and everyone is asleep, a ninja creeps silently through the house in search of treasure.  Soon he reaches his ultimate goal and gets a big surprise!  Will the nighttime ninja complete his mission?  This is an adventure-filled story about the power of play and imagination.

• Nighttime Ninja is one of Publisher's Weekly's "Best Children's Illustrated Books 2012"
• Starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and Booklist
• Horn Book "Book of the Week"

Available at bookstores and online. Signed copies available at Wild Rumpus Books and Once Upon a Crime.

BIOGRAPHY

Barbara DaCosta writes for children and adults alike. Her children's picture book debut is Nighttime Ninja, illustrated by Caldecott Award-winning artist Ed Young (Little, Brown 2012) . Her debut as a mystery writer came with the short story "Cabin 6" in the anthology Resort to Murder, edited by Minnesota Crime Wave. 

Meanwhile, she's putting the finishing touches on her novel Death by the Depot—the tale of a murder, the search for a missing man, and the uncovering of a nest of crime at a nursing home—features Thea Franco, a hardworking, overly curious, detail-oriented researcher with a stable of quirky clients---divas, dealers, teachers, historians, waitresses, and lawyers. Sometimes, though, Thea finds she’s taken on way more than she can handle….

WEBSITE
Author - http://www.barbaradacosta.blogspot.com
Book - http://www.nighttimeninja.net
Twitter - https://twitter.com/barbaradacosta
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/857251.Barbara_DaCosta
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nighttime-Ninja/198377556860448

PURCHASE
Amazon

OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS
DaCosta's stories for adults have appeared in anthologies such as "Cabin 6" in Resort to Murder: Thirteen Tales of Mystery (Nodin Press, 2007) and "For Want of Some Gloves," in Why Did Santa Leave a Body (North Star Press, 2010).

PUBLISHER

Little, Brown Young Readers

Jacqueline the Great! The Pirate Captain by Christin Berger

Jacqueline the Great! The Pirate Captain

by Christin Berger

Jacqueline's favorite thing to say is, "Girls can do anything they want to do!" And, she means it! 

She embarks on a series of adventures, fueled by a very active imagination, that explore many, varied fields and moments in history. She is undeterred when someone tells her that girls can't or girls didn't do something. 

This time Jacqueline and Jacob are off on a pirate treasure hunt. Jacqueline is the captain of the pirate ship that takes them to an island where she hopes to find the treasure of Pirate Williams that was lost at sea many years before. Will they find the lost treasure before it is time for Jacob to go home?

BIOGRAPHY

Christin Berger has a deep and abiding love of books and has been writing stories and poetry since she was a child.  Her passion for writing is second only to her passion for spending time with her family.

Ms. Berger sees childhood as a great adventure and grew up in a family that valued creativity and imagination.  Her love of both is evident today in her writing.  She will take you on a journey that will make you laugh and inspire you to re-discover the joy in parenting and play!

WEBSITE
Author - http://www.christinb.com
Book - http://www.jacqueline-the-great.com
Twitter -  https://twitter.com/ChristinBerger
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6541650.Christin_Berger
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christin-D-Berger/284701868260704

PURCHASE
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS

Jacqueline the Great! Runs for President

Fallout - Colin Nelson

Fallout

by Colin Nelson

He’s your average, ordinary neighbor, but he’s going to kill you.  He’s the homegrown fanatic next door with a plan and a group of true believers prepared to do the unthinkable—mass murder—to bring about a new world of peace and justice.  A county prosecutor, attempting to convict a murder suspect, stumbles upon the conspiracy.  Sounding the alarm to the authorities, no one believes her.  She risks everything—even her life—to expose the plot.  Will she be able to prevent annihilation?

BIOGRAPHY

Colin T. Nelson has been a criminal defense lawyer for over thirty years.  He’s married, has two adult children, and plays saxophone in a jazz group called, Blue Mood.

WEBSITE
http://www.colintnelson.com/

PURCHASE
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS

Reprisal (Thriller)

PUBLISHER
North Star Press

Writing Advice for Teens: Creating Stories - Mike Kalmbach

Writing Advice for Teens: Creating Stories

by Mike Kalmbach

When all you have is a blank page, it's often tough to begin writing.

Writing Advice for Teens: Creating Stories aims to help you overcome that initial hurdle by making it easy for you to write down simple, focused ideas and craft them into stories.

However, coming up with ideas is not enough. Teen writers need to understand basic story structure so they can avoid typical writing problems.

Filled with plenty of tips, advice, and examples to help any teen writer, the first book in the Writing Advice for Teens series focuses on getting ideas down quickly and pounding out that first draft. After following the advice and using the techniques outlined in this book, you should understand how to bring the stories locked in your mind to the surface.

BIOGRAPHY

Mike Kalmbach has a Master of Science degree in software engineering from the University of Minnesota. Moonlighting as a freelance editor, he has edited numerous full-length manuscripts as well as countless shorter works. He also teaches several seminars targeted toward helping teen writers develop strategies to create captivating stories.

He also leads the Rochester MN Writing Group and is a founding member of the Rochester Writers Collaborative. He is a strong believer in the power of community, and has led online writing groups and forums for over ten years. Mike enjoys writing for his blog and interacting on Twitter.

Mike currently lives in the Rochester, MN area with his wife, son, and two cats.

WEBSITES

Author page: http://mikekalmbach.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikekalmbachauthor
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/mikekalmbach
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mikekalmbach

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.


OTHER WORKS

• The Caldarian Conflict

Machina Viva - Nathaniel Hicklin

Machina Viva

by Nathaniel Hicklin

In a distant world where work is done by machines with the faces of humans, one man has changed what it means to be a robot. But before the new robot can make her mark on the future, she must first survive the present.

Thus was born the city of Tetropolis, one of the oldest mid-atmosphere arcologies. The word is a combination of “architecture” and “ecology,” and such constructions are rarely accidents. Tetropolis fits the requirements of a city, with a central government, police force, utilities, and even a nice park. It also fits the requirements of a building, being a unified structure with a single framework. In this case, the single framework was a series of large interlocking tubes that formed a pyramid nearly a mile high. The taller buildings in the city connected directly to the outer pyramid, strengthening the whole structure while ensuring their own stability. Public transit vehicles traveled through the tubes, intersecting at large spherical nodes and creating a very stressful job for any human who was crazy enough to work in traffic control. The job usually went to a robot, because unlike the vast majority of people, a lot of robots actually enjoy that kind of insanity.

BIOGRAPHY

Nathaniel Hicklin studied engineering in college, but graduated with a degree in theater arts. He has parlayed this background into a portfolio of science fiction and urban fantasy storytelling. His first novel, Seekers of Truth, tells the story of eight people who form a team to combat corruption and evil in a multifaceted world of magic and secrecy. His second book, a novella called Machina Viva, describes a distant world in the empty depths of space where humans and robots walk side by side that explores what it means to be human.

WEBSITE

Author page: http://OfficeOfTheCurator.blogspot.com

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ebooks for Pleasure, and wherever books are sold.


PUBLISHER
4 Square Books

OTHER WORKS

•  Seekers of Truth

Hurricane - Jenna-Lynne Duncan

Hurricane

by Jenna-Lynne Duncan

Adriana couldn’t decide what was worse—that Hurricane Katrina was heading for New Orleans, or that she might not survive her kidnapping to see its potential effects. She had trusted Hayden, even fallen for him, and now he and his brother Luke were taking her deeper and deeper into the Bayou. Why had two of her classmates, the mysterious Boudreaux brothers, kidnapped her? Why had Adriana’s dreams started predicting the future? Most importantly, would she make it out of the Bayou alive…

A portion of the sales from 'Hurricane' will be going to the New Orleans Area Habitat Humanity for Humanity.

BIOGRAPHY

Jenna-Lynne Duncan graduated from the University of St. Thomas with degrees in Political Science, International Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies. Hurricane is her debut novel and she is planning a series. She welcomes those to contact her at Jenna-Lynne@DivertirPublishing.com.

WEBSITES
Author page: http://www.Jenna-Lynne.com
Book page: http://www.Hurricanethebook.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JennaLynneD
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/Jennalynneduncan and http://www.Facebook.com/Hurricanethebook

BOOK TRAILER







PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.


PUBLISHER
Divertir Publishing

Lost and Found - Danelle Helget

Lost and Found

by Danelle Helget

Danelle Helget, a writer who grew up in Milaca and now lives in Sauk Rapids, has launched a new mystery series set in her home state of Minnesota. Lost and Found (North Star Press, 2011) the first book in a series that will be called “The Sara Martin Mysteries,” is filled with interesting characters, familiar Minnesota settings and dramatic events.

Sara Martin had hoped the vacation at a tranquil cabin in northern Minnesota would be the perfect getaway. Instead, she discovers that her husband is carrying on an affair with her childhood friend, Lily. To make matters worse, Lily goes missing shortly thereafter and Sara starts having haunting dreams of a young girl in a white dress who urgently needs her help.

BIOGRAPHY

Danelle Helget grew up in Milaca, Minnesota. In the summer months she enjoys spending her weekends like many Minnesotans--on the lake, camping, boating and hiking. She resides in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota with her husband and two daughters. North Star Press of St. Cloud published her first novel, Lost and Found in 2011. Her second novel, Found and Destroyed will continue to follow Sara Martin and is due to be released in June 2012.

WEBSITE
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Danelle-Helget/102890406465130
http://twitter.com/danellehelget

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores, and North Star Press of St. Cloud


PUBLISHER
North Star Press of St. Cloud

Agony of the Leaves - Laura Childs

Agony of the Leaves

by Laura Childs

If Murder’s Your Cup of Tea . . .

The opening of Charleston’s Neptune Aquarium is a major event, and Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, SC, has been hired to cater tea, scones, and finger foods for the private party of big buck donors.  But when Theodosia slips away to view the Ocean Wall exhibit, she discovers the body of a man, tangled in a net, drowned in this state-of-the-art tank.

To make matters worse, the victim is Theodosia’s former boyfriend Parker Scully.  The EMTs on the scene say he drowned, but Theodosia spots defensive wounds on his hands and realizes someone wanted him dead.  Even though the police aren’t keen on her theory, Theodosia chases down a raft of suspects that include a shady lawyer, an extravagant lady restaurateur, and an aquarium board member.  Complications ensue when Theodosia is also tapped to compete in a charity scavenger event, cater a tea luncheon at her Aunt Libby’s plantation, and host a Chado ceremony at the Heritage Society.

This clever amateur sleuth’s investigation leads her from high tea into high drama and a surprise cemetery shocker at the end!  So cozy up for a smart good read, then enjoy the recipes for Charleston Pecan Brownie Bars, Honey Bee Scones, and Sweet Potato Butter.

BIOGRAPHY

Laura Childs is the author of  14 Tea Shop Mysteries, 10 Scrapbook Mysteries, and 3 Cackleberry Club Mysteries.  Her books have been named to the USA Today and The New York Times Bestseller Lists, and have been featured selections in the Literary Guild’s Mystery Book Club.  She is a former Cleo Award-winning ad writer and CEO of Mission Critical Marketing.

WEBSITE
http://www.laurachilds.com

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtCSYWUiS98

PURCHASE
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


OTHER BOOKS PUBLISHED
Tea Shop Mysteries
Death by Darjeeling
Gunpowder Green
Shades of Earl Grey
English Breakfast Club Murder
Jasmine Moon Murder
Chamomile Mourning
Blood Orange Brewing
Dragonwell Dead
The Silver Needle Murder
Oolong Dead
The Teaberry Strangler
Scones & Bones
Agony of the Leaves

Scrapbook Mysteries
Keepsake Crimes
Photo Finished
Bound for Murder
Motif for Murder
Frill Kill
Death Swatch
Tragic Magic
Fiber & BrimstoneSkeleton Letters
Postcards from the Dead

Cackleberry Club Mysteries
Eggs in Purgatory
Eggs Benedict Arnold
Bedeviled Eggs
Stake & Eggs (December 2012)

PUBLISHER
Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN 978-0-425-24553-8

Safe from the Sea - Peter Geye

Safe from the Sea

by Peter Geye

Safe from the Sea tells the story of a son returning home to reconcile with his estranged father while they relive the story of a horrific Great Lakes shipwreck that the father has only partially survived and that has divided them emotionally ever since. At times a harrowing tale of survival, at others an intimate look at forgiveness and the indubitable bonds between a father and son, here is a timeless story for readers of every stripe.

BIOGRAPHY

Peter Geye holds an MFA from the University of New Orleans and a PhD from Western Michigan University, where he was editor of Third Coast. He was born and raised in Minneapolis where he continues to live with his wife and three kids. Safe from the Sea, his debut novel, won the Indie Lit Award for literary fiction as well as the Northeastern Minnesota Book Award. His second novel is forthcoming in fall 2012 from Unbridled Books.

UPCOMING READINGS

• March 22nd – reading at the University of Minnesota. Time TBD

WEBSITE
http://www.petergeye.com

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Unbridled Books, and IndieBound

PUBLISHER
Unbridled Books

Sisterhood of the Hennepin Chalice - Jack Salmela

Sisterhood of the Hennepin Chalice

by Jack Salmela

The sinking of the Titanic, the I-35W Bridge collapse, the St. Anthony Falls Mill District, and Duluth … linking these is a secret history of North America.  Three people struggle to know that history:  Tim Malone, humiliated in his career and losing the love of his life; Jed Bjornstad, convinced that the history will give him closure in his brother’s death; and Diane Solquist, a newly ordained pastor whose call is challenged.

An organization guarding the secret history also happens to be the one and only source of help for Tim, Jed, and Diane to overcome their personal crises.  And that organization is … the Sisterhood of the Hennepin Chalice.

BIOGRAPHY

Jack Salmela has been writing articles and essays going back to the eighties.  Since 2002, after he was asked to collaborate on a novel, he’s been concentrating on two follow-up novels.  Of Vikings and Voyageurs (2008) and Sisterhood of the Hennepin Chalice, each published by North Star Press of St. Cloud.  Both are historical fiction with strong regional connections.

Salmela is a civil engineer and recently retired early from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.  He continues to give his PowerPoint presentation, “The History behind the Novel, Of Vikings and Voyageurs,” along with his new presentation for Sisterhood of the Hennepin Chalice.  Salmela works with a voyageur interpreter for the former, and for the latter, the interpreter plays Oscar Olsson, a Swedish third class survivor of Titanic disaster who has a harrowing tale to tell.  If you are interested in a presentation, Salmela can be reached at 218-724-2902, or jack.salmela@hotmail.com.


Salmela is currently producing a film, "Celebrating Stained Glass in the Northland - its beauty, its story."  It will air on Public Access TV, Duluth station.  The film is a spin-off from "Sisterhood," as stained glass is crucial to the plot.

UPCOMING READINGS

• Mindekirken Norwegian Church in Minneapolis, Feb. 7 - "Sisterhood of the Hennepin Chalice"

OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS

• Of Vikings and Voyageurs (also published by North Star Press)
• The Messiah Medallions (self-published)

WEBSITE
http://www.jacksalmelabooks.com

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores, and North Star Press of St. Cloud


PUBLISHER
North Star Press of St. Cloud

Anteater Boy - Dean Ammerman

Anteater Boy

by Dean Ammerman

Anteater-Boy is the story of Zak Dale, a high school freshman who wants a summer job to earn some money. His fish-eyed science teacher, Dr. Cyrus B. Fletcher, has a job opening but wants Zak to clean the science classroom, improve his grades, and deliver an award-winning speech to get it.

As Zak tries to prove he’s the best person for the summer job, he helps his best friend Miles search for the Holy Grail of junk food, falls in love with the beautiful and mysterious Mia Holmes, locates his missing grandmother, neglects his bladder-challenged dachshund, and takes a journey through the American Revolution with Darius Brown, his substitute history teacher.

Anteater-Boy is a funny, uplifting, fast-paced coming-of-age novel about friendship and about having the courage to decide who you are and who you want to be.

BIOGRAPHY

Dean Ammerman was once a kid. He's older now and lives in Eagan, Minnesota. He has a wife, two daughters and a dog (not a dachshund). Anteater-Boy is his first novel.

WEBSITE
http://www.anteater-boy.com
Facebook fan page

PURCHASE
Amazon and Barnes & Noble


PUBLISHER
Kabloona (Eagan, MN)

Ghellow Road - T. H. Waters

Ghellow Road

by T. H. Waters

Ghellow Road is a literary diary of a young girl’s journey through the tangled labyrinth that is her life. Theresa’s story begins in a large midwestern city where she is born to loving parents in 1965. As time passes and Theresa grows, supernatural forces begin to shape her existence, no matter how carefully her father colors the empty spaces of her world. After a series of tragic events, Theresa and her family seek refuge in a small Minnesota town nestled near the shores of Rainy Lake. She creates a new life for herself there, sharing adventures with friends and riding the ups and downs of adolescence. Yet through it all, her mother remains forever lost in the prison of her own mind and forever lost to Theresa.

This is a distinctive coming-of-age story that speaks to love, loss and the undeniable power of community.

BIOGRAPHY

T. H. Waters (a.k.a. Tera Waters) was raised in the state of Minnesota and currently resides in Minneapolis with her significant other and two loving fur balls.  She has been a life-long lover of the written word.  She loves the magic and the mystique; she loves the breadth of it and how it can fortify one’s spirit. 

Tera didn’t grow up imagining that she would one day become an author.  In fact, she had never even considered it until about 8 years ago when she received news that her brother had died suddenly.  He was only 39 years old.  It was one of the saddest days of her life. 

Numb and in shock, Tera picked up a pen and some paper, sat down at her dining room table and with tears streaming down her face, wrote his eulogy.  A few more years would pass before Tera would take her passion for writing and use it to create her life’s story, Ghellow Road.

OTHER INFO

• Tera has a special note she'd like potential readers to review: http://www.verefor.com/anotefromthwaters.html

WEBSITE
http://www.verefor.com/

PURCHASE

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
  

PUBLISHER
http://www.verefor.com/

Birds in Our Backyard - Adele Porter

Birds in Our Backyard

by Adele Porter

A prairie chicken dancing to the beat, a Red-Winged blackbird flashing his snazzy wing patches to attract a female, a grouse growing its own “snowshoes,” and American robins traveling north in the spring share at least one characteristic—they all call Minnesota home at some point during the year. Birds in Our Backyard invites young ones into the lives of these winged wonders.

Season by season, kids discover which birds they might see, how far they have traveled, where they build their homes, and what they like to eat. Able guide Adele Porter and award-winning nature photographer Bill Marchel bring to life the world of birds—the colors, the sounds, the wonder of flight. Learn about wild and urban habitats, clever practices in building nests and caching food, and migrating and mating rituals.

Birds in Our Backyard is the perfect companion for a walk in the woods, a picnic in the park, or breakfast at the kitchen window, encouraging budding birders and naturalists to take a closer look at our feathered friends and the world we share with them.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Adele Porter is a science educator and author fortunate to have a career that combines her curiosity and passion for science and dedication to children. The Wild About series of children and young adult books was inspired by the students of all ages that she has worked with during 20 years as an educator.

When not teaching or working on a book, Adele writes educational materials for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the US Forest Service, and various publications. Being a member of the National Science Teachers' Association and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators helps to keep her informed.

When asked what she enjoys the most about being an author, the answer is easy - meeting the readers of the Wild About books and hearing about their enthusiastic outdoor adventure stories! Another fun part of being an author is guiding readers to participate in citizen science projects.

Minnesota is her favorite state and where she learned to canoe and kayak, cross-country ski, and roast marshmallows until they have crunchy brown bubbles on the outside and melted deliciousness inside. What she treasures most is spending time with her family and friends.

PHOTOGRAPHER BIOGRAPHY

Bill Marchel is a full-time wildlife and outdoor photographer and writer from Fort Ripley, Minnesota.  His photo files contain over 120,000 images that include over 100 magazine cover photos to such magazines as Audubon, Field & Stream, National Wildlife, and Ducks Unlimited.  His writing appears in a weekly column titled Afield for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. 
 


UPCOMING EVENTS

Book signings: 

• Saturday, March 24, 2012, 1:00 - 3:30 pm: Book Cliffs in Wabasha
• March 2012, Date TBD: Red Balloon Bookshop
• April 2012, Date TBD: Creative KidsStuff

Author program information: http://adeleporter.com/educatorsparents/authorprograms.html

Adele also offers a new set of winter classes via Skype - her take on Skype an Author. Since the great outdoors is her main "office", these will be done on location in a natural area.

WEBSITE

http://www.adeleporter.com
Blogs: http://adeleporter.com/abouttheauthor/authorblog.html  and  http://adeleporter.wordpress.com/

PURCHASE

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• http://adeleporter.com/orderbooks.html
• Minnesota Historical Society Press: http://shop.mnhs.org/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=2955
• Adventure Publications, Inc.: http://www.adventurepublications.net/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jqemdri8

PUBLISHER

Minnesota Historical Society Press
Adventure Publications, Inc.

OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS

• Wild About Minnesota Birds, 2007 *Midwest Independent Publishers Book Award 2007, Children/Young Adult Nonfiction 
• Wild About Wisconsin Birds, 2009 
• Wild About Michigan Birds, 2009 
• Wild About Northeastern Birds, 2010 
• Wild About Cooking for the Birds, 2010
  

Skeleton Letters - Laura Childs

Skeleton Letters

by Laura Childs

Is nothing sacred?

The last thing scrapbooking maven Carmela Bertrand expected to bear witness to in St. Tristan’s Church was a crime.  But now a beloved member of her scrapbooking circle is lying lifeless next to a smashed statue of St. Sebastian – and a mysterious hooded figure had absconded with an antique silver-and-gold crucifix.

With the church, a popular New Orleans tourist site, pretty much open to the public, it looks like the police don’t have a prayer of finding the killer.  Good thing amateur sleuth Carmela and her wacky voodoo shop-owning friend Ava are hot on the trail.  With suspects that range from a deliveryman, to the strange Brother Paul, to the cult group The Seekers, Carmela and Ava comb New Orleans for clues.  And end up in a bayou at midnight, stalked by an enraged killer!

A cross between a cozy and a thriller – a thrillzy! – Skeleton Letters delivers great characters, action, humor, spooky cemeteries, scrapbooking tips, and New Orleans recipes.  This is the Halloween read you’ve been waiting for!

BIOGRAPHY

Laura Childs is the author of the Scrapbook Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries and Cackleberry Club Mysteries.  Her books have been named to the USA Today and New York Times Bestseller Lists, and have been featured selections in the Literary Guild’s Mystery Book Club.  She is a former Cleo Award-winning ad writer and CEO of Mission Critical Marketing.

WEBSITE
http://www.laurachilds.com

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/embed/R0WRgk3qCy0

PURCHASE
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


OTHER BOOKS PUBLISHED
Tea Shop Mysteries
Death by Darjeeling
Gunpowder Green
Shades of Earl Grey
English Breakfast Club Murder
Jasmine Moon Murder
Chamomile Mourning
Blood Orange Brewing
Dragonwell Dead
The Silver Needle Murder
Oolong Dead
The Teaberry Strangler
Scones & Bones
Agony of the Leaves

Scrapbook Mysteries
Keepsake Crimes
Photo Finished
Bound for Murder
Motif for Murder
Frill Kill
Death Swatch
Tragic Magic
Fiber & BrimstoneSkeleton Letters
Postcards from the Dead

Cackleberry Club Mysteries
Eggs in Purgatory
Eggs Benedict Arnold
Bedeviled Eggs
Stake & Eggs (December 2012)

PUBLISHER
Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN 978-0-425-24389-3