2019 Visiting Authors
AUTHOR, COURTNIE J. CHRISTENSEN
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Courtnie Christensen is a first-time author & business owner. It has been her mission to share her story with the world since she was a teenager. The Fire Within the Cult is her first published novel. Courtnie likes to travel and enjoys the company of her close friends and family.
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Angela Powell has published three non-fiction books, three adult coloring books, and has written over 300 articles. The Fire Within the Cult is her first published fiction novel. When she isn't writing, Angela takes care of her family as a stay-at-home mom to a special needs child, and homesteads with her husband on a 3+ acre lot in Huntsville, Utah
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A religious cult, militia conspirators, and an FBI standoff. Can a nine-year-old girl survive them all?
It’s been two years since Sophia’s near fatal accident. Her mom has been promised Zion after meeting and marrying a fanatic religious cult member. Sophia is left to protect her younger sister while facing severe punishments, strange rules, and meetings meant to indoctrinate them. Will Sophia have the strength to break free from this nightmare, or will she be consumed by the lies within the cult?
The Fire Within the Cult is a young adult novel based on true events as seen through the eyes of a nine-year-old girl. If you love stories of survival and unexpected twists and turns, then you’ll love this novel by Courtnie J. Christensen and Angela E. Powell.
It’s been two years since Sophia’s near fatal accident. Her mom has been promised Zion after meeting and marrying a fanatic religious cult member. Sophia is left to protect her younger sister while facing severe punishments, strange rules, and meetings meant to indoctrinate them. Will Sophia have the strength to break free from this nightmare, or will she be consumed by the lies within the cult?
The Fire Within the Cult is a young adult novel based on true events as seen through the eyes of a nine-year-old girl. If you love stories of survival and unexpected twists and turns, then you’ll love this novel by Courtnie J. Christensen and Angela E. Powell.
Excerpt of the book from https://www.angelaepowell.com/fiction:
“Excellent. If you see someone you don’t recognize, I want you to shoot them,” said Kevin, handing the now loaded rifle back to me. “Just aim through the scope and pull the trigger.”
“You can’t be serious.” Mom grabbed the firearm from my hand.
“Unfortunately, Grace, I am.”
“But she’s only ten!”
“Edgar told us they trained her to handle guns at the militia house you stayed in. So well, in fact, she is a better shot than most of us. We don’t want to kill anyone, but we’ve experienced enough thieves and government agents on our land that we’ve developed a shoot-now, ask-questions-later approach. The more people we have armed, the better,” Kevin said.
Mom pointed the rifle toward the front gate of the compound and glanced through the scope. “Oh, you mean like the FBI, who are rolling up with their tanks right now?”
We all looked in the direction she pointed. Several armored vehicles, with the letters FBI on the sides, were making their way along the fence line before coming to a stop. I turned to Mom and noted that she was holding the gun sideways, with her finger curled around the trigger of a loaded weapon pointed at the FBI.
And I’m the one who’s not allowed to use a gun.
“Yes, exactly like that. Quickly, follow me to the house,” Kevin said.
As we made our way inside, people started running toward us from all directions. They must have had some way to communicate quickly, because in a few minutes everyone living in Freedom Township was in the big meeting room.
“All right, guys and gals, listen up,” shouted Kevin over the noise. “This is the day we’ve planned for; no one is allowed to leave the ranch right now, as it poses a risk and could jeopardize this whole operation. It’s time to protect our land. So for your safety and ours, please don’t set foot off the property.
“As for food and water, we have enough to feed an army for several years. The ten silos are full of wheat and corn, and the springs give us plenty to drink. Plus, we have a few skilled hunters in our ranks.
“Right now, those parasites need to see the children. They know we won’t go down without a fight, and they have a lot more firepower than we do, with those armored vehicles. The FBI won’t put the kids in harm’s way, which means they’ll keep their distance and not force their way in.”
“Mommy, what are they talking about?” whispered Eva.
I knew what they were talking about. It was the bus all over again. They were going to make me, Eva, and Melissa walk out there so the FBI could see us.
“Excellent. If you see someone you don’t recognize, I want you to shoot them,” said Kevin, handing the now loaded rifle back to me. “Just aim through the scope and pull the trigger.”
“You can’t be serious.” Mom grabbed the firearm from my hand.
“Unfortunately, Grace, I am.”
“But she’s only ten!”
“Edgar told us they trained her to handle guns at the militia house you stayed in. So well, in fact, she is a better shot than most of us. We don’t want to kill anyone, but we’ve experienced enough thieves and government agents on our land that we’ve developed a shoot-now, ask-questions-later approach. The more people we have armed, the better,” Kevin said.
Mom pointed the rifle toward the front gate of the compound and glanced through the scope. “Oh, you mean like the FBI, who are rolling up with their tanks right now?”
We all looked in the direction she pointed. Several armored vehicles, with the letters FBI on the sides, were making their way along the fence line before coming to a stop. I turned to Mom and noted that she was holding the gun sideways, with her finger curled around the trigger of a loaded weapon pointed at the FBI.
And I’m the one who’s not allowed to use a gun.
“Yes, exactly like that. Quickly, follow me to the house,” Kevin said.
As we made our way inside, people started running toward us from all directions. They must have had some way to communicate quickly, because in a few minutes everyone living in Freedom Township was in the big meeting room.
“All right, guys and gals, listen up,” shouted Kevin over the noise. “This is the day we’ve planned for; no one is allowed to leave the ranch right now, as it poses a risk and could jeopardize this whole operation. It’s time to protect our land. So for your safety and ours, please don’t set foot off the property.
“As for food and water, we have enough to feed an army for several years. The ten silos are full of wheat and corn, and the springs give us plenty to drink. Plus, we have a few skilled hunters in our ranks.
“Right now, those parasites need to see the children. They know we won’t go down without a fight, and they have a lot more firepower than we do, with those armored vehicles. The FBI won’t put the kids in harm’s way, which means they’ll keep their distance and not force their way in.”
“Mommy, what are they talking about?” whispered Eva.
I knew what they were talking about. It was the bus all over again. They were going to make me, Eva, and Melissa walk out there so the FBI could see us.
AUTHOR, AARON RISI
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The Chesley Memorial Library held a special Open House on Saturday, September 21, to celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month.
We were joined by New Hampshire author, Aaron Risi, who read from his new book “A Moose with a Uke” and played his ukulele to provide lots of entertainment. You can listen to his songs here and here. The children also got to try their hand at playing a ukulele with some instructions from Mr. Risi. After the reading and the ukulele tries, children got a chance to draw Monty the Moose and his ukulele with some instructional help from Mr. Risi. The children really seemed to like the reading and the book as well as the activities he provided for the them. The adults and children also got to enjoy some wonderful cake and refreshments at the library for our Open House. |
From Amazon: "In Harmony Grove, a giant forest at the base of Hope Rock, a group of animal friends rescues a trunk that blows off the top of a bus. The trunk is filled with an assortment of instruments: a banjo, ukulele, upright bass, fiddle, and an acoustic guitar. The animals take turns playing the instruments, practicing and learning all they can. The sounds and melodies carry across the pond and into the heart of the forest. They're adventure together leads them to form a band. Written for the love of music, this picture book exposes children to an array of instruments and encourages them to try to play. Praise for Aaron Risi and A Moose with a Uke For the last four years, Aaron has become a wonderful addition to our community here at Dover Children's Home. ... We are so excited to see his newest creation A Moose with a Uke, and we know it's going to bring joy to so many children and families. -Renee Touhey-Childress, Executive Director, Dover Children's Home"
BATTLE OF THE BOOK LAUNCHES!
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It was a Mother/Daughter Face-Off between Two Granite State Authors!
Champion of Yankee culture, weighing in at over a dozen books with fat awards, Rebecca Rule launched "THAT REMINDS ME OF A FUNNY STORY", a memoir/storytelling how-to/compendium of Yankee humor. Appropriate for all ages, but especially grown-ups. Rebecca Rule is a full-time writer, humorist, storyteller, host for 10 years of the NH Authors Series on NHPTV, currently host of Our Hometown also on NHPTV. She’s been telling stories in New England, especially New Hampshire, for more than twenty years. She hasn’t visited every town in the Granite State, but pretty close — speaking at libraries, historical societies, rotaries, clubs, church groups, camp grounds, and charitable organizations. She says she likes collecting stories because “they’re free and you don’t have to dust them."
She’s the author of a dozen books including N is for NH, an ABC book with photographs by Scott Snyder. Other books include The Iciest Diciest Scariest Sled Ride Ever!, a picture book, illustrated by Jennifer Thermes; Headin’ for the Rhubarb, A NH Dictionary (well, kinda); and The Best Revenge, named one of five essential NH Books by NH Magazine and Outstanding Work of Fiction by the NH Writers Project. Sixty Years of Cuttin’ the Cheese: Joel Sherburne and Calef’s Famous Country Store takes a look at the beloved institution of the general store through the eyes of an amazing (and very funny) man who’s worked in one for sixty years and counting. Her new book, That Reminds Me of a FUNNY Story, will be published this fall by Hobblebush Press. www.rebeccarule.com |
Wielding princess power and the magic of friendship, weighing in at three books with sparkly covers, was Adi Rule! She launched "HEARTS OF ICE", a wintry fantasy perfect for ages 8-12 and anyone young at heart.
The event was well attended with people of all ages. Yankee and Princess/Prince costumes appeared here and there. "Adi Rule is the author of The Hidden Twin and Strange Sweet Song, which won the 2016 NH Writers Project literary award for Outstanding Young Adult Book as well as the Vermont College of Fine Arts Houghton Mifflin/Clarion Prize (St Martin’s Press). Her middle grade debut, Hearts of Ice, comes out in September 2019 from Scholastic. Adi has led workshops throughout New England for groups that include 826 Boston, the VCFA Young Writers Network, and the NH Writers Project. Her work has appeared in Hunger Mountain journal of the arts and NH Pulp Fiction anthologies. She also contributes essays and features to New Hampshire Magazine." - https://www.adirule.com/bio
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Local Author Rebecca Rule -
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Local Author, Adi Rule -
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Book launch sponsored by Friends of the Northwood Libraries
Local Author, Karen Howe visited the library on Saturday, July 13
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"How Chubby the Cat was Found!"
By Karen Howe and Denise F. Brown. Illustrated by Denise F. Brown of Portsmouth, New Hampshire www.chubbythecat.com You can find Karen at the Northwood Post Office. Karen originally wanted to tell a story about how she came to love the cat she adopted from a neighbor, but after a vet visit, Chubby took off. When the cat finally came back, the cousins reworked the story to be about Chubby's disappearance. The book's mission is how to go about finding your own pet and information on what to do that will assist in getting your pet back. From Amazon: " This is the incredible true story of a brave little cat called Chubby who survives four weeks outside during the coldest month of the year. Temperatures were often below zero degrees, but his thick winter coat kept him warm during the snowstorms and when the wind blew on his face. Chubby is a smart cat. He knew how to hunt for food and find shelter to keep himself safe. It is a story of never giving up hope of finding him, with a happy ending. Great book for animal lovers. Readers love the full color map, Mission statement about helping people find a lost pet, Making a plan to find your lost pet, and photos of the real Chubby the cat who was named by a four-year-old girl when he was a roly poly kitten. " From Goggle Books: "Karen Howe wanted to make a book about her cat named Chubby, an especially smart cat who is different from other cats. She asked her cousin Denise Brown, who is an artist and author, to collaborate together on this project. They started to work on the book about Chubby, writing and editing the story for several weeks.Then one morning, Karen called Denise to tell her that Chubby was missing... That's when the whole story started over. They had to find Chubby and save him from the wild animals in the woods and the cold winter and snow. When he was finally found and brought back home, Karen and Denise knew they had to change the book to be about the search for Chubby and how he survived against the odds during the coldest month of the year.Karen and Denise searched all the back roads and woods in the direction of Karen's home which was five miles away. They never thought Chubby would cross the busy three lane road, but at some point, he did. Then he walked almost two miles in the other direction from home where he found safety under a mobile home. |
Denise F. Brown of Portsmouth, New Hampshire has authored, illustrated and produced many children's books for herself and for clients.Denise is well known for her stunning watercolor paintings of Seacoast New England scenes, architectural renderings, horse illustrations, her pony figurine designs with The Trail of Painted Ponies, and childrens books.
See Denise's artwork and books at: www.raccoonstudios.comww.tugboatrescue.comwww.windwildhorse.com www.adceteragraphics.com' |