By Hayley Nations
I had the pleasure of attending the Sip and Sign Book Event at Williams Livestock Ranch. Vendors and local authors alike displayed their wares: snacks, jewelry, and, of course, books. I was able to meet each author and get to know a little about their books. The following are the authors I got to meet. Look through, dear reader, and see if any book catches your fancy. You just might find some new favorites.
Author: Tamara Scaggs
Book: Retribution
Retribution is a story about a woman in New York who, through various choices, gets mixed up in the mafia. As she navigates trying to avoid a mafia war, she finds herself, while taking revenge for the wrongs done to her. This book is recommended for older teens or young adults who like coming of age or revenge stories. Also be on the lookout for a sequel coming up soon: Red Retribution.
Author: Tatum Dire
Book: Not Him, Us
Not Him, Us is a dark romance and very spicy. Adults only. It delves into dark and spicy romance and reverse harem. This book is recommended for those who enjoy tragic and twisted romances. If this catches your fancy, keep an eye out for the sequel, Demented, coming soon.
Author: GM Katz
Book: Various
GM Katz writes “romantasy” novels that focus on happy endings. The blend of romance and fantasy often has historical settings, such as WWII and the Prohibition era. Many of the characters are fantasy-related, such as descendants of gods and goddesses. Although romance is at the forefront of the stories, there is a lot of suspense. These are recommended for young adults, with a little bit of spice.
Author: John A. Brock
Book: The Great Ice Cream War of Summer 2016
John A. Brock writes about an ice cream store in a small town, which has been open for years and has become a cornerstone of the small town. The ice cream store gets challenged by a new gelato store. What ensues is a generational battle. This work of fiction is recommended for ages 16+. If you like books by John Irving or Larry McMurtry, you will probably like this.
Author: Elizabeth Thomas
Book: Various
Elizabeth Thomas had varied books available at her table. She had a novel called Arden’s Act, a historical story set during the time right as women would be allowed to act in stage plays. She also had a collection of short stories and a stage play. Her books are geared towards adults, and she recommends them to people who like history and romance.
Author: Amber Nicole
Book: Various
Amber Nicole had a great many books on her table. Her stories are generally dark romance and LGBT friendly and are recommended for adults. One of her titles, Forever Changed Duet, won an international best seller award. If you are a reader who likes to connect with characters and want strong emotional reactions from books, this is the one for you.
Author: Desi Morgue
Book: Various
Morgue’s books focus on dark romance. She just came out with a new release: Yours Bitterly, a vampire rom-com. Her books each come with a music playlist tailored to it and are available on Kindl Unlimited. She recommends adults who enjoy the alternative scene to try them out.
Author: Elizabeth Roberts
Book: What She Believed
What She Believed is a psychological thriller about an assault survivor navigating her mental health. This book brings attention to many issues that women, especially victims of assault, face. Due to the content, this book is recommended for adults, but readers who appreciate many different genres will enjoy it.
Author: Michelle J. Mann
Book: Everything Good that Happened
Everything Good that Happened is a small-town romance featuring a single mom, taking place in west Texas/eastern New Mexico. This is a feel-good book with a happy ending, recommended for adults who are craving a cozy second chance romance.
Author: Sara Rodriguez
Book: The Good Fellow
A psychological thriller that utilizes different points of view, The Good Fellow follows a woman who runs away to a camp where suspicious things start happening. This book is recommended for adults as it addresses themes of domestic violence. Fans of Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose will enjoy this book.
Author: CCB Oktober
Book: 2 AM on a Sunday: Poems, Thoughts, and other Musings
What started as a small self-publishing project became a collection of poetry as the author navigated healing from domestic violence and reflects on the current political climate. This book is recommended for adults as it addresses domestic violence and is recommended for people who are navigating their own healing story and looking for different life perspectives. A sequel is coming soon.
This is just a snapshot of each author, so be sure to look them up and find some books. I walked away with a few new books to read, and a cute new bookmark. Hopefully events such as this one will continue to be organized and we’ll get to see more from local authors and businesses.
