Shelf Life: Local Authors from Sacramento to the Sierra

Jul 28, 2016 10:28AM ● By David Norby

The Vow by Felicity Goodrich, Folsom The Vow charts the story of Anna, a devout Catholic girl who lives in a small town in rural Poland, and her village priest, Szymon. Tortured by tragedy and sorrow, they cling to one another for support against the violence of the world around them in the waning days of WWII. Available at amazon.com and Barnes & Noble

For the eighth year, Style brings you the latest stack of accomplished area authors and their published works!

by Simran Dhami

Shelf Life August 2016 [11 Images] Click Any Image To Expand

A Guide to the Battle of the American Revolution, by Theodore P. Savas (with J. David Dameron), El Dorado Hills This award-winning guide covers each battle, including the Revolution—fought from Canada to the Southern American colonies, from the coastal lowlands to the Mississippi River, and from the North Atlantic to the Caribbean. Savas’ guide presents each engagement in a consistent template (each with an original map) including introductory details (dates, location, commanders, opposing forces, terrain and weather, a detailed discussion from all points of view, numbers and losses, conclusion and further reading). It is fresh, informative, easy to read and entertaining. Available at amazon.com and Barnes & Noble

The Art of Buying & Selling Real Estate by Denise Aquila, Folsom Some of the best realtors and lenders in California collaborate to offer their insights on how the business operates in different regions. Aquila’s chapter discusses how she manages to incorporate selling both Bay Area and Sacramento real estate, as Bay Area residents purchase many of the homes in this region. Available at amazon.com

Deck the Walls by Erin Dealey, Placerville In this rhyming picture book parody of the Christmas carol Deck the Halls (complete with fa-la-las), award-winning illustrator Nick Ward depicts Dealey’s five loveable, rascally kids amid the kind of crazy antics all kids dream. An excellent sing-along for family fun, as well as school holiday programs, this book celebrates the joy of being together. Available at amazon.com, indiebound.org, Barnes & Noble, and Face in a Book

Near the Corner of Bedford and Main by Kristopher Schultz, Placerville Near the Corner of Bedford and Main is the eagerly anticipated follow-up novel to Bedford Avenue: Incidents in a Small Town. Schultz gathers his lovable group of characters together again in a new collection of stories about life in small-town America. Walt Peterson, Maxine Baxter, Barry Reese and the De Luca family all return for more engaging tales that will encourage you to grab a blanket and curl up on the couch. Available at amazon.com, Placerville Flowers On Main, Placerville News Company, and Placerville Art Gallery

The Dordogne Deception by Sherry Joyce, El Dorado Hills Cherise Eden, a successful executive, escapes from San Francisco to purchase a bed and breakfast, Chateau Roufillay, in southwestern France to heal the wounds from an unforeseen divorce. But then a cunning guest arrives—after stalking her on the Internet—and lures her into a deadly deception. Brett Maxfield, a retired widowed detective residing in the Cotswolds, investigates an improbable accidental death in Windermere, England, ultimately leading him to the B&B, where he’s faced with solving a crime and saving Cherise’s life. Available at amazon.com and Barnes & Noble

The Vow by Felicity Goodrich, Folsom The Vow charts the story of Anna, a devout Catholic girl who lives in a small town in rural Poland, and her village priest, Szymon. Tortured by tragedy and sorrow, they cling to one another for support against the violence of the world around them in the waning days of WWII. Available at amazon.com and Barnes & Noble

Dust from the Attic by Bill Carpentier, El Dorado Hills I left my three-year-old in a major supermarket and didn’t remember until I got home. My son ran away from home at age nine while I was 3,000 miles away. My grandmother kept her 16 children in line by having them suck on a suspicious substance. I have an idea to start an apparel store for seniors called FOREVER 60! Read how these and other true stories from Carpentier’s life end. The author also reveals many idiosyncrasies—some of which may haunt readers as well. Available at amazon.com, Face in a Book, Zia’s Italian Caffe and Gelato Bar, and Placerville News

Journey from Bondage to Freedom by Marcia Rose, Placerville This is a story of a young girl’s alienation within her own family. Her name is Marcia, and her difficult upbringing leads to an equally complicated adulthood—filled with too much alcohol and too many men. Exhausted by life, she asks God for help and receives it. This story reveals Marcia’s own survival and her friendship with James, a man with bipolar disorder, who she creates a center with that has been the salvation of so many. Out of the pain and hardship, something beautiful is born. Available at amazon.com, bipolarinsights.com, Apple iTunes, Google Play Store, and Barnes & Noble

Missing Frames: Memoir of a Woman Living with Hidden Disabilities by Scooter and Constance Burgess, Rancho Cordova Unable to understand or accept the changed person she had become because of her second brain injury, Scooter questions her existence and takes readers through depths of emotion seldom experienced. Deeply personal about the effects of trauma and the magnitude and scope of it in her life, Missing Frames provides glaring insights into the world of those living with hidden disabilities. Available at amazon.com, missingframesblog.wordpress.com, Underground Books in Sacramento, and Barnes & Noble

From the Sideline by Amy Avanzino, Folsom After losing her marriage, life savings and waistline, Autumn Kovac is terrified of being hit by more heartache. So when her only child, Zachary, decides to try out for the football team, the overprotective, sports-illiterate mom has a near phobic reaction, but Zachary hasn’t smiled since his father left, and she’s desperate to make him happy. She reluctantly enters a new world of youth competitive sports, full of overzealous coaches with Vince Lombardi dreams and fanatical parents trying to achieve vicarious glory. Available at amazon.com and Face in a Book

Home Staging Handbook: DIY Guide to Getting Your House Ready to Sell by Shannon Mendez, Folsom Home Staging Handbook helps homeowners prepare and decorate their homes to sell by explaining the techniques used by professional home stagers, interior decorators and real estate experts. The step-by-step organization and comprehensive checklists help home sellers get their houses to a like-new condition, up to date, decorated for their target market, and ready for showings. Home sellers learn how to visually market their own homes to sell quickly and profitably. Available at amazon.com and thehomestaginghandbook.com