Read, Visit with Local Authors This Holiday Season

In honor of Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30, Write by the Rails, the Prince William Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club, invites everyone to “Shop Local” with 13 hometown authors. Some have books available in independent book stores and coffee houses throughout Prince William; all have an online presence. Here are new books worth exploring:

Prolific fantasy/steampunk author and Bristow resident Philippa Ballantine had three books out in 2013: Harbinger: A Book of Order (Ace), Kindred and Wings (A Shifted World Novel), (Pyr) and Chasing the Bard (The Chronicles of Art, Vol. 1) (Imagine That! Studios). Pre-orders are available now on Dawn’s Early Light: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, with co-author Tee Morris, due for publication in March 2014.  Tee Morris, Ballantine’s husband, also writes fantasy/steampunk. His contributing stories appear in these 2013 books: Ministry Protocol: Thrilling Tales of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences and Cosmic Christmas 2 You.

Robert Bausch, professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College’s Woodbridge campus and author of nine books, including In the Fall They Come Back, will soon publish his tenth work, Far As the Eye Can See. Bausch will lead the fourth annual Woodbridge Writers’ Retreat, May 14-17, 2014 (enrollment begins March 5, 2014).

Bristow author, artist and speaker Patricia Daly-Lipe, has published five books, including the historical fiction A Cruel Calm: Paris Between the Wars. Her sixth book, Patriot Priest, will be published in early 2014 by Strategic Media Books.

Manassas resident Kelly Harman, offers up humorous anecdotes in Did I Say That Out Loud, a compilation of her popular online columns.

Woodbridge author Deborah Tompkins Johnson shares compelling and entertaining stories from actor Blair Underwood, Governor Doug Wilder, Iran hostage survivor Kate Koob, General Carl McNair and others in How Did They Do That – Career Highlights, Triumphs and Challenges. Johnson will join six other local authors at the 4th Annual Red Carpet Showcase, sponsored by the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Cougar Elementary School, 9330 Brandon Street in Manassas Park. Meet Victoria Christopher Murray (Never Say Never), Tasha Fuller (It’s Bathtime Baby), Angela Harris (Mommy What is a CEO?), Linda Moye (The Pledge: Life is Eternal and so is Love), Terron Sims (Hands of Honor) and comic book designer and cartoonist Eric Suggs of the Art Way Alliance.

Gainesville resident Linda Johnston published Hope Amid Hardship: Pioneer Voices from Kansas Territory. When she’s not in Kansas for the book tours, she has been giving journal writing workshops at the Manassas Museum and through Lifelong Learning Institute-Manassas.

Manassas resident Claudia Lefeve, author of the Travelers Series and other speculative fiction, published Darkly Beings and participated in the Fall for the Book Festival event at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in September.

Manassas resident Nick Kelly has three books out: Catwalk: Messiah (eBook and paperback), Catwalk: Making an Entrance (digital comic) and Ichi: Book One of the Urban Samurai Series (eBook) with Stacia D. Kelly.

Manassas resident Belinda Miller launched her children’s book (ages 9-12) Phillip’s Quest, Book 1: Winterfrost (Twisted Oak Press) in November. Book 2 is scheduled for publication in 2014.

Mary C. Rosenthol, who covers Manassas for PotomacLocal.com, is launching her first book, Terminal: Handling the Reality of Love and Loss, in December. Rosenthol, who was 13 when her mother was diagnosed with cancer and 22 when she died, shares her strength and hope with readers who may be experiencing a similar loss.

Rev. Stuart E. Schadt (pen name, Stuart), launches the second book in his middle grade action adventure book series, Henry and the ShadowMan Band, at Trinity Episcopal Church’s Christmas Market, Sunday morning, Dec. 1, from 8:30 am to 12:15 pm in the Parish Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church, 9325 West Street, Old Town Manassas. The book follows Henry on Fire, the first book in the series.

Manassas resident, blogger, columnist, reporter and writing/editing consultant Dan Verner launched On Wings of the Morning (eLectio Publishing), a World War II novel, in November.

Want to drink coffee and hang out with local authors? Write by the Rails hosts a “meet and greet” on Wed., Dec. 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Grounds Central Station, 9360 Main Street in Old Town Manassas.

Want drink coffee and take your turn at an open mic? Deja Brew Coffee House, 5311 Merchants View Square in Haymarket hosts Poets & Writers Night, a monthly event, on Friday, December 6, from 8 to 10 p.m.

While the participating local authors haven’t yet been announced, Tackett’s Mill in Lake Ridge is hosting a Winter Holiday Arts Market on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 11 am – 3 pm. Check the Tackett’s Mill Facebook page for more information.

Know any other hometown authors who published in 2013? Share their works in the comments section. 

And congratulations to everyone who successfully finished National Novel Writing Month! A year-round NaNoWriMo group meets Mondays from 7 to 10 pm at the Barnes & Noble, 8117 Sudley Road in Manassas.