Three Southborough authors will be set up at the Southborough Library on Heritage Day to sign copies of their latest books. Two of the authors have penned novels for adults, and one has a new Christmas-themed children’s book out. Be sure to stop by the library on Monday to meet the authors and pick up a few copies.
Here is some more information on the authors and their books.
Steve Ulfelder – Purgatory Chasm
Book description: The job seems simple. Conway Sax, a no-nonsense auto mechanic with a knack for solving difficult problems, has never liked obnoxious blowhard Tander Phigg. But a promise is a promise. Tander’s a Barnburner, a member of the unique Alcoholics Anonymous group that rescued Conway, and when a Barnburner has a problem, Conway takes care of it. Besides, all Tander wants is to get back his baby, a vintage Mercedes that’s been in a shady auto shop far too long.
But Conway soon discovers there’s much more to the problem than Tander first let on – especially when Tander turns up dead. Conway was the last person seen with the victim, and on top of that, he has a record, making him the cops’ top suspect. He must catch the killer to clear himself, but beyond that, he’s a man who honors his promises, even when the guy he made them to is dead.
In the tradition of Robert B. Parker and Dennis Lehane, Steve Ulfelder’s crackling debut mystery features a gritty, razor-sharp new voice in crime fiction. Conway Sax isn’t a hired gun or a wise-cracking urbanite. He’s just a mechanic trying to make his way, a blue-collar guy whose ideas about family and loyalty are as deeply held as they are strong. He’ll break your heart if you’re not careful.
Ann Port – It’s All In The Title
Book description: It’s All In The Title combines mystery, romance, and humorous anecdotes about running a major league baseball team. The major character, Carolyn Charlotte Cleveland, or CC, is the president of a fictional team, the Indianapolis Knights. She inherits an English title and an enormous amount of money from her father, an English earl whom she never met. When she travels to England to reject the title, she unexpectedly becomes embroiled in a mystery: Who was her father? How had he become so incredibly rich, and, most importantly, how did he die and at whose hand?
Determined to find out about the man who chose to keep his own title rather than marry her mother, she searches for clues in the Cotswolds, London, and eventually at her father’s hunting lodge in the Highlands of Scotland where she meets Charles Timperley, a Scottish lord. Charlie, CC’s mother, Mary, and her enigmatic stepfather, Flash MacTandy, are drawn in and face danger as they strive to solve the mystery. Once her questions are answered, CC must make a difficult and life-altering decision. Will she accept her father’s title and become Countess of Litchfield, or will she choose to retain her present title, President of the Knights?
Betty Jo Dowd – Sparkle the Christmas Star
Book description: Finally the cd storybook version of the children”s musical Sparkle the Christmas Star copyright 1974 and copyright 2004. The CD included is told and sung by the author.
It is December, and Sparkle the Christmas Star is acting up again. Lady Moon explains one more time that Sparkle must stand still and shine in the East, because without the light of his shine, snowflakes can”t fall, reindeer can”t fly, Santa won”t be able to deliver his presents on Christmas Eve, and no one will be filled with the Christmas spirit. Sparkle doesn”t listen and leans over too far and falls out of the sky.
Sparkle falls into the kingdom of Laughalot, and with the help of a little princess and Darius, a dragon who (shhh. It”s a royal secret) can”t breathe fire, they try to get Sparkle back into the sky before Christmas.
They visit a very silly King who can”t help them; a very worried Santa who can”t help them and finally turn to the Evil Wizard of Black Mountain, whose real goal is to capture the power of Sparkle in a jar, and become the most powerful Wizard in the world. He thinks he has to stay away from Darius, however, because the only thing that can dissolve a Wizard is dragon fire. (He doesn” t know the royal secret.)
Sparkle does get back in the sky and Christmas comes once again.
Through his journey we learn lessons about responsibility, friendship and not giving up.
The story is gently told and interspersed with delightful, simple songs, guaranteed to fill you and your child with the Christmas spirit.
