Knowing about local authors and buying their books will support the
writing community near home and may also give you an advantage in
finding someone to visit or Skype with your club.
A local
independent bookstore is also likely to know who is writing excellent
books within your community. Another way to find them is to look for
readings at area writing collaboratives, libraries and organizations
that spotlight writers in a literary series like the Jewish Community
Center series in Worcester. Many regional authors have been profiled or
mentioned in this column; a short listing may give your group its next
read. (Not all are available for visits or Skype events.)
Ali
Hosseini of Hudson, author of “The Lemon Grove” and “The Place of
Stones,” beautifully depicts the Iranian culture of his youth and the
conflicts in modern Iran that changed what was an idyllic life for its
people to one of suffering amid war and loss of their livelihoods. It’s
published by Northwestern University Press; his webpage is www.alihosseini.com.
Ursula
Wong of Chelmsford, whose fictional series on the Lithuanian resistance
to Soviet occupation after World War II began with “Amber Wolf” and
continued with “Amber War” and “Amber Widow,” is also the author of
short stories and the novel, “Purple Trees.” She is at work on “Black
Amber,” about a Boston man who plots to stop Russian plans for a gas
line under the Baltic Sea. She will sign books in Putnam, Connecticut,
during the July 21 Lithuanian Summer Festival there. Contact urslwng@gmail.com.
Mary
Bonina, who grew up in Worcester, became a sought-after teacher of
memoir writing after writing her own, “My Father’s Eyes: A Memoir.” A
Cambridge resident, Bonina gives readings at libraries and literary
events. Contact her at http://www.marybonina.com.
Poet
and songwriter Rich Marcello of Harvard has written several novels
including “The Color of Home,” “The Big Wide Calm” and “The Beauty of
the Fall.” He teaches creative writing through Seven Bridge Writers
Collaborative in Lancaster and is writing “The Latecomers,” his fourth
novel. Contact him at www.richmarcello.com/contact.
Joe
W. Bebo of Hudson recently released “Alex - A Lesson in Courage,” the
story of a special needs boy surrounded by many people who cared enough
to make his life better. Other self-published books include historical
fiction, sci-fi and horror. See more on Facebook. To contact, joewbebobooks@gmail.com.
Frances
Brown of Webster writes paranormal romance, women’s fiction and
contemporary romance under the pseudonym Claire Gem. If that’s your
thing, her books include the newest, “Electricity,” from her Haunted
Voices series. Learn more at https://clairegem.com.
She’ll read from and sign copies of “Electricity” from 1 to 3 p.m. July
20 in Booklovers’ Gourmet, 55 East Main St., Webster. This is Gem’s
seventh novel, set on the grounds of a former Massachusetts mental
asylum.
Steven E. Huff of Worcester wrote two humorous (and
helpful) books based on the “Better Call Saul” and “Breaking Bad” TV
series. His books are “Don’t Go to Jail!: Saul Goodman’s Guide to
Keeping the Cuffs Off” and a follow-up book, “Get Off the Grid! Saul
Goodman’s Guide to Staying Off the Radar.” An expert on crime
nitty-gritty, he’s appeared on NBC’s “Dateline,” CBS’s “48 Hours
Mystery” and MSNBC. Deputy digital editor for Maxim magazine, he writes
for various online outlets and founded the first true-crime blog, True
Crime Report. He also sings opera! More info at facebook.com/stevehuff.
R.A.
Salvatore is an internationally recognized writer of fantasy series. He
lives most of the year in California now, working, but is a Leominster
resident who began his writing career there. Books include the latest
Drizzt novel, “Boundless;” the Forgotten Realms series of trilogies and
books; the Demon Wars and Dark Elf series; and “Star Wars: The New Jedi
Order.”
Worcester native Thomas Christopher Greene has written a
half-dozen books, including “The Headmaster’s Wife” and “The Perfect
Liar” (2019). They’re clever and inventive. He lives in Vermont, where
he founded the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier. Thomaschristophergreene.com.
