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Samantha Rezentes joins the Relevant Publishers LLC family of authors. She is a children's book author, artisan, keen outdoorswoman, and mother of two. Samantha grew up near the shores of the Atlantic, spending much of her childhood on the beaches of Tybee and Jekyll Islands of Georgia. Samantha’s travels have taken her from coast to coast, studying veterinary technology, marine biology, ecology, and animal husbandry along the way. Her passion for the environment and its inhabitants, coupled with the wide-eyed enthusiasm of her own children, inspired Samantha to write and illustrate the Curious Cooper series in hopes of instilling a similar love and interest in children- and their parents- around the globe. Samantha's first book: Curious Cooper Have You Heard About Sharks? launches in November. 
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Relevant Publishers LLC welcomes professional teacher and writer Christian Shane. Christian writes Middle Grades fiction. His newest novel, Salmon Survivor, helps youth process the loss of a parent while learning about the cycle of life and salmon.  Marianne Widmalm and Lawrence Mukoro are in the final voting for the 2021 Christian Indie Awards. Please consider casting your votes today at http://christianaward.com
 Jeff Cassell is a career aviation professional who lives in the beautiful state of Georgia and writes entertaining Middle Grades Fiction. Jeff recently joined us for his amazing new series Bushtails Black Ops. The first trilogy in the Bushtails Black Ops series is called Acorn Squadron and introduces a new team of aviators to USA Air Force life. Building on the concept of the Navajo Code Talkers from WWII, the Air Force creates a highly specialized team of genetically modified squirrels to fly reconnaissance drones gathering intelligence unavailable through traditional methods for soldiers in Afghanistan. This exciting new series is targeted for ages 8 to 12; grades 4 through 7. Alaskan author Leon Mensch wins first place, the Gold Award, at the 2020 Moonbeam Children's Awards in Animals/Pets Fiction with his debut book, Me-Now, The Adventures of Mickey the Mushing Cat. CONGRATULATIONS!! For a complete 2020 Winner's List, click here.
Relevant Publishers LLC warmly welcomes previously published author Kerry Olitzky to our house. We will be working with Kerry on his newest children's book on Shabbat in Alaska titled, A Whale of a Tale. Dr. Olitzky has been named as one of "The 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America" by Newsweek. Currently an associate at Mersky, Jaffe & Associates (MJA), Dr. Olitzky served formerly as vice president of the Wexner Heritage Foundation, the premier adult Jewish learning and Jewish leadership program in North America. Previously, he was national Dean of Adult Jewish Learning and Living of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion where he served on the faculty and administration for 15 years following his tenure as rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, CT. He is also a prolific author, writing over 75 books.  Due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, Creative Capital working with ArtistRelief.org is providing artist relief grants for artists who are in “dire financial emergencies” defined as the lack or imminent endangerment of essentials such as housing, medicine, childcare, and food. Authors typically count as "artists" for Creative Capital awards. Find more information here: Creative Capital Artist Relief Grants.  5 Things authors can be doing during the COVID-19 crisis:
 We hope to see you tomorrow at the Once In A Blue Moose gift shop at their 4th Avenue & F location in Anchorage for Alaskan author and Kasilof musher, Leon Mensch, new book signing. The signing begins at 1:00 pm, right after the ceremonial start of the world famous Iditarod Sled-Dog Race and before the Fur Rondy's Running of the Reindeer downtown. Leon will be bringing a picture of the real Mickey, his adopted cat, to the book signing too! Come and meet Leon and get a glimpse at Mickey, the inspiration for Me-Now, The Adventures of Mickey the Mushing Cat is the first book in a new series for children, grades 3rd to 5th.  Me-Now, The Adventures of Mickey the Mushing Cat by Leon Mensch went on sale yesterday! We are already receiving 5 star reviews on Amazon from customers.   The Bright Lights Book Project is trying to save useful discarded books while promoting literacy. If you would like to get involved, they need volunteers, financial support, and organizations willing to take donated books. You can even specify a genre or types of books you are looking to find, and the volunteers sorting will save books for you to pick up and distribute in your desired area. If you want to learn more, contact Alys (Alice) at 907-745-4747.
 Relevant Publishers LLC was honored to assist author Jeannette Brown in producing her debut children's picture book about service to others. Jeannette is battling early on-set Alzheimer's and a portion of proceeds from the sales of this book will be donated to the Alzheimer's Associate to help others diagnosed with this disease. Officially, the book was launched by Dyer West Press in December 2019. Book Synopsis: In her new book, Emily Higgenbotham, The Gift, author Jeannette Brown shares her legacy of a life of service to others where she learned the most valuable gift we can offer is our love, time, and attention. Emily Higgenbotham is a very little girl with lots of friends. Emily spends time with one of her friends daily. One day, she decides she wants to give a very important gift to her friends. But being so small she wonders how she can really make a difference or give them the right gift. What special thing can she do so they know how she feels? With her mother's help, Emily learns the most important gift she can give is of herself. Emily learns SHE is the gift her friends needed most.
We also had a lot of wonderful children's books including Brooke Hartman's newest release: Dream Flights on Arctic Nights. Ms. Hartman was the Alaska Writer's Guild president in 2019.
 
The most encouraging author I was privileged to meet was Adam Freestone. Adam writes the Sentinel Flame Series and his bio states, "he is a near quadriplegic man afflicted with Muscular Dystrophy, confined to a wheelchair and dependent on a ventilator, but despite everything he has going against him, he never lets it stand in his way. He is a go-getter, animal and nature lover, MDA participant, and smart minded writer. Everything that goes into his stories is carefully considered, nothing he writes goes down casually." After meeting Adam, I'd have to completely agree! His capitvating book covers are only a hint of this thriving and enthusiastic author. Book 1 is called Hyroe and is a fantasy book that has received 5-star ratings. His second book is coming soon.
 
Hope to see you at next year's book fair. Until then, you can purchase these books from your local bookstore or on Amazon.
Looking for unique Christmas gift ideas? Maybe you have a friend or relative who makes it difficult to find a present? Well, we have good news! ReadAlaska, Alaska’s largest book fair since 1993 will be at the Anchorage Museum on the second floor, the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving, November 29th and 30th. With thirty local publishers, authors, and photographers displaying hundreds of Alaskan books, most signed and personalized by local authors, finding unique and perfect Christmas gifts are now possible.
Whether your friends like fiction or nonfiction or you’re buying for adults or children, you can’t go wrong with the right book. Gifts are available from impossible crime to fishing adventures, fantasy/sci-fi to romantic suspense. Whether you’re looking for a book on how to survive in the wilderness or surviving your in-laws, there’s a great selection for everyone.
Impossible crime is a subgenre of mystery, where a detective has to solve how the crime was committed before he can track the perpetrators. Steven Levi, Alaskan author of impossible crime, will be showcasing his books including The Matter of The Deserted Airliner, in which a 737 lands in Anchorage with no pilot, no crew, and no passengers even though it was fully staffed and loaded in Seattle and never stopped. So where are the pilot, crew and passengers? When kidnappers ask for $25 million in diamonds, everyone knows space aliens aren’t involved. Now the detective has to figure out how the pilot, crew and passengers disappeared fast enough to stop the payment of the ransom and expedite their return.
 
Robin Barefield from Kodiak Island will be promoting her book, Murder Over Kodiak, the tale of a floatplane that mysteriously explodes above the Alaska wilderness. Investigators begin digging into the lives of the five passengers and the pilot to determine who was the target of the bomb. Was it the U.S. senator in the midst of a hotly contended re-election campaign or her husband, a corporate raider with no shortage of enemies? Could the bomb have been meant for the cannery owner involved in a contentious divorce, or the refuge manager who has a long list of adversaries? Even the pilot could have been the target, since his girlfriend has violent tendencies and knows how to use explosives. Readers will anxiously engage in this page-turning mystery.
 
Local Chugiak writer, E.M. Shue, will also be attending for the first time with her steamy romantic-suspense fiction novels beginning with her original Securities International series. E.M’s latest release, Accidentally Noah, is receiving 5-star ratings from Amazon readers and climbing the charts. Romance fans are sure to fall in love with the newest Caine and Graco Saga.
For nonfiction readers, ReadAlaska offers true stories of bush flying mysteries and disasters by Gregory Leifer, the life and dangerous times of a sniper in Vietnam written under the pseudonym of T. Martin O’Neil (for good reason). Of course, the book fair has a wide display of Alaskana books and memoirs, including local Chickaloon author, Hilda Luster-Lindner. We even have pet friendly books. Dog lovers are sure to enjoy Road Trip With Remington Beagle by Valerie Winans, and those looking for spiritual inspiration will be sure to find a little something for the man or woman of faith too. Over the past 27 years, ReadAlaska also has presented a wide variety of children’s books ranging from Pre-K picture books to chapter books for older readers. This year, Anchorage author Brooke Hartman, current president of the Alaska Writer’s Guild, will be featuring her new release, “Dream Flights on Arctic Nights.” This beautifully illustrated book follows a child’s dreamy flight through the Arctic to discover the animals that live there. From the wolves prowling in the snow to the goats and sheep standing on the mountains to the walrus and sea lions lying on big glaciers, children explore Alaskan wildlife with a creative and poetic flare. The ReadAlaska Book Fair offers extraordinary Christmas presents. Even better, readers can meet local authors and have their books autographed and personalized. Buying local is the best option. But, if you’re looking for local books and can’t attend the ReadAlaska event the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving at the Anchorage Museum, check out the latest website dedicated to Alaskan books at www.alaskanbooks.com where you can find local authors year-round. All Alaskan authors are welcome to submit their books to this website for inclusion. Building community begins by buying local.
 Author Marianne Widmalm has been writing for The Times of Israel website about the Holy Spirit, educating many readers. Her recent article is about Lady Wisdom who is described repeatedly throughout the Old Testament scriptures and believers are encouraged to seek her earnestly. Unlike many of today's Christian teachings about Wisdom, Marianne personifies Her as part of the divine trinity which was Her given attributes in the Old Testament, being present and helping with the creation of the world. Check out her latest article here.
Loussac Library, the main library in the Anchorage Public Library System has made it fun to return books! Check out their book return machine in the picture below. Isn't he cute? We just love the added details of a little mustache and googly eyes! The long white conveyor belt in the background moves returned books up and out of the way quickly. New technologies in the library are so exciting!  © 2019 Sharon Aubrey Here's a sneak peek at some of the illustrations in our new book MeNow: The Adventures of Mickey the Mushing Cat, book 1 from Leon Mensch. Releasing February 2020 just in time for the Iditarod!  ReadAlaska will host their 26th annual book fair on the second floor of the Anchorage Museum November 29th and 30th, 2019. As in years past, the event showcases many local Alaskan authors and publishers. Sharon Aubrey of Relevant Publishers LLC will be there with many of our titles to help you find that special Christmas present for your hard-to-buy for friends and family. Stop by on Black Friday or Small Business Saturday from 10am-6pm and buy local! Additionally, there is a large craft show featuring local artists on the first level of the museum. A percentage of proceeds benefit the museum.  Image courtesy of Anchorage Museum |
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