Four local authors among 22 at Sunday's Writers on the River

Keith Julius of Temperance had already self-published a suspense thriller when he embarked on a new series, one a bit closer to his heart.

“Catch a Falling Star” is a series of fictional books based on his eight years as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate in Lucas County. CASAs advocate for abused and neglected children and also work in Monroe County.

Julius is one of 22 local and regional authors attending Sunday’s Writers on the River event at the Ellis Library & Reference Center.

More:Writers on the River: The celebration of literature returns after the COVID break

“I attended Writers on the River once before. It was a pleasure to attend,” Julius said. “It’s always great to have the opportunity to meet potential readers and communicate as well with fellow writers in our community.”

Julius has published three books in the CASA-themed series and is working on a fourth for National Novel Writers Month, which is this month. The works explore drug addiction, child abuse, mental illness and human trafficking. The new book is on teen suicide.

While the issues are serious, Julius said the stories also illustrate hope and perseverance.

“It's amazing to me to think how people can overcome the adversities in their lives, persevere through the hardships and continue to move forward. Though works of fiction, they hit upon some of the hard realities of life,” he said “People in our communities deal with these issues every day. Families struggle with these problems. I also would like to see more people aware of the CASA program. Anyone can join, and make a difference in a young person's life. I've read many times, in books regarding writing, that an author should ‘write what you know.’ I think the CASA Chronicles gives me the opportunity to do just that.”

Author Rhonda Accardo of Northville is coming to Monroe for her first Writers of the River event Sunday.

“I am looking forward to being a part. I met Jaclyn Young, a librarian with the Monroe County Library System. She was kind enough to let me know about the event. I am excited and honored to take part," Accardo said.

Accardo wrote “The Acorn & The Oak” with her daughter, illustrator Jessica Waterstradt.

The book is the story of a young girl, her mother and their love of an old oak tree. While technically a children’s book, it has wider appeal.

“We often get asked what age group the book is for. Anyone who has read the story often tells us it is written for the hearts of all ages. Little children love all the details painted within the story. We offer it with a magnifying glass so that they can find all the details my daughter brought to life within the pages,” Accardo said. “For older children, it is a story about nature. We sell just as many books to adults as they identify with the loss through an old, beloved oak tree.”

It’s been well-received since it was published last year.

“My daughter’s illustrations alone have sold the book. Her detailed watercolors bring the story to life. All the positive feedback we have received is overwhelming. We often hear from readers that the book is their child’s new favorite story. We have been told by adults that the book helped them more than any other book in finding hope after loss,” Accardo said. “The book has allowed us to visit other communities we may have otherwise not have seen. Visiting so many new towns and getting to know the local people has become a highlight of our journey. I look forward to adding Monroe to that list.”

Other authors coming to Sunday’s Writers on the River are:

• Jim Abb is a self-published author from Monroe. His books are “Even Trolls Love Pasties,” “I Brake for Humans” and “Huckleberry Finishes.”

All the books are about the Goode family.

“I am currently working on a tale involving yet another member of the Goode family, Devin, a young Detroit reporter to whom it has just been revealed that leprechauns and faeries are actually aliens who have been stranded on Earth,” Abb said.

• Rick Grassley of Monroe is a local genealogist, researcher and local historian. He has written about local history for the last five years and has published work in the Genealogical Society of Monroe County newsletter, The Monroe News and the Michigan Genealogical Council newsletter.

• Shawna Lynn Mazur of Monroe wrote the recently published “Hidden History of Monroe County, Michigan.”

She also writes for local history publications and is working on a book for the National Park Service.

• Rhonda Accardo of Michigan is the author of “The Acorn and the Oak,” based on her family history.

• Sierra Carter is the author of the children’s book “Meet Carter,” which is the first book in a five-book series. The series is about her son who died six years ago.

“It is a true story of a time that I took him to meet his big sister’s classroom and the beautiful outcome,” Carter said. “I am writing ‘The Carter Series’ in hopes of teaching the importance and beauty of inclusion and acceptance.”

• Shelby Franks, 27, a Michigan native, wrote “Project Yes.”

• Mary J. Held is the author of “Unfreezing Trauma: My Personal Journal of EMDR Recovery.”

Held, who suffers from debilitating seizures, has been seizure-free for four months after discovering Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

• Issa M. Lewis of West Michigan wrote 2017’s “Infinite Collisions” and 2022’s “Anchor.”

She was the 2013 recipient of the Lucille Clifton Poetry Prize and a runner-up for the 2017 Lois Cranston Memorial Poetry Prize.

• Myra G. Love wrote 2017’s “Davey Panda,” a Christian children’s book series.

Love was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Dyslexia.

• Ken MacGregor is a horror author who wrote story collections “An Aberrant Mind,” “Sex, Gore and Millipedes” and “Lions & Tigers & Weres.” His young adult novella is “Devil’s Bane,” and he co-wrote “Headcase.”

• H. H. Miller is a Toledo native, graphic novelist and author of “Tower of DOGS.” The sequel will be released Nov. 12.

Miller also self-published several manga-style graphic novels and had spent four years teaching in Japan.

• Jim Mollenkopf of Toledo is an author and photographer. His books tell stories in words and photos and include “The Great Black Swamp, Volumes I-IV,” “The Great Black Swamp: Woods & Wander” and “One Summer Day in America.”

• Carol Nickles of west Michigan is part of the sixth generation of a German textile aficionado family and author of the books “Beards, Brunscrackers, and Snowflake Kisses,” and “Thumb Fire Desire.”

• Kimberly Paulson is a freelance attorney, writer and editor. She has practiced law for 25 years, served as an adjunct law professor and managed a free legal clinic.

• Steampunk, urban fantasy writer and Canada native S.W. Raine is the author of “Rise of the Sky Pirate” and “The Techno Mage.”

• Becky Robinson is the founder of a full-service marketing agency and author of “Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book or Cause.”

• Jordan Scavone is a Michigan-based independent author of five children’s books and one urban fantasy novel.

• Lannie Stabile is part of the LGBTQIA+ community and is the author of “Something Dead in Everything” and “Good Morning to Everyone Except Men Who Name Their Dogs Zeus.”

She has earned several writing awards.

• Merrill Wyatt of Northwest Ohio is the author of children’s titles “Ernestine,” “Tangled Up in Luck” and “Tangled Up in Nonsense.”

• Christine A. Yared is an attorney, educator, speaker and author of “Private Love, Public Schools: Gay Teachers Under Fire.” The book was named a 2022 Notable Book by the Library of Michigan.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Four local authors among the 22 at Sunday's Writers on the River