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This month’s local author spotlight features life in a post-apocalyptic world, a graphic-novel-take on a Christmas classic, tales of what it was like emigrating from Cuba to America, and a children’s book that teaches a valuable lesson.
“A Visit From Saint Nicholas”
Illustrator: Jeremiyah Jones
Hometown: Kingston
Page count: 48
Publisher: Mule Boss Bookworks L.L.C.
Local connection: Jones grew up in the area and earned his associates degree in graphic design from Lehigh Carbon Community College.
Book synopsis: Jones’ graphic novel is a modern retelling of the “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore. The book was the dream of Donald A. Jones, who edited it. The West Pittston resident, who is also Jeremiyah’s mentor said: “I grew up in a family that loved to read and there were books under the Christmas tree every year. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,’ AKA ‘A Visit From St. Nicholas’ was my favorite Christmas book and we read it as a family every Christmas Eve. Throughout the years, and especially after I started a family of my own, I started collecting different copies. From tiny copies picked up at a yard sale for a dime to lavish hardcovers appropriate for any coffee table. It became a goal of mine to publish my own version of my favorite Christmas book. I met Jeremiyah about 10 years ago and when I saw some of his illustrations. I asked him if he would work with me to create a version of the book in his signature comic book style. It took some time and there were some bumps in the road but I couldn’t be any more pleased with the end result. I can’t thank Jeremiyah enough for helping me check this item off my bucket list.”
Buy it: Rubber Mallet Comics in West Pittston or online at avisitfromstnick.com.
Book signings: 4 to 7 p.m., Dec. 14 at Rubber Mallet Comics, 802 Wyoming Ave. West Pittston.
“The Line Leader”
Author: Caroline Jones
Hometown: Mountain Top
Current location: King’s College in Wilkes-Barre
Page count: 32 pages
Local connection: “I was born and raised in NEPA, and I currently live in NEPA. My co-author Dr. (Matt) Sowcik is currently a professor at the University of Florida, but he lived in NEPA and was a professor at Wilkes University when I met him,” Jones said.
Book Synopsis: “The Line Leader” is a story about teacher, Mr. Owl, who announces to his class there will be a party in their classroom for special leaders.
“To prepare for the celebration, a variety of classroom jobs must be completed,” Jones said. “Every student wants to be the line leader because they believe that the line leader would be the best leader of all the students. Spider delegates jobs to each of the students based on their strengths, but there are no more jobs left for Spider. In the end, Spider realizes that she doesn’t have to be the line leader or have a position of authority to be a leader. Spider realizes you can be a leader by being humble, helping others, and inspiring others to be the best they can be.”
She was inspired for this story by interviewing children from local elementary schools during her writing process. Her goal is “to provide teachers and parents with a resource to help children understand how they can demonstrate leadership in their daily lives.”
Buy it: www.lineleaders.org, or through Jones or Sowcik. Jones hopes to sell the book in local bookstores.
Book signings: Jones reads at local elementary schools. If any schools are interested in scheduling a reading, email [email protected]. Keep an eye on the book’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lineleaders) or Twitter (@lineleadersorg) or Instagram (@lineleaders) accounts for more information.
“The Doors You Mark Are Your Own”
Authors: Okla Elliott and Raul Clement
Hometowns: Argyle, Ky. (Elliott) and Durham, N.C. (Clement)
Page count: 724 pages
Publisher: Dark House Press
Local connections: Elliott teaches at Misericordia, Clement lives locally.
Book’s synopsis: Joshua City is one of seven city-states in a post-apocalyptic world where water is scarce and technology is at mid-20th-century Soviet levels. As the novel opens, the Baikal Sea has been poisoned, causing a major outbreak of a flesh-eating disease called nekrosis. Against this backdrop of political corruption, violence and oppression, a struggle for control of Joshua City ensues, and a revolutionary group called The Underground emerges.
Buy it: Amazon, BN.com, and through any local bookstore.
“Alma de Cuba: Reflections of a Cuban Soul”
Author: Alma DeRojas
Hometown: Dallas
Current location: DeRojas works at Penn State Abington and lives in Elkins Park
Page count: 160
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Local connection: DeRojas is the granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. Juan DeRojas from Mountain Top. After leaving Cuba in 1961, her grandparents moved to South Dakota with their five children. At the time, the VA was resettling Cuban doctors around the country. In 1965, the family moved to Mountain Top. She graduated from Bishop O’Reilly High School in Kingston and attended Susquehanna University where she received a BA in English and Spanish. She earned her MA from Florida International University in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
Book’s synopsis: The DeRojas family left everything behind when they came to America seeking freedom in 1961. Though they had no money, their determination for a better life and faith in God motivated them in all aspects of their lives. Dr. Juan DeRojas became Chief of Surgery for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Wilkes-Barre, Associate Professor of Surgery for Temple University School of Medicine, and Member of the American College of Surgeons. Mrs. DeRojas taught elementary school at St. Jude’s in Mountain Top. Alma DeRojas returned to her family’s homeland in Cuba 38 years after they left. She later focused her master’s thesis on the cultural significance of la Virgen de la Caridad, Cuba’s patron saint. DeRojas wanted to emphasize her family’s history and their faith through her book.
Buy it: amazon.com