UntitledTown Book and Author Festival 2019

The Magic Necklace of Al-Andalus is a historical fantasy novel. The historical part occurs, with one Roman digression, in Spain during the nearly 800 years of the Arab presence from their initial tidal-wave invasion in 711to their expulsion in 1492. The Arab tide receded southward but then remained largely in place for several centuries. Al-Andalus refers to these Arab-ruled areas in which the Arabs, Muslims, tolerated and often even welcomed Christians and Jews. Religion is important in the development of the four main characters, Cass, Thea, and Alan, teenagers in Philadelphia in 1951, and Sebastian, the young officer of the Queen’s Guard in Spain in 1491. Religion is also one of the ingredients in the interactions of secondary characters, some of whom are historical. The Magic Necklace and its resident sprite, the Djini Maeden, are the fantasy part of the novel. They spirit the characters off to key times and places of Al-Andalus. As they discover the nature of the Necklace and Maeden, the main characters realize that they have been chosen. They are on a perilous quest affecting themselves and others.

DescriptionEnter the colorful world under the sea and swim along with The Pout-Pout Fish and friends as they discover that sometimes friendship is all it takes to find a smile where “dreary wearies” used to be. Based on Deborah Diesen’s “Pout Pout Fish” series, this theatrical experience invites our young audience and their grown ups into an environment of bright ocean colors, memorable music, and playful rhyme in this fun fish story that’s sure to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down.
Appropriate for ages 18 months to 6 years old & their grown ups.
Doors open at 30 minutes prior to scheduled start time for guests to explore the world of Pout Pout Fish through self guided hands on literacy and creative play activities. Young guests are encouraged to arrive early and create a fish puppet that they will use during the performance.
Interactive performance is free, but since seating is limited, we encourage guests to reserve their tickets in advance. TICKETS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.

Local author McKenzie Austin introduces interested parties to her genre-bending fantasy series, The Panagea Tales, with excerpts read from book one (The Tree That Grew Through Iron) and two (The Gods Who Harvested Men).  

The Waking Land Trilogy: The Waking Land, The Memory of Fire, and The Soul of Fire (June, 2019)

Lady Elanna Valtai is fiercely devoted to the king who raised her like a daughter. But when he dies under mysterious circumstances, Elanna is accused of his murder—and must flee for her life.
Returning to the homeland of magical legends she has forsaken, Elanna is forced to reckon with her despised, estranged father, branded a traitor long ago. Feeling a strange, deep connection to the natural world, she also must face the truth about the forces she has always denied or disdained as superstition—powers that suddenly stir within her.

But an all-too-human threat is drawing near, determined to exact vengeance. Now Elanna has no choice but to lead a rebellion against the kingdom to which she once gave her allegiance. Trapped between divided loyalties, she must summon the courage to confront a destiny that could tear her apart.