Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 11-29-23
Local news, local politics and community events for St. Charles County Missouri.
Local news, local politics and community events for St. Charles County Missouri.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
24 I<br />
November <strong>29</strong>, 20<strong>23</strong><br />
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
ON THE BOOKSHELF, from page 18<br />
dent is an accomplished artist whose paintings<br />
have been included in numerous St.<br />
Louis Artists Guild exhibitions and hang<br />
in private collections. Visit edfarberauthor.<br />
com to buy his book and learn more.<br />
St. Charles resident Linda Alcorn says<br />
she enjoys adventuring through her imagination.<br />
But what’s an adventure –real or<br />
imagined – without a furry friend alongside?<br />
Alcorn drew from her own “dog<br />
mom” adventures in penning “Don’t Bark<br />
to Strangers,” the story of Chip, an Australian<br />
Shepherd puppy who turns the life<br />
of his owner, Sinclair, (and her trash can)<br />
upside down.<br />
Chip changed everything for Sinclair,<br />
her family and her moody cat. But he made<br />
them all a little crazy. So, in her quest to be<br />
the best dog mom ever, Sinclair came up<br />
with a unique idea. She decided to start a<br />
Ruff Life therapy business for pet parents.<br />
She’s unlicensed and a little unhinged, but<br />
her clients love talking to her, and to each<br />
other, about their furry family members.<br />
You can bet they have some hilarious stories<br />
to share.<br />
“Don’t Bark to Strangers” is available on<br />
amazon.com.<br />
KIDS & YOUNG ADULTS<br />
In 2021, Michael Kleckner published<br />
“Mike’s Unforgettable St. Louis History,”<br />
a book for adults. But why should grownups<br />
have all the fun?<br />
As he tucked his<br />
5-year-old son into<br />
bed one night, Kleckner<br />
decided to write<br />
“Mike’s Unforgettable<br />
St. Louis History,<br />
For Kids.” Kids and<br />
their grown-ups will<br />
enjoy historical photos<br />
alongside whimsical<br />
illustrations that bring<br />
history to life. From<br />
the humorous origins<br />
of favorite foods to animals<br />
escaping from the<br />
zoo, Kleckner shares<br />
fun stories from St.<br />
Louis history. Learn<br />
more at mikesunforgettablestlouis.com.<br />
J.M. Gulmire is a kid at heart with a house<br />
full of critters and elves (aka children). She<br />
wrote “Kay-9 the Robot Dog” because<br />
the elves begged her for a story about robot<br />
dogs. Upon searching through mountains<br />
of books and so many web pages that the<br />
computer revolted, she found nothing.<br />
When the dust settled there was nothing<br />
in children’s fiction, nonfiction, or unfinished<br />
fiction about a robot dog, so Kay-9<br />
@MIDRIVERS_NEWS<br />
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
jumped onto the page demanding belly<br />
rubs and bolts, Gimire says.<br />
In “Kay-9 the Robot Dog,” Gulmire<br />
tells the story of Ryan, a lonely only child<br />
whose dad is away serving in the military.<br />
Ryan can’t have pets and all he wants is<br />
a dog. So he decides to make one. He<br />
loves computers and building things, but<br />
everyone thinks he’s just playing around,<br />
making a toy.<br />
Ryan focuses on creating the best Kay-9<br />
he can but can he prove that his robot<br />
dog isn’t just a toy? Find out for yourself.<br />
“Kay-9 the Robot Dog” is available on<br />
amazon.com.<br />
In “Lexi’s Gift,” John R. Stoeffler<br />
founder of the “Sweet Dreams Pillow”<br />
tells the story of a little girl named Lexie,<br />
whose best friend’s father is in the Army<br />
and called to active duty. Susan is so sad<br />
that her dad will miss her birthday and<br />
Christmas and won’t be there to hug, kiss<br />
and tuck her in at bedtime. Lexie wishes<br />
she could do something to comfort Susan<br />
while her father is away. With a little help,<br />
she makes the perfect present for Susan:<br />
a pillow on which her father’s picture is<br />
printed. Susan is thrilled, and the girls<br />
decide to make more picture pillows for<br />
military kids. In doing so they discover it<br />
is more fun to give than to receive.<br />
Illustrated by Jeanine-Jonee Keith,<br />
“Lexie’s Gift” is available at amazon.com<br />
and barnesandnoble.com.<br />
In “Oceans of<br />
Sand,” award-winning<br />
young adult<br />
fantasy author Jessica<br />
Flory shares<br />
the story of a young<br />
woman whose desert<br />
world has always<br />
been treacherous but<br />
now is plagued by an<br />
unnatural famine that<br />
threatens to destroy<br />
all. Norah is chosen<br />
with her best friend,<br />
Zadock, to sail across<br />
an ocean of sand in<br />
search of an artifact<br />
that could end the<br />
famine.<br />
Caught in a crossfire<br />
between forbidden feelings, an unforgiving<br />
desert, and starving nations willing to<br />
do anything to survive, Norah and Zadock<br />
discover the true meaning of sacrifice and<br />
the power that love has to heal the world.<br />
Flory uses her bachelor’s degree in<br />
molecular biology from Bringham Young<br />
University-Provo to dream up cool settings<br />
and magic systems. She is a proud member<br />
of the Hot Mess Writers Critique Group<br />
since 2013. Her books are available at<br />
amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
Change language