Two authors will be signing their books this week at Literary Bookpost.
Local author Cathy Cress Eller will be reading her newly released children’s book, “Ladybug Grace ó Have No Fear,” in the children’s section of the store on Wednesday at 3 p.m., followed by a book signing.
“Ladybug Grace” is a story about a curious ladybug who finds herself all alone in an unfamiliar place. Ladybug Grace’s friends assure her they will rescue her and encourage her to be brave and have no fear. This story warms the heart and shows we can always use help from someone much bigger than ourselves.
This is Eller’s second book in a series of five that she plans to write. Her first book, “Carnella Caterpillar ó Jeepers Creepers,” was released in 2008.
Eller and her husband, Freddie, live in Granite Quarry. She is the mother of two grown children and has three granddaughters.
J. Saunders Elmore, author of the new novel, “The Amateur American,” published by Random House in August, will sign copies of his book during a wine and cheese reception beginning at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Elmore is the son-in-law of Gary and Bonnie Sims of Salisbury.
Born in Honduras, Elmore grew up in Texas and Ohio, but has since lived in Louisiana, North Carolina, Oregon, New York and France, and has spent an unhealthy share of his off-time driving and thumbing, to points beyond and between. He has slummed extensively in the United States, Europe, Central America and Southeast Asia. In the meantime, he has worked a grim series of unsettling jobs to support the writing habit.
In 2004 he won a New York Times Fellowship from New York University’s Creative Writing Program, and in 2006 he received an MFA in fiction.
“The Amateur American” is the story of 29-year-old Jeffrey Delanne, who is teaching English in France but is having a tough time stretching his paycheck from month to month. When he’s not worrying about his bar tab, he’s struggling with the French language, trying to justify his country’s “imperialist” actions to every French person he comes across and wondering just what he is doing in Europe.
Desperate for a few quick Euros, Delanne takes on some translating work for an Arab businessman. Soon the job turns ugly and Delanne is force to do things he never thought himself capable of, torn between guilt, criminal impulses and paranoia. Or, is it paranoia?
Perhaps Jeffrey has been drawn into a brutal game for which he is totally unprepared. And, if that is so, will he have to become a person unlike who he is simply to survive?
“The Amateur American” has drawn excellent reviews since its publication. Called a “first-rate page turner,” Elmore’s debut mystery is proving to be an excellent read by a first-timer with a bright future of further books to come.
Literary Bookpost is located at 110 S. Main St., downtown Salisbury. For additional information about this event, call 704-630-9788 or visit www.literarybookpost.com.