Join us at Page & Palette for our quarterly Book Talk where Anderson, Tyler, Stacy, and Carolyn talk about their favorite new releases!

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On Saturday, September 6th at 1PM, Richelle Manteufel will be here with her book, Half Moon Bay. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Richelle's table. We hope to see you there!

HALF MOON BAY

Cape Althea whispers of a wraith guarding the bay. Capricious weather and the glint of iron scales betray an ominous presence, but nothing more… until Laura Rivell sets sail. Embarking on a revival cruise with her childhood friend, Laura is reborn into darkness instead of the promised light: A fate of ethereal dirges, kindred spirits, and a treacherous siren that the sheltered Miss Rivell cannot resist. Now Laura must decide whether to turn her back on religion, society, and humankind itself to love a monster - And perhaps become a monster.

RICHELLE MANTEUFEL

Richelle Manteufel writes Gothic and fantasy fiction from her Victorian-inspired office in Spanish Fort, AL.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On September 6th at 10AM, Errol Barron will be here with his book, The Architecture of Painting. Enjoy a cup of coffee as you visit Errol's table. We hope to see you there!

Join us Thursday, September 4th at 6pm to listen to Stacy Willingham talk about her newest book, Forget Me Not. The book is available for pre-sales and will come out on August 26th! This is a ticketed event, each book sale is a ticket and will guarantee a book and a seat in the Book Cellar.

Forget Me Not

A pulse-pounding new Southern thriller from the author of the runaway bestseller A Flicker in the Dark.

Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared shortly after her eighteenth birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car, a man was arrested, and the case was swiftly closed. In the decades since, Claire has attempted to forget her traumatic past by moving to the city and climbing the ranks as an investigative journalist... until an unexpected call from her father forces her to come back home and face it all anew.

With the entire summer now looming ahead—a summer spent with nothing to do in her childhood home, with her estranged mother—Claire decides on a whim to accept a seasonal job at Galloway Farm, a muscadine vineyard in coastal South Carolina less than an hour away from where she grew up. At first glance, Galloway is an idyllic escape for Claire. A scenic retreat full of slow-paced nostalgia, as well as a place where her sister seemed truly happy in that last summer before she vanished, it feels like the perfect plan to pass the time. However, as soon as Claire starts to settle in, she stumbles across an old diary written by one of the vineyard's owners, and what at first seems like a story of young rebellion and love turns into something much more sinister as it begins to describe details of various unsolved crimes. As the days stretch on, Claire finds herself becoming more and more secluded as she starts to obsess over the diary's contents… as well as the lingering feeling that her own sister's disappearance may be somehow tied to it all.

Galloway was supposed to be a place to help her move forward, but instead, Claire quickly finds herself immersed in her own dark and dangerous past.

Stacy Willingham

STACY WILLINGHAM is the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark, All the Dangerous Things, and Only If You're Lucky. Her debut, A Flicker in the Dark, was a 2022 finalist for the Book of the Month's Book of the Year Award, Goodreads Choice Best Debut award, Goodreads Choice Best Mystery & Thriller Award, and ITW's Best First Novel Award. She currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband and daughter and their Labradoodle, Mako.

Join us on Sunday, August 31st at 5PM to listen to Henry Sledge talk about his book, The Old Breed. Enjoy a glass of wine or a specialty cocktail as you listen to Henry’s talk. We hope to see you there!

Can’t make it to the event? Secure a copy by purchasing ahead and we will get the book signed and/or personalized here!

THE OLD BREED… THE COMPLETE STORY REVEALED: A Father, A Son, and How WWII in the Pacific Shaped Their Lives

Forty years after the publication of Eugene Sledge’s memoir With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa comes The Old Breed… The Complete Story Revealed by Eugene’s son, Henry, adding new material and immeasurable depth to his father’s story.

The Old Breed… The Complete Story Revealed brings to life an abundance of new material from the original manuscript of Eugene Sledge’s classic memoir With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa. By interspersing his own personal anecdotes throughout, Henry Sledge takes his father’s work and gives it newfound context, sharing memories of conversations between father and son. The result is a flowing narrative that portrays an intimate look at a WWII veteran and his struggles to adapt to civilian life following the war.

HENRY SLEDGE

Henry Sledge is the son of renowned author Eugene Sledge, who wrote With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa and China Marine. While growing up, he witnessed his father’s memoir take form and come to life. Through many conversations with his father about his experiences across the islands of the Pacific, Henry formed a deep and abiding passion for all aspects of World War II history.

Henry has worked as a consultant for Valor Studios and has been published in Valor and Naval History Magazine. His most recent article was the cover story for the Autumn 2022 issue of World War II magazine. He has co-hosted numerous WWII podcasts and has appeared as a guest on numerous other talk shows and documentaries, such as “The We Happy Few Podcast,” “The WWII Podcast,” “The We Have Ways Podcast,” “Tall Tales With Taco,” “WW2 TV,” and “Reel History.” He holds a BA from Auburn University and has over twenty years of experience in the heavy equipment industry.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On August 30th at 1PM, Keith Richard will be here with his book, Sand, Grit and Dangerous Supply Missions. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Keith's table. We hope to see you there!

SAND, GRIT, AND DANGEROUS SUPPLY MISSIONS: THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE IRAQ WAR

In 2003, logistics expert Keith Richard made a life-changing decision that put him at the helm of a hastily assembled operation tasked with transporting fuel and supplies for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Kuwait. A civilian in a military operation, with no military experience, Richard had to summon a mix of self-discipline, grit and composure to be the leader everyone expected him to be—and to carry out orders that included sending civilian truck drivers into the line of fire.

“Civilians are the unsung heroes of the Iraq War and should be recognized for their patriotism and commitment to support the military,” Richard said. In his deeply compelling new book, Sand, Grit and Dangerous Supply Missions: The Unsung Civilian Heroes of the Iraq War, Richard reflects on his path with candor and humility—from his humble beginnings in the Mississippi Gulf Coast to leading a multibillion-dollar logistics operation in Iraq and Kuwait.

A devoted husband and father, Richard is contentedly navigating a career across the American South when everything changes. An unexpected offer sends him into the heart of the Middle East to support the U.S. military under the Department of Defense’s Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP), which was established by the Army in 1985 to permit the use of civilian contractors to support certain military operations. The decision to go isn’t easy. It tests his courage, his convictions and the foundation of his family. But with his wife’s fierce support and a renewed sense of purpose, Richard steps into the unknown. Ultimately, Richard finds himself responsible for a fleet of more than 700 supply trucks in what proves to be an extremely dangerous and deadly mission that results in a tremendous loss of life. Richard and the defense contractor that hired him (KelloggBrown & Root) would later be at the center of a congressional inquiry into assumed war time abuses by civilian contractors and a billion dollar law suit brought by families of deceased and injured drivers.

In Sand, Grit and Dangerous Supply Missions, Richard opens up for the first time about the chaos, his frustration, the fallout following the mission … and the wounds no one can see. “The reality and toll of civilian lives during and after a war needs to be recognized by the U.S. Government,” Richard said. “Many civilians have been killed, injured and mentally impacted supporting the U.S. military without the recognition and support that is appropriately awarded to our soldiers.”

KEITH RICHARD

Keith Richard is a logistics and transportation professional with 40 years of experience leading complex supply chain organizations in the U.S. and overseas. In late 2003, he was recruited to lead an extremely dynamic and complex organization supporting the LOGCAP (Logistics Civil Augmentation Program) for Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) in Iraq and Kuwait. This experience included leading a $1.5 billion operation with approximately 2,000 employees for the Department of Defense. He has been quoted in several large publications and was selected as one of four executives to represent KBR and Halliburton before the Congressional House Reform Committee. Sand, Grit and Dangerous Supply Missions traces the tragic and chaotic events during his one-year tenure as the Regional Project Manager for the Theater Transportation Mission.

Come to Story Slam on Wednesday, August 20th at 5:30PM and share your stories!

Join us at Page & Palette for an author storytime! On Wednesday, August 20th at 10AM, Sharon Durham will be here with her book, Phillip Must Hush. Enjoy a cup of coffee or ice cream as you listen to Sharon’s storytime. We hope to see you there!

PHILLIP MUST HUSH

Phillip is a funny little bird who goes everywhere with his friend, Sofia, in her backpack. He is always ready for his next big adventure, but his mischievous behavior and inability to understand rules and situations, seem to consistently land him in unforeseen trouble! Phillip finds himself at the Library, where instead of his normal playground antics, he must sit still and not make any noise! The Librarian, Mrs. Shhh, has rules that must be followed, and when Phillip disobeys the signs to "Be Quiet and Shush", he finds himself in BIG trouble! "Phillip Must Hush" is a cute lesson on rule following, owning up to your mistakes and, in the end, missing someone you love when you are alone and ready for an adventure gone wrong to end.  The young reader will enjoy Phillip's funny, playful personality in this rhyming book as well as the ability to engage with the storyline by getting to tell Phillip he must "SHHH" through the use of a cute, repetitive refrain page throughout the story.  "Phillip Must Hush" is the first book in the series, "Phillip's Backpack Adventures".  Watch for Phillip's next big adventure coming soon!

SHARON DURHAM

Sharon is a children's book author living in Fairhope, Alabama, with her husband Robert. She is a member of the Author's Guild. She has just published her first book, "Phillip Must Hush", which is part of the series, Phillip's Backpack Adventures. Sharon anticipates the release of her second book later this year. She graduated from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in Business Administration. Most of her early life was spent with careers in insurance and accounting, and later she launched a long-time career in both residential and commercial real estate. Sharon still holds and active real estate license and is a member of the National Association of Realtors. She enjoys writing, traveling, spending time with her large family of children and grandchildren, volunteering through her church and community, as well as devoting time as an advocate for Compassion International where she is a sponsor for children in need.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On August 16th at 1PM, M.S. Gardner will be here with her book, Wolf’s Bane. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit M.S's table. We hope to see you there!

WOLF’S BANE

Old sins cast long shadows. Penny had plenty of excuses but not one good reason for ditching her beloved Grandma’s wake in Osyka, MS and hightailing it back to her life in Seattle after the funeral. Six months later, circumstances force her to return to Mississippi, back to Grandma’s house. Penny has three days to clear out decades’ worth of a life, three days to wander through a forest of mingled memories. As she ventures deeper into the past, nebulous feelings of guilt and shame rise up and grow stronger in the heat and humidity. In this forest, a wolf lurks in the shadows, stalking her—something she’s forgotten. Something she doesn’t want to remember. It’s one thing to survive the wolf. It’s a whole other ordeal to finally kill it.

M.S. GARDNER

M.S. Gardner moves between the worlds of fabulism and realism and draws inspiration from the absurd nature of life. She’s perfected her impersonation of a normal human being well enough to hold a job. While her physical body resides on the Alabama Gulf Coast, she mostly lives in her head. Her work has appeared in That Is TOO Wrong! An Anthology of Offbeat Horror Vol. 2, The Dead Mule School for Southern Literature, Psychopomp, and Terror House Magazine. Her novella Wolf’s Bane won the 2024 Moon Meridian Novella Award and was published by April Gloaming Publishing in 2025.

Come by Page & Palette on Thursday, August 14th at 6pm to listen to Andrew Wiest talk about his newest book, Dogwood: A National Guard Unit’s War in Iraq, along with General Robinson and LTC Lyon.

Dogwood: A National Guard Unit’s War in Iraq

Based on years of interviews and written by one of the finest American military historians of his generation. An unsparing account of the sharp end of war.

This book traces the experience of the 150th Combat Engineers (the Dixie Sappers) of the Mississippi National Guard through the unit’s tour of duty in Iraq in 2005, the Dixie Sappers were a true melting pot. Comprised of city youth hoping to attain college benefits, to rural African Americans seeking a way out of grinding poverty, to women who sought to break barriers, to patriots answering their nation’s call after 9/11 – the Dixie Sappers represented nearly all of what America had to offer in 2005.

Amidst the transformation of the military in the 21st century, no longer was the Guard destined to be weekend warriors tasked mainly with local disaster relief. The new Guard was a sharp weapon of war. Guardsmen and women grew up together in the same communities, played sports and served together. This provides a singular advantage, but also makes loss hurt all the more. Defying poor equipment, lack of specialist training and heart-breaking losses, the Dixies Sappers endured combat. But they also did much more. Thinking on their feet they implemented their own homespun counterinsurgency policy that turned a hotbed for insurgency into a thriving community – one of the few success stories of the war. But it was all for nought.

Set within the context of a changing military, an evolving strategic situation and an unpopular war, Dogwood lays bare the harsh reality of war.

Andrew Wiest

Dr. Andrew Wiest is University Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Southern Mississippi and has served as a Visiting Senior Lecturer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Warfighting Strategy at the United States Air Force Air War College. Dr. Wiest is the Founding Director of the Dale Center for the Study of War and Society and the Founding Co-Director of the Center for the Study of the National. Guard at Southern Miss. Dr. Wiest has published widely and presented his research at conferences and at invited talks both nationally and internationally. Dr. Wiest has published more than 20 books, including The Boys of ’67: Charlie Company’s War in Vietnam and Vietnam’s Forgotten Army (which won the Society for Military History’s Distinguished Book Award). He has also been nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on National Geographic Channel’s documentary Brothers in War, which was based on his book The Boys of ’67, and won a New York Festivals Gold Medal for his work on the History Channel documentary Vietnam in HD. His new book, Dogwood: A National Guard Unit’s War in Iraq was released in May with Osprey/Bloomsbury.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL LYON

Lyon is a retired Lieutenant Colonel with 37 years of active duty and Mississippi National Guard military service. He has multiple deployments to include a 2005 company command in Iraq, 2009 Brigade Staff officer in Afghanistan and in 2018 he served as the battalion commander for the 150 th Combat Engineer Battalion charged with Security Forces (SECFOR) Kuwait and command of Cp. Patriot, Kuwait. Lyon also served in various full time positions with the Mississippi National Guard (MSNG) to include the Training Officer and Administrative Officer for the 150 th Engineer Battalion, Education and Services Officer at Joint Forces Headquarters, Training Officer for the 168 th Engineer Brigade, MSNG Deputy G3 and the MSNG Outreach Director.

While serving as the Education Officer and later as the Outreach Director Mr. Lyon worked extensively with universities, colleges and businesses in Mississippi developing programs that help guardsmen and their families attain educational and professional goals through the State Educational Assistance and the Work for Warriors Programs as well as many others. Lyon now serves as the managing director for the Center for the Study of the National Guard (CSNG) at the University of Southern Mississippi. Lyon has numerous military awards to include the Combat Action Badge, Two Bronze Stars, the Legion of Merit and the Mississippi Magnolia Cross. He is married to Jane Lyon from Collins, Mississippi and has four daughters and 12 grandchildren.

GENERAL ROBINSON

Brigadier General (Retired) Roy Robinson founded Patriot Solutions LLC on January 1, 2024, to provide advisory and consulting services to a variety of clients with an emphasis in the NationalGuard (Army and Air), as well as within the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. Patriot Solutions is also involved in consulting and advisory roles that involve international travel and support.

General Robinson recently retired as President of the National Guard Association of United States where he was responsible for the association’s day-to-day operations in Washington, D.C., and the full-time support staff. He also oversaw the National Guard Education Foundation, which maintains the National Guard Memorial Museum, and the NGAUS Insurance Trust.

His principal duties included providing the Guard with unified representation before Congress and a variety of other functions to support a nationwide membership of nearly 45,000 current and former Army and Air National Guard officers.

He came to NGAUS after serving eighty years as executive director of the National Guard Association of Mississippi, the nation’s largest state Guard association with more than 2,500 members. He simultaneously served as NGAUS vice chairman-Army from 2014 to 2016.

General Robinson has more than 34 years in uniform, much of it while holding a series of full-time sales and marketing positions in the private sector, all of it in the Mississippi Army National Guard. He spent time in every duty status available in the National Guard: Traditional part time, as a state employee, federal technician and in the Active Guard and Reserve. He began his career in 1983 as an enlisted soldier, earning his commission as second lieutenant through the ROTC program at the University of Southern Mississippi in 1985. He retired in 2016 as assistant adjutant general of Mississippi-Army.

Among his military career highlights is commanding the 150th Engineer Battalion (Combat), 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, during combat operations in Iraq in 2005. He earlier commanded Camp McCain Training Site in Grenada, Mississippi, for 18 months. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Southern Mississippi, General Robinson holds a master’s in business administration from Jackson State University. He also completed a U.S. Army War College fellowship in logistics and acquisition at the Center for Strategic Analysis at the University of Texas.

The general holds several military decorations, including the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (with four Bronze Oak Leaf clusters), the Combat Action Badge and several Mississippi National Guard awards.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On August 9th at 1PM, Jaytilya M. Watkins will be here with her book, Devotion, Obsession, & Deception. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Jaytilya's table. We hope to see you there!

DEVOTION, OBSESSION & DECEPTION: THE STORY ABOUT HARA’S LIFE

Devotion, Obsession, & Deception is a thriller that follows Hara, a woman whose reunion with an old flame quickly turns into a nightmare. The story explores the dark side of obsession and the desperate fight for survival when love turns into something twisted and dangerous.

JAYTILYA M. WATKINS

Jaytilya M Watkins became a Author in 2014. Her inspirational to become a writer came her upbringing. Although, she enjoys writing both nonfiction & fictional novels. She discovered that she is a major lover of writing fictional books. She loves to excise her imagination through her writings.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On Saturday, August 2nd at 1PM, John Stump will be here with his book, The Bartender. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit John's table. We hope to see you there!

The Bartender

This story is in present time, 2025. Of a young man, AKA Ricardo Barton, who was seeking the “good times” a South Florida Bartender had to offer. The Bartender had a very colorful background but wasn’t sure he wanted to divulge the details of his experiences due to the implications it may have on his present lifestyle.

Once he was assured of the autonomy and his story’s confidence, he continued with full details of the underworld. The ‘Bar’ scene, the stage where it all plays out.

What you will read is the life story of a man going full circle in the sins of man. He is wild and reckless, walking the edge for as long as possible. This handsome man was going to squeeze all the pleasurable things in life he could find.

Would a MVA change all this? Read the sensational and real life of Rico Barton.

John Stump

John Stump is a former biology teacher, coach, Olympic physician and professor of sports medicine. But that is all in the past. For the last five years or more he has been an author.

For many years Doc wrote and published medical articles and texts. However, during Covid he decided to begin writing nonfiction, then what he calls creative fiction. It was then he realized how much adventure and spice he could add to his stories. His books include: “One Wild and Precious Life”, “A Stroke of Midnight”, “Undeterred”, “Rambling Rosie Runyon”, “Escape to Volcan” and several others. These are all available on Amazon and Kindle, or if you live in Fairhope they are at Page and Palette bookstore.

At one time Doc lectured and taught Sports Injury Prevention, chiropractic, acupuncture and sports nutrition around the world; France, England, Japan, China, Australia, from 1976 to 1999 over a hundred nations before it was ended by a sudden stroke. These stories from around the world can be read in a collection of short stories by Doc called “From a Doctor’s Notepad.”

Join us for Classic Saturday Storytime!  On the first Saturday of each month.  Miss Paula will feature a beloved classic.  We'll Sing songs, do an activity and have a fun-filled morning together. We can't wait to see you at P&P!

On Saturday, August 2nd at 10AM, Ms. Paula will be reading Tiny T Rex and the First Day Oopsies!

Join us at Page & Palette for First Friday! On Friday, August 1st at 5PM, Rebecca Barrett will be here with her book, The Rat Catcher. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Rebecca's table. We hope to see you there!

THE RAT CATCHER

November in Mobile, Alabama is a long way from the horrors of the sweltering jungles of Vietnam.

In the fall of 1968, what passes for winter is coming to the heart of the deep South. And so are death, deception, draft evasion, drugs, and heartache.

Hugo August has come home, or at least the nearest thing to a home he has ever known. As a newly minted detective in the police department, he must investigate the murder of a wealthy socialite.

The appearance of Bebe Prescott, the forbidden fruit of Hugo’s late-night longings and lifelong obsession, complicates the case. A product of the Catholic orphanage, Hugo is well aware of the social stratification of Mobile society. Bebe is as far removed from his reality as the moon, and yet, they have always had chemistry.

Spurred by a desire for justice and to prove his worth, Hugo must wade through the complications of the wealthy family’s business, social connections, dark secrets, and often tragic history while guarding his own demons.

REBECCA BARRETT

Rebecca Barrett writes historical fiction, detective fiction, cozy mysteries, and short stories of life in the South. She lives and writes in the loveliest village on the bay, Fairhope, AL

Join us at Page & Palette on Sunday, July 27th at 11AM, Mark L. Brooks will be here with his book, Laying Autumn’s Dust. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Mark's table. We hope to see you there!

LAYING AUTUM'N’S DUST

Mark L. Brooks hits a homer with this first novel if you love family dynamics, how each member plays on each other with the good, the bad, the most ugly, and how they can arrive victorious. Laying Autumn’s Dust is a novel told in three first-person voices. Donny, the father—you can feel sorry for him at first—is a man repressed, with a low moral compass, who can’t seem to rise above his worst instincts and doesn’t seem to care. He spreads his wounding to wife Abigail, who isn’t perfect but gives an unfortunate life her best shot. As for son Jesse—how much of Donny will affect him, and how much will Abigail’s soft resonance of strength steel him?

As the family grows and changes, you see each developing autonomy as the only answer when Donny’s shortcomings become a wedge. More like a backdrop for these highly dimensional characters, the plot features murder, suicide, mystery, and vengeance, as well as love, hope, and charity.

The pace is southern, like an evening breeze gently moving Spanish moss on an oak tree in Low Country. Brooks isn’t forcing readers to move too fast. But upon reaching the end, readers will feel part of this family and akin to the idea that Brooks is looking into us all.
Also at play is Brooks’ gift for one-liners: “So I sat and watched the leaves fall in the yard and float across the field—and I realized death come in all colors”.

MARK L. BROOKS

Mark grew up in northeast Alabama on Puddin’ Ridge. After earning an M.A. in English from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, he lived in Colorado for several years, then returned home in 2016. For personal interests, he enjoys reading, creative writing, breweries, college football, scuba diving, rock climbing, snow skiing, trout fishing, and—foremost—trail running. He has instructed writing and literature courses for a handful of colleges.

Laying Autumn’s Dust is his debut novel.

To learn more about the author, visit MarkLBrooks.com.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On July 26TH at 1PM, Christine Broderick Emmanuel will be here with her book, The Westcott Story. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Christine’s table. We hope to see you there!

THE WESTCOTT STORY: The Enduring Spirit of an American Family Spanning 400 Years

This sweeping story chronicles the history and genealogy of the Westcott family in America from 1630 to 2024. Tracing her maternal lineage across 14 generations, Emmanuel weaves European and American history into the storyline while following the migratory path of the Westcotts and kin from England, France, and Germany to six of the original Thirteen Colonies, to the Territory of Florida, Minnesota, California, and beyond. James Diament Westcott III of Florida State University fame is featured among countless notable relatives who made their mark among monarchs, theologians, Native American chiefs, Founding Fathers, U.S. presidents, statesmen, and military leaders. Even as some became entangled in witchcraft, piracy, duels, espionage, defamation, and perjury, the family gained prominence by virtue of their extraordinary achievements. In two volumes, The Westcott Story exposes the frailties and tenacity of a highly-resourceful people and the realities of American life and human nature. From immigration to colonization, from armed conflict to industrialization and artistic expression, the enthralling stories embody the spirit and value of cultural icons in every phase of America’s history.

CHRISTINE BRODERICK EMMANUEL

Born and raised as one of nine children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Christine Broderick Emmanuel is a 20-year resident of Pensacola, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in social work from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana; and a Master of Business Administration in finance from The Florida State University in Tallahassee. Recognized for technical writing and journalistic excellence, Emmanuel placed first or second in statewide and national competitions during her 33-year corporate career. Appearing in local, regional, and national publications, her credits include editing Working a Better Way: A 50 Year History of LandrumHR © 2020 by prominent Pensacola businessman H. Britt Landrum, Jr.; The Impact of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area © 2014 and © 2019 as co-editor and co-author, respectively; and Wine and Words: A Book About a Book Club © 2013 as a co-author.

Join us at Page & Palette for an author storytime! On Wednesday, July 23RD at 10AM, Danny Cook will be here with his book, Baby Hippopotamus. Enjoy a cup of coffee or ice cream as you listen to Danny’s storytime. We hope to see you there!

Baby Hippopatomus

Baby Hippopotamus is being teased by his animal friends that he is anything but a hippopotamus. This has him very confused about his identity, so he seeks advice from others to find out who he truly is. After traveling far and wide he finally is told by a wise old owl that he is who he was created to be. Written with my grandchildren in mind, I wanted my children to have an avenue to discuss with their children that every person does not necessarily have to follow the path that other people think they should go. The Psalmist writes, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Training up a child means preparing them for that which they are designed. Each of us has been created in the image of God with different gifts so that we can fulfill God’s purpose in His kingdom, and I want parents to encourage skills and abilities of their child based on those gifts. Parents can read this book to their children at a young age, and make them aware they will be told all sorts of things by others that have no bearing on their individuality. My hope and prayer is that my grandchildren (and your children and grandchildren) can benefit by knowing who they are and who they were created to be.

Danny Cook

Danny is a husband, father, and grandfather who enjoys spending time at his grandchildren's cheer competitions, baseball, football, and soccer games. He is a retired business owner, active in his church, and lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their dog Sophie in Northwest Florida.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On July 19TH at 1PM, Max Karplev will be here with his book, It’s A Sign. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Max’s table. We hope to see you there!

IT’S A SIGN

We’ve all had those moments—events so random they seem almost deliberate. Most of the time, we dismiss them, caught in the noise of our everyday lives. But what if, instead of brushing them off, you stopped? What if you listened, followed that nudge—the one that felt like the universe pointing you toward something greater? What if you trusted it, just once? The author did exactly that. He took a leap of faith, followed the signs, and embarked on a journey that transformed his life. That profound transformation is captured, step by step, in the pages of this book. It’s raw, unflinching, and deeply human. If you’ve ever felt lost, if you’ve ever questioned your path, it is the sign you’ve been waiting for. Your life purpose is calling. Will you answer?

MAX KARPLEV

Max Karplev is an award-winning filmmaker, engineer, and storyteller. Max is willing to completely sacrifice his privacy, sharing his story with raw honesty and vulnerability to fulfill his soul’s purpose: to awaken and inspire others.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On July 12th at 1PM, Sherri Springer will be here with her book, Dorkle’s Day at School. Enjoy a cup of coffee  as you visit Sherri''s table. We hope to see you there!

Dorkle’s Day at School

Get to know Dorkle, a sweet and special little girl who is learning to love herself, quirks, and all! She represents children who sometimes need a little “extra nudge” of encouragement and want to feel included. This is a fun and meaningful story, and you’ll enjoy finding out what happens on Dorkle’s Day at School!

Sherri Springer

Sherri Springer is a fine artist born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, and currently based in Birmingham, Alabama. She has exhibited her unique and colorful paintings in several states throughout the US. Years ago, she envisioned a girl character who found her way through any insecurities and became her own hero. She is excited to share this “adorkable” girl and her experiences with young readers in her first book, Dorkle’s Day at School.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On Saturday, July 5th at 1PM, Daco Auffenorde will be here with her book, The Medici Curse. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Daco's table and connect with the author of this southern gothic thriller. We hope to see you there!

THE MEDICI CURSE

A family curse. A missing heirloom. A house full of secrets. A descendant of a powerful Italian dynasty reckons with her family’s troubled legacy and her own fractured memories in this Gothic thriller from the author of The Forgotten Girl. When aspiring artist Anna de’ Medici Rossi inherits her family’s opulent villa in Tuscany, she returns to a place steeped in tragedy and mystery. Living there as a child, Anna suffered from debilitating night terrors, frequently waking to find that she had wandered far from bed. During one such episode when Anna was twelve, her mother took a fatal tumble down the stairs. Vittoria’s death was officially ruled an accident, but an heirloom ruby-and-diamond necklace was missing from her bruised neck. Whispered suspicions suggest that Anna pushed her mother and stole the precious jewels. Anna, remembering little from that night, is afraid they’re right. But if that’s true, then what became of the necklace, which has long been associated with legends of a family curse? Now back in Tuscany after sixteen years, Anna is shunned by the local townspeople as a killer who escaped justice, while only a few distant relatives and an old childhood friend offer solace. As she explores the sprawling villa, Anna uncovers hidden rooms and memories shrouded in fog, reigniting the violent night terrors of her youth. Plagued by unsettling visions and eerie occurrences, she questions her sanity and embarks on a harrowing journey to unravel the truth of her past. As her search deepens, she confronts shocking revelations that expose her to dangers she never anticipated. Blending Gothic and supernatural elements with a gripping exploration of identity and legacy, The Medici Curse is a beautifully crafted tale of family scandal, murder, art, and intrigue.

DACO AUFFENORDE

Daco S. Auffenorde is an award-winning author of Cover Your Tracks, which was selected as a Suspense Magazine “Best of 2020” Thriller/Suspense and won Action Thriller of the Year with Best Thrillers Book Awards. Lee Child says, “Sensational―new, fresh, suspenseful . . . I loved this book.” Her psychological thriller The Forgotten Girl won the Book of the Year with Best Thriller Book Awards. Daco’s works also appear in several anthologies, including her short story “The Virgo Affair” in Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded. Her debut The Libra Affair, a Jordan Jakes novel, was a #1 Amazon Bestseller. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Authors Guild, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Alabama State Bar.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On Saturday, June 28th at 1PM, Isabelle Kelly will be here to showcase her book, Princess and the Pauper. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Isabelle's table and connect with the author of this LGBTQ+ young adult novel. We hope to see you there!

Princess and the Pauper

Aisling, the crown princess of the small European country Vyctorya, has been sheltered her whole life with only her lady-in-waiting, Florence, by her side. She has to be perfect for her parents, and she worries about losing their love, considering that she's a closeted lesbian. With her marriage to the Duke of Belare a week away, she has resigned herself to a loveless fate. Chava Burke, a girl from America, is reeling from her father's death a year ago which resulted in a move back to her mother's home country of Vyctorya. With the anniversary approaching, Chava feels more lost than ever with no support from her family, a recent break-up with her girlfriend, and a rejection from her dream school, Purdue University. One day, after Aisling sneaks out of the palace, the two girls run into each other and discover that they look identical. They agree to switch places until the night before the wedding, and with Florence, on their side, both girls are confident that they can get through the week with no one discovering their secret-until they start falling for people they shouldn't.

Isabelle Kelly

Isabelle Kelly received her degree in English Literature from Ball State University and her MFA in Popular Fiction and Publishing from Emerson College. Her short story, “The Ones Left Behind,” was published in the inaugural edition of Page Turner Magazine. When not reading or writing, Isabelle enjoys playing the piano, cake decorating, and traveling. Born and raised in northwestern Indiana, currently, she resides in southern Mississippi with her cats, Jane Bennet and Georgiana Darcy, pursuing her PhD in English – Creative Writing (Fiction) at the University of Southern Mississippi, Center for Writers.

The Crayons are looking for friends, and they need your help!

On SATURDAY, JUNE 28th at 10AM, one of the crayons from the #1 New York Times bestselling picture books The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home will be at Page & Palette for a special storytime reading of their brand-new book, THE DAY THE CRAYONS MADE FRIENDS. 

Bring a friend and make some new ones as you take a photo with a Crayons costume character, listen to a special storytime reading of their new book, help color a giant poster full of hilarious Crayons art, and take part in other fun activities perfect for sparking community and imagination. Hope to see you there!

This is a ticketed event - one book purchase per family is required for admittance. We look forward to seeing you at P&P!

Come by our Wednesday Storytime on June 25TH at 10AM and meet our special guest, Author Scott Parks! He will be reading his book, Po the Penguin: Po Finds Out She's Different. He will be accompanied by Illustrator Savannah Pavelka. Ms. Pavelka will also do a live drawing!

Po the Penguin: Po Finds Out She’s Different

Po, is a gentle and reserved penguin who has spent her entire life within the confines of the penguin encounter. However, her first venture beyond this familiar setting quickly reveals that she is unlike her peers in many ways. Despite her initial apprehension, Po's unique attributes become her greatest strength as she embarks on encounters with characters from diverse backgrounds, all of whom are somehow impacted by disabilities. Whether it's befriending a deaf penguin, learning from a platypus with Down syndrome, or sharing adventures with a zebra finch with autism, Po learns invaluable lessons in inclusion, acceptance, and kindness.

Scott Parks & Savannah Pavelka

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On Saturday, June 21st at 1PM, Kate Wood will be here to sign her book, I Dream For You.  Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Kate’s table and connect with the author of this religious children’s book We hope to see you there!

I DREAM FOR YOU

A mother’s dreams for her child begin before they are born and continue as they grow and discover dreams of their own. From Kate Wood, the writer of the award-winning Wood and Spoon blog and author of Her Daily Bread comes this beautiful picture book about a mother’s love, God's plans, and the vast potential in every child.

An expectant mother’s mind is filled with many questions: When will my child arrive? What will they look like? What will they feel like in my arms??

But on the day the child arrives, those hopes grow and change from dreams of them into dreams for them. Who will they become? What will they be passionate about? What kind of mark will they leave on this world?

• I Dream for You celebrates the wonderful possibilities of all those dreams and the comforting security of God’s plan for their life, and: Reminds children how much God loves them

• Includes Scripture references for each page

• Is great for parents and grandparents reading aloud to their children

• Is perfect for new baby gifts, shower gift, baptism gifts, birthday gifts, and more.

Join us on Tuesday, June 19th at the Book Cellar to listen to John Lawrence talk about his book, Louisiana Lens. John will be accompanied by Mobile Historian John Sledge and director of publications at the Historic New Orleans Collection, Jessica Dorman.

Louisiana Lens

Louisiana Lens surveys 180 years of photographic encounters with one of America’s most evocative regions: from early daguerreotypes of New Orleans landmarks to haunting post–Civil War landscapes to born-digital photographs documenting the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Author John H. Lawrence traces the development of photographic equipment and technical processes alongside the evolution of New Orleans and Louisiana over nearly two centuries.

Lawrence provides an illuminating narrative for each photograph: whether offering insight into a photograph’s composition or sharing his firsthand knowledge of the photographers themselves, he brings a keen perspective honed by decades of curatorial work. In surveying these selections, Lawrence touches on themes of architecture, music, commerce, race, arts and culture, and the changing landscapes and geographies of the US south.

JOHN LAWRENCE

A New Orleans native, John H. Lawrence worked at the Historic New Orleans Collection for 46 years before retiring as director of museum programs in 2020. As HNOC’s head of curatorial collections, Lawrence had oversight of holdings numbering in excess of 500,000 items. He has written and lectured widely about aspects of contemporary and historic photography, and the administration and preservation of pictorial collections. He has also served as principal or guest curator for dozens of exhibitions on a variety of photographic, artistic, and general historical topics. Lawrence holds degrees in literature and art history from Vassar College.

JOHN SLEDGE

John Sturdivant Sledge is an Alabama writer and author who researches and writes about the areas in and around the Gulf of Mexico. He was born in Gainesville, Florida, in 1957 and moved with his family in 1962 to Montevallo, Alabama, where he grew up. He currently lives in Fairhope, Alabama, with his wife. Mr. Sledge has had a successful career as a journalist and author. He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in history and Spanish. He achieved his master’s degree in historic preservation from Middle Tennessee State University. Mr. Sledge is a senior architectural historian for the Mobile, Alabama Historic Development Commission. He began working for the Commission in 1985. He was a newspaper Book Page editor for the Mobile Press-Register, writing over eight hundred articles during his career there. He has published journal articles, is a National Book Critics Circle member, and has published books about the Gulf Coast region and its history.

JESSICA DORMAN

Jessica Dorman is director of publications at the Historic New Orleans Collection. She earned her PhD in the History of American Civilization from Harvard University and has taught American literature and American Studies at Harvard, Penn State Harrisburg, and Trinity College (Hartford). At HNOC, where she has been on staff since 2004, she relishes the opportunity to publish deeply researched, beautifully designed works of nonfiction.

Come join us on Wednesday, June 18th at 10AM to listen to Sherri Springer read her book, Dorkle’s Day at School!

DORKLE’S DAY AT SCHOOL

Get to know Dorkle, a sweet and special little girl who is learning to love herself, quirks, and all! She represents children who sometimes need a little “extra nudge” of encouragement and want to feel included. This is a fun and meaningful story, and you’ll enjoy finding out what happens on Dorkle’s Day at School!

SHERRI SPRINGER

Sherri Springer is a fine artist born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, and currently based in Birmingham, Alabama. She has exhibited her unique and colorful paintings in several states throughout the US. Years ago, she envisioned a girl character who found her way through any insecurities and became her own hero. She is excited to share this “adorkable” girl and her experiences with young readers in her first book, Dorkle’s Day at School.

Nathaniel Aarmon, the prince of Tabor, continues his quest to return to his homeland and secure his throne. He and the other Brotherhood of the Black Arrow members traveled north from the forests of Erewhon, to Mar Nâpor, and through the Sacred Wood to reach Tabor. Dogged by assassin Lupine Rangers, pirates, and finally, political enemies from Tabor, the group must fight their way home and reinstate Nathaniel as the rightful king. But the evil undead necromancer, Ravenite, has other plans for But the evil undead necromancer, Ravenite, has other plans for Tabor. Calling on the demon lord, Asmodeus for help, his army drives south to capture Tabor's capital, the City of Spires. In a final battle, Nathaniel and his friends must rally the Taborian troops and, against the odds, defeat Ravenite and his undead minions. Follow Nathaniel and the Brotherhood of the Black Arrow in this Follow Nathaniel and the Brotherhood of the Black Arrow in this heroic adventure as they battle to return Nathaniel to his rightful position as King of Tabor.

Join us Thursday, June 12th at 6PM to listen to our local honorees, Frye Gaillard (2025 Inductee Alabama Writers' Hall of Fame) and Suzanne Hudson (2025 Alabama Truman Capote Prize Winner).

Frye Gaillard

Frye Gaillard, former writer in residence at the University of South Alabama, is a Mobile native and the author of more than 30 books. His award-winning titles include A Hard Rain: America in the 1960s and The Southernization of America, coauthored with Cynthia Tucker. Gaillard is a 2025 inductee into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. His latest book, released this spring, is Heroes and Other Mortals: Stories of Our Better Angels. 

Suzanne Hudson

Suzanne Hudson (rps.hudson@gmail.com) is the internationally and nationally prize- winning author of three novels, a “fictional-ish” memoir, two collections of short stories, and the Truman Capote prize collection. Her short fiction and essays have been widely anthologized. She lives near Fairhope, Alabama, at Waterhole Branch Productions, with her husband, author Joe Formichella.

Join us Wednesday, June 11th to hear Audrey Ingram talk about her newest book, The Summer We Ran. The book is available for pre-sales and will come out on Tuesday, June 3rd! This is a ticketed event, each book sale is a ticket and will guarantee a seat in the Book Cellar.

Purchase the ticket here.

THE SUMMER WE RAN

Does your past define your destiny? Told through multiple perspectives, rich with emotion and immersive dual timelines, The Summer We Ran weaves together a story of lost love, devastating secrets, shocking sabotage, and the painstaking decision two people must make in order to fulfill the futures they each desire.

In the summer of 1996, teenage Tess Murphy’s mom gave her two rules to abide by: keep quiet and stay out of trouble. Her mother landed a new job as a cook at an affluent Virginia estate and didn’t want anything to risk the opportunity, least of all her outspoken daughter. What no one saw coming was Tess falling deeply in love with the boy next door, high-society Grant Alexander.

Over a few wondrous and heat-filled months, Tess and Grant’s love blooms so ferociously it feels utterly impossible that anything can keep them apart, until tragedy strikes and the teenagers find themselves pained by betrayal with little hope to repair the damage that’s been done.

Now, two decades after their epic teenage romance abruptly ended in heartbreak, Tess and Grant are both running for Governor of Virginia, where secrets from that summer threaten to shatter their families, futures, and the love they once shared.

AUDREY INGRAM

Audrey Ingram is the author of The River Runs South and The Group Trip. She is a graduate of Middlebury College and Georgetown University Law Center, and practiced law in Washington, DC for fifteen years. When not writing, she can be found digging in her garden or hiking the Blue Ridge mountains. An Alabama native, Audrey currently lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.

Come join us at Page & Palette on June 10th at 5PM to celebrate the release of BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL, by V.E. Schwab, bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie Larue.

Secure a signed copy of the book here!

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

Santo Domingo de la Calzada, 1532.
London, 1827.
Boston, 2019.

Three young women, their bodies planted in the same soil, their stories tangling like roots.
One grows high, and one grows deep, and one grows wild.
And all of them grow teeth.