Fairhope Living writer Alan Samry’s best magazine writing is now in his new book, Mapping Fairhope: Legends, Locals, and Landmarks. The book compiles articles published in the magazine, along with the photographs that originally accompanied each story.

Everyone from newcomers to long-timers will find something to enjoy.

Legends include the Fairhope Pier, People's Railroad, historic accommodations, the American Legion building, early African American schools and churches and more.
The Locals section highlights the people who make up Fairhope: founding families, creatives, and difference makers, like Lynn Oldshue, Ben Raines, Skip Jones, Lisette Normann, Cecil Chrstenberry, and more. Samry also covers local events, from Arts and Crafts and Mardi Gras to Christmas traditions and the city’s best charity events.
In Landmarks, Samry explores historic town plats and subdivision maps, uncovering the histories of areas like Volanta, Quail Creek, and Houstonville.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On Saturday, March 22nd at 12PM, Amie Remington will be here to discuss her independently published book, The Art (and Science) of HR. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Amie's table and connect with the author of this legal guide. We hope to see you there!

THE ART (AND SCIENCE) OF HR: A Legal Guide for New Managers, CEOs and Leaders in Between

So much has changed in the past five years. Employees are in the driver’s seat now. How
they experience your workplace can make or break you. This reality, coupled with ever-more-
complex workforce issues, means your risk of making costly mistakes is higher than ever.
Creating the right kind of culture—one that keeps employees engaged, builds trust, creates
belonging, and, frankly, makes them less litigious—is crucial.

To create such a culture, leaders need training, and that includes training on HR issues.
Therein lies the problem. Employment attorney Amie Remington says few leaders get this
kind of training. That’s why she’s created this readable, to-the-point resource for keeping your
employees engaged and your company out of trouble. For example, you’ll learn:

• Common mistakes even well-meaning leaders make that could land them in hot water
• Tips and tactics for creating psychologically and physically safe working conditions
• Why generosity and fair pay are expressions of gratitude (and how they help
your company thrive)
• How to handle those talented “producers” who display bad behavior
• The unwritten rules of social media (for example, why friending an employee
can have disastrous consequences)
• How to capitalize on employees’ talents and strengths to create efficiencies,
reduce turnover, and improve retention
• Tips for avoiding landmines in sensitive areas like sexual harassment,
microaggressions, politics, religion, and more
• Guidelines for navigating the maze of state and federal laws governing
workplaces to ensure compliance and reduce risk

The Art (and Science) of HR is written for new and seasoned leaders at every level. Filled
with tips and tactics, sprinkled with compelling stories, and rounded out with helpful resources
for further reading, it’s a “must-have” for any company seeking to thrive in a rapidly changing
world.

AMIE REMINGTON

Amie Remington is an attorney with 25 years of experience in labor and employment law and human resources. She speaks nationally on how companies can create cultures of engagement and minimize their legal risk.

Join us in celebrating the release of SUNRISE ON THE REAPING, the fifth book in the Hunger Games series!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 18th, at 5 PM for an unforgettable release party filled with thrilling activities, trivia, snacks, costume contests, and much more!

Reserve your copy by pre-ordering here

We can't wait to see you there!

Discover the untold secrets with this extraordinary tribute to Anne P. Nix, First Lady of Fairhope, Alabama as told by her closest friends and relatives.

Anne Peele Delorme moved to Fairhope, Alabama from Birmingham in 1954. She met and married the love of her life, charming and good-looking Jimmy Nix in 1956. Within sixteen years, in 1972, Jimmy Nix, then known as Jim, was voted in as mayor of the quaint little town of Fairhope with the vital help of his tenacious wife, Anne.

Together they changed Fairhope from a sleepy ole Black and White Film town into a full-blown-fabulous-cenema-technicolor-town that it is known for today.

As the First Lady of Fairhope for 28 years, Anne, with her unprecedented insight, went about changing the small dull town into one of the well-known top ten coastal towns in our country. Anne had a strong influence in the political arena, when she campaigned for anyone they almost always won.

Anne and Jim visited large cities throughout the nation, collected only the 'best of the best' ideas, brought them back and implemented them in Fairhope. An entire collection of beautiful street flowers were placed in beds along all city streets, atop trash receptacles, flower pots on lamp posts, and the famous roses at the Bay Front Fountain. Thanks to Anne and her friends, tree lights like those in New York and Dallas are now found in Fairhope.

Not only did Anne bring about beautiful change to her beloved town, but Anne's private life was also committed to celebrating and supporting other women with breast cancer. This was evident in everything she did, often putting others before herself. Her generosity and passion drove her personal and professional endeavors to limitless successful goals in fundraising for noble causes such as The American Cancer Society.

Through it all, Anne's closest confidants shared many intimate stores as well as her personal battle to survive her fight with cancer. Reflecting on her life, those closest to her remember her impressive mind, non-ending energy, and her tenacity that brought about many victorious goals for the good of all who knew and loved this amazing Lady Called Anne!

Book Overview

Death has a way of bringing family secrets and drama to the surface.

When my grandmother passes unexpectedly, neither are in short supply. That’s why I need to get to Bull Creek for Nana’s funeral and get out. Instead, my mother continues to bring up the past and now she’s sharing secrets I didn’t even know she had.

To make matters worse, a one-night stand to let off steam goes sideways, and a local cattle rancher seems set on wooing me. Every day spent in the small town threatens my resolve. And more. But when things finally seem to be coming to a close, I’m not sure what I even want anymore.

What’s the cost of making it out of town for good?

When Sparks Fly is perfect for lovers of small-town, cowboy romance who enjoy a side of suspense. While it will leave you on the edge of your seat, The Fallout Duet does have a guaranteed happily ever after.

Join us and Morgan during Arts and crafts and get your owned signed copy of Shrimp on Parade, Morgan’s newest children’s book on Saturday, March 15th at 10AM!

We Don’t Push in Fairhope

What's it like living in a charming town that is growing faster than Kudzu in July? We Don't Push in Fairhope is a delightful collection of humorous and heartwarming tales of the people and places that make Fairhope, Alabama, unique. A mix of travelogue and memoir, We Don't Push in Fairhope provides readers with an inside glimpse of a small town with quirky folks and costume-wearing dogs. Readers will learn about the Walking School Bus, teens locked in the old jail, why a cookout is not a barbecue, and the revelation that an insulated casserole tote is the best thing since Miss Mississippi discovered hot rollers. This book is a must-read stroll through a beautiful Southern town.

Leslie Anne Tarabella

For over a decade, Leslie Anne’s newspaper column, Southern With a Gulf Coast Accent, covered the unique character of the Gulf Coast region. Her books, The Majorettes are Back in Town, Exploding Hushpuppies, and Bringing Christmas Home, have brought laughter and tears to readers of all ages. Leslie Anne is a polished speaker and a contributor to Wisdom Harbour, the website of New York Times bestselling author, Andy Andrews. She and her husband, Bob, have lived in Fairhope, Alabama, since 1999, where they raised their two sons.

Meet and greet Author Vivian Lee with her memoir, THE INVISIBLE GIRL ON AMES STREET on Saturday, March 8th at 12pm. Vivian has partnered with Feeding the Gulf Coast for this signing to help food assistance in our local area.

This engaging memoir is about Vivian, an impoverished young girl who lived in a small apartment on Ames Street in Saginaw, Michigan in the early 1960's. As the readers follow her many adventures, daily challenges, spiritual hopes, and fantastic dreams, they soon realize that Vivian's story is even more relevant now than it was in that era.

From the first chapter when readers begin to learn of the clever ways in which Vivian's vivid imagination shields her from the harsh realities of her life, to the final chapter where they experience the sorrow of the innocent nine-year olds' shattered childhood and eviction from her home, Vivian invites them to see the world of poverty through the filters of a hope-filled green eyed youngster.

Written in her unique style, Vivian's message will be received differently by a variety of audiences. Some young readers will enjoy her as a character in an almost fictional way. As she roams the streets, railroad tracks, and buildings of Saginaw, youngsters will experience the day-to-day life of a "free-range child". They will read in Chapter 12 Summertime Swimming: "There were skills we acquired as "children of the streets." We learned where the public bathrooms, water fountains and places to get out of the elements were located. We discovered all of the shortcuts and alleys and knew which businesses had front doors and back doors that allowed us to cut through city blocks.
Traveling this joint adventure with Vivian may help school-age children see their peers through kinder more tolerant eyes.

Those seeking a career in social work, teaching, and community service will benefit with a new insight to hidden trauma and hopefully develop skills to recognize the subtle ways that children are affected by poverty. Through the discussion questions at the end of the book, these mature readers will be encouraged to develop ideas to help the vulnerable children overcome life's obstacles.

Join us for a book reading and discussion of SIGNS by Laura Lynn Jackson on Saturday, March 8th at 10 AM. The discussion will be led by Lillian Phillips, who has been deeply impacted by this book in her everyday life. Come by and share your stories and wisdom!

Join us on Sunday, March 2nd at 5 PM for an exciting event featuring Emily Ley and her latest cookbook, The Simplified Cookbook: Delicious Meals with Effortless Prep. This is a ticketed event, and the purchase of the book guarantees your seat at The Book Cellar. The book officially releases on March 4th, so be among the first to get your copy on the 2nd! Don't miss out!

The Simplified Cookbook

Crazy-busy with hungry people in your house? Learn how to simplify mealtimes without losing your cool. Plan, cook, and assemble satisfying meals with guidance from award-winning Simplified founder Emily Ley.

Whether you love cooking, hate it, or it depends on the moment, it's likely the people in your house need to eat. Every. Day. Emily, entrepreneur and mom of three, has written the book that she always needed: an easy guide to getting food on the table without sacrificing your to-do list, your relationships, or your sanity.

The ideas and recipes in The Simplified Cookbook will help your life and your kitchen run more smoothly while satisfying even the heartiest—and pickiest—of appetites. A tasty guide for novice and experienced cooks alike, The Simplified Cookbook includes:

• Easy-to-use sections for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, along with a few bonus recipes for those times you're feeling fancy

• 60 delicious and easy recipes with limited ingredients

• 60 more ideas for assembly meals: meals you can throw together in a cinch (or a pinch) and be on your way without a lot of chopping, sauteing, or, you know, cooking

• Four weeks of meal plans, so you have a roadmap for success

• A detailed resource section all about gadgets, staples, substitutions, and more

• Inspiration and insight from Emily on why dinners together matter, how to avoid decision fatigue, and other tips and tricks for an efficient and welcoming kitchen

With recipes like Baked Apple Oatmeal, Ramen Chicken Salad, Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, and Pound Cake that can be served plain or fancy, there is something for every need.

Take the stress and frustration out of your meal planning and preparation with The Simplified Cookbook. It's time to simplify your cooking so you have time for the good stuff—time around the table with the people you love the most.

Emily Ley

Emily Ley is the founder of Simplified®, a brand of planners and organizational tools for busy women, and the creator of The Simplified Podcast. Emily has been featured in Forbes, Glamour, and Good Housekeeping. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including Best New Product at the National Stationery Show, as well as Small Business of the Year, Female Owned Business of the Year, and Entrepreneur of the Year by Studer Community Institute. Emily and her team collaborated with AT-A-GLANCE® to create gift and planning collections carried in Office Depot, Staples, Walmart, and Target. Emily is the author of national bestselling books Grace, Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy; A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living; When Less Becomes More: Making Space for Slow, Simple, and Good; and Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love. An author, entrepreneur, wife, and mother to three, Emily lives in Pensacola, Florida, with her husband, Bryan, and their son Brady and twins, Tyler and Caroline.

A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck--all parade across the pages of this delightful book. Children will immediately respond to Eric Carle's flat, boldly colored collages. Combined with Bill Martin's singsong text, they create unforgettable images of these endearing animals.

Get ready for another captivating evening of storytelling! We are thrilled to partner with Fairhope Storytellers to bring our community together for an unforgettable Story Slam on Wednesday, February 26, at Page & Palette's Book Cellar. This year kicks off with the exciting theme, “A Change of Plans.” Join us as we reflect on those unexpected moments that shape our lives.

**If you’re interested in sharing your story, make sure to review our storytelling guidelines and arrive early to register at 5:30 p.m. We’ll draw for storytellers at 6 p.m. The storytelling will kick off at 6:15 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public. We can’t wait to see you there!

Story Slam Guidelines:

• Stories are limited to 6 minutes

• Stories should be personal and true

• No notes or props (music is okay)

• No -isms tolerated

https://bit.ly/story-slams

#storyslam #storytelling #fairhopeevents #tellyourstory #communityconnections #fairhopestorytellers #hopecommunity #sharingstories #connectingthroughstories #achangeofplans

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On Saturday, February 22nd at 2PM, Jessica Jones will be here to discuss her book, Naked Young Woman In Front of The Mirror. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Jessica’s table and connect with the author of this book of poetry. We hope to see you there!

Naked Young Woman in Front of the Mirror celebrates physical, mental, and emotional growth throughout the different phases of life. From the playful nature and feelings of insignificance in childhood, to the angst of teenage years, this character continues to grow into a young woman who is bold and confident in her body and in her thoughts, her sexuality and her voice. She moves on to the frailty and despair of clinging to mortal relationships. She experiences both the agony and the bliss of love, and revels in an insatiable appetite for life.

Jessica Jones graduated from the University of South Alabama with a Bachelor’s in English in 2007, and a Master’s in Creative Writing in 2009. She published her first book of poetry in 2009. Her poetry awards include the Shelley Memorial Scholarship and awards by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Poets and Patrons Chicagoland and the Alabama State Poetry Society. She has been published in the “Birmingham Arts Journal”, Whatever Remembers Us: An Anthology of Alabama Poetry, “Oracle Fine Arts Review”, and Mise en Place. Jones has served as chair of the Alabama Poet Laureate nominations board, newsletter editor for the Alabama Writers' Conclave, and event coordinator for the Alabama State Poetry Society. She is currently the President of the Alabama Writers’ Cooperative. Her newest book of poetry is being published by Negative Capability Press in late 2024.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On Saturday, February 15th at 1PM, Dr. Kenneth Starkey will be here to discuss his independently published book, Indiana Boy. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Dr. Starkey’s table and connect with the author of this memoir of a sphychologist. We hope to see you there!

Indiana Boy

Indiana Boy: Memoir of A Psychologist is the refreshingly candid account of one’s search for inner peace and a life of meaning amidst a world of personal challenges, social change, and cultural upheaval.

Dr. Kenneth Starkey

Dr. Starkey was born and raised in the small Midwestern town of Columbus, Indiana.  He completed his bachelor's studies through Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis (Indiana) and received his master's degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania).  He completed his doctoral training through the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University in Dayton (Ohio).  His predoctoral internship was completed through the Veteran's Administration Medical Center of Lexington (Kentucky) and his postdoctoral training through the Baptist Regional Medical Center of Corbin (Kentucky).  Dr. Starkey has served as a mental health professional for over forty years and currently works as a licensed clinical psychologist alongside his wife, Dr. Pamela Starkey, through their private offices in Mobile (Alabama).

Join us in the reading of Shrimp on Parade, Morgan Cunningham’s newest children’s book on Saturday February 15th at 10AM!

Join us on Thursday, February 13th at 6 PM in the Latte Da for a discussion with Sonny Brewer and the moving of the Tolstoy House. For more information, check out this link!

Help Move Tolstoy Park - Tolstoy Park Committee

About the Book:

FROM 8,000 MILES is the true story of internet danger and the lengths one family had to go to save their daughter. Victoria left her home in the middle of the night, without telling anyone, to get on a plane for India to meet a man she had been talking to online. (Watch the book trailer on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/mt3Hbgc1qFY?si=myrwTBK0eyySmg1G)

Destiny Harris recounts in vibrant and gut-wrenching detail the journey to rescue her twenty-one-year-old daughter who had never lived away from home before. It was a rescue that involved Homeland Security, Human Trafficking agencies, their congressman, family, friends, and an arena of social media followers who became aware of the story…some rooting for them and others siding with the love-struck couple who was “being oppressed.”

The betrayal and intrigue went deeper as the Harrises flew to and from India, expecting to bring their daughter home. They saved her life, but six years later, they have not received a single text or call from Victoria.

Destiny felt strongly that she needed to write her story, knowing how it could educate and serve to save other loved ones from falling into such an easy and sinister trap. Predators no longer need to come through the door, the window, or even our country, they slip in through the screens of our children and into their hearts and minds.

From 8,000 Miles is a story of loss and tragedy, but also a testament to the many miracles God provided. Destiny felt God’s closeness amid her pain as He gave her the strength and love it takes to save someone who doesn’t want to be saved.

From all that she has learned, Destiny started a YouTube channel, Destiny Dawn, where mothers come together to support each other and ease the pain and suffering in the world. It is a space where stories can be shared and wisdom gained because motherhood can be so joyful and, at the same time, break our hearts. Brokenheartedness is a journey and does not have to be a permanent stay. Destiny says, “We will get through it together, and you CAN come out on the other side… better.” Learn more at www.DestinyDawnOfficial.com.

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On Saturday, February 8th at 2PM, Sharon LaCour will be here to discuss her independently published book, The Meeting of Air and Water. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Sharon's table and connect with the author of this lyrical novel set in Louisiana. We hope to see you there!

The Meeting of Air and Water

The setting is Cocodrie, a small town on the disappearing Louisiana coastline in 1923, where a sensitive young girl receives the gift of a camera that offers her a window into an otherwise frightening world. The haunting, mythical culture of the Acadians feeds her imagination until her move to the volatile city of New Orleans where societal expectations and religious conventions inhibit her artistic yearnings. Motherhood and her misunderstood mental challenges lead to tragic circumstances.

Sixty years later, her granddaughter Elaine, reeling from a divorce, returns to New Orleans to care for Dolores’s feisty husband, Earl, in a wheelchair, who lives in a fishing camp on Lake Pontchartrain. Earl is dismayed by the similarities between Elaine and his deceased wife, Dolores, as is Elaine’s mother, Charlotte, who fears for her daughter’s mental health and well-being. Elaine starts out on a path of self-destruction with an abusive city prosecutor while a former lover pursues her. Meanwhile her restless grandfather decides to pursue a love life of his own. When Elaine discovers that her grandmother’s gifts and tragic life have been kept secret, she goes on a mission to learn all she can about Dolores and her mysterious photographs. Family wounds that have been deepening for decades come to the surface and must be confronted in light of Elaine’s discoveries.

Steeped in the exotic atmosphere of southern Louisiana, The Meeting of Air and Water explores the nature and fragility of the human need to create, as well as the complications and struggles that arrive when this need is denied. With insight and humor the novel reveals the dangers of kept family secrets and the healing that can occur when truth comes to light.

Sharon LaCour

Sharon LaCour grew up in New Orleans listening to her father and his siblings share stories in their Louisiana French language of their lives as the children of sharecroppers in central Louisiana and their dramatic move to New Orleans during the Depression. Most of Sharon’s writing takes place in Louisiana and around the Deep South.

Her interest in writing began with her mother narrating a new bedtime story every night, some of which she recorded on a Royal classic typewriter. Sharon went on to study music and completed a master’s degree in piano. She began writing fiction in earnest during long winters she spent in Minnesota. Her stories and essays have been published in the Xavier, Sheepshead, Chautauqua and Arkansas Reviews among others. Although her writing is for adults, her stories often feature children and young adults in challenging situations. She also writes about women and the contradictions of motherhood and creativity; historic and current issues of racism and sexism; the influence of spirituality and belief; and the unique spirit of her cultural heritage.

Sharon’s debut literary novel, The Meeting of Air and Water, was a novel-in-progress finalist in the William Wisdom-William Faulkner novel competition in 2019. The novel was inspired by the photographs of Fonville Winans, a Baton Rouge photographer who documented Louisiana Cajun life in the 1920s. It follows the lives of two women artists, one grandmother to the other, who struggle against societal and cultural expectations that threaten their need to create. The intense atmosphere of the novel functions as a contributing character that enhances the compelling narrative. The novel makes use of Sharon’s experiences of summer vacations on Lake Pontchartrain in an area of lake camps in east New Orleans called Little Woods. Sadly, none of these camps so beloved by many New Orleanians remains, having been destroyed over the years by hurricanes. The book also unfolds in Cocodrie, a small coastal fishing town.

Sharon lives in Lafayette, Louisiana with her husband and pets. She works as a pianist and piano teacher. She is working on an historical novel set in the late 18th century along Bayou Lafourche.

Join us on Thursday, February 6th, at 6 PM for an exciting event featuring Kate Alice Marshall and her latest thriller, A Killing Cold, in conversation with our very own staff member, Stacy. This is a free event—no ticket required—though limited copies will be available if you’d like to secure your own! You can pre-order here: A Killing Cold Pre-Order/Signed Copy

A FREEZING COLD

A woman invited to her wealthy fiance’s family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret—and that she’s been there before, by the bestselling author of What Lies in the Woods.

A whirlwind romance.
When Theodora Scott met Connor—wealthy, charming, and a member of the powerful Dalton family—she fell in love in an instant. Six months later, he’s brought her to Idlewood, his family’s isolated winter retreat, to win over his skeptical relatives.

Stay away from Connor Dalton.
Theo has tried to ignore the threatening messages on her phone, but she can’t ignore the footprints in the snow outside the cabin window or the strange sense of familiarity she has about this place. Then, in a disused cabin, Theo finds something impossible: a photo of herself as a child. A photo taken at Idlewood.

I’ve been here before.
Theo has almost no recollection of her earliest years, but now she begins to piece together the fragments of her memories. Someone here has a shocking secret that they will do anything to keep hidden, and Theo is in terrible danger. Because the Daltons do not lose, and discovering what happened at Idlewood may cost Theo everything.

KATE ALICE MARSHALL

Kate Alice Marshall is the bestselling author of thrillers and horror for kids and adults. Her middle grade books include the Secrets of Eden Eld trilogy and Extra Normal. In YA, she’s written the survival thriller I Am Still Alive, as well as supernatural suspense including Rules for Vanishing and The Narrow. She made her adult thriller debut with What Lies in the Woods, followed by the USA Today bestseller No One Can Know.

She lives outside Seattle with her family, two very friendly (but not very smart) golden retrievers, and a growing collection of fancy pens. 

BOOK TALK REVIEWS

The book will be released on February 4th, so you’ll have a couple of days to get a head start on this thrilling read! This book is also featured in our quarterly Book Talk, if you’d like to hear what we have to say about the book on February 4th at 6PM! Here’s a sneak peak of what our staff has to say:
”Gripping, unexpected twists, suspenseful, and fast-paced, this book is the perfect winter thriller! A simple holiday trip to meet the future in-laws turns out to be anything but cozy -- creepy text messages, mysterious footprints in the snow and buried secrets revealed. Filled with truly detestable characters and an endearing protagonist, A Killing Cold is an atmospheric cat-and-mouse game I could not put down!” - Anderson

“I was easily sucked into this mystery/thriller. Thrillers are a bit of a hit or a miss for me, because of characters and plotline. A solid thriller that kept me guessing and suspecting everyone.” - Tyler

“As the snow hit Fairhope, I grabbed this book, a quilt, and went along for the ride.  All that Anderson said!  Such a fun read.  I never knew what was happening and I loved it!”  - Stacy

Need a few book recommendations? Join us for BOOK TALK on Tuesday, February 4th at 6 pm!

Anderson, Tyler, Stacy & Carolyn will share their favorite Autumn reads and upcoming releases. We look forward to seeing you!

Missed the last Book Talk? Click here to see what was recommended!

Book Talk — Page & Palette (pageandpalette.com)

Join us at Page & Palette for Signing Saturday! On Saturday, February 1st at 12PM, Debby Hackbarth will be here to discuss her independently published book, Dynamic Debby. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as you visit Sharon's table and connect with the author of this memoir. We hope to see you there!

Dynamic Debby: Overcoming Prematurity and Poor Vision

This memoir is a remarkable compilation of prose, poetry, and a plethora of precious photographs. It tells my story and it is meant to be an encouragement for all people who struggle with visual disabilities and low vision as well as those who are smaller than most through premature birth or heredity. The font used is best for folks with challenged vision.
Over the past several years, I have been able to gather photographs of my parents and their families. Many photos have already been passed onto our children and grandchildren. However, many remaining snapshots are included here to assist in telling my tale.
I have recalled stories and information to the best of my memory as both of my parents and their families have passed away. If I have made errors or misrepresentations, I apologize and hope you may gather inspiration from my trek through time.

Debby Hackbarth

Debby Hackbarth is a retired teacher, learning specialist, and administrator. Debby's fifty years in various educational settings helped her understand that all students enjoy using their imaginations. Debby is a survivor as she was born six weeks early and developed R.O.P., so she has low vision. She knows what it means to overcome tough situations in life. First of all, Debby is a professional author who has written the Glisten Trilogy - three separate books highlighting the Fairhope Dragon - along with the companion coloring book. Debby believes people around the work are captivated by the dragons around us. The Glisten books feature the challenges and adventures of Glisten, a tiny dragon, born very early, who thrived in the beautiful climate of Baldwin County, AL. The exciting books are for sale at Page and Palette in Fairhope, AL where Debby has had author signings. She has also published poetry. Secondly, Debby is a professional artist. At Melt and More in Fairhope, she sold gnomes and other art - canvases that featured black and white sketches of animals and coastal scenes. She uses recycled wood in her creations. Finally, through her business - HAART, LLC - Debby provides private professional tutoring sessions. She is well qualified to work with students of all ages because she has been working in the field since 1972 and she has two separate Master's Degrees in Education: Special Education (Learning Disabilities) and Curriculum/Instruction (Literacy). She sells Memory Magic - a supplemental program to enhance reading, writing, and spelling skills for students of all ages.

Sometimes family is found in the most unlikely of places . . .

In the small college town of Troy, Alabama, amidst the backdrop of 1967, Katia Daniels lives a life steeped in responsibility. At the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys, she pours her heart into nurturing the young lives under her care, harboring a longing for children of her own. Katia's romantic entanglement with an older man brings comfort but also stirs questions about the path she's chosen.

The weight of her family's history bears down on her; a twin brother is missing in action in the heart of the Vietnam War. Having lost her father to cancer, Katia took up the mantle of caretaker, ensuring her mother and brothers were looked after. Her sense of duty extends to the boys at the group home, creating a web of obligations that stretches her emotional bandwidth thin.

Amidst a power struggle at work with the board, Katia finds solace in the pages of romance novels and the soothing melodies of Nina Simone. When Seth Taylor, a familiar face from her high school days, reenters Katia's life, he brings with him a breeze of nostalgia and a reminder of a time when her dreams felt less tethered. As their friendship rekindles, Katia grapples with the idea of making choices for herself, even as the realization that she can no longer have children weighs heavily on her.

This novel is a poignant tale of a woman torn between the demands of her heart and the responsibilities she's shouldered for so long. Set against the backdrop of a changing South, this novel delves into the complexities of love, family, and self-discovery in a time of transformation and upheaval.

"Jackson-Brown (THE LIGHT ALWAYS BREAKS) delivers a touching story of a middle-aged Black woman and the burdens she shoulders during the Vietnam War . . . Jackson-Brown ably captures Katia's indomitable spirit and devotion to her family. This is worth a look." --Publishers Weekly

Born in Bosnia, a boy was uprooted by civil war and thrust into a life displaced. Arriving in a new country, not once, but twice, he faces challenges of language barriers, cultural differences, and starting over. Always an outsider, always looking for a community, a resting place, a home. The young refugee finds solace in the beautiful game. Determined to pursue his quest for identity, he searches across continents for a football club that he sees himself in and will help him realize his dream of finding a community of like-minded people. The story explores themes of hope, perseverance, and the power of football to unite people from different backgrounds.

Carla Ray, an ambitious college journalist, is given the electrifying opportunity to cover the meteoric rise of an up-and-coming rock band that is set to take the world by storm. But everything changes the moment she lays eyes on David Wells, the captivating and enigmatic lead singer of the Knights of Darkness. With his magnetic presence and fierce passion for music, David is everything she didn’t know she craved.

As they embark on a whirlwind journey filled with late-night rehearsals and adrenaline-pumping performances, Carla finds herself drawn deeper into David’s world—and into his heart. But beneath his rugged charm lies a tempest of vulnerability, and Carla is determined to peel back the layers of his tough exterior to uncover the sensitive soul yearning to break free.

Caught in a tumultuous dance of romance and excitement, Carla and David must confront their pasts. Can David mend the scars that have left Carla hesitant to love again? Will he be the one to make her feel cherished, adored, and finally free to embrace her true self? With passion igniting every moment, their connection deepens, leading them to a pivotal night that will change the course of their lives forever.

Counting on Freedom is a three-part work of historical fiction set during the U.S. Civil War.

Part I (Old Dogwood) introduces Sarah, Hani and Joseph, three slaves from Old Dogwood, a cotton and rice plantation on the Charleston road. Hungering for freedom and a better life, Sarah’s talents for counting, her love for Hani, the Bible lessons she’s learned from Joseph, and the looming approach of Sherman’s army make Sarah the catalyst for a daring plan to escape Old Dogwood by sea to the Union-occupied South Carolina Sea Islands, where Hani was born. Hani's plan involves making a small sailboat from the parts of the large supply wagon that Hani has made to bring Old Dogwood’s harvest of cotton and rice to the Charleston Harvest Market. Launching this sailboat into the Cooper River at Charleston Harbor, they float unnoticed past Confederate forts and a Union fleet into the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean.

Part II (Hani's Ocean) finds this small sailboat too far offshore to see land. Hani teaches Joseph and Sarah how to sail and survive at sea. Just as Hani catches a big fish and is trying to bring the fish onboard by hand, they are caught by a terrible, fast moving winter storm, filled with blowing snow, rising seas, contrary winds, and freezing cold. They have no choice but to run out to sea with the storm, sailing day and night deeper into the Atlantic Ocean, until the storm finally abates and Hani can use the night stars to steer a course back to land.

When they finally make landfall at Saint Helena Island in sheltered waters that Hani has known since his youth, they make their way on foot to find Hani’s Uncle Balan, seeking to avoid the Union forces that have occupied the South Carolina Sea Islands since the early part of the Civil War.

In Part III (The Sea Islands), Sarah, Hani and Joseph discover a land of Milk and Honey on Saint Helena Island and a clear feeling of effective freedom in the South Carolina Sea Islands. It is a Union stronghold in the heart of the Confederacy where ten thousand plantation slaves had their first taste of freedom more than a year before Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. And yet, freedom does not come easily, even in a Promised Land. For this is the true story of the Port Royal Experiment where hundreds of northern civilians and benevolent associations, “the Gideons”, travelled south to the South Carolina Sea Islands with the U.S. Army and Navy to help uplift the lives and education of these former slaves, to help the Union win the war and finance its cost by growing and selling southern cotton, and to make their fortunes.

Among the first “Gideons” that Sarah, Hani, and Joseph meet on Saint Helena Island are three members of a troubled family of Jewish merchants from Philadelphia, Rebecca, Aaron and David Van Ryn. As Hani joins the Union Army’s troop of black soldiers, and Joseph works the island’s cotton fields, Sarah begins working in the Van Ryn family’s general store, which supplies the needs of the military and the planters. Sarah and Rebecca are the same age and grow very close, very quickly, depending on each other, since they can’t depend on Rebecca’s bereaved father or her strange but talented uncle. She observes the Van Ryns and their friends conducting a Passover Sedar that celebrates the same Exodus story of Moses and the Jewish people that inspired her escape with Hani and Joseph from slavery.

As the Civil War continues to rage towards its inevitable conclusion on the mainland, Sarah’s remarkable talent for counting uncovers a terrible secret of grievance, revenge, blackmail, and treason that will threaten the Van Ryns’ lives. The only hope for their salvation is to outwit a formidable adversary from Sarah’s past through a brilliant “con game” that is creatively devised from the same unforgettable Bible stories that Sarah first learned as a young slave from Hani and Joseph.

Join us Friday, January 10th to listen to Fiona Davis talk about her newest book, THE STOLEN QUEEN, along with Patti Callahan Henry. The book is available for pre-sales and will come out on January 7th! This is a ticketed event, each book sale is a ticket and will guarantee a seat within the Book Cellar.

The Stolen Queen

From New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis, an utterly addictive new novel that will transport you from New York City’s most glamorous party to the labyrinth streets of Cairo and back.

Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. But after an unbearable tragedy strikes, Charlotte knows her future will never be the same.

New York City, 1978: Nineteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for iconic former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.” Though Annie soon realizes she’ll have her work cut out for her, scrambling to meet Diana’s capricious demands and exacting standards.

Meanwhile, Charlotte, now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art, wants little to do with the upcoming gala. She’s consumed with her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant.

That is, until the night of the gala. When one of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing . . . and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening.

As Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they’re to have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.

Fiona Davis

F  I  O  N  A D A V I S is the New York Times bestselling author of seven historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including The Spectacular, The Magnolia Palace, The Address, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her articles have appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and the Oprah magazine.

She first came to New York as an actress, but fell in love with writing after getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages and she's based in New York City.

“If you do not desist your opposition to the British Arms, I shall march this army over the mountains, hang your leaders, and lay waste your country with fire and sword.” – British Major Patrick Ferguson in 1780 [“Battle of King's Mountain" by Isaac Shelby, a pamphlet published 1823]

It’s the year 1774, and the American Revolution is just beginning to break out in faraway Massachusetts. Seeking adventure and an escape from an oppressive family life, Caleb Anders leaves home and heads south into the wilderness of the American frontier, west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He meets Nate Daniels along the way, and they become fast friends and business partners.

Caleb and Nate soon discover that they must choose their own destiny – should they remain in the beautiful but rugged mountainous wilderness of Virginia, protecting their friends and neighbors from the rampaging Cherokee Indians… or ride north and strike a blow for freedom with General George Washington? Will the rigors of frontier life prepare Caleb and Nate for what lies to the east, beyond the towering mountain range that looms, deep and dark, over their shoulders?

Crossing the Blue Ridge is a sprawling and inspirational Revolutionary War historical fiction novel that reintroduces the forgotten American Patriots who fought against superior British Tory forces in one of the most decisive battles in the American Revolutionary War at The Battle of King's Mountain.

“The crude, spirited, hardy, determined volunteers who crossed the mountains served as proof of the spirit and resources of the country." - George Washington