Apollo sunrise centerVoices of the Valley Local Book Festival
A Celebration of Literature, Creativity, and Local Community.
Welcome to the second year of the Voices of the ValleyBook Festival! We’re excited to welcome readers, families, and book lovers of all ages. This festival is all about celebrating stories, supporting local authors, and strengthening our community through the joy of reading. We’re proud to continue growing this event and hope you’ll join us in discovering new voices, making meaningful connections, and sharing in a love of books that brings our community together.
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Attending Authors by Genre
Self Help
The Rock - Destiny Through the Eyes of a Horse By Michele Lowry
The Rock - Destiny Through the Eyes of a Horse By Michele Lowry
“IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT…
An existence and experience in which we honor each other, living in balance in a beautiful world. Created for us to enjoy and be amazed by… Imagine, visualize and feel something wonderful every day. Watch life change before you.” – Much Love, Echoe
Echoe’s purpose is to illuminate the true self. His journey began 27 years ago. He continues to speak through his companion, Michele Lowry. As he puts it, “there is no hiding from your life, no door can shut away inevitable experience.” Echoe guides people remotely — both in their dreams and in the reality of each present moment. He sees their essence with clarity and, through sacred space, helps them forge an inner connection. “It’s all in the timing!” he often tells Michele as they encounter each person he is meant to support.
Michele has other books including:
When Crooked Teeth Go Straight Book and Oracle Deck – poems channeled by a miniature horse named Sunshine, kid friendly
Savour The Taste – 2nd book of poems channeled by Sunshine – kid friendly
Time to Find Your Herd Oracle Deck channeled by Kimmie (a horse’s profound wisdom shared through the cards)
See Michele Lowry speak about The Rock – Destiny Through the Eyes of a Horse – Self Development, on the Self Help panel on Saturday, November 14th.
Sunrise Soul: Sacred Words and Images to Celebrate a New Dawn of Awakening by Lisa Pelonzi
Sunrise Soul: Sacred Words and Images to Celebrate a New Dawn of Awakening By Lisa Pelonzi
Sunrise Soul is a beautiful keepsake book for inspiration, peace, and reflection. It’s a one-of-a-kind compilation of sacred words and images that celebrates a new dawn of awakening. Luminary and Professional Photographer, Lisa Pelonzi, coined the phrase, Sunrise Soul, to describe the divine experience of beholding and photographing the magnificence of each new morning. Her stunning photographs are infused with pure love and transcend the ordinary world into the realm of the ethereal.
Sunrise Soul is also the title of a channeled poem written by Sol Path Yoga creator, Chara Rodriguera. The two friends felt called to combine their unique talents with the intention of supporting others on their journey of personal evolution. The book you are holding in your hands is the result of their inspired collaboration. It’s an invitation to pause, breathe and allow more light to flow to you, through you and from you. With profound simplicity and beauty, Sunrise Soul is sure to illuminate a new dawn of awakening within you and your world.
See Lisa Pelonzi speak about Sacred Words and Images to Celebrate a New Dawn of Awakening, on the Self Help panel on Saturday, November 14th or stop by her table on November 14th and 15th
TBD
Non Fiction
The 9 Money Rules Millionaires Use: Only The Unconventional Ones by Joel Salomon
The 9 Money Rules Millionaires Use: Only The Unconventional Ones by Joel Salomon
The 9 Money Rules Millionaires Use is fabulous, enlightened reading, filled with gripping personal stories – my favorite way to learn – written by someone who has walked the talk and who wants to help others do the same. I could not more highly recommend reading this one as soon as possible.
Mike Dooley NY Timesbestselling author of Infinite Possibilities.
The 9 Money Rules Millionaires Use is a must-read if you want to make, have and attract more money! There are two sides to money as with everything else in life: energy and action. Joel provides a fabulous mixture of spiritual tools and practical ideas and exercises for increasing money flow now! I highly recommend you read Joel’s powerful guide to attracting abundance and prosperity into your life.
Christy Whitman multi-New York Times bestselling author The Art of Having It All and Quantum Success: 7 Essential Laws for a Thriving, Joyful and Prosperous Relationship with Work and Money.
Check out Joel’s Other Books:
- Infinite Love and Money
- Mindful Money Management
See Joel Salomon speak about The 9 Money Rules Millionaires Use: Only The Unconventional Ones, on the NonFiction panel on Sunday, November 15th.
Ordinary Days and Tender Places: How We Talk (and Don't Talk) About Adoption in America by Margaret Bendroth
Ordinary Days and Tender Places: How We Talk (and Don't Talk) About Adoption in America by Margaret Bendroth
An adoptive parent and historian delves into the differences of families made by law, not biology– and shows us the deep value of those differences
Adoption touches on some of our most vexing social questions, about race and sexuality, abortion rights, economic inequality, even foreign policy and global poverty. More than that, it prods us in tender places, reminding us of our own questions about belonging and separation, identity and alienation, our worries about what is determined by fate and what is freely choose.
Blending personal memoir, history, and broader reflection on American culture, Ordinary Days and Tender Places offers a fresh take on adoption. As an historian and an adoptive parent, Bendroth takes seriously the criticisms and the personal pain many adoptees face, but she also invites readers to take a bigger view. This book asks us to turn the mirror on ourselves and consider the peculiarities of what we consider “normal” family life.
In the end, our questions and controversies obscure a basic fact: raising children born to someone else is a time-honored human practice. In the past and in many cultures today, our modern American ideal, the two-parent biologically-related nuclear family, is an oddity. Within the long history of humanity our ideas about kinship and our beliefs about what constitutes a “normal” household are surprisingly narrow and, in the end, not all that helpful.
Bendroth introduces readers to new ways of thinking about adoption, exploring the history of American families and children as well as fascinating findings by biologists and evolutionary anthropologists about kinship practices, genetics and inheritance, even motherhood itself. This is, in other words, a book about adoption and much more. It is an invitation to readers to reflect on their own lives, to think deeply about our human need to connect, to love, and belong.
See Margaret Bendroth speak about Ordinary Days and Tender Places: How We Talk (and Don’t Talk) About Adoption in America, on the NonFiction panel on Sunday, November 15th.
TBD
Children's & YA Literature
Adventurers of Jimmy the Little Blue Frog by William Smith
Adventurers of Jimmy the Little Blue Frog by William Smith
Overhearing Nana and Grampy tell his mother that they would be taking a trip to an exotic island, Aidan excitedly asked Nana if Jimmy could go with them on their trip.
“Who is Jimmy”?, asked Nana.
And with that question, a little blue frog’s first adventure began.
For reading ages 5-9 years old
William Smith has other books including:
- Two Brothers who Love to Do Different Things.
- Fun play things brothers do. Children ages 1-7
See William Smith speak about Adventurers of Jimmy the Little Blue Frog, on the Kids/YA Panel panel on Sunday, November 15th or stop by his table on November 14th and 15th
Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances by Kimberly Behre Kenna
Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances by Kimberly Behre Kenna
On a mission to honor her perfect twin sister who died in an accident she feels responsible for, thirteen-year-old Lola is desperate to complete their treasured Perfect Pairs Collection, but gets caught stealing in the process. She’s sent to spend August with agoraphobic Uncle Milo in his ramshackle mansion on the Connecticut River. Here she becomes even more obsessed with her collection—a lucky baker’s dozen of pairs would provide the magic she needs to keep her out of Bad Girls Boarding School. But mishaps in a Zen Garden, a glitchy projector that spits out holographic messages from her dead aunt, a beached houseboat, and a displaced wolf upend everything and force her to rethink her mission. Who needs the magic most, her quirky uncle or herself?
Reading Age 9-12 years old
Kimberly Behre Kenna has other books including:
Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm
Artemis Sparke and the Sound seekers Brigade
See Kimberly Behre Kenna speak about Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances, on the Kids/YA Panel panel on Sunday, November 15th
The Youngest Lobsterman by Elle Eaton
The Youngest Lobsterman by Elle Eaton
Come with Wesley on an adventure of lobstering. At just 8 years old, Wesley is excited to finally be able to go lobstering with his own lobster license. Join Wesley and his grandfather as they haul traps and see sea creatures. Learn a little bit about what it takes to be a lobsterman, and that hard work doesn’t just have to be for grown-ups!
This beautifully hand-illustrated children’s book introduces young readers to:
-Lobstering and amazing ocean creatures
-the pride of following in your families footsteps and
-the value of hard work at any age
This heartwarming story is ideal for ocean lovers, families connected to the sea and anyone charmed by New England’s fishing traditions. A delightful read for fishermen (young and old) and dreamers alike.
Reading ages 3-8 years old
Get your copy of Elle Eaton at her table on November 14th and 15th
True Friends Indeed: A Seemore the Seagull Tale by Ralph Tufo
True Friends Indeed: A Seemore the Seagull Tale By Ralph Tufo
It is the grand finale of the Revere Beach Sand Castle Festival. The Fabulous Surfing Seagull Brothers, Seemore and Sydney, put on a show for the tourists doing acrobatic surfing maneuvers in the sea and in the air. From above, they witness a seagull, who looks different from the others, being taunted by Lucy and her followers. Seagull Lucy is no match for the quick response of Seemore and Sydney as they rescue Bonita. They show the other seagulls that everyone is valued and that friendship, courage, and inclusion reign supreme.
Ralph has other books including:
- Seemore the Seagull
- Brotherly Love: A Seemore the Seagull Tale
- The Seemore the Seagull Coloring and Activity Book (A Seemore the Seagull Tale)
Reading ages 3-10 years old
See Ralph Tufo speak about True Friends Indeed: A Seemore the Seagull Tale, on the Kids/YA Panel panel on Sunday, November 15th
Penelope and the Pigeon of Piccadilly by Grace Marchese
Penelope and the Pigeon of Piccadilly by Grace Marchese
Join Penelope on her first London adventure! She mistakenly think she disembarks at the wrong stop, but a witty city pigeon, Oliver, steps in and becomes her trusted tour guide. Can he help her reach Aunt Holly’s place? Find out!
In Penelope and the Pigeon of Piccadilly, Penelope’s much-anticipated journey to visit her beloved Aunt Holly turns into an unexpected adventure. As she climbs aboard a red double-decker bus, a symbol of the city she’s always wanted to explore, her excitement is palpable. The magical and enchanting surroundings of Piccadilly Square await her, but an unforeseen hiccup occurs. Penelope finds herself in an unfamiliar part of the city. She wonders if the map is incorrect or if she, in her inexperience and wonder, misread her stop.
Just when Penelope begins to feel the stirrings of worry, she encounters a new friend in an unexpected guise – Oliver, a savvy and quick-witted city pigeon. Oliver, in his charming and cheeky demeanor, knows the ins and outs of London like no other. He steps in to help Penelope, turning her mishap into a delightful exploration. As Oliver shows her the sights and sounds of London, Penelope’s anxiety begins to fade, replaced by the thrill of discovery.
But the question remains, will Oliver’s guidance lead Penelope to Aunt Holly’s doorstep? Or will our young adventurer’s first trip to London be marked by a detour that takes her further away from her destination? This lively tale, steeped in the vibrant atmosphere of London, is a heartwarming story of friendship, adventure, and the joy of unexpected journeys.
Will Penelope manage to navigate through the sprawling city with Oliver’s help? Will she finally get to embrace her favorite aunt in the heart of Piccadilly Square? Dive into Penelope and the Pigeon of Piccadilly to join Penelope on her enchanting adventure and find out! This delightful story will captivate the hearts of young readers, making them yearn for more.
For reading ages 3-8 years old
Grace Marchese has other books including:
- Vivian and the Vegetable Van
- Harper and the Howling Hounds
- The Ladybug in Luna’s Latte
See Grace Marchese speak about Penelope and the Pigeon of Piccadilly, on the Kids/YA Panel panel on Sunday, November 15th or stop by his table on November 14th and 15th
Fiction
Cardio Chronicles by Vanessa A. Newman
Adult Book Series: Cardio Chronicles by Vanessa A. Newman
Adult Book Series: Cardio Chronicles by Vanessa A. Newman
A grown-up book series with adult content set in the 90s and early 2000 about a lovable female protagonist. She is a fitness instructor and former personal trainer who gets into chaotic and hilarious situations with ridiculous results.
- Tiramisu, Tube Tops & Trouble
- Croissants, Caramel Clusters & Catastrophes
- Baklava, Bibs & Brouhaha: A modern Odyssean adventure
Vanessa A. Newman has also written Kids Books
- Red, Merry & Bright – A children’s rhyming book for ages 4 to 12 that addresses feeling down or alone on the holidays with a special guest who brings hope.
- Chris Mouse series – Winner of a 2025 Ella’s Way award for promoting acceptance, kindness, and inclusion! On a cold and wintery night a creature arrives on the eve of a holiday. This critter has a message and a lesson to share with those who find him. Why is he here and what happens when he is discovered?
- Alex and His Monsters series – A series of books about a young boy named Alex who learns to confront and manage his emotions and behaviors. He meets monsters of his own creation in his room and befriends them in unique ways.
Check out Cardio Chronicles and her Kids Books during the Fiction panel on Saturday Nov 14th or stop by her table on the 14th or 15th
Virtuous Women by Ann Goltz
Virtuous Women by Ann Goltz
The sheltered eldest daughter of a Quiverfull family. Her naive new stepmother. The patriarch who controls them both.
Isolated from the world except for their insular church community, Hope Wagner has little exposure to anything outside of her father’s beliefs. That changes when her father marries the worldly newcomer to their church.
Jennifer Levine always wanted a large, close-knit family that lives according to the traditional values portrayed in her beloved historical novels. But after her marriage to Michael, a handsome widower at her new church, Jennifer’s life becomes a nightmare of inadequacy and futility as she tries to embody her husband’s idea of a virtuous woman.
Michael Wagner will stop at nothing to ensure his wife and daughters fulfill their God-given roles as helpmeets and mothers, and does everything in his power to eliminate the dangerous ideas his new wife has introduced into his family.
When Jennifer rejects Michael’s authority over her, she launches the family into a crisis. Now, to escape the future her father has planned for her, Hope must find the courage to leave the only world she’s ever known and pursue a life she’s never been given the tools to manage.
This emotional and eye-opening book shows the reality of Christian patriarchy, and the terrible price paid by women who have no choice but to be virtuous.
See Ann Goltz speak about Virtuous Women, on the Fiction Panel panel on Saturday, November 14th
TBD
Stay Tuned for More Attending Authors…
Apollo Sunrise Center invites individuals to embark on a personalized journey of self-improvement through an array of classes and workshops facilitated by leaders in the wellness and spiritual industries. From yoga and meditation classes to workshops on topics such as healing from trauma and creative writing, Apollo Sunrise Center provides a diverse range of learning opportunities for all levels.