About a year ago in this space, I published some information about local author R.L. Anderson's Will Nickerson mystery series. Anderson recently contacted me again to let me know he has a third novel published in the series, and all three parts of the series are now available for Amazon Kindle, Nook and in print.

Anderson writes:

I now have a third novel published, titled Viking It Is, which is set in a small Scandinavian community in North Dakota and also features Will Nickerson, plus many of the other main characters who appeared in the first two.
...
All three are "whodunits" with rural/small town settings and feature Will Nickerson, a small town merchant turned amateur detective, who lives in the fictional community of New Oslo, North Dakota.  As noted previously, Lake Metroparks and the Holden Arboretum inspired the settings for the first two.  Viking It Is focuses more on the town of New Oslo itself, with its Scandinavian heritage (I am half Swedish myself, so I can relate very well to the Swedish and Norwegian cultures which come out in this and my other stories).  In this third installment of my series, an obnoxious and enigmatic stranger comes to town and promptly vanishes without a trace.  Is it murder--or what?  It's up to Will and his fellow townsfolk, plus a host of equally enigmatic visitors staying at the New Oslo Motel to find the answer.  As with Ranch Park and It's A Place For Trees, I've packed a lot of twists and turns, subplots, surprises, plus the occasional shock, into the story, to keep the reader guessing till the very end--just whodunit.  

If you're interested in purchasing any of his books in any of the formats:

Ranch Park: A Will Nickerson Mystery (Will Nickerson Mysteries) (Volume 1)	Paperback	Kindle	Nook
It's A Place For Trees: A Will Nickerson Mystery (Will Nickerson Mysteries) (Volume 2)	Paperback	Kindle	Nook
Viking It Is: A Will Nickerson Mystery (Will Nickerson Mysteries) (Volume 3)	Paperback	Kindle	Nook

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Author Maryann Ruben will be in Cleveland this weekend to sign copies of "Which Way Today?" More details from a news release:

WHEN: 4/27/13

TIME: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: Mojo's Coffee and More, 600 Dover Center Road # A Cleveland, OH 44140

WHAT: Ruben, a resident of North Olmsted, OH, will be available to sign copies of her book, Which Way Today?

One thing is certain: in this life, we must follow His path in order to find the answer. So listen closely to His word and you, too, will hear him answering your question, Which Way Today?

Join author Maryann Ruben as she takes you on a journey of choices in this heartfelt book based on the life-changing teachings of Jesus.

April 23, 2013, is William Shakespeare's 449th birthday, and apparently Talk Like Shakespeare Day. Go ahead and celebrate by speaking like The Bard — especially if it will confuse your friends, family and co-workers.

Apparently there is a "Hip-Hop Birthday Anthem" by The Q Brothers, which both wishes Shakespeare a happy birthday AND explains how to talk like him. Listen below:


That song is posted on TalkLikeShakespeare.org, where you'll also get tips on how to talk like Shakespeare, such as "When in doubt, add the letters "eth" to the end of verbs (he runneth, he trippeth, he falleth)." Methinks this will be more difficult than how thou normally speaketh.

And, of course, thou can follow along with how other jackanapes and canker-blossoms are celebrating the day, by checking out the #talklikeshakespeare hashtag on Twitter.:
Tweets about "#talklikeshakespeareday"



-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library has shared photos from the Years of Service Awards 2013 on its Facebook page.

View more photos in the album Years of Service Awards 2013.

Cleveland resident Sandy Rozelman, who recently released a political joke book, will be signing books in Mayfield Heights this weekend. More details from a news release:

WHEN: 4/20/13

TIME: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Half Price Books, 1607 Golden Gate Plaza, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124

WHAT: Rozelman, a resident of Cleveland, OH, will be available to sign copies of her books, Politics Is a Joke, Who Said Jews Aren't Funny and, You're Gonna to Laugh.

Are you tired of the political mud-slinging, dinner-time phone calls, and never-ending ads on TV telling you why you should vote for candidate A and not for candidate B?

If you have the campaign-season blues, Sandy Rozelman has just the cure you’re looking for! Politics is a Joke is a compilation of political jokes sure to make you laugh away your blue (or red) state. Tackling hot-button issues of recent political campaigns, these jokes will have both sides of the aisle laughing all the way to the polling booth.

For more laughs, check out Sandy’s other joke books: You’re Gonna Laugh and Who Said Jews Aren’t Funny.
-
OY VEY!!!, My children think I'm Meshugana so before I leave this world I need to prove them wrong. For over 20 years I have collected humorous stories and jokes. My kids would probably just throw them all away after I'm gone.

But . . . if I put them in a book, they wouldn't think I was so Meshugana after all. Right?, So, here's my second book, Who Said Jews Aren't Funny?, a compilation of the best of the best of the best Jewish humor I have amassed. This book makes a great gift and belongs in every Jewish home.
-
A judge asks the prisoner, 'What are you charged with?'
'Doing my Christmas shopping early,' he replied.
'That‛s no offense. How early were you doing this shopping?'
'Before the store opened.'

People are more violently opposed to fur than they are to leather because it‛s safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.

The mother of three unruly young boys was asked whether or not she‛d have children if she could do it all over again.
'Sure,' she replied, 'just not the same ones.'

Prosecutor: 'Did you kill the victim?
'Defendant: 'No, I did not.'
Prosecutor: 'Do you know what the penalties are for perjury?'
Defendant: 'Yes, I do. And they‛re a lot better than the penalty for murder.'

A Polish immigrant went to the DMV to apply for a driver‛s license. First, of course, he had
to take an eyesight test.
The optician showed him a card with the letters: C Z W I X N O S TA C Z 'Can you read this?' the optician asked. 'Read it?' the Polish guy replied, 'I know the guy.'

Birthdays are good for you:
The more you have, the longer you live.

The author, Sandy Rozelman, is happy to share her love of humor with you.

Flavorwire published a list of The 25 Books Every Kid Should Have on Their Bookshelf, with selections ranging from illustrated classics to novels to poetry.

Reading through this list made me a bit nostalgic for all the reading I did in the 1990s. My favorite on the list? "Charlotte's Web."

Which books on the list are your favorite? What other books would you add?


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Meet local author Brian McClellan at Geauga West Library for his debut book launch

Author to award prizes to three high-school students for essay contest

Geauga County – March 22, 2013 – Geauga County Public Library and the Geauga County Library Foundation are pleased to celebrate the debut novel of Geauga County’s newest novelist.

What:    Book launch for Promise of Blood
 High-school writing contest prizes awarded for essay on “What’s Your Big Dream?”

Where:                   Geauga West Library

When:    Thursday, April 18, 6:30 p.m.

Former West Geauga High School student Brian McClellan (class of 2004) had a dream when he was 16 to become a successful novelist. Nearly ten years later, he’s living his dream. His first epic fantasy novel, Promise of Blood, is being published internationally by Orbit April 16, 2013. He’s working on two other books to complete the trilogy.

Meet Brian at his book launch party at Geauga West Library. He will read a short excerpt of his book at 7 p.m. and be available to sign copies for purchase ($23.99).

Additionally, Brian will award prizes to the top three local high-school students for their essays on the topic: “What’s Your Big Dream?” Students were asked to submit short essays that describe their aspirations and how they overcome their obstacles. Brian, who judged the essays, was impressed with the energy and quality of writing. “Looking over these essays reminded me of my time in high school,” McClellan says, “when I would hang out in libraries and read everything I could get my hands on, especially fantasy and science fiction. I dreamed about the time when I would hopefully realize my big dream, seeing my novels published, read and enjoyed. I’m thrilled to be taking that big step now. I hope the young writers I judged will also realize their dreams.”

Students from all of Geauga County were encouraged to enter the contest to sharpen their writing skills and have a chance to win some great prizes including an iPod Touch and iTunes gift cards. The contest is sponsored by the Geauga County Library Foundation.

About the Geauga County Public Library

The Geauga County Public Library includes four full-service community libraries in Bainbridge, Chardon, Geauga West (Chesterland) and Middlefield; two library stations housed in schools in Newbury and Thompson; one Bookmobile that serves farms, nursing homes and nursery schools; and one administrative center where technical services, computer services, facilities and administrative functions reside.  GCPL has more than 500,000 books and e-books. The collection also contains more than 100,000 audio / video items and 400 research databases available through its website. Learn more about the Geauga County Public Library at www.geaugalibrary.net. 

 — Information from a Geauga County Public Library news release

 

I was compiling the events list from our online calendar for publication in Sunday's print edition, and just had to share this upcoming event with my fellow book lovers:

Books & Cooks!
6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 15, at Madison Public Library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road
Meet local authors and sample goodies from local restaurants, caterers and cooks at Madison Library’s Books & Cooks! event. This is the ninth year for Books & Cooks! and every year there is something new. Patrons always enjoy talking to the authors, learning of their inspiration, joy, trials, and tales of writing and publishing their works and some even purchase a signed copy of the books. And the goodies made by local “cooks” are always delicious.
New to Books & Cooks! this year are Deanna Adams, author of “Rock ‘n’ Roll and the Cleveland Connection,” “Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Roots,” and “Confessions of a Not-So-Good Catholic Girl,” and Kathleen Fuller author of “An Honest Love,” “Faithful to Laura” and over 25 other books. Bob Grau, author of “Five Million Steps on a Journey of Hope: Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail” will be there; Tabitha Hoover will bring, “A Visual Pursuit of Hope,” her book full of beautiful photography and spiritual scriptures, and Aileen Stewart will have her book, “Fern Valley-A Collection of Short Stories.” Also new this year is Christina Wilkinson, author of “Images of America Willoughby.”
Many authors had such a good time at past events they are returning to Books & Cooks! again this year. Mildred Dennis has a new book, “Less Than an Eagle – More Than a Duck”; Gene Gaster, author of “Finders Keepers,” is working on a sequel, “Losers Weepers”; Harold George will have his Civil War books; and Barbara Hacha, author of “Line by Line,” will also return. The sole survivor of the shipwrecked Daniel J. Morrell, Dennis Hale, will be back as will Richard Ondo, author of several books including “Terror by Invasion” and “The Lore of Lake Erie.” Annette Sheldon, author of “Big Sister Now” and “Big Brother Now,” Mary Sokol, author of inspirational fiction and scriptural meditation books, Tom Swope, author of “LEGACIES: Stories from the Second World War,” and Mary Lu Warstler, author of “Sing Me to Sleep,” “Escape from Richmond,” “Father Snoop & Holy Smoke” and the popular Laura Kenzel mysteries will also return. The Madison Historical Society will have their books on Madison, too.
Several cooks are coming this year too. Cebar’s Restaurant and Marydee will be bringing a selection of delicious desserts. Jan Etc. (Extremely Tasty Cookies) will bring some of those extremely tasty cookies, and Sassy Beth’s Cupcakes will offer some fantastic cupcakes.
Don’t miss this free, family-friendly event.
Info: 440-428-2189