You are here: Home / 2024 Author Launch Lineup

2024 Author Launch Lineup

Celebrate the success of Bay Area authors at the annual Redwood Writers Author Launch event. Meet local authors and listen to excerpts from new books published by our members.

Author Launch 2024 page graphic
youtube-video-thumbnail

Scroll down to check out the stellar lineup  of featured authors during the 2024 Author Launch

 

Saturday
March 16, 2024
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

This event will be held in person in the Cypress Room at the Finley Center.

The event will be recorded for later viewing and sharing.

Price:

FREE
for Members, Guests
& General Public

THIS YEAR'S FEATURED AUTHORS & THEIR BOOKS

(Click author name to jump to their book, or just scroll down)

Mara Johnstone
Story Seeds for Fantastical Trees
Writing Prompts / Speculative Fiction

Lenore Hirsch
Connection: Stories
Fiction

Rachel Zemach
The Butterfly Cage
Memoir

Melissa Geissinger
Nothing Left But Dust
Young Adult Historical Fiction

Marty Malin
Transit: A Journey of Transfiguration
Speculative Fiction

Richard Rachlin
Conspiracy of Lies
Legal Thriller

John McCarty
Journey to Duncans Mills
Historical Fiction

Marie Judson
Elf Stone of the Neyna
Adult Fantasy Sci Fi

Crissi Langwell
Masquerade Mistake
Romance

Barbara Cottrell
Darkness Below
Horror

Richard Boyd
Souls AI Computers and the Future of Humankind
Science Fiction

Laurel Patterson
Land of Light
Children's Picture Book

Maetreyii Ma Nolan
Into the Heart of the Infinite
Spiritual Memoir

Christopher Ruttan
Moving Like Fish in The Sea
Historical Fiction

Shawn Langwell
Today's The Day
Personal Growth and Mental Health

Ana Manwaring
Backlash Venom and Vengeance from 'Nam
Thriller

Rod Morgan
Language through the Prism
Poetry

FEATURED AUTHORS

1. Mara Johnstone - Story-Seeds
Writing Prompts / Speculative Fiction

Story Seeds for Fantastical Trees

About the book

Story Seeds for Fantastical Trees

Whether you’re in search of inspiration for your own writing, in need of a gift for writer friends, or simply a fan of microfiction, you’re sure to enjoy browsing this collection of story seeds. They are poised to grow into a wild array of fantasy, science fiction, and hybridized trees, the likes of which this world has never seen.

Genre: Writing Prompts / Speculative Fiction

LEARN MORE
Mara Johnstone December 2015 Copyright Carolyn P. Reed CPR Photography 2015
Author

Mara Johnstone

About the Author

Mara Johnstone

Mara Lynn Johnstone grew up in a house on a hill, of which the top floor was built first. With a lifelong interest in fiction, she has published several books and many short stories. She can be found up trees, in bookstores, lost in thought, and at MaraLynnJohnstone.com

Author Website
2. Lenore Hirsch - Connection
Fiction

Connection: Stories

About the book

Connection: Stories

These stories are set in a variety of places: a kitchen table, funeral parlor, country western bar, refugee camp, border crossing, a cruise ship, waterfall, and streets, parks, and schools that can be found anywhere. What they have in common is the challenges in relationships and the difficulties we face when making choices.

LEARN MORE
2. Lenore Hirsch
Author

Lenore Hirsch

About the Author

Lenore Hirsch

Lenore Hirsch is a retired educator who writes in many genres, including poetry, memoir, humor, and travel. Many of these stories in her first collection have been previously published in journals and anthologies. She lives in Napa, California with her eight pound canine buddy, Chewy.

Author Website
3. Rachel Zemach - The-Butterfly-Cage-Good - 2
Memoir

The Butterfly Cage

About the book

The Butterfly Cage

“This is a remarkable, beautifully-written, important and powerful book.”

“The Butterfly Cage blows the lid off the California public school system’s treatment of deaf students. You will be both enlightened and outraged!”

“Zemach uses humor to bring each student’s character to life; the reader is filled with a breathless desire to keep reading."

LEARN MORE
3. Rachel Zemach
Author

Rachel Zemach

About the Author

Rachel Zemach

Rachel Zemach taught a Deaf class in a public school. She writes about this joyful, comedic and often shocking career and its lessons. Readers get to peek into the poignant, passionate and stunning Deaf world. Urgent language and identity issues are explored through via individual students. The Deaf are calling her book "an absolute must-read for all."

Author Website
4. Melissa Geissinger - Nothing Left But Dust
Young Adult Historical Fiction

Nothing Left But Dust

About the book

Nothing Left But Dust

A powerful tale of love, loss, and hope set during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Jo and Otto fight for survival and love as they navigate the burning ruins of the city in search of answers to a dark family secret. An edge-of-your-seat coming-of-age survival story that will leave you inspired by the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

LEARN MORE
4. Melissa Geissinger
Author

Melissa Geissinger

About the Author

Melissa Geissinger

A neurodivergent optimist, Melissa Geissinger is predisposed to following her dreams as well as every shiny side quest along the way. She lives in Santa Rosa with her partner, her six-year-old heart warrior son, and a menagerie of fur kids. She enjoys the outdoors, soaking up knowledge, and connecting with other passionate creators.

Author Website
5. Marty Malin - Transit
Speculative Fiction

Transit: A Journey of Transfiguration

About the book

Transit: A Journey of Transfiguration

Dr. Jessamyn Quilter committed the perfect murder, killing her abusive husband. No one will ever know except the guardians of the universe who demand she atone and restore the cosmic balance she upset. But how? She embarks on a perilous ocean voyage seeking answers. Can she find healing and purpose before the evil she unleashed destroys her?

LEARN MORE
5. Marty Malin
Author

Marty Malin

About the Author

Marty Malin

Marty Malin writes speculative and literary fiction. His short story collection, "Grandmother’s Devil & Other Tempting Tales," was a finalist in the 2021 Next Generation Indie Books Awards and the 2022 North Street Book Prize. "Transit" is his debut novel. He serves on the Board of Napa Valley Writers and is a member of Benicia Literary Arts.

6. Richard Rachlin - Conspiracy Lies
Legal Thriller

Conspiracy of Lies

About the book

Conspiracy of Lies

Set in Miami, the legal thriller Conspiracy of Lies, tells the story of a young lawyer, who in taking on his first drug case unwittingly finds himself in the crosshairs of the CIA and a ruthless federal prosecutor desperate to keep secret their ties to the Santolisma cartel.

LEARN MORE
Richard Rachlin
Author

Richard Rachlin

About the Author

Richard Rachlin

Writing his debut novel, Conspiracy of Lies, makes for his third career, after that of a trial lawyer and college professor. He obviously has a hard time keeping a job!

7. John McCarty - Journey Duncans Mills
Historical Fiction

Journey to Duncans Mills

About the book

Journey to Duncans Mills

Journey to Duncans Mills follows the adventures of Alexander Duncan from his birthplace in Strabane, Northern Ireland to the rural environs of west Sonoma County where he established several lumber mills during the 19th century. In addition, he rose up against the racist writings of Thomas Thompson, editor of Santa Rosa's Sonoma Democrat.

LEARN MORE
7. John McCarty
Author

John McCarty

About the Author

John McCarty

John Michael McCarty is a fourth generation San Franciscan and retired educator, having taught California History on both the secondary and graduate levels. John has also received numerous national awards for his historical fiction. He lives with his wife Patricia along the lower reaches of the Russian River in rural Sonoma County.

Author Website
8. Marie Judson - ELF-STONE-OF-THE-NEYNA
Adult Fantasy Sci Fi

Elf Stone of the Neyna

About the book

Elf Stone of the Neyna

Called by a voice that cannot be shut out, Yanda, surgeon on Planet Alland, is pulled across the universe. Krid, dark mage, waylays the ship and imprisons her as part of his collection of talents. Able to see through, into bodies, past walls, she’s never known the extent of her powers.

LEARN MORE
Marie Judson 2024
Author

Marie Judson

About the Author

Marie Judson

Marie Judson is a school teacher on the wild coast of Northern California. Language and the mind are her passions. An ardent fantasy reader since childhood, she also loves singing, dream work, and crashing waves. Follow her blog at mariejudson.com.

Author Website
9. Crissi Langwell - Masquerade-Mistake
Romance

Masquerade Mistake

About the book

Masquerade Mistake

7 years ago, they shared a night of passion in an anonymous affair. Now he’s back, but he has no idea it’s her...or that he’s a father. Expect hilarious side characters and several sizzling scenes. This is the first book of the Sunset Bay series and can be read as a standalone.

LEARN MORE
9. Crissi Langwell
Author

Crissi Langwell

About the Author

Crissi Langwell

Author of 14 books, Crissi Langwell writes stories from the heart, with genres that include romance, women's fiction, magical realism, and young adult. Masquerade Mistake is her 13th book. Crissi serves as Vice President and Web Editor of Redwood Writers and is the most recent recipient of the Helene S. Barnhart and Jack London awards.

Author Website
10. Barbara Cottrell - Darkness Below
Horror

Darkness Below

About the book

Darkness Below

Fall quarter is always challenging time at Miskatonic University. All Ellen Logan wants to do is pass her classes. But when a former roommate jumps to her death, leaving her with a mysterious book, Ellen embarks on her own investigation. To survive, she must descend into the darkness below and stop the forces that threaten to tear her world apart.

LEARN MORE
http://www.natashamcguire.com
Author

Barbara Cottrell

About the Author

Barbara Cottrell

Barbara Cottrell is a former professor who gave up her career to write weird fiction. The first book in her series, Darkness Below, was released in March 2023 to critical acclaim. It was chosen as an Editor’s Pick by Booklife and received a silver medal from Reader’s Favorite and a gold medal from The Book Fest.

Author Website
11. Richard Boyd - Souls-AI-Computers-Future-5
Science Fiction

Souls, AI Computers, and the Future of Humankind

About the book

Souls, AI Computers, and the Future of Humankind

The book uses reincarnation, near-death experiences, and past life experiences to understand the soul world. Assuming that AI computers will soon take over the world, the book then assumes that the soul world grants souls to the two AI computers of the book in hopes the souls can control the most heinous tendencies of the computers.

LEARN MORE
11. Richard Boyd
Author

Richard Boyd

About the Author

Richard Boyd

Richard Boyd is a retired physics professor with interests and publications (over 250) in nuclear physics, astrophysics, and astrobiology. He has written three scientific books dealing with nuclear astrophysics and astrobiology. Recently, he has been writing novels on a variety of topics, most recently on artificial intelligence.

13. Laurel Patterson - Land of Light
Children's Picture Book

Land of the Light

About the book

Land of Light

Dive into a world full of wonder where our character, Alena, experiences an amazing transformation in a dazzling place where lessons are learned almost by osmosis! Let your child's imagination soar as he or she embarks on a journey in an enchanted land where mythical creatures always treat each other with GOOD ENERGY! Find out how they do that!

LEARN MORE
13. Laurel Patterson - crop
Author

Laurel Patterson

About the Author

Laurel Patterson

Laurel Patterson writes about challenging situations children confront in daily life. Emotional intelligence is acquired from some surprising and engaging sources, creating greater understanding & growth in the child. She retired after teaching high school English for 24 years and receiving the Teacher of the Year Award, and has been writing ever since.

Author Website
14. Maetreyii Ma Nolan - Heart Infinite
Spiritual Memoir

Into the Heart of the Infinite

About the book

Into the Heart of the Infinite

This insightful narrative speaks to the deep truth of human life and the amazing potential we all hold within us. Dr. Nolan's latest work chronicles a powerful narrative, tracing a woman's journey from childhood divine visitations through the depths of mystical psychedelic experiences, passages to India to see her guru and divine revelations.

LEARN MORE
14. Maetreyii Ma Nolan
Author

Maetreyii Ma Nolan

About the Author

Maetreyii Ma Nolan

Maetreyii Ma Nolan, Ph.D., is an award-winning author, spiritual teacher, and psychologist. Her work assisting others with inner transformation and spiritual awakening has profoundly influenced many people. Maetreyii Ma’s wisdom and teachings garner recognition worldwide, making her a respected voice for those seeking Divine Connection.

Author Website
Moving like Fish - 2
Historical Fiction

Moving Like Fish in The Sea

About the book

Moving Like Fish in The Sea

WW2, the Pacific, the Philippines fell to an overwhelming Japanese force. American gold miner, Walter Cushing, organizes guerrilla resistance in the Luzon mountains. Pursued, Cushing continued to elude the sadistic Colonel Watanabe. When Watanabe tortures and kills Cushing's friends, it becomes personal. Only one of the two could survive.

LEARN MORE
15. Christopher Ruttan
Author

Christopher Ruttan

About the Author

Christopher Ruttan

Career experience includes technical writing and wine grape farming. Inspiration for book derives from living in the Philippines, 11-13, 1963 to 1965, when memories of Japanese occupation were still fresh in the people's minds. Christopher Ruttan has heard numerous stories, and they have been rattling around in his head, requiring an outlet through publication.

16. Shawn Langwell - Todays the Day
Personal Growth and Mental Health

Today's the Day

About the book

Today's the Day

Whether applied to artistic endeavors or used to build stronger more meaningful personal and professional relationships, or simply as a morning muse for personal growth or self-improvement, Today's The Day will help you:
Start your day with an attitude of gratitude.
Stop the steady din of fear, doubt, worry, overthinking, imposter syndrome, etc.

LEARN MORE
16. Shawn Langwell
Author

Shawn Langwell

About the Author

Shawn Langwell

Shawn Langwell is an inspirational author, speaker, and coach who is passionate about helping others dare to take a chance on themselves. He is the author of the memoir Beyond Recovery: A Journey of Grace, Love, and Forgiveness and the recent release, Ten Seconds of Boldness: The Essential Guide to Solving Problems and Building Self-Confidence.

Author Website
17. Ana Manwaring - Backlash
Thriller

Backlash: Venom and Vengeance from 'Nam

About the book

Backlash: Venom and Vengeance from 'Nam

Jackman Quint spent years in prison for his crimes during his tour in Vietnam. He’s made a new life: reunited with his daughter JadeAnne, expanded his investigations, and dipped his toe into the dating pool. Life is going his way until Nader shows up in Mexico City. Now, when he has someone to lose, his past finds him. And Nader is out for blood.

LEARN MORE
17. Ana Manwaring
Author

Ana Manwaring

About the Author

Ana Manwaring

Ana Manwaring’s award winning JadeAnne Stone thriller series is set in Mexico against the backdrop of organized crime, but her Gold Book Award winning Saints and Skeletons, A Memoir of Living in Mexico is the real adventure. Ana produces North Bay Poetics, a free monthly poetry event. www.anamanwaring.com

Author Website
18. Rod Morgan - Prism
Poetry

Language Through the Prism

About the book

Language Through the Prism

This collection of poems and full color prose is Rod Morgan's debut attempt to capture "Moments in time." He uses standard poetry formats and easy flowing phrasing to render vivid mental scenes. Actual memories and fabricated enhancements create an awareness of senses and places.

LEARN MORE
18. Rod Morgan
Author

Rod Morgan

About the Author

Rod Morgan

Rod Morgan has an AAS degree in graphic design with a minor in creative writing and journalism. His choice of genre is tales constructed to amuse, entertain, and mystify; fact and fiction jumbled together in unknown quantities. Short stories, novellas, and poems combine weird equivocations of memories, recollections, and fabrications.

Questions? Comments?

Send Us a Message

If you didn't find answers to your questions on the FAQ page, please use this form, or send an email to:
[email protected]

We will respond as soon as possible.

Thank you!

Questions? Comments?
Send Us a Message

Please enter your name.
Please enter a subject.
Please enter a message.
Send

Return to top