Recent Spotlights

Young Author Nicole Mello Juggles Writing and College

By Rebecca LeBoeuf Between classes and homework, extracurricular actives, a part-time job and a social life, college is a busy time for many students. Imagine writing and publishing a novel on top of all that. In the middle of her college career, Nicole Mello published her first novel, “Venus,” with…

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The Penmen Profile: Women’s Fiction Writer Julie Pennell

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Julie Pennell published her debut novel, “The Young Wives Club,” in February. Pennell’s book follows four young women, still in relationships from high school, as they discover how complicated love is. With praise from Kirkus, Booklist, Bestselling Author Karen White and others, “The Young Wives Club” shifts…

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The Penmen Profile: Literary Fiction Author Annie Hartnett

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Annie Hartnett’s debut novel, published in March, is a summer must-read. Receiving starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, “Rabbit Cake” is a coming-of-age story about a 12-year-old with the facts to explain everything – that is, until her mother dies unexpectedly. The novel was…

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