Kudos to our authors! Celebrate and support our talented Tri Delta authors. From art to mystery to education, there’s something for everyone on our list. Curl up with a warm beverage and read or gift a book as a stocking stuffer! Let’s show our authors some love this season!
I Wish My Mommy Was an Octopus
Erin Shular Butler, Southern Methodist
This heartwarming children’s picture book explores the imagination of a child who wishes her mother had eight arms like an octopus. The story conveys the child’s yearning for her mother’s attention, hugs and fun, despite her mother’s busy schedule and everyday duties. This touching story beautifully illustrates the special bond between a mother and her child, underlining the value of love and affection amid everyday responsibilities. This book is perfect for young readers and serves as a delightful reminder of the important moments shared by parents and their children.
Known for her engaging storytelling and vivid imagination, Erin uniquely connects with young readers and their parents. Her work is inspired by the everyday magic of family life, making her stories relatable and enchanting. When she’s not writing, Erin enjoys exploring nature and spending quality time with her family, drawing inspiration from their adventures. Erin is a wife, mom to many fur babies, amateur photographer, world traveler, old Hollywood fanatic, birthday enthusiast and lover of anything royal.
A Path to Learning and Literacy
Claire Johnson Machosky, Adelphi
This informative and excellent read for secondary students and their parents is an easy-to-read guide informing students on the basics of successful learning. The book covers various topics, such as getting organized, time management, active listening, study strategies, testing and feedback. Each chapter contains FAQs and checklists asking students to reflect on their learning and studying habits, allowing readers to identify the best methods for them. A “note to parents” at the end of each chapter serves as a personal message to help parents encourage and support their children in learning, studying and doing well in school.
Claire holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Government from Adelphi University and a Master of Science in School Administration from Long Island University. Her career highlights include teaching at Our Lady of Mercy School in Hicksville, New York and teaching social studies in the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools, where she also served as Social Studies Department Chairperson and School Dean. Her students nominated her for inclusion in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” As an Educational Consultant, she has worked with Long Island School Districts, Teachers Centers and the New York State Department of Education on student performance and assessment. In 2012, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from her alma mater for her accomplishments and dedication to her work in education. Currently, she is a Teaching with Primary Sources Coach with the Eastern Region of the Library of Congress’ TPS Program.
Fowl Play
Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, Auburn
This dynamic and moving novel is perfect for middle-grade readers who seek the thrill of a mystery with the heart of a family story! The book follows protagonist Chloe Alvarez, who is newly grieving the loss of her best friend, her Uncle Will. During her uncle’s will reading, Chloe learns she has been left Uncle Will’s African grey parrot, Charlie. Without her uncle, Chloe’s left only with their memories together—which come to her in snapshots—and her new friend, Charlie. The parrot has a vast vocabulary, eventually revealing to Chloe something odd: Uncle Will’s death was a murder, followed by homicide and cyanide. Chloe becomes convinced that her uncle Will’s death was foul play. With the help of her family, Chloe begins investigating to uncover Uncle Will’s murderer. The suspects: his nosy neighbor, an ex-girlfriend, a rude landlord and a loan shark. But it all leads to more questions than answers. Did someone really kill Uncle Will? Could this journey help reunite Chloe’s grieving family?
The author of several books for middle-grade readers, Kristin says she is an eternal optimist. Books, chocolate, coffee, the great outdoors, friends, family and writing tips and tricks make her tick, while banned books and the fall forward/spring back time change tick her off! She is always happy to hear from her readers, teachers, librarians and long-lost friends.
Shoe Print Art: Step Into Drawing Step by Step
Karen Robbins, Washington
Learn to draw with this fun method! Take off your shoe and draw around it with a pencil, or use the templates at the back of the book. With your pencil, follow the four easy steps to draw an image from a shoe print shape. Add your own creativity with crayons or paints. It’s a fun, quick and easy guide for children ages 4-12, demonstrating how to draw 55 images step-by-step. Karen has taught this fun method of drawing for more than 20 years. Children ages 3-14 have drawn the images printed in the book. If these kids can do it, so can you! Putting your best foot forward, you can draw anything from a shoe print shape, including dinosaurs, monsters, rocket ships, puppies, ladybugs and butterflies. Turn your shoe print creations into greeting cards, note cards, stick puppets or foam refrigerator magnets.
Karen is the author of the award-winning picture book, “Care for Our World,” in addition to other fun titles, such as “Big Bulletin Boards: A Cooperative Approach,” “Year ‘Round Holiday Crafts,” and numerous magazine articles. She was also “Miss Karen” on television’s “Romper Room Show.” Karen holds a Master of Education from the University of Puget Sound. She lives in Gig Harbor, Washington, where she writes, crafts and designs books and toys for kids.
Land Of Light
Laurel Hassel Patterson, Saint Lawrence
Dive into a world full of wonder where the protagonist, Alena, experiences an amazing transformation in a dazzling place, wherein lessons are learned almost by osmosis! Let your child’s imagination soar as they journey through an enchanted land of mythical creatures who treat each other with good energy! How do they do that? Find out in “Land of Light.” The story is ideal for ages three to nine and is a great read-aloud with gorgeous illustrations and a heartfelt message.
Laurel writes about challenging situations that children confront in daily life. Emotional intelligence emerges from some surprising and engaging sources, creating greater understanding and growth within the child and their parents. Laurel is a retired high school English teacher. Having taught for 24 years, she received the Teacher of the Year Award and has been writing ever since. Laurel’s memberships in the Redwood Writers Club and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) have been energizing. Her own daughter and granddaughters serve as inspirations for her stories.
Flirting with Disaster: True Travel Tales of Fear, Failure, and Faith
Angie Orth, Florida
Join Angie on a journey of self-discovery as she empowers readers to buck expectations, take leaps of faith and trust that God’s plan is better than anything we think we want for our lives.
Angie should have had at least 2.5 kids by now—everyone else back home did. Despite a successful PR career in New York, Angie was failing at the roles she was born to play—those of submissive wife and grandchild incubator. Without a potential husband in sight or the hope of a photogenic brood to show off, she was beginning to wonder if God had forgotten about her.
With her 30th birthday looming, Angie was at a crossroads. Should she hightail it home to find a man like a “good girl” or continue running the rat race in New York City and hope for the best? Follow Angie as she embarks upon Plan C: Escape!
Angie is a writer and speaker, best known for her travel and lifestyle website, Angie Away, and her travel series, “The Jet Sisters.” She’s a recovering PR agency publicist, former New Yorker, current Floridian, hesitant risk-taker and, allegedly, a grown-up. Angie has covered travel for AFAR, Cosmopolitan, Buzzfeed, Lonely Planet, “The Today Show” and Destination America. Angie has visited more than 60 countries and absolutely does not have a favorite (so please don’t ask!).
The Sicilian Inheritance: A Novel
Johanna Piazza, Pennsylvania
Sara Marsala barely knows who she is anymore after the failure of her business and marriage. On top of that, her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara bereft with grief. But Aunt Rosie’s death also opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land and a bombshell family secret. Rosie believes Sara’s great-grandmother Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it . . . she was murdered.
Thus begins a twist-filled adventure that takes Sara all over the picturesque Italian countryside as she races to solve a mystery and learn the story of Serafina. Unsurprisingly, the more she challenges the status quo, the more she finds herself in danger. At once an immersive multigenerational mystery and an ode to the undaunted heroism of everyday women, “The Sicilian Inheritance” is an atmospheric, page-turning delight.
Jo is a bestselling author, podcast creator and award-winning journalist, as well as the national and international bestselling author of such hit titles as “We Are Not Like Them,” “You Were Always Mine,” “Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win,” “The Knockoff” and “How to Be Married.” Her work has been published in ten languages in 12 countries, and four of her books have been optioned for film and television. Jo’s podcasts have garnered more than 25 million downloads and regularly top podcast charts. An editor, columnist and travel writer, her work has also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, New York magazine, Marie Claire, Glamour and many other publications. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Nick Aster, and three feral children.
Total Solar Eclipse: A Stellar Friendship Story
Jayme George Sandberg, Wyoming
Sun is seriously out of sorts about the upcoming total solar eclipse. Will Earthlings go blind watching it? What will they think when Sun’s dependable light suddenly vanishes in the middle of the day? How could Moon betray their stellar friendship?
When totality finally arrives and Moon completely hides our brightest star from millions of Earthlings in its shadow, no one is more surprised than Sun to find that Moon helped it shine in a totally different way. Told from the sun’s perspective, the story explores the awe-inspiring phenomenon of a total solar eclipse and the unexpected ways we shine together. The book includes a write-in page to help eclipse viewers of all ages capture and share their special memories for decades to come.
Jayme is a storyteller and communications expert. Her first children’s picture book, “Total Solar Eclipse: A Stellar Friendship Story,” reached number six on Amazon’s bestseller list and helped prepare millions of elementary students for the 2024 total solar eclipse. Jayme’s writing has appeared in places ranging from national television PSAs and Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater to top-tier national television, print and digital media.
Rooted And Radiant: Women’s Narratives of Leadership
Dr. Brittany Devies, Ohio State, and Dr. Rebecca “Becka” Bovio Shetty, Baylor
Brittany and Rebecca, with their co-editor Dr. Trisha Teig, share the narratives of 39 women navigating the process of leadership. The book seeks to honor the unique experiences of the narrative authors while also challenging the dominant stories of the leadership process. This book will resonate especially with leadership educators and women looking to further explore leadership as a phenomenon.
The book is filled with narratives from women exploring their own stories of leadership and gender. These stories are woven together by an author team committed to centering these narrative authors’ voices and lived experiences. The core of the book includes chapters focused on critical themes found in the 39 narratives and weaving together women’s narratives of understanding and enacting leadership. The book concludes with critical hope about women and leadership moving forward.
Brittany is the Program Manager for Leadership Studies and Development at the University of Maryland, College Park, focusing on academic and co-curricular leadership education initiatives. She has received several honors and awards, including the NASPA NOW Inquiry Award, NASPA Student Leadership Programs Outstanding Emerging Professional Award, and ACPA’s Annuit Coeptis Emerging Professional Award. She was inducted into the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ Future Leaders Society and named in Tri Delta’s 33 Under 33. She received her doctorate in Higher Education from Florida State University, her Master of Science in Higher Education from Florida State University and her Bachelor of Science in Education in Early and Middle Childhood Studies with a minor in Leadership Studies from The Ohio State University.
Becka has 13 years of experience in higher education and student affairs/student personnel services. Her professional experience includes leadership training and development, curriculum and course design, advising and coaching, large-scale event management, supervision, facilitation, public speaking and managing multiple and complex projects. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University, her Master of Science from Florida State and her doctorate in Counseling and Student Personnel Services from the University of Georgia.