Author Talks
From debut voices to seasoned storytellers, each event brings a fresh perspective and a chance to connect with the people behind the pages
Calendar
Anneliese Engelen
Saturday, April 25th 1-4pm
Anneliese Engelen is the creator of the Novena in Color series, contemplative devotional books designed to guide readers through a more intentional way of praying novenas. Her first title, St. Thérèse of Lisieux Novena & Coloring Book, invites readers to slow down and enter a prayer journey that blends reflection, gratitude, and creative meditation through coloring. Each book in the series follows a structured daily rhythm, including the traditional novena prayer, a spiritual reflection with Scripture, space for personal intention and gratitude, and a themed illustration for contemplative coloring. Anneliese created this series out of a desire for a more thoughtful and engaging approach to novena prayer—one that makes room for stillness, beauty, and reflection. Her work is centered on prayer as a source of spiritual grounding and renewal.
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Henry Rausch
Saturday, May 16th 1-4pm
Henry Rausch is a retired submarine officer. His first book, “Submerged,” is a memoir about his experiences on his first submarine in the 1980s on missions to the Barents Sea and North Pole. It was approved for release by the DoD, spent 12 months on the Amazon Bestseller list for Military Biographies (Navy), and won first place in published nonfiction at WriterCon 2025. His next book, ”How to Hotwire an Airplane,” is based on his experiences as a private pilot and also the trauma his father endured as a medic during the Vietnam War, and how he dealt with it. It is a story about healing and redemption (and you will also learn how to hotwire an airplane.) He is currently working on a third book, due out in 2026. It is a coming-of-age story about two high school friends who inadvertently take down the world’s GPS system. When not writing, Henry works in the satellite industry and lives in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, with his wife of 43 years.
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Mike Henrich
Saturday, May 23rd 1-4pm
Mike is a three-time teacher of the year, returned Peace Corps volunteer, a former college basketball bench warmer, and a valedictorian ('s husband) who currently lives in northern Virginia. Teacher Boy (2024) debuted as a #1 new release and best seller on Amazon and currently has 5.0 and 4.59 rating on Amazon and Goodreads respectively and is available at Barnes and Noble. Bench Boy (March 2026) is Mike's second published work. Mike and his writing are inspired by his own childhood and the adolescents he's worked with for twenty-seven years (and counting). As an author he wants his readers to consider their pasts not just for remembrance sake, but honor the kids we were with our adult selves.
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Sonora Taylor
Saturday, May 30th 1-4pm
Sonora Taylor is the award-winning author of Little Paranoias: Stories, Without Condition, and Seeing Things. Her work has been published by Raw Dog Screaming, Tenebrous, Cemetery Gates Media, Manta Press, and others. She lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband and a rescue dog.
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Carolyn McBride
Saturday, June 3rd 1-4pm
Carolyn McBride is the author of The Cicada Spring and Santa Overboard, the first two novels in the Potomac Shores series. Set against the inviting backdrop of the Potomac River and the small town of Occoquan, this series explores the complexities of midlife as Katie and the beloved Beach Bonfire Babes navigate challenges and celebrate life's precious moments with humor and resilience. A former editor and columnist for National Geographic Traveler, Carolyn is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds an MFA in fiction writing from Lindenwood University. She is also president of the Northern Virginia Writers Club and enjoys helping writers find their voices and tell their stories.
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More authors coming soon!