The Wednesday Book Signing for authors Nick Licata and Rita Amer was bright, muffled, and intimate. They sat comfortably in the leopard print booth provided by Not A Number’s eclectic ambiance and chatted with each other as they waited for people to stroll in. I sat myself next to the snack table, munching on chocolate cookies and sipping apple juice as I evaluated the scene. Rita is an upbeat woman with a creatively elegant fashion sense; a beautiful cream blouse with flowing sleeves, a green skirt reminiscent of poodle-skirt days, and some exceptionally adorable leopard print heals. Nick looked much like a politician in his outfit (being a City Councilmember and all), but has the soft and kind face of a storyteller. And that is exactly what he is for his daughter, and now for the rest of us too. 
Nick’s book Princess Bianca And The Vandals got its origins from stories he used to tell his daughter of a brave young girl that was out to change the world. In the novel that is precisely what Princess Bianca does, she saves her kingdom from thieves and keeps the magic of life in her home alive. Not a bad message in that for children; be strong, believe, and fight for what you believe in.
Rita’s book entitled The Cat With The Golden Fang, covered by bright colors and wild animal caricatures, is about a blue rhinoceros named Furlow. Furlow becomes the bearer of the animal world’s fate- it is up to him to save the animals from the evil Cat and in the process he discovers friendship, a profound appreciation for his mother, and an unforgettable sense of accomplishment. Again, a great message in there for kids.
I spent the book signing chatting with both Nick and Rita about their journeys as authors. We all agreed on the challenges of writing, and the great reward of finally getting it done right. The rejections, the curve balls, and the pleasure of sharing stories. Both Nick and Rita have wonderful stories to tell. Rita is already working on her next project, a mystery novel. Nick is working on a memoir about the student power movement of his youth. I personally look forward to reading both.
Both books are for children ages eight through twelve, but can make for a great reading-aloud-experience for younger children. If you like to indulge the child inside (like me!) than the books are certainly great for a Sunday afternoon read at any age. The Cat With The Golden Fang, and Princess Bianca And The Vandals are available at Not A Number, The Elliot Bay Book Company, Barnes and Noble Booksellers, online at Amazon.com, and they can be ordered at any bookstore of your choice. And a nice bonus for Wallingford (in all her glory) is that the authors live right here in the hood.