Fall Author Showcase

On Chautauqua Saturday, September 30, 2023, Village Lights is hosting our Fall Author Showcase. Independent authors from the region will perform a round-robin of book signings on the main floor from 12pm to 5:15pm. Participating will be Brandon Andress, Dan Klefstad, and Lawrence Weill.

Brandon Andress

Brandon Andress is the author of And So By Fire, What Can’t Be Hidden, and bestselling Beauty in the Wreckage: Finding Peace in the Age of Outrage. As a freelance writer, he has contributed his nonfiction and science fiction work to various published books. He writes weekly on Substack at Deep Calls to Deep. Brandon lives in Columbus, Indiana and is a graduate of Hanover College in Psychology with an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University.
 

What Can’t Be Hidden

When a stranger is captured in the nearby forest of the isolated and restrictive community of Patrida, a dark, hidden secret is revealed-the Patridian people discover that there are others living on the island. While panic and fear consume the town, Thura clandestinely befriends the stranger, who gives her hope for escaping the only life she has ever known and finding something she has never experienced ... freedom. What Can't Be Hidden is a portrayal of a people awakening and coming to terms with the systems that have promised to give them peace and freedom, while discovering that these virtues can only come from within.

And So By Fire

In the sequel to What Can't Be Hidden, Thura awakens from a forbidden simulation deemed illegal by The Coalescence-a powerful hacking group that has overthrown the government on the island of Pangea. As Thura delves deeper into The Coalescence's dark agenda, she confronts the harsh reality that her ideals and convictions alone may not be enough to challenge their control over the people. In a race against time, she must rediscover her own humanity and overcome her deepest fears to ignite a revolution that will forever alter the fate of the island.

And So By Fire is a timely and thought-provoking allegory, delving into themes of disinformation, deepfakes, artificial intelligence, and the elusive search for truth and humanity in a world of manipulation. With a gripping plot and complex characters, this must-read novel offers profound insights into the intricate workings of our modern society.
 

 
Dan Klefstad
 

Dan Klefstad is a longtime radio host and newscaster. His latest novel, Fiona’s Guardians, is about humans who work for a beautiful vampire named Fiona. The book was adapted by Artists’ Ensemble Theater for their Mysterious Journey podcast. A short film adaptation is currently in pre-production with a release date in 2024. Dan is currently working on the sequel. He writes in Louisville, Kentucky
 

Fiona's Guardians

When a vampire seduces you, death is minutes away. When she hires you, you'll soon wish you were dead. It’s a truth known to every guardian who worked for Fiona, including Daniel. Aside from managing the day-to-day chores and keeping her protected, he manages an investment portfolio to buy stolen blood from hospital workers. The 250-year-old Fiona needs 10 pints of human blood every night. As a result of this, Daniel and Fiona are always on the lookout for police, but fail to notice their gradual encirclement by Mors Strigae, an ancient order of monks dedicated to the extermination of vampires. Gone for a century, the monks start a new war when they destroy Fiona's sire. This time, her vampire family is pushed to the edge of extinction -- and the humans who serve them are hunted and executed. After 35 years, what keeps him loyal? And will he ever be allowed to leave?
  

Lawrence Weill

Lawrence Weill is a Kentucky author and artist whose books include Silas LaMontaie (BlackRose Writing, 2019), The Path of Rainwater (Adelaide Books, 2019), Out in Front, Incarnate (Rowman & Littlefield, 2009), I'm in the Room (University of North Georgia, 2016), and Growing Up at Dad’s Table, (Adelaide Books, 2022). He recently signed a three-book deal with Seventh Star Press. His fiction, poetry and nonfiction have appeared in a wide range of local, regional, and national journals. He also is a visual artist and an avid outdoorsman. Lawrence lives in the woods overlooking a beaver pond next to a wildlife preserve.

Pan and the Message Chair

Old Raliv, isolated and angry, lives alone in a hunting cabin. When he discovers someone poaching rabbits on his land, he sets off to eliminate the intruder, but finds himself engaged in an unexpected epistolary exchange with an unusual visitor named Pan.  What will develop from this encounter? And just who is this Pan? 

Pan and the Message Chair, Book One of the Wylers Ford Series, is a very human work of fiction recounting one man's growth through grief and sorrow to hope with the help of a mysterious friend with whom he exchanges gifts and notes by placing them on a log chair in a meadow. This organic southern story will resonate and inspire in these trying and difficult times. With strong character development and a compelling, moving plot, it offers a deep, thoughtful investigation into the meaning of life, love, and love lost.