Five authors from Maricopa published books in recent months:

STEAMPUNK ADVENTURE

Jewel E. Leonard, a three-year resident of Maricopa and life-long writer, is the published author of five books ­– four in a historical fantasy series and one contemporary romance. The first three books in her “The Witches’ Rede” series are set in Arizona and feature locales from Tucson to Sedona and even reference our own special town.

In May, Leonard delved into the paranormal underbelly of that series with its fourth installment, “Coven.”

In the book, Rafaele and Maeve Forino escape to San Diego and find the splendor and opportunity promised by the city to be a mask for a dark secret the municipality doesn’t want revealed. While the only employment available to Rafaele is indentured servitude to a miserable aristocrat, Maeve fights for the freedoms of magical vagabonds like herself. Both find everything they’re working for imperiled when a wicked entity taps into Maeve’s abilities and uses them against the newlyweds and their friends.

The 436-page paranormal steampunk adventure is available on Amazon in paperback and ebook format. Learn more about her work at jewelwritesromance.com.

THE FUNNY SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC

David C.R. Ford, a cartoonist “happily living in Maricopa,” highlights peculiar pandemic practices in his new book, “The New Normal, Cartoons from the Inside: A Cartoon Collection of Odd Quarantine Behaviors.”

Published in August, the paperback of cartoons is the artist’s seventh published on Amazon. It shines a humorous light on the way lives have been changed by the pandemic.

“This cartoon collection connects us with our sense of humor in the face of an otherwise horrible pandemic,” begins the description of the book on Amazon. “Humor begins the healing process on this journey. The book reflects the unusual life we find ourselves trapped in during the quarantine and shelter-at-home experiences. The cartoons present us with the opportunity to see ourselves and laugh.”

“With all due respect to the people who have already become victims, and to their families and friends, the cartoons capture the more playful aspects of converting to a new wardrobe of masks, gloves, and a new isolation where touching is replaced by distance, and simple activities vanish.”

The book is available on Amazon.com.

A REAL STORY TO ‘SHOCK A COMMUNITY’

A local true-crime author published a new book in August about a fascinating murder case.

In “Wilder Intentions: Love, Lies and Murder in North Dakota,” C.J. Wynn of Maricopa puts the reader inside events surrounding the killing of Angila Wilder, a mother-to-be who was stabbed 44 times in a blood-soaked bedroom in 2015.

The book delves into the sinister plot of an ex-husband and his new, kindergarten-teacher bride. “After four years of lies and deceit, the real story would shock a community to its very core …” says the book description.

According to her author biography, Wynn has a master’s degree in psychology and spent her career analyzing workforce behaviors and creating productivity programs.

“The riveting style of the author makes more frightening the reality of the evil that exists, and goes unrecognized, among us,” wrote one reader of Wynn’s book on Amazon.

“A true crime book junkie myself, I found this book to be one of the best I’ve read,” said another reader.

The 362-page book, which has 4.7 stars out of 5 from readers on Amazon, is available in paperback or Kindle e-book.

A BOOK FOR LITERATURE FANS

Literature lovers who read Effie-Alean Gross’s new book “are bound to find a better understanding of self, humanity and of God’s eternal design,” the book cover promises.

Geared toward all fans of literature, “Stories That (Really) Matter: Biblical Reflections” compares 15 classic short stories, by the likes of Sherwood Anderson, Eudora Welty and Shirley Jackson, to the good book.

Gross’s book was endorsed by a leading authority on the Bible as literature, Dr. Leland Ryken, professor emeritus of English at Wheaton College in Illinois, who wrote, “This book is a masterpiece and one that I experienced as a page-turner … Everything about this book is commendable. It is the archetypical good read.”

Gross, who studied under prominent writers Ray Bradbury and W.P. Kinsella, moved to Maricopa from Fountain Hills, northeast of Scottsdale, in 2018. She taught composition and creative writing at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix for a decade and has published more than 200 articles.

Royal Kismet Press recently sponsored “Effie’s Book Bash in the Park,” featuring the new book. Originally intended as a book signing party, it is now also recognizing local candidates for Maricopa City Council and Pinal County supervisor. In addition, she is donating a portion of sales of the book to ProLiteracy.org, a non-profit organization that helps adults learn to read.

The 227-page book, published in July, is available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.com and at effiegross.com.

WRITER ATTAINS DREAM WITH SCI-FI FANTASY BOOK

Krystal Ash, a 13-year resident of Maricopa who has wanted to be a writer since she was 13 years old, has achieved her dream.

In August, she self-published her first book, titled “Shock,” which according to the book description tells the story of “Emily Winslow, an average young adult coming home to visit while on break from college. But her innocent visit takes a dark turn when a family secret comes to light, causing her and her family to become targets of a person from her parents’ past.”

The 148-page science fiction and fantasy book is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.