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Health & Fitness

Get Squared Away Sunday with Books by Local Authors

Good books make you feel better, and that must be why Hope runs through it, a new book by local poet M.W. MacKay, is flying off the physical and virtual shelves.

Good books make you feel better, and that must be why Hope runs through it, a new book by local poet M.W. MacKay, is flying off the physical and virtual shelves.

MacKay has all but sold out of the first run of her powerful poetry collection, and while the next is being printed, will offer the remaining few at the PTF Holiday Fair on Sunday at Swampscott High School from 10 to 3.

Hope runs through it drew a standing-room-only crowd to the Church of St. Andrew on Nov. 18, where MacKay read aloud poems about nature, spirituality and the struggle of raising a child whose special challenges and gifts fall outside the 'norm.'

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Be forewarned: the poems have made early readers weep as well as rejoice!

Hope runs through it is one of three books released this month by Four Square Press, an independent publisher of quality fiction, poetry and other writing. For more information, visit MacKay's author page at foursquarepress.com.

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A Mellow Calling

Maria Mello's Bird Calls makes people feel good too, especially when they hear the author read in person. As anyone who was present at the Swampscott Senior Center debut of Mello's new poetry collection on Nov. 7 would attest, she is aptly named! Listen to Maria read in a podcast at www.foursquarepress.com.

A retired teacher, musician, artist and naturalist, Mello is about to go on tour, appearing on Peabody TV next week prior to reading again from Bird Calls at the Torigian Community Life Center in Peabody on Dec. 10 from 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Drawing on her observations of the natural world, Mello's collection is arranged in sections named for birds, with corresponding themes of longing, discovery, loss, communion and wisdom.

Goodness, a Moral Imperative?

Bird Calls will also be available at the SHS PTF Fair, as will How to Earn Your Keep, the spicy second novel by local author Deahn Berrini that was released in a Gaga Gallery gathering of writers and artists on Nov. 16.

Set in Salem and in horse country on windy ocean marshes, How to Earn Your Keep takes a compassionate look at the motivations of a sister and brother who need to earn money in tough economic times. When Kit, the heroine, goes along with her lawyer boss in a sketchy suit, she takes her cue from Larry, whose bravery in search of true love leads her to act. A beautifully written tale with compelling characters, How to Earn Your Keep will -- you guessed it -- make a reader feel good!

 

 

 

 

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