Buy local, read local

Knowing about local authors and buying their books will support the writing community near home and may also give you an advantage in finding someone to visit or Skype with your club.

A local independent bookstore is also likely to know who is writing excellent books within your community. Another way to find them is to look for readings at area writing collaboratives, libraries and organizations that spotlight writers in a literary series like the Jewish Community Center series in Worcester. Many regional authors have been profiled or mentioned in this column; a short listing may give your group its next read. (Not all are available for visits or Skype events.)

Ali Hosseini of Hudson, author of “The Lemon Grove” and “The Place of Stones,” beautifully depicts the Iranian culture of his youth and the conflicts in modern Iran that changed what was an idyllic life for its people to one of suffering amid war and loss of their livelihoods. It's published by Northwestern University Press; his webpage is www.alihosseini.com.

Ursula Wong of Chelmsford, whose fictional series on the Lithuanian resistance to Soviet occupation after World War II began with “Amber Wolf” and continued with “Amber War” and “Amber Widow,” is also the author of short stories and the novel, “Purple Trees.” She is at work on “Black Amber,” about a Boston man who plots to stop Russian plans for a gas line under the Baltic Sea. She will sign books in Putnam, Connecticut, during the July 21 Lithuanian Summer Festival there. Contact urslwng@gmail.com.

Mary Bonina, who grew up in Worcester, became a sought-after teacher of memoir writing after writing her own, “My Father’s Eyes: A Memoir.” A Cambridge resident, Bonina gives readings at libraries and literary events. Contact her at http://www.marybonina.com.

Poet and songwriter Rich Marcello of Harvard has written several novels including “The Color of Home,” “The Big Wide Calm” and “The Beauty of the Fall.” He teaches creative writing through Seven Bridge Writers Collaborative in Lancaster and is writing “The Latecomers,” his fourth novel. Contact him at www.richmarcello.com/contact.

Joe W. Bebo of Hudson recently released “Alex - A Lesson in Courage,” the story of a special needs boy surrounded by many people who cared enough to make his life better. Other self-published books include historical fiction, sci-fi and horror. See more on Facebook. To contact, joewbebobooks@gmail.com.

Frances Brown of Webster writes paranormal romance, women’s fiction and contemporary romance under the pseudonym Claire Gem. If that’s your thing, her books include the newest, “Electricity,” from her Haunted Voices series. Learn more at https://clairegem.com. She’ll read from and sign copies of “Electricity” from 1 to 3 p.m. July 20 in Booklovers’ Gourmet, 55 East Main St., Webster. This is Gem’s seventh novel, set on the grounds of a former Massachusetts mental asylum.

Steven E. Huff of Worcester wrote two humorous (and helpful) books based on the "Better Call Saul" and "Breaking Bad" TV series. His books are “Don’t Go to Jail!: Saul Goodman’s Guide to Keeping the Cuffs Off” and a follow-up book, “Get Off the Grid! Saul Goodman’s Guide to Staying Off the Radar.” An expert on crime nitty-gritty, he’s appeared on NBC’s "Dateline," CBS’s "48 Hours Mystery" and MSNBC. Deputy digital editor for Maxim magazine, he writes for various online outlets and founded the first true-crime blog, True Crime Report. He also sings opera! More info at facebook.com/stevehuff.

R.A. Salvatore is an internationally recognized writer of fantasy series. He lives most of the year in California now, working, but is a Leominster resident who began his writing career there. Books include the latest Drizzt novel, “Boundless;” the Forgotten Realms series of trilogies and books; the Demon Wars and Dark Elf series; and “Star Wars: The New Jedi Order.”

Worcester native Thomas Christopher Greene has written a half-dozen books, including “The Headmaster’s Wife” and “The Perfect Liar” (2019). They’re clever and inventive. He lives in Vermont, where he founded the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier. Thomaschristophergreene.com.

Hot summer reads

Most popular reads at Simon Fairfield Public Library in Douglas: “Where the Crawdads Sing,” Delia Owens; “Educated,” Tara Westover; “Summer of ’69,” Elin Hilderbrand; “City of Girls,” Elizabeth Gilbert; “Mrs. Everything,” Jennifer Weiner; “Becoming,” Michelle Obama; “The 18th Abduction,” James Patterson; “Redemption,” David Baldacci; “The Guest Book,” Sarah Blake; “Unsolved,” James Patterson.

Book groups

The Worcester-based Office of Human Rights and Disabilities hosts a July 16 discussion of “Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism” by bell hooks. The 6 p.m. meeting will be at the YWCA, 1 Salem Square.

Lancaster readers will discuss Atul Gawande’s “Being Mortal" at 6:30 p.m. July 16 in the Dexter Room of Thayer Memorial Library.

Thayer Memorial Library’s evening book club will discuss Amor Towles’ “A Gentleman in Moscow” at the 6:30 p.m. July 30 meeting.

Discuss Kelley Lynn’s “My Husband Is Not a Rainbow” at 2:30 p.m. July 27 in the Worcester Public Library’s Banx Room. Subtitle is “The Brutally Awful, Hilarious Truth About Life, Love, Grief and Loss.” A Groton native, she’s a stand-up comedian and grief coach. Her TED talk, “When Someone You Love Dies, There Is No Such Thing as Moving On,” is used in university discussions and lectures about the language of grief.

Great American Reads Book Club meets at WPL at 7:15 p.m. July 23 to discuss Lois Lowry’s “The Giver.”

Readers may share favorite books about outer space, or listen as others present theirs, at 7:15 p.m. July 24 in the WPL Community Book Chat in the Banx Room.

Douglas readers may want to start now to read Ken Follett’s fascinating “The Pillars of the Earth.” Next meeting of the Greatest Book Club Ever begins at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 in Simon Fairfield Public Library.

Send book club information and favorite club book suggestions to ann.frantz@gmail.com. Read It and Reap is published on the second and last Sundays of each month.