LOCAL LIT

I T’S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE HOLIdays are upon us. And while the Christmas season is a wonderful time of year, holiday shopping can be a bit of a challenge. The good news is that it’s hard to go wrong with the gift of a book.

The even better news is that we’ve done some of the legwork for you. Read on for a sampling of titles by Southwest Florida authors — most from Charlotte County — with something for even the pickiest person on your gift list. For a more complete selection, pop into Copperfish Books or Sandman Books — both in Punta Gorda — two local independent bookstores. You may have to treat yourself to a book or two, too. Exotic For the person who has a taste for the exotic, consider “Hardship Post” by Robert Taylor. In 1981, Mr. Taylor was an experienced hospital administrator living and working in Minneapolis. A friend persuaded him to interview for the job of director general of commissioning at the flagship hospital of the Aga Khan Health System being built in Karachi, Pakistan. Although Mr. Taylor was curious about the project, he went on the interview more out of politeness than any real interest in the job. Three months later, Mr. Taylor, his wife, and their two daughters uprooted their lives and moved to Pakistan. “Hardship Post” tells the story of how these expatriates lived and coped during their four-year tenure in an extremely foreign environment. Although the book is a memoir, it reads like a novel, with plenty of stories that will make you shake your head in wonder. Take, for instance, Mr. Taylor’s account of meeting an Iraqi man who offered him some figs. After Mr. Taylor accepted, the Iraqi said, “And now I am asking for your (15 year old) daughter’s hand in marriage.” For more information, go to www.hardshippost.com. Outdoors For the person who loves the outdoors, there’s “Paddlers in Paradise” by Edward and Deborah Higgins. When the Higgins moved to Punta Gorda six years ago, they joined the Punta Gorda Boat Club. The club organizes kayak trips in addition to more traditional boating activi- ties, and the Higgins decided to give paddling a try. Before the couple knew it, they were leading monthly kayak outings as well as more spontaneous paddles. After four years of fielding questions about the best spots for recreational kayaking, the couple decided to write a book on the subject. “Paddlers in Paradise” gives the soup to nuts description for 25 scenic paddles within three hours of Punta Gorda. Each chapter provides directions not only to the launch site but the often-overlooked details about which way to go once you’re in the water. Information on picnic spots, bathrooms (whether they’re habitable or not), and local outfitters is also included. They even include information on “overnight paddles,” or multiple outings close to a comfortable hotel with a pool and restaurant. (Deb made it clear that sleeping on the ground was not an option.) For more information, go to www.paddlesinparadise.com.

For the person who enjoys a comingof age story…

“Cosette’s Tribe,” by Port Charlotte resident Leah Griffith, tells the story of a 9-year-old girl whose dream is to create her own “tribe” of loved ones after her family disappoints her. The reader quickly learns that Cosette has a secret: She is being sexually abused by her stepfather. The story is told through Cosette’s own voice, giving readers a glimpse into both her pain and her determination to be a regular kid and find some joy in her life. Despite the seriousness of the topic, the book is full of hope as the young Cosette refuses to let her spirit be broken. For more information, visit www.cosettestribe.com. Romance For the person who seeking a romantic read, “Starting Over” by Virginia Czaja (writing as Virginia Crane). Ms. Czaja was inspired to write her first book,” Gently Generous,” by her musings about the characters in Garth Brooks’ “Beaches of Cheyenne.” The book went through 50 (yes, 50) drafts and wasn’t published until ten years after she completed it. Ms. Czaja never stopped writing, though, and “Starting Over” is her seventh published book.

While Ms. Czaja’s stories don’t have a recurring character, four of the books are set in the fictional town of Calusa located right here in Charlotte County. This gives her readers the chance to return to familiar haunts like the Hair Lair or the Fork ‘n’ Spoon. Ms. Czaja’s publishers characterize her work as “women’s contemporary fiction with a romantic element.” Czaja is much more straightforward in her description. She says her books are “stories between a man and a woman and they get together in the end.” For the person who has Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” on his bookshelf….

Check out “Libator” by Don Robin. The year is 2075. In the newly formed African country of Libator, technological advances are being used to crush human rights. People can be genetically altered to enhance character traits, including intelligence. Citizens are subject to electronic controllers that stimulate the pain and pleasure centers in their brains. And the weaponry makes laserguided missiles look like antiquated toys. This action-packed book follows journalist Stephanie Li in her quest to find out the truth about Libator and share it with the world. For information, go to www.donaldrobin.com. Little and literate Local author Jan Britland’s “The Adventures of Rodger Dodger Dog” series is ideal for children ages 2-8. When the Britlands lived in New Jersey, their neighbors’ dog was known to climb a tree on occasion. This unique habit provided the basis for many a story about the dog that Ms. Britland made up as she drove her kids to school. These tales evolved into the adventures of Rodger Dodger Dog. The books are fun and colorful (with illustrations by Mike Swaim) and will surely engage the child in your life. Don’t be surprised if you see a human-sized Rodger around town. He’s so popular that he’s become the mascot for the Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County.

Rodger’s motto is, “Children who read succeed.” Ms. Britland thinks so too, and she has created worksheets with educational activities for the book’s young readers (K-2) that can be downloaded for free on her website (www.rodgerdodgerdog.com). They’re a great supplement to the series. Pre-teen reading Check out “The Christmas Village” by Melissa Ann Goodwin. Have you ever found yourself looking at a miniature town and wondering, “Who lives in that house?” or “What song is the church choir singing?” Ms. Goodwin converted her daydreams into a story about a sad little boy who wants to escape to the perfect world of his grandmother’s Christmas village. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. Ms. Goodwin characterizes her book as an action adventure with a holiday backdrop, with some life lessons gently delivered along the way

Ms. Goodwin will be at Copperfish Books at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, to sign “Return to Canterbury,” the sequel to “The Christmas Village.” She will donate $1 to the Yah Yah Girls/Back Pack Kidz program for each book sold at Copperfish through the end of the year. For more information, go to writeryogini. blogspot.com.

Coming in January

“Unremarried Widow: a memoir” by Artis Henderson.

You might recognize Ms. Henderson’s name as the writer of the “Sandy Days, Salty Nights” column in Florida Weekly. What you probably don’t know, however, is that Ms. Henderson lost her husband in a helicopter accident in Iraq, leaving her a widow at age 26.

In “Unremarried Widow” (named for her military classification), Ms. Henderson shares the story of how she met and married her husband and how she is rebuilding her life after his death. She also tells of the bond this loss created with her mother, who lost her own husband — Ms. Henderson’s father — in a plane crash when she was just 5 years old. While the story is very personal, the themes of love and loss and survival are universal, and Ms. Henderson’s writing is beautiful. Mark your calendars now to join Ms. Henderson at Copperfish Books on Jan. 22 for a reading and book signing party. For more information, go to www.artishenderson.com. ¦