We already know Virginia is for lovers, and that means book lovers, too! From picture books to educational treasures, now’s a great time to support our local DMV talent:
Diane Helentjaris
Diane Helentjaris, a 2024 winner of the Maryland Writers’ Association Novel Competition, is an author who calls Leesburg, VA. Diane’s writing frequently features artists, women, nonconformists, and other often-overlooked gems.
Diane is a member of the Hellenic Writers Group of Washington, DC, the Maryland Writers Association, and NoVA Bards. She was a judge in the Pennwriters Annual Writing Competition and is the current Treasurer of the Frederick Chapter of the Maryland Writers’ Association. Find this author’s book on Amazon:
The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill
Ivy O’Neill’s idyllic childhood ends in 1690 when English soldiers invade Ireland, destroying her home and killing her baby brother. Forced to flee, the family takes refuge in an abandoned house. Ivy and her brother Sean are kidnapped by an English ship captain and sold into indentured servitude in Maryland. Facing a perilous sea voyage and life in a land rife with anti-Catholic, anti-Irish prejudice, Ivy is falsely accused of murder. The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill is a powerful tale of courage, family, and the transformative journey of immigration.
I Ain’t Afraid — The World of Lulu Bell Parr, Wild West Cowgirl
Lulu Bell Parr, a forgotten Wild West star, spent her final years in poverty; her legacy was revived nearly 50 years after her death by local history enthusiasts who marked her grave with a monument and had her inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. The biography “I Ain’t Afraid” recounts her life: from an uneducated girl to a celebrated performer for legends like Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill. Renowned for her sharpshooting and trick riding, Parr’s career lasted until the Great Depression. Married at least four times, her shortest union lasted just three days. The book, enriched with rare illustrations from Parr’s collection, preserves her extraordinary story.