Local Authors & Books

Hidden among the streets of St. Louis’s south side are stories that span centuries. In the wake of COVID-19, author and journalist Jim Merkel set out on a walk that would take him block-by-block through the tales of history and community in South City. Completing the walk incrementally, Merkel ponders the ways in which the area has changed over time. Along the way, he interviews some of the unique characters and leaders who help maintain the city, encounters quirky stores and restaurants, and...

“Charlie’s book, Adventures with the Holy Spirit, illustrates how the Holy Spirit is alive and active in our lives.” – Carol Hess, parishioner, Incarnate Word Parish, St. Louis, MO “In Adventures with the Holy Spirit, Deacon Charles Durban recounts numerous surprise experiences of being saved from disappointment or disaster by a mysterious presence in his life which he calls the saving work of Ruach, or the Holy Spirit. For even the casual reader these incidents will trigger memories which...

Kirkwood is one of St Louis County’s oldest and best-preserved suburbs. It was born as a planned community, laid out in a grid spreading from the Pacific Railroad tracks placed in the 1850s and envisioned as a city escape. Its passion for historic preservation makes nearly every neighborhood a joy to walk through, and Kirkwood: A Walk through History provides the quintessential guide of maximizing a stroll through its most interesting spots. Explore Kirkwood’s preserved rail stations,...

The acclaimed Soccer Made in St. Louis: A History of the Game in America’s First Soccer Capital brings the story of St. Louis soccer up to date since the publication of the sold-out first edition in 2011. The second edition chronicles the successful drive to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to St. Louis while chronicling the early history of St. Louis soccer that’s come to light in the past decade. Learn the stories of St. Louis players such as Lori Chalupny, Brad Davis, and Becky...

St. Louis’s most visited neighborhood, “The Hill,” may also be its most iconic. Allow The Hill: A Walk through History to capture your interest on the best journey with the most laughs through this enduring corner of the city. Local author Joe DeGregorio walks right next to you imparting his knowledge and sometimes unique personal experiences in the neighborhood he’s called home his whole life. Admire many vintage images along with contemporary photographs to inspire your exploration. Casual...

Welcome to Seattle! A parent and child Tufted Puffin tour the Emerald City in best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock's board book for children. In Hello, Seattle! join the pair as ride to the top of the Space Needle, bike along the Burke-Gilman Trail, and enjoy the flying fish at Pike Place Market. Along the way they ride the monorail to museums, visit the Seattle Public Library, wade in tide-pools, see the Olympic Sculpture Park, and ride the ferry across Puget Sound! For ages...

Philippine Duchesne: A Candid Portrait of a Missionary for Christ (1769-1852)Would you like to learn about a Saint who left her home in France at the age of 48 to be a missionary in St. Charles, Missouri? by Louise Cheli This picture book is appropriate for all ages, and includes twenty-six full-color pictures by local artist Genny Glosier, facts of Philippine's Canonization, and much more! Paperback

From the grand basilicas of Missouri’s big cities to small churches in every corner of the state, the stories of generations of Catholic immigrants are set in stone. Built as places to ask for blessings and pray for survival in a foreign land, these churches endure today as monuments to the struggles and the faith of those new Americans and their descendants. Places to Pray takes readers to Catholic churches, shrines, convents, and monasteries throughout Missouri where readers will explore the...