Spend the afternoon at Beaverdale Books as they host six local authors: Logan Capesius, Sami DeWall, Alan Feirer, Devon Kimbro, Jason Liegois, and J. Susanne Wilson. Learn all about their books and their writing experience.
The Way I See It: For a while, the world of Nashville country artist Liam Crawford has been tumbling. The woman of his dreams, his beautiful wife–now ex-wife–Rachel, has left him for another man, leaving their son Casey behind as well. Liam’s usually forgetful mind seemingly longs to move anywhere but forward. Endless streaming memories haunt his daily existence–undesired reminders of his persistent love for Rachel. Soon he finds the cold and heavy barrel of a Smith and Wesson pressed against his head … when suddenly, Liam is whisked away to another world–one all too familiar. Here, he revisits a collegiate past where he encounters both former and fresh faces who add new perspective to his life. Liam crosses new and inescapable challenges which leave him wondering whether he has the power to forge the life he desires or if someone–or something–else might be in control. His other books include Twister: Rebellion, Twister: Clawless Creature, and Twister: Tomorrow
Logan Capesius is an indie author born and raised in the great state of Iowa, loyal to the Hawkeyes. As a member of the University of Iowa’s Class of 2021, he studied both Economics and English & Creative Writing, intent on a career as an author. His primary job takes place at Des Moines Golf & Country Club, where he is the North Course Superintendent. Golf is in his blood; writing is in his heart. Logan currently lives in Johnston, Iowa to and plans to maintain roots in the Midwest, where he aspires to a lifelong career in writing.
Fallen Dreams: It’s the last day of 8th grade for 14-year-old Isaiah Wells when something simple spirals wildly out of control, leaving him to spend his entire summer at camp. He’s skeptical at first, but he soon realizes that it’s very different than he expected. He quickly makes friends and grows to love camp and soon finds that this is the place he feels most happy. One day, things take a turn for the worse. When reality is flipped into a sick nightmare, Isaiah’s whole world falls with him. He’s been hit with tragedy before, but never like this. This time, he’s fallen so far down that he doesn’t know if he’ll ever get back on both feet again.
This is Sami DeWall’s debut novel, written at age 14. She is currently a student at Van Meter High school. She plans on going to the University of Iowa to continue her career in writing. She enjoys spending time with friends, reading, music, and art along with writing. She’s very passionate about her writing and hopes people will find as much joy in reading it as she does in writing it.
Leadership in Action: Eight Virtues: Today’s workplace rarely waits for leaders to be fully prepared. Promotions often happen by circumstance, tenure, or performance in a previous role—factors that don’t always translate into effective leadership. Too often, new leaders are left to navigate complex challenges on their own, unsure where to begin. In Leadership in Action: Eight Virtues, Alan Feirer introduces the 8-Point Leadership Model—service, vision, integrity, communication, modeling, stretching and growing, positivity, and passion—an approach that transforms good leaders into great ones. Drawing on 19 years as a high school band director and 25 years working with leaders in corporate and organizational settings, Feirer breaks leadership into practical, approachable concepts. Short chapters, self-assessments, and reflection tools help readers put leadership into action, inspire others, and prevent stagnation through intentional growth.
Alan Feirer is passionate about developing leaders who motivate and teams who love working together. Since 1998, his training and consulting firm, Group Dynamic, has empowered leaders and teams to work more effectively with less stress. Alan has worked across a wide range of industries, from health care and agriculture to small family businesses and large multinational corporations. He lives in Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife and business partner, Julie. Alan is a graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and holds an advanced degree from the University of Northern Iowa. His personal interests include competitive Scrabble, exercise, travel, dining, and all things Disney.
The Chronicles of the Magus Bloodline: In the year 2544, magic and technology are an everyday thing. Humans now have wonderous abilities that transcend the physical laws of the world. Eighteen-year-old Gavin has always been an ordinary human-until a shocking truth shatters his reality. He was found as a baby, the sole survivor of a massacre that wiped out his birth clan. His entire life has been a lie. He’s not human-he’s a werewolf, one of the last of the alpha predators the world sought to destroy. Determined to understand his true nature and protect the one person he’s always loved-Erza O’Malley, his best friend and the woman who has always been his home-Gavin enrolls in a magical academy. But learning to shift is only the beginning. As hidden forces stir and the ghosts of the past resurface, Gavin must decide: will he remain in the shadows, or will he embrace the predator within to fight for a future that was never meant to be his?
Devon Kimbro is a young author with a passion for storytelling and creativity. He has always dreamed of being an author, drawing inspiration from his own ideas and experiences growing up. His debut novel, The Chronicles of the Magus Bloodline, is a magical thrill ride that combines futuristic technology with powerful magic and ancient secrets. The story follows Gavin, an ordinary human who discovers he is a werewolf and enrolls in a magical academy to understand his true nature and protect the one person he loves. Devon Kimbro’s work is set to be explored further at various book signings and events, where fans can meet the author and learn more about his upcoming releases.
The Yank Striker’s Journey : Nothing about Daniel John Ryan’s life was what he expected. After a childhood concentrated on football and eventually playing for his father, championship college football coach Junior Ryan, fate and his passion for the other football – soccer – has led nineteen-year-old DJ to the East End of London to play for Premier League perennial mid-table side Donford FC. Once surrounded by family and friends, he faces his new challenges an ocean away from them. Trying to make it in the Premier League is tough enough, but DJ’s also dealing with the fact he’s trying to do this having publicly come out – not completely on his own terms – as bisexual. One of the reasons Donford wants him on their team is to support their teen Brazilian sensation Lexx, who is himself gay, on and away from the field, all the while under massive scrutiny. As Donford go on a run at the legendary FA Cup, DJ is constantly having to prove himself on the field. As he and Lexx work to take their first steps towards soccer superstardom, they are finding their emotional ties are becoming intertwined.
Born just outside of Chicago, Jason Liegois now lives in Fort Madison, Iowa, part of the eastern end of Iowa he has lived for the majority of his life which also includes his hometown of Muscatine. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Liegois began his career as a full-time and freelance journalist with the Muscatine Journal, Clinton Herald, and other eastern Iowa area publications, before starting a teaching career. He now works as a secondary school special education teacher, having previously taught high school language arts and composition with Muscatine Community College and Upper Iowa University. He and his wife Laura have two children.
The Death and Life of Iphigenia: This myth-inspired historical novel reclaims the story of one of Greek legend’s most famous sacrifices. Taken from her family and long believed dead, Iphigenia survives—exiled to a distant land and bound to a life of ritual and obedience. As years pass, she must decide whether she will remain defined by the story the bards sing about her, or risk claiming a life of her own. Set in Bronze Age Greece and the mythical land of the Taurians, this immersive retelling explores identity, agency, and survival.
J. Susanne Wilson is an Ames-based historical fiction author who writes historical fiction inspired by the myths of Bronze Age Greece. Drawing on her background in ancient history, she explores what happens when familiar stories are examined from within the silence of myth. She earned her B.A. in Ancient Civilizations from the University of Iowa, with a concentration in Greek and Roman art, religion, history, and languages. Her debut novel, The Death and Life of Iphigenia, was published in 2025 and was short-listed for the 2024 Novel London Literary Prize. She is also a semi-finalist for the CIBA Chaucer Awards for Early Historical Fiction.
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