To be included on the Authors page, your book must have been published within the last year. Send the author’s name; their chapter letter(s), city, state/province/district; the title of the book; a brief, objective synopsis of the book and a photo of the cover of the book or of the author to: editor@peodsm.org  Authors are published in the order in which they are received and new authors are added in conjunction with the release of new issues of The Record. 

Marcia Ren, CC, Coquille, Oregon, wrote “Autumn: The Things We Keep,” the fourth and final book in her “The Things We Keep” series.

“The Things We Keep” follows Eleanor into Autumn, a season of reflection, gathering and discovering what truly deserves to be carried forward. Like the other books in the series, it explores friendship, home, memory, loss and the quiet beauty found in ordinary life. For Marcia, this final novella also became a story about realizing that home is not simply a place—it is something we gradually learn to carry within us.

Gayle Westerberg, IB, Dillon, Colorado, co-wrote “An Educator’s Guide to Dual Language Instruction.”

Cathy Boomer, AV, Kansas City, Missouri, wrote “Before You Go: Why Planning Your Funeral Makes Sense,” a practical, warm guide to help families talk about end-of-life wishes before a crisis forces the conversation. Cathy founded and currently own Signature Funerals, an independent, woman-owned funeral home in Kansas City, for 15 years. Out of that work came this book.

Cathy says, “P.E.O. has always stood for women educating and motivating women, and I see a real connection to that mission here. A growing share of our membership is caring for aging parents or spouses, and so many of us are the ones our families turn to when decisions have to be made quickly, with no guidance and no time to research. ‘Before You Go’ exists to change that — to help someone leave their family ‘the equivalent of a handwritten note,’ as I describe it in the book, instead of leaving them to guess at the worst possible moment.”

Karen VanHorn, AT, Fayetteville, Arkansas, co-wrote “Eat Like The Hogs: A Collection of Favorite Recipes from Razorback Greats.” The book features over 250 favorite recipes from University of Arkansas Athletics’ Legends. The favorite recipes of student-athletes and coaches from all eighteen Razorback sports are collected here alongside personal anecdotes and historic photos sure to bring back memories as vivid as the tastes of U. S. Reed’s Jamaican Oxtail Stew, Darren McFadden’s Country Boy Cooked Rabbit and Rice, or Sandi Morris’s Tortellini Soup.

Carol Detweiler, P, Oregon City, Iowa, wrote “A Murder of Crows Fly with a Red Ribbon.”

Carol has had a lengthy international and intercultural career, beginning with work as a Peace Corps Volunteer on a remote island in Micronesia for two years. Subsequently she worked with international students and as a volunteer with organizations involved in global education. She has traveled to more than fifty countries.

Having heard that refugees would be allowed to enter Having heard that refugees would be allowed to enter the U.S. from war-torn Kosova in 1999, and knowing some would be of college age, she immediately established a program to provide full college scholarships for more than 50 Kosovars, allowing them to continue their education. In recognition of this achievement, she was honored by the New York State Senate with a “Women of Distinction” award in 2000.

This book is based on the experiences of these refugees, as well as interviews with many others—including Kosova’s former president, Fatmir Sejdiu. Having made numerous trips to Kosova, along with extensive research into the region’s history and the war, she has sought through this historical fiction to bring alive the character of the Kosovar people and the love they have for their country.

She has lived across the U.S.—California, New Jersey, upstate New York, Washington DC, Michigan—and now lives in Oregon with her husband, Richard Detweiler, and their standard poodle. They have two daughters and a son, along with seven grandchildren.

Jackie Freeman, EI, Adrian, Michigan, wrote “Pickleball Parables: Inspiration On and Off the Court.”

Pickleball is more than just a game—it offers insights into life and faith. In “Pickleball Parables,” Jackie Freeman presents 31 devotions that link lessons from the pickleball court to Scripture and daily life. Filled with encouragement, humor and practical faith lessons, this devotional encourages readers to view the game—and their walk with God—from a fresh perspective.

Donna Hemingway, K, Yorktown Heights, New York, wrote “Nothing But the Good Things,” a beautifully illustrated children’s book based on her original song of the same name. The book invites children and the grown-ups who love them to notice the small good things all around—even during life’s challenges.

Perfect for hospital stays, bedtime or bedside reading, or even a family sing-along, Nothing But the Good Things is a gentle reminder that even in difficult times, there is still light, love and goodness to be found.