‘Bailey Fish Adventure’ series author signing books on island this weekend
The alphabet cone shell, the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum and a popular used-book store on Sanibel are part of the inspiration for Linda Salisbury’s newest book in the Bailey Fish Adventure series, “Treasure in Sugar’s Book Barn.”
Salisbury will autograph copies of her books on Friday, Nov. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Island Book Nook, located at 2330 Palm Ridge Road (472-6770) and Saturday, Nov. 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Nanny’s Children’s Shoppe, located at 2250 Periwinkle Way (472-0304).
The series is based on an 11-year-old Florida girl, Bailey Fish, who is sent by her traveling mother to live with her grandmother, Sugar, in Central Virginia. Bailey has fond recollections of Sanibel, where she and her mother, a writer, visited and gathered shell treasures numerous times on the beach. Bailey’s best friends are adopted 12-year-old brothers, Noah and Fred Keswick, who live next door at a country inn owned by their parents. Sugar’s Book Barn is opened in a little barn on the property. When Bailey and the boys help Sugar unpack the cartons of used books, they make astonishing discoveries and the adventure begins.
The newest book, the eighth in the award-winning series, was inspired by the Island Book Nook, which for years was owned by the late Joan Simonds, and today is owned by Melanie and Jan Wiford.
“Much like the bookstore owners, Sugar decides to sell a mix of used books and her favorite new ones,” said Salisbury, a former longtime resident of Charlotte County with timeshare on Sanibel. “I loved how Joan knew her stock and made perfect recommendations for her customers, just as the Wifords continue to do.”
The inspiration for clues in the story’s mystery is an unusual shell on display at the Shell Museum. “I visited the museum last year when I was working on details for the book,” says Salisbury, “and have received help from Dr. Jose Leal, the museum’s executive director as I’ve verified information for the nonfiction material in the back.”
She added that although she herself has never found an alphabet cone shell while walking the beaches, but during a visit to the island had read an article about Harlan Wittkopf and a brochure he had developed for school children. That led to using the fun shell in the book.
“I immediately purchased an alphabet cone shell at one of the local shell shops to take to schools and programs,” said Salisbury. “Kids and adults are fascinated by it.”
Salisbury’s books have won numerous awards, including gold and silver from the Florida Publishers Association, bronze from the Eric Hoffer, Moonbeam, and ForeWord book contests.
You may reserve autographed copies by contacting either store before the signings. Books are also available at the Sanibel Island Bookshop and MacIntosh Books as well as online.