Authors Mike Ball, Jo Boone to visit Blue Apple Books this week

MADISON – Two authors, one who’s a Madison resident and another with family ties to the community, will visit Blue Apple Books to discuss their latest publications.

Blue Apple Books’ address is 14 Main St., Suites B and C, in downtown Madison.

Jo Boone will visit on March 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. Boone is the creator of “The Combined Service Sci-Fi Series.” The series includes “The Magnetar, Book 1,” and “Elaninae, Book 2.”

She will bring two of her books for signing and present the talk, “Weird Science: Unexpected Ways to Put Science in Sci-Fi.”

Commenting on her “Combined Service” series, Boone said, “You’ll work alongside other species to protect the farthest reaches of the civilized galaxy! Follow Charlie while she learns to navigate her way around the universe and the Combined Service.”

Although an unusual outlook, Boone said she is “often inspired by disappointment and annoyance. For example, aliens always disappoint me. In TV and movies, aliens are always either humanoid, or incorporeal, or shapeshifters who present as humans.”

“Aliens in books do tend to be more ‘alien’ — but sometimes they are too ‘alien’ to tell the kind of space-opera story I really love. So, as many authors do, I made my own,” Boone said.

At eight years old, Boone published her first articles in her church’s bulletin. In that year, she won her first writing contest. “For all I know, mine was the only entry, but I wrote it,” she said. “But I never quit writing.”

Boone is very familiar with greater Madison because she visits her relatives who live here. For more information, visit joboone.com.

Then on March 9, Blue Apple Books will welcome former state representative and Madison personality Mike Ball. From 1 to 3 p.m., the Madison musician and author will entertain during an afternoon of words and music.

Ball will explain his book, “Picking, Politicking, and Pontificating (How an Ex-Cop Legalized Cannabis While Fighting Corruption).” He will have signed copies of his books for sale.

Recounting his “unlikely journey,” Ball lived in foster care, a children’s home and homelessness. However, he reached a career in law enforcement and was sworn in as “the littlest State Trooper in Alabama history.” (sling-n-stones.com/product-page/picking-politicking-and-pontificating)

Approximately 25 years later, Ball was experienced as a criminal investigator, hostage negotiator and representative in the Alabama Legislature.

Robin Dauma is the owner of South & Pine and Blue Apple Books. For more information, call 256-325-1822, email owner@shopsouthandpine.com or visit shopsouthandpine.com or Facebook/Blue Apple Books.