Fall 2024 Alumni Book Roundup

September 23, 2024
By Jackson Maynard ’25 and Connie G. Ryu ’25

Get yourself in the mood for Halloween by reading up on Virginia’s most famous accused witch, or sit down with a young reader and explore the changing seasons. Those are just two of the recent titles from the creative minds of William & Mary alumni, including fiction and nonfiction works.

Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage by Lisa LaBanca Rogers ’82

Lisa Rogers explores avant-garde composer John Cage’s approach to music in this fascinating picture book. As an elementary school librarian, Rogers hopes this book can encourage aspirational young musicians. Rogers writes in a second-person narrative to give the reader a sense that they are in Cage’s shoes. In doing so, Rogers hopes readers will see how music is in everything around us, a key principle of Cage’s work.

The Best Grandmother Names Ever and The Best Grandfather Names Ever by Cathy Caputo Livingstone ’86

If you are expecting to become or are already a grandmother or grandfather, these are the perfect books for you. As Cathy Livingstone explains, “The bond between a grandmother and her grandchild is unlike any other, and picking your special grandmother or grandfather name is the first step toward building that wonderful relationship.” Learn more about the name you want your grandkids to call you by choosing from 400 options. There are a wide range of quizzes and stories, as well as a list of celebrity grandparent names that can help make your decision easier.

“But What Will People Say?” by Sahaj Kaur Kohli ’10

After attending William & Mary, Sahaj Kaur Kohli pursued a career in clinical mental health counseling — but she didn’t stop there. In 2019, she founded Brown Girl Therapy, described on its website as “the first and largest mental health and wellness community organization for children of immigrants.” Kohli has been featured in The New York Times and on “Good Morning America” and CNN, among other media outlets. In her new book, she draws on her mental health expertise, as well as her personal experiences as a child of immigrants, to lead a conservation on topics such as generational trauma, guilt, boundaries and mental health stigma to “democratize and decolonize the way we think about mental health and self-help.”

I’m History … But Do I Repeat Myself? by Lee Pearson Knapp ’80, P ’09

Referencing her own experience as a public social studies teacher, Lee Knapp discusses the concepts of race, faith and United States history in her memoir through personal stories from her life. Knapp’s years in the classroom open a window into the way history is taught as the author creatively compares changes in American society with changes in the public high school she attended as a student and returned to as a teacher. Her book transports readers between the past and present, offering insights on how history has shaped the world around us.

“Last Girl Missing” by Kellie Larsen Murphy ’85, P ’18

The latest mystery by K.L. Murphy, “Last Girl Missing” is the first installment in her new series, branded as “A Detective Callie Forde Mystery.” Detective Forde initially expects no foul play: She does not think there is anything to investigate in her new case involving a missing teenage girl in a peaceful college town. However, as time passes and suspicions of abduction grow, the mystery builds when she connects some of her leads to those of a cold case that had permanently injured her father five years prior. Read “Last Girl Missing” to follow Callie Forde as she tries to uncover history, avenge her father and solve this unsettling case.

“Love Requires Chocolate” by Ravynn K. Stringfield Ph.D. ’22

If you are looking for the perfect, lighthearted read for your fall getaway, pack “Love Requires Chocolate,” the debut novel by Ravynn Stringfield and first installment of the “Love in Translation” series. The two lovebirds in this heartfelt romance set in the City of Love are theater nerd Whitney Curry and soccer star Thierry Magnon. Whitney has freshly arrived for her semester abroad in Paris with a never-ending list of things she absolutely must do and is expecting nothing short of the best experience of her life. But as homesickness and the realities of living abroad thicken the plot for Whitney, Thierry enters the stage as her French tutor. Find out how these seeming opposites get a sweet taste of romance in “Love Requires Chocolate”!

Round and Round the Year We Go by Carter Higgins ’00

Author-Illustrator Carter Higgins’ most recent children’s book is an educational and enchanting read that explores the changes in a year throughout the various seasons. Higgins’ illustration matches the shift in seasons with changes in color tones. Using a witty rhyme scheme, she creates an entrancing experience for young readers to enjoy and learn about the 12 months of the year.

Summer Dreamer by Charles Barnes ’60

This collection of poems focuses on themes of nature and love. Charles Barnes’ poems invite the reader to disconnect from the worries and technology of the modern world and reconnect with a world of reason. This book is structured in a variety of one- and two-page poems that evoke all five senses and create rich imagery. Contact the author through the book’s publisher at 413-583-5220 for information about how to obtain a copy.

“What Is the Goal? The Truth About the Youth Sports Industry” by Jean Linscott ’88 and Kenneth Ruoff

Families across the United States support their children in club travel sports, as many swear by the benefits of early involvement in athletics. Parents of three former youth athletes themselves, authors and spouses Jean Linscott and Kenneth Ruoff educate readers about the industry of youth sports and its growing commodification. They describe the youth sports industry as being “driven largely by the quest for prestige and preferential admission to college” and guide parents on the costs and benefits of involving their children in it. Linscott and Ruoff also make recommendations for solutions such as potential regulations to focus the goal of youth sports on the athletes.

“When We Went South” by Briana Belden Lawrence ’07

This intimate memoir follows Briana Lawrence and her then-husband, Trey, as they begin an off-the-grid life together abroad in Chile. It explores how the two navigate their new relationship and life in a foreign country, and includes Lawrence’s reflections on how building a life from scratch with Trey changed her.

“The Witch of Pungo: Grace Sherwood in Virginia, History and Legend” by Scott O. Moore ’02

Scott Moore's new book centers on “the authoritative cultural history of Virginia’s most famous accused witch.” In "the Witch of Pungo," Moore explains how stories of Grace Sherwood emerged in early Virginia folklore and continue to be told today. Sherwood was “ducked” in 1706 for accusations of witchcraft, meaning she was tied and thrown into a body of water to test if she would float or sink to be found guilty or innocent, respectively. Spoiler alert — she survived, and this miraculous event sparked legends of her throughout the region ever since. For history nerds and more, “The Witch of Pungo” provides an in-depth account of an extraordinary life.