James Ponti and J. A. Dauber

James Ponti returns to An Unlikely Story for Hurricane Heist, the second book in the bestselling Sherlock Society series! He will be joined by J. A. Dauber, who's debut middle grade novel Press 1 for Invasion is an action-packed alien adventure. They will discuss their books, answer audience questions, and sign copies!

Tickets for this event are $5, which can be redeemed for $5 off any book by either author on the night of the event.

Tickets are required for this event, as space is limited. We hope to see you there!

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ABOUT HURRICANE HEIST:When a category three hurricane hits Miami Beach, it uncovers a body buried at the renowned Moroccan Hotel. The body is identified as the man who served as the hotel’s bell captain sixty years ago…and the presumed culprit of the million-dollar jewel heist that took place just before his disappearance.Since the bell captain clearly didn’t take off with the goods as had been long believed, the Sherlock Society sets their sights on uncovering the real culprit of the theft. But when the thief may also be implicated in the bell captain’s M**der, even sixty years later, there are people who want the truth to stay buried.

ABOUT PRESS 1 FOR INVASION:Ten-year-old Matt really wants a phone, but his parents won’t let him have one. When he finds one just lying on the sidewalk, he naturally picks it up and claims it for himself. But when Matt uses his new phone to take pictures, they show the crossing guard in front of his school as a monster. But that can’t be right…can it?Matt soon learns that: a) his lunch lady is also a monster (actually, an alien); b) an invasion of Earth is due to take place within the next few days; and c) the lunch lady is having cold feet (well, tentacles) about the whole thing and wants his help. Matt and his friend Marcela join forces with her to save the planet.Battles in their school cafeteria and high above the Earth’s atmosphere place them in very close encounters with alien pets and the business end of a gigantic oven. As the danger mounts, Matt and Marcela must ask themselves what they’re willing to risk to save their friends, their family, and their world.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:James Ponti is the New York Times bestselling author of four middle grade book series: The Sherlock Society, following a group of young detectives; City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award–winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists, and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy–nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. Find out more at JamesPonti.com.

When he’s not writing about aliens, J.A. Dauber can be found talking to students about books, movies, and other fun stuff at Columbia University in New York City, where he is a professor. He lives right near there, with his family, so that he can walk to work and see if anyone has dropped anything. Like a phone. After all, you never know. He also wrote a YA novel about a teenage supervillain named Mayhem which won an award from the Children’s Book Council.

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