Meet the Authors of Luna the Cat!

Name: Meet the Authors of Luna the Cat!
Start: 2025-09-20T10:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-09-20T11:00:00-05:00
Location: The Book Rack

Schedule

Sat Sep 20 2025 at 10:00 am to 11:00 am

UTC-05:00

Location

The Book Rack | Fort Walton Beach, FL

Come spend your Saturday morning at The Book Rack in Fort Walton Beach with the authors of the children’s chapter book "Luna the Cat"! From 10–11 a.m. on Saturday, September 20th, the two authors will be on hand to meet readers, share the story behind their book, and sign copies.
If you don’t already own a copy of "Luna the Cat," paperback editions will be available for purchase at the event. If you do, bring your copy along and have it signed. Whether you’re discovering "Luna the Cat" for the first time or already love the story, this is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the authors and celebrate local storytelling.
About the Book:
Meet Luna—an ordinary cat with an extraordinary TALE!
In 1559, Luna lives a quiet life in a small village in Mexico. But everything changes when he unexpectedly finds himself aboard a Spanish galleon bound for the unknown. Swept into a thrilling journey across the sea, Luna must learn to navigate life on a ship, face the fury of a powerful hurricane, and confront fears he never knew he had.
Through adventure, discovery, and survival, Luna learns that the biggest challenges sometimes come from within, and that even the smallest creatures can shape the course of history.
Written by a historian and underwater archaeologist, this inspiring chapter book brings the past to life and encourages young readers to explore the wonders of history, courage, and self-discovery.
http://talesfromthetrowel.com
About the Authors:
Mike Thomin is a historian and storyteller who has spent nearly two decades bringing the past to life for audiences of all ages. He works for the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) as the Director of Education and Interpretation and is a Faculty Senior Research Associate at the University of West Florida. Through his work, Mike helps people discover Florida's buried history—from sunken shipwrecks in the Gulf to ancient Indigenous villages beneath our feet. Mike's love of storytelling led him to create "Archaeology Storytime," a program designed to spark curiosity in young minds by blending archaeology and imaginative tales. His debut children's chapter book, Luna the Cat, grew out of that very idea—making history fun, relatable, and exciting for young readers.

Nicole Grinnan is an archaeologist who studies shipwrecks, coastal heritage, and clues left behind by people who lived long ago. She works at the University of West Florida's Archaeology Institute and has spent more than a decade diving into Florida's underwater history—literally! As a trained scuba diver and maritime archaeologist, Nicole has helped discover real shipwrecks from a 1559 Spanish expedition, including one that inspired Luna the Cat. Like Luna in the story, Nicole believes in being brave when facing the unknown and loves using stories to share the excitement of archaeology. She hopes her writing will help young readers see that adventure, mystery, and courage can all be found in history. She has two cats.