A woman wearing a large sunhat and earrings is relaxing on a beach chair, reading a book, with the ocean and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Book Chat Series

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This summer, we’ll be bringing together authors, readers, and our community for thoughtful conversations centered around storytelling, reflection, healing, and connection.

Maura McGee, author of It Is What It Is
Wednesday July, 22nd | 6pm -7:30pm

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Meet Our Authors

Keep scrolling to learn more about our authors
and their books!

Maria Alessandri

Maria Alessandri standing next to a brown and white horse inside a barn.
Book cover titled 'Ask Like You Mean It' by Maria Alessandri. Subtitles read 'Lessons in Communication from an Unexpected Source, My Horse!

Maria Alessandri, MBA, CLC. Coach, speaker and author. With a deep passion for personal growth, over 20 years in corporate America and as a mom of five, Maria offers a unique perspective on balancing family, career, and personal development. Maria uses the lessons learned from training rescue horses to help people in their everyday lives. The work is rooted in self-awareness, personal development, communication, and leadership principles, empowering others to find clarity and growth.

Ask Like You Mean It is a book filled with powerful stories of surprising ways horses teach us to lead with intention, set boundaries without aggression, and connect in ways that transform our families, teams, and relationships. Lessons learned in the round pen are described in such a way to invite the readers to see themselves in the mirror of the horse and walk out with the tools to communicate more clearly, lead more authentically, and live more fully.

Maura McGee

Close-up headshot of a author Maura McGee.
Book cover titled 'It Is What It Is: A Widow's Journey of Seeking Solace Through Faith, Family, and Friends' by Maura McGee, with an illustration of mountains, a sun, and flying birds in the background.

Maura McGee is an author, speaker, and mother of six whose story is rooted in resilience, faith, and the power of community. After experiencing the loss of both her mother and husband within a short period of time, Maura turned to writing as a way to process grief and navigate life as a young widow. Through her work, she offers hope and encouragement to others facing life's most difficult challenges.

It Is What It Is is a heartfelt memoir that chronicles Maura's journey through profound loss, unwavering love, and the strength required to move forward. What began as personal journaling evolved into a powerful story of grief, faith, family, and healing. Through honest reflection and vulnerability, Maura shares how the support of her community helped her take each step forward and inspires readers to find hope in the midst of hardship.

Click here to listen to Maura share more of her story on our podcast, The Sticky Truth!