Children leaving their homes due to domestic abuse or financial instability are being given the chance to turn to a brighter chapter in their lives by the Muscatine Center of Social Action, and local author and artist Christopher Anderson is helping them to turn the pages on their lives in a more friendly and colorful way. Muscatine’s Anderson, 35, is the creative force behind the new book “Boots,” which will be given to children entering the shelter. The tome offers kids a virtual tour of the establishment through the eyes of a colorful cartoon cat. “It helps to make the transition a little... Read More

The Flamingo, the biggest openly gay event in the world, is moving from its usual destination of Las Vegas to the city of Moline, Illinois. The event features gay musical acts, clinics, and novelties, and is coming to Moline for the first time due to tax breaks and the fact that the mayor is the uncle of the one and only fabulous host, Spencer Gayman. Of course, this isn’t really the case; rather it is the plot to “Hello Fabulous!” the new audiobook from Rock Island author Jason Tanamor, the critically acclaimed author of “Drama Dolls” “The underlying story revolves around a straight... Read More

Jason Tanamor has written about sexual identity, prison relations and political humor, so it makes perfect sense that his latest book is for children. Tanamor’s new and interesting path involves a new stalwart, Superhero Kid, who dons a cape, grabs a teddy bear and flies out into the city with his bedhead to find new adventures in his new novel, “I Heart Superhero Kid.” It’s, as most Tanamor novels are, a little eccentric and off-kilter, and it’s directed towards, as he puts it, kids and middle aged kids. “The book is an epic story between good and bad, told in rhyming verse involving... Read More