books

An Alexandria woman originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo is focused on empowering women with the publication of her first book.

Tania Dalia Kiboko published “Woman: Source of Happiness,” a story of self-discovery and finding inner strength geared toward women who have faced adversity and haven’t put themselves first. She drew from her own experiences and testimonies of women from Africa, Europe and North America as well as inspiration from biblical women.

Navigating the world of book publishing can be an overwhelming task for new authors, and that’s where Alexandria resident Barbara Leary wants to step in.

Leary founded Finch & Squirrel as a literary mentorship studio providing coaching, resources and indie publishing services for writers of all skill levels. The studio recently celebrated three debut authors on publication of their first children’s books — “When There Are More Than Two” by George Mason University communications professional Buzz McClain, “Jack’s Journey: One Kitty, Three Cities” by Leary’s friend Lynn Hays and “Would a Kitten Do That?” by Alexandria Tutoring Consortium tutor Sherry Harowitz.