Heather Lynn Harris, illustrator of the book Cory and the Seventh Story, will visit Dog Ears Bookstore, 688 Abbott Road, for a book-signing event from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 8. 

Written by Brian D. McLaren and Gareth Higgins, the book tells us about Cory, a young raccoon learning how the stories we tell about the world shape how we live. As Cory’s neighbors live out their stories, readers will discover six familiar ones that have repeated through history, teaching us how to dominate, fear or withdraw from the world and the beautiful people in it. The good news is that there is another story, a path of openheartedness towards others. Cory’s discovery of the Seventh Story will inspire children and adults alike. 

Harris fell in love with art at the age of five when her mother enrolled her in art lessons at their local museum. She pursued art throughout high school, but, like many artists, an aversion to starvation led her to pursue other interests in college. Nevertheless, she knew art would always be there, temporarily tucked away in a nice, warm corner of her heart.

After school, marriage and the birth of her children, the time was right to allow herself to return to her art. She spent the next 10 years experimenting with charcoal and acrylics, dabbling in oils and pastels, and testing pen and ink. Through private instruction, workshops and a whole lot of practice, she was finally ready to formalize her natural talent by earning a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Francisco’s famed Academy of Art University. She paints landscape, figure and portrait, but her favorite is children’s picture book art. She has three published picture books, The Swing, Clover and The Shooting Star, and Five Hungry Mice, all published by Buffalo Heritage Press.

For more information on Dog Ears Bookstore, please visit dogearsbookstore.org, call 823-2665 or follow on Facebook for frequent updates.