Book signing of 'The Penny' by author Andy Cutts at Innisfree and Bayswater Books July 23

LAKES REGION — New Hampshire author Andy Cutts will sign copies of his new book, "The Penny," at Innisfree Books in Meredith and Bayswater Books in Center Harbor on Saturday, July 23. Cutts will be at Innisfree between 11 a.m. — 1 p.m. He will make his appearance at Bayswater from 2 — 4 p.m.

"The Penny," for readers age six and up, features illustrations by Vermont artist Katherine Roy and tells the story of a wooden sailboat called Penny, the grandfather who built her, and a grandson who learned dear lessons from both.

Cutts grew up spending summers visiting his grandparents at their cottage on Winnipesaukee, where he learned to sail as a young boy. It took four years for "The Penny," which is based on true events, to emerge from a bedtime story first told to Cutts’ young daughter to the beautiful 40-page hardcover that it is today.

Finding an illustrator who could capture the essence of "The Penny" was essential, and after a year and a half of searching, Cutts and his daughter were delighted to meet Roy, who graduated with an MFA from Vermont’s Center for Cartoon Studies and has a magical ability to turn paper into water. Her predominantly black and white illustrations have brought Penny to life, while her deliberate use of color enhances the subtext of the narrative.

On its surface, "The Penny" is a timeless story of summer adventures on the water, with risks and rescues the will have the youngest readers reaching for their life jackets. But core themes of loss and renewal, resiliency and rebuilding, offer readers of all ages an inspiring tale of transition and new beginnings. "The Penny" is proud to be printed and bound in New Hampshire and to be sailing into independent booksellers around New England. To learn more about the project, visit "Read 'The Penny'" on Facebook.

Don't miss the boat! For additional information or to reserve copies of "The Penny," call Innisfree at 279-3905 or Bayswater Books at 253-8858.