RSVP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
RSVP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
Santa Barbara County Action Network and Friends of the Santa Maria Public Library present:
Creativity Has No Expiration Date:
Local author Deborah Brasket on publishing late in life
2PM-4 PM, Sunday, March 22, 2026
Santa Maria Public Library, Shepard Hall, 421 S. McClelland St., SM
Have you ever wondered if it’s too late to write that novel, become an artist, learn to skydive, or play the piano?
Join local author Deborah Brasket and SBCAN Co-Executive Director Jeanne Sparks for a candid conversation about how Brasket came to publish her debut novel When Things Go Missing late in life. She'll share her journey, read from her book, and be on hand to answer questions and sign copies.
When Things Go Missing is about the fragility and resilience of family life. When the mother who has been holding her family together mysteriously disappears, it sets into motion a ripple of anger, grief, and regret that reshapes the lives of those left behind--her two troubled adult children and distant husband. Each embarks on their own journeys to fill the missing pieces in their lives and make their family whole again.
PRAISE for WHEN THINGS GO MISSING
When Things Go Missing is catnip for book club readers. Brasket is a gorgeous writer who explores complex family dynamics in a raw yet sympathetic way. —Dianne Emley, Los Angeles Times bestselling author
Part mystery, part engrossing family drama, When Things Go Missing is a poignant reflection not just on what leaves a mark, but on what binds us back together. —by Nicky Flowers, Indies Today ★★★★★
A powerful novel about losing yourself in order to find a way home, When Things Go Missing by Deborah J. Brasket is an achingly poignant exploration of femininity, responsibility, and liberation from societal expectations.
—SPR Review, ★★★★★
TO PURCHASE - A limited supply of When Things Go Missing will be available to purchase (cash or check) at the event. It’s also available locally at Gavin’s Books, 230 E. Betteravia Rd, Santa Maria. Attendees are encouraged to purchase the book in advance to bring to the event for signing. Purchase online at Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble. Or use the QR Code.
PUBLISHER: Sea Stone Press
PUB DATE: September 22, 2025
PAGE COUNT: 352
GENRES: Book Club Fiction, Literary Fiction, Family Saga, Women’s Fiction, Sibling Fiction, Addiction Fiction, Introspective Family Drama, Self-Discovery
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deborah Brasket spent six years sailing around the world with her husband and children. When she returned home to the Central Coast, she taught English at Allan Hancock and Cuesta colleges before joining SBCAN. There she served as a board member, board president, and then executive director.
After retirement, she settled among the golden hills and vineyards of Paso Robles to write the kinds of novels she loves to read. Her first novel When Things Go Missing was published in September 2025. Her second novel This Sea Within will be published in June 2026.
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