Local Author Visits Cedar Grove Library

The Cedar Grove library recently hosted Verona resident Dr. Cristina Guarneri, where the author showed the never-before-seen commercial for her first novel, See No Evil, before her book signing.

“Every writer or artist has a muse and I was inspired by him,” Guarneri said about her political novel, based on an actual political aide who was the ex-chief of staff and regional campaign manager for Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Guarneri, in her nationwide book release, was invited by the Cedar Grove book club to speak about her novel because the club read it in the past few weeks. 

“It was an added bonus that it was the first time I was going to read a book that I was actually going to meet the writer,” Cedar Grove resident and book club member, Iris Buetell, said.

The book follows Matt Logan from his present day career in politics to future events in 2029 creating a fictional path for his future. She said she was so inspired by all the good things he did and the kind of person he was, she wanted to make him a major character in her book. 

“I enjoyed it because it was written in different segments,” Lori Ghio, another member of the book club, said. “It made me hope for another one to follow.”

The Cedar Grove library tries to have as many local authors as it can come in to for readings or book signings said director Peter Havel.

“On a good year, we have between 10 and 12,” Havel said. “It all depends on how many local authors put out books and can come.”

Guarneri a Verona resident, has been a local resident for years, even getting her Master's degree from Montclair State University and her Ph. D at Seton Hall.

She recently has started traveling and promoting her book and has described the process as, “as scary because it is all new (to me).”