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| A little pumpkin gets his wish By Stacy Trevenon [ stacy@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 11:16 AM PST Near Halloween 2008, Rachel and Tom Formaro were driving past a Half Moon Bay pumpkin patch and inspiration struck. “Those poor pumpkins,” Tom Formaro said to his wife. “They haven’t got a face.” To the Formaros, local residents who write (he has finished two novels and several short stories; she is a poet,) the idea wasn’t just good for a chuckle. Instead, they made a story out of it. With the holidays approaching, they put together Christmas and a pumpkin. In spring 2009, “Alfonso, the Christmas Pumpkin” was completed. The Formaros will sign copies Saturday at Coastside Books. Self-published under the couple’s new publishing venture Tramonto (Italian for “sunset,”) charmingly enlivened with watercolor illustrations by Michele Spremich, the story builds on that response to the faceless pumpkins. “Alfonso” is a round, appealing little figure in the Ghost Town Pumpkin Patch operated by Farmer Sally in Half Moon Bay, where “October is a magical time of year.” But he’s not happy: Halloween scares him and he doesn’t want to be a jack-o-lantern. His pumpkin peers laugh at him, but when Alfonso hears about Christmas, when everything is brightly decorated and people try to make each other happy, he longs to be a Christmas pumpkin. When, with help from his animal friends, he meets Santa, events begin that propel him toward realizing his dream. “I think the biggest message is, even though it looks silly, he has courage and belief in himself enough to persevere,” said Tom Formaro. “If you trust in your heart, trust yourself, you can accomplish anything you desire.” The book signing for “Alfonso” takes place 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 at Coastside Books, 432 Main St. It will include readings and the introduction of Spremich. A Novato resident educated in illustration, “Alfonso” is her first book. Tom Formaro, 44, has run writing workshops for elementary- and at-risk intermediate-school kids, and adults, in San Francisco. Born in England and raised in Canada, Rachel Formaro also started writing young and makes writing about revelation. “I like to observe what’s happening around me,” she said. “And observe what’s happening around us that we don’t often take note of.” They say they eschewed traditional publishing venues for what they saw as the challenge of self-publishing. Especially at this time, authors (can) do it on their own instead of relying on the traditional, said Tom Formaro. “Different techniques are available,” he said. Their hope for Tramonto is to provide a publishing avenue for their own books, and those of other authors. “We’re open to all possibilities,” said Tom Formaro. Coastside Books can be reached at 726-5889. |