Room With a Boo ~ Children's Picture Book
Winner of Next Generation Indie Book Awards BEST Children's Fiction for 2026!
Not all ghosts are scary! In Room With a Boo, Betsy the ghost joins little girl Charlee for an adventure in the 100 year-old Yorktowne Hotel. Perfect for bedtime, this sweet story sprinkles just enough spookiness to make kids smile, not hide under the covers.
Illustrated in watercolor and ink by Josh Johnson; edited by Kasey Fallon
Upcoming Events for Room With a Boo
June 6, 11a, Thrillerdelphia, Family story time, 4203 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127
June 24, 12:30p-2p, Booksigning at Road to Independence/Lincoln Highway Conference, Yorktowne Hotel, 48 E Market St, York, PA 17401
July 16, 4p, Brewing Good Coffee Co, Family story time,8600 Foundry St, Savage, MD 20763
August 21, 10:30a, Bound Books, Family story time, 2555 S Queen St, York, PA 17402
Sept 22, 5p, New Cumberland Library, Family story time, 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland, PA 17070
Oct 2, 10:30a, Red Land Library, Family story time, 70 Newberry Commons, Etters, PA 17319
Oct 3, 10:30a, Bosler Library, Family story time, 158 W High St, Carlisle, PA 17013
Oct 11, 11a, Huckleberry Trails Animal Sanctuary Festival, Family story time and Craft, 420 Reibers Church Rd, Shermans Dale, PA 17090
Oct 14, 10:30a, Village Library, Family story time, 35 N Main St STE C, Jacobus, PA 17407
Oct 15, 10:30a, Arthur Hufnagel Public Library, Family story time, 32 Main St, Glen Rock, PA 17327
Nov 1, noon, The 9 Collective, Family story time and Craft, 3043 Columbia Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603
Past Events
May 21, Local Author Publishing Panel, Bound Books, York, PA
March 28, Family story time, Exeter Public Library, Reading, PA
Nov 15, Book launch party at Tiger Rabbit Studios, York, PA
Oct 17, Book Preview at Yorktowne Hotel 100th Anniversary Gala, York, PA
Shop Local
The 9 Collective, Lancaster, PA
Artemis Vintage, York, PA
Backwater Books, Ellicott City, MD
The Book Plate, Chestertown, MD
Bound Books, York, PA
Gettysburg Tour Center, Gettysburg, PA
Serpent’s Key Shoppe, Hanover, PA
Tiger Rabbit Studio, York, PA
Yorktowne Hotel, York, PA
Or go to these library systems and check it out ~
Berks County, PA
Dauphin County, PA
Howard County, MD
Shop National
World of Books
Rissa's Published Works
Books
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Room With a Boo (2025), Children’s Book
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Goodnight, Poet (2018), Poetry Chapbook
Prose & Poetry Publications
2025
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Introduction essay — Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap: A Literary Tribute to Revenge (Feb)
2025
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“Cold Call,” flash fiction & introduction essay — The Wicker Yule Holiday Horror Anthology (Dec)
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“1995,” poem — Moondust Will Cover You Anthology (Dec)
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“Once in a Blue Moon,” short story — A Grave Duet (Oct)
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“Empty (Cups)” & “Good Fences,” poems — A Collective Paw: An Animal Rights Anthology (July)
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“Apricity,” poem — The Baltimore Banner (Jan)
2021–2020
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“The Ring,” essay — Emerge: Coming Into View / Yellow Arrow Journal (Sept 2021)
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“The Gray Cat,” short story — Pen-in-Hand Literary Journal (July 2021)
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“Vampire,” essay — Resilience / Yellow Arrow Journal Vol 5 No. 1 (Dec 2020)
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“Home,” short story — Fae Dreams (Nov 2020)
2019–2018
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“Brothers,” short story — Vegan Tales Anthology, Vol. 2 (Dec 2019)
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“The Temptress,” poem — Horror Writers Showcase Vol 6, HWA (Oct 2019)
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“Welcome Homesick,” short story — 30 Ways to Love Maryland Anthology (March 2019)
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“Family Dinner” & “Tofu Paradise,” short stories — Vegan Tales Anthology, Vol. 1 (Dec 2018)
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“Bedtime Stories,” poem — Pen-in-Hand Literary Journal (July 2018)
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“Hijacking Heaven,” poem — Pen-in-Hand Literary Journal (Jan 2018)
Produced Plays, Staged Readings & Festivals
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"Saving Sheepies" — Children's one-act play
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Virtual Shows ~
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Building Better People Productions (Feb, Apr, June 2021)
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Full Stagings ~
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Intersections Play Festival, Atlas Theater, Washington DC (Feb 2020)
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Chesapeake Arts Center, Brooklyn Park, MD (Nov & Dec 2019)
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ArtFarm, Annapolis, MD (Oct 2019)
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Premiered at Building Better People Productions, Annapolis, MD (April 2018), directed by Jennifer Ridgeway
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“Morella” — Radio-play adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s story, performed by Twilight Thriller Radio/Upstart Arts (Oct 2020)
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"Venmo on the River Styx" — Reading, Variations on Myth Festival, Rapid Lemon Productions (March 2019)
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"Making Waves" — Reading, Howard County Women’s Giving Circle & TIO Theater (Jan 2019)
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"Eskimo Sisters" — Reading, TIO Theater (June 2018)
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Dramatists Guild of America, member, 2018-2022
Editorial Career Highlights
Senior Editor, Vegan Journal (May 2018–June 2023)
Feature articles & recipe collections authored include:
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Going Wild: Blueberry Jewels from Maine & New England (2019)
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Notes from the Senior Editor (multiple issues, 2019–2023)
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Don’t Pull the Wool Over Your Eyes: Cruelty-Free Yarns (2019)
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On a Roll: Sweet & Savory Rolls (Spring 2020)
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You Don’t Know Jack — jackfruit recipe collection (Winter 2020)
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Vegan Small Business (2021)
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Home Away from Home — Vegan B&Bs & recipes (2021)
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A Year of Vegan Brownies, co-authored with James Craig Thieman (2022)
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UnLeather: Plant-Based Textiles (2022)
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Mix It Up — vegan food-in-jars recipe collection (2023)
Other Professional Roles
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Literary Coordinator, Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum (2019–2020)
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Vice President, Maryland Writers Association/Howard County (2017–2019)
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The Baltimore Sun (Feb 2001–Feb 2006)