A national program that promotes the work of local authors arrived this week in Grand Junction. The featured author this month is Western Slope novelist and cartoonist Don Benjamin, who is selling and signing his fantasy novel and three cartoon collections Feb. 17-18 at the 24 Road City Market from 1-6 p.m. each day.

Benjamin’s fantasy novel, Stone Bride, features a resourceful Wolfkind princess, a brave sea captain, an old world witch, majestic horses and a talking dog. His cartoon books offer humorous commentaries on downhill skiing and people who live alone as well as an adult coloring book for coffee lovers.

Every month, the National Authors in Grocery Stores Program will suport the work of local writers by placing authors in hundreds of neighborhood grocery stores. The program began in Texas and has expanded to include 19 more states, including Colorado and Wyoming.

The program offers a platform for readers to connect with authors in a casual shopping environment. In addition to the opportunity to display their books in local stores, authors are able to have their books printed by an independent print shop, and participating writers compete for an annual storytelling award.

Interested authors can learn more at the program’s website: authorsingrocerystores.com.