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Schaumburg author releases her latest young adult novel

"Signs in the Dark," a young adult novel by Schaumburg author Susan Miura, was released Thursday, Oct. 15, from Vinspire Publishing.

Recipient of a 2020 Readers' Favorite award for young adult fiction, the novel is told from the perspectives of Haylie Summers, a deaf teen who gets kidnapped, and Peruvian-born Nathan Boliva, one of the prime suspects in her abduction. Miura will be presenting an online author visit in November at the Schaumburg Township District Library.

Hispanic and deaf high school students from Schaumburg and Hersey high schools provided insight on the main characters, and Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue served as the inspiration for the story's fictional wildlife sanctuary.

Miura said "Signs in the Dark," like her previous novels, has diverse characters because she wants her characters to reflect the real world.

"Our country is a huge, beautiful melting pot of ethnicities, cultures and people with various physical and mental abilities. Books should represent that," Miura said.

"I'm grateful to the friends, family, students and community members who provide insight to help me get it right."

Miura's previous novels, "Healer" and "Shards of Light," have won the Moonbeam, Readers' Favorite, Illumination, Royal Dragonfly (StoryMonsters), and Best Book awards. Her children's poetry book, "Pawprints in the Snow," features some of her wildlife photography.

A former Chicago-area and Albuquerque-area newspaper and television reporter, Miura works in public relations at the Schaumburg Library. She additionally presents author visits, writing workshops and travel programs at schools, libraries, conferences and other venues.

More information about her books and presentations is available at susanmiura.com.

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