Hooked and Booked draws hundreds to celebrate Oklahoma authors
Story updated July 23, 2026 2:48 p.m. to include additional information about the event organazier
Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post
July 23, 2026
There is nothing unusual about a bookstore being filled with books, but it's not every day the shelves share space with the people who wrote them.
More than 400 readers escaped the summer heat Saturday to browse novels, collect autographs and discover their next favorite read as Marigold’s Bookstore hosted the Hooked and Booked event featuring 20 authors from across Oklahoma, including several from the Bartlesville area.
Readers browse books and meet Oklahoma authors during the Hooked and Booked event at Marigold Bookstore in downtown Bartlesville on July 18, 2026.
Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post
"It was really cool to see the community come together," Marigold’s co-owner Kandelyne Wingate said. "It was exciting to watch everyone come out to support and meet local authors."
The free event transformed the independent bookstore into a bustling marketplace of stories, where authors spent the afternoon talking with readers about everything from fantasy and romance to children's books and psychological fiction.
Stories born from different paths
Michelle Lynn Ross signs a copy of one of her self-published romance novels during the Hooked and Booked event at Marigold Bookstore in downtown Bartlesville on July 18, 2026.
Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post
Although each author had a different journey to publication, many shared a common thread. Several said they began writing seriously around 2023, with the COVID-19 pandemic inspiring them to finally pursue stories they had always wanted to tell.
For Caney, Kansas author Michelle Lynn Ross, that journey led to seven self-published small-town romantic comedies set in southeast Kansas.
Ross said she's a hopeless romantic, which naturally drew her to the genre. While selling books is rewarding, she said one of her favorite parts of events like Hooked and Booked is encouraging aspiring writers.
Wingate said Ross's novels have developed a loyal following in Bartlesville and remain popular fixtures on the bookstore's shelves.
Bartlesville author and artist Lori Roll shared her children's book, "Turtle Dreams," a story she originally wrote for her then 9-year-old son more than two decades ago after the family's pet turtle died. The story follows a turtle who hibernates through the winter while dreaming about all the adventures waiting in the spring, offering children a gentle way to understand loss.
Fellow Bartlesville author K.M. West also showcased her novel, Wild Things Will Roam, a project she began writing in 2015 before publishing it in 2021 while balancing work, family and what she described as countless other responsibilities.
West said she has wanted to write since she was a child, but she has never considered herself a fast writer. Instead, she prefers taking her time, allowing each story to develop at its own pace before sharing it with readers.
Fantasy, romance and everything between
Heather Dubree talks with an attendee about her books during the Hooked and Booked event at Marigold Bookstore in downtown Bartlesville on July 18, 2026.
Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post
For H.D. Jones, pitching her debut novel has become second nature.
Each attendee got a quick 20-second elevator pitch of her fantasy series “Lucid.” Jones said she has given the spiel thousands of times since releasing her book in 2024, but loves sharing about her book each time.
The series follows Danielle Gardens, a young woman who can lucid dream and discovers another dreamer trapped inside recurring nightmares shaped by post-traumatic stress disorder. Together, they search for a way to escape the dream world while confronting painful memories from their pasts.
Jones said writing those books demanded so much emotionally that she decided to take a break.
That "break" became "For Publicity's Sake," a romantic comedy about a global pop star and a professional football player who enter into a fake relationship for publicity, only to discover they may have more in common than either expected.
At the table next to her, Heather Dubree, also writes across genres. Her romantasy novel, "The Lesser Gods," centers on a centuries-old war between vampires and mortals that reaches a fragile peace through an arranged marriage between a vampire prince and a human woman.
Her contemporary romance, "The Arrangement," leans into familiar romance tropes with humor, banter and plenty of heart.
Dubree described her writing style as "chaotic" and said she enjoys self-publishing because it allows her to oversee every part of the creative process, from the story itself to the finished book in readers' hands.
One author's long road to publication
Alysha Rameera signs a copy of her debut fantasy novel, Her Soul for a Crown, during the Hooked and Booked event at Marigold Bookstore in downtown Bartlesville on July 18, 2026.
Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post
While 19 writers at Hooked and Booked chose to self-publish, fantasy author Alysha Rameera took a different path.
Rameera spent 12 years pursuing a traditional publishing deal, writing nine novels before finally breaking through with her debut, “Her Soul for a Crown,” which was picked up by Sourcebooks Casablanca.
Along the way, she queried about 600 literary agents before one offered representation after reading her sixth manuscript. Even then, it took three more books before she landed a publishing contract.
"Her Soul for a Crown," inspired by Sri Lankan mythology, follows a young woman bent on revenge who strikes a dangerous bargain with a cursed god to overthrow ruthless rulers.
Looking back, Rameera said she has revisited some of the eight unpublished novels and believes a few may still be worth revising someday. Others, she said, are better left in a forgotten folder on her hard drive because they reflect a writer who was still learning her craft.
Unlike many fantasy authors, Rameera said she prefers writing standalone novels instead of a sprawling series.
Celebrating Oklahoma storytellers
Hooked and Booked is organized by M. J. Hughes and travels to bookstores and other venues throughout Oklahoma to connect readers with local authors, artisans and small businesses. Saturday's stop at Marigold’s Bookstore marked one of those events.
Hughes thanked Marigold Bookstore for hosting the event, along with the participating authors, vendors and readers who attended. For more information on the event, check out the Hooked and Booked Facebook page.
For Wingate, the event reflected the mission she and her sister envisioned when they opened Marigold’s Bookstore.
“When you bring great authors together with a community that loves books, amazing things happen,” Marigold’s co-owner Katie Taylor said. “Seeing over 400 people walk through our doors and watching several authors sell out was exciting. But the real success was the energy, conversations and connections that filled the store all day — it was an incredible event from start to finish.”
The bookstore has become more than a place to buy books. It has become a place where readers can meet the people behind the stories, discover local talent and celebrate Oklahoma's growing literary community.
Judging by the steady stream of readers carrying signed books out the front door Saturday afternoon, that mission continues to resonate.
The Eatery serves signature teas and lemonade outside Marigold Bookstore during the Hooked and Booked event in downtown Bartlesville on July 18, 2026, helping visitors cool off while they browsed books and met Oklahoma authors.
Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post
More than 400 readers attended the Hooked and Booked event at Marigold Bookstore in downtown Bartlesville on July 18, 2026, celebrating Oklahoma authors and independent bookstores.
Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post
