Recent Titles
Where Our Palms Rest
Where Our Palms Rest features poems by four local writers — Beverly Boyd of Los Osos, Carol Alma McPhee of San Luis Obispo, Joann Rusch of Los Osos and Bonnie Young of Arroyo Grande — paired by black-and-white photos by Boyd’s husband, R. David Bowlus.
Deetjen’s Closet: A Quest for Magic (Sara and the Ghost Clothes Book 1)
By Debbie Noble Black. A captivating historical fantasy with splashes of magic for readers 8-12, set along the California coast up to Big Sur. Being the new kid in her fourth-grade class is bad enough. But when the school’s twin troublemakers discover Sara’s secret belief in magic, they vow to make her life unbearable by outing her to the entire school. To stop them, she must prove magic exists—and fast! Help comes from unusual allies she discovers in an old hotel closet—ghosts of clothes worn by real historic characters. Ultimately, she realizes that what someone believes doesn’t matter. Friendship does.
The Old Secret at Hotel Oregon (Sara and the Ghost Clothes Book 2)
By Debbie Noble Black. The very walls of 100-year-old Hotel Oregon vibrate with magic. But is it good magic? When Sara discovers twelve ghost children trapped in one of the paintings by a witch’s curse, she must use her wits to save them before the fast-approaching eclipse makes the curse permanent. She’s in a high-stakes battle against two formidable foes—evil magic and the ticking clock. To make matters worse, she needs the help of the one person she can’t truly trust—who likely wouldn’t care if she failed. Not once, but twice.
Two Brave Cubs
Two Brave Cubs: Finding Help When Children Grieve is a unique and beautifully illustrated book which portrays the deep emotions of a child’s grief after a mother’s death. The story starts with the mother’s illness. Told from the lion cubs perspective, the focus is on feelings and unmet needs. Though not explicitly stated, this lion family is struggling with addiction. The story is equally relevant if physical or mental illness, negligence, or abuse are involved. Also available Spanish
Releasing the Light: A Journal of Caring
In her poignant memoir, Carol Alma McPhee chronicles her 27-year friendship with Ann FitzGerald and their journey through Ann's lung cancer diagnosis, capturing the raw, unfiltered experience of caregiving. Releasing the Light offers an honest, intimate portrayal of their relationship during those challenging final two years—revealing moments of struggle, imperfection, love, and unexpected joy.
About
Coalesce Press is a publishing venture born from the passion and community-centered vision of Coalesce Bookstore (Established in 1973), founded by Janet Brown and Linna Thomas in Morro Bay, California. True to the word "coalesce"—which means to grow together and unite—the press extends the bookstore's original mission of creating an inclusive, welcoming space that connects people through literature, offering a platform for voices and stories that bring communities closer.