Join 'Indy, Oh Indy' on a new musical adventure
Nov. 21—Local book series "Indy, Oh Indy" is out for another adventure just in time for Small Business Saturday.
Author Teresa Adamo and illustrator Jennifer Williams-Cordova will launch "Indy, Oh Indy: Learning the Bakersfield Sound," the latest book in their popular children's series, with an event on Saturday at Cafe Smitten
Adamo said she was excited to focus on the popular country music style that originated in Bakersfield.
"Our other Indy, Oh Indy books have touched on the Bakersfield Sound with nods to the creators, but we thought the history of it deserved its own storybook — and we knew there would be more than enough for an Indy adventure book," she wrote in an email." Of course, with the enthusiastic Bakersfield Sound fans in my family, we weren't short on material!"
Adamo and husband Felix are fans not only of the movement but many of the bands that carry on the tradition including The Soda Crackers, which features sons Zane and Cooper. The proud mom said the young men's quest "to reinvigorate the Bakersfield Sound as it once was — loud and live — definitely played a part in inspiring this new book."
In the book, Indy and her friends learn more about the music from Professor Tele, inspired by the Adamos' tortoise, before forming their own band and performing at the Fox Theater.
Adamo said she's happy that the series inspired by their rescue dog Indy has grown because it represents the special connection she had with her canine companion who died last December at age 18.
"Continuing the book series keeps her spirit alive and lets us share her story as an amazing example of what a shelter animal can offer, if just given the chance."
Both avid animal lovers, Adamo and Wiliiams-Cordova will have 100 copies of their first book — "Wanderin' the Streets of Bakersfield" — available for $5 each, with 100% of those proceeds going to Bakersfield Strays, which rescues abandoned dogs in Kern County.
"I always want people to know, and I hope they feel it through our stories, that this is a project created and sustained out of love," Williams-Cordova wrote in an email. "Originally, it was our love of Bakersfield, books and dogs; now it's a love shared by an entire community. We are so appreciative of this platform we have been given to help shelter animals and help young people feel connected to their hometown."
The other four books in their series — "Pismo or Bust!," "Bakersfield A-Z," "Hello, Bako!" and "The Mighty Kern River" — will also be for sale ($10-$15) as well as the "Learnin' the Bakersfield Sound" coloring-activity book.
Fans can buy the newest title and companion activity book as a "Bakersfield Sound Indy Pack" special deal, which also includes a colored pencil pack and an Indy bookmark, for $20 while supplies last.
The launch and signing will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the cafe, 909 18th St.
Stefani Dias can be reached at 661-395-7488. Follow her on Twitter at @realstefanidias.
