Published author Sam Pelelo-Ray, a Le Mars high school student, is at work writing his second book. Pelelo-Ray will be signing his first book, "Anthenrei" at a book-signing event at Sioux City's Barnes & Noble this Saturday. [Click to enlarge]

Local author Sam Pelelo-Ray, of Le Mars, will be on hand at Barnes & Noble booksellers in Sioux City from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 12 for their regional authors signing day.

Pelelo-Ray, who will be a junior at Le Mars Community High School, penned the science-fiction novel "Athenrei," which started as an assignment for his English class.

He then got PublishAmerica to print his book.

"For being such a young author, he knew exactly what he was talking about -- he's very with it," said Elisha Karr, coordinator of the book signing at Barnes & Noble. "He's excited about being published and wants to get his book out there."

Of the four local authors at the book signing event, Pelelo-Ray will be the youngest, she said.

Pelelo-Ray's book "Athenrei" follows the journey of Axel, a boy who on the first day of summer, gets the surprise of a lifetime. He and his best friend John are pushed through a wall of a local toy store and find themselves in the lands of Athenrei. After meeting a mysterious girl in a large tunnel, they embark upon a journey to find the way out of the maze of corridors. Together, along with a group of strange slaves, they unlock a hidden secret that has the whole world in its hands. It's up to them, Persius the Imp, and the stranger in the mist to try and stop it.

Sound interesting?

You can pick up a copy of "Athenrei" at Barnes & Noble and chat with the author himself on Saturday. The novel is also available at www.barnesandnoble.com.

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Also at the book signing will be Timothy Hemling, Jenny Herrick, and Mary Sue Morgan.

"Every year we have one local authors' event," said Karr.

Pelelo-Ray is currently working on a second novel, a prequel to the book "Athenrei," tentatively named "Temple of Ivaria."

"It's coming along pretty good," said Pelelo-Ray about his second work. "Right now it's closer to the start than to the finish."

His binder is full of notes for the story and sketches of maps of imagined lands and cities.

"I did a lot of my writing during class when I was supposed to be taking notes," he confessed.

Pelelo-Ray is not worried about his hand cramping up while he's signing books at the Barnes & Noble event this Saturday.

"I give it a lot of exercise with all the writing I do," he laughed.

The Barnes & Noble is located at 4400 Sergeant Road, Sioux City, IA, 51106.