12/08/2025
Imperial Valley Authors Reveal the Heart Behind Their Writing at 2025 Book Fair
El Centro, CA (Monday, December 8, 2025) — The 2025 Imperial Valley Authors’ Book Fair, held Saturday, December 6, at the Imperial Valley Mall, united nearly 20 local writers in a vibrant celebration of storytelling, creativity, and community connection. Organized by author and educator Darren Simon, the event offered residents a rare opportunity to meet the region’s literary talent face-to-face — and to hear firsthand why these writers feel compelled to put their stories into the world.
Simon said the fair’s purpose goes far beyond book sales.
“We try to do these book fairs every now and then because we’re all local authors and we want to get a chance… and we believe in our work,” he explained. “Anytime you can share your story, even if they don’t purchase the book, if you can share it and they have an interest, that’s a positive thing.”
But the real highlight for Simon was connecting with fellow authors:
“One of the outcomes I really appreciate is the chance to meet other authors that I don’t really know. To meet them here, get to know each other, and share our stories and our histories — that’s a very positive outcome.”
Below, each writer’s reflections offer a deeper look into why they write and the forces that continue to fuel their creativity.
Darren Simon — Writing to Inspire Young Readers
Simon’s catalog includes the Guardian fantasy series, a two-book pirate adventure series, and a superhero origin story, Tripp Unleashed. His motivation is rooted in childhood:
“When I was young, I fell in love with reading. Reading inspired me and made life better,” he said. “That’s why I write for middle grade and young adults. I want to inspire them to read and realize just how much joy reading can bring to your life.”
For Simon, the goal is not to teach a moral or push a message, but to spark imagination:
“It’s not trying to tell any specific story. I just want them to enjoy the fantasy, enjoy the adventure, and make reading a part of their lives.”
Gary W. Andrews — Writing to Preserve Memory and Honor Military Service
Author Gary W. Andrews wrote his first book, God Bless Chesty, to capture the profound impact of Marine Corps boot camp on his life.
“It was running through my head — all the thoughts and memories I had at that time, and how much it affected my life in a positive way going forward,” Andrews recalled. “I wanted to get it into book form before the memories started fading.”
He described writing as deeply therapeutic:
“It was a joy to write. It was almost like therapy. And I wanted people to understand what young men go through when they opt to go into the military.”
Andrews takes readers through every step of his journey — from the recruiter’s office to the famously intimidating arrival at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego:
“You’re welcomed to the base, but within seconds you don’t feel welcome at all… it’s like all the air gets sucked right out of the bus.”
His motivation is clear: to preserve a personal history that shaped him, and to help others understand it.
Mariano Velez — Writing to Preserve Calexico’s Childhood Stories
Author Mariano Velez wrote “Mostly Made Up Stories From a Small Town Nobody” to capture the essence of growing up in Calexico in the late ’70s and early ’80s.
“Growing up, whenever we had a family reunion, stories were always told… This book is basically just that. Reliving life,” Velez said.
Now an educator, Velez sees how much childhood has changed:
“I see the world of difference… how much more freedom we had to be kids back then.”
His message to aspiring writers is simple and powerful:
“Tell your stories. Some will say, ‘What if they don’t sell?’ That’s okay — tell the story. You’ll strike a chord with somebody.”
Poli Flores — Writing to Showcase Local Talent and Inspire Others
Award-winning writer Poli Flores celebrated the diversity of genres represented at the fair.
“We have fiction, nonfiction, poetry, sci-fi… there’s a little bit of everything,” he said. “A lot of local authors don’t have opportunities like this. It’s good for the Valley to know what talent we have here.”
Flores stressed the importance of writers inspiring the next generation:
“When people see local authors, they encourage their own kids — ‘Hey, there’s talent here.’ If you're interested in being a journalist or writer, the talent is right here.”
His motivation lies in community uplift and collaboration:
“You can network with authors, learn how to promote books, how to use social media… it’s a good way to collaborate, even if you only sell one book.”
Flores’s books include “In the Shadow of the Sun” and “The Nickel Choir”, both available at amazon.com
Charlie Zamarripa — Writing to Process Emotion and Heal
Poet Charlie Zamarripa released his first book, Lost in Thoughts, during a period of personal struggle.
“Most of it has to do with regret and depression because I was going through a bad phase of my life,” he shared. “And it came out very well, I think, in the poems.”
His second book, Happy Endings, expresses passion and emotional release:
“Happy Endings… the title’s ironic. An ending is usually not happy. But there are a million ideas of what I think are happy endings.”
For Zamarripa, poetry is a means of self-expression, healing, and sharing emotional truth.
Annaka Penner Smith — Writing to Connect and Prove That Creativity Lives Here
Poet Annaka Penner Smith says the fair reminded readers that authors exist within their own community.
“I like to remind people that I’m a real person… and a real person in the Imperial Valley,” she said. “A lot of people think there aren’t resources for creative arts here. But if I can do it, anyone can.”
Smith writes from lived experience — sometimes joyful, often deeply emotional:
“Overarchingly, my books have been sad and based in my actual life… but The Book of Lies is joyful for the sake of being joyful. Sometimes it’s just about having a silly, goofy time.”
Smith’s books include For Me, For You, and For No One At All, with covers featuring a gaunt skeleton holding red flowers.
Her motivation is to model what’s possible and help others follow their creative instincts:
“If they want to do it, I’m here to help. Please, hit me up.”
Dave Garcia — Writing and Drawing Because He “Has To”
Comic artist Dave Garcia traced his creative origins to the moment he discovered Archie Comics as a child.
“The first thing I can remember being attracted to was Archie Comics,” he said. “I learned to read with my sister’s comics… I deciphered word balloons on my own.”
Garcia believes cartoonists aren’t made — they’re born:
“The reason comic book artists do it is because there’s something in our makeup. We just have to do it. If I wasn’t doing comics, I’d be doing some other kind of drawing.”
Garcia credits his wife for much of the creative writing behind his Panda Khan comic: “My wife, she researched Chinese mythology, and she had always read fantasy and mythology. So, when I drew this picture, the original picture was an oil painting that I did for her. She would just write all these great stories, and all I had to do was pick the parts that I wanted to illustrate. When I do my own stuff, like the Shadow of the West, I come up with a beginning, and I come up with an ending, and then I work my way. I much prefer having someone do the writing, and then I'll just do the illustrations. But my wife doesn't want to do it anymore. That's why I don't do Panda Khan anymore,” Garcia said.
Garcia has worked on Panda Khan, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Tick, Tiny Toons, and numerous independent projects — but his motivation remains the same: the irresistible need to tell stories through art.
A Valley Full of Stories
The authors at the Book Fair showed that storytelling in the Imperial Valley is thriving — rooted in memory, emotion, imagination, humor, and a deep desire to connect.
As Darren Simon put it:
“We want to share our work with the community… We believe in our stories. And it’s a positive thing anytime someone stops to listen.”
The event didn’t just showcase books — it showcased motivation, courage, and the enduring power of story in the Imperial Valley.
Darren plans to continue the book event the following year, possibly inviting south-of-the-border authors, and hosting it at the local Pioneers Museum.
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