Author Shauna Niequist is the type to stop and smell the roses, then write in simple detail about the depth and meaning of something greater than the rose. Niequist, who lives in Chicago, wrote a number of the stories regarding such profound (and not so profound) moments in her memoir, Cold Tangerines, while she and her family lived in Grand Rapids. Now, she's on her way back to West Michigan to discuss her memoir and do a signing.

Cold Tangerines is a book that's been described by critics as "raw" and "refreshing," and one that reminds readers of the wonder and privilege of being alive on Earth. The stories are often simple and sometimes not stories at all so much as sentiments on the differences between film and real life, the sharp contrast of weddings and funerals and the profound beauty that comes from creating. Niequist, a first-time writer, is the kind of scribe you feel as though you're having a conversation with as you read. Her words may not be the most profound thing you've read, but they are poignant and sweet, expressing a true passion for living, and a strong desire to share those feelings.

Niequist isn't the only writer who'll be at Barnes & Noble this busy month, but she just may be the most insightful. The stories in Cold Tangerines are rarely longer than six or seven pages, meaning even the most reluctant reader will have an easy time getting through the memoir. And getting through it is as satisfying as, well, a cold tangerine on a hot day in summer or the kind of day that calls out for you to go outside and read a book.