Katherine Vaz's "Above the Salt" Book Launch at Zibby’s Bookstore

Tuesday, Zibby’s Bookstore hosted the highly anticipated launch of Katherine Vaz’s latest novel, “Above the Salt”. The event drew a captivated audience eager to hear Vaz discuss her sweeping love story set against the backdrop of Civil-War America. Moderated by Laura Warrell, the evening unfolded with a rich dialogue about the novel's themes of love, sacrifice, and resilience amidst the turbulence of historical conflict.

“Above the Salt” follows the harrowing journey of Portuguese refugees John Alves and Mary Freitas, whose budding romance is thwarted by religious violence in Madeira. Separated by circumstance and reunited years later in mid-nineteenth-century Illinois, their love story is a testament to enduring passion and the complex choices shaped by war and loyalty. Vaz’s poignant narrative brings to life their struggles and triumphs, set against the historically rich backdrop of Jacksonville's school for the deaf and the home of rising politician Abraham Lincoln.

Vaz, a Portuguese-American, shared an excerpt from the novel which briefly conveyed her characters John and Mary and the depth of their love. The event concluded with a lengthy Q&A and a book signing.