Faith and Fortune Author Talk, Book Signing and Light Fare with Geoff Paul and Steven Ujifusa - November 8th and November 15th

We are delighted to announce an Author Talk, Book Signing, and Light Fare with Geoff Paul and Steven Ujifusa featuring their soon-to-be released,  Faith and Fortune - Henry and Amelia Champlin and America's Maritime Ascendancy. The event will take place on both Sunday, November 8, 2026 and Sunday, November 15, 2026 from 3:30pm - 5:30 pm, at The Griswold Inn, 36 Main Street, Essex, CT. 

Tickets for this event will be available for purchase online, in person at Goods & Curiosities ~ The Griswold Inn Store, or by calling our store at 860.767.0210. Since the book will not be officially released until November 17th, physical copies of the book will be available to be picked up at the time of the event. The cost for attending is $65.00 which includes light fare, a hardcover copy of the book and, of course, the opportunity to engage with Geoff Paul and Steven Ujifusa. 

About the Book:

This captivating, extensively researched book places 19th century Essex and the Connecticut River Valley at the center of America's early economic story.  The main narrative is the personal journey of Amelia and Henry Champlin, whose deep faith, love of family, and commercial determination guided them through the opportunities and uncertainties of a rapidly changing world.

As the new nation found its place in the global economy, the extraordinary rise of New York as America's biggest port created new avenues for trade, commerce, and prosperity. Through the Champlin’s experiences, readers will discover how seafaring families in Essex and throughout the Connecticut River Valley were connected to a vast maritime trade network stretching from New England to New York, the nation’s Southern ports, Great Britain, France, and beyond. Henry and Amelia's story highlights their ambition and enterprise, as well as the devotion and resilience that sustained them while building a future together.   

By weaving an intimate family narrative into larger historical events and the forces of economic change, the book illuminates a largely forgotten chapter of American history. Faith and Fortune is both a compelling personal story and a vivid account of the family ties, beliefs and community traditions that helped connect a young nation to an expanding world of commerce and opportunity.