Chesapeake Press: A New Imprint for Civics Education

August 13, 2020 – In an election year like no other, may we introduce you to a publishing company like no other. Born out of the nasty political partisanship of the 21st century, Chesapeake Press has been created to inspire the next generation of citizens and public servants by publishing stories, podcasts, and non-fiction about U.S. democracy.

We have just signed as our first author Kitty Felde, a much-honored public radio journalist who spent nearly a decade reporting on Capitol Hill for Southern California Public Radio. Kitty has written a new series of middle grade mysteries set in the halls of Congress. You could call them The West Wing meets Nancy Drew.

The first book in The Fina Mendoza Mysteries series is Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza (October 13, 2020). Legend has it: anyone who sees the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill will be cursed with bad luck. 10-year-old Fina Mendoza just saw it. And the last thing her family needs right now is more bad luck. The book is available in paperback, hardback, and e-book. A podcast version of the book The Fina Mendoza Mysteries is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries have been praised by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez: “Told with unerring accuracy, my son and I recognized the perfect descriptions of the Capitol and Fina’s rich cultural traditions” and former Republican Chair of the House Rules Committee, Rep. David Dreier: “A fun read disguised as a book for grade schoolers, it gives keen insight into the everyday workings of the U. S. Capitol and its inhabitants.”

Forthcoming books from Chesapeake Press will include curriculum materials, an alphabet picture book about democracy, and a mystery series about Alice Roosevelt Longworth.