George Washington University alumna Nicole Mechem, I.D.S. '07, was recently accepted to participate in the 2026 Sacramento Book Festival, hosted by the California Writers Club. The festival celebrates local literature across genres and brings together authors, illustrators and literary organizations throughout the region.

At the festival to be held in April, Mechem will showcase her debut children's picture book, "Lizabeth and the Great Tooth Fairy Blunder."The book tells the story of young girl who uses a tiny doll under her pillow as a talisman for falling asleep, but disaster ensues when she loses a tooth and the Tooth Fairy mistakenly takes her doll instead. The story was inspired by conversations Mechem had with her own daughters and the illustrations were inspired by drawings from her eldest daughter.