By Ruth SOWBY

Pasadena author C.A. River had her first book signing at the iconic Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena. River used her own journey of having gastric bypass surgery as the inspiration for character Karina Layne in “Sea of Walking Dreams,” her first book.  

On Sunday, Jan. 25, some 50 fans, most of them holding River’s book, gathered to hear the author read from her novel. River read the summary: “Losing over one hundred pounds seems like an impossible dream but Karina and her husband Ryan are ready to have children. Determined to confront her childhood trauma, Karina returns to her memories [of her childhood trauma] to seek healing.”