North Carolina author Joyce Moyer Hostetter will be visiting Dare County schools next week, and finish up the tour with a book signing Thursday from 3-5 p.m. at Downtown Books in Manteo.

Hostetter is the author of the “Bakers Mountain Stories,” a series for young readers that begins with the book “Blue,” continues with the sequel “Comfort” and then has a prequel in “Aim.”

These stories follow a young girl in a small North Carolina town during World War II. She writes for the elementary/middle school audience and “Blue” has been featured on the NCSLMA Elementary Battle of the Books list twice in the last four years including this year.

The regional elementary Battle of the Books competition will take place Monday, April 16, at Jennette’s Pier and Dare County will be represented by Nags Head Elementary School. Downtown Books is a 105 Sir Walter Raleigh St., in downtown Manteo.