New book “Lizabeth and the Great Tooth Fairy Blunder” earns spot at Sacramento Book Festival
For Folsom-based author Nicole Mechem, the magic behind her debut children’s book didn’t begin with publishing contracts or book festivals. It started during a quiet bedtime conversation with her daughters, when imagination took the lead and a simple idea turned into something more.
That moment becameLizabeth and the Great Tooth Fairy Blunder, a new children’s picture book for ages 4 to 8 that will be released in January. The book is currently available for pre-order through Amazon and Barnes & Noble and has earned Mechem a spot at the 2026 Sacramento Book Festival, marking a major milestone for the debut author.
“One bedtime in early 2024, my daughters and I were talking about how the Tooth Fairy manages to collect so many teeth from under kids’ pillows,” Mechem says. “My eldest suggested that the Tooth Fairy uses her magic to make the teeth fly to her. That idea completely overtook me, and I spent the rest of the night writingLizabeth and the Great Tooth Fairy Blunder.”
The story follows Lizabeth, a thoughtful young girl, after the Tooth Fairy mistakenly collects her favorite doll instead of a lost tooth. With dawn approaching and the magic fading, the two must work together to fix the blunder before it’s too late. The book blends whimsy and humor with themes of empathy, determination, courage, and belief.
“Perfect for ages 4–8, this enchanting children’s picture book about losing a tooth celebrates empathy, determination, courage, and the joy of believing,” Mechem says, describing the heart of the story.
Before becoming an author, Mechem spent nearly two decades working in international development and the tech startup space, including time as a Peace Corps volunteer in the country of Georgia. While fulfilling, she says that chapter of her career left little room for creativity.
“While my work over the years has been fulfilling, it was missing the creative outlet that comes so naturally to us as children but often fades as we grow older,” Mechem says.
That creative spark returned through everyday moments with her daughters, who she says constantly remind her to see the world differently.
“Every day, I watch my girls effortlessly shift between drawing, crafting, and imaginary play,” she says. “They not only remind me to notice the magic in everyday life, they also inspired me to reconnect with the creative spark I’d been missing.”
That inspiration extended beyond the story itself. Mechem’s eldest daughter created early sketches of the Tooth Fairy that helped shape the visual direction of the book and ultimately inspired illustrations by Kristina Georgieva.
“My eldest caught my excitement and drew these sketches of the Tooth Fairy,” Mechem says. “They served as inspiration for my amazing illustrator’s images for the book.”
The book’s title carries deep personal meaning as well. The character Lizabeth is named after Mechem’s mother, whom she describes as a lifelong lover of books and storytelling.
“Lizabeth is named after my mom, a beautiful soul who always wanted to write a book of her own,” Mechem says. “While she never ended up publishing one, she left hundreds of beautifully handwritten notes in books, cards, and letters to the people lucky enough to know her.”
Mechem says the name reflects not only her mother’s love of language, but also the kindness and care she brought into the world.
“The character reflects the deep care and kindness she brought into the world,” she says. “And finally, my mom was a huge book lover, so naming the main character after her felt like the perfect way to honor that.”
Now living in Folsom with her husband and two daughters, Mechem is excited to share her debut book with local families and a wider audience alike. Her acceptance into the 2026 Sacramento Book Festival offers an opportunity to connect with readers while celebrating a story rooted in family, imagination, and belief.
“I can’t wait for you to meet Lizabeth,” Mechem says. “The protagonist.”
More information about the book and author is available atwww.nicolemechembooks.com.Lizabeth and the Great Tooth Fairy Blunderwill be released in hardcover on Jan. 21, 2026, and is available now for pre-order.
Copyright © 2025, Folsom Times, a digital product of All Town Media LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
