ROME — A Rome native recently released his second book, “Snoozy Suzy and the Curse of the Twilight People,” available at Barnes and Noble Booksellers and Amazon.com.

Brian Sanders, who grew up in Rome, will be give a special book talk and sign copies of his new release starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Keaton & Lloyd Bookshop, 236 W. Dominick St.

Sanders said he remembers beginning to write when he was in just second grade.

“I scribbled out a story about a robot that could create money at the push of a button,” Sanders recalled.

He joked, “Sadly, I haven’t been able to build a prototype of that robot, but that hasn’t stopped me from writing more stories.”

After catching the screenwriting itch at Cornell University, Sanders penned more than a dozen scripts, several of which won contests and were optioned to producers such as Multivisionnaire Pictures. He also writes short stories, a selection of which have been published in “Short Story America Volumes I & III.”

Snoozy Suzy is Sanders’ debut middle-grade novel. Today he resides in Branchburg, N.J. with his wife and two young daughters, “who like to zip around on their own flying pillows,” the author joked.

The fantasy book is geared toward ages 8-12. When a courageous girl, Snoozy Suzy, discovers that all of humanity is unknowingly trapped in a bad dream, she leads a group of pajama-wearing, super-powered kids on a quest to wake up the world.

Sanders said he describes his latest book as being, “’The Matrix’ for kids.”

For 11-year-old Suzy Schuster, life feels like a bad dream. The polluted police state she lives in is distressing enough. But, to make matters worse, her parents went missing a few years ago under mysterious circumstances. Then, one fateful day, she encounters a group of youths known as the Pajama Gang.

Displaying cool pajamas and even cooler superpowers, they teach Suzy that what feels like a bad dream is actually far worse: the entire world has fallen asleep and is unknowingly trapped in the nightmare of a demon called Phantos. Armed with flying pillows and magic sand, Suzy and her new friends must fight back against Phantos as they search for the gateway back to Reality.

If they succeed, Suzy just might find her parents on the other side...

The event at Keaton & Lloyd on Feb. 25 will include a reading of Snoozy Suzy, a book signing with copies available for purchase, games, snacks, prizes and more. “Everyone is encouraged to wear their pajamas,” Sanders said.

For more about Sanders, his latest book and how to order, go to www.briansandersbooks.com or Instagram at @briansandersbooks.