Congratulations to Liberty States Fiction Writers Member David Manfre whose short story “First Contact” was published in the The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters anthology. A lifelong resident of New Jersey, David enjoys writing stories that take place in familiar settings. A major aspect of his writing involves using those local settings because he believes placing characters and events there helps make his writing immediate and lively. David enjoys visiting the shore, especially towns with commercial boardwalks or lively downtowns, preferring those attractions to spend time at the beach or swimming in the ocean.