Today's Featured Books

Free virtual tour: MOMA's International Art Collection

Events

Free this weekend: NYC's Museum of Modern Art International Highlights Tour. The tour will focus on MOMA's international (non-American) art collection: Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Rousseau, Gustav Klimt, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, Salvador Dali, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and more. Saturday, June 10, 2:00 - 3:30 PM CDT.

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” ~Pablo Picasso


Withered Crown Chronicles: Three Betrayals by Payton Cavallo

Book of the Day

A princess who became prey, a lovechild who was never loved, a treacherous kingdom on the verge of collapse. Idalia Averill never imagined her life could go from royalty to ruin so suddenly, just as her family never expected the Sudulay's betrayal. Now, desperately fleeing her homeland to avoid capture, Idalia's survival will depend on her ability to discern friend from foeespecially among those closest to her. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


A Scarecrow Wins an Award by Scott Burtness

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Shapeshifter August Shade saved the world. The personal effects repo man bested a vampire, a warlock, and a troll without breaking a sweat. Now the cranky shapeshifter is in farm country—definitely not his natural habitat—and mixed up with two feuding hag sisters, a loan sharking coblyn, and a mysterious woman with a very scary ex. Book 2 in The Misadventures of a Paranormal Post-Relationship Personal Effects Repossession Specialist. 4.7 stars, 16 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


The Humbling and Other Poems by Robert J. Tiess

Literary Fiction and Poetry

An "Editor's Pick" in the June 20, 2022, issue of Publishers Weekly, this masterful, inspiring, and critically-acclaimed debut poetry collection features memorable poems on humility, hope, love, justice, peace, and more. These are poems both poetry lovers and readers new to poetry can enjoy deeply. As part of Robert's ongoing efforts to promote accessibility in poetry, he has included a glossary of poetry terms, reading suggestions, three brief essays, an author biography, and more in his book. Very highly recommended for all poetry fans. 4.4 stars, 38 ratings. From $2.99 SHOP NOW


Portal Through the Pond by David K. Anderson

Children and Young Adult

They said her grandfather was dead. They said her grandmother was crazy. Christy knows they’re wrong. Portal Through the Pond is the first book of the Empty World Saga, a science fiction adventure series for kids aged 8-12. 4.3 stars, 329 ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW


FREE - Melissa Weller and The Curse of Branford Manor by Robert Sounvonnakasy

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

In the quiet town of Russelfield, Alabama, there's a manor shrouded in mystery and fear. Melissa Weller is about to discover the truth behind the abandoned estate. But what she doesn't know is that she is about to be cursed in a way that is beyond her darkest nightmares. An adult paranormal horror novel. The Prescott Legacy Spinoff Volume One. 4.2 stars, 10 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW


Lumi's Spell by Ulana Dabbs

Science Fiction and Fantasy

In a world where magic is forbidden and gods are tethered to their dreams, a boy goes on a quest to save a girl with a heart of ice. Jarin, a lonely son of a famed warrior, only ever wants to follow in his father’s footsteps. When a mute girl is found wandering the snowy plains, he vows to find a way to lift her curse. But her secret will threaten everything he loves. Lumi’s Spell is an epic coming-of-age story about friendship, betrayal, and the true cost of vengeance. Book 1 in the Lumi Series. 4.8 stars, 13 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


The Ember Stone by Shari Marshall

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Rejected heritage, hostile magic, incompatible worlds: a rescue mission on the crumbling terrain of a magical society where the stakes have potentially fatal outcomes. This humorous contemporary fantasy novel is easy to read, fast-paced, and will engage readers to the end with its strong but reluctant heroine, her quirky sidekick, and an unexpected love interest. “...the premise and plot are endlessly creative, resulting in an engrossing and boundary-crossing series debut." -Self-Publishing Review. Revised Edition. From $2.99 SHOP NOW


Maybe You Should Give Up: 7 Ways to Get Out of Your Own Way and Take Control of Your Life

Spotlight

Spotlight on
Maybe You Should Give Up:
7 Ways to Get Out of Your Own Way and Take Control of Your Life
 Today, LitNuts is pleased to shine a spotlight on the release of an exciting new self-help book from author and executive coach Byron Morrison. Read on to learn more about his special pre-order offer!

Maybe You Should Give Up by Byron Morrison

USA Release: June 27, 2023
UK Release: 13 July, 2023
Paperback: $17.95
Ebook: $0.99


In Maybe You Should Give Up, you’ll discover cycle-breaking techniques that have been broken down into easy-to-follow steps that will empower you to get out of your own way and stop sabotaging yourself.
 
All of this stems from author Byron Morrison’s own journey of transformation, as well as nearly a decade’s worth of research and working with people in 15 different countries to help them take control of their lives.

Maybe You Should Give Up is a book about empowerment. About helping you break through everything that is stopping you from achieving the happiness and success you want.

Not only will you change the way you think, you’ll also change how you process problems, deal with setbacks, and feel about yourself so you can finally stop being the stumbling block in the way of the life that you want and break through to the next level of happiness and success.

Exclusive Pre-order Offer
Pre-order a paperback copy of Maybe You Should Give Up from Barnes & Noble or Waterstones and get the following items FREE:
  • Audiobook edition
  • The Next Level You video series
  • The Next Level You Workbook
To get your free items (a $37 value!), simply email a copy of your Barnes & Noble or Waterstones receipt to maybeyoushouldgiveupbook@gmail.com.

Pre-order now:
Barnes & Noble
Waterstones

About the Author
Byron Morrison is a high-performance coach, author, and speaker. Over the last decade, Byron has helped CEOs and business leaders around the world to become more effective by helping them take control of their role so that they can maximize their time, lead with confidence, and grow a business without losing their sanity. 

Byron is author of The Evolved CEO Book Collection: The Effective CEO and CEO in Control. He also offers on-demand courses designed to provide leaders with all the tools and guidance needed to get to the next level: 
  • AMPLIFY: The ultimate productivity, time, and energy management course for CEOs and business leaders.
  • UNSHAKEABLE: Master the mental game needed to become a highly effective CEO.
Learn more about Byron and The Evolved Programme for CEOs and business leaders at ByronMorrison.com


Free online: UK Crime Writers Association Event!

Events

Free online: Pick up a Page Turner. It's National Crime Reading Month in the UK. Join Steve Cavanagh, master of the modern thriller, and a panel of bestselling crime authors as they reveal their favourite crime and thriller reads, and the books that inspired them. Thursday, June 8, 1 PM CDT.

“You can’t beat a good whodunnit: the twists and turns, the clues and the red herrings and then, finally, the satisfaction of having everything explained to you in a way that makes you kick yourself because you hadn’t seen it from the start.” ~Anthony Horowitz


The Daughter of The Ice by Luis Falcao de Magalhaes

Book of the Day

The Daughter, an ancient elemental goddess and custodian of the dead, rises after a thousand years of slumber, her power unmatched and her wrath unbridled. Eregar, a decorated knight living out his twilight years in relative peace, is tasked with leading a band of young mercenaries into the heart of the Frozen Plains to assess the threat. But as they venture deeper into the icy wasteland, they find The Daughter’s machinations in full swing and are forced to act before it is too late. 4.6 stars, 45 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


FREE - An Oracle Walks into a Bar by Scott Burtness

Science Fiction and Fantasy

August Shade has found his niche as a post-relationship personal effects repossession specialist. Satisfaction not guaranteed. Vilde Tank has found her destiny and hires August to reclaim an unusual book that reveals the secret of the Zodiac’s thirteenth sign, bestows its reader with the power to write their own future, and is currently in the possession of her vampire ex-lover. Clarissa Steyer writes horoscopes for the local paper. Now August is in all of her visions and the world might be coming to an end. Book 1 in The Misadventures of a Paranormal Post-Relationship Personal Effects Repossession Specialist. 4.5 stars, 63 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW


FREE - Fat Girl Sings by Ray Schoenke

Memoir and Creative Nonfiction

Featuring compelling characters and classic themes such as bullying, racial injustice, and coming of age, Fat Girl Sings: Discovering, Embracing, and Leveraging Racial Identity on the Football Field, in Business, and in Life is the profoundly moving true story of a chubby brown boy’s traumatic loss of innocence and his mental and physical transformation into the warrior he has to become to achieve success in school, the NFL, business, and life as he struggles to gain an understanding of himself, his environment, and his Hawaiian heritage. FREE - SHOP NOW / 


FREE - Spirit Embraced by Kim Colella

Memoir and Creative Nonfiction

A Guiding Memoir for a Life Authentic and Free. Winner of the American Book Fest Best Book Award and Nautilus Silver Award. From leaving her life behind to meet Mother Theresa in Calcutta, to building a secure and nurturing family despite a tumultuous childhood, Kim Colella learned to cultivate love for herself and others, follow her deepest dreams, and align her life with the urgings of her spirit. Spirit Embraced is more than a memoir or a self-help book. This is a practical guide to self-transformation for bringing your most authentic self into the world. 4.4 stars, 30 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW


Weird Things in History and Why the Heck They Happened by Pablo Vannucci

General Nonfiction

"A delightful blend of forgotten, bizarre, and downright hilarious events." Peel back the layers of conventional history to reveal the forgotten, the bizarre, and the downright hilarious events that shaped our world today. Prepare to be entertained, enlightened, and left in awe as you uncover 25 offbeat historical tales that somehow managed to miss the pages of your school textbooks. "With its treasure trove of curiosities, this book is bound to leave readers both informed and thoroughly entertained!" 5 stars, 12 ratings. From $3.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Polyphenol Power! by Terry Lemerond

General Nonfiction

Polyphenols are antioxidant-packed nutrients that are known to be cellular protectors, natural antibiotics, and insecticides in plants, and act as a shield against an array of diseases. Learn the fantastic health benefits of polyphenols—which kind are best, the amount you need to make a difference, and how to tap into this powerful plant nutrient. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


30 Day Transformation Devotional by Andy Ripley

General Nonfiction

If you seem to be stuck in neutral, if you have not been growing as you would like to, if you have wandered off the path and are eager to get back on, reading this book over a thirty-day period could get you back on track. Whatever the reason, we may sometimes fall behind, and we sometimes need a boost. Meditate on each day's message and look for ways to apply it to your life. From $2.99 SHOP NOW / 


Spotlight on author Scott Burtness and "a darkly funny shapeshifter urban fantasy"

Spotlight


August Shade has found his niche. The cynical shapeshifter knows that most relationships don't last. He also knows that after a messy breakup, most people—human or otherwise—just want two things: Their stuff back, and to never see their ex again. 
Join August as he does his best to reunite broken hearts with their favorite things and not get killed—or worse—while doing it.

An Oracle Walks into a Bar

Book 1 in The Misadventures of a Paranormal Post-Relationship Personal Effects Repossession Specialist
4.5 stars, 63 ratings
FREE!


August Shade has found his niche. He’s a post-relationship personal effects repossession specialist. Satisfaction not guaranteed. But at least you’ll have your favorite whatever back.

Vilde Tank has found her destiny. Guided by her horoscopes, the huldra hires August to reclaim an unusual book. It reveals the secret of the Zodiac’s thirteenth sign, bestows its reader with the power to write their own future, and is currently in the possession of her vampire ex-lover.

Clarissa Steyer has found her calling. The oracle writes horoscopes for the local paper. Her celestial predictions help keep the world spinning. Now August is in all of her visions and the world might be coming to an end. She knows that the shapeshifter can change into a lot of things, but can he change the future?

Plagued by the oracle’s horoscopes, haunted by a dark past, and grappling with his penchant for making bad decisions, the only sure thing about August’s future is that it looks short.

"Sharp and funny—think the Hitchhiker's Guide only paranormal." ~Andrew Shaffer, NY Times bestselling author

A Scarecrow Wins an Award

Book 2 in The Misadventures of a Paranormal Post-Relationship Personal Effects Repossession Specialist
4.7 stars, 16 ratings
From $0.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)


Shapeshifter August Shade saved the world. The personal effects repo man bested a vampire, a warlock, and a troll without even breaking a sweat.

While his growing celebrity has been good for business, it’s also meant taking jobs farther from home. Now, the cranky shapeshifter is in farm country—definitely not his natural habitat—and mixed up with two feuding hag sisters, a loan sharking coblyn, and a mysterious woman with a very scary ex. The manure hits the fan when his best friend blows the lid off a major conspiracy and lands August in a heap of trouble.

A Scarecrow Wins an Award is a great read for fans of John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin, Arcane Casebook by Dan Willis, Moth Busters by Margaret Lashley, and Douglas Adams's A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

A Siren Sings Her Heart Out

Book 3 in The Misadventures of a Paranormal Post-Relationship Personal Effects Repossession Specialist
New Release: Coming June 30, 2023
From $0.99 



August Shade needs a break. Reptilians are trying to take over the world. Powerful paranormals are a little too interested in whether he lives or dies. After years of laying low, the grumpy shapeshifter’s face is all over the Internet. If that wasn’t bad enough, August’s best friend is playing around with necromancy.

Desperate to clear his head, the cranky shapeshifter heads north to the shores of Lake Superior. Now he’s drowning in lake monsters, paranormal prophecies, and reptilian plots. A drink would help, but the only bar in town is a karaoke bar.

For a guy who has tried to not make waves, life is getting pretty choppy. It’s sink or swim for the poor repo man. If he’s going down, though, August will make sure he goes down singing.

About the Author
Scott Burtness writes about ordinary Midwesterners making an extraordinary mess of things. "If the flannel fits…" says Scott.

Important to note: To Scott, "ordinary” includes vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches, shapeshifters, aliens, and more.

When Scott is not writing, he can be found hanging out at the local brewery, hanging out with his dog, or hanging out with his dog at the local brewery. Learn more at Scott's website, sign up for his monthly newsletter, or follow him on social media: TikTokTwitterFacebookInstagramGoodreads.


New Release: Bliss Road by Martha Engber

Spotlight

Congratulations to Martha Engber and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Bliss Road, a memoir about living a lie and coming to terms with the truth.

★★★★★ “Illuminates the complicated path of a neurodiverse family.” ~Liane Holliday Willey, author of Pretending to be Normal: Living with Aspergers Syndrome


Bliss Road by Martha Engber

NEW RELEASE: June 6, 2023
Genre: Memoir
4.9 stars on Goodreads
Paperback: $17.99
Ebook: From $6.49  

 
Martha Engber lives a charmed life in the suburbs with a husband and two kids where everything is fine, fine, fine until suddenly she’s…completely broken. She’s so used to lying to others and herself that she has no idea who she really is or how she feels about anything. What happened? Why is her life smooth driving one minute and totaled the next?

In this sometimes funny often devastating memoir, Martha describes the arduous journey toward discovering the invisible roadblock that ran her life off course: her psychological distress is the result of being the neurotypical daughter of a dad with undiagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a condition that affects more than 75 million people worldwide.

Martha uses personal anecdotes and research about the emergence of ASD as a diagnosis to explain the psychological, emotional, and social challenges she faced as a child, then as an adult and parent. Along the way, she shows the sometimes harrowing but eminently rewarding route others can follow to chase down the source of their family angst and to reach a more blissful future.
 
Praise for Bliss Road
★★★★★ “A raw and real memoir, illuminating the complicated path of a neurodiverse family fixed in a legacy between trepidation and tenderness.” ~Liane Holliday Willey, author of Pretending to be Normal: Living with Aspergers Syndrome

★★★★★ “With bracing honesty and rare insight, Martha Engber’s courageous, highly readable account of her experience as the child of a parent with undiagnosed ASD is compelling, joyous, and inspiring.’” ~Byddi Lee, author of The Rejuvenation Trilogy

★★★★★ “A glorious blend of insights and wisdom, this memoir may just be what we need to deepen our human capacity for love and understanding.” ~Imi Lo, author of Emotional Sensitivity and Intensity: How to Manage Intense Emotions as a Highly Sensitive Person

★★★★★ “Engber skillfully integrates current knowledge about autism into her own engaging story as the child of a parent on the autism spectrum.” ~Patti Isaacs, author of The Second Long March: Memoir from a Witness to China’s Transformation

About the Author
Martha Engber is the author of Winter Light, The Wind Thief, and Growing Great Characaters from the Ground Up. A journalist by profession, she’s written hundreds of articles for the Chicago Tribune and other publications. She had a play produced in Hollywood and fiction and poetry published in the Aurorean, Watchword, and other journals. A workshop facilitator and speaker, she lives in Northern California with her husband, bike, and surfboard. Learn more at MarthaEngber.com.
About the Publisher
Vine Leaves Press likes to blur the line between commercial and experimental works. They publish book-length vignette collections, writing reference books, short story collections, memoir/autobiography, and character-driven novels with a literary bent.​ Subscribe to the Vine Leaves Press newsletter to receive FREE advanced review copies of upcoming new releases, news about their authors and subscribers, and/or to read the monthly opinion column, SPILL IT! or a daily dose of 50-word stories. Learn more at vineleavespress.com.


Free online: Nature's Wonders - Meet the Author

Events

Free online: Nature's Wonders - Meet the AuthorNature’s Wonders is a mix of evocative writing, beautiful photographs, and facts that serve as an inspiring guide to connecting with nature. Author Jane V. Adams has been featured in BBC Countryfile Magazine and BBC Wildlife Magazine. Tuesday, June 6, 2 PM CDT. 

"There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” ~Rachel Carson, Silent Spring


Children of Earthrise: Books 1-3 by Daniel Arenson

Book of the Day

We hide in shadows. Our planet is lost. We are the last humans, and we must go home. Children of Earthrise is a story of exodus. Of humanity lost among the stars. Of one man rising to lead our people home. In 2016, the Earthrise series became a surprise bestseller, captivating hundreds of thousands of readers around the world. Set two thousand years later, Children of Earthrise begins a new story, one for both new readers and old fans. This bundle includes the first three Children of Earthrise novels. 4.3 stars, 364 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Boogie Beach: The Record, Book 1 by Winnie Winkle

Science Fiction and Fantasy

After a hard day of magic, they drink at my bar. Everything’s a groove until the entity feared by gods and magicals alike appeared. Poseidon showed up for the fight in a speedo... Discover the snarky, unpredictable world of Keeper Cleopatra O’Keefe, where magic and the pantheon are not what they seem. A story that will leave you laughing and make you think. “Thank you for transporting me to a world that I needed to visit. It reminded me there are always other sides, and we get to choose, to look beyond, and trust our gut.” -Reader Review. 4.4 stars, 97 ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW


The Times of Our Lives by Arlene Kinnavy

Memoir and Creative Nonfiction

A lovely coffee table book incorporating poetry and illustration. Written especially for seniors, this book is about all of the caring, hard work, and thoughts still felt by an aging population. "I hope this book will be a keepsake on a bookshelf to read when someone needs some inspiration or comfort. It will bring back some memories of how life flourished years ago." -Arlene Kinnavy. From $22.42 SHOP NOW


The Lost Years: Love by Rowen Lee

Literary Fiction and Poetry

Sixteen-year-old Maleeka was taught from a young age that family was everything, but struggles to follow the rules imposed by her strict, Syrian father. Yearning to be seen and loved just as she is, Maleeka seeks solace in Marc but is forbidden to see him. When forced to choose between her family and the boy she loves, what will Maleeka do? From $0.99 SHOP NOW


The Lighthouse Cafe by Bebe Reed

Romance

At the reading of her late husband’s will, Ginny Rigby discovers two things—her husband had a secret family, and that family now owns her beloved house. Grief-stricken and homeless, Ginny arrives in a charming town nestled in Florida’s Gulf Coast. There, she stumbles into an auction—an historical lighthouse is up for grabs. Using every last penny in her checking account, she buys the place and decides to transform the lighthouse into a beachside café. Will Ginny create a new life that she loves, or will the past haunt her? Book 1 in the series. 4.3 stars. From $0.99 SHOP NOW