Today's Featured Books— Events
Free online tonight: Rogue Reads
Free online tonight: Rogue Reads. Join authors Tosca Lee, Liv Constantine, Doug Lyle, and Ellen Crosby for an exciting hour during which they will reveal the latest about their brand-new suspense novels, read excerpts for you, and answer questions. Monday, May 15, 7 PM EST.
“Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.” ~Anne Lamott
Free online: How to share your family history with the next generation
Ever wonder about how to pass on your family history to the next generation? If yes, then you might want to check out the free Honoring Ancestors: Family History Project Workshop to learn about creating family story books and family movies. Saturday, May 13, 11 AM CDT.
“Obviously, if I was serious about having a relationship with someone long-term, the last people I would introduce him to would be my family.” ~Chelsea Handler
Free online lit event: Reimagining Frankenstein
Free online: Reimagining Frankenstein - a discussion of creation, of fiction and poetry, and, most importantly, what it means to be a creature. Addie Tsai, author of Unwieldy Creatures, and Jessica Cuello, author of Yours, Creature, will discuss the inspirations, influences, traumas, and all things Shelley. Thursday, May 11, 6:30 PM CDT.
“It is true, we shall be monsters, cut off from all the world; but on that account we shall be more attached to one another.” ~Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
Free online tonight: What's New in Historical Fiction
Free online tonight: What's New in Historical Fiction, sponsored by History Through Fiction. Join this panel series featuring historical novelists with new and upcoming titles. Tonight's guests include Amy Hill Hearth author of Silent Came the Monster, Alina Rubin author of No Job for a Woman, Lindsey S. Fera author of Muskets & Masquerades, and Aaron Hamburger author of Hotel Cuba. Monday, May 8, 7 PM Central Time.
"Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent." ~Henry David Thoreau
Great indie books (including freebies) & free online lit event!
Today's featured books include highly rated sci-fi and fantasy books (free!), mystery, romance, a special book for Mother's Day, and an encyclopedia for fans of FASERIP. Scroll down to see all of today's featured books.
Also free: First Friday Reading with Mary Helen Stefaniak, author of The World of Pondside, a mystery that takes place in a nursing home. Presented by Larksong Writers Place. Friday, May 5, noon central time.
"Age is a high price to pay for maturity." ~Tom Stoppard
Celebrate Children's Book Week with a free children's book (available in 7 languages!)
May 1-7 is Children's Book Week in the United States, an event sponsored by the Every Child a Reader nonprofit organization that offers lots of resources to celebrate books for young people and the joy of reading.
We also want to share another great resource: The Virginia Refugee Healing Partnership is offering FREE digital copies of a children's storybook and activity book in seven languages.
“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book!” ~Dr. Seuss
Today: 12 free & 99¢ books. Sun: Free online comedy!
Today's Featured Books include a dozen indie titles priced 99¢ or less. Scroll down to see the entire line-up.
Sunday: Enjoy the Best of San Francisco Stand-Up Comedy, free via Zoom! April 30, 10:00 - 11:30 PM CDT.
"Don’t just teach your children to read. Teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything." ~George Carlin
Free & discounted books + last call for April LitNuts Deals Giveaway!
The April LitNuts Deals Giveaway ends this Friday. Enter now for your chance to win a new Kindle Paperwhite or a $125 Amazon.com gift card.
Also, be sure to check out today's free and discounted Featured Books. And don't miss this free online event tonight: Leading in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, presented by The Austin Forum on Technology & Society and moderated by SXSW Co-President Hugh Forrest. Wednesday, April 26, 7:15 PM CDT.
"We are the human-machine in civilisation. It [AI] is really part of who we are.”
~Ray Kurzweil
There's More to the Story: Celebrate National Library Week!
This week is National Library Week in the United States. Libraries lend books in print, ebook, and audiobook formats, but (as this year's theme states), "There's more to the story!" Libraries also bring communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, movie nights, classes, lectures, and more. Visit the American Library Association website to learn more about National Library Week and for suggestions on how to make the most of your library.
"The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library." ~Albert Einstein
Free online: Celebrating the Poets of Forms & Features
Free online this weekend: The Poetry Foundation presents the Poets of Forms & Features, a reading and celebration of the diverse voices, rich experiences, and powerful words of poets from around the country and the world. Saturday, April 22 · 3 - 4 PM CDT.
“You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.” ~Toni Morrison
Free online: Oxygen Art Centre Reading Series from British Columbia
Free online lit event: Author Reading Series from the Oxygen Art Centre, British Columbia. The final event of their 2023 season with authors Kathy Friedman and Erin Robinsong, Wednesday, April 19, 4:00 PM PST.
“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.” ~Paulo Coelho
Free online tonight: Rogue Reads!
Free online tonight: Rogue Women Writers presents Rogue Reads. Meet author all-stars Alma Katsu, Don Bentley, Joshilyn Jackson, and Brendan Slocum for an intimate evening of insider stories, your questions, and their always entertaining answers. Monday, April 17, 7 PM EST.
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.” ~Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
April 2023 LitNuts Deals
Events LitNuts Deals Spotlight
Welcome to the April 2023 edition of LitNuts Deals: highly rated indie books at big discounts (most are $1 or less!) PLUS the LitNuts Deals Giveaway.
This month, the winner will get to choose a brand new Kindle Paperwhite or a $125 Amazon.com gift card. Enter by April 28 for a chance to win!
The Second Chance Inn by Susan Hatler
Genre: Romance
4.3 stars, 8000+ ratings
FREE!
An emotional homecoming that will tug at your heartstrings and inspire you to believe in happy endings.
Wendy vowed never to return to the small coastal town where her parents abandoned her. But when she inherits the family inn at the beach, she must come home and face her past. Will handsome millionaire Max help her heal old wounds and open her heart?
Book 1 in the Blue Moon Bay series. From a New York Times bestselling author, don’t miss the chance to unite with friendships that endure and a love that will last forever.
"Love enough to last." ~Emily Pennington, Vine Voice Review
The Dragon War by Daniel Arenson
Genre: Fantasy
4.4 stars, 1000+ ratings
From $0.99
The Dragon War, an epic fantasy trilogy, tells of civil war in Requiem—an ancient kingdom whose people can grow wings, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. When a cruel general captures Requiem's throne, a desperate band of rebels struggles to reclaim the kingdom. This collection includes all three Dragon War novels.Book 1: A Legacy of Light. The traitor Cadigus has captured the throne of Requiem. In the wilderness, rebellion brews. The Resistance is small, but its cry is loud: "The tyrant must fall."
Book 2: A Birthright of Blood. War rages. Fire rains. Requiem, the land of dragons, is tearing apart. When the hosts of Cadigus fly against them, can the resistors save their homeland?
Book 3: A Memory of Fire. Darkness covers Requiem. General Cadigus, usurper of the throne, rules with an iron fist. Bloodied after a long war, the Resistance musters. Rising as dragons, lighting the sky with fire, the resistors fly to their last stand.
Coin for a Dream by Mae Adams
Genre: Memoir, Korean History
4.6 stars, 69 ratings
FREE!
Mae Adams' Coin for a Dream: And Other Korean Tales enchants readers with conversational stories that include unexpected twists and turns from her perspective as a young girl, collecting tidbits and folklore from her grandparents and her life story.Full of colorful characters—including shamans, kings and queens, ginseng boys, grateful ghosts and magpies, and a host of others—the stories entertain while allowing the reader to experience the wonders of ancient rites of Korea. Hear lepers sing for their supper, watch goblins wrestle, feel a tiger’s sorrow, taste snake soup, touch a Taoist Immortal God’s hand, and experience other wonders of Korean culture.
Every tale will inspire different emotions. The myths, legends, and folk tales also include lessons we can apply in our own time and culture, making it an excellent book you can read and reread often.
"A fantastic collection of memorable stories." ~Grady Harp, Amazon Review
Lord, I Don't Want to Die a Christian by Chandrika D. Phea
Genre: Christian Liberation Theology, Christian Commentaries
4.9 stars, 31 ratings
From $2.99
In Lord, I Don't Want to Die a Christian: My Journal and Journey to Freedom, an ordained minister explores how Christianity hinders her experience of God, Life, and Humanity.
After living in China as a Christian missionary, hosting a two-year Bible study for seven curious Chinese freshman college students, my sense of curiosity inhaled and later exhaled when returning to the practice of Western religion. Born into a devoutly religious family, the daughter, niece, and grandchild of Christian clergy, degreed in Biblical Studies, ordained as a reverend of the faith, I now have questions of the religion that raised and readied me. The emittance of questions and resolves thereof have done well in surrendering to me a choice: Christianity or curiosity?
"Bold...honest...authentic...a lifeline to church folk who feel stuck in a form of Christianity that's harming them." ~Brian D. McLaren, author of Faith After Doubt
Redemption by Ed Benjamin
Genre: Memoir, Military Thriller
4.3 stars, 200+ ratings
From $0.99
An orphaned teenager, Harry enters the United States Air Force and quickly rises to become a top fighter pilot. Flying became his life—and he was good at it. When his wingman is shot down in an aerial battle, Harry uses his skills to shoot down three enemy jet fighters in combat.But when the Air Force grounds Harry for medical reasons, his life is turned upside down. He battles loneliness and alcohol while trying to eke out a living as a private detective. Things change when he takes on a missing persons case that involves a Caribbean cruise and a computer geek named Katie.
"An inspiring and turbulent emotional journey." ~International Review of Books
"This book has it all: super-authentic flying segments, a story of someone dealing with great loss, and an engaging detective story." ~Amazon Review
The Mad Ramblings of a Joker by Brandon Dillon
Genre: American Poetry
4.9 stars, 71 ratings
From $0.99
Brandon Dillon is an award-winning poet who writes from the soul about his life as a child born into poverty, his travels around the world as a U.S. Marine, love won and love lost, and the trauma that life brings. The Mad Ramblings of a Joker is a brutally honest collection, full of metaphor and vibrant imagery. His work covers topics such as PTSD, depression, and heartbreak, and softer moments of hope and reflective peace. His poetry is deep and unforgettable, a beacon for a dark world that needs a friend to say, “I’ve been there. I understand.”"Dillon's voice is honest and resonates with others who have experienced trauma, loss or PTSD." ~Andreana Binder, MFA, Faculty, Writespace
"A glimpse into what it looks like to live on the other side of survival." ~Xach Blunt, poet, spoken word artist
Bigger Better Braver by Nancy Pickard
Genre: Self-Esteem
4.6 stars, 55 ratings
From $0.99
Bigger Better Braver: Conquer Your Fears, Embrace Your Courage, and Transform Your Life is a proven, step-by-step guide for uncovering and putting into action the vision we each have in our hearts to live the life we are meant to lead. Provided with clarity and enhanced with inspirational client and personal stories, the book is a journey in itself, as Nancy lays out time-tested tools to identify, face, and overcome shadow beliefs from childhood that hold us back, get free of the limits of our comfort zone, come to terms with and cultivate fear as a driving force for change, and discover the courage we already have to take bold steps into the future.Foreword Reviews Award Winner. Chanticleer 1st Place and Finalist. International Book Awards Winner and Finalist.
"A warmly written…pep talk for living your 'big' life now." ~Kirkus Reviews
"A self-help companion designed to unearth hope and help it to grow." ~Foreword Reviews
Welcome to the Zipper Club by Bruce Ballister
Genre: Cardiology, Heart Disease
4.5 stars, 34 ratings
From $0.99
Are you or a loved one facing cardiac surgery? There’s nothing more frightening than when your heart isn’t functioning the way it’s supposed to—except possibly when the heart of someone you love is in trouble. It's natural to want information before surgery, but much of what is on medical websites is incomprehensible jargon.Whether you’re preparing for heart surgery yourself or you’ll be supporting someone else, Welcome to the Zipper Club: Surviving Heart Surgery and Beyond will explain what to expect and how to survive beyond the surgery, including:
- What to expect as you prepare for your surgery.
- How it feels to have had your chest cracked open.
- Why a support team is so important for your recovery.
- How to transition back home as smoothly as possible.
- And most importantly, what you need to do to avoid a repeat performance.
Joyous Leadership by John Mark Watson
Genre: Business Mentoring & Coaching
5 stars, 55 ratings
From $2.99
W
hat is joyous leadership and why should it be practiced? In Joyous Leadership: Stories of Learnings Along the Way, Mark Watson makes the case through pivotal personal stories that joyous leadership is not about short-term profit or prestige. It is a long-term endeavor to enrich our lives and strengthen our communities. Joyous Leadership shows that we all have plain or sometimes ugly personal stories that, like a prism examined in the light, transform into something that may surprise ourselves and inspire others."A must-read for any aspiring leader." ~Lee C. Banks, Vice Chairman & President, Parker Hannifin Corporation
"A precious gift!" ~Dr. Robert Fisher, President, Belmont University
The Sword and the Sunflower by Mark Bradford
Genre: Metaphysical Fantasy, Coming-of-Age Fantasy
4.5 stars, 24 ratings
From $1.00
A father who lost his heart, a traveler who lost his love, and a girl who lost everything.In an epic fantasy set 1,000 years from now, the world resembles the Dark Ages of Medieval times rather than the future, and a father who is grieving the death of his daughter takes one last job—to assassinate a man he’s never met. But when he meets the young daughter of his intended victim, he ends up taking her under his wing and they are both taken on an epic journey.
This fantasy adventure explores the aftermath of catastrophe, in a new world distant yet familiar to us. It examines duty, family, and beliefs—all through the eyes of three strangers who have no business coming together.
"An epic fantasy journey that is closely connected with our own world. Highly recommended." ~K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Ciscoe's Dance by Marion Hill
Genre: Black & African American Fantasy Fiction
4.5 stars, 67 ratings on Goodreads
From $0.99
Ciscoe and his wife, Latisha, are dannzas—professional dancers who specialize in performing to Guanamamma music in upscale nightclubs. But their way of life is threatened when Piccanta, a new type of music and dance, becomes fashionable. In love with the dannza life once taught by his father, Ciscoe is determined to save Guanamamma music and dance.In a world where music and dance are akin to religion, the story comes to read like an allegory on modern cancel culture: when a canonized artist is judged without context, the suggestion is that it's the culture, not the artist, who suffers.
"A lively fantasy novel...the book examines the greater impact that an artist's choices can have on a culture." ~Katerie Prior, Clarion Reviews
Building Your First Website by John Rhea
Genre: Web Site Design, Web Programming
4.1 stars, 43 ratings
FREE!
Ever think you could enjoy learning code?Forget those insomnia cures and non-apocalypse-ending books. Building Your First Website (While You Thwack Zombies with HTML and CSS) makes learning HTML and CSS fun, plus you get to put the smackdown on the undead hordes. It has all the content and direction you need to build that first website, plus enough silly jokes and zombie slaying to keep you interested the whole time. Grab this book and stop the Apocalypse today!
"Funny and informative." ~Amazon Review
Flavors of Al-Andalus (Muslim Spain): A Culinary History in Poetry and Recipes
Free online this weekend: Flavors of Al-Andalus, A Culinary History in Poetry and Recipes. Al-Andalus (or Muslim Spain) brought together peoples and influences from three continents—Africa, Asia, and Europe—in a legendary time of peaceful coexistence. Join author and poet Shadab Zeest Hashmi and food and travel writer Yvonne Maffei in their celebration of the culinary history and remarkable heritage of Al-Andalus. Sunday, April 16, 8:00 a.m. CDT.
"Many of the traits on which modern Europe prides itself came to it from Muslim Spain: Diplomacy, free trade, open borders, the techniques of academic research, of anthropology, etiquette, fashion, various types of medicine, hospitals." ~Charles, Prince of Wales
Booked with the Cook: Buttermilk Biscuits
Free online: Booked with the Cook. Join Rachel Simmons, archivist at the Winter Park (Florida) Library, to learn how to make buttermilk biscuits and hear stories of how these beloved baked goods came to be one of the fundamental dishes of the American South. Thursday, April 13, 9 - 11am CDT (and via video replay).
“Never forget who gave you biscuits when you were hungry.” ~Charmaine J. Forde
Free online: Writers & Books presents "Good Grief, the Ground"
Free online tonight: Writers & Books presents a conversation with Margaret Ray, author of Good Grief, the Ground, winner of the A. Poulin Jr. Poetry Prize. Monday, April 10, 7:30 pm EST.
"Seek out media, music, literature, and art. Be ravenous. Fill your brain with the ingredients of what you love." ~Margaret Ray
Free online event: Hardwiring Happiness
Free online this weekend: Hardwiring Happiness...about the hidden power of everyday positive experiences to change your brain for the better. With Rick Hanson, PhD, psychologist, senior fellow of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times bestselling author. Saturday, April 8, 12:00 CDT.
“If you take care of the minutes, the years will take care of themselves.” ~Rick Hanson
Free online: Mandy Kahn's Peace Class
Online tonight: Peace Class, a free, weekly Zoom-based gathering presented by the Philosophical Research Society and led by Mandy Kahn. Each meeting is a stand-alone lesson, and people are welcome to drop in for one class or to come for the series. You are also welcome to participate in the interactive aspects of the class or to just observe. Every Wednesday at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
"There are no dead ends." ~Mandy Kahn
April...a time for new books, poetry, and new life
In the northern hemisphere, April comes with thoughts of renewal and rebirth...a great time to look ahead to sunny days and summer reads. April is also National Poetry Month and National Donate Life Month in the United States. Find ways to celebrate words at Poets.org and learn about saving lives at DonateLife.net.
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” ~T.S. Eliot
Free online lit event: The Back Room Cocktails & Conversation
Free online lit event: The Back Room - Cocktails and Conversation, featuring Jordan Harper, William Landay, Susan Patterson, and Alisa Lynn Valdés. Sunday, April 2, 6 PM CDT.
“No amount of physical contact could match the healing powers of a well-made cocktail.” ~David Sedaris
Free books + Free Online Event!
Today's Featured Books include several "freebies," and we also want to let you know about a free online event this week...
Join Women & Children First for a free Zoom Webinar celebrating Truth and Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice by Judith L. Herman, MD. In her groundbreaking work, Trauma and Recovery, Herman fundamentally changed our understanding of trauma. When it was first published in 1992, The New York Times called the book “One of the most important psychiatric works to be published since Freud.” Thursday, March 30, 7 PM CT.
“Recovery can only take place within the context of relationships; it cannot occur in isolation.” ~Judith L. Herman
New Giveaway: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Novels!
New Giveaway: Win a Bundle of 39 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Novels, plus a new e-reader...a $400 value! Open to booklovers worldwide. Deadline April 9.
"The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last." ~Oscar Wilde
Free online: Newberry Authors Panel at the Virginia Festival of Books
Free online: Newberry Authors Panel at the Virginia Festival of Books. Andrea Beatriz Arango, a former schoolteacher and winner of a 2023 Newbery Honor for Iveliz Explains It All, sits down with Meg Medina, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, a Newbery Award medalist, and the NYT bestselling author of Merci Suárez Plays It Cool, to talk about what it means to write the books they wish were on the shelves during their middle school years. Saturday, March 25, 12:30 p.m. EDT.
“When I write now, I pretend I'm holding hands with the old me. I try to make sense of all those questions for her.” ~Meg Medina
Today's indie books + free online lit event!
Today's line-up of Featured Books is indicative of the great work coming out of the indie publishing world. Scroll down to learn more.
What's New in Historical Fiction: Tune in to this regular panel series featuring historical novelists. This week: Erika Robuck, author of Sisters of Night and Fog; Patricia Bernstein author of A Noble Cunning; Edie Cay author of A Viscount's Vengeance; and Stephanie Marie Thornton author of Her Lost Words. Thursday, March 23, 7 p.m. CDT.
"People of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things." ~Leonardo da Vinci
Celebrate great indie books today, World Poetry Day tomorrow!
Celebrate great indie books today (and every day!) with the LitNuts Newsletter and LitNuts.com. And be sure to celebrate World Poetry Day tomorrow, March 21, by taking time to read the works of your favorite poets from around the globe. Learn more at Poets.org.
“What cannot be said will be wept.” ~Sappho