Today's Featured Books— Spotlight
New Giveaway - Young Adult Fantasy from author A.J. Park
Children and Young Adult Events Science Fiction and Fantasy Spotlight
Giveaway: Be sure to enter A.J.'s Young Adult Fantasy Giveaway for a chance to win books signed by A.J. and a $25 coffee shop gift card. Enter by December 20.
War's Ending
From $3.99 (included with Kindle Unlimited)
A courageous noblewoman. A mysterious stranger. A war that may destroy them both…As the king’s niece, Shalyrie can’t wait to explore her kingdom’s colonies with her uncle. But when she’s badly injured in a savage raid and abducted by mysterious masked horsemen, she’s stunned when her captors heal her wounds. As she adjusts her preconceptions, a terrifying attempt on her life reveals that her own people are trying to kill her.
Kalleck expects to die fighting a hopeless war like his father before him. While he helps Shalyrie piece together clues behind the assassination attempt, her very presence escalates tension between the kingdom and the colony. With time running out, Kalleck knows he must act quickly to prevent innocent bloodshed, yet Shalyrie might be the only one who can end the war.
Can two enemies join forces to put an end to a devastating war?
If you like noble heroines, mysterious strangers, and exotic cultures, then you’ll love A.J. Park’s gripping tale. Buy War’s Ending to ride into a heartfelt adventure today!
"A well-written novel that will delight fans of fantasy, with a powerful plot, an exciting setting, and memorable characters." ~Readers' Favorite Five-Star ReviewThe Ring Keeper
New release: December 6, 2022From $0.99 (included with Kindle Unlimited)
Caught between twin brothers, one courting demons and sorcery, the other the ruler of an empire protected by magic, Ana bears a ring of unknown powers, her legacy from a mother she never knew.
Discovering the ring’s ability makes her both a valuable member of the emperor’s court and a target for abduction by his jealous brother. Soon Ana finds herself betrayed and kidnapped, ultimately held at the mercy of the emperor’s twin and his dark secrets.
The ring exposes a web of love, hatred and unimaginable betrayal. Though its power drains her life force, the fate of the empire depends on her ability to unlock the ring’s secrets. She must find the will and strength to use it, for its magic can save the lives of everyone Ana has come to love. Or it can destroy them completely…
About A.J. Park
In addition to her work as a novelist, A.J. Park works for Connection Publishing, a print magazine company that partners with city governments to bring hyper-local content to their residents. She has written on a wide variety of subjects that have been enjoyed by countless magazine readers. She loves getting to know new people and is constantly involved in her community, giving her time and talents to serve with local nonprofit organizations.Unsurprisingly, she spends her spare moments writing or reading. Learning is something she craves, and she is constantly studying ways to improve her storytelling skills. She is never bored and continually adds to a long list of exciting new projects to work on.
A committed outdoor enthusiast, A.J. enjoys the mountains of Northern Utah as often as possible, no matter what the season. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, backpacking and spending time with her amazing husband, family and friends.
Interested in having A.J. speak to your group or in interviewing her for your followers? Visit Emerald Lake Books to contact A.J. Park.
FREE Boxed Set: Georgia Davis Private Investigator Series
Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror Spotlight
The Georgia Davis PI Boxed Set
Genre: Crime, Thriller, SuspensePrice: FREE!
Get the first four Georgia Davis Crime Thrillers together in this FREE boxed set! PI Georgia Davis burst on the scene in Easy Innocence, the first novel in the series. Easy Innocence was followed by Doubleback, a cross-country thriller that reunited Georgia with Chicago documentary producer and amateur sleuth Ellie Foreman. ToxiCity, the prequel to the thriller series written when Georgia was still a cop followed. And Nobody's Child, in which Georgia discovers a half-sister in big trouble, completes the set.
Here's a rundown of each novel in the boxed set:
Easy Innocence: Winner, Best PI Novel, Readers Choice Award. Freshly-minted private investigator Georgia Davis investigates the murder of a high school girl and finds out how far teen girls will go for approval from their peers.
Doubleback: Selected as a "Great Lakes Great Read" by the Great Lakes Bookseller Association. PI Georgia Davis and Ellie Foreman team up after the kidnapping of a young girl triggers a series of more deadly events.
ToxiCity: Ten years before Easy Innocence, three bodies turn up in quick succession—all of them dumped in waste disposal dumpsters or landfills. Officer Georgia Davis, her boyfriend detective, and his partner team up and find much more than they bargained for.
Nobody's Child: Georgia discovers a half-sister who's in big trouble. But rescuing the girl will bring Georgia back to confront an old enemy. Nominated for five awards.
About Libby Fischer Hellmann
Libby Fischer Hellmann is a critically acclaimed crime writer loved by readers the world over for her compulsively readable thrillers and strong female characters. Her fast-paced crime fiction spans 17 novels and 25 short stories. She also writes historical fiction standalones and edited the evergreen crime fiction anthology Chicago Blues. Doubleblind, her newest PI Georgia Davis thriller, #6 in the series, was released in March 2022.Libby's richly varied novels have won numerous awards, and Libby has also served as the National President (2005-2006) of Sisters in Crime, a 4,000+ member organization dedicated to strengthening the voice of female mystery writers.
Libby started out in broadcast news, beginning her career as an assistant film editor for NBC News in New York before moving to DC to work with Robin MacNeil and Jim Lehrer at N-PACT, the public affairs production arm of PBS. Retrained as an assistant director when Watergate broke, Libby helped produce PBS's night-time broadcast of the hearings. She moved to Chicago to work for public relations firm Burson-Marsteller in Chicago, and then later created Fischer Hellmann Communications.
Originally from Washington, D.C., Libby earned a BA in History from the University of Pennsylvania, and then a Masters Degree in Film Production from New York University. She's lived in Chicago more than forty years now, has two kids and a cat.
Keep up with Libby and her writing by signing up for her newsletter--which comes with seven free short stories!
The Black Phantom Chronicles - New Release & Giveaway!
Also, we're giving away signed books and a $25 coffee shop gift card in The Black Phantom Chronicles Giveaway. Enter by December 17.
The Savage War
The Black Phantom Chronicles Book 1$0.99 via Kindle Countdown Deal* (Included with Kindle Unlimited)
A young shepherd boy sets out to find his calling and stumbles upon a land at war. Arnacin of Enchantress Island must wrestle with the purpose of honor and the conflict that ensues when it’s called into question.Valoretta, princess of Mira, has been chosen to be her father’s successor, but at what cost? Her country is in conflict, conspiracies abound, and the native population has risen against her father, King Miro, and their people.
Everything changes when Arnacin and Valoretta join forces to secure the future of Mira. But will Arnacin’s honor be the greatest victim of The Savage War? And will the Black Phantom be Mira’s doom or salvation?
Gold Medal - Young Adult Fiction, Silver Medal - Science Fiction & Fantasy, Florida Authors & Publishers Association.
* Kindle Countdown Deal: $0.99 now, $1.99 Dec. 4, $2.99 Dec. 6, $3.99 Dec. 9.
The Eternal Struggle
The Black Phantom Chronicles Book 2From $2.99 (Included with Kindle Unlimited)
Broken in spirit after his exile from Mira, Arnacin yearns to find his way back home to Enchantress Island. Captured by pirates and then rescued by the Nomacirrians, he discovers there’s one last thing he must do before he can find peace.As Mira falls around her, Valoretta becomes a prisoner of savages while her beloved home is destroyed and its people are scattered.
Will Arnacin and Valoretta remain victims of their circumstances or find the courage they each need to overcome the past?
The Eternal Struggle is an enthralling YA fantasy novel. If you like raiding pirates, harrowing escapes, and stories of healing and reconciliation, then you’ll love this gripping tale.
"An exciting YA fantasy novel with a riveting premise and magnetic characters. Fans of George R.R. Martin and epic pirate stories would appreciate The Eternal Struggle." ~Readers' Favorite 5-Star Review
The Island Siege
The Black Phantom Chronicles Book 3 - NEW RELEASE!From $2.99 (Included with Kindle Unlimited)
As Arnacin is making his way home to Enchantress Island, war is brewing in nearby Elcan.No one has tried to conquer Ansky since the Sanguinea Peace Treaty. Yet Wilber, king of Evfel and regent of Ansky, plans to succeed… from the inside. Purposefully nurturing bitterness and pride in his young nephew, Prince Evan Maxwell, Wilber hopes the people will reject their prince in favor of Evfel’s rule.
After being orphaned, Evan’s only solace is in the horses of his father’s stable. He loathes the idea of assuming the throne and fears being forced into accepting his duties. Yet that changes when the wild stallion Darkfire enters his life and Evan meets the people of the magical Ice Woods, where his quest to discover his destiny begins.
What follows takes Evan and Darkfire into the heart of Enchantress Island and the secrets sleeping there.
About Esther Wallace
Esther Wallace is an award-winning author and freelance illustrator. She started her journey as a homeschooler, telling stories to her younger siblings.Her favorite books and movies are the ones that challenge the reader as well as the protagonists—the tales so driven by character, those heroes and heroines stay with one through all the hardships and joys of life. Figures like Frodo Baggins, Princess Eilonwy of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, and Harry Potter leap off the page, as they should.
Her largest jolts of inspiration appear when reading, watching or reenacting history, or joking with her large family around the dinner table.
Interested in having Esther speak to your group or in interviewing her for your followers? Visit Emerald Lake Books to Contact Esther Wallace.
Spotlight on In the Clutch - great juvenile fiction from Jolly Fish Press
Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the In the Clutch series of juvenile fiction from Jolly Fish Press. From $7.99
Aaron is a 12-year-old baseball phenom, but only when he’s playing on the field. At the plate, he struggles. Now, it’s the last inning of the last game of the season, and Aaron’s in the batter’s box, down by one with the bases loaded. Just as he steps up to the plate, Aaron spots his superstar-athlete older brother, Will, who completely abandoned him at the worst possible time. Can Aaron come through in the clutch when his team needs him most, and will his brother come through for him and their family? A 2022 Junior Library Guild Selection."Touching on topics such as sibling rivalry, insecurity, self-image, and grieving, this book...will capture readers' attention and leave them thinking about not only the exciting baseball story it is but also the emotional challenges that young people can encounter." ~Children's Literature
From $7.99
Carmen is a 12-year-old star striker for the Blue Dragons A-Team, but when her best friend Destiny abandons the team to try theater, the Dragons need a new goalkeeper, stat. Carmen quickly learns her new position as keeper, but she struggles to deal with the changes in her friendship with Destiny. Plus, there’s one shot she just can’t seem to stop. Now, the league championship has gone to a shootout, and of course the other team’s best striker has the last kick. Can Carmen save both her team’s championship dreams and her most important friendship?From $7.99
What looked to be a football season to remember for Cameron quickly turns to disaster. Set to take over as quarterback for the pass-happy Northwood Middle School Lumberjacks, things change just days before the first practice when internet sensation Trish joins the team. Cameron goes from starting quarterback to backup—and nearly ends up quitting. With some inspiration from his father, Cameron finds joy in his newfound role—but not without some bumps and bruises along the way. Will his commitment pay off?From $7.99
Easton is an 11-year-old hockey sensation, but he’s struggled with the sudden success of fellow winger and best friend Shawn. Now, it’s the last shift in triple-overtime at the state championship, and the team has one play to avoid a shootout. The coach’s play has Easton taking the shot, but sometimes you have to think on your skates after the puck hits the ice. Will Easton go for his own glory, or will he swallow his pride and do what’s best for his team and his friend?From $31.96
The final buzzer. The bases loaded. The last chance to break a tie. Get the entire set of In the Clutch books featuring young athletes learning about life as they learn to perform under pressure. The set includes all four books from the series: The Sluggers Shadow, Keeper Courage, Gridiron Grit, and Envy on Ice. 
Spotlight on Cooking Greek: 200+ pages of classic Greek recipes!
This beautiful cookbook contains more than 200 pages of flavorful and delicious classic Greek recipes presented in a simple and easy-to-follow manner for all level at-home chefs.
Cooking Greek: A Classic Greek Cookbook for the At-Home Chef
Genre: Cooking, Food & Wine Reference; Greek Cooking
From $9.99
Cooking Greek: A Classic Greek Cookbook for the At-Home Chef is the perfect cookbook for foodies and makes a great gift for any occasion.Greek cuisine can seem intimidating, but when presented by chef Pemi, it is anxiety free! With a culinary arts degree, experience teaching Greek cooking classes, and thousands of hours in her yiayia’s (grandmother’s) kitchen, chef Pemi brings a unique perspective with her flavor profile, instructions, and beautiful full-page photos of each dish.
Discover how to cook some of the most popular, authentic Greek recipes including baklava, tiropita (cheese pie), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), pastitsio (macaroni pie), spanakopita (spinach pie), moussaka (eggplant and ground beef pie), Greek meatballs, loukoumades (Greek donuts), tzatziki (cucumber yogurt dip), souvlaki (meat skewers), galaktoboureko (milk pie), Greek style octopus, and many more mouth-watering Greek recipes.
As an added bonus, the food forum on Worldwide Greeks provides an additional resource for recipe clarification, variation ideas and the opportunity to ask chef Pemi and other food experts your recipe-related questions.
About the Authors
Pemi Kanavos is a classically-trained pastry chef with a culinary arts degree who loves to feed people and share her Greek culture and cuisine. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and moved with her family to Athens, Greece, when she was 10. Pam returned to Boston for college, earning a degree in Ggraphic design. Pam’s love of cooking ran so deep that she decided to go back to school where she earned a second degree in Culinary Arts. She has worked at various food establishments around Boston, wrote a column on a Greek cooking blog, and taught Greek cooking classes for several years. Having moved back and forth between Boston and Athens, Pemi has now settled in Athens Greece, with her husband and son.
Worldwide Greeks (WorldwideGreeks.com) was established in 2005 as an online forum website written in English about Greek food, Greek travel, and Greek culture. More than 490,000 people have visited the very popular Greek food forum on the Worldwide Greeks website, where people can share Greek recipes and ask questions about Greek food. Additionally, Worldwide Greeks has more than 250,000 loyal social media followers who lover Greek food, Greek travel, and Greek culture.
Spotlight on the Trinitarian Knights Collection
oday, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the Trinitarian Knights Collection from author Kevin Mansoor. Read on to learn more about this exciting series.BONUS: Sign up for free email updates from Kevin and get a free copy of Protecting Love, the prequel novella to the first book in the Trinitarian Knights series.
Avenging Love
Christian Fantasy
FREE!
Avenging Love is the first novel of the trilogy in the Trinitarian Knights Collection. Filled with fast-paced action sequences, a strong love story sub-theme, supporting characters that will have you cheering, and a pompous prideful Satan that may just have you rolling on the floor laughing, Avenging Love is a must-read.David had always fought to protect others, even before he knew who he was. He defended those who could not defend themselves. In the eternal battle between good and evil, he balanced the scales. He saved countless...but he couldn't save her. He failed the love of his life.
After three years drunk in an alley, he still refuses to listen to the truth his heart is trying to tell him. But when the tequila no longer numbs his guilt, can the mysterious two-thousand-year-old Emma or the Archangel Michael get David to wake up in time?
As the darkness that has settled on David's soul slowly lifts, a battle that he cannot win awaits. Join David and his battle companion Saint Bernard, Duke, as they embark on an epic tale of loss, guilt, and possible redemption.
The Deception of Fear
Christian Fantasy
$2.99
Book Two in the Trinitarian Knights Collection.Seven years after the conclusion of Avenging Love, deep within the ocean, a familiar demon stirs. Deep within Hell, a new plot is unleashed. And deep within David’s heart, the seed of fear takes root.
One question must be answered as Satan turns up the heat of his attacks on David and his family: Which David will show up for the fight?
In an ending that surprised even the author, this novel continues the fast-paced thrill ride of Avenging Love.
Buried Within
Coming soon!
Not all is as it has seemed...Buried within David are seeds of truth. Buried within angels are seeds of humanity. Buried within demons are seeds of angels. Buried within children are seeds of greatness.
The thrilling conclusion to the Trinitarian Knights series will reveal secrets, unknown alliances, and a truth that will change the course of everything.
Sign up for Kevin's newsletter for updates and to be one of the first to know the release date of the final installment.
About Kevin Mansoor
Kevin lives in the heart of the agricultural epicenter of Washington State where he spends most of his time staring at a blank computer screen, hoping for the words to come. "Usually they do," he says, "and sometimes, they are even intelligible."When he is not searching for those perfect words, he is probably covered in dust doing some DIY project. He says that "an electric sander, a dust mask, and ear plugs often help the creative juices flow."
Kevin reserves his evenings for quality time with his wife, "probably doing a puzzle or eating a magnificent meal that we made together." To learn more, visit Kevin's website.
Spotlight on The Eastside Extra and Unicorns of the Secret Stable
Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on two great series for children from the Jolly Fish Press imprint of North Star Editions! Read on to learn more about The Eastside Extra series and the Unicorns of the Secret Stable series.BONUS: Get your holiday shopping done early with books for children and young adults from North Star Editions. Send your holiday gift book wish list directly to sales@northstareditions.com and get a 30% discount by mentioning LitNuts! Offer good now through December 31, 2022.
The Eastside Extra (Set of 4)Anika, Benny, and Libby are neighborhood friends—and known to be relentlessly curious. They’re always asking questions, and their interest in sharing the answers led them to start an online newsletter. Encouraged by their parents, they venture out into the community to investigate the most engaging mysteries. This series is available as a set or individually. Reading Age: from 8 to 10 years.
The Eastside Extra: How Did We Get Here?A chance question about Libby’s door decoration leads the friends to realize they’re all from immigrant families. This discovery prompts their next big questions: Where are our families from? Why and how did they come to the United States? As the friends learn their families’ histories and deal with upsetting news about Anika’s stay in the country, they vow to cherish what brings them together.
The Eastside Extra: Still Serving Why does someone who could be retired choose to still work? Between popsicle breaks and jumps in the pool, this simple question leads the friends all around their community as they explore the facts and personal stories of veterans.
The Eastside Extra: Public Funding, Public DecisionsEastside Middle School is facing challenges as a result of its growing student body. When Anika, Benny, and Libby learn the school is getting extra funding this year, they know they have the topic for their next feature story: Who decides how public schools spend their money? And where does the money come from?
The Eastside Extra: Why is Our Lake Off-Limits? Anika, Benny, and Libby live a short drive from a small lake, but they’ve never been swimming in it. It’s closed off as a “Superfund” site, a mysterious phrase they’ve never heard before, leading the friends to interview their neighbors and explore their community’s history.
Unicorns of the Secret Stable Series
There are unicorns behind Magic Moon Stable, but no one except Iris and Ruby knows they exist. As Unicorn Guardians, it is their job to protect the unicorns and their magic to keep them safe from the outside world. The books in this series are available in the sets shown below or as individual titles. Reading age: from 6 to 9 years.
Unicorns of the Secret Stable, Set 1This set includes four books: The Red Key, Stolen Magic, Unicorn Uncovered, and Heartsong's Missing Foal.
"Die-hard unicorn fans’ hearts will sing." ~School Library Journal
Unicorns of the Secret Stable, Set 2This set includes four books: The Great Unicorn Race, Shadow Stallion, Starberry Magic, and Unique Unicorn.
Author Whitney Sanderson grew up riding horses as a member of a 4-H club and competing in local jumping and dressage shows.
Unicorns of the Secret Stable, Set 3This set includes four books: Mermaid Magic, Magical Unicorn Horns, Lucky and the Dragon, and Unicorns to the Rescue.
"Adding unicorns, sister power, and a generous dose of magic to the thoughtful design makes this series ideal for all collections." ~School Library Journal
Spotlight on North Star Editions: Publisher of quality children & young adult books
Today, LitNuts welcomes North Star Editions, an indie publisher dedicated to guiding children and young adult readers toward a lifetime love of reading. We think you're going to love their books!
In the weeks ahead, we'll be sharing high-quality fiction and nonfiction from North Star Editions that inspires, informs, and entertains. You'll see an assortment of titles from Flux, NSE's young adult fiction imprint; from the Jolly Fish Press middle-grade fiction imiprint; and juvenile nonfiction titles from other NSE imprints.
Below is a small sampling of what's to come. Click on any title or image to learn more.
BONUS: Get your holiday shopping done early with books for children and young adults from North Star Editions. Send your holiday gift book wish list directly to sales@northstareditions.com and get a 30% discount by mentioning LitNuts! Offer good now through December 31, 2022.
The Genius Kid’s Guide to Dogs
Imprint: North Star Kids
"Animal lovers searching for in-depth information on some of their favorite creatures will find a great resource in the Genius Kid's Guides series." ~Booklist
Imprint: Jolly Fish Press
It’s the last inning of the last game of the season, and Aaron is in the batter’s box. Can he come through in the clutch? A 2022 Junior Library Guild Selection.
The Truth About Everything
Imprint: Flux
"A first purchase for young adult collections where realistic fiction is in demand.” ~School Library Journal
Jordie & Joey Fell From The Sky
Imprint: Jolly Fish Press
2022 Moonbeam Awards Gold Medalist (Best First Book – Chapter Book)
Goth Girl, Queen Of The Universe
Imprint: Flux
"The comic con setting gives way to pop culture references and cosplay options that are simply fun. The romance, the LARPing, the costumes—it’s a geek’s definition of fun." —Seattle Book Review
Spotlight on author Julie Flanders and the Polar Magic paranormal detective series!
Polar Night (Polar Magic Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal Detective
From $2.99
4.2 stars, 82 ratings on Goodreads
Maria Treibel is missing. Detective Danny Fitzpatrick is beaten. And evil lurks in the shadows.
Haunted by his past, Danny drowns his sorrows as often as he can, but when Maria Treibel vanishes without a trace, Danny is assigned the case. With no leads, and the department winding down its search, Danny knows he is the only one that can find her. Instead of your typical missing-persons case, Danny's witnesses seem to point to something a bit more sinister. Unbelievably so.
Aleksei Nechayev owns the inn at Snow Creek, an old mining town in Alaska. His classic Russian features, not unlike the image of Czar Nicholas II, seem frozen in time. When Danny's investigation leads him to Aleksei with a warrant, he isn't worried. He's had centuries of practice dealing with curious men of the law.
Time for Maria is running out, without rescue, the life will literally be sucked out of her.
Polar Day (Polar Magic Book 2)
Genre: Paranormal Detective
From $3.99
4.5 stars, 20 ratings on Goodreads
A heatwave has struck Fairbanks, unlike any before — it might just be witchcraft...
The paranormal just won't leave Detective Danny Fitzpatrick alone. After going head-to-head with a vampire in Polar Night, Danny finds himself dealing with something a bit more sinister in Fairbanks, Alaska. As residents gather for the annual summer solstice baseball game, a jogger spontaneously bursts into flames. Still reeling from his near-death experience at the hands of Aleksei Nechayev, Danny watches in horror as the man burns alive.
But this victim isn't the only one. Someone, or something, is burning Fairbanks and its residents alive, leaving nothing but smoldering embers behind. As the city sweats under a record-breaking heatwave and the unexplained fires claim more victims, Danny and his colleagues struggle to find an arsonist who can conjure fire out of thin air.
To Danny’s horror, the only one who may be able to help him stop the arsonist is his nemesis Nechayev.
Will the vampire help in the hunt for a witch?
The second book in the Polar Magic series, Polar Day, is perfect for those who love contemporary, paranormal mysteries. Fans of Molly Fitz's Paranormal Temp Agency series, Charlaine Harris' A Novel of Midnight, Texas series, and L.T. Ryan & K.M Rought's Cassie Quinn Mystery series, will find adventure, romance, and a little thrill in Polar Day.
Polar Curse (Polar Magic Book 3)
Genre: Paranormal Detective
Coming November 25!
It started in Fairbanks, and it will end in Fairbanks.
Detective Danny Fitzpatrick has dueled with vampires and witches, but something is haunting Fairbanks—and it isn't just the recent disappearance of a hiker. Eerie voices, accidental deaths, and arson keep dragging Danny back to Kennecott cemetery. Back to Annabelle Trescot's grave. The only theory that makes any sense: a deadly ghost.
With bodies piling up, Danny is forced to seek out Aleksei Nechayev, the murderous vampire, for help. But history has a way of coming back to haunt us, even when the ghosts get what they want.
Watch for Polar Curse in the November 25 LitNuts newsletter!
The Turnagain Arm (prequel to Polar Night)
Genre: Paranormal Detective
$0.99
4.5 stars, 27 ratings on Goodreads!
In this prequel to Polar Night, you'll meet Aleksei for the first time when he arrives at a small town in Alaska and people start disappearing. Vasyl, the owner of the Turnagain Arm Saloon, suspects Aleksei, and a game of cat and mouse ensues. A mere mortal would be no match for Aleksei, but Aleksei begins to suspect Vasyl has powers of his own.
About Julie Flanders
Julie Flanders is a librarian and writer in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her published novels include the Polar Magic trilogy and The Ghosts of Aquinnah. She is also the author of the novella The Turnagain Arm, a prequel to the Polar trilogy. Polar Curse (Polar Magic #3) is coming November 25, 2022.
For more information, visit Julie's website or follow her on Twitter.
Spotlight on They Believed They Were Safe
Literary Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror Spotlight
Congratulations to Cordelia Francis Biddle and Vine Leaves Press on the release of They Believed They Were Safe.
"Do not miss this unique and utterly captivating read!" ~Merry Jones, Child’s Play
They Believed They Were Safe by Cordelia Francis Biddle
Historical Fiction/Thriller
From $5.99
How do you recognize danger?Autumn 1962 in a picture-perfect small New England college town. Mabel Gorne arrives with a single suitcase and an unsettling secret. Unlike the pampered daughters of the affluent who compose the student body, the penniless, Midwestern Mabel is an anomaly who must make her own way while outrunning a past she fervently hopes to bury.
But she’s not the only person in North Chesterfield harboring secrets. As Mable starts graduate classes and a liaison with a local cop, she boards with a seemingly sedate couple. Little can she imagine, all possess unexpressed desires.
Will Mabel reckon with her history in time to find the loving and compassionate future she yearns for, or will the emotions her presence unwittingly sparks engulf her and those she assumed she could trust?
They Believed They Were Safe shines a light on the dark places of the human heart where sexual obsession, revenge, and murder lurk.
Praise for They Believed They Were Safe
"Complex, masterful storytelling at its best, deftly mixing tragedy with courage and ultimately with survival." ~Jonathan Santlofer, The Last Mona Lisa
"This is an engaging, propulsive novel that examines a unique time in American history and will appeal to all kinds of readers." ~New York Times bestselling author Liz Moore, Long, Bright River
"Do not miss this unique and utterly captivating read!" ~Merry Jones, Child’s Play
“Crystalline storytelling. There’s enough of the familiar to make it real—small town, midcentury, New England. But the ending, both surprising and inevitable, leaves us astonished in a Gothic wonderland. I thoroughly enjoyed this new novel.” ~William di Canzio, Alec
About Cordelia Francis Biddle
Cordelia Frances Biddle finds inspiration in the connections and correlations within history. Her prior career as a stage and television actress helps her inhabit other lives from earlier eras.Cordelia teaches at Drexel University’s Pennoni Honors College. She received the 2021 Adjunct Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. Learn more at Cordelia's website.
Spotlight on The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly by Kwan Kew Lai
Congratulations to Kwan Kew Lai and Vine Leaves Press on the release of The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly, a "poignant memoir" that "portrays a world few of us can imagine." ~Abraham Verghese, Cutting for Stone
The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly by Kwan Kew Lai
Memoir / Creative Nonfiction
From $6.49
Kwan Kew Lai met her first Punjabi woman doctor while lying in a hospital bed with a severe kidney infection at the age of fourteen. Watching the woman walk away down the hall, Kwan Kew was convinced she could, and would, carve out her own destiny.In the British Straits Settlement of Penang Island, she was born into an impoverished Chinese family of two boys and ten girls on the cusp of the Japanese occupation during World War Two. She did not wish to repeat the life of her uneducated mother, burdened with an endless brood, nor tolerate the fact that her father considered girls useless since they could not carry on their family name.
The newly independent country of Malaya developed a national policy favoring one racial group, the Bumiputras, vastly diminishing her chance of receiving a university scholarship. Her fortuitous introduction to a free library and her determination to continue her education led to the opportunity of a lifetime: a scholarship from Wellesley College.
When her father saw her off at the Penang International Airport as the first child to attend college, she proved herself to him, but more importantly she started the journey of a lifetime fulfilling dreams that originated as a young girl playing in the mud with the chickens.
In The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly, the author weaves in her family’s story of joy, sorrow, loss, love, and endless struggles with poverty and hunger. This poignant memoir, with universal and timeless themes, will leave you in awe.
Praise for The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly
"A thoughtful consideration of the ways women and girls survive—and even thrive—within oppressive patriarchal systems that refuse to recognize them as full people." ~Victoria Namkung, NBC News
"This poignant memoir, beautifully written and filled with humor and pathos, portrays a world few of us can imagine." ~Abraham Verghese, Cutting for Stone
"Her story demonstrates what can be achieved—against all odds—with a strong intention and fierce, unrelenting determination." ~Erica M. Elliott, MD, speaker and author
About Kwan Kew Lai
Originally from Penang, Malaysia, Kwan Kew Lai received a full scholarship from Wellesley College. She is a Harvard Medical Faculty Physician. In 2005, she left academia to dedicate time to humanitarian work in HIV/AIDS in Africa, and she provides disaster relief all over the world, including during the Ebola outbreak, the Syrian Rohingya refugee crises, and the COVID-19 pandemic in New York and the Navajo Nation. Her debut Lest We Forget: A Doctor’s Experience with Life and Death During the Ebola Outbreak chronicles her time in Liberia and Sierra Leone caring for Ebola patients. Into Africa, Out of Academia: A Doctor's Memoir came out in 2020. To learn more, visit kwankewlai.com.
Spotlight on Chickens One Day, Feathers the Next
Congratulations to Guinotte Wise and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Chickens One Day, Feathers the Next, a book that reminds readers not only of what builds a creative life, but also what sustains it through life’s unexpected twists and turns.
Chickens One Day, Feathers the Next by Guinotte Wise
Memoir / Creative Nonfiction
From $6.49
From his days growing up in the WWII-era and 1950s American South, with a stepfather working in the then-secret Manhattan Project, to his career as an award-winning ad man at the height of the ad-agency era, Guinotte Wise shares insight into a fascinating, maverick life path that has been anything but cookie-cutter.Journey with him through an equestrian, biker, and unroped world on his own artistic path as both a metal sculptor and a writer. Of earlier days he says, “It's been a while since I had to figure in bail as a recurring expense.”
A vast array of topics keep pages moving, from the meaning of James Dean and wagers at the track to the stolen van Goghs in the infamous Nazi art thefts and Montana writers, love of animals and motorcycles, and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. This book reminds readers not only of what builds a creative life, but also what sustains it through life’s unexpected twists and turns.
Chickens One Day, Feathers the Next will make you reflect on your own life’s journeys and the second, third, and even fourth acts that are possible.
Praise for Chickens One Day, Feathers the Next
"Wise embraces his subjects with gusto, humor, and the full-throated awe of a writer who has lived one hell of a life." ~Whitney Terrell, The Good Lieutenant
"Like meeting an old friend, not simply because it is so richly companionable, but because you won’t want to say goodbye." ~D. K. Smith, Bunny
"Wise views life with a self-deprecating, yet wry, down-home sense of humor, and an ear keenly attuned to the vagaries of the human condition." ~Suanne Schafer, A Different Kind of Fire
About Guinotte Wise
Guinotte Wise writes and welds steel sculpture on a farm in Resume Speed, Kansas. His short story collection Night Train, Cold Beer won publication by a university press and enough money to fix the soffits. A five-time Pushcart nominee, he has published six more books since, and his fiction, essays, and poetry have been published in numerous literary journals including Atticus, The MacGuffin, Southern Humanities Review, Rattle and The American Journal of Poetry. His wife has an honest job in the city and drives 100 miles a day to keep it. To learn more, visit Guionotte's website.
Spotlight on Lester Lies Down by James Ladd Thomas - new release from Vine Leaves Press
Congratulations to James Ladd Thomas and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Lester Lies Down, a novel that "catches the joys and pains of Southern life in bright colors."
Lester Gordon is a widow, autistic father of three, and hospice nurse who is most alive while caring for the dying. Humorous and certainly a bit absurd, Lester Lies Down explores cultural justice in the Deep South, as well as mortality, the value of love, and the need for compassion for people who are different.
Lester Lies Down by James Ladd Thomas
Literary Fiction
From $5.99
Lester Gordon is an odd man on the lower end of the autism spectrum.He falls for his next-door neighbor. He marries his next-door neighbor. He has three children with his next-door neighbor. What a dream.
Then she dies from cancer, leaving him with three children under the age of twelve. So, he sells his family’s car wash to become a hospice nurse, just like the one who comforted his wife and family. Everything is great until he tends to patients by himself. What a terrible mistake.
Lester is full of anxiety and fear and making stuff up as he goes. Meanwhile, one of his sons is interested in drawing nude women and being a bookie for the neighborhood kids. And out of nowhere an old friend shows up with a plea to hide out with Lester’s family to escape a couple of goons who are after her and the money she stole from an Oregon marijuana farm. And white dogs keep showing up.
Praise for Lester Lies Down
"This Lester can lie down wherever he wants to, as far as I’m concerned. And James Ladd Thomas is a hell of a novelist." ~Tom Franklin, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
"Deftly written, audacious and probing" ~Steve Yarbrough, Stay Gone Days
"By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, and with an eccentric cast of secondary characters, Lester Lies Down catches the joys and pains of Southern life in bright colors.” ~John Calvin Hughes, The Lost Gospel of Darnell Rabren
"A remarkably insightful achievement that deserves to be read, discussed, and savored." ~Michael Libling, Hollywood North: A Novel in Six Reels
About James Ladd Thomas
James Ladd Thomas was born and raised in Alabama. He has published short stories in several literary journals, including Berkeley Fiction Review, Hawaii Review, RE:AL, Southern Exposure, littledeathlit, Finding the Birds, and The Wax Paper. He is a Pushcart and Best New Voices in America nominee. Before teaching composition and fiction workshops for 30 years, James was a landscaper, a dump-truck driver, a dog track ticket seller, a girls softball umpire (which he describes as the best and worst job of his life), a record store clerk, a configuration management analyst, and a house boy. He currently lives in Central Florida with his family where he enjoys jumping in the ocean. To learn more, visit James' website.
The Einstein & Moo Series: "purrfect" for children age 3-8
Today, we invite you to meet Einstein & Moo – and author Jennifer Milius.
The Einstein & Moo Series is a collection of children's books based on the adventures of two brother-and-sister, black-and-white "tuxedo" kitties who are playful, curious, and friendly. Each book in the series includes pictures that add to the story and rhyming words that help children develop their abilities to read and write.
Get any 3 books in the series for $30.
Get the complete set (6 books + activity book + crayons) for $60.
The Einstein & Moo Series by Jennifer Milius
Illustrated by Meredith Hancock
Children's Books
"When you share a book with a child, it's an act of love. You are giving your child your greatest gifts – your time and attention." ~Jennifer Milius
Einstein and the LeafEinstein and the Leaf is the first book of the series and is about a perfect fall day with children playing outside in the leaves while Einstein watches from inside. When the children come in and a few leaves come along with them, Einstein sees his moment and is ready to play!
Moo and the Case of the Mistaken IdentityMoo and the Case of the Mistaken Identity is about Moo playing with a little ball that bounces against a glass fireplace when she notices a shadow. Who could this be? Follow Moo as she investigates.
Einstein & Moo and the Quest for the CatnipIn this book, Einstein and Moo are after their favorite treat: a green leafy plant called catnip. It grows outside, and even though they are indoor kitties, they want to find a way to get outside and have some. This may mean that they have to be creative and help each other, but to them, the treat is worth it!
Einstein and the SnowEinstein and the Snow is about a perfect winter day with indoor kitty Einstein watching the snow while Daddy is outside working and playing. When Daddy comes in for the day, Einstein sees his moment and is ready to play!
Moo and Her Favorite SpotIn Moo and Her Favorite Spot, Moo sees that her favorite spot is available for cuddling and relaxing, yet as the day moves on, she considers that there might be a spot better than the first. Tag along with Moo to see what she discovers.
Einstein & Moo and the Unexpected VisitorIn this book, an unexpected visitor inside the house catches Einstein and Moo’s attention. Although each kitty has their own way of investigating, they are both hopeful that they have found a new friend.
The Einstein & Moo Activity BookBased on of the best selling children’s book series Einstein and Moo comes The Einstein & Moo Activity Book. Flip through the pages and enjoy crosswords, mazes, write your own story sheets, coloring, and so much more! Hours of fun and education for your children and for cat lovers alike.
Meet Jennifer Milius
In addition to being the author of the Einstein & Moo Series of children's books, Jen helps other writers and aspiring authors to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books. "I believe that if the story came to you, it must come through you to share," says Jen.
The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but Jen makes both feel smoother and achievable. "We’re all works in progress," she says, "but your first, next, or current book doesn’t have to be."
Jen believes each of us have something special to offer, but sometimes it takes a leap of faith to be willing to share that gift. Yet, when people are doing what they love, there’s a joy that they radiate. Tapping into your full potential means that joy, purpose, and possibility is coming together through you.
Jen offers a variety of ways for aspiring authors to work with her, including private coaching, courses, a workbook, and her podcast. Learn more on Jen's website.
Get a free copy of this new thriller (and many other books)!
Today, we're going to tell you how you can get a free copy of DoGoodR: A Tanto Thriller by USA Today bestselling author W.A. (Will) Pepper and many other books.
DoGoodR is available as a free download from BookFunnel. If you are familiar with BookFunnel, you already know what a great service it is. If you don't know about BookFunnel, downloading a free copy of DoGoodR would be a great introduction!
What is BookFunnel?
BookFunnel is a service that many indie authors use to distribute Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) and copies of recently released books. The books are often free, as is the case with DoGoodR today.
Why do authors give away free books?
Authors often give away free copies to get a new book into the hands of readers in the hope that those readers will read the book and tell other people about it. In the case of DoGoodR, Will is hoping that you will take a look at his new thriller and post an online reader review.
Who can post an online reader review?
Anybody! Most online reader reviews (on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and elsewhere) are not written by professionals; they are written by regular readers who are sharing their thoughts on a book they just read. So if you download a free copy of DoGoodR (or any other book on BookFunnel) and read it, we strongly encourage you to take a moment to post an online reader review. Your review can be as detailed as you like...or it can just be a couple of sentences on whether you would recommend the book or not. The important thing is to share your opinion, which helps the author get the word out about the book and (more important) helps other readers decide whether they want to take a look or not.
DoGoodR: A Tanto Thriller by W.A. Pepper
Thriller
For fun, a smart kid did a dumb thing: he hacked NASA. The government demands life imprisonment. Tanto and his group of clandestine hackers fight for the kid’s freedom.
“A top recommendation for libraries seeking exceptional thriller writings that operate on the cutting edge of urban reality. Pepper keeps the action fast-paced, high-tech, and thoroughly unpredictable.” ~Midwest Book Review
DoGoodR is a prequel to the award-winning thriller You Will Know Vengeance.
More Praise for DoGoodR and W.A. Pepper
“This was a great story. There's more than one twist towards the end that were totally unexpected and set the characters up for future adventures.” ~Emily F., GoodReads
“W. A. Pepper has a great writing style in this thriller novel. I hope there is more with Tanto.” ~Kathryn M., NetGalley
“A well-paced thriller that keeps the reader engaged throughout. The characters are well thought out and interesting…the plot combines tension and suspense with a bit of humor.” ~RD, Amazon
Reviews of You Will Know Vengeance
“A techno-charged version of The Shawshank Redemption for the 21st century...fascinating insight into the hidden world of hackers, cyber criminals, and the dark web.” ~Readers’ Choice
"The author’s crisp writing smoothly clarifies technical jargon with no sign of condescension; this creates a protagonist who comes across as an endearing, sympathetic journeyman more than a highly skilled hacker. An absorbing, tech-smart tale that unfolds in a tense prison setting.” ~Kirkus
About W.A. Pepper
W. A. Pepper writes suspenseful thrillers. You Will Know Vengeance was his debut novel, and DoGoodR is the newly released prequel.He is an awarding-winning USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon bestselling author for his contribution to the business anthology Habits of Success. Under different names (including his real one of Will Pepper), he has published in multiple academic journals, interactive e-books, anthologies, and online. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his wife, Taddy (plus their dog, Danger), started the publishing house Hustle Valley Press, LLC. Through it, they published four e-books that have amassed more than 100 five-star reviews. Further, the husband-and-wife team donated the first six months of revenue from the sale of each of those books to charity; this resulted in thousands of dollars raised for the reader-selected charities that support racial equality, COVID-19 relief, veteran affairs, and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Will has a PhD in Management Information Systems or, as he calls it, Business Computing, from The University of Mississippi. Will, Taddy, and Danger split their time between Mississippi and Colorado. To learn more, visit WAPepperWrites.com.
Spotlight on One Person's Loss - new release from author Ann S. Epstein and Vine Leaves Press
Congratulations to Ann S. Epstein and Vine Leaves Press on the release of One Person's Loss, a novel that resonates with the power of the human spirit to rise above historic tragedy.
"Compelling and fully realized characters grapple with unimaginable losses while also navigating the immigrant experience." ~Joy Wolfe Ensor, Co-editor, The Ones Who Remember: Second-Generation Voices of the Holocaust
One Person's Loss by Ann S. Epstein
Literary Fiction
From $5.99
It’s 1937. Jewish newlyweds flee Nazi Germany for Brooklyn, admonished by their parents to have children to "save our people.” Following a miscarriage, Petra becomes obsessed with adopting a Jewish infant abandoned at a Coney Island exhibit of incubator babies. Erich isn’t so sure. A struggle begins about when—and even if—they should start a family.Meanwhile, the couple agonizes over the fate of the families they left behind in Hitler’s Europe. Can Petra’s parents bribe officials and secure safe passage to the United States? What of Erich’s parents and four siblings, especially his hotheaded brother who joined the resistance?
One Person’s Loss explores whether marriage, even grounded in love, can survive personal clashes and the traumas of the Holocaust.
Praise for One Person's Loss
“Epstein, a master at integrating history and fiction, once again brings a bygone era, pre- and post-World War II, to life.” ~Janet Gilsdorf, Fever
“Written in rich and compelling detail, One Person’s Loss resonates with the power of the human spirit to rise above historic tragedy.” ~Maureen Aitken, The Patron Saint of Lost Girls
About Ann S. Epstein
Ann’s awards include a Pushcart Prize nomination for creative nonfiction, the Walter Sullivan prize in fiction, and an Editors’ Choice selection by Historical Novel Review. Her fiction credits include the novel A Brain. A Heart. The Nerve. and short stories in Sewanee Review, PRISM International, Ascent, The Long Story, and elsewhere. In addition, she has a doctorate in developmental psychology and has published many books for professional and lay audiences on child development and early childhood education. She also has a Master of Fine Arts in textiles. The social sciences and visual arts are reflected in the content and imagery of her writing. To learn more visit Ann's website.
New Release: The Deepest Black by Randall Silvis
The Deepest Black
Literary Crime Thriller
New Release: August 16, 2022
From $7.99
Where does the line blur between fact and fiction?
Acclaimed author Randall Silvis is looking for a story—any story to follow up the series of gripping mystery novels that catapulted him to success. And then, out of nowhere, a story appears. A mysterious stranger named Thomas Kennaday tips Silvis off about a series of murders in a small Pennsylvania town, sending Silvis off on a tentative investigation in hopes of finding material for his next novel.
What Silvis discovers is much more than a typical small-town murder case, and it soon becomes clear that Kennaday, who seems to have disappeared into thin air, is somehow pulling the strings of the investigation from behind the scenes. Based on true events, The Deepest Black is a profoundly thoughtful, unsettling read, and a crime novel unlike any you've ever read before.
“Randall Silvis’s nonfiction novel The Deepest Black ventures into the darkest corners of the human psyche…a story rife with twists and turns, secret societies and those who are sworn to keep the secrets…a harrowing journey, a brilliant book, a must-read.” ~Susan Wingate, host of Dialogue: Authors on the Air Radio
“A very highly recommended metafiction true crime memoir…. This odd genre-bending novel follows the plot of a true crime novel and a mystery but also veers off into the supernatural—inexplicable events, spirituality, UFOs, oppression, mind control, men in black, and more. It was not only totally engrossing, but un-put-downable.” ~She Treads Softly, five stars
~THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
About Randall Silvis
Randall Silvis is the multi-genre author of numerous critically acclaimed novels and a past winner of the prestigious Drue Heinz Literature Prize. His work has been published in more than a hundred editions in several languages.Perhaps best known for the literary thrillers of the Ryan DeMarco Mystery Series, he has also written magical realism, creative nonfiction, short story collections, and other mystery and crime novels. In addition, he is a playwright, screenwriter, and songwriter.
How do you keep up with a guy like that? For starters, subscribe to the Randall Silvis YouTube Channel where you can currently find five book trailers about The Deepest Black, plus music videos, spoken word poetry and prose, and more. If you happen to be in western Pennsylvania, you can catch Randall at the Butler Little Theatre, Butler, PA, at 7 pm, August 27, in an event that is free and open to the public. You can also find Randall on his website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Here are links to other recent releases from Randall, plus all of the books of the Ryan DeMarco Series.
Spotlight on: Prepare for Departure by Mark Chestnut
Congratulations to Mark Chestnut and our friends at Vine Leaves Press on the release of Prepare for Departure, an "achingly beautiful, weirdly hilarious and always brutally honest" memoir.
What happens when an award-winning travel writer takes a final emotional journey with his 89-year-old mother? Find out in the witty, touching and darkly humorous Prepare for Departure.
Prepare for Departure
Memoir
From $5.99
At an early age, award-winning travel writer, Mark Chesnut, learned to dodge discomfort by jumping on the nearest plane, bus or car. That tactic proved especially useful when his single mother made it clear that there was no room for discussion about his gay identity.Mark, overwhelmed with wanderlust, shoplifts in airports, avoids Southern Baptist salvation, acts like Hillary Clinton in a nursing home, and dresses in drag with his grandfather. He even creates an imaginary airline and flies away.
Now, as 89-year-old Eunice Chesnut moves to a New York City nursing home to be near her son, Mark's obsession with travel takes a backseat as he embarks on the most emotional journey of all.
More than an end-of-life memoir, more than a collection of childhood memories and travel stories, Prepare for Departure showcases what happens when a permissive mother and a mistfit son face death while revisiting life. Buckle your seatbelts for a witty, touching and darkly humorous trip — through time, loss, forgiveness and acceptance.
“Mark was born with a traveler’s eye, one that sees below the surface, and a writer’s voice, to share what he sees in ways that enlighten others.” ~Arnie Weissmann, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly
“Pour yourself a drink, fasten your seatbelt, and get ready for the trip of a lifetime.” ~Robert Adams, editorial director, Passport Magazine
“With writing that is often achingly beautiful, weirdly hilarious and always brutally honest, Chesnut shares his family’s history over the course of decades, all while interweaving stories from his successful career traveling the world. Ultimately, the journey along this road arrives at a greater acceptance of the fragility of life, and the faults and courage that make us human.” ~Kenneth Shapiro, publisher/editor-in-chief, TravelAge West
“The reader will enjoy the ride: its wit, its candor, its foibles, its joys, its tears. I know I did.” ~Geoffrey Weill, travel publicist and author, All Abroad, A Memoir of Travel & Obsession
About Mark Chestnut
Mark Chesnut is a New York City-based journalist, editor and public speaker. The 2019 winner of the NLGJA Excellence in Travel Writing Award, he has written for Fodor’s, Forbes Travel Guide, HuffPost, the Miami Herald, Orbitz, Travel + Leisure Mexico, the New York Times bestseller 1,000 Places To See Before You Die and the inflight magazines of Aeromexico, American Airlines and Avianca. He writes a monthly column for Global Traveler Magazine, covers Latin America in his travel blog LatinFlyer.com and regularly contributes to travel trade publications Travel Weekly and TravelAge West.
Peyton Brooks' Mysteries Box Set - 10 books, 99 cents!
Lots of authors and publishers know about LitNuts and the 10,000 booklovers who subscribe to our newsletter (thank you!). But the reality is, we're less than two years old, and many people don't know about us yet. So when we find authors we like, we reach out and invite them to feature their work in LitNuts.
We invited M.L. Hamilton—author of murder mysteries, cozy mysteries, urban fantasy, and epic fantasy—to feature a book of her choice with LitNuts readers. She selected The Peyton Brooks' Mysteries Box Set—a highly rated collection of eight novels plus a prequel for only 99 cents.
We think you're going to like San Francisco detective Peyton Brooks and author M.L. Hamilton. Read on to learn more!
The Peyton Brooks' Mysteries Box Set
$0.99
Get all eight of the popular Peyton Brooks’ Mysteries in a single box set, including the prequel. That's more than 1,000 pages of action and adventure from San Francisco’s top detective.The Peyton Brooks’ Mystery series follows the career of San Francisco Homicide Detective Peyton Brooks and her partner Marco D’Angelo as they fight crime in the City by the Bay.
The Box Set includes:
- Murder in the Painted Lady
- Murder on Potrero Hill
- Murder in the Tenderloin
- Murder on Russian Hill
- Murder on Alcatraz
- Murder in Chinatown
- Murder in the Presidio
- Murder on Treasure Island
"M.L. Hamilton does a masterful job of developing the main protagonists in this series and the repartee between characters is refreshingly delightful." ~ Amazon review
About M L. Hamilton
M.L. Hamilton teaches high school English and journalism in Central California. Since her earliest memory, books have been an integral part of her life, so pursuing a career teaching what she loved came naturally. However, she always dreamed of publishing her own novel.
That dream came true. Her first novel, Emerald, was published by Wild Wolf Publishing in 2010. Since that time, seven more books in the World of Samar series have been published. In 2013, the Peyton Brooks’ Mysteries were born, allowing her to branch into a new genre. After seven novels in that series, she moved the main character into the FBI. In 2014, she began the Avery Nolan Adventures, an urban fantasy series set in beautiful Lake Tahoe.
In addition to teaching and writing, she has three sons, two dogs, and a cat. And sometimes a stray rabbit living under her deck. Learn more at the M.L. Hamilton website.
Spotlight on two wonderful new books from indie publisher Blackwater Press!
Today, LitNuts shines a spotlight on The Ballad of Cherrystoke and Other Stories and The Various Stages of a Garden Well-Kept, two new releases from Blackwater Press.
LitNuts is committed to supporting the work of independent publishers, and these books are currently available directly from the publisher. Buying direct from the publisher is a great way to support indie publishing, and if you buy today, you can get 20% off the regular price of each book by using discount code D9JUA8PT.
The Ballad of Cherrystoke and Other Stories by Melanie McGee Bianchi
Short Stories
$18.99 (get 20% off with discount code D9JUA8PT)
It feels like she’s invited you on her porch to tell you these stories.An extraordinary debut from one of America’s most exciting new talents, The Ballad of Cherrystoke weaves together the quirky and the sublime: an important new voice in Appalachian literature.
A young maid an an upscale resort hides her banjo-playing freighthopper brother.
An unlikely romance bridges a quarter-century age gap and a 150-year-old murder.
A man tries to turn his sheltered mother’s backyard shed into a pricey vacation rental.
A gig worker must shake off her darker identity to become a professional baby namer.
"Bianchi has created worlds that seem simultaneously magical and rooted in the grit of rural reality – a vexing combination that dares the reader at every turn. Her rich characters grow within us in uncomfortable and compelling ways that force the next page turn." ~Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, author of Even As We Breathe
"With language as striking and surprising as it is beautiful, Bianchi adds a new and unique voice to Appalachian literature." ~Heather Newton, author of McMullen Circle
"A powerful collection that uncovers the music of humanity that emerges each time a person interacts with another person in a complicated and changing world. It’s an extraordinary and haunting debut." ~Adam Clay, Editor of Mississippi Review
The Various Stages of a Garden Well-Kept by R. R. Davis
Fiction
$19.99 (get 20% off with discount code D9JUA8PT)
A multi-generational tale about relationships and family, with all their quirks and untold secrets.Loosely based on true events, this is a multi-generational tale about relationships and family. Short, punchy chapters provide a fragmented framework to the stories, which gradually begin to come together into a whole.
In 1920 Irini Gaspari, a young Greek woman, leaves behind all that she holds dear – her family, and particularly her friend Martha – and emigrates to America, bound for an arranged marriage to a man she has never met.
After tragedy strikes and her closely-knit family gradually seems to crumble to pieces, little Marieta finds her own path into womanhood in the changing world of the 1950s and 1960s. She faces struggles and joys, and tends to her garden where each plant and tree bears a memory of someone, while a dianthus holds a bitter secret.
Jumping forward to 2010, in Akron, Ohio, two brothers, Herman and Richard, in spite of their very different personalities, seem to have in common an awkward relationship with love. In their own, de-romanticised ways, they are looking for ‘the one.’ They navigate romance, and take care of an ageing mother riddled with dementia and an obsession for…her garden.
The lives of these characters are interwoven through Frieda Kahlo: an introspective and enigmatic calico cat who drifts between reality and the spiritual world, connecting the generations of characters. A mysterious character reveals his true identity at the end of the novel, and sets the scene for a happy ending.
About Blackwater Press
Blackwater Press is made up of three people who live and work in three different places and have never met in person. We publish literary fiction, non-fiction, memoir, letters, and short stories. Learn more at the Blackwater Press website.
Spotlight on: Ekstasis - The Return of the Sovereign Heart
LitNuts is pleased to shine a spotlight on Ekstasis: The Return of the Sovereign Heart by Mahayana I. Dugast, a spiritual, morally, and emotionally complex novel that is highly recommended by Midwest Book Review, Readers' Favorite (5 stars!), and OnlineBookClub.org, and is a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards.
Ekstasis: The Return of the Sovereign Heart is a massive work (800+ pages!) that addresses themes of love, reality, spiritualism, and enlightenment, and the ebook edition is on sale for only $0.99 through June 26, 2022.
New Giveaway! Enter for a chance to win a print copy of Ekstasis: The Return of the Sovereign Heart from Mahayana, plus a $25 coffee shop gift card from LitNuts. Deadline for entry is July 5.
Ekstasis: The Return of the Sovereign Heart
From $0.99
Together, they are the keys to humankind's original blueprint. Apart, will they find each other through the pages of time?
Mona Devek is driven by an innate knowing. As a walk-in from birth, her life's unfolding twists and turns serve to awaken her to her potential and identity and to reconnect her with an ancient star tribe. But when she publishes a work of fiction detailing her spiritual quest, something inspires her to fill in the blanks left by her as-yet-unseen interdimensional lover.
David Wilkins is a firm atheist and has long given up on happiness. Devastated by the tragic loss of his wife and child, the former award-winning film director shelved an unread book his sister shared on account of its uncanny similarities to his own life. Then on one transatlantic flight home, he finally flips it open...and by the time he reaches the last page, he is no longer the same person.
As Mona uncovers more about her true origin and her reason for incarnating, she discovers that the entire free will of human beings is at stake. And as David's creativity resurfaces and he plans a return to directing by making a movie of Mona's best-selling novel, he is shocked when he learns that the author he has grown to love is in a coma.
Can their spirits rejoin in the physical realm and save humanity from oblivion?
Ekstasis: The Return of the Sovereign Heart is the inspiring first book in the Ekstasis magical realism romance series. If you like a visionary and metaphysical adventure, with relatable paths of healing, where trauma and loss are transmuted into love, then you'll adore Mahayana I. Dugast's journey into the soul.
Praise for Ekstasis: The Return of the Sovereign Heart
"Spiritual, morally and emotionally complex 'novels' are exceptionally rare, but Ekstasis: The Return of the Sovereign Heart is just such one. If the thematic blend of love, reality, and spiritualism piques your interest, you will most likely love this massive work by Dugast." ~AuthorsReading.com
"The unusual blend of romance and enlightenment creates a story that blossoms with inspiration and meaning. It's especially recommended for spiritual readers who enjoy fictional accounts of journeys towards enlightenment." ~Midwest Book Review
"This is a really good book that is worth a read for those who can appreciate the complexities of a hyper-dimensional spiritual journey, as well as for those who are new to the genre but are looking for something heavy to get lost in. A surprising new take on the Adam and Eve concept which is really, really deep. Recommended." ~Readers' Favorite
"A book within a book, where love is a pulsating force field that can connect hearts, souls, and spirits, transcending beyond even death." ~OnlineBookClub.org
To read the full reviews from each of the above reviewers, plus additional reviews, click HERE.
To see the book trailer, click HERE.
About Mahayana I. Dugast
Mahayana I. Dugast, Ph.D. (Metaphysical Science), is an author, mentor, and founder of NeuroBiology Reprogramming™ (NBR™).
NeuroBiology Reprogramming™ (NBR™) is a self-realization practice designed to increase your connection with your Inner Being so you can benefit from guidance, intuition and foresight. All key attributes to navigate your life and highlight the steps you must take to create your heart's desire. Personal or professional.
Mahayana is also the author of several self-help books and the novel Ekstasis: The Return of the Sovereign Heart, Book I of the Ekstasis Trilogy.
Mahayana has taught seminars across Europe, the USA, and Asia, and has worked with people from all walks of life. Her processes are simple and strategic, relevant and timely for the nature of the world as it stands, increasingly chaotic and ever evolving.
For more information, visit Mahayana's website.
New Release + last chance to enter giveaway for Birthright
"Jeanette Baker is a forceful writer of character and conflict." ~Publishers Weekly
Last call for entries: Enter for a chance to win a signed copy and a $25 coffee shop gift card. Deadline for entry: midnight tonight!
Birthright
New Release - June 21!
To protect her secrets, a woman refuses to acknowledge the child she left behind 50 years ago and a half a world away.
Claire travels halfway across the globe from Southern California to Ireland to find the reasons Norah, her biological mother, gave her up. Norah is equally determined to avoid revisiting the painful time in her life and the devastating decision she was forced to make. Even with a loving husband and family, she still carries the shame of her mistakes.
Claire's presence 50 years later is the engine for the confrontations to come. Neighbors Norah had known forever recognized Claire's resemblance to a sister she never knew she had. Norah must face the man who fathered her two daughters, and decide to either hold the secrets that embittered her or release them for the shame that will surely mark her.
An emotional story that delves into the true meaning of family, sisterhood and secrets.
From $4.99
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More great books by Jeanette Baker!
Hannie Rising
Mickey demands another chance at mortality, so St. Peter sends him back to Tralee...as a stranger. He ends up learning a thing or two about his wife, Hannie, and even more about himself. "Great, cozy read." ~Amazon Review. 4.6 stars, 68 ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW
Spellbound
Mollie returns to Ireland 30 years after her mother took her to America, and finds herself caring for her nieces and nephews after the sudden death of her brother and his wife, Kerry. But Kerry's brother is determined to keep the children and sees Mollie as the enemy--even as he yearns to hold her close. FROM $0.99 SHOP NOW
Irish Fire
Caitlin Kenneally ran off to America and married into a wealthy horse breeding family. Years later, she returns to Ireland with her children and a million dollar horse, intent on divorcing her adulterous husband. But her husband wants the children and the horse, and he intends to get what he wants, by force if necessary. From $0.99 SHOP NOW
Spotlight on: Love, Loss and Secrets Across America and Beyond by Ann S. Epstein
Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on Love, Loss and Secrets Across America and Beyond by Ann S. Epstein.
"Deeply researched, deeply felt, and deeply enjoyable." ~Lawrence Coates, author of The Goodbye House
New Release - June 14, 2022!
Love, Loss and Secrets Across America and Beyond
Three Gripping and Emotional Historical Novels
From $8.69
Love, Loss and Secrets Across America and Beyond is a collection of three gripping and emotional historical novels by Ann S. Epstein.
On the Shore follows the upheaval in an immigrant Jewish family when, without telling his family, 16-year-old Shmuel Levinson (a.k.a. Sam Lord) strives to prove his manhood, and escape his father’s pressure that he become a rabbi, by enlisting in the Navy.
In Tazia and Gemma, a pregnant seventeen-year-old Italian immigrant and survivor of the Triangle Waist Company fire, flees New York, leaving her married lover to think she miscarried the baby he urged her to abort.
In The Great Stork Derby an ambitious Emm Benbow convinces his wife, Izora, to enter the Great Stork Derby, a contest which offers a sizable cash award to the woman who has the most babies between 1926 and 1936. But soon his ambition turns into a ruthless obsession and addiction, and despite Izora’s efforts, he is disappointed by his large family, and alienates himself from children.
All profound and delightful reads, these novels are a poignant look at the strained relationships that trouble the multi-generation families of today as well as yesteryear. Highly charged with serious issues, plus the humor essential to confront them, you will turn the last pages with a smile.
Praise for Love, Loss and Secrets Across America and Beyond
“To read this work is to live in its reality, to linger among its moments. An experience both rich and riveting is offered in each of this novel’s skillfully crafted scenes.” ~Laura Kasischke, author of Mind of Winter
“The daily lives of working-class people, immigrants, minorities, and women—Epstein tells their stories with the attentiveness and dignity they deserve. You deserve to pick up this novel, for its lessons and its pleasures.” ~Polly Rosenwaike, author of Look How Happy I’m Making You
“In The Great Stork Derby, Ann S. Epstein illuminates with laser-like precision a family torn apart by obsession, and the choices that reassemble it.” ~Michael Andreoni, author of The Window is a Mirror
About Ann S. Epstein
Ann’s awards include a Pushcart Prize nomination for creative nonfiction, the Walter Sullivan prize in fiction, and an Editors’ Choice selection by Historical Novel Review. Her fiction credits include the novel A Brain. A Heart. The Nerve. and short stories in Sewanee Review, PRISM International, Ascent, The Long Story, and elsewhere. In addition, she has a doctorate in developmental psychology and has published many books for professional and lay audiences on child development and early childhood education. She also has a Master of Fine Arts in textiles. The social sciences and visual arts are reflected in the content and imagery of her writing.
For more information, visit Ann's website.
Spotlight on Deborah Smith Parker: Win a signed copy of Wit, Snark, and Light in the Dark
Wit, Snark, and Light in the Dark
New Release - Poetry - Coming June 28!
A sharp eye and an ear for rhyme threads through a life of obstacles and losses, leading finally to gratitude and a joyous peace.
Deborah Smith Parker’s father instilled in her a love of rhyme with a childhood filled with the rhythm of humorous verse. Her humor seasons every poem, even those larded with pain. Her memories of love and loss—long frozen—return to burden her with grief and dreams of death. She looks up in despair; ultimately it is with her stubborn optimism that she sees the stars and “heaven bowing down in awe” and weeps with gratitude.
Wit, Snark, and Light in the Dark is a collection of poems, vivid, personal, and authentic. Parker searches for her place among other poets, and settles on her own place, where her father “woke those gods who slept inside of me."
With Billy Collins' light touch of whimsy and the bite of modern sarcasm, Deborah Parker's poems speak unflinchingly to hidden truths with a voice echoing resilience and ultimately, joy.
“A compelling and convincing account of the humor and seriousness within the human condition...accomplished using a plethora of perfect meter and rhyme. Keep a copy handy. It will add music to your life.” ~R.T. Sedgewick, author of Left Unlatched
From $6.99 - PRE-ORDER NOW
Humanus Astrologicus
Poetry, Prose and Astrology
Humanus Astrologicus is a reader-friendly, jargon-free astrology book. Through Deborah Smith Parker’s insightful prose and clever verse, this book goes where no astrologer has gone before and easily takes the reader along on its entertaining and insightful ride through Sun signs and beyond. Unlike many astrology books, it has richness for people unfamiliar with astrology as well as the seasoned professional. Tables in the book make it easy to identify which signs of the zodiac your planets are in. All you need is the birth date—and this book.
Parker ignites self-explorers through astrological accuracies tailored to 21st century readers. Humanus Astrologicus transcends common astrological interpretations through fresh observations that originate from her study and practice of astrology for more than three decades. The poetry aspect of the book came from growing up bi-lingual, fluent in both prose and poetry, learning from her father at an early age to write clever verse.
Humanus Astrologicus is a book you can go back to again and again and find new insight on yourself, loved ones, friends, and even situations. The insights given rarely disappoint and always entertain! 5 Stars, 28 Ratings on Amazon.
On sale starting at $0.99! SHOP NOW
The Horse That Haunts My Heart
Memoir
Set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, Deborah Smith Parker's coming-of-age memoir takes place in the 1950s during three transformative summers she spent on a horse ranch. As a young girl growing up in the Midwest, she longed for the life of a cowboy. At age 13 her parents allowed her to go west to live her dream where she met her first love—a horse nick-named Tank. She spent her summers riding, wrangling, and sleeping out under the stars while her extraordinary relationship with Tank developed.Like the rugged mountains in which these events took place, this story has rapidly shifting light and shadow that Parker artfully captures through humor and well-wrought descriptions of life on the ranch—daily chores, risky antics and real peril, coping with dirt and dangers on the trail, and learning the language of horses, her horse in particular.
In many ways, The Horse That Haunts My Heart is a love story with a sprinkling of mystical moments, revealing the deep connection we can have with a non-human creature and learning each other’s language. Through Deborah’s mastery of lyrical language, the story is shaped by the poignancy, hilarity and drama that tested relationships undergo. 4.8 Stars, 64 ratings on Amazon.
On sale starting at $0.99! SHOP NOW
About Deborah Smith Parker
Deborah Smith Parker grew up bilingual, fluent in both prose and poetry. Beginning at an early age she learned from her father to compose rhythmic and rhyming verse. She also learned from him about the stars, the constellations, and the myths that connected them.
Deborah has always worked in traditional and non-traditional worlds concurrently, starting with public policy and its applications at the community level in tandem with her growing astrological and other esoteric knowledge and practices. Her work in both areas provided venues for breaking down highly complex systems into information that’s more easily digested.
Her poems, essays and articles have appeared in a wide range of published outlets ranging from “Journal of the American Medical Association” to “The Mountain Astrologer” to “North County Times” to “Nuthouse” to “New Press Literary Quarterly,” winning some prizes along the way.
An English major and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Deborah lives in San Diego with her husband Jeff.
For more information, visit Deborah Smith Parker's website and follow her on Facebook.
Spotlight on: Small Forgotten Moments by Annalisa Crawford
Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on Small Forgotten Moments by Annalisa Crawford.
★★★★★ "Mesmerizing...creepy, fascinating." ~Readers' Favorite
Hard Cover Release - June 7, 2022!
(Also available in paperback and ebook editions)
Small Forgotten Moments
From $5.39
Is Zenna a muse, a sleep-deprived apparition, or something much more sinister?
Suffering long-term amnesia, artist Jo Mckye is ready to start a fresh, new project after the success of her debut exhibition. But the fictional subject of the collection, Zenna, won’t let go so easily. Infiltrating Jo’s dreams—and increasingly, her waking hours—Zenna is fast becoming a dangerous obsession.
Jo is confident the answers lie at her childhood home, an idyllic Cornish village on the south-east coast; she just doesn’t know why. Only when she walks into the sea and almost drowns does the past start to unravel.
Haunting and melodic, fans of Daphne du Maurier and Daisy Johnson will adore this.
Praise for Small Forgotten Moments
"It’s beguiling, haunting, beautifully paced and it kept me hooked to the very end." ~Michael Walters, author of The Complex
"A talented work of fiction, Small Forgotten Moments builds minute-by-minute tension to a gripping conclusion as Jo’s confused, yet assertive personality swirls from the pages much like the vividly described art of Zenna that she creates." ~Sarah Scheel, Readers’ Favorite
About Annalisa Crawford
Annalisa Crawford lives in Cornwall UK, with a good supply of moorland and beaches to keep her inspired. She lives with her husband, two sons, and canine writing partner Artoo. Annalisa writes dark contemporary, character-driven stories. She has been winning competitions and publishing short stories in small press journals for many years and is the author of several short story collections. She won 3rd prize in the Costa Short Story Award, 2015.
For more information, visit Analisa's website.