Today's Featured Books— Spotlight
Books to enrich your personal, community & spiritual lives from Rev. Dr. Anne Hays Egan
Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of Rev. Dr. Anne Hays Egan, author of books that can help enrich your personal, family, community, and spiritual lives.
"Hope is real. In these times, we can and we must find ways to fuel our belief in one another and make positive change together."
~Rev. Dr. Anne Hays Egan
Meet the Author
Anne is a high energy community building consultant and retired Presbyterian Minister and mindfulness practitioner. She has lived and traveled all over the world, and has found something special in the many cultures she has experienced. Anne’s books have received many rave reviews from readers, Gold Star Awards, and excellent editorial reviews. They have been called "a great read," "compelling," "inspiring and motivational," and "eye opening."
Reviewers say reading Anne’s books is like having a conversation with her in her living room. Anne welcomes those conversations. Her books are about hope and making a positive difference in the world.
"Together, we can make a difference," says Anne—and that sentiment comes through loud-and-clear in her books:
- Moving Mama is about how she and her family cared for her mother with Alzheimer’s. It took a village.
- Building Communities of Hope is full of stories about how people can and do make positive change.
- God’s Eyes is about a series of visions and God’s loving gift of pathways for all of us. "No matter where we live or our religious or spiritual practice, God has a path home for each of us," says Anne.
Read on to learn more about each of Anne's books.
Moving Mama: Taking Care of Mother During Her Final Years with Alzheimer's
Genres: Eldercare, Aging Parents, Gerontology Social Sciences, Memoir4.6 stars, 43 ratings
Paperback: $9.99
Ebook: ON SALE FOR $2.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
Did you know 6.7 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer's? Most of us need help, and this book has a lot to offer. Readers call it an excellent, practical resource for those of us who are caring for a loved one. Reviewers say the book is "a must for someone caring for an elder," "a page-turner," and "a compelling story that touched me deeply." They also said the book was "something I could not put down." It's a book that at its core speaks of hope. Add this to your toolkit!
★★★★★ "A compassionate guide through Alzheimer's." ~Amazon Vine Voice Review
★★★★★ "Valuable advice and strategies for navigating the complexities of elder care." ~Amazon Review
Building Communities of Hope: How People are Making Positive Change
Genres: Spiritual Self-Help, Happiness Self-Help, Religion & Spirituality4.8 stars, 73 ratings
Paperback: $11.99
Ebook: ON SALE FOR $2.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
Hope? You gotta be kidding me! Are you tired of all the bad news, violence, and stress? There are positive alternatives—practical ways people bring more hope to energize themselves and others. Each of us, deep down, has the spirit and fire within to live in joy. This book is filled with real-life stories about people who are doing just that—living large and making a huge difference. Rave reviews from more than 70 readers and editorial reviewers. Given a Gold Award from Literary Titan, and called one of the 20 Best Community Building Books of All Time by Book Authority.
★★★★★ "A great book that guides readers toward building a strong community through good deeds. It is also a much-needed resource for self-healing from life’s challenges and advocating compassion, kindness, and love to support one another." ~Literary Titan, Gold Award
God's Eyes - A Vision for Us: Presence, Promise, and Power
Genres: Spiritual Self-Help, Motivational Self-Help, Religion & SpiritualityNew Release: November 21, 2023
4.8 stars, 14 ratings
Paperback: $9.99
Ebook: ON SALE FOR $2.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
Considered a transformative guide, God’s Eyes shares the author’s experience of a powerful vision in which she saw the world and its promise through God’s perspective. Great for seekers, those on a spiritual path, out-of-the-box thinkers, and all who want greater focus and purpose in their lives. This award-winning new release already has rave reader and editorial reviews. It is called a “great work,” “much needed in our world,” and “inspirational and enjoyable!"
★★★★★ "A thought-provoking book that invites us to embrace the mystery of divine encounters, live in the slipstream of divine guidance, and contribute to a more compassionate world through small acts of kindness." ~Goodreads Review
★★★★★ "Tremendous help on my journey." ~Amazon Review
New release: Saving Face from Effy Redman and Vine Leaves Press
Congratulations to Effy Redman and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Saving Face, a memoir that pays tribute to anybody who has ever felt like an outsider
★★★★★ “When you own this book, you acquire the miracle that is both the human who embodies it and her art.” ~Catherine Filloux, award-winning playwright
Saving Face
NEW RELEASE: March 19, 2024Genre: Memoir
Paperback: $17.99
Ebook: From $6.99
What's in a smile? Or the absent smile? Saving Face is Effy Redman's thought-provoking answer.
Born with a rare condition of facial paralysis called Moebius Syndrome, Redman's grit and eye for beauty help her survive childhood bullying and adolescent doldrums. Her physical transformation at age thirteen via plastic surgery eviscerates her concept of image, just in time for her and her family to immigrate from hardscrabble Manchester, England to America's disorientingly scenic upstate New York. Not until diagnosis in young adulthood with bipolar disorder does Redman come out of the closet as a lesbian, finally claiming her most inherent identity.
Saving Face is a searing personal tribute to anybody who has ever felt like an outsider. This memoir honors the grace of a face that stands out in a crowd, defying societal beauty norms. Disability meets transcendence, suffering becomes hope, and the individual expands into community. The inability to smile, in Redman’s book, lights a window onto the human capacity for redemption.
Praise for Saving Face
★★★★★ "The unfurling of a highly entertaining and shocking memoir in which we are asked to face what happens when we are deprived of what we take most for granted." ~Catherine Filloux, award-winning playwright
★★★★★ "A profoundly beautiful, enthralling, and emotionally stirring tale." ~Goodreads Review
About the Author
Effy Redman’s writing investigates the intersection of disability and identity. She has work published in The New York Times, Vice, Ravishly, Chronogram, Berkeley Poetry Review, and Iron Horse Literary Review, among other places. She holds an MFA in Memoir from CUNY: Hunter College, where she received an Honorable Mention for the Helen Gray Cone Fellowship, and a BA in Literature/Drama from Bennington College, where she was an Ellen Knowles Harcourt Scholar and a Bennington Scholar. Learn more at EffyRedman.com.
About the Publisher
Vine Leaves Press likes to blur the line between commercial and experimental works. They publish book-length vignette collections, writing reference books, short story collections, memoir/autobiography, and character-driven novels with a literary bent. Subscribe to the Vine Leaves Press newsletter to receive FREE advanced review copies of upcoming new releases, news about their authors and subscribers, and/or to read the monthly opinion column, SPILL IT! or a daily dose of 50-word stories. Learn more at VineLeavesPress.com.
"Writing for the Soul" from author Susan Grant
Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of author Susan Grant, whose focus on "writing for the soul" has led to books that inspire and motivate readers of all ages. Read on to learn more!
Sweet Dreams, Boone
Genre: Children's Inspirational Books4.8 stars, 17 ratings
Paperback: From $13.99
Ebook: From $6.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
Boone is a sad and lonely little dog. He doesn’t like to be left alone when Mom goes to work.
To help him feel better, Mom buys him a special basket for his bed. When he sleeps, he dreams of a long-ago time and meets a man who is sad and lonely too, until he meets Jesus.
Perfect for young readers age 5 - 8.
Praise for Sweet Dreams, Boone
★★★★★ "Children will be immediately drawn to the pet theme and beautiful illustrations." ~Amazon Review
★★★★★ "An adorable picture book with a beautiful message." ~Goodreads Review
The Bottle House
Genre: Faith & Spirituality; Psychology & Christianity; Death, Grief & Spirituality4.5 stars, 48 ratings
Paperback: From $15.24
Ebook: From $5.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
Where is God in the midst of tragedy and suffering? Is it possible to surrender to God's will during times of despair?
At Bethany R&L Behavioral Healthcare Center, Stacy Meadows, Stefan Krause, and Debbie Young are deeply wounded people struggling to find emotional healing. When they encounter Chaplain Joseph Miller's mysterious bottles labeled for each of them, they are curious: How will a collection of bottles help with their healing—especially when they are feeling angry with God? It is only when these three individuals discover the real purpose behind these mysterious bottles that they discover a deep spiritual reawakening.
Praise for The Bottle House
"A spiritual revelation of how past regrets affect our mental health and cause individuals to lose faith. The Bottle House teaches us that no matter how low we feel, Jesus can forgive us, restore us, and comfort us in every situation we go through." ~LuGina Dumas, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
"The Bottle House offers an ongoing vision of hope and comfort when we are tempted to retreat into despair and loneliness." ~Ann W. Roach, Psychologist
100 Minutes with God
Genre: Christian Meditations, Christian Bible Meditations, Christian Meditation Worship & Devotion4.5 stars, 73 ratings
Paperback: From $8.54
Ebook: From $6.99
1-Minute Daily Devotions of Timeless Inspirations
God longs to spend time with you, even for a minute. Why don’t you join Him today? 100 Minutes with God is written for those who struggle with finding time to spend with Him. These individual minutes make it possible to connect with our Creator and provide you with material you can contemplate throughout your day. The Scriptures listed on each page allow you to further reflect and meditate on God’s word.
Praise for 100 Minutes with God
★★★★★ "Perfect devotions for busy families, youth groups, working moms and so much more!" ~Goodreads Review
★★★★★ "A great book of daily devotions." ~Amazon Review
About the Author
Susan Grant is a graduate of Columbia International University and a former Bible teacher in the public schools of North Carolina. Susan has written for devotional magazines such as Unlocked: Daily Readings for Teens and Upper Room Magazine. She has also been published in The Bangor Daily News, The Chattanooga Writers’ Guild, and Re:Fiction Magazine. Susan teaches language arts and lives on the coast of Maine with her husband, Randy, and her little red dachshund, Boone. Learn more at Susan-Grant.com and sign up for her free newsletters, Writing for the Soul and Minute Devotions. Be sure to follow Susan online, too!
Inspiring children's books from James DiNanno
Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on two inspiring children's books from author James DiNanno:
- The First Rock Star On Mars: The book that teaches kids to shoot for the stars. And follow their wildest dreams on Earth...or even Mars.
- President Camila: The book that teaches kids compassionate traits. And that one day they could be President of the United States.
"I loved Shel Silverstein growing up...and just started thinking, 'What would Shel Silverstein write today?'" ~James DiNanno
The First Rock Star On Mars
Genres: Literature & Fiction for Children, Children's Humorous Poetry, Children's Rock Music
4.9 stars, 70 ratings
Paperback: $8.99
Audiobook: $3.95
Ebook: $2.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
A modern day classic!
The book that teaches kids to shoot for the stars. And follow their wildest dreams on Earth...or even Mars.
"A delightful and inspirational story for anyone with big dreams and even bigger imaginations." ~Reedsy Discovery
"A very inspirational book for not only children but for anyone who wants to pursue their dreams." ~Goodreads Review
Bonus: The audiobook edition is narrated by Kellin Quinn, the lead singer of rock band Sleeping with Sirens. This audiobook features an exclusive surprise song at the end, "The First Rock Star On Mars," performed by the band The First Rock Band on Mars, which includes Kellin Quinn, Howi Spangler of Ballyhoo!, William Ryan Key of Yellowcard, and the author of this book, James DiNanno.
President Camila
Genres: Children's Poetry, Children's Jobs & Careers Books
5.0 stars, 4 ratings
Paperback: $7.99
Ebook: $2.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
The book that teaches kids compassionate traits. And that one day they could be President of the United States.
A great book for encouraging your little stars to follow their dreams. The illustrations and rhymes make this story as fun for parents and grandparents as it is for the child. A perfect gift for new parents, baby showers, holidays, birthdays, or just because.
About the Author
James DiNanno is a proud family man, creative force, and serial entrepreneur. After spending his 20s touring with the band Silhouette Rising, with the goal of finding happiness...he found it! Along the way, James, a self-made millionaire, established and now owns businesses including the multi-award winning wedding company Meritage Entertainment, Boston GIF, Ambient Force, and PlaybookU. He is also the drummer for bands Callisto and various other acts.These days, James is passionate about sharing his experience and energy and empowering others. Each of his books are meant to empower the entrepreneurial spirit in children and adults. In addition to The First Rock Star On Mars and President Camila, he is author of The Networking Playbook and Entrepreneur: The Secret Playbook.
James lives in Exeter, NH, with his wife, son, and two standard poodles. You can follow him online at @JamesDiNanno or playbooku.com
New Release: Your Story Starts Here from Jim Zervanos & Vine Leaves Press
Congratulations to Jim Zervanos and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Your Story Starts Here: A Year on the Brink with Generation Z, a memoir from a high school English teacher who sees that today's youth are thrust into a tumultuous world and simultaneously burdened with saving it.
★★★★★ “Packed with empathy as well as literary lessons, we have a front row seat to watch the world fall apart as these kids come of age. This book is insightful, heartfelt, and authentic." ~Kelly Simmons, author of Not My Boy
Your Story Starts Here
NEW RELEASE: March 12, 2024Genre: Memoir
Paperback: $17.99
Ebook: From $6.49
Jim Zervanos, a seasoned high-school English teacher and father of two, embarks on a mission at the cusp of a new school year. He realizes that today's youth are thrust into a tumultuous world and burdened with saving it. To chronicle this extraordinary period in America, he assigns himself a unique task: keeping a journal.
Within its pages, we witness “his kids” grappling with pressing issues like identity politics, gun violence, and political uncertainty. A sophomore prodigy wrestles his demons onto the pages of his fiction before entering a psychiatric hospital. An estranged junior posts ominous threats on Snapchat, while a principal sabotages a student walkout. Meanwhile, in his classroom, Jim prepares a hiding space for an active shooter event and, back home, finds solace in the eulogy of his young sons’ pet fish, sent on its final journey with a flush.
By year's end, Jim, unwavering in his determination to inspire hope in his students, discovers that it's the youth who inspire hope in him. Their creativity and ideals paint a vivid portrait of an evolving America, seen through the kaleidoscope of Generation Z. Your Story Starts Here: A Year on the Brink with Generation Z is an intimate exploration of the challenges, resilience, and unwavering hope of today's youth in a turbulent world.
Praise for Your Story Starts Here
★★★★★ “Watching Zervanos stay steady in unsteady waters, with good humor and strength, is the central pleasure of this moving, engaging book.” ~Debra Spark, author of Discipline
★★★★★ “This book is as rich in humor and compassion as it is in dismay at the reality of school shootings and children ushered, sometimes forcefully and prematurely, into adulthood.” ~Peter Turchi, author of Maps of the Imagination
★★★★★ “Masterfully paced and wonderfully rendered... a book that should be required reading for parents, for teachers, for artists…for anyone who’s wondered what it means to be human in a world that daily challenges our humanity.” ~Scott Gould, author of The Hammerhead Chronicles and Idiot Men
★★★★★ “The world needs more teachers, and more writers, like Jim Zervanos.” ~Kelly Simmons, author of Not My Boy
About the Author
Jim Zervanos is the author of the memoir That Time I Got Cancer: A Love Story and the novel LOVE Park. His award-winning essays and short stories have been published in numerous literary journals, magazines, and anthologies. He is a graduate of the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College and Bucknell University, where he won the William Bucknell Prize for English and was an Academic All-American baseball player. He teaches at a high school in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where he lives with his wife and two sons, and has risen in the baseball pantheon as coach of two Little League teams. Learn more at JimZervanos.com.
About the Publisher
Vine Leaves Press likes to blur the line between commercial and experimental works. They publish book-length vignette collections, writing reference books, short story collections, memoir/autobiography, and character-driven novels with a literary bent. Subscribe to the Vine Leaves Press newsletter to receive FREE advanced review copies of upcoming new releases, news about their authors and subscribers, and/or to read the monthly opinion column, SPILL IT! or a daily dose of 50-word stories. Learn more at VineLeavesPress.com.
Be a part of The Chimera Snare: Fragments Kickstarter Campaign!
Today, LitNuts is inviting booklovers to be a part of a unique publishing project by participating in The Chimera Snare: Fragments Kickstarter campaign.
The Chimera Snare is a new dark fantasy series, and readers who participate in the Kickstarter campaign can choose from a variety of rewards, including specially curated goods from a selection of independent artisans. Backers will also be acknowledged in the book's credits
Read on to learn more!
The Chimera Snare: Fragments
Book 1 in a Dark Fantasy Series
High school chaos clashes with an other-worldly feud as two earthbound teenagers work together to thwart a reality-bending showdown.The Chimera Snare: Fragments plunges the reader into the middle of an otherworldly feud between the distant realms of Celestine and Daeva. Notable characters from each realm are vying for the possession of a powerful set of artifacts known as The Order of Existence that grants the user control over all reality. While the Celestines have established themselves as the guardians of The Order, a sect within the persecuted realm of Daeva aims to assume control of it and exact a long-awaited vengeance.
When two Celestine guardians are expelled from their realm and trapped within the bodies of two earthbound teenagers, a race begins between the feuding realms: Will the Celestines find a way to free their guardians, or will the Daeva succeed in their quest to alter the fabric of existence?
Meanwhile on Earth, high schoolers and best friends Rayshell and Trish are thrust into the story when they realize that they are living vessels in this realm for the two banished Celestine guardians, putting Rayshell and Trish in a race against time to connect with the Celestines before the Daeva find them.
About the Kickstarter Campaign
The Chimera Snare: Fragments Kickstarter campaign aims to bring this new dark fantasy series to life while offering backers unique rewards, exclusive merchandise, and the promise of an unforgettable literary journey.
You can become a backer of this exciting project for as little as $5 and earn exciting rewards in the process...ranging from an eBook edition to a signed paperback copy to a lavish first-edition hardcover version, and much more, including a Triple Moon Pendant, hand-painted artwork, fragrances in the form of artisan candles, soaps, and incense, and other curated goods, many of which can be had in rewards bundles.
Visit The Chimera Snare: Fragments Kickstarter campaign now to learn more!
About the Authors
Shannon Vierra is an urban gardener and avid seed collector—last clocked in with over 3500 different varieties. In the makeup community, Shannon goes by zoomzoommacaron where she collaborates with fellow MUAS across the world. She hosts a monthly zombie-themed makeup group called the #zombabescollab and adores SFX and other creative makeup. Shannon is also the owner of ShopCorpsicle which specializes in handmade props, fake food, miniatures, prosthetics, and other accessories. She uses the alias Silence In Shadows for her traditional art. 
Edward Ayllon first discovered the joys of creative writing through his early high school studies, and has spent many years exploring and developing a deep appreciation for the arts. Since first collaborating with his wife, Shannon, he has sprouted a passion and true affinity for storytelling and crafting literature. In addition to refining his skill in creating written works, his other interests include playing bass guitar, listening to music, and dabbling in photography.Shannon and Edward write together as S&E Black. Both are originally from California and now live in the Chicago area with an a clowder of rescue cats. Learn more at TheChimeraSnare.com.
About Clay Urn Publishing
Clay Urn Publishing LLC, co-founded in 2023 by Edward Ayllon and Shannon Vierra, is home to The Chimera Snare series and is open to other imaginative and captivating literary works. Committed to supporting independent voices, this publishing house seeks to create a platform where unique stories can flourish. Learn more at ClayUrnPublishing.com and follow Clay Urn online: 
Spotlight on: The Ryan DeMarco Mystery Series from author Randall Silvis
The Ryan DeMarco Mystery Series is a collection of five literary thrillers by critically acclaimed author Randall Silvis. The fifth and final book in the series was recently released, and all five books are now available in a boxed set. Click below for more information about the series finale, When All Light Fails, starting at $4.97, and about the five-book boxed set on Kindle.
