Today's Featured Books— Spotlight
Maybe You Should Give Up: 7 Ways to Get Out of Your Own Way and Take Control of Your Life
Maybe You Should Give Up:
7 Ways to Get Out of Your Own Way and Take Control of Your Life
Maybe You Should Give Up by Byron Morrison
UK Release: 13 July, 2023
Paperback: $17.95
Ebook: $0.99
In Maybe You Should Give Up, you’ll discover cycle-breaking techniques that have been broken down into easy-to-follow steps that will empower you to get out of your own way and stop sabotaging yourself.All of this stems from author Byron Morrison’s own journey of transformation, as well as nearly a decade’s worth of research and working with people in 15 different countries to help them take control of their lives.
Maybe You Should Give Up is a book about empowerment. About helping you break through everything that is stopping you from achieving the happiness and success you want.
Not only will you change the way you think, you’ll also change how you process problems, deal with setbacks, and feel about yourself so you can finally stop being the stumbling block in the way of the life that you want and break through to the next level of happiness and success.
Pre-order a paperback copy of Maybe You Should Give Up from Barnes & Noble or Waterstones and get the following items FREE:
- Audiobook edition
- The Next Level You video series
- The Next Level You Workbook
Pre-order now:
Barnes & Noble
Waterstones
Byron Morrison is a high-performance coach, author, and speaker. Over the last decade, Byron has helped CEOs and business leaders around the world to become more effective by helping them take control of their role so that they can maximize their time, lead with confidence, and grow a business without losing their sanity. Byron is author of The Evolved CEO Book Collection: The Effective CEO and CEO in Control. He also offers on-demand courses designed to provide leaders with all the tools and guidance needed to get to the next level:
- AMPLIFY: The ultimate productivity, time, and energy management course for CEOs and business leaders.
- UNSHAKEABLE: Master the mental game needed to become a highly effective CEO.
Spotlight on author Scott Burtness and "a darkly funny shapeshifter urban fantasy"
August Shade has found his niche. The cynical shapeshifter knows that most relationships don't last. He also knows that after a messy breakup, most people—human or otherwise—just want two things: Their stuff back, and to never see their ex again.
An Oracle Walks into a Bar
4.5 stars, 63 ratings
FREE!
August Shade has found his niche. He’s a post-relationship personal effects repossession specialist. Satisfaction not guaranteed. But at least you’ll have your favorite whatever back.Vilde Tank has found her destiny. Guided by her horoscopes, the huldra hires August to reclaim an unusual book. It reveals the secret of the Zodiac’s thirteenth sign, bestows its reader with the power to write their own future, and is currently in the possession of her vampire ex-lover.
Clarissa Steyer has found her calling. The oracle writes horoscopes for the local paper. Her celestial predictions help keep the world spinning. Now August is in all of her visions and the world might be coming to an end. She knows that the shapeshifter can change into a lot of things, but can he change the future?
Plagued by the oracle’s horoscopes, haunted by a dark past, and grappling with his penchant for making bad decisions, the only sure thing about August’s future is that it looks short.
"Sharp and funny—think the Hitchhiker's Guide only paranormal." ~Andrew Shaffer, NY Times bestselling author
A Scarecrow Wins an Award
4.7 stars, 16 ratings
From $0.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
Shapeshifter August Shade saved the world. The personal effects repo man bested a vampire, a warlock, and a troll without even breaking a sweat.While his growing celebrity has been good for business, it’s also meant taking jobs farther from home. Now, the cranky shapeshifter is in farm country—definitely not his natural habitat—and mixed up with two feuding hag sisters, a loan sharking coblyn, and a mysterious woman with a very scary ex. The manure hits the fan when his best friend blows the lid off a major conspiracy and lands August in a heap of trouble.
A Scarecrow Wins an Award is a great read for fans of John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin, Arcane Casebook by Dan Willis, Moth Busters by Margaret Lashley, and Douglas Adams's A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
A Siren Sings Her Heart Out
New Release: Coming June 30, 2023
From $0.99
August Shade needs a break. Reptilians are trying to take over the world. Powerful paranormals are a little too interested in whether he lives or dies. After years of laying low, the grumpy shapeshifter’s face is all over the Internet. If that wasn’t bad enough, August’s best friend is playing around with necromancy.Desperate to clear his head, the cranky shapeshifter heads north to the shores of Lake Superior. Now he’s drowning in lake monsters, paranormal prophecies, and reptilian plots. A drink would help, but the only bar in town is a karaoke bar.
For a guy who has tried to not make waves, life is getting pretty choppy. It’s sink or swim for the poor repo man. If he’s going down, though, August will make sure he goes down singing.
Scott Burtness writes about ordinary Midwesterners making an extraordinary mess of things. "If the flannel fits…" says Scott.Important to note: To Scott, "ordinary” includes vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches, shapeshifters, aliens, and more.
When Scott is not writing, he can be found hanging out at the local brewery, hanging out with his dog, or hanging out with his dog at the local brewery. Learn more at Scott's website, sign up for his monthly newsletter, or follow him on social media: TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads.
New Release: Bliss Road by Martha Engber
Congratulations to Martha Engber and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Bliss Road, a memoir about living a lie and coming to terms with the truth.
★★★★★ “Illuminates the complicated path of a neurodiverse family.” ~Liane Holliday Willey, author of Pretending to be Normal: Living with Aspergers Syndrome
Bliss Road by Martha Engber
NEW RELEASE: June 6, 2023Genre: Memoir
4.9 stars on Goodreads
Paperback: $17.99
Ebook: From $6.49
Martha Engber lives a charmed life in the suburbs with a husband and two kids where everything is fine, fine, fine until suddenly she’s…completely broken. She’s so used to lying to others and herself that she has no idea who she really is or how she feels about anything. What happened? Why is her life smooth driving one minute and totaled the next?In this sometimes funny often devastating memoir, Martha describes the arduous journey toward discovering the invisible roadblock that ran her life off course: her psychological distress is the result of being the neurotypical daughter of a dad with undiagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a condition that affects more than 75 million people worldwide.
Martha uses personal anecdotes and research about the emergence of ASD as a diagnosis to explain the psychological, emotional, and social challenges she faced as a child, then as an adult and parent. Along the way, she shows the sometimes harrowing but eminently rewarding route others can follow to chase down the source of their family angst and to reach a more blissful future.
Praise for Bliss Road
★★★★★ “A raw and real memoir, illuminating the complicated path of a neurodiverse family fixed in a legacy between trepidation and tenderness.” ~Liane Holliday Willey, author of Pretending to be Normal: Living with Aspergers Syndrome
★★★★★ “With bracing honesty and rare insight, Martha Engber’s courageous, highly readable account of her experience as the child of a parent with undiagnosed ASD is compelling, joyous, and inspiring.’” ~Byddi Lee, author of The Rejuvenation Trilogy
★★★★★ “A glorious blend of insights and wisdom, this memoir may just be what we need to deepen our human capacity for love and understanding.” ~Imi Lo, author of Emotional Sensitivity and Intensity: How to Manage Intense Emotions as a Highly Sensitive Person
★★★★★ “Engber skillfully integrates current knowledge about autism into her own engaging story as the child of a parent on the autism spectrum.” ~Patti Isaacs, author of The Second Long March: Memoir from a Witness to China’s Transformation
About the Author
Martha Engber is the author of Winter Light, The Wind Thief, and Growing Great Characaters from the Ground Up. A journalist by profession, she’s written hundreds of articles for the Chicago Tribune and other publications. She had a play produced in Hollywood and fiction and poetry published in the Aurorean, Watchword, and other journals. A workshop facilitator and speaker, she lives in Northern California with her husband, bike, and surfboard. Learn more at MarthaEngber.com.About the Publisher
Vine Leaves Press likes to blur the line between commercial and experimental works. They publish book-length vignette collections, writing reference books, short story collections, memoir/autobiography, and character-driven novels with a literary bent. Subscribe to the Vine Leaves Press newsletter to receive FREE advanced review copies of upcoming new releases, news about their authors and subscribers, and/or to read the monthly opinion column, SPILL IT! or a daily dose of 50-word stories. Learn more at vineleavespress.com.
Free ARC + Giveaway!
LitNuts is pleased to shine a spotlight on a special offer from author Mark Bradford:
- Get a free Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of The Devil's in the Details, a new novella from Mark to be released on June 1.
- Post a reader review on Amazon by June 22 to be eligible to win a signed print copy of The Devil's in the Details plus a $25 Amazon.com gift card.
The Devil's in the Details by Mark Bradford
Release Date: June 1, 2023
FREE Advance Reader Copy
When a chance meeting with an old man leads to a captivating story, the author is swept into a journey through time and the paranormal. Starting in 1966 at Oxford College, the story follows a professor's pet project to uncover a message that spans all of written history—a message from the devil himself.If you like first-person narrations, tension-building, historical mysteries with a (possibly) paranormal twist, then you'll enjoy this book!
Special Offer
Download a free Advance Reader Copy and post a review on Amazon.com by June 22 for a chance to win a signed print copy of The Devil's in the Details plus a $25 Amazon.com gift card.
Praise for previous works by Mark Bradford
“I couldn’t recommend The Sword and the Sunflower enough. It forces the reader to question, grow and learn to question the world around them and the world living within themselves.” ~BookShelfMuse
"The Sword and the Sunflower books force the reader to question existentialism, world structures, cultural development and religious fervor. It's not just about a coming of age of the individuals we meet, but of entire populaces and the world at large." ~Goodreads Review
“With each step of the journey, Mark Bradford keeps his audience entertained while also on the edge of their chairs. The connections between the characters were rich and vital to the story. The story is very poignant and moving.” ~Audiobookreviewer.com
"Filled with emotional depth. Very captivating! The Sword and the Sunflower and Amira took me out of my living room and into another world." ~Amazon Review
About Mark Bradford
Mark Bradford is an author, speaker, podcast host, coach, and builder. He invests a great deal of time and effort researching a subject to come up with an explanation for it that everyone can understand. His podcast interviews as well as his experiences have taught him what life is made of, time management tricks, what multitasking really is, and even how both order and chaos benefit our lives.
Mark has also been a business owner for 15+ years, and a full stack web developer. It is in his nature to build things that fix, augment or create a solution. The fruits of his labors have been a dating site, four books, and a card game.
Mark speaks to professional associations, groups, and businesses about status, time, energy and resources, and how we all connect. For more information, visit Mark's website.
Also by Mark Bradford:
Spotlight on Ella's War, a new release from author Rusty Allen and Vine Leaves Press
Congratulations to Rusty Allen and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Ella's War, a journey amongst women and men whose lives are deeply altered by the circumstances of WWII.
"An extraordinary, rewarding read.” ~Chris Bauer, author of Jane’s Baby
Ella's War by Rusty Allen
NEW RELEASE: May 23, 2023Genre: Historical Fiction
From $5.99
It’s 1943 on the American home front, and Ella’s pent-up, common-law husband finally decides to leave their farm and enlist. Ella must either depart their seafaring town in coastal Delaware to pursue other dreams inland or try to save their farm. Their grade-school son, Reese, won’t budge, and Ella sees that farmers have a patriotic duty to stay on the land. The bay and ocean waters before them have been preyed upon by German U-boats, and their village has become a refuge for survivors. When an officer from a surrendered German submarine is sent to her as part of POW farm labor, can Ella embrace the help in order to survive? And what happens when Dieter becomes more than a hand to her, amidst prying eyes and under her beloved-but-conflicted son’s watch? How will she choose when her explosive husband returns from Europe wounded from infantry duty against the Germans?
In Ella’s War, we travel a journey amongst women and men whose lives are deeply altered by the circumstances of WWII. What heroic or questionable choices must they make to be true to themselves and come through the great conflict?
Praise for Ella's War
“Beautifully wrought, heart stopping, spirit lifting… What a human brew!” ~Ron Suskind, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Hope in the Unseen
“A dramatic, beautiful time and place…revealing storytelling. An extraordinary, rewarding read.” ~Chris Bauer, author of Jane’s Baby
“Gritty and sensitive—a story that is thought-provoking and will satisfy.” ~Stacy Creamer, editor, publishing veteran
"With deeply sympathetic characters, emotional challenges, and high-risk mortal consequences…superb and compelling tale.” ~Steven Hartov, New York Times bestselling author
About the Author
Rusty Allen studied creative writing at the University of Virginia and has been a full-time freelance writer for most of his career. He owns The Writers Studio, a marketing/copywriting practice located just outside of Philadelphia. He led the Advanced Novel Writing Group at the Writers Room/Writers Corner, a writers co-op in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and is a member of the Rebel Writers, a highly select novelist critique group that was highlighted in Writer's Digest in the article "Plotting a Novel Group." Learn more at RustyAllenAuthor.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.
Romance Special Edition - Indie novels for every lover of romance!
It's spring and love is in the air...a great time to select new novels for your summer reading! Today's Romance Special Edition includes a Baker's Dozen selection of 13 indie romance novels. From tender and touching, to mysterious and magical, to steamy and even more touching, there is something in today's special edition for every lover of romance.
“It’s enough for me to be sure that you and I exist at this moment.” ~Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
Spotlight on Burned by Sue Dobson
Congratulations to Sue Dobson and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Burned: The Spy South Africa Never Caught, “An unflinching memoir of a spy during a tumultuous time and unsavory alliances."
Burned: The Spy South Africa Never Caught by Sue Dobson
NEW RELEASE: May 16, 2023Genre: Military Intelligence & Spies History, Intelligence & Espionage, Espionage True Accounts
From $6.49
From the snowy Soviet shooting range to the heat and dust of Africa, nothing is what it seems. And neither is Sue Dobson.The image of South Africa in the 1980s as the golden paradise on the tip of the African continent conceals a brutal, racist Apartheid regime. Those who oppose it risk their lives. Beauty and brutality go hand in hand.
Sue Dobson, a young white South African woman lives a 'legend'—a life where she pretends to conform, moving easily through the echelons of the racist government in her work as a journalist, whilst concealing her espionage and military training in the Soviet Union, and her intelligence work for the banned African National Congress.
Matters come to a head when sinister forces try to derail the Namibian independence process and Sue's cover is blown during a difficult honey trap operation, bringing the Cold War to Africa, and leading to her desperate flight across Southern Africa with the Apartheid security police snapping at her heels.
Praise for Burned
★★★★★ “An unflinching memoir of a spy during a tumultuous time and unsavory alliances. Dobson recounts her recruitment, training, and espionage with rare self-awareness.” ~Henry R. Schlesinger, author of Honey Trapped
About the Author
Sue Dobson was born in South Africa and witnessed Apartheid firsthand. Wanting to contribute to a democratic South Africa for all, she joined the African National Congress (ANC) and was trained as an intelligence officer/spy in the Soviet Union. She was deployed in South Africa and infiltrated the government propaganda department, interviewed Apartheid ministers, and had a honey trap affair with a police chief involved with the Namibian independence process. She was "burned" when she failed an enhanced security check for the State President's office, prompting her escape across southern Africa with the security police at her heels.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.
Spotlight on Fat in Paris by Bull Garlington
Free Download!
Fat in Paris
Genre: Travel Memoir, Humor
FREE advance copy!
A complete idiot travels abroad in search of the perfect vacation. He fails to find one.
No camels were harmed in the making of this book. But the author was. He fell off a camel on the way to a Bedouin camp behind the pyramids; he was nearly burned alive in an Alabama boat fire; he was attacked by bats in a Mexican cenote; he was shark bait off the coast of Belize; nearly died from heat stroke on the Nile; and was savaged by a swarm of elderly Japanese women in a men’s room at a gas station somewhere in Spain.
Starting from Chicago, the author visits nine countries and various states in an attempt to have a perfect vacation. It never works. But that doesn’t stop him. The result is a hilarious f-bomb of a travelogue.
Garlington holds nothing back, showing the maddening side of international travel without an Instagram filter. Readers will learn nothing useful about the cities he visits, nor will they use his book as a guide. It is more of a roadmap for ruthless schadenfreude as we watch helplessly while Garlington runs into brick wall time after time. Written in a style reminiscent of Bill Bryson (if he were a rampaging drunk) or Anthony Bourdain (if he cussed less), Fat in Paris might be the funniest travel memoir in the last ten years.
Please note: This book contains scenes of inadvertent camel abuse, conspicuous tourism, sniveling, a luridly detailed account of testicular damage, a nearly unbelievable and very detailed story of losing control of one’s bodily functions, way too many footnotes, a plague of scorpions, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Spotlight on You Will Know Vengeance by W.A. Pepper
You Will Know Vengeance
~Readers' Choice Book Awards
You Will Know Vengeance: A Tanto Thriller
Genre: Technothrillers, Conspiracy Thrillers, Suspense Action Fiction
Book 1 in the series
Ebook: $0.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
Paperback: $14.99
Hardcover: $24.99
A government plot. A con who holds all the cards. Can a young man protecting his fellow inmates stop a killer without losing his soul?
Tanto is a skilled hacker who winds up on the wrong side of the law. His punishment: He is whisked away to a hidden compound where he is forced to entrap other hackers. Yet deep inside, an ember still burns...to save people, not entrap them.
Tanto spends the next eight years in prison, finding inner peace in the ways of Bushido. But when the peaceful warrior takes a terrified and badly beaten newcomer under his wing, he is shaken to learn the kid was brutalized by an old nemesis.
Later, the same monstrous enemy lands in his cellblock, causing Tanto to fear for the tribe he’s grown to love like family. When the guards turn a blind eye to his rival’s calculated atrocities, Tanto enacts desperate measures that could trigger deadly results. Can he maintain his sworn discipline and avoid leaving a bloody legacy?
"A new techno-charged version of The Shawshank Redemption for the 21st century...a fast-paced, high-energy novel, that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. ~Readers' Choice Book Awards (5-starred review)
"This book belongs on the shelves of any library devoted to building a solid, exceptional collection of thriller novels, and is highly recommended for readers who can absorb trigger subjects in the interest of a complex, thoroughly absorbing story packed with surprises." ~Midwest Book Review
"Pepper deftly amps up his engaging prison tale with perpetual threats. An absorbing, tech-smart tale that unfolds in a tense prison setting." ~Kirkus
"Readers will relish the ins and outs of Pepper's well-crafted dystopian prison society." ~BookLife
W.A. Pepper writes suspense thrillers. He is an awarding-winning USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon best-selling author for his contribution to the business anthology Habits of Success. Under different names (and his real one of Will Pepper), he has published in multiple academic journals, interactive e-books, anthologies, and online.During the COVID-19 pandemic, Will, his wife, Taddy, and their dog, Danger, started the publishing house Hustle Valley Press, LLC. Through it, they published four e-books that have amassed more than one hundred 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, resulting in thousands of dollars raised for 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. Learn more (and order signed copies of books!) at wapepperwrites.com.
More from W.A. Pepper:
- $4.99: Running on Broken Bones, A Tanto Thriller, Book 2
- FREE: DoGoodR, a prequel to You Will Know Vengeance
Moonlight Duology by Yurie Kiri
- Moonlight Beach (Book 1 in the series) was winner of the 2020 Hollywood Book Festival Award for Genre Fiction.
- Moonlight Duology (Books 1 & 2 together) was winner of the 2023 Los Angeles Book Festival Award in the Sequels Category.
Moonlight Duology
Genre: Suspense Thriller, Paranormal Suspense
From $1.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
The Moonlight Duology includes two complete novels: Moonlight Beach and its sequel, Moonlight Canyon. These two novels have been described as a cross between The Teachings of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda and On the Road by Jack Kerouac—only more intense!
Moonlight Beach: Book 1 in the Murder and Magic Series
4.1 stars, 50+ ratings
Bodies are washing up on Moonlight Beach in the idyllic, seaside community of Rancho, California, worrying the privileged one percent in the gated communities of one of SoCal’s ritziest enclaves. Speculation centers on sharks, satanic rituals, and greedy venture capitalists, but then two more people are killed on a cliff overlooking the beach—and all their organs are missing. What the hell is going on? They better figure all this out before more people get butchered or, God forbid, Rancho’s inflated property values plummet.
Moonlight Canyon: Book 2 in the Murder and Magic Series4 stars, 30+ ratings
The rural paradise of Silver City, just south of Moonlight Canyon, is under attack. Half-eaten, mutilated bodies are showing up in public places. The peaceful residents of Silver City are in a panic. Is it drug smugglers? A biker gang? Some sort of dark ritual? Space aliens? Whatever is terrorizing Silver City must be stopped and fast before this pastoral heaven becomes a living hell. "A mystical tale that walks a thin line between paranormal and crime-based stories." ~Amazon Review.
"Intriguing mix of murder mystery and fantasy." ~Amazon Vine Voice Review
"Never think that everything is exactly as it seems in these books, because chances are that just when you think you have some idea of what is going on, the author is going to blow your mind." ~Goodreads Review
WITH A PARANORMAL TWIST
Yurie lived and worked in Asia for decades before coming to America and taking an extensive backroad journey all across the United States and Canada. Yurie also sailed solo from Mexico to the Canadian border, retracing a well-traveled road journey by sea in a small, live-aboard sailboat.
Yurie currently lives on that sailboat, cruising between various ports in the Pacific Ocean. Sailing, writing, and photography are Yurie's primary passions.
Yurie does not use pronouns (for a reason). For one thing, it keeps the reader guessing—is Yurie male, female, non-binary, or even a machine? No one really knows for sure…except maybe Yurie's beloved cat, Fluffy, who also knows where all the bodies are buried and is not allowed to leave Yurie's sight.
You can learn more and read excerpts of Yurie's work by visiting YurieKiri.com.
Individual titles from Yurie Kiri:
New Release: Heart and Salt by Elaina Battista-Parsons
Congratulations to Elaina Battista-Parsons and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Heart and Salt, a collection of stories for those "wishing to reflect while also being transported."
Heart and Salt by Elaina Battista-Parsons
NEW RELEASE: April 25, 2023From $4.99
Camus once stated that fiction is a lie through which we tell the truth. The main characters in Heart and Salt all have truths, lies, and in-betweens, similar to every human being you’ve ever met. We all carry scraps of our past in our hearts, the hope of the present in our palms, and the leftovers in our souls.Heart and Salt unwraps what is boxed tightly until it can’t be contained any longer—Charli tests her seemingly strong marriage, Genevieve investigates a crumbly old beach shack after decades of storms, February navigates a new friendship, and Feather can’t find her way out of the self-imposed “middle.” Every piece’s setting inhales and exhales as strongly as the people living within its walls, from backyards to kitchens, and from small towns to cities.
Dive deep into their heart, their salt, and their truths.
Praise for Heart and Salt
“Heart and Salt is an honest account of girlhood growing into womanhood, the femininity of each reaching out its hand for the other as if to say, We will get through this together.” ~Chimen Kouri, author of Peach Milk
“With its glimpses into the lives of a divorcee, grieving daughter, a teen wrought with angst and more, there are few feminine feelings left unmined.” ~Suzanne Crain Miller, author of Queen and Temperatures
About the Author
If you see a woman in Doc Martens drooling over a 1964 Chevy Impala like it’s candy, it’s probably Elaina. Her first two books are Italian Bones in the Snow and Black Licorice. Elaina’s poems and prose have been published in many lit mags and journals. She’s the editor of 50 Give or Take with Vine Leaves Press and lives on the Jersey Shore with her husband and daughters. Her essay “I Said it Out Loud” was a 2021 finalist in the Anne Dillard Creative Nonfiction contest. Elaina is also an acquisitions reader for Pearson Education. Learn more at ElainaWrites.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.
Spotlight on Black Rose Writing
Today, LitNuts is pleased to shine a spotlight on Black Rose Writing, an innovative independent press that publishes fiction, nonfiction, and children's books. This post includes a sampling of great indie titles from Black Rose Writing, as well as a closer look at this forward-thinking publisher.
Bonus: Sign up for The Rosevine newsletter to get free books, daily deals, and new podcast episodes, and to stay current with news about upcoming releases from Black Rose Writing.
Winterbourne by William Lynes
From $0.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)4 stars, 96 ratings
An evocative tale of murder, revenge, and love.Set in the early 1960s, this is the story of a family-oriented community surrounding a winterbourne stream in Northern California. It is full of average law-abiding citizens who live in picturesque equestrian properties with white, three-rail fences. A violent motor vehicle accident and the attempted resuscitation of the victim (a homeless drug addict) by surgeon Doctor Franklin Carson and his Labrador, Winston, begins a fast-paced story of deception and lies.
Something is wrong, evil is about, and the society's innocence is at risk. A crime ring is rumored, centered around a violent resident of Winterbourne. The man is a ruddy complexioned man with a distinctive disabling appearance. His father is a corrupt, politically powerful resident of the community. It is the search for a young innocent runaway that reveals a secret scandal that will tear apart the very substance of Winterbourne.
"A cast of characters not soon forgotten, with a villain as terrifyingly well-developed as the young doctor you can't help but root for." ~Brooke L. French, author of Inhuman Acts
The Prison by Joe Edd Morris
From $0.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)4.4 stars, 590 ratings
Mississippi Library Association Author Award Winner - Best FictionShell Ferguson visits his incarcerated grandson Cal with tragic news: his daughter, wife, and grandmother have perished in a fire. Cal must rely on his grandfather to uncover the suspicious circumstances of the blaze, as clues unfold to establish his innocence. Compelling revelations link the fire and Cal’s innocence with domestic terrorism. From plots to blow up Mississippi River bridges to threats on their lives, grandfather and grandson take a series of risks, including Cal’s daring prison escape, in an attempt to save the remnants of their family and southern community so disturbingly infiltrated.
"The Prison is an exciting murder mystery led by amateur sleuth Shell Ferguson, who uncovers clues in disarming and lively ways. A brilliant novel!" ~Michael Hartnett, bestselling author of The Blue Rat
Where Fools Dare to Tread: A Monk Buttman Mystery by David William Pearce
FREE!4.3 stars, 180+ ratings
"A tangled but engrossing mystery populated by dynamic characters." ~Kirkus Reviews A dead man’s money is just waiting to be had. A band of fools and a nobody named Monk Buttman unwittingly find themselves caught in a web of murder and revenge between two unseen factions using them as bait. Stuck between powerful forces he can neither control nor understand, Monk must survive both the fools and those pulling the strings while also dealing with the affections of two very different women, the troubled Agnes and the disaffected Judith, not to mention the irritation of his erstwhile partner, Mr. Jones. With love and life on the line, Monk must use his wits and guile for all of them to survive. Book 1 in the series.
"A well-crafted, enjoyable, and intriguing mystery that, for better or worse, is a little heavy on the protagonist’s breast-level view of the world.” ~IndieReader
Managed Care by Joe Barrett
From $4.99 (free via Kindle Unlimited)4.4 stars, 1400 ratings
"Funniest book I've ever read." ~Tom McCaffrey, bestselling author of The Wise AssIs it too much to ask that a managed care facility refund a year's advance payment when your grandfather dies before he can move in? Frank Johnson doesn't think so, which is why the thirty-three-year-old now lives in a nursing home, locked in a chess match feud with management that doesn't occupy nearly enough of his time.
When foster kid Elroy is thrust into his life, Frank decides to turn this forced relationship to his advantage - launching a string of absurd decisions, inappropriate behaviors, and unexpected glimpses of tenderness that ultimately turn a New Jersey suburb upside down. A laugh-out-loud celebration of bad choices for good causes, Managed Care is an offbeat story about three misfits on the social fringes of suburbia and their ridiculous campaign to introduce an unfiltered version of intimacy to their stale, impersonal community. Because, according to Frank, it's probably what Jesus would have wanted.
"Witty, occasionally crass, and an unqualified delight!" ~Kirkus Reviews
White Oaks by Jill Hand
From $5.03 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)3.8 stars, 650+ ratings
“An ingeniously dark comic thriller about greed, gluttony and murder that is destined for the big screen.” ~Best ThrillersAimee Trapnell reluctantly leaves her apartment on Manhattan’s Central Park West to return to her childhood home in Georgia for her father’s ninetieth birthday. Also on hand are her two brothers, wily Marsh and ne’er-do-well Trainor. With a forty-billion-dollar inheritance at stake, they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make the old man happy.
To their shock, they learn that what their father wants for his birthday is to kill someone. He doesn’t care who it is. He just wants to know what it’s like to commit murder. Betrayal, double-dealing, and fast-paced action set the Trapnells on a collision course with an unexpected villain. Their journey takes them from the swamps of Georgia, to Italy’s glittering Amalfi coast, to rugged Yellowstone National Park. Book 1 in the Trapnell Thriller series.
"A roller-coaster of a novel that will have you both gasping and laughing on a rollicking wild ride." ~Andrew MacRae, Darkhouse Books
About the Publisher
Black Rose Writing, established in 2006, is an indie publisher that features an array of fiction, nonfiction, and children's book genres, all having one thing in common: an individual's originality and hard work.Black Rose Writing strongly believes in developing a personal relationship with their authors. It can take endless hours to finish a deserving manuscript, and Black Rose Writing applauds each and every author, giving them a chance at their dream.
Black Rose Writing is a proud member of the Independent Book Publishers Association, Publisher's Marketplace, Crime Writers' Association, a recognized International Thriller Writers publisher, and currently serving on the Ingram Publisher Advisory Board.
You can learn more at BlackRoseWriting.com and by following Black Rose Writing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and YouTube.
New Release: Lady Reaper by Toni Cabell, the final book in the Serving Magic Series!
Congratulations to author Toni Cabell on the release of Lady Reaper, the final installment in the Serving Magic Swords & Sorcery Romantic Fantasy Series.
“This series has everything I love in a good young adult fantasy...a powerful protagonist, a strong plot, dry humor, and a romantic interest that our protagonist resists." ~Readers' Favorite
Lady Reaper by Toni Cabell
NEW RELEASE: April 11, 2023From $0.99
After rescuing thirty people, including Arnesto, from the dark fays, Mara’s physical injuries are healed—but her magic has never recovered—and her ensorcelled sword no longer responds to her touch.
Even worse, Mara’s heart is bruised by Arnesto’s long absences and rambling explanations.
Arnesto, however, has problems of his own. His brother’s spirit—along with many others in the lower realms—can’t cross over to the far shore—and Arnesto blames himself.
Mara must find a way to work with Arnesto despite their differences and misunderstandings. But can she gain admittance to the elven king, find a cure for her magic, and save both worlds—the living and the dead—before time runs out?
Praise for the award-winning Serving Magic Series
"A captivating fantasy adventure with a relatable female protagonist. Highly recommended! ” ~The Wishing Shelf (for Lady Apprentice)
"Airy, fun and brimming with magic…a rollicking fantasy adventure of enchanting proportions.” ~Indies Today (for Lady Spy)
About Toni Cabell
“Skillfully plotted books packed full of magic, mayhem, and a plethora of dark secrets.” ~The Wishing Shelf
An award-winning fantasy author, Toni Cabell writes the “perfect coming-of-age tale with a magical twist.” (Indies Today) Her books feature strong female protagonists, page-turning plots, and relatable characters that spring off the page.
Toni makes her home in a small village along the shores of Lake Michigan with her handsome husband and grumpy miniature schnauzer. A lifelong insomniac, she often writes in the middle of the night, which may explain her wild plot twists and unforgettable characters.
Sign up for Toni’s newsletter at ToniCabell.com, and follow Toni on BookBub to receive notices about her new releases and sales.
The Serving Magic Series
LitNuts recently featured Lady Apprentice, the award-winning Book 1 in the Serving Magic Series, and in the days ahead, we will be featuring the entire series in the LitNuts newsletter. Click on the book covers, below, to learn more about each book now!
April 2023 LitNuts Deals
Events LitNuts Deals Spotlight
Welcome to the April 2023 edition of LitNuts Deals: highly rated indie books at big discounts (most are $1 or less!) PLUS the LitNuts Deals Giveaway.
This month, the winner will get to choose a brand new Kindle Paperwhite or a $125 Amazon.com gift card. Enter by April 28 for a chance to win!
The Second Chance Inn by Susan Hatler
Genre: Romance
4.3 stars, 8000+ ratings
FREE!
An emotional homecoming that will tug at your heartstrings and inspire you to believe in happy endings.
Wendy vowed never to return to the small coastal town where her parents abandoned her. But when she inherits the family inn at the beach, she must come home and face her past. Will handsome millionaire Max help her heal old wounds and open her heart?
Book 1 in the Blue Moon Bay series. From a New York Times bestselling author, don’t miss the chance to unite with friendships that endure and a love that will last forever.
"Love enough to last." ~Emily Pennington, Vine Voice Review
The Dragon War by Daniel Arenson
Genre: Fantasy
4.4 stars, 1000+ ratings
From $0.99
The Dragon War, an epic fantasy trilogy, tells of civil war in Requiem—an ancient kingdom whose people can grow wings, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. When a cruel general captures Requiem's throne, a desperate band of rebels struggles to reclaim the kingdom. This collection includes all three Dragon War novels.Book 1: A Legacy of Light. The traitor Cadigus has captured the throne of Requiem. In the wilderness, rebellion brews. The Resistance is small, but its cry is loud: "The tyrant must fall."
Book 2: A Birthright of Blood. War rages. Fire rains. Requiem, the land of dragons, is tearing apart. When the hosts of Cadigus fly against them, can the resistors save their homeland?
Book 3: A Memory of Fire. Darkness covers Requiem. General Cadigus, usurper of the throne, rules with an iron fist. Bloodied after a long war, the Resistance musters. Rising as dragons, lighting the sky with fire, the resistors fly to their last stand.
Coin for a Dream by Mae Adams
Genre: Memoir, Korean History
4.6 stars, 69 ratings
FREE!
Mae Adams' Coin for a Dream: And Other Korean Tales enchants readers with conversational stories that include unexpected twists and turns from her perspective as a young girl, collecting tidbits and folklore from her grandparents and her life story.Full of colorful characters—including shamans, kings and queens, ginseng boys, grateful ghosts and magpies, and a host of others—the stories entertain while allowing the reader to experience the wonders of ancient rites of Korea. Hear lepers sing for their supper, watch goblins wrestle, feel a tiger’s sorrow, taste snake soup, touch a Taoist Immortal God’s hand, and experience other wonders of Korean culture.
Every tale will inspire different emotions. The myths, legends, and folk tales also include lessons we can apply in our own time and culture, making it an excellent book you can read and reread often.
"A fantastic collection of memorable stories." ~Grady Harp, Amazon Review
Lord, I Don't Want to Die a Christian by Chandrika D. Phea
Genre: Christian Liberation Theology, Christian Commentaries
4.9 stars, 31 ratings
From $2.99
In Lord, I Don't Want to Die a Christian: My Journal and Journey to Freedom, an ordained minister explores how Christianity hinders her experience of God, Life, and Humanity.
After living in China as a Christian missionary, hosting a two-year Bible study for seven curious Chinese freshman college students, my sense of curiosity inhaled and later exhaled when returning to the practice of Western religion. Born into a devoutly religious family, the daughter, niece, and grandchild of Christian clergy, degreed in Biblical Studies, ordained as a reverend of the faith, I now have questions of the religion that raised and readied me. The emittance of questions and resolves thereof have done well in surrendering to me a choice: Christianity or curiosity?
"Bold...honest...authentic...a lifeline to church folk who feel stuck in a form of Christianity that's harming them." ~Brian D. McLaren, author of Faith After Doubt
Redemption by Ed Benjamin
Genre: Memoir, Military Thriller
4.3 stars, 200+ ratings
From $0.99
An orphaned teenager, Harry enters the United States Air Force and quickly rises to become a top fighter pilot. Flying became his life—and he was good at it. When his wingman is shot down in an aerial battle, Harry uses his skills to shoot down three enemy jet fighters in combat.But when the Air Force grounds Harry for medical reasons, his life is turned upside down. He battles loneliness and alcohol while trying to eke out a living as a private detective. Things change when he takes on a missing persons case that involves a Caribbean cruise and a computer geek named Katie.
"An inspiring and turbulent emotional journey." ~International Review of Books
"This book has it all: super-authentic flying segments, a story of someone dealing with great loss, and an engaging detective story." ~Amazon Review
The Mad Ramblings of a Joker by Brandon Dillon
Genre: American Poetry
4.9 stars, 71 ratings
From $0.99
Brandon Dillon is an award-winning poet who writes from the soul about his life as a child born into poverty, his travels around the world as a U.S. Marine, love won and love lost, and the trauma that life brings. The Mad Ramblings of a Joker is a brutally honest collection, full of metaphor and vibrant imagery. His work covers topics such as PTSD, depression, and heartbreak, and softer moments of hope and reflective peace. His poetry is deep and unforgettable, a beacon for a dark world that needs a friend to say, “I’ve been there. I understand.”"Dillon's voice is honest and resonates with others who have experienced trauma, loss or PTSD." ~Andreana Binder, MFA, Faculty, Writespace
"A glimpse into what it looks like to live on the other side of survival." ~Xach Blunt, poet, spoken word artist
Bigger Better Braver by Nancy Pickard
Genre: Self-Esteem
4.6 stars, 55 ratings
From $0.99
Bigger Better Braver: Conquer Your Fears, Embrace Your Courage, and Transform Your Life is a proven, step-by-step guide for uncovering and putting into action the vision we each have in our hearts to live the life we are meant to lead. Provided with clarity and enhanced with inspirational client and personal stories, the book is a journey in itself, as Nancy lays out time-tested tools to identify, face, and overcome shadow beliefs from childhood that hold us back, get free of the limits of our comfort zone, come to terms with and cultivate fear as a driving force for change, and discover the courage we already have to take bold steps into the future.Foreword Reviews Award Winner. Chanticleer 1st Place and Finalist. International Book Awards Winner and Finalist.
"A warmly written…pep talk for living your 'big' life now." ~Kirkus Reviews
"A self-help companion designed to unearth hope and help it to grow." ~Foreword Reviews
Welcome to the Zipper Club by Bruce Ballister
Genre: Cardiology, Heart Disease
4.5 stars, 34 ratings
From $0.99
Are you or a loved one facing cardiac surgery? There’s nothing more frightening than when your heart isn’t functioning the way it’s supposed to—except possibly when the heart of someone you love is in trouble. It's natural to want information before surgery, but much of what is on medical websites is incomprehensible jargon.Whether you’re preparing for heart surgery yourself or you’ll be supporting someone else, Welcome to the Zipper Club: Surviving Heart Surgery and Beyond will explain what to expect and how to survive beyond the surgery, including:
- What to expect as you prepare for your surgery.
- How it feels to have had your chest cracked open.
- Why a support team is so important for your recovery.
- How to transition back home as smoothly as possible.
- And most importantly, what you need to do to avoid a repeat performance.
Joyous Leadership by John Mark Watson
Genre: Business Mentoring & Coaching
5 stars, 55 ratings
From $2.99
W
hat is joyous leadership and why should it be practiced? In Joyous Leadership: Stories of Learnings Along the Way, Mark Watson makes the case through pivotal personal stories that joyous leadership is not about short-term profit or prestige. It is a long-term endeavor to enrich our lives and strengthen our communities. Joyous Leadership shows that we all have plain or sometimes ugly personal stories that, like a prism examined in the light, transform into something that may surprise ourselves and inspire others."A must-read for any aspiring leader." ~Lee C. Banks, Vice Chairman & President, Parker Hannifin Corporation
"A precious gift!" ~Dr. Robert Fisher, President, Belmont University
The Sword and the Sunflower by Mark Bradford
Genre: Metaphysical Fantasy, Coming-of-Age Fantasy
4.5 stars, 24 ratings
From $1.00
A father who lost his heart, a traveler who lost his love, and a girl who lost everything.In an epic fantasy set 1,000 years from now, the world resembles the Dark Ages of Medieval times rather than the future, and a father who is grieving the death of his daughter takes one last job—to assassinate a man he’s never met. But when he meets the young daughter of his intended victim, he ends up taking her under his wing and they are both taken on an epic journey.
This fantasy adventure explores the aftermath of catastrophe, in a new world distant yet familiar to us. It examines duty, family, and beliefs—all through the eyes of three strangers who have no business coming together.
"An epic fantasy journey that is closely connected with our own world. Highly recommended." ~K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Ciscoe's Dance by Marion Hill
Genre: Black & African American Fantasy Fiction
4.5 stars, 67 ratings on Goodreads
From $0.99
Ciscoe and his wife, Latisha, are dannzas—professional dancers who specialize in performing to Guanamamma music in upscale nightclubs. But their way of life is threatened when Piccanta, a new type of music and dance, becomes fashionable. In love with the dannza life once taught by his father, Ciscoe is determined to save Guanamamma music and dance.In a world where music and dance are akin to religion, the story comes to read like an allegory on modern cancel culture: when a canonized artist is judged without context, the suggestion is that it's the culture, not the artist, who suffers.
"A lively fantasy novel...the book examines the greater impact that an artist's choices can have on a culture." ~Katerie Prior, Clarion Reviews
Building Your First Website by John Rhea
Genre: Web Site Design, Web Programming
4.1 stars, 43 ratings
FREE!
Ever think you could enjoy learning code?Forget those insomnia cures and non-apocalypse-ending books. Building Your First Website (While You Thwack Zombies with HTML and CSS) makes learning HTML and CSS fun, plus you get to put the smackdown on the undead hordes. It has all the content and direction you need to build that first website, plus enough silly jokes and zombie slaying to keep you interested the whole time. Grab this book and stop the Apocalypse today!
"Funny and informative." ~Amazon Review
Fight Disease with a Powerful, Natural Seed by Terry Lemerond and Dr. Ajay Goel
Today, we are shining a spotlight on Fight Disease with a Powerful, Natural Seed, a collaboration between natural health expert Terry Lemerond and Dr. Ajay Goel, founding chair of the new Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics at the City of Hope.
Fight Disease with a Powerful, Natural Seed
E-book: $4.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)Paperback: $7.99
Are you ready to fight and prevent disease with a powerful, natural seed? Many people have come to accept that aging means the likelihood of getting cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and ending up with dementia. With this book, you can stop these myths for good. Now you have the scientifically validated details for creating a long, healthy life with French grape seed extract and its powerful and safe components.Exciting new research shows how this amazing botanical attacks cancer in a variety of ways like no other known treatment—natural or pharmaceutical. French grape seed extract is also your answer to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. Complete with a special letter you can share with your health professional, Fight Disease with a Powerful, Natural Seed is your new resource to approach a vibrant, healthy life!
About the Authors
Terry Lemerond is a natural health expert with more than 50 years of experience helping people live healthier, vibrant lives. A much sought-after speaker and accomplished author, Terry shares his wealth of experience and knowledge in health and nutrition through his educational programs, including the Terry Talks Nutrition® website, newsletters, podcasts, webinars, and personal speaking engagements. He has also hosted the Terry Talks Nutrition radio show for the past 30 years. Terry continues to author and co-author books with dedication, energy, and zeal around his ongoing mission—to help everyone improve their health.
Dr. Ajay Goel is committed to developing better methods for the early detection and precision treatment of cancer. He joined City of Hope in June 2019 as founding chair of the new Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics and founding director of Biotech Innovations at Beckman Research Institute. Dr. Goel is also the associate director of basic science for the comprehensive cancer center and is a fellow of the American Gastroenterology Association.
Spotlight on: Were You Close? by Anne Pinkerton
Congratulations to Anne Pinkerton and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Were You Close?, a book that challenges the cultural notion that the bereaved can or should simply “get over” their losses.
“A masterful guide to loving and losing the extraordinary among us.” ~Mary E. Plouffe Ph.D., author of I Know It in My Heart: Walking through Grief with a Child
Were You Close? by Anne Pinkerton
NEW RELEASE: April 11, 2023From $6.49
A successful radiologist and elite athlete, Dr. Dave tended to the blistered feet of strangers on racecourses and gave away many of his trophies. He was appreciated for his generosity and camaraderie with family, friends, colleagues, and adventure-racing teammates, the latter of whom usually accompanied him on excursions. But he embarked on his final pursuit alone—an attempt to summit all fifty-four of the fourteeners in Colorado—and made an unknowable error that caused him to fall two hundred feet to his death. When people learned that he had died, they often asked his sister, the only girl and the baby of the family, “Were you close?” The question, seemingly straightforward, haunted her and begged for a deeper answer, requiring an exploration that took a decade. She invites the reader along on her own journey as she searches for a greater understanding about who her brother was, why his passions were worth risking everything, and how to carry on in the world and in her family without him, ultimately becoming even closer to him in death than in life.
Were You Close? challenges the cultural notion that the bereaved can or should simply “get over” their losses, illustrating that integrating these experiences can actually help a mourner not just heal, but move forward with clarified purpose.
Praise for Were You Close?
“An achingly candid debut memoir...written with tenderness and reverence.” ~Melanie Brooks, author of A Hard Silence
“Challenges such misconceptions [of grief] by bringing her brother, David, and the pain of his death to the page, illuminating just how enormous this loss is.” ~Ann Hood, author of Comfort: A Journey Through Grief
“With the energy, skill, muscle, and bravery that powered her beloved late brother as an elite extreme adventurer, Anne Pinkerton's Were You Close? is as much map as memoir illustrating how the author scaled her personal mountain range of grief.” ~Suzanne Strempek Shea, author of Songs from a Lead-Lined Room: Notes—High and Low—from My Journey through Breast Cancer and Radiation
About the Author
Anne Pinkerton studied poetry at Hampshire College and received an MFA in creative nonfiction from Bay Path University. Her writing often focuses on making sense of challenging life experiences; significant themes include loss, illness, grief, and coping. She has been published in Modern Loss, Hippocampus Magazine, Entropy, Ars Medica, Lunch Ticket, The Bark, the anthology The Pandemic Midlife Crisis: Gen X Women on the Brink, and elsewhere. Were You Close? was a semi-finalist for the 2019 River Teeth Book Prize. Pinkerton lives in western Massachusetts where she works as a marketing communications professional. Visit AnnePinkertonWriter.comAbout 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.
Spotlight on: Obedience by Liza Snow
Congratulations to Liza Snow on the release of Obedience, the story of a romance between a silk aerialist and his protégé student, set in a fantastical circus-town full of mystery and suspense.
Tip: In addition to print and e-book formats, Obedience is available in a full-cast narrated audiobook, starring Daniel Zbel and Rapunzaroo.
Obedience by Liza Snow
NEW RELEASE: April 2023Available in print, e-book, and audiobook formats
Obedience is a tale of romance and suspense involving Cassandra, the protégé/student, and Chandler, her mentor/teacher. Cassandra
Growing up, I was mesmerized by a man soaring the skies: the greatest silk aerialist in the world, Chandler Moreau.
The day before my parents died, they took me to see his circus, and it was then I knew my fate was sealed. I would do everything in my power to perform with them one day. To perform with him.
Little did I realize, he would be far more than I’d ever imagined him being. Far more than just a mentor. He was a man I didn’t want to live without.
And someone I wanted to keep safe from a past that seemed to keep following me.
Chandler
My entire career, I’d been waiting for the right student to take under my wing. A protégé with whom I could share my lifelong journey in the circus.
Little did I know it would be Cassandra Blackstone, a woman who'd grown up admiring me from afar.
I never intended to fall in love with the student I was supposed to protect—from myself and the demons that lurked in my shadows. But sometimes fate has other plans.
My grandfather's taunting words still linger: "Mieux vaut plier que rompre." Adapt and survive.
Those words were not just his adage, but also unmistakably true. A reminder that Cassandra and my shared history seemed to intertwine us more than the silks we’d spent our lives mastering ever could…
About the Author
Liza Snow is a bestselling indie author. She's been putting romance into readers hands for the last seven years and loving every minute of it.
Liza lives with her husband, her two dogs, and her cat, on the west coast of Florida, where she can watch rocket launches from her backyard and is ten minutes from the beach.
Learn more and sign up for email updates from Liza at her website, and follow her on social media @lizasnowauthor and on her website at www.lizasnowauthor.com.
Spotlight on: Love Like This by Cynthia Newberry Martin
Congratulations to Cynthia Newberry Martin and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Love Like This, a novel that weighs the value of sticking with the familiar versus the value of venturing into the unknown.
“An astonishment…an exploration of the utter unpredictability of love.” ~Steve Almond, author of All the Secrets of the World
Love Like This by Cynthia Newberry Martin
NEW RELEASE: April 4, 2023From $5.99
For the first time in a lifetime, Angelina and Will can choose again. After twenty-two years with children at home, she has no idea what she wants and is counting on the empty house to figure it out.But he already knows—he wants her, all to himself.
Nine days into their child-free life, he quits his job and announces he’s home to stay. So Angelina announces she’s returning to nursing, this time in home health care.
In his new basement workroom, Will enjoys making boxes, but the quiet house sends him in search of music, where he meets Stella who reveals more than the magic of iPods.
Meanwhile, Angelina's first patient is an unpredictable woman named Lucy who reveals a particular magic of her own, as does her billboard-painting son, John Milton. As Angelina and Will’s life together becomes increasingly tense and their days apart become increasingly comfortable, it looks like Will may be the one to get the empty house.
Love Like This drops you inside a long-term marriage, where you’ll be screaming either stay or go—as you weigh the value of sticking with the familiar versus the value of venturing into the unknown.
Praise for Love Like This
“My heart was stolen by Lucy and her son, John Milton, characters whose lives are unusual and compelling. I will reread the billboard scene many times.” ~Alice Elliott Dark, author of Fellowship Point and In the Gloaming
“Intimate, brutal and compelling.” ~Pam Houston, author of Deep Creek, Finding Hope In The High Country
“Renders the subterranean longings of women and men in midlife and midstream…and rediscovering parts of yourself you thought were lost.” ~Samantha Dunn, author of Not By Accident and Failing Paris
About the Author
Cynthia Newberry Martin's first novel, Tidal Flats, won the Gold Medal in Literary Fiction at the 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards and the 14th Annual National Indie Excellence Award for Fiction. Her website features the How We Spend Our Days series, more than a decade of essays by writers on their lives. She grew up in Atlanta and now lives in Columbus, Georgia, with her husband, and in Provincetown, Massachusetts, in a little house by the water. Her third novel, The Art of Her Life, will be published in June of 2023. To learn more, visit her website.
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.
5 Easy Steps to a Happy Birthday! by Michèle Olson
A birthday is a time to celebrate, but they can sometimes be tricky to navigate—especially when it's your own birthday. With Michèle Olson's 5 Easy Steps to a Happy Birthday!, you'll learn practical steps to ensuring a happy and memorable birthday.
Tip: Someone else's birthday coming up? You can gift a copy of this book to friends or family members for less than the price of a card!
5 Easy Steps to a Happy Birthday! by Michèle Olson
$0.99 via Kindle Countdown Deal
Free via Kindle Unlimited
When was the last time, as an adult, you had a gloriously, fun-filled, satisfying, memorable Happy Birthday—on your terms? If that’s not your norm, it’s time for a change!
Filled with practical suggestions, 5 Steps to a Happy Birthday! will help you get ready for an outrageously gratifying, joyous, and “dream come true” birthday—every year. Don't wait to start your five steps; they begin right now, no matter when your birthday falls!
Here's what readers are saying:
"I enjoyed the comical, refreshing truths in this practical book. It reminded me of what I already know: we control more than we think." ~Gail B., Amazon Review
"Full of enthusiasm and humor." ~Jan G., Goodreads Review
"I followed this advice and had one of the best birthdays I've had in years!" ~Colin, Amazon Review
4.67 Stars on Goodreads. 4.3 Stars on Amazon.
About the Author
Michèle Olson is author of the Mackinac Island Stories Series, a collection of suspense/romance novels set on Mackinac Island in northern Michigan. Michèle has lived the majority of her life in Northeastern Wisconsin, including the last three decades in the shadow of Lambeau Field in Green Bay. She and her husband, Ray, have taken many trips to Mackinac Island and stayed at the Grand Hotel, and Michèle says the beauty of the area never ceases to inspire more stories. Michèle and Ray are also the husband and wife team behind Lake Girl Publishing, where Michèle does the creative stuff...the writing, voice work, speaking, sketch doodling, and art, and Ray runs the technical side of things...formatting books and handling the many details that come with a publishing company.
Michèle especially loves telling stories that take a deeper look at how faith can be a part of every moment. She also enjoys sharing life lessons from a storied career and from life as a wife, mother, and grandmother. Whether doing voice work around the country, writing novels, or working on more art, she loves a good laugh! Learn more about Michèle, get signed copies of her books, or sign up for her mailing list at Lake Girl Publishing.
Spotlight on Christian Warren Freed: Military Science Fiction and Fantasy!
Author Christian Warren Freed followed a 20+ year career in the military with a writing career that includes 25+ military fantasy and science fiction novels. His work includes multiple standalone novels as well as The Northern Crusade series, The Forgotten Gods Tales, and the Immortality Shattered series. If you like Star Wars, Dune, or Game of Thrones, or the novels of J.R.R. Tolkien, Dennis McKiernan, or Terry Brooks, the works of Christian Warren Freed are for you.
Today, we are sharing three books that make for a great introduction to Christian's writing. Read on to learn more. Be sure to also sign up to get news from Christian and to check for upcoming events in your area.
Dreams of Winter: A Forgotten Gods Tale
From $2.99
A space fantasy adventure spanning thousands of years: the Forgotten Gods want their universe back and will burn it down to get it.In the 3000 years since the gods almost destroyed the universe, humans have risen from the ashes and established a vast empire spanning more than 700 planets. To protect them from the return of the gods, the Conclave was established. Together with the Inquisition and the Prekhauten Guard, they watch the universe for signs of heresy, and worse. But a rot festers within humanity’s soul. A darkness approaches that only a few can see. Should it succeed, the universe will be plunged into chaos and unending civil war.
Dreams of Winter is the explosive first volume in the Forgotten God’s Tales. Fans of Warhammer 40k, the Malazan Book of the Fallen, and David Weber will devour this book and clamor for more.
The Lazarus Men: A Lazarum Men Agenda
From $4.99 (Fee via Kindle Unlimited)
A thrilling sci-fi noir adventure combining the mystery of the Maltese Falcon with the adventure of Total Recall and the suspense of James Bond.It is the 23rd century. Humankind has spread across the galaxy. The Earth Alliance rules weakly and is desperate for power. Hidden in the shadows are the Lazarus Men: a secret organization ruled with an iron fist by the enigmatic Mr. Shine. His agents are the worst humanity has to offer and they are everywhere.
Gerald LaPlant’s life changes forever the day he accidentally witnesses a murder and discovers an alien artifact in his pocket. Forced to flee, he is chased across the stars by desperate men who want what he has and are willing to stop at nothing to get it.
"An exciting and suspenseful read." ~Amazon Review
Coward's Truth: A Novel of the Heart Eternal
From $4.07 (Fee via Kindle Unlimited)
Welcome to Ghendis Ghadanisban. City of god-kings. City in turmoil.The god-king is dead! Whispers of murder spread through the city known as the Heart Eternal. Civil war looms as neighboring kingdoms threaten to sweep in and steal the crown. As chaos reigns, a new and terrible factor arises. The god-king's death allows Razazel, an ancient evil from the dawn of time, to return and resume its quest to dominate all life.
The only way to save the jeweled city of the desert is for a small group of reluctant heroes to escort a young boy filled with the dying god's essence to the ancient mountain of Rhorremere so the god-king can be reborn. Meanwhile, far off in the mountains, a squad of stranded space marines sells their services in the hopes of being rescued. They, too, are pulled into the fray as fate and destiny collide.
About the Author
Christian W. Freed was born in Buffalo, N.Y., more years ago than he would like to remember. He has published more than two dozen military fantasy and science fiction novels, as well as memoirs from his time in Iraq and Afghanistan, a children's book, and a pair of how-to books focused on indie authors and the decision-making process for writing a book and what happens after it is published. His first published book, Hammers in the Wind, has been the #1 free Kindle book four times, and he holds a fancy certificate from the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. Okay, so it was for 4th place in one quarter, but it's still recognition from the largest fiction writing contest in the world. And no, he's not a scientologist.
Passionate about history, he combines his knowledge of the past with modern military tactics to create an engaging, quasi-realistic world for the readers. He graduated from Campbell University with a degree in history and a Master of Arts degree in Digital Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He currently lives outside of Raleigh, N.C., and devotes his time to writing, his family, and their two Bernese Mountain Dogs. If you drive by, you might just find him on the porch with a cigar in one hand and a pen in the other. You can find out more about his work at christianwfreed.com and by following him via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Amazon, and Goodreads.
Spotlight on National Puppy Day - and The Adventures of Bruno and Grace!
March 23 is National Puppy Day, a day to focus on the theme of "Love, Rescue, Adopt," and to celebrate the magic and unconditional love that puppies bring to our lives.
Another great way to celebrate? Catch up on The Adventures of Bruno and Grace from author Rachel Young! Middle grade readers will thoroughly enjoy following Bruno, a retired police dog, and his best friend, Grace, on their many adventures.
The Adventures of Bruno and Grace: Into the Wild
E-book: $4.99 (free via Kindle Unlimited)Paperback: $10.99
The adventures of Bruno and Grace continue in Into the Wild, Book 2 in the Series. Bruno, a retired police dog, and his best friend, Grace, continue to use their imagination on their many adventures. Now there is double the fun because Grace has a brother, Luke! Although Bruno misses police work, he keeps busy looking after these two kids. The Adventures of Bruno and Grace
E-book: FREE!Paperback: $11.99
Want to get in on the adventures of Bruno and Grace from the start? The e-book edition of Book 1 in the Series is currently free on Amazon (and always free via Kindle Unlimited). Meet Bruno as he retires from work as a police dog and begins a new life at home with baby Grace. A special friendship develops between the two of them as they begin to share many new adventures.About the Author
Rachel (Janssen) Young grew up in Lansing, IL, a suburb of Chicago. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences. In 2006 she moved to southern California where she met her police officer husband. Today she is the mother of two children and two police K9s.
New Release: The Sea Lanterns by Ben Nickol
Congratulations to Ben Nickol and Vine Leaves Press on the release of The Sea Lanterns, a novel in which future may mean not banishing ghosts, but living forever in their company.
“A wickedly funny examination of college sports, colliding egos, and the often inadvisable ways we go about the pursuit of our dreams.” ~Margaret Malone, author of People Like You
The Sea Lanterns by Ben Nickol
NEW RELEASE: March 21, 2023From $5.99
Marooned at a backwater college and hungry for more, Athletic Director Scott Darrow plots his ascent to a better job at a better school.He has the talent, charm, and Machiavellian nerve to go far, but when he hires a famous coach to run his basketball program, the coach proves to be unstable and possibly insane.
To escape professional oblivion, Darrow must maneuver and manipulate this coach, and manage the town’s intensifying suspicions. No measure is too drastic. No tactic too cruel. But complicating Darrow’s work is his own unsettled history, and in wrestling with this history, Darrow begins to understand his frail coach with jarring personal clarity.
Perhaps the two men aren’t as dissimilar as they’d seemed. And perhaps Darrow’s future—even if it’s triumphant—will mean not banishing his ghosts, but living forever in their company.
Praise for The Sea Lanterns
“A poignant and uncompromising novel with gritty and luminous prose. Nickol demands the reader’s attention on every page as he explores the price of ambition at all costs.” ~Soon Wiley, When We Fell Apart
“Who knew a book about a mediocre JuCo basketball team in a gloomy Pacific Northwest town could be such a delight with so much heart.” ~Margaret Malone, People Like You
About the Author
Ben Nickol’s books include The Sea Lanterns and Sun River: Stories, which was named a Quivering Pen Best Book of 2019. His stories and essays have also appeared widely in venues such as Alaska Quarterly Review, Crab Orchard Review, CutBank, and elsewhere. Originally from Idaho, he returned to the Northwest in 2021 after teaching for several years in the M.F.A. program at Wichita State University. To learn more, visit bennickol.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.
Spotlight on New York Stories by Yurie Kiri
New York Stories by Yurie Kiri
Paperback: $15.99
E-book: $0.99
Kindle Unlimited
#1 in Virtual Reality
#1 in Cybernetics
What it's not...
New York Stories is not a cute travelogue or a guide book to my favorite NYC bars and restaurants, nor is it a guide to programming, artificial intelligence, or computer languages. This is a survival story...about surviving all the horrors of a post-modern life: wars, environmental disasters, homelessness, and poverty, along with how to get your bills paid so that the insurance men won't come after your shoes, so to speak...or maybe they just want dry socks? Who doesn't these days?What's happening in New York City in the late 21st century?
The wars have wound down and New York still stands, largely undamaged and more crowded than ever before. Global warming is still an issue, so the city is hot and soggy and the oceans are rising, which means there are a lot of pumps running in all the flooded areas as well as ever taller barriers around the rivers and bays. Just pray that the electricity holds. But people can live with those kinds of problems as long as there's some kind of diversion...
What do people do for fun?
Terrestrial travel is difficult in a mostly destroyed world, but "spiritual travel" is an option...get your spirit extracted and shot into space, leaving your empty physical body "sleeping" like the dead far behind on Earth. Giant antennas on Mars catch those modulated "spirits" moving at light speed and process them into manufactured, artificial bodies for a few fun-filled weeks before the process gets reversed. But if you're afraid of travel, there is a tough, complex computer game available to play. So life can be fun--as long as the game doesn't want you dead.
Who's in charge of NYC anyway?
The Board of Directors, elected by the shareholders, mostly rich business men, are the only form of government now, and that means everything has to be good for the bottom line. That doesn't mean life isn't fair, because nothing happens that can't be litigated in tough courts by good attorneys and judges. However, one of those courts just issued a ruling that might favor the banks and the way that they can collect on consumer debt. That's not going to be a problem, is it?
Praise for New York Stories
Winner 2022 New England Book Festival, "Unpublished Fiction" Category
"A huge cast of characters, a plot line with multiple twists and turns, and an element of magical realism. I would recommend this book for science fiction fans or anyone looking for something a little bit different." ~Amazon review
"Very cleverly written and woven round the things that matter. Highly recommended." ~Goodreads review
"Like Timeless or Bladerunner but more quirky." ~Beta reader
Yurie Kiri is a shy, secretive person who lives on a boat, cruising between various ports in the Pacific Ocean. Sailing, writing, and photography are Yurie's primary passions. Since Yurie's beloved cat, Fluffy, knows where all the bodies are buried, she's not allowed to leave Yurie's sight. You can learn more and read excerpts of Yurie's work by visiting YurieKiri.com.
Also from Yirie Kiri...
Spotlight on: Relieve Pain Without Side Effects
Today, we are shining a spotlight on Relieve Pain Without Side Effects by Terry Lemerond and Jan McBarron, M.D., N.D.
Relieve Pain Without Side Effects: You Can Be Pain-free, Naturally!
E-book: On sale for $0.99 (regularly $4.99)Free via Kindle Unlimited
Paperback: $7.99
How are you dealing with acute pain? Pain has a purpose; it alerts us to a problem that may need serious attention. But once we’re aware of pain, how do we respond? Until now, we’ve addressed acute pain—the type of pain that comes from a headache, an injury, or back pain, for example—with over-the-counter prescription pain relievers. Unfortunately, many of those medications cause unwanted side effects and sometimes, life-threatening consequences. Now, there’s a better way to stop acute pain!Research has uncovered a powerful combination of nutrients that addresses acute pain, safely and effectively. This solution from nature tackles acute pain and helps prevent it from morphing into long-term chronic pain.
Discover for yourself how this fast-acting breakthrough in pain relief can be your answer to living life to the fullest—pain free!
About the Authors
Terry Lemerond is a natural health expert with more than 50 years of experience helping people live healthier, vibrant lives. A much sought-after speaker and accomplished author, Terry shares his wealth of experience and knowledge in health and nutrition through his educational programs, including the Terry Talks Nutrition® website, newsletters, podcasts, webinars, and personal speaking engagements. He has also hosted the Terry Talks Nutrition radio show for the past 30 years. Terry continues to author and co-author books with dedication, energy, and zeal around his ongoing mission—to help everyone improve their health.
Dr. Jan McBarron started her medical career as a volunteer candy striper before becoming a nurse and then a doctor. With a passion for nutrition and wellness, she was able to develop a personal connection with her patients and help them achieve healthier lifestyles. Her husband, Duke, operated a chain of health foods stores, and together they had a broadcasting career as "Duke & The Doctor," a nationally syndicated radio broadcast that was heard by millions over its 20-year history. Duke and Doc now live in Henderson Nevada, where they enjoy hiking, weightlifting, tennis, and travel. Learn more at drjanmcbarron.com.
Spotlight on: The River is Everywhere
Congratulations to Emilie-Noelle Provost and Vine Leaves Press on the release of The River is Everywhere, the story of a modern-day adventurer on a quest for meaning.
The River is Everywhere by Emilie-Noelle Provost
NEW RELEASE: March 14, 2023From $4.99
Sixteen-year-old honors student Ernest Benoit has always followed the rules. But when his best friend drowns on Cape Cod, Ernest begins to question his family’s devout Catholicism, and he disrupts an Advent prayer service at his Catholic high school. Now his life will never be the same.To avoid being sent to a Jesuit boarding school, Ernest boards a bus to Manhattan but ends up stranded in a blizzard in a depressed western Massachusetts mill town. It’s the beginning of a months-long journey that leads him to rescue a young girl from an icy river, into the bed of a lonely middle-aged widow, and to the woodland cabin of Roland Laliberté, a recluse who can shoot with the accuracy of a sniper.
When the widow falsely accuses Ernest of rape, Roland smuggles him over the Canadian border where they settle into life on the New Brunswick farm where Roland grew up. Ernest takes a job in the Lalibertés’ sawmill and falls in love with the girl next door. But it’s not long before the local police start asking questions and his return home seems impossible.
Praise for The River is Everywhere
“From brisk, well-observed narrative emerges a touching and intimate evocation of these little-known communities.” ~David Vermette, author of A Distinct Alien Race
“Ernest Benoit’s at times dangerous journey quickly becomes a search for his own roots and soul. Provost is a gifted storyteller. The River Is Everywhere is well worth your time.” ~Stephen O’Connor, author of Smokestack Lightening
“A modern-day adventurer on a quest for meaning as he learns about love, loss, and his own soul.” ~Paul Marion, editor of Atop an Underwood, the early work of Jack Kerouac
“A rich and haunting coming-of-age story with a hero reminiscent of a less cynical Holden Caulfield, The River is Everywhere explores the best—and worst—of human nature, with charming, complex, and fully rendered characters that are hard to forget.” ~Liz Michalski, author of Evenfall
About the Author
Emilie-Noelle Provost lives in an old mill city in northeastern Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and three crazy rescue cats. She has held editorial roles at several magazines and is the author of The Blue Bottle, a middle-grade adventure novel. When she's not clicking away on her keyboard, she can usually be found on hiking trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. See what she’s up to at emilienoelleprovost.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.