Today's Featured Books

FREE - Rebel Healing by Noelle Janka

General Nonfiction

Do you struggle with chronic illness? Have you been searching for a more effective approach to healing? Noëlle Janka’s Rebel Healing is unlike any other book you’ve read about healing. This insightful guide offers a fresh perspective on the complex relationship between individual well-being and the larger societal systems that contribute to chronic illnesses. Rather than treating illness as an individual matter, she shows readers that their illness is not their fault and points them to the power and agency they have to heal themselves and the systems that made them sick in the first place. 4.8 stars, 33 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW


Sons of Taldra by Duane Simolke

Science Fiction and Fantasy

An Indigenous family defends humanity from alien invaders and a supposed protector. “Refreshingly different, and at its beating heart is some much needed diversity that slots in effortlessly and with purpose.” -Doctor Who Online. “Truly unique and amazing!” -Author Shay Mills. From $2.99 SHOP NOW


Get Blood Red Deceit & Kill Your Characters from author Steve Rush

Spotlight

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the recent release of Blood Red Deceit, a new suspense thriller from author and former homicide detective Steve Rush.

"To call this a 'thriller' is a huge understatement. Whiplash pace, high octane, high body count. I lost track of the betrayals in the labyrinth of the plot." ~Lynnette Baughman, author of Lost Almost


Bonus for writers
Get
Kill Your Characters: Crime Scene Tips for Writers, tips from a former homicide detective and forensic investigator on how to write realistic crime scenes. 


Blood Red Deceit

New Release: September 1, 2023
Genre: Fiction, Thriller & Suspense
Paperback: $16.99
Ebook: From $2.99



Ridge Warner donated blood to save his fiancée. But in the process, he exposed a dark secret and opened a window for which she wants him dead.

Gold medals and fame personify the life Angel Meade wants people to see—until a pint of blood Ridge Warner donates to keep her alive alters her future and darkens life's luster to a permanent eclipse over her soul.

Ridge meets the unexpected in Woodland Park, Colorado, three days before his marriage to Angel when he learns more than he cares to know about his fiancée after he agrees to investigate a murder where an IED exploded at the scene.

The matter intensifies when Angel's best friend discovers evidence linking Angel to the murder and IED, which draws Ridge back into the case in search of the reason for Angel's treachery.

Experience the suspense and unexpected climax in Blood Red Deceit as it shows how one person's ambition succumbs to the relentless grip of deceit.


Kill Your Characters: Crime Scene Tips for Writers

Genre: Fiction Writing Reference
Paperback: $17.49
Ebook: $5.99



2023 Silver Falchion Award Finalist

There's a dead body on the floor, and your detective character has to learn every detail about the crime in order to solve the case and bring the murderer to justice. If you're not an experienced forensic investigator, how can you describe the manner of death accurately so that the evidence means what you want it to mean?

Kill Your Characters by former detective and forensic investigator Steve Rush gives you the tools you need to pass the inspection of all the armchair detectives (and more than a few real ones) out there. Rush's extensive experience is accumulated in a series of writing tips and activities that will significantly improve your story. Kill Your Characters is for any author looking to elevate their murder scenes with credible and authentic details.


About the Author

Steve Rush's experience includes tenure as homicide detective and chief investigator for a national consulting firm in the field of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. His specialties are blood spatter analysis and recovery of human skeletal remains. He was part of the development team for “Quincy,” a software program designed for coroners/medical examiners. He was once hailed as "The best forensic investigator in the United States" by the late Joseph L. Burton, MD, under whom Steve mastered his skills, and he investigated many deaths alongside Dr. Jan Garavaglia of Dr. G: Medical Examiner fame. Steve lives in Georgia with his wife, Sharon.

Learn more at SteveRush.org and be sure to follow Steve on social media: 
 
    


Free online: Strong Women, Strange Worlds

Events

Free online: Strong Women, Strange Worlds. Described as "a tasting menu of speculative fiction delights," this event features six authors who get eight minutes each to share their science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Wednesday, September 20, 7 PM EDT. 

“You had the power all along, my dear.” ~Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum


Ropes and Last Hopes by Trixie Silvertale

Book of the Day

A Paranormal Cozy Mystery, Harper and Moon Investigations. Readers are so addicted to this series… Can Mitzy Moon hold a murderer down for the count, or will she be taken out in a lethal smackdown? If you like snarky heroines, supernatural misfits, and a dash of romance, then you'll love Trixie Silvertale’s twisty whodunit. 4.7 stars, 400+ ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Beholden by Charlotte Russell

Romance

The 8th Earl of Lexden regretted his marriage before the last vow left his lips. So, he banished his new wife to the country. Now, in a bid to destroy an old enemy, he must have her help. A countess in name only, Eleanor wants nothing to do with this farce her husband calls marriage. Soon, though, she realizes he isn’t quite the monster she thought. But one fateful mistake might cost them the chance at a marriage full of love and devotion. 4.2 stars, 68 ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW


Fireflies by Shea Hulse

Romance

A Celtic Romance Series, Book 1. When two complete opposites find themselves in a magical world neither knew existed, sparks fly! Fireflies tells the story of a beautiful loner and a handsome recluse who discover they have more in common than they thought. As they navigate a dangerous new world with unexpected allies, will their newfound connection bring them closer together or tear them apart? 4.5 stars, 81 ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW


Blue Hydrangeas: An Alzheimer's Love Story by Marianne Sciucco

Literary Fiction and Poetry

September is World Alzheimer’s Month. "By far, the most tender love story I've read in a very long time." "Had me laughing and crying." What if the person who knew you best and loved you most forgot your face and couldn't remember your name? A retired Cape Cod couple struggles with Alzheimer’s disease. "More than a romance... we are taken on a journey of emotional decision making." "Marianne’s writing is easy to read, well crafted, and tells a beautiful story of tragedy, commitment, and everlasting love." 4.4 stars, 400+ ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW


Caleb by Emily Jane Trent

Romance

Navy SEAL Caleb Rowe teams up with ex-military to protect the woman he loves. Livi Cameron is a dancer left widowed when her husband dies in action. Now she is the target of terrorists. Caleb vows to save her, no matter the danger. But he didn’t count on Livi stealing his heart! 4.5 stars, 149 ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW /


Broke Down Single Mom by Kai Lesy

Romance

In the middle of a winter storm, I’m stranded and desperate. I have no food or money to feed my two little girls. Then it's Sheriff Kellan and his twin brother, Fallon, to the rescue. They take us to the breathtaking lodge of their friend, Luke, who says we can stay as long as we like. Considering the rush of emotions I feel when these three ex-military alphas melt like puppies for my little girls and the way they look at me with such admiration and yearning, I should be grateful. But my husband is a dangerous man with connections. Could this all be a ticking time bomb? From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


New Release: Raven's Grave by Charlotte Stuart

Spotlight

Congratulations to Charlotte Stuart and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Raven's Grave.

★★★★★ “A deeply moving story of murder and cultural erosion in an Alaskan Tlingit fishing village during the late 1970s.” ~James W. Ziskin, author of the award-winning Ellie Stone Mysteries


Raven's Grave

NEW RELEASE: September 19, 2023
Genre: Literary Mystery
Paperback: $17.99
Ebook: $5.99  



A young boy dies during a midnight ceremony. A fish buyer and $75,000 goes missing. And a runaway becomes the object of an Alaskan wilderness search.

It is 1979 in a small native village in Alaska accessible only by boat. The local Tlingits continue to honor many traditions of the past, although increased contact with the outside world is accelerating a cultural shift. Caught in a slipstream of time, the village has become a curious blend of old and new.

When a young boy dies from a potion that was supposed to cure his limp, all the evidence points to the teenage shaman as the killer. It is up to Jonah St. Clair, the only police officer in the village, to solve the murder and, at the same time, find the missing fish buyer. To do so, he must use both his police skills and his knowledge of the local culture.

During his investigation, Jonah becomes prey and predator in a nighttime chase through the Alaskan wilderness and barely survives a rugged boat trip in dangerous waters. In the end, he discovers the bittersweet secret of the Raven’s Grave.

Praise for Raven's Grave
★★★★★ “A masterfully woven mystery...vivid and haunting.” ~Kathi Daley, USA Today Bestselling Author

★★★★★ “Charlotte Stuart’s evocation of the power of Alaska’s untamed wilderness on its inhabitants and her readers is palpable and profound." ~Gerald Elias, musician and author of the Daniel Jacobus mystery series

★★★★★ “Teeming with authenticity and rich cultural detail. A wonderfully satisfying novel.” ~James W. Ziskin, winner of the Anthony and Barry awards for Best Paperback Original, and the Macavity Award for Best Historical Novel


About the Author
Charlotte Stuart, PhD, writes about diverse topics such as hidden treasure, chimeras, commercial fishing, friendship, and betrayal. Her books have received numerous awards, including a Global eBook gold, two NYC Big Book Distinguished Favorites, and a Pinnacle Achievement Book Award. Before she started writing full-time, she left a tenured faculty position to go commercial fishing in Alaska, spent a year sailing in the Washington and Canadian San Juans, and was a partner in a management consulting group. She lives and writes on Vashon Island in the Pacific Northwest and is the past president of the Puget Sound Sisters in Crime. Learn more at CharlotteStuart.com.
About the Publisher
Vine Leaves Press likes to blur the line between commercial and experimental works. They publish book-length vignette collections, writing reference books, short story collections, memoir/autobiography, and character-driven novels with a literary bent.​ Subscribe to the Vine Leaves Press newsletter to receive FREE advanced review copies of upcoming new releases, news about their authors and subscribers, and/or to read the monthly opinion column, SPILL IT! or a daily dose of 50-word stories. Learn more at VineLeavesPress.com


Free online lit event: The Writers' Room of Boston

Events

Free online: Readings from the Room. Located in downtown Boston and near public transportation, The Writers’ Room of Boston provides a safe and accessible location for writers working in every literary genre. The Room also provides free virtual programs and events open to the public, including readings this week from poets Daniel Brock Johnson and Richard Hoffman. Tuesday, September 19, 7 PM EDT. 

“Boston has opened and kept open, more turnpikes that lead straight to free thought and free speech and free deeds than any other city of live or dead men.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes


Third Wheel by Richard R. Becker

Book of the Day

Las Vegas, 1982. Brady Wilks, a teenage transplant from the Midwest, navigates life in the dusty suburban outskirts of an aberrant 24-hour town built by the Mob. Third Wheel is a dark and skillful coming-of-age novel about belonging, betrayal, and breaking away. 4.8 stars on Goodreads. From $2.99 SHOP NOW


Christmastime 1939 by Linda Mahkovec

Literary Fiction and Poetry

This prequel to Linda Mahkovec's Christmastime Series tells the charming story of a Christmas awakening on the eve of WWII. Set in New York City, the young widow Lillian Hapsey and her two sons struggle through an uncertain Christmas season. "Charming, heartwarming...whimsical and pleasingly old-fashioned throughout" -Kirkus Reviews. 4.4 stars, 800+ ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW


The Map Colorist by Rebecca D'Harlingue

Literary Fiction and Poetry

“Accomplished writing that also has a fast-paced, engaging plot.” -Readers’ Favorite. From an award-winning author: the tale of Anneke, who in 1660 Amsterdam wanted to create maps, not just color them. But will secrets, infidelity, and murder threaten her dream? “This subdued, yet potent tale will resonate with those with a penchant for rich historical detail.” -Literary Titan. “A world of wonder and amazement, where history, art, and science merge into an irresistible blend of knowledge and beauty.” -Midwest Book Review. From $9.49 SHOP NOW


Malketh and the Undead by David Maruszewski

Children and Young Adult

Raven, Romda, and Ravai are settling into their new knightly duties well. With the Dark Beast defeated, their normal tasks almost seem mundane. Even though villains may be defeated, they may still be around, waiting in the background ready to resurface once again. How do you defeat an army with only three people? A great story for fantasy-loving youth, this adventure will appeal to those who like action and humor in an easy reading environment. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Spirit Embraced by Kim Colella

General Nonfiction

A Guiding Memoir for a Life Authentic and Free. Winner of the American Book Fest Best Book Award and Nautilus Silver Award. Let go of all that holds you back from radiating your brilliance into the world. Surrender all the old habits and mindsets that have constricted you, made you smaller than who you really are. Kim Colella shares her powerful story, transformational tools, soul psalms, and photography to create an inspiring memoir and guide for readers. 4.4 stars, 30 ratings. From $9.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Building Self-Worth by Jennifer Costanza

General Nonfiction

A Teen Guide to a Strong Sense of Self, Purpose, and Meaning. Are you a teenager looking to build confidence, improve self-esteem, and increase self-worth? Would you like to empower yourself with a comprehensive guide that will not only help you manage the challenges of teenhood but also enable you to rediscover yourself and find your purpose? Then this is the book for you! Each chapter offers simple, effective, and compelling tools that bring you closer to the life you deserve. From $8.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Please All Rise! by Oscar Frye

General Nonfiction

The wisdom we were able to cultivate in our minds and the love we were able to express with our hearts are the only true pearls you will be able to show upon arrival in the afterlife. Author Oscar Frye is a writer, business owner, and holds degrees in psychology, international studies, international business, and psychotherapy (Gestalt Therapy). His practical spirituality puts ordinary life situations in a spiritual light, enticing us to question our habitual ways of doing, of being, and of living. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Unforgettable by Michelle Heard and Tayla Louise

Romance

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Michelle Heard and debut author Tayla Louise comes a new standalone, full-length, contemporary romance novel: Life has taught me I’m forgettable, unless someone needs something from me. I’m the forgettable one. Always have been. Always will be. Wanting to feel like I’m a priority for one night, I take matters into my own hands and book a date through The Perfect Gentleman’s service. Little do I know my entire life is about to be turned upside down. 4.8 stars, 20 ratings. From $2.99 SHOP NOW


Delayed Redemption by Kel O'Connor

Romance

Reunited by a dark twist of fate, they find treachery and betrayal lurking in every corner. Can they piece together the clues before their time and luck run out? Mateo will do anything to escape his former life of crime. One last undercover assignment for DAG will ensure his freedom and put a major drug dealer out of business. But when things go sideways, he must choose between his op and the only person who ever believed in him. Part of the DAG Team Series. 5.0 stars, 19 ratings. From $4.95 SHOP NOW


FREE - The Director by Renee Rose

Romance

No one takes what's mine. The lovely attorney kept a secret from me. A baby she's been carrying since Valentine's night. The night we were thrown together by the roulette wheel. She never contacted me. Meant to keep me in the dark. She's about to find out what happens when you cross a bratva boss. Punishment is in order. Sequestering until the birth. And I'll use that time to win her surrender. Because I don't just plan to keep the baby. I plan to make his mother my bride. And it would be much better for both of us if she were willing. 4.4 stars, 6000+ ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW


My Silver Fox Fake Fiancé by Cami Calvin

Romance

A past scorching fling with my silver fox boss was just a fleeting memory until now. Two pink lines are as real as it gets. Scott’s an ex-Navy Vet turned billionaire nightlife tycoon. He might be all alpha, but it's undeniable—I’m still his weakness. He’s still the best I’ve ever had, yet I fear his dark side might push me away. Now there's more at stake than just my heart. The future of our little life inside me hinges on my choice to stay or go. 4.3 stars, 29 ratings. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


New Release: A Hard Silence by Melanie Brooks

Spotlight

Congratulations to Melanie Brooks and Vine Leaves Press on the release of A Hard Silence, a memoir that gives readers an intimate glimpse into the author's memories of coping with the tragedy of her father's illness and enduring the loneliness and isolation of not being able to speak.

★★★★★ "Melanie Brooks is that rare writer who can delve as deeply into the world of ideas as she can the pitted terrain of the human heart." ~Andre Dubus III, author of Gone So Long


A Hard Silence by Melanie Brooks

NEW RELEASE: September 12, 2023
Genre: Memoir / Creative Nonfiction
Paperback: $17.99
Ebook: $6.49  



In the mid 1980s, Canada's worst public health disaster was unfolding. Catastrophic mismanagement of the country's blood supply allowed contaminated blood to be knowingly distributed nationwide, infecting close to two thousand Canadians with HIV. Among them was Melanie Brooks's surgeon father who, after receiving a blood transfusion during open-heart surgery in 1985, learned he was HIV positive.

At a time when HIV/AIDS was widely misunderstood and public perception was shaped by fear, prejudice, and homophobia, victims of the disease faced ostracism and persecution. Afraid of this stigma and wanting to protect his family, Melanie's father decided his illness would be a secret. A secret they'd all have to keep. They did not know that her father would live past that first year, but he did. And for ten years before his death in 1995, from the time she was thirteen until she was twenty-three, Melanie's family lived in the shadow of AIDS. She carried the weight of the uncertain trajectory of her father’s health and the heartbreaking anticipation of impending loss silently and alone. It became a way of life.

A Hard Silence is an intimate glimpse into Melanie's memories of coping with the tragedy of her father's illness and enduring the loneliness and isolation of not being able to speak. With candor and vulnerability, Melanie opens her grief wounds and brings her reader inside her journey, twenty years after her father died, to finally understand the consequences of her family's silence, to interrogate the roots of stigma and discrimination responsible for the ongoing secret-keeping, and to show how she's now learned to be authentic.

Praise for A Hard Silence
★★★★★ "A book with a universal message of love, and the courage every single one of us needs to navigate our way to personal, familial, and communal healing." ~Michael Patrick MacDonald, author of All Souls

~★★★★★ "Those of us whose family members were contaminated by HIV/AIDS around the same time shared her feelings, the agony of family secrecy and the fear of stigmatization." ~Vic Parsons, author of Bad Blood: The Unspeakable Truth

★★★★★ “Fills me with a sense of urgency, gratitude, and awe.” ~Abigail Thomas, author of Still Life

★★★★★ “This beautifully rendered memoir asks important questions about the complexities of loss and grief, the roots of stigma and shame, and the courage necessary to endure that resonate in this new and unfortunate age of social exclusion.” ~Richard Blanco, author of The Prince of los Cocuyos

★★★★★ “A vivid and thoughtful exploration of a daughter’s grief for her father, and a family’s unwanted place in history, A Hard Silence movingly depicts the long toll of stigma and the healing power of words.” ~Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, author of The Fact of a Body

★★★★★ “A profound and riveting journey through shame and grief, A Hard Silence is, quite simply, unforgettable.” ~Monica Wood, author of When We Were the Kennedys

★★★★★ “In this important and profound narrative, Brooks chronicles what gets us all through times of grief: love, empathy, even vulnerability. And, most importantly, nurturing a sense of wholeness, even as it slips from us.” ~Sue William Silverman, author of How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences 


About the Author
Melanie Brooks is the author of Writing Hard Stories: Celebrated Memoirists Who Shaped Art from Trauma (Beacon Press, 2017). She teaches professional writing at Northeastern University, narrative medicine in the MFA program at Bay Path University in Massachusetts, and creative writing at Nashua Community College in New Hampshire. She earned an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast writing program. Her work has been published in Psychology Today, The HuffPost, Yankee Magazine, the Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, Creative Nonfiction, and other notable publications. Though her Canadian roots run deep, she lives in New Hampshire with her husband, two children (when they are home from college), and two Labs.

Learn more at MelanieBrooks.com.
About the Publisher
Vine Leaves Press likes to blur the line between commercial and experimental works. They publish book-length vignette collections, writing reference books, short story collections, memoir/autobiography, and character-driven novels with a literary bent.​ Subscribe to the Vine Leaves Press newsletter to receive FREE advanced review copies of upcoming new releases, news about their authors and subscribers, and/or to read the monthly opinion column, SPILL IT! or a daily dose of 50-word stories. Learn more at VineLeavesPress.com.


Free online - Evergreen: The History of Little Tokyo

Events

Free online: Evergreen - The History of Little TokyoJoin Edgar Awardwinning author Naomi Hirahara for a dive into the history of Little Tokyo through her newest book, Evergreen, the story of a Japanese American nurse’s aide who navigates the dangers of post–World War II as she attempts to find justice for a broken family. Sponsored by the Japanese American National Museum. Saturday, September 9, 2 PM PDT. 

"In a time of destruction, create something." ~Maxine Hong Kingston