Today's Featured Books

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of Chad Miller, author of dark/gothic historical mysteries. Imagine a cross between Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker. If that sounds intriguing, read on to learn more!

★★★★★ "Unique, imaginative, and shocking." ~WaywardReader.com on the writing of Chad Miller

Prisoner of Despair: A Dark Historical Mystery

The year is 1889 and a private investigator John Doyle spends his nights in terror. He is tormented by a desperate fear: his mortality. In the mysterious streets of Philadelphia, Doyle is on a quest not only for answers but for his very soul. Along with his partner, Thomas Braham, Doyle investigates unsolved cases, sightings, and obscurities that fall through the cracks from the local authorities.

When an esteemed colleague suddenly vanishes, Doyle and Braham embark on the case of their lifetime. With a shroud of horror looming over him, John is forced to confront his moral compass as he descends down dark pathways and opens ominous doors. Will he find refuge in his search for answers, or will he be a prisoner of his own despair? Find out in this thrilling supernatural adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If you enjoyed the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes or the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, you'll love this spine-tingling mystery.

★★★★★ "Brutal, well-written and twisty." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "An awesome page-turner." ~Amazon Australia Review

The Confession

The year is 1887 and in the quaint Pennsylvania town of Temple, Isabella Strohmeyer stumbles upon a gruesome scene: her father and stepmother brutally hacked to death. As the police investigation unfolds, gossip and rumors swirl through the tight-knit community. The Strohmeyer household, always steeped in simmering tension, harbors secrets that echo within its halls.

As an arrest is made, the town becomes embroiled in the trial of the century. Grisly truths emerge and no one is prepared for the shocking conclusion of this dark tale.

This harrowing story, loosely inspired by the Lizzie Borden murders, will send chills up your spine.

★★★★★ "A vivid reimagining of the Lizzie Borden murder trial." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "Dark and intriguing." ~Amazon Review

About the Author

    

Free online: Poetry Masters Party & Poetry Slam! Get ready for a virtual party filled with top-notch poetry performances and an epic poetry slam competition. Thursday, June 13, 6:30 - 8 PM CDT. 

"There’s no money in poetry, but then there’s no poetry in money either." ~Robert Graves

Congratulations to Liz Alterman and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Sad Sacked, a memoir that uses humor and heart to delve into the pressure on women to hide struggles. 

★★★★★ ““A funny memoir about things that are not super funny.” ~Zibby Owens, author of Bookends: A Memoir Of Love, Loss, And Literature

Sad Sacked: A Memoir

The last person Liz Alterman expects to hear from during her Thanksgiving prep is her husband, Rich. He never calls from his job at a busy Manhattan newsroom. And he will never call from the newsroom again because he's just been laid off. Two months later, Liz is downsized, too.

At first, Rich is enchanted with his new leisurely lifestyle. But when he's still unemployed six months later, his euphoric mood devolves into depression and despair. It falls to Liz to figure out how to support their family of five and keep up appearances in their well-to-do suburb, where even nannies drive the latest model Lexus.

Sad Sacked blends the wit of Nora Ephron’s Heartburn with the madcap hilarity of Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette to expose the pressure on women to put on a happy face even as their world falls apart. In Liz Alterman’s gifted hands, we laugh until we cry about what happens when the bottom drops out.

Praise for Sad Sacked
★★★★★ “Liz has turned personal layoff lemons into a delicious lemon souffle!” ~Susan RoAne, author of the classic How To Work a Room and The Secrets of Savvy Networking

★★★★★ “Will have you laughing and crying... you need this book.” ~Annabelle Gurwitch, New York Times bestselling author of You're Leaving When?

★★★★★ “A sweaty, funny examination into suburban marriage, motherhood, social status and all the other reasons I left New Jersey.” ~Joel Stein, columnist for Entertainment Weekly and the Los Angeles Times

Free online: Poetry and the Art of Giving Attention. In this virtual class, participants will use creative writing to articulate our wonder, care, and astonishment at the world. All experience levels are welcome—for this class, a poet is defined simply be a person who pays attention. All you need is a pen and notebook or paper. Tuesday, June 11, 2 - 3 PM CDT. 

"Be brief, be buoyant, and be brilliant." ~Brander Matthews on poetry

Introduction to Investing: A Complete Guide to Starting Your Wealth-Building Journey

Have you always wanted to learn about the stock market but didn’t know where to start? This comprehensive beginner's guide covers everything you need to know to begin your journey to financial independence. Discover the history of money, the basics of the stock market, the bond market, and various investment strategies, all presented in an easy-to-understand format.

Dive into essential topics such as personal finance for beginners, investment strategies, and financial literacy. Learn how to set up a brokerage account, manage your money, and make informed investment decisions. Whether you're new to investing or looking to refine your skills, this book is your roadmap to success in finance.

Key Features:

• Understand the fundamentals of money and investing
• Promising investment opportunities for the next decade
• Step-by-step guide to starting investing
• Insights into stock market and bond market basics
• Practical investment strategies for beginners
• Tips on personal finance management and financial literacy
• Strategies on how to combat money printing and inflation
• Investing in precious metals, real estate, land, and commodities
• Useful resources to continue your financial education
• Start building your wealth today and take the first step towards financial independence!

Praise for Introduction to Investing
"This is the perfect beginner's guide." ~Online Book Club

"I wish I had had this book fifty years ago when I was a young man." ~Philip Van Heusen, Readers' Favorite

"Straight-forward, honest, and educational, Introduction to Investing is a must-read... The wealth of knowledge and personal experience the author brings to the table and the personable writing style will help readers gain a firmer understanding of the stock market and money." ~Author Anthony Avina

Free online: Book Buzz. Join the librarians of the New York Public Library for a special presentation about forthcoming books to spark your reading curiosity. Saturday, June 8, 11 AM - 12 PM EDT.

"You build a thousand castles, a thousand sanctuaries, you are nothing; you build a library, you are everything!" ~Mehmet Murat ildan