Today's Featured Books

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Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the release of Hear, O Earth!, a new novel from best-selling sci-fi/fantasy author Daniel Arenson. Read on to learn more.

To celebrate the launch, Daniel is giving away a commemorative coin. Forged from an ounce of pure silver and minted by the world-renowned Scottsdale Mint, this unique coin features an imposing alien and is perfect for sci-fi fans and collectors of precious metals.

Hear, O Earth! (A Prayer for Earthrise Book 1)

They came from beyond.

From beyond the galaxy. From beyond human understanding. They came with one mission.

To kill us all.

Some call them aliens. Others call them gods. Their tentacles grip worlds. Their malice destroys civilizations. They've crushed a million planets.

And now they crave Earth.

Marco and Addy, veterans of the Alien Wars, are retired. They fought for many years. They saved Earth many times. Now they're raising their children in a peaceful forest. They've earned this peace.

But Earth needs them. More than ever.

Because a war is coming. A war unlike any before. A war that can devour our very galaxy.

The enemy is almost here.

From the shadows of despair, heroes will rise. Heroes will sound the cry of our world, the prayer of our people. "Hear, O Earth! We will live!"

From the USA Today bestselling author of Earthrise comes a tale of courage, sacrifice, and honor among the stars. A Prayer for Earthrise returns to the bestselling Earthrise universe with a brand new story—one for new fans and old readers alike.

Praise for Earthrise and Daniel Arenson

Bonus Offer: Three Free Books!

About the Author

Daniel Arenson is an author, bookworm, and proud geek. He has written more than 80 novels and sold more than 1 million books. His series include:

MINTARI -- Dinosaurs. Majestic giants. They've captured our imagination for generations. On planet Mintari, they live again.

EARTHRISE -- They came from deep space. They came to destroy us. But we will fight back! Start reading with Earth Alone, the first novel.

STARSHIP FREEDOM — The starship Freedom is just a museum ship... until the aliens attack.

REQUIEM -- Welcome to Requiem, an ancient kingdom whose people can grow wings and scales, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. Start reading with Requiem's Song.

KINGDOMS OF SAND -- Enter a world of sand and splendor, a world where gladiators battle in the arena, where legionaries and barbarians fight for glory, and where empires rise and fall. Start reading with Kings of Ruin.

MOTH -- Discover Moth, a world torn between day and night--its one half drenched in eternal daylight, the other cloaked in endless darkness.

To learn more, visit DanielArenson.com.

Free online: A Royal Rendezvous: Unveiling the Secrets of Windsor. Join Colin Mustful, the founder and editor of History Through Fiction, and acclaimed authors Christine Wells and Bryn Turnbull for a conversation that will revolve around Christine's highly anticipated historical novel, The Royal Windsor Secret, a story that imagines the life of a young woman who believes she is the secret daughter of the Prince of Wales, Edward VIII. They will also discuss a second scandalous chapter in Edward VIII’s life through Bryn’s bestselling debut novel, The Woman Before Wallis, about the life of Viscountess Thelma Furness, Edward VIII’s mistress who fatefully introduced him to Wallis Simpson and lit the flame of the abdication crisis. Thursday, September 7, 4 PM CDT. 

"All kings is mostly rapscallions." ~Mark Twain

Military scientist Rydel Scott has discovered time travel. He also believes he's received a message from God to go back in time and save Jesus Christ from being crucified. As he covers his tracks to journey back undetected, he neglects to factor in the consequences of a devastating butterfly effect. He discovers his own elite soldiers are hunting him down to stop him from making choices that could upend all of human history. 4.2 stars, 179 ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW / 

Congratulations to Jennifer Lang and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Places We Left Behind, a "memoir-in-miniature" that examines commitment and compromise in a marriage via a creative blend of prose and poetry.

★★★★★ “For anyone who has ever loved deeply and been willing to take risks for the sake of love.” ~Rachel Barenbaum author of Atomic Anna

Places We Left Behind by Jennifer Lang

When American-born Jennifer falls in love with French-born Philippe during the First Intifada in Israel, she understands their relationship isn't perfect.

Both 23, both Jewish, they lead very different lives: she's a secular tourist, he's an observant immigrant. Despite their opposing outlooks on two fundamental issues—country and religion—they are determined to make it work. For the next 20 years, they root and uproot their growing family, each longing for a singular place to call home.

In Places We Left Behind, Jennifer Lang puts her marriage under a microscope, examining commitment and compromise, faith and family while moving between prose and poetry, playing with language and form, daring the reader to read between the lines.

Praise for Places We Left Behind
★★★★★ “Each facet in this collection is its own world-in-miniature that ultimately coheres into a compelling whole.” ~Sue William Silverman, author of How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences

★★★★★ “Offers readers a compelling tale of unexpected commitment alongside unconventional nonfiction exploration.” ~Dinty W. Moore, author of Between Panic & Desire

★★★★★ “International marriage, different levels of religious observance, and raising children in both the USA and Israel amidst ongoing conflict...the recipe for gripping, surprising reading.” ~Patrick Madden, author of Disparates

★★★★★ “A poetic, playful and sometimes painful story of marriage, perseverance, commitment, and most of all love—for our families, our partners and finally—ourselves.” ~Corie Adjmi, award-winning author of The Marriage Box and Life and Other Shortcomings

★★★★★ “A fascinating exploration of how to juxtapose one's own happiness with the sacrifices needed to please the other.” ~Evan Fallenberg, author of The Parting Gift

★★★★★ “A smart and compelling narrative about the twists and turns of a relationship when religion, identity, and a sense of place are focal points...this mesmerizing love story is irresistible.” ~Chelsey Clammer, author of Human Heartbeat Detected

Online art experiment: Kinetic Sculptures. This free online class is great for all ages and abilities. Youth 12 and under should be accompanied by an adult. Recommended materials: wire (bendable but sturdy), jewelry jump rings, assorted cardstock papers, pliers. Presented by the Dunlop Art Gallery of Regina, Saskatchewan. Tuesday, Sept. 5, 8 PM CDT.

“I want, of course, peace, grace, and beauty. How do you do that? You work for it.” ~Studs Terkel

George leaves lights on wherever he goes. His parents worry that he’ll blow power grids up and down both Coasts. Maybe to even Madrid and Bombay and far Timbuktu! As the electric bills rise, George’s Mom begins to have terrible dreams. From nightmares of what life would be like without light, she comes up with ideas for conservation. As do her other children. But George keeps leaving the lights ON. Until the day he turns 12. On that day George finally figures out which light it’s important to leave ON. From $12.00 SHOP NOW / 

The mission is to reach the new world and start a new life, but when Captain Remian awakens to find life support down and the crew maintaining it missing, he must save what’s left. A hostile alien presence is discovered, and the crew is dying. It's a race against time to defeat a life-sucking enemy and a deteriorating spaceship. Every bit of cunning they have will be needed to reclaim their timelines and survive landing on their new home. From $4.99 SHOP NOW / 

Inspired by the 1963 unsolved murder of Chicago Alderman Benjamin Lewis. “We are the only people in America who have to protect ourselves from our protectors.” -Stokely Carmichael. Alderman David Strong obtained his Chicago city council seat thanks to the effort of his best friend, Alderman Earl Williams, who persuaded the city’s bigwigs to support him. While at home David received a call. It was Detective Harry Johnson, who told him to rush over to Earl’s office. David entered. There was Earl, slumped over his desk, dead. From $5.99 SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on Ready...Set...Pride!, a coming-of-age novel from author Truscott Jones that resonates with younger and older adults alike. 

Not many gay teens experience their journey of self-discovery on a national stage. Then again, not many high school seniors inherit a team in the National Football League. Welcome to the coming-of-age, coming-out, gridiron novel, Ready…Set…Pride!

Ready...Set...Pride!

Max only thought his last year of high school was confusing, with the gorgeous but horribly straight Silas Cannon roaming the halls, and Max still in the closet. At least he had two awesome best friends, a loving family, and time to figure things out quietly—or so he thought.

No one foresaw Max thrust into the gladiatorial world of football, a sport he barely followed, and only because his grandpa Gunnar owned the NFL’s newest franchise, the Portland Rogues.

No one imagined Gunnar suddenly dying, leaving the team not to Max's Uncle Fen, the team's general manager and Gunnar's only son, but to 18-year-old Max!

And no one, least of all shy Max, ever dreamed he would be forced to face his own truth, find the love of his life, and run a professional football team, all under the harsh glare of social media, hardcore fans, and brutal sports reporters.

Meanwhile on the field, Portland has never put together a winning season. They have plenty of talent, and Coach Curcio definitely commands respect. But is it even possible for the Rogues to overcome the war between their suddenly jilted GM and his young, “undeserving” nephew?

Can Max survive his peers’ sudden interest, or the judgments of Reddit, Snapchat, and Twitter? Will he overcome the scheming Uncle Fen and the skepticism of Rogues players? And what about the other owners—is accepting a teen colleague their biggest challenge, or the waving of a giant Pride flag?

Most of all, though, does Max believe enough in himself, whether it’s leading the club, confronting his foes, or accepting the affections of an unexpected beau? Can he win the Super Bowl and the hottest guy in school?

Author Truscott Jones draws upon his own experience playing high school football, serving on a major college program’s athletic staff, teaching World Issues to 12th graders, and as a once closeted teen himself to explore what it means to uncover and accept who you are, to experience the gift of love and the blight of prejudice with equal resolve, and to learn that change is both difficult and inevitable.

Reader Reviews

★★★★★ "Captivating read with a lot of heart."

★★★★★ "Fun read with a easy-to-love hero. A solid summer read for both young and older adults alike."

★★★★★ "I was rooting for Max from the first chapter as he navigates his own self doubts and learns to find his courage against ever escalating adversity and pressure. It's a tribute to friendship, family, love, and the human spirit."

Free online: Literature and Lapdogs presents Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, an introduction to her life and works. In this 10-part series, readers will explore Virginia Woolf's (1882-1941) most famous works. Led by noted Woolf scholar Charlotte Fiehn, these discussions will offer a great opportunity to read (or revisit) Woolf's work and learn more about her life and impact. Begins Sunday, September 3, 3 PM CDT.

“I don’t believe in aging. I believe in forever altering one’s aspect to the sun.” ~Virginia Woolf, from her diary (October 2, 1932)