Today's Featured Books

“A polished, thoroughly engaging fantasy for tweens and young adults.” -Foreword Reviews. As more and more shadows infiltrate their world, Aaron, Wendy, Jake, and Eddie learn that what was once just silhouette and smoke has become something much more terrible, tangible, and horrifying. In Book II: Cave in the Rock, we saw the interdimensional portal torn open, releasing a flood of darkness upon the world. In Book III: Shadows on the Silver Strings, there’s music in the air, and the sound our heroes hear may be the hopeful melody of a brand new day, or a death knell tolling—a harbinger of their impending doom. Part of the Folktellers Excerpts from an Unknown Guidebook series. Coming October 2022. From $9.99 PRE-ORDER NOW / 

New Release! Krystina and Loukas were once childhood friends. He betrayed her. She shut him out of her life. She’s stubborn and unforgiving, yet to others kind and caring. But he lives on hope, though circumstances in his life continue to disappoint him. Now in times of crisis, they’ve come to depend on each other. Book 3 in The Meraki Series (can be read on its own!) will play on all your emotions. From $3.99 SHOP NOW / 

"This is the best book I have read in a long time! The story kept me on the edge of my seat!" -Amazon review. Investigative reporter Jennifer Gibbs is tracking a brutal serial killer—or so she thinks. With each murder, he sends her a photo of his victim and a clue that speaks to his identity and shows off how well he knows her. Will she be able to decipher the clues to and save herself from a fate worse than death? "Sheer brilliance!" -Amazon review. "Quick, witty, twisty and left me shocked: A perfect combination!" -Amazon review. From $3.99 SHOP NOW / 

A dragon on the run. A clever curse. A Queen willing to sacrifice anyone to keep the power she craves. Alice didn’t ask to come to Wonderland. And she certainly didn’t ask to be tasked to break a curse. But thanks to a snarky cat on a mission, that’s what she’ll have to do if she wants to get home. Will she be able to restore the crown to the rightful heir without losing her head or heart? Follow Alice down the Rabbit hole. From $2.99 SHOP NOW / 

"Shivah is a moving meditation on the multiple, complex, and often conflicting layers of grief. Through her narrator’s spiraling introspection, Solod asks what it means to lose someone long before you’ve lost them, to grieve what might have been as well as what was." -Ilana Masad, author of All My Mother’s Lovers. "(In Shivah) the prose is warm, flowing, and textured, mixing prose with poetry, quotes, and journal entries. Written as a detailed character study, it explores the realities of living with a difficult parent." -Erika Harlitz Kern. From $11.49 SHOP NOW / 

"I devoured this book in a couple of days. This was a great novel and very well-written." -reader review. An LGBTQ urban fantasy with an engaging enemies-to-lovers romance subplot. A broken mage. A penitent vampire. Can they put aside the horrors of the past to save each other? A prophecy calls for Nick and Byron to bond by blood to finally bring an end to the sorcerer's hidden agenda. But are these emotions real, or do they come from the heat of their bond? From $3.99 SHOP NOW / 

"...fans of Janet Evanovich's work will likely enjoy this book." -Kirkus Reviews. When gunshots echo off the shopping mall walls, the phrase "shop till you drop" takes on new meaning. Single mom and private investigator Cameron Chandler tries to help a gunshot victim and is forcibly dragged toward a mall exit. “...filled with scenes that will make you giggle aloud." -Ann-Marie Reynolds, 5 star Readers' Favorite. From $1.99 SHOP NOW / 

Football. The world’s favorite sport. What does that have to do with God? This lighthearted yet contemplative study will fill your soul and challenge your mind to see God in all things – and invite Him into your heart. Each lesson provides discussion questions. These can be considered privately or in a group. You won’t be asked to suit up and carry the ball, but don’t be surprised when you feel called to get in the game. From $7.99 SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on Love, Loss and Secrets Across America and Beyond by Ann S. Epstein. 

"Deeply researched, deeply felt, and deeply enjoyable." ~Lawrence Coates, author of The Goodbye House

New Release - June 14, 2022!

Love, Loss and Secrets Across America and Beyond
Three Gripping and Emotional Historical Novels

From $8.69  

Love, Loss and Secrets Across America and Beyond is a collection of three gripping and emotional historical novels by Ann S. Epstein.

On the Shore follows the upheaval in an immigrant Jewish family when, without telling his family, 16-year-old Shmuel Levinson (a.k.a. Sam Lord) strives to prove his manhood, and escape his father’s pressure that he become a rabbi, by enlisting in the Navy.

In Tazia and Gemma, a pregnant seventeen-year-old Italian immigrant and survivor of the Triangle Waist Company fire, flees New York, leaving her married lover to think she miscarried the baby he urged her to abort.

In The Great Stork Derby an ambitious Emm Benbow convinces his wife, Izora, to enter the Great Stork Derby, a contest which offers a sizable cash award to the woman who has the most babies between 1926 and 1936. But soon his ambition turns into a ruthless obsession and addiction, and despite Izora’s efforts, he is disappointed by his large family, and alienates himself from children.

All profound and delightful reads, these novels are a poignant look at the strained relationships that trouble the multi-generation families of today as well as yesteryear. Highly charged with serious issues, plus the humor essential to confront them, you will turn the last pages with a smile.

Praise for Love, Loss and Secrets Across America and Beyond

“To read this work is to live in its reality, to linger among its moments. An experience both rich and riveting is offered in each of this novel’s skillfully crafted scenes.” ~Laura Kasischke, author of Mind of Winter

“The daily lives of working-class people, immigrants, minorities, and women—Epstein tells their stories with the attentiveness and dignity they deserve. You deserve to pick up this novel, for its lessons and its pleasures.” ~Polly Rosenwaike, author of Look How Happy I’m Making You

“In The Great Stork Derby, Ann S. Epstein illuminates with laser-like precision a family torn apart by obsession, and the choices that reassemble it.” ~Michael Andreoni, author of The Window is a Mirror

Ann’s awards include a Pushcart Prize nomination for creative nonfiction, the Walter Sullivan prize in fiction, and an Editors’ Choice selection by Historical Novel Review. Her fiction credits include the novel A Brain. A Heart. The Nerve. and short stories in Sewanee Review, PRISM International, Ascent, The Long Story, and elsewhere. In addition, she has a doctorate in developmental psychology and has published many books for professional and lay audiences on child development and early childhood education. She also has a Master of Fine Arts in textiles. The social sciences and visual arts are reflected in the content and imagery of her writing.

For more information, visit Ann's website. 

Our friends at History Through Fiction are at it again with another great online event this week, free of charge. Don't miss What's New in Historical Fiction, a panel discussion featuring authors Angela Jackson-Brown, Erin Litteken, Kimberly Brock, and Vanessa Riley, plus moderator Colin Mustful. Tuesday, June 14, 8:00 - 9:00 PM EDT. 

Also, we're currently sponsoring FIVE giveaways! Visit LitNuts.com to learn more and to enter to win.

"History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again." ~Kurt Vonnegut

"​Salvatore offers the reader scrupulous detail and heartfelt colour with his story and, most importantly, truth without varnish." -Eric Kinkopf. Imagine a remote community in Paraguay, South America, where you read by candle light, draw your water from a well, cook your meals on an open fire and attend to your needs in a rickety outhouse. Mark Salvatore relates his Peace Corps experience (1989-91) in such a place beginning with his first day in the country—the day of a coup. From $2.99 SHOP NOW / 

A prominent doctor murdered. As the slayings escalate, can one man keep a killer’s scalpel from causing more carnage? Overall, a fast-paced psychological thriller with some police procedurals thrown in. A riveting and very well written story that offers insight and intuitive understanding of the different characters in the story. From $0.99 SHOP NOW / 

After moving across the country, Ana finds herself enjoying the day-to-day activities of her new life. Her past is unexpectedly brought to a head, though, when her neighbor finally stops by to introduce himself. Johnathan knows what their relationship will lead to, but this time, he cannot keep a distance as their past pulls them closer. It can't last, though; it never does. He knows if they continue, her death will soon follow, something his heart could not take again. From $6.99 SHOP NOW / 

"[A] skillful piece of work that left me in tears..." -Goodreads review. More than 60 years after a racially motivated murder, the townspeople of Brookville come under attack by vengeful spirits. 4.69 average rating on Goodreads. From $2.99 SHOP NOW / 

Wit, Snark, and Light in the Dark
New Release - Poetry - Coming June 28!

A sharp eye and an ear for rhyme threads through a life of obstacles and losses, leading finally to gratitude and a joyous peace.

Deborah Smith Parker’s father instilled in her a love of rhyme with a childhood filled with the rhythm of humorous verse. Her humor seasons every poem, even those larded with pain. Her memories of love and loss—long frozen—return to burden her with grief and dreams of death. She looks up in despair; ultimately it is with her stubborn optimism that she sees the stars and “heaven bowing down in awe” and weeps with gratitude.

Wit, Snark, and Light in the Dark is a collection of poems, vivid, personal, and authentic. Parker searches for her place among other poets, and settles on her own place, where her father “woke those gods who slept inside of me."

With Billy Collins' light touch of whimsy and the bite of modern sarcasm, Deborah Parker's poems speak unflinchingly to hidden truths with a voice echoing resilience and ultimately, joy.

“A compelling and convincing account of the humor and seriousness within the human condition...accomplished using a plethora of perfect meter and rhyme. Keep a copy handy. It will add music to your life.” ~R.T. Sedgewick, author of Left Unlatched

From $6.99 - PRE-ORDER NOW

Humanus Astrologicus
Poetry, Prose and Astrology

Humanus Astrologicus is a reader-friendly, jargon-free astrology book. Through Deborah Smith Parker’s insightful prose and clever verse, this book goes where no astrologer has gone before and easily takes the reader along on its entertaining and insightful ride through Sun signs and beyond. Unlike many astrology books, it has richness for people unfamiliar with astrology as well as the seasoned professional. Tables in the book make it easy to identify which signs of the zodiac your planets are in. All you need is the birth date—and this book.

Parker ignites self-explorers through astrological accuracies tailored to 21st century readers. Humanus Astrologicus transcends common astrological interpretations through fresh observations that originate from her study and practice of astrology for more than three decades. The poetry aspect of the book came from growing up bi-lingual, fluent in both prose and poetry, learning from her father at an early age to write clever verse.

Humanus Astrologicus is a book you can go back to again and again and find new insight on yourself, loved ones, friends, and even situations. The insights given rarely disappoint and always entertain! 5 Stars, 28 Ratings on Amazon.

On sale starting at $0.99! SHOP NOW

The Horse That Haunts My Heart
Memoir   

Set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, Deborah Smith Parker's coming-of-age memoir takes place in the 1950s during three transformative summers she spent on a horse ranch. As a young girl growing up in the Midwest, she longed for the life of a cowboy. At age 13 her parents allowed her to go west to live her dream where she met her first love—a horse nick-named Tank. She spent her summers riding, wrangling, and sleeping out under the stars while her extraordinary relationship with Tank developed.

Like the rugged mountains in which these events took place, this story has rapidly shifting light and shadow that Parker artfully captures through humor and well-wrought descriptions of life on the ranch—daily chores, risky antics and real peril, coping with dirt and dangers on the trail, and learning the language of horses, her horse in particular. 

In many ways, The Horse That Haunts My Heart is a love story with a sprinkling of mystical moments, revealing the deep connection we can have with a non-human creature and learning each other’s language. Through Deborah’s mastery of lyrical language, the story is shaped by the poignancy, hilarity and drama that tested relationships undergo. 4.8 Stars, 64 ratings on Amazon.

On sale starting at $0.99! SHOP NOW

About Deborah Smith Parker

Deborah Smith Parker grew up bilingual, fluent in both prose and poetry. Beginning at an early age she learned from her father to compose rhythmic and rhyming verse. She also learned from him about the stars, the constellations, and the myths that connected them.

Deborah has always worked in traditional and non-traditional worlds concurrently, starting with public policy and its applications at the community level in tandem with her growing astrological and other esoteric knowledge and practices. Her work in both areas provided venues for breaking down highly complex systems into information that’s more easily digested.

Her poems, essays and articles have appeared in a wide range of published outlets ranging from “Journal of the American Medical Association” to “The Mountain Astrologer” to “North County Times” to “Nuthouse” to “New Press Literary Quarterly,” winning some prizes along the way.

An English major and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Deborah lives in San Diego with her husband Jeff.

For more information, visit Deborah Smith Parker's website and follow her on Facebook. 

Welcome to the June issue of LitNuts Deals, a special newsletter featuring highly rated indie books priced $1 or less. This month's issue features a dozen fantastic indie books, including a couple of freebies. 

Also, be sure to enter the June LitNuts Deals Giveaway to support these indie authors and publishers...and for a chance to win $75 in books from Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or other book retailer of your choice!

Note: All prices are accurate at publication time, but prices are subject to change.

The Education of Delhomme: Chopin, Sand, & La France by Nancy Burkhalter
Literary Fiction   

Exquisitely detailed, complex, and involving, The Education of Delhomme is highly recommended for historical novel readers who like their characters well-drawn and their story lines well grounded in historical facts. Set among the chaos and intrigue of the 1848 French Revolution, when Beaulieu Delhomme, Frédéric Chopin's piano tuner, faces execution, the only person who can save his life is his former rival, the novelist George Sand. Seldom has a banquet of history been rendered more appetizingly than in Burkhalter’s debut novel. 4.1 Stars on Goodreads! $0.99 SHOP NOW

Swimming with Maya: A Mother's Story by Eleanor Vincent
Memoir   

"Powerful prose with a meaningful and memorable message." ~Lee Gutkind, Founder, Creative Nonfiction Magazine. Swimming with Maya demonstrates the remarkable process of healing after the traumatic death of a loved one. At age 19, Maya mounts a horse bareback as a dare and in a crushing cantilever fall, is left in a coma from which she will never recover. Author Eleanor Vincent’s life is turned upside down as she struggles to make the painful decision about Maya’s fate. "A powerful memoir." ~Alan Caruba, National Book Critics Circle. 4.5 Stars, 244 Ratings! $0.99 SHOP NOW

An Eye for Murder by Libby Fischer Hellmann
Mystery

Chicago filmmaker Ellie Foreman is shocked to find her name among the effects of a recently deceased gangster. Flung into a mystery that dates back to WWII, she is faced with more frustrating questions than answers, especially when it comes to how her own father is involved. When she is asked to produce a campaign film for a steel mill heiress turned hopeful Senator, Ellie finds herself swept up in the world of a political campaign and fails to pick up danger signals in front of her. Can she survive a shocking conspiracy that was sixty years in the making or will the secrets die with her? 4.2 Stars, 284 Ratings! $0.99 SHOP NOW

The Horse That Haunts My Heart by Deborah Smith Parker
Memoir   

Set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, Deborah Smith Parker's coming of age memoir takes place in the 1950s during three transformative summers she spent on a horse ranch. As a young girl growing up in the Midwest, she longed for the life of a cowboy. At age 13 her parents allowed her to go west to live her dream where she met her first love—a horse nick-named Tank. She spent her summers riding, wrangling, and sleeping out under the stars while her extraordinary relationship with Tank developed. Like the rugged mountains in which these events took place, this story has rapidly shifting light and shadow that Parker artfully captures through humor and well-wrought descriptions of life on the ranch. 4.8 Stars! $0.99 SHOP NOW

Project Anan by Lionel Lazarus
Science Fiction/Fantasy

Leaving Earth after extracting their precious energy, aliens abandoned the human population they changed. Ravaged by sickness and an energy shortage that threatens their existence, they return on a clapped-out rust bucket seeking help. Earth, devastated by climate change, wars and population explosion is not what they expect! Battling discovery by evil powers, technology problems, mistrust and war, together, alien and human embark on a Project that may give the three species hope for survival. 4.2 Stars! $0.99 SHOP NOW

Ascension by Eric Paul Erickson
Science Fiction/Fantasy  

"DaVinci Code with a healthy dose of sci-fi...a debut novel bursting with ideas, promise and tons of attitude." ~Reader review. When a sacred artifact is stolen, United Nations cultural scientist Dr. Kurt Stone wants answers. His search leads him to the top secret Project Aurora, where Stone learns the team has crossed the ultimate frontier...death itself. "This one kept me on the edge." ~Reader review. 4.2 Stars! $0.99 SHOP NOW

The Returned One by Luna Fox & F. Lowberry
Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy    

Sixteen-year-old Abigail Masters has been tormented with nightmares–realistic and terrifying dreams that keep her awake at night. Somehow, they don't feel like dreams, but more like things lurking in the back of her mind, like events she can almost remember as if they were her own experiences. The Returned One (A Witch’s Lullaby: Book One) is a fast-paced, action-packed young adult fantasy adventure filled with magic, twists and turns, and endearing characters. "I just love the way this author creates characters that come to life before your eyes." ~Amazon review. 4 Stars! $0.99 SHOP NOW

FREE - Badfreaky: The Meanest Witch by Konstantinos V. E. Adamopoulos
Children/Young Adult (age 9+)

In Badfreaky: The Meanest Witch (The life of Badfreaky the Witch, Book 1), four-year-old Marily lives happily with her parents, a good witch called Goodypie and her husband, Mr. Goodweather. One day while Goodypie is boiling some plants and flowers in her big cooking pot, Marily falls into the pot and turns into the notorious Badfreaky, the meanest witch! "An adorable story with imaginative characters." ~Readers' Favorite. 4.3 Stars! FREE SHOP NOW

Townshipped by Savannah Scott
Romance

People always said it wasn't like a woman was just going to drop on his doorstep and fall in love with him. Never say never. Aiden is an IT consultant living on his small farm in rural Ohio. Mallory is a bride-on-the-run. Townshipped is their heartwarming, laugh-out-loud sweet romcom story. "Funny, charming and swoon-worthy!" ~Jennifer, Vine Voice. 4.9 Stars! $0.99 SHOP NOW

Always on Christmas by Jacquolyn McMurray
Romance

"One of those reads that warms your soul." ~Amazon Reviewer. When single parent Emma Sanchez inherits a cabin in Hawai’i, she prays the move will offer a fresh start for her seven-year-old daughter and herself. She's determined to raise Ally without a man, but her resolve is tested when disaster strikes just before Christmas and the handsome rancher next door questions her independent nature. "Jacquolyn McMurray’s touching Christmas story is rich with authentic details of aloha and ohana." ~Charlene, Amazon Reviewer. 4.5 Stars! $0.99 SHOP NOW

That's My Sister (That's Our Family Book 1) by Roxanne Rhaman
Romance

Having a beautiful sister is hard enough. Having one who’s on the cover of magazines and is loved by all? Torture. Good thing there’s a handsome, distracting neighbor next door. "A story of family, forgiveness, and falling in love." ~Reader review. 4.3 Stars, 220 Ratings! $0.99 SHOP NOW

FREE - Bought By The Billionaire: Box Set One by Simone Leigh
Romance

"5 Stars. Super hot & sexy. Steamy and OMG High Octane Erotic!” ~Debra Johnson. She Got More Than She Bargained For: Elizabeth is a student working in a dead-end hotel job to make ends meet. But she dreams of a better life. When she foolishly decides to shower in the penthouse bathroom of one of the hotel guests, it has consequences she did not expect. "5 Stars HOT HOT HOT." ~Rhonda Hicks. A BDSM Erotic Romance. 4.3 Stars, 686 Ratings! FREE SHOP NOW

Today is the birthday of the late, great Maurice Sendak. Instead of a literary quote, we'd like to share one of Sendak's favorite anecdotes: "A little boy sent me a charming card with a little drawing on it. I loved it. I sent him a card and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. Then I got a letter back from his mother and she said: 'Jim loved your card so much he ate it.' That to me was one of the highest compliments I've ever received. He didn't care that it was an original Maurice Sendak drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it."

Giveaway extended: LitNuts is cosponsoring a giveaway of 34 middle grade and young adult fiction books, plus a new eReader ($350 value!). The giveaway is open to booklovers everywhere, and the deadline for entries has been extended to June 15. Enter today!   

After inheriting her family’s ski resort, Alex Mason is forced to return to her snowy hometown. She’s desperate to sell the property and return to the city as quickly as possible—even if she has to go up against Olympic skier Bohdi Vonn, who happens to be her first crush. A heartwarming read. Book One in a complete series. 4.4 stars, 260 ratings. From $2.99 SHOP NOW / 

"I loved this story and all of the wonderful characters in it. The author has given them all such unique personalities, and the way that they interact with each other in this tiny apartment complex will have readers laughing until they cry." -reader review. A Change Would Do You Good is a funny and emotional romcom drama. Thirty-something Janie overhauls her life to cope with her boyfriend's death. Her new life brings chaos, great friendships, and a passionate romance. "It's is a real page-turner, always leaving you wanting to know more." -reader review. From $0.99 SHOP NOW / 

Escape to Tuscany this summer for a humorous feel-good feast of romance, family, friendship and food. Travel writer Holly travels to Tuscany to research her next book, leaving fiancé Tom at home in Scotland. But when her car breaks down, she gets more than she bargained for in the shape of vineyard owner Dario. Readers say: "I loved this book and the original idea of basing each of the characters' personalities around a different sign of the zodiac." "If you love films like Love Actually and Pulp Fiction, then you will love this book." From $0.99 SHOP NOW /