Today's Featured Books

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of author Chuck Augello, recognized by Kirkus Reviews as "a promising new literary voice." Read on to learn more about The Revolving Heart and A Better Heart, two critically acclaimed novels by Chuck, as well as Talking Vonnegut, a collection of interviews and essays about Kurt Vonnegut. 

"Augello has a natural ability to balance heavy themes with humor." ~Jessica Purgett, The Mark Literary Review

The Revolving Heart

On a beautiful summer morning at the Jersey Shore, four-year-old Sarah Carpenter wanders toward the ocean and never returns. The police think she drowned, but her babysitter, Amy, claims Sarah was abducted. The only other witness, 17-year-old Donnie Marcino, didn’t see a thing. A narcoleptic since birth, he was fast asleep.

Twenty years later, Sarah’s disappearance still haunts Donnie, as does his lingering bond with Amy. When she calls from the hospital after a failed suicide attempt, Donnie returns to his hometown. But how can he help Amy (and help himself) without changing the past? In The Revolving Heart, love and redemption collide as the adult Donnie struggles to atone for his youthful mistakes.

Praise for The Revolving Heart

• A Best Books of 2020 Selection by Kirkus Reviews
• "A reflective narrative about the choices people make, the bonds they forge, and the obligations they can't escape, however much they might try. Augello shows a knack for sharp, believable dialogue, and his character construction is impressive. A superb, captivating work from a promising new literary voice." ~Kirkus Reviews
• “An excellent, must-read novel about a man who returns home to confront his past, filled with memorable characters and written in a style that will draw you in, entertain you, and leave you wanting more.” ~Sublime Book Review
• "Captures the spirt of the Jersey Shore... Filled with wry observations and the unexpected smart and funny things people say." ~Marcy Dermansky, author of The Red Car

A Better Heart

For aspiring indie filmmaker Kevin Stacey, it's another day on the set of his first film. But when his estranged father, a failed Hollywood actor, arrives unexpectedly with a bundle of cash, a gun, and a stolen capuchin monkey, Kevin is propelled toward the journey that will change his life.

The monkey, Henry, has been liberated from a research lab by animal rights activists. Inspired by his friend Veronica to reevaluate his relationship with other species, Kevin learns about the pain and suffering inflicted on lab animals as he forges a bond with the capuchin. When father and son embark on a road trip with Henry, Kevin is caught between the egocentric father who abandoned him and the temperamental monkey whose fate is in his hands. With both the FBI and his mother's ghost watching, will Kevin risk his career and his father's freedom to bring the stolen monkey to safety? Meanwhile, Veronica's encounter with an eccentric Catholic priest triggers her own journey toward change.

A heartbreaking yet comic family drama, A Better Heart examines the human-animal bond and the bonds between fathers and sons, challenging readers to explore their beliefs about the treatment of non-human species.

Praise for A Better Heart

• "Madcap and accomplished, this comic novel boasts big surprises, heartfelt characters, and a passion for animal rights." ~Booklife
• "A solid psychological and social examination of rights, choices, and their consequences. A wry dose of humor that excels in tongue-and-cheek observations, the result is a fun, literary story." ~Midwest Book Review
• "Devastating, funny and heartbreaking all in one!" ~The Page Ladies
• "Lively, engrossing, fast paced, and spot on when it comes to nailing what's wrong with animal abuse but in a realistic, not preachy way. A great read, a great beach novel, a great book to pass on." ~Ingrid Newkirk, founder, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
• "Finally! A story about animal rights that informs and entertains rather than preaches. This comic family adventure is sure to grab your attention." ~Independent Book Review

Talking Vonnegut: Centennial Interviews and Essays

This collection of 29 interviews explores the outer reaches of the Kurt Vonnegut universe. Conversations reveal how Robert B. Weide's letter to Kurt led to a long friendship and an acclaimed documentary, how readers in the former Soviet Union fell in love with Vonnegut during the Cold War, how Ryan North and Albert Monteys adapted Slaughterhouse-Five into a graphic novel, how two podcasters introduced Vonnegut to a new generation of readers, and how Vonnegut's time teaching at the Iowa Writers Workshop helped transform him from an unknown paperback writer into a literary superstar.

Also included are eight essays by author Chuck Augello. These cover Vonnegut's thoughts on guns and loneliness, evaluate his posthumous publications, offer a guide to the best Vonnegut videos available online, and ask questions like "Was Kurt Vonnegut secretly a romance writer?" A resource for students, scholars and fans, this book offers windows into Vonnegut's life and art that are often overlooked in standard biographies.

Praise for Talking Vonnegut

• “What a book! All these facets make for a most complete portrait of Kurt Vonnegut.” ~Jerome Klinkowitz, author of The Vonnegut Effect and Kurt Vonnegut’s America
• "I have been a Vonnegut fan my entire life, and I found Talking Vonnegut to be chock-full of information and insights that I had not seen elsewhere. Highly recommended." ~Mike O'Mary, LitNuts

About the Author

Today: Get three free books, two multi-volume sci-fi/fantasy series for 99 cents, and more in today's Featured Books. 

Free online Friday: Strong Women - Strange Worlds. A sampling of science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories written by six authors who will each have eight minutes to tempt and tantalize you with their reading. Friday, August 4, 11 AM CDT. 

“Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark.” ~Pierce Brown, Golden Son

"Excitement and battles all the way!" -Amazon Review. Win a tournament, find a wealthy patron, and be set for life—how hard can it be? As armies gather, the looming threat of conflict forces Ludwig to take up the mantle of leadership. Only then does he begin to understand the true cost of war. Will his willingness to sacrifice everything to save others be his downfall or his saving grace? "Vivid descriptions drew me in so I felt part of the action." -Amazon Review. Part of the Power Ascending series of Epic Military Fantasy Novels. 4.6 stars, 146 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

Jamison Jones Scott should be on top of the world. Her dermatology residency is almost over, and she is two months away from a fabulous job and an extravagant wedding to a rich, sexy surgeon. However, nothing seems right, including her attitude. She has been taking unnecessary chances and putting everything on the line. Can she fix things before it’s too late? But more importantly, does she want to? Enjoy the free prequel novella for the novel debuting this fall. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

Get the Legends of Elessia: Age of Rekindling, a fantasy series from author Luís Magalhães that beckons readers to embark upon an unforgettable journey, where the courage of heroes, the cunning of villains, and the magic of the realm will take you on the adventure of a lifetime.

Delve into the frozen secrets of Elessia in this enthralling sword & sorcery saga, perfect for fans of the action and intensity of The Witcher, the epic world-building of The Dragonbone Chair, and the charismatic characters of The Wheel of Time.

Special Offer - Limited Time!
To celebrate the release of The Champion of The Ice (Book 2 in the series), Blades of the Ice e-book is currently free, The Daughter of The Ice e-book is on sale for 99 cents, and The Champion of The Ice e-book is only $2.99!

Sale ends Wednesday, August 2, 2023, 11:00 PM PDT.

Blades of The Ice

In a land ruled by patriarchy, an assassin sisterhood delivers justice from the shadows.

Now, their mysterious patron has charged burly fighter Erika Langeshen and lithe shadow-stalker Annah Barksdottir with uncovering a plot against the very rulers that have mistreated and oppressed them their whole lives.

Their quest will take them to a faraway village on the borders of the Razor Teeth Woods, where they will need to use all the tricks of their trade to build a base of power and expose the machinations of the local lord and his allies.

But before they do, they must break into one of the Patriarchate's fortresses and retrieve an unlikely ally…

"A gritty story with some incredibly strong women." ~Amazon Review

The Daughter of The Ice

After a thousand-year slumber, the goddess of frost awakens to a world that has all but forgotten her. She will rule again…even if it means covering Elessia in icy death.

Eregar, a decorated knight in his twilight years, longs for one final adventure—one last chance to test himself against sword and sorcery. When rumors arise of a would-be goddess building an army to the east, he jumps at the offer of leading a band of young mercenaries into the heart of the distant Frozen Plains.

He doesn’t suspect that these are no common sell-swords. Annah Barksdottir and Erika Langeshen, members of a secret assassin sisterhood, have manipulated the street-wise thief Johan and the adventurous red-haired swordsman Andoh into letting them join…and they have an agenda of their own.

But when dark-clad warriors unleash an army that knows no death upon the last bastion of civilization, and the chilling embrace of a curse looms over the group, they must come together in a desperate fight for survival. And Eregar will find that more than his mettle is to be tested, lest the icy wrath of The Daughter of The Ice consume them just as it threatens to engulf Elessia.

"If Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones got together, The Daughter of The Ice would be the result." ~Amazon Vine Voice Review

The Champion of The Ice

The Daughter of The Ice is no more. But not even death will stop Her Champion’s march.

Erika Langeshen has left her mercenary past behind to become a rising star among the knights of The Tower—the first woman to be accepted into their brotherhood in generations. Her friends, the former thief Johan Desert-Touched and the assassin Annah Barksdottir, now rub shoulders with nobility as a reward for their service to the rulers of the City-States.

But their untroubled lives are not to last.

When winter refuses to fade, the undead rise again and a demonic army lays siege to the land they call home. At its head marches a ruthless warlord, wielding a blade with the power to bring nightmares to life.

Erika, Johan, and their companions enter a race against time to reforge the artifacts wielded by their ancient gods in a bid to stop The Champion of The Ice before his armies cover Elessia in icy death…but what they don’t suspect is that it is an old ally who wears the Champion’s mantle, and he knows all their strengths…and weaknesses.

"Fans of epic fantasy and tales of adventure will undoubtedly find themselves engrossed in the magical realm of Elessia." ~Amazon Review

Legends of Elessia (3 Book Series)

About the Author

     

Free online tonight: Live from the Greene Space. This groundbreaking series presents acclaimed actors performing live dramatic readings of long-form journalism. Tonight, actors Jesse Eisenberg, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Chad Coleman, and David Strathairn will do a dramatic reading of “The System That Failed Jordan Neely" by Adam Iscoe, which appeared in The New Yorker earlier this year. Monday, July 31, 6-8 PM CDT.  

“We don’t feel connected to people with mental illness at all. It’s scary when we see someone who reminds us that it could happen to any of us.” ~Nancy Young, program director, Fountain House

Lynn Dayton Thriller #2. "If you're looking for big business wheeling-and-dealing, international intrigue, murder, mayhem, and high-geared action, you've come to the right place." -Carlton Stowers, Edgar winner. Murder disrupts a billion-dollar oil deal. A business deal turns deadly. A plot to destroy a hidden, crucial US oil center and bring enter a confrontation with another global power. To stop the plot and save lives, up-by-the-bootstraps Lynn Dayton must trust a Cherokee elder who carries a corrosive secret. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

A slow burn romance with a spiritual bent. "I laughed until I cried. What an amazing story!" -Vision Quest. Everyone has a war story to tell. A jaded cop struggling to come to terms with her past falls for an idealistic former Marine turned cat rescuer on the crime-infested streets of West Baltimore. 4.3 stars, 30 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW /