Today's Featured Books

The name's Bong. James Bong. This sci-fi James Bond parody combines the best elements of espionage, humor, and heart-pounding action. Follow the daring exploits of James Bong, a former MI6 spy turned renegade, as he defies authority and takes on daring missions with his team, leaving a trail of laughter in his wake. "A wild and hilarious ride that gleefully parodies the iconic James Bond series." ~Literary Titan. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, we are shining a spotlight on The Evolution Saga from author Todd Borho, a five-book series that parodies James Bond while also delving into the world of science fiction, technothrillers, and high seas adventure.

★★★★★ "Delightfully subversive." ~Literary Titan

James Bong: Agent Of Anarchy

The name's Bong. James Bong.

Not to be shaken or stirred and not to be confused with the popular James Bond series, this light-hearted adventure combines the best elements of espionage, humor, and heart-pounding action.

Follow the daring exploits of James Bong, a former MI6 spy turned renegade, as he defies authority and takes on daring missions with his team: the brilliant hacker K, the fiery blogger Miss Moneybit, and the mysterious AI Symphy. Throughout, Bong navigates a world of danger and intrigue, leaving a trail of laughter in his wake.

Packed with cutting-edge technology, pulse-pounding suspense, and laugh-out-loud humor, James Bong: Agent Of Anarchy is a must-read for fans of sci-fi adventure and spy thrillers alike.

Praise for James Bong
★★★★★ "A wild and hilarious ride that gleefully parodies the iconic James Bond series." ~Literary Titan

★★★★★ "Spy tale that is a fun parody yet still has it's suspense and mystery." ~Amazon Review

The C.A. Salt Project

The Evolution Saga continues with this action-packed ocean adventure technothriller. James Bong and his crew play pivotal roles as the search for freedom heads to the high seas.

The wild ocean frontier. Daring pioneers. They must build in secret. Smuggling networks, encryption, and some really cool techno-toys are in their arsenal. But will it be enough to survive and evade the state?

Praise for The C.A. Salt Project
★★★★★ "A quick, fun, easy read with great character development and important moral questions." ~Amazon Review

SeAgora: A High Seas Adventure

A sci-fi adventure packed with cutting-edge technology, high stakes, smugglers, emotionally deranged AI, and some remarkably flawed heroes...

There is freedom on the ocean for a few. There is tyranny on land for everyone else. When one of the ocean dwellers finds the secret to faster-than-light propulsion and infinite free energy, the ruling class on land will stop at nothing to steal it.

The Great Agora Space Race

Faster-than-light travel and infinite energy. It's a secret held by those in the SeAgora, but the ruling class on land wants it and will do anything to steal it.

Facing mounting threats from the tyrannical AI led governments, some in The SeAgora plan to flee for the stars. Can they develop the tech to escape Earth before it's too late?

The Space Race is on in this fun, hyper-speed read you don't want to miss.

Agora One: A Space Adventure

This action-packed space adventure brings The Evolution Saga to a thrilling conclusion.

In 2578, it's been nearly 500 years since humans started to flee Earth. They've now spread across multiple galaxies, thanks in large part to the SPEED drive, which hits velocities thousands of times the speed of light. Earth is now an afterthought.

Agora One is a moon-sized ship, the first of its kind. It is a thriving, mobile trade port and vacation hot spot. When news reaches Agora One that Earth has suffered its final calamity, some want to investigate. What they find on Earth is far more stunning than anything they could have imagined. The consequences of their investigation will impact Agora One, and possibly all life in the universe.

Today, we are launching a new giveaway, but first...congratulations to Maureen Beisel of Canada, winner of the LitNuts Summer Giveaway, which offered the winner a choice between silver resin octopus bookends or a $75 Amazon.com gift card.

Didn't win the Summer Giveaway? Don't fret! The LitNuts Fall Giveaway is here, and the prize is a genuine stained glass table lamp or a $75 gift card, winner's choice. Good luck! 

“There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.” ~Leonard Cohen

Song of Dragons, an epic fantasy trilogy, unfolds a tale of blood, steel, and dragonfire, brought to you by a USA Today bestselling author. This bundle includes all three novels in the series. The kingdom of Requiem, where men once transformed into dragons, now lies in ruins. Its conqueror, the tyrant Dies Irae, hunts the last survivors with his army of griffins. Can Requiem’s final heirs escape their doom, or will they rise again as dragons and take to the skies for war? 4.2 stars, 1300+ ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW / 

Rebaa is the final hope for a world slipping into the forgotten depths of time. As a relentless enemy draws near, can she protect the forbidden secret she carries and preserve the world she knows? Journey 40,000 years into the shadows of our distant past with the captivating first installment of The Ancestors Saga, by international bestselling author Lori Holmes. 4.4 stars, 7400+ ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

In this special edition newsletter, LitNuts is shining a light on the work of Mwati Mwila, a poet and author who has used her writing to overcome the challenge of bipolar disorder and to help others. 

★★★★★ “Inspiring & hopeful." ~Amazon Review

Strengthening Your Identity

We all know life has its ups and downs. But when Mwati Mwila was diagnosed with bipolar disorder while a college student, she thought her life would mostly be down from that point on. Not understanding why she had been chosen to suffer, she found herself on an incredible journey of questioning God, considering ending her own life, and ultimately, traveling around the world for answers that could help to heal her.

No stranger to adversity before being diagnosed as bipolar, Mwati had already experienced discrimination. After traveling from her native Zambia, she was often the only African child in predominantly white schools in New Zealand and Australia. Her parents’ strong work ethic, her siblings’ encouragement, and a move to the United States helped Mwati to strengthen her identity even when she experienced discrimination.

Being bipolar, just like her earlier experiences, became one more hurdle to overcome so she could fulfill her life mission of helping others. Now Mwati shares her incredible story in order to help others

• understand where you came from so you know where you’re going;
• indulge in the moment to create happy memories to sustain you in difficult times;
• learn from your environment and adapt to survive and thrive;
• stay true to yourself in the midst of madness;
• unmask the monsters in your life that try to hinder your healing;
• have the courage to ask for help when it is needed; and 
• unravel your special gifts to share with the world.

Whatever obstacle you face, you will find strength in these pages to transform your suffering into the power of endurance.

Praise for Strengthening Your Identity
★★★★★ "Raw, honest and emotional." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "A powerful story about the true struggles of mental illness." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "Insightful read for anyone searching for faith, strength, happiness, wisdom or finding your purpose." ~Amazon Review

The Sweet Surrender of Love and Nature

In The Sweet Surrender of Love and Nature, Mwati pours her heart out in a variety of beautiful poems focused on love and nature.

"Living in a world of uncertainty,
Trying to be filled with righteousness
As you glance with an open heart of forgiveness.
Life is complicated."
~Mwati Mwila, from the poem "Complication"

        

Congratulations to Alycia Vreeland and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Baby Darlin', an illustrated memoir that rips off the band-aid and exposes the stigma around child sexual abuse.

★★★★★ “Raw and emotionally fraught.” ~Leslie Zemeckis, bestselling author of Feuding Fan Dancers

Baby Darlin'

Most of them are dead.

Silence is broken and the secret unearthed.

Surviving the Cajun Curse, her mentally ill momma calls her Baby Darlin'. Pig calls her Brillo and takes away her innocence by using her to escape his own twisted mind. Her cousin Willy calls her Snaggle but she doesn't care; she thinks they will marry someday. Her Papa, a recovered alcoholic, her hero. Her Grandma, the ever present Shamer, is a dark shadow to remind her of her worth. Her drug and love addiction takes her through a series of abusive love stories, and finally she proudly escapes into the loving arms of a higher power.

This illustrated memoir brutally rips off the band-aid and exposes the stigma around child sexual abuse, with compassion and insight through the eyes of a brave little girl called Baby Darlin'.

If you If you enjoyed Just Kids by Patti Smith, Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker, or The Fire Never Goes Out by ND Stevenson, you will love Baby Darlin'.

Praise for Baby Darlin'
★★★★★ “Vreeland tells her story with searing revelations, accompanied by colorful illustrations.” ~Leslie Zemeckis, bestselling author of Feuding Fan Dancers

★★★★★ “Bold and vibrant with disturbing imagery... I wanted to swoop in and save Baby Darlin' from the atrocities of her childhood. The whimsical art and poignant words that are scattered throughout the pages kept me tethered to the hope of a happy outcome, pulling me forward to the last pages.” ~Sandra Mistretta, Clinical Director for Casa Serena Treatment Programs for Women

★★★★★ “Alycia  tells her story in typical Santa Barbara flavor; not a trace of self pity, because SB kids know… no one cares. Instead, we mine our tragic ore-pits for gasps and laughs, to the horror of the untraumatized. But our stories aren’t FOR them. They are for the broken and beautiful survivors; broken Japanese teapots, glued back together with gold.” ~J.C. Scales, author of The Goat Lady’s Son

★★★★★ “Equally heart shattering and heart warming. [Alycia] safely takes her readers on her exceptional and profoundly inspiring journey from wounding through healing and beyond.” ~Juliana Barros, Integration and Collective Trauma Therapist, State Certified Sexual Survivor Therapist

Congratulations to Alycia Vreeland and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Laughing in Her Sleep, a collection of poetry by Jon Vreeland that blends his gritty verse with Alycia Vreeland's stark visuals. 

★★★★★ “Jon passed and yet, here are his words, his heart still beating.” ~Jack Grisham, Author, Director, Musician

Laughing in Her Sleep

This collection of poetry is the love child of two creative minds.

Jon Vreeland, the author of The Taste of Cigarettes, was a self-proclaimed reincarnation of Hemingway and highly influenced by Bukowski's crude humor and womanizing grit. He claimed writing poetry gave his brain a respite from his struggle with drug addiction.

Alycia Vreeland's illustrations and photos are a visual representation of Jon's words.

The manuscript of this book was discovered and resurrected by Alycia Vreeland, Jon Vreeland's wife, after Jon's unexpected death on September 15, 2020.

Praise for Laughing in Her Sleep
★★★★★ "Jon Vreeland. Ernest Hemingway. Charles Bukowski. Three peas in a pod. Jon Vreeland is a master storyteller at the absolute top of his game." ~Steven Kunes, TV Writer/Producer, Over My Dead Body
 
★★★★★ "The world of Jon and Alycia Vreeland is not a pretty one, but it is real, vivid and memorable." ~David Starkey, author of Poor Ghost

★★★★★ "Jon’s poetry is like walking in the shadow of death; bringing insight into our pain. Alycia‘s art is the perfect balance to digest it." ~Stacey Cameron

★★★★★ "Hard-edged, intense, raw, sometimes touching, and sometimes comic... Vreeland’s work never ceases to embody life’s complexities—the shock of truth and the bittersweetness of imagination." ~Chella Courington, author of Lost and Found

Jon Vreeland

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on Say Yes! to Your Creative Self by Mary O'Connor, a book that can help readers open up new ways of seeing, of solving problems, of keeping our minds, bodies, and souls active and stimulated.

"Emotionally calming and intellectually satisfying." ~Karen Rancourt, Ph.D., author and advice columnist (aka "Ask Dr. Gramma Karen")

Say Yes! to Your Creative Self

Think you don’t have a creative bone in your body? Put that myth to rest!

Whether your interests lie in music, dance, culinary arts, handcrafts, gardening, painting, writing, or simply in navigating life’s challenges, creativity is there for all of us to enjoy. Saying “Yes!” to your creative self is a first step towards opening up ways of seeing, of solving problems, of keeping our minds, bodies, and souls active and stimulated.

Say Yes! to Your Creative Self is an invitation to creativity. Written for those who think they don’t have a creative bone in their body, as well as for those who simply want to enhance their style of expression, Say Yes! takes the reader through the ins and outs of creativity. Full of tips and prompts on ways to keep our minds, bodies, and souls active and stimulated, Say Yes! tickles our creative bones.

The pages of Say Yes! to Your Creative Self

• take us through the ins and outs of creativity
• show ways to make creativity part of our everyday lives
• offer tips and examples linked to our senses, curiosity, and emotions
• suggest ways for playing with creativity, for tickling our creative bones

Praise for Say Yes!
"Beginning with the author’s watercolor of a heron in flight on the cover, followed by photos taken by the author and family/friends, each accompanied by a haiku written by the author, this book is visually inviting – a book that lends itself to one enjoying a favorite cup of tea while reading it. In addition to being beautifully illustrated, it contains friendly and instructive content, such as, Prepping the Creative Self and Opening the Creative Door. Between sips of my tea, I found myself thoughtful and inspired." ~Karen Rancourt , Ph.D., author and advice columnist (aka "Ask Dr. Gramma Karen")

About the Author

  

About the Publisher

      

You're invited...to a Reading Retreat!

Today we are writing to share news about a unique opportunity for booklovers: a Reading Retreat in Delhi, New York, being organized by LA Bourgeois, an avid reader who also happens to be an author and LitNuts subscriber. Read on to learn more!

A Reading Retreat for Everyone

We've all heard about writing retreats for authors. But LA's idea is for booklovers to come together to enjoy time reading and talking about books. She selected the small town of Delhi, New York, as the location for the Reading Retreat, a peaceful oasis a few hours drive from New York City, and also easily accessible from Ithaca, Albany, Binghamton, and other locations. (LA lives in Ithaca, and invites attendees from other locations to fly into Ithaca and travel to Delhi together.)

Here are some of the details:

• Event: Reading Retreat
• Location: Birdy's House, Delhi, NY
• When: September 27 - 30
• Cost: $100

To learn more, click here: Who Could Use a Reading Retreat?

Photos of Birdy's House and Delhi, New York

  

  

Free online: Book Buzz at the NYPL. Join librarians from the New York Public Library who will chat about forthcoming books. Saturday, September 14, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. EDT. 

Also free: Five of today's Featured Books are free downloads today! Scroll down to learn more. 

"Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination." ~Sidney Sheldon

Mika Stillwater, an ambitious earth elemental striving to become a quartz artisan, has her carefully planned future upended when a panicked baby gargoyle bursts into her studio seeking help. Drawn into the gritty criminal underworld of Terra Haven, she must risk everything she's worked for to save the gargoyle from a monstrous threat—and to stay alive. This spellbinding adventure of elemental magic and adorable gargoyles from a USA Today bestselling author will enchant both young adult and adult readers alike. 4.4 stars, 1,900+ reviews. FREE - SHOP NOW /