TopShelf - November 2022

CONTENTS MASTHEAD

Interviews

Natasha Deen 4 Anna J. Stewart 15

Danièle Cybulskie............................................................................. 21

Articles

Thrillers — Where Women Come Into Their Own 10

Real Life Rescue 27

Industry Spotlight - Kindle Readers Choice Winner 13 Industry Spotlight - Inklings Publishing ....................................... 25

In Praise Of Audio Books................................................................ 34

Hot New Releases

The Baby With Three Families, Two Countries And One Promise 9 The Canadian Mounted 9

Short Stories

The Coffee Monster ........................................................................ 18 Reviews

Spring House 30 Manufacturing Civility ....................................................................30 A Canadian Werewolf In New York

Publisher:

Aimee Ravichandran Mickey Mikkelson

Magazine Content Creator: Deena Rae; eBookBuilders

Interviews: Danielle Urban Book Reviews: Norns Triad Norns Review Team: J. M. Northrup Sahara Foley Karen J. Mossman

Unstoppable Famine

32 Hero Haters 32

My Fatal Futility Shellshock 33 Complete Darkness 33

Scribblesworth Scribblesworth Reviews Team: Seraphia B. The Book Trollop The Reviewbler Khanani Daniella Tripti Kandari Poetic Monologues Julio Carlos

ECLECTIC & VERSATILE

NATASHA DEEN

Exclusive Interview

Natasha Deen writes for kids, teens, and adults, and believes the world is changed one story at a time. She has recieved such accolades as being a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, Starburst Award nominee, and Alberta Readers’ Choice.

Natasha has been featured on the American Library Association YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Red Maple Teen Committee Summer Reading List, CCBC Best Pick for Kids & Teens and OLA White Pine Teen Committee Summer Reading List.

Q: WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A WRITER?

When I was nine, I found out Gordon Korman had been published when he was thirteen. I loved books, so I asked teachers, parents, and librarians, but none of the adults in my life knew what a person needed to do to become a writer. So, I put that dream down and set my mind to becoming a psychologist.

While in university, I came across a terrible book—the kind you want to throw at a wall—and I thought, “Either writing is harder than I think or this author doesn’t respect their reader.” Then I thought, “Okay, Big Mouth. Put your money where your mouth is. It’s easy to judge this author. Get into the ring and see how you do.”

The lucky thing was that technology and information had advance from my childhood years. There were tons of books on the craft, writing associations, and loads of internet articles. Through the process of writing my first novel, I learned that, yes, that author whose book infuriated me didn’t respect their reader. I also learned that writing was much harder than I thought it could be.

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR NOVEL, "SPOOKY SLEUTHS: THE GHOST TREE?"

A few things inspired me! I thought it would be a lot of fun to create a series that introduced young readers (aged 8-12) to the supernatural creatures of the Caribbean (specifically, Guyana) and pull science into the mix. I imagined the series as the kid version of X-Files meets Stranger Things with a West Indian twist.

In book one, The Ghost Tree, Asim moves to Lion’s Gate, Washington, where he encounters a host of creepy occurrences—hovering objects in the sky and people who disappear into the mist. When he notices a tree in the cemetery that seems to be taking control of the adults in the town, he enlists the help of his new friend, Rokshar, to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Like his mom, Asim is a lover of all things supernatural. Rokshar, on the other hand, is all about science. Together, they work to find out if the tree’s unusual growth and scary ability to influence the adults is supernatural or science gone wild.

There was a lot I loved about writing the series, from the healthy doses of humour to offset the scare factor, the mixing of science and spooky, to the cast of supporting characters, who each bring a unique view to the story problem. Two of my favourite aspects of

writing the series is that while Rokshar and Asim may not agree, they work to support each other and to find the true reason behind the creepy goings-on, even if it means their individual hypothesis may prove incorrect. The other fun thing is that the answer is never given. Like Asim and Rokshar, the reader is given the information, and at the end of the book, it’s left to them to decide if the tree was the result of a supernatural monster or science run wild.

A final thing that will delight readers is the inclusion of bonus materials at the back of the book and Lissy Marlin’s amazing illustrations throughout the book.

Q: HOW MANY BOOKS DO PLAN FOR THIS SERIES?

There are four books in the series, The Ghost Tree, Beware the Moonlight. Don’t Go in the Water!, and Fire in the Sky!

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Q: HOW WOULD DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLE?

Oh, that’s an intriguing question! I’d say a mix of eclectic and versatile. As well as this series, I’ve published over forty works for kids, teens, and adults. I have novels for varying age groups (ages 6-18+), for different reading groups (at-grade readers and striving readers), and works in a host of genres, from historical, contemporary, science-fiction, and non-fiction, as well as short stories, magazine articles, and even a play!

Q: WHAT WAS THE JOURNEY LIKE FOR YOU AS YOU WERE WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING YOUR WORKS?

I began my career writing adult romance because it was the most open to writers looking to break into publishing. From there, I moved

on to writing for kids and teens, as well as working as an editor. These days, I’m an agented author who writes, presents at festivals, schools, libraries, and other organizations, and I’m with the University of Toronto’s SCS, teaching Introduction to Children’s Writing.

I think of my career as a marathon. To get to point I’m at now, I waded through hundreds (over four hundred, but who’s counting?) rejections, close calls with contracts, and a lot of long nights and early mornings, wondering if I’d chosen the wrong career.

I still have obstacles and low points—every career does—but I feel lucky to be in a job I love, pursuing a childhood dream and turning that dream into reality.

Q: CAN YOU TELL US, READERS, WHAT YOUR MAIN CHARACTERS ARE LIKE?

What I love about Asim and Rokshar is how similar they are – they’re both curious, resourceful, protective of their town and the people in it, and driven to find the answers to the puzzles in front of them. They’re also different in complimentary ways. Rokshar is level-headed and not easily scared. Asim, though he’s not as brave as Rokshar, doesn’t allow his fears to stop him from finding the answers he seeks and uses his imagination to problem-solve. Together, they work well because they’re always looking to support the other person in their quest, even if they don’t necessarily agree. I love that they want the truth and the facts, even if it doesn’t align with their personal perspectives.

Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING WRITERS IN YOUR GENRE?

My top three tips for aspiring writers breaks down to three things: set attainable goals – ones that are a challenge but not so hard to achieve, they’ll leave you frustrated. Practice self-care. Not every day will be a day where you get a lot of writing done. Some days, you’ll put in a lot of hours for not a lot of return. This doesn’t mean you’re a terrible writer, it just means that some days will be a grind. Lastly, find a network of fellow writers who will support you and who you will support.

Q: WOULD YOU EVER WRITE BOOKS IN ANY OTHER GENRE?

Absolutely!

Q: WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS AS A WRITER WHEN WORKING ON YOUR BOOK?

I try to find favourite moments in every moment, to find joy in the challenge of accomplishment in a tough writing day, to celebrate the delight in achieving my goals, to the satisfaction when my agent, editors, and readers love the work as much as I do.

Q: WHERE CAN READERS FIND YOU AND YOUR BOOKS?

My works can be found online—Amazon, Indigo, Barnes and Noble— and at your local, independent bookstore.

ABOUT NATASHA DEEN

NATASHA DEEN writes for kids, teens, and adults, and believes the world is changed one story at a time. As a Guyanese-Canadian and a child of immigrants, she’s seen first-hand how stories have the

power to shape the world. Her works include the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Thicker than Water, Guardian which was a Sunburst Award nominee, and the Alberta Readers’ Choice nominated Gatekeeper. When she’s not writing, she teaches Introduction to Children’s Writing with the University of Toronto SCS and spends an inordinate amount of time trying to convince her pets that she’s the boss of the house. Visit Natasha at www.natashadeen.com and on Twitter/ Instagram, @natasha_deen

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The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries and One Promise

The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise is a children’s book designed to be read by adoptive parents to their child as soon as the child is old enough to begin understanding. Experts urge that children be made aware from the earliest possible age that they are adopted, and this book sets out the complex story of an adoption in an easyto-understand way. Most children’s books about adoption feature as characters animals, and most such books focus on the adoptive mother and the child. The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise is unique in focusing on people, not animals, as the characters in the story and also unique in expanding the story to include other actors in the adoption journey, including foster parents, social workers, U.S. consuls, and grandparents.

THE CANADIAN MOUNTED

This re-imagined incarnation of The Canadian Mounted explores the use of this prop book and many other intriguing, insightful and entertaining behind-thescenes details as they relate to the classic 1987 John Hughes film.

Created for fans of the movie and of John Hughes, this book explores and shares stories related to the writing and making of the film, curious tales and collected trivia associated with it.

If you love and regularly rewatch Planes, Trains and Automobiles, then this is a book you must read. Coming in time for Thanksgiving 2022, 35 years after the film's theatrical release.

MARK LESLIE LEFEBVRE

Mark Leslie Lefebvre has been writing since he was thirteen years old and discovered his mother’s Underwood typewriter collecting dust in a closet. He started submitting his work for publication at the age of fifteen and had his first story published in 1992, the same year he graduated

Julie Gianelloni Connor

Author/Publisher/Retired Diplomat

Julie Gianelloni Connor is an award-winning author and retired senior Foreign Service Officer. Her first book, Savoring the Camino de Santiago: It’s the Pilgrimage, not the Hike, garnered no. 1 status on Amazon in both the category for new books on hiking and walking and the category for Spain and Portugal. It subsequently went on to win a silver medal in the eLit national competition as well as being selected as a finalist by Self-Publishing Review (SPR). She released her second title, a children’s book, in 2021. It has just won first place in the children’s book category at the North Texas Book Festival. The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise tells an international adoption story. Her short stories have appeared in four anthologies. Julie is the owner and publisher of Bayou City Press (BCP) in Houston, Texas, which focuses on travel writing, Houston, history, and international affairs. Julie writes a weekly newsletter for BCP updating subscribers about activities. She founded BCP after spending 33 years as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service, first with the U.S. Information Agency and later with the U.S. Department of State. She had nine overseas assignments in seven different countries: Israel (twice), Paraguay, Guatemala, Indonesia, Colombia (twice), Malaysia, and Chile. In Washington, DC, Julie worked on a variety of matters, ranging from nuclear non-proliferation to narcotics control to women’s issues. She has one son, James, and two cats, Halloween and Charles Augustus V. Her books can be ordered from her publishing website (BayouCityPress.com), from her author website (JulieConnorAuthor.com), or from Amazon.com.

from university. Under the name Mark Leslie, he has published more than a dozen full length books. He pens a series of non-fiction paranormal explorations for Dundurn, Canada’s largest independent publisher. He also writes fiction (typically thrillers and horror) and edits fiction anthologies, most recently as a regular editor for the WMG Publishing Fiction River anthology series... The very same year, Mark saw his first short story in print he started working in the book industry as a part-time bookseller, and was bitten by the book-selling bug. He has worked in virtually every type of bookstore (independent, chain, large-format, online, academic and digital). He has thrived on innovation, particularly related to digital publishing, and enjoys interacting with the various people who make the book industry so dynamic. Between 2011 and 2017, Mark worked at the Director of Self-Publishing and Author Relations for Kobo where he was the driving force behind the creation of Kobo Writing Life, a free and easy to use author/small-publisher friendly platform designed to publish directly to Kobo’s global catalog in 190 countries. By the end of 2016, Kobo Writing Life established itself as the #1 single source of weekly global unit sales for Kobo and, in primarily English language territories, responsible for 1 in every 4 eBooks sold. Mark has spoken professionally in the United States and Canada, in the UK and across Europe, specializing in advances in digital publishing and the vast and incredible opportunities that exist for writers and publishers. Stark Publishing is an imprint Mark created in 2004 when he released his first book One Hand Screaming. He has used the imprint to publish more than 25 books. Campus Chills (2009) and Obsessions (2020) are two of the titles he used to anthologize other authors writing. Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough is the first single author title from a different author that he has published.

THRILLERS — WHERE WOMEN COME INTO THEIR OWN

When I was a teenager I went through a tortured romantic phase. In almost every book I read the women led miserable and generally impoverished lives until the hero came to the rescue. One day I was in my grandmother’s house and she gave me some books she found in the back of a cupboard. One was Agatha Christie’s The Man in the Brown Suit. It was the first thriller I ever read and it introduced me to an entirely new type of heroine. Ann Beddingfield is young, orphaned and penniless but she’s not about to let that stop her. Determined to find adventure, she spends every penny she owns on a cruise to South Africa where she finds all the excitement she can handle, unmasks the leader of a major criminal gang, and falls in love. Admittedly the story is completely unrealistic but so are the James Bond and Jason Bourne stories. What mattered to me at age fourteen was that I had finally found a female heroine I admired, and one who lived a life I would have adored.

by Val Collins

I wonder if women of other generations found female thriller characters equally inspiring. The Man in the Brown Suit was first published in 1924 but female thriller characters appeared centuries earlier. In 1864, almost fifty five years before the first woman police officer walked the streets of London, or any English/ American woman was allowed to vote, readers were introduced to two female detectivesMrs G and Mrs Paschal. Although readers were told little about Mrs Paschal and almost nothing about Mrs G, the extraordinary thing about these characters is that they were paid professional police detectives at a time when women were still the legal property of their husbands. It would be another six years before women were even allowed to inherit property or have any legal right to their own earnings.

Of course the authors of these stories were men of their time and the early female detectives had very different lives from their male colleagues.

Their value to the police force lay in the ease with which they could enter a suspect’s home in the guise of maid, dressmaker, nursemaid etc. They could then gain the confidence of the servants who could generally be relied on to know everything that was going on in the house. Women in the 1860’s had little freedom so the earlier female detectives were generally widows with no family to answer to.

As the real world changed, so did the world of thrillers. By the 1890’s younger, single female detectives appeared. They were generally plain, as was the norm for intelligent fictional female characters of that era. One such character was Loveday Brooke who appeared around 1894. We are told her features are “non descript”. Loveday worked for a private detective agency and was described by her boss as intelligent, with great common sense and “the faculty–so rare among women–of carrying out orders to the very letter.” Later detectives were allowed to be both young and pretty, but these women were generally expected to solve their case, marry and retire to a life of domestic bliss. It may all seem hopelessly old fashioned now, but when these stories were written, few women could have hoped to achieve the independence and freedom these characters enjoyed. As women gained more freedom, female

thriller characters changed also. The majority of thriller writers are now female and thriller heroines are shown as strong, independent and courageous. This often contrasts sharply with the way women are perceived in the real world. The Me Too movement demonstrated how far we have yet to come and one wonders when the media will finally see women as fully developed individuals. I am reminded of the young Irish opera singer Tara Erraught. Everybody agreed she sang beautifully but the media focused on her appearance. She was described as “a bundle of puppy fat”, “unsightly and unappealing” and “dumpy”. Unlike Pavarotti, Tara was no heavier than most opera singers, yet nobody ever suggested that Pavarotti’s amazing voice was in any way diminished by his appearance. More recently, the New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth commented on media coverage she received where several newspapers described her as “mother of three”, ignoring her success as an author. She wondered what the reaction would be to a headline that read “Father of 7 Buys Twitter”.

The thriller world isn’t perfect. The ‘femme fatale’ stage of the 1930’s and 1940’s was a low point, but in many cases it is far more progressive than the real world. I am particularly drawn to psychological thrillers which show what ordinary women are capable of. Books such as The Guilty

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Couple (CL Taylor), where Olivia finds herself imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit or Ruby (The Housemaid - Sarah A. Denzil) and Jess (The Paris ApartmentLucy Foley) both of whom might be safer in prison than the dreadful places they are forced to live. The women of psychological thrillers (and I count among these my own heroine, Aoife Walsh) rarely have any resources. They don’t have an entire police department to support them. Neither do they have guns or special training. Their only weapons are their intelligence, courage and their determination to survive. Psychological thrillers rarely focus on the exceptional. Our characters face exceptional circumstances but they use abilities

we all possess to win through and they are recognised as strong, capable, courageous and independent people. Once again, the thriller world is ahead of reality. Who was it that said life imitates art?

ABOUT VAL

Val Collins is the author of the award-winning psychological thriller Girl Targeted and the international bestsellers Only Lies Remain , The Silent Speak and Where Loyalties Lie (March 2022). All four books feature heroine Aoife Walsh. They are all standalone thrillers and can be read in any order.

A native of Ireland, Val began reading at the age of three and still devours books at the rate of one per week. Her favourite authors range from Philippa Gregory and Sophie Kinsella to Lee Child and Linwood Barclay.

Join Val online at valcollinsbooks. com , and on social media @ valcollinsbooks .

PRETTY/UGLY

WINS KINDLE READERS CHOICE

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT JENNIFER ANNE GORDON'S NOVEL PRETTY/UGLY WON THE READER’S CHOICE FOR THE KINDLE AWARDS…AND THIS WAS THE OVERALL WINNER FOR ALL CATEGORIES!

THANK YOU TO ALL THE READERS FOR VOTING IN THE AWARDS. YOU ARE AMAZING!

JENNIFER ANNE GORDON is a professional ballroom dancer and choreographer by day, and a curly haired neurotic writer by night. She is an actor, a traveler, a photographer, a lover of Gothic Horror, and a dog mom. She lives in the wilds of New Hampshire with her partner on and off the dance floor. Her novels include the Kindle Award for Horror 2020 Winning book, Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent , as well as the historical Gothic novel From Daylight to Madness (The Hotel #1) as well as When The Sleeping Dead Still Talk (The Hotel #2 ). She also has a published collection of her artwork, titled " Victoriana {mixed media art of jennifer Anne Gordon} ".

For benevolent stalking purposes you can visit her website http://www.JenniferAnneGordon.com

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REMINDER: This is an interactive magazine. Click on book cover or link to follow.

ANNA J. STEWART

Q: WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A WRITER?

In high school, shortly after reading my first romance novel, which was a romantic suspense actually. After continually changing my mind as to what I wanted to study in college, what my major might be, what career I might have, it finally dawned on me that becoming a writer meant I didn’t have to choose—I could be whatever I wanted for as long as it took me to write a story. One of the things that makes writing the perfect career choice.

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR NOVEL, EXPOSED?

First, it was my editor asking me what I wanted to write. I knew I wanted to focus on something that interested me, but was also unique and something I hadn’t seen before. I’d had a thread of an idea of a story come to me while watching an episode of White Collar, where one of the characters buys an old storage unit filled with photography

paraphernalia. I remember thinking, what if there’s film that needs to be developed in that unit? I wonder what would be on it?

In my mind, it was evidence of a possible murder. And thus, EXPOSED was born. It’s darker and edgier than anything I’ve written before and that opening scene and prologue? I think it might be the best opening I’ve ever written to date.

Q: HOW WOULD DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLE?

Q: HOW MANY BOOKS DO PLAN FOR THIS SERIES?

There will be five and I start writing book 2 in a few weeks. I have five best friends who all live in Temple House,

a Los Angeles apartment building that’s history goes back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Riley Temple owns the building with her great-aunt, a former actress who longs for a comeback. Riley is first up and gets the story going, and then each of her friends will pick up with the subsequent books. One of the most fun aspects I’m finding is how to lead into the next story and so far, the way it’s working out, it feels like magic the way the pieces are falling into place. Which isn’t normally the case for me as I’m not a plotter.

Visual. Emotional. Exciting. Humorous. I tend to see things running in my head like a filmstrip, probably because I’m such a big movie and TV fan. So imagery is a big thing with me and it’s not something I actually think about; it’s just there. My style is also very open. I might write romance, but there’s always that element of family found and the family we create—whether they’re fighting crime and solving mysteries in my romantic suspense titles or we’re in small-town every day life where everyone’s lives intersect. But I usually throw in some suspense element—even in those smalltown stories, LOL. I can’t help it!

Q: WHAT WAS THE JOURNEY LIKE FOR YOU AS YOU WERE WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING YOUR WORKS?

I’ve been writing for almost forty years. I started with short stories (what we’d now call fan fiction) back in high school, but I didn’t get serious about until about 10 years ago. It was nice to play at—that’s when the writing is fun, right? But I needed to take that next step and for me that’s always been with the end goal of traditional publishing. I’m not built for indie publishing—that’s so much work on top of the writing, which is really all I want to do. Kudos to all those who do it so incredibly well.

I needed to make some shifts to get to what I wanted. My first love is paranormal romance, but NY wasn’t biting, so I had

to ask myself what the actual dream was and it was to publish in romance. Shortly after I buckled down and decided to make a serious go of publishing, I entered a few contests, finaled in a pretty big one, got my first agent, then my second (long story) and sold to both Harlequin and Berkley within a few months of one another. Now I write primarily for Harlequin (their Heartwarming and Romantic Suspense lines) but also now for Arc Manor’s Caezik Romance. I still have big plans and ideas for even bigger books, but where I am affords me some flexibility I might not otherwise have if I’d taken the more difficult, indie route.

So as far as the editing and publishing side of things, most of that isn’t on me. I get to turn all that over. I write the book, then polish the book, have some say in what the final product will look like and then move onto the next book. I write anywhere between four and nine books a year (I think in 2022 I’ll have written seven full-length novels and 2 novellas? I need to check), but yeah. I just want to write and leave the other stuff to the professionals.

Q: WHEN WILL THIS NEW NOVEL BE RELEASED AND WHERE CAN READERS BUY IT?

EXPOSED releases on November 15th, in digital and print. Most bookstores like

BN will be carrying it—if it hasn’t been ordered, it is in their system (I’ve checked with my local stores, LOL). And of course it’ll be on the Big A and available through my publisher. I also have all the buy links on my website, www. AuthorAnnaStewart. com . Oh! And it’ll release on Audio on 11/29! That’s a first for me—coming out shortly after release (all my other audios came years after the fact and purely by chance. This time, my publisher, Arc Manor, sought it out. Yay!)

each other which adds to the layers of the story they have to traverse together.

Q: DID YOU HAVE ANY DIFFICULTIES IN CREATING THIS LATEST BOOK?

Like I said above, I think I might have blocked any difficulties out? Hindsight is always a bit brighter than when you’re in the throes of a tricky story. I do remember about a day after I turned in the final manuscript, I woke up in the middle of the night with the realization the ending I’d written fit what I have planned for book 2 far better than book 1. I emailed my editor at like 1 in the morning saying, don’t start reading yet! I have to rework the end! So I rewrote the last 40 pages in like two days. And of course I saved the original version for when I write book 2.

Q: CAN YOU TELL US, READERS, WHAT YOUR MAIN CHARACTER IS LIKE?

I have two—it is a romantic suspense after all. But my primary heroine is Riley Temple. She’s a Hollywood photographer with paparazzi tendencies (it’s not a job she particularly loves, but it pays the bills). She’s feisty, opinionated, a bit on the judgmental side, and always, always looking for the truth. That’s why she loves being a photographer. The camera doesn’t lie and when she develops some old film that seems to show a dead woman, she has questions. Riley is also super loyal to her family and friends. She lives with her great aunt Moxie, and goes to Sunday morning yoga on the apartment building roof with her four best friends. And she falls hard— albeit reluctantly—for Detective Quinn Burton, a man who has distant ties to the photograph she’s developed. They’re a good match; they compliment but also challenge

Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING WRITERS IN YOUR GENRE?

Read. Look for ways to turn the typical on its head. Be different. Take chances.

And above all, write! I’m a firm believer in writing being the biggest teacher. I’ve learned so much just by getting my fingers on the keys and seeing what happens. I’d also advise not to try to imitate other authors’ processes. As many authors as there are out there, that’s how many ways there are to write a book. Figure out what your process is and build on it. Don’t ever let anyone tell you your process is wrong. It’s your process. If it works for you, that is all that matters.

Q: WOULD YOU EVER WRITE BOOKS IN ANY OTHER GENRE?

Sure. I’m actually playing around with a horror novel idea at the moment. I’m getting more excited about it the more I noodle. Dean Koontz was an early inspiration for me (The Watchers is one of my favorite books of all time). I’d love to give that genre a shot. I never say never to anything. I say yes, then figure it out. I’m not sure I’d ever write historical fiction, though. Too much research and things you have to get right.

It’s why I love paranormal—I can make it all up as I go along.

Q: WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS AS A WRITER WHEN WORKING ON YOUR BOOK?

I had a few aha moments as far as plot twists—I don’t plot, so when I feel things coming together, there’s this internal bounce that I get, that tells me I’m on the right track. It’s also like that final rise of a roller coaster, before that last plunge to the end. That’s the rush and high I’m chasing for all the pages that came before.

Q: WHERE CAN READERS FIND YOU AND YOUR BOOKS?

All of my books are listed on my website, www.AuthorAnnaStewart.com (and I even have a few that aren’t listed yet, LOL). Everything about me— social media links, buy links, bio, workshops for writers—it’s all there.

ABOUT ANNA

USA Today and national bestselling author Anna J Stewart has always had a book in her hand or a story in her heart. A child of the 70’s, early obsessions with Star Wars, Star Trek, and Wonder Woman set her on the path to creating fun, pulse-pounding romance in multiple sub-genres. Since her

first novella with Harlequin in 2014, Anna has written and published more than forty romances and swears she’s just getting started. When she’s not writing, she’s dealing with a serious Supernatural and Jason Momoa addiction, experimenting with new cooking and baking recipes, surrounding herself with family and friends or hanging out at her local theater and attending fan conventions. You can read more about Anna, her books, and her workshops for writing groups at  www. AuthorAnnaStewart.com.

SHORT STORIES

THE COFFEE MONSTER

by Danielle Urban

It was work day as usual on the USS Mars Navy ship. The navy supplies us the heaviest yet darkest coffee muck to drink. It’s blacker than black and the bitter taste makes you want to spit it all out. But when it’s cold out, and you need the caffeine, it’s all we got. Some can’t handle it all all. Wusses. But for sailors like myself, we can drink it.

So, it was strange when one moment a fellow sailor was sipping his coffee and just as I turned around he was nowhere to be seen. Only a huge spot of what looked to be and smelled like the coffee I was drinking.

Strange.

“Hey, Stuart it’s time for us to..” Patrick looked down at me wiping the coffee up.

“Where’s Stuart?” Patrick asked.

“I don’t know. He was right here. The next second I turned around and he was gone only this mess was left.”

“That’s strange...”

“What is?” I asked.

“I have been hearing rumors that sailors on board are disappearing left and right. One second, they’re there and the next time you look...they’re gone.”

Patrick started stepping out backwards and then ran off to who knows where.

I stood back up, tossed the dirty paper towel into the garbage pin and was about to leave.

The coffee machine was turned off. I could have sworn it was. I walked over to turn it off, but it wouldn’t budge. I weighed about 160 and was 6 foot 2. I worked out everyday and did many laps in the pool to stay fit. Turning the coffee switch should have been easy. But it was proving harder than one could imagine.

Shit. Why is this damn thing stuck?

Ping! Shit! Major shit. I just broke off the switch and now a huge mass of coffee came pouring out

Image by Anastasia Kazakova on Freepik

of the machine. But instead of being the causal liquid...it was coming out like a glob. It was exactly like the spot on the floor. Next thing I see, was the coffee glob reaching upward forming into a human body shape.

“What the f**k?!”

Coming to life, the glob like coffee monster came walking up to me. Growing larger until it towered above my six foot frame. I stood still. Frozen on the spot just from what I was witnessing. Never in my 10-years as a US Naval Officer have I ever witnessed something like this...

The coffee killing monster.

Red came up into the mess room. Right before him, he saw a huge black human like glob structure towering over his six foot friend’s body. It was about to...eat his friend. Not on his watch!

Running with a broom nearby, Red charged into the black glob only to disappear. The monster before Will grew larger. Running out of of the mess room, his shuts the door only to see the glob after him.

This time, it was larger yet. Men all around were shouting, Will kept on running.

“What to do? What to do?”

Will turns the corner and the coffee glob follows after him. Eating fellow sailors as he runs, the monster continues after Will.

“Damn it! Does this thing ever stop?”

Just as Will ran down two steps at a time, the monster catches him...and Will falls.

“Is he up yet?”

“Shh...the doctor says, he’ll be okay. But that bump on his head will take a while to heal.”

“I guess we better make some more coffee then.”

Will shot up on the lunge and screamed, “No! No coffee! Don’t turn it on!”  Without further words, Will got up and tossed the coffee maker on the floor where it crashed into many pieces. His fellow mates just stood in shock, silently watching their long time friend.

“The monster will not attack us ever again!” Will informed them. After straightening his uniform, he headed out of the mess room.

“No more coffee for that guy!”

“Yeah, no kidding. Monster?”

“Must have hit his head too hard.”

Laughing the guys left the mess room leaving the other coffee machine flashing on... Beep... Beep... Beep...

ABOUT DANIELLE

Danielle Urban lives in North Central Arkansas with her family. She started by blogging about her favorite books, short stories, and writing prompts. Soon her blog became something more than just that. Writers needed more than just reviews. That's how Urban Lit Magazine came to be. It features reviews, interviews, news of new literary agents and more. Her goal was to help readers connect with writers from all over the world.

Danielle has worked as an article writer, editor, journalist, and interned as a senior publisher for romance novels. In addition to that, she started the journalism club at ASUMH and it's very first digital and print publications. From there, she continued her studies in Arkansas and graduated with an M.A. in English. Today, Danielle continues to inspire writers and encourage readers to try something new. When she's not subbing at school, she is busy writing.

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MEDIEVAL CHAMPION

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DANIÈLE CYBULSKIE

Q: WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A WRITER?

I never really decided - it happened by accident. When I was home with my first child, I really needed an outlet for all this love I had for the history I’d been studying, and that outlet became a blog. It was a way to share all those fun and fascinating bits of medieval history I enjoyed with the world and to keep myself sane! I never thought of myself as a writer, but more of a teacher or a friend sharing interesting stuff. Over time, my writing was picked up by  Medievalists. net, and after a few years writing for them, I decided to compile those articles into a book, which became  The Five-Minute Medievalist. When that came out, it was well-received, and that made me believe I could put together bigger projects. It might have been after that first book was published that I decided I was a writer.

Q: What inspired you to create your book, How to Live like A Monk?

The idea for  How to Live Like a Monk  was pitched to me by Lauren Orthey at Abbeville Press, who was familiar with my other work. I had wanted to learn more about monks for a long time because they’re both so interesting and so influential, and I was already an avid

reader of positive psychology books, so this seemed like a really fun idea. I got to learn more about monks, and explore all of the things that science has shown makes us happier people. It was a wonderful project to take on.

Q: How would describe your writing style?

Short! I started out as “The Five-Minute Medievalist” with articles only around a thousand words or so. In the longer book projects, I’ve still stuck to that style, giving people information in bite-sized chunks. I would also describe my style as “friendly”. I write history for non-specialists, and for people intimidated by big tomes. As a result, my writing is conversational and easygoing, meant to invite people in and give them a pleasant diversion while showing them just how interesting medieval history is.

Q: What was the journey like for you as you were writing, editing, and publishing your works?

It’s a continuous learning process, that’s for sure. I think I experience a similar journey to

other writers, where we struggle to squeeze in the time, write hard

against deadline, and go through periods where we are unhappy and then happy with the result. My first book was self-published, so that process took quite a lot of learning, but it’s nice to look back and see what you’re able to accomplish, especially when there are so many moving pieces. I’ve been lucky with the publishers I’ve worked with since then, as everyone has been very kind to me. The team at Abbeville is stellar, and I know they are as invested in the book as I am, which makes the whole process both comfortable and energizing. The best part of the journey for  How to Live Like a Monk has been the people who have written to me, telling me the book has helped them through difficult situations, or made their lives just a little bit better. As a historian, it’s rare to get to write a book that has that kind of impact on people. I’m very fortunate.

Q: When will this new book be released and where can readers buy it?

How to Live Like a Monk is out now, and it can be found at all the major bookstores. It’s also available on ebook, and audiobook, which I narrate, myself. Because it’s a fun history book, you can also find it popping up in places like museum gift shops.

Yes! Bringing together modern science around wellness and medieval monasticism was tricker than I imagined it would be. While they both involve the same types of practices (meditation, minimalism, gratitude, etc.), the reasons why people do these things are very different. For strict medieval monks, humans were sinful, so these practices would sustain them while they prepared their souls for divine judgement. For modern people, these practices are good because they make us healthier and happier - valuable goals in and of themselves. It took some thinking to enmesh them, while still ensuring both points of view were represented with respect and care.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers in your genre?

I think that, in history, you can get bogged down in the research if you strive too hard for perfection. Don’t get me wrong - I am constantly checking and double-checking my facts, and I think that’s a responsible approach. But if you try to read absolutely everything ever written about each facet of your subject, you won’t get your own writing done. So, it’s better to look for the very best, most up-to-date information out there, and get to work. I would also say don’t be afraid to express your sense of humour. Most historians come (necessarily) from the academic tradition, where the writing is meant to be very serious. Writing for a general audience is very different, and in that arena, it’s best to allow your personality to shine through.

Q: Would you ever write books in any other genre?

I mean, never say never, but I have absolutely no plans to. While I admire fiction writers greatly, I don’t see myself ever writing fiction. It’s too hard! I don’t have the temperament for it. I’ve toyed with turning some of my work into a format for children, but I haven’t decided yet. I’m comfortable where I am.

Q: What were your favorite moments as a writer when  working on your

book?

My favourite moments always come when I get a look behind the historical curtain and really see the people who lived in the Middle Ages. When I read their words and hear what they have to say about their feelings, their experiences, and their thoughts on life, I always get a deep feeling of empathy and kinship, and then I get excited to try to bring this feeling to my readers. When I experience this rich empathy, and when I anticipate readers feeling it, too, that’s the very best part of the work.

Q: Where can readers find you and your book?

I’m pretty much everywhere in the medieval space! You can find me at my website (danielecybulskie.com), listen to my podcast (The Medieval Podcast), read one of the hundreds of articles I’ve written for Medievalists. net, or find my books online or in stores. I’m also on social media @5MinMedievalist.

ABOUT DANIÈLE

As a writer, professor, TEDx speaker, and podcaster, Danièle has been making the Middle Ages fun, entertaining, and accessible for over a decade. She is the author

of How to Live Like a Monk: Medieval Wisdom for Modern Life, Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction, and The Five-Minute Medievalist, which debuted at the top of Amazon’s Canadian charts. Through her featured articles at Medievalists.net, as well as those she’s written for several international magazines, Danièle’s work has reached over a million readers worldwide.

Danièle is the creator and host of The Medieval Podcast, a weekly show on which she interviews experts on the Middle Ages about a wide variety of topics. Her writing, videos, and podcast have been used as resources in elementary schools, secondary schools, and universities across North America, including The Middle Ages and the Modern World: Facts and Fiction, a course she co-created for college students across Ontario via OntarioLearn.

In 2020, Danièle built The Medieval Masterclass for Creators, an online course designed to provide novelists, game developers, and other fiction creators with expert information in a visual format to help them bring their medieval worlds to life. Now, she’s turning her attention to creating digital resources to help creators build medieval worlds with ease.

Called a “tireless champion promoting medieval studies to both general and academic audiences”, Danièle is the winner of the 2019 Lone Medievalist Prize for Scholarly Outreach for her work on Medievalists.net and The Medieval Podcast.

When she’s not reading, writing, or recording, Danièle can be found drinking tea, doing Krav Maga, or sometimes building a backyard trebuchet.

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Q: Did you have any difficulties in creating this latest book?

The National Authors in Grocery Stores Program

How do you sign up?

1. Fill out our Contact us Page and submit your information: https://authorsingrocerystores.com/contact-us

2. A registration packet will then be emailed to you which will include our registration form, W9 and Handbook.

3. Your books only need an ISBN and BAR Code which come standard on Books printed through Ingram, Publishers, and Amazon.

4. Fees: $75 annual Membership, one time fee of $25 per ISBN to register the books. If you have 5 or more the ISBN fee drops to $20. The program pays you 62% of your book sales

5. Once all information and fees are received, you will get a welcome letter. On the welcome letter you will have a test date which you will go to a participating store and see if your book scans. When your book does scan which takes 30 days for it to register in the store systems, you will then provide to us a schedule of the Dates, Store Numbers and Times you would like to go to the store.

6. This schedule is then registered and sent out to the division leaders who then send it to the managers.

7. On the day of your signing, you will bring a 2 by 4 table, a tablecloth, your books, a sign “Meet the author get your book signed today” along with your o cial schedule which will be provided to you 2 weeks before your book signing. On the day of, please check in at the Customer Service Desk and then set up by either the Entrance or by the registers.

8. When customers come up to you and want a book, you sign it, give it to the customer and instruct them to pay for it at the register.

9. At the end of your signing, submit your sales to the program coordinator and a check will be cut to you in two weeks for your sales Please note:

Meet Inklings Publishing

Inklings Publishing was founded in 2013 by Fern Brady. Its mission is to birth a legacy in words for readers to enjoy while creating opportunities for authors to grow in their craft and career. It began with a series of anthologies, Eclectic Writings Series, which allowed the company to publish many authors through these compilations of short stories. Eventually, the company signed its first individual author, Meg Hafdahl, and now has eleven authors under contract.

Fern Brady started the company using her retirement funds when she stepped away from full-time teaching. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the company had recuperated the initial capital

investment and had it as a reserve. This has kept the company going through the past two years as the economy recovers. Inklings Publishing is and has always been debt free.

The publishing house is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has been listed among the top five publishers in the thriving city as well as in the top twenty for the state. It follows a traditional model as a publishing house that acquires and pays for the development of its books, issuing royalties bi-annually to authors. It does not require authors to pay for any costs and, at this time, does not do advances when acquiring new projects. It seeks to become a full publishing house offering a wide

selection of fiction novels across all genres for both young readers to adults.

Inklings Publishing prides itself in a rigorous developmental editing process to ensure that when the final book is released the story will be crafted with care, well-fleshed out, and without plot holes or character development deficiencies. Authors who sign with us agree to work with their editor to revise the novel until it is deemed ready for public consumption. The high quality of the stories keep readers returning for more.

The company does extensive copy editing to ensure the final book is at or exceeds industry standards with regards to the conventions and mechanics of the language. Additionally, our authors and editors work as a team with the cover design and marketing materials development professionals. The process is designed to ensure that the cover and materials reflect the author’s vision while simultaneously meeting the standards of the industry and viability for marketability.

Because Fern Brady, the founder and CEO of the company, is an author herself, the company

is designed to be author-focused. Brady works hard setting up procedures and instilling a company culture that reflects the type of publisher she, as an author, would want to be published by. A tight knit family, Inklings Publishing authors and staff work as team to ensure the success of all their projects.

ABOUT FERN

Fern Brady is the founder and President of Inklings Publishing. She holds multiple Masters degrees and several certifications. She began her professional life as a foreign correspondent, taught for 15 years in Alief ISD, and is a full-time Realtor in Houston. She has published numerous short stories, two children's picture books, and a couple of poems. Her debut novel, United Vidden, which is book one in her Thyrein’s Galactic Wall Series, released in 2020 along with her graphic novel/novella hybrid New Beginning. She is the current president of the Houston Writers Guild, with whom she served in that capacity previously, and is on the board of Authorology. Besides being Municipal Liaison for Nanowrimo Houston, she is also a member of Authors Marketing Guild as well as of Blood Over Texas and Romance Writers of America. She lives in Houston, TX, with her parents and her talkative husky, Arya.

REAL LIFE RESCUE

by Christine Krauss

The Adventures of Teddy series are non-fiction stories for children about my real life rescue cat who lost his ears to frostbite while being homeless in freezing winter weather conditions in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. Teddy has had an incredible journey to find his way to our family and into our hearts.

I was introduced to Heart and Soul Dog and Cat Rescue, shortly after we lost our beloved family pet in November 2020. My children were devastated. I began to notice on social media that some friends had been fostering animals and I asked them how I

could get involved. I learned that fostering is such a great way to help and support a local shelter from overcrowding while having the unique opportunity to see if that animal is a match to your family dynamic. If you feel a connection to a specific pet, then you get first rights at adoption!

Later that same month, it was announced that the Covid pandemic would prevent us from gathering with family over Christmas. I really wanted our home to feel full and happy during this time, so I volunteered to foster an entire litter of

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kittens and surprised my children! The kittens were rambunctious and joyful. We got to name all of them, write their personality bios and take cute photos for the rescue website. Needless to

say, the kittens all got adopted to their forever homes shortly into the new year.

It wasn’t long before I found myself scrolling through the foster pages looking to help out with another animal intake. The Heart and Soul Dog and Cat Rescue organization out of Abbotsford BC, runs solely on the hard work and dedication of volunteers who drive to remote regions of Canada to rescue homeless, abused and neglected pets.

They also coordinate with other rescue organizations like K9 Advocates, Keen Cat Care and S.A.F.E. (saving animals from euthanasia). When these operations are overcrowded with animals, Heart and Soul relies on foster volunteers to get those animals onto transport. If no one volunteers to foster, that animal loses their spot and potentially their last chance at a new life.

I saw this rough looking mangy tuxedo cat with no ears and thought his story was so unique and sad. If any cat deserved a second chance, it was this guy. I continued to check on the status of this cat for days leading up to the transport deadline. Animal after animal had volunteers, but not Teddy. I wondered if it was because without ears, he looked like a mean cat. I judged him too. He looked scrappy and angry and I wondered how

he would acclimate to an indoor setting, or how he would get along with children. I suppose many of us would look upset in a mugshot photo, had we experienced the trauma this cat endured. I reluctantly turned to my kids for their assessment on whether we should give him a chance in our home, as I was still uncertain about whether he’d be a fit. They only saw only an adorable cat who needed love, so I said yes to appease them, but for a temporary foster only.

We drove as a family to Abbotsford and eagerly awaited Teddy’s arrival on the loaded up transport truck full of a hundred scared, hungry and filthy animals. They’d all been cooped up in cages for the many long hours it takes the volunteer drivers to road trip across 2-4 provinces. Only stopping to give the dogs a quick walk, or to assist a pregnant mamma in labour delivering litters of puppies or kittens onboard.

We were provided with all the supplies needed to take care of our foster pet. Then we were given

our caged animal and decided to let him out to stretch his legs before driving another hour to home.

Teddy leaped out of the cage and nuzzled into my neck, licking and loving on me. Then he spotted the kids in the backseat and hopped onto each of their laps for a quick snuggle, and all my fears about potential behaviour issues were completely alleviated.

Over the next few weeks, we learned so many funny quirks about him. Such as his love of pasta. I mean, really? He legitimately sat at the dinner table, inserting himself right between the children and politely waited for a morsel to inevitably drop. Or perhaps he actually thought he’d be offered a plate if he blended in at the table as one of the children. When I the kids abandoned their bowls, we witnessed Teddy swiftly move in and aggressively gulp up the leftover saucy noodles. I’ve had many cats in my life, but never seen one eat pasta!

It was in this moment that I

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exclaimed in disbelief, look at this cat! Teddy Loves Spaghetti!! We all laughed and said how it totally sounded like a great children’s book title and I envisioned exactly how that would look. From there, we just knew Teddy’s stories had to be shared.

All of the books in the Teddy series will highlight educational points about pet care, support inclusivity and celebrate being different together. Teddy Loses His Ears is the introduction book to the series and touches on self esteem, disability awareness and shares with readers what happened to poor Teddy. Through social media, I was able to connect with volunteers that handled Teddy and ultimately found the hero who saved his life, and piece together his history.

Teddy’s tragic experience provided the inspiration and opportunity to share his stories, raise awareness to under funded rescue organizations and hopefully educate children about preventable injuries. Teddy’s differences are what set him apart from other cats in a unique way that children find relatable, as the protagonist is a loveable character that children seem to emotionally connect with. Just as our family did.

Each illustrations in the Teddy series are hand painted by a talented, young local artist

named Ciera Van Nes whom

I met organically through my local Facebook Marketplace. Cierra instantly understood exactly how to paint every Teddy scene. We collaborated on many details to make the story even more interactive and fun for our readers, like including Teddy’s favourite toy hidden on every page for children to seek and find!

The much anticipated book 2 in the series is set to release this month!! Teddy Loves Spaghetti uses humour to teach kids about nutrition, alternatives to food based rewards, pet care and diabetes awareness. I’ve received so many private messages, videos and requests from Teddy fans over this past year who expressed that they are impatiently waiting to get their hands on more books in the series!

Coming soon, a revealing and unexpected vet visit! Stay tuned for more about that!

Please check out my author website for colouring pages and to get exclusive looks at the real Teddy at home!  www.

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christinemilkovickrauss.com or on Facebook @The Adventures of Teddy.

ABOUT CHRISTINE

Everybody has a story. More importantly; every person is deserving of friendship, kindness and acceptance. Teddy Loses His Ears is a non-fiction story about my real life rescue cat who lost his ears to frostbite while being homeless in negative 50 degree temperatures in central Canada.

All of the books in the Teddy series will highlight educational points about pet care, support inclusivity and celebrate being different together. Teddy Loses His Ears is the introduction book to the series and touches on self esteem and disability awareness. Each illustration in the story is hand painted and even has a Teddy's favourite toy hidden on every page for children to find! This story was created to raise awareness for rescue organizations and promote, adopt vs shop, to find your purr-fect family pet.

In addition to being a pet lover and cat mom, I am also a mom of two primary school aged children.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR HISTORICAL FICTION

As a history buff and lover of historical fiction, I found this book a fast and entertaining read. A unique blend of academic rhetoric with warm storytelling, it was easy to get lost in this fact-based tale. It was also a new view of the American Revolutionary War, which made it more personal and less political.

What I liked was the community found among the Mitchell family and their friends. I was moved by their strength, passion, and most importantly, their compassion. Their ability to put aside politics and religion for the sake of humanity is something we all should do.

What I didn’t like was how the text was sometimes “telling.” There were moments when I felt very drawn into a scene only to have it turn into more of a narrative. It worked because the author wanted to stay true to facts, which I appreciate. However, there was potential for the writer to make the text emotionally more powerful had they fully embraced their creative liberties.

This story is well researched and presented. It was easy to connect with the characters and knowing they are real people, who actually lived through these events, just makes you care about them more. It adds another layer to America’s history.

I recommend this book. I’m looking forward to discovering more in this series as well as more works by David Bowles.

A BOOK FOR ALL WORK ENVIRONMENTS

I've never been in manufacturing but have spent 45 years in an office environment. I wasn't sure if this book would relate to that type of workspace, but it really does.

At first I was a bit skeptical, thinking, yeah, just another fad to sell to corporations. The company I've worked for most of my life got into the whole Agile thing and I can honestly say the management has gone downhill ever since.

However, as I read further into the book it became relatable to even an office workspace. There are a lot of good pointers and charts showing how incivility affects employees and the companies' bottom line. I did feel some of the teachings were a bit too much from a liberal/social justice stance but then I had some maintenance work done in my apartment yesterday. The head guy was telling his helper how to complete the job. His tone was brash, loud, and it made me feel uncomfortable, I can't imagine how his worker felt. Which made me think about this book and how TONE really does make a difference between employer/employee.

If you're in a supervisory or higher position and you're experiencing a lot of absenteeism or bad attitude from your workers, you need to read this book. I give it 4 stars.

REVIEWED BY J.M. NORTHUP REVIEWED BY SAHARA FOLEY

A GOOD START TO A SERIES

This is a difficult review for me. I opted to read MINE with a bibliophile friend so we could discuss the title as we went (something we both love). We ended up completely enthralled with the story, absorbed and unable to really discuss it until the end. LOL

What I loved about it was the twists and turns. I cannot count how many times I gasped. There were so many surprises along the journey of this dark tale. I am sure some of it was shocking to me simply because it is not fathomable for my naïve mind. LOL

What I didn’t like was that this should have been a 5-star, hands down. However, in Part III (the story is divided into three parts), details become inconsistent, and I found myself arguing with the errors I easily recognized. Small adjustments would solve the issues, but it completely disrupted the engagement I’d otherwise had with the reading experience. It was a bit disappointing, to be honest.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a great book for those who love a sultry mystery thriller. It’s naughty without being tawdry – cruel without being explicit. The pacing is excellent and the crimes sinful. This novel quickly becomes a short read because you cannot set it down.

BEAUTIFUL AND HEARTBREAKING

It has been a while since I read a book of poetry. I am mighty glad this was the one I picked up. The raw, straightforward presentation of the poet’s life is so simple, yet so rich in the emotional depth of the subject matter. Creating imagery that breaks the heart, the poet leads the reader through a childhood full of hard-edged and definitive gender boundaries and stigma that follow them through to their adult life. The lessons drilled home in youth take hold and shape the poet’s choices, all the while shoving down the thoughts that something is not quite right.

I would highly recommend this book especially to the LGBTQ+ community. It is a strong testament to the importance of listening to ones inner voice, fighting against societal norms, and letting one's true self shine. A poignant story, beautifully and heart-achingly told.

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REVIEWED BY KAREN J. MOSSMAN

REVIEWED BY NICHOLE

LIFE JUST GOT MORE COMPLICATED!

The Reaper’s save the day again! I just love this group of crazy heros although for them, it’s just all in a day’s work.

In this 4th book of the series, we meet Famine, the last of the Four Horseman. This is the one all of the other Horseman hate and avoid at all costs except Death, who seems to be motherly towards them.

That aside, Famine is very strange and you just don’t know what they will do next. Life continues to be lived on the edge for Isis and her friends especially with this new horseman in their midst. On top of that, something is going bad for the shifters in town.

The whole Reapers crew just keep growing and expanding as Texarkana is now a safe haven for all supernatural beings. Death’s Reapers are in charge of keeping law and order among the new arrivals.

I have really enjoyed this series. I am sad that the next book is the last of this fun group of misfit heroes.

This is a really good read for people who favor books about the supernatural world, with a definite PG rating and a very lovable group of characters.

HORRIFICALLY TWISTED

This book… There were moments when I felt sick to my stomach. The demented people depicted is the worst kind of horror, but the plot… I can’t deny the brilliant story the author wrote. It’s twisted, but only because human nature can be.

What I liked was the relationship between Jake & Erik. Their brotherhood was refreshing and a lovely contrast to the darkness of Kristy & Brad. The unconditional love and respect was inspiring, especially in such a horrific setting.

There were a lot of relationships to admire. The author had equally despicable ones (like Trent and everyone involved with him LOL), but the most heroic elements were the actions done in compassion through these connections. I won’t elaborate because I don’t want to potentially spoil anything for anyone.

The warped mind of the professor was haunting. There were moments when you wanted to feel badly for him and his twisted adopted children. However, you’re left wondering what’s nature, nurture, or just plain psychotic. Not to mention, where do you draw the line between taught behavior and personal choice? Interesting how this plays into the story…

I recommend this title. Honestly, I didn’t think I would. At first, I struggled with it because of the cruelty of the antagonists, but the story is too good not to share. And in the end, there’s a good message of hope.

REVIEWED BY DEBBIE REVIEWED BY J.M. NORTHUP

N J M HEMFREY

My Fatal Futility Shellshock by  N J M Hemfrey is  positively one the  THE BEST Sci-fi books I’ve  EVER read in my life, and certainly THE BEST Sci-fi book I’ll read this year. This is an indie book that feels like it was published by a top tier literary house!

It catches you off-guard and throws you moral questions and dilemmas that take you aback and make you think and engage with yourself or the book.

“Kage”, our main character, doesn’t have memories of his past whatsoever and it’s constantly fighting to have a grip on who he is, spilling unnerving reactions towards it while trying to keep his cool and comply with the dictorial mandates of the Corporation he is in, all of this having a preaching chip implant on his head he is powerless to control.

We should tell you that “My Fatal Futility Shellshock” has one of the most vicious, hateful villains of all of books reviewed so far, probably second to only one, and the one that gives the most stomach-punching plot-twist of all. Like, you  will feel sick after it starts making sense, and it will leave with a bitter-sweet taste on your mouth.

If you like physics, quantum physics, time travel, science, fighting and a great and complex story with LOTS of humour, punches, swords, robots and blood, well, you HAVE to read My Fatal Futility Shellshock. Cannot give a better recommendation when it comes to the genre.

Listen to the Podcast Review

Complete Darkness COMIC VERSION! by Matt Adcock

Complete Darkness by Matt Adcock is one of the coolest Sci-fi books we have reviewed on Scribble’s Worth, and you can read why we have are telling you this on the review of this awesome title.

So, in  the review of the book, we told you that the imagery that the narration conjures is akin to a comic book, well, maybe that’s because  this story will have a  comic book version!  And we are HYPER excited for the other chapters to come, not only because the story is insanely original, with one of the best dry and sarcastic humor narratives you will find, but also, because it has lots of potential!

The story is about the coming of the “Day of Carnage” that was promised around 2 thousand years ago, apparently by the Devil himself, and such footage has been discovered in a futuristic version of London!

This is great, truly impressive. You guys  have to  check this out and THE AMAZING,  hyper-sarcastic  and funny book,  review here, that has 4x as much story content than the comic, and really shows how cool this project is and its potential, by the same title: Complete Darkness, available now for  purchase on Amazon// Author’s Page.

IF you like to read manga, like I do, and if you love oldschool style comics with that sharp style, then this comic series will be something you will want to have on your hands.

Grab your version of the comic on the Author’s site!

Listen to the Podcast Review for MUCH more details.

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MY FATAL FUTILITY SHELLSHOCK BY

COMPLETE DARKNESS COMIC VERSION! BY MATT ADCOCK

Another holiday driving season is coming up and it brought to mind just how much my children and I have enjoyed unabridged audiobooks.

I originally became a fan of audiobooks when my oldest son - now 29 - was 8 years old and we would make 10 or 12 trips a year across the state of Texas. Usually these trips were at least 8 hours and there is only so much you can do in a vehicle for 8 hours without kids getting bored, cranky, whiny or all three. To us, the audiobook of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer›s Stone opened up a whole new chapter in our lives.

We would put in a cassette tape and be transported by Jim Dale›s wonderful reading of this story. A story I might add that I was interested in, but had no urge to read if I had any free time. Suddenly the long, grueling trip was over too fast — we hadn›t finished with the story...

IN PRAISE OF AUDIO BOOKS

As soon as we got to our destination, Alphonso and I went to the nearest Wal-Mart and bought the 2nd and 3rd in the series — we were officially hooked!!

It's hard to believe that was 20 years ago and during that time we have listened to all different types of books; Dan Brown, Janet Evanovich, Stephen King, Phillippa Gregory and of course every single J. K. Rowling! Alphonso, Bubba, Wee Bossy Baby and I have put a lot of miles on vehicles and listened to lots of audiobooks. It is something we can do as a family, that encourages us to use our own imagination instead of a movie director's vision for a story. I can say that we will be listening to our favorite books on our road-trips for many years to come.

Thank you for bearing with me on a post that had nothing at all to do with e-books and letting me

by Deena Rae

praise the audiobook. Next time you are taking a road-trip with your family, consider getting an audiobook from your library and having everyone listen. It is an experience that you won›t regret and just might help foster your young one›s love of the written word — all 3 of my children love books. I highly recommend anything that Jim Dale reads as he does a fabulous job of separating the characters dialog with inflection and emotion.

ABOUT DEENA RAE

Deena Rae was born and raised in Texas – home of bluebonnets, boots, beef and big hair –into a family that was in the printing and publishing industries.

With a total of 20 years in publishing, in 2010 she decided to branch out as eBookBuilders helping established & new authors, designing books, ebooks and websites.

REVIEWS

BY

Reviews Team:

Sahara Foley

Nelson

J. Mossman

Reviews Team:

INTERVIEWS BY DANIELLE URBAN

Danielle Urban lives in North Central Arkansas with her family. She started by blogging about her favorite books, short stories, and writing prompts. Soon her blog became something more than just that. Writers needed more than just reviews. That's how Urban Lit Magazine came to be. It features reviews, interviews, news of new literary agents and more. Her goal was to help readers connect with writers from all over the world.

Danielle has worked as an article writer, editor, journalist, and interned as a senior publisher for romance novels. In addition to that, she started the journalism club at ASUMH and it's very first digital and print publications. From there, she continued her studies in Arkansas and graduated with an M.A. in English. Today, Danielle continues to inspire writers and encourage readers to try something new. When she's not subbing at school, she is busy writing.