pw select april 2016

8/17/2019 PW Select April 2016

1/26

Your Guide toSelf-Publishing

Should Indie AuthorsIncorporate?

Beating Writer’s Block

Reviews Roundup

140 New Titles Listed

April 2016


2/26P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 640

Should Indie

Authors Incorporate?The pros and cons of becoming a business entityB A P

W ith the recent end of tax

season, many self-pub-

lished authors have

l i k e l y d o n e s o m e

thinking about whether they could be

saving more money or better protecting

themselves from IRS scrutiny. They may

have heard from their accountant or

other authors that they can do just that

by formalizing their publishing work

under a business entity.

In fact, becoming a limited liability

company (LLC) or Subchapter S corpora-

tion (S corp) can provide distinct tax

benefits, but can carry added costs and

potential inconvenience. But by consid-

ering a few key points, an indie author

can figure out the right option.

Tax AdvantagesThe main tax savings of being an S cor-

poration is the ability to minimize the

Medicare tax. In recent years, the Medicare

tax was increased by the Affordable Care

Act, which can make the S corporation a

worthwhile option in some cases.

All wage earners and self-employed

people pay Medicare tax, which is with-

held from paychecks and equates to

about 1.5% of wages. Employers matchthe Medicare tax dollar for dollar, so

those who are self-employed—including

authors—are taxed double (about 3% of

earnings). As a sole proprietor, a suc-

cessful author earning $1 million would

pay more than $30,000 in Medicare tax.

“Income from an S corp is not subject

to Medicare tax,” says Robert Pesce, a

partner in the media and entertainment

group at Marcum LLP. “Only the salary

an author is paid by the S corp is subject

to the tax. So, an author with an S cor-

poration who is earning $1 million and

pays him- or herself $200,000 (a very

reasonable salary at that earnings level)

will only pay $6,000 (3%) in Medicare

taxes, while an unin-

corporated author

(so le propr ietor )

would pay approxi-

mately $30,000. The

remaining $800,000

S corporation profit

will pass through the

corporation to the

author, but it will be

subject only to regular income taxes

(federal, state, and local), not to

Medicare tax. That’s a $24,000 tax

savings.”

Pesce adds that under the Affordable

Care Act, the Medicare tax was actually

increased for high-wage earners in 2013,

which makes forming an S corporation

even more advantageous—authors

earning in excess of $500,000 should

start to consider this. LLCs, while also

popular, do not afford the same benefit,

because their income is subject to the

Medicare tax.

“With traditional corporations, lia-

bility is also restricted to corporateassets,” says Khrystal K. Davis, a patient

advocate and the author of Hunt for a

Cure: An Unexpected Adventure to Save a

Li fe , explaining her main reason for

choosing Subchapter S status with the

entity Zebra Leaf Publishing Inc.

“However, corporate income is taxed

before disbursements are made to

employees such as the independent

author. With the Subchapter S corpora-

tion, there are no corporate-level taxes. I

wanted the traditional protection of a

corporation—and wanted to avoid

paying taxes at both the corporate and

individual level.”

Of course, most indie authors aren’t

bringing in tens of thousands—let alone

hundreds of thousands—of dollars.

Helen Sedwick, a California lawyer and

the author of Se lf -Pub lis he r’s Le ga l

Handbook, stresses that in the vast

majority of cases, it probably makes more

sense to simply conduct business as a sole

proprietorship.

“There are more than 23 million sole

proprietorships in the U.S.,” Sedwick

says. “They are simpler to operate and

subject to fewer arbitrary rules than C

corporations, S corporations, and LLCs.

Simple is better.”

Operating as an entity allows authors

to reduce their employment taxes if

they make a net

income of more

than $50,000 a

year from their

books. Because

a u t h o r s w h o

create a business

entity can allo-

cate their income

between “compensation” (which is sub-ject to employment tax) and “company

profits” (which are not), those who

make a substantial net income from

their books can reduce employment

taxes by incorporating or establishing

an LLC.

The benefits of setting up a business

are less pronounced than they once were,

however. “Years ago, there were more tax

advantages to operating as an entity,”

Sedwick says. “Today, those advantages

have disappeared.”

T H E B U S I N E S S O F W R I T I N G

Helen Sedwick

Robert Pesce


3/26WWW . P U B L I S H E R SW E E K L Y . C OM 41

T H E B U S I N E S S O F W R I T I N G

Greater Legitimacy For many indie authors, the advantages

of operating as a business go beyond tax

savings. Patrice Tartt, a writing coach

and self-publishedauthor of several

novels and how-to

books, set up Patrice

Tartt Publishing

LLC be c au s e i t

would it allow her to

register the ISBNs

of her books under

her own LLC, rather

than through the printer, and she

thought it gave her greater control over

her publishing decisions.

“People know that you are serious

when you are backed by a business when

self-publishing,” Tartt says. “This also

allows you to bring on other authors to

publish if you would like down the road.”

Davis says the added legitimacy of a

business entity makes for an attractive

option. “Working with a traditional

publisher provides built-in legitimacy:

you have the name of another entity

promoting your work, and recommenda-

tions always carry more weight when

they come from others,” she says. “Now,

when I promote my books or myself as

an author, I do so with Zebra Leaf

Publishing, rather than my own name.

This is important, especially when

pitching stories to editors or submitting

books for reviews.”

“Having a formal business entity and

name can help you appear more profes-

sional to the industry—like in situations

where you anticipatesel l ing direct to

bookstores or other

companies,” says

Jane Friedman, a

digital-publishing

consultant and the

author of Publishing

101: A First-Time

Author’s Guide. “It’s especially needed if

you plan to operate a small press and

publish other authors, manage and pay

royalties, and so on.”

An LLC or S corp can also allow writers

anonymity—say, an executive who writes

mystery novels in her free time and wor-

ries that it might not go over well with

the CEO of her company. “The author

sets up a corporation or LLC, then desig-nates an attorney, accountant, or someone

she trusts to sign documents,” Sedwick

says. “This structure costs money, easily

$500 to $1,000 a year. For some people,

it is money well spent.”

Setting up a business can also provide

a clear distinction in one’s finances.

“Operating as an entity helps writers

draw cleaner lines between their personal

and professional lives,” Sedwick says.

“They are more likely to maintain sepa-

rate bank accounts and to keep better

track of income and expenses.”

An S corp or LLC can also mean protec-

tion from lawsuits. A traditional pub-

lisher contracts with all necessary parties

to publish and distribute a book, so if a

problem arises, it’s the publisher that is

named as the party in any lawsuits. A

business entity serves a similar purpose

for a self-published author.

“Forming an S corporation is an effec-

tive way to limit the impact of any

resulting lawsuits from contractual

agreements,” Davis says. “A properly

formed S corporation limits any damages

to the assets of the Subchapter S corpora-

tion. This prevents parties from naming

you individually in any litigation. It also

prevents parties awarded

damages in any li tigation

from coming after your personal assets.”

One of the biggest drawbacks to

upgrading from a sole proprietorship is

that operating as an entity can presentsignificantly more paperwork, including

additional tax forms and annual state fil-

ings (along with filing fees). Sedwick

points to California’s annual fee of $800,

which makes upgrading a pricey option

for authors who aren’t earning a big

income. Considering how perplexing

many government and tax forms can be,

and the time and money required in

keeping them straight, Sedwick recom-

mends that authors avoid setting their

businesses up as entities until they are

operating at a consistent profit.

“Some states, like Virginia, have a very

easy online system, and it costs $100 to

file an application as an LLC,” says

Friedman, who established her LLC in

Virginia, where she is a resident and

where “it took literally 10 min-

utes.” Davis acknowledges that creating

a business entity isn’t for everybody, but

she says it has worked out well for her.

“The main drawback to the Subchapter S

corporation status is the filing require-

ments of corporations,” Davis says. “For

me, limiting the liability to the corporate

assets, and avoiding double taxation was

more than worth the hoops I jumped

through to attain Subchapter S status.”

There are three main types of business entities that self-published authors can consider:

Sole proprietorship: The simplest option for a self-published author, this involves nopaperwork, corporate charters, filings, or filing fees. But on the f lip side, it does not

protect an author from liability, so he or she can be sued personally, whether for

copyright infringement, a contract dispute, or anything else.

Limited liability company: As its name implies, an LLC offers protection from liability

for an author—though less protection than would be provided by full incorporation.

LLCs allow authors to set up a separate legal entity, protecting their personal assets in

the case of lawsuits. It also requires less paperwork than full incorporation.

Subchapter S corporation: Like an LLC, an S corp protects the personal assets of an

author (who is called a “stakeholder”) and provides pass-through taxation that helps

the author avoid getting taxed twice. But it also requires the appointment of a board of

directors and annual shareholder meetings.

Types of Business Entities

Jane Friedman

Patrice Tartt



Geek Chic Kitchen Overlord’s Geek Cookbook getsthe adult coloring book treatment

B J MC

W hen I submitted my

first Doctor Who cook-

book , a f ew smal l

presses sent me very

kind rejection letters,” the indie author

Chris-Rachael Oseland says of her first

foray into publishing. The feedback from

both cookbook and science fiction editors

was that there was no market for “geek

cookbooks.” To date, her self-published

Dining with the Doctor: The Unauthorized

Whovian Cookbook has sold more than

35,000 print copies. Oseland went on to

publish a Hobbit-inspired cookbook ( An

Unexpected Cookbook) as well as one

inspired by the Settlers of Catan board

game (Wood for Sheep). Her books have

been featured by Paste Magazine, Wired ,

Ne rd is t , and the Da il y Do t . Ki tc hen

Overlord’s Illustrated Geek Cookbook and its

companion, Kitchen Overlord’s Colorable

Compendium of Geek History, are her latest

contributions to geek culture.

What makes Oseland’s

books unusual in self-pub-

lishing is that the majority

of her sales are for print

editions, with e-books

making up just 20% of

total sales. Looking at

Kitchen Overlord’s Illustrated

Geek Cookbook, it’s easy to

understand why. The full-

color hardcover—packed

with original illustrationsof popular TV, books, and

movies by artist Tom

Gordon—is a work of art.

The food allergy–sensi-

tive celebration of geek

culture has proved popular

with Oseland’s followers.

(Its publication was successfully funded

on Kickstarter to the tune of $16,760,

which covered printing and shipping the

book from China.) The title covers 120

years of geekdom in chronological order,

and includes recipes for

D eadpo o l ’ s Ch imi -

changas, Sisko’s Speedy

Gumbo from Deep Space

9 , Babylon 5 Roopoo

Balls , Spice-Stuffed

Sandworm Bread from

Dune, Captain America’s

Breakfast S.H.I.E.L.D.,

and Super Mario Bros.–inspired 1-Up

Mushroom Pizza Rolls. “Rather than

bore nerds with yet another collection of

nachos and cookies with recipe title

puns, we give you dozens of unique rec-

ipes drawn from iconic aspects of your

favorite fandoms,” Oseland says. Each

recipe is accompanied by Gordon’s orig-

inal illustrations.

“It wasn’t enough to have a string of

step-by-step pictures like other illustrated

cookbooks,” Gordon says. “There needed

to be lots of entertaining visual nods to

those stories and the characters in them.”

It was a crash course in cari-

cature as he learned how to

illustrate such characters as

Jayne Cobb (as played by

Adam Baldwin), Inigo

Montoya (Mandy Patinkin),

and Han Solo (Harrison

Ford). He also had to famil-

iarize himself with kitchen

implements and cooking

techniques before learning

how to draw them. Oselandthen published one illus-

trated recipe per week on

her website, and after a year

the duo self-published the

collection. The $24.95

cookbook has since sold

about 2,000 copies. An

adult coloring book version was a natural

next step for the Austin-based author—at

least according to her fans.

According to Nielsen BookScan, sales of

adult coloring books reached 12 million

units in 2015. More than

2,000 new titles were

published in the category

last year, up from 300 the

year before. Despite their

popularity, Oseland ini-

tially dismissed adult

coloring books as a fad.

But after posting a few

coloring pages on her Kitchen Overlord

website at the request of her fans, she

found that the pages were more popular

than her recipes. “My post on ‘Vintage

Dune Coloring Pages for Nihilistic

Children’ got over a quarter-million

views,” she says, making it her top post for

December 2015. “Readers who follow me

on Facebook asked for coloring pages from

the start,” she says. Oseland and Gordon

decided to launch the adult coloring book

version of their geek cookbook. Kitchen

Overlord’s Colorable Compendium of Geek

History, published via CreateSpace in

December, is priced at $13.99 and includes

110 coloring pages and new original art.

This summer, Oseland plans to travel

across the country to science fiction and

fantasy conventions to sell both editions of

the book and meet readers in person.

Oseland provides many recipes for free

on her website. “A lot of folks really want

to test a few recipes before committing

to a $25 hardback,” she says. “Even if

they never buy a cookbook, if they share

that recipe on their social media, thenthat helps me spread name recognition

and builds trust.”

“What’s important is that you don’t let

the gatekeepers convince you that you

dare not publish until you’ve created a

perfect glistening diamond that will be

admired for centuries to come,” she says.

“Some of your books will be duds. Others

will be short-lived artifacts of a specific

era. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Strap a harness to your inspirational nar-

whal and ride that crazy beast.”

I N D I E S U C C E S S

“

Spice-Stuffed Sandworm Bread.



Just Do ItHow to Conquer Writer’s Block

B B K S

W hether you are an indie author struggling

to get discovered, a well-known tradition-

ally published writer, or somewhere in

between, writer’s block may sneak up on

you once in a while—maybe even more

than once in a while.

But what is writer’s block, anyway? Edmund Bergler, a well-

known disciple of Sigmund Freud, first coined the term in New

York City in 1947. He believed that writer’s block was one of

the many manifestations of “psychic masochism,“ which is “the

unconscious wish to defeat one’s conscious aims, and to enjoy

that self-constructed defeat.”

Why would a writer (or anyone else for that matter) want to

do that? Because, according to Bergler’s theory, the person’s

subconscious is furious about having been denied enough milk

and nurturing by his or her pre-Oedipal mother, so he or she,

subconsciously, wants to recreate that starved feeling—by

becoming blocked.

Bergler treated more than 40 blocked writers in the 1940s

and ’50s, and claimed a 100% success rate. He didn’t think

much of writers, though. He said that, for the most part, even

when their writing was going well, writers were often “entirely

surrounded by neuroticism in private life.” He did concede,

however, that “the megalomaniac pleasure of creation... pro-

duces a type of elation which cannot be compared with that

experienced by other mortals.”

These days, writer’s block is often blamed on depression.

Sometimes procrastination and perfectionism are considered the

culprits. Whatever the cause, writer’s block has been around for

a long time. Samuel Coleridge suffered from it, as did JosephConrad, Gustave Flaubert, Ernest Hemingway, Herman

Melville, Leo Tolstoy, and Virginia Woolf. The big question is,

regardless of where it came from, what can a writer do about it

when it strikes?

Opinions on this vary greatly. Here’s how Hemingway tried

to cope with it:

“Always stop while you are going good and don’t think about

it or worry about it until you start to write the next day. That

way your subconscious will work on it all the time. But if you

think about it consciously or worry about it you will kill it and

your brain will be tired before you start.”

Norman Mailer expressed a similar opinion in The Spooky Art:

Some Thoughts on Writing :

“Over the years, I’ve found one rule.... A simple rule. If you

tell yourself you are going to be at your desk tomorrow, you are

by that declaration asking your unconscious to prepare the

material. You are, in effect, contracting to pick up such valu-

ables at a given time. Count on me, you are saying to a few forces

below: I will be there to write.”

There are those writers in what I like to call the “Just Do It”

school. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started,” Mark

Twain wrote. “The secret of getting started is breaking your

complex, overwhelming tasks into small, manageable tasks, and

then starting on the first one.”

Barbara Kingsolver puts it this way: “I learned to produce

whether I wanted to or not. It would be easy to say, Oh, I have

writer’s block, oh, I have to wait for my muse. I don’t. Chain

that muse to your desk and get the job done.”

But my favorite way of thinking about writer’s block comes

from the bestselling British fantasy writer Phillip Pullman:

“Writer’s block... a lot of howling nonsense would be avoided

if, in every sentence containing the word writer , that word was

taken out and the word plumber substituted; and the result exam-

ined for the sense it makes. Do plumbers get plumber’s block?

What would you think of a plumber who used that as an excuse

not to do any work that day?”The fact is that writing is hard work, and sometimes you don’t

want to do it, and you can’t think of what to write next, and

you’re fed up with the whole damn business. Of course there

will be days when the words are not flowing freely. What you

do then is make it up. I like composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s

response to a student who complained that he couldn’t find a

theme for his second movement. “Never mind the theme!” he

said. “Just write the movement!”

That doesn’t seem like a bad idea to me. Why not try to adopt

the “Just Do It” attitude and see where it takes you?

O N W R I T I N G

Betty Kelly Sargent is the founder and CEO of BookWorks.



FICTION

Account of a Mild Haunting

James I. McGovern. Wingspan Press.

$27.95 hardcover (182p), ISBN 978-1-

59594-671-3; $13.95 paper (182p),

ISBN 978-1-59594-580-8

Amazon, BN.com

A young man is disturbed

in all areas of his life by the

death of a girl he met only

once at age 15. Three other

stories touch on the haunting effects of

politics.

Bitter End Trail (Southwest Series #5)

Diane M. Cece. Xlibris. $19.99 paper

(114p), ISBN 978-1-5035-

7123-5; $3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-5035-7124-2

Amazon

A tale of brotherhood and

growing up that unfolds

against a backdrop of life-changingadventure.

The Blow-up Man

Nina Blakeman. Outskirts Press. $19.95

paper (427p), ISBN 978-1-4787-6662-9

Outskirts Press, Amazon, BN.com

A psychological thriller

that follows the shattered life

of Faye Brady, who exists in a

world derived from the imag-

ination of the many authors

she’s read.

Brightfire: A Tale of Sutton Hoo

P.M. Sabin Moore. AuthorHouse. $12.99

paper (238p), ISBN 978-1-4520-5609-8;

$2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4670-0498-5

Amazon

This glimpse into events

surrounding the reign of

King Raedwald of Sutton

Hoo, Suffolk, and East

Anglia charts Christianity’s

struggle to take hold on the eastern side

of Britain.

Cinnamon Diamonds: A Short Story

Mark Piper. Kavanagh Press. 99¢ e-book,

ASIN B01D52IV14

Amazon, Apple iBooks,

BN.com, Kobo

A short story based on the

amazing events of a stormy

night in 1847. Hanson

Gregory became a savior when he created

the first-ever doughnut with a hole in itduring a hurricane.

The Fishing Creek Confederacy

Byron Heller. iUniverse. $12.95 paper

(162p), ISBN 978-1-4759-

5665-8; $3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4759-5666-5

Amazon

A story of resistance to

the Civil War in Columbia

County, Pa., and the government’s

response.

For Love & Liberty

Stephen M. Grimble. Wasteland Press.

$19.95 paper (608p), ISBN 978-1-

60047-612-9; $6.99

e-book, ASIN B005LQ95E0

Amazon

Grimble offers a political

novel for this pivotal elec-

tion year for every American

concerned about the country’s future.

Grape Spunk—Wine Memoirs 2015

S.J. Reeves. CreateSpace. $10 paper

(110p), ISBN 978-1-5300-9963-4

Amazon

Felicity Cockstraddler

and Roderick Cameron-

Nightterror provide a cut-

ting-edge survival guide to

navigating some of the

lesser-established 2015 vintages.

How to Grow an Addict J.A. Wright. She Writes Press. $16.95

paper (300p),

ISBN 978-1-63152-991-7

Amazon, BN.com,

Fishpond

Introduced to alcohol and

drugs at a young age,

Randall Grange is a full-blown addict by

the age 23.

Is It a Sin to Eat a Chocolate Bar?

Mary Wolf. iUniverse. $13.95 paper

Booksellers, publishers, librarians, and agents are encouraged to look at the 140 self-

published titles below, with descriptions provided by their authors. Some of these

writers are waiting to be discovered; others have a track record and a following and

are doing it on their own. If you are a self-published author interested in listing titles

in this section, please visit publishersweekly.com/pw-select for more information.

New Titles

from Self-Publishers



(268p), ISBN 978-0-595-09736-4

Amazon

Two women come to

realize that the pain that

binds them together also

results in the greatest joyeither could imagine as they

learn to love others more than themselves.

Kane Moss: A Tale of Reckoning

C.D. Tuttle. Xlibris. $15.99 paper

(250p), ISBN 978-1-5035-8378-8;

$3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-5035-8377-1

Amazon

A trail of destruction and

murder leads a small posse

of six from their burned vil-

lage in Wyoming across unsettled lands

to Mexico in a blood hunt.

Leaving Home

Duane A. Eide. iUniverse. $17.95 paper

(290p), ISBN 978-1-4917-2128-5;

$3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4917-2129-2

Amazon

When Shane decides to

leave oppressive farm life for

the big city, he discovers less

than he hoped, but everything changes

when he meets two homeless teens and an

entrepreneur.

Redemption of the Innocent

B.J. Nicol. Outskirts Press. $24.95 paper

(360p), ISBN 978-1-4787-6347-5

Outskirts Press, Amazon,

BN.com

Through personal

struggle, Eliza Davies dis-covers that no matter how

dark the circumstance, there

is hope in forgiveness and redemption for

the innocent.

The Sins of My Fathers 2: “The Trial”

C. Anthony Sherman.

AuthorHouse. $23.95 paper

(450p), ISBN 978-1-5049-

3265-3; $3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-5049-3264-6

Amazon

Is it too late to correct the wrongs of

the past? Explore the unscrupulous deals

of past generations that impact the desti-

nies of African-Americans.

Skyline: Tales of ManhattanWilliam Ivor Fowkes. CreateSpace.

$10.99 paper (265p),

ISBN 978-1-5177-1550-2

Amazon

Tales of New Yorkers

(gay, straight, and confused)

making startling connec-

tions and discoveries, proving that

Manhattan’s residents are just as striking

as the city’s celebrated skyline.

The Storm Within (Women of

Whitfield #1)

Darlene Deluca. CreateSpace. $13.99

paper (334p), ISBN 978-1-4903-7923-4;

$2.99 e-book, ASIN B00EOWCKZS


BN.com, Kobo

As the life she’s known

implodes, Claire Stapleton

finds herself traveling a

lonely, unfamiliar road. Can

loyal friends help her start again?

Strong Suspicions (Emmett Strong

Western #2)

G.P. Hutchinson. CreateSpace. $12.99

paper (300p), ISBN 978-1-5122-0022-5;

99¢ e-book, ASIN B01D24TNZ8

Amazon

When the only way out of

trouble is to head smack-

dab back into the middle of

it—beautiful woman in

tow—a cool-headed pisto-lero like Emmett Strong becomes a force

to be reckoned with.

The Tick Rider: A Story of Families,

Homelands, Drugs, Redemption, and

the Dividing Rio Grande

William Street. iUniverse.

$28.95 paper (558p),

ISBN 978-1-4917-5502-0;

$3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4917-5501-3

Amazon

A love story featuring a

Texas cowboy, two Mexican

teens, and a young pilot flying for the

cartel.

You Are My Sunshine: A Novel of theHolocaust

Roberta Kagan. KDP. $3.99 e-book,

ASIN B00J70Z8E2

Amazon

A child born in Hitler’s

home for the Lebensborn and

a young Jewish girl from a

concentration camp are

trapped in a web of danger, dependent on

each other for survival.

POETRY

Demons and Angels: A Poetic

Account of Darkness and Light

December Morgan. Dorrance Publishing.

$9 paper (38p),

ISBN 978-1-4809-2439-0

Dorrancebookstore.com

Heartfelt poems

exploring the author’s bat-

tles with anorexia,

obsessive-compulsive disorder, and abu-

sive relationships. Morgan writes to help

others achieve their own victories.

Even After That

Judith de Wilde. AuthorHouse. $29.99

paper (72p), ISBN 978-1-4520-2231-4

Amazon

A softly illustrated

collection of poetry that,

while expressing sorrow,

leads on, with God’s

help, to hope and

recovery after the loss of a loved one.

Galaxia

Alex Andor Skanavis. Trafford. $9.44

paper (96p), ISBN 978-1-4907-6215-9;

$3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4907-6214-2

Amazon

A modern odyssey of

ecology, mycology, history,

and art on a mass-historic

scale—a poem venturing

forth from science into tran-

scendental science fiction.

N E W S E L F P U B L I S H E D L I S T I N G S



Jonestown Lullaby:

Poems and Pictures

Teri Buford O’Shea. iUniverse. $13.95

paper (124p), ISBN 978-1-4620-3737-7;

$7.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4620-3738-4

AmazonThe poems and pictures

of the last person to escape

the Peoples Temple before

the Jonestown massacre pro-

vide a vivid and moving

tribute to those who died so tragically.

Memories of No Consequence

Bhaskar Dasgupta. Xlibris. $36.60 paper

(80p), ISBN 978-1-5144-6148-8; $4.99

e-book, ISBN 978-1-5144-6147-1

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A collection of writings

that shares a tragic play set

in 19th-century India with

poems reflecting on life and

family, reliving highs and

lows of mundane yet special life events.

Poetry Unplugged

Irene Brodsky. Outskirts Press. $15.95

paper (57p), ISBN 978-1-4327-3650-7


BN.com

Brodsky’s poems have

something for everyone.

They are about a variety of

everyday happenings.

Reflections: Home and Abroad

Gary Miller. Outskirts Press. $8.95 paper

(114p), ISBN 978-1-4787-5458-9


BN.com

Miller’s new collection ofpoetry reflects his wide-

ranging travels, observa-

tions, and general musings.

Twists and Turns in the Hearts,

Minds, and Lives of Women:

Adventures in Poetry and Prose

Joan Hough Harrington. iUniverse.

$19.95 paper (254p), ISBN 978-1-4917-

8037-4; $3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4917-8036-7

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With exuberance and

unabashed joie de vivre, life

as viewed by women is pre-

sented here in poetry and

prose.

MYSTERY/THRILLER

Amanda’s Room

Chuck Miceli. Hitchcock Lake

Publications. $14.95 paper (303p), ISBN

978-1-4752-9197-1; $5.99

e-book, ASIN

B01BNTS5V2

Peartreepublishing.net,

Amazon, BN.com

A storm is coming, and

her name is Amanda. Two decades ago,

death came for Amanda Reynolds, but it

could not pry her from her home. Now it’s

Amanda’s turn.

Exodus (Swimming Monkeys Trilogy

#3)

Steve Hadden. Telemachus Press. $9.99

paper (223p), ISBN 978-1-942899-65-5;

$5.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-942899-64-8

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Smashwords

Hunted by governments

and assassins, a champion

swimmer trades his

Olympic dreams to pursue

his deadly quest to bring

home the only near-human

primates ever discovered.

Fatal Consequences

Geoff Williams. Xlibris. $24.19 paper

(120p), ISBN 978-1-5035-0359-5;

$4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5035-0358-8

AmazonAided by his trusty side-

kick, Det. Stephen Dunn

pursues an investigation

that lays bare dark secrets

lurking inside even the

unlikeliest people. Will he

find himself facing fatal consequences?

Genesis (Swimming Monkeys Trilogy

#1)

Steve Hadden. Telemachus Press. $9.99

paper (315p), ISBN 978-1-938135-46-0;

$5.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-938135-45-3


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Pursued by lethal reli-

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nemesis, a championswimmer races to save a spe-

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Girl on the Run

Daryl Wood Gerber.

Chucklin. $2.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-0-9973611-0-0


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When a fairy-tale fantasy night

becomes a nightmare, Chessa Paxton

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Guilt Trip, the Mystery

Donna Huston Murray. Donna Huston

Murray. $11.95 paper (288p), ISBN 978-

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ASIN B017XY4IWG

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Allow the blond clinging

to the deceased’s remaining

brother to attend the

Caribbean funeral your

daughter planned? You nod

and ex-cop Lauren Beck is in. Big

mistake.

His Just Desserts

John Raymond Williams. iUniverse.

$17.95 paper (272p), ISBN 978-1-4917-

4908-1; $3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4917-4909-8

AmazonBurt, a casino owner,

attempts to avoid paying

taxes. When his scheme

goes awry, he is betrayed and his life takes

an unexpected turn. He turns to a higher

power for salvation, but will he still get

what’s coming to him?

In Lincoln’s Shadow

Rohn Federbush. AuthorHouse. $19.95

paper (246p), ISBN 978-1-5049-3357-5;

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When a serial killer begins targeting grand-

mothers, Stephen Blaine must team up with an

unlikely ally in order to crack the case and heal from

the trauma.

My Nazi Nemesis

Rich DiSilvio. DV Books. $14.99 paper (234p),

ISBN 978-0-9817625-7-9; $2.99 e-book,

ASIN B01ADO2UUA

Alibris, Amazon, BN.com, Books-A-Million

CIA agent Jack Goodwin and his daughter hunt

down his longtime nemesis, who had murdered Jack’s wife

during World War II. But shocking twists arise, hijacking the

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One Fateful Summer: A Travel Thriller

Vanessa Star. MBI Publishing. $2.99 e-book,

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When Californian Lisa arrives on Mediterranean

Cyprus to spend her summer vacation with her

friend Elena, she gets unwillingly involved in a series of dramatic

and mysterious events.

The Pharm House: A Harding Family Story

Bill Powers. BookBaby. $16.57 paper (382p),

ISBN 978-1-68222-062-7; 99¢ e-book, ISBN

978-1-68222-063-4

Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Kobo

Do you ever wonder how drugs get in those little

brown bottles? After reading this book, you may give it a second

thought.

Revelation (Swimming Monkeys Trilogy #2)

Steve Hadden. Telemachus Press. $9.99 paper (286p), ISBN 978-

1-939927-36-1; $5.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-939927-35-4


Smashwords

Trapped by the FBI, a champion swimmer battles

the U.S. government and the country’s top geneti-cist to save a near-human species of monkey that

carries an explosive secret.

Society of the Morning Star

C.W. Irwin. CreateSpace. $12.45 paper (319p),

ISBN 978-1-5028-4128-5

Amazon

An adult thriller about murder, art forgery, and a

secret society in Venice, Italy. The protagonist is a

restorer and forger who goes to Venice to avenge a

friend’s murder.



Stone Lion: Modern

Western Suspense

B.H. Luther Luther. Outskirts Press.

$28.95 paper (614p),

ISBN 978-1-4787-5676-7

Outskirts Press, Amazon,BN.com

A novel with honorable

and evil characters, murder

and madness, and a dose of humor, com-

munity unity, and family love threaded

throughout.

This Madness of the Heart

Blair Yeatts. Blair Yeatts. $12.99 paper

(326p), ISBN 978-1-5308-2496-0;

$5.99 e-book, ASIN B01DEC2GOS


Appalachian professor

Miranda Lamden explores

murder and the paranormal

in a new gothic thriller as

she defies corrupt religion

and the vengeful spirit of a

long-dead voodoo mambo.

The Torch Is Passed: A Harding

Family Story

Bill Powers. BookBaby. $2.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-68222-679-7

BookBaby, Amazon, Apple

iBooks, BN.com

Andrea Harding urgently

seeks answers to why anyone

would want to kill her entire

family, grows up along the

way, and seeks her revenge.

SF/FANTASY/HORROR

The Grand Attraction: Parts I–IV

Enoch K. Enns. AuthorHouse. $19.95paper (244p), ISBN 978-1-5049-1950-0;

$3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-5049-1949-4

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Carls Locke journeys

along the corridor to reclaim

his grasp on reality and free

his mind from man’s greatest illusion.

Healing Jason Sutter (Misunderstood

Series #1)

Jay Sherfey. iUniverse. $14.95 paper

(214p), ISBN 978-1-4620-5962-1;

$3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4620-5963-8

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A 13-year-old boy is diag-

nosed with severe mental

disabilities—and soon dis-covers that he has psychic

powers that allow him to

change the world for the better.

It’s Come to Our Attention

Juliana Rew, ed. Third Flatiron

Publishing. $3.19 e-book,

ASIN B01B12YRTA

Amazon

Fourteen speculative fic-

tion short stories about

things that could be hap-

pening under the radar but could still be

extremely significant.

The Light: It Has Arrived

James T. Crichton. James T. Crichton.

$2.99 e-book, ASIN B01BMVK15O

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The ultimate break-

through in green power tech-

nology is made. But on a dis-

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change the destiny of the universe.

The Private Sector (2nd ed.)

Leigh M. Lane. Cerebral Writer. $12.99

paper (286p), ISBN 978-1-5302-1342-9

Amazon

The streets have become a

battleground for those who

would fight against the elite’s

corrupt system, against the

devastating impact of asociety ruled by the private sector.

Queen of Us All

Kevin O’Malley. iUniverse. $17.95 paper

(266p), ISBN 978-1-4917-3606-7;

$3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4917-3466-7

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When a special girl is

marked for death by the

laws of the kingdom, she

embarks on a quest for survival that

leads to a showdown and her ultimate

destiny.

Sands of Time: Fate of the True

Vampires Special Edition

Christine Church. CreateSpace. $8.99paper (106p), ISBN 978-1-5305-1639-1

Amazon

Written as scripts found

by archaeologists, this story

sweeps back to ancient

Egypt and the life of a

hybrid blood drinker

searching for family and a way to stop the

man who wishes to kill them.

The Verne Legacy

Tom Ford. Mill City Press.

$14.95 paper (228p),

ISBN 978-1-63413-898-7;

$5.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-63413-899-4

Thevernelegacy.com, Abebooks, Amazon,

BN.com, Ingram

Ford intends this book for people of all

ages who love science fiction, mystery,

and intrigue.

The Woman Between the Worlds

F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre. iUniverse.

$19.95 paper (324p),

ISBN 978-0-595-08884-3

Amazon

A female shape-shifter

escapes to Victorian London.

Aleister Crowley and

George Bernard Shaw cannot save her, but

the tattoo artist who loves her will try

anything.

ROMANCE/EROTICA The Eagle and the Heiress: Romantic

Suspense in Chile

Stephen Barnes.

CreateSpace. $9.99 paper

(255p),

ISBN 978-0-692-44588-4

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An American geologist

down on his luck accepts a new job in

Chile, where he is thrown into a web of

love, redemption, and trickery.




Little Bits of Karma

Laura Simmons. Outskirts

Press. $16.95 paper (333p),

ISBN 978-1-4787-5716-0;

$7.99 e-book,

ASIN B010P27HZSAmazon, BN.com, Outskirts Press

A story of romance, reincarnation,

redemption, and forgiveness.

The Mysterious Lady of Lakeview

Judy Conlin. iUniverse. $10.95 paper

(116p), ISBN 978-1-4401-7373-8;

$3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4401-7372-1

Amazon

As she wrestles with her

grandfather’s dying wishes,

Kristen finds herself inex-

plicably drawn to a ghost

that haunts the halls of the

mysterious Lakeview Manor.

Not Flowers, but Love

Krys Batts. The Real Ideal. $2.99 e-book,

ASIN B010OVVZEO

Amazon

Jamie Dubois enjoys a

soaring career, but her fanta-

sies of romance have ended

in bumpy landings. Now

that she’s given up on love, Ken may be

the dashing delight who restores her faith.

Once Around the Sun

G. Habig Boor. Outskirts Press. $18.95

paper (392p), ISBN 978-1-4327-7784-5


BN.com

This novel concerns the

mysterious murder of a

young woman, a newlyelected sheriff, and the com-

plications of newly found love.

Once Upon a (Stolen) Time

Samreen Ahsan. KDP. $2.99 e-book,

ASIN B016XI5836


Chapters, Kobo,

Smashwords

A romantic fantasy fairy

tale, set in both contempo-

rary and medieval England,

where past and future collide in a tale of

love, obsession, betrayal, and the hope for

redemption.

The Spicy Secrets of a Jet-Set

Temptress: Part 1: Learning the LifeLantana Bleu. Lionesse Books. $4.99

e-book, ASIN B01A7UP65G


BN.com

She’s a sweet, smart, and

sassy high-priced escort who

always leaves them wanting

more. And she’s sharing her

advice and success secrets.

The Vines that Bind

Deborah Arnold. Deborah Arnold. $1.99

e-book, ASIN B00PX80NBK

Amazon

Lucy McKenzie is

drawn to Nick Blackwell,

the victim of a myste-

rious attack. But helping

Nick will force Lucy to

confront old demons. Is it worth the pain

to help the man she loves?

INSPIRATIONAL

I Am Job

Effiong E. Ibok. AuthorHouse. $14.90

paper (208p), ISBN 978-1-4490-4354-4

Amazon

This collection of stories

asks the age-old question of

why the righteous suffer and

helps the sufferer survive the

experience.

Miracles of God’s Love

Catherine J.M. Hughes. AuthorHouse.$22.88 paper (40p),

ISBN 978-1-5049-8823-0

Amazon

This book contains the

testimonies of Hughes’s

experiences, which are

profound miracles of

God’s love. These and

other miracles changed her life forever.

Hughes invites the reader to join her in

this journey.

Original Design: Set Free

to Be Who God Created

Denise Buss. CloverFields Publishing.

$13.95 paper (255p),

ISBN 978-0-9903583-7-4

Denisebuss.com, AmazonGod perfectly designed

us. But Satan often conceals

our true identity. In Christ

we can be redeemed from Satan’s work.

God’s truth destroys the enemy’s lies and

heals our wounds.

NONFICTION

12 Weeks on Tinsmith: Behind the

Scenes of Edward Scissorhands

Kathy Lockwood. Kathy Lockwood.

$2.99 e-book, ASIN B019KUZITI

Amazon

Lockwood spent the

summer of 1990 dressed in

polyester and living in the

pastel-colored world of the

enchanting film.

The Art of Reading: A Photo Essay

Lawrence Schwartzwald. Lawrence

Schwartzwald. $28 paper (75p),

ISBN 978-1-941969-81-6

Dashwood Books,

McNallyjackson.com

A collection of candid

images of ordinary folks in

the act of reading books and

printed matter, mostly in New York City.

Blessed Inspirations:

The Greatest Is Love

Q.M. Herrera. Blessed Inspirations 33.

$22.95 paper (160p), ISBN 978-0-

9970359-3-3; $11.99 e-book,ASIN B01BEHFFC0

Blessed Inspirations 33,


BN.com

A collection of poems,

lyrics, prayers, and medita-

tions that were divinely inspired to bring

peace, light, love, and hope to all.

Broken Promises of the Conservatives

Gene P. Abel. AuthorHouse. $13.95

paper (100p), ISBN 978-1-4969-1446-0;




$3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4969-1444-6

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Scrutinize politicized

rhetoric with history, sci-

ence, and facts. Critiqueunfounded ideological

stances. See the repercus-

sions of right-wing domestic and foreign

policies for what they are: broken prom-

ises of the conservatives.

Caskets from Costco

Kelly Wilson. Gravity. $12.99 paper

(182p), ISBN 978-1-5137-

0391-6; $4.99 e-book,

ASIN B015WOUC42

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A funny book about grief

that demonstrates the cer-

tainty of hope and healing in an uncertain

and painful world.

Celebration(s)

Pat Willene. AuthorHouse. $3.99

e-book, ISBN 978-0-7596-6090-8

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An inspirational and true

story of pain, hope, and

recovery following the sis-

terhood of Pat and Dee as

their beauty, innocence, and

purity is tarred by abusive, domineering

familial bonds.

Chronic Mental Illness: A Living

Nightmare

Eace Bee, Honey Bee, and Priscilla Bee.

AuthorHouse. $14.95 paper (84p),

ISBN 978-1-4969-6771-8; $3.99

e-book, ISBN 978-1-4969-6770-1Amazon

A compassionate plea

for better education and

funding to support those

battling mental illness.

Readers are urged to join

the movement by telling their story.

Consciousness: The Evolution of Man

Huub Klinkenberg. AuthorHouse.

$16.95 paper (198p),

ISBN 978-1-5049-5108-1; $3.99

e-book,

ISBN 978-1-5049-5106-7

Amazon

A concise overview of the

journey of the soul that

explores the powers of thesoul, life plan, reincarnation, karma,

birth, sickness, and death from a spiritual

point of view.

Controversial Commentary About

America

James W. Breedlove. Doris Taylor. $14.95

paper (246p), ISBN 978-0-9837849-2-0

Via email: [email protected]

An anthology of articles

written by Breedlove over a

period of years that deal

with race relations and

issues.

Crowning Glory: An Experiment in

Self-Discovery Through Disguise

Stacy Harshman. Andarina Publishing.

$9.99 paper (281p),

ISBN 978-0-9973688-1-9

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Harshman learns more

about who she is and what

she can find in herself as a

redhead, a raven-haired goth, a brunette,

and a blond.

The Dominican Experiment: A

Teacher and His Students Explore a

Garbage Dump, a Sweatshop, and

Vodou

Michael D’Amato and George Santos.

iUniverse. $14.95 paper

(149p), ISBN 978-1-4917-

2600-6; $3.99 e-book,ISBN 978-1-4917-2601-3

Theclassroombook.com

The authors say we need

to shift from charity to solidarity if we are

serious about fixing systemic global

issues like free primary education, state-

lessness, living wages, and gender

inequality.

Don’t Date Baptists: And Other

Warnings from My Alabama Mother

Terry Barr. Red Dirt Press. $14.99 paper

(228p), ISBN 978-0-692-64120-0

Amazon, BN.com

Barr’s essays explore his

childhood world, where he

encounters witches,

pompous mayors, andneighbors who practice love

and hate in equal measure.

Dreams of a Farmer’s Wife

Jeanette Dyess Ryan. iUniverse. $18.95

paper (236p), ISBN 978-1-4620-6649-0;

$3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4620-6650-6

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Ryan never wanted to be a

farmer’s wife. She reflects on

her new country life and sees

how being a farmer’s wife

was what she wanted all

along.

Fact & Fake Files & Fiction of the

Paranormal

Timothy Spenard. Outskirts Press.

$24.95 paper (335p),

ISBN 978-1-4787-5438-1


BN.com

Half of this book recounts

chilling moments of the

author’s life, and half enchants and terri-

fies with his imagination.

Four Score and More: My Memoir,

History, and a Family Legacy

LaVera Edick. Trafford. $21.55 paper

(396p), ISBN 978-1-4669-7396-1;

$3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4669-7397-8

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A celebration of family,hard work, and farm life in a

memoir that reveals insights

about the dust bowl, the Great

Depression, and World War II.

Garbage Bag Suitcase: A Memoir

Shenandoah Chefalo.

Mission Point Press. $17.99

paper (194p),

ISBN 978-1-943995-03-5

Amazon

The inspiring and hair-




raising story of one woman’s journey to

overcome her desolate childhood and

make changes in the foster care system.

Grace in a Wintry Season: Feeling Our

Creator’s Love in a World GrownDistant and Cold—and Loving in

Return

Edwin Steinmann. Florence Fleming.

$19.99 hardcover (154p), ISBN 978-0-

9961841-2-0; $11.99 paper (154p),

ISBN 978-0-9961841-0-6

Amazon, Ingram

Steinmann, an attorney,

moves from disenchanted

“none” to re-enchanted

“mystic.”

Healing the Wound from My

Daughter’s Suicide: Grief Translated

into Words

Lois Severson. iUniverse. $15.95 paper

(186p), ISBN 978-1-4759-

8932-8; $3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4759-8933-5

Amazon

Raw and emotional, a true

story of a family dealing with

the aftermath of suicide. See how they

found comfort through help from their

community, family, and faith in God.

I Am His and He Is Mine

Alisha Sheryl. Xlibris. $19.99 paper

(198p), ISBN 978-1-4931-

9049-2; $3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4931-9047-8

Amazon

This book encourages

anyone to embrace God and

let him heal their wounds. They will findpeace, joy, and salvation through a dear

shepherd and faithful friend, Jesus Christ.

The Java Dream: A Life’s Journey

Luke G. CreateSpace. $12.90 paper

(144p), ISBN 978-1-5186-4954-7

Amazon

An intimate and personal

look at the unusual life of a

mother and her only relative,

her son, as they listen to their

dreams and follow their hearts.

JFK: The Magnificent Journey

Alen J. Salerian. Salerian Works. $32.95

paper (168p), ISBN 978-1-5169-0916-2

Amazon

A psychiatrist and FBI

consultant mixes paintings,poetry, and evidence to

guide you through the true

story of the J.F.K.

assassination.

Kanga Stories

Phyllis Ressler and Lara Ressler Horst.

EPR Group. $19.99 paper (128p),

ISBN 978-0-692-24014-4

Amazon, Ingram

The kanga, a primarily

East African cloth, tells a

dynamic story of cultural

exchange in the Indian

Ocean region. Since the

cloth was first produced in the mid-

1800s, millions have treasured this textile

for its designs and meaning.

A License to Heal: Random Memories

of an ER Doctor

Steven Bentley. iUniverse. $11.95 paper

(142p), ISBN 978-1-4917-3007-2;

$3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4917-3008-9

Amazon

Stories from an ER doctor

bring the dynamic world of

emergency medicine to life.

Life-Ology 101: If All Else Fails, Smile

Michael Soward with Mike Valentino.

Xlibris. $24.99 hardcover (68p), ISBN

978-1-4836-9510-5; $15.99 paper (68p),

ISBN 978-1-4836-9509-9Amazon, BN.com

Soward shares an

inspiring tale depicting the

strength of the human spirit.

This book is a crash course in

life showing readers a unique way to over-

come life’s hardships.

My Life: Mysteries and Achievements

Ellias Ngugama. AuthorHouse. $14.95

paper (122p), ISBN 978-1-4817-4934-3;

$3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4817-4933-6

Amazon

Ngugama looks back to a

number of fascinating

events that shaped him into

who he is today.

My Mother Called Me Unni:

A Doctor’s Tale of Migration

Venugopal Menon. Outskirts Press.

$18.95 paper (324p),

ISBN 978-1-4787-6171-6


BN.com

The story of a man who

left his homeland, India, in

the late 1960s to find his

own destiny in the melting pot of the

United States.

My Survival in the Killing Fields

Mao Sim. CreateSpace. $6.99 paper (94p),

ISBN 978-1-5029-4464-1

Amazon, BN.com,

CreateSpace

Mao Sim tells how as a

young girl she emerged a

survivor of the Cambodian

genocide.

The Mysteries of Eva Miller Revealed

Eva D. Miller. iUniverse. $14.95 paper

(148p), ISBN 978-1-4502-3522-8;

$9.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4502-3523-5

Amazon

Dark, even sinister,

secrets from the past eventu-

ally make their way into the

light of truth as Miller

shares her story of abuse,

treachery, and deception.

The Other Woman’s Affair: Gambling

Your Heart and Reclaiming Your Life

When Your Partner Is Married

Paul DePompo and Misa

Butsahara. CBTI of

Southern California. $14.99

paper (201p), ISBN 978-0-

9962507-0-2Amazon,

BN.com, Kobo

The authors provide concrete tools to

make decisions about whether you should




stay or go, giving you the

best chance for success

regardless of the outcome of this

relationship.

Pain and Purpose in the Pacific:True Reports of War

Richard Carl Bright. Trafford. $25.75

paper (558p), ISBN 978-1-4907-2152-1;

$3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4907-2153-8

Amazon

Bright chronicles the

battles on Saipan, Tinian,

Iwo Jima, and Okinawa,

interviewing veterans and

retracing the travels of one

Marine from the farmland of Minnesota

to Japan and back.

The Pursuit of Happiness After a

Divorce

Tasha Mayes Brookman. Outskirts Press.

$2.99 e-book, ASIN B01A0CTUNA

Amazon, Baker & Taylor,

BN.com, Ingram

Brookman presents the

story about Ariella and

Kaleb’s chaotic relationship.

Every person involved in

divorce goes through pain, grief, addic-

tion, boundaries, and adjusting.

Rabbi, Tell Me...: John’s Gospel of

Belief vs. Thomas’ Gospel of

“Knowledge”

Peter Ferraro. Outskirts


ISBN 978-1-4787-6849-4


BN.com

This work is a dialoguebetween Jesus and his disciples. First the

Jesus of the Gospel of John answers, then

the Jesus of the Gospel of Thomas.

Register Your Book: The Essential

Guide to ISBNs, Barcodes, Copyright,

and LCCNs

David Wogahn. Partner


ISBN 978-1-944098-05-6


BN.com, Kobo

Set your book up for long-term success,

improve sales opportunities, and protect

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Rethinking Women’s Health:

A Guide to WellnessAlison E. Buehler. Sartoris Literary

Group. $19.95 paper (266p),

ISBN 978-1-941644-49-2

Amazon, BN.com,

Books-A-Million

A practical, integrative

health guide for women at

every stage of life who want

to move from treating disease to creating

a culture of wellness.

Several Points from Which to View:

While Pursuing and Perfecting Your

Purpose

Texas Jack Cowan. AuthorHouse. $13.95

paper (94p), ISBN 978-1-4969-5776-4;

$3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4969-4241-8

Amazon

Cowan exposes thought-

provoking materials con-

densed and sharpened so as

to knock some of the

present-day trash out of

your decision-making equipment.

Sleeping Between the Rails:

A Woman’s Odyssey

Carroll Devine. Rabbit Hole Press.

$12.99 paper (267p),

ISBN 978-0-692-57647-2

Amazon

A young woman risks all

on a five-year perilous vaga-

bonding journey through 32

countries. Begun on a romantic promise,the odyssey challenges her beliefs about

the world and herself.

Steps Towards Educational

Excellence: The Role of Parents,

Students and Supplementary Schools

Gilbert Gbedawo. Xlibris. $23.28 paper

(218p), ISBN 978-1-5144-6144-0;

$4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5144-6145-7

Amazon

This book addresses the issues con-

fronting parents, students, schools, and

governments as they

struggle to cope with the

challenges of migrant stu-

dents, and how to effectively

position them toward edu-

cational excellence.

The Tail Wags the Dog:

A Psychologist Reveals Two Hundred

Life Lessons Learned from Her Patients

Amy Beth Taublieb. AuthorHouse.

$37.99 paper (130p), ISBN 978-1-5049-

5730-4; $3.99 e-book, ISBN

978-1-5049-5731-1

Amazon

Covering virtually every

aspect of living, this book

consists of relevant,

jargon-free insights

gleaned from thousands of psychotherapy

sessions during the author’s 30-year

career as a psychologist.

Tommy Wrought: A Musical

Reflection of Children with Special

Needs

Peter Felton. CreateSpace.

$19.99 paper (346p), ISBN

978-1-5197-3014-5; $9.99

e-book, ASIN B019BSOFJ8

Amazon, BN.com

Life is depicted through the eyes of

special-needs children from an intergen-

erational perspective through connections

made among conceptual elements of the

Who’s rock opera Tommy.

Too Cold for Alligators: Thirty-Three

Days on the Road

Sasha Wolfe. AuthorHouse. $16.95 paper

(236p), ISBN 978-1-4969-2338-7;$3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4969-2337-0

Amazon

Wolfe narrates a personal

journey through photo-

graphs, stories, and histor-

ical facts. Courage and

vulnerability are inter-

twined as a testament to one woman’s true

strength, limitations, and discoveries.

True Success: What It Means and How

Organizations Can Achieve It




Arnold S. Judson. iUniverse. $18.95

paper (213p), ISBN 978-0-595-40526-8;

$6 e-book, ISBN 978-0-595-84891-1

Amazon

Learn four keys that make

an organization truly suc-cessful. Discover how to

define success, identify

opportunities, generate

ideas, and recognize leverage capabilities.

Empower yourself, coworkers, and your

organization to be effective.

Uber Diet Coach

Bruce Scher. Uber Diet Coach. $5.99

e-book, ISBN 978-0-692-67939-5

Amazon

Scher, a diet expert who

lost 75 pounds in 12 weeks,

says this is the real-deal solu-

tion for weight loss. He offers

a proven scientific approach

utilizing the latest cutting edge research.

Undermining the U.S. Constitution:

How the Communist Manifesto of

1848 Blueprints the Actions of the

Democratic Party and President

Obama Today

Diane S. Vann. AuthorHouse. $13.95

paper (108p), ISBN 978-1-4772-9890-9;

$3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4772-9919-7

Amazon

An analysis of the paral-

lelism between Marx’s

instructions in the

Communist Manifesto of

1848 and President Barack

Obama’s actions today.

The Unjust “Justice”: Getting theTruth Out

Edward Castle. iUniverse. $26.95 paper

(412p), ISBN 978-1-4620-6457-1

Amazon

An exposé of the corrup-

tion of district attorneys in

the unjust prosecution and

judicial abuse of a mentally

ill young man.

Up from Where We’ve Come

Charles Wright. Charles Wright. $24.99

paper (246p), ISBN 978-0-578-16930-9;

$5.99 e-book, ASIN B0172DGGBE

Amazon

A historical autobiog-

raphy detailing the racism

and hardship the Wrightfamily faced as sharecrop-

pers near Clarksdale, Miss.,

circa the 1940s and early ’50s.

What Tennis Pros Don’t Teach

(WTPDT): Wisdom Tennis 101

Manuel S. Cervantes. Xlibris. $23.99

paper (562p), ISBN 978-1-5144-2093-5;

$9.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5144-2091-1

Amazon

This book encompasses a

world of information

threading tennis and life at

work. It talks about the

forces of tennis under all dif-

ferent scenarios.

Within the Child’s Core

Janiece Corevine. Outskirts Press. $19.95

paper (366p), ISBN 978-0-578-17637-6

Outskirts Press, Amazon, BN.com

To the outside world, it

was a perfect family, but

behind closed doors was

pain, suffering, and beating,

and the secrets kept

growing.

Write! Find the Truth in Your Fiction

Gerald DiPego. BookBaby. $4.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-0-9972918-0-3

Amazon, BN.com

DiPego presents his

method of emotional realism

gained from 45 years as a suc-cessful professional writer. A

personal, conversational

how-to book on creative writing for film

and prose.

You, Yes You, Can Teach Someone to

Read: A Step by Step

How-To Book

Lucille Tessier Chagnon.

AuthorHouse. $9.50 paper

(136p),

ISBN 978-1-4184-9874-0

Amazon

This practical book uses a

distinctive technique to enrich lives and

produce a community of service.

CHILDREN’S/YA Can a Princess Be a Firefighter?

Carole P. Roman, illus. by Mateya

Arkova. Chelshire. $12.99 paper (36p),

ISBN 978-1-5303-6184-7

Amazon

Two little girls pepper

their father with ques-

tions about whether or

not they can have a pro-

fession and still be a

princess.

Caroline’s Day

Tony A. Angelelli, illus. by Kendra

Atchley. AuthorHouse. $24.99 paper

(64p), ISBN 978-1-5049-5156-2; $3.99

e-book, ISBN 978-1-5049-5162-3

Amazon

Using fast-pitch soft-

ball, this book tells a

story about never giving

up. It’s about dealing

with defeat and personal

adversity, staying in the game, and

surprise.

Crystal and Breanna: The Secret of

Blackridge Farm

Dave Bettinger, illus. by Christina

Fletcher. Outskirts Press. $24.95 hard-

cover (239p), ISBN 978-1-4787-4323-1;

$17.95 paper (271p),

ISBN 978-1-4787-4250-0


BN.comTwo 11-year-old girls

make a life-changing dis-

covery on one girl’s farm, which leads to a

summer full of adventure, tragedy, and

reconciliation.

A Day in the Life of a

Squirrel

Alexandria J. Snowdon,

illus. by Natalia Savchyk.

CreateSpace. $11.99

paper (24p),




ISBN 978-1-5193-9997-7

Amazon

A story about two friends, one named

Greenlee and the other named Amber.

The Devious Mr. MischieviousScott Schafer. Imaginoggin. $2.99

e-book, ASIN B01CTCM338

Amazon

The recluse of the

neighborhood

spends most of his

days cooped up in

his house, until one day he decides to

come out of hiding and paint the town

red—literally—and everything in it.

Dream Along with Me

Linda M. LaPolla, illus. by Ashley D.

Poulin. Xlibris. $15.99 paper (24p),

ISBN 978-1-5035-7514-1; $3.99

e-book, ISBN 978-1-5035-7515-8

Amazon

An illustrated bed-

time storybook fol-

lowing a girl into a

dream world of imagi-

nation packed with

twists and turns.

Dylan Peterson and the Angels of Fire

Matthew L. Edde. Matthew L. Edde.

$26.99 hardcover (228p), ISBN 978-0-

9971776-2-6; $13.99 paper (304p),

ISBN 978-0-9971776-0-2

Amazon

Dylan Peterson was born

ordinary, but now he’s an

angel sworn to protect

Earth. He must harness his

new powers as an unimaginable evilthreatens to cast the world into eternal

darkness.

The Ever Part of Always: Keely

Tucker’s First Adventure

Toby K. Davis. iUniverse. $14.95 paper

(208p), ISBN 978-1-4697-

4591-6; $3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4697-4593-0

Amazon

Ten-year-old Keely

Tucker inherits a talking

horse named Mariah and finds her way

into an enchanted world. She must dis-

cover secret powers to save the day before

it’s too late.

Fred’s the Star: A Tale of Friendshipand Survival in the Dales

P.W. Brisley, illus. by Fred Nacaytuna.

PartridgeSingapore. $36.86 paper

(100p), ISBN 978-1-4828-2714-9;

$4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4828-2715-6

Amazon

Fred the field

mouse is glad to

become friends with

Bertie, who is not just

a badger but a badger

of great repute. Follow the adventures of

the two friends.

Ganesha’s Temple (Temple Wars #1)

Rohit Gaur. Rohit Gaur Studios. $12.99

paper (280p), ISBN 978-0-692-66378-3

Templewars.com, Amazon

A 14-year-old boy named

Tarun befriends Ganesha,

the lord of obstacles, on an

epic adventure that will

teach him about self-

sacrifice and self-reliance.

I Can if I Think I Can: I Am I Series

Nabeesah Majeed, illus. by Yuffie

Yuliana. PartridgeSingapore. $22.35

paper (24p), ISBN 978-1-4828-3187-0;

$5.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4828-3188-7

Amazon

This story encourages

perseverance and out-of-

the-box thinking as a

little girl thinks she can,and finally does.

I Love You Already

Anna Ressler, illus. by Lara Ressler Horst.

EPR Group. $12.99 paper (36p),

ISBN 978-0-692-63726-5

Amazon, Ingram

A love poem from a

mother to her unborn baby.

The book is full of colorful

illustrations and is intended

to be read as the child grows.

If You Were Me and Lived In...

Ancient Greece

Carole P. Roman, illus. by Marteya

Arkova. CreateSpace. $14.99 paper (54p),

ISBN 978-1-5232-3429-5

AmazonTravel through time

to visit one of the most

interesting

civilizations.

If You Were Me and Lived In...

Elizabethan England

Carole P. Roman, illus. by Paula Tabor.

Chelshire. $14.99 paper (52p),

ISBN 978-1-5232-2936-9

Amazon

Travel through time to

visit one of the most inter-

esting civilizations.

Impossible Red

Toure` Greer. AuthorHouse. $8 paper

(80p), ISBN 978-1-4520-

4529-0; $7.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4520-4530-6

Amazon

Poetry and ballads ensue

during missions to retrieve a

magically stolen house and a quest for

salvation.

Journey Home, a Thank You to

American Veterans

Tori Meyer. Red Bird Journey. $19.95

hardcover (40p), ISBN 978-0-692-46673-5

Redbirdjourney.com, Amazon

Through the eyes of a finch, young Lee

takes an imaginary

journey around the

world, following anAmerican soldier. A

gentle story explaining

war, military service, and freedoms.

Junie Moon and the

Travelling Goldfish

Helen Pendleton.

AuthorHouse. $17.99

paper (24p),

ISBN 978-1-5049-

1735-3; $3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-5049-1736-0



17/26

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Amazon

A story about goldfish and other

aquatic animals doing fun things.

The Legend of Hobbomock:

The Sleeping Giant Jason Marchi, illus. by Jesse J. Bonelli.

Fahrenheit Books. $16 hardcover (32p),

ISBN 978-0-9830945-1-7

Omicronworld.com, Amazon, BN.com

A young Native

American boy named

Blackbird must help his

tribe find a way to stop an

angry stone giant from

destroying his people.

Lexicon Chase and the Riddle Song

(Lexicon Chase and the Kingdom of

Everhope, Book 2) Jonathan Fore.

Obscura Publishing. $2.99 e-book,

ASIN B01D7TOKYW


Lexicon, a bullied teen, must learn to

stand up for herself and her

friends, and find the courage

and strength to release her

new kingdom from the ruin

of an ancient curse.

The Lost Villages:

A Journey Through Time

Norbert Paul. CreateSpace. $9.95 paper

(226p), ISBN 978-1-5300-1929-8

Dannickcreativeservices.ca,

Amazon

A young boy finds a vil-

lage lost beneath the waves

and helps a man find his way

through time.

Schism

Britt Holewinski. Delirious Pixie. $12.99

paper (264p), ISBN 978-0-9883007-5-0;

$2.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-0-9883007-6-7


BN.com, Smashwords

In 2017, a global viral

holocaust kills billions; only

children are immune. In the aftermath, a

tenacious group of teens struggles to sur-

vive amid the chaos.

Time Saving Art Projects for the Busy

Teacher, Book 1

Diane Robbins. Xlibris.

$15.99 paper (24p),

ISBN 978-1-4990-

7339-3; $3.99 e-book,

ISBN 978-1-4990-7340-9

Amazon, Xlibris

This book contains more than 20 art

activities using the same patterns. Busyteachers can make one set of patterns to be

used for projects from September to

January.

Time Saving Art Projects for the Busy

Teacher, Book 2

Diane Robbins. Xlibris.

$15.99 paper (24p),

ISBN 978-1-4990-7783-4;

$3.99 e-book, ISBN

978-1-4990-7782-7

Amazon, Xlibris

This book contains more than 20 art

activities using the same patterns. Busy

teachers can make one set of patterns to be

used for projects from February through

May/June.

Touched—The Caress of Fate

Elisa S. Amore. CreateSpace. $13.95

paper (462p), ISBN 978-1-5236-5908-1;

$3.99 e-book, ASIN B01B4N7XK6

Amazon

A new breed of angels is

here, a deadly, inescapable

race. The Angels of Death

ensure that each person’s

destiny takes its due course.

But what happens when love intervenes?

Who

David Spangler. Xlibris. $15.99 paper

(24p), ISBN 978-1-5144-0040-1; $3.99

e-book, ISBN 978-1-5144-0041-8

Amazon

A small great horned

owl is encouraged by his

parents to be a snowbird

and migrate south to

avoid the Northwest’s

long winters.

Who Rescued Who? Veteran Rescues

Pug Who Rescues Veteran

Dawn Taylor. AuthorHouse. $17.99

paper (24p), ISBN 978-1-5049-6226-1;

$3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5049-6227-8

Amazon

This book helps readers

understand that even a pug

can be a service dog

through the dedication of

the dog, the owner, and theright trainer.

Wonders Down Under

M.M. (Jane) Estes. AuthorHouse. $20.99

paper (40p), ISBN 978-1-4817-2686-3;

$3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4817-2687-0

Amazon

A trip down under with

vivid details that the

author had the pleasure to

behold. A picture-filled

literary adventure.


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19/26

Get the latest on books in Spanish in thisFREE webcast, streaming on demand at

PublishersWeekly.com/webcasts

Books in Spanish AreBlooming This Spring

ts a panel of leading industry players on

books in Spanish for the U.S. market. Follo ing a brief

o er ie of t e mar et presen e contri tor an

Spanish language book marke ing and PR specialis Leylha Ahuile,

the panel offers a glimpse of some of the hottest ne titles in

Spanish hitting the market

Moderator:

Leylha Ahuile, Presiden and F under, PromoLa ino

P neli ts:

Jaime DePablos, Director, V ntage Español

Silvia Matute, President, Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial USA

S O N S O D Y


20/26

Bitter Sweet Love: Twisted Series, Book 1R.C. Stephens. R.C. Stephens, $2.99 e-book (355p) ASIN B00RUAX0WS

Enslaved in Shadows: Shadow Unit, Book 1

Tigris Eden. Kats Kreative Ideas, $3.99 e-book (338p) ISBN 978-1-62517-

639-4

Falling WalrusRobert J. Wolfe. CreateSpace, $15 hardcover (371p) ISBN 978-1-517092-

20-7

Love Sick Autumn J. Bright. Light Bulb, $15.99 trade paper (380p) ISBN 978-0-

9861923-1-9

MalachiteKirby Crow. Bonecamp, $4.99 e-book (344p) ASIN B019495FXE

Murder Under the Bridge: A Palestine MysteryKate Jessica Raphael. She Writes, $16.95 trade paper (400p) ISBN 978-

1-63152-960-3

The Pit: Watchmaker’s Hell, Book 1L.A. Barnes. Bookbaby, $18.37 trade paper (460p) ISBN 978-1-68222-705-3

Red Stick OneKenneth Kirkeby. Kenneth Kirkeby, $15.95 trade paper (270p) ISBN 978-

0-615-97242-8

Stolen MemoriesMary Miley. CreateSpace, $9.99 trade paper (260p) ISBN 978-151-

888370-5

Up a Tree: A Novel and Shamanic Handbook Jane Burns. Out in the Barn Press, $15.95 trade paper (342p) ISBN 978-

0-9914179-0-2

Nonfiction

The Art of Fact Investigation:Creative Thinking in the Age of Information Overload

Philip Segal. Ignaz, $22.95 hardcover (130p) ISBN 978-0-9969079-1-0

P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 658

Cowboys of the Waggoner Ranch Jeremy Enlow and Jan Nichols Batts. Jeremy Enlow Fine Art Photography,

$58 hardcover (140p) ISBN 978-0-9966285-0-1

Fresh Tastes from a Well-Seasoned KitchenLee Clayton Roper. Southwestern Publishing, $34.95 hardcover (272p)

ISBN 978-0-9841163-6-2

The Listening Project:Lessons of Life, Love, and Listening to GodChristine C. Williams. Wisdom House, $13.99 trade paper (133p)

ISBN 978-0-9963663-1-1

Memoirs of a Ghost: One Sheet Away Andrea Cagan. CreateSpace, $16.95 trade paper (271p) ISBN SBN 978-

1-5053-1962-0

My Journey into the Wilds of Chicago: A Celebrationof Chicago-land’s Startling Natural WondersMike MacDonald. Morning Dew, $75 hardcover (240p) ISBN 978-0-

9963119-0-8

To Belém & Back:Backroads Brazil with My Black LabBen Batchelder. Earthdog, $15.99 trade paper (264p) ISBN 978-0-

99133722-4

Walking in Grace with Grief Della Temple. Button Rock, $14.95 e-book (126p) ISBN 978-0-9963878-

0-4

The 8 × 8 Cookbook: Square Meals for WeeknightFamily Dinners, Desserts, and More—in One Perfect8 × 8 DishKathy Strahs. Burnt Cheese, $24.95 trade paper (178p) ISBN 978-0-

9969112-0-7

Children’s & YA

A Superpower for MeMariana Llanos, illus. by Daria Tarawneh. CreateSpace, $10.99 paper

(38p) ISBN 978-1-5152-7287-8

Fiction

Reviews RoundupIn the last month, we’ve reviewed 20 self-published titles submitted viaBookLife, Publishers Weekly’s website dedicated to indie authors. Among the

highlights is Ben Batchelder’s travelogue To Belém & Back: Backroads Brazil with

My Black Lab, which received a starred review.


21/26WWW . P U B L I S H E R SW E E K L Y . C OM 58a

Fiction

Bitter Sweet Love:

Twisted Series, Book 1

R.C. Stephens. R.C. Stephens, $2.99 e-book

(355p) ASIN B00RUAX0WS

Stephens’s unengaging contemporary

debut finds Toronto law student Alexis

White in turmoil over whether to break

her personal commitment to noncommit-

ment. As a child, she was abused by heralcoholic mother and frequently turned to

neighbor and

classmate Dylan

Priestley for

comfort and

support. They

eventually fell

in love, and in

the bloom of

youthful ardor

he vowed to

always be therefor her. When

that proved impossible, he left, and Lexi

swore off serious relationships for good.

She’s happy with one-night stands that

simply scratch her sexual itches, but after

being seduced by the cousin of an

acquaintance, she has second thoughts.

Cue Dylan’s predictable return.

Uncertainty and indecisiveness plague the

implausibly hapless heroine. There fol-

lows the obvious tug and thrust with

some mildly surprising plot twists. Those

who stick it out to the last page will be

dismayed that all this melodramatic

forcemeat leads to an annoying cliffhanger

with book two waiting in the wings.

Enslaved in Shadows:

Shadow Unit, Book 1

Tigris Eden. Kats Kreative Ideas, $3.99 e-book

(338p) ISBN 978-1-62517-639-4

Excessive gore and a useless heroine

define Eden’s first Shadow Unit novel.

After passionate anonymous sex in a

Belize jungle, Jes is left devastated by her

lover’s dismissive behavior—and preg-

nant. Jes marries the first man to come

along, and his

abusive nature

soon manifests.

His involve-

ment in an evil

paranormal plot

and threats

against her half-

wolf daughter

lead her to thesecret Shadow

Unit. Assigned

to protect Jes and her daughter is none

other than Draven, alpha jerk and were-

wolf, who soon recognizes Jes as his mate

and sets about winning her heart. The

basic paranormal fight against an evil

secret organization is not new, and neither

are the purple prose and gradually

reformed hero. More novel, but in no way

appealing, are the scenes filled with

almost gleeful violence (“The worms ateaway at her,” Eden writes with relish) and

a heroine who inspires disdain for her

indecisiveness and self-pity. Eden too

often settles for shock value, and readers

who make it through the book will be dis-

mayed by its cliffhanger ending.

Falling Walrus

Robert J. Wolfe. CreateSpace, $15 hardcover

(371p) ISBN 978-1-517092-20-7

Cultural anthropologist Wolfe com-

bines an engaging look at native Alaskan

culture and a puzzling whodunit in this

series launch.

During a storm

at sea, a

“ghostly mass”

emerges out of

the mist and

engulfs

Francisco

Muñoz, an

undocumented

worker, on a

fishing boat.

Muñoz, whose corpse eventually washes

ashore, is initially believed to have

drowned, but an autopsy reveals that he

was crushed to death. Meanwhile, the

folks at the Fish and Game department

want to solve the mystery of three dead

walruses, beheaded for their ivory. Two

anthropology students, Nick John and

Mac Cleary, who have been studying the

possible impact of proposed changes to

the rules governing commercial herring

fishing near the Walrus Island Sanctuary,investigate. John and Cleary’s assignment

soon morphs into something much more

complex. Wolfe tosses an unexplained

biological phenomenon into a story line

that will appeal to Paul Doiron fans.

Love Sick

Autumn J. Bright. Light Bulb, $15.99 trade pa-

per (380p) ISBN 978-0-9861923-1-9

Early in Bright’s searing debut, set in

Charleston, S.C., Toni Jones is stabbed by

her spouse, Marvin, and taken to the hos-pital, where

family members

plead with her

to leave him.

Yet Toni slips

back into

familiar pat-

terns, honoring

her commit-

ment to the

man who was

once a loving

partner. As Toni’s career as a radio person-

ality falters, Marvin begins victimizing a

second woman. Flashbacks highlight the

good times in Toni’s marriage as well as

the early signs of Marvin’s abusive person-

ality. Frequent movement between char-

acters’ perspectives—including Marvin;

Toni’s young daughter, Justine; and a

well-conceived detective—detract some-

what from Toni’s personal development.

Bright convincingly portrays the painful

and conflicting emotions of a strong bat-

tered woman, but Marvin is reduced to a

R E V I EW S

Reviews


22/26P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 658b

smarmy and predictable

antagonist, and overexposi-

tion drives home a message

about escaping abuse with a force that

flattens rather than lifts the narrative.

MalachiteKirby Crow. Bonecamp, $4.99 e-book (344p)

ASIN B019495FXE

Romance and intrigue intertwine in

this leisurely romantic fantasy series

launch. Estranged lovers Marion and Jean

both occupy positions of authority as

highwardens in the island city of

Malachite, to

which they have

been exiled

from the matri-

archic main-land. Both are

responsible for

welcoming new

exiles, and Jean

serves as a dis-

trict warden for

the dangerous

area known as the Zanzare. As Marion

prepares for his wedding to the much-

younger Tris, son of the city’s ruler, the

three men are caught up in matters of

state and affairs of both the heart andbody. A rebel is stirring up unrest among

the gangs, evoking memories of an older,

more chaotic period of Malachite’s history.

To keep the peace, Marion and Jean must

work together despite lingering emo-

tional wounds. The slow-burning plot

takes a backseat to the romantic complica-

tions facing the leads, emphasizing drama

over action and erotic interludes over

adrenaline and adventure. The setting

creaks under the weight of history and

corruption, with Crow (the Scarlet and

the White Wolf series) drawing on Italian

imagery and flavor for atmosphere and

influence. This works well as a subtle

romance, but readers looking primarily

for epic fantasy may feel a bit let down.

Murder Under the Bridge:

A Palestine Mystery

Kate Jessica Raphael. She Writes, $16.95

trade paper (400p) ISBN 978-1-63152-960-3

Rania Bakara, the principal narrator of

Raphael’s compelling mystery, is the only

female detective on the Palestinian police

force in the occupied West Bank’s Salfit

District, where her colleagues grudgingly

accept her. Called to investigate an aban-

doned car, Rania discovers the body of a

woman on the

outskirts of her

village, and it’ssoon obvious

the victim is

neither

Palestinian nor

Israeli. Because

of the de

pw select april 2016

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