1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I am 38 years old and have been an athlete my whole life who played volleyball, basketball, and softball growing up. I am currently very into Peloton’s cycling, yoga, and strength classes. I am married to my amazing husband, Brendan, and we have one daughter together. I got into writing in high school, as my AP English teacher stressed the importance of being able to write clearly and in a manner that is interesting for others to read. One of our assignments each quarter was to keep a journal of our daily activities. At first, I found the task to be a nuisance, but over time realized how fun and therapeutic writing can be. He is also the reason why I decided to become a high school history teacher, which I have been for the last 17 years. I decided to tell my story of having difficulty conceiving a child in The Good News Is, You Don’t Have Endometriosis, as a way to heal myself from the trauma it caused and to hopefully help other women and couples who are experiencing the same nightmare.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
The inspiration behind my book is the unbelievable lengths I was forced to go to in order to receive proper medical care for our infertility case and the hijinx that occurred along the way. I never thought I would write a book, but I saw sharing my story with others as a win/win. This was the only way I was going to be able to move on from the trauma I endured as a result of the constant uncertainty and stress that undergoing infertility treatment causes and was sure I could potentially help others in the process.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
The biggest takeaway from The Good News Is, You Don’t Have Endometriosis is that you need to take control of your own body and your own medical treatment. Clinics have hundreds of patients and they cannot and do not keep tabs on everyone. Just because a doctor wears a white coat and has a medical degree does not mean that he or she is always right. Don’t be afraid to question a doctor because if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Multiple doctors told me that I did not have a fertility issue, but in the end, I was the reason we were unable to get pregnant naturally. If I did not insist on being tested for endometriosis, we would have continued to endure the pain and grief of failed embryo transfers and who knows how many more IVF treatments.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
I wasn’t drawn to the genre, it came to me! Obviously, no one wants to be diagnosed with infertility and have to undergo treatments in order to become pregnant. I believed that because my husband and I are healthy that it would not happen to us, but there we were doing round after round of tests and treatments. Clearly, we were very wrong as this issue impacts people of all walks of life.
5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Instagram has been the most helpful, as it has a large following and can reach many audiences. I have written for the site, Pregnantish, and have also been interviewed on several podcasts that have aired on the platform.
6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Write about something you are passionate about and don’t hold anything back.
7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
As for the future, I hope that my book continues to help women and couples experiencing infertility and that my story becomes part of infertility folklore. I do not plan to write any other books!
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About the Author
Jade Barrett is an American high school teacher who experienced infertility from 2017-2021.
She hopes to help other women and couples who are struggling with infertility through her story, The Good News Is, You Don’t Have Endometriosis: How I Survived IVF with My Sanity (Mostly) Intact.
It is the story of triumph over adversity and how you can advocate from the best possible care from your fertility clinic.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I have enjoyed writing from a very young age, I won a fictional short story contest when I was very young and had a press release at the time in a local newspaper, I have also had some of my poetry published in anthologies. My first love is art however, I graduated from university with a Degree in Fine Art, and even while still studying I was running lino cutting workshops from my studio for people of all ages. I have produced a large body of artwork to date, in particular lino cutting, which I really enjoy.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
I always aspired to see more of the world and began solo travelling in 2015 with a trip to Athens, Greece. Since then I have travelled in Europe, North Africa, spent two months in India, explored much of south-east Asia and lived in Vietnam for over 4 years, teaching English as a foreign language. This love for travel has really helped me rediscover my passion for writing and inspired my new book.
I also recently started doing a travel blog, packed full of travel itineraries, guides and useful tips. It’s an extension of my book. This is the link:
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I really hope that by reading my new book, readers will be encouraged to confront any fears or hang ups they may have, that may be preventing them from travelling and realizing their dreams. Being from a very working class background myself, I always thought maybe I would never get to break out into the big, wide world and go to all of these amazing places. But I was brave enough to throw caution to the wind and take my chances working in a foreign country and it was the best decision of my life so far. I want to inspire readers to follow their heart and live life to the fullest, not accepting less.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
I was drawn into the genre of travel, simply because its the area where I feel I have a lot of experience and expertise to offer and share. I am a very creative person and writing is a great outlet for this, so I like to think not only is my book an informative non-fiction travel guide, it is also a rich, narrative. It’s pretty poetic at times when I am describing my own memoirs.
5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Facebook has been particularly useful in growing readership and driving traffic to my website. I have a Facebook Page which shares the same name as my book ‘Travel For As Long As You Wish’, here I share original photos, reels and blog posts I’ve wrote, all inspired by my travels around the world.
6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
My advice to new or aspiring authors would be to really be prepared to put in the work on marketing your books, remember your job has just begun once your book is out there. It’s a highly competitive market but don’t forget why you started writing in the first place, because it’s what you love and it’s important to let this passion be your main driving force. Let the passion and shine through and do it with a flourish.
7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
In regard to the future, I am hoping to eventually release a paperback and audiobook version of my current book and hopefully increase the popularity of both my book and my travel blog. I feel my content is very useful to anyone wishing to travel more. I will also be returning to teaching English in Vietnam later this year, as well as continuing my practice as an artist! So lots to keep busy with.
My ebook ‘Travel For As Long As You Wish: The Blueprint For Budget Travel, Backpacking And Escaping The Rat Race’ is available here:
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About the Author
Mark James Murphy is an artist, teacher, adventurer, and writer. He was born in Sunderland, North-East England in the early 1980s. He has solo traveled extensively throughout the world and in 2017 decided to leave behind his job and apartment in the UK to teach English in Vietnam, South East Asia, for almost five years, describing it as the best moment of his life so far. There he also continued developing his practice as an artist and printmaker, documenting his travels through the medium of linocut. In 2019 he fulfilled a childhood dream when he backpacked for two months throughout the whole of India, ending up in a remote village in the Himalayan foothills. He has played football with local kids in the Sahara desert, lived with Hmong people high in the mountains of North Vietnam, and worked as a farmhand in Southern Spain. Mark is currently based just outside of London.
Peter Parker is on the outs with the Avengers. He’s on the outs with the Fantastic Four. He’s on the outs with Aunt May! No one wants to see Spider-Man — except for Doctor Octopus. Doc Ock is on Spidey’s tail, and the Master Planner has something truly terrible planned for when he gets his tentacles on Spidey. But what did Spider-Man do that has alienated him from everyone? And what moves is the gangster called Tombstone making? Just in time for Spider-Man’s 60th Anniversary, a new era of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN begins, blockbuster artist John Romita Jr. returns — and 2022 is going to be the biggest year for the wallcrawler ever!
COLLECTING: Amazing Spider-Man (2022) 1-5
The Verdict
This collection really brings the web slinger into a whole new era, bringing him to his lowest point emotionally and mentally and adding an air of mystery around what events drove him to this isolated place in his life. The impact of this story on not only Spider-Man but everyone in the Marvel universe comes into play here, and yet the writers found a way to introduce Spidey back into the more grounded, street-level storylines that he is best known for outside of his cosmic, multiversal adventures. A definite must-read.
Kieron Gillen returns to the world of X! The Quiet Council are the rulers of the Krakoan age, for better…or worse. But now, shaken by INFERNO, they strive to hold their nation together — no matter how much they want to tear each other apart! At last, IMMORTAL X-MEN welcomes you into the room where it all happens! Magneto has left the Council, and his big shoes need to be filled. Selene demonstrating her foot size by crushing the whole island beneath it is unorthodox, yet compelling. Can the Quiet Council resist? Meanwhile, the resurrected mutant seer called Destiny wrote her books of prophecy over one hundred years ago…and a sequel is long overdue! As the Council’s machinations grow increasingly desperate, sinister secrets about Krakoa will be laid bare…but some secrets are more sinister than others.
COLLECTING: Immortal X-Men (2021) 1-6
The Verdict
In the new era of X-Men, the question of immortality and what it means to live life has come to be quite a loaded discussion, and this comic delves both into the activities related to this discussion and the politics surrounding it. The intricacies of the ruling council and those with experience in immortality already were fascinating to see come to play in this series, and the boilerplate political situation with those on the ruling council, as well as the hidden agendas of some of the more nefarious members, made this a must-read entry into the new X-Men era.
Iron Man by Christopher Cantwell, Vol. 1: Books of Korvac I – Big Iron
The Synopsis
Tony Stark is looking to restart his engine. He’s going back to basics, putting away his high-tech toys and high-profile image so he can get his hands dirty again. It’s time to put on some old-fashioned metal – and fly! But can Tony really lay that Stark-sized ego down? Life just isn’t that simple, something that old friends and frustrating foes are quick to point out. So Iron Man takes the fight back to basics, and back to the streets – facing down old-school villains like Arcade and the Absorbing Man. But what’s really going on in Tony Stark’s head? As old friends like Hellcat try to help him find peace of mind, lurking on the horizon is a threat that Tony – and the entire cosmos – hasn’t seen in years. Prepare for the new saga of Korvac!
Iron Man (2020) 1-5
The Verdict
This is Tony Stark as longtime fans of the comics can attest is him at both his best and his worst. The mental, emotional, and at times seemingly spiritual journey Tony goes on in this new volume will see him testing new romances, rebuilding friendships and his reputation, and battling old foes as a former cosmic threat returns to wreak havoc on his life. The threat tests Tony to accept both his failures and his limitations, and push past them in new ways he could never have imagined. The action and visceral storytelling made this quite a compelling entry into the Iron Man lore.
Following a blockbuster turn by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, Marvel’s resident master of horror, Al Ewing, takes over the adventures of Venom — bringing the same style and sensibilities that made IMMORTAL HULK a smash to the symbiote hivemind! But like Eddie Brock himself, Al needs a partner in crime — and Marvel has enlisted Ram V, a titan of terror in his own right, to lend a dramatic and dangerous air to this new vision of Venom! And why stop there?! Every book needs an artist, and we’ve enlisted one of the best: the ultimate illustrator, Bryan Hitch! An industry superstar who’s drawn scores of fan-favorite books, Bryan brings his rich and detailed style to the Venomverse! One superstar era gives way to another — and you won’t believe what lies ahead!
The Verdict
As if the world of Venom couldn’t have gotten more complex, in the wake of the defeat of Knull and Eddie’s newfound title of King in Black, the mythos surrounding the King in Black and the Symbiotes themselves take a dramatic turn. I loved seeing the series exploring Eddie’s complex relationship with his son, his desire to be both a father and hero and seeing his son Dylan stepping up into his new role in the Marvel Universe itself. With shocking twists and an emotional undercurrent for both father and son, this new turn in the Venom mythos will keep fans wanting more.
Magneto, the mutant master of magnetism — one of the founders of the mutant nation of Krakoa, a former villain who has never stopped fighting for the benefit of mutantkind — stars in the story that will shake Krakoa to its core! A horrific murder. A shocking revelation. And a trial that will divide the new mutant nation down the middle — and possibly shatter it forever! Leah Williams and Valerio Schiti bring you an epic mystery that threatens the Reign of X and upends the world that Magneto has worked so hard to build for his fellow mutants. The truth is deeply hidden, the danger is far from over, and the trial has begun…
COLLECTING: X-Men: The Trial of Magneto (2021) 1-5
The Verdict
Part murder mystery, part character introspection, the writers did an amazing job of building upon the work done in the individual X-Men series up to this point to bring to life a mystery that only the island of Krakoa could produce. The deep dive into the lore of Magneto as a character was great to see, as was both his relationship with his “daughter” Wanda and the relationship mutants themselves had with the Scarlet Witch for years. At the heart of this mystery lies a story of redemption as well, and not just for the character in question but for many X-Men-related characters who have had a debt to repay for a long time. This was a phenomenal story that I couldn’t put down.
Jason Aaron spreads the legend of the Avengers across the infinite worlds of the Multiverse! On a quest for cosmic vengeance, Ghost Rider finds himself roaring through the wasteland on a ruined Earth where the great Age of Heroes never came to be. Where “hope” is a four-letter word…and where his only ally in the coming battle against the greatest villains any universe has ever known is the world’s most wanted archaeologist: Tony Stark, the Invincible Ant-Man! Spinning out of the cataclysmic events of AVENGERS #750 comes the next great Avengers saga, as the mightiest heroes of every Earth assemble!
The Verdict
I am a sucker for a good multiversal story, and getting to see this deep dive into the Marvel multiverse was great to see come to life. Seeing Robbie Reyes stepping up and gaining more power as the Ghost Rider was very cool to see, as was the cast of characters across the multiverse. The terrifying power of the multiversal Masters of Evil was shocking yet engaging to read about, and the mythos behind the mysterious “First Avenger/Avenger Prime” was engaging enough to keep me invested throughout this story. A definite must-read!
Meet the Monkey Prince, your new favorite DC character! (According to him, at least.) Gene Luen Yang and Bernard Chang introduce an all-new Chinese American superhero!
Introducing the newest hero in the DC Universe, the great sage, equal to the heavens, better than his predecessor the legendary Monkey King, even better than the Justice League—and definitely the Teen Titans—(actually, all the heroes combined), everyone put your hands together for…the Monkey Prince!
Marcus Sun moves around a lot because his adoptive parents are freelance henchpeople, so this month he finds himself as the new kid at Gotham City High School, where a mysterious man with pig features asks Marcus to walk through a water curtain to reveal his real self…someone who has adventured through The Journey to the West, can transform into 72 different formations, can clone himself using his hairs, and is called…the Monkey Prince!
From the team of New Super-Man and American Born Chinese writer Gene Luen Yang and Teen Titans and Green Lantern Corps artist Bernard Chang, meet an all-new Chinese American DC hero, with roots in centuries-old mythology and ties to the current DCU!
This volume collects The Monkey Prince #1-6, and a story from DC Festival of Heroes: The Asian Superhero Celebration
The Verdict
I love seeing new heroes brought to life in comics, and the humor and witty new Chinese American hero Marcus Sun is a great new addition to DC Comics. With the wit of heroes like Spider-Man and Booster Gold with the teen angst of Blue Beetle, the story not only delves into a unique new mythos surrounding magic and ancestry but also plays with the shocking dividing lines between a son and his parents, who work on opposing sides without realizing it. The connection between Marcus and his true father, as well as his run-ins with Batman and Damian Wayne’s Robin, were super engaging, and I think Monkey Prince will be a welcome addition to the new age of DC Comics.
Two of comics’ most celebrated creators, Brian Azzarello and Alex Maleev, team up to pit Task Force X against their deadliest target yet—The Joker!
Critically acclaimed and bestselling author Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Batman: Damned) and Eisner Award-winning art legend Alex Maleev (Daredevil, Event Leviathan) collaborate for the first time in this DC Black Label series pitting Red Hood, Harley Quinn, Firefly, and more of DC’s most villainous criminals against The Joker!
When Task Force X’s Amanda Waller sets her sights on Batman’s greatest foe, she enlists the Dark Knight’s former partner Jason Todd to track down the Clown Prince of Crime and put an end to his mad reign of terror. But The Joker has plans of his own, and he takes control of the Squad, forcing them to do his bidding!
This volume collects Suicide Squad: Get Joker #1-3.
The Verdict
A gritty collision between the world of the Suicide Squad and the chaotic world of Gotham City, this was a brilliant hot mess that showcases why the squad works so well to add both the oddball humor and the visceral action that the comics have become known for. However, the heart of this narrative rests in the complex hatred between the Joker and Jason Todd, as well as Harley Quinn, both of whom have suffered greatly both physically and mentally at the hands of this madman. The twists and turns this narrative takes and the open-ended finale will keep readers hanging off of the writer’s every word.
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Suicide Squad: Blaze
The Synopsis
To catch a monster, you have to become one—but some folks have a head start. The critically acclaimed John Constantine: Hellblazer team deploy Task Force X on their most brutal and bizarre mission yet!
The attacks begin without warning. Brutal, sudden…cannibalistic. A metahuman with all the power of Superman but none of his humanity. An unstoppable being ruled only by hunger and instinct, striking at random across the world. To stop this threat, Harley Quinn, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark have been assigned to corral, nursemaid—and if necessary, execute—five deadly new recruits: the expendable products of a secret government procedure called BLAZE.
They’re ordinary prisoners, endowed with incredible power…and the certain knowledge that it’ll burn through them like wildfire. They have six months to live, maximum. If you’re staring down life in prison, maybe that’s a good deal—especially if you’re Michael Van Zandt, desperate to reunite with the mad lover who forsook you after your Bonnie-and-Clyde crime spree.
But that power? It’s surprisingly transferable. As each member of the Squad dies…the others get stronger. What would a hardened criminal do with that knowledge? Worse yet: What would a desperate, lovesick idiot do with it? One thing’s certain: this time the Suicide Squad’s bitten off more than it can chew. Win or lose-they all burn.
Simon Spurrier and Aaron Campbell, the creative team behind the critically acclaimed John Constantine: Hellblazer, are turned loose on the one DC title even more horrific and blackhearted than that one. Brace yourselves!
Collects Suicide Squad Blaze #1-3.
The Verdict
A truly brutal, twisted, yet compelling new entry into the world of DC Comics. Although technically a Suicide Squad title, the heart of this series rests in the unique characters that are introduced specifically for this story, and the compelling story they tell together as they are introduced into this madness. The brutality of the threat, as well as the almost mindless and animalistic nature of the entity, makes it both dangerous and unpredictable, and the way this average man comes into the fold to face such a threat is engaging to see come to life on the page. A definite must-read.
One thousand years in the future, a Legion of Super-Heroes comes together to dedicate their lives to recapturing the great Age of Heroes of the 21st century. When the heroes discover that reality is falling to a great darkness in both times simultaneously, the Justice League and the Legion of Super-Heroes must team up to stop it all. But what is the connection between the secrets of the new Gold Lanterns and the coming of the Great Darkness? A monumental DC epic event miniseries!
Collects Justice League vs. the Legion of Super-Heroes #1-6.
The Verdict
There have been many stories where some members of both teams have found themselves in a time-travel adventure that brings them to meet some of the others, but never have we seen such a grand-scale team-up of the past and future all in one go. The threat of the Great Darkness, a lead-up to the highly anticipated event “Dark Crisis”, made this a remarkable story to get lost in. The way the teams come to life, as well as the study of the futuristic Gold Lantern and the role they play in these events, was great to see on the page. A definite must-read!
The worlds outside your window! Following a devastating defeat at the hands of the one true Darkseid, the Superman of Earth-23 leads a team of superheroes from myriad worlds that includes Flashpoint Batman, China’s Flash from Earth-0, Captain Carrot from Earth-26, and the brand-new superhero Dr. Multiverse from Earth-8 in a last-ditch effort to stop the end of every possible universe as we know it! Written by Joshua Williamson and Dennis Culver with first-issue art by Brandon Peterson and Andrei Berssan and a rotating cast of artists exploring the many different worlds of the DC Multiverse, this can’t-miss series is the next thrilling chapter in the Infinite Frontier saga! Collects Justice League Incarnate #1-5
The Verdict
The threat of the most powerful and final form of Darkseid takes center stage on a multiversal scale. Between President Superman’s leadership and unique bond being formed with Flashpoint Batman, his connection to Dr. Multiverse, the desire to live up to the Flash family namesake for China’s Flash, and the threat of the great darkness looming over the DC Multiverse so soon after the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal, the action, and mythos the writers build upon in this series were remarkable to behold in the wake of Infinite Frontier. A definite must-read before reading Dark Crisis!
The all-new Sensational Wonder Woman series celebrates Wonder Woman’s 80th anniversary and the legacy of Diana of Themyscira!
A combination of fan-favorite storytellers and trailblazing fresh voices and artists come together in this reader-friendly, high action series is poised to deliver dynamic, standalone stories that are free of continuity, giving hardcore fans even more Wonder Woman action to love and new fans a fun starting point to enjoy stories and provide a gateway to discovering more about Princess Diana.
During a battle with the villain, Wonder Woman sacrifices herself to stop him, the impact from his psychic blast trapping her in an alternate reality. With the help of guest-star Hawkgirl, Diana must remember who she is before it’s too late. Diana teams up with other allies from the Wonder Woman mythos, such as Cheetah, Steve Trevor, Hippolyta, Wonder Girl and others along the way.
This collection of Sensational Wonder Woman #1-14 features writers like Stephanie Phillips, Alyssa Wong, and more paired with great artists such as Meghan Hetrick, Bruno Redondo, Eleonora Carlini and writer/artist Colleen.
The Verdict
A memorable, remarkable anthology series that delves into the mythos of Wonder Woman outside of the main continuity we all know and love. The incredible power and heroism Diana displayed during the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal cemented herself into the fabric of DC Comics far more than ever before. The action, emotional beats, charm, and strength of Diana as a hero, a friend, and a love interest shine brightly through each issue and all the contributing writers of this anthology collection. A must-have for all fans of Wonder Woman.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A ragtag group of adventurers must navigate their lives in the wake of a major loss in a world where fantasy meets political satire in author Sean Myers’s “Flight of Fools”.
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The Synopsis
A political satire about escapism for a hyperpolarized America where politics determine facts. A fantasy about reality.
Brensin is back.
His eyes on the throne, he is joined by Masothelio, the wizard, Jin, the thief, Gullin, the bard, and Rainn. Together, they climb the mountain, evade the dragon, find the magical amulet, and come back just in time for Brensin’s assassination on page 9.
The others scramble.
Betrayed, Masothelio submerges himself in a new role, swimming against the current of the political tides.
Branded, Gullin struggles to make a life for himself once again.
Disadvantaged for so long, Jin helps her family out of poverty, only to learn that she cannot escape her reality.
Isolated, Rainn escapes into a make-believe world made just for him, where he can be happy and powerless.
Flight of Fools blurs the lines between what is fantasy and what is real. It pokes holes in the page until there is nothing left to keep the real world from seeping in, and nothing left to stop the ending from reaching out through the page to clutch your chest and squeeze.
The Review
The author did a remarkable job of infusing just enough satire and politics into the novel to counterbalance the equally outstanding world-building and fantasy elements of the story. The attention to detail the author paid to each scene really helped bring the setting to life, as each chapter felt very cinematic due to the gripping imagery used in writing.
The perfect infusion of powerful themes and rich character development made this story shine brightly. The challenges the characters face throughout the novel begin immediately after the “epic quest” they start their journey ends in a shocking manner, and each character must navigate the world on their own terms and deal with the fallout of these events differently than the other. These paths they find themselves on lead to powerful themes of racism, political rhetoric, and the line between those in poverty and those with enough greed to amass wealth and power, all of which mirror our own world and the events that have led us to these moments in our own history.
The Verdict
Action-packed, thought-provoking, and engaging, author Sean Myers’s “Flight of Fools” is the perfect balance of fantasy and satire, as it not only delves into the fantasy genre perfectly but uses irony to show how mind-blowing and ridiculous our own world’s events have been in recent years to make us feel like we are all living in a messed up fantasy world. The twists and turns these characters are given and the way the story’s finale kind of trails off leaves readers wanting more, and yet reflects the fate of major players in our own world perfectly. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Sean Myers was born in Connecticut in 1988. He graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of New Hampshire in 2010 and with a J.D. in human rights law from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. His writings have appeared in numerous places in print and online, including in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Ethical Traveler, and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. Flight of Fools is his first novel.
Sean works as a freelance legal writer. He lives in the Adirondacks with his dog, Marlowe.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
In an effort to gain the funds to help build a new startup with his friend, a young man will discover the unjust nature of life in another’s shoes through a realistic virtual reality game and begin a journey of morality that could drive apart his friendship forever in author Olga Tymofiyeva’s “Just City”.
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The Synopsis
Just City is a story of 21-year-old Nathan who dreams about creating a cool start-up with his friend Jack. To get money for the start-up Nathan starts playing a virtual reality game as part of a scientific experiment. The game forces Nathan to discover what it is like to be in the skin of somebody else, for whom the cards have been dealt differently. The depressing experiences of playing the game make Nathan question his belief in meritocracy and pick a fight with Jack. What is just and what do we really deserve? This is only the beginning of Nathan’s search for a new life credo that will have both love and reason at its core.
The Review
The author did such a stupendous job of crafting a YA read that felt both entertaining and enlightening all at once. The thought-provoking themes of social status and what it means to be human are quite profound throughout the novel and keep the reader invested in the narrative as the line between reality and virtual reality blur for the characters.
To me, the heart of this story rests in the loaded character development the author brings to life in the narrative. The evolution of Nathan’s journey was remarkable to see, as he begins as a pretty ignorant and closed-off-minded individual but through the events of the novel he finds his world opening up far greater thanks to this virtual world. The tension that stems from his friendship with Jack and the others in his group as he befriends others who share his new views were profound, and yet it was his bond with his grandmother who kept him grounded and gave him a great philosophical inner monologue throughout the novel that made his story so moving and engaging.
The Verdict
Hauntingly beautiful, entertaining, yet thought-provoking in its delivery, author Olga Tymofiyeva’s “Just City” is a must-read YA novel! The heart and passion for which the author wrote this book seeped their way into every chapter, and the profoundly moving themes elevated this narrative to new heights as each twist and turn in the plot kept the reader on the edge of their seat. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Olga Tymofiyeva, PhD, was born in 1981 in Kyiv, Ukraine. After having lived in Ukraine and Germany, she now lives in the US and works as an Associate Professor of Neuroimaging at the University of California in San Francisco. Just City is Olga’s first fiction book, which reflects her passion for science and critical thinking.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a free and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Famed designer and businessman Steve Madden, along with Jodi Lipper, dive into the personal history of not only the Madden brand, but the man himself as he works to share everything from his personal trials and tribulations, how he grew his business and even how business tactics have changed in the wake of COIVD-19 in the book “The Cobbler: How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell From Grace, and Came Back Stronger Than Ever”.
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The Synopsis
Everyone knows Steve Madden’s name and his shoes, but few are familiar with his story. Over the past thirty years, Steve Madden has taken his eponymous shoe company from the fledgling startup he founded with a mere $1,100 to a global, multi-billion dollar brand. But Madden’s demons, from his battle with addiction to the financial shortcuts that landed him in prison, are as important to his story as his most iconic shoes. In this raw, intimate, and ultimately inspiring book, Madden holds nothing back as he shares what it took to get here and the lessons he’s learned along the way. From his unconventional hiring strategies to his slavish devotion to product, Madden offers a business perspective that is as unique as his styles.
In The Cobbler, readers are treated to the wild ride through Madden’s rise, fall, and comeback. But they will also walk away uplifted by a man who has owned up to his mistakes and is determined to give back and use his hard-won platform to create positive change. Originally written in 2019, The Cobbler was released at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. During and in the aftermath of the pandemic, Madden’s perspective on life and business shifted. This new, updated version includes a prologue and epilogue revealing how Steve Madden the man and the company not only survived, but managed to come back stronger than ever for the second time.
The Review
This was a well-written and powerful memoir meets business nonfiction read. The authors did a brilliant job of capturing a tone of honesty and perseverance in the writing of this book. The history and unique perspective on this particular angle of the fusion industry, as well as the way the industry moved through the 90s and early 2000s, was particularly engaging and remarkable to read about, as it brought about both nostalgia and a firmer understanding of how one of our society’s biggest brands came to be.
Yet it was the author’s vulnerability and self-reflection that really brought the reader into this book’s narrative. The honest way the author delved into everything that happened in his journey, from his humble beginnings to his struggles with addiction, the smell starts to his business, and the impact of the recent pandemic on his understanding of the industry going forward, allowed the reader to feel connected to the author’s experiences and the profound changes he made in life to grow from those experiences.
The Verdict
Captivating, thoughtful, and engaging, authors Steve Madden and Jodi Lipper’s “The Cobbler” is a must-read memoir and business-related nonfiction read of 2023. The insightful and memorable nature of the author’s journey and the experiences that shaped not only an industry but the man behind one of the world’s biggest brands made this a book you won’t want to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Authors
Steve Madden is the founder of Steve Madden Ltd and is world renown for his innovative line of shoes. He started his world-famous brand with only $1,100.00 selling shoes out of the trunk of his car. In 2002 Madden was arrested and served time in federal prison. Madden has devoted his life to charity and saw his business through a multibillion-dollar comeback. Mr. Madden chose self-publishing over traditional publishing to be able to chart his own path as he did within the fashion industry. Look at how that turn out.
Jodi Lipper is a six-time New York Times bestselling writer who partners with high profile experts and celebrities to garner major publishing deals and translate their experiences and expertise into highly effective and marketable books. Jodi has co-written several notable memoirs as well as prescriptive books about business, wellness, and personal development.
Her clients include iconic shoe mogul Steve Madden, the “father of biohacking” and creator of Bulletproof Coffee Dave Asprey, and Fran Hauser, whose book The Myth of the Nice Girl was named the Best Business Book of 2018 by Audible and was listed by Amazon as One of the Best Business and Leadership Books of the Year.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A threat that comes through the mail in 2014 shakes a man to his core, and through cultural and philosophical means goes on a metaphysical journey in author Tucker Lieberman’s nonfiction/fiction hybrid novel “Most Famous Short Film of All Time”.
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The Synopsis
Ghosts and goddesses beckon Lev Ockenshaw. Oh, bother. Fortunately, he’s got a pill for that. In 2014, Lev is happily telling campfire stories in Boston with his longtime friend, Stanley, and his coworker, Aparna. One day, he receives an anonymous, threatening email referring to the company where he and Aparna work. Lev reports the threat to his boss, but is not believed.
Invoking over 250 books, songs, and movies, Most Famous Short Film of All Time is a non/fiction-hybrid philosophical novel about:
the nature of time
the ever-present threat of gun violence in the United States
the unhelpfulness of institutions and systems
the importance of solidarity and transparency and being excellent to your friends
belonging to Gen X or the Millennial generation
being a fictional character and realizing you’re stuck in your own story
the hazards of disclosing or not disclosing a gender transition you’ve already completed
the neverendingness of the journey
all 486 frames of the Zapruder film of the JFK assassination
belief and unbelief
prejudice, perception, and ethical action/inaction
undoing/redoing decisions and trying harder
reading as many books as you possibly can
the role of playfulness, irony, and absurdity
burning things that do not serve
The Review
This was one of the most profound, thought-provoking, and engaging metaphysical reads I’ve ever come across. To see this blend of both fiction and nonfiction elements craft a first-person perspective from the protagonist’s point of view was remarkable to see. The imagery and the dry yet witty humorous tone that weaves throughout the essays that this book is comprised of will stay with the reader long after they put the book down.
The rich dynamics that these characters set up are the perfect mirror to the philosophical themes and discussions that these essays and scenes bring about. The way book highlights both the fictional narrative by honing in on the protagonist’s realization of his own reality, the global reach of institutions and their worth, the way society treats and behaves when it comes to sexuality and gender identity, and even the nonfiction themes of belief, prejudices, and the ethics of taking action versus letting something happen through inaction all keep the reader engrossed in both the narrative and thought-provoking themes of this novel.
The Verdict
Towards the end of the book, there is a passage that speaks of the reversible being irreversible, in which through the story of Beowulf the author relays a message that really resonates with me. If you know how a path is going to end and how the process is going to go, don’t sink further and further into that path when the end result is guaranteed. Instead, focus on another path entirely and seek out new beginnings, for when we try to reverse a process we guarantee an irreversible result.
Enlightening, mesmerizing, and engaging, author Tucker Lieberman’s “Most Famous Short Film of All Time” is a must-read metaphysical LGBTQ+ literary work of art. The thoughtful nature of the story and the way the themes and character developments in the book challenges how we view society and the way its run as a whole made this book one that you may have to put down and come back to over and over again, for it truly challenges the reader in the best way possible while still creating a rich and powerful narrative to get hooked on. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Tucker Lieberman is the author of the nonfiction Painting Dragons, Bad Fire, andTen Past Noon, as well as a bilingual poetry collection, Enkidu Is Dead and Not Dead / Enkidu está muerto y no lo está, recognized as a finalist in the 2020 Grayson Books Poetry Contest and nominated for the 2022 Elgin Award by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association.
His essay on a horror film appears in It Came From the Closet (Feminist Press, 2022). He’s contributed to three anthologies recognized by Lambda Literary: Balancing on the Mechitza (North Atlantic Books, 2011 Lambda winner), Letters For My Brothers (Wilgefortis, 2012 Lambda finalist), and Trans-Galactic Bike Ride (Microcosm, 2021 Lambda finalist). His flash fiction was recognized in the 2019 STORGY Magazine Flash Fiction Competition.
His husband is the science fiction writer Arturo Serrano, author of To Climates Unknown (2021) and contributor to the Hugo-winning blog nerds of a feather, flock together. They live in Bogotá, Colombia.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
An FBI forensic accountant goes up against the perpetrator of one of the largest stock market insider trading schemes in the history of the United States in author Peter Davidson’s “The Dish Dog”.
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The Synopsis
Someone is operating the largest stock market insider trading scheme in the history of the United States. The perpetrator of the scheme has hidden their identity through elusive actions. However, the perpetrator may not have planned on a brilliant FBI forensic accountant, Dr. Kimberly King, leading the investigation to uncover their identity and to put them out of business and into jail.
The Review
The author does an incredible job of layering the mystery of this financial crime thriller. The way the author is able to bring the reader into each scene so vividly through imagery in the author’s writing style shows so perfectly with each transition. The way the reader felt the tension as the investigators slowly put the pieces together and the relatability of the scenes in which the characters lived their daily lives, going to restaurants or working their way through college, made this story flow smoothly.
Yet the most exciting aspect of the novel came from the cat-and-mouse storytelling style between the protagonist and the antagonist of the narrative. The way Kimberly is able to work through the mystery and the way the author pairs her knowledge of the financial sector with the crimes themselves mirrored the criminal’s brilliant yet devious mind, and the chase between them elevated the tension and atmosphere of the narrative.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, captivating, and entertaining, author Peter Davidson’s “The Dish Dog” is a must-read financial thriller of 2023. The twists and turns this deceptively straightforward mystery take will have readers hanging on the edge of their seats, and the intellectual way the author weaves the financial aspects of the case with the action and suspense will have readers engaged on a much deeper level. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Peter Davidson is the author or co-author of thirty-one books published by McGraw-Hill Book Company, Perigee/Putnam Publishers, Haworth Press, Sweet Memories Publishing, and Northwestern Publishing. His works include fiction, nonfiction, college textbooks, and children’s picture books.
For more than two decades, Davidson was one of America’s most active writer’s seminar presenters, having presented 637 one-day seminars in a 15-state area from Minnesota to Tennessee and Colorado to Illinois. Davidson has owned small businesses, including a professional recording studio, has sold real estate, and taught business courses in a community college. Whatever else was going on in his life, Davidson kept on writing.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A simple case of a seeming runaway teen turns into a deadly investigation for a PI in Tel Aviv as he faces threats when he gets too close to the truth and a sex worker is murdered that somehow connects to his missing person’s case in author Davidy Rosenfeld’s “Farewell, My Babylon: A Hardboiled Detective Novel”, the first book in the Erez Brown series.
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The Synopsis
Set against the fascinating background of modern-day Tel Aviv with its melting pot of diverse cultures and extremes, Farewell My Babylon is an engrossing, fast-paced PI thriller filled with unique, captivating characters and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
Erez Brown is a private detective in Tel Aviv, Israel. He’s a busy man dealing in cheating spouses, small-time fraud and petty theft. Nothing dangerous. No one gets hurt. That’s until he takes on the case of a missing young woman. It’s been three years since Lea Rubinstein walked out the door, but only now her Orthodox Jew parents are suddenly interested in finding their daughter. Erez believes it’s an obvious case of a teenage girl escaping the confines of a strict religious upbringing and that Lea simply doesn’t want to be found. What should be a straightforward paperchase for a detective of Erez’s talents turns ugly when he’s savagely beaten for getting too close to answers, and then his discovery of a murder—a prostitute who specializes in dominance and sexual harm has been brutally killed. Is Lea Rubinstein responsible, or is she another victim?
Set against the fascinating background of modern-day Tel Aviv with its melting pot of diverse cultures, and the many religious norms and extremes, Farewell My Babylon is an engrossing, fast-paced PI thriller filled with unique, captivating characters and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
The Review
The author did a remarkable job of crafting a visceral, gritty crime thriller that felt reminiscent of the pulp classics of the noir genre. The international setting and cultural impact of the setting and characters helped elevate the noir thriller to new heights, and the heavy atmosphere of the case itself really did a remarkable job of drawing the reader in further and further into the narrative.
For me, the heart of the novel was the character dynamics and growth that kept the plot shifting as time went on. The protagonist was a gruff, driven investigator who saw the worst humanity had to offer and still woke up to face the day. Yet it was the shocking secrets that the family of the missing girl had to hide that added depth and frightening new aspects to the case, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the wonderful use of imagery played the scenes out like a noir thriller from the 30s era.
The Verdict
Shocking, gripping, and entertaining, author Davidy Rosenfeld’s “Farewell, My Babylon” is a must-read noir crime thriller and pulp literary novel of 2023. The mesmerizing setting both physically and culturally, as well as the dynamics between the cast of characters and the mystery itself will keep readers hanging off of the author’s every word as each twist and turn is delivered. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Davidy Rosenfeld lives in Ra’anana, Israel with his wife, three children, and a clumsy cat. He graduated from Tel Aviv University with a BA in Eastern Philosophy and an MA in History and Philosophy of Ideas and Science, with honors. He is a teacher for at-risk high school students. His books, Farewell My Babylon and The Dreams That Killed Us are private detective novels and have received excellent critical reviews, while his children’s picture book, The Rabbit Who Wanted to be a Tree, won the Ministry of Education Prize.
