Our seventh PW Select features listings of 184 titles recently self-published, and our editors have chosen 45 for full PW reviews. For the first time, more than one title has merited a starred review—five, in fact: Dan Handfield’s novel, Touchback, based on the movie he wrote and directed, starring Kurt Russell; John Montandon’s “gentle memoir” about his father, a Texas farmer infected with AIDS; a memoir of Southern life “straight out of a Flannery O’Connor story,” by John Snyder; a POW tale by Ralph Poness; and Sondra Bernstein’s gorgeous cookbook, Plats du Jour—see our interview with Bernstein.
Architecture
Best of Hospitality: Architecture and Design.
Cindy Allen. Sandow Media, $45.95 hardcover (272p), ISBN 978-0-9833263-1-1
This photography-filled volume features over 70 of the best-designed hotels, spas, restaurants, and bars across the globe, from Istanbul and Denver to Hong Kong and Namibia.
Art
Brooklyn Revisited: My Journey Back.
Gloria Golden. Outskirts Press, $30.95 paper (100p), ISBN 978-1-4327-8396-9
Amazon; B&N
Golden’s photographic journey back to the Brooklyn streets and neighborhoods of her childhood allows readers to rediscover the vitality of an earlier era while finding that everything in Brooklyn is new again.
Biography & Autobiography
In Search of Princess White Deer.
Patricia Galperin. Vantage Press, $16.95 paper (228p), ISBN 978-053316419-6
Amazon
A biography of the third-generation Mohawk entertainer Esther Deer, a performer in Wild West Shows who took her solo act to Russia as well as the Vaudeville and Broadway stages.
Common Courage: The Campaigns of a Revolutionary War Veteran.
Daniel D. Kinley. Vantage Press, $18.95 paper (180p), ISBN 978-053316503-2
Amazon
Kinley tells the story of his ancestor and Revolutionary War veteran, Timothy Percival, who fought in the French and Indian War and against the British in the American Revolution.
Little Man in a Big Hurry: The Life of Joseph Hirshhorn, the Man Behind the Museum.
Gene Hirshhorn LePere. Vantage Press, $19.95 paper (352p), ISBN 978-053316509-4
Amazon
A biography of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, a Jewish immigrant who rose out of poverty to eventually donate the largest private art collection ever accumulated to the people of the United States.
Asphalt Warrior: The Story of New York City’s Fastest Messenger.
Kurt Boone. Tasora Books, $18.95 paper (124p), ISBN 978-1-934690-29-1
www.kurtboonebooks.com
In this memoir, Kurt Boone, a courier legend in New York City, describes the business and the culture of the messenger world.
Hello! Stories from the Past: Scotland in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s.
Elizabeth O’Neill Campbell. CreateSpace, $17.95 paper (231p), ISBN 978-1-4637-6206-3
Amazon
This memoir, seen through a child’s eyes, views wartime Britain, evacuation, the Clydebank Blitz, resulting homelessness, the collapse of her parents’ marriage; and her own eventual romance.
Well Worth the Wait: My First Thirty Days of Retirement.
Nancy Carini. $15 paper (132p), ISBN 978-1-4699-8162-8
google.com/site/lifeinretirement
Well Worth the Wait exposes retirement’s humorous and heartwarming realities and gives a real sense of what it’s like to have “no more work.”
Drowning in the Dark: My Descent into Hell and the Long Road Back.
Daniel C. Friend. Inkwater Press, $12.95 paper (176p), ISBN 978-1-59299-730-5
Amazon
The story of one man who awoke in a mental hospital to discover that his worst nightmare had become reality.
Confessions of the Night Ranger: Memoir of a California State Park Ranger.
Daniel C. Friend. Inkwater Press, $20.95 paper (560p), ISBN 978-1-59299-714-5
Amazon
Confessions of the Night Ranger is the true story of one California State Park Ranger’s adventures in the Santa Cruz Mountains during the turbulent 1970s.
The Road from Morocco.
Wafa Faith Hallam. CreateSpace, $17.99 paper (408p), ISBN 978-1-4528-0808-6
Amazon
The true story of a 13-year-old Arab girl wed against her will in French Morocco and her daughter’s rise and fall on Wall Street.
The Family Fables.
Linda Locke. RoseDog Books, $15 paper (110p), ISBN 978-1-4349-8698-6
www.rosedogbookstore.com
Locke shares her tumultuous experiences, ranging from being adopted to working with Cesar Chavez and all the ups and downs in between.
My Top 40 at 40: Making the First Half Count: A Modern Man’s Story Collection.
Kari Loya. XK Productions, $24.95 hardcover (252p), ISBN 978-0-9847637-0-2
www.mytop40at40.com
To celebrate turning 40, the author shares 40 favorite stories spanning six continents and two decades that will inspire readers to live fun, meaningful lives.
Hill of Beans: Coming of Age in the Last Days of the Old South.
John Snyder. Smith/Kerr Associates LLC Publishing, $24 paper (201p), ISBN 978-0-9830622-0-2
Amazon; B&N
This memoir of growing up in the Depression-era South evokes a time gone by in a candid account of the author’s early life.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I’ve Lost My Damn Mind: A Manic’s Mood Chart.
Derek Thompson. CreateSpace, $14.95 paper (222p), ISBN 978-1-4679-3523-4
Amazon
The story of one millennial’s bipolar life, with moments ranging from the ridiculous to the terrifying to the hilarious.
Only in America: Memories of Faith, Inspiration, Love and Business.
Emilia Zecchino. Thinkgroup, LLC/Llumina Press, $19.95 hardcover (304p), ISBN 978-1-60594-658-0
Amazon; B&N
This book blends a delight in mental images while skillfully depicting tragedies, adventures, romances, and businesses that led to the achievement of the American dream.
Body, Mind & Spirit
Journey to Feel Like a Man: Olympic Fencer, Gurdjieff Work, Tai Chi Teacher.
Herb M. Cohen. A Spiritual Evolution Press, $14.95 paper (234p), ISBN 978-0-9822323-3-0
Amazon
A young boy’s need to prove himself reveals his own inner contradictions. His growing dissatisfaction compels him to seek out a deeper and broader understanding of life.
Teachers of Wisdom.
Igor Kononenko. RoseDog Books, $33 paper (418p), ISBN 978-1-4349-9898-9
www.rosedogbookstore.com
This collection describes the lives, works, and teachings of 79 sages throughout history.
Train to the Moon.
John Kowalski, illus. by Mark Bird. Babacita, $19.94 (32p), ISBN 978-0-615-59600-6
Amazon
A love story of two soul connections that take a nightly train to the moon.
At Left Brain Turn Right.
Anthony Meindl. Meta Creative, $19.95 paper (235p), ISBN 978-0-615-53486-2
Amazon
Fifteen weeks and 25 ways to unleash your creative talents.
Love Unbroken: From Addiction to Redemption.
Susan Thesenga and and Pamela Thesenga. Being and Awakening, $17.95 paper (286p6), ISBN 978-0-615-55980-3
Amazon; www.loveunbroken.org
A vivid mother-daughter account of addiction and an unusual path to recovery for them both— through ayahuasca, a psychoactive Amazonian rainforest tea.
Interview with the Antichrist: Darkening of the Light 666.
Tinger Windom. AuthorHouse, $14.99 paper (104p), ISBN 978-1-4678-6822-8
Amazon
This interview with the antichrist is the first in a series. Windom contends that there are many antichrists appearing on the Earth and he pursues a dialogue.
Business & Economics
The Rainforest: The Secret to Building Next Silicon Valley.
Victor W. Hwang and Greg Horowitt. Regenwald, $12.99 paper (304p), ISBN 978-0-615-58672-4
Amazon
What makes places like Silicon Valley tick? Can we replicate that magic in other places to help solve the world’s biggest problems? The authors speculate on where the next technical revolution might be centered.
Idea-Links: The New Creativity.
Jim Link. Beaver’s Pond Press, $24.95 hardcover (264p), ISBN 978-1-59298-275-2
www.thenewcreativity.com
The secret to creativity is reavealed by Link, a respected consultant to more than 100 companies.
Comics & Graphic Novels
The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles: Book One.
Ben Avery, illus. by Casey Heying. BuyMeToys, $19.99 paper (184p), ISBN 978-0-9828750-1-8
www.buymetoys.com
Alice and Dorothy must return to their childhood fantasy lands, as the Jabberwocky threatens to destroy everything.
Cooking
Plats du Jour: the girl and the fig’s Journey Through the Seasons.
Sondra Bernstein. the girl & the fig, $48 hardcover (336p), ISBN 978-0-615-51364-5
www.girlfigstore.com
Plats du Jour is a collection of seasonal recipes and authentic stories that the author calls her love letters to Sonoma. An illustrated guide to the best of wine country food, wine, and lifestyle by the well-known Sonoma restaurateur.
Education
A Degree Is Not Enough!: 8 Smart Things You Need to Do in College to Jump Start Your Career and Finances.
Katherine Berntzen. Katherine Berntzen Inc., $10.29 paper (130p), ISBN 978-0-9823452-5-2
Amazon
Eight things you need to do in college to become a desirable job candidate at graduation.
Family & Relationships
Pals Forever: Memoirs of a Labrador in His Own Words.
Richard L. Hamilton, illus. by Sean L. Hamilton. CreateSpace, $15.95 paper (122p), ISBN 978-1467919647
Amazon
Pals Forever presents a black Labrador that listens and talks to humans.
Shore Lines: Life Lessons from the Sea.
Edwin Lynn. AuthorHouse, $14.95 paper (121p), ISBN 978-1-4634-1971-4
Amazon
In three sections— Attitude, Adversity, Gratitude—the author shares intimately about family, friendships, and personal experiences by drawing comparisons to his seaside observations.
Jerk Radar: How to Stop a Bad Relationship Before It Starts.
Stephen T. McCrea. Inkwater Press, $15.95 paper (235p), ISBN 978-1-59299-740-4
Amazon; B&N
There are lots of books about how to tell if you’re in an abusive relationship. This book shows you how to avoid getting in one in the first place.
The Moose’s Children: A Memoir of Betrayal, Death and Survival.
David M. Mokotoff. Infinity Publisher, $13.95 paper (204p), ISBN 978-0-615-50669-2
www.buybooksontheweb.com
A cautionary tale of love, sexual abuse in one family, and addiction, written from the victim’s family’s point of view.
Fiction
Injustice for All.
Christopher Allen. Dorrance Publishing, $22 paper (202p), ISBN 978-1-4349-1005-9
www.dorrancebookstore.com
Decades after a battle with alien invaders, the United States Army has unknowingly become infiltrated by evil, alien forces.
One Blood.
Qwantu Amaru. The Pantheon Collective (TPC Books), $15.95 paper (488p), ISBN 978-0-9827193-6-7
Amazon
A voodoo curse torments a group of people unaware of their hidden connections.
Eyes of God.
Philip Babcock. CreateSpace, $12.95 paper (344p), ISBN 978-1-4637-2819-9
Amazon
A young expatriate in Indonesia gets tangled in a crisis of succession when the country collapses—a tale of shattered Western idealism and love unexpected.
The Savannah Project.
Chuck Barrett. Switchback Publishing, $16.95 paper (332p), ISBN 978-1-936214-07-5
chuckbarrett.org
From the tree-lined streets of Savannah to the mossy stones of an ancient Irish castle, a tale of danger, treachery, and action.
A Civil Man.
Bruce Barsanti. CreateSpace, $23.99 paper (510p), ISBN 978-1-4515-5995-8
Amazon
A Civil Man follows the action-packed adventures of Cris Reese through his conflicts with a Chicago mobster and his missions in the OSS.
Death in the Recovery Room.
James D. Beeson. Vantage Press, $18.95 paper (356p), ISBN 978-053316485-1
Amazon
A fast-paced mystery that follows Lt. Larry Garret’s investigation into a series of murders within a hospital, as well as the domestic crimes that ravage the low-income communities around it.
The Breeders.
Matthew J. Beier. Epicality Books, $14.99 paper (426p), ISBN 978-0-9838594-0-6
www.matthewbeier.com
Homosexuals, once an ostracized minority, have taken over the world and put in place a controlled breeding program to combat population growth. Grace and Dex have illegally conceived a child. Their only choice is to run.
Walking with Elephants.
Karen S. Bell. KSB Press, $16 paper (197p), ISBN 978-1-934037-69-0
Amazon
Walking with Elephants is a lighthearted slice-of- life story, bringing to the table the serious work/family issues facing women today. Bridget Jones meets Erma Bombeck.
Expecting
Lula Belle. Creative License Press, $10.50 paper (272p), ISBN 978-0-615-57254-3
Amazon; B&N
Before she became pregnant at the age of 14, Sheila’s main concerns in life were boys and Lady Gaga. Sheila is forced to grow up faster than she’d like as she navigates her way through pregnancy and a stay at a girls’ home for pregnant teens.
Fireman Games.
Jack Bennett. Vantage Press, $18.95 paper (334p), ISBN 978-053316459-2
Amazon
A novel chronicling the career of Jack “Curly” Allen, from rookie to assistant fire chief of the Los Angeles City Fire Department.
Three and a Half Virgins.
John Blumenthal. Farmer Street Press, $14.95 paper (286p), ISBN 978-0967944418
Amazon, B&N; Ingram
A 40-year-old man feels guilty about three women whose hearts he broke 20 years before, and he tracks them down to apologize.
What Happened in Granite Creek.
Robyn Bradley. CreateSpace, $13.95 paper (362p), ISBN 978-1-4664-2955-0
Amazon
A woman with three children falls in love with a quadruple amputee injured in Iraq, and she must choose between him and her family.
Me, Not Me.
Laura Brenner. Inkwater Press, $12.95 paper (180p), ISBN 978-1-59299-628-5
Amazon
In Me, Not Me, Eleanor X, a professional eulogy writer, begins the strangest encounter of her life.
The Devil’s Dime: Book 1—The Samaritan Files.
Bailey Bristol. Prairie Muse Publishing. $14.99 paper (374p), ISBN 978-1-937216-16-0
Amazon
When investigative reporter Jess Pepper’s column reopens a 20-year-old case, he has no idea it will put a target on the back of his sweetheart’s father.
Hanged for the Few.
James T. Carpenter. CreateSpace, $15 paper (281p), ISBN 978-1-4610-4004-0
Amazon
A band of incompatible adventurers seeks a city for a king who wishes to destroy it with his army.
The End of Democracy.
Don Carroll. Little Peak Creek Publishing, $15.95 paper (382p), ISBN 978-0-9829265-2-9
Amazon
A fast-paced suspense thriller and a search for the meaning of consciousness and community.
Zombie Necropolis.
Bryan Cassiday. Create Space, $22.95 paper (349p), ISBN 978-1-4700-9498-0
Amazon
A CIA black ops agent looking for his missing brother uncovers a government conspiracy during a zombie apocalypse in Los Angeles.
Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love.
Sebastian Cole. Sebastian Cole LLC, $9.99 paper (224p), ISBN 978-0-9851156-0-9
sebastiancoleauthor.com/buy-it/
A man on his deathbed describes his life of love and loss, only to discover a far greater truth about the past, present, and future.
Robert, Last Name Unknown.
Robert Corrales. Vantage Press, $16.95 paper (379p), ISBN 978-0-533-16516-2
Amazon
A boy born at an orphanage in Germany follows his ambition to the United States and becomes very successful while still being haunted by the mystery of his true last name.
The Lie-Catcher in the Primate House.
Lindsay Crane. Print and Pixel Books, $8.95 paper (250p), ISBN 978-0-9833051-9-4
Amazon; B&N
A thriller about stopping the smuggling of endangered species, featuring exotic locations and a unique supporting character. The heroine, captured in Joseph Kony’s Uganda, escapes and triumphs.
Undertow.
Joseph Michael DeGross. Hawk Bluff Publishing, $14.95 paper (282p), ISBN 978-0-615-57852-1
Amazon
This fictional memoir explores how nature and nurture drive a man to become who he is.
Whole Latte Life.
Joanne DeMaio. CreateSpace, $14.95 paper (336p), ISBN 978-1-4664-2750-1
Amazon
In her 40th year, Sara Beth Riley walks out of her life to find herself again. In doing so, she risks losing friends, family, and love.
The Bakery Girls.
Florence Ditlow. CreateSpace, $17.95 paper (439p), ISBN 978-1-4610-7954-5
Amazon; thebakerygirls.net
Three women come of age working in their father’s bakery. Along the way, they reinvent bread, use pie as therapy, and survive WWII in style.
Skyscraper Secrets.
Jennifer Dozier. Clocktower Books, $12.95 paper (180p), ISBN 978-1475227376
Amazon; B&N
The passionate, sentimental summer romance of Muriel and Sarah during the bleak, terrifying 1950s. They will marry and move on, but never forget.
The River Secrets.
Diane Dunning. Diane Dunning, $6.75 paper (68p), ISBN 978-0-9850381-1-3
Amazon
A tale of love, passion, religion, murder, and sin, in which a young woman is blackmailed into a murder coverup when her illicit affair is discovered.
Eucalyptus and Green Parrots.
Lori Eaton. Lori Eaton, $8.99 paper (250p), ISBN 978-0-9851614-0-8
Amazon
Americans Virginia and Clem are living in Buenos Aires when WWII erupts. When Clem gets arrested, Virginia discovers enemies frighteningly close to home.
The Constant Child.
K. M. Edwards. CreateSpace, $9.89 paper (246p), ISBN 978-1-4681-2142-1
Amazon
A 60-something widow returns to the small river town where her long-lost extended family still resides. A bittersweet reunion is mixed with life-changing intrigue.
Soul-Aris.
Henrietta Elmore-Smith. Inkwater Press, $17.95 paper (398p), ISBN 978-1-59299-626-1
Amazon
This is the story of Aris, a woman of color, with the determination and wherewithal to succeed in the world of Beverly Hills cosmetology.
The Angry Woman Suite.
Lee Fullbright. Telemachus Press, $9.99 paper (376p), ISBN 978-1-937698-53-9
Amazon
Betrayal and a double murder define generations of two Pennsylvania families, spawning a deadly cycle of abuse in a novel that spans the early 1900s to the 1960s.
The Spirit Keeper.
Melissa Luznicky Garrett. CreateSpace, $12.99 paper (334p), ISBN 978-1-4635-8142-8
Amazon
Was the fire that killed Sarah Redbird’s family an accident or a deliberate act of revenge? What she learns is that some secrets are better left unspoken.
Kimchee Days, or, Stoned-cold Warriors.
Timothy V. Gatto. The Oliver Arts and Open Press, $19.95 paper (328p), ISBN 978-0-9819891-4-3
www.oliveropenPress.com
A comic novel about a Nike-Hercules battery in Korea in the 1970s, drawn from real duty in the Korean Air Defense Artillery.
Angel Dance.
M. D. Grayson. Telemachus Press, $16.99 paper (349p), ISBN 978-0-9849518-4-0
Amazon
Beautiful Seattle heiress Gina Fiore has vanished. Desperate, her family turns to Danny Logan, PI, and his crew in the Danny Logan Mystery series debut.
Touchback.
Don Handfield. Sky Village Press, $12.99 paper (272p), ISBN 978-0-9854552-8-6
Amazon
A love story about football, farming, and a time-traveling pickup truck. An aging farmer on the brink of total failure gets a chance to go back to his high school glory days and change his life. The author wrote and directed the movie based on the book.
Zero North Platte.
F. G. Harris. Vantage Press, $27.95 hardcover (242p), ISBN 978-053316457-8
Amazon
An authentic, gritty, fast-paced western that follows young rancher Ben Cole on a perilous cattle drive between Denver and Hat Creek Station, Wyo.
Death in the Saddle (Not a Western).
A. J. Harris. Murder Mystery Press, $15.95 paper (412p), ISBN 978-0-9829361-9-1
www.murdermysterypress.com
When billionaire real estate developer Peter Bruxton is found murdered, it comes as no surprise. In fact, the biggest challenge facing the detectives charged with solving the murder may be finding someone who is not a suspect.
Partially Broken Never Destroyed.
Nataisha T. Hill. Tai-Lor Made Books, $8.99 paper (224p), ISBN 978-0-9853232-1-9
Smashwords
Caught up in a world of betrayal from an abuser and dealing with a roommate who is a glutton for punishment, Kayla is on a complex journey.
Between the Shadow and the Flame.
Geoffrey Lee Hodge. Penumbra Invictus, $17.95 paper (492p), ISBN 978-0-9851802-0-1
www.penumbrainvictus.com
The allegorical retelling of the history of philosophy, as seen through the journey of its three main characters.
The Weapon.
Heather Hopkins. Vantage Press, $15.95 paper (288p), ISBN 978-053316476-9
Amazon
Technological genius Veronica Stone must stop a Russian scientist from utilizing her invention, a holographic cell phone, to weaponize a wasting disease that spreads via sights and sounds.
Amelia’s Gift.
Debra John. Balboa Press, $15.99 paper (224p), ISBN 978-1-4525-4286-7
Amazon
Based on true events in the life of the author, Amelia’s Gift is an inspirational story of Lisa, a woman who overcomes adversity through spirituality.
Love in a Carry-on Bag.
Sadeqa Johnson. 12th Street Press, $14.95 paper (336p), ISBN 978-0-9847289-0-9
Amazon
A New York publicist and a D.C. musician attempt a long-distance relationship. Their connection is sexy and fierce until outside forces cause them to unravel at the seam.
Unburdened.
David Karademas. Pallas Publishing, $17.99 paper (601p), ISBN 978-0-9852342-5-6
Amazon
Written by an attorney and successful businessman, Unburdened is a manifesto of common sense, providing a new platform that appeals to both left and right.
The Spiral Code.
James Edward Kaune. Vantage Press, $32.95 hardcover (360p), ISBN 978-053316489-9
Amazon
An adventure tale of good and evil that investigates the human struggle to make appropriate decisions when faced with the complexities of politics, love, and spiritual understanding.
Naija Stories: Of Tears and Kisses, Heroes and Villains.
Edited by Myne Whitman. NS Publishing, $14.99 paper (260p), ISBN 978-0-615-61355-0
Amazon
Watching for the extraordinary magic that lies in the everyday. An anthology.
Such a Nice Boy.
Daren Krupa. CreateSpace, $12.99 paper (273p), ISBN 978-0-615-48521-8
Amazon
A man leading a gay life to avoid his feelings for women falls for a married co-worker and her infant son.
The Sacred Imposter.
J. R. Lankford. Great Reads Books, $16.95 paper (238p), ISBN 978-0-9718694-5-5
Ingram
In Book 3 of the Jesus Thief series, a rumored second sacred clone intrigues Luis Moctezuma, involved in human smuggling across the Mexican border.
The Firing of Stephen Ledberg.
Allan Lenzner. Troy Book Makers, $21 paper (298p), ISBN 978-1-61468-059-8
Amazon
Ledberg seeks his biological parents,and his only clue is a picnic hamper lined with a newspaper from the day he was born.
The Seven Perfumes of Sacrifice.
Amy Logan. Priya Press, $14.95 paper (267p), ISBN 978-0-9853080-1-8
Amazon
A post-9/11 cautionary suspense tale about the search for the divine feminine and the ancient, lost origins of honor killing in the Middle East.
The Katar Legacy.
Tobin Loshento. New Libri Press, $14.95 (268p), ISBN 978-1-61469-005-4
Amazon; B&N
World-building fantasy where the ruling elite can drain the soul’s energy, or ka, as punishment.
72 Hour Protocol: Warfare Is the Tao of Deception.
Howard Manson. EM Press, $13.97 paper (298p), ISBN 978-0-615-58572-7
Amazon
Katherine has two secrets. The Chinese want one of them, and the Americans want her to give it to them, in this debut spy thriller.
White Heat.
Paul D. Marks. Timeless Skies Publishing, $14.99 paper (352p), ISBN 978-0-9850760-2-3
Amazon
PI Duke Rogers finds himself in a racially charged situation: getting out of South Central L.A. in one piece as the Rodney King riots ignite.
Cold Hearted Son of a Witch: The Dragoneers Saga Book Two.
M. R. Mathias. CreateSpace, $9.99 paper (210p), ISBN 978-1-4663-1800-7
Amazon, B&N
Five dragon riders come together as they are forced to stand against a terrible threat that’s only just revealing itself.
The Confliction: The Dragoneers Saga Book Three.
M. R. Mathias. CreateSpace, $9.99 paper (210p), ISBN 978-1468090253
Amazon; B&N
The conclusion to the Full Confliction cycle of Dragoneers Saga books.
Living Lies: Book 1 of the Agent Melanie Ward Novels.
Kate Mathis. PowWow Publishing, $14.95 paper (394p), ISBN 978-0-9819789-0-1
Amazon
This mystery thriller has suspense, intrigue, humor, and romance, as undercover operative Melanie Ward tackles professional and personal crises while living the life of a spy.
One Passion.
Teresa Matvejs. Dorrance Publishing, $24 paper (318p), ISBN 978-1-4349-1126-1
dorrance.stores.yahoo.net
Follow circus performer Rose Vitkov-skis and her cohorts as they travel the small towns in the Australian outback.
Severed Threads.
Kaylin McFarren. Creative Edge Publishing, $14.95 paper (285p), ISBN 978-1-4675-2671-5
www.kaylinmcfarren.com
Rachel Lyons is called upon by a museum director to assist her former love interest with the recovery of a cursed relic from a sunken Chinese merchant ship, and she has no intention of cooperating— until her brother is kidnapped by a drug-dealing gangster.
Spoonful.
Chris Mendius. Anything Goes Publishing, $14.95 paper (322p), ISBN 978-0-578-09541-7
Amazon
This debut novel, set in Chicago’s Wicker Park in the late 1990s, tells the story of Michael Lira and his friends as they try to get by in their changing world.
Tapestry.
Jeanette Michelle. iUniverse, $20.95 paper (348p), ISBN 978-1-4620-6491-5
Amazon
A soap-opera–style drama based on realistic characters with a splash of fiction that reveals the importance of family, extended family, and close friends.
Zero Point.
Wasique Mirza. Lulu, $17.49 paper (356p), ISBN 978-1-257-79192-7
Amazon
A political thriller/murder mystery revolving around the complex and often convoluted relationship between the United States and Pakistan.
Public Trust.
J. M. Mitchell. Prairie Plum Press, $24.95 hardcover (354p), ISBN 978-0-9852272-2-7
www.prairieplumPress.com
In a story of our times—polarized society and battles over government—Jack Chastain, a park ranger in New Mexico, is caught between warring factions.
Nine Lives: A Story of Horror.
George M. Moser. i Universe. $20.95 paper (364p), ISBN 978-1-4697-5311-9
Amazon; B&N
This debut novel is a quirky tale in which a chilling horror rises from the most unlikely of places.
Redemption Day.
Steve O’Brien. A&N Publishing, $14.95 hardcover (313p), ISBN 978-0-9820735-2-0
New Shelves Distribution
A thriller set in Washington, D.C., based on historical events and the documented teachings of the Posse Comitatus.
Dead Light.
Mike Pace. River Point Press, $11 paper (450p), ISBN 978-0-615-51842-8
Amazon
A smalltown sheriff investigates a string of student suicides and ultimately discovers that the victims had been hypnotized by a Satanic light accidentally released after being buried for over 2,000 years.
Seeing in the Dark: Arielle’s Story.
Judith Peck. Wasteland Press, $19.95 paper (433p), ISBN 978-1-60047-642-6
www.iapbooks.com
Arielle, a bright, beautiful electrical engineer, must navigate a difficult and dangerous marriage and then counter the destructive choices of her grown children.
Queen of the Jews.
Judy Petsonk. Blair Books, $15.99 paper (288p), ISBN 978-1-4701-6093-7
Amazon
The remarkable rule of Queen Salome Alexandra (Shalom-Zion) of Judea, sponsor of the Pharisees, and her stormy relationship with her husband, King Alexander Janneus.
Secrets of a Boy, Lost.
William C. Prentiss. AuthorHouse, $28.95 hardcover (290p), ISBN 978-1-4685-4026-0
www.AuthorHouse.com
An orphaned 15-year-old boy runs away to search for a new life and meets many crises. A semiautobiograhical coming-of-age story.
Reflection.
Jessica Roberts. Jessica Roberts, $2.99 e-book (343p), ISBN 978-0-615-60117-5
Amazon
What if six perfect months with a dream guy turned out to be nothing but a dream?
A Field of Poppies.
Sharon Sala. Sharon Sala Books, $16.99 paper (454p), ISBN 978-1-4699-3717-5
Amazon
A story spanning years in the lives of two families, unknowingly bound together until an old secret is revealed, destroying all they thought they knew to be true.
The Last Mercenary.
Lee Schomaker. Dog Ear Publishing. $15.95 paper (285p), ISBN 978-1-4575-0838-7
Amazon; B&N; Ingram
A former law professor at the University of Rome and now the CEO of Døti Enterprises, Drago Hawkwood conceives himself to be a modern-day mercenary similar to his legendary ancestor.
The Duke Don’t Dance.
Richard Sharp. CreateSpace, $12.95 (257p), ISBN 978-1-4679-4916-3
Amazon
An irreverent and audacious journey through minefields of love, sex, race, and social change with resolute but fallible protagonists of the Silent Generation.
The Protectors.
Steven Sheridan. CreateSpace, $9.99 paper (216p), ISBN 978-1-4679-6472-2
Amazon
Intergalactic war threatens to destroy the earth and the human race with it. This is one boy’s journey to become one of the protectors of the planet.
After the Fog.
Kathleen Shoop. CreateSpace, $13.99 paper (416p), ISBN 978-1-4699-3570-6
Amazon
In Donora, Pa., in 1948, pressure mounts as a deadly smog descends on nurse Rose Pavlesic’s family, friends, and patients. Will her professional obligations overshadow her family loyalty?
Jesus: Man, Not Myth.
Peter D. Snow. Book Publishers’ Network, $21.95 paper (420p), ISBN 978-1-935359-49-4
www.jesusmannotmyth.com
Commonsense narrative of Jesus’ ministry and teaching.
Babes in Tinseltown: A Mystery of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Sheri Cobb South. CreateSpace, $12.95 paper (237p), ISBN 978-1-4700-9374-7
Amazon; Baker & Taylor
In 1936, a sheltered Georgia belle hopes to become a movie star. Her career threatens to be short-lived when the producer dies mysteriously during filming.
Extra Innings.
Bruce E. Spitzer. Bear Hill Media, $16.95 paper (435p), ISBN 978-0-9849569-0-6
www.extrainningsthenovel.com
Cryonics return Ted Williams to life. Will he use this second chance to win his first World Series or to become a better man?
In Times of Trouble.
Jeanette Stanhaus. CreateSpace, $16.50 paper (250p), ISBN 978-1-4680-5804-8
www.intimesoftrouble.com
An adventure of extremes leads to an encounter with a miraculous Black Madonna at Chartres Cathedral in France.
Fireseed One.
Catherine Stine. Konjur Road Press, $7.99 paper (296p), ISBN 978-0-9848282-0-3
Amazon
In 2089, Varik travels to a lethal desert with his enemy, Marisa, who’s destroyed the world’s crops.
A Smudge of Gray.
Jonathan Sturak. Pendan Publishing, $4.98 paper (194p), ISBN 978-0-9825894-4-1
Amazon
Det. Brian Boise is on the trail of a mysterious murder suspect who has an intimate connection to Boise’s family secret.
The Accidental Don: A Man Caught Between Two Identities.
Guy J. Tirondola. CreateSpace, $9.99 paper (225p), ISBN 978-1-4701-0104-6
Amazon
Running from the Jersey mob, an imposter Mafia don becomes a force for good in the Deep South of the 1950s, combating bigotry, hatred, and superstition.
Resistors.
Peter T. Tomaras. CreateSpace, $15.99 paper (380p), ISBN 978-1468039160
Amazon
When a Cypriot flight attendant helps an American security consultant terminate a skyjacking, they launch an intercontinental affair complicated by vengeful Palestinians and prior relationships.
Reel Life.
Jackie Townsend. Ripetta Press, $9 paper (376p), ISBN 978-0-9837915-0-8
jackietownsend.com
In this debut, two sisters wrestle with their past through a shared love of movies.
Designer Dirty Laundry: A Style and Error Mystery.
Diane Vallere. Polyester Press, $14.99 paper (270p), ISBN 978-0-9849653-0-4
Amazon; Ingram
Ex-retail buyer turned “trend specialist” becomes an amateur sleuth when a design competition leads to an unexpected crime of fashion: homicide.
Bloomingulch.
J. L. Walters. CreateSpace, $28.32 hardcover (108p), ISBN 978-0-9848987-1-8
Amazon
Loneliness and ennui afflict adolescent Lucas Waltham and his friends; then they go on a creative adventure.
Joy.
Anne L. Watson. Shepard and Piper, $15 paper (335p), ISBN 978-0-938497-53-0
Ingram
In Oakland, Calif., in 1989, Mirai San Julian knows how to restore a carousel, but can she restore relationships with those she loves?
What We Leave Behind.
Rochelle B. Weinstein. CreateSpace, $14.99 paper (328p), ISBN 978-1-4662-3631-8
Amazon
A provocative novel for women who have loved and lost and wonder what could have been.
One Hundred Miles and Running.
Q.B. Wells. Art Official Media, $15 paper (214p), ISBN 978-0-9768061-7-2
www.artofficicalmedia.com
On the run with $100,000 in counterfeit cash and a suspect in a murder case, Face is forced to put his girl Jazz to the street.
Sedona: The Lost Vortex.
Mikel J. Wilson. CreateSpace, $16.95 paper (424), ISBN 978-1-4637-1977-7
Amazon
Gregor Buckingham doesn't have much going for him, but now Sedona is calling him. In the town of mysterious energy vortexes, UFOs & paranormal activity, he will discover an ancient power, his first love and a mortal enemy he must fight to save them both.
Accidental Felon.
Gloria Wolk. Bialkin Books, $21.95 paper (362p), ISBN 978-0-9652615-5-5
Amazon; Ingram
Carly Daniels, a single mom with a special needs child, works for a company accused of fraud. She is innocent but suddenly is indicted, facing years in prison, and worried about her young son.
Heart’s Blood.
Elizabeth Zinn. CreateSpace, $13.95 paper (272p), ISBN 978-1-4681-4038-5
Amazon
A family saga set on the Arizona border is a tale of secrets kept and revealed, blood ties versus emotional ties, from generation to generation.
Murder of Crows: Book One of the
Murder of Crows: Book One of the Pillars of Dawn.
Athena A.M. Sartor. CreateSpace, $12.49 paper (400p), ISBN 978-1-4750-9834-1
Amazon
Murder of Crows is fantasy flush with romance, intrigue, and desperate choices.
Catastrophically Consequential.
Stephen C. Bird. Hysterical Dementia, $9 paper (152p), ISBN 978-0-615-56663-4
Amazon
A surrealistic, character-based collection of thematically unified, darkly humourous, satirical short stories featuring meandering nonlinear plots, disturbing inner monologues, imaginary dialects, dream sequences, and comical rants.
Gardening
Secrets of the Land: Designing Harmonious Gardens with Feng Shui.
Shelley Sparks. Harmony Gardens, $27.95 paper (190p), ISBN 978-1-4637-4955-2
Amazon
This book teaches people to honor and connect to their land to restore their sense of joy, abundance, peace, and trust.
Health & Fitness
Now It’s Funny: How I Survived Cancer, Divorce and Other Looming Disasters.
Michael Solomon. Create Space, $9.99 paper (212p), ISBN 978-1-4637-4955-2
Amazon
A modern hybrid: on the one hand a page-turning medical thriller, and on the other a hilarious romp through the mind of a man bedazzled by fatherhood and midlife.
History
A Ship with No Name.
Richard Hersey. Sunoasis Publishing, $15 paper (336p), ISBN 978-0-9834123-0-4
www.sunoasis.com/atr3.html
The story of rescue operations in the English Channel before, during, and after the D-Day invasion aboard an ocean-going tug.
The Holocuast Diaries: Book 1, Souls of the Just.
Leo V. Kanawada Jr. AuthorHouse, $22.99 hardcover (393p), ISBN 978-1-4520-5705-7
Amazon; B&N
Roosevelt and Pope Pius XII plotted and collaborated overtly with Hitler’s Vatican ambassador and Rome’s Jewish community to save 85% of Rome’s Jewish population.
Parallel Lives: A Social History of Lizzie Borden and Her Fall River.
Michael Martins and Dennis A. Binette. Fall River Historical Society, $79.95 hardcover (1,138p), ISBN 978-0-9641248-1-3
lizziebordenparallellives.com
Parallel Lives provides a vivid portrait of Fall River, Mass., during the 19th and early 20th centuries; against this backdrop, the untold story of Lizzie Borden unfolds.
Change for a Dollar: A History of 1st Savings and Loan.
Ricky N. Smith. Chapel Hill Press, $25 hardcover (312p), ISBN 978-1-59715-079-8
www.mebanehistoricalsociety.org
Change nearly destroyed the nations financial system. By staying a small-town thrift, 1st Saving and Loan thrived.
Juvenile Fiction
Echo’s Revenge: The Ultimate Game—The Ongoing Investigation of Sean Austin.
Sean Austin. AAA Reality Games, $11.99 paper (293p), ISBN 978-0-9837264-0-1
echohunt.com
Reggie and Jeremy are expert gamers. When they run away from home to escape mom’s abusive boyfriend, they discover that Echo-7, an indestructible game predator, has reversed the rules of its own video game and is hunting them down.
The Ancient Realm: Vol. 1.
Sarah Leith Bahn. CreateSpace, $5.99 paper (114p), ISBN 978-1-4681-2401-9
Amazon; www.sarahleithbahn.com
A bored girl and a misled boy are pitted against each other in a battle over nature’s magic and beauty.
Revenge of the Dorkoids: The Secret Club Begins.
Holly Beck. Skyscraper Press, $8.99 paper (135p), ISBN 978-0-9819505-7-0
Amazon; B&N; Ingram
The adventures of Aaron Walton and his two buddies, Trevor and Ryan, as they deal creatively with Jake and his friend’s attempts to bully them.
Bouncy the Smart Ball.
Demetrius Bradshaw, illus. by Victor Guiza. DPB Products, $12.95 hardcover (26p), ISBN 978-0-9839444-0-9
Amazon
A story about a peculiar-looking ball that encounters and befriends a little boy named Devon along with his friends.
Max and the Magic Boy.
Jack Cain. JJC Publications, $7.95 paper (150p), ISBN 978-0-615-60018-5
Amazon
Max, the smartest kid in class, meets the strangest boy in the universe. Together they go on numerous adventures.
Sweet Savage Blood.
Carolina Courtland. Carolina Courtland, $13.15 paper (366p), ISBN 978-1-4750-1263-7
Amazon
A teen vampire romance about undying love that sweeps across time from the 19th to the 21st century.
Gramee and Her Whippersnapper Boys.
Myra Gowans. RoseDog Books, $18 paper (34p), ISBN 978-1-4349-8079-3
www.rosedogbookstore.com
A children’s picture book about the loving relationship between a grandmother and her grandsons as they explore nature and celebrate differences.
Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare.
Sands Hetherington. Dune Buggy Press, $7.99 paper (128p), ISBN 978-0-9847417-1-7
www.delphidistribution.com
An entertaining story full of antics and excitement. First in the Night Buddies series.
On the Bright Side: The Starlings.
S. R. Johannes. Coleman and Stott, $8.99 paper (250p), ISBN 978-0-9847991-3-8
Amazon
When a tween guardian angel is assigned to protect her school nemesis, her pranks kick off a celestial adventure in this lighthearted look at death.
Headache: The Hair-Raising Sequel to Bellyache.
Crystal Marcos. Cat Marcs Publishing, $9.95 paper (134p), ISBN 978-0-9843899-1-9
www.crystalmarcos.com
From the author of Bellyache: A Delicious Tale comes the sequel children’s fantasy-adventure for ages seven and up delivering a lesson on standing up and facing fears.
Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble.
D. Robert Pease. Walking Stick Books, $12.99 paper (320p), ISBN 978-0-615-52499-3
Amazon
Noah lives for piloting spaceships through time, dodging killer robots, and saving Earth’s animals from extinction. Life couldn’t be better. But the 12-year-old time traveler learns it could be a lot worse when his parents disappear during the Ice Age.
The Glister Journals: Bronze.
B. B. Shepherd. China Blue Publishing, $26.99 hardcover (556p), ISBN 978-0-9828936-0-9
Amazon
New friends expose Allison to a world of new experiences: horses, equestrian events, extreme sports… and falling in love.
The Rumor: And How the Truth Sets You Free.
DeShawn Snow, illus by David A. Perrin III. Carpenter’s Son Publishing, $6.99 paper (96p), ISBN 978-0-9839876-8-0
www.lilshawnee.com
When Shawnee finds out that her school friends are really not her friends at all, she learns some important lessons about the difference that kind words can make.
Oscar.
Amber Tayler, illus by Kelly Ewing Powell. Robertson Publishing, $9.99 paper (20p), ISBN 978-1-61170-057-2
www.rp-author.com/tayler
Oscar takes his harried mother through a glorious day of adventures, all the while reminding us that life’s biggest treasures are found in the littlest moments.
Welcome Home.
Billi Tiner. CreateSpace, $7.99 paper (163p), ISBN 978-1-4680-8256-2
Amazon
The story of Jake, a Labrador retriever who embarks on an incredible adventure to find a man he has dreamed about his entire life.
I Could Have Been Born an Ant.
Rochelle Weiner. Xlibris, $12.99 paper (24p), ISBN 978-1-4691-4246-3
Amazon
A fascinating ride through the realms of plants and animals where children imagine their lives as an ant, a flower, a dog, even a gorilla.
Law
Show Trials: How Property Gets More Legal Protection.
Peter Afrasiabi. Envelope Books, $20 paper (270p), ISBN 978-0-9847915-2-1
Amazon; www.showtrialsbook.com
Harrowing real-life stories that depict the failed immigration system, which fails to give the same justice that property courts provide property. Serious reform proposals are advanced.
Memoir
34 Kensington Square.
Robert Chapin Alsop. Vantage Press, $16.95 paper (162p), ISBN 978-053316446-2
Amazon
A memoir by a member of the Greatest Generation that offers readers a firsthand account of the daring missions flown by U.S. soldiers over Europe during WWar II.
God and I and Elvis.
Ilona Bauer. Vantage Press, $19.95 paper (384p), ISBN 978-053316451-6
Amazon
A memoir of one woman’s life-altering love for Elvis Presley, which turned into an obsession that led her to move from Germany to Memphis and marry an Elvis impersonator.
Through the Unknowable: Family Life with Depression, Alcohol, and Love.
Elsa Campion. Vantage Press, $13.95 paper (153p), ISBN 978-053316497-4
Amazon
From a psychiatrist accustomed to helping patients who struggle with depression and substance abuse, this memoir re-examines the meaning of these same diseases when they strike her own daughter.
The Five Sisters. A Young Norman in the Second World War.
Jean E. Havel. Vantage Press, $17.95 paper (164p), ISBN 978-053316471-4
Amazon
The author’s memoir of his idyllic childhood, surrounded by his mother and her sisters, in Norman France before it was interrupted by the German invasion in June 1940.
Far Distant Echo: A Journey by Canoe from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay.
Fred Marks and Jay Timmerman. Vantage Press, $17.95 paper (333p), ISBN 978-053316463-9
Amazon
The chronicle of two men’s travels by canoe from Lake Superior nearly 1,400 miles north to York Factory on Hudson Bay. Simultaneously historical, informational, and deeply personal.
The Hungry Dog.
Edward C. Mueller. Vantage Press, $19.95 hardcover (128p), ISBN 978-053316075-4
Amazon
The story of one man’s swordfishing adventure to the fishing grounds of the Windward Passage aboard a steel shrimp boat called The Hungry Dog.
A Dying Breed.
Lou Pharao. Vantage Press, $29.95 hardcover (308p), ISBN 978-053316506-6
Amazon
A memoir of a Bronx native’s entry into the high-crime areas of New York as an NYPD officer at the age of 22, through his 34-year career in law enforcement.
P.O.W.: A Sailor’s Story.
Ralph C. Poness. Vantage Press, $16.95 paper (131p), ISBN 978-053316447-9
Amazon
A personal account of the political and military blunders post–Pearl Harbor that led to Poness being captured by the Japanese and spending years as a P.O.W.
Memories from the Forgotten War.
Harris R. Stearns. Vantage Press, $14.95 hardcover (128p), ISBN 978-053316472-1
Amazon
One man’s account of his experiences in the Korean War as a result of his superiors’ incompetence, which included being overrun by the enemy, captured, interrogated, and beaten.
Nonfiction
A Pool Player’s Journey.
Dale Brandt. Vantage Press, $16.95 paper (132p), ISBN 978-053316541-4
Amazon
Brandt explores the mysteries of the game of pool, making connections to physics, mathematics, and martial arts to educate players on how to sharpen their skills.
Inside the Cup: Translating Starbucks into a Drinkable Language.
Kenneth Brown. Fee Publishing, $15.99 paper (250p), ISBN 978-0-9852408-0-6
insidethecupbook.com
Includes drink recommendations and modifications, customer stereotypes, how to get hired, coffee information, and more, from a Starbucks store manager and trainer.
Encyclopedia of Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico.
Mark H. Cross. Caminito Publishing, $26.95 paper (415p), ISBN 978-0-9834194-2-6
encyclopediaofsantafe.com
A catalogue of the people, places, arts, cultures, and colloquialisms unique to the region.
Birthday Suit.
Tyler Durman. CreateSpace, $14.95 paper (172p), ISBN 978-1-4675-1803-1
Amazon
A collection of short personal stories that are both poignant and intensely funny. Durman gives us hippo incidents, parenting woes, nuns and nudity, while interlacing moments of forgiveness and hope.
Requiem for a Country:
A History Lesson.
Jasha M. Levi. Editions JML Hibou, $15 paper (166p), ISBN 978-1-105-22956-6
Amazon; www.jashalevi.com
The birth and death of Yugoslavia twice between 1918 and 1994 and the world events of the century that found its author “waterboarded by history.”
The Tragedy of PortAmerica: And Other Developments from Tysons Corner to Istanbul.
James T. Lewis. Vantage Press, $28.95 hardcover (182p), ISBN 978-0-533-16493-6
Amazon
Chronicles the ups and downs—and unfortunate demise—of a real estate project named PortAmerica, which resulted in years of litigation and government intervention.
Vodka on My Wheaties.
Ann Lloyd. Biographical Publishing Co., $19.95 paper (361p), ISBN 978-1-929882-57-1
www.vodkaonmywheaties.com
“Nothing about her is normal, and she shares her story well and leaves readers with humor and a strong message—an excellent read.”—The Midwest Review
Strategic Diversification: Retirement Planning That Works.
Jeff Martin. KDM Investment Management, $29.95 hardcover (161p), ISBN 978-0-9833189-0-3
630-232-9097
Strategic Diversification provides a blueprint for how to build a retirement saving and investing plan customized to specific needs and situations.
By His Own Blood.
John Montandon. Rockford Brownstone Publishing, $14.95 paper (288p), ISBN 978-0-615-60483-1
Amazon
The true story of the tragic death of a Texas farmer by tainted HIV blood and his son’s search for forgiveness and redemption.
The Green Foodprint: Food Choices for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet.
Linda Riebel. Print and Pixel Books, $15.95 paper (155p), ISBN 978-0-9833051-1-8
Amazon; B&N; Ingram
A practical guide to making food choices that support people and planet.
The Blueprint: Averting Global Collapse.
Daniel Rirdan. Corinno Press, $22 paper (492p), ISBN 978-1-4701-3588-1
Amazon; Baker & Taylor; Ingram
Identifies stressors afflicting our world—from climate change to peak oil—and lays down a detailed, employable plan to sustain the manmade world and restore ecosystems.
Hollywood and Catholic Women:
Virgins, Whores, Mothers, and Other Images.
Kathryn Schleich. iUniverse, $17.95 paper (198p), ISBN 978-1-4697-8219-5
www.women-write.com
Explores the image of Catholic women in Hollywood film and on television from a feminist point of view.
Prescriptions from Paradise: Introduction to Biocompatible Medicine.
Carlos M. Viana. Healing Spirit Press, $25 paper (238p), ISBN 978-0-9789920-4-0
Amazon; www.healingspiritPress.com
A comprehensive, holistic medicine reference guide for optimum wellness that draws on Viana’s knowledge and decades of clinical experience using a commonsense approach to good health.
The Bitchographies: Random Commentaries About Life, Love and Knock-off Christian Laboutins.
Vivenne Vuitton. Inkwater Press, $18.95 paper (170p), ISBN 978-1-59299-722-0
Amazon; B&N; inkwaterpress.com
Random experiences from the author’s personal inventory.
Poetry
And This Too Shall Pass: A Poetic Gallery.
Jeri L.M.S. Guyette. Casa Zia Productions, $12.95 paper (131p), ISBN 978-0-9834688-0-6
Amazon; www.casazia.com
A “neo-soul” poetry collection peppered with free verse, haikus, and tankas chronicling the journey from abusive love to newfound romance.
Clouds, Rain.
Maria Maris. RoseDog Books, $12 paper (82p), ISBN 978-1-4349-9693-0
www.rosedogbookstore.com
Clouds, Rain is a personal journey through the remembrance of joys beyond loss, youthful passion, and loneliness while experiencing another culture.
The River Bends in Time.
Glen A. Mazis. Anaphora Literary Press, $14.99 paper (110p), ISBN 978-1-937536-23-7
Amazon; B&N
A collection of poetry that evokes life along the Susquehanna River in a small town, laments the forgetting of the past in postmodern times, follows a bout with cancer, and affirms life in quiet moments that retrieve the past.
Political Science
Campaign: The 1983 Election that Rocked Chicago
Peter Nolan. Amika Press, $16.95 paper (199p), ISBN 978-0-9708416-8-1
Amazon; amikapress.com
The story of how Chicago elected Harold Washington, its first African-American mayor, in a campaign and election that shook the city.
Governing Ourselves: How Americans Can Regain Their Freedom.
Harold D. Thomas. BookLocker, $14.95 paper (194p), ISBN 978-1-61434-913-6
booklocker.com
Envisioning America today as the founding fathers created it, the author explains political ideas in everyday language and suggests a course of action.
Religion
Islam.
Manzoor Hussain. Vantage Press, $32.95 hardcover (364p), ISBN 978-053316599-5
Amazon
An American Muslim sees his fellow Americans laboring under many misconceptions about Islam, and strives to teach them the truths about the West’s most misunderstood religion.
The Day of Darkness, Night of Destruction.
Larry R. Lee. Vantage Press, $34.95 hardcover (350p), ISBN 978-053316475-2
Amazon
A personal treatise based on the religious experiences of the chaplain of the Atwater, Calif., police department, designed to educate the reader on how best to serve Jesus.
My 52 Weeks of Worship: Lessons from a Global, Spiritual, Interfaith Journey.
Ekpedeme “Pamay” M. Bassey. Balboa Press, $24.99 paper (400p), ISBN 978-1-4525-4580-6
Amazon; www.balboapress.com
My 52 Weeks of Worship is an unusual memoir chronicling one woman’s quest for spiritual clarity.
Julia Episcopa: A Woman’s Struggle in the Church.
John I. Rigoli . MBA Consulting, $14.95 (296p), ISBN 978-0-615-59023-3
Amazon; B&N
A mystery rooted in biblical archaeology about an unknown first-century woman bishop whose discovery will cast doubt on the founding doctrines of the Church.
In the Cool of the Day.
Neil Wilson. RoseDog Books, $20 paper (178p), ISBN 978-1-4349-8546-0
www.rosedogbookstore.com
A simplified version of the Bible that centers on the Lord’s choice of Immanuel as His name when He came to live among us.
The Brotherhood in Islam: Message to Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Ahmed Shendy Yousef. Dorrance Publishing, $13 paper (90p), ISBN 978-1-4349-0935-0
www.dorrancebookstore.com
A call for all faiths to unite and work toward carrying out God’s mission to teach us how to live in peace and harmony.
Science
The Origin of Everything via Universal Selection, or the Preservation of Favored Systems in Contention for Existence.
D. B. Kelley. Woodhollow Press, $39.95 paper (345p), ISBN 978-0-9854625-0-5
www.universalselection.com
This new work by physicist Kelley reveals the natural origins and therefore the natural order behind everything known via universal selection.
Self-Help
A Friend in Grief: Simple Ways to Help.
Ginny Callaway. High Windy Press, $10.95 paper (108p), ISBN 978-0-942303-49-0
www.afriendingrief.com; Ingram
A Friend in Grief suggests words and actions for reaching out and supporting grieving friends.
Healing Through Illness, Living Through Dying: Guidance and Rituals for Patients, Family, and Friends.
Candice C. Courtney. Danton Press, $18 paper (244p), ISBN 978-0-9850522-2-5
www.dantonpress.com
Courtney covers a wide range of practical and emotional issues experienced by those confronting serious illness or end of life.
You Are the Problem, You Are the Solution.
Andy Holligan. Dorrance Publishing, $19 paper (182p), ISBN 978-0-8059-7776-9
www.dorrancebookstore.com
How to reach one’s potential through an exploration of how the subconscious and self-esteem are lead factors in how we shape our lives.
Dreams Altered but Not Abandoned: The Teen Mom Experience.
Erica Mills-Hollis. Precious Heart Publishing, $19.95 paper (101p), ISBN 978-0-615-41816-2
Amazon; www.apreciousheart.com
For teenagers faced with the enormous challenges of raising a child.
The Grief Recovery Kit: A Young Person’s Guide Through the Journey of Grief.
Tanya Kilgore. Aepisaurus Publishing, $19.99 paper (152p), ISBN 978-0-9835688-0-3
Amazon; www.griefrecoverykit.com
A tool designed to help young people in the grieving process after any significant loss, offering practical guidance and hope.
Social Science
Social Worker on Steel: The Steel Stories.
Linda Locke. RoseDog Books, $19 paper (190p), ISBN 978-1-4349-9918-4
www.rosedogbookstore.com
The author spent 25 years providing placement and legal services in the locked facilities of Contra Costa County, Calif.; these stories are the result.
