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YA Sci-fi Mystery – Origins

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The Denisovan Trilogy, Book One

YA Sci-fi Mystery, YA Sci-fi Suspense

Date Published: April 2021

Publisher: Carrick Publishing

Kayla Jones has dreams she can’t understand. Her future seems determined as the brilliant STEM student who looks forward to a research career, but her past gets in the way. As if the chaos afflicting the world and leading to her adopted father’s death wasn’t enough, killers begin to pursue her. With some friends who come to her aid, she’s on her way to discover a conspiracy that can be traced to prehistoric battles waged by hominins bent on conquest of a primitive Earth.

About the Author

A. B. Carolan, a reclusive collaborator of Steven M. Moore, lives in Donegal, Ireland. His focus is on sci-fi mysteries and thrillers written for young adults and adults who are young-at-heart.

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Self-Help – The Things My Mama Never Told Me

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A Funny and Sometimes Serious Guide for Teen Girls and the People Who Love Them

Nonfiction; Self-Help for Teens; Parents of Teens; Tee & YA Social Issues.

Date Published: May 13, 2021

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

An insightful glimpse into what it is to be a teenager today . . . making mistakes, surviving them, and rocking your beautiful, powerful self.

In Things My Mama Never Told Me, Nancy “Pants” Johnson, mentor, leader, educator, and teen advocate shares the stories of brave, resilient, powerful young women who, despite their sometimes overwhelming and scary circumstances, overcome their fears and hold onto their dreams with unwavering strength.

Here are some of the questions she asked herself and her teen authors:

· Do you have questions, concerns, fears about being a teenager?
· Do you sometimes feel like your stress is going to burst out of your eyeballs?
· Do you sometimes get fed up with friends, family, or social media?
· Have you ever ignored your intuition and ended up in an unsafe situation?

Learn how to embrace your beautiful body, your abilities, and your worth; to monitor your own use of social media, cell phones, and computers, becoming aware of how they make you feel; to recognize your power as a woman in all aspects of your life, no matter your sexual orientation; to own your choices about what you want to do with your life and with whom you want to spend it; to deal with your stress in more positive and creative ways; to listen to your intuition and form personal safety boundaries; to love yourself first when making decisions about relationships, intimacy, your body, sex, and birth control; to be alert to red flag warnings and signs of abuse; to recognize the signs of alcoholism and addiction in yourself and others; to bring your secrets into the light; to forgive yourself; to prioritize your own health and well-being.

Being a teenager is hard and sometimes totally frustrating. You will survive. I’ve got you. You are just the person for the job.

About the Author

Nancy Pants Johnson is an author, mentor, educator, and advocate with more than 20 years experience listening, learning, and guiding teens through their life stories. After surviving her own tumultuous high school life and teen marriage, Johnson entered college at age 32 and dedicated the rest of her adult life to being a teen advocate.

Johnson graduated summa cum laude from SDSU with a B.S. in English Literature and an MA in Secondary Education. She taught English within a Visual & Performing Arts Academy until her retirement in 2014. Today, she advocates for teens in her role as Director of Teen Programming for the San Diego Writers Festival. She mentors teens in local high schools as they write their stories for KidsWrite San Diego, and shares weekly with Al-Ateens in recovery.

Pants lives in La Mesa, California, and finds joy in her husband, children, grandchildren, her garden, and her dog, Phoebe. Visit Nancy at nancypantsjohnson.com to read her blog, follow her school visits with teens, and be an advocate yourself by donating one book to one teen in the inner city. You can also find her on Facebook @ nancyjohnson3766 or Instagram @ #nancypantsjohnson.

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Instagram: @nancypantsjohnson

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Children’s Fantasy – Almondine’s Babies

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Children’s Book, Children’s Fantasy

Published: January 2021

Publisher: GZ Books

The third title in the Almondine trilogy is once again full of illustrations and funny moments. And this time, the story gets more shocking, with Alma having to face a challenge far beyond her means. But her stubborn and unconditional love for Almondine and her babies make her the star of this new adventure.

The Almondine Book Series follows the life and adventures of a teeny-weeny girl born from an almond tree. Illustrated on nearly every page, the story’s overarching themes of friendship, family relationships and adventure aim to engage mostly with primary school readers. www.almondine.club

About the Almondine Series:

Almondine is a three part book series following the life and adventures of a teeny-weeny girl born from an almond tree. She is discovered by 8-year-old Alma, who takes care of her as a baby and young girl, and with whom she shares many unexpected experiences. Almondine is a very special little girl indeed, with a crazy story to tell and an explosive surprise in store for her dear foster mother and friend Alma.

Illustrated on nearly every page, the story’s overarching themes of friendship, family relationships and adventure aim to engage mostly with primary school readers.

Books in the Almondine Series:

Almondine: The girl from the almond tree

Almondine Grows Up: The challenge of freedom

Almondine’s Babies: Alma’s mission

Amazon

About the Author

Gabriele Zucchelli is an animation director, whose work includes cartoon characters, realistic animals and fantastical creatures. He has contributed to several hand-drawn productions and blockbuster CGI movies including Harry Potter, Disney’s latest Lion King and the Oscar-winning Jungle Book. The Almondine trilogy is his first series of children’s novels.

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Spiritual Healing – Shamanism in the 21st Century

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Non-Fiction, Mental & Spiritual Healing

Date Published: June 26th, 2017

Publisher: Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.

This book grew out of the ¬first seven years of August Lageman’s practice as a shaman. The book shows how the teachings of the Four Winds Society actually work with clients. In addition, August kept an open mind and integrated tools and insights from other forms of healing such as reiki and Holographic Healing. This book demonstrates how a person with a rocky childhood can heal from early wounds with the help of skilled shamans. August writes from his heart. You will learn how a shaman needs to be ready for the unexpected.

“Shamanism in the 21st Century is as useful as it is interesting. If you’ve always been curious about alternative healing modalities or want to deepen your own spiritual connection, this book is a good place to start.” — Willie E. Dalton, Author

About the Author

August Lageman had a career as a pastor, a college teacher, and a psychotherapist. He served in the military for over twenty-nine years and did enlisted service in the US Marine Corps in the early sixties. Then August was commissioned as an officer in the Army Reserves and National Guard, serving both in the reserves and on active duty. He retired with over twenty-nine years of service as a full colonel in 2003. August trained as a shaman in the Four Winds Society, graduating in 2010.

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Contemporary Romance – Flirting With Forever

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Graciella, Book 3

Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance

Release Date: May 11, 2021

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

What would you give up to make forever come true?

Adam Brockman has been working the land and the horses in Graciella since he can remember, and the new Brockman Farms business ventures are all blossoming. Adam’s always believed in the farm, in family, and he’s convinced he’ll find the perfect love in the perfect moment.

Widowed Cassandra Dorsey hopes her stay at a Brockman Farm cottage will help her find peace and get her life back on track after losing her dream job as the food editor of The San Francisco Chronicle and being reckless with men in order to feel again had done nothing but leave her numb.

Tumbling headfirst into love, Adam sets out to woo Cass into staying in Graciella and becoming his forever. Although she’s initially convinced she needs to get her old job back, the land and love revive Cass’ senses and she starts to imagine new dreams that include a gorgeous farm and her sexy cowboy.

But a bombshell flips their world upside down and shakes the foundation of their fledgling relationship. Will the shock of a lifetime tear them apart or grant Adam and Cass their chance at forever?

Other Books in the Graciella Romance Series:

Handling the Rancher

Graciella, Book One

What’s a sexy rancher to do when an uptight accountant falls into his lap?

Amazon

Seducing the Dragonfly

Graciella, Book Two

Is it too late to win his dragonfly’s heart?

Amazon

Excerpt

“You stole my cinnamon roll.”

Ahh her voice. Adam’s entire body ignited with it. His heart perked up, started its gallop, and his blood thrummed with awareness. All his senses beat her name. Cassandra. She was so dang pretty, pretending to pout, but fierce and powerful all the same, and all untangled this afternoon. Her hair was loose, long wavy locks flying in the breeze. Vibrant eyes, happy eyes. He climbed down from the fence, tossed his gloves to the side and wasted no time at all in stalking her and wrapping his arms around her. He didn’t kiss her even though it was all that dragged his mind these days, especially with their bodies pressed together. A little flirting was his intention. If it happened to lead to kissing, he’d know he was doing it right.

“All bets are off when it comes to those cinnamon rolls.” He leaned in and dragged his lips, his nose up her neck. “Decadent, with all that sugary caramelized goodness, unique places with hints of spices I can’t name.” He did kiss her then, behind the ear, lingering as the heat built around them.

“Cardamom,” she breathed. “And orange.”

“Never would have guessed. I need you to lead me.” Adam brushed his finger over her full mouth. “All these hidden secrets I’m in search of.”

“I don’t know if you want all my secrets.”

She wasn’t pushing him away or pulling back. Progress. “I’m pretty sure I do. Like this one here. Let me guess.” He gently kissed the corner of her mouth then narrowed his eyes at her. “Didn’t know powdered sugar was on those glorious rolls.”

She laughed as if she’d succeeded in tricking him. And he frowned when she wiped her mouth. “Didn’t know I got sugar on me.”

On you? You’re all the sugar and spices wrapped up in the perfect package for me.

“It’s from the donuts that came later.”

He squeezed her to him and moaned. “I missed donuts?”

“Brought you some.” She handed him a small brown paper bag and when he opened it, he nearly fainted in pleasure.

“I bow to those women,” Adam said after inhaling one of the donut holes, still warm, with sugary goodness melting on the outside.

“You bow, huh? Guess who made them?” She pointed to herself and his smile stretched across his face. “I had a chance to take a class years ago when I was in Portugal. Sonhos, they’re called. Dreams.”

He gave her a loud, smacking, powdered-sugar-covered kiss and twirled her around, which made her laugh again. Every time she let loose with that beautiful sound, he noticed nuances of it. A spring tree in bloom letting all her bright foliage show, from light green to grassy, growing into a darker hue with certainty. He was going to spend a lifetime making her laugh. “I’ll promise you anything if you make those for me again.”

“Maybe you don’t have to beg. Maybe I’d like cooking for you.” Cassandra untangled herself as she said it. Christ, the woman could tease. Telling him she wanted to cook for him while separating them. And this time it was her turn to leave him standing behind.

“I need to do some work.” Her smile was all happiness and light.

“Now?” He glanced from the food of his dreams to the woman of his dreams.

“A little bit.” Was she taking pity on him?

“Are we walking again tonight, Cassandra?”

“I’d like that.”

About the Author

Puget Sound based writer, Sara Ohlin is a mom, wannabe photographer, obsessive reader, ridiculous foodie, and the author of the contemporary romance novels, Handling the Rancher, Salvaging Love, Seducing the Dragonfly, Igniting Love and Flirting with Forever.

She has over sixteen years of creative non-fiction and memoir writing experience, and you can find her essays at Anderbo.com, Feminine Collective, Mothers Always Write, Her View from Home, and in anthologies such as Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak about Healthcare in America, Take Care: Tales, Tips, & Love from Women Caregivers, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Although she’s the author of many essays about life, grief, motherhood and the connections we make through delicious food and shared meals, Sara loves creating imaginary worlds with tight-knit communities in her romance novels. She credits her mother, Mary, Nora Roberts and Rosamunde Pilcher for her love of romance.

If she’s not reading or writing, you will most likely find her in the kitchen creating scrumptious meals with her kids and husband, or perhaps cooking up her next love story.

She once met a person who both “didn’t read books” and wasn’t “that into food” and it nearly broke her heart. You can learn more on her website https://saraohlin.com.

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Humorous Science Fiction – Killing Time

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Physics, Lust and Greed Series, Book 3

Humorous Science Fiction

Date Published: May 11, 2021

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

At every crossroads he has encountered in life, Sean Brody has made the safe choice. In the year 2046, at the age of ninety-three, Sean is given one final opportunity to deal with his greatest regret. Sean is the only man Marshall Grissom and Marta Hamilton can find who might be able to save Sheila Schuler, their friend and fellow traveler lost in the distant reaches of time. If Sean accepts the task of traveling to his childhood in a parallel universe—with no guarantee that any aspect of the past can be changed—Sean must also accept his death in the only world he knows.

About the Author

Mike Murphey is a native of eastern New Mexico and spent almost thirty years as an award-winning newspaper journalist in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. He left journalism in 1998 to form a business related to adult amateur baseball. At the age of 60, he stopped procrastinating and revived his life-long ambition to write a novel. He is author of Sections, an award-winning coming of age novel set in Eastern New Mexico where Mike grew up. He is also author of The Conman … a Baseball Odyssey, another award-winning novel. Killing Time is the third novel in his Physics, Lust and Greed Series. Mike splits his time between Spokane, Washington and Phoenix, Arizona where he enjoys life as a writer and old-man baseball player.

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Romantic Comedy – Gracie & Zeus Live the Dream

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Romantic Comedy

Date Published: May 11, 2021

Publisher: Cinnabar Moth Publishing LLC

Grace Morgan has been on the music scene long enough to know the life of sex, drugs & rock & roll is just a dream. But after a messy divorce, Grace wants to give her dream of being a music journalist one last shot.

She moves to LA with her 21-year-old foster son, Zeus. They live in a motel on cup noodles and hope, until Grace finally gets a break: a story about Inez Carter, hot-mess frontwoman of the popular band Karma Korn.

The story delivers more sex, drugs and rock & roll than Grace bargained for. Karma Korn’s drummer, Nelson, has Grace rethinking her post-divorce vow of celibacy. And after they’re invited to an elite Hollywood rave, where they mistakenly drink the electric Kool-Aid, Zeus is scouted to be the lead guitarist for another star band.

However, the story soon goes sideways, and things aren’t adding up. Someone is spreading rumors about Grace, trying to sabotage her career and reputation. Then someone tries to kill her. Grace is left frantically trying to connect the dots in the dwindling hope she’ll be able to salvage the story, her relationship with Nelson, and her life.

Excerpt

Grace Morgan was fast asleep, dreaming her ex-husband’s testicles were caught in his bicycle chain.

He stood on the corner of a busy intersection, tugging at his anatomy with a consternated expression, but they wouldn’t budge. Eventually, he gave up and trudged down the damp sidewalk, his spandex shorts wrapped around his ankles, his nut sack stretching out like silly putty as he dragged his bicycle behind him.

A cell phone’s buzzing jangled the pleasant tableau, and it slipped away. Grace sighed, rolled over, and peeled her eyelids open.

“Ohmygod!” She flinched from the staring, golden-hazel eyes of her adult foster son, Zeus.

“It’s your phone, Gracie,” Zeus said. His face was scant inches from hers as her phone continued to buzz against her pressboard nightstand.

Grace struggled to get air into her uncooperative lungs. “What the hell are you doing, Zeus?”

He gazed at her unblinkingly. “It’s your phone.”

Grace sat up, blinking blearily at the walls of the please-don’t-tell motel.

“Don’t answer it,” Zeus said. “They just want to talk about the Mayan Calendar, but it’s a hoax. It’s not always May.”

Grace shoved Zeus out of the way and pawed through the cups of congealed noodles and shreds of candy wrappers on the nightstand. Zeus scooted over to stay in her line of sight, his gaze unwavering, his pupils gigantic. “I’m all out of Adderall, Gracie.”

Grace cursed. “Seriously? It was supposed to last until Monday.” “Maybe you should ask that Mayan on the phone if they have more.”

She finally found her phone and cursed again when she saw the number on the screen. Lawrence Shaupin, the commissioning editor for High Note Magazine. She hit the answer button. “Hello?”

—

Zeus fiddled with something at the end of the guitar: he was plugging in a cord. Nicole jumped as a pop and squeal of feedback blasted from her speakers. Somehow, Zeus had found a way to patch the Gibson into the stereo system. He had a knack for figuring stuff like that out.

He started to play.

The mass exodus stopped, and people turned to watch. His fingers crawled across the fretboard, filling the room with noise. Somehow, with one instrument, he managed to make as much music as Beatbot had with all her samples and beats and gadgetry.

At first, it was beautiful noise chaos, but a rhythm grew out of it, and a melody, the song enveloping Grace and holding her transfixed. People started screaming again, but now they were cheering Zeus on. A lot of them resumed dancing. The pink-haired boy, who could only be Nicholson, the son of the owners of this place, was still staring up at Zeus, but the look of fury had been replaced by one of disbelief.

Zeus crafted an impossibly good song out of nothing as he swung back and forth on his knees, making the chandelier sway. His song’s hook was completely nonderivative, and perfect enough to make Grace’s scalp tingle. The chord progression was complex, so clever that it made Grace bust up in giggles, but he made it sound simple and natural. It wasn’t until Zeus caught her eye again and broke out in a wide grin that she realized she was smiling like a maniac.

He pursed his lips at her in an exaggerated rock-n-roll face and played the final chords, letting them squeal. As they died away, the crowd broke out in cheers, stomping for more.

About the Author

ELIZABETH RODERICK is the author of Love and Money, Hoodlum Army, and The Other Place Series, and Gracie & Zeus Live The Dream, as well as many short stories in various anthologies.

She and her daughter help run a small, diversified farm in Eastern Washington. She is a musician and songwriter, and has played in many bands—mostly guitar, bass and keyboards.

Elizabeth’s stories are about love, death, gang warfare, and madness, with characters of the type that society generally shuns: addicts, convicts, and the neurodivergent. She is a neurodivergent person and a disability rights activist.

Elizabeth believes if people get to know those who live on the fringes of society, both in stories and in real life, they’ll find them more likeable than they originally thought.

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