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Newsletter Vol 1

Hot off the Press

Nearly all of us have read To Kill a Mockingbird, either we willingly took it on, or we were forced by evil English and Literature teachers in school. If you haven’t read it or watched the old black and white movie, the story follows Atticus Finch, through the eyes of his young daughter, Scout. He is a lawyer in the Depression-Era South where he defends a black man wrongly accused of raping a young white girl. There’s a lot to unpack in the relatively short book and hits on a number of unfair social injustices. 

Unfortunately, more amazing titles from the author weren’t on the horizon. The author, Harper Lee was 31 when she submitted the book, and like many authors, wasn’t expecting much. But the book became an instant success and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It was also voted “Best Novel of the Century” in a poll by the Library Journal. You’d think with such acclaim and praise, Lee would start pumping out more, but she only published one other book, Go Set a Watchman some 55 years later, in 2015. The novel was hit hard by critics and was a source of controversy. 

To Kill a Mockingbird was supposed to be a trilogy. Some said the manuscript was nothing more than a first draft very similar to Mockingbird, while others stated that the book was a sequel to Mockingbird, part two of a planned three. We’ll probably never really know what the plan was because a year later, Lee passed away. 

Posthumous stories will be released this year. Now, a new collection of essays and short stories from Harper Lee will be released in October. The Land of Sweet Forever: Stories and Essays is a posthumous collection of writings Lee created before she really focused on To Kill a Mockingbird. Keep an eye out for it if you enjoyed her flagship book. 

Other authors who only published one great book. With so many prolific authors such as James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Janet Evanovich, and Stephen King, who seem to pump out multiple books a year, I wondered about authors who only wrote a single book throughout their lifetime. There are actually quite a few who told their one, often remarkable story, and then retired from the literary world for whatever reason. Here are a few that most of us have heard of:

• Margaret Mitchell – Gone With the Wind: It’s reported that she suffered such anxiety over the book (taking over 10 years to write it) that she didn’t want to experience that ever again. 
• Anna Sewell – Black Beauty: She was very ill, and mostly bedridden when she wrote her one novel. She died five months later. 
• Emily Brontë – Wuthering Heights: The sister of literary family Charlotte and Anne only finished one book before she passed away. She was working on another book, but tragically, she didn’t finish it. 
• J.D. Salinger – The Catcher in the Rye: He wrote many more works after publishing his one novel, but he was an intensely private person and seemed to shun the literary world and fame especially. Because of this, it’s reported he didn’t want to publish any other works.
• Arthur Golden – Memoirs of a Geisha: After the book was published, he was hit with a defamation and breach of contract lawsuit that was settled privately. Speculation suggests that the lawsuit and a desire to live away from the spotlight keeps Golden from publishing more.  

The TBR Files

I LOVE the cover! I have to admit that this cover sold me before I even read what the book was about. Being a child of the 80s and 90s, the VHS looking cover with vintage artwork sent my nostalgia into the stratosphere. I snatched it up and took it home, if I didn’t like the book, at least I had a nice piece of art I could add to my collection. 

I may have judged the cover, but I wasn’t disappointed. I really enjoyed the book! It’s set in 1988 and it centers around best friends Abby Rivers and Gretchen Lang, who have been friends since they were 10 years old. Now, sophomores in high school, the friends join a few more girls at a lake house for the weekend. After trying an illicit substance, Gretchen disappears, but returns several hours later completely changed and nearly incoherent. As the days stretch on, Gretchen’s behavior becomes increasingly more bizarre and frightening. Abby begins to suspect her best friend has been possessed. 

The problem is, no one believes her. In fact, some of the strange and criminal happenings start causing authorities and her parents to believe that Abby is the one committing these atrocities. The writing reflects the time, with drugs and satanism being keywords associated with the youth. Acting up at home? They’re on drugs. Having trouble in school? They’re worshipping satan. Listening to pop or metal music? They’re on drugs AND worshipping the devil. 

Heathers meets the Exorcist. I read this in a review and it definitely boils it down. Anyway, the book is in the horror genre, but it was not an awfully frightening book. It definitely kept me guessing, and glued to the pages as I needed to know what was happening with Gretchen, and how Abby (basically working on her own) would save her friend’s soul. It was dark, thrilling, sometimes darkly humorous, and a fun ride; especially if you miss those decades. Grady Hendrix is quickly becoming a new favorite author as I’ve read several of his books already and have not been disappointed. If you’re into thrillers, horror, nostalgia, and nail-biting tension, My Best Friend’s Exorcism is right up your alley; it even had me a little emotional at the end. That doesn’t happen very often… 

…And Then This Happened

Since I learned to read, I’ve loved books. Some of my fondest memories have often centered around them. Finding something new and exciting to read, checking out new bookstores, reading books to my daughter and how much she loved it, and now, writing my own stories. One set of books from my childhood have held a very special place in my heart. These books were introduced to me by my older sister. The Serendipity books by Stephen Cosgrove and Robin James. 

I still remember them decades later. I don’t think she had the entire collection, as there are 70 books total, but I remember several with acute clarity. The illustrations are beyond comparison. The characters are sickeningly cute, and the tales all center around moral issues and each one has a short piece of advice at the end. As I grew up, those books disappeared, but when I had my daughter, I knew she would enjoy them as much as I did. 

“Gotta catch ‘em all!” I started collecting them and reading them to her. While she had plenty of other favorite books, especially Dr. Seuss books, Skippy Jon Jones, and other standalones such as the Paper Bag Princess, and Strega Nona, she would often go back to the Serendipity series. Whenever I would see these books at yard sales or thrift stores, I would immediately snatch them up. Unfortunately, they’re getting harder to find. I can still find used ones on Amazon and Ebay, and occasionally I’ll get a few. Eventually I’ll have the entire collection. 📚

I hope to pass them along to more generations. Though my daughter is grown now, and I don’t get to read them to her anymore, there are grandchildren in the picture now! While they’re still a little young to sit still for a story, I can’t wait until I get to pass along these stories to them as well. What books or series stir your emotions? Are there any from your childhood that you remember? Leave me a comment below. 

Randomness

I appreciate each and every one of you. Small-time authors like myself love our followers and we work hard to bring you valuable entertainment. We know your time is limited, so we appreciate any time you give us. While selling books is what we’re after, what we really want to do is get our works into as many hands as possible. It’s not necessarily about the money, but just having people find value in our works. As a thank you for reading this newsletter every few weeks, I’m working on an exclusive, downloadable, free, short story, for members only. 

It’s based on the series in progress. Plight of the Familiar is my latest work, about twins Jason and Jocelyn who find themselves in possession of a valuable piece of obsidian. It’s a magical object that some truly evil people will do anything to obtain. These kids have been hiding and on the run for years, but now, as they start getting closer to puberty, the obsidian starts imparting psychic powers on them. But, the more they learn, and the more they use it, the closer the shadowy, unscrupulous group gets to them. 

Secondary characters get their own story. While the twins are the main characters in the book, their friend Patrick, and his dog Doofus often steal the show. So, in this upcoming short story, these two are going on an adventure of their very own. I’m not sharing any more details than that right now as the story is getting fleshed out right now, and who knows what will change. It should be ready in a few weeks, and once it is, I will send out a special newsletter letting everyone know how they can download the story. So stay tuned! I’ll keep you posted on progress, and maybe post a snippet or two as the story nears completion. 

Did You Know

Animal Farm by George Orwell was rejected by several publishers for political reasons. The use of pigs as protagonists was seen as offensive, especially for Russian readers. 

The Great Gatsby, one of the most popular novels of all time, and a great movie, was initially considered a complete flop. F. Scott Fitzgerald died before he saw his book hit a huge spike in popularity and acclaim. 

The Dark Knight Rises was influenced by Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. 

It turns out that “the dog ate my homework,” is a legitimate excuse! Toby, John Steinbeck’s dog, actually ate half of the first draft of Of Mice and Men. He spent two months writing it over. 

The original manuscript of “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac was typed on a 120-foot roll of paper.

Newsletter Vol. 2

Hot Off The Press

Stephen King is reported to write every day—I wish I could manage that task—and because of his unwavering dedication, a new book from the master of horror is coming soon. Never Flinch is coming to you in May. 

Never Flinch will feature two separate but intertwining storylines. One is about a deranged killer threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty.” Detective Izzy Jaynes is tasked with tracking down the killer, but he soon realizes that he’s going to need help to save all those lives. Racing against time, Izzy turns to Holly Gibney (a recurring character from books such as Mr. Mercedes, The Outsides, and Holly) to help get to the killer.

At the same time, a controversial and outspoken women’s right activist, Kate McKay is becoming a target. At first her events are being disrupted, but soon the stalker gets bolder and the horror amps up. Soon Holly is hired as Kate’s personal bodyguard. Both of these stories converge in a conclusion that only Stephen King can come up with. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m interested in this book. I’m about six books behind in my Stephen King TBR, and this will end up stacking up on it. The last one I read was Fairy Tale. A young man ends up with the key to a fantastic world and embarks on a quest to save a dear friend. During this quest, it becomes much more than one life on the line, he ends up working to save this magical land from a corrupted evil. I’ll do a review on this one soon. 

The TBR Files

Peter S. Beagle, I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons Review.

I have been a fan of the animated movie The Last Unicorn since I was a young kid back in the 80s. It was, and still is, hauntingly beautiful, poignant, and the soundtrack brings all the feels. It was also quite terrifying, but back then, many animated films tried to traumatize kids. I’m talking about you Watership Downs and Secret of Nimh. Anyway, it was only a few years ago I found out that life altering movie started out as a book by Peter S. Beagle. I then became obsessed with the book and tracked it down, along with a beautiful graphic novel. 

I go into all that to say that I was beyond excited when I found out the octogenarian recently put out a new fantasy book. I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons was released in May of last year and I immediately snatched it up. While for me, it didn’t capture the same intrigue or indescribably magic of The Last Unicorn, it was still an enjoyable, fun story. 

Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (that’s more than a mouthful) is the resident dragon exterminator. Luckily, he just wants to be called Robert. In the kingdom of Bellemontagne, dragons are more like rats and unwanted vermin, and indeed, they are generally small, live in dark crevices and holes in castles, and are an all around nuisance. The thing is Robert knows these little dragons have personalities and are actually nearly as smart as humans. He hates his job, but he’s excellent at it. 

Because he’s the best, he’s summoned to the castle to rid the ground of a large infestation. There he meets Princess Cerise, who only wants to impress the visiting Crown Prince Reginald. The Prince only wants to impress his father and comes up with the task of slaying a giant, vile dragon. With Gaius Aurelius…ahem, Robert, by his side, and the Princess coming along as well, what could possibly go wrong? 

The following quest is full of Mark Twain like and The Princess Bride style satire and humor. It’s a far cry from the somber tone and seriousness of The Last Unicorn, but it was still an enjoyable, easy fantasy read. There is definitely danger along the way as the trio end up having to face off against a mad wizard and his army of “Kings” ancient, mythical, giant dragons no one has seen in centuries, which opens the door for a nice twist at the end. 

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons will not be touted as a literary masterpiece, but if you enjoy fantasy, dragons, typical fantasy tropes, or have fond memories of any of the books and movies mentioned here in this review, I’m sure you will enjoy this book. 

…And Then This Happened

I attended several events last year, and plan on doing as many as I can this year. It’s a great way to meet new people, authors, and hopefully gather more fans of my works. I’m awful at marketing, and it seems it’s the best way for me to get these books into the hands of eager readers. When talking to customers, one question I got often was “Where do you get your ideas?” I could answer pretty simply, “Everywhere,” but that’s not a satisfactory answer. 

It’s the truth though. Sometimes ideas just pop into my head seemingly at random, sometimes I’ll be working, reading, watching a show, or taking a walk and something will trigger an idea. I can get ideas just by watching people or listening to conversations and just asking “what if (blank) happened?” 

That being said, I have to say that some of my best ideas actually have come from dreams. In fact, my writing journey started because of a vivid dream I had in the middle of the night. I woke up after watching a young girl running terrified from an unseen adversary in the dark woods. Something huge, horrifying, and fast was closing in on her as my vision floated above her, urging her to run faster. I woke up before it caught up with her and started scribbling down everything I would remember before it vanished like a puff of smoke. Since then, I’ve been wanting to tell her story. 

Another dream I had was written out in the beginning of one of my favorite horror short stories, Child Erased. In this dream, I was laying in bed, but I felt like I was awake. I had an eye covering on because my bedroom was rather bright, but I opened my eyes because I could feel a presence in my doorway. Through the sleep mask, I saw a shadowy figure coming closer to me. I pretended to be asleep as the intruder leaned closer to me, and then pressed his hands on my head, gently at first but heavier. I was terrified, but I wasn’t going to go down without a fight. 

Like a wild animal I ripped my blankets off, threw the sleep mask off and launched out of the bed to take the intruder by surprise, only to land on the floor and find myself completely alone in the room. And that was the abridged version of the first few pages of Child Erased. To find out what else happens, check out the short story on Kindle for only $0.99, or get three more stories to go along with it in Storm of Echoes. 

Randomness

Earlier I mentioned The Last Unicorn, an animated movie that came out in 1982 was based on a book that I didn’t know about until about 2021. It got me thinking, what other popular movies started off as books. It turns out there are quite a few, but the most surprising to me is… are you ready for this? The Wizard of Oz. GASP!

That’s right, my wife and I just found this out a few months ago. That iconic movie starring Julie Garland was originally a series of children’s books by L. Frank Baum that was first published in 1900. The author wanted children to have fun and whimsical stories they could read instead of the dark and creepy fairy tales such as those told by the Brothers Grimm. 

Baum ended up dying only 19 years later, but during that time he created 14 stories (plus one printed posthumously) all centered around the Land of Oz, which was the inspiration for The Wizard of Oz (though somewhat loosely). This I recently found out as well, The Return to Oz was a more accurate interpretation of Baum’s books The Marvelous Land of Oz, and Ozma of Oz. I always thought that movie was a shameless money grab with a twisted, frightening plot that was a mockery of the original. Turns out, it was pretty accurate. I may have to check it out again…

That was fun wasn’t it? To keep the excitement going, here are some more movies that surprisingly came from books: Mrs. Doubtfire (Madame Doubtfire), Die Hard (Nothing Lasts Forever), Fast Times at Ridgemont High (Fast Times at Ridgemont High: A True Story), and Jumanji (Jumanji). If this interests you, here is a list of 40 movies and shows you might not be aware of that started as books. 

Did You Know

1. A fear I know I’ll never have, Abibliophobia–is the extreme fear of running out of reading material. My TBR is long enough to last me a few lifetimes. 

2. There are at least four books bound in human skin (yes, you read that right) in the Harvard University Library. They are law books… My question is “Why??”

3. It’s my opinion that books should not be banned, but did you know; Harry Potter books are the most banned books in the United States? 

4. Someone figured out that it takes about 475 hours to write an average sized novel. An average novel being around 90,000 words. In comparison, my novel, Plight of the Familiar, is 107,316 words long. I know it took about double that time for me to write it. 

5. Tolkien typed the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy on just two fingers! No wonder it took him over 17 years! 

Newsletter Vol. 3

Hot Off the Press

May the odds be ever in your favor. Last week, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins was released. Fans of The Hunger Games franchise lined up in droves, ready to head back into the districts and experience the reaping once again. I haven’t read it yet, but it was added to my TBR, and I honestly can’t wait to get into it. 

Facing the Quarter Quell. It’s the 50th annual Hunger Games. In honor of the Quarter Quell, double the tributes are ripped from their homes and thrown into the brutal fight to the death. This is the story of Haymitch Abernathy, the smart mouthed, abrasive, alcoholic mentor from The Hunger Games. When Haymitch is called, he feels his world crumble around him. Why him? What did he do to deserve such a fate? Will he give up, or will he find the will to live, and the strength to battle his fellow tributes? We know he comes out victorious, but we don’t know the soul crushing toll it takes as evidenced by his quote. “Nobody ever wins the games. There are survivors. There’s no winners.”

Early reviews are promising. So far, on Goodreads, Sunrise on the Reaping reviews have settled at a commendable 4.72 out of 5 stars. Reviewers generally hit on the devastating emotional toll Sunrise has in store for you. From what’s being said, if you need a good, old fashioned ugly cry, mixed with political intrigue, and a rich, driven story, dive into this book. But you’ve been warned. One reviewer said, “Reading Sunrise on the Reaping felt like willingly walking into a chainsaw.” EMOTIONAL DAMAGE! 

You take the good with the bad. I loved the first book in this franchise. It was new, raw, emotional, and held tight with iron manacles until the very last page. The second was good, and still held my attention, but the third felt like a propaganda laden slog. It was so political that I lost interest and had to get Audible to read it to me. Reviewers hitting that one star review are saying the same thing about the latest entry in the series. “It’s a fanfic,” a “money grab,” “it’s ghostwritten,” or a “rehash of The Hunger Games.” Being a fan of the series, I don’t see the last as a negative. *shrugs. I’m ready to be transported back to the Districts. So, are you going to jump back into the Reaping, or will you sit in the Capitol and observe from afar? Leave a comment and let me know.  

And Then This Happened…

Oscar Wilde once said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…” There’s more to the quote but that’s not important right now. 😆 Checking out fellow authors’ books, one such genius intrigued me. They created a music playlist QR code that related to the story and printed it on the title page. That was such a fun idea, that this author simply had to imitate it. I can’t remember the book, else I’d give it the praise it deserves.

Plight of the Familiar has 52 chapters. They’re short so you can easily put the book down and return to the real world after a few pages. But let’s be honest, when you start, you won’t want to put it down (wink, wink). Anywho, Plight has a Spotify playlist with a song attached to each chapter. While writing it, I was thrilled to share this with the world. Right before publication, something told me to rethink that idea. 

Not all music is appropriate for all audiences. Being a kid who grew up in the 80s and 90s—and liking a lot of dark, controversial music—I realized that many of the songs might not be appropriate for a young adult audience. I have a good mix though, from Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, and David Bowie, to Godsmack, Metallica, and Volbeat. Each song was personally picked for the chapter because it fit. Some are song titles that were apt, the song had a feeling that I got while writing the chapter, or the message of the song went perfectly with what was happening. I like to think that the music helps to set the mood, like the soundtrack of a movie. If you’d like to check out the playlist, click here: Plight of the Familiar Playlist. What was the rest of the quote? The entire quote goes “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” One would assume that’s why most people don’t finish it. Who wants to be associated with mediocrity? Just so you know, Plight of the Familiar is anything but mediocre. I’d even say it’s totally and unequivocally middling. 😉

Randomness

Since we’re nearly 4 months into 2025, let’s take a quick look at some of the top books of 2024, according to Goodreads. Readers dove into romance books, thrillers, and historical fiction last year. Did you, or do you want to read any of these? 

5. The Wedding People, Alison Espach–Phoebe Stone arrives at the elegant Cornwall Inn alone, wearing a stunning dress but carrying the weight of a life that didn’t go as planned. Mistaken for a wedding guest, she’s actually here on a solo getaway—a bittersweet splurge on herself after hitting rock bottom. Meanwhile, the meticulous bride never anticipated Phoebe’s presence, yet the two women find themselves unexpectedly drawn to each other. Funny, tender, and deeply insightful, The Wedding People is a story about unexpected connections and the surprising turns that lead us exactly where we need to be.

4. First Lie Wins, Ashley Elston–Evie Porter knows the drill—new name, new town, and a target to get close to. But this job feels different, and Ryan Sumner isn’t just another mark; he’s making her imagine a life beyond the one she’s always known. The real danger, though, isn’t falling for Ryan—it’s the past she’s spent years outrunning, which has just caught up to her. Now, Evie must stay ahead of the game, because if she slips up, she won’t just lose her cover—she’ll lose everything.

3. Just for the Summer, Abby Jimenez–Justin’s love life has gone viral—every woman he dates finds her soulmate right after they break up. When Emma, a traveling nurse with the same problem, suggests they date and split to break the curse, it seems like the perfect plan. A summer fling in a charming lakeside cottage should be simple, but unexpected family troubles and real feelings complicate everything. Now, they have to wonder—what if fate isn’t working against them, but bringing them exactly where they’re meant to be?

2. Funny Story, Emily Henry–Daphne’s perfect love story unravels when her fiancé, Peter, realizes he’s in love with his childhood best friend, Petra. Stranded in Waning Bay, Michigan, with only a low-paying librarian job, Daphne proposes an unlikely roommate arrangement with Petra’s ex, the scruffy and heartbroken Miles Nowak. Though opposites in every way, their shared predicament sparks an unexpected friendship—and a scheme involving misleadingly romantic photos. But as lines blur, Daphne must ask herself: could her next chapter begin with the most unlikely love story of all?

1. The Women, Kristin Hannah–In 1965, nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath defies expectations and joins the Army Nurse Corps, following her brother to war-torn Vietnam. Thrust into the chaos of battle, she faces life, death, and the unbreakable bonds of wartime friendship. But surviving the war is only the beginning—returning home means confronting a divided America that wants to forget Vietnam and those who served. The Women is a powerful story of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of women whose heroism has too often been overlooked.

The TBR Files

The quick rundown. Brooke Sullivan, a single mother returns to her hometown after leaving it behind ten years ago. The only job that’s available for the nurse practitioner is a position at the max-security prison. The same prison where her ex-boyfriend is currently held. The one she put there. She soon finds out she’s still not safe, she can’t trust anyone, and events from the past have not died down. 

Is it worth reading? The Inmate by Freida McFadden is a relatively short, fast-paced thriller book with a lot of twists and turns. It draws you in with the premise and good story telling. Unfortunately, Brooke seems a little naive with many of her questionable decisions, and that has a way of detracting from the story. The author attempts to throw you off with Brooke’s constant second guessing, but I figured out “who dunnit” about halfway through. McFadden had me questioning a few times, but I held fast. The final reveal did surprise me a little, but it seemed contrite and a little cliche *small eye-roll. 

Overall, The Inmate was a thrilling ride, but it wasn’t the best I’ve read. I feel like the characters could have been fleshed out a little more, and the final reveal didn’t have the gut punch impact I feel the author was going for. The Inmate was a decent read that I would recommend to casual thriller readers or those just getting into the genre, but if you’re an overly critical thinker, pass on this one. Three stars, because it was a thrill, but a little magic was lost in the telling. ⭐⭐⭐

Did You Know?

A bookworm by any other name just isn’t the same. We all have heard or used the word “bookworm.” But did you know that countries around the world have different iterations of that word? Here are a few that hit differently. 

Book maggot (Albanian)

Library rat (Spanish)

Page mage (Croatian)

Ink drinker (French)

Book flea (Indonesian)

Reading horse (Danish)

I don’t know about you, but I forevermore want to be known as a Page Mage! So magical! 🧙 What do you think? Ready to be called something other than a bookworm? Let me know! 

Newsletter Vol. 4