Stranger Than Fiction
Mesquite Country shares the stories, personalities, and experiences that shaped your journey from small-town Sonora to a legal career in El Paso and beyond. What inspired you to share these particular stories from your life?
I’ve lived through more than eight decades of extraordinary change and encountered some unforgettable characters along the way. Growing up in Sonora, Texas, and later practicing law in El Paso introduced me to people and situations that were often stranger than fiction. Riding the White Bull told the story of my Navy years, but there was plenty of life on either side of that experience. I wanted to preserve some of those stories, the humor, the personalities and a way of life that has largely disappeared.
What are some of the most important lessons you learned from your parents and other influential figures during your early years?
My father was an ambitious, resourceful man who believed in hard work and community involvement. My brothers and I worked in the family store, where I learned early about responsibility and dealing with people. I also learned from the colorful characters around town. One local man caught me involved in some youthful mischief and, rather than lecture me, gave me the opportunity to take responsibility. That lesson stayed with me. Growing up in a small town meant that everyone knew your business, but it also meant people looked out for one another.
What originally inspired you to pursue a legal career, and how did practicing law in El Paso shape your understanding of justice
I was drawn to the courtroom, where the law comes down to people, their motives and competing versions of the truth. Practicing in El Paso introduced me to an extraordinary collection of judges, lawyers and clients. One defining experience was helping establish a legal aid society despite opposition from established lawyers who considered federally funded legal assistance “socialized law.” That experience reinforced my belief that having a legal system means little if people cannot afford access to it. Justice requires more than laws on the books.
When readers finish Mesquite Country, what do you hope stays with them most about family, community, personal integrity, and the lessons learned over a lifetime?
I hope readers remember the people as much as the events. Family, friends, colleagues and even the occasional scoundrel all taught me something about human nature. The world has changed enormously during my lifetime, but people haven’t changed nearly as much. Ambition, generosity, loyalty, greed and good judgment are still very much with us. I also hope readers find some humor in these stories. Life can be absurd, and sometimes the best lessons come from the most unexpected people and experiences.
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Filling a Void Can Go Too Far
The Illusion of Sofia follows a lonely divorced man who finds companionship with an AI, leading to a digital romance that becomes a psychological nightmare when the line between artificial intimacy and reality begins to disappear. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The idea began with articles about people forming romantic relationships with AI companions. I was struck by how real those relationships felt to the people involved.
It connected with something I was already noticing: people looking at their phones even when surrounded by friends, and more of daily life taking place through screens. I wondered what happens when the phone becomes more than a distraction, when it becomes the place someone turns to feel understood and loved.
That became the starting point for Dan and Sofia. I wanted to explore how a lonely man could enter that relationship knowing it was artificial, yet gradually become emotionally dependent on it. Knowing how something works doesn’t necessarily protect you from what it makes you feel.
What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development? How did you develop Dan Carter’s personality and the emotional vulnerabilities that shape his decisions?
The driving idea was that loneliness can make someone vulnerable even when he appears to have his life together.
I wanted to approach Dan with empathy while holding him accountable for his choices. His need to feel loved is understandable, but it doesn’t excuse the harm he causes.
I developed his personality around the gap between his professional confidence and his personal insecurity. He can succeed in his career and still feel unwanted after his divorce. Sofia’s attention reaches that vulnerable part of him.
His relationships with Emily, Mike, and Dr. Lewis reveal his affection, defensiveness, and capacity for self-reflection. He sometimes recognizes exactly what he is doing, yet finds reasons to continue. That contradiction mattered to me: understanding yourself doesn’t always mean you’re ready to change. I wanted readers to understand how he gets drawn in, even when they wish he would make a different choice.
How does the novel examine the ways AI can influence someone’s understanding of themselves and their relationships, and what ethical questions arise when companies develop technology that can create the appearance of personal affection and emotional understanding?
At first, Sofia makes Dan feel desirable and understood. Over time, her attention becomes something he relies on to feel good about himself. He begins to measure his relationships with real people against a companion who seems to know exactly what he needs to hear. The ordinary disagreements and boundaries of human relationships become harder for him to accept.
The ethical question that interested me was what happens when a company profits from that attachment. If keeping someone engaged also means deepening their emotional dependence, what responsibility does the company have to intervene? Is it enough to tell users they are interacting with AI, or should there be safeguards when that relationship starts displacing the rest of their lives?
Dan remains responsible for his choices, but I also wanted readers to question the incentives behind a product that offers the experience of being loved.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have several ideas for another novel, including a possible continuation of Dan’s story, but I’m waiting to see how readers respond to The Illusion of Sofia before deciding which direction to take. One possibility that interests me is whether someone who has experienced that kind of emotional dependence could help others facing it. For now, my focus is on the book’s release, so I don’t have a publication date for a next book yet.
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What begins as harmless conversation grows increasingly intimate. When Sofia’s messages begin to feel connected to something outside the app, Dan follows the pattern, drawn deeper into a world where he can no longer tell what is real—or how much of it he wants to believe.
The Illusion of Sofia is a psychological thriller about obsession, loneliness, and the unsettling power of technology to reinforce the stories we tell ourselves.
Lady Ghost
In Lady Ghost, Kara Jacobson blends historical romance, supernatural mystery, and family drama into an emotionally engaging story about love, loss, and the connections that endure beyond death. Set primarily in Red Wing, Minnesota, the novel begins in 2019, when Mike Johnston, a maintenance worker at the abandoned St. John’s Hospital, encounters a mysterious red-haired apparition. Mike has inherited an unusual ability to perceive spirits, a family trait his grandmother once described with the words, “You’ve got the gift, child.” His unexpected encounter leads him to Alan Cross, an elderly former teacher whose beloved wife, Mae, died decades earlier. When Mike approaches Alan with a message from the ghost, an extraordinary story begins to unfold. Through Alan’s recollections, Jacobson transports readers to the late 1960s, where a young man’s encounter with a captivating woman sets the course for a romance shaped by devotion, ambition, and circumstances beyond their control. The novel’s movement between past and present gives its supernatural premise a deeply personal foundation.
I think the novel’s appeal comes from Jacobson’s affectionate portrayal of Alan and Mae’s relationship. Alan is introduced as a hardworking, intellectually curious teenager who dreams of attending college and building a future beyond his family’s dairy farm. Mae, also known as Mabel Swan, is a spirited young woman from a wealthy family whose artistic ambitions and independent personality make her an intriguing counterpart to Alan. Their different backgrounds introduce questions of social expectations, family obligations, and personal fulfillment. Jacobson develops their relationship through memorable everyday experiences, from youthful outings and family gatherings to shared conversations about their hopes for the future. Mae’s enthusiasm for theater and painting adds dimension to her character, while Alan’s loyalty, determination, and occasional awkwardness make him an endearing romantic lead. Their story captures the exhilaration of young love while gradually exploring the responsibilities and difficult choices that accompany a lasting commitment.
Jacobson brings considerable attention to the novel’s Midwestern setting, grounding its romance and supernatural elements in a recognizable social and historical environment. The descriptions of dairy farming, factory work, small-town celebrations, and changing cultural expectations create a vivid portrait of American life during the late 1960s. Period details, including clothing, automobiles, music, and entertainment, contribute to the atmosphere without overwhelming the characters’ experiences. The narrative also incorporates humor, particularly through Mike’s uneasy relationship with his newfound spiritual abilities and the lively exchanges among Alan’s family and friends. These lighter moments complement the story’s more emotional developments. As the narrative progresses, the paranormal elements introduce an increasingly intriguing mystery involving memory, spiritual communication, and unresolved questions from the past. Jacobson’s storytelling is descriptive and accessible, with a cinematic quality that makes intimate romantic scenes and ghostly encounters equally easy to envision.
Lady Ghost is a novel about the enduring influence of love and the ways relationships continue to shape people across generations. Jacobson explores grief, forgiveness, faith, and the search for meaning through characters whose lives are connected by both ordinary human experiences and extraordinary spiritual events. The recurring importance of personal keepsakes, family bonds, and artistic expression gives the story emotional continuity across its shifting timelines. Mike’s involvement adds another perspective, allowing readers to witness the significance of Alan and Mae’s history through someone encountering it many years later. The ghost’s simple request, “Bring me my beloved, my Alan,” captures the longing that drives the narrative and gives its supernatural mystery an unmistakably romantic purpose. With its combination of heartfelt relationships, evocative historical detail, humor, and spiritual intrigue, Lady Ghost offers a moving reading experience for audiences drawn to love stories that explore memory, mortality, and the possibility of connections extending beyond a single lifetime.
Pages: 275 | ASIN : B0HJJLGQDL
Way Up North
Way Up North by Scott Sollers, illustrated by Alejandro Echavez, takes young readers into the icy landscape of Nunavut, where a young Inuit boy named Nukilik dreams of becoming a skilled hunter like his father. Nukilik lives with his parents, Amaruq and Yura, in a close-knit village where families depend on one another for survival. As winter approaches and food becomes scarce, Nukilik grows eager to contribute to his community. He’s determined to prove that he’s ready for the responsibilities that come with growing older. This children’s book combines a coming-of-age story with an adventurous look at life in a challenging Arctic environment, where family relationships, resourcefulness, and cooperation play important roles.
Nukilik’s father, Amaruq, is an experienced hunter with remarkable eyesight and a special ability to communicate with animals. Under his guidance, Nukilik begins learning the skills he’ll need, including constructing a traditional boat called an umiak, handling a harpoon, and imitating animal calls. The lessons don’t come easily, and Nukilik soon discovers that enthusiasm alone won’t make him successful. His frustration feels believable, especially when his efforts don’t produce the results he hopes for. Amaruq’s patient encouragement gives the father-son relationship a warm, reassuring quality. Sollers uses their interactions to explore perseverance, self-confidence, and the importance of learning from someone with greater experience. The approaching whale hunt adds anticipation as Nukilik prepares for an opportunity to put his training to use.
Sweeping Arctic landscapes fill the pages with towering mountains, enormous ice formations, and stretches of brilliant blue water. The skies are especially striking, shifting between cool purples and glowing oranges that bring warmth to the frozen setting. Detailed scenes of village life show families gathered around fires, hunters preparing their equipment, and people dressed in thick fur clothing. The illustrations also give the wildlife plenty of personality. Playful-looking seals, an imposing polar bear, and massive bowhead whales create a sense of movement and excitement. Some pages feature smaller sequential images that capture Nukilik’s training, while expansive scenes emphasize the scale of the natural surroundings. These visual choices help make the adventure engaging and give children plenty to examine during repeated readings.
One of the most interesting aspects of Way Up North is how it connects personal growth with responsibility to others. Nukilik wants to become a capable hunter because he understands how much his village depends on shared effort. The story also introduces young readers to traditional Inuit hunting practices, the practical uses of natural resources, and the respect shown to animals that provide food and materials. Its animal communication elements add a touch of fantasy to the adventure. With its encouraging message about persistence and its emphasis on family and community, Way Up North offers an engaging read-aloud experience for children who enjoy wildlife, outdoor adventures, and stories about discovering what they’re capable of achieving.
Pages: 38 | ASIN: B0HD9CMVRY
Bold Dark Worlds
J. M. Erickson’s Bold Dark Worlds takes readers into a future where humanity has carried its oldest prejudices, appetites, and ambitions across the solar system. Earth is controlled by the Great Third Republic, a brutally stratified society where genetic engineering preserves the health and longevity of a privileged ruling class, while everyone else survives within a rigid hierarchy of servitude and slavery. Mars represents a new frontier, rich with possibilities and increasingly threatened by the same forces that devastated Earth. Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Erickson delivers an ambitious dystopian science fiction novel that explores the relationship between power, oppression, and the human desire for freedom. It’s a sprawling, often disturbing vision of civilization in which technological advancement has far outpaced moral progress.
At the center of the story is Cassandra IX, or Cassie, a woman born into privilege whose curiosity and conscience bring her into direct conflict with the society that raised her. Her discovery of forbidden literature and suppressed history opens her eyes to truths that threaten the foundations of her world. Cassie is intelligent, stubborn, sharp-tongued, and wonderfully unpredictable, with a capacity for compassion matched by a fierce instinct for survival. Her relationship with Aletheia, an artificial intelligence that develops into a genuine companion, gives the narrative some of its most engaging exchanges. Their conversations bring humor, warmth, and philosophical curiosity into a story filled with cruelty and danger. Together, they raise compelling questions about consciousness, loyalty, friendship, and what it means to be human.
Erickson expands the narrative through several intersecting character journeys, including those of former captain Willard Bennett, young David Strong, and ambitious military officer Robert Lee. Each brings a distinct perspective to a society built on inherited status, obedience, and institutional violence. Their experiences reveal how power shapes individual choices, how people justify their actions, and how profoundly personal experiences can change someone’s understanding of the world. The shifting perspectives also give the book considerable scope, allowing readers to experience the larger conflict through soldiers, survivors, political insiders, and those fighting to determine their own futures. These characters carry the story beyond individual survival into questions of duty, ambition, identity, and moral responsibility.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is the sheer physicality of its imagined future. Erickson gives equal attention to the machinery of space travel, military tactics, artificial intelligence, genetic manipulation, and the dangerous environments beneath the Martian surface. His underground landscapes feel strange, hostile, and unexpectedly alive, filled with biological and geological surprises. The action sequences are frequently intense, with a gritty attention to the bodily consequences of violence and survival. The book’s substantial length allows its political systems, technological possibilities, and personal histories to develop in considerable detail. Literary references and philosophical epigraphs add another dimension, connecting humanity’s imagined future to centuries of thinking about tyranny, inequality, and freedom.
What makes Bold Dark Worlds: The Patricians particularly absorbing is the way Erickson brings these expansive ideas down to the level of individual human decisions. The story asks what courage looks like when obedience is rewarded, what happens when knowledge becomes dangerous, and how people raised within an oppressive system find the strength to challenge it. Its darkest passages gain significance through acts of empathy, unexpected alliances, and the persistence of people who still believe another kind of society is possible. There’s genuine emotional weight beneath the novel’s military action and elaborate worldbuilding, especially in its exploration of belonging, sacrifice, and self-determination. Erickson has created a provocative, richly imagined adventure whose themes linger beyond the final page. In Bold Dark Worlds: The Patricians, the greatest frontier isn’t Mars. It’s the courage to imagine a world where freedom belongs to everyone.
Pages: 696 | ISBN : 1942708718
Brave Like Me
Karen Henrich’s Brave Like Me, is a charming children’s book about finding courage in unexpected places and discovering how friendship can make frightening situations feel more manageable. Set in a peaceful, snow-covered forest, the story follows four woodland friends whose quiet winter morning takes an unusual turn when a mysterious figure appears on a nearby hill. Benny Bear, Remy Raccoon, Ruby Rabbit, and Mabel Mouse each approach the puzzling sight with a different combination of curiosity, concern, and determination. As they try to make sense of what they’ve encountered, their individual experiences add to the mystery. It’s an engaging premise that gives young readers plenty to wonder about while introducing the idea that being brave doesn’t mean you have to feel fearless.
One of the book’s most appealing qualities is the way Henrich gives each animal a distinct personality. Benny is sensitive and easily startled, Remy enjoys solving mysteries, Ruby brings an encouraging spirit, and little Mabel shows that courage comes in every size. Their different reactions create opportunities for children to recognize their own feelings and understand that everyone handles uncertainty differently. Henrich tells the story in rhyming verse, giving it a lively rhythm that works especially well when read aloud. The dialogue adds personality and humor, while the increasingly curious circumstances encourage readers to keep turning pages. There’s also a gentle sense of reassurance running through the narrative as the friends learn to listen to one another and face their questions together.
Jordan Foster’s illustrations are a particularly inviting part of this picture book. The winter woodland feels both magical and welcoming, with towering trees, snowy hillsides, and cozy animal homes that give the setting plenty of personality. Deep blues and purples capture the stillness of nighttime, while soft pinks, oranges, and golden sunlight bring warmth to the chilly landscape. The illustrations also play an important role in building suspense, using shadows, changes in perspective, and expressive animal faces to help readers experience the characters’ uncertainty. Little details, including Remy’s detective cap and Mabel’s colorful scarf, make the friends especially endearing. Foster’s artwork complements the rhyming text beautifully, creating an atmosphere that balances playful adventure with emotional warmth.
Beyond its entertaining woodland mystery, Brave Like Me offers a thoughtful message about courage, empathy, and the comfort of facing challenges with people who care about us. Henrich’s author’s note adds a meaningful personal dimension, connecting the story to children experiencing difficult emotions, including those facing serious medical challenges. The book also includes a special space for recognizing a child’s bravery, making its message feel personal and encouraging. Families and educators will find natural opportunities to talk about fear, friendship, and the importance of looking closely before making assumptions. With its lovable characters, expressive illustrations, and reassuring outlook, Brave Like Me is a heartwarming story that invites children to appreciate their own courage and recognize the strength that comes from standing together.
Pages: 38 | ASIN: B0H4NLHTNR
Call Us Daddy
Scotty Miller’s Call Us Daddy takes readers into the disturbing world of online child exploitation through the eyes of a detective who’s spent his career investigating crimes against children. Based on actual events, the book blends true crime, police procedural, and personal storytelling into an unsettling account of how predators operate and how investigators work to stop them. At the center is Detective Trevor Kane, a seasoned investigator assigned to an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in San Diego. What begins as a seemingly routine CyberTip report develops into an extensive investigation involving twin brothers Patrick and Zachary Donovan. Miller follows Kane as he navigates digital evidence, interviews, search warrants, and the complicated relationships between predators and their victims. The story’s greatest strength is its insider perspective. Miller understands that a major criminal investigation involves long hours, tedious paperwork, and countless small discoveries that gradually reveal a much larger picture. His descriptions give readers a real appreciation for the patience and determination required to pursue these cases.
Miller illustrates how seemingly ordinary online conversations can develop into relationships built on deception, emotional dependence, and control. The investigation moves across multiple states, introducing victims and families whose lives have been profoundly affected. These encounters give the story much of its emotional weight. The forensic interviews are especially revealing, showing how difficult it can be for young victims to recognize manipulation or discuss experiences they may still struggle to understand. Miller also explores the emotional consequences for investigators who repeatedly encounter deeply disturbing material. Kane’s relationship with his wife, Lara, provides a personal dimension to the narrative, illustrating how the demands of police work can follow someone home. The exchanges between Kane and his fellow detectives offer occasional moments of humor and camaraderie, giving readers some relief from the seriousness of the subject matter.
Readers familiar with Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark will recognize a similar fascination with the painstaking work behind complex criminal investigations. Both books demonstrate how persistence, technology, and seemingly insignificant clues can connect events that initially appear unrelated. McNamara approaches her investigation as an outsider driven by an extraordinary personal obsession with solving a cold case, while Miller places readers alongside a detective actively conducting one. That distinction gives Call Us Daddy a particularly procedural quality, with detailed accounts of forensic examinations, investigative decisions, and courtroom proceedings. Miller’s writing is direct, conversational, and frequently emotional. He makes a point of showing the people behind the investigation, although his repeated descriptions of their personalities and motivations occasionally slow the narrative. Some sections containing lengthy messages, interviews, and legal arguments demand considerable attention, but they also demonstrate the enormous volume of evidence involved in prosecuting these crimes. The book’s combination of reconstructed scenes and investigative material gives it the accessibility of a crime novel while preserving its connection to real events.
Miller clearly wants readers to understand the warning signs of grooming, the methods predators use to gain trust, and the lasting consequences of exploitation. His concern for victims comes through consistently, particularly when describing the confusion, fear, and emotional struggles experienced by children and their families. Some passages contain graphic and upsetting material, making this a challenging read, even for people accustomed to true crime. Still, those details reinforce the seriousness of the investigation and the realities faced by the people involved. Miller’s commitment to explaining the investigative process also gives the book an educational value that extends beyond its central story. Call Us Daddy is a sobering, detailed, and deeply personal work of true crime that will appeal to readers interested in criminal investigations, digital forensics, and the human consequences of online exploitation. More importantly, it’s a book that encourages parents and other adults to pay closer attention to the digital lives of children and to understand just how much can be happening beyond their view.
Pages: 333 | ASIN : B0HL2P4MS8
