Be Aware, Be Ready
To Slaughter a Camel follows a nurse practitioner whose loyalty is tested when she is suddenly pulled into the shadow world of US Intelligence. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ll try to give you the short version.
Erika, my protagonist, was featured in my first novel, Topeka ma’shuge, a dark coming of age story. She survived her journey to adulthood, the novel concludes open-ended, but by that time I think I was a little in love with her; she hung around in the back of my mind, always asking me, “What about the rest of my life?”
I’ve known many military personnel in my life, and a handful from the clandestine services. I was aware of the role of being a medical provider embedded with clandestine operators, and the risks they faced, lacking the necessary warrior training to deal with the casualties when a mission goes terribly wrong.
Erika is isolated and looking for a sense of family; her decision to join the CIA is impulsive after the death of her best friend, but she already has unwittingly qualified for the position. It was only natural at that point, as in may thrillers and mysteries, to plop her in a catastrophe she wasn’t prepared for.
What were some challenges you felt were important to defining your characters in this story?
Wellesley is a bit of a cliché, the paternal supervisor with best intentions for his staff. Or is he? He is a bit insular, with a past we suspect. Why is he single? Who is the young woman in the frame by his desk? He understands the real horrors that can occur in his trade, but he tries to protect his young recruit. Was this the best decision? He isn’t sure and asks himself this as she walks away. Adding depth, ambivalence, vices and virtues to a character make them far more credible, but it does require work to do so.
Defining Erika was far easier, her character developing in the first novel. I knew her like a sister. Even when a crisis appeared that I’d only just created, I already knew how she would react. Until she was raped. As a former ER doc I understood a little bit of this, but some extensive research into the psychology of being a survivor of such an event was required. And her ability to kill, instinctively, prudently, slowly grows as the story progresses. Pacing that progress was a challenge. Pacing her evolution from a transparent medical provider devoted to the truth, to understanding how essential lies and deception are to survival in the clandestine theatre, was also a challenge.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
“There are people in the world who will kill you for a pack of cigarettes,” Wellesley tells Erika; the warning intended for the reader as well. Don’t be paranoid, but be aware, be ready.
Perseverance in the face of adversity.
The value of patience, occasionally compassion, when one’s instincts tell you to act boldly.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
A love story set in the first few months after 9-11. Jack Welsley, GS-13 at Langley, is 42, recently divorced, depressed, facing alcoholism, when he falls in love with the 23 year-old daughter of his best friend. She is a medic, has finished a year of Linguistics, and is slated to deploy in Afghanistan as a first Lieutenant. I hope to have a rough draft by the end of 2026, but the research is going to be exhausting, to review every day in the first year of that war, and get all of the technicalities and logistics believably correct.
Erika will reappear in the next work after that, another espionage thriller.
Author Links: GoodReads
To Slaughter a Camel masterfully charts the journey of Erika Harder from a routine existence in Oregon to a perilous life filled with uncertainty and trepidation in Madrid. Bereaved and lonely, Erika finds solace in her work as a multi-lingual nurse practitioner. Her normalcy is shattered when her proficiency in Farsi piques the interest of the State Department’s Jack Wellesley, who persuades her to serve as a civilian contractor for the CIA.
Erika’s initial excitement at the prospect of a new chapter in her life quickly morphs into a nightmare when a mission in Madrid goes awry, resulting in the death of seven of her colleagues. The explosion at the CIA station leaves her stranded with Guneet Jodal, a hapless translator whose loyalties are suspect. Erika is caught in a maelstrom of danger, with no way out and no one to trust.
Hutson’s narrative is a riveting exploration of the human spirit’s ability to endure and overcome even the most devastating tragedies. Erika, the novel’s protagonist, is a compelling character. Despite her raw wounds, both emotional and physical, she demonstrates an impressive strength and resourcefulness that will inspire readers.
To Slaughter a Camel is a unique blend of suspense and emotional depth. Hutson skillfully intertwines Erika’s personal journey with the broader narrative of international intrigue, creating a story that is as thought-provoking as it is action-packed. With a plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats and a heroine whose resilience is nothing short of inspiring, this novel is a must-read for those seeking a thrilling, yet emotionally resonant tale.
Centered On The Dream World
The Dreamer follows a teenager traveling through space with her parents, who experiences terrifying visions and must cope with the aftermath of a vicious attack that forces her to make important life decisions. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve always been highly interested in dreams, past lives, and parallel universes. I like to believe it’s all connected. Dreams play a big part in most of my stories. I’m currently working on a new series that is centered on the dream world. When I was little, I had a very lucid dream where I was an older woman who was running through a battlefield and got shot in the leg. I told my father (who is also a historian) about my dream the next morning, and after hearing all the details, he was convinced I had been dreaming of the Revolutionary War. I was too young to know about it! I wanted to write a series with a vast, complex timeline, exploring how one person and their choices could impact an entire reality, because we actually do that every day. I have been working on this series for 17 years, so it’s pretty planned out!
What was your approach to writing the interactions between characters?
I wanted my teen and young adult characters to feel real, with their emotions and dialogue feeling natural. I spent a very long time crafting each character’s background so that I could drop them into any situation and have their interactions flow without me having to think too hard. Sometimes they would say or do things, and I would be surprised as I was writing it! I love that feeling when your book starts writing itself! There are characters in the second book that popped up as I wrote, and I would think, “Who’s this guy?”
The science inserted in the fiction, I felt, was well balanced. How did you manage to keep it grounded while still providing the fantastic edge science fiction stories usually provide?
Honestly, I tried my hardest not to turn this into a super “sciencey” book. I wanted to write a sci-fi saga that was easy to read and accessible to a broad audience. It makes me sad that so many people are intimidated by science fiction. It can get too heady or science-based, taking away from the emotional journeys. I wanted to write about teens who happened to be in space. I wanted to be inclusive and normalize the marginalized. I wanted the fate of the galaxy to fall on a group of misfits who end up saving it, but I also wanted them to be stressed out about their first kiss, engulfed by jealousy, and annoyed with each other. I was a teenager who grew up overseas, performed in theater, and was also trying to learn Klingon… if that tells you anything!
Can you give us a glimpse inside Book 2 of the The Black Stone Cycle series? Where will it take readers?
We open with two brand-new characters, one of whom is the one I mentioned above, who appeared without me planning him at all. He turned out to be one of my favorites! It will explore the galaxy and society further. It’s already written, and I’m always interested in ARC readers, so please contact me if you’re seriously interested!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
But when a quick stop on Phobos goes from routine to disaster, Ash’s fragile world implodes. Stranded and hunted by enemies she doesn’t understand, she’s thrown together with a ragtag crew of teens just as lost as she is.
There’s Isaac and Isabel, telepathic twins caught between uncovering the truth about their missing parents and outrunning the Mind Squad agents they once thought were a myth; Edan, a street-smart survivor who just happens to be the prince of the space pirates; Moon, a savant who speaks code more fluently than feelings; and Xai, a mysterious blue alien boy who lingers in Ash’s dreams―and who might be far more real than she wants to believe.
As Ash wrestles with grief, trust, and the colossal power flickering to life inside her, she stumbles into a prophecy that feels way too personal. Being the “chosen one” isn’t what Ash signed up for. All she’s ever wanted was a chance to stop running and just be a regular teenager on some boring moon colony.
With telepathic super soldiers closing in, betrayals around every corner, and a galaxy-shaking secret in her hands. Ash must decide whether to keep running―or finally stand and fight. Because some destinies can’t be outrun.
The Dreamer is the first book in The Black Stone Cycle, a thrilling YA sci-fi saga about found family, hidden legacies, and the messy, exhilarating journey of discovering who you really are. Fans of Firefly, Skyward, and The Expanse will feel right at home among the stars.
The Adventures of Mo
This charming children’s book follows Mo, a sweet and curious dog who finds a strange shiny object in the forest and soon gets swept into a huge adventure. Along the way, he meets Monta the Moose, a giant whale named Blue, and a nonstop-talking bird named Finchy. Before long, Mo is traveling across the United States on the roof of a delivery truck, visiting wild places, escaping danger, learning about humans, and trying to return the mysterious key to its rightful owner. The whole thing feels like a road trip mixed with a treasure hunt and a friendship story, all rolled into one.
Reading it felt warm and goofy and kind of chaotic in the best way. The writing has this bright, playful energy that made me smile a lot. I liked how Mo is always trying to be polite even when he’s scared or confused, and how Finchy never shuts up but somehow grows on you. Their friendship feels real. I found myself rooting for them while laughing at how often they got lost or sidetracked. The author slips in bits of real-world info about states and landmarks, and it surprised me how naturally it fit into the story. It felt like learning by accident, the way a kid would when traveling with a chatty adult.
Mo trying on human clothes had me laughing, and Finchy stealing a scientist’s “important” piece of paper only to discover it’s a grocery list made me snort. Then there were parts that were thoughtful, like Mo nearly floating away on a paddleboard or realizing how far he is from home. Those scenes had this soft ache to them. The book balances that feeling well, mixing silliness with little flickers of courage and homesickness. I liked that a lot. It kept the story from feeling too fluffy.
Mo is a little geography lesson wrapped in an adventure story. While kids follow Mo from Alaska to places like Missouri or South Carolina, they end up learning where these states are and how different parts of the country feel. The story drops in cardinal directions at the start of chapters, so readers start to understand north, south, east, and west without even trying. Teachers and homeschoolers can use Mo as a fun add-on to US geography because it makes kids want to look at a map and find out where Mo is headed next, which is a huge win for a subject that can sometimes feel a little dry.
I’d recommend this children’s chapter book to kids who love animal stories, big adventures, and characters who get themselves into wild situations but somehow wiggle their way out. It’s also great for adults reading aloud because the humor hits on both levels. If you want something light and sweet that still has heart, this feels like a good pick.
Pages: 313 | ASIN : B0BN29YX96
The Backbone of Any Successful Organization
The Right Fit shows leaders how to build thriving teams by treating culture, hiring, development, and retention as one intentional, human-centered journey. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Writing my book The Right Fit was super important because these core elements are the backbone of any successful organization. Here’s why it matters so much:
1. Culture Shapes Everything
- A strong, intentional culture drives engagement, innovation, and retention.
- Many companies struggle because their culture is reactive rather than designed. The Right Fit can help leaders create cultures that align with values and strategy.
2. Hiring Determines Success
- The right people amplify culture; the wrong hires erode it.
- In today’s competitive talent market, hiring isn’t just about skills—it’s about fit, adaptability, and growth potential. The Right Fit can provide frameworks for smarter, values-driven hiring.
3. Development Fuels Growth
- Employees/Teammates want more than a paycheck—they want growth. Development programs are key to retention and performance.
- Insights from the informal leaders can help organizations build continuous learning environments that prepare teams for future challenges.
You emphasize intention and care throughout the employee journey. How can leaders practice this consistently under pressure?
Practicing intention and care under pressure is one of the hardest leadership challenges, but it’s also what separates good leaders from exceptional ones.
This means embedding principles into every stage of the lifecycle—from recruitment to exit.
Here’s a structured approach:
1. Recruitment & Hiring
- Intentional Action: Define clear values and cultural fit criteria before interviews.
- Care in Practice: Communicate transparently about expectations, growth opportunities, and company culture.
2. Onboarding
- Intentional Action: Create a structured onboarding plan that connects new hires to purpose and people.
- Care in Practice: Assign mentors or buddies to make the transition smooth and personal.
3. Development & Growth
- Intentional Action: Regularly review career goals and align them with organizational needs.
- Care in Practice: Offer personalized learning paths and feedback that focuses on strengths and aspirations.
4. Performance & Recognition
- Intentional Action: Use fair, consistent evaluation systems tied to values—not just metrics.
- Care in Practice: Recognize contributions publicly and privately; celebrate progress, not just outcomes.
5. Wellness & Inclusion
- Intentional Action: Build policies that support mental health, flexibility, and belonging.
- Care in Practice: Check in on workload and well-being regularly, not just during crises.
6. Offboarding
- Intentional Action: Treat departures as part of the journey—conduct meaningful exit interviews.
- Care in Practice: Express gratitude and maintain alumni connections.
Inclusion and employee wellness feel deeply personal in your writing. What experiences shaped that perspective for you?
That’s a powerful and reflective question. I have personal experiences which enable me to articulate my points and share examples. I have seen inclusion done well and I have seen it executed poorly—and how it has impacted multiple people (me included). I have also witnessed burnout, stress, or lack of wellness in teams and myself.
If a leader could only take one small action after reading The Right Fit, what would you most hope they do differently tomorrow?
If a leader could only take one small action after reading my book, I would hope they pause before their next hiring or development decision; and ask one intentional question:
“Does this choice strengthen our culture and support the person behind the role?”
That single question shifts the mindset from filling a position or checking a box to building alignment and caring for people as humans, not just resources. It’s a small act, but it creates a ripple effect:
- Hiring becomes about values and potential, not just skills.
- Development plans become personalized, not generic.
- Culture becomes intentional, not accidental.
Author Links: Isaac Johnson Consulting | Amazon
I Can Play Drums
I Can Play Drums is a friendly beginner’s guide that walks the reader through the basics of drumming in simple steps. It starts with listening and feeling the beat, then moves into coordination, timing, practice methods, stick control, tuning, kit setup, and all the little things a new drummer needs to know. It keeps the language light and direct, and it focuses on helping anyone learn rhythm by breaking ideas into small actions that can be practiced anywhere.
The book talks to you like a coach who actually wants you to enjoy the journey. I appreciated how the book treats drumming as something playful, something almost childlike at times. The little challenges, like patting your head while circling your tummy, made me smile. The tone feels encouraging in a way that pulls down the fear that beginners often carry. I liked how it keeps telling you to slow down, relax, and have fun. That landed with me because learning an instrument can feel stressful. This book leans the other way, and that gave me a sense of relief.
I also liked the ideas in the sections about gear and tuning, even though they are simple. The author keeps the advice practical and almost homespun, which made the book feel grounded. There were good reminders to loosen your grip on the sticks and to avoid chasing fancy drum parts before you can hold a steady beat. The honesty there felt refreshing. Some parts did feel long and a bit repetitive, although I get why the author wanted to reinforce certain habits. Even so, the informal tone kept me reading, and I never felt talked down to.
I think I Can Play Drums works best for new drummers, younger learners, or anyone who feels nervous about starting. The writing is easy to understand, and the hands-on exercises make rhythm feel reachable. If you want a book that takes you by the hand and makes drumming feel simple and fun, this one will suit you well.
Pages: 76 | ISBN : 9781105931598
Quantum Queen: Master Identity Shifting & Exit Healing Loops
Quantum Queen takes a bold stand against the culture of endless self-improvement. The book argues that healing has turned into a holding pattern and that real change comes from identity, not effort. It walks through the shift from over-functioning and overthinking to embodied certainty, showing how posture, breath, daily choices, and small but consistent decisions create a new baseline for reality. It blends thought work, somatic practices, and manifestation principles into a message that urges readers to stop waiting for permission and start leading their lives from an inner sense of authority.
The book names a truth that often feels taboo. Many of us sit in self-work for years because it feels productive, when deep down it is a form of avoidance. The tone pushes hard in certain moments, almost calling the reader out. Chapters on the “overfunctioning woman” resonated with me as they felt honest. The writing is fiery, almost theatrical, and it invites you to feel activated instead of consoled.
What surprised me most was how much the book leans into the body. The author uses simple language, yet the ideas cut deep. Identity as a physical signal, not a thought. Certainty as a baseline state instead of a mood. These pieces resonated with me as well. I appreciated the practicality hidden between the dramatic language. The small shifts. The breath. The posture. The everyday choices that quietly shape a life. While some sections felt repetitive or overly intense, the heart of the message is strong. You already know who you want to be. Stop circling and start living from that place.
I walked away feeling energized. A little called out. A little hopeful. I would recommend Quantum Queen to readers who enjoy manifestation, identity shifting, or personal development but feel stuck in the loop of “almost.” It works best for women who resonate with spiritual language but want something more grounded than constant positivity. If you like a book that speaks plainly, stirs emotion, and pushes you to act instead of analyze, this one will hit the spot.
Pages: 91 | ASIN: B0GFXPRXD9
Ten Little Axolotls
Ten Little Axolotls is a simple counting picture book that follows a group of tiny lake-dwelling creatures as they wiggle, hide, hunt, drift, and play through their moonlit world. Each page adds another axolotl with its own small trait. Some are bashful, and some are sneaky, and some are wild at heart. The book moves like a soft lullaby with repeating rhythms that guide young readers from one number to the next.
The writing has a gentle rhyme that reminds me of bedtime stories I loved as a kid. The lines feel cozy. The rhymes are enchanting and give the book a handmade charm. The images have this soft glow with what looked like hand-drawn art on each page. I kept smiling at the tiny quirks of each axolotl. Each one was so cute on the page and I’m sure children will love looking at them as parents read this story to them. I also liked how the rhyming story slips in facts about their colors and habits without sounding like a lesson. It feels playful and light.
The book drifts from one description to the next, which is pleasant. The sense of calm and the watery world kept pulling me in, and I felt oddly relaxed as I read. There is something soothing about watching these creatures wiggle through their day and night.
I would recommend Ten Little Axolotls to very young children and to adults who love reading gentle nature-themed children’s books aloud. It works well for bedtime. It works well for early counting practice. It will especially charm kids who enjoy animals that feel a little magical.
Pages: 31 | ASIN : B0FTV74XHH
A Second Chance
A Second Chance follows Mikaila, a teen in 2003 who juggles school, a fragile home, and a growing Christian faith, along with her best friend Chara and an older boy named Asa. Mikaila lives with her grandparents while her mother cycles through untreated mental illness, and Chara recovers from a horrific SUV crash that injures her and leaves her dad in the hospital. As Chara heals, Mikaila begins to have vivid dreams that seem to show the future and even Chara’s funeral, so she believes God has given her a limited window to help her friend turn toward Him. Asa first appears as a nerdy chess champ online, then starts a secret, sexualized chat relationship with Chara and later betrays her by leaking doctored conversations to the whole school, triggering brutal shame and gossip. Through all of this, Mikaila deals with a violent crisis at home when her mother holds a knife to her sister, a deepening faith, and a controlling boyfriend who does not share that direction.
I connected most with the writing when it stayed close to concrete, everyday detail. The short, dated chapters feel like diary entries and move between points of view, so the story hops from bus rides and Golden Girls reruns to hospital rooms and church services without losing the thread. I liked the way early 2000s touches sit in the background. Moments like the knife scene in Kait’s room feel incredibly sharp and cinematic. The prose leaned on repeating certain emotions and openly providing the moral takeaways in dialogue, especially in some of the more spiritual conversations and the sermon at Mikaila’s funeral. It works for the intended readership, and it still registered for me as an honest teen voice.
Asa’s arc stood out to me because it starts with such believable, flirty banter on IM and webcam, then slides into sexual comments, secrecy, and “our little secret” language that made my skin crawl. When the mass email of doctored chats goes out, and Chara gets humiliated and catcalled at school, I felt sick for her, and I appreciated how the book shows not only the initial thrill of attention but also the long fallout and the gaslighting that follows when Asa denies his role. Pairing that plot with the resource list on grooming at the back makes the story feel like both a narrative and a warning label. On the spiritual side, the book leans fully into God speaking through dreams, salvation language, and an explicit view of heaven, yet it is grounded in messy reality, including mental illness, divorce, and flawed Christians. I found that mix surprisingly tender. The focus on a God who sees, and on a faith that has to survive trauma, felt sincere. By the time I reached the last stretch, I was more emotional than I expected. The way things are handled keeps the focus on grief and on the ongoing story of the living, which I liked, and the funeral scene where Chara raises her hand to recommit her faith felt earned after everything she had endured.
I would recommend A Second Chance to older teens and adults who are open to Christian themes and who can handle heavy content around grooming, mental illness, and domestic violence. It feels especially suited to readers in youth groups, Christian schools, or families who want a story that can open up hard conversations about online boundaries, consent, and what healthy love looks like, with a strong emphasis on faith and hope. For the right reader, this book offers a heartfelt, sometimes painful, but ultimately hopeful look at how one girl’s love and faith echo far beyond her short life.
Pages: 345 | ASIN: B0GDG6WZF9
LITERARY TITAN 