Book of Me
Book of Me felt like sitting across from Kevin in a diner while he talked me through his life, one wild episode at a time. This nonfiction autobiography-memoir traces his journey from a rough-and-tumble childhood over a butcher shop in Queens to the cookie-cutter dream of Levittown, through hippie days and garage bands, brushes with rock legends, marriages and divorce, a Christian conversion, big wins in real estate, brutal losses, bipolar disorder, cancer, and a late-life run at politics and entrepreneurship. The book is broken into short, titled episodes that move mostly in order, each one another story about how this ordinary guy kept stumbling into extraordinary situations, learning to laugh, get back up, and lean hard on his faith.
The writing keeps the feel of spoken storytelling, which makes sense since Kevin originally told these stories on camera. You can hear him in the run-on excitement of a good memory and the quick punch of a painful one. The style is loose and conversational, sometimes a little meandering, but it feels honest rather than messy, like listening to a friend who has a lot of life to cover and is trying not to leave out the good parts. As a memoir, it reads less like a polished literary project and more like a long, vivid conversation, helped along by the pencil sketches and the playful chapter titles that keep you turning pages to see what ridiculous thing happens next. At times, I wanted a bit more trimming or reflection between the anecdotes, but the energy and humor kept pulling me back in.
I also appreciated the choices he makes about what to show and how vulnerable he is willing to be. Kevin leans hard on self-deprecating humor, especially when he is talking about getting into trouble as a kid, crashing on the ice, or starting one more half-baked business, and that humor softens you up before he walks you into heavier territory. When he writes about his Christian conversion, his mental breakdown and bipolar diagnosis, or facing cancer, the tone shifts in a way that feels earned. He does not pretend to have it all together. Instead, he keeps circling back to this idea that life is about the journey, about falling, learning, and getting back up with God, family, and a few loyal friends at your side. In a genre that can sometimes feel like a highlight reel, it was refreshing to see him include so many moments where he did not look good, or did not win, or just barely survived.
By the end, I felt like I had been on a long road trip with someone who talks a lot, laughs loudly, prays openly, and is deeply aware that he has been both reckless and blessed. This is an autobiography for readers who enjoy true, larger-than-life stories more than careful literary craft, who like faith-driven narratives, and who do not mind a little chaos mixed in with their inspiration.
Pages: 494 | ASIN : B0FJWKDKZR
The Life Lionel Never Chose
Duck It! follows one of the few survivors of a worldwide sickness who documents his journey from Florida to the Midwest and confronts his own past and fears. Why did you choose a notebook-style, first-person narrative rather than a more traditional structure?
I chose to tell the story first-person, notebook-style, because it’s how the character(s) became most real to me. I never start writing until my characters are truly real in my mind; and in today’s world, through social media, most people are always documenting themselves. It’s only fitting that Lionel tells his own story, and fearing the collapse of the worldwide web, he wisely does so old-school: pen and paper.
How does the collapse of society expose the life Lionel never chose for himself?
The collapse of society exposes the life Lionel never chose, because it forced him to finally make a choice. Before, despite not loving his chosen path, Lionel was quite comfortable on it and felt no need, no pull to diverge. Now, having to choose, needing to make his own decisions going forward, he can’t help but look back at his life and all the choices he didn’t make.
The book balances dread with dark humor. How did you decide when to let Lionel joke and when to let things hurt?
The answer to this question, I would have to say is the end result of my answer to the first question. I can’t honestly say that I “decided,” it was more so that, it’s who Lionel is. Dark humor is a part of him, because of his upbringing. He also believed it to be his shield, his superpower, but on his journey, because he finally made a choice, he soon realized he’s just a regular human. And pain, whether mental or physical, hurts. This is the best way I can explain how naturally it was written.
What kind of understanding did you want readers to have of Lionel by the end of the story?
The understanding I wanted readers to have of Lionel by the end of the story is… Honestly, it ties back into my answer to the former question. I want readers to see and understand that Lionel is just a regular person, but without a filter or needing “likes,” because the world we (he) live in no longer exists. So, by the end of Lionel’s exit from his home state, the question that remains is: How truthful would we really be if we really didn’t care about likes and subscribers, if we really didn’t fear being judged and persecuted? And let’s say you did find “your people,” people who hated everything you hated, is that really the world you want to live in, a hate-filled one? Because that’s ultimately what Lionel’s journey is about.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Join Lionel on his journey to escape a past life, while he continues to struggle with his morality and mortality in a world between purgatory and paradise.
The Red In The Wrong Profession
When I first opened The Red in the Wrong Profession, I thought I was in for a fairly straightforward piece of Cold War spy fiction. What I got instead was a lively blend of small-town drama, suspicion, and the slow unspooling of secrets hiding in plain sight. The story follows widowed history teacher Spencer and his sharp, curious twelve-year-old daughter, Cecily, as they stumble into a possible espionage plot involving Spencer’s glamorous colleague, Zinnia Tepper. One hidden coded note in a used bookstore sets off a string of unsettling discoveries, drawing Spencer’s FBI-agent brother Preston into a mystery that settles uneasily over the quiet suburb of Halliwell, Virginia.
I liked how the author leans into the ordinary. The setting feels familiar. A bookstore. A cul-de-sac. After-school gossip. The tension grows not because of high-tech spy tricks but because these characters live close together and know each other a little too well. I found myself unexpectedly drawn in by the rhythms of their daily lives. Quinn writes in a way that lets you feel Spencer’s discomfort and Cecily’s excitement without making either of them larger than life. Even Zinnia, who seems over-the-top at first with her dramatic entrances and designer shopping bags, becomes more intriguing each time the facade slips. I liked the way the book let suspicion creep in through small, almost mundane moments.
I also appreciated the choices the author made in shaping the Cold War atmosphere. Instead of drowning the reader in jargon or long political explanations, the book lets the fear and confusion of the era filter through conversations and tiny observations. Characters talk about the Soviets the way people really talk: half-informed, emotional, and sometimes a little dramatic. The coded note Cecily finds becomes a symbol of how fragile normal life can feel when you start wondering who you can trust. I enjoyed that the story didn’t lean too hard into action or spectacle. It stayed grounded, almost domestic, which somehow made the spy elements feel more believable. At times, I wished for a deeper exploration of Zinnia’s inner world, but maybe her opacity is part of the point. Spies, suspected or real, rarely let you all the way in.
By the time I finished the book, I realized it works best for readers who enjoy character-driven suspense with a nostalgic touch. It’s spy fiction, but filtered through the lens of family, community, and the messy edges of intuition. If you’re someone who likes mysteries that build slowly, or stories where a simple moment at a bookstore can set off a chain reaction, you’ll enjoy this novel.
Pages: 200 | ASIN : B0GF76DCW3
Queen Code: The Book
Queen Code: The Book is part memoir, part mindset guide, all wrapped up in this playful idea of a “Queendom” where you are the ruler of your own life. Author Laura Muirhead uses archetypes like the Sovereign, Warrior Queen, Phoenix, Oracle, Rebel Queen, and more to talk about personal responsibility, boundaries, resilience, intuition, money, and legacy. She keeps coming back to her framework of “question, investigate, heal, and grow” and invites you to create your own “personal policies” so you stop living in old family stories and start leading yourself with clarity and self-trust.
I felt oddly seen by the whole “personal policies instead of boundaries” thing. It sounds simple, yet it really resonated with me. The way she talks about drama, victimhood, fear, and that “spin the bottle of blame” had me nodding and wincing at the same time. Her story about fear twisting a basic business transaction into a full-on betrayal saga really stuck with me, because I have absolutely watched people do that. The chapters on sisu, rising like the Phoenix, and the “fractured fairytale” of her childhood all hit a mix of tender and tough that I liked. I could feel her anger and grief under the surface, and that made the whole Queen Code idea feel like it was earned, not just a cute brand.
The language around vibration, manifesting, and co-creation was totally my jam. I loved how she wove those ideas into real-life moments like the horse stable, the house fire, the two homes, all those tiny choices that became big turning points. Those stories felt grounded and magical at the same time, very “as above, so below” in everyday clothes. When the book leaned into the capital letter concepts and repeated phrases like “Queen Code Mastery,” it felt like she was anchoring a whole universe of meaning. The archetype names genuinely delighted me. They felt playful and potent, like being handed permission slips for different parts of myself instead of just labels. And the short chapters, the relaxed voice, and her raw honesty about messy family stuff made it all land in my heart. It felt like sitting at a cozy kitchen table with a wise friend who believes in energy, destiny, and your power to change your life.
I would recommend Queen Code to women who love personal growth books that feel like a mix of coaching and story time, especially if you enjoy archetypes, oracle decks, and a book that helps you understand that you are the Queen of your life. If you want gentle but firm reminders to stop playing the victim, set stronger boundaries, and trust your own inner compass, you will probably dog-ear a lot of pages. I walked away feeling a little braver about tightening my own “personal policies” and a bit more curious about where I can improve my life.
Pages: 115 | ASIN: B0G7X24WRZ
There is Something Fishy About Ed. A Gentle introduction into mental health and eating disorders
This book is a heartfelt, poetic exploration of a family navigating the stormy waters of an eating disorder. Told through the eyes of two young fish siblings, it follows their journey as they learn about their mother’s struggle with “Ed” (short for eating disorder). The story gently unpacks complex emotions, fear, confusion, and love and highlights the importance of communication, support, and coping skills. With a mix of tender moments and childlike wonder, it presents a difficult subject in a way that feels safe and accessible for children.
Right from the beginning, the writing pulls you in with its simple yet evocative language. The author does an incredible job of using poetry to create a rhythm that mirrors the ups and downs of mental illness. At times, the verses feel light and playful, especially when the siblings count fish or share inside jokes but there’s an underlying weight that makes the story feel real. The metaphor of the ocean, the storm, and the lurking presence of “Ed” makes this a powerful and relatable read.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is how it doesn’t shy away from the raw emotions children might feel when a parent is struggling. The book captures that feeling of helplessness kids experience when they sense something is wrong but don’t quite understand it. At the same time, it reassures them that they’re not alone. The way the siblings support each other, like when one comforts the other with a quick fin hug, shows the power of small moments in making a big difference.
The ending takes an unexpected yet imaginative turn when the children transform from fish into humans, symbolizing growth and newfound understanding. It’s a creative touch that reinforces the idea that struggles don’t define a person they evolve, they change, they learn to cope. The final message, “Together we’ll rise! No storm will divide!” leaves readers with a sense of hope and resilience. And the fact that they still giggle about “Fred” (instead of “Ed”) makes it feel authentic because healing isn’t just serious work, it’s also about finding joy along the way.
There is Something Fishy About Ed? (A Gentle) Introduction to Mental Health and Eating Disorders would be a great fit for families wanting to introduce mental health discussions in a way that feels safe and engaging. It’s perfect for kids who might be dealing with similar challenges at home or anyone who wants a deeper understanding of how eating disorders affect not just individuals, but the people who love them. It’s emotional, beautifully written, and, most importantly, filled with hope. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or therapist, this book is a conversation starter that will leave a lasting impact.
Smoky Blue Sunrise, a return to Elizabeth’s Mountain
Smoky Blue Sunrise follows Jolie-Mae, a young woman crushed by guilt after the car crash that killed her younger sister, Katy, and wrecked her plans for medical school. She leaves coastal South Carolina and her grieving parents and takes a live-in job in the North Carolina mountains as nanny and companion in Jesse Taylor’s home, where he is raising his daughter Emma and baby Cameron after the loss of his wife. At the same time, Amanda, a doctor at the local hospital, tries to balance work, motherhood, and her own history with Elizabeth’s Mountain. Their lives knit together in this small town as Jolie tries to rebuild a self she can live with, and the looming threat of Hurricane Helene pushes every old wound and every new bond to the edge.
I really liked how grounded the writing felt. The first chapters around the party at Folly Beach and the crash were very emotional, and they set the tone for Jolie’s inner voice in a strong way. The scenes with Dr. Patel felt patient and honest, and I believed her slow, messy steps in therapy. The mountain setting came through in small details, not long descriptions. The book uses internal monologue, which moves scenes along methodically, yet the emotional payoff later made that investment feel worth it. The storm chapters land hard, with practical worries like power, road washouts, patients at the hospital, and also the simple fear of a child who hears a hurricane called a monster on the radio, and those pieces together gave the story real weight.
The book works best when it leans into survivor’s guilt and found family. Jolie’s sense that she is the “trigger” for her parents’ pain felt painfully real to me, and her choice to leave home did not feel like running away, more like a leap to save herself and maybe them, too. I also liked the bond that grows in the Taylor house, in small moments with Emma’s questions, in shared chores, in the way they circle around Elizabeth’s memory without turning her into a saint. The romance thread stays gentle and slow, and that fit the tone for me, since every character in this house is already carrying a lot.
I would recommend Smoky Blue Sunrise to readers who enjoy character-driven contemporary fiction, especially stories about grief, healing, and second chances in close-knit communities, and also to anyone who already knows Elizabeth’s Mountain and wants to see that world deepen. If you like quiet emotional arcs, domestic scenes that still carry tension, and a bit of storm-fueled suspense rather than nonstop action, this one will be for you.
Pages: 318 | ASIN : B0GFFRM4LQ
Operation Archer 2nd Edition.
Operation Archer is a wartime time-travel thriller that follows Simon — a grieving engineer in 2027 — whose recurring nightmares and unresolved trauma lead him to seek hypnotherapy. What begins as an attempt to heal from the anguish caused by his wife Lorna’s preventable death develops into something far stranger, as Simon’s sessions unlock vivid recollections of flying RAF bombers in WWII. Soon, the boundaries between memory, imagination and reality vanish until he participates in a dangerous mission with life – changing consequences. The book blends historical fiction with speculative adventure, grounding its big swings in a character who feels painfully human.
Beyond the aerial action, hypnotherapy and intrigue, this is really a story about grief and the mind’s strange ways of restoring balance after it has been shattered. The early chapters are heavy with loss. Simon’s memories of Lorna feel tender and raw, and his anger toward the medical system is explored in a way that feels honest rather than melodramatic. When the book shifts into regression, past-life imagery, and eventually full time-travel, the transition works better than I expected because the emotional groundwork is so solid. I found myself believing the unbelievable simply because Simon did, and because the narrative lets his curiosity and vulnerability drive the plot rather than spectacle alone.
The author makes some bold choices, especially in how he describes the procedural details of hypnosis, RAF aviation, and wartime operations in great detail. Sometimes I caught myself wishing the pace would move a little quicker, but then I would hit a passage where the sensory detail pulled me right back in. The roar of Merlin engines. The searing heat of a burning bomber’s fuselage. The eerie quiet of a hypnotic induction. When these moments appear, they feel less like exposition and more like slipping into someone else’s skin. And I appreciated the book’s willingness to stretch genre boundaries. It is a mixture of historical and science fiction plus psychological drama, which gives it a strange charm.
Operation Archer is reflective, occasionally surprising, and anchored by a protagonist whose pain feels real even when the plot turns surreal. If you enjoy historical thrillers with a speculative twist, or character-driven stories that explore trauma and transformation, you’ll enjoy this book. Readers who love World War Two aviation fiction or time-travel adventures will feel especially at home here. For me, Operation Archer is a compelling blend of heart, history, and imagination.
Pages: 223 | ASIN : B0G52L2ZL3
Emotionally Open & Spiritually Attentive
Composed in Silk blends vivid portraits with short essays about stillness, grace, identity, and the long, slow work of becoming, taking readers on a reflective journey tracing the movement between silence and revelation. What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Composed in Silk is the second book in a five-book series titled The Life’s Theater: Art and Essays from Behind the Curtain, and it is dedicated to my wife. Each portrait in the book is highly stylized and created in my own distinctive painting style, with one exception. The final portrait is rendered in a realistic style using classical technique.
The portraits are small seconds of my wife’s presence. They are heartbeats of her silence, quiet, stillness, grace, identity, and the long, slow work of becoming. Although the figures do not physically resemble her, each image carries her mood, her rhythm, and a frozen moment that is unmistakably hers. What mattered most to me was capturing not likeness, but essence, allowing stillness to speak as loudly as form.
Can you share a bit about your writing process and how you selected the artwork that accompanies each writing?
Throughout my creative life as an artist and painter, I have followed Leonardo da Vinci’s view of art, which I believe remains timeless and deeply relevant today. For him, art arises from careful observation guided by intellect. He believed that true art is not the result of skilled hands alone, but of a thoughtful mind capable of understanding the complexity of nature and translating that understanding into expression. Studying nature was essential, not to imitate it mechanically, but to reveal the intentions and insights of the artist’s mind.
My process begins long before a painting is completed. I observe, study, create thumbnails and rough sketches, and work toward developing a unique style. During this time, I also take notes, sometimes just a few sentences, sometimes a paragraph, capturing my observations and emotional responses. Over time, these notes become part of the painting itself. They live within the work for years, shaping its meaning and presence, until they eventually find their way into a two- or three-hundred-word essay that accompanies the artwork. In this way, image and language grow from the same moment of attention and reflection.
Do you think there is a particular mindset or environment that a reader should be in to fully appreciate your work?
Composed in Silk, and the entire series The Life’s Theater: Art and Essays from Behind the Curtain, are not meant for everyone. They are for readers who are emotionally open and spiritually attentive, who appreciate an image on canvas not only as a painting, but as an emotional moment worth entering. The work invites readers to explore both the artist’s inner state and the subject’s emotional presence at a particular moment in time.
I do not expect the book or the images to resonate with a large audience, and I accept that some readers may connect with certain pieces while others may not connect at all. The work was created for me, from my heart and my emotions, and Composed in Silk was dedicated to my wife.
What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?
The next book in the series is The Life’s Theater, Book Four: The Places That Carried Us. It is dedicated to my brother and explores memory, places, and the landscapes that shape who we become. The tentative publication date is the first half of March 2026.
The full chronology of the series is as follows:
- The Life’s Theater, Book One: Echoes That Suffocate, dedicated to my parents. Published and available on Amazon.
- The Life’s Theater, Book Two: Composed in Silk, dedicated to my wife. Published and available on Amazon.
- The Life’s Theater, Book Three: The Quiet Architecture of Love, dedicated to my sons. Just published and available on Amazon.
- The Life’s Theater, Book Four: The Places That Carried Us, dedicated to my brother. Tentative publication date: first half of March 2026.
- The Life’s Theater, Book Five: Geometry of Memory and Light. Dedication to be decided. Tentative publication date: summer 2026.
- The Life’s Theater: Art and Essays from Behind the Curtain, the complete edition. Tentative publication date: late 2026 or sometime in 2027.
Together, the series forms a single, continuous meditation on memory, love, and the emotional spaces we inhabit over a lifetime.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
The figures within do not seek to be seen. They dwell in the strength of being known, in gestures that reveal the beauty of endurance and the courage of tenderness. Through them, love is not spectacle but continuity, an unfolding that survives without need for proof.
Blending visual art and lyrical prose, Composed in Silk invites the reader into a space where perception softens and truth breathes. It asks nothing but attention, offering instead a stillness that restores, and a grace that lingers long after the final page.
LITERARY TITAN 