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My Twelve-Year-Old Wife
My Twelve-Year Old Wife is a dark, time-bending thriller about love, grief, and the unrelenting pull of fate. It follows Dan Fox, a husband desperate to find his missing wife, Celia, only to have a twelve-year-old girl appear at his door claiming to be her. What begins as a mystery about disappearance spirals into something stranger, a story that slips between timelines and emotions, showing how trauma, memory, and devotion can warp across the years. The book plays with horror and science fiction but stays grounded in its aching humanity. Each chapter peels back another layer of the impossible, until the reader is as disoriented and haunted as Dan himself.
The writing is cinematic and unnerving, full of tight, fast sentences and moments that hit like a punch. I could feel Dan’s confusion and fear, his disbelief when he’s confronted with a version of his wife that shouldn’t exist. The story toys with logic but never loses its emotional truth. The prose has this eerie stillness, a rhythm that feels like breathing in the dark, and the pacing moves between slow dread and heart-hammering tension. I caught myself whispering “what?” out loud more than once, which almost never happens when I read. The author’s control over mood and momentum is impressive. Even when scenes leaned into the surreal, the characters kept me anchored.
But what hit me hardest wasn’t the time travel or the mystery, it was the loneliness. Beneath the weirdness, this is a love story about guilt and obsession. Dan’s desperation feels raw and a little ugly, and Celia’s time-fractured existence is both tragic and strange. Their connection stretches and twists, but it never breaks. I could sense how much the author wanted to explore what happens when love is stronger than reality itself. At times, the dialogue can feel blunt, but it works here, it fits people who are terrified and grasping for sense in the middle of madness.
My Twelve-Year Old Wife is for readers who like their stories unsettling, who don’t mind questioning what’s real and what’s imagined. If you liked Dark, Arrival, or The Time Traveler’s Wife but wished they were more psychological and eerie, this book is for you. It’s weird, bold, and relatable.
Pages: 194 | ASIN : B0FD87Y85R
The Creation Of The ‘Other’ People
“Five Million Epics” unravels the story of humanity’s decline through the interconnected lives of characters across generations, sparking a conversation on empathy, unity, and the importance of learning from our past. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Before the 1980s, you will be seen arguing with your friends, relatives or even strangers against fanaticism, fascism and feudalism. They were the worst philosophies for a democratic well-wisher. By the end of the 1990s, you started to master the art of keeping away from criticising other religions, terming it as their right to believe in their own faith and worshipping the deities they possess. By doing that, you were slowly in the process of thinking only about your own religion, political party and philosophy. All the rest were the ‘other’ for you. This book deals with the creation of the ‘other’ people. It is a political discourse in the name of fiction. Sometimes reality is more engaging and fictional than fiction.
What were some sources that informed this books development?
I have a vast collection of books, all bought from my savings. I didn’t possess anything else, not even a cent of land or habitat, other than the books I owned. Being a journalist for more than 25 years, I got the opportunity to witness all the events of our time in great detail. My books and social engagements might have helped. It is the reader who has to assess what the book does carry.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
We were told in textbooks that we are a developing society. Usually, that term comes from assessing the buildings we built and the technological advances we have reached. But, when you determine humankind from an extraterritorial point of view, we understand that he is more of a deteriorated creature than he was fifty years ago. All the open conversations humans performed had fallen in the journey.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
A writer can’t ask an individual to dedicate his time to reading his book; You can’t even ask your spouse or best friend to do that. That will be an emotional attack. If someone happens to come through the book, let him share his point, that too only if he wants.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook
Aouthakkutty thus released the teaser. This is the teaser of FIVE MILLION EPICS too. It is a book that travels through two dozens of riots. But, it is not the reportage of riots. It is also not the story of the victims. It is the story of fifty million people who lived in that country of diversity and differences. All of them decided to write an epic each. That madness created five million epics.
***************
‘Priests seldom worry about history; Believers seldom question the priests.’
How came Thomas the Apostle disembark in the middle of a forest in the 1st century, where men began to inhabit only in the Century of Queen Elizabeth? Is it for lions, elephants, and foxes he had erected a church? Or for bear and deer? How come he carved the modified Pahlavi of the sixth century in the cross-arch before dying in 72 Anno Domini? And that too in a rock excavated only in the 19th century?’
That time was ripe for Dhananjayan to speak anything that came to his mind. Xavier replied with much clarity: ‘Pagans seldom worry about misery; Mysteries seldom wait for the conversion of pagans. Let all the pagans of the world forgive this believer. If there was no cross, if there was no Saint Thomas, if there was no exodus and if there were no churches, I would have been still eating my meal from a pit incurved in the backyard of your house.’ He raised his hands to the sky.
********
Bilal stood up.
‘Mr Dhanajayan…’ Dhananjayan was expecting an uncle call from this young man who is some 40 years junior to him.
‘Mr Dhananjayan. You are at the wrong end. I don’t read poems. I don’t read fiction. I don’t read even a single short story before my college days. ‘There were not even books in the house where Susmitha and I grew up. Her mother, Mary, came to our house regularly carrying the smell of hypochlorite, not of books. She was my mother too. My father was not a landlord of Colonial California to buy a bike for me and allow me to roam around. He was a roadside merchant in Kolkata, India escaped from Advala with his brother at a young age. He never participated in any riots. He never walked on the shoulder of any revolutionaries. The mob murdered him because he was the son of Muhammad Ali, who was hanged by the Britishers in Advala 60 years ago.’ Dhananjayan looked at him. ‘The grandson of Sultan Muhammad Ali, The self-proclaimed Calipha of Nathala.’
**************
The ‘Vaishnav Janato’ ended with an addition. The Sindhu Bhairavi repeated thrice unusually, and a vocal humming followed. All the forty-three faces are now waiting like the sandy shores for a slow tide embrace. A touch from the fingertip resonated the ‘sympathetic pegs’ continuously. Pigeons can’t wait for any more. They flew towards the red spot. Susmita, with wide-opened eyes, is a horizon now. They entered with extended wings. ‘Nobody in the world can beat Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Bangash in this Sindhu Bhairavi.’ Bilal once again touched the lower string peg. Susmita vibrated.
*********
It is the ninth hairpin bend. A decade-old state corporation bus used its wiper from the fourth or the fifth bend. In trying to wipe out the fog, the rubber blade had made another layer of masquerade. The bus would have comfortably gone uphill if the energy used to run the wiper were saved: thought Suman, as she had no other unyielding waves disturbing her mind. Quite a long since the pacific in her touched the shore so gently. The waves hurled like in a rock for a decade.
Now she had entered a world where there are no ebb and flow. It’s a re-entry from the 3rd generation to the high ranges of the Western Ghats. Susmita never tried to reach there. Nobody called her either.
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Three women tell an unusual story of the massacre, elopement, sojourn and jihad.
Yet They Went to War
Confederacy of Fenians follows multiple characters through an alternative historical telling of the Civil War. I think this original idea is intriguing. How did you come up with this idea and develop it into a story?
I’ve always thought it was interesting to explore historical events from multiple points of view. I remember wondering long ago what the Galls thought of Julius Ceasar. It’s especially interesting during the American Civil War since culturally and linguistically northerners and southerners were so similar, yet they went to war and over 600,000 people died. The idea for this book came from combining my lifelong interests in the Civil War and Irish history, and my penchant for asking “what if?”.
With each chapter having a different point of view, were there any characters that you especially enjoyed writing for?
I love all my children equally. That said, I enjoyed writing from the perspective of John Lane since he was my real-life ancestor. I knew the bare outlines of his life so I found it rewarding to fill in the blanks. I also very much enjoyed writing the repartee between women and men – Viola and John Lane; Varina and Jefferson Davis; and Nelly and George McClellan. Those were some of the most satisfying parts to write.
How much research did you undertake for this book and how much time did it take to put it all together?
I’ve been reading about the Civil War since the early 1960s and about Irish history since the early 1970s, so it’s fair to say that 60 years of research went into the book. That said, I did almost no research specifically related to the story.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have a sequel to “Confederacy of Fenians” sketched out in my head, but I’m currently working on a collection of (hopefully humorous) essays and an unrelated screenplay, so the sequel will have to wait in line. But if the public demand is strong enough…!
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
Confederacy Of Fenians
The Confederacy of Fenians by James D. Nealon is a compelling historical fiction novel set in the 1800’s that offers an alternate take on the American civil war. This engaging book presents itself through a series of perspectives and narratives, each chapter from the view of one of the main characters. It explores what would have happened had the British intervened on the side of the Confederacy. The Confederacy is ready to break up the north but do Lincoln and the Union army have what it takes to stop them?
The well-conceived stories and lives of each of these characters overlap and interlock, creating twists at every corner. The author’s ability to connect the character’s accounts into a cohesive storyline is well done. Nealon does a great job illustrating the true complexity of the American Civil War and simultaneously allowing for an intricate fictional journey.
This elaborate story is written from a different point of view in each chapter. It may be a little bit difficult to track who each of the characters is at first, but as readers get further along, they are able to build the complete picture. I felt this made it hard to keep up with the development of the plot at times. However, the consistency with which the characters told their versions of the stories allowed readers a better understanding of the plot and how each story connects.
I loved how this novel gave the physical perspectives of the characters as well as metaphorical perspectives that stemmed from their actions. Being privy to each character’s thoughts and narrative gave this novel strength. There are also three strong female characters in this novel, showcasing how despite living in a time when women were seen and not heard, they fought for what they believed in and strived to make a difference.
Confederacy of Fenians is an alternate reality historical fiction novel with mixed science fiction elements. This is a solid novel with exciting and shocking twists and page-turning chapters that perfectly enraptures a war within a war and what one will do for the survival of their people.
Pages: 320 | ASIN : B09MR86R58
I Love Twist Endings
The Many Worlds of Mr. A. Skouandy follows a psychiatrist as he evaluates a patient that was dropped off and, in the process, learns the history of the patients in the sanatorium. What was the inspiration for this collection of short stories?
As my thesis for my MA.E.CW, Fic (Master of Art, English, Creative Writing, Fiction), I selected a collection of short stories instead of submitting a novel. I love to write short stories, and I love twist endings, so pulling a collection together was in my wheelhouse. I wanted and needed a theme to connect each story together. My answer was to bookend the story of Dr. Blanchard on both sides of the collection and connect the stories through the character of Aaron Skouandy and the sanatorium. Of course, the ending has a twist, which hopefully brings the reader full circle about the subject matter of each story and why it was included in my short story cycle.
I really enjoyed the short story “Silence So Deafening.” Do you have a favorite story in this collection, and why?
Silence so Deafening is a favorite of mine too, and it was placed in a contest and received publication, which was beautiful. But my favorite has to be Inseparable because my sister and I really stayed in the cabin this story is based on. I let her be the main character and kill me off. This delighted her to no end. Neither one of us has any plans to ever revisit the cabin. Ever.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The stories were centered around assignments mainly. For example, Baby Makes Three started off as a memory required for the first part of a project. My memory was about the adoption of my eldest son. The second part of this same project was to flip that memory on its head. I did just that and turned my characters into aliens and developed a plot around their baby. My professor immensely enjoyed it and commented that Science Fiction may just be my genre. I’m not sure about that. I haven’t written another Sci-Fi piece since.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have two books in the final revision stage. The first is a collection of shorts (several previously published online). The majority unseen by the public and written after peers in the writing community asked me to please turn them into full-length stories and make them into a novel. The title is The Crooked Crone and Other Mystifications and is slated for publication this fall. The second novel, We Three: The Ipswich Chronicles, is based on the main character from the book previously mentioned, the Crone, and her sisters. The story is about how they learned they were witches and their journey to find the source of magic, and my Beta readers loved it. So excited to publish this novel, targeted for spring 2023.
Additionally, I have a couple of collaborations with my writing partner, Derek R. King, slated for this summer. First, the second volume, Amore, of our new The Lighter Half Series, which launched in February with volume one, Abracadabra. These are delightful and magical collections of poetry. Second, we have a wonderful poetry collection for children themed around faeries titled The Enchanted Faerie Realm. This children’s book is slated for publication in May of this year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
This short story cycle is a blend of psychological suspense, horror, soft science-fiction, alternate universe, and alternate history, thematically tied together by outcomes that are unanticipated, unintentional, and always unexpected.
The Many Worlds of Mr. A. Skouandy, the title story that bookends nine tales in between, is presented in the postmodern collage style, including admission forms and patient sketches before each piece and doctor’s notes after each. The stories can be read separately, but when read sequentially, a much larger story is revealed, generating this unique psychological horror novella.
The Many Worlds of Mr. A. Skouandy
The Many Worlds of Mr. A. Skouandy & Other Stories from Oakwood Sanatorium is an assorted collection of short stories ranging from heartbreaking to horrifying. Author Julie Kusma explores loss, loneliness, grief, and a host of other mental afflictions in these winding, interconnected tales from the titular mental hospital. We follow Dr. Shepard Blanchard as he investigates the curious case of a newly admitted patient, one Mr. A. Skouandy and his mysterious knowledge of other patients in the ward. Dr. Blanchard becomes transfixed with Mr. Skouandy’s claims, and his investigation leads him on a journey through the origins of how the inhabitants of Oakwood Sanatorium came to reside there.
The main narrative takes place in the Oakwood sanatorium in the 1940s. We are not privy to Dr. Blanchard’s interviews with the patients; instead, we are treated to events in their lives that cause them to end up in Oakwood Sanatorium. The patient’s stories of loss or trauma and the resulting mental illness or psychotic break offer an interesting reflection on how the diverse characters deal with grief in their lives.
The author explores many genres: science fiction, fantasy, and horror are all represented here, while most of the stories are steeped in reality, as unsettling as it may be. The novel itself is a vehicle for some of Kusma’s works that have appeared previously. Dr. Blanchard’s prologues and handwritten notes offer a connecting thread to the stories, and it works to varying degrees. I feel some of the stories mesh well together in the setting, but others feel forced at times. “Free of Bees “and “The Writing Room” fit nicely. “Silence So Deafening” and “Baby Makes Three” have a very Twilight Zone-vibe, which works for this collection.
The Many Worlds of Mr. A. Skouandy & Other Stories from Oakwood Sanatorium is a collection of short stories collected from patients in a sanatorium, making it easy to combine elements from multiple genres. Readers who like the unusual, strange, and horrifying aspects of life will find this eclectic book a great escape from the day-to-day realities.
Pages: 172 | ASIN : B09FKCYN44
Tygers
![Tygers by [J. Warren]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41bgAVJHHQS.jpg)
J. Warren’s Tygers is a book set in a alternate universe where America is led by a super-conservative government that treats homosexuality as an abomination. As such, young gay men are taken to facilities and camps that promise to “cure” them of their condition. In this world, it is easy for young gay men to be radicalized and used by terrorist cells. Through the eyes of Aaron Miller, a gay teenager, we get a first-hand account of how difficult it is to navigate this new world. We also get up close and personal with two members of a terrorist cell, Marcus and Victor, as the author helps us see what could push a person down such a dark path. As expected, this book is full of love and violence, laughter and tears. Aaron’s coming of age seems to be happening at the same time that his country seems to be devolving into ancient ways. He falls in love, loses his love, and goes down a dark path of destruction. On the other hand, Marcus and Victor encounter some unexpected challenges of their own.
If there is one thing to be appreciated about Tygers, it is the superb character development. Throughout the story we get an understanding of who Aaron is, his relationship with his family, and the mental space he is in. This makes him more relatable and likable and a character with great depth. It is difficult not to root for him, especially since he is so young and confused. And even though Marcus is quite mysterious, we get an understanding of him and what he is passionate about. While he is quite villainous, the author tries to humanize him as well, something that emulates the nuances of real life.
Ultimately, it is the fact that this story is believable that makes it scary. Clearly, the author took his time to ensure the plot is solid. What’s more? His writing style is light, refreshing, and easy to read. There are no long-winded paragraphs and every page is both informative and entertaining. While I enjoyed the story, I thought some of the scenes were graphic and can be off-putting to some, but otherwise it is enthralling literature told with a unique writing flair.
Tygers is a riveting dystopian novel with poignant commentary on society and chilling parallels to contemporary issues, all told through a compelling character that will affect readers long after they close the book.
Pages: 282 | ASIN: B0994MKWWL
Becoming Olive W.: The Women of Campbell County
![Becoming Olive W.: The Women of Campbell County: Family Saga Book 1 by [S. Lee Fisher]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sEA0u7GnS.jpg)
In the early years of the 20th century, Olive Westchester’s mother dies in childbirth, leaving Olive a toddler to be raised by a distant, tyrannical father and her 6 older siblings. At an early age she displays a remarkable maturity and intellect and is running the finances of the family farm from the age of 10. She longs to attend college when she grows up, a rare enough event for a woman in her generation. But her domineering father is only interested in sending her to finishing school to polish off her headstrong edges and make her suitable for marriage. When Olive’s beloved brother, Fred, is sent off to war against his wishes, it changes everything.
Becoming Olive W is the first book in a trilogy by S Lee Fisher called The Women of Campbell County: Family Saga. It covers a period of about 13 years, following Olive from the ages of 3 to 16, with the majority of the plot taking place during the first part of World War 1. Fisher handles the leaps through time with a deft hand, and the reader is rarely, if ever, left feeling as if there is something missing.
Whether it was intentional or not, the style is reminiscent of the sweeping plots of Barbara Taylor Bradford. With Olive and her family, Fisher has created a gripping tale and irresistible individuals you emotionally connect with. There are all the elements of a multi-generational family epic with memorable characters, wealth and poverty, treachery, difficult circumstances, great love rubbing up against abiding hatred and fatal flaws galore.
Olive was an intriguing character that I enjoyed following, even though I found it hard to see her as just a 10-year-old child. She seemed very mature for her age, rather like an adult than a child. A woman really, who manages the finances of a large farm and stands up to her father and and other family members with such tenacity.
The dialogue was well written and had a good pace and flow that creates some very engaging scenes between characters. I felt the tone was more suited to the early 19th century in Jane Austen’s England rather than a small-town in the U.S. in the early 20th century.
Becoming Olive W is an emotionally charged family saga set in a realistic historical setting with riveting drama that will keep readers consistently entertained. Olive is a character that I will remember for a long time.
Pages: 312 | ASIN: B08Y5LC5BJ
LITERARY TITAN 