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Complexities of Mental and Emotional Healing
Fragments of Hope: Emptying Pandora’s Box follows a shattered woman who divorces her abusive husband and sets out on a journey of self-discovery and personal empowerment. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Fragments of Hope was born out of my desire to highlight the inner journey of women who escape abusive relationships. The protagonist, Pandora, embarks on a path to rediscover herself, which is deeply inspired by the struggles many women face after leaving behind a controlling partner. I wanted to capture that emotional and psychological process of reclaiming one’s identity and learning to live on her own terms.
What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Pandora’s character is shaped by themes of personal empowerment and self-discovery. I wanted to explore how deeply rooted beliefs — like the ones gaslit into her by her husband — affect her sense of worth and her ability to trust herself. Throughout the story, she grows into a woman who learns to stand firm in her power and heal from the emotional scars left behind.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The book delves into the complexities of mental and emotional healing, empowerment after trauma, and the rediscovery of hope. Themes of motherhood, resilience, and the importance of community and support also weave through Pandora’s journey as she navigates life after an abusive relationship.
When will book two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
I’m currently working on the sequel, which I expect to release in mid-2025. In book two, Pandora will continue her journey toward healing, but this time, she will face new challenges in maintaining her independence while embracing new relationships and opportunities for personal growth. The story will delve deeper into her evolving identity as a strong, self-reliant woman. You may find a teaser for book 2 in mypodcast Tangled Threads.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
“Fragments of Hope” is a gripping tale of resilience and self-discovery. Pandora is trapped in a toxic marriage with David, a man who drags her into the dark world of BDSM gatherings, leaving her emotionally and mentally shattered. Her once vibrant spirit is now a collection of fragments, barely holding together under the weight of her husband’s control and the oppressive environment he thrives in.
As Pandora reaches her breaking point, she makes a courageous decision to escape the clutches of her destructive relationship. This book chronicles her journey through the tumultuous process of divorce and the challenging path to rebuild her life. Drawing on common sense, psychology, and a newfound understanding of her own values, Pandora learns to discern what is real and meaningful.
“Fragments of Hope” is not just a story of escape, but a narrative of empowerment. It’s about rejecting the passive acceptance of whatever life—or the men in it—throws your way, and instead, taking active steps to create a life aligned with your true values. Through her trials, Pandora emerges stronger, piecing together the fragments of her shattered existence into a mosaic of hope and strength.
A Story of Survivors
Welcome to the Damned follows three members of a group known as the Aconites as they navigate a crumbling society, fighting both external enemies and their own demons. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As a reader, I was inspired by morally gray books such as Six of Crows and These Violent Delights. As a creator, I drew from some of my own personal experiences from the mental health aspect. I’ve always found gray characters super interesting, with a lot of room to explore where they’d draw the line dividing what they are willing to do to achieve their goals and what they are not. Especially when the world is complicated and not so black-and-white, I love poring over how characters are driven to betraying themselves and their friends, to discovering the ugly parts of themselves, and to learning how to live with it, all due to external events outside of their control. At the same time, these types of stories, when well-written, can make readers root for these imperfect or even despicable characters. This is what I love about dark fiction, and I hope my story has the same impact on my readers.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from and how did it change as you were writing?
At first, the setting was more like a prediction of our future on Earth if we fail to combat climate change, and the initial draft had very little sci-fi elements. As I was rewriting the story, however, I thought it would be a lot more interesting in a cyberpunk setting. That opened up a lot more possibilities for technology within the world, which played a part in progressing the story and character developments. Now, the novel’s setting is very similar to the Arcane series, which is very exciting to watch and imagine my own characters living in that world.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Despite all the worldbuilding and plot twists, I was most focused on each individual character’s journey with their mental health struggles, and the relationship difficulties that come with it. Before I even decided to publish this story, I only intended to write it for my high school friends, who had their own demons to deal with alongside exams and extracurriculars, as did I. I wanted to tell them a story of survivors, leaning on each other in an unconventional family, and they all end up okay. The sequel will go more into each character’s healing while the first one showed all the messy and awful parts of their struggles, because none of us were immune to mistakes and hurting people we care about, but we all hoped to be better someday.
Can you tell us what the second book will be about and when it will be available for fans to purchase?
The second book will follow the same characters a couple months after Zero’s secret was revealed and Tal left the Aconites. Tal is now on a personal mission, Rovis of course wants to find him, and Zero lives with the consequences of her betrayals. They each have something to search for, but the government’s experiments don’t stop for their individual crises. Will they resolve their differences and come back together as family, or will one of them fall victim to the experiments before they reach closure? Readers will find out in May 2025 with the sequel’s release, and the title will be revealed soon.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website
Dyvris is a city ruled by criminals. The Scavenger, a notorious killer and thief, runs an organization called the Aconites, which has power over every business in the city and its suburbs. The Scavenger has an equally deadly partner, whose metal claws never hesitate to break a neck or rip out an organ. The Scavenger also has a little spy, whose black heart will infect anyone that gets close to it.
They’ve been sinners since the first crimes they committed; they’ve been damned since the moment they were born. When the people in power made survival a game, the Aconites decided to win, starting with their monopoly on poison weaponry. They live in a secure mansion hidden in the mountains, never short on money or any luxuries they desire.
Until they discover that the government has been secretly experimenting on working class neighborhoods with the intention of developing mind-control drugs. Their failed attempts slaughter innocents all over the country with no warning or pattern.
It’s only a matter of time before the experiments creep into the mountains and find the Aconites.
People Lose Themselves in the Battle
In Forks & Knives, a woman discovers her husband’s secret battle with alcoholism and must decide if she should fight to salvage her marriage as they are about to welcome their first child. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
The general story arc is loosely based on my first marriage, but I fictionalized it to explore the “what ifs” I wondered about along the way. What if I’d said something else or done something different? Would the outcome have changed? Processing all of that was cathartic to my healing after-the-fact. I tell people, the actual story of my journey is peppered throughout the story, but it’s not told in a linear arc. The fictional details are things I feared might happen, or outcomes I wished had happened.
The forks that Kat considers in her mind’s eye at various crossroads in her marriage are possible alternate roads…some of which are painful and cut like knives. Ultimately, she empowers herself, and that’s the kind of mindful choice I hope all women arrive at in their own lives, no matter their circumstances.
Forks & Knives is an incredibly compelling story. What was one of the hardest parts for you to write?
Alcoholism and codependency are weighted topics for most people who live with addiction and seek recovery. Navigating love without trust, clinging to hope when fears abound . . . these are difficult tasks at best. Oftentimes, people lose themselves in the battle.
I suppose one of the hardest parts of writing this book was being honest about all of that. It’s easy to paint the addict as the only person who owns responsibility when a relationship flounders in the muck of mental illness, but it takes two people to make a partnership. I wanted both Kat and Eric to be sympathetic, despite their respective flaws. Most people are doing the best they can at any given moment. Sadly, sometimes their best isn’t enough to build a future on. But usually, people have choices. Whether they see them or act on them is one of the book’s central themes.
What do you think were some of the defining moments in Kat’s character development?
I don’t think people can change if they aren’t honest with themselves first. Kat was fortunate to find wise people and resources that helped her see herself clearly, and she embraced her areas of growth–in some forks more easily than in others. As she learns, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, hoping for different results.” Kat wanted different outcomes, so she was willing to try different things. In the end, she redefines what her key values look like: We say we love someone; what does that look like in action? We desire commitment to shared goals; how does each person live that out? Maybe reality doesn’t jive with the words people say . . . and then what do we do about that?
What is one thing you hope readers take away from Kat’s experience?
Except for living in dire circumstances, I believe we always have choices. The path we are on is not permanent. Unless we meet with death, we can always change our situation. We cannot, however, change other people; we can only change ourselves.
Along those same lines, life’s too short to be living in an unhappy home—and we pass along a sad legacy if we do. Everyone deserves to be safe and to live an authentic, content life. Empowering ourselves to choose healthier forks when we’re at a crossroads in our lives is an important place to start. Those decisions might be as small as how we choose to react to another’s anger or as big as leaving an unhealthy relationship behind. Every choice can matter in how we navigate the options in front of us.
Kat’s choices are hers. My hope is that readers will consider the forks in their own lives, past and present, and I wish for happy, hopeful, and healthy outcomes for all.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
When Kat Torrington discovers the depth of her husband Eric’s secret drinking problem, she finds herself at a crossroads. Married three years with her first child on the way, Kat sees a fork in the road of her life: Should she stay or go?
Over the next three years, as the couple faces alcoholism and recovery with equal parts determination and failure, Kat considers her options. Some choices are heart-wrenching, others empowering, but all life- changing. Meanwhile, Kat’s dream of a happy- ever-after hangs in the balance.
Forks & Knives is fiction inspired by the reality of addiction and codependency that millions of families battle. If you’ve ever wondered “what if I’d done things differently,” Mimi Wahlfeldt’s debut novel will entice you to re-examine those critical forks in your own life. No doubt, like knives, some of them cut deep.
Billion Dollar Bullseye
In Billion Dollar Bullseye, Jonathan “JCron” Cronstedt breaks down his formula for business success by focusing on seven critical principles: Purpose, Profit, Product, Prestige, Promotion, Persuasion, and People. His central thesis is simple but powerful: hitting the “bullseye” in these areas allows businesses to scale quickly and exit on their own terms. Cronstedt offers practical advice and real-life examples from his time at Kajabi. He also supplies strategies for entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their companies meaningfully and in a sustainable way.
I like how action-oriented this book is. Cronstedt doesn’t just present lofty ideas, he translates them into concrete steps. For instance, his explanation of how Purpose drives profitability is backed by research, showing that businesses with clear purpose often grow three times faster than their competitors. This grounded approach makes the book feel more like a guidebook than a motivational read. I appreciated his emphasis on refining purpose not only for external growth but for internal clarity as well, a theme that runs throughout the book and shows up again when he discusses creating a people-centered company culture.
Cronstedt’s writing style is conversational but sharp. His advice on Promotion, for example, is laced with personal anecdotes from Kajabi’s promotional tactics, including how their “Hero” program grew into a viral success. He contrasts big-name companies like Coca-Cola and Apple with everyday entrepreneurs, driving home the point that building brand loyalty and recognition isn’t reserved for massive corporations. I found his thoughts on emotional connection, how brands should be personal and authentic, refreshing in an industry that sometimes leans too hard on hard-selling.
While Cronstedt acknowledges that failure is part of the entrepreneurial journey, the seven-ring system can feel like a magic formula that oversimplifies the messiness of real-world business. Still, I found his advice actionable—his tips on hiring and maintaining a purpose-driven culture resonated with me as a business owner who understands how essential people are to success.
Billion Dollar Bullseye is a must-read for entrepreneurs who want actionable advice wrapped in a conversational, no-nonsense tone. The author’s ability to break down each principle into digestible parts makes it ideal for seasoned business owners and people just starting. If you are looking for a book that gives you not only the “why” but also the “how” of growing your business, this is it.
Pages: 200 | ASIN : B0DB2N5NYR
Should’ve Been Dead: Lessons from a Crack Addict Who Broke Free
Should’ve Been Dead is a gripping memoir that dives into the tumultuous life of a former crack addict who miraculously transformed his life from the depths of addiction to become a successful businessman. Written by Sweta Patel, with Londer’s candid input, the book chronicles Rory Londer’s journey from the streets to owning a million-dollar home improvement business, all while battling his demons and coming to terms with his past.
I enjoyed this book because I found the narrative to be raw, unapologetic, and often heart-wrenching. The book offers readers a visceral glimpse into the struggles of addiction and the relentless pursuit of redemption. It doesn’t shy away from the grim realities of addiction. Early chapters like “Moment of Crisis” and “Stuck Like Chuck” vividly depict Rory’s desperation, from robbing a gas station to surviving the terror of crack houses. These scenes are not easy to digest, but they are necessary to see what life was really like for him.
The writing pulls you into Rory’s world, where paranoia and fear are constant companions. The book also highlights Rory’s painstaking recovery. In chapters such as “Fork in the Road” and “Keep Your Side of the Street Clean,” readers see him gradually rebuild his life. These sections are marked by small victories that slowly add up. The writing here becomes more reflective and offers a glimpse into Rory’s internal transformation. He’s not merely quitting drugs he is reshaping his entire existence. The emotional depth in these parts is profound and leaves a lasting impression.
What sets this memoir apart for me is its dual perspective. Patel, a teacher who invited Rory to speak to her students, doesn’t just observe his journey, she shares how it affected her life. This intertwining of narratives adds a unique layer to the book. It becomes more than Rory’s story and becomes a testament to the ripple effect one person’s life can have on others. Patel’s reflections add depth and makes the memoir more relatable and engaging.
Should’ve Been Dead is a story of resilience, transformation, and hope. Rory Londer’s journey is heartbreaking and uplifting and is a powerful reminder that change is possible no matter how deep one has fallen. This book will resonate with anyone seeking inspiration or understanding of the human capacity for redemption.
Pages: 232 | ASIN : B0CVG46NL9
Periphery
Periphery, by AA Dasilva, is a gripping and emotional novel that explores the intricacies of trauma, loss, and the complex journey of healing. The story centers around Charlotte, who finds her life shattered after a devastating car accident that leaves her grappling with physical and emotional scars. As she navigates her recovery, Charlotte encounters mysterious visions and newfound abilities, setting her on a path of self-discovery and unexpected connections.
From the first chapter, Dasilva captures the reader’s attention with vivid descriptions and an intense opening scene. The portrayal of Charlotte’s struggle to piece together her life after the accident is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. The author’s ability to convey the protagonist’s inner turmoil and resilience is commendable, making it easy to empathize with her journey. The integration of Charlotte’s visions adds a layer of intrigue, blending reality with the supernatural in a seamless manner.
Dasilva’s mastery of character development is particularly noteworthy. Charlotte’s evolution from a shattered individual to someone who learns to embrace her new reality is portrayed with depth and sensitivity. The supporting characters, especially the Donovan brothers, bring additional richness to the narrative. The interactions between Charlotte and Sy, one of the brothers, are charged with a palpable chemistry that keeps the reader engaged. The dynamics of their relationship, coupled with Sy’s mysterious past, add a compelling dimension to the story.
The prose is both eloquent and accessible, making for a smooth and enjoyable read. The author excels in creating atmospheric settings that enhance the mood of the story. Whether it’s the chaos of the trauma bay, the serenity of Charlotte’s home, or the tense moments of confrontation, the descriptions are vivid and immersive. The pacing is well-balanced, with a good mix of introspective moments and action-driven scenes.
Periphery, by AA Dasilva, is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of contemporary fiction with a touch of the supernatural. Dasilva’s ability to blend emotional depth with elements of mystery makes for a compelling narrative. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories about resilience, healing, and the unexpected ways life can change.
Pages: 287 | ASIN : B0DGQS1XKW
Rapid Death
Rapid Death by Julie Titterington centers on the investigation into the deaths of Jessica and Megan Kinneman. A detective named Joe and Jane, a doctor and businesswoman, team up to investigate if the deaths are accidental or if there is a murder on the loose. Jessica and Megan’s bodies were recovered from the river on different days, with each having a different cause of death: one was strangled, and the other drowned. Initially, the drowning was ruled an accident, but further investigation revealed both girls were murdered. During the course of the investigation, two more deaths occur with no arrests made because three of the perpetrators are dead, and one is protected by a powerful individual.
Set in Desert Pines, Rapid Death is the second installment in this compelling, cozy mystery novel series. The author takes readers deep into the theme of emotional control. The plot uncovers that most deaths in the story are driven by anger. Megan, a thief in debt, is not killed by the mobster she stole from or the business owners she owed money to; instead, her killer is provoked by her unapologetic attitude and perceived lack of remorse. Similarly, Jessica’s killer is driven by feelings of betrayal and anger. Both perpetrators allow their emotions to dictate their actions, leading them to murder instead of rationally addressing the situation. Titterington skillfully explores the destructive power of unchecked emotions. However, there are moments in the narrative where the “show, don’t tell” technique could have been better utilized to allow readers a deeper connection to the character’s motives. This is a minor drawback to the well-organized and executed plot surrounding the mystery.
Rapid Death by Julie Titterington is a gripping mystery that keeps readers engaged with its intricate plot and exploration of emotional turmoil. Titterington’s storytelling prowess is evident, and the character-building is well done. This cozy mystery novel is a captivating and engaging read for mystery enthusiasts.
Pages: 346 | ASIN : B0CD7J42BH
Agent Without a Name, A True Story of an Exceptional Life as a Private Security Consultant and Undercover Agent
Agent Without a Name by Serge Smith and William Michael offers a captivating glimpse into the extraordinary life of Serge, a lifelong spy and double agent. While we’re all familiar with the high-octane world of espionage in films, Serge’s narrative brings an unexpected twist—his story is told with a disarming simplicity. The way he recounts his adventures makes it feel as though you could sit across from him, casually chatting over a cup of coffee, as he shares his tales of global intrigue.
What sets this memoir apart is not just Serge’s remarkable life but the way he weaves personal anecdotes into each chapter, distilling key lessons from every encounter. He presents his exploits, whether it’s conducting espionage or stepping in as an impromptu bodyguard, with such nonchalance that it’s easy to forget you’re reading about someone who’s lived a life far removed from the ordinary. The matter-of-fact tone adds a layer of relatability, making his thrilling experiences feel grounded and accessible. The approachable style of Agent Without a Name is one of its strongest assets. The memoir reads as though Serge is simply recounting his life in a relaxed, conversational way, which makes it inviting for readers new to the genre. The short, bite-sized chapters—some only a few pages long—add to the book’s easy readability. It’s perfect for those moments when you want a quick escape into a fascinating life story without committing to lengthy chapters. This structure makes it an ideal entry point for readers who might be intimidated by the larger-than-life personas typical of spy memoirs. Yet, be warned—once you dive into Serge’s world, you may find yourself too engrossed to put the book down, even as your morning alarm rings.
Agent Without a Name is an engaging and accessible look into the extraordinary world of espionage through the eyes of Serge Smith. With its conversational tone, relatable storytelling, and short, digestible chapters, the book offers a refreshing take on the spy memoir genre. Serge’s ability to present his incredible experiences in such a down-to-earth way makes the book both captivating and approachable, whether you’re a longtime fan of spy stories or new to the genre. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking a personal and compelling glimpse into a life lived in the shadows of global intrigue.
Pages: 298 | ISBN : 1614939667
LITERARY TITAN 