Blog Archives
If John Lennon Had Lived
Imagine follows a handyman living in New York City in 1980 who witnesses the murder of John Lennon before being engulfed in an orange ball of light and time-traveling to the year 2023. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration came from two sources. First, I love Stephen King’s novel 11/22/63 and always wanted to write something similar to it. My second inspiration is my father, who is a huge Beatles/Lennon fan, so this led to my story Imagine being written.
Joe struggles with the changes in society from his time travel and the loss of everything he knew and loved. What things do you find interesting about the human condition that makes for great fiction?
I find the way people can adapt to any situation fascinating. People always think they can’t handle a situation until they have no choice. It shows the power of being human.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to explore, of course, what the world may look like if John Lennon had lived. I always wanted to explore the bond of family, showing it both through the main character Joe and John Lennon’s family, as well.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it?
I am currently working on another time-traveling story. This time it’s a young adult novel that explores the history of the game of basketball through the main character, Braxton, who has to write a book report on basketball, and pass, or get kicked off the high school basketball team.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Website | Amazon
Joe Miller was just a regular handyman in New York City, trying to adapt to the city life after moving to The Big Apple from his small town in Pennsylvania.
On the night of December 8, 1980, Joe’s life changed forever. He witnessed the murder of his idol, John Lennon. What happened next was even worse. A strange orange ball of light in the sky surrounded him, rendering him unconscious. When Joe awoke, he was in the year 2023.
Now, Joe is stuck in a strange and unfamiliar world where everything he knows and loves is gone. He must find a way to return to his own time, but how?
Education is Changing Directions
Theodore, the Sloth Who Wants to Race, follows a two-toed sloth who, unlike other sloths, dreams of winning a speed race despite the obstacles that are in his path. What was the inspiration for your story?
Sam and I have always chosen paths in life that others have tried to tell us won’t or can’t work. Sometimes those predictions were correct, and we’ve then found ourselves wishing in those low moments that we had chosen something else. But then, in other instances, in spite of the comments of naysayers, we have found the results of going our own way to be magical. And so, we were sitting around one night during one of those low moments of indecision, trying to sort out where to head next in our life direction, when one of us (we can’t remember which) commented that, “Sometimes, I feel like a sloth trying to be an Olympic sprinter.” We thought the analogy to be as funny as it was apt and then came up with Theodore as a way to entertain ourselves.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
Probably the scene where Theo is racing the worm and then, in his moment of glory, realizes his big achievement never actually happened. Poor Theo!
What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?
The primary lesson of Theodore is that life truly is a marathon and that you cannot give up. You don’t know what obstacles will come into your marathon-path, or how you might initially react to them. Sometimes you’ll have wins and other times losses, but the only way to really experience life is to just keep trying. You just never know what you can achieve!
In a purely didactic sense, we purposefully used vocabulary that one does not typically find in children’s picture books and then included a glossary at the end. Why? Because kids are smart and like to learn! And in this same vein, we also included some fun facts about sloths and the biology game, because we have noticed that when there is a relatable story behind learning, then kids are more engaged and able to absorb knowledge.
Also, it seems that education is changing directions, but when Sam and I were in our formative years, the message was definitely that learning is a chore and isn’t supposed to be fun. Sadly, this dogma becomes internalized and translates later in life to the idea that you can’t be a fun person and be a smart, successful, and serious person at the same time. We both think that learning is absolutely fun and critical to meaningful engagement in life.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Right now, Theodore is a stand-alone, with no specific plans for a sequel, but that possibility has been discussed. One reader suggested the next book to be about Theodore’s club, so we’ll have to see!
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Instagram | Website | Amazon | YouTube
Theodore yearns to RACE, to EARN his wins, to prove his WORTH.
The only catch?
Well, he’s a sloth, the slowest mammal ON THIS EARTH.
But that can’t stop a dream.
With determination, a few good friends, and a touch of science, Theo sets out to overcome his obstacles.
Join him on his (two-toed) quest for athletic glory!
Steeped in Conspiracies
Ansaki Devout follows a killer set on removing evil from positions of power who puts out a call to action to other illuminated people across the globe to take action and murder their local evil mongers. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Throughout history, there have always been the Brutus’es, and to an extent, power was always tempered with the possibility that conspirators could take down those in power. However in the present time, the last 30 years, the powerful have become more united, to the extent that “the political class” has emerged, and in many of the world countries is untouchable. In the West, we seem to be steeped in conspiracies designed to somehow disenfranchise the lower classes, depriving them of essentials such as medical services, food water. Fascism appears to be rearing its ugly head, and even the socialist political classes seem to have closed ranks to the detriment of the weak. In Ansaki Devout the main protagonist has been touched by the turning of events to the extent of making him or her react.
Some events in the book were chillingly similar to real-life events. Did you draw inspiration from real life when developing this book?
When developing my book I most certainly drew inspiration from what was happening in all of those parts of the world. As a human being, I make it my duty to find out what is happening in the world; the reality, and not what is sold to us by the practical totality of the Western Press. What I saw in Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, and Somalia, and then when I started to look in depth at Palestine West Bank, and realised what was happening was pure evil, and had been going on for many years. I used to think to myself, why do the lads in there not take up arms and defend themselves? Shortly later I had my answer when the 7 OCT happened and the IDF created havoc with their Hanibal Protocol.
Themes to explore: I wonder for example how Trump would have changed when he realised that he could be assassinated at any time. Of course, we will only know the true answer if he becomes president. Will it make politicians and officials, wealthy persons more caring and compassionate if they know that those who judge them from afar could well become their executioners?
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Themes, there are so many questions posed by the idea of the Ansaki Devout. I only know that either we begin to get things right in rapid strides or they will destroy our children’s very world.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
A follow-up? Yes, of course if the good Lord grants me time. I would certainly further develop aspects of this story but bring back the World and nature that we once had. It can be done you know, we just need to get rid of the negative movers in our societies and work for Peace, Love, freedom, and nature. Why not?
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Amazon
In today’s world of political and universal corruption, where powers nefarious and often official are working to change the very physical and mental nature of children. Illegal wars are being created for the financial enhancement of the usual few, and millions are dying as a result. And Trillions are being stolen by others generally off states and their innocent people. Someone has finally reached the point at which he or she takes matters into his hands, and has assassinated a highly disreputable American Senator.
The killer has published a confession, an explanation of why he murdered this man, and he elicits other illuminated people all over the globe to do as he has done and murder their local evil monger. The success of his request is enormous and killings of people with shady reputations start to happen everywhere. The idea is to commit a single act and then disappear, leaving it to the authorities to search fruitlessly for what they call clean skins.
International pressure for the discovery and arrest of the first killer is enormous, as it is believed that with his arrest the balloon will burst and the murders will stop. Heading the task force are top investigators from the Spanish National Police and the Guardia Civil, the para-military police. This is their story, the story of Chief Inspector Juan Betardo Solis and Captain Jose Garcia’s investigation, a story which unravels in the Costa Del Sol, Morocco, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan, and the tale of their many suspects.
Stalin’s Atrocities
The Repression of Armenian Repatriates During the Stalin Era is a detailed account of the repression, displacement, and destruction of countless Armenian lives, as well as the inhumane violence perpetrated against these individuals by Communist regimes. Why was this an important book for you to write?
For me, this book The Repression of Armenian Repatriates During the Stalin Era brought to light the issue of long forgotten and ignored victims of Stalin’s regime 1920-1953. During my yearly visit to Armenia, on June 14 in 2006 I heard from the national news that there was going to be a demonstration in Yerevan at a site called Commemorative Plaque (Hushakar). I became curious and decided to attend. There, I saw about 30-50 mostly older folks telling their story to the cameramen and newspaper journalists. There were a few public figures who were also listening and talking with the demonstrators and the journalists. The main theme of the demonstration was the lack of attention to their plight and lack of reparations.
By the end of the day, I learned the significance of that date. On June 14, 1949, during late night about 2000, citizens, mostly expatriates, were gathered at gunpoint from their homes and sent to Siberian Gulags with train rides that lasted 16 days.
How much research did you undertake for this book and how long did it take to put it all together?
As I said above, I wanted to find out more about what happened to my people during Stalin’s era. Of course like the rest of the international community, Stalin’s atrocities are well documented, but what I discovered shocked me further.
I started my research from the National Archives of Armenia located in a 3-story old Soviet-era building in the capital city, Yerevan. It took me 4 years of summer months since I was a full-time Chemistry teacher in the US during the school year. I hired a translator because some files were in Russian only. I isolated 1700 files of only expatriates. Some files (dossiers) were half an inch thick, and some were 4-6 inches thick. Every piece of paper, receipt, letter, and any other document has been preserved. Afterward, the book got published in 2010 in Yerevan. I had a very well-publicized book presentation at the City Main Public Library in August of that year.
This book was translated into English in 2012 and into Russian a year later.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
During my research at the archives, I found as many Gulag survivors as I could. I had an interview with the president of the Survivors Union. He told me that most of them are living in poverty. He was thankful to the Armenian Government that despite hard financial times, has legislated a modest stipend for them plus free bus and metro passes. He said that the survivors have been petitioning the Russian Government in Moscow for real reparations, with no result. After Stalin’s death in 1953, the remaining prisoners in Siberia were all freed and were announced INNOCENT OF ALL CHARGES.
During my subsequent visits, I interviewed 40 survivors of the Gulags which became another book in 2019 titled The Memoirs of The Survivors of Stalin’s Era published in Armenian only.
Unfortunately, some of these individuals have passed away. All of them thanked me for bringing their plight to the attention of the public. Judging from newspaper reviews about my work, the Parliament passed a resolution to increase the social security pay.
Some of them had endured such a deep trauma that they refused to talk with me out of fear. My interview sessions were sometimes interrupted either with my tears of empathy or theirs.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Repression of Armenian Repatriates During the Stalin Era?
- How thousands of innocent people in their own homeland can become victims of an unchecked authority i.e. dictatorship.
- The Evil Empire of the Soviet Union had no regard for the self-determination of an entire nation. It was not a social movement; it was for domination and securing slave labor.
- Lack of Institutions and worship of a father figure such as Stalin or Lenin can cause havoc and death to millions of innocent people and eventually can bring down an Empire. We see this same phenomenon happening in US now.
- To give voice to the disenfranchised and marginal people IS THE DUTY OF ALL DEMOCRACIES.
Author Links: GoodReads
Diabolical Domains
Navigating Darkness follows a sixteen-year-old boy as he descends into a world of supernatural horrors where he is pushed to the brink of madness by a malevolent force. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve been interested in the realm of the supernatural ever since I was a young boy. With the revelation that “truth is stranger than fiction,” I was led to a great gathering of experiences, a story that must be told. Who were these demons waiting for darkness to enter my room and feed off the fear of a child? It’s been said that fear is a spirit, and it was my motivation in writing this story to bring to light that which dwells in diabolical domains and to expose the enemy of my soul with the light that overcomes the darkness.
Which character in the novel do you feel you relate to more and why?
The main character of the story is a teenage boy named Lucas Mofit. And without a doubt, I find Lucas to be the most relatable to myself. I recall the angst and rebellion of my own teenage years. Sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll, coupled with supernatural experiences, weighed heavily at times on my own adolescent soul. And yet, I managed to find light in the darkness, much like Lucas. The name Lucas means “bringer of light.”
How long did it take you to imagine, draft, and write the world Lucas finds himself in?
To imagine the world Lucas finds himself in, I only needed to recall my own journey through darkness. However, It took years to draft and write the manuscript. There were many obstacles along the way. There were days when I would finish my coffee with no ink on the page. And then there were those days when the creative juices were flowing, and the coffee would go cold.
I find a problem in well-written stories, in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned?
I never started out writing Navigating Darkness with the intention of writing a sequel. I was totally invested in the story from beginning to end. Although, after receiving such positive feedback and a desire to learn more about what happens next to Lucas, I’m left wondering myself. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Haunted by fears and supernatural signs, young Lucas Mofit must face his demons or risk losing his mind. Having found a way to escape the pressures of the day, sixteen-year-old Lucas looks forward to a night of self-indulgence. What he gets is more than he wants. In the woods, a dog is chasing its tail in a ring of smoke. “The Devil?” It’s the first sign. Day after day and night after night, they continue―visions and voices, omens and nightmares. His friends seek to console him, but to no avail. He feels all alone . . . But he’s not alone. There is something wicked with him, something frightening and foul. He can’t take it anymore. Finally, he breaks. He cries out to God, and God hears him. All is well until it happens again! Lust leads him to darkness. And in the darkness, a dog is chasing its tail.
No Requiem for the Tin Man
No Requiem for the Tin Man is a gripping, dieselpunk detective novel set in 1930s San Francisco. It’s absolutely dripping with atmosphere and intrigue. Lou Tanner, our protagonist, is a hard-nosed private investigator navigating a world of American Nazis and mysterious clients amid an undercurrent of political tension. The story kicks off when a disheveled, terrified man stumbles into Lou’s office. He warns of unseen dangers and mumbling about “Tin Men.” What follows is a twisty and action-packed investigation that dives into the darker corners of society. Lou Tanner’s sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude leads the charge.
One thing I loved about T. E. MacArthur’s book is how she nails the voice of Lou Tanner. Lou is a true gumshoe. She’s complete with biting sarcasm and a rough-around-the-edges charm that readers will find hard not to admire. Her internal monologues are pure gold. They’re filled with dry humor and sharp observations that bring her character to life. This voice is what kept me coming back to this book, even when the plot delves into the convoluted politics of the time.
The plot was engaging but it sometimes felt like it was juggling a lot. The introduction of various characters and subplots, like the mysterious “Tin Men,” the shady War Department, and the Gruber family, sometimes made it hard for me to keep track of what was going on. There were moments when I found myself flipping back a few pages to remember who was who. But the complexity of the plot also added to the book’s depth and the way everything ties together in the end is satisfying.
What stood out to me was the setting. The dieselpunk version of 1930s San Francisco is familiar and alien at the same time with zeppelins hovering over Market Street and an undercurrent of fascism threatening to boil over. The author does a bang-up job of blending historical elements with speculative fiction to create a world that is detailed and immersive. The descriptions of the city, the constant tension in the air, and the creeping dread as Lou uncovers more about the “Tin Men” all contribute to a mood that is equal parts thrilling and unsettling.
I highly recommend No Requiem for the Tin Man to fans of hardboiled detective fiction that looking for a story with a twist. If you are into strong female leads, adore noir settings, and looking for a story with a bit of dieselpunk flair, then this book is definitely for you. Lou Tanner is a character you will not forget and her adventures in this darkly imaginative world are gripping.
Pages: 275 | ASIN : B0D9MRDLGS
BLITZED: What I Learned Reading 100 Books in 100 Days in My Target Language
Blitzed, by Jason S. Comely, is a fascinating and somewhat eccentric dive into language learning through an intense, self-imposed challenge. Comely embarks on a 100-day journey to read 100 books in Polish, a language he is just beginning to learn. The book chronicles his experiment, blending personal anecdotes, language-learning tips, and reflections on the books he blitzes through in this mental marathon. It’s a quirky mix of language-learning guide and memoir, offering insights into the highs and lows of this unconventional approach.
One thing that stands out immediately is Comely’s relentless drive and creativity. His creation of the “Bimodal Blitz” method—reading while simultaneously listening to audiobooks—shows a commitment to hacking his way through the frustrating walls of traditional language learning. For instance, when he tackles classics like Animal Farm and Candide, the struggle is palpable. He often loses his place, gets mentally exhausted, and admits to barely understanding chunks of the text. Yet, there’s something inspiring in his persistence. He doesn’t sugarcoat the experience. That honesty makes the book relatable and motivating for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by learning a language.
Comely is open in sharing his thoughts througohout this experience. When he blitzes through Lolek, a memoir about the bond between a man and his dog, Comely notes improvements in his Polish comprehension but doesn’t seem to connect emotionally with the content. In some cases, the rapid-fire consumption of literature sometimes reduces the books to mere stepping stones in his language journey rather than meaningful experiences.
The book is also full of moments that resonate emotionally. Comely’s reflections on books like Anne Frank show a more introspective side. He finds himself moved by Anne’s unwavering optimism despite the grim historical context, a sentiment that clearly touches him on a personal level. It’s in these moments that Blitzed transcends from being just a log of a language experiment to a heartfelt exploration of human resilience and connection through the written word.
Blitzed is not your typical language-learning book. It’s raw and sometimes chaotic. Full of triumphs and stumbles. Comely’s journey is a testament to the power of immersion and persistence in learning a new language. I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in learning a new language, especially through an unorthodox method. It is also great for people who enjoy stories of personal challenges and growth, with the added bonus of discovering new books along the way.
Pages: 148 | ASIN : B0D8BLRXJN
Escape
Escape (Haven Series, Book One), by Tracy Myhre, is a post-apocalyptic romantic thriller set in the not-too-distant future, in 2027. The story unfolds across Washington State and Idaho, where Beth, a diner dishwasher in Spokane, meets Ryker Kensington, a recently discharged Marine looking for work. There’s an immediate connection between them, but before they can explore their relationship, a series of coordinated missile strikes devastate the nation, thrusting them into a chaotic new world. As Beth embarks on a perilous journey to reach her uncle’s doomsday prepper compound, Haven, in Idaho, Ryker must navigate the dangerous landscape to find her in a society on the verge of collapse.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot was engaging and maintained my interest from beginning to end. The way Myhre starts the story in the midst of Beth’s ordinary life, from working at the diner to spending time with friends, adds a strong foundation before the chaos hits. The transition from everyday normality to the life-threatening aftermath of the missile strikes felt natural and intense, heightening the stakes as Beth and her friends make a desperate escape from Spokane. I appreciated that the narrative didn’t simply drop readers into a post-apocalyptic world; instead, we experience the dramatic shift alongside the characters. The contrast between Beth’s life before and her fight to survive in the violent new reality was well-executed, and it gave depth to her character. Beth’s mix of strength and vulnerability made her relatable, and watching her adapt to this grim situation kept me invested throughout. One of my favorite aspects of the book is how the tension builds. There’s an urgency in the way the world unravels around Beth, yet the pacing allows space for character development. Her journey from Spokane to Haven isn’t just a race for survival but a gradual transformation as she faces increasingly dangerous situations.
Myhre strikes a good balance between the action and Beth’s emotional growth, making the story compelling beyond just its plot twists. The early chapters introduce a large number of characters, and I felt that keeping track of who was who became difficult at times. The complex web of relationships, especially in a fast-paced survival scenario, was occasionally overwhelming. I feel it would have been helpful if the family trees, which provide clarity on the character connections, had been placed at the beginning of the book rather than at the end. I feel might have made understanding the character dynamics smoother from the start.
Escape is a thrilling and emotional ride through a post-apocalyptic world that feels all too real. If you enjoy fast-paced, high-stakes survival stories with a mix of romance and suspense, this book is for you. The combination of relatable characters, a gripping plot, and the looming threat of a shattered society makes this a strong start to the Haven series. I’m already looking forward to diving into Flee (Haven Series, Book Two), which focuses on two of Beth’s friends, Sadie and Liam, as they navigate their own struggles in this fractured world.
Pages: 432 | ASIN : B0CW19QR5H
LITERARY TITAN 