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My Nightmare
The Other Side follows a young detective who is killed in the line of duty, and instead of ascending to Heaven chooses to reside in the Veil, where he has to destroy an ancient beast set on feeding on the living’s souls. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
First, I want to thank the entire team at Literary Titan for their hard work and dedication with helping independent authors. Thank you for everything you do. To answer your question we must travel back to my childhood. When I was eleven years old I began having a recurring nightmare where I had passed away and become a ghost. I would follow my family around the house trying to get their attention, but no matter how hard I tried, no one could see or hear me. As if that wasn’t bad enough, I would realize something was with me in this in between world. I couldn’t see what it was, I just knew it was wicked and it wanted my soul. This unseen entity would chase me through the house and I would always wake up, sweaty and with my heart pounding, right before it could get me. Like most nightmares of your youth it faded over time. But the impression it left on me never diminished. So when I decided to write my first novel, it was a no-brainer for me to write about my nightmare.
Mitch is an interesting character with his flaws, yet he remains likable and relatable. How do you go about creating characters for your story?
I really enjoy creating characters. It’s my favorite part of creating my stories. For years I was a warehouse manager, and part of my job duties was hiring new employees. I always enjoyed interviewing prospective team members. Every person is unique, and it was always interesting learning a little bit about that person’s background and why they wanted to work for the company and why they thought they would be a great team member. And that’s how I create my prospective characters. I have them sit down and do a full interview inside my head and write down their responses. Of course, it’s more personal and thorough than a mere job interview, but the same principles apply. I learn everything about my characters and have fun doing it.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to explore love, the power of family, and the goodness in the human soul in the face of unimaginable horror. The Other Side is a horror novel, but that doesn’t mean we can’t highlight some of the positive aspects of the human condition. Mitch shows us all the power of love trumps the power of evil. He’ll do anything to protect his family and friends. And I believe it is important to highlight the positive aspects of humanity because most of what you see on the news and online highlight the worst parts of us. So yeah, The Other Side is a horror novel with gory depictions and an enigmatic, evil villain, but at its heart is love, family, and the power of good triumphing over evil.
Will this novel be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
When I wrote The Other Side I meant for it to be a standalone story. Since then, I’ve had hundreds of readers asking me the same question. So now, I have plans on making the adventures of Mitch and Sophia into a trilogy. But first, I have another novel in the editing phase of production and I’m putting the finishing touches on another manuscript. So stay tuned!
Author Links: GoodReads | Bookbaby
After being shot and killed in the line of duty, and passing up his chance to enter heaven so he can watch over his family, Mitch finds himself in The Veil, a dangerous plane of existence where unwanted souls and unspeakable evil dwell. Now an ancient beast that feeds on the souls God doesn’t want has its eyes set on Mitch, and it won’t stop until it possesses his soul.
What follows is a battle between good and evil with the fate of every soul in the living world hanging in the balance. Can Mitch destroy the ancient evil and protect his friends and family? Or will the beast from the pits of hell take Mitch’s soul and be unleashed upon the living world?
In The Shadows of The Blue Ridge ~ A Farmer’s Plight in Loudoun County
In The Shadows of The Blue Ridge tells the story of Red Smith, a Loudoun County farmer caught between the region’s deep agricultural past and its rapid transformation into a hub for data centers, subdivisions, and politics. Author Juliet Lauderdale braids together local history, genealogy, politics, and Red’s personal struggles with addiction, family dysfunction, and survival in a changing landscape. The book moves from colonial times and Native American displacement, through Loudoun’s rise as the richest county in the country, to the intimate details of Red’s life with his mother, his political dealings, and his inner battles. It is both a chronicle of a place and a portrait of a man who never fully fits in.
The details of Red’s gardening, his mother’s sharp tongue, and the smell of orchards or basements made the pages feel alive. At times, the story wandered, carrying the rhythm of a neighbor sharing memories in a way that felt unhurried and conversational. That gave it a kind of authenticity. The mix of personal narrative, politics, and theology could be dizzying, yet it reflected the chaos of a life lived on the margins of prosperity.
What stood out most to me was the emotional core. I found myself angry with Red, then pitying him, and then oddly proud when he pulled off his small political stunts. The mother-son relationship was heartbreaking, filled with bitterness, need, and the faintest hint of love buried under insults. I also admired how the book tied Red’s story to the land itself. The soil, the creeks, and the ghosts of farmers past seemed as much characters as Red and Jane. It made me think hard about what gets lost when land is swallowed by development.
I think this book is best for readers who want more than a polished narrative. Anyone interested in the human side of rural decline, the clash between tradition and modernity, or the way family history shapes identity will find it worth their time.
Pages: 264 | ASIN : B0FHBPSGDP
The Adventure of Alex and Er
The Adventure of Alex and Er is a magical and imaginative children’s picture book that blends adventure, fantasy, and whimsy in a way that will captivate readers who love knights, unicorns, and enchanted quests. The story follows a brave knight, Alex, and his unicorn mare, Er, as they embark on a quest to recover a snowman’s missing broom. Along the way, they cross enchanted lands, discover kingdoms turned into lakes, encounter unusual creatures, and help others in need.
One of the standout elements of this children’s book is its visual design. The illustrations are rich and detailed, bringing the medieval fantasy world to life. The parchment-style backdrop for the text is especially clever. I felt it gives the story an old-world charm as though it were written with a quill centuries ago. This creativity extends to the whimsical layout and rhyming text, which provide a sing-song rhythm that makes the story engaging when read aloud.
The book succeeds in what it sets out to do: create an enchanting, imaginative adventure filled with knights, dragons, and magical lore. It’s a book that invites children to get lost in a fantastical world, and parents or teachers who enjoy reading longer tales aloud will find plenty here to share with curious young listeners.
The Adventure of Alex and Er is a beautifully illustrated and cleverly designed fantasy picture book that’s best suited for older kids who love adventure and rhyme. Strong readers and fantasy enthusiasts will be delighted by Alex and Er’s quest.
Pages: 31 | ASIN : B08NWNBYTZ
The Woman in the Ship
Sapphira Olson’s The Woman in the Ship is a haunting and dreamlike blend of science fiction, memory, and emotional reckoning. It follows Sally Arden, the captain of the starship Ascension, and Nova, the ship’s sentient AI, as they drift through the black silence of space after the destruction of Earth. The book folds between timelines and inner worlds, moving from cold interstellar loneliness to tender childhood memories and surreal fragments of human connection. It is less a straight story than a constellation of moments, where technology, grief, and love all orbit one another in fragile harmony.
Olson’s prose has an almost musical rhythm, flickering between poetry and story, sometimes sharp and funny, sometimes soft and strange. It’s the kind of writing that makes you stop and reread sentences because they shimmer with meaning. Sally’s voice feels raw and real, her memories messy and full of life. Nova, the AI, is heartbreakingly human. Their conversations became oddly intimate, even comforting, and I found myself wanting them both to survive, even when the story made it clear that survival might not be the point.
I loved how the book kept folding back on itself, how the sci-fi setting felt like a stage for something deeply emotional and spiritual. It’s about loneliness, but also about connection. The kind that stretches across time and memory. Olson writes with empathy, with a kind of quiet courage that dares to look at pain without flinching. Sometimes the abstract sections were slow, yet even in those moments, the language felt alive. It made me think about what it means to be human, to remember, to hope when hope seems foolish.
I’d recommend The Woman in the Ship to readers who love introspective science fiction, the kind that feels more like poetry than plot. If you liked books like Solaris, The Left Hand of Darkness, or even Annihilation, you’ll probably find something here that you’ll enjoy. It’s not a quick read, and it doesn’t hold your hand. But it stays with you. It’s a strange, beautiful meditation on what remains after everything else is gone.
Pages: 274 | ASIN : B0FX32NYF1
3 Wines In
Hilary Saxton’s 3 Wines In is part story, part self-help manual, and part pep talk in book form. It begins as the tale of four women, Linda, Emma, Jenny, and Kate, friends bound by monthly lunches and life’s bruises. Their lives unfold through laughter, heartbreak, and hard-won self-awareness. As the narrative evolves, Saxton reveals her “Evolve Program,” a personal development framework built around the acronym ROSÉ: Realise, Organise, Study, and Elevate. It’s both metaphor and method, promising to help women reclaim confidence and live as if they were “three wines in,” relaxed, honest, and unafraid, but without the alcohol.
Reading this book felt like chatting with a wise friend who’s been through it all. The fictional stories of the women were warm and messy, full of the kind of real-life details that made me nod, laugh, and sometimes wince. I liked how Saxton wove the characters’ challenges, career burnout, relationship breakdowns, body image issues, into her coaching philosophy. The writing isn’t fancy or overly polished, but it’s authentic. It carries a tone of empathy and experience. There were moments where it drifted into predictability, especially when lessons became a bit too tidy, yet it feels like honest guidance, not clinical theory.
What stood out to me most was Saxton’s genuine passion for transformation. Her voice is encouraging, a mix of coach, cheerleader, and confidante. Some parts felt like a motivational seminar written down. The best sections are when she speaks from the heart about confidence, failure, and finding one’s worth again. I could feel her own story pulsing beneath the surface, especially in her reflections on rebuilding from pain.
3 Wines In is perfect for women who are feeling stuck, self-doubting, or just craving a nudge toward something better. It’s for anyone who’s ever looked in the mirror and thought, “There’s got to be more than this.” If you like books that mix storytelling with self-improvement and a glass of humor on the side, this one will hit home. It’s not about drinking wine. It’s about remembering who you are when you finally relax and tell the truth.
Pages: 185 | ASIN : B0CCQQCFBV
Thru The Eyes of a Warrior
This book is both memoir and meditation. Merrill A. Vaughan blends poetry, storytelling, and raw personal truth to explore what it means to serve, survive, and remember. Through the fictional voice of Jack Delaney, a veteran haunted by his experiences in Vietnam, Vaughan builds a bridge between past and present, between the young soldier who went to war and the older man learning to heal. The story moves between letters, memories, and poems that capture the brutal honesty of combat and the quiet ache of coming home. It’s not a linear tale but rather a mosaic of moments, stitched together by grief, guilt, and grace.
The poems have grit and rhythm, the kind that comes from someone who has lived the words he writes. I could feel the heaviness in Jack’s silence and the relief when he finally found his voice again. Some passages felt personal, like peeking into someone’s private confession, yet that’s what made them so powerful. Vaughan doesn’t hide behind pretty phrasing or elaborate structure. He just tells it straight. The scenes in the jungle, the letters to Ella, the haunting of lost friends, they all stay with you long after you close the book.
What I loved most was the sense of hope quietly pulsing beneath the pain. The character of Claire, the nurse who teaches Jack to write, and Ella, the granddaughter who asks to hear the truth, turn this story into a full circle. It’s not only about what war takes but what art gives back. The poems woven throughout, about veterans, remembrance, and America itself, feel like collective prayers for understanding. The mix of fiction and poetry works surprisingly well. At times, it feels like a diary cracked open. I found myself pausing often, just sitting with the weight of the words.
I’d recommend Thru the Eyes of a Warrior to anyone who wants to understand the emotional landscape of a veteran’s life, beyond statistics and slogans. This book would especially resonate with veterans, their families, and anyone who believes that storytelling can heal what silence can’t. Vaughan has written something painful, tender, and brave.
Pages: 110 | ASIN : B0FPT9WGZP
Obesseus The Mighty Muncher
This book is wild. It starts at a dumpling festival where this big-hearted, big-bellied hero named Obesseus is just vibing with his snacks, living his best life, when suddenly, bam! His old friend Monica Mango shows up, leading a “Juice Regime” trying to outlaw solid food. From there, it just explodes into this over-the-top food war, with dumpling battles, fruit villains, and a ton of ridiculous snack puns. Every chapter feels like watching a Saturday morning cartoon. There’s action, betrayal, friendship, and some surprisingly emotional burping.
I didn’t expect to get as invested as I did. At first, I thought it’d just be silly jokes about food fights and belly bumps, but the writing actually sneaks up on you. Obesseus might be goofy, but he’s got heart. He misses his friend, he doubts himself, he tries to do what’s right even when he’s covered in pudding. And Monica? She’s not just a bad guy. She’s complicated, hurt, a little tragic even. The story swings between absurd comedy and weirdly touching moments about loyalty and self-worth. The pacing is quick, and the dialogue has that kind of chaotic rhythm that feels alive. The author clearly had fun writing this, and iyou can feel it.
Sometimes the jokes go on a bit long, and a few parts get overstuffed with food gags. But even then, I was grinning. There’s a sincerity hiding under all the slapstick. The world of Snackland might be ridiculous, but it’s built with love and creativity. You can tell this story believes in joy and in standing up for what you love, no matter how squishy or saucy you are.
Obesseus: The Mighty Muncher made me laugh and even feel a little warm inside. It’s loud, messy, and surprisingly sweet. I’d recommend it for middle-grade readers who like their stories packed with adventure, humor, and heart —or, honestly, for any grown-up who still secretly laughs at food fights. It’s pure, unapologetic fun.
Pages: 98 | ASIN : B0FPMGQGZF
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