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A Place To Escape and Explore
The Pharaoh’s Catacombs follows five misfit cats into Paris’s shadowy underground, where friendship and cleverness prove their only weapons against supernatural peril. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I love ancient Egyptian history and I always knew I would write something about Egypt. But I wanted a twist. I wanted a story where the reader would search the internet to see if Rameses VIII’s mummy is even in Paris.
Each cat has such a distinct personality. Do any of them draw from people (or pets) in your own life?
This all started with my first cat (as an adult), Franky. He was a sassy fellow with fluffy pants. And since then many more have entered my life and they each have their own lives. Some are lazy. Some run the neighborhood poker game, and some collect the money from the losers of the poker games. It’s fun to create little lives for them.
How do you balance historical detail with magical storytelling without losing pace or accessibility for young readers?
My editor. He reels in my history lesson and reminds me that this is not a boring world with spreadsheets, but a place to escape to and explore.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Book 3 will have the same cast of characters and a grumpy dragon that was rudely waken from his thousand-year nap. It will still have riddles, but will also have a whodunnit component to it. I plan to release it in April 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
🐾 A new maze. A deadly secret. A race against time. ✨
Legends whisper of treasures in the Paris Catacombs, but the kittens of Caylor Academy get more than they bargained for when an ancient mummy pulls them into a dangerous game of riddles and clues.
To survive, Sheba, Buckley, Tank, and their new ally Ruby must solve puzzles carved in stone, survive traps that spring without warning, navigate eerie passageways, and face a mummy who will stop at nothing to free himself from his ghostly world. One wrong answer could mean doom—not just for them, but for the magical world itself.
Dark forces are moving fast, and one wrong choice could unravel everything like a frayed ball of yarn. 🧶⏳
Danger is closer than ever. The question is—can they solve the mystery before time runs out?
For readers who crave thrilling quests, magical riddles, and adventures with claws. 🐱✨
Paws what you’re doing and dive into this CAT-astrophically delightful sequel! 🐾
You Make My Heart Giggle: Dadisms, The Wisdom and Wit of Dad
The book is a heartfelt blend of memoir, wisdom, and history. Brent John Larsen builds each chapter around one of his father’s sayings, what he calls “Dadisms.” These are short, memorable lines that carry lessons about courage, integrity, optimism, and love. Each one is tied to a story from his own life, often connected to his father’s influence, and then matched with an episode from history that reflects the same theme. The book moves from family stories to bigger cultural touchstones like the Apollo moon landing, the Grand Canyon expedition, or D-Day. It’s both intimate and sweeping, mixing tender memories with lessons meant to last.
Reading it stirred me up in ways I didn’t expect. The writing is simple, but that works in its favor. It doesn’t try to be fancy. It feels like sitting on a porch with someone older and wiser, listening to stories that matter. At times, the mix of personal loss and historical grandeur felt heavy, but that weight gave the lessons a kind of permanence. Some chapters hit harder than others. The introduction, where Larsen recalls losing his son and nearly losing his own life, shook me. It made me sit still for a while. I also loved how he wove in his dad’s voice, almost like the man was speaking directly to me. There’s an earnestness here that you don’t find in most books.
Each chapter follows the same rhythm: the saying, the family story, the historical story. I found myself anticipating the turn. Yet the predictability didn’t take away too much because the content itself was strong. What I enjoyed most was how personal moments were stitched to major historical events. That leap from small family wisdom to global history made me feel the depth of these sayings. It reminded me that wisdom can be both ordinary and extraordinary, lived at home and echoed through time.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys family stories, history told in a personal way, or reflections on fatherhood. It would especially resonate with parents, children of loving fathers, or anyone who’s lost someone and still feels their lessons echoing through life. It’s warm, emotional, and rooted in gratitude. For me, it felt like a reminder to look closer at the words my own family repeats and see what truths are hidden inside.
Pages: 217 | ASIN : B0FJSPCN3W
The REAL 12 Days of Christmas
The REAL 12 Days of Christmas takes the familiar carol and spins it into a whimsical love story. Travis Trulove, a young man with more persistence than sense, tries to win over Taylor by giving her increasingly outrageous gifts over twelve days. Birds, cows, maids, dancers, lords, pipers, even a dog band with drummers, all tumble into her life in a kind of joyful chaos. What starts as a quirky attempt at romance blossoms into a fairy-tale ending where love, music, and laughter rule the season.
I found myself smiling through most of it. The writing has a playful rhythm, almost like someone telling you a story out loud, a little tongue-in-cheek and never taking itself too seriously. I liked that. It reminded me of being a kid, when stories didn’t need logic to make sense, just a sense of fun. The humor is lighthearted, and I could feel the author’s love for exaggeration in every chapter. The French hens with lipstick and wine glasses might be my favorite detail.
Once I gave in to the idea that this was a story more about spectacle than sentiment, I enjoyed the ride even more. It’s a book for anyone who wants to laugh at the absurdity of grand gestures in love. One of the things that stands out in this picture book is the artwork; it feels alive and playful. The colors are bright and full of warmth. Each scene feels like a painting you could hang on a wall.
I’d recommend The Real 12 Days of Christmas to families looking for a festive story to read together, as well as to adults who want a little humor mixed into their holiday traditions. It’s playful, colorful, and best enjoyed with the same “childish enthusiasm” the author says life should have. If you go in expecting lighthearted fun and a good laugh, you’ll find yourself charmed.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0FLT64PMG
Alexander, Pharaoh of Egypt (Ancient Egypt)
Alexander, Pharaoh of Egypt tells the story of Alexander the Great from a fresh angle. Instead of focusing only on his well-known conquests, it dives into his time in Egypt and casts him in the role of Pharaoh. The narrative begins with his grand entry into Egypt, surrounded by his generals and loyal soldiers, and then it shifts back and forth between his youth, his education, his family, and the forces shaping him. It gives us a sweeping view, filled with politics, myth, childhood dreams, and the powerful personalities around him. There is plenty of detail, from battlefield strategy to palace intrigue, and even moments of tenderness between Alexander and his closest companions.
The writing pulled me in right away. It feels alive and full of movement. Scenes like the taming of Bucephalus or Alexander’s first steps into Memphis come off the page with energy. At the same time, the prose is straightforward and easy to follow. I never felt buried under heavy language or stiff history. Instead, it has the flow of a story told aloud, which makes even the big historical debates feel personal. I liked how the author wove in myths, oracles, and gods alongside the political plotting, since that was very much the mindset of the time. It made Alexander’s ambition feel larger than life, but also relatable, like a boy chasing after Achilles’ shadow.
There were places where I found myself wanting the pace to tighten up. The sheer number of characters and titles sometimes slowed me down. I had to flip back to the glossary often. But in another sense, that richness is part of the book’s charm. It shows how tangled Alexander’s world really was, and it reminded me that his victories were not just about one man but about an entire network of generals, rivals, and allies. And emotionally, I found myself connecting most when the story returned to Alexander’s personal moments, his bond with Hephaestion, his complicated relationship with Olympias, and his hunger for recognition from Philip. Those glimpses made the legendary conqueror feel vulnerable and real.
I enjoyed the book a great deal. I’d recommend it to readers who like history that leans into character as much as event. If you’ve ever been fascinated by Alexander the Great but felt intimidated by dense history books, this story is a welcoming entry point. It’s also perfect for anyone who likes their history with a dose of myth and drama. For me, it struck a nice balance between accuracy and imagination, and it left me thinking about how legends are built, not only by what people achieve but also by how their stories are told.
Pages: 559 | ASIN : B0DXQGBM4R
The Paradox of Progress: Book 2: The Roses and Thorns of Artificial Intelligence
Michael M. Karch’s The Paradox of Progress is a thoughtful and personal exploration of artificial intelligence and the tangled web of benefits and risks it brings to modern life. The book is framed around the central idea that progress never comes without a price. Each chapter highlights a paradox, such as self-driving cars that promise safety yet pose new dangers, batteries that drive clean energy but scar the environment, and AI in war that might save lives but could also escalate conflicts. Karch skillfully balances the roses with the thorns, using vivid historical parallels, personal anecdotes, and contemporary case studies to show how every leap forward reshapes society in both hopeful and unsettling ways.
Karch’s writing feels conversational, even playful at times, yet it never loses sight of weighty ethical questions. I especially liked how he wove his own experiences into the narrative. The self-checkout story, his Ironman accident, and his work as a surgeon with AI-driven tools. These moments gave the book texture and heart, reminding me that discussions about AI are not just technical but deeply human. The prose is clear, free of jargon, and sprinkled with humor, which makes even the most complex topics easier to digest.
What I liked most was the author’s mix of optimism and unease. His fascination with AI’s potential is genuine, but so is his fear of its misuse. I shared his awe at the possibilities. Medical breakthroughs, global problem-solving, and smarter systems that could ease human suffering. And I shared his anxiety about the darker flipside. Bias in algorithms, surveillance, widening inequality, war machines that act faster than human conscience. The book stirred both excitement and caution in me, sometimes within the same page. It left me reflecting not just on AI, but on human nature, since at its core, this isn’t a book about machines. It’s about us, our flaws, our hopes, and our choices.
I think The Paradox of Progress is a book best suited for readers who are curious about AI but not looking for a technical manual. It’s written for people who want to think, not just learn facts. I’d recommend it to policymakers, students, teachers, and anyone who has felt both wonder and dread at the pace of change around us. It’s not a book that will tell you what to believe about AI. Instead, it invites you into a bigger conversation, one that we all need to be having before the thorns outgrow the roses.
Pages: 236 | ASIN : B0FNDN4FYY
Climb Greater Heights
I found Climb Greater Heights to be an ambitious blend of strategy and philosophy. The book lays out Tony Jeton Selimi’s 12-Step Growth Accelerator Method™, a framework designed to help entrepreneurs align their values, sharpen their vision, and scale with purpose. The chapters move from personal clarity to practical execution, covering mindset, branding, marketing, sales, and even philanthropy. I enjoyed how consistently the book ties business growth to personal growth, making the case that true success requires both.
From a professional standpoint, I appreciated Selimi’s honesty about the difficulties entrepreneurs face. He doesn’t hide from the reality of long hours, financial risks, or the emotional toll of leadership. Instead, he reframes these struggles as essential lessons. I respect that approach. It made the material more relatable than the glossy, one-dimensional narratives I often see in business books. The language carries a strong motivational tone, which often feels like a pep talk. It added energy and encouragement to the business insights, making the book as inspiring as it is practical. The substance underneath was valuable, and I found myself reflecting on how I could apply some of his exercises in my own work.
What impressed me was the emphasis on building credibility and authority while staying aligned with personal values. In my own career, I’ve seen how easy it is to chase growth at the expense of integrity. Selimi makes a compelling case that the two aren’t opposites and that sustainable growth comes from marrying strategy with authenticity. I also appreciated how he incorporated real-world examples and philosophical insights to elevate the conversation beyond mere numbers and tactics.
If you’re looking for a roadmap that combines business acumen with purpose, Climb Greater Heights is worth your time. This is a book that’s best suited for those who are serious about long-term growth and who recognize that personal development is inseparable from professional success.
Pages: 274 | ASIN: B0FH9D8FD3
DimWitts: The Big Stupid
David J. Hamilton’s DimWitts is a biting, wild ride through a world that feels both satirical and uncomfortably real. It jumps between the collapsing life of David Enders, a leftist late-night comedian silenced by a newly authoritarian president, and the twisted family drama of Charlie Witt, a bitter man stuck in his brother’s strange, almost supernatural shadow. The novel paints a grim but oddly playful picture of politics, power, and small-town despair, blending sharp political commentary with intimate stories of resentment, failure, and strange gifts that alter the people around them. From the halls of the White House to a grocery store in rural British Columbia, the narrative builds a chaotic tapestry of media, corruption, and human frailty.
This book was both exhilarating and frustrating, in the best way. The writing has a manic energy to it, full of sharp edges and vivid scenes. Sometimes the prose cracked me up, other times it made me wince, and there were moments where I had to put the book down because it hit too close to home. The dialogue is alive with personality, though it occasionally veers into caricature. That said, the caricature works because the world it describes already feels absurd. I admired Hamilton’s ability to juggle satire and genuine tragedy without losing the thread. Though at times I felt almost overwhelmed by how much was packed into a single chapter, but it mirrors the mess of the world it’s trying to capture.
What really stayed with me was the mix of rage and humor that runs under everything. I found myself genuinely angry at the injustices described, but then laughing a page later at the ridiculousness of a character’s remark. I don’t think the book wants you to feel comfortable. It wants you off balance, amused, unsettled, and maybe even a little guilty about how much you enjoy the spectacle of disaster.
I’d recommend DimWitts to readers who like their fiction bold, political, and unafraid of being abrasive. If you enjoy sharp satire mixed with messy human drama, this is for you. Reading DimWitts felt a bit like if Kurt Vonnegut wrote a season of Succession after binge-watching The Daily Show. It’s darkly funny, biting, and just absurd enough to sting with truth.
Pages: 340 | ASIN : B0FM6D79GS
The Golden Mansaic Age: The Legendary Malian Empire
Woody R. Clermont’s The Golden Mansaic Age tells the sweeping story of Mali’s rise from a patchwork of small kingdoms to a vast empire that commanded the world’s attention through trade, faith, and intellect. The book opens with the quiet strength of Naré Maghann Konaté, passes through the legendary journey of Sundiata Keita, the Lion King of Mali, and culminates in the golden reign of Mansa Musa, whose pilgrimage to Mecca shook the medieval world. Clermont doesn’t just trace kings and battles; he gives life to the land itself, the Sahel’s dry winds, the Niger’s silver bend, the hum of markets, and the griots’ songs that carried memory across generations. It’s both a historical chronicle and a deeply personal exploration of heritage, born from the author’s discovery of Malian roots in his own DNA.
I found Clermont’s writing vivid and heartfelt. He writes history like a storyteller sitting by a fire, his tone warm and patient. The details of Mali’s geography and trade, salt, gold, the lifeblood of empires, feel tactile, almost cinematic. Sometimes the descriptions linger too long, but that lingering adds to the sense of awe. The way he frames Sundiata’s journey from frailty to kingship hit me hardest. There’s something powerful about watching a child mocked for weakness grow into the man who unites nations. Clermont’s reverence for Mali’s intellectual legacy, especially Timbuktu’s libraries, made me pause more than once. He captures the quiet grandeur of a civilization often reduced to footnotes. Reading it, I felt the weight of history and also the sorrow of how much the world forgot.
Emotionally, this book moved me. Clermont’s mix of fact and faith feels intimate, almost confessional. His admiration for Mansa Musa is clear, but he also warns against seeing gold as the only measure of greatness. I liked that balance. His tone is proud yet thoughtful, his sentences simple but rhythmic. You can sense the author’s own rediscovery of self through the story of Mali. At times I caught myself smiling, other times I felt a pang of grief for what was lost when empires fade and stories fracture. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to look at a map, trace the old trade routes, and imagine the caravans shimmering under the desert sun.
I’d recommend The Golden Mansaic Age to anyone who loves history that feels alive, especially readers drawn to Africa’s forgotten empires or to stories that connect ancestry with identity. It’s not a dry academic study. It’s a heartfelt retelling, full of rhythm and respect. If you like books that teach you something while also stirring something inside you, this one will do that. It’s for those who want to remember that the world’s golden ages were not all born in Europe, and that sometimes the brightest light comes from the heart of the desert.
Pages: 225 | ASIN : B0FSXFPYT9
LITERARY TITAN 