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Free People Free People
The Lie That Changed Everything is a memoir that blends sharp humour, biting honesty, and painful recollections into a story that feels both chaotic and deeply human. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book goes right back to the moment that shaped me—a childish lie I swore on my father’s life, followed by his cancer diagnosis. For years, I carried the belief that I had somehow killed him. That single moment of guilt became the thread that ran through my childhood and beyond, influencing how I saw myself, my family, and even my faith.
Writing The Lie That Changed Everything was my way of holding that memory up to the light and finally making sense of it. But it’s not just about trauma—it’s about the absurdity of family life, the strange superstitions that guided us, and the humour that helped me survive. I wanted to show that even in chaos, there’s resilience and laughter, and that being human means carrying contradictions: grief and comedy, shame and love, darkness and light.
How did you decide what to include and leave out in your memoir?
That was one of the most complex parts of the process. Some of my family were opposed to me writing memoirs—both The Hate Game and The Lie That Changed Everything—because it’s difficult to face the dysfunction that runs through our family. But after years of working as a child protection social worker with hundreds of families, I know dysfunction is universal. The difference lies in whether we discuss it or keep it buried.
I chose to write my truth, but I also left things out. Some situations were too private, too sensitive, or simply not mine to tell. Respect was a guiding principle. What’s on the page is my perspective—my memories, my emotions—rather than an exposé. My brother, who is nine years older, helped me fill in gaps from the early years, and between his input and my mother’s knack for remembering everything, I had a wealth of detail to draw from. I’ve been blessed—or cursed—with an elephant’s memory of my own, so much of it was already stored in my brain in glorious technicolour.
In the end, I included what served the story, what illuminated the themes of guilt, resilience, and humour, and what felt authentic to share. A memoir isn’t the whole truth of a life—it’s the truth of a particular journey.
What was the most challenging part of writing your memoir, and what was the most rewarding?
The most challenging part was working through the trauma—breaking the silence I’d carried for decades. I hadn’t told a soul about the grief and guilt that shaped me. Fear and shame kept my story bottled up. Sitting down to write meant opening old wounds, but it also gave me a way to release them.
The most rewarding part has been the liberation that followed. Over the years, I discovered that I could share painful stories and still make people laugh, even in the darkness. Writing allowed me to see my parents in a different light, too. I came to understand how their own trauma defined them, and that gave me compassion instead of just confusion.
Ultimately, the memoir has helped me stop being defined by the same pain. I often say: hurt people hurt people; free people free people. Writing this book was my step into freedom.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I hope readers come away with the sense that it’s possible to carry both laughter and pain in the same story. Life is rarely one-dimensional—grief can sit beside humour, shame beside love, darkness beside resilience. For a long time, I thought my story was only about guilt and trauma, but writing showed me it was just as much about survival, absurdity, and even joy.
I was thrilled with one review that said, “If you enjoyed Angela’s Ashes, you’ll love The Lie That Changed Everything. My late mum’s favourite book of all time was Angela’s Ashes. To be compared with Frank McCourt’s work was very humbling, and my mum would be so chuffed to hear such a compliment.
If readers realise they’re not alone in their chaos: that silence can be broken, that healing can happen through honesty, and that humour can be a lifeline—then the book has fulfilled its purpose.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
The Lie That Changed Everything is the story of a boy who was made to swear a lie on his father’s life, dreamed of his death, and witnessed it happen.
Trew’s story unfolds with unfiltered honesty and laugh-out-loud British humour as he reflects on a childhood marked by chaos, confusion and unexpected moments of grace. Set in the ’60s and ’70s, across RAF bases, hilarious first kisses and a botched “Ten Pound Pom” migration to Australia, the memoir centers on a mum who could scare the devil with her “scriptures” and a war-hero dad, whose reclusiveness left a heartache that humour alone couldn’t fill.
One little rascal. One very big lie. And one funny, unforgettable ride. Perfect for fans of Sedaris, Angela’s Ashes and The Glass Castle; Trew’s tale is as heartbreaking as it is hilarious.
Self-Discovery Path
The 7th Dimension follows a plastic surgeon with mysterious tattoos he believes are connected to larger events unfolding around him, who embarks on a journey that leads him down a path toward the divine. I found Derek Hollinger to be an intriguing and well-developed character. What was your inspiration for this character?
I didn’t realize it until a few years later. Me. I had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and didn’t know if I would survive. This pulls the rug out from under your world. How you handle it is with the tools you have in your tool box. Some people don’t even have a tool box. That was Dr. Derek Hollinger.
What themes were particularly important for you to explore in this book?
Self-discovery path. Why we end up where we are and what to do about it.
When will the next book be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
The 6th Heaven September 17th, 2025. The Amazon jungle is captivating. Venturing into its depths is like exploring the hidden corners of the mind. The jungle hosts an array of remarkable creatures, including the mighty jaguar, the massive green anaconda, shocking electric eels, and flesh-eating piranhas. Just as travelers must remain vigilant and highly aware of their surroundings, we ourselves must be alert when exploring the concealed areas of our minds, where our deep personal thoughts and emotions reside. Like the jungle, it will reveal its secrets.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Derek Hollinger isn’t sure, but he knows they’re all connected to the mysterious tattoos that suddenly appeared across his body.
Determined to untangle the web spun by the vicious thug known as “Spider,” Derek embarks on a journey of redemption that leads from his lavish Los Angeles penthouse to the seedy world of underground fighting and human trafficking. But as he ventures deeper down the rabbit hole, the self-exiled plastic surgeon realizes that the answer lies within his heart and mind … and soul.
Faith is the key to reclaiming his life, but choosing God may be difficult for Derek, who has spent his entire career valuing material success over spiritual growth.
In this thrilling sequel to 21Tattoos, Derek must face the hard truth about where his tattoos came from and an even harder truth about what it will take to be free of them once and for all.
Depth and Detail
Pandemic Hacker 2 follows a stubborn and resilient woman who transforms her body to be unrecognizable to her enemies; she and her AI partner work to take down an extortion and trafficking group. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The original story idea was to have a hacker who figured out something significant that was part of the plot. It was my first novel, and learning about the process, I changed the plot. The original technical idea is part of the story and subplot, but not the main plot. I also wanted to create a character who wasn’t like the hackers on TV (click, click, click, I’m in.) There is depth and detail to the technology that a group of readers doesn’t get anywhere else. Then, to make it enjoyable, what if she found something, a group that was hidden, that operated outside of the law because they had corrupted the groups that could stop them (FBI). How could she navigate that kind of world? The pandemic setting helps and hurts in different ways, allowing me to present the reader with various viewpoints about our world.
Martha is a woman with strength and determination who refuses to give up. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?
She is confident in her ability to do the special operations stuff. She is confident in her hacking, especially with Zoe’s help. She has a compulsion to clean. She grew up poor and won’t spend money on herself, even though she has millions. Partially because of the pandemic, she only has one read friend. She can’t just make friends with new people and expose them to the killer organization. She is learning and growing in Pandemic Hacker 2. By the end of the book, there are several people now part of the group fighting the bad guys. She is looking forward to living again, not just surviving. The ending aims to convey the completion of the journey that began with her asking if all the pain and being alone are worth it.
I find that authors sometimes ask themselves questions and let their characters answer them. Do you think this is true for your characters?
Yes. But my questions are sometimes odd to others. How could someone travel across the country in a few days without being tracked? How would you send a specific, untraceable message to the FBI that you are sure they will see and notice? What evil actions and behaviors would motivate people to help a stranger if they knew helping would be dangerous for themselves?
Where does the next book in the series take the characters?
The first two books dealt with the evil group and revolved around corrupt authorities. The idea for the next book is to explore cleaning up an organization that could be of help. That could start to turn the tide. Who can you trust, who can’t be corrupted? Can you help the good guys so they can help you?
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
The group leaders operate with impunity. Their security and IT teams are formidable. But Martha is determined to dismantle their empire, stealing their ill-gotten money and learning their secrets. With each strike, the group’s IT experts get closer to knowing her and Zoe’s identities.
The engagements are not just on the internet. Every physical disruption puts everyone in danger. Rejoining with Claire, the chase has become a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Both sides believe they’re the top predator.
Innocent lives can be destroyed. Is the best option to expose the leaders to the authorities or work to remove the hydra heads of the organization? Martha must navigate the physical world, while Zoe works to dominate the virtual one.
The Storyline That Evolved
A Jericho’s Cobble Miscellany features a variety of voices whose stories are stitched together to form the layered history of a small town. What was the inspiration behind this book?
To properly tell multiple tales, it seemed important to use a variety of voices and characters. A town – especially a small town — is people as individuals, it is not a monolithic entity. I researched in many towns during the writing of an earlier book, The Most Beautiful Villages of New England, and in my volunteer work in helping establish the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, which spans two states, and being a trustee of the Connecticut Humanities Council, for which I traveled widely and visited many small towns.
Do you have a storyline in your book that stands out as a favorite? One that was particularly enjoyable to write?
The book has multiple storylines, dozens of them, and their interweaving is at the heart of the book. I particularly liked the storyline that evolved as I wrote, about the friendship of the young woman director of a small historic house/museum, and the much older woman civic association trustee who team up to save it from being closed, and in so doing discover a lot about themselves that they had not known.
I enjoyed the shifts in writing. Why was it important for you to use more than one form of storytelling?
Multiple characters and situations demanded their stories be told and personalities showcased in as many forums, such as newspaper columns, diaries, playlets, brochures, a playground nursery rhyme, poems, oral history transcripts, state markers, and other forms.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m in the midst of writing it. Please see my recent novels, The Memory of the Minotaur and Echoes, Or the Insistence of Memory, both available on Amazon.
Author Links: Website
Hard-Won Epiphanies
Secret Seeds follows a young girl and her mother who are trapped in an abusive home as they break free and wind up in an uncertain world of strangers in a cult-like community. Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
My five novels center on redemption through courage and perseverance, which bring hard-won epiphanies. In Secret Seeds, I was satisfied with the character development, which also brought me personal insights on the plight of the undocumented.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
When I began the novel, the headlines were filled with stories of aliens – both human and otherwise. Illegal immigration is an emotional topic, and I wanted to craft a heartfelt portrayal to cast the issue in human terms. We also took a trip to Alaska, and the lifecycle of sockeye salmon and how they fight to make the journey home to spawn resonated with me. Only a small percentage make it home, but none get lost due to their perseverance, and I incorporated this theme in the story.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I am currently working on a medical thriller and hope to have it scheduled for release in the next year or so.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Gabrielle Ruiz, an undocumented migrant farm worker, follows the harvest until she and Luis leave the fields to give their unborn child a better life. But after tragedy strikes, Gabrielle finds herself alone and renounced by her father. Adrift, she meets Dale, a beacon of hope who offers her and her infant daughter, Olivia, a chance at a new beginning. After following him to Maine, they welcome a son. But over the years, Dale’s abuse traps Gabrielle and Olivia. Salvation appears in the enigmatic Rezi, who proposes a daring escape — a plan shrouded in secrecy, promising sanctuary for Olivia within a hidden community. As Gabrielle places her trust in Rezi, she ignites a tempest with Dale and has Olivia questioning whether her protectors are from a twisted cult or messengers from another realm.
In a world where freedom is fragile, Gabrielle’s tenacity and her children’s coming-of-age journeys lead them to question what truly defines “home.”
Unintended Consequences
Infernal Wonderland follows an akiko who stumbles into the submerged Amber City, a broken metropolis filled with automations, reptilian gangs, and drugs that push him deeper into madness, violence, and strange alliances. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Games like Bioshock and Dark Souls. I wanted to explore something different from what I had explored in the last book, which also took place on Neldar. I knew what the idea and concept were going to be, but I didn’t know what the city was going to be like. The Ichor was going to be a big driving point since it was one of the mechanics from the previous book I wanted to develop more, and a system like Bioshock spoke to me, so I went with that.
I felt that your story delivers the drama so well that it flirts with the grimdark genre. Was it your intention to give the story a darker tone?
I write dark stories, apparently, and no matter how hard I try, the tales always end up that way. I guess it’s just my style, and honestly, I enjoy those types of stories more, so it’s probably why.
What themes were particularly important for you to explore in this book?
Morality, consciousness, identity, power of corruption, unintended consequences, shadow integration, love and sacrifice, as well as transformation, among others. I believe that in a complex universe, traditional categories of good and evil are insufficient to capture the full truth of existence. I enjoy exploring fundamental questions about morality, consequence, and the price of knowledge and power, for the most part.
I hope the Elder’s Vault series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Infernal Wonderland is actually the third novel in the series, and wraps up what the second novel consisted of. I’m currently writing the fourth book. Benign Dystopia is the first novel, and Tellurian Otherworld is the second. The fourth book, currently titled Elysium Nightmare, will take readers on a journey of self-discovery and awakening to one’s true self. It dwells a lot on the nature of consciousness and what it means to be “truly aware.”
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
A Touch of Fantasy
Bugs That Bug You is a rhyming story centered around a young boy frustrated by the numerous bugs that inconvenience him at every turn. Where did the idea for this story come from?
Yes, I experienced bugs who bugged me at the time. A very annoying fly would buzz around my head every morning and wake me up. Then a cockroach flew directly towards me. This is what inspired me to write the book.
What is it that draws you to write children’s literature?
I love the fun of it all. Usually, children’s literature has a positive tone to it, and you can add a bit of fantasy to it. This is why I love childrens literature, you can almost come up with anything you like 😊
Is there anything from your own childhood included in Fred’s character or his experiences?
Yes, we had weasels in our oats when I was a child; that’s why I added the weasels to Fred’s breakfast.
Can young readers look forward to seeing more from Fred? What are you currently working on?
At the moment, there’s nothing more from Fred. But you never know I might come up with in the future. I’m currently working on “Oh Dear, There’s Gum in My Hair,” a series of “Oh No, There’s Poo on My Shoe.”
Thank you, I hope you enjoy my books. Thanks Again
Author Website
It all begins when a fly buzzes around his head first thing in the morning. Then come the weevils in his breakfast, a moth that munches a hole in his favourite jacket, and an ant that crawls up his pants!
As the day goes on, more and more bugs appear, and Fred is getting fed up. But Mum has some wise words: don’t let the bugs bug you – enjoy the rest of the day!
A fun, rhyming story full of pesky pests, giggles, and a gentle reminder to shake off the small stuff and keep smiling.
Adapt and Persevere
The King’s Ascent follows the rightful ruler of a kingdom that has been taken over by an insane man craving power and control, who, with his loyal friends, must find a way to regain his throne. What was your inspiration for the setup of the story, and how did that help you create the ending?
I believe people are drawn to the timeless clash of good versus evil. While it is a familiar trope, its enduring appeal lies in its reflection of real life—where both good and bad exist. The battle between Barrett and his friends against evil mirrors the struggles we face in the world today.
As for the ending, I wanted to convey that life is never a straight path. Like Barrett and his friends, we are often guided by unpredictable twists and turns, many of which are beyond our control. Yet, to survive, we must adapt and persevere. While this lesson is difficult and sometimes painful to learn, Barrett’s journey reflects the challenges we all face in life.
Your characters go on a deeply emotional and transformative journey in your novel. Do you think this is intentional or incidental to the story you want to tell?
The theme of transformation is intentional. Every moment, we are changing—shifting in ways both big and small. We are never the same person we were yesterday, last week, or even last month. Barrett and his friends undergo a similar evolution, growing before our eyes. They make countless mistakes, but it’s through these trials and tribulations that they ultimately become stronger and better equipped to reach their goal
What is your background and experience in writing and how did it help you write The Ruinous Curse series?
I have been writing since I was a child, creating short pieces of fiction as early as nine years old. Over the years, I have honed my craft as an outdoor columnist, taken writing courses, and learned the art of editing and storytelling. I have never looked back. My time in the military, where I had the opportunity to travel the world, deepened my understanding of diverse cultures and people. I strive to weave those experiences—the sights, beliefs, and emotions—into my writing, enriching my stories with a global perspective.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
That’s a great question, and honestly, I’m not sure there’s a clear answer just yet. I’ve been toying with the idea of extending the series into another trilogy, featuring a more mature and wiser cast of characters. However, I haven’t taken that step yet, as I’m currently immersed in a new project titled The Library Between Worlds. Stay tuned, there’s much more to come.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed my work. I truly appreciate each one of you.
Author Links: Website | LinkedIn
To save their home, the friends must remove the tyrants. But the task will be harder than imagined as their plans fail at every attempt. Making things worse, the wizard Elimar is nowhere to be found and the sorceress, Trishar, is confined to her house under the watchful eyes of Bureau Agents.
Now, Barrett must use all his cunning and powers to free Westmore from the vile grasp of the Bureau, regain his throne, and rebuild the city. Standing in his way are an evil wizard, armies of hired killers, Mystical Affairs, and Grimes himself, who has more secrets than anyone could have guessed.
LITERARY TITAN 