Blog Archives
Nurse Florence®, What are Signs Something is Wrong with My Kidneys?
Nurse Florence®, What are Signs Something is Wrong with My Kidneys? is a friendly, kid-focused walk-through of kidney basics and early signs of kidney trouble. The story follows three curious girls, Jean, Condi, and Sonia, as they chat with Nurse Florence in the school cafeteria and learn how kidneys work, why they matter, and what warning signs to look out for. The book mixes simple explanations, gentle illustrations, and clear examples, making a complicated topic feel surprisingly easy to absorb.
I found myself smiling at how straightforward the storytelling is. The moment where Nurse Florence explains that kidneys filter “a large bathtub full of fluid every day” made me sit back in awe, because that’s an image that sticks with you. I also loved that the book doesn’t dodge real medical words, like nephron and electrolyte, but still manages to keep the mood light. It never feels stuffy or lecturing, just honest and clear. I appreciated that balance, and I think kids will too.
The way the book lays out the symptoms feels powerful but genuinely useful. When the book mentions muscle cramping as a sign of electrolyte imbalance or foamy urine being linked to excess protein, it made me think about how many adults don’t even know these things. The writing offers small moments of surprise without ever trying to alarm the reader. Even the bit about puffy eyes, something almost everyone has dealt with, feels like a friendly nudge to pay attention to your body. I liked how the examples are simple but surprisingly memorable.
The characters’ responses help maintain a warm and inviting tone. When the girls conclude by saying that understanding their bodies “makes you feel empowered,” the sentiment resonated with me. It’s sweet but also real, there’s an emotional lift to it. The book consistently conveys the message that understanding one’s health is both possible and meaningful, a sentiment I found genuinely moving. And the illustrations sprinkled throughout add a nice bit of charm without distracting from the information.
I’d recommend Nurse Florence®, What are Signs Something is Wrong with My Kidneys? to curious kids, parents who like reading educational stories together, or anyone who wants a friendly intro to kidney health without digging through medical websites. It’s simple, upbeat, and surprisingly engaging.
Pages: 69 | ISBN : 1300886765
The Hundred Lives of Ashfern the Fox
Ashfern the Fox enters an enchanted forest at the moment of his birth, and the world seems to pause as if recognizing a destined soul. Marked by innate wisdom, he stands apart, star-crossed, luminous, and aware in ways few creatures ever are. His life unfurls in a series of vivid adventures; he witnesses wonder, confronts danger, and moves through the forest with a spirit both curious and resolute. Death comes, yet never fully claims him. Ashfern returns, life after life, carrying faint impressions of what came before, memories that hover like the remnants of powerful dreams. Through these echoes, he senses the great wheel turning and understands a truth at the core of existence: life does not vanish; it transforms.
The Hundred Lives of Ashfern the Fox, by MC Lorbiecke, pairs sumptuous illustration with lyrical storytelling. Children will be enchanted, yet any adult with a playful or reflective heart will find just as much joy. The book nods toward Aesop’s moral fables and channels the mythic tone of authors such as C.S. Lewis, Neil Gaiman, and Tolkien.
Quite simply, it is a breathtaking work. The imagery astonishes, inviting long moments of quiet admiration, while the prose rises to meet that artistry with equal grace. Ashfern transcends the role of a woodland creature; he becomes an archetype, bold, enduring, shaped by countless journeys. His cycle of death and return underscores the book’s central meditation: that endings are never final, only shifts in energy and form.
Lessons ripple throughout the narrative. Reverence for nature. Respect for every living being. An embrace of impermanence as a profound and generous gift. It’s rare for a book to rise so fully above the boundaries of its genre, yet this one does so with ease. Experiencing it feels both privileged and deeply pleasurable, a story to savor, revisit, and carry forward.
Pages: 130 | ASIN : B0FTRS13ZT
An Even Greater Challenge
One True King follows the people in a kingdom teetering on the edge of chaos after their king has disappeared on a quest, leaving his companions to wonder where he is while his enemies try to take advantage of the situation. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
While The Hidden Kingdom and Shadow of the Dragon presented a number of challenging situations to navigate for Aaron and Timothy as well as their supporters, I felt that the story of One True King needed an even greater challenge that would impact every single character, whether good, bad, or on the fence, and rock the kingdom of Qiledara and the neighboring kingdoms to their core. Aaron’s disappearance created the perfect void and a very destabilizing event that would test everyone in Aaron’s close and distant circles, and his enemies. It gave me an opportunity to develop each character more in the process. I also wanted to expand on the subplot with Penelope which emerged in book 2 because when I wrote Shadow of the Dragon I had a lot more to reveal about her world, so One True King allowed me to do that and also continue to build on the Hidden Kingdom’s relationship with the rest of the world and its rulers’ ambitions.
What was the process like to create the audiobook, and what was it like working with Garan Patrick and Phillip Nathaniel Freeman?
It was so much fun for me to produce my own audiobook for One True King, to pick out all of these amazing voice actors to play specific key characters, and to work with Garan Patrick and Phillip Nathaniel Freeman who both encouraged me as an author by remarking on specific scenes they enjoyed! I was thrilled that all 20+ supporting voice actors were available to record dialogues for books 2 and 3 together so that I would have consistency across my series, and then I wove those dialogues into the main narration file for each chapter. In this chaotic new plot, there are many dramatic and intense scenes and Phil did an outstanding job bringing to life all the evil dragonkin characters as well other key players such as Theodamus, Gueric, and Otheran. After such intense scenes and dialogues, when sometimes all seems lost, Garan, as the main narrator, with his familiar, reassuring voice, brings us back to a sense of normalcy and makes us feel that, just maybe, things will turn out alright in the end. He also did a great job voicing some of the characters himself. Each voice actor contributed so much to drawing people into the story and added new layers to the story’s overall complexity. Louise Porter did an outstanding job bringing a relatively new character and strong female character, Penelope, to life and making her relatable. It was a lot of work pulling this large audiobook together but definitely worth it to hear it all together.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
I have several scenes I thought about at length and then wrote down, such as my descriptions of the lower tunnels in the ice cave and its exploration, or the escape from the tower. However, I would have to admit that my favorite scenes to write, and to listen to in the audiobook, were the interactions between Damien and the sentinel, and most of all, the dramatic exchange between the two dragonkin warriors and Damien. Robert Cassyleon did an outstanding job as the evil and narcissistic prince Damien throughout One True King with his many opportunities to interact with his co-conspirators and others. In general, I enjoy trying to throw in some twists and turns that readers/listeners do not expect.
Where does the next book in the series take the characters?
I hope to release book 4 in 2026 while the audiobook version of The Hidden Kingdom, Book 1, is about to be released on Audible. There are a few loose ends from One True King that remain to be resolved, such as an unsolved murder, and I also want to work on continuing to develop some of the love interests between certain couples. This fourth book in the series will serve as an opportunity to explain more about the way characters learn to wield their magic and provide some backstories that I’ve hinted at in the past but not yet explained. Book 4 will have a few major surprises in it that I do not want to spoil here. Thank you for listening to the audiobooks!
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
The absence of Aaron since he left on his quest troubles his companions. With his whereabouts unknown, the heroes of Qiledara are tested in ways they never could have imagined, and they face an ever-growing threat from beyond the Amber River. Meanwhile, Aaron’s enemies seek to take advantage of his absence for their own gain. Who will remain loyal and steadfast during these dark days, and who will bring the evildoers to justice?
Little Creatures
Twelve-year-old Zowie Saintclair arrives in Greenwood, Arkansas with deep uncertainty. Houston had shaped her world, and this quiet town shares almost nothing with the life she left behind. Her doubts fade quickly, though, when an unexpected mystery draws her in. Strange, miniature beings begin appearing in her backyard. The sightings unsettle her, and she questions her own reason. The oddities escalate when she realizes her bedroom walls may shelter hidden life, creatures that seem impossibly magical. A science-loving girl suddenly stands before a truth she never imagined: not everything fits inside the boundaries of logic.
Little Creatures, written by Shana Congrove, speaks directly to young adult readers. The story carries more depth and length than very young children might prefer, yet older elementary and middle-grade audiences will likely find themselves engrossed. Its spirit recalls Lynne Reid Banks’s beloved classic The Indian in the Cupboard, with a similar sense of wonder and discovery.
The delicate, fairy-like beings Zowie encounters begin as timid observers. Over time, they recognize something familiar in her and gradually step into the light. Their world comes with a mythology of its own, layered, imaginative, and fully realized, yet never so dense that it burdens younger readers. The history behind these creatures gives them warmth and dimension, making them surprisingly relatable despite their magical nature.
From the opening chapters, fantasy and practicality collide. Zowie’s devotion to science shapes her thinking, yet her youth allows her an openness that adults often lose. Congrove suggests that maturity can narrow the imagination, leaving grown-ups tethered to a rigid sense of reality. Zowie lives outside that constraint, and it’s precisely this flexibility that invites the creatures closer.
Her willingness to accept what she sees makes her an appealing guide through the story. Curious, intelligent, and deeply empathetic, she anchors the novel with a strong emotional center. The magical company she keeps adds charm and excitement, but Zowie herself remains the heart of the narrative. Following her journey turns Little Creatures into a rewarding and memorable read.
Pages: 144 | ASIN : B0FTZ9HLNL
Nurse Florence®, Tell Me About the Occipital Lobe
The story centers on Jean, Condi, and Sonia, three inquisitive children eager to understand how the brain functions much like a video camera. Nurse Florence becomes their guide as she introduces the occipital lobe and its essential link to the eye, the partnership that makes sight possible. She moves steadily deeper, revealing how the retina and neurons work in concert. Her explanations clarify how the brain interprets color and distance, and how spatial processing helps us recognize shape, texture, and detail. All of this unfolds through the intricate signals passed from eye to brain.
Dow structures the book with a clear purpose: to empower young readers with scientific language early in life. He aims to stretch their vocabulary and broaden their intellectual horizons. His hope extends even further, that exposure to these concepts will inspire children to eventually explore careers in STEM fields. Some may argue that the terminology is ambitious for young readers, yet it feels like an intentional step toward long-term success. Children absorb information rapidly; their developing brains welcome precision. Learning how the body works, with accurate terms, gives them a strong foundation for later understanding.
Reading this book taught me more about vision than I ever gleaned from a standard biology course. The comparison between a camera and the occipital lobe struck me as unexpectedly insightful, illuminating how closely the two systems mirror each other in purpose and design. YunTse Lee’s illustrations elevate the experience further. The placement of the occipital and temporal lobes becomes immediately clear, and the artwork itself, clean, vibrant, and thoughtfully composed, beautifully supports the narrative.
The book is rich and engaging, and it also introduces a few non-scientific words that can help broaden young readers’ vocabulary. These words present exciting opportunities for learning and curiosity across different age groups. Dow’s storytelling is lively and well-structured. The plot flows naturally, and the three young protagonists embody the boundless curiosity children often display after discovering something fascinating.
I highly recommend this book to parents who want to nurture their children’s understanding of how we perceive the world. It invites young readers into the wonders of the human brain, offering both knowledge and inspiration.
Pages: 73 | ISBN: 1300881984
Eclipsed by Fate
James Lloyd Brown’s Eclipsed by Fate is an intricate legal and psychological thriller that intertwines professional ambition, personal conflict, and moral compromise. The novel follows Madelyn, a newly minted law graduate, as she joins a small but promising law firm led by Byron Dozier and Edith Devareau, two accomplished attorneys whose shared history carries quiet tension. What begins as a story of legal mentorship and ambition soon unravels into a deeper narrative involving a brutal assault, an elaborate fraud scheme, and a dangerous web of pharmaceutical corruption. At its core, the book examines how trust, loyalty, and hidden desires shape the decisions that define its characters’ lives.
Brown’s greatest strength lies in his ability to merge intimate character drama with the scale of a legal conspiracy. The professional relationship between Byron and Madelyn is depicted with care and restraint, revealing both mutual respect and the unspoken boundaries of power and influence. Likewise, the dynamic between Byron and Edith carries an emotional depth that feels authentic. Their unfulfilled affection gives the story an undercurrent of melancholy that balances the procedural and investigative elements.
The novel’s atmosphere is rendered with striking clarity. The opening chapters, set against a snowbound Minneapolis, set a cinematic tone that immediately draws the reader in. The introduction of Detective Lawrence Melville, who investigates the assault on student Diedrek Thurston, is especially memorable. Melville’s quiet grief, stemming from the loss of his brother, parallels the moral fatigue that runs through much of the book. Brown uses setting, cold streets, sterile hospital rooms, the tense quiet of law offices to reflect the internal struggles of his characters, creating a mood that feels both realistic and unsettling.
At times, the pacing slows under the weight of detailed exposition. Brown’s careful attention to the workings of law and medicine, while impressive, occasionally interrupts the narrative flow. Yet these moments are offset by scenes of real emotional resonance, particularly those exploring Madelyn’s lingering fear of relapse from LeBlanc Syndrome. Her vulnerability, and the moral choices it forces upon those around her, give the novel its emotional gravity.
Eclipsed by Fate is a thoughtful and ambitious work that rewards patient readers. It will particularly appeal to those who enjoy character-driven legal thrillers that probe ethical boundaries rather than rely solely on suspense. Brown’s writing is deliberate, intelligent, and quietly affecting, a story that lingers long after the final page.
ISBN: 9798986000350
First Comes A Butterfly
First Comes a Butterfly follows Isla, a curious kid spending time at her grandma’s lake house. She gets swept into the tiny world of monarchs and ends up raising a caterpillar from egg to chrysalis. The story wanders through early mornings, milkweed leaves, plump caterpillars, and the magic of metamorphosis. It feels like a gentle walk through nature with Grandma guiding the way, showing Isla how fragile and amazing this little cycle of life really is.
Reading this children’s book made me feel warm and kind of giddy. The writing has this soft, cozy glow that made me wish I had a lake house, too. I liked how simple everything felt, even though a lot was happening. The scenes with Isla checking the egg each day made me smile. I also loved the excitement when the chrysalis formed. The book treated small moments like big ones, and it worked. I got pulled right into the kid mindset.
The idea that most monarch eggs never make it made me sad. The book never gets heavy, yet it still sneaks in those real truths. I also enjoyed Grandma’s energy. She felt believable, sweet, a little goofy, and totally the kind of person you want showing you how the world works. The pacing matched the theme of waiting and watching.
I really liked how each page mixed real photographs with artwork of nature. The blend made everything feel both magical and believable at the same time. The photos grounded the story in the real world, and the illustrations added a soft, dreamy vibe that pulled me in. It felt like stepping into a scrapbook made by someone who really loves the outdoors.
This picture book makes you look at tiny living things with more care. I’d recommend this book to kids who love nature and to young readers who want a warm, calm read with a bit of wonder. It would be great for reading together on a quiet night or for any young reader who likes learning without feeling like they are being taught anything at all.
Pages: 32 | ISBN : 1779442246
Nurse Florence®, Tell Me About the Bladder.
Nurse Florence®, Tell Me About the Bladder is a warm, easygoing children’s book that explains how the bladder works through a simple lunchtime conversation between three girls and Nurse Florence. The story mixes everyday school life with clear medical teaching, so kids learn about urine, bladder signals, and healthy bathroom habits without feeling overwhelmed. It’s straightforward, friendly, and built to make anatomy feel normal rather than awkward.
I liked how smoothly the author blends casual dialogue with real science. Sonia mentioning she “really had to go to the bathroom” sets up the whole discussion, and Nurse Florence jumps right in with a clear explanation of how the bladder stretches and signals the brain when it’s about half full. It feels like the kind of natural conversation curious kids might actually have, and the mix of school-day chatter with anatomy lessons works surprisingly well.
I was also impressed by how direct the book is. When Nurse Florence talks about strong-smelling urine being a sign of infection, the information is simple and non-scary. The same goes for advice not to urinate constantly without urges because it can make the bladder more sensitive. I appreciated how open and practical the writing is; it doesn’t tiptoe around bodily functions, and it doesn’t make them awkward. Kids get clear facts they can use.
Some of the boldest parts ended up being my favorites. The book openly mentions topics adults usually avoid with kids, like why you shouldn’t hold urine too long or how older adults often wake at night to urinate. It even explains that women may leak urine for a while after giving birth. I honestly didn’t expect that level of honesty in a kids’ book, but I admire it. It normalizes real experiences and gives kids vocabulary they’ll eventually need.
By the time the girls head back to class talking about what they learned, the book leaves you with a sense of calm, curiosity, and confidence. It’s educational without being heavy and caring without being sugary.
I’d recommend Nurse Florence®, Tell Me About the Bladder to elementary-age kids, teachers, parents, and even pediatric healthcare workers who want a friendly, no-nonsense way to teach anatomy. It’s perfect for curious young readers and for adults who appreciate clear, warm explanations of how the body works.
Pages: 51 | ISBN: 1300907142
LITERARY TITAN 