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What Can Become Life Changing
Not Just Another Brick in the Wall! follows two fifteen-year-old students, a boy and a girl (Sky McCray and Cali Snipe), who just started high school and who find out that an older high school girl was kidnapped, raped, and murdered at the school last year. Cali thinks she can help solve the case. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Cali Snipe and Sky McCray had experience being kidnapped (events that happened in the previous three novels in the series). In those stories, a local crime boss had hoped to sell them to sex traffickers for a large sum of money. Using their wits and sometimes with the help of teen friends they were always able to escape, but they are knowledgeable of what fates awaited them if their sale to traffickers had transpired. Consequently, once made aware of the kidnapping and murder of a classmate, they are determined to expose the guilty perpetrator.
Sky had always been the primary creator of the method(s) for his and Cali’s escapes in the past, so this time I wanted Cali to have the limelight in solving this new kidnapping dilemma.
As in the previous novels, friends become crucial, this time for Cali’s ability to gain insight on the criminal responsible for the crime. However, it is her own courage, ingenuity, and her determination that eventually solve the mystery and helps her bring the pedophile to justice.
Cali and Sky are your typical teenagers when not investigating crimes. Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your characters’ life?
One emotion would be the pleasure of sharing concerns and humor with close friends. Even sharing homework assignments can be bonding and enjoyable and often outrageously humorous.
One memory of my teen days was mine and my friends’ constant curiosity about our budding interest in sexuality and our confusion regarding our sexuality. Accurate information about relationships between males and females was not available to teens when I was in high school. Teens could not even take a book from the local library to read if it contained “adult” material.
I wanted to focus on both these issues for teens in my books. I wanted to highlight the joy of sharing daily experiences, mundane or otherwise, with friends. When we look back on our teen years as adults, we realize how precious and rewarding were those moments. I also wanted to include accurate and timely information on human sexuality that some of my teen readers might be seeking. I also hoped that some parent readers would realize the importance of offering tactful but accurate and enriching advice on sexual issues.
Do you think there’s a single moment in everyone’s life, maybe not as traumatic, that is life-changing?
Absolutely. Sometimes it can be a traumatic or dramatic event like a car or airplane crash or an unexpected health issue or the death of a close relative. Or it could be something as inconspicuous as something someone says to you like a teacher saying you will never learn to write well or solve math problems, or a friend saying to you that it was so out-of-character for you for the despicable way you treated another person. What is then lifechanging is not the event or what was said but how you respond to it. Your positive response to the event is what can become life changing.
What will the next book in that series be about and when will it be published?
The book is already written and published: Facing Revenge. Once again, as in most of the earlier books in the series, both Cali and Sky are instrumental in their own way in facing a challenge, a traumatic event, and finding a successful resolution. Assistance from friends is also crucial to their “survival”.
As in the earlier books, other events typical of teen life occur. Cali, Sky, and friends cope with typical teen situations with humor and with comradery.
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Unfortunately, along with the excitement of adjusting to a new school environment, Cali and Sky discover that last year a student was abducted, raped, and murdered. The police investigation is at a standstill. Because of her history with kidnapping, Cali believes she might find some answers to the murder mystery. She drags Sky into her quest. Will Cali’s involvement in the murder open Cali to being a victim herself? Cali and Sky may be new to Parkington High, but they are not new to danger.
ASL Nurtures Relationships
My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere With Me follows a little boy who loves monster trucks and, after a day of playing at Grandma’s house, discovers his favorite truck is missing. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for my story came from my then-three-year-old grandson, whose boundless love for monster trucks sparked the idea. Every day, we played together—building ramps, creating challenges, and laughing joyfully. We took monster trucks everywhere. We cheered monster trucks and their drivers at our county fair’s Monster Truck Shows.The sounds of roaring engines filled our hearts with excitement.
When I had the opportunity to write a story for a contest, I quickly drafted a tale celebrating Dylan’s joy. As I wrote, I experienced an “ah-ha” moment; this was the perfect story I had longed to share since earning my Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Community Studies from Madonna University. During a class assignment, we were tasked with selecting a picture book and using our ASL skills to sign it. I went straight to the library, hoping to find a book featuring children using sign language. I was shocked to discover that there were none available.
This realization highlighted a crucial need for a children’s book that represents children and families using ASL.
That realization became the foundation for my award-winning picture book, My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me – Illustrated in American Sign Language, to fill that gap.
And so, the rest of the story unfolded, reflecting not just our play but a vision for inclusive storytelling.
This activity book seamlessly integrates ASL into the story and activities, making learning fun while providing an inclusive experience for children. How did you decide what activities to include in your book?
Thank you for the kind words about our Monster Truck fun! ASL is an untapped resource with limitless potential, and learning should be a playful and enjoyable experience. Many ideas came directly from children during author visits, where they enthusiastically shared how they use ASL in their daily lives, whether it’s counting or signing to friends. Their excitement inspired me to explore how ASL could enhance play and learning, leading to the creation of our new 77-page My Monster Truck… Coloring and Activity Book.
To enrich the original story, we added time-telling activities using ASL numbers and included mazes for their fun and problem-solving aspects. I aimed to cater to all children, offering simple coloring for younger kids and engaging challenges for first- and second-graders, ensuring success and joy at every level.
With the help of Sue Mohr from The Inner Vizion, we drafted pages in Canva that included trucks, houses, and everyday scenes from My Monster Truck Series, along with matching games, math, journaling prompts, and coloring activities. Alexa Ang from Saflor Graphic Design Services then polished the pages, creating a natural flow alongside My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me, illustrated in ASL.
The variety of activities invites children to explore their creativity and connection through language. My goal is to make learning ASL fun, meaningful, and a journey of discovery for every child, allowing them to build on their strengths while gently challenging them to grow.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
Our My Monster Truck… Coloring and Activity Book is crafted to challenge children aged 3 to 8 across various subjects. Whether your child enjoys creative activities or has a knack for math, our book strikes a perfect balance. It gives kids the chance to explore different areas and succeed. One of our main goals is to foster a love for learning by offering activities that appeal to a wide range of interests, whether in the arts or mathematics.
A significant element of our educational approach centers around the benefits of American Sign Language (ASL). In our blog at ASL Picture Books, we frequently highlight how ASL boosts language skills, enriches vocabulary, enhances cognitive abilities, and fosters respectful relationships. With 95% of children born deaf coming from hearing families, it’s essential to emphasize that early access to any language—spoken or signed—is crucial for a child’s development.
A recent heartfelt email from a mother of newborn twins born deaf shared how our book impacted her family’s perspective. Initially filled with uncertainty, her hearing family found comfort in the relatable characters of My Monster Truck… Coloring and Activity Book, who communicate using sign language. As they worked through their hesitations, they embraced ASL, opening new communication channels and deepening their bond with their children. This journey highlights how ASL nurtures relationships and deepens the love that grows when families embrace their unique journeys.
The activities in our book are thoughtfully designed to cater to children of various ages and skill levels. For instance, the mazes are simple enough for younger kids, while the math challenges cater to those looking for something a bit more challenging. Feedback from my five-year-old twins confirms this approach, as they excitedly announced that the mazes were “way too easy!” Meanwhile, our eight-year-old dove into the math problems first.
We wholeheartedly invite families to explore our My Monster Truck… Coloring and Activity Book at ASL Picture Books. It’s a delightful way for children to learn through fun stories and engaging activities while developing empathy and respect for the DHH community.
Will this book be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
Yes, there’s more to come! I’m currently working on another story — something a little silly and full of heart. Expanding the Monster Truck series is definitely a possibility, as families and teachers continue to share how much their children love it.
Each project I create shares the same goal: to inspire curiosity, build connection, and celebrate the beauty of ASL. Together, we can open more hearts and minds to the limitless potential of language and love.
If you’re interested in staying updated on upcoming projects or want to learn more about the Monster Truck series, visit ASLPictureBooks.com. You can also download our free ASL Starter Kit, filled with an alphabet chart, signing basics, and coloring pages — a great way to start learning and sharing ASL at home or in the classroom.
And don’t forget to join our email list for sneak peeks, exclusive content, and exciting updates. What kinds of stories would you like to see next? Your feedback is invaluable!
Thank you, Literary Titan, for this wonderful opportunity to share our new My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me – Coloring and Activity Book with you. We are truly honored by your thoughtful review and grateful for your support in celebrating inclusive stories and the limitless potential of ASL!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | X | Instagram | LinkedIn
This little boy loves monster trucks and playing at Grandma’s house! But after an exhausting day with his big, purple, and loud favorite toy, he’s devastated to discover the shiny truck is gone!
Is it hiding somewhere? Did he leave it at Grandma’s? Will he ever see his beloved best friend again?
In this delightfully engaging story with stunning illustrations and familiar themes, Kathleen Marcath invites young readers to interact by using American Sign Language along with the characters in the book. And with 32 ASL signs shown in easy-to-understand images, downloadable educational sheets, and a QR code for ASL video lessons, kids will spark their bilingual journey through a colorful and powerful resource.
My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me – Illustrated in American Sign Language is a beautiful children’s picture book. If you or your child like overcoming relatable problems, learning new things, and feel-good entertainment, then you’ll adore Kathleen Marcath’s happy ride.
Buy My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me to zoom into adventure today!
A Kirkus Starred Review and Best Indie Book of 2021!
The Power of Human Connection
Washington follows a ninth-grader navigating the chaos of high school, who, after transferring to a new school, finds a group of friends and starts to build a new normalcy, until it is shattered by the sound of gunshots. What made you write a story about this topic?
The story had actually been rolling around my brain since I myself was in high school. Columbine happened when I was in freshman year, and kind of stuck with me throughout sophomore, junior and senior year. I used to walk around the halls and wonder what would I do if that happened? Where would I go? What if one of my friends was being bullied? Going there in my mind over the years created many different mixed feelings. On the one hand, it is of course a dark taboo topic and very tragic. On the other hand, it could also be a beautiful concept and very pure when paired with the strength of spirit and the power of human connection. I wanted to try to dissect all of this darkness and light through a sweeping romance with pulsing action and painful drama, all at the same time.
In many contemporary coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
I had a group of friends, like in the book. I transferred schools in my freshman year, like in the book. I also used to doodle and draw a lot. I used to go to the arcade and comic book shop after school. So, there’s many bits and pieces from my life and from people I know. But whenever I sit down to write, I never do an exact replica of myself or anybody else. Rather, I kind of Frankenstein together different composite sketches. I remix reality in a sense to fit my narrative, to better idealize a character, and to emphasize personality and contrast. It leads to an immersive experience writing it so my goal is to also lead to an immersive experience reading it.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One of the first things I remember thinking before I committed to writing this was how much I missed that younger period in my life. I missed the innocence of it. Being such close friends, you would put your arm around one another. Having nothing else to do, but to hang out and joke and have fun. So, friendship definitely was one theme. Falling in love was another, and especially first love. I thought it was interesting to explore crushes and liking one another. At the time when Columbine happened, the news outlets really blamed video games and movies and music, which bothered me quite a lot. Those were the games that we all played. Those were the movies we all watched. That was the music we all listened to. Because so many others enjoyed those things and went on to be perfectly normal and fine, I guess I wanted to counter that and examine what would really drive someone to do something so horrific in the end.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Washington?
For me, this project began as part of my practicing how to write. I never intended to try to publish a book like WASHINGTON since it is so controversial. I was gonna keep it in a drawer somewhere if agents and publishers were ever pressing me for more. However, something magical sparked on the page, and I couldn’t hide it from the world. My aim was to walk the fine line between authenticity but not glorify anything, to keep it neutral and universal, and focus on the characters in the attack, not the attacker. I want readers to go back in time, to fall in love again and have those kinds of friends again. I’ve taken many Asian literature classes and the best part was always the discussion and reflection. So, finally, I hope that there are plenty of deep talks and deep thinking long after the last page.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | X | Website
Before that dreaded day, Evan is a new transfer to Washington High School, where he’s reunited with his best friends from childhood. He’s a typical slacker who would rather sketch and daydream than pay attention in class, waiting for the bell to ring so he can go to the arcade and comic book shop after school. When he meets Judith, who aims for perfection and top honors, they slowly grow closer and closer. Evan is unsure how he feels, if he fits in or what he wants out of life. And before he can think things through, he finds out a new member of his group of friends is being bullied…
Now, Evan runs through the hallways, building to building. Where is Judith? Can he find her in time? And why does something about the shooter seem so familiar?
* * *
WASHINGTON is a former NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) project and was crowdfunded through Indiegogo. It features an Asian American love interest, geek humor and easter egg references to 90s and 2000s movies, music, video games, comic books, anime and manga. A portion of all profit goes to various charities.
Embrace the Darkness
Lilly Gayle’s Embrace the Darkness is a heady blend of crime thriller, paranormal romance, and psychological suspense. The story follows Detective Amber Buckley, a battle-scarred Iraq veteran turned cop, as she dives into a string of eerie murders tied to a medical research company in Asheville, North Carolina. What starts as a routine investigation into missing persons and blood-drained bodies quickly twists into a world of genetic anomalies, ancient secrets, and forbidden desire. At the heart of it all stands Gerard Delaroche, a mysterious, brooding man with an unearthly charm and secrets that blur the line between man and monster.
This book surprised me. The writing is straightforward yet atmospheric, painting tension with just enough detail to make the hair rise on the back of your neck. The dialogue feels snappy and relatable. Gayle doesn’t drown you in gothic language or purple prose; instead, she uses small, vivid moments to pull you into Amber’s mind, her trauma, her skepticism, her growing attraction to Gerard. The pacing is tight in the early chapters, almost cinematic. The mix of crime procedural and supernatural tension feels fresh, even though vampires in fiction are well-trodden ground. I found myself flipping pages faster than I expected, caught up in that blend of fear and curiosity that makes for a good late-night read.
The romance, though passionate, can lean into melodrama, and some of the dialogue between Amber and Gerard feels like it was lifted straight out of a classic paranormal romance novel. But even with that, I couldn’t put it down. There’s a pulsing emotion beneath the clichés, a raw honesty in Amber’s pain and Gerard’s guilt that kept me rooting for them. I liked that the book didn’t just use darkness as a metaphor for vampires, it used it as a mirror for trauma, for secrets, for the parts of ourselves we try to hide. It’s messy and human and oddly touching.
Embrace the Darkness is more than a story about blood and lust. It’s about trust, redemption, and the strange ways two broken people can find light in each other. It’s gripping, emotional, and full of heart. I’d recommend it to readers who love their mysteries with a supernatural twist, especially fans of shows like Bones or The X-Files. If you like crime stories spiced with danger, romance, and a little bit of the uncanny, this book is worth diving into.
Pages : 303 | ASIN : B0FRYLWCVX
My Twelve-Year-Old Wife
My Twelve-Year Old Wife is a dark, time-bending thriller about love, grief, and the unrelenting pull of fate. It follows Dan Fox, a husband desperate to find his missing wife, Celia, only to have a twelve-year-old girl appear at his door claiming to be her. What begins as a mystery about disappearance spirals into something stranger, a story that slips between timelines and emotions, showing how trauma, memory, and devotion can warp across the years. The book plays with horror and science fiction but stays grounded in its aching humanity. Each chapter peels back another layer of the impossible, until the reader is as disoriented and haunted as Dan himself.
The writing is cinematic and unnerving, full of tight, fast sentences and moments that hit like a punch. I could feel Dan’s confusion and fear, his disbelief when he’s confronted with a version of his wife that shouldn’t exist. The story toys with logic but never loses its emotional truth. The prose has this eerie stillness, a rhythm that feels like breathing in the dark, and the pacing moves between slow dread and heart-hammering tension. I caught myself whispering “what?” out loud more than once, which almost never happens when I read. The author’s control over mood and momentum is impressive. Even when scenes leaned into the surreal, the characters kept me anchored.
But what hit me hardest wasn’t the time travel or the mystery, it was the loneliness. Beneath the weirdness, this is a love story about guilt and obsession. Dan’s desperation feels raw and a little ugly, and Celia’s time-fractured existence is both tragic and strange. Their connection stretches and twists, but it never breaks. I could sense how much the author wanted to explore what happens when love is stronger than reality itself. At times, the dialogue can feel blunt, but it works here, it fits people who are terrified and grasping for sense in the middle of madness.
My Twelve-Year Old Wife is for readers who like their stories unsettling, who don’t mind questioning what’s real and what’s imagined. If you liked Dark, Arrival, or The Time Traveler’s Wife but wished they were more psychological and eerie, this book is for you. It’s weird, bold, and relatable.
Pages: 194 | ASIN : B0FD87Y85R
The Conti Family: Luca (An Enemies to Lovers Mafia Romance)
After eleven years in prison, Don Luca Conti walks free. Harder now. More dangerous. Elena is the federal prosecutor determined to send him back. But when their eyes meet across the courtroom, the world stops…and forbidden desire ignites. She is sent to destroy him, but ends up beneath him. One unforgettable night that leaves her carrying a mobster’s baby. And when the death threats begin, and danger closes in, the only man who can protect her is the one she vowed to destroy. Some lines shouldn’t be crossed. And some desires can’t be denied. LUCA. A Conti Family Mafia Romance by Claire Kirby.
Allan Learns to Talk
Readers meet Allan, a five-year-old autistic boy who does not speak. His silence often leaves him overwhelmed; when the words simply won’t come, he collapses into tears and screams, unable to express what he needs. His sister Ashley worries constantly, unsure how to bridge the gap between her world and Allan’s.
Everything shifts when Allan begins working with a speech therapist at school. She introduces him to sign language, and the discovery feels life-changing. At last, he has a way to share his thoughts. His family, eager to support him, learns to sign alongside him. As Allan gains this new voice, they notice a remarkable change; he glows with happiness.
Allan Learns to Talk by Sharon Austin offers a gentle, motivating, and deeply inspiring story for young readers, especially those who have siblings or friends on the autism spectrum. Austin’s portrayal of Allan’s experience feels authentic and compassionate, allowing readers to view the world through his eyes. The illustrations elevate the narrative, capturing Allan’s intelligence, creativity, and vibrant imagination with striking clarity.
Equally moving is the family’s unwavering commitment to understanding him. Their willingness to learn sign language enriches the story and highlights the power of support and connection. The book deserves a place in school libraries, pediatric offices, and anywhere children and families seek stories that reflect real challenges and real hope.
As Allan grows more confident, spoken words gently emerge, an especially touching moment occurs when he says, “Mom.” Many parents will recognize their own journeys in these pages, making this book both relatable and heartwarming.
LITERARY TITAN 