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Hidden Opportunities for Growth
The Year of My Humiliation follows a brilliant but morally adrift plastic surgeon during what he dubs his “year of humility” as he documents his attempts at personal reform—not out of love or duty, but from a cold, self-imposed challenge to bring his life under control after a scandal that nearly ends his career. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
A friend once left his house in anger and accidentally backed up over his child’s stroller, completely wrecking it. The implication was devastating – what if his child had been in it?
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
When developing Michael, I focused on creating a character who could experience a deeply personal, emotional reckoning without losing authenticity. Morally, I wanted his choices to feel grounded in the realities of human behavior—how we resist change until forced, how pride blinds us to our flaws, and how growth often begins with small, humbling acts.
Michael starts as someone defined by pride and control, but I aimed for his transformation to unfold slowly, in moments that reveal his vulnerability. For instance, making his wife tea wasn’t just an act of humility—it was a subtle yet profound shift in how he saw himself and his relationships.
Emotionally, I focused on Michael’s relationships—especially with the hospital psychiatrist and his estranged son. These interactions highlight the vulnerability of opening oneself to others and the uncertainty of giving love or seeking forgiveness. His choices reflect the gradual, messy process of self-discovery and the risks required to change.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I was deeply interested in the intervention of grace—not as something soft or comforting, but as a force that’s often shocking, even brutal. Grace breaks through our carefully constructed facades and leaves us no choice but to confront the truths we’ve been avoiding. For Michael, this means grappling with the fallout of his mistakes and the painful realities of the relationships he’s damaged.
I wanted to explore how suffering, while deeply mysterious, can act as a crucible for transformation. It’s through Michael’s humiliation—those raw and uncomfortable moments where his pride is stripped away—that the possibility for redemption begins to take shape. Grace doesn’t promise an easy path, but it offers him a chance to rebuild, starting with the messy work of repairing his connection with his estranged son.
These themes—grace, suffering, and redemption—felt essential to me because they mirror the way real change often happens: unexpectedly, painfully, yet profoundly. They remind us of the hidden opportunities for growth buried within even the most difficult experiences.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
My next novel is more a metaphysical one, about a woman’s journey through a life review after a possibly fatal accident (yes, that’s ambiguous for a reason!) Its release isn’t imminent – I want to deliver a compelling and thought-provoking story. To keep in touch, follow me on Facebook and/or sign up for my email list on lilyfieldpress.com.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Michael, an arrogant pediatric plastic surgeon, believes he controls his own life and his wife Rosie’s, until the discovery of Rosie’s duplicity punctures his self-importance and leads to tragedy. Consumed by remorse, he begins journaling his attempts at reparation, beginning with small, humbling acts – like making his wife’s morning tea.
But proving he’s emotionally fit to wield a scalpel again demands more than trivial self-abasement. Under the scrutiny of a hospital psychiatrist with unorthodox methods, Michael’s carefully constructed justifications crumble, exposing the raw truth he’s desperate to avoid.
Struggling to repair the damage only deepens his humiliation. And the one person who might pave the way to his redemption – his son, “the Jackass” – hasn’t spoken to him in years.
And he has no intention of starting now…
“The Year of My Humiliation” resonates as a tale of psychological and spiritual battles against family, God, and self – delivering a riveting, thought-provoking examination of the human heart and the life-changing power of forgiveness.
The Year of My Humiliation
The Year of My Humiliation is a raw, unfiltered dive into the mind of a brilliant but morally adrift plastic surgeon during what he dubs his “year of humility.” Framed as a daily journal, the story documents his attempts at personal reform—not out of love or duty, but from a cold, self-imposed challenge to bring his life under control after a scandal that nearly ends his career. His goal? Make his estranged wife a cup of tea every morning. That’s it. But the deeper you go, the clearer it becomes that this isn’t just about tea. It’s about control, shame, ego, resentment, and—most surprisingly—grief.
The writing floored me. There’s this calm, clinical precision to the narrator’s voice—understandable since he’s a surgeon—but it’s constantly bumping up against his inner chaos. You can feel it. The scene on Day 1, where he’s fumbling through the kitchen trying to make his wife tea for the first time in twenty-four years, was so mundane it was funny—and also sad. That tension carries through the entire book. One minute, I’m smirking at a sarcastic jab; the next, I’m sucker-punched by something brutally honest. Because underneath the smugness and detachment, there’s someone flailing to connect but absolutely terrified of intimacy.
What really hit me were the glimpses of his daughter, Michaelina. Especially the part where he looks at a school photo and focuses not on her face—but on a stray lock of her hair. That small detail holds so much love. He can’t say he misses her or that he’s grieving, not directly. But the book is full of these sideways confessions.
There are moments, though, where the narrator gets under your skin. He’s sexist, elitist, often cruel, and just plain selfish. He compares having intercourse with nurses to fast food and bashes his son with unrelenting bitterness. But I couldn’t stop reading. Because as much as I wanted to condemn him, I also wanted to understand him. When he meets Dr. Thurman, the psychiatrist who’s tasked with evaluating him, the power struggle between them is electric. She sees through him, and he hates it. She tells him, “You may be Mr. Expert on human faces, but I’m the expert on human shame.” She nailed it. That’s what this book is really about I think—shame, and how we hide from it.
This isn’t a redemption story, at least not in the traditional sense. It’s more like watching someone flail toward the possibility of change, failing often but trying in fits and starts. And maybe that’s more honest. I wouldn’t say the narrator grows into a better man—he just grows more aware of how much damage he’s done. The final chapters aren’t triumphant. They’re sobering.
I’d recommend The Year of My Humiliation to readers who like their fiction sharp, introspective, and full of complicated characters. It’s not a feel-good story. But it feels real in that uncomfortable, vulnerable way that stays with you.
Pages: 352 | ISBN : 0967149266
Zooming With The Past
Marlene Zaedyan’s Zooming with the Past unfolds as a moving biography that explores the entangled lives of four friends—Mariam, Anna, Fadia, and the narrator. At its heart, this book is a testament to resilience, the enduring strength of friendship, and the power of reinvention in the wake of life’s most crushing trials. Each narrative within the book shines uniquely while weaving into a cohesive tapestry of shared struggles. Mariam’s journey is haunting and brave, recounting her survival of her father’s abuse and the betrayal that left her vulnerable. Despite the darkness, her unwavering determination to protect her daughters and reshape her future is inspiring. Anna’s story, both tender and painful, charts her shift from the idealism of young love to the sting of betrayal and judgment, showcasing her inner strength as she rebuilds from the wreckage. Fadia’s tale adds a cultural richness, revealing the heartbreak of forbidden love and the silent ache of roads not taken when life forces her in another direction. Together, their experiences create a profound mosaic of human endurance and transformation.
Zaedyan beautifully captures the women’s friendship as the lifeline that binds them. Through life’s chaos and heartbreak, this unbreakable bond offers them solace, strength, and hope. The camaraderie between these women becomes the anchor of the narrative, reminding readers of the healing power of connection. What sets Zooming with the Past apart is Zaedyan’s artistry with language. Her prose flows with poetic rhythm, striking a balance between raw, emotional honesty and lyrical beauty. At times, the descriptions border on indulgent, but they rarely feel out of place. Instead, these flourishes elevate the intensity of the stories, emphasizing the emotional gravity and universal lessons that lie within.
This book offers more than a collection of personal histories—it’s a reflection of the human condition. Loss, love, betrayal, and resilience are all laid bare. Zaedyan invites readers to confront the pain of their own pasts, learn from its lessons, and find strength in its aftermath. Through her storytelling, she reveals the quiet beauty that exists even amid life’s storms, urging readers to hold on to the fleeting moments of grace and connection.
Zooming with the Past, by Marlene Zaedyan, is a powerful and evocative read that will linger long after the last page. It speaks to anyone who has faced life’s darkest corners, offering a light of hope and the reassurance that renewal is always possible. For those who cherish stories of perseverance, friendship, and transformation, this book is an unforgettable journey.
Pages: 166 | ASIN : B0DNQXDYYC
A Touch of Quirkiness
In The Meeting Place, a community fights for survival following an environmental disaster and a devastating public health crisis that tears three friends apart. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The context of the story – an environmental crisis and a pandemic -are what we already live with a slight increase in factors that could possibly happen over the next few years or decade. I have always had a fear of mass round-ups and I wanted to explore the hypothetical situation of adding in a round-up of community members in the Northern Rivers, within the backdrop of devastating drought.
I chose to look at this scenario from the point of view of 3 different characters each landing in different places and with their unique strengths and weaknesses that would come to play in their survival. The three characters could be said to represent different parts of myself but also different parts of our community.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing, or did it come out organically as you were writing?
I was compelled to write this story. It would nag and nag at me to be written until I committed to it and even then it took several years. I had no ideas beyond the initial hypothetical and the three characters. The rest of the story only emerged as I put pen to paper, with my left hand. That said the dark tone with a touch of quirkiness was somewhat intentional, as well as a slight exaggeration to characters and the context as well. Stretching truths a bit, I saw it in my mind as a film and that is how it revealed itself to me, frame by frame. To tell you the truth it was quite a gruelling, challenging writing process. I would become so frustrated about the lack of knowing where the story was going. I had to learn to be patient and to trust that when I picked up the pen the words would appear, voila!, just like that.
The style of the book is quite choppy, the way our thoughts and flashes of memories of disaster times can be. Some people would probably like more backstory about the baddies but that part of the story was not available to me, or perhaps that just does not interest me that much. Who does it and why… not as interesting as how the community survives and stands up eventually and overcomes.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am working on the sequel now.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Amazon
With the pulse of a thriller, The Meeting Place is a dystopian place-based novel about ordinary people confronted by extreme circumstances.
Town and Country: Voices from the Mid-Ohio Valley
Town and Country: Voices from the Mid-Ohio Valley, by Carl Parsons, is a collection of short stories divided into two parts, each offering a glimpse into the lives of small-town and rural characters. The book delves into the experiences, regrets, and sometimes peculiar situations that define life in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Parsons brings to life a world filled with nostalgia, longing, and an ever-present connection to place, capturing the essence of this region through a cast of vividly drawn characters.
Right away, Parsons’ knack for setting the scene stands out. The details pull you in. The first story, “Regrets,” hits hard with a wave of melancholy. The main character returns to his hometown, and the changes he sees stir up deep emotions. The descriptions and streets once familiar have now been altered by time—strike a chord. They spark a bittersweet sense of longing. His journey through old memories are heartbreaking and real. Small moments, like feeding his cats or driving past old spots, anchor the story in a way that feels personal and true. At times, the writing takes its time, allowing the reader to fully immerse in the scene. In “Hot Date,” the banter between the poker buddies is a perfect example. The dialogue is realistic, capturing the easy flow of conversation among friends. While the exchanges linger, they effectively portray the laid-back pace of small-town life. Parsons skillfully uses these moments to create a vivid sense of place, grounding the reader in the leisurely rhythm of everyday life. Themes of love, regret, loss, and time are timeless but Parsons gives them fresh life. “Judith and Phillip” is a standout. The story explores young love and its inevitable heartbreak. The innocence of their relationship shines through. Their separation feels gut-wrenching. Parsons doesn’t sugarcoat reality. Things fall apart, and the pain lingers. This story, like others in the collection, taps into emotions we all recognize. But it does so with a voice that feels distinctly Mid-Ohio Valley.
Town and Country is a reflective, thoughtful collection. It resonates with anyone who feels a deep connection to a place, whether with love or a sense of being stuck. This book is for those who enjoy literary fiction. It’s for readers who appreciate character-driven stories and settings that come alive. If you’re drawn to tales of small-town America, full of complexity and heart, Carl Parsons’ work is well worth exploring.
Pages: 181 | ASIN : B0DBH3RZDT
A Call To Action
Like a Lily Among the Thorns follows a young woman longing for a family connection who meets a woman who becomes more than a friend; she helps transform her life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
To me subconsciously, we all assign roles to acquaintances in our lives based on our unfulfilled needs. In this particular narrative, the MC has a real need for connection. Sometimes my muse uses my personal experiences but in others like this story my natural empathy for people in distress carries the load.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
The pursuit of happiness, connection, and dignity.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One main theme the reviewer failed to mention was the purpose of this book for me. I believe it is a call to action for the climate crisis that may possibly end life on this planet as we know it. Just like the characters in this story, the awareness of the danger is slow in forming and even at the end of this novel the lack of action to totally change one’s life in anticipation of this problem is just too much work. Eveyone hopes the problem is exaggerated and will just disappear. Like is actually happening right now.
What next book are you working on, and when will it be available?
My next novel explores the notion of what is reality. Can we move through different realities by choice? Scientists have postulated that the multiverse exists. In this work, I take the liberty of having proof that multiverse exists and that we can somehow move around these alternate worlds at will. It also is a nod to my gloomy attitude of the possible demise of humanity due to climate change. Enlightened souls will have the ability to save our species by traveling to another reality where climate issues do not exist yet.
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Book Review
At a local small library in New York City, one such family was born. And just like so many capricious happenstances in life, this family unit embraced newcomers and grew exponentially. But this clan was also charged with far more than spreading love and joy and a sense of belonging. This clan was formed by divine Providence to help save the planet.
Gabrielle Bernstein, the MC of Like a Lily Among the Thorns, is a woman in her twenties and has started her career as a librarian at a NYC public library. Abandoned by her father as a young girl and now orphaned by her deranged mother, Gabby longs for a family connection. Coincidentally, she finds this connection at the same time she inherits a B&B in Vermont from her estranged and now-deceased father. This enchanted inn is under the watchful eye of goddesses of myth and legend who have been tasked to save mankind from destroying itself and this planet. These goddesses will use their powers to try and stall the onslaught of the effects of droughts, floods, and rising temperatures. But as a safety net, they have collected human saviors all over the planet to erect safe havens at high altitudes away from flood waters and blistering temperatures.
Woven through this tale is Gabrielle’s inherent understanding that she must be grateful, mindful, and present in this journey called life.
Author’s note: In response to the feedback from several reviews, I offer some clarity to the book’s ending. As a call to action, the other message of this book is the reality that humans would prefer to do nothing when all appears normal. Doing nothing and waiting for the worst to happen is a terrible approach and has been the mindset for a long time no matter the solid info that has been available for many years.
Like a Lily Among the Thorns
Karen S. Bell’s Like a Lily Among the Thorns mixes romance, personal growth, and a touch of magic. The story revolves around Gabby Bernstein, a young woman in New York City who clings to optimism despite life’s tough breaks. Things take a sharp turn when she crosses paths with the mysterious Countess Anastasia Ivanova. Their friendship opens new doors for Gabby, pushing her toward a life-changing transformation.
Bell’s writing style is poetic, vivid, and full of detail, making every scene pop. Whether it’s Gabby’s simple morning routine or the lush garden of the Countess, the words pull you in. You can almost see and feel everything through Gabby’s eyes. The way Bell blends everyday life with a dash of the mystical gives the story a unique, almost magical vibe. Gabby’s constant reflections, while key to her character, add depth to the story. They offer insight into her mindset and her journey. These moments allow readers to connect more deeply with her. Her focus on gratitude and mindfulness is central and enriches the narrative. While these reflections do slow the pace a bit, they also create a thoughtful, introspective atmosphere that adds to the story’s charm. The bond between Gabby and the Countess is where the magic really happens. Watching them grow and heal together is both moving and inspiring. As the Countess reveals more of herself, her role as a mentor to Gabby becomes more compelling. There’s a scene where Gabby finally faces her painful past that hits hard. It’s raw and emotional, showing just how good Bell is at capturing real, deep feelings.
Like a Lily Among the Thorns is a solid pick for readers who enjoy stories that focus on characters, with a sprinkle of magic. The book’s poetic language and thoughtful narrative dig deep into life’s ups and downs and the path to personal growth. This book is the perfect mix of the ordinary with a little bit of magic.
Pages: 231 | ASIN : B09V5KGMJF
Road to Elysium
Kay A. Oliver’s novel, Road to Elysium, introduces us to Ken, a man engulfed in grief after a tragic accident takes the lives of his wife and son. Once fulfilling, Ken’s work becomes a hollow echo of his former vibrant life. His world is shaken by a violent encounter with young robbers, a pivotal moment that forces him to reconnect with the outside world and recognize the hardships faced by the less fortunate. Through this confrontation, Ken meets Mykel, a resilient teenager raised by a single parent. Observing Mykel’s need for a positive male role model, Ken steps in, providing the guidance and stability the young boy desperately needs.
Oliver skillfully navigates the intricate landscape of grief and the nuanced journey of healing. Ken’s path is neither straightforward nor without setbacks, yet his empathy extends beyond Mykel. He galvanizes the neighborhood youth, forming a football team that serves as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for positive change. Through mentorship and philanthropy, Ken rediscovers a sense of purpose, illustrating the profound impact of human connection.
The novel beautifully intertwines a burgeoning romance between Ken and Adelle, a captivating colleague with her own past wounds. Their relationship, rooted in shared experiences of loss, provides mutual solace and support. Oliver’s portrayal of grief is raw and sensitive, allowing readers to connect deeply with Ken’s vulnerability and root for his emotional recovery. The story subtly highlights the struggles of underprivileged youth, prompting reflection and empathy. Ken’s transformation and Mykel’s journey of self-discovery are both uplifting and inspiring.
Road to Elysium is a compelling read for those seeking a heartwarming narrative that delves into themes of grief, resilience, and the transformative power of love and community. With its richly developed characters and engaging storyline, the novel offers a captivating escape and a hopeful message. Fans of contemporary fiction with a touch of social commentary will find themselves thoroughly engrossed in this emotional journey.
Pages: 279 | ASIN : B0BKCQ32ZB
