Blog Archives
Refusing To Let A Killer Walk
The Lost Boy follows a NYC cop who returns to his hometown, where he witnessed his mother’s murder, and must face and overcome his trauma to save a boy who is missing. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was intrigued by the idea of exploring a story about a man whose father left when he was seven and whose mother spiraled out of control before being murdered in front of him at thirteen. From there, I developed the character of Officer Callum Nowak and his backstory, which ultimately became the foundation for The Lost Boy’s plot.
I found Cal to be an interesting character. Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
Outwardly, Cal is quite different from me—he’s a cop, a former athlete, grew up in foster care, and indulges in excessive drinking and casual sex. However, we share the same Enneagram type: a Type 1, also known as the Reformer or Perfectionist. Because of this, he often reacts to situations in ways I might. He also deeply wants to be seen as a good person. The Enneagram is a personality typing system rooted in ancient spiritual traditions, describing people based on their core motivations, desires, and fears. While Cal is more impulsive—being an Aries—I’m more contemplative as an Aquarius. I enjoy using tools like the Enneagram and the zodiac to distinguish my characters’ motivations and make them more distinct.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I didn’t really set out with any particular theme(s) in mind, but as the story developed, I found myself considering the ghosts of our past and whether or not we can ever be whole until we confront them.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
A Fatal Affair, the second book in the Nyes Landing Crimes Series, releases this spring.
At the afterparty for the opening night of the Nyes Landing Players’s inaugural production, an outbreak of food poisoning disrupts the festivities. When a womanizing actor in the cast is rushed to the hospital and later dies, the corner rules his death an accidental overdose. But Officer Callum “Cal” Nowak suspects foul play.
A colorful cast of characters that includes a cheating wife, a jealous husband, feuding neighbors, and a housekeeper harboring a secret put Cal’s investigative skills to the test. Things heat up when the mayor pressures the police chief to close the case, leaving Cal with an ultimatum: back off or risk losing his badge. Refusing to let a killer walk free, Cal defies orders and puts his career on the line to uncover the truth.
But his relentless pursuit of justice comes at a cost. Cal’s relationship with Demetrius, already complicated, begins to show cracks. Demetrius, a divorced father navigating his first relationship with a man, struggles with Cal’s obsession with the case and his own doubts about their future. Can Cal solve the murder without losing the man he’s come to love?
Set in 2003, A Fatal Affair is the second book in the Nyes Landing Crime Mystery series. Fans of small-town murder mysteries with a gay romance twist—like Joseph Hansen’s Fadeout, Michael Nava’s Lay Your Sleeping Head, or Gregory Ashe’s Pretty Pretty Boys—will relish piecing together the clues in this gripping whodunit.
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“The Lost Boy, by S. F. Williams, is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant tale that combines mystery, introspection, and heart. It’s a story that stays with you and one that leaves readers eager for the next installment in the series. A truly remarkable debut.” —Literary Titan
“A cozy hometown mystery to wrap yourself in when you need yourself a lovely cop to follow around.”
–Reedsy Reviews
Can Officer Callum Nowak face his childhood phobia of the woods in time to catch a killer and save a missing boy?
When Callum “Cal” Nowak aged out of foster care at the age of eighteen, he fled his small hometown in the Catskill Mountains, hoping to leave his traumatic childhood in the past. Landing in New York City, he joined the police force.
Fourteen years later, while placed on administrative leave for roughing up a suspect, Cal returns home for a visit. Everywhere he turns, he’s reminded of his mother’s brutal murder, which he witnessed when he was a child.
When the husband of the woman he dated in high school before he came out dies in his arms from a gunshot wound, he must find the killer before she goes to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Having no official jurisdiction in the town, though, he must be discreet, which proves no easy feat.
Aided by a handsome stranger who awakens feelings Cal didn’t know he could have, he ventures into the woods where he spent five of the worst days and nights of his life hiding from his mother’s killer, and together they uncover important evidence in the case.
But when a local boy goes missing, can Cal face his phobia alone and save the boy? Or will his childhood trauma defeat him?
Set in 2002, The Lost Boy is the first novel in the Nyes Landing Crime Mystery series. If you enjoy small town murder mysteries that feature a gay romance, like Joseph Hansen’s Fadeout, Michael Nava’s Lay Your Sleeping Head, or Pretty Pretty Boys by Gregory Ashe, don’t miss this gripping and emotional read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
A Killer Among Friends
A Killer Among Friends by Andrea Barton, the second installment in The Jade Riley Mysteries series, delivers an immersive and suspenseful thriller that keeps readers guessing until the final revelation. Jade Riley, the protagonist, appears surrounded by a close-knit circle of friends. But when one of them turns up dead under mysterious circumstances, her world unravels. Driven by her burgeoning career in journalism and an insatiable thirst for answers, Jade puts her life on hold to unravel the truth. Her investigation, painstaking and solitary, begins to expose unsettling cracks in her friendships. Trust erodes as suspicions arise, leaving Jade to navigate the dangerous terrain of deceit and hidden motives. As the case deepens, an alarming question emerges: could this murder be tied to the alleged suicide of another friend years earlier? The chilling possibility of a killer lurking among those closest to her sets the stakes sky-high.
This novel is a quintessential thriller, replete with mystery, suspense, and a meticulously woven plot that invites readers to piece together clues and form their own theories. Barton’s dynamic narration shifts between characters’ perspectives and timelines, enriching the story’s complexity. Much of the unfolding drama is revealed through Jade’s determined pursuit of answers, which leads her to interview her friends and uncover their secrets. Each revelation expands the plot, intensifying the suspense as suspicions and theories pile up. Barton blurs the lines between innocence and guilt, ensuring that every character feels both suspicious and trustworthy in equal measure—a balancing act that keeps readers engrossed.
The multiple perspectives are a standout feature, offering layered insights into the mystery. Each character’s viewpoint forces readers to question their reliability, adding a psychological depth that heightens the tension. Barton’s ability to delve into her characters’ inner worlds makes even the smallest details feel consequential, compelling readers to scrutinize every interaction for signs of duplicity. The distinct and seemingly charming personalities of Jade’s friends make the truth harder to pin down, with the specter of a hidden predator lurking behind a facade of normalcy.
Though part of a series, A Killer Among Friends works as a standalone novel. Its intricate narrative, filled with twists and well-placed clues, provides a riveting reading experience from start to finish. Barton’s skillful storytelling and the novel’s gripping mystery will captivate any fan of the genre, making this book a must-read for lovers of high-stakes suspense.
Pages: 325 | ASIN: B0DN6TYDGV
A Vision Of A Serial Killer
The Angel and the Amazing Life of Maggie Love follows an angelic being tasked with evaluating the soul of a woman who has committed twenty murders and deciding if her soul should be saved. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I went to bed one night and had a vision of a serial killer named Maggie. My inspiration was to try something different with this idea. So, my first line, (Maggie Love is finally dead.), gave me a way to tell the story in a very different way. Almost all novels are written from beginning to end. Since she is already dead, her soul inspecting Angel can take her through her crimes out of sequence. The Angel tries desperately throughout to find one small iota of goodness in her, with the sole purpose of saving her soul.
Maggie is a flawed character that readers are drawn to despite her being a serial killer. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I needed Maggie to be an extremely exceptional individual. She is beautiful and extremely intelligent. She had to be very meticulous in planning her crimes, thus she is never under any real threat from the authorities. She is an amazing actress and has twelve aliases. She changes her voice and appearance at will. In one chapter she transforms from a nerdy secretary into Maggie Love, right in front of one of her victims’ eyes.
I find that while writing, you sometimes ask questions and have the characters answer them. Do you find that to be true? What questions did you ask yourself while writing this story?
One question I had to ask myself was, “why is she killing so many?” Maggie needs justification. Without that, these are just random murders. Maggie answers that question throughout by justifying her crimes by getting revenge on the people that drove her parents to murder suicide when she was very young.
When I was describing Maggie’s mother, I wrote, “she had a crooked nose like it had been broken”. I questioned myself and asked, “why the hell did I write that?” In a later chapter when Maggie is conceived, her pregnant mother is punched in the face by one of Maggie’s future victims. It came to me backwards.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m working on a book called Illegal Immigration. The story of two generations of families on each side of the U.S. and Mexican boarders. It should be available in about 8 months.
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Inspector Lawrence (Chief Inspector of Souls)
Maggie Love is an enigma.
She has at least 12 aliases. Is Maggie Love even her real name?
She freely admits to murdering people—at least to those who care.
We shouldn’t root for her—but we do. Just like her angel inspector.
Why?
C. R. Fabis outdoes himself in his second novel. The mystery isn’t about “who dunnit” but about whether or not Maggie’s soul can be saved.
Don’t Ever Give Up
The Elusive Price of Justice follows the Nelson family’s turbulent journey through corruption, loss, and redemption as they confront their past and fight for a future where justice might finally prevail. What were some sources that informed this novels development?
For several years, I was employed by a real estate development firm, not unlike Mesquite Development Company. I observed firsthand the extent to which some developers would go to procure IRS Sec 42 tax credits which were awarded competitively and readily turned into equity cash for their projects. Having worked in commercial real estate for many years I have always been fascinated by real estate developers who are the ultimate entrepreneurs, willing to gamble everything on an uncertain end outcome. Quite often, they adopt a lifestyle as if every project is a roaring success, even before it gets off the ground. I dealt with several such people over the years.
What inspired you to intertwine the high-stakes world of crime with the deeply personal struggles of the Nelson family?
Honestly, I thought it would make a good story. Sadly, our local governments often leave themselves open to corruption, with after the fact monitoring non-existent. Travis Nelson easily thrived in that world; confident he could always talk himself out of any predicament. Matt was of a completely different ilk. He was very bright and insisted on doing things the right way. Conflict with his father was inevitable despite a son’s absolute love for his dad.
Thematically, the story delves into justice and accountability. How do you define “justice” in the context of this novel?
I suppose there are two lines of thought. There is justice as handed out by our legal system (i.e. following the laws and accepting the statutory consequences if you don’t.) The other is that those who have done things the right way succeed in the end and those who don’t experience dire consequences. As mentioned above many real estate developers seem to believe they are accountable only to themselves or to the system up to the point where they will get caught. Matt Nelson was imbued with a credo of always doing the right thing even if no one was watching.
Diane’s evolution from a neglected wife to a resilient businesswoman is inspiring—what message did you hope to convey through her journey?
From the outside most people might have assumed she had a idyllic life, with a handsome successful husband, adoring children, magnificent home, and lacking for nothing that money could buy. We see in the novel that this was hardly the case. She was depressed on well on the way to alcoholism, when Travis disappeared. Ironically, those circumstances opened up a whole new world for her in which she blossomed. Clearly, don’t ever give up, a new and much brighter world may be just around the corner.
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Matt and brother John are hired by a family patriarch to root out the nefarious swindler. Their wild pursuit takes them from singles bars in Brooklyn to the ski slopes of Vermont to mountains of Utah. Their success will be rewarded by a special favor only the patriarch can grant.
Matt’s trial is imminent. Will he cop a plea or face the whims of a fickle jury? Can anything save him at the eleventh hour?
The Rebirth
V.P. Evans’ The Rebirth is a spellbinding thriller that blends political intrigue, corporate corruption, personal redemption, and philosophical depth. The story begins with the chilling murder of Dermot Walsh, a formidable figure tied to the shadowy Imperatores, a clandestine organization steeped in secrecy and power. His death triggers a cascade of events that draws Jason Roneros, a celebrated author and former member of the group, out of self-imposed exile. Alongside an old ally, Jason risks everything to expose the Imperatores’ crimes. Meanwhile, Mark Gilliam, a police homicide consultant haunted by the loss of his son, seeks redemption in a world that has stripped him of hope. His quest converges with Jason’s mission, plunging them both into the dark and perilous underworld of Chicago. Together, they confront ethical dilemmas, danger at every turn, and the chilling power of an organization intent on silencing them.
From the opening pages, Evans crafts a relentless narrative with breathtaking momentum. The pacing is electrifying, keeping readers hooked through each chapter. Yet, amidst the action and suspense, Evans carves out moments of vivid description, grounding the chaos in a richly detailed world. The writing is sharp, immersive, and unafraid to delve into philosophical territory, adding layers of complexity without losing the thread of the gripping plot.
The characters stand as one of the novel’s strongest elements. Evans excels at creating morally intricate, authentic personalities that resonate. Jason’s weary cynicism and Mark’s raw vulnerability are palpable, anchoring the story with emotional depth. The supporting cast, far from mere background players, adds further intrigue and dimension, often surprising readers with their own complexities.
Beneath its pulse-pounding surface lies a tale rich in thematic exploration. Redemption, betrayal, and the moral cost of dismantling entrenched systems are intricately woven into the narrative. While the novel ventures into dark and occasionally unsettling territory, Evans handles heavy themes—divorce, drug abuse, and existential despair—with nuance and care. Philosophical undertones add further depth, enriching the story without detracting from its gripping momentum. That said, the novel’s ambitious scope occasionally risks overwhelming the reader. A sprawling cast and interwoven subplots demand close attention, and even a brief lapse in focus can lead to backtracking.
The Rebirth is a triumph for fans of noir thrillers. A bold fusion of high-octane action and intellectual depth, it delivers a suspenseful and emotionally charged experience. For those willing to engage with its complexity, Evans offers a richly rewarding journey into the darker corners of the human condition.
Pages: 683 | ASIN: B0BWX78LV5
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award January 2025
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
A Haunting Deception by Micah Briarmoon
Harpazo: Book One of the Trib Trilogy by Nathalie Bujold Ryan
Walk a Mile in My Shoes Surviving Life’s Challenges by Paul Bradford
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
The Elusive Price of Justice
Robert John DeLuca’s The Elusive Price of Justice is an engaging and dramatic tale centered on the troubled Nelson family, weaving through a labyrinth of corruption, betrayal, and redemption. The story begins with Travis Nelson, a high-flying real estate developer entangled in a fatal deal with a Mexican drug cartel. His apparent death leaves his family reeling and struggling to rebuild amidst scandal and loss. As the story unfolds, we follow his son Matt, a man weighed down by his father’s legacy, and Pam, a fiery and often impulsive sister who finds herself caught in a harrowing domestic violence episode. Their lives spiral through suspenseful twists that unveil moral dilemmas, complex family bonds, and the elusive quest for justice.
DeLuca’s writing style is captivating and often shines in its vividly detailed character interactions, such as Pam’s perilous encounter with Dr. Sam Alphonso. These moments are raw and gripping, pulling readers into the emotional intensity of the story. At times, the dialogue leans toward being explanatory, which can momentarily disrupt the story’s flow.
Thematically, the novel excels at exploring the complexities of familial loyalty and moral accountability. Matt’s journey from being a tarnished heir to carving his own path is heartfelt, especially as he wrestles with the shadow of his father’s misdeeds. The scene where Matt, soaked and bruised, tries to call the police after an ill-fated stealth attempt speaks volumes about his determination despite constant setbacks. DeLuca does well to balance moments of tension with introspection, allowing readers to empathize with the characters’ struggles.
Travis Nelson’s covert survival and unexpected reunion with his family, while undeniably dramatic, adds a surprising twist that shifts the narrative into new territory. This revelation introduces a blend of family drama and high-stakes thriller elements, which creates an ambitious and unique tone for the story. DeLuca’s commitment to tying these threads back to the family’s emotional core redeems the narrative. His portrayal of Diane Nelson, in particular, adds depth to the story. Her transformation from a neglected wife to a resilient businesswoman is inspiring and grounded in relatable struggles.
The Elusive Price of Justice is a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with suspenseful turns and heartfelt character arcs. It is a compelling read for fans of family sagas and crime dramas. I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy tales of redemption and resilience, particularly those who appreciate morally complex characters navigating turbulent circumstances.
Pages: 258 | ASIN: B0DMP18BXL
LITERARY TITAN 