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The Backyard Peace Project
The Backyard Peace Project, compiled by Cathy Domoney, feels like a woven quilt of human experience stitched together with courage, pain, and healing. Each chapter comes from a different voice, yet they all hum the same melody of self-discovery, resilience, and love. From psychic awakenings to stories of grief, motherhood, and self-acceptance, every piece pulls at something tender inside. The narratives are raw and deeply personal, sometimes almost uncomfortably so, but they carry an undercurrent of light that keeps the pages turning. It’s not a book about perfection. It’s about peace found in the middle of mess and meaning drawn from the fragments of ordinary lives.
Some chapters hit me harder than others. Alice Terry’s account of her psychic gift and the fear that shadowed it as a child made me pause and think. Cathy and Skye Domoney’s mother-daughter dialogue about inherited trauma and forgiveness touched something familiar, that ache we all have for connection that doesn’t wound. And then there’s Gretchen Holmes, whose story of learning to love herself harder when everything hurt, felt like an echo of what many of us need to hear but rarely say aloud. The writing across these stories is conversational, imperfect, and real. It pulls you close instead of performing for you.
What I loved most was the honesty. These writers are trying to connect with the reader. There’s this feeling of being seen through their words, even when the subjects are heavy, like grief, illness, loss, and shame. I found myself nodding, sometimes tearing up, other times smiling at the resilience that sneaks through in small moments. The tone is hopeful without being forced, spiritual without preaching. A few stories reiterate lessons about self-love and empowerment. You can sense that every contributor truly believes in the peace they’re offering.
The Backyard Peace Project feels like a gentle nudge to look inward and to see our scars as invitations instead of flaws. It’s not just a collection of essays; it’s a movement of voices reminding us that healing happens in community. I’d recommend this book to anyone walking through their own transformation, anyone craving connection, or anyone who just needs to be reminded that there’s light even in the cracks. It’s for people who want to feel rather than analyze, who value stories told from the heart more than those crafted for applause.
Pages: 278 | ASIN : B0FSQWQ1GZ
Life-Changing Journeys
Awakening Stories is a collection of personal essays written by twenty-three individuals who share their spiritual and emotional transformations. What was the inspiration behind putting together this collection of stories about personal awakening?
After navigating my own spiritual transformation over the past ten years and listening to the stories of others, I recognized a pattern. People often felt alone, sometimes crazy, as if no one else could possibly understand what they were going through. Since these types of experiences are so unique— deeply personal and often traumatic—it is important that we break the stigma and mystery surrounding spiritual awakenings. This anthology covers a variety of themes and experiences in the hope that readers will find at least one story that resonates, realizing that they are not alone and are always supported.
What was your process to collect the stories, and how did you decide what to include in this anthology?
For this anthology, I sought out authors from diverse demographic backgrounds who had successfully navigated a variety of life-changing journeys. I wanted readers to see themselves in those stories, to know that they are not crazy, not alone, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The authors who said “yes” to this project recognized the importance of sharing; they were willing to be vulnerable in order to assist others. They felt called to this project, and I am in gratitude for their contribution.
Did you find anything in your research of this book that surprised you, or that you found especially moving?
What surprised me, truly, was the authors’ courage—their willingness to tell their stories boldly and revisit sometimes painful memories. Even those who didn’t experience a “dark night of the soul” had navigated events that were challenging for them to integrate, such as an NDE, UFO encounter, or out-of-body experience. As the anthology editor, I was moved by their strength and tremendously grateful for their gift to humanity.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Awakening Stories?
My hope is that readers who have navigated (or may, in the future), their own spiritual transformation will find advice, refuge, and strength in these stories…that they will recognize themselves in the words of our authors and know that, though the ride might be bumpy, the outcome will be beautiful.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
A Sustainable Life
Humanity in Trouble and Our Failure to Act is an unfiltered collection of essays that offer insights into the human condition, where humans have gone wrong, and potential solutions to alleviate human suffering on both individual and global scales. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Because as a species we have not improved our lot or reversed our negative impact on the environment and life on the planet. We have not lived up to our potential given our big brains and despite our “invention” of science and technology and subsequent understanding of how the Universe works.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Humanity’s lack of connection or respect for Nature resulting in our devastating effect on the environment.
Our lack of impulse control, egocentric nature, and failure to live up to the potential of our big brains.
Gradual but impending environmental devastation and high probability of species-level extinctions, including our own.
Perpetual emergence of dictatorial, warlike leaders throughout history, now armed with nuclear weapons.
What advice do you have for individuals who feel powerless in the face of the world’s current challenges and want to make a positive impact?
Start with working to improve all aspects of one’s own existence: live a sustainable life, support humanitarian and environmental action, vote for enlightened political candidates, practice charity, study the self, meditate, improve the education of children, and promote global peace.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Humanity in Trouble and Our Failure to Act?
You are not a “separate being” but rather a sentient member of the Universe interconnected with the web of all life, matter, and energy, and act accordingly by practicing gratitude, love, and compassion.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Amazon
This book is the result of overwhelming outrage and disappointment with our species, our failure to adequately address worldwide problems that threaten our very existence. We (if there is a ‘we’) should be embarrassed and ashamed. Nature has endowed us with near perfect bodies and amazing brains and for the most part we squander our evolutionary inheritance. And the greatest gift of all, consciousness, is under-developed in most of us. In this collection of essays, the author offers insights into the human condition, the reasons we have run afoul of the natural order, along solutions to alleviate human suffering on an individual and global scale plus some playful jabs at our human folly.
JewGirl
The book is a memoir about identity, family, and the messy, often contradictory ways of belonging. Marcie Maxfield weaves together her childhood in Detroit, her encounters with antisemitism, her complicated relationship with religion, and her adult life as a Jewish American woman. She writes about the boxes society asks us to check, about being pushed into identities that don’t fit, and about the tension between privilege and persecution. The stories are intimate and raw, often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and always threaded with her determination to make sense of what it means to be Jewish in America today.
Reading this book felt like sitting across from a friend who’s decided to tell you everything without a filter. I loved the way Maxfield blends humor with pain. One moment I was laughing at her sharp one-liners, the next I felt a knot in my stomach from the ugliness of the prejudice she describes. What I liked most was her honesty. She doesn’t pretend to have neat answers, and that made the book feel real. The writing isn’t polished in a “perfect” way, but that’s part of its charm. It rambles sometimes, it jumps tracks, it circles back. Life is messy, and her style matches that chaos. I found myself leaning into the voice, trusting it, even when it got uncomfortable.
Some chapters felt like she was emptying a lifetime of stories onto the page. There were sections where I wanted more reflection and less rapid-fire memory. But even in those moments, the energy carried me forward. She writes with urgency, as if she knows these stories need to be told now, before they’re forgotten or drowned out by louder voices. That urgency gave the book a pulse, and I couldn’t put it down for long.
JewGirl isn’t a neat narrative, it’s a lived one, and that’s what makes it powerful. I’d recommend it to anyone who has ever felt out of place, anyone curious about the lived experience of American Jews, and anyone who likes memoirs that aren’t afraid to be messy and sharp and tender all at once. It’s not a book that holds your hand. It’s a book that looks you in the eye and says, This is how it is.
Emotional Weight
Feisty is a powerful anthology featuring essays, memoirs, and poetry by over twenty women who each share their personal struggles with shame, oppression, trauma, and the quest for self-worth. How did you decide what themes this collection would encompass?
The themes emerged organically from a single, powerful question. When we opened submissions, we asked: What does it mean to be feisty in a world that wants you silent or small?
The stories that poured in were raw, courageous, and deeply personal. We didn’t impose themes—we listened for them. Patterns naturally emerged around shame, resilience, healing, and reclamation of power. That’s the beauty of the Brave New Voices series: we trust women to tell the stories that matter most, then we build the container around that truth.
What was the most challenging aspect of curating these voices, and what proved most rewarding?
The greatest challenge was holding the emotional weight of these stories with the care they deserved. As both editor and publisher, I felt a profound responsibility to honor each woman’s individual voice while crafting a cohesive, powerful whole that would amplify their collective impact.
But that challenge became the greatest reward. I witnessed transformation—not just on the page, but in the writers themselves. For many contributors, this marked their first time sharing their story publicly. Watching them stand taller, speak louder, and fully own their truth has been one of the most profound honors of my publishing career.
What do you hope readers will carry with them after experiencing Feisty?
Above all, I hope readers feel less alone in their own struggles. There’s extraordinary strength in vulnerability, and these stories serve as a reminder that we’re all navigating complex, layered lives with courage and imperfection.
I want Feisty to be permission—permission to be louder, bolder, and more unapologetically authentic. In a world that profits from our silence and smallness, choosing to be feisty is a radical act.
The Brave New Voices series seems to be building momentum. What’s next?
Absolutely. Brave New Voices has evolved into something much larger than a book series—it’s become a movement. Our next collection is already in development, and while each book tackles a new theme, the heartbeat remains constant: amplifying voices that have been overlooked, silenced, or dismissed by traditional publishing.
Readers can expect more fierce honesty, diverse perspectives, and the kind of storytelling that doesn’t just entertain—it disrupts the status quo and catalyzes real change. We’re proving that when you give marginalized voices the platform they deserve, magic happens.
Author Links: GoodReads | LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon
If you’re ready to rewrite all the rules and start thriving, just as you are, then Feisty is a must-read!
WARNING: This book is not for everybody. Well-behaved women rarely make history, so, check your good-girl card at the door. There is something even better waiting on the other side, if you dare venture.
Stories to inspire you to new heights of bravery, new depths of vulnerability, and new dimensions of femininity.
What does it mean to be feisty?
This collection of true tales of resistance and persistence in the face of historical oppression from cycle-breaking writers of all walks of life will defy your expectations, validate your experiences, and rally your inner warrior-woman.
Not only that, this book also teaches you how to:
Identify and share your own feisty flickers and acts of brave badassery
Release the “shoulds” and embrace your true desires
Heal from shame and trauma
Accept and embrace your authentic self
Find hope and resilience in any situation
The moment we stop judging our wishes is the moment we become capable of fulfilling them.
Order your copy of Feisty NOW!
Bonus: free, easy-to-implement tools to guide you through your personal transformation from each of these remarkable women authors.
For a limited time: download this remarkable book at its temporary introductory price!
FEISTY: Dangerously Amazing Women Using Their Voices & Making An Impact
Feisty is a powerful anthology filled with essays, memoirs, and poetry by over twenty women who each share their personal battles with shame, oppression, trauma, and the search for self-worth. From raw, searing accounts of domestic abuse to triumphant awakenings of creative and spiritual freedom, this book presents a vivid mosaic of female resilience. Each story is deeply personal, yet collectively they echo a shared defiance of being called “too much,” “too loud,” or “too emotional.” Through these narratives, the authors reclaim the word “feisty” as a badge of honor.
What I loved most was the book’s refusal to sugarcoat the truth. The writing is honest, even when it’s uncomfortable. Some passages left me gutted, like Adrienne MacIain’s story of surviving assault or Mimi Rich’s slow unraveling and eventual reclaiming of her life after intimate partner violence. These women don’t pretend to be saints. They tell the truth. Their voices, different in style and rhythm, pulse with pain and fire. The range of experiences is striking, covering motherhood, racism, sexual trauma, divorce, and identity, all of which weave in and out, but each tale feels grounded in something fierce and unbreakable. As a reader, I didn’t just learn about their lives; I felt their rage, their heartbreak, and their quiet victories.
The format of the book offers a vibrant diversity of thought and emotion, allowing each woman to speak in her own way, whether through raw poetry or richly detailed memoir. Every story has its own rhythm and tone, and that variety keeps the reading experience fresh and dynamic. I found myself drawn into some pieces, surprised by others, and always curious about what would come next. These women aren’t telling one tidy story. They’re sharing their own truths, in their own style, and that’s what makes the book feel so alive.
Feisty left me both exhausted and inspired. This isn’t a book you read to escape. It’s a book you read to understand. To witness. To honor. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to hear what courage actually sounds like, not the polished kind, but the scratchy, trembling, soul-shouting kind. This is for readers who are ready to feel something real, who might be grappling with their own dragons, and who need to hear that they are not alone, and that “too much” might actually be just enough.
Pages: 214 | ASIN : B09Q5923Y6
Musings of Mannarkoil Professor: Now and then here and there
Musings of Mannarkoil Professor is a delightful collection of autobiographical essays by G. Srinivasan, a retired academic who traces his journey from a temple village in Tamil Nadu to a fulfilling professional life in Canada. The book skips across time and place with warmth, humor, and surprising insight, offering personal tales that touch on family, education, cultural identity, and the everyday absurdities of life. From playful musings on spelling and name pronunciation to deeply rooted reflections on migration and belonging, Srinivasan stitches together a life story that feels both intimate and quietly epic.
Reading this book felt like chatting with a wise, well-traveled friend who always has something interesting to say. The author’s recounting of being mistakenly addressed as everything from “Spinivasan” to “Scinivasan,” a result of bureaucratic misinterpretations of South Indian naming conventions, was both humorous and revealing. These anecdotes not only elicited genuine laughter but also prompted reflection on how names encapsulate identity, geography, personal history, and the enduring influence of colonial languages. Particularly memorable was his wry response to those inquiring about the pronunciation of his name: “Please don’t. I am alive.” It is uncommon to encounter a writer who so seamlessly blends self-deprecating wit with insightful commentary.
The childhood recollections are rendered with a poignant nostalgia that remains measured and never overly sentimental. The vividness of his descriptions evokes a tactile sense of the era; one can almost feel the cool surface of a slate or hear the distinctive tickticki of the itinerant barber’s clippers. His attention to detail, whether it is feeding pencil shavings to a peacock feather or applying ivy gourd leaves to a slate for their supposed medicinal properties, imbues everyday moments with remarkable vitality. These memories are layered with emotional nuance, effortlessly shifting the reader from quiet amusement to unexpected poignancy. His account of his mother calmly examining a cracked slate and pronouncing it fit for another year of use encapsulates both the affectionate pragmatism and quiet discipline that characterize life in a large, traditional Indian household.
What stood out most to me was how the author seamlessly connects the dots between the personal and the cultural, especially in the later chapters. His story about selling used notebooks to sweet vendors and then getting those same pages back as food wrappers was not just funny, it was such a vivid snapshot of frugality, circular economy, and childhood ingenuity in small-town India. An intimate knowledge of Tamil Nadu is by no means a prerequisite to appreciating his narrative. His storytelling possesses a rare generosity, inviting and inclusive, it resonates across cultural boundaries.
Musings of Mannarkoil Professor is a lovely, gently funny, and surprisingly profound read. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys memoirs, especially those filled with culture, wit, and old-school charm. If you’ve ever migrated, struggled to explain your name, or just reminisced about the weird tools of your schooldays, this book is for you. I’d especially recommend it to diaspora readers and South Asians of all ages. Anyone with an appreciation for well-crafted narratives imbued with warmth and humor will find much to admire in this work. Though now retired, the professor’s storytelling remains as compelling and incisive as ever.
Pages: 161 | ASIN : B0F757C98J
How to Age Gracefully
How to Age Gracefully is a tender and unflinching collection of essays by Barbara Hoffbeck Scoblic, a woman navigating her eighties from inside an assisted living facility in Bethesda, Maryland. After losing her husband and suffering a serious fall, Scoblic uproots her life in Manhattan and resettles in a new, unfamiliar world. Through sharp observations and heartfelt recollections, she explores what it really means to age — physically, emotionally, and socially. The book is broken into seven parts, covering everything from adjusting to new bodies and places to the presence of death. Scoblic shines a light on the overlooked complexity, humor, sorrow, and creativity of growing old.
The writing is clean and conversational. Scoblic has a sharp ear for dialogue and a keen sense of irony. Her tone swings from biting to tender in a heartbeat — one minute you’re laughing at a petty spat in the dining room, the next you’re hit by the quiet heartbreak of isolation. I found myself nodding along to her stories, sometimes with amusement, sometimes with a lump in my throat. She’s refreshingly honest about the indignities of aging, the fears, the small joys. There’s a grounded strength in the way she refuses to sugarcoat the hard stuff — the loneliness, the loss of independence — while still finding room for wit and warmth.
There were times, though, when the book made me a little sad, not because of its content, but because of how little we hear voices like Scoblic’s. She doesn’t try to make aging sound noble or poetic. It’s messy. It’s awkward. It’s often frustrating. But she finds meaning in the mess. I appreciated how she documented the seemingly mundane — conversations overheard, small kindnesses from the staff, even a note slipped into a takeout bag — and made them feel full of life. There’s something deeply beautiful in the ordinary moments she shares. I especially loved her stories about community and her slow-building friendships with people she initially misunderstood. That said, some of the stories blend together after a while. There’s not a traditional narrative arc, and the book feels more like a mosaic than a single journey.
I would recommend this book to anyone curious about aging, especially those who fear it. It’s a wonderful read for middle-aged readers trying to understand their parents, for adult children who feel lost in the caregiving shuffle, or even for younger people wanting a glimpse into what might lie ahead. This isn’t a self-help guide or a grand philosophical treatise — it’s better. It’s a conversation. One with humor, depth, and the kind of lived wisdom you don’t often find in print. Reading it made me feel more connected to my elders, to my own future, and to the idea that life still matters, even when your world shrinks.
Pages: 101 | ASIN : B0DB2T821D
LITERARY TITAN 