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Orphans of the Living: A Novel
Orphans of the Living is a novel steeped in generational trauma, racial violence, and the slow unraveling of the American dream. Kathy Watson tells the story of Lula Stovall and her tangled family history, spanning from a Mississippi plantation in the 1920s through decades of poverty, migration, and social change. Lula, a white sharecropper’s wife, becomes both victim and agent in a life defined by loss and desperation. The novel, inspired by Watson’s own family, shifts between perspectives and decades, revealing how choices, often forced, sometimes chosen, echo through generations. It is part historical fiction, part personal reckoning, layered with the grit of real events and imagined truths.
Watson’s writing hits like a storm. The language is raw, unvarnished, and aching with honesty. The prose feels lived-in, like the old quilts and wood stoves that fill her characters’ homes. The pain is immediate and unrelenting. Lula’s desperate act with a piece of fencing wire early in the book stunned me. Not just because of what happened, but because of how real it felt. Watson doesn’t write for comfort. She writes to bear witness. There were moments when I had to put the book down and walk away, not because I didn’t want to keep going, but because it hurt too much to stay in the scene. That kind of writing is rare.
But it’s not just the writing that stuck with me. It’s the ambition of the book. Watson dives deep into race, class, history, and motherhood, often all at once. She gives space to the Black characters in Lula’s orbit, making sure they aren’t just there to prop up a white story. Violet Byrd, especially, is a force. Her presence radiates power and calm in a world built to crush her. The author makes the brave decision to include racist language and brutal events for historical accuracy. Nothing in this book is simple. No character is purely good or purely bad. Everyone is just trying to survive.
Orphans of the Living is not just a story about one woman’s brutal life. It’s about inheritance. What we’re given, what we pass on, and what we bury. I respected the story deeply. It’s a hard, unblinking book that left me gutted, moved, and wide awake. I’d recommend this book to readers who aren’t afraid of discomfort. If you’re drawn to stories like Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage the Bones or Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, this will resonate. It’s a hard read, emotionally, but one worth sticking with. Anyone interested in Southern history, generational trauma, or the quiet violence of poverty should read this.
Pages: 352 | ISBN : 978-1647429782
The Desire to Be Forgiven
Memoirs of a Household Demon follows a mid-tier demon tasked with corrupting a modern-day slacker who discovers an emptiness in his soul, causing him to do the unthinkable in an effort to earn his way back into Heaven. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve always been fascinated with the concept of ghosts and the afterlife. In many cultures, it’s believed that the spirits of the dead (including our ancestors) hold some amount of influence over the living. Sort of like the scenario with the tiny angel and devil on your shoulder, tempting you to do good or evil. With this in mind, I decided to expand on the idea and use the spirits as a personification of human thought and behavior. Imagine finding out that your intrusive thoughts are actually a quirky demon and a snooty angel arguing right beside you? It gives a vivid (and often comedic) illustration of the moral conflict that exists within us all. Couple that with some Christian theology and my love for cinematic action scenes, and the rest is history.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
The most interesting thing to me is the concept of free will. How much of it is decided by external factors? Are we truly and fully responsible for our own actions? If we are born with a propensity to act a certain way, can we or should we change? I feel that all of the best fiction explores these questions in one way or another. It allows the reader to look harder at themselves and find a definitive answer.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
First and foremost, we have redemption. All of us are flawed. All of us make mistakes. Some are more costly than others, but the desire to be forgiven, valued, and even loved in spite of them is universal. For this reason, I wanted the main character, Yuriel, to act as the ultimate failure, so to speak. A person so incredibly mired by his mistakes that he doesn’t believe redemption is possible. Through his journey, I try to illustrate how all of us are capable of overcoming our weaknesses through genuine effort and perseverance.
The second theme is hope. All of us will die. No one can escape this tragic fact. However, the concept of the human spirit is a powerful thing. It gives our mortal lives deeper meaning, regardless of how much or how little we accomplished. It offers a second chance to see our deceased loved ones and adds weight to the moral decisions we make. Whether my readers are spiritual or not, my goal was to inspire greater hope regardless of life’s hardships and give them a more optimistic outlook towards what comes after.
Can you tell us what the second book will be about, and when it will be available for fans to purchase?
The second book will be titled Vengeance of a Fallen Angel, and the story will take place between the end of Memoirs of a Household Demon and its epilogue. The protagonist, Yuriel, is now on the run from the forces of Inferno and takes shelter inside a Los Angeles hospital. Its resident angels are able to shield the building and offer protection from any attacking demons, but things take an interesting turn when a young mortal girl is brought to the emergency room with her soul missing. Trapped between life and death, Yuriel must venture into the big city, find the girl’s soul, and reunite it with her body before time runs out.
This book will feature much more action than the first, along with a deeper look into the angelic and demonic societies lurking behind our own. Also, if you’re a fan of the Deadpool x Wolverine/Grumpy x Sunshine buddy dynamic, you’re going to love what this story has up its sleeve. The manuscript is about 70% drafted, and I hope to get it released by the end of this year or sometime early in 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
But when Yuriel’s obsessions bring tragedy to the family, he begins to discover an emptiness in his soul he never knew was there, yearning for a shot to make amends. Enlisting the help of Sarai and his angelic counterpart, Goldie, he embarks on a mission to heal the grieving and earn his way back into Heaven by doing the unthinkable—tempting Paul to do good. As old comrades and a hellish past come back to haunt him, Yuriel must fight to unravel the question:
If angels can fall, why can’t demons rise?
Set in modern-day Southern California, Memoirs of a Household Demon is a tale about redemption, overcoming weakness and loss, and finding the courage to do what’s right. Its blend of action, humor and heart offers an insightful look into human behavior and spirituality through the lens of an immortal being.
Memoirs of a Household Demon is both a standalone story and the first full-length novel in the Gray Spirits series. You do not need to have read other works to enjoy this story, though the prequel novella, Prelude of a Guardian Angel, is available now on Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.
Duty and Honor
Culgan follows a young woman on the verge of discovering her destiny as a direwolf shifter, and a seasoned warrior and heir to the Freki clan who find themselves bound by fate, ancient prophecy, and a rising evil that threatens the balance of their realm. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
A previous series, The Titanian Chronicles, inspired me to see and write about the Freki World. In fact, some characters in Culgan appear in The Titanian Chronicles.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
The secrecy imposed by universal decree on supernatural creatures was a critical aspect of the story. This helped me place and run their existence parallel to humans. Side by side, but the two shall never cross over.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The themes of duty and honor tied to power and abilities were part of the exploration. The gryphon comes into play, as the creatures symbolize purity, loyalty, and trustworthiness. They can’t accept an undeserving wolf. To ride a wolf must be worthy.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
The next book is in the editing process. This story delves deeper into the consequences of sin, greed, and amorality. How far up will someone go, breaking all the rules before the fall?
I have two more stories planned. But I haven’t seen the road yet.
Author Links: Goodreads | Facebook | X (Twitter) | Website | Amazon
Long dreaming of becoming a gryphon rider and training to defend her clan, Roisin Hati is impatient for her sleeping inner wolf to awaken. She never expected a choking cloud of evil magic to do just that. When she finally opens her eyes, a huge black direwolf with stunning cobalt eyes is standing over her—Culgan, son of her beloved godparents.
Culgan freezes when he hears the first snarl of Roisin’s rising wolf in his mind, feels her fear in his bones. As a warrior defending the hidden Freki stronghold, bonding has never been a high priority. But something about the white-haired, dark-eyed Roisin rouses an irresistible drive to: Claim. Mate. Possess.
As Roisin navigates battle training, Culgan is at her side, guiding every step. The pull between them grows stronger until it ignites in a glorious mating union. But dark forces are gathering in the desert. A daemon hungry for revenge bargains with a goddess for the power to destroy the Freki. And the gryphon riders may have to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the kingdom.
A Constant State of Change
A Fatal Affair follows a small town detective investigating the death of an actor that is determined to be caused by drug and alcohol toxicity, but he thinks there is something more sinister at play. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Agatha Christie has inspired me in so many ways. I wanted to write a mystery that honored her work. She was a master of poisons. My background is in theater, and many of my friends and fans are actors, directors, musicians, and playwrights so that world is very special to me. I needed a crime that involved poison and a scenario that centered around the production of a play. Many small theaters in the region feature actors from New York City alongside local talent. The rest of the story grew naturally from there.
I found all the characters to be unique and intriguing, each with a story to tell and secrets to hide. What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
We human beings are fascinating creatures. I’m intrigued by the light and dark sides to us and how we cope with those (or don’t). We all have needs and desires. Some we express, some we suppress. Some we aren’t aware of at all. And we live in a constant state of change, which is more fun in fiction than in life.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
All the elements of storytelling are interwoven for me. Once I find my characters, I figure out the crime, and the major discoveries of the investigation, and I improvise from there.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Nyes Landing and the direction of the next book?
A Scarecrow’s Secret opens during Nyes Landing’s annual harvest festival. A young migrant worker is murdered, and Detective Callum Nowak must catch her killer. Tensions between the migrant workers and the townspeople, a mayoral election, and the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays complicate matters.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
A mysterious death, a town on edge, and a relationship on the rocks—can Officer Nowak uncover the truth before he loses everything?
When an outbreak of food poisoning disrupts the opening night party for the Nyes Landing Players’ debut production, paramedics rush a drunken actor to the hospital—where he later dies. The medical examiner rules his death was due to “acute mixed drug and alcohol toxicity.” But Officer Cal Nowak has seen his share of overdoses, and something doesn’t sit right. He suspects there’s more to the incident than a bad batch of meatballs.
A cheating wife, a ruthless husband, feuding neighbors, a skittish housekeeper, and a mysterious woman with a dark secret all test Cal’s investigative skills at every turn. But his relentless pursuit of the truth comes at a personal cost. His relationship with Demetrius—a divorced father navigating his first relationship with a man—begins to fracture under the strain. As Cal’s obsession with the case deepens, Demetrius questions their future together.
Tensions rise as the mayor pressures the police chief to rein Cal in, delivering an ultimatum: drop the case or lose his badge. Undeterred, Cal risks his career—and his heart—to bring a killer to justice.
Set in 2003, A Fatal Affair is the second 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 absorbing mystery layered with emotion and secrets that refuse to stay buried.
Protective, Passionate, and Grounding
Liora: Lost In Heaven’s Touch follows a young woman who awakens with no memories in a strange garden, where she must embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was at a point in my life where I had fallen back in love with reading, especially paranormal and shifter romance. I was devouring stories about angels and mortals, but I kept noticing a pattern: the immortal hero and the mortal heroine. I wanted to flip that dynamic. I wanted the heroine to be the gifted one. Liora was born from that desire. She represents a love so powerful it overrides divinity, proof that being human and in love is something even heaven is worth giving up for.
Liora develops different relationships with Yasim, Locran, and Kairos, each helping her discover various parts of herself. What was the inspiration for the relationship that develops between the characters?
Honestly, I didn’t plan their personalities. They revealed themselves to me as I wrote. I just knew I wanted three distinct dynamics: one man who would become like a brother, one who could’ve been a love interest in another life, and one who would be her ultimate love. Their roles were shaped not only by the needs of the story but also by my own lived experiences with the different types of male energy we encounter in life: protective, passionate, and grounding.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Self-exploration and self-acceptance were huge for me. So many of us are on a journey of finding ourselves. Some through hardship, others through relationships or reflection. Liora’s story is an extreme example, but I wanted to mirror real life, where certain people cross our paths to either awaken something within us or guide us to our truth. It was also really important for me to show that she’s not just some damsel in distress. She’s powerful. She’s in control of her fate even when she doesn’t realise it yet.
Where does the next book in the series take the characters?
While the characters reappear throughout the trilogy, Liora and Kai’s journey mostly wraps up in this first book. They’ll still show up, especially in moments where their guidance or presence matters, but the spotlight shifts to other characters. It was always meant to be a shared universe, and now it’s time to let the rest of the cast step forward and have their stories told.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
As she pieces together who she is, Liora finds herself drawn to Kai, a man whose sharp edges hide more than he lets on. He challenges her, infuriates her, and makes her feel something she has never felt before.
This is a story of love, self-discovery, and second chances… because sometimes, starting over is the only way to find where you truly belong.
Things You Didn’t Know About Chimneys
John Hughes’ Things You Didn’t Know About Chimneys is a quirky, character-driven tale set in the fictional village of Piddly Bottom. The story follows the pompous Syngen-Hyde family, particularly the clueless Lord Charles and Lady Priscilla, who inherit the crumbling Monkspew Manor. As they hire the hapless but well-meaning Bert Bogglethrop and his ragtag crew to refurbish the property, chaos unfolds in a series of oddball adventures. At the center of it all is young Millicent, the quiet niece with a tragic past, who slowly uncovers more than just soot in the manor’s ancient chimneys. Part farce, part folk tale, the book is packed with eccentricity, old-school British humor, and a surprising heart.
I found Hughes’ writing incredibly charming. His characters are cartoonish and exaggerated, and that’s the point. Bert Bogglethrop, with his sardine-scented suit and wheezy van named Jenny, had me laughing. I genuinely loved the way Hughes commits to the ridiculousness. The dialogue is full of clever turns, regional slang, and enough cheeky wit to fill a chimney flue. But it’s not all slapstick. There’s something quietly touching about Millie’s journey. How this overlooked, lonely girl finds courage and belonging in a house full of ghosts, literal and metaphorical.
There’s a lot of setup, a lot of jokes, and a lot of shouting. Some chapters meander like Bert’s van, and not every punchline lands clean. The villains, especially Charles and Priscilla, are so delightfully detestable that I found myself wishing for a sharper emotional payoff. But honestly, I didn’t mind the detours. The story has a cozy, fireside rhythm. There’s a homespun charm in the way Hughes writes, like a tall tale being told in the back room of a village pub.
Things You Didn’t Know About Chimneys is a playful, warm-hearted read. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys old-fashioned British humor, offbeat characters, and a bit of magical mischief tucked between soot and rafters. It’s perfect for fans of Roald Dahl, Terry Pratchett’s gentler side, or those who just want a good laugh with a cup of tea. It will absolutely brighten your day.
Pages: 168 | ASIN : B0DSLTHZKD
Fate Can Toss a Boomerang: A Murder Mystery
After reading Fate Can Toss a Boomerang: A Murder Mystery by Carolyn Summer Quinn, I can say it’s a mystery that sticks with you for more than just its plot. At its core, the book follows Detective Knox Wanamaker, who is called to investigate a murder in his small Wyoming town. The victim turns out to be Petra Turkett, a long-feared and loathed gym teacher with a dark, abusive past, a predator who managed to evade justice for decades. As Knox peels back the layers of Petra’s history, we’re drawn into a town’s underbelly and a personal reckoning that ties back to his own teenage trauma. The mystery unspools through sharp dialogue, emotional memory, and slow, gritty uncovering of truth.
I was impressed by how bold the writing was. Quinn doesn’t shy away from ugly topics or watered-down feelings. Knox isn’t your slick, emotionless detective. He’s wounded, he’s angry, and he carries his past like a second badge. His voice is raw and real. It felt like listening to a guy telling you his life story. The writing’s straightforward and personal, not fancy or overly stylized, which works here. And the small-town setting, all claustrophobic and cold and oddly cozy, adds to the pressure-cooker feeling. I was invested not just in solving the mystery, but in how Knox would come out the other side.
The story is emotionally heavy. This isn’t your clever-whodunit-with-a-twist kind of mystery. It’s soaked in anger, regret, and trauma, especially around child abuse and how communities fail to deal with it. Sometimes that made it hard to read, especially when the past crept into the present in vivid, painful ways. I found myself torn between cheering on justice and wincing at what justice actually costs. Petra isn’t just a victim, she’s a monster, and the book never lets us forget that. But that raises complicated feelings when you’re rooting for her killer to stay free. It’s messy. But life’s messy, too. I appreciated that honesty.
I’d recommend this book to readers who like character-driven mysteries with emotional depth and moral gray zones. If you like stories that push buttons and leave you chewing on them after the last page, this one delivers. It’s angry and heartfelt and kind of exhausting, but in the best way.
Pages: 174 | ASIN : B0FDDCJ1RW
Ash of the Fallen Star
Ash of the Fallen Star follows Caelin, a restorationist in the ruined city of Lowen’s Fall, as she uncovers ancient glyphs, haunted memories, and a strange connection to a forgotten divine past. Her dreams are filled with wings of violet flame and a voice calling a name that isn’t hers. As mysterious symbols react only to her, and relics stir with unsettling familiarity, a long-dead guardian named Lucan awakens from his tomb, bound to her by a soul-mark and a forgotten vow. The book weaves two stories. Caelin’s cautious descent into myth and Lucan’s desperate rise from death into a tale about memory, loss, and love that spans lifetimes.
The writing is lush, sometimes lyrical, but it fits the world Novane built. It’s dense with memory and layered. I loved how the city itself felt alive, rearranging itself, holding its breath. The glyphs, the rituals, the Restoration Society, all felt real, like they existed before the story even began. Caelin is cautious, observant, and deeply lonely, and her quiet unraveling was as fascinating as it was heartbreaking. Her slow realization that something inside her remembers things she had never lived was powerful. And Lucan, oh, Lucan. His resurrection was brutal and beautiful, and watching him cling to his identity while unraveling was one of the most moving parts of the book for me.
There were moments when the prose felt a bit heavy. At times, I felt the abundance of sensory detail and metaphor made it hard for certain emotional beats to land as sharply as they could have. The dual POV added depth and intrigue, but now and then it slowed the emotional momentum just a touch. Even so, these are minor things in the grand scheme. They didn’t take away from the overall power and beauty of the story. The story had weight, and the emotional threads between Caelin and Lucan, tender, aching, restrained, left me feeling wrung out in the best way.
I’d recommend Ash of the Fallen Star to readers who love fantasy steeped in mystery and mood. If you enjoy the quiet build of The Broken Earth trilogy, the tangled timelines of The Starless Sea, or the intimate scale of The Night Circus, this book will feel like a gift. It’s for those who like their stories soaked in ruin and wonder, with characters who carry the weight of ancient promises and unspoken love. I’m still thinking about the final chapters.
Pages: 280 | ASIN : B0FHJCJ8K1
LITERARY TITAN 