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Multidimensional and Relatable
Imber centers around a young woman whose family is dedicated to sustainable living as she finds herself drawn into the mystery surrounding the fate of Earth and the limits of science. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to wildlife and wild places – not necessarily in a clinical way, although I do enjoy learning about nature, but more often as feelings of deep affection and awe. The initial spark for Imber grew out of the idea that humanity has a profound connection with nature. I wanted to explore what might happen in a dystopian future where that connection is strained to a breaking point.
How do you capture the thoughts and emotions of a character like Violet?
Violet is a complex protagonist. While she has many admirable qualities, she is far from flawless. It was important to me that Violet be multidimensional and relatable. In the first moments of Imber, Violet is brooding and somber. She’s reading depressing poetry on a day when she is already sad. Although she is self-aware enough to stop, I love that the first time we meet her is in a moment of self-sabotage. When capturing Violet’s thoughts and emotions, I was careful to shine a light on both her strengths and weaknesses. And because she is highly intelligent and analytical, her inner life must reflect that as well. So, overall, I would say that characters like Violet require a layered approach that befits the complexity of their thoughts and feelings. Violet was challenging to write – but tons of fun, too.
Is there any moral or idea you hope readers take away from Imber?
One of the fascinating things about reading is that people can take away very different things from the same book. They might have dissimilar interpretations of the plot or characters, or certain aspects of the story might resonate differently with them. As an author, I think it’s exciting that my work can have a life of its own in that way. Nevertheless, there are themes in Imber that I hold dear: humanity’s responsibility as shepherds of the earth; the power of hope; courage and perseverance in the face of injustice; and the beauty of found family, to name a few.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I would love to write a sequel to Imber. I have roughly outlined the story, but I haven’t started to write it in earnest yet. I am working hard to help Imber find an audience. If there is interest, I would be thrilled to continue this tale!
Author Links: Goodreads | X (Twitter) | Website | Amazon
The remnants of humanity are living in hiding, making the best of their circumstances while searching for a new celestial home. Just when salvation seems imminent, four strangers discover they have an unusual, inexplicable link—one that pitches them headlong into high adventure and intrigue.
Totally unprepared, the four must navigate shocking obstacles and trust unexpected allies as they race against the clock to unravel a chain of unsettling revelations that could impact the fate of the world.
The government has been concealing important facts about humankind’s promising hereafter. Will the efforts of a farmer, a hacker, a businessman, and an academic be enough to overcome impossible odds and expose the truth before it’s too late?
Social Isolation
Dylan Dover: Orion’s Quest follows a 12-year-old warlock and his twin as they try to uncover the mystery of their origins and the powerful forces that seek control over them. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I started writing the Dylan Dover series during the Covid pandemic, when the province that I live in (Ontario, Canada) was under a complete lockdown. At that time, my son named Dylan (no coincidence!) was 12 years old and like so many other young people, he was suffering from the effects of social isolation. He turned to books as an escape mechanism and I wrote the first two books of the series (Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex and Dylan Dover: Orion’s Quest) as a creative outlet for the both of us during this very challenging time. My son and I would spend hours discussing characters and plot twists, and then I would turn those ideas into written words which he would then read and critique. When you consider how the pandemic completely interrupted our regular lives, and the feelings of vulnerability and the lack of control that many of us experienced during that time, I think that those emotions were strongly at play in the writing of these first two novels in the series. Dylan, and his brothers Remy and Seth (later joined by their missing sister, Siri), are all trying to be controlled by evil forces but together, they find ways to increase their powers and to face adversity. During a time when our world was in chaos, the Dylan Dover immortal universe was born!
Do you have a favorite character in this novel? One that was especially fun to write for?
The character Dylan is my favourite character to write for because the voice in my head, is that of my youngest son, Dylan. I like to tell people that the character of Dylan Dover is based entirely on my son, except of course for the fact that my son has no magical powers and is not part of a secret prophecy! As my son aged and went through various challenges in his real life, those situations were mirrored in the novels. Discovering who you are and where you fit into the world, what your goals and values are, how you want to be perceived by others, how you deal with setbacks – these are all aspects of growing up in the real world and in the Dylan Dover series. I also found it both fun and challenging to make the voices distinct for all four of the siblings. I wanted them each to have very unique personalities, strengthens and weaknesses as individuals because even though they must learn to trust each other and work together to maximize their powers, they are each special in their own ways.
Did you create an outline for the characters in the story before you started writing, or did the characters’ personalities grow organically as you were writing?
I did not have any outline created before or during the writing process. My son and I would discuss ideas and I would then write a chapter based on what we had talked about. The characters, plot lines and settings all developed organically during the writing process. The more I wrote, the more alive the characters became in my head. The character of Dylan was based on my own son, so that character was easier for me to imagine in my head, and the development of Dylan Dover through the series in many respects mirrored the development of my son. My experiences as a mother of three children and as a high school teacher for over twenty years, helped me to find the voices and evolve the characters as the writing progressed. Having my son critique each chapter as it was created also was a huge help. If I wrote something that seemed disingenuous, he wouldn’t hesitate to tell me!
Can fans get a peek inside the next installment in this series? When can readers expect to see it released?
Book 3 in the series is called Dylan Dover: Players of the Prophecy. I hope it will be published in early 2026. It is currently in the advanced editing stages. Here is a brief synopsis:
In Dylan Dover: Players of the Prophecy, the siblings are convinced that the ancient prophecy is on the verge of being realized. They must further develop their powers and learn to work together if they have any chance of successfully thwarting Baltazar’s evil plans to seize the siblings’ powers for himself before killing them, destroying the immortal world and then dominating all humans and supernatural beings for his own pleasure. The siblings discover amazing new talents when they combine their magic, including their ability to time travel, but they are still so young. Will they make the right decisions, and will their powers be enough to subdue this threat and save their immortal home?
The siblings are not alone in their quest, and there are other allies working to help them in unexpected ways. And of course, there is Thea. As she discovers her genetic lineage which biologically links her to Cius, the vampire with the gift of foresight, she learns that she too shares the ability to see future events before they occur. But some of Thea’s visions are frightening and show her playing a direct role in the destruction of her friends. Thea tries desperately to remove herself from the future combat which she sees will result in the death of Dylan, but can she control her own destiny, or is her vision unalterable despite all of her efforts?
In a climactic ending, a monumental battle pits the malevolent Baltazar against the siblings. This final encounter brings the ancient prophecy to its end… or does it?
Author Links: Into the Vortex | Orion’s Quest | Facebook | Website | Instagram | Amazon
Dylan, Remy, and Seth (identical warlock brothers), Thea (a wizard), Halle and Oliver (shapeshifters) and Via (a fireball) are hiding out in the forest near Dylan’s human home, using magic to hide their location. They are on the run from the immortal Ministry and an evil vampire named Baltazar. Their goal: find their missing sister Siri to complete an ancient prophecy of four siblings who will change the course of history for magical and non-magical creatures alike.
New characters are introduced as they travel the world to find Siri. Dylan’s entourage is assisted in their quest by earthly and immortal beings, including the Greek God Orion. The story is a whirlwind that takes the action from New York City, to Mexico, Bhutan and Alaska.
Odyssey in The Congo
Breakwater Bay follows a journalist who is headed to Madagascar for a diving vacation where he instead winds up sucked into a shady rescue mission in lawless Somalia. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
A video popped up on YouTube about a pushboat pushing 6 barges up the Congo River with 300 Congolese living in a shantytown aboard the barges. It captured my interest and I found myself researching The Congo for a possible story. It just took off from there.
How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
This book was a different style for me. It was more about the journey and the characters encountered on that journey. It was an odyssey in The Congo and beyond. I tend to write fast-paced stories, so it was easy for me to balance the elements.
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
Yes. The pushboats and barges on the Congo River were intriguing as well as the use of child slave labor in the illegal diamond mines. I also wanted the book to create awareness of this sad/abusive situation.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Emerson Moore and the direction of the next book?
I’m developing a book that’s centered on the Lake Erie islands. It’s in the early stages. I will be releasing Not Alone At Home, a humourous Thanksgiving tale, this fall. It’s a sequel to the successful Alone At Home. I’m currently writing a romantic mystery set in Southport, NC. It will be released next spring.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Investigative journalist Emerson Moore thought he was headed for sun-soaked relaxation on a diving trip to Madagascar. But when he crosses paths with a smooth-talking, down-and-out British reporter, everything changes. Sucked into a shady rescue mission in lawless Somalia with his old friend “Mad Dog” Adams, Moore soon finds himself deep in the heart of the African continent—on a journey far more dangerous than he ever imagined.
From skirmishes with Congolese militias to a harrowing expedition up the treacherous Congo River, Moore and his crew dodge corrupt security forces and bloodthirsty bandits. The deeper they go, the darker the secrets become—until they uncover a clandestine diamond operation near Kisangani that could shatter lives and fortunes.
As the chase takes them from the jungle shadows to the polished corridors of Antwerp, Moore discovers a chilling link between the illicit diamond trade and a powerful U.S. real estate empire. And when violence erupts back home in Put-in-Bay and Chincoteague Island, Moore must confront the terrifying truth before chaos spreads—and more blood is spilled.
High-octane, globe-trotting, and relentlessly thrilling, this electrifying adventure grips you from the first page to the last, perfect for fans of Nelson DeMille, Clive Cussler, and Brad Thor.
The Feelings of a First Love
Whisper of Fate follows a Queen struggling with her new role of leadership and lost love, who has to find a way to hold it all together and fight for her kingdom. What was your inspiration for the wild journey you take readers on in this novel?
I hope that readers will relate to the feelings of first love and the struggle between duty and desire. I had wanted to write a story where the kingdoms were based on the seven natural wonders of the world and where each location was home to a different spirit, the Sol Defenders, who are the source of the earth’s goodness and reflect attributes of God. In the story, each of our main characters interacts with these spirits differently, just like people might experience hearing God’s voice differently. Kalista senses their presence. Raine can hear them clearly. Luke has a hard time hearing them at all, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t guiding him just like they do the others. I wanted young people who might question if God speaks to them to see that it might look different for each of us, but God’s love is still strong regardless of their ability to hear his voice.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
It was important to me that each of the three main characters had their own personal struggles unrelated to the love story. Kalista is dealing with her newfound leadership and doubts about her ability. Raine struggles with forgiving his father, and Luke is stuck in a job he didn’t want and a future he didn’t expect. Throughout the story, I wanted them each to have personal victories related to their growth. It was important to me that they each have their own unique personality and voice, but I relate to each in different ways, and I hope the readers feel the same.
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
I plotted the entire series before I wrote the first word, so I knew the plot line for the Sol Defenders from day one. What was surprising to me was the personalities of the characters. When I first thought about the story, I had thought Raine might be more domineering, but he turned out to be sweeter than I had planned, which made me fall in love with him even more. I never expected I’d love Georgia and Sebastian as much as I do, and Raine’s friendship with August was something I didn’t know I needed until he spontaneously came up in the writing. It was fun to give the supporting characters some big moments that I hadn’t planned originally, and those will continue into the third book.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
At the end of Whisper of Fate there is a big surprise, and in Night of the Sol, we get a whole new love story. I couldn’t let one of our characters go without a happy ending, but he’s definitely going to have to work for it, because his heart is going to be shattered a few more times before it’s put back together, I’m afraid. Kalista works to fulfill her destiny’s prediction to release the Sol Defenders to the earth, and we’ll find out if she’s successful or if the earth will have to continue to strive for the goodness it’s been desperate for since the Sol Defenders were trapped behind the Gateways. There will be a lot of action, a sweet love story, and twists and turns that keep the pages turning.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Website
As Kalista takes on the mantle of queen, the weight of her choices grows heavier. Threats rise within her kingdom and beyond, and tales of suffering in the Krasiv Isles push her toward a daring mission that could change everything.
Guided by ancient Spirits, Kalista must face assassins, uncover secrets, and confront the looming menace of Lord Mahan. At her side are the two men tied to her in ways she cannot ignore—Raine, the assassin haunted by his past who holds her heart, and Luke, her loyal general whose destiny may be greater than anyone imagined.
As alliances falter and sacrifices grow inevitable, Kalista must decide how much she’s willing to risk for love.
Enter a world of shadows and light. Read Whisper of Fate today to discover the strength it takes to stand against the darkness.
Guardians of the Cosmic Clocks: The Emerald Tablets
Jabril Yousef Faraj’s Guardians of the Cosmic Clocks kicks off a wild, genre-blending ride through time, space, and soul-searching adolescence. It follows Zya, a spunky, sharp twelve-year-old girl with big dreams and an even bigger heart, and her quieter best friend Elijah, a kid with a mind for circuits and logic. When they stumble upon a mysterious portal in the forest behind their neighborhood, they’re launched into a futuristic yet ancient interstellar conflict. There are aliens, time travel, cosmic watches, and high-stakes missions to recover the enigmatic Emerald Tablets—artifacts of immense power tied to humanity’s fate. All of it is steeped in Afro-futurist themes, social commentary, and enough banter to keep it all feeling grounded.
I honestly fell in love with the way Zya is written. She’s the kind of kid you root for immediately—complicated, headstrong, sweet, and full of fire. Her thoughts about wanting to be free, wanting to be seen and heard, absolutely resonated with me. It’s not just character-building; it’s emotionally real. Her world feels alive even before aliens and spaceships show up. When the science fiction finally kicks in—like when Zya and Elijah first lay eyes on the glowing portal in the forest and jump through it without hesitation—I was hooked. The pacing is snappy, but not rushed. The way Faraj builds out the Lumerian race, particularly through the elegant and mysterious Maroun and the guide Kelven, is slick and satisfying. The Nimrod (their spaceship) is described in such a cool, cinematic way it’s easy to imagine it.
But what surprised me most was how layered the story is. Faraj isn’t afraid to get deep. The Archons—power-hungry lizard-like overlords—aren’t just sci-fi baddies; they’re stand-ins for systemic oppression. The idea that they’ve used Earth’s pyramid structures to send out mind-controlling frequencies is wild, sure, but also kind of genius. It reimagines colonialism and spiritual suppression through a futuristic lens. The Emerald Tablets themselves are introduced with mythic reverence, and their purpose remains just cryptic enough to keep you curious. That said, I think some of the explanations got a little too exposition-heavy—especially in the scenes where Maroun lays out the backstory. It wasn’t bad, just a bit dense for younger readers. Still, the dialogue often balances it out with humor and warmth. Zya and Eli’s dynamic never feels forced. They’re just two kids, caught up in something huge, doing the best they can with sass and heart.
Guardians of the Cosmic Clocks: The Emerald Tablets is a blast. It’s heartfelt and hopeful. It manages to feel epic and intimate all at once. If you love sci-fi with strong characters, real-world metaphors, and a touch of magic, this is for you. Teachers and parents looking for a smart, diverse, adventurous read for middle schoolers—grab this.
Pages: 140 | ASIN : B0DNR18FLZ
An Old Soul
Reading An Old Soul felt like flipping through a vivid photo album of the late ’90s—sun-drenched streets, VHS stores, sweaty CTA rides, and all. M. Kevin Hayden tells the story of Isaac André, a thoughtful, offbeat 25-year-old from Chicago’s South Side who’s just trying to make sense of his life, his past, and the weirdly precise coincidences that keep nudging him toward something… bigger. Between working at Big Shoulders Video, helping his grandma with groceries, and being a low-key jazz and sci-fi nerd, Isaac starts experiencing reality in ways that don’t quite add up. Then, a late-night chatroom encounter changes everything.
Hayden’s writing hits that sweet spot between lyrical and raw. The book’s opening—Isaac sweating it out in Chicago’s brutal summer heat—pulled me right in. It’s textured, specific, and alive. There’s this subtle magic threaded through the ordinary moments, like buses always arriving on cue or the TV glitching in a loop—small, eerie clues that something’s off in Isaac’s world. That grounded surrealism reminded me a bit of early Richard Linklater or Donnie Darko, minus the angst and with more Miles Davis.
But the soul of this book, for me, is Isaac’s quiet longing—for connection, for clarity, for meaning. It’s in the way he tenderly checks on his grandma every day, how he geeks out over Philip K. Dick and jazz records, how he paints a mural in his tiny attic apartment of a sun-drenched meadow with two silhouetted figures. That mural is such a beautiful, wordless representation of hope and memory and maybe even fate. And the scene where he finally goes online for the first time was straight-up nostalgic gold. That slow, clunky loading screen. The “You’ve got messages!” voice. The awkward chatroom banter. And then he meets Noa, aka BirdGurl9, and suddenly his world expands in a way that feels both cosmic and heartbreakingly personal.
Hayden nails the vibe of being young, smart, and totally unsure if you’re lost or exactly where you’re meant to be. The scenes with Sharika at the video store—her insults, Isaac’s restraint, the sheer mundanity of rewinding VHS tapes—make the oddness of the rest of the story feel even sharper. And the way the universe seems to respond to Isaac’s quiet goodness made me weirdly emotional. This isn’t just a story about synchronicity; it’s about faith—not religious faith, but that quiet, gut-level trust that maybe you’re not as alone as you think. Maybe the right people show up when you need them most.
By the end, I didn’t want to leave Isaac’s world. An Old Soul is a book for anyone who’s ever felt out of step with the world but still believes there’s something waiting for them—something meaningful, something more. I’d recommend it to fans of coming-of-age stories with a touch of the mystical, readers who love deeply specific character work, and anyone who’s ever searched for “something” late at night on a dial-up connection.
Pages: 233 | ASIN : B0F453QXNG
LITERARY TITAN 