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Thru The Eyes of a Warrior
This book is both memoir and meditation. Merrill A. Vaughan blends poetry, storytelling, and raw personal truth to explore what it means to serve, survive, and remember. Through the fictional voice of Jack Delaney, a veteran haunted by his experiences in Vietnam, Vaughan builds a bridge between past and present, between the young soldier who went to war and the older man learning to heal. The story moves between letters, memories, and poems that capture the brutal honesty of combat and the quiet ache of coming home. It’s not a linear tale but rather a mosaic of moments, stitched together by grief, guilt, and grace.
The poems have grit and rhythm, the kind that comes from someone who has lived the words he writes. I could feel the heaviness in Jack’s silence and the relief when he finally found his voice again. Some passages felt personal, like peeking into someone’s private confession, yet that’s what made them so powerful. Vaughan doesn’t hide behind pretty phrasing or elaborate structure. He just tells it straight. The scenes in the jungle, the letters to Ella, the haunting of lost friends, they all stay with you long after you close the book.
What I loved most was the sense of hope quietly pulsing beneath the pain. The character of Claire, the nurse who teaches Jack to write, and Ella, the granddaughter who asks to hear the truth, turn this story into a full circle. It’s not only about what war takes but what art gives back. The poems woven throughout, about veterans, remembrance, and America itself, feel like collective prayers for understanding. The mix of fiction and poetry works surprisingly well. At times, it feels like a diary cracked open. I found myself pausing often, just sitting with the weight of the words.
I’d recommend Thru the Eyes of a Warrior to anyone who wants to understand the emotional landscape of a veteran’s life, beyond statistics and slogans. This book would especially resonate with veterans, their families, and anyone who believes that storytelling can heal what silence can’t. Vaughan has written something painful, tender, and brave.
Pages: 110 | ASIN : B0FPT9WGZP
Obesseus The Mighty Muncher
This book is wild. It starts at a dumpling festival where this big-hearted, big-bellied hero named Obesseus is just vibing with his snacks, living his best life, when suddenly, bam! His old friend Monica Mango shows up, leading a “Juice Regime” trying to outlaw solid food. From there, it just explodes into this over-the-top food war, with dumpling battles, fruit villains, and a ton of ridiculous snack puns. Every chapter feels like watching a Saturday morning cartoon. There’s action, betrayal, friendship, and some surprisingly emotional burping.
I didn’t expect to get as invested as I did. At first, I thought it’d just be silly jokes about food fights and belly bumps, but the writing actually sneaks up on you. Obesseus might be goofy, but he’s got heart. He misses his friend, he doubts himself, he tries to do what’s right even when he’s covered in pudding. And Monica? She’s not just a bad guy. She’s complicated, hurt, a little tragic even. The story swings between absurd comedy and weirdly touching moments about loyalty and self-worth. The pacing is quick, and the dialogue has that kind of chaotic rhythm that feels alive. The author clearly had fun writing this, and iyou can feel it.
Sometimes the jokes go on a bit long, and a few parts get overstuffed with food gags. But even then, I was grinning. There’s a sincerity hiding under all the slapstick. The world of Snackland might be ridiculous, but it’s built with love and creativity. You can tell this story believes in joy and in standing up for what you love, no matter how squishy or saucy you are.
Obesseus: The Mighty Muncher made me laugh and even feel a little warm inside. It’s loud, messy, and surprisingly sweet. I’d recommend it for middle-grade readers who like their stories packed with adventure, humor, and heart —or, honestly, for any grown-up who still secretly laughs at food fights. It’s pure, unapologetic fun.
Pages: 98 | ASIN : B0FPMGQGZF
It’s Just the Spark
The Broken Weathervane follows a woman trying to unravel a family mystery who takes a new job with an English professor who is working on a biography that he does not realize is tied to her family. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My dad shared a family story about his father and uncle who were in business together with a younger brother who struggled quite a bit. The two older brothers did everything in their power to help him succeed in his own businesses and later let him work at theirs. I loved the way they cared for him despite all the difficulties they encountered.
This was the spark of the 1950s timeline in my novel. However, it’s just the spark. It’s not a story about my family, and the characters took on lives of their own.
In the 2015 timeline, I needed two people at cross purposes with each other—both seeking the same information for different reasons.
I found Leslie to be a very well-written and in-depth character. What was your inspiration for her and her emotional turmoil throughout the story?
It was important for Leslie to have understanding of mental health issues, some from experience, some from study and observation. Having safeguarded her family’s identity and history her entire life, she wrestles with how to handle newfound information she’s been wondering about for years.
Since her life had to overlap Greg’s at the university, I gave her an education background (previously a high school English and literature teacher) and made her a grants officer at the college so she’d have to work directly with Greg from time to time.
Part of her turmoil comes from keeping secrets from Greg who doesn’t even know she’s part of the Buckwalter family that he’s been researching. While honoring her grandmother’s wishes for privacy, she could be putting Greg in jeopardy by withholding information.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
In the 1950s timeline, one of the characters deals with mental illness. My hope is to reduce the stigma of mental illness by learning about it, discussing it, and having empathy for those who suffer.
Directly related is the question of transparency and truth. When is it important to be transparent and when should privacy and protection of loved ones take priority? There are no easy answers.
The Broken Weathervane is conducive to great book club discussion. There are resources and nine questions at the back of the book and on my website. I’d be happy to visit any book club in person or via Zoom.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
My next book is historical fiction, as usual, but it goes back further into time than my other books. Rain in the Wilderness is Biblical fiction set in the time of Christ. The main character is Rebekah, mother of three adult children. One son works for a Roman centurion; another despises all things Roman.
In Jerusalem and beyond, the Jews writhe under the oppressive Roman Empire, longing for a political Messiah. At the center of controversy, Jesus of Nazareth seems an unlikely prospect. Ruthless debates unite his enemies while further dividing Rebekah’s family.
After years of research and writing, I’m thrilled this novel will finally be published on October 13, 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Bookbub | LinkedIn
As Leslie Wickersham, Raymond University grants officer, seeks information to unravel a family mystery, English professor Gregory Stafford seeks an elusive interview with one more Buckwalter relative for his upcoming author biography. While Greg and Leslie guard coveted details from each other, her goals are further complicated by letters of blackmail threatening to reveal all she has worked hard to hide.
In this dual timeline novel alternating between 2015 and the 1950s, loyalty is tested and secrets abound when family honor collides with truth. Leslie grapples with the trade-off: how far will a person go to help a loved one thrive?
The Magician’s Wife
Lora Jones’s The Magician’s Wife is a taut and layered mystery that begins with a dazzling stage illusion and ends in something far darker and stranger. The story follows Clare Deyes, a small-town journalist who gets pulled into the disappearance of Angel Devereaux, a magician’s glamorous assistant who vanishes during a live TV performance. What starts as curiosity turns into obsession, dragging Clare into the world of illusionists, deception, and secrets that twist tighter with every chapter. Jones builds a world that feels both familiar and dreamlike, where each reveal feels earned yet surprising.
I loved how Jones wrote with restraint but always hinted at chaos beneath the surface. The pacing was clever, slow and careful when it needed to be, then suddenly sharp and breathless. Clare’s voice felt authentic, flawed, a little sarcastic, and completely human. I could feel her frustration and fear as her investigation blurred the line between truth and illusion. Some parts made me laugh in disbelief, others made me uneasy in that delicious, can’t-put-it-down way. The writing itself was crisp and vivid, not fancy or distant, and it carried emotion without ever trying too hard.
What surprised me most was how emotional the story became. It wasn’t just about a missing woman or a trick gone wrong; it was about grief, guilt, and the lengths people go to hide from themselves. I found myself caring deeply for Clare, even when she made bad choices. The book made me think about how truth can be an illusion too, how easily we buy into the stories we’re told. There were moments that genuinely chilled me, not because of ghosts or gore, but because of how real the manipulation felt. Jones doesn’t just write about magic; she writes about the hunger for belief.
I’d recommend The Magician’s Wife to anyone who enjoys mysteries with heart, readers who like their thrillers smart but not pretentious, and anyone who appreciates a story that keeps you guessing long after the last page. It’s for people who love a bit of strangeness mixed with grit. It’s clever, haunting, and unexpectedly moving.
Pages: 382 | ASIN : B0FV92H5RQ
The Deficit of Critical Thinking
The Ascent of Greed and the Audacity of Mind Stealing follows a young graduate who enters the corporate world with high hopes, only to encounter greed, manipulation, and the unsettling rise of artificial intelligence. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration came from my observation that many young graduates leave college with little critical knowledge about the rapidly developing transformative technology of artificial intelligence. Certainly, this technology is giving a helping hand to different sectors of society, resulting in improvements in people’s well-being. However, drawbacks are also emerging from its application. My observation is that young graduates are rightly enthusiastic about the positive aspects of this technology, but they pay little attention to its impending negative effects. That is why Adam, the main character of the book, was shocked when he learned from a layman in a café about the dangers of brain-reading technology. Does this mean that our teaching institutions are failing to instill critical thinking in their students? Or have the latter become so venal that they only focus on securing employment and earning good money? Some of these graduates, like the book’s protagonist, appear to have left college with little awareness of the consequences of the indiscriminate use of AI.
Yet our planet is full of news about unwanted initiatives driven by AI. The most critical issues raised by the media concern the destabilizing nature of fake news, as well as the threat posed by the excessive replacement of human jobs by machines. Obviously, there are many other sophisticated applications of this technology—such as in strategies for war games—about which we have little information.
In the past, we were used to seeing the younger generation fighting against perceived or real threats to society. Nowadays, however, despite the warning signals from subject matter experts and intellectuals about the unchecked development of AI, there is little outrage directed at those who push for its unregulated expansion. Why is the younger generation not outraged by this fact?
The book narrates a successful remedy to the deficit of critical thinking regarding AI development: the formation of an Action Group aimed at creating awareness about the dangers of unregulated AI within society. The Group was organized by a few enlightened young men and women who decided to act together in sensitizing the wider population about this impending danger. In a way, consciously or unconsciously, the Group was striving to instill in people’s minds a critical perspective on the unchecked development of AI, thereby compensating for the deficiency they had suffered at school. Eventually, they managed to raise awareness across entire populations, who fought for the regulation of AI and ultimately convinced policymakers to accept it.
Some events in the book were chillingly like real-life events. Did you take any inspiration from real life when developing this book?
Some of the chillingly realistic events are indeed based on real-life experiences, most notably those related to fake news. I took inspiration from a true story about a politician from a small locality whose reputation was tarnished by fake news, ultimately affecting his eligibility for public office. Likewise, the harmony of an extended family I knew was destroyed by false news created by certain individuals.
It is unfortunate that in such instances, the effects of fake news continue to linger even after the news has been exposed as baseless mendacity. Victimized people no longer seem as spontaneous as they once were. That is why Chapter 12 of this book, a product of my creative writing, is dedicated to the devastating impact of fake news.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Three important themes have inspired this book. The first is the wickedness of fake news, which I mentioned above. The second theme is the news about research in some Asian universities regarding their advancements in reading the human brain. Apparently, this research has progressed to the point where scientists expect to be able to scan people’s thoughts and convert them into text. The possibility of such an occurrence blew my mind and compelled me to deliberately create a state of confusion between reality and fantasy, so that due attention would be given to this sensitive issue of tampering with the most important human organ.
The third theme is the loss of jobs, as many tasks are being replaced by AI. This process is happening right in front of us. Simple examples include the replacement of cashiers by self-checkout machines; the introduction of chatbots in place of customer service representatives; and the replacement of bank tellers and loan officers by ATMs and online banking. Of course, even more significant job replacements—less visible to the public—are taking place in the industrial and transportation sectors. The book focuses on this issue, and explores the darker aspects of unemployment by imagining the disaster it could unleash in a once-happy community.
Will this novel be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
At present, I am busy developing a story about the misfortune of an African migrant family that almost made it to Europe, but in the end did not, because the boat on which they were traveling was swallowed by the hungry Mediterranean Sea. The book is, once again, a product of my imagination, but it closely follows the true experiences of thousands of individuals and families. Although the reasons for emigration to Europe are numerous, the book will focus on political themes related to the lack of freedom and democracy in the migrants’ countries of origin.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Driven by an insatiable greed for profits, the corporation prioritizes sales above all else, disregarding cultural values, beliefs, and ethical boundaries. Employees are trained to focus solely on increasing revenue, with little regard for the moral implications of their actions. To achieve their goals, the corporation deploys advanced AI systems that not only replace human ingenuity but relegate staff to subordinate roles beneath the machines.
In its quest for dominance, the corporation ventures into a controversial new realm: brain-reading technology. By accessing the minds of two young individuals, it seeks to uncover consumer preferences at an unprecedented level, triggering widespread outrage over the invasion of privacy and the potential for exploitative mind control. This reckless experimentation not only exposes the dark side of AI but also raises profound ethical and legal questions.
As the societal backlash intensifies, activists and thought leaders rally to expose the dangers of unregulated AI development. They document the devastating impacts of these technologies and demand immediate action from policymakers to prevent further harm. Public outcry ultimately forces governments to enact strict regulations, averting the catastrophic consequences of an unchecked AI future.
Through a thought-provoking narrative, AI and the Ascent of Greed explores the collision between humanity’s ethical values and the rapid advance of technology. With a powerful blend of corporate intrigue and societal critique, Pietros Kidane crafts a cautionary tale that challenges readers to consider the implications of technological progress on our collective future.
Terra Tamers: Alpha
Terra Tamers: Alpha is a sprawling young adult sci-fi adventure set in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity clings to life aboard floating cities after a cataclysm known as “the Hollowing.” The story follows Matthew Wong, a teenager under house arrest in Sojourn, a massive city adrift at sea. Alongside his younger brother and a group of friends, he ventures into a dangerous world filled with sentient machines called Holos and mysterious remnants of the old world. The book is a blend of futuristic technology, human resilience, and the kind of awkward hope that only a young hero can carry. It’s part survival story, part coming-of-age tale, and part philosophical dive into what it means to remain human when the world has been remade by its own creations.
Reading this book felt like watching a vivid dream unfold. There’s an undercurrent of pain and perseverance that runs beneath the action, a quiet heartbeat that says, “keep going.” The writing isn’t always clean or polished. But it feels alive. I found myself drawn in by the rhythm of the dialogue and the scrappy, sarcastic charm of the narrator. The world-building is detailed without becoming overwhelming, and the emotional core, this bond between siblings trying to find their place in a crumbling world, hit me harder than I expected.
What really stood out to me were the quieter moments, the human ones tucked between the chaos of combat and survival. The book isn’t afraid to be sentimental, and I kind of loved that. It wears its heart right on its sleeve. There are bits where the pacing slows, or a joke lands flat, but the sincerity never does. You can tell Petrilli poured himself into these pages, and that makes the story resonate in a way that feels more honest than many perfectly edited novels.
I’d recommend Terra Tamers: Alpha to readers who love stories about grit and heart more than perfection. Fans of Percy Jackson or The Maze Runner will feel at home here, though this book carries a quieter, more introspective tone beneath the adventure. If you’re looking for a story that blends science fiction with emotion, or if you simply want to be reminded why hope still matters even when the world feels broken, this one’s worth your time.
Pages: 524 | ASIN : B0F9DBXR8H
Washington Post Is Switching Off Lights
Piotr Bardzik’s Washington Post Is Switching Off Lights is a strange, witty, and razor-sharp collection of aphorisms that reads like a cocktail of philosophy, satire, and self-therapy. It’s not a novel, not quite poetry either, but something in between, an endless stream of short, punchy reflections on politics, ego, human nature, and absurdity. The book feels like flipping through the diary of a man who sees the world too clearly to take it seriously. From politics to death to dopamine, Bardzik fires off truths and contradictions at lightning speed. You don’t read this book to follow a story. You read it to be jolted awake.
I’ll be honest, reading this felt like watching fireworks. Every line bursts for a second, then vanishes, leaving an echo. Some aphorisms are funny and wickedly sharp, others hit hard because they’re too true to laugh at. The writing is stripped bare, almost surgical, but it carries an undercurrent of despair and amusement that feels very human. I loved that it didn’t try to be lofty. It’s smart but never pretentious, bitter but never cynical. There’s something deeply personal here, too. Bardzik pokes at himself as much as he pokes at everyone else, which makes it feel authentic and weirdly comforting.
Still, it’s not a book you can swallow in one go. The tone swings from irony to sadness to hilarity in a heartbeat, and that constant shifting keeps you on your toes. There are a lot of ideas in this book. Yet that’s part of its charm. It’s a modern kind of chaos, crafted into small, perfect fragments. The language crackles with energy, and the humor often cuts deep enough to sting. It made me laugh, then wince, then think, and that’s not something I can say about many books lately.
I’d recommend this to anyone who loves wordplay, irony, and truth disguised as jokes. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy thinkers like Wilde, Cioran, or Vonnegut, but want something more contemporary and raw. It’s one of those rare reads that makes you want to put it down every few pages just to let the thought sink in, and maybe laugh at how much it hits home.
Pages: 59 | ASIN : B0FSYG8G8C
A Confluence of Factors
Father Lost Child Found follows three amateur sleuths — one searching for answers about her father’s death, one searching for a mystery woman who left a child in her basket, and one searching for extraterrestrials. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As is often the case, a confluence of factors shaped the development of the story. Some ideas were sparked by things I’d heard or experienced personally, while others came from readers of Alone with a Tasman Tiger.
The opening scene of Father Lost Child Found was directly inspired by a conversation I overheard at Brisbane railway station while waiting for a train. A young man, freshly released from jail, was talking about his experiences. He mentioned that his father wasn’t in the picture anymore. I felt for him — his honesty, his observations — and thought he’d make an interesting character. He became the unlikely hero of my opening chapter.
I also received feedback from readers who wanted to know what happened next to Galina, the heroine of Alone with a Tasman Tiger. She wasn’t (spoiler alert!) the winner of the survival competition, but she won readers’ hearts. That encouragement got me thinking about her future.
Around the same time, I heard a radio segment about eulogies — those speeches at funerals where people sometimes say things they perhaps shouldn’t. I had great fun researching this and knew I wanted to weave a scene like that into the book.
Expanding the synopsis a little… Galina’s father died in an accident on an oil platform twenty-four years ago — on September 11, 2001, in fact. During a eulogy for one of his former colleagues, doubts are raised about the true cause of Aleksandr Ivanov’s death, setting Galina on a dangerous search for the truth.
I was also reading two brilliant novels by Terry Hayes — I Am Pilgrim and The Year of the Locust. Both are fast-paced thrillers, the latter edging into science fiction. They made me want to write something equally pulse-pounding.
Then there was an interview I heard on ABC Radio’s Conversations, where Sarah Kanowski spoke with a radio astronomer about the possibility of life on other planets. That definitely fired the neurons. And, over coffee one day, a friend and I started talking about the mysterious crop circles near Tully, first reported sixty years ago — circles that can’t easily be explained away by pranksters. That conversation sealed it.
What aspects of the human condition do you find most interesting — the things that make for great fiction?
Loss is something most of us experience at some point. You never really get over it — you just learn to manage it, if that’s the right word. Certain triggers can bring the pain rushing back.
Loss often leads to vulnerability, which is another universal theme. When we feel vulnerable, we become risk-averse — but without risk, it’s hard to escape an unhappy or stagnant situation.
And then there’s forgiveness. When someone wrongs you, the question becomes: can you forgive them? That decision always carries consequences for both sides.
What themes were important for you to explore in this book?
Identity – Who am I? I even toyed with calling the book Daughter. Drummer. Sailor. Spy. — a nod to John le Carré’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Spying – What it requires, what it costs, and what it demands of a person. The secrecy, the deception, the time away from home — and the toll that takes.
Secrets – Discovering that someone you thought you knew was living a double life. Perhaps they weren’t an oil worker after all, but a spy.
Connection and relationships – With family, and with doing what you love. Galina leaves the survival competition in a new relationship forged under extraordinary circumstances. Can it survive the real world? Seb has already taught her to swim — now he wants to teach her to sail.
Motherhood – For Charlotte, it’s about what it truly means to care for a child, and the sacrifices and choices that come with that role.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
Each of the three amateur sleuths undergoes a profound transformation through the events of Father Lost Child Found. They’ll each carry those experiences into their futures — but you’ll have to wait for the next book in the series to see how those changes shape their careers and their lives.
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Charlotte Wyatt-Harmon has taken a break in cycling from Hua Hin to Phuket. While shopping at markets near the border with Myanmar, someone leaves a child in her basket, sending Charlotte on a frantic search for the mother.
Mason Murray is a journalist with a personal interest in crop circles. Some believe these patterns were created by extraterrestrials and Mason is determined to find out for himself.
These amateur sleuths learn that everyone is hiding something: a secret, a spy, even an alien presence.
FATHER LOST, CHILD FOUND delivers a twisty-turny plot until the very last page.
LITERARY TITAN 