Blog Archives
Break From Our Mental Pain
In Finley’s Song, readers meet a pianist who is battling grief and despair after her husband’s sudden death and struggling to raise her son through it all. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Finley’s Song was inspired by observing how grief can affect us in ways other than just making us sad or lonely. Guilt can often be an emotion we are grappling with in addition to grief. What could I have done to cause a different outcome or to have had a better relationship with this partner, parent, or child? This can be heightened by a sudden and premature death of that loved one. We always think time is on our side, until it isn’t. I also found it inspiring that Finley and Max never stop trying to find their way back to a healthy relationship while working through their grief in very different ways.
What are some things you find interesting about the human condition that make for great fiction?
Regarding Finley’s Song, I find it interesting how grief, coupled with guilt, can damage our ability to think in a rational or responsible manner. Why is this? I believe we can become overwhelmed with the starkness of reality. I can’t change or fix this outcome. I must live with the finality of it and decisions I made leading up to the end of my relationship with this partner, parent, or child. It can cause us to search for ways to escape… alcohol, drugs, sex…. and other distractions to give our mind the tiniest break from our mental pain. How this plays out in my characters’ lives becomes intriguing and insightful.
Was Finley’s backstory something you always had, or did it develop as you were writing?
Finley’s backstory was something that developed as I wrote. I always know the main plot and themes of the story before I begin. I acquaint myself with the major characters, and I know approximately how the story will end. The middle is a bit of a blur that constantly develops as I write. It is true that at some point the story begins to write itself as characters, settings, and behaviors fall into a pattern. Eventually, I clearly see how to resolve their issues.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
I am halfway through my next novel, called The Writer. It is a story about a woman who discovers she is pregnant and has terminal cancer at the same time. She decides to give her baby girl up for adoption, but then fate, as per usual, has its way with her. She must maneuver through the unforeseen twists and turns of what she had once thought was a well-planned resolution for herself and her daughter.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Winter Goose Publishing | Website | Amazon
The Coolest Warrior Ever
The Call of Thunder centers around a young woman struggling with identity and duty, living a hidden existence in a mountain village where she must resist the urge to reveal her own extraordinary powers. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I give a lot of credit to The Legend of Zelda video games, also Marvel (costume was inspired by Black Widow), and movies like The Avengers, Black Panther being my favorite. Being able to create your own world and literally do whatever you want with it got me really excited about this. I spent years trying to create the storyline and figuring out what powers she would have. I truly wanted her to be the coolest warrior ever!
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
There were times in my life that I wanted to stop being so reserved, stop caring what other people thought of every single thing I said and did. I recall in my younger years how frustrating yet amazing it can be to first experience romantic feelings. I wanted to bring that to light in Havanna as somewhat of a reflection of myself.
What was your favorite scene in this story?
Probably when Havanna arrives in Sabbia and fights the Backers trap that was set up for her there. I loved writing about Queen Calista and their relationship, and how freaking awesome she is. It was a way to give Havanna some hope after so much loss.
Can you give us a glimpse inside Book 2 of the Hidden Heroes series? Where will it take readers?
It picks up right where book 1 leaves off, with Quill and Havanna going to find the next Descendant. There are tests along the way to find the other Descendants, such as fighting enormous monsters and one particularly cold, brutal personality. Slow-burn romance is for certain as the characters get to know each other and learn to work together for the same purpose. The ending, in particular, will leave readers shocked, just the way I like it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
In the kingdom of Petros, twenty-year-old Havanna wants nothing more than to be free, to find herself, and to use her powers without reserve. But using her lightning abilities could expose her to the Backers—who do the Dormant King’s dirty work in hunting down her kind—and the bloodthirsty, fatal Dormants.
Besides, not even Havanna’s best friend knows her secret.
When her own impatience, isolation, and a bully create the perfect storm, Havanna’s desperation snaps her self-control. But she triggers the wrath of the Dormant King and a deadly raid that leaves her more alone than ever.
Determined to make things right, Havanna breaks out of hiding to take revenge. While searching for the Dormant King, testing her powers, and exploring the kingdom she begged to see her whole life, she finds that this quest is more difficult than expected.
Maybe that’s because this quest was never Havanna’s alone…
The Call of Thunder is a YA fantasy with an epic quest, adrenaline-spiking action, and a heroine learning the full scope of her power.
Wasp Oil
Wasp Oil, by A.G. Flitcher, tells a story drenched in darkness, madness, and obsession. It begins with a drunken man riding into a city under a cold sky, only to stumble into visions, betrayal, and a sinister voice that drives him toward violence. From there, the narrative unspools into a twisting detective story centered on Rosaria, a tough but haunted cop navigating a web of corruption, strange deaths, and whispers of something otherworldly lurking behind the ordinary. The world of Halburton feels at once familiar and warped, like a city sitting on the edge of reality, where every alley hides a ghost and every conversation has teeth.
Reading it was messy, wild, and, at times, unsettling. The writing is raw and jagged. Flitcher doesn’t hold back, and that gives the book a kind of honesty that I couldn’t shake. Some passages felt like I was being pulled under water, gasping for air, and others came at me with such absurdity that I laughed even while feeling disturbed. Flitcher is a master at crafting scenes rich with almost grotesque detail and dialogue that sometimes wanders into strange tangents, but I couldn’t look away. It reminded me of listening to a friend tell a story you know is going off the rails, but you can’t stop yourself from leaning in.
What really stuck with me was the atmosphere. It felt like the book itself was possessed, whispering through its characters, tricking me into thinking the city of Halburton was alive, hungry, and always watching. Rosaria, with her grief and sharp tongue, carried the story for me. She felt real in her contradictions: strong and fragile, hardened and yearning, reckless and careful all at once. And beneath it all, there’s a constant drumbeat of fury and loss, which gave the book its heartbeat. The ideas about anger, corruption, and what it means to be consumed by darkness didn’t come across as polished philosophy, but as something jagged and painful, and that made them hit harder.
I’d recommend Wasp Oil to readers who like their fiction strange, brutal, and emotionally raw. If you’re someone who enjoys wandering into a world that feels unhinged and alive with ghosts, violence, and raw human emotion, then this book is worth your time.
Pages: 414 | ASIN : B0FNSSSRGM
The Whistle of Revenge
K.D. Sherrinford’s The Whistle of Revenge is a fast-paced, emotionally rich continuation of the Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler mysteries. Set in early 20th-century Milan, the book blends crime, romance, and vengeance with theatrical flair. Holmes and Irene, now married and living under assumed identities, find their world shattered when their son Nicco is kidnapped by an old nemesis from The Hound of the Baskervilles. From that point, the story spirals into a game of deceit and endurance as love, loyalty, and intellect collide.
The first few chapters hooked me right away. The prologue, where Irene describes her marriage to Sherlock, is both tender and revealing, not the cold, calculating Holmes we usually see, but a man capable of deep affection. The Venice scenes in Chapter One are lush and cinematic; I could almost feel the sun bouncing off the Adriatic as Irene and Sherlock share champagne and Beethoven under the stars. However, just as I began to settle into the tenderness of their romance, the narrative abruptly shifts, Nicco’s kidnapping strikes with the force of a sudden, devastating blow. The abrupt shift from idyllic calm to dread mirrors real life’s unpredictability, and I loved that Sherrinford didn’t rush that emotional whiplash.
What stands out most is that the book is told from five points of view: Sherlock, Irene, Nicco, Inspector Romano, and Jack Stapleton. Irene’s chapters pulse with maternal anguish and strength, while Nicco’s chapters, especially his terrifying imprisonment in the “church prison,” showcase an eerie intelligence beyond his years. One scene that stuck with me is when Nicco deciphers a way to slip clues into a ransom letter using his father’s methods. That mix of fear and logic, hope and despair, feels so authentic. The writing isn’t just descriptive; it’s visceral. I could practically hear the echo of his footsteps in that cold, stone chamber. Sherrinford really leans into sensory detail, the smell of damp walls, the flicker of candlelight, giving even the darkest moments a strange beauty.
At times, the prose tends toward the ornate, with Irene’s introspective passages occasionally drifting, particularly during the evocative flashbacks to La Scala and Venice. Yet this quality contributes to the novel’s distinctive allure; the work does not aspire to be a restrained detective tale but rather a lush, romantic thriller with operatic grandeur, where even the antagonists possess a certain dramatic elegance. One particularly striking scene occurs when Irene recalls the abductor’s mask, likening it to “the devil himself,” a moment rendered with such vivid intensity that it sent a genuine chill through me. The melodrama works because it fits the story’s world: a place of music, love, and betrayal, where every feeling is turned up to eleven.
By the end, when Holmes and Irene close in on their son’s captors, I was genuinely tense. There’s a mix of detective intrigue and raw emotion that reminded me why this pairing, Holmes and Adler, works so well under Sherrinford’s pen. It’s less about deduction and more about devotion, about two fiercely intelligent people grappling with love and revenge.
The Whistle of Revenge is a rich, passionate ride. It’s not just for fans of Sherlock Holmes, it’s for anyone who loves mysteries with heart, romance with bite, and storytelling that sweeps you away. If you like historical thrillers wrapped in lush description and emotional depth, this one’s for you.
Pages: 335 | ISBN : 978-1487442514
Dark Place: A dystopian novelette
Dark Place tells the story of a near-future world where survival is tied to a Citizen Score. Anyone who slips below the threshold is “dispossessed” and sent to a bleak exile known as the Dark Place. We follow Ros, Domhnal, and Femke, three students who stumble onto a terrible truth: society is being manipulated, and the dispossessed are hidden away in camps designed to erase their existence. They enter this world themselves, struggling with survival, trust, and the weight of their discovery. It is a tale of control, rebellion, and the raw question of whether knowledge can really bring change.
The writing is tense and gripping from the very first chapter. The author doesn’t waste time painting a rosy picture. Instead, we are pulled straight into the fear of surveillance, the quiet scratching of chalk on a board, and the dread of the Authority’s power. The pacing is sharp and restless. Sometimes I wished for more quiet moments to breathe, yet the urgency also matched the desperation of the world. I liked how the story didn’t just rely on technology to shock me. It leaned on doubt, on whispered conversations, on the guilt and courage of young people who want more than lies.
The whole system of citizen scores felt uncomfortably believable. It stirred up anger, but also sadness, because the dispossessed aren’t faceless. They are old people, sick people, stubborn thinkers. The book made me wonder how easily we might trade fairness for comfort if pushed. I admired the way the characters held on to friendship as their anchor, even while arguing and stumbling. Their flaws made them feel real, and that rawness carried the story more than any twist did.
I’d recommend Dark Place to anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction that pushes beyond gadgets and sci-fi trappings into questions of survival and morality. It isn’t just about rebels and villains. It’s about choices, fear, and the stubborn hope that truth matters. If you like dystopian science fiction that leaves you unsettled but also a little fired up, this one will be worth your time.
Pages: 78 | ASIN : B0DYK6YC2B
Endless Fiction
I, Monster follows a boy born into poverty, abuse, and neglect who is shaped by these experiences into a predator that aims to not only silence those in the concentration camp, but also erase their existence. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I had done extensive research on the Nazi SS and their rise to power for a nonfiction book when I was still a professor. I had always wanted to know how could a person commit such acts of terror, document that terror, and still function as a human being? That is when I got the idea of following some of the prominent SS figures and charting their course. I had found that a number of them were outcasts, bullied, and considered on the fringe socially.
So, I used my extensive psychology background and created Hans, who grew up in the post-World War 1 era and the punitive Treaty of Versailles, where hardship, deep resentment of the West, poverty, and political instability thrived. That was the fuel; now all you needed was a spark. Enter the National Socialist German Workers Party, a.k.a. the Nazis, and you have Hans.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
I believe that the human condition is a source of endless fiction because life is full of contradictions, struggles, and the intense desire to do or have something. Yet, at the same time, much of life is routine—we work, eat meals, sleep, and get up to do it all over again. Fiction allows me to reveal the strangeness that lurks beneath the ordinary. This offers me the ability to remind readers that life is stranger and more fragile than it appears.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It was probably the overarching theme that embodies the “monster” within an otherwise rational man. The novel makes the unsettling point that “monstrosity” is not an external force—it already exists within the human condition, just waiting for the right circumstances and choices to call it forth.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
My next book is actually a love story, Framed in Love, that is steeped in fantasy and explores the psychological condition of “How far will you go, and what are you willing to do to keep that love alive?” In a world where love can be bound by spell and sacrifice, a devoted lover discovers that devotion has no bottom, and is preserving love worth losing everything that makes a person human?
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
To the world, he was just a bureaucrat in a coat too neat, boots too polished. But behind those cold eyes was a man obsessed with silence. Where others saw genocide, he saw design. And now, decades later, as investigators unearth the ruins and whispers resurface, the question echoes louder than ever: What happens when the monster is the one who writes the ending—and signs no name?
Foretold in the Scriptures
The Manifestation of Evil follows a young girl whose seemingly ordinary life in Ankara slowly unravels under the weight of sinister visions, haunting figures, and a destiny tied to forces beyond her understanding. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup for my story would have to be Genesis 3:15 in the Bible, where it says how God will put an enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel, and that verse was actually prophetic because it deals with the messiah, Jesus Christ, and the spiritual war. In my fictional book, I wanted Asya, a young Turkish girl who lives a normal life, to be visited by celestial beings to herald the birth of her firstborn child, who will change the world and her status as a chosen vessel. But she will be unaware of the type of celestial beings talking to her and the implications of what is being said to her. Just like the Virgin Mary in the Bible, who comes from a religious background, I wanted Asya to come from a religious background as well. Asya has no idea that the child she will give birth to is the antichrist, which was foretold in the scriptures.
What were some of the trials that you felt were important to highlight Asya’s development?
When it came to Asya’s development in the book, Asya went through betrayal and sexual abuse from a family relative, which was an awful thing, and that shaped her life to a certain extent, where she became an overachiever. Now, in my fictional book, I wanted to explore the background of the key players and characters in my book, especially their upbringing and events that will shape their lives, like the Russian president, Igor Alexander, who is an ultra nationalist and has a very dangerous antisemitic ideology.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The purpose of this fictional series is to make people aware of the times we are living in and to think about eternity because, truth be told, we live in a messed-up world. All you have to do is turn your TV on, and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, and earthquakes in diverse places. People are losing their minds, and there is economic instability, uncertainty, and inflation. It does not take a scholar or a genius to know something is off with this world we live in, and it is full of evil.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
The Birth of the Antichrist: The Manifestation of Evil, Part 1 is part of a series. The second book, His Arrival, will be out in January of 2026. This first book deals with all the events and circumstances that will lead to the birth of the antichrist, the man of sin.
Author Links: GoodReads | LinkedIn | X (Twitter) | Instagram | Amazon
Guardians of Felina: Rise of the Phantom
Rise of the Phantom sweeps the reader into the land of Felina, a world of Guardians chosen by prophecy, magic, and responsibility. At its heart are Alada and Tierra, divine feline protectors, who cross paths with Birch, a mortal Meu, as they warn villages of the Phantom’s threat. The book brims with battles, supernatural beasts, playful humor, and quiet moments of longing. Sofia builds a lush world of glowing forests, sacred prophecies, and mysterious enemies that feel both mythical and immediate.
What I liked most was the emotional texture beneath the adventure. Alada’s solitude, her aching need for connection, felt raw and real to me. I also loved the contrast with Tierra’s spirited energy and wacky humor, which often lightened otherwise heavy moments. At times, the banter felt almost too playful for the stakes, but I think that was the point, it reminded me how humor can be armor when facing despair. The writing style was easy to sink into. Sometimes the pacing slowed in long descriptive passages, yet I found myself appreciating the detail when I leaned into it.
The ideas, though, are what lingered. The story asks what it means to guard others while remaining unseen, how much one should intervene in the lives of those they protect, and how loneliness carves itself into even the strongest. I admired the way the book balanced spectacle with intimacy, giving as much weight to kittens begging for fish as to battles against glitching monsters. The villains intrigued me too. They’re shadowy, strange, almost playful in their cruelty. It made the danger unpredictable, and I liked that.
In the end, I closed the book feeling both satisfied and hungry for more. I’d recommend Guardians of Felina: Rise of the Phantom to readers who enjoy epic fantasy with a softer heart, fans of animal-centered worlds, and anyone who wants a mix of whimsy and darkness. It would be perfect for young adults who crave adventure, but older readers who remember the ache of loneliness and the balm of friendship will find just as much to hold onto here.
Pages: 256 | ISBN : 1735495867
LITERARY TITAN 