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What Bear Said: About Life, Love, and Other Stuff
What Bear Said is a tender and beautifully illustrated children’s book following the conversation between a wise bear and a curious child. Through a series of heartfelt exchanges, the book explores themes like friendship, love, forgiveness, grief, and the importance of being present. Each chapter touches on a different life lesson, framed in simple yet profound dialogue that feels timeless. The story doesn’t follow a traditional plot but instead unfolds like a walk through the woods, where each stop along the trail offers a new truth about what it means to live, love, and grow.
Reading this book felt like sitting by a fire with someone who understands life’s messiness. The writing has this soft rhythm that slows you down. I loved how Wiens captures the innocence of a child’s questions and pairs them with Bear’s gentle wisdom. It’s not preachy or forced. It feels natural, even when the topics get heavy. The artwork complements the words perfectly. The imagery is warm, earthy, and full of quiet emotion. I found myself smiling at some pages. The talk about grief and forgiveness hit me hard. It reminded me of my own moments of letting go, and how much courage that takes.
What really stood out to me was the honesty of the book. It doesn’t sugarcoat pain or pretend that love fixes everything. It just says, “This is how it is, and that’s okay.” The simplicity of the language makes it easy to read, but the ideas stay with you long after. There’s a humility in Wiens’ voice, like he’s still learning along with us. The bear isn’t some all-knowing creature; he’s patient, kind, sometimes unsure, and that makes him real. The book feels less like a children’s story and more like a letter to anyone who’s ever struggled to understand their own heart.
I’d recommend What Bear Said to anyone who loves reflective, soulful reads. It’s perfect for parents and grandparents to share with kids, but also for adults who need a quiet reminder that love, kindness, and forgiveness still matter. This isn’t a picture book you rush through. It’s one you sit with, maybe under a tree or on a rainy afternoon, and let its calm wisdom sink in.
Pages: 98 | ASIN : B0DNRH1H8F
Space to Heal
That Kind of Girl follows an anxious and overwhelmed physician who meets a stripper-slash-therapist whose fearless confidence leaves her to question if having it all is worth the price of losing herself in the process. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for That Kind of Girl came from seeing the women around me trying to balance the chaos of demanding careers and motherhood. I started writing the book when I was a new mother trying to weave parenting into my life as a physician. I wanted to explore what it truly means to “have it all” and the toll it can take on a woman’s sense of self. The dynamic between the anxious physician and the fearless stripper-therapist is a way to highlight different approaches to confidence and self-acceptance. Ultimately, my hope is to inspire women to find something they love—something that grounds them and brings joy—amidst the overwhelming demands of their lives. It’s about rediscovering yourself when the world expects you to be everything to everyone.
Opal’s struggles with balancing a career, marriage, and family are relatable to many women today. Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your character’s life?
Absolutely. I often pull emotions from real life into my writing. I want the reader to experience the wide range of emotions they find on the page, often messy, but most of all the joy and levity that comes with not having to do this alone. One memory from my own life that made it into the book was writing a text message filled with four-letter words about my boss and accidentally sending it to my boss instead of my husband.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One of the core themes I wanted to explore in That Kind of Girl is that a person is never just the sum of their past mistakes. We all carry regrets and moments we wish we could change, but those don’t define us. Redemption, I believe, truly begins with forgiving yourself—allowing space to heal and grow beyond what’s happened. Through the characters’ journeys, I wanted to highlight that self-forgiveness isn’t easy, but it’s essential for reclaiming your sense of worth and moving forward with courage and hope.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
Turbulent Skies is about a woman days away from her wedding when her fiancé has an accident that leaves him on life support. Things go from bad to worse when his ex shows up and reveals they never legally divorced, she has medical decision-making power, and she wants to pull the plug. The book is expected to hit shelves in 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon
Will she sacrifice herself to keep everyone she loves happy?
Doctor Opal Collins is anxious and overwhelmed. So when her husband threatens to leave her
unless she finds the time to add a baby to the chaos, she digs deep to impress her boss and earn a
sanity-saving promotion. And though she’s excited by the spark between them, she knows she
should be offended when her boss suggests she trade her body for the job.
Thrilled when she earns the coveted position after setting boundaries in their scandalous affair,
Opal’s complicated dual relationships have her humming with tension. But with the tangled web
of deceit and affection already woven, she fears there’s no way out without betraying her vow to
do no harm.
Has her people-pleasing persona destroyed her dreams, or can she cling to a vestige of self?
That Kind of Girl is a wickedly witty work of women’s fiction. If you like emotional tension,
laugh-out-loud humor, and beautifully crafted prose, then you’ll adore Jacey Bici’s unexpectedly
sweet journey.
A Little Time More
40 Days of Fasting is a collection of 40 poems resulting from a four-week period of fasting and covering forgiveness, service, humility, and enlightenment. Why was this an important collection for you to write?
Interestingly, I didn’t intend to write much, maybe journal my thoughts during the fast, but as the prologue explains, these unconscious impulses to chronicle a stream of messages, counsel, and admonitions suddenly came through in rich, poetic form. Strange indeed, for never was I an enthusiast of this genre of art. Now, 40 Days of Fasting is the product of this uncanny and provocative inner experience.
How do you know when a poem is truly finished?
I came out of this interfacing with Carlos – my muse – when no more words were channeled. There was a silence, an emptiness, and a mental weariness after the experience. There was an abrupt end to the flow of words.
Do you have a favorite poem in the book, and if so, why does it hold special meaning for you?
“A Time Appointed,” I would say. It centers on death, the most significant of all initiations we experience in a given incarnation. Scripturally, we are told that there’s a time–irrevocable–for us to be called home; not a second before or after are we summoned. But there are times, few and far between, when we can petition for a moment, a little time more, not for selfish ends, but to complete a service unfinished for the betterment of others. In these rare cases, it is granted by Source. And I have reason to believe this based on my own experience. “A Time Appointed” ventures into this phenomenon.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from 40 Days of Fasting?
I pray that this work is studied, not just read. Therein are timeless, irrefutable teachings that speak to us. These truths liberate us from the world’s illusions and the seemingly ceaseless cycle of suffering.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
This book is not merely about abstaining from food or water. It is a journey through the soul’s deep yearning to reunite with its Source. Each poem is a meditation-on love, death, healing, divine presence, spiritual purity, and the human struggle for truth. These recitations echo ancient teachings while remaining deeply personal, echoing the author’s own trials, revelations, and reconciliations.
40 Days of Fasting invites readers to slow down and reflect. Drawing on spiritual philosophies from various traditions-Christianity, Islam, Eastern mysticism, and metaphysical teachings-the poems act as spiritual signposts, guiding us back to our essence. Themes of divine mercy, inner light, karmic justice, sacred union, and the soul’s eternal nature are explored with poetic grace.
Whether read as a devotional companion, a meditative guide, or a poetic reflection, this book touches something universal. It does not preach. It invites. It does not declare answers. It helps the reader ask the right questions.
Above all, 40 Days of Fasting is a testament to the soul’s quiet knowing and the sacred power of listening during times of intentional silence. It is both a personal diary and a mystical manual-an offering to all those walking the spiritual path with faith, doubt, longing, and hope.
40 Days of Fasting
40 Days of Fasting, by Glenville Ashby, is a deeply personal and spiritual collection of 40 poetic recitations born during a sacred period of fasting by Glenville Ashby. Each poem is a meditation, guided by an inner voice named Carlos, and thematically grouped across four weeks: forgiveness, service, humility, and enlightenment. The book fuses mystical insight with raw self-examination, drawing from a rich palette of religious traditions and personal memories. As Ashby fasts from dawn to dusk, the poems become transmissions—messages of divine origin channeled through the lens of his lived experience.
What moved me most about this book was its honesty. There’s a rare vulnerability here. He confesses old betrayals and regrets, and rather than justify them, he holds them up to the light. The language is direct but poetic. Sometimes I felt like I was eavesdropping on a prayer, other times it felt like I was reading someone’s sacred diary. The recurring theme that stuck with me was personal accountability: how even the smallest wrongs can weigh on the soul if left unresolved. That’s a hard truth, but Ashby presents it with such tenderness that I didn’t feel judged—I felt invited to reflect, too.
The writing, while poetic and sometimes cryptic, never veers into fluff. These poems demand patience. They’re not meant to be skimmed. They whisper more than they shout. But when they land, they hit deep. Some, like “Roots Run Deep” and “The Veil,” made me stop in my tracks. Others, like “Tantra” and “The Divine Tongue,” explore esoteric ideas with grace and daring. At times, I found myself wrestling with the metaphysical elements—especially the idea of channeling a spirit guide—but even then, I appreciated Ashby’s courage to fully surrender to the experience. He doesn’t try to convince the reader. He simply shares what came.
40 Days of Fasting is a companion for quiet nights and long mornings. It’s for anyone walking through a spiritual fog, for anyone who feels like their prayers echo back without answers. For seekers, grievers, and those in transition, this book holds a gentle power. It doesn’t promise to fix you, but it just might help you find your footing.
Pages: 70 | ASIN : B0F8W1Z87F
Aching Hope
Losing Austin follows a teen boy with a reputation for being a hothead whose nonverbal older brother mysteriously vanishes during a rainstorm, and he spends years searching for an answer. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was a high school teacher for many years and so often I’d hear one kid say something nasty or hateful to someone I knew to be his/her friend. I also recall many times kids would shout or scream at their parents or siblings. If they were students I knew well, I’d suggest they make it right with their friend or parent because we never know if we’ll have the opportunity. The unexpected always intervenes in life. This thinking was the seed that begat Losing Austin, and it’s the essential premise of the book. I also worked with nonverbal students and always wondered what they were thinking and what they would say if they could, which provided me with inspiration for the character of Austin.
I found Colton to be an intriguing character. What was your inspiration for this character?
I worked with many kids over the years labeled special education and some required a lot of extra attention on the part of parents and teachers. I also came to know the siblings of these kids and sometimes there was resentment that their brother got all the attention. They knew he needed the attention—even from them—but resented not getting what they needed themselves. These experiences begat Colton, a boy who is forced to be independent from a young age and feels he’s been cheated out of nurturing that should have come to him because his brother is “different” and takes up the lion’s share of his parents’ time. From resentment comes anger, and anger becomes all Colton is in the eyes of teachers, his parents, and other kids. That’s his label and once kids have been labeled, it’s difficult to shed that label.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Losing Austin is about grief; about the way loss fractures a family, leaving jagged edges that don’t quite fit together anymore. It’s about guilt and redemption and desperate, aching hope, the hope Colton feels that Austin is alive and will be found. It’s also about regret, the regret Colton feels for his anger towards Austin and his frantic need for forgiveness. It’s about letting go, about accepting that some people aren’t ours, no matter how much we love them. It’s about redemption and the ability to overcome one’s past. And it’s about the need for parents to love their children equally—no matter that one child might need more of their time—because all children need to be nurtured.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I have completed my first foray into middle grade territory and that book should be out by April of 2026. I’m also writing the two sequels to my award-winning Forever Boy that will complete the trilogy, and I’ve mapped out a cozy mystery to tackle after those are finished, so I’ll be busy.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Riddled with guilt, Colton spends every waking moment trying to find Austin. Searching online for similar missing kids, he meets Keilani, a girl from Hawaii whose younger brother vanished the same day as Austin. Internet explorations reveal other kids who also disappeared, always on rainy days. Since none of these kids have been heard from since, alien abduction seems the most likely answer.
Colton endures years of frustrating dead ends and high school graduation beckons. Then something so shocking occurs that the world descends on the Bowman home in the form of media, law enforcement, even Homeland Security, and Colton’s life will never be the same.
Held Back From Forgiveness
Human, Flawed, Forgiven is a thought-provoking exploration of the power and necessity of forgiveness in our lives. It gives readers practical advice on how to practice forgiveness in their own lives. What inspired you to write this book?
What inspired me to write the book was my own experience with forgiveness, combined with seeing others in my life who were still held back by their resentment of their parents. “Power follows the blame finger,” and it was difficult to see my friends and colleagues perpetually give up theirs by holding on to such deep resentment.
What is a common misconception people have about forgiveness and its importance?
The most common misconception people have about forgiveness is that it involves interacting with the forgiven party. There is absolutely no requirement for them to even be aware that you’ve forgiven them. From there, you can decide whether it’s worth attempting to reconcile. This is important because a lot of people are held back from forgiveness by the belief that it requires something from the other person, and then blame their bitterness on them for not providing it.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The most important ideas were the ones about uncovering what past experiences shaped the way you react to situations now. Once you understand where your own behaviors came from, you can fully process your past, and manage current situations in a more enlightened way.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from Human, Flawed, Forgiven?
That forgiveness doesn’t mean you’re weak or letting someone get away with something. On the contrary, it means you’re strong enough to understand what you control, what you don’t, and that you have the power to choose how you interact with the world.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
This poison can cause a host of health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. It can leave its victim in a constant state of fight-or-flight with chronic feelings of anger, stress, and bitterness. If that weren’t enough, it can even exacerbate conditions like diabetes and depression.
This poison is known as resentment.
Eighty-five percent of adults carry emotional baggage directly linked to their childhood experiences with their parents. This startling statistic shows that our journeys toward self-actualization are often littered with obstacles that were placed along our paths long before we had the words to name them.
Fortunately, these obstacles can be overcome through deep and genuine forgiveness. The act of forgiving our parents is not an act of mercy, but a lifeline thrown to our own souls; a solitary decision that does not require their knowledge nor participation. It provides an opportunity for the release of the burdens we have carried for far too long, and the reclamation of our own narratives.
The weightlessness of a life free of resentment is already within your reach—all you have to do is claim it.
No Reflection: Are You Who You Thought You Were?
![No Reflection: Are You Who You Thought You Were? by [Johnson, Christopher]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZJcUUG6vL.jpg)
No Reflection: Are You Who You Thought You Were? By Christopher Johnson is an introspective religious and spiritual book. It contains many quotes from the Bible as well as quotes from famous people and some other religious figures with thoughts connecting it. Each chapter in the book covers a topic, such as love and forgiveness and then they all follow the same formula of having different quotes and speculation on these quotes. Johnson mentions in the book that his work is the result of conversations with different people in his life and his thoughts on these quotes.
Johnson’s work is interesting. He has quotes followed up with statements that are thoughts on these subject matters. The thoughts connecting these quotes are not always religious, some of them are statements referring to life, but the bulk of them are religious. In addition to quotes, there are topics for each chapter, and some contain metaphors. The metaphors, connecting quotes and thoughts are well done and seamlessly flow into one another. I quite enjoyed the vampire metaphor a lot. It fits into what the author was doing with that chapter perfectly, and I never thought of why vampires cannot go into the sunlight before, but his explanation of it made sense and fit so well with the text. Another analogy I greatly enjoyed was the tortoise and the hare. Johnson relates this to life and states that some are fast to separate but slow to come together, and I found that I agreed with that to a point.
I think for some, this book could be controversial, more specifically the parts addressing homosexuality. I personally do not agree with the sentiments made. I think when making claims similar to these, it would have been nice to have other sources other than Bible quotes and quotes from people that back up thoughts to make it more balanced. Without the balance, it comes off more as a strictly religious text. I do not think Johnson is intending to be biased, but I would have enjoyed other sources with similar statements.
Some of it seems contradictory at times too. For instance saying that God does not have a part in everything because He gave us free will and does not pull all the strings in everything, but then stated God supplies our money. But from the text, it would seem if we choose to work to make money, then we are supplying money through choice. Definitely a mind bender! The book is definitely thought-provoking at times, such as the chapter on forgiveness. That was an interesting read.
Overall, I liked the book. I would recommend this book to those who are open to religious talks, as the book felt like a church sermon in each chapter, or those who are of Christian faith. I am open to seeing others’ perceptions and thoughts who are different from my own, so it was an engaging read and food for thought.
Pages: 144 | ASIN: B07964NR4B
Be Unstoppable: No Excuses
Life would not be as vibrant without the curve balls it likes to throw at us. You know you are definitely going to face challenges but there is no way of knowing the challenges you are going to face or even when those challenges will show up. The only thing to do is to charge forward. To be ready for whatever comes. To know that falling is inevitable but will be meaningless if you do not get up and keep going. To be unstoppable without using the said challenges as excuses to slack off.
The author of this book has lived a very eventful life. A life colored with challenges and triumphs in almost equal measure. The story of his life is told in his first book Unstoppable: Challenge Accepted. He has followed it up with the gem Be Unstoppable: No Excuses. The second book talks about success and hurdles on the path. He talks about time, courage, sacrifice, forgiveness, and hope. All factors that could make the difference between one who tries, fails then remains a failure and one who tries, fails then tries again.
Some of the most valuable tidbits is the part about being decisive and acting quickly. This balances quite well with the risk bit. The author also talks about confidence and mental strength. All these are aspects of the journey to success. A change in the perception in these factors could make all the difference. I found this book to be both enlightening and uplifting.
This book gives advice in a way that leaves the reader feeling energized to work harder as opposed to drained of all hope. The writing is clear and affirmative. It is well thought out and sober. The author has done a good job of outlining his points in a sensible manner. A way that seems chronological. It is engaging and captures your attention right from the beginning and delivers a profound yet sensible message without entangling you in a web of complicated thoughts.
I think this is a great book to read for people who are in business. They will learn how to stay ahead of the curve by enhancing the most valuable asset they have: themselves. For people looking to go into entrepreneurship. They will learn to be strong and unstoppable ahead of time instead of just gaining strength once they have hit the tides. It is a great book for people starting out in their careers. Tariku Bogale is a great believer in education and his passion shines through this book.
Pages: 104 | ASIN: B078866Y19
LITERARY TITAN 