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Buckaloo
Deborah J. Chavez’s Buckaloo is a warm and engaging novel that blends everyday joys and personal healing with a deep love for dogs and community. Set in the rolling foothills of Santa Barbara, the book follows Harley Fremont and her partner Bill as they open a dog training academy and prepare for their wedding. Alongside their dogs Gemma and Blackjack, they navigate past traumas, the complexities of relationships, and the chaos of planning two major life events. The story balances quiet domestic moments with emotional depth, creating a gentle but moving narrative about love, resilience, and second chances.
The story is unhurried, comforting, and full of small surprises. I loved the writing style. It was easygoing and heartfelt without being sentimental. Chavez has a gift for capturing the way dogs enrich our lives, and she writes with the kind of affection that makes you feel like you’re in the story. The dialogue is realistic and often funny, and I appreciated the strong sense of place. The natural beauty of California’s chaparral landscape is described with a soft reverence that made me want to lace up my hiking boots and head out with a dog of my own. Harley and Bill’s relationship, too, is a mature love story. It’s built not on drama, but on trust, compassion, and the shared work of building something together.
The pacing is slow, and there were chapters where the plot gave way to long descriptions of logistics, guest accommodations, shirt logos, and tent arrangements that could have been trimmed without losing the warmth of the story. But I didn’t mind too much. There’s a slice-of-life charm to it, like listening to a friend tell you about their big plans over coffee. The emotional core, Bill’s tragic past, Harley’s quiet strength, and the community that forms around them, kept me engaged. And the dogs are the beating heart of this book. Gemma especially is written with so much love and personality, she almost feels like a co-narrator.
Buckaloo is a cozy and heartfelt read that would appeal to dog lovers, fans of small-town fiction, and anyone who enjoys stories about real people trying to do good in the world. If you’re looking for something gentle, affirming, and full of canine charm, this one’s for you.
Pages: 287 | ASIN : B0FG3FGHJ2
The Narrative Arc of a Life
Universally Adored and Other One Dollar Stories is a sharp and emotionally rich collection of flash fiction that uses the humble dollar bill as a lens to explore love, loss, class, and quiet resilience in everyday lives. What was the inspiration for the setup of your stories?
I’ve been graced in life to be surrounded by hard-working people for whom money is a real thing. Something that determines fortune or misfortune, and all the complications that accompany them. And being an American, the “universally adored” American dollar perfectly captures the power money has over the narrative arc of a life.
I did not, however, set out to write a collection of “one dollar” stories. I wrote one—“Ricky Steiner Was Supposed To Die in Prison”—during a writing workshop series that I co-led for years, and it was well received. So, I riffed on the opening line again, then again, and soon it became like the “Pass the Object” theatre game in which each person in a circle must differently animate the same everyday object, like a bowl, without using words. The bowl becomes a hat, a knee brace, steering wheel, etc. The opening line, “One dollar,” became my “Pass the Object” game.
If you could expand just one of these flash pieces into a full-length novel, which would it be and why?
Well, interestingly enough, I’ve done just that! As you noted, a lot of my characters are pretty lonely, and I was worried about them, so I’ve taken 10 major characters (and a few minor characters) and plopped them down together in a fictitious diner in the Gulf Coast petrochemical town of Texas City in 1980 (which is next to my hometown). You’ll be glad to know that Paulina—the woman in the low-rent motel with the mechanical bed shaker who’s on the run from her abusive ex—is one of them!
The deep back story of this novel-in-progress (which is entitled I Will Read Ashes for You from the Carl Sandburg poem “Fire Pages”) is the 1947 Texas City Disaster, which is still the deadliest industrial accident in US history and, until 9/11, the deadliest loss of firefighter lives as well.
The most central character is Ballard, the older brother in “The Tuesday Theory” story who is the guardian of his younger, autistic brother Willis. The novel is set in the same diner as that story, and the brothers’ absentee “deadbeat” dad, Keller—who is a traumatized Pearl Harbor and industrial accident veteran haunted by the dead—is the unreliable narrator. At the age of 22, Ballard has shelved the pleasures and aspirations of his young man’s life and assumed the responsibility of caring for his neurodivergent younger brother. An everyday hero for sure.
Were there any stories in this collection that you struggled to finish or almost left out?
Great question! I struggled with “Boiling the Buggers”—the story about a recovering germaphobe bartender who is laid off and otherwise undone by the Covid pandemic—in trying to get the interiority of her unraveling right. Certainly, the most bizarre and profane of the stories is “Amygda-la-la-la,” set in a dystopian future time in which two ground-down women friends find meaning in their collection of worthless paper dollars. I debated whether to include that or not—as it is way out there—and I knew it would probably confuse or offend some readers. But I loved the premise that the dollar bill is so foundational to modern human existence that our amygdala—the “lizard brain”—has been hardwired to spot it even among the rubble. The “Mouse Socks” story, told in the POV of a young girl who’s lost her father, wasn’t in the original collection, but after it was published in the South Korean Samjoko Magazine, I gave it another look and decided it was worth including. I had worried its narrative voice was too gentle for contemporary readers.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
My novel-in-progress that I mentioned, I Will Read Ashes for You, is approaching a finished first draft, though I’m still working through a lot of structural edits. It’s a “polyphonic” (multiple POVs), “discontinuous narrative” (meaning there are multiple, interwoven plot lines) novel that has a lot of characters and key backstory about the lingering effects of the 1947 Texas City Disaster and the cancer that riddles that part of the world. However, it is not—emphatically not—historical fiction. While I’ve done a lot of research and indeed, several characters revisit the horror of the Texas City Disaster (plus, there’s a Prologue of the real post-disaster Procession for the Unrecognizable Dead), the narrative arcs of the novel are in 1980, not 1947. There are, though, thematic throughlines about the human cost of war and prosperity, and the work-a-day valor of moving forward.
For any of your readers who have read my recent collection, Universally Adored & Other -One Dollar Stories (published by Vine Leaves Press), the other recurring characters include the diner waitress Eileen, Manny the cook, and Officer Palacios from “The Tuesday Theory;” Theo, the extreme bibliophile from “All Knowledge;” and the alcoholic grandfather Fred, grandson Ben, and Ben’s mom Colleen from “Flounder” (Chester the Bait Man also makes a cameo appearance). Paulina, the domestic violence survivor in “Magic Fingers,” reappears as the waitress Eileen’s daughter, and Paulina’s abusive ex shows up as well. Willa Rae, the Depression-era migrant farmworker girl in “Evening in Paris,” is there as the owner of the used bookstore next to the diner.
Happily, an excerpt from I Will Read Ashes for You will be published in June 2025 in the bilingual (English/Hindi) literary/scholarly online journal Setu Bilingual. The finished book, however, is probably a year or two away from publication.
Currently, project-wise, I’m also collaborating with a longtime visual artist friend, Kevin Oehler, on a chapbook of short fictions that resonate with his artworks. And, with my husband and creative partner, Robert Michael Oliver, I co-produce a weekly podcast, Creativists in Dialogue: A Podcast Embracing the Creative Life, which is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities. As a former character actor, I’m also keen to produce an author-read audiobook of Universally, much like I did for my debut novel, And Silent Left the Place.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
In “Universally Adored,” a color-obsessed artist draws a facsimile of a dollar—a masterpiece universally adored—to win her girlfriend back. While checking for spare change in the laundry, in “Bald Tires” a Tennessee housewife with a malcontent husband finds an unused condom in his Sunday trousers. In “The Forgiveness Man,” a runaway teen with a newborn follows a vagabond healer absolving the bedraggled godless through hugs of forgiveness. And in “Magic Fingers, a ladies’ room attendant tracked down by her abusive ex finds refuge in a cheap motel with a 1970s era bed massager.
Riffing on the intimate object of a dollar, Bruce’s humane short fictions—from a great mashed potato war to the grass Jesus walked on—ring with the exquisite voices of characters in analog worlds.
Faith, Family, Friendship
Being Afternoon Rebecca follows Rebecca as she balances faith, friendships, and online dating, capturing the beauty of everyday moments and the struggles of self-discovery in a small-town setting. How much of Rebecca’s character is drawn from personal experience?
Not a whole lot, if I’m honest. I served as Children’s Ministry Director at a couple of churches, but her experiences differed widely from mine. She is a fictional character, and most of her experiences in this book are fictional accounts. This goes for book one, Afternoon Rebecca, and the many sequels to follow, two more available now.
The dialogue feels so natural. How do you approach writing conversations that feel real and engaging?
I created these characters and their personalities, so I pretend I’m standing close to them, listening to what they’re saying to each other and what they’re doing as they talk. A lot of voices go through my head as I’m writing these tales.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The importance of faith, family, friendship, and fair play.
What’s one message or feeling you hope readers take away from Being Afternoon Rebecca?
That one can be a devout Christian and still live a full life. Rebecca lives life according to her beliefs, never wavering (or trying not to). She is still a coach for a minor league softball team, trying their best and playing their hardest to win every game and eventually the Corn League Championship. They, the St. Sister Sister Saints, play hard and always according to the rules, having fun as they do so.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Amazon
Set in a fictional county in Central Indiana, Being Afternoon Rebecca is part romance, part friendship, part adventure, part sports, and all entertaining.
A Hundred Magical Reasons
Laura DeNooyer’s A Hundred Magical Reasons is a dazzling blend of history, whimsy, and heart. It tells the intertwining stories of two women from different eras, Janie in the early 1900s and Carrie in the 1970s both of whom find solace, inspiration, and purpose through their connection to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its creator, L. Frank Baum. At its core, this novel is about the magic of storytelling, the search for belonging, and the power of imagination to shape lives across generations.
One of the most striking aspects of this book is its rich, immersive world. DeNooyer paints the past with remarkable detail, making 1900s Macatawa, Michigan feel alive. The way she brings L. Frank Baum into the story, mentoring young Janie, inspiring her creativity, and offering wisdom wrapped in playful charm is nothing short of enchanting. A standout moment is when Baum encourages Janie to write her own fairy tales, telling her, “Imagination’s a fine place for characters to reside, but it’s just the beginning.” That sentiment lingers throughout the book, echoing in both timelines as Carrie, decades later, grapples with her own dreams and struggles.
But it’s not just the history and literary references that shine; it’s the emotional weight carried by both Janie and Carrie’s journeys. Janie’s quiet rebellion against her strict mother, her secret visits with Baum, and the heartbreak of losing her writing mentor create a deeply moving arc. The scene where Janie’s typewriter, a gift from Baum, is sold by her father is gut-wrenching. Similarly, Carrie’s strained relationship with her own mother and her search for personal freedom in the 1970s add layers of depth and relatability. The contrast between the two eras, one where imagination is nurtured in secret and another where it fights to break free from societal expectations, gives the novel an emotional richness that lingers long after the last page.
Beyond the heartfelt storytelling, DeNooyer’s writing is brimming with warmth, wit, and a touch of nostalgia. She masterfully blends real-life historical figures with fictional characters, making it all feel seamless and organic. Some moments, like Carrie’s realization that “a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight,” hit hard, reminding us of the importance of chasing dreams despite the odds. There’s a deep love for literature woven into every chapter, and it’s hard not to get swept up in the joy of it all.
A Hundred Magical Reasons is the perfect read for dreamers, storytellers, and anyone who’s ever felt out of place in their own world. Fans of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will find even more to love, but even if you’ve never read a single Oz book, this novel stands beautifully on its own. If you love historical fiction with heart, compelling characters, and a touch of literary magic, this one’s for you.
Pages: 534 | ASIN : B0D4Q1VK1C
Compassion
Spin Cycle: Notes from a Reluctant Caregiver follows an exhausted and frustrated man navigating the complexities of caregiving for his aging mother with dementia. The book is beautifully written and addresses a subject that is rarely discussed in this way. Why did you want to write about caring for an aging parent?
This is the book I wish I had five years ago. It was around then that my mom was first diagnosed with “likely onset Alzheimer’s.” Those years, during which I became a parent to my parent, were some of the most challenging and exhausting of my life. I was frustrated, confused, angry, and felt guilty about feeling frustrated, confused, and angry. I felt alone. That’s the spin cycle. And going with fiction rather than, say, a memoir, gave me the freedom to explore and imagine more facets of that experience. If one person reads this book and thinks, “I’m not alone. These characters think and feel what I think and feel,” then I’ve done my job. I want this book to resonate with readers, and, hopefully, comfort them.
I find that authors sometimes ask themselves questions and let their characters answer them. Do you think this is true for your characters?
I think it was Truman Capote who said, “You can’t blame a writer for what the characters say.” I love this because I think it’s true. As you get to know a character more deeply through the writing process, you begin to hear their voice, their opinions, their view on life. For me I can be much more honest and raw – and therefore, hopefully, relatable – when I inhabit the minds of other people, people who might say or do things I wouldn’t. I think of myself as being reserved and polite, perhaps excessively so, and my characters give me the chance to break from myself.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Compassion is the overriding theme in Spin Cycle. When we meet the protagonist, Ezra, he is so consumed by resentment, frustration, guilt, and self-loathing that he no longer has the capacity to be compassionate, to others as well as himself. The book is about his journey to rediscover his capacity to empathize and love. I also try to explore the corrosive effect of family secrets, as well as the fulfilling sense of human connection we have when we choose to be vulnerable with others.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
It is called Convergence. I’ve just begun it. The theme for this novel will be “escape.” I think there are times in all our lives when we wish we could just snap our fingers and “escape” – perhaps literally: to a different place, a thousand miles from home; perhaps with extreme diversion: sex, drugs, booze; or maybe the escape is an internal one we make by shifting – not our circumstances – but the lens through which we view them. Put characters with these varying approaches to “escape” in a pressure cooker and that’s the book. Knowing my work pace, it will probably be out in a year, perhaps a year and a half.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Website | Instagram | Amazon
Overwhelmed by it all, Ezra opens a strip-mall school to help others-and himself-become better caregivers. As he learns to handle the personalities of his nine misfit students, Ezra must also navigate the complex feelings he has toward his mother. It doesn’t help that she adores his do-nothing slacker brother.
But Ezra hasn’t told his students that he also has an agenda beyond becoming a more compassionate caregiver. And, it turns out, so does one of his students. Ezra confides the entire tale to his childhood friend Danny as he attempts to sort it all out and find room in his heart again for compassion and love.
The Onionologist
M.J. Parfitt’s The Onionologist delivers an emotional rollercoaster wrapped in sharp humor, heartfelt relationships, and a protagonist you can’t help but root for despite her self-sabotaging tendencies. At its heart, this book explores Elle’s tumultuous life as a flight attendant, where each day feels like a race to survive the chaos. Caught between a career she’s falling out of love with and a relationship riddled with cracks, Elle stumbles her way through existential questions, snarky passengers, and mishaps that are as absurd as they are relatable. Parfitt doesn’t hold back on the messy, unglamorous side of modern life, using Elle’s world as a mirror to reflect universal themes of self-worth, ambition, and the yearning for something more.
Parfitt’s writing style is vivid, irreverent, and unrelenting. The humor sneaks up on you, sometimes like a sharp jab and other times like a warm nudge. For example, Elle’s description of her weighted blanket as a potential weapon against burglars had me laughing out loud. These bursts of comedy are balanced with moments of raw vulnerability like Elle staring at her engagement ring and questioning why she feels trapped rather than elated. Parfitt paints a world where humor becomes a coping mechanism, and you feel the weight of Elle’s disillusionment in her every flippant comment.
Elle’s relationships are the novel’s beating heart, especially her dynamic with Angus and Lucy. Angus is a scene-stealer, with his sharp wit and loyal heart serving as Elle’s safety net. Their banter, whether dissecting clouds or navigating work dramas, feels authentic and hilarious. Lucy, meanwhile, brings warmth and resilience to Elle’s life, showing her how to persevere even when a literal ceiling falls on you. The trio’s drunken escapades in New York, capped by Elle drunkenly declaring her ambition to become an “Onionologist,” encapsulate the joy and chaos of true friendship. These relationships are what keep Elle afloat, even as her engagement to the controlling and hypocritical Hunter begins to unravel.
Parfitt’s critique of toxic workplaces and societal expectations also shines through, especially in moments like the crew office debacle, where Lucy’s safety is dismissed for the sake of avoiding flight delays. It’s infuriating and all too familiar for anyone who’s faced indifferent management. Similarly, the passengers Elle serves—from entitled, wine-demanding business class travelers to clueless tourists—offer sharp commentary on how people treat service workers. The novel doesn’t preach, but it does nudge you to rethink your own behavior next time you’re on a plane.
The Onionologist is more than a quirky romp through Elle’s misadventures. It’s a story about finding your passion, reclaiming your agency, and learning to laugh at life’s absurdities along the way. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven novels with humor and heart, especially fans of authors like Marian Keyes or Sophie Kinsella. It’s perfect for anyone feeling stuck in a rut, questioning their choices, or simply looking for a good laugh.
Pages: 422 | ASIN : B0DK9SYC1S
Lunch Tales: Suellen
Lucille Guarino’s Lunch Tales: Suellen is a captivating addition to her series about four women working together in a bustling law firm. Each day, these women gather in the cafeteria to share their lives over lunch, creating a tapestry of stories that are as engaging as they are relatable. This installment centers on Suellen, a lawyer whose journey explores love, family, and resilience. Suellen’s story unfolds with her trapped in a toxic relationship, a struggle she eventually overcomes. Her courage leads her to Adam, a man who seems to embody the qualities she has been searching for. However, her path to happiness takes an unforeseen turn when a health crisis forces her to break things off with Adam, driven by a desire not to burden him. Once recovered, Suellen embarks on a journey to rebuild her life, but moving on from Adam proves to be far more difficult than anticipated.
Guarino masterfully weaves the narratives of all four women into this novel, offering glimpses into their lives while keeping Suellen’s story at the forefront. The interplay of these interconnected lives adds depth to the plot and invites readers to explore the rest of the series. The characters are vibrant and relatable, grounding the story in realism. There’s an authenticity in how the events unfold—no overly dramatic twists, just scenarios that feel true to life. The romance in this book strikes a perfect balance. It’s heartfelt, engaging, and written with sophistication. The ups and downs of Suellen’s journey, combined with moments of unexpected plot development, keep readers intrigued. The story wraps up with the kind of satisfying conclusion that leaves you smiling.
For anyone who loves a feel-good romance that mirrors real-life complexities, Lunch Tales: Suellen is a must-read. It’s a book that not only entertains but also connects with its audience on a deeply personal level. Lucille Guarino’s skillful storytelling hooked me from the start, and I can’t wait to delve into the rest of the series to uncover the lives of the other remarkable women in this group. This is a heartwarming, well-crafted story that I wholeheartedly recommend.
Pages: 297 | ASIN : B0DJDK14X6
The Summer Before
The Summer Before by Dianne C. Braley is a coming-of-age novel that takes us through the emotional complexities of Madeline Plympton’s life as she navigates the fragility of family relationships, personal trauma, and the bond of sisterhood with her best friend, Summer. Set against the idyllic backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard, the story delves into how deeply a single secret can fracture lives, casting a shadow over the seemingly perfect world Madeline once knew. As she uncovers the truth about her father’s dark actions, the past and present collide, forcing her to grapple with painful revelations and her own identity.
Braley’s writing style pulls you in with its vivid sense of place and atmosphere. The descriptions of the island are so alive you can almost smell the saltwater and feel the summer sun on your skin. Yet, beneath the warmth of these memories lies a growing tension. The prose seamlessly shifts from the calm to the chaotic, reflecting Madeline’s inner turmoil. One aspect that stood out is the raw exploration of trauma and its aftermath. Summer’s abuse and the ripple effect it has on Madeline’s life are handled with sensitivity, but Braley doesn’t shy away from the discomfort. The courtroom scenes, for instance, felt painfully honest. As Madeline hears the details of her father’s actions, her internal conflict leaps off the page. The way Braley captures Madeline’s struggle between loyalty to her father and her love for Summer is gripping and heartbreaking. You can feel the weight of guilt and confusion press down on Madeline as she tries to reconcile her memories of her father with the man she now knows he is. Madeline and Summer’s friendship is the heart of the story, and Braley beautifully captures the complexity of close relationships. There’s a bittersweet quality to their interactions, particularly in scenes where they reminisce about their childhoods, like when they laugh about their names, Summer Starr and Madeline Plympton, and pretend to be old ladies. Their bond feels real, the kind of friendship that can weather any storm, even the darkest secrets.
The Summer Before is a poignant and haunting novel that tackles difficult subjects with grace. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally charged narratives with strong character development. If you’re someone who loves stories about the complexities of friendship, family secrets, and personal growth, this book will resonate deeply with you. Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions because Braley doesn’t hold back. It’s a book that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
Pages: 262 | ASIN : B0DH9XFXZT
LITERARY TITAN 