Blog Archives
Biolume
Biolume begins as a family river trip and turns, with unnerving speed, into a subterranean survival story, a discovery novel, and finally a moral struggle over who gets to own wonder. Author Greg Keane drops Ethan, Maya, Jack, and Lucy Calloway into a hidden cave system beneath the Gunnison canyon, where they find the Embers, bioluminescent organisms whose beauty is matched by their scientific and political consequences. What follows is not just an escape narrative, but a widening conflict about family, attention, extraction, and the human reflex to convert the miraculous into property.
I was hooked first by the book’s propulsion, then by its tenderness. The early cave sections have a tensile, claustrophobic grip, but what I liked was how carefully Keane tracks the weather inside the family: Ethan’s guilt, Maya’s competence, Jack’s wary intelligence, Lucy’s radical openness to the living world. Lucy in particular could have been written as a stock “wise child,” and she isn’t; she feels specific, observant, and gloriously unflattened. I also admired the novel’s sensory confidence. The blue-lit cavern, the mineral air, the hum of the Embers, the feeling of darkness as a physical medium, all of it has a lucid, almost phosphorescent vividness.
What I responded to most, though, was the novel’s refusal to stop at awe. Keane lets discovery become argument. Once the family resurfaces, Biolume expands into a story about science, media, law, public narrative, sabotage, and the predatory appetite of institutions. That shift could have felt schematic; instead, it feels earned, because the book has been quietly asking from the start whether wonder can survive contact with markets and power. The later sections grow more overtly thematic than the ravishing middle stretch underground, but even then, I found myself leaning in. The novel has a live wire in it: indignation, yes, but also grief. It knows that the saddest damage is often done by people calling destruction innovation.
I’d hand this to readers of science fiction, eco-thriller, speculative fiction, survival thriller, and literary suspense, especially anyone who likes family-centered stories with a strong ethical undertow. It will likely appeal to readers who enjoy Jeff VanderMeer’s ecological unease or the wonder-and-consequence machinery of Michael Crichton, though Biolume is warmer in the bloodstream and more intimate in its loyalties. Biolume asks a good question in a startling new form: when we find something beautiful, do we know how not to ruin it?
Pages: 248 | ASIN: B0GQNY85PZ
Get Your House in Order
In Back to Basics, you emphasize strengthening the basics of operation before focusing on marketing. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Honestly, frustration was a big part of it. Over three decades in business, I watched good people fail — not because they lacked passion or ideas, but because they skipped steps. They’d spend a fortune on advertising before they’d even sorted out how they answered the phone. I felt like someone needed to say it plainly: get your house in order first.
Have you seen examples where something as simple as cleanliness or presentation dramatically changed customer perception?
Many times. I remember visiting a small service business that was struggling to understand why they weren’t getting repeat customers. Within five minutes of walking in, I could see it — the place was tired-looking, the staff seemed disengaged, and nothing felt looked after. We made some simple changes, purely cosmetic and behavioural, and the feedback from customers shifted almost immediately. People notice when you care. And they notice just as quickly when you don’t.
Your writing style is very direct and stripped down. Was that simplicity intentional from the start?
Yes, because I’m not a fan of padding. I’ve sat through enough seminars and read enough books where the core message could have been delivered in a quarter of the time. I wanted every page to earn its place. If a reader is busy running a business — and most of them are — they don’t have time for filler. Get to the point, make it useful, and respect their time. That was the brief I gave myself.
What do you hope readers change in their businesses after reading Back to Basics?
Their standards. Not dramatically — just raise them a notch. Start noticing the things that have become invisible through familiarity. The scuff on the wall you’ve stopped seeing. The way a team member speaks to customers when they think no one’s watching. The process that made sense five years ago but doesn’t anymore. Small improvements, done consistently, add up to something significant. That’s really the whole message of the book in one sentence.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Back to Basics is a clear, experience-driven guide to what actually holds businesses together when things get busy or messy.
This book is not about trends or tactics. It focuses on the unglamorous but decisive elements that determine whether a business runs smoothly or constantly feels like hard work: cleanliness, consistency, recruiting, training, standards, systems, service, and discipline.
Written for owners, managers, and operators of people-driven businesses, Back to Basics offers a calm, practical philosophy rather than step-by-step instructions.
It is designed to be dipped into, revisited, and shared, not skimmed once and forgotten.
If you want fewer surprises, fewer fires, and a business that holds together under pressure, this book will help you get the order right.
Back to Basics: Why the Fundamentals Still Win in Business
Back to Basics: Why the Fundamentals Still Win in Business is a short, focused book that argues that most companies do not need clever marketing as much as they need strong basics. It moves through cleanliness, consistency, hiring, training, standards, systems, safety, service, and word of mouth, then ends with a simple sequence. Get the operation right first. Turn the volume up later. The author, Greg Keane, writes in tight chapters that read like field notes from service and sales environments, and he keeps coming back to one idea. Exposure only helps when the underlying business is solid.
I enjoyed the writing style. It feels calm and direct. The sentences are clean, and the chapters are lean, so I never felt stuck. I also liked the way each chapter hooks into one clear idea, like “cleanliness is a sales strategy” or “training is risk management.” Those lines stick in my head. The tone feels seasoned, almost like a manager walking a site with you and pointing at small things that matter more than the big campaign you want to talk about. I would have liked more stories or specific examples. Even so, the clarity works. The book feels like a checklist in prose form, and that makes it easy to remember and use.
I found a lot to agree with, and it hit a nerve more than once. The link between cleanliness, trust, and sales feels spot on, and I have seen teams ignore that simple point for years. The sections on recruiting and training also land well. Calling training “risk management” feels honest. It captures what happens when you throw people into work and hope for the best. I especially liked the line that states if you are the system, you are the bottleneck. That one stings a bit, in a good way, because it calls out a common ego trap in small and mid-sized businesses. I would have welcomed a bit more detail on how to build some of the systems it describes, not just the case for why they matter. Even so, the core message feels true, and it is delivered with enough repetition that it is hard to ignore.
I would recommend Back to Basics to owners, managers, and operators in service, retail, hospitality, and any people-heavy business who feel tempted to chase the next marketing trick while everyday basics slip. It will nudge you to walk your own sites, look at your bathrooms, watch handovers, and listen to how your team speaks when no one senior is around. If you want a short, practical reminder to get your house in order before you ask the world to look at it, this fits that need very well.
Pages: 45 | ASIN : B0GJ3LQNLM
Developing Confidence
Big Mick and Little Pete take readers on a heartwarming and daring rescue adventure, proving that the power of teamwork, bravery, and determination can turn even the unlikeliest heroes into life-saving champions. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Big Mick and Little Pete were born out of necessity; when my son first started to read, after we had finished a book, if he were still awake, he would ask me to tell him a story. There were many characters over the years; however, the one that resonated the most was Big Mick and Little Pete. I wanted to have this story recorded so he might like to read it to his children one day.
The illustrations in the book are fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Amena Jannat?
It was a little difficult as Amena was in another country, so time differences were the main obstacle.
Big Mick and Little Pete highlights values like teamwork, perseverance, and bravery; how do you believe parents and educators can utilize your book as a tool to instill these values in children?
I would love to think Parents/Guardians/Educators would be able to articulate the message to children. Confidence is important for development, and it would be great if they could take that away.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Yes, Big Mick and Little Pete have a lot of Adventures coming early in 2024.
Big Mick is a Dump Truck and Little Pete is a mini excavator, Every day they work side by side building projects for their town, But today would be different, Today a School Bus has been trapped on the other side of the Town and the kids can’t get home. The call has gone out and Big Mick and Little Pete are the only ones who can reach the School Bus. Can Big Mick and Little Pete fix the road? Follow along as we watch these two friends save the day.
Big Mick and Little Pete
Prepare to embark on an exciting adventure with Big Mick and Little Pete by author Greg Keane. In this delightful tale, children will discover the power of teamwork, friendship, and determination in the most enjoyable way imaginable.
Meet Big Mick, the trusty dump truck, and Little Pete, the spirited excavator. These inseparable friends are always ready to lend a helping hand to their community, and they absolutely love what they do. One fateful rainy day, a call from the mayor catapults them into an unforgettable mission. The road near the school is submerged, trapping the children, and it’s up to our dynamic duo to save the day! As they rush to the scene, they encounter Yellow Joe, the school bus, who’s unable to navigate the flooded road. Undaunted by the challenge, Big Mick and Little Pete put their unique skills to the test, showing unwavering determination in the face of adversity.
The vibrant personalities of our main characters leap off the pages, capturing the hearts of young readers. Their unwavering friendship and their ability to conquer obstacles such as rain-soaked roads and steep hills are heartwarming examples of good behavior, manners, and solidarity. Big Mick and Little Pete are not just characters in a story; they’re role models for children everywhere. This charming tale reinforces the values of hard work, creativity, and persistence, demonstrating that with the right attitude, any challenge can be overcome.
Greg Keane’s storytelling prowess shines through in his simple yet engaging language, making this story accessible and enjoyable for children of all ages. In Big Mick and Little Pete, young readers will learn the invaluable lesson that effort and imagination are the keys to triumph, ensuring that they are inspired never to give up on their dreams.
Don’t miss out on this enchanting journey that will ignite young imaginations and leave a lasting impression on both children and adults alike.
Pages: 22 | ASIN : B0BNY2LHGS
Big Mick and Little Pete
In the enchanting world of Big Mick the dump truck and Little Pete the mini excavator, every day was just another day at the depot, until an unexpected visit from the Mayor turned it all upside down. In Big Mick and Little Pete, author Greg Keane invites readers into the bustling small town where these two charming construction buddies reside, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. The Mayor’s urgent request for their assistance sets the stage for a heroic adventure that will warm your heart. Stranded by a relentless rainstorm, a school bus teeters precariously on a washed-out road, its cargo of children unable to get home. It’s a moment that calls for bravery, determination, and, above all, teamwork. Big Mick and Little Pete step up to the challenge, working in harmony to fill the treacherous gully and ensure the children’s safe journey home.
Greg Keane’s storytelling prowess is beautifully complemented by vivid illustrations that breathe life into the characters and their world. As you flip through the pages, you’ll be transported into a world where even the most unexpected heroes can emerge from the shadows. Big Mick and Little Pete is not just a charming tale of heroism; it’s a lesson in the power of teamwork and problem-solving. As our dynamic duo tackles the formidable task of mending the road and rescuing the stranded school bus, young readers are introduced to the enduring values of perseverance and collaboration. Keane’s narrative teaches children that size and role are no barriers to making a difference. It encourages them to believe in themselves and their ability to tackle any challenge they encounter in life. It’s a powerful message of self-belief and determination that young readers will carry with them long after the story ends. The suspenseful moments in the story will have readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning pages to discover the outcome of this daring rescue mission. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, skillfully crafted to keep you engaged from the very beginning to the triumphant end.
Big Mick and Little Pete is an engaging and heartwarming tale that celebrates the extraordinary feats achievable through teamwork and determination. Greg Keane’s storytelling is a gift, and this book is a must-have addition to any child’s library. Prepare to be captivated by the indomitable spirit of Big Mick and Little Pete.
ASIN: B0BNY2LHGS
