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Open the Mind of Some Poor “Nitwit”
Revolutionary Women A Little Left of Center, weaves together your personal history with your artistic, and ideological journey, starting with your early life in Toronto to your awakening as a gay artist and the experiences that shaped your identity and worldview. Why was this an important book for you to write?
“The book, Revolutionary Women, a Little Left of Center, is meant to be a work of revolution and revolt. Rejecting stale outdated notions and inspire people to think and see things differently.”
“The old dysfunctional thinking wasn’t working and needed to be laid bare. I wanted to create humorous imagery for all people, who were craving “phycological relief” and “counter-balance,” to the endless outpouring of “agony” and “hate” from the “extreme right.” I wanted to lift up the “left” and show it too, was an important human ingredient.”
“Women, more often than not, embody the left; more subtle in tone, soft, gentle, caring, uncanny intuition, creative and intelligent. These are the same characteristics shared by artists, musicians, gay people and any intelligent free-thinking person. What’s needed is real acceptance by society at large of people who are different. The standing order from idiotic religious & xenophobic ideologies is…. “You’re different and our leaders are telling us who to hate & to join-in their agenda of taking power by suppression and annihilation of others.”
“Let’s look at it from a gay women’s point of view and learn to lean a little to the “left.”
Your book expertly blends memoir with satire, offering readers a dash of humor alongside serious topics that impact modern day women. What is one thing that you hope readers take away from your story?
“What’s happening in the United States right now, sickens and horrifies me. It is my heart felt wish to connect and ease the hearts that ache for the planet and all its living creatures.”
“The “Left” is often attacked, and certainly regarded as less important than the ideas associated with extreme masculine notions of the “Right.” The extreme right rigid binary people are stuck in their own conflict of what is right and what is wrong. Unfortunately, they’ve been misinformed.”
“So, let’s laugh in the face of the ridiculous societal norms. Lay bare the faulty logic in religious beliefs and open the mind of some poor “nitwit” saturated in bigotry and speak out for those who cannot!”
What part of the book did you have the most fun illustrating? Was there one particularly hard section?
“I had the most fun actually drawing all the illustrations. The first four illustrations really set the tone. Firstly, imagine a fantasy of women cleaning up a war scene in WOMEN DO ETHNIC CLEANSING. Or next, envision a 3,000-year-old scene, at the ancient monument STONEHENGE, where women are included in the construction and joke about a huge fear known to all mankind.”
“Thirdly, a reenactment of the famous first moon landing, with women astronauts in MOONWALK. And fourthly, I introduce the character of Mother Nature in the illustration called GOD AND MOTHER NATURE DO THE REVIEW.”
“I suppose THE PHOBE FAMILY was a particularly hard section to finish, as it took me 10 years to resolve the problem presented in THE PHOBE FAMILY and answer it in WHY MAKE IT LEGAL? In the “Phobe Family,” I wanted to hi-light the fear, isolation & denial families go through, when it turns out they have a Gay child. It’s funny but hints of dark undercurrents.”
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
Work in progress.
Step into a world where sharp wit meets unapologetic truth. A collection of full color illustrations/cartoons delivers a fierce and funny feminist punch, from the absurdity of gender roles to the hypocrisy of historical myths. With a clever commentary of edgy humor, and a wink into gay culture. These pages don’t just make you laugh; they make you think. Whether poking holes in patriarchy, challenging religious relics or spotlighting modern day madness, these cartoons are radical in the best way. Some are satirical, some are heart felt and sincere. All of them are drawn with a love for justice a questioning spirit and a mischievous pen. Perfect for anyone who’s ever rolled their eyes at the status quo or laughed in its face..
Laura M. Duthie was born in Toronto. Attended the Ontario College of Art from 1976 to 1980. Studied Fine Art. Worked in Real Estate Graphics, Woodworking and Carpentry. Also worked in property management and Security. Recently retired to become a full-time artist.
About the Author:Laura M. Duthie was born in Toronto and studied Fine Art at the Ontario College of Art (1976–1980). Her diverse background spans real estate graphics, woodworking, carpentry, security, and property management. Now retired, she has returned to her true passion as a full-time artist—using her art to speak truth with humor and heart.
His Amazing Stories About Rural Life
Tales of the Beechy Hollow Great Outdoors Club follows a weary journalist who returns home and stumbles into his late father’s wild band of outdoorsmen, discovering that friendship, foolishness, and the forest are entwined. Are any of the Beechy Hollow Club members based on real people from your own life or hometown?
All the main characters in the book are a composite, a blend of real people I’ve known across my life. Rufus Sneed, for example, was inspired by my great-grandfather, who was born in the 1800s and lived to be 99. He lived with my grandparents on a small farm until his death in the ’70s. I grew up listening to his amazing stories about rural life. Similarly, Rob and Rusty are fictionalized versions of my brother and me.
The foundation for the character Scoutster was a nerdy but well-intentioned Scoutmaster I once knew; I layered in traits of a bourbon-loving outdoorsman and a magistrate from other personalities. Same with Smitty, a good-natured farmer and mechanic who loves to hunt and fish. I’ve known lots of good people in Appalachia who fit that mold.
My personal favorite, Holly, is a combination of college friends and people I’ve met over the years. She will play a more significant role in the next book.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I set out to write a series of humorous outdoor stories. But over time, as I kept reworking and revising the stories and characters, I think a few underlying themes emerged. One is the innate human desire to return to our roots. All the stories spring from the main character, Rob, returning to his hometown. Other themes would be the redemptive power of wild spaces, and the Appalachian love of storytelling.
In my book, I primarily use these ideas to mine for humor. While some of the comedy definitely borders on the absurdist, I believe a heartfelt strain runs beneath the surface that speaks to a genuine love of home and the importance of found family. I’m always eager to hear what other themes readers detect in the stories. Of course, I also hope they get a chuckle or two along the way.
The setting feels so alive. What kind of research or personal experience shaped your portrayal of Appalachian life?
The stories are deeply rooted in my years of hiking, camping, and fishing across West Virginia, Kentucky, and southeastern Ohio. I’ve also spent time living in Tennessee and exploring the Great Smoky Mountains.
As for research, I began studying Appalachian dialects several years ago, starting as a newspaper project that quickly grew. This involved poring over books in the library and studying some of the linguistic research being done at West Virginia University. You can see this in the story, “The Evil Psychic Mule of Devil Ridge,” through the old-time mountaineer character, Shiloh Young.
While this type of speech was once dismissively called “hillbilly,” it’s now one of the most-studied dialects in the field. Sadly, authentic Appalachian speech is rapidly dying off. The good news is there’s less stigma affecting young people from our region. Appalachians are increasingly taking pride in their heritage. I hope some of that comes through in the book.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Bluesky | Facebook | Medium | Website
In these humorous stories set in West Virginia, small-town reporter Rob Greenwood and a cast of offbeat characters prove that the best outdoor adventures are the ones that go completely off the rails. From camping and fishing trips gone sideways to half-baked schemes that never quite pan out, these stories celebrate friendship, folly, and the untamed spirit of Appalachia.
After being fired from his big-city job, Rob returns to his hometown of Looneyton—only to be swept up in the antics of a free-spirited outdoors club. Each hilarious misadventure blends humor, heart, and a deep love for the wild. In the end, Rob discovers that what makes the journey worthwhile is the family you find along the way.
This book includes the novella, The Evil Psychic Mule of Devil Ridge, because no backwoods saga is complete without a demon mule on a rampage—but the mayhem doesn’t stop there.
Tales of the Beechy Hollow Great Outdoors Club is perfect for fans of Patrick F. McManus and for readers who loved Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods. The club’s escapades are guaranteed tokeep you laughing and leave you yearning for a seat around the campfire.
Revolutionary Women a Little Left of Center
Laura M. Duthie’s Revolutionary Women: A Little Left of Center is part memoir, part feminist manifesto, and part visual commentary. The book weaves together Duthie’s personal history with her artistic and ideological journey. From her early life in Toronto to her awakening as a gay artist, Duthie recounts experiences that shaped her identity and worldview. Alongside her autobiographical reflections, she presents a series of feminist cartoons and essays that tackle themes like religion, patriarchy, sexuality, and society’s deeply ingrained biases. The work feels like both a confession and a call to action, a deeply personal yet universal exploration of what it means to claim one’s voice in a world that often silences women.
Reading this book felt like sitting down with someone who’s lived through several lifetimes of rebellion. Duthie’s tone is sharp and funny and sometimes achingly vulnerable. She doesn’t sugarcoat the pain of growing up under misogyny or the confusion of coming into her sexuality in an unwelcoming world. What struck me most was how her humor doesn’t dull her anger, it sharpens it.
The cartoon’s artwork is executed in a clear, traditional comic-strip style defined by bold outlines and a flat, simple color palette. This accessible visual style serves its purpose effectively, ensuring that the viewer’s attention is drawn immediately to the characters’ actions and the text in the speech bubbles. My favorite was the “Moon Walk.” The cartoon provides a sharp, satirical commentary on contemporary social polarization. It cleverly transports a modern “culture war” debate to a history-making moment, the first landing on another world, signified by the “APHRODITE I” lander. The humor stems from the juxtaposition of this grand achievement with petty ideological infighting.
There’s also something raw in how she talks about art and identity. When Duthie describes art school and the chaos of creative discovery, it’s electric. She paints the world of artists, the lost, the brilliant, the broken, with an honesty that’s both funny and sad. I felt her frustration with the hypocrisy of society, and I admired her courage to turn that frustration into something that challenges and provokes. Some parts run on, sure, but that’s part of the charm. It feels real. It feels like someone thinking out loud, refusing to polish herself for anyone’s comfort. Her take on Freud made me laugh. It’s the kind of commentary you wish you’d said yourself but never found the guts to.
This book left me thinking about what it really means to be revolutionary. Not in the sense of shouting the loudest, but in daring to be honest. Revolutionary Women is alive and full of heart and bite. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves art that has something to say, especially women and gay readers who’ve had to fight for their place in the world.
Pages: 67 | ASIN : B0FFZT3611
I Have to Laugh So I Don’t Cry
Adventures in Online Dating is a humorous chronicle of your plunge into the unpredictable world of online dating, sharing the good, the bad, and the utterly bizarre encounters you have had while swiping. What inspired you to share your journey into the shallow end of the pool?
Honestly? I needed to laugh about it or I’d cry! After diving into online dating, I quickly realized I wasn’t alone in experiencing the absurd, awkward, and occasionally wonderful moments that come with swiping through profiles. Every bizarre encounter felt like a story that needed to be told — not just for entertainment, but to help other women feel less alone in the chaos.
I wanted to create something that said, “Hey, this is messy, it’s weird, and sometimes it’s downright ridiculous — but you’re not crazy for trying.” If my misadventures could make someone laugh while they’re navigating their own dating journey, then every awkward coffee date was worth it.
How did you decide what stories to include and leave out in your book?
Great question! I focused on stories that highlighted the full spectrum of online dating — the hilariously bad, the surprisingly good, and everything in between. I wanted readers to see themselves in these experiences, so I chose encounters that illustrated common themes: catfishing, ghosting, first-date disasters, unexpected connections, and those moments where you question your life choices.
I left out anything that felt mean-spirited or too personal to the other person involved. The goal was to share my perspective and lessons learned, not to embarrass anyone (except maybe myself! Okay, and Steve – F*ck that guy!). If a story made me laugh out loud while writing it or taught me something valuable about dating or myself, it made the cut.
What advice do you have for women who are looking to jump into the dating pool?
Keep your sense of humor and your standards high. Online dating can be overwhelming, but remember — you’re not shopping for a discount couch; you’re looking for a genuine connection. Don’t settle just because you’re tired of swiping.
Here’s my practical advice:
● Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
● Meet in public places. Always. Safety first.
● Don’t take rejection personally. It’s not about your worth; it’s about compatibility.
● Take breaks when you need them. Dating fatigue is real.
● Laugh at the absurdity. You’ll have stories to tell, I promise.
● Know your dealbreakers. And stick to them.
Most importantly, remember that you’re already whole. You’re not looking for someone to complete you — you’re looking for someone to complement the amazing life you’re already building.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
That you can laugh your way through life’s messiest moments — and come out stronger on the other side. Online dating is just one chapter in the bigger story of figuring out what you want and who you are. Whether you find love, find yourself, or just find some hilarious stories to share with friends, the journey is worth it.
I hope readers close the book feeling less alone, more empowered, and ready to embrace whatever comes next — whether that’s another swipe, another date, or the decision to take a break and focus on themselves. Life’s too short not to laugh at the chaos.
Author Links: Website | Facbook | GoodReads | X | Instagram | New York Blog | Tik Tok | SELINN FINE ART STUDIO
By S.E.Linn
Forget saving the world—she’s just trying to survive dating apps.
Join author S.E. Linn on a wild and hilarious journey through the chaotic world of online dating in her new memoir, “Adventures in Online Dating.” From the cringe-worthy encounters with a man and his cat-hair-covered adult toy, to the emotionally unavailable “Viking” with a wife and spa plans, this book is a rollercoaster ride of modern love. But amidst the laughter and relatable moments, lies a cautionary tale of the dangers of swiping right.
Meet the fearless and unapologetic main character as she navigates the treacherous waters of online dating, armed with biting wit and brutal honesty. If you’ve ever said, “there are no normal men left,” or Googled “how to exit a date without faking your death,” this book will make you feel grateful for never going on that second date.
And for those who have survived the trials of dating apps, you will feel less alone and less likely to respond to that guy holding a fish.
Compelling Mystery
The Magician’s Wife follows a small-town journalist who gets pulled into the mysterious disappearance of a magician’s glamorous assistant who vanishes during a live TV performance, only to reappear a week later, dead. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
First and foremost, I wanted to write a novel with a compelling ‘impossible’ mystery at its heart, and give the book the kind of hook that would instantly make a reader want to know exactly how such an impossible event could have occurred. My starting point for this particular mystery was the teleportation illusion, a classic of stage magic. A magician’s assistant gets into Box A on a live TV talent show and is supposed to reappear in Box B, but vanishes for an entire week. She then does reappear in Box B on the show’s next round… but she’s dead. My journalist, Clare, is as shocked by this as everyone else. As the books are told from her perspective, she is echoing what a reader is perhaps thinking as the narrative unfolds. It also appealed to me to have a character drawing the reader in who cared deeply about a missing person case, which is the reason Clare became a journalist in the first place, something we learn more about as the story progresses. A broader inspiration for this book (and the upcoming books in the series!) has been my husband, who is a professional stage and TV magician and with whom I worked backstage for a time. It’s been very useful having a magic advisor on hand while writing this book, especially when devising some of the methods and effects!
When creating Clare, did you have a plan for her development and character traits, or did they grow organically as you were writing the story?
I think it was a bit of both! The two main characters in this story are Clare Deyes and Mara Knight. They’re unlikely allies as they’re such different people from different backgrounds. Originally, I conceived The Magician’s Wife in third-person, to centre more around Mara. But compared to Clare, Mara can be cynical and brittle, a little dismissive and subversive. Certainly in commercial fiction, I find that a character with these traits usually has to be offset by a foil, more of an ‘everyman’ that a greater percentage of readers are able to identify with straightaway. It was true of the Sherlock Holmes stories (a big inspiration for me), and I think it still holds today. In contrast to Mara, Clare sees the good in everyone, is optimistic, and friendly. So Clare and Mara have a real Watson/Holmes dynamic. Clare’s the heart and Mara the brain; you can’t have one without the other. And it’s the contrast between these characters’ personalities that drives much of the novel’s pathos and tension. Saying that, some of Clare’s background and core motivations did grow organically as I was writing the book. As much planning as you might do, as a writer you always tend to make some discoveries about your characters as you go along – and these can often be the most exciting parts of the story!
What was the most challenging part about writing a mystery story, where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
The Magician’s Wife is my first novel in the crime/mystery genre, and I’ve often heard other writers say that it’s possibly the most difficult genre to write in. Not only do you have to create a compelling mystery in the first instance, but you must ensure that you’re feeding clues to your reader in an ‘honest’ way, so that none of the ultimate reveals come out of nowhere. However, one of the most challenging things I found when writing this book – particularly as the story is told from the first-person perspective of Clare – was keeping in my head what a reader/Clare was thinking about the mystery at any given time (the story’s ‘logical progression’), versus what I knew was actually happening. It certainly kept me on my toes throughout the various drafts! I found having a detailed chapter-by-chapter breakdown written out before I started work on the book was invaluable, and I’ll definitely tackle future novels in the series in the same way.
When will Book Two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
I’m currently working on the next book in The Magician’s Wife series, and it should be widely available to readers in early 2026! It’s called Second Sight and tells the story of a young boy who claims to be having unsettling visions of the future, visions that appear to be coming true. Even stranger, these visions only started happening after a cornea transplant the boy had to save his sight. When the child makes his most disturbing prediction – that his own life is in danger – it’s up to Clare and Mara to get to the bottom of what lies behind it all in order to save the boy’s life. The setting is a bit of a contrast to the world of TV studios and stage magic in the first book, as Second Sight is largely set in an inner-city London housing estate. I’m hugely enjoying writing this series so far and have lots more impossible mysteries up my sleeve for future books. My biggest hope is that readers will enjoy them as much as I do, as entertaining someone who has parted with their money to read my work is – and has always been – extremely important to me.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Website | Amazon
When Angel, the wife of magician Dex Devereaux, mysteriously vanishes on a live TV talent show, journalist and wannabe investigator Clare Deyes cannot resist trying to work out what happened. But a week later, when Angel reappears dead during the show’s next round, Clare is certain she is out of her depth.
Clare soon realises only one person can help: the brilliant, brittle Mara Knight – magic consultant, psychologist and wife of the world famous illusionist Travers – whose husband’s disappearance is still unexplained.
Can Clare and Mara together solve the puzzle of Angel’s death before the talent show’s live final, when they are sure someone close to Angel has something even more extreme planned?
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The Sherlock Holmes stories meet Jonathan Creek in this fast-paced, twisty mystery with a generous peppering of pathos and humour. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Elly Griffiths, The Magician’s Wife is the first in a brand new series from internationally published author (and real-life magician’s wife) Lora Jones.
Reputation Is Paramount
Gods of Glenhaven follows a middle-aged couple and their teen daughter trying to navigate a failing marriage and broken family dynamic in a talkative small town. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I love suburbia for many reasons. What fascinates me most about it is that it seems like the goal is to eliminate as many of the hardships and vicissitudes of life as possible. In the suburbs, you try to capture and keep the good things, while either ignoring or reframing the bad things you can’t manage to avoid. And reputation is paramount — you don’t want to become known as anything other than an upstanding person who loves their job, their children, and their community.
Do you have a favorite scene in this story? One that was especially enjoyable to craft?
I especially enjoyed writing the scene in the Home Depot, which takes place the morning after the Rites of Initiation at the high school. There are seventy naked people slumbering amidst the lumber and wheelbarrows, and a stunned police sergeant has to sort it all out.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The value of the social contract is the big theme. This is why I needed Gods (who don’t play by the rules) and the potential for humans to have unusual power, which might encourage them to break the terms of the social contract.
Can fans expect to see more releases from you soon? What are you currently working on?
I like to write short comedy pieces — my work has been published in McSweeney’s, Points in Case, Weekly Humorist, and other magazines. I’m doing a lot of that kind of writing while also beginning work on a second novel, entitled Little Dan.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
When Greek gods sweep into the quaint suburban town of Glenhaven to untangle their messy love lives, the helpless mortals don’t stand a chance.
Christian Orr, struggling with work and erectile dysfunction after discovering his wife’s infidelity, has just moved into what his daughter Francesca calls the Divorced Dads Apartment Complex. His high-powered attorney ex, Sloan, is jaded and restless, leaving precocious Francesca caught in the crosscurrents of change.
Enter Dionysus-“Dee”-the god of wine, sex, and questionable decisions, who shows up searching for his estranged wife Ari and their teenage son Maron. After three thousand years of Dee’s antics, Ari has had enough. She’s struck a deal with Zeus to start fresh-as a mortal suburban mom. And what’s more normal than falling for a regular guy like Christian? If only Dee would stop tearing through Glenhaven in his quest to win her back.
Drunk on Dee’s wine, the residents of Glenhaven form chanting covens in the woods, participate in ecstatic rituals, and experience divine revelations-all while Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” loops faintly in the background of their lives.
Gods of Glenhaven is a hilarious, poignant, and confronting novel about the universal fears and follies of the human condition, and the joy and freedom we can experience by letting go.
The Long Red Hair and Other Short Stories
Nancy J. Martin’s The Long Red Hair and Other Short Stories is a collection that leaps across time, place, and tone, stitching together memoir, fiction, and flashes of whimsy. Each story feels like a vignette pulled from a full life lived close to its edges. From swamp tours where alligators rise from the murk for marshmallows, to the neon days of San Francisco’s Carnaby Street fashions, to the aching intimacy of family decisions, Martin shifts seamlessly between humor, nostalgia, and reflection. The centerpiece tale, “The Long Red Hair,” frames the book perfectly, a personal, almost cinematic glimpse into youth, service, and the strange twists of fate.
What struck me most was the voice. It’s conversational and direct, but it carries weight. At times I laughed, like when Ruby the horse took her rider for a punishing ride, and at other points I felt a lump in my throat, especially during the stories that dealt with family, loss, or the hidden scars of memory. The writing doesn’t try too hard. It doesn’t dress itself up with flowery language. Instead, it trusts the reader to lean in, to listen as if an old friend is sharing stories. That trust worked on me. It pulled me in close.
I’ll admit, not every story hit me with equal force. Some felt lighter, more like sketches or travel diaries than deep dives into character or theme. But that unevenness became part of the charm. It was like flipping through someone’s scrapbook, some pages were breathtaking, others were small snapshots of a day in a life. What held it together was the honesty. Even when Martin fictionalized, I could feel the kernel of truth beneath the words. That authenticity, that refusal to smooth over the rough edges, gave the collection its power.
Closing the book, I felt like I’d been in conversation with someone who has lived wide and reflected deeply. It’s a book for readers who enjoy storytelling that feels personal rather than polished, relatable rather than distant. If you like memoirs, travel sketches, or short fiction that blends fact and imagination, you’ll enjoy this collection.
Pages: 108 | ASIN : B0FNS424YB
LITERARY TITAN 