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Shoulda – Woulda – Couldas
Posted by Literary_Titan
Parables for Today is a collection of modern-day stories, some fictional, some heavily autobiographical, that aim to offer moral or spiritual insights akin to the teachings of Jesus. Why was this an important book for you to write?
There were situations and issues from my life that were nagging me with a host of shoulda-woulda-couldas, one of which was leaving about 30 grand in a backpack the trash collectors hauled away because I didn’t learn the money was there till it was too late. So I wrote about that and other events adding the outcome I would like to have seen rather than what actually happened. I did this to help put my mind more at ease.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
As you observed, I wanted to challenge my readers on their own virtuosity by allowing them to insert themselves into my stories in place of the main characters in order to tweak their consciences just like Jesus did!
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
Many years of writing for newspapers and magazines with success. I felt like it was time to make the next step and see if I could author a best-seller.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Parables for Today?
I want them to realize they have many opportunities for self-improvement if they just resist the temptation to get set in their ways!
Author Links: GoodReads
His parables were profound, powerful, and packed with meaning – and they were also subject to interpretation. They have withstood the test of time as each new generation has been able to discover a new message in the tales He shared. They have as much meaning today as they did back then.
In this book, the author imagines what situations Jesus would reference today to present His rich spiritual teachings. He shares stories that will help the spiritually hungry find their way back to the Lord while finding solace and peace.
Topics highlighted in the book include fame, forgiveness, what happens when we die, drug addiction, and the rules for living a successful life.
The eleven stories the author shares will make you think. Perhaps they’ll even change the way you view the world.
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Posted in Interviews
Tags: author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, goodreads, indie author, inspirational, kindle, kobo, literature, Mike Mulhern, nook, novel, Parables for Today, personal transformation, read, reader, reading, Religion & Spirituality, self help, spiritual, story, writer, writing
Parables for Today
Posted by Literary Titan

In Parables for Today, Mike Mulhern reimagines the ancient tradition of parable-telling by placing it in a contemporary context. The book is a collection of modern-day stories, some fictional, some heavily autobiographical, that aim to offer moral or spiritual insights akin to the teachings of Jesus. Mulhern’s tales span themes like fame, forgiveness, grief, addiction, ambition, and redemption. Each chapter presents a different scenario, designed to speak to readers facing the complex realities of modern life while steering them gently toward reflection and self-awareness.
Reading this book felt like sitting across from someone who has lived a lot, thought even more, and now needs to get it all out in one breath. There’s an urgency and rawness in Mulhern’s voice that’s hard to ignore. The opening parable, “The Fame Game,” is a sprawling meditation on the obsessive chase for recognition. It’s part stand-up monologue, part sermon, part social critique, and it’s both hilarious and sad. I found myself laughing one minute, then pausing to reflect the next. Mulhern is clearly passionate, and the prose often reads like a stream of consciousness. But the emotion is real. The man cares deeply about his message, and that sincerity shines through.
What I appreciated most was the book’s earnestness. Mulhern isn’t trying to impress you with vocabulary or literary tricks—he’s trying to reach you. Some stories are deeply touching, like “A Supreme Act of Forgiveness” and “Coping with the Torment of a Drug-Addicted Child.” These resonated with me. You can tell he’s either lived these stories or walked very closely with someone who has. Other parables, like “The Shrink” or “The Sinister Sisters,” are more playful, even theatrical. Occasionally, I wished for tighter structure or more variety in tone, but the underlying ideas stayed with me long after I finished each tale.
This book is best suited for people looking for spiritual comfort or those who enjoy moral storytelling without pretense. Great for folks who read Chicken Soup for the Soul or who tune into late-night philosophical conversations with friends. If you want something honest and always heartfelt, Mulhern delivers. I’d recommend it to seekers, soul-searchers, and anyone who needs a nudge toward hope.
Pages: 206 | ASIN : B0DYQC98SJ
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Posted in Book Reviews, Five Stars
Tags: author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, goodreads, indie author, inspirational, kindle, kobo, literature, Mike Mulhern, nook, novel, Parables for Today, personal transformation, read, reader, reading, Religion & Spirituality, self help, spiritual, story, writer, writing
Struth Mate!: Is This Hell? (Struth! Book 2)
Posted by Literary Titan

Ava Forme’s Struth Mate! Is This Hell? is a mad, cosmic ride through a metaphysical reality where life, death, religion, science and philosophy collide. This isn’t your typical sci-fi or religious satire, it’s a sprawling, layered universe that takes big swings at answering life’s biggest questions: Why are we here? What happens after we die? Are we just meat machines or does something greater move us? Picking up from the model of the universe developed in the first book in this series, this volume throws us into the “scosmos,” a parallel spiritual plane, where spirits use life (and specifically the heightened abilities of human life) to try to solve some of the universe’s ultimate puzzles.
I found the writing style both wild and strangely charming. Forme’s world is complex and stuffed to the brim with ideas. It’s like reading someone’s fever dream if that dream had been outlined by a philosopher-turned-sci-fi author with a very dry sense of humor. The way new words are formed by slapping an “s” in front of them (like “slife” for spiritual life or “swalk” for spiritual walk) is weird at first, but it grew on me. It added to the surreal, alien-but-familiar tone of the book. I especially loved how Don, our narrator, walks us through Heaven like a sarcastic Airbnb host explaining self-image manipulation, spiritual politics, and bisexuality in the afterlife like it’s all totally normal. His personal discomfort, curiosity, and heartbreak over his lover Lesley’s secret identity as the reincarnated spirit of Adolf Hitler is told with emotional vulnerability and dry wit that somehow makes it all land.
That said, Struth Mate! isn’t a light beach read. It’s dense. There’s a whole metaphysical system introduced in the preamble and “Chapter 0” that includes spiritual echelons, reincarnation mechanics, and a universal information network called the sinternet that provides access to all knowledge stored in dark matter. It’s a lot. But that’s also what makes it fun, if you like a bit of brain-stretching fiction. One of the more memorable concepts was the “Kali Objective,” a mission given to gods (yes, there are many, and they retire like presidents) to stop the universe from continually cycling from Big Bang to Big Crunch by understanding and mastering cosmic forces. It’s ambitious, almost laughably so, but it hooked me. I caught myself wondering, “What if?” more than once.
Emotionally, the book lands harder than I expected. The way Forme explores spiritual longing, identity, and purpose hit close to home. Don’s inner conflict, especially when he finds out Lesley is not only God now but also carrying the spiritual echo of Hitler, is both bizarre and strangely touching. It makes you reflect on how we process trauma, identity, and destiny. The book might be dressed in cosmic technobabble and telepathic networking, but at its core, it’s about people (or spirits) trying to find meaning and connection in a chaotic universe.
If you need linear plots, clear-cut good guys and bad guys, or simple language, you’ll probably get frustrated. But if you’re the kind of reader who digs The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy mixed with The Good Place, stirred up with philosophical rambling and a healthy dose of irreverence, you’ll be in for a hell of a time. I’d recommend it to fans of speculative fiction, agnostics wrestling with cosmic meaning, or just anyone who likes their sci-fi on the strange side.
Pages: 511 | ASIN : B0F32RBYYG
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Posted in Book Reviews, Five Stars
Tags: author, AVA FORME, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, fiction, goodreads, indie author, inspirational, kindle, kobo, literature, nook, novel, philosophical fiction, read, reader, reading, Religion & Spirituality, story, Struth Mate: Is This Hell?, writer, writing
Finding Hanna’s Happy Place
Posted by Literary Titan

Hanna’s on a mission. Her day starts with cookies and toys, but something still feels off, she can’t seem to find her Happy Place. So she heads outside with her trusty dog, Puppy B, and sets off on a heartwarming journey through the mountains. Along the way, she meets a buffalo, a fox, a moose, a bear, and a snowy owl, each with their own idea of happiness. In the end, with a little help from her furry friend and a wise owl’s advice, Hanna discovers her Happy Place was right at home all along.
I really enjoyed this picture book. I’m always hunting for stories that not only capture my kids’ attention but also spark meaningful conversations. This one hit the sweet spot. The writing is gentle and warm, with a natural rhythm that made it a dream to read aloud. I appreciated how the story gave space for emotions. Hanna doesn’t quite know why she feels off, and that confusion is something kids really relate to. It doesn’t rush to fix the problem. It gives it air and lets it unfold. And the way the book wove in mindfulness without calling it that was brilliant.
The part where Hanna imagines her Happy Place and it’s not some big, wild adventure but sitting by the fire with her family? That moment had me. There’s a cozy magic to the message that feels like a hug. The hand-drawn illustrations are soft, sweet, and full of personality. Puppy B is the kind of character kids instantly fall in love with. My kids were giggling, pointing, and asking if we could read it again.
If you teach young kids or have young kids, Finding Hanna’s Happy Place is a gem. It’s perfect for talking about feelings, imagination, and what it means to feel at peace. I’d recommend it to families, educators, counselors—anyone who wants to help kids understand themselves a little better. It’s warm, wise, and wonderful.
Pages: 49 | ASIN : B0F5NMDZZS
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Posted in Book Reviews, Five Stars
Tags: Andy M. Riley, author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, Children's book, ebook, Finding Hanna's Happy Place, goodreads, indie author, inspirational, kindle, kobo, literature, nook, novel, personal growth, picture book, read, reader, reading, story, Sue Murphy, Values, writer, writing
Death Kindly Stopped For Me: A Book of Poetry Inspired by Emily Dickinson
Posted by Literary Titan

Corey Elizabeth Jackson’s Death Kindly Stopped For Me is a haunting, luminous collection that channels the spirit of Emily Dickinson while carving a voice all its own. Through meditations on mortality, transcendence, and the soul’s voyage beyond the veil, Jackson crafts poetry that is both graceful and profound. Divided into four sections, Death Befriended, Kindred Spirits, Death Released, and Soulscape the collection reimagines Death not as an adversary, but a quiet companion. Dickinson’s enigmatic tone lingers like a spectral echo, yet Jackson infuses each page with vivid, celestial imagery that feels strikingly original.
Jackson’s emotional range is remarkable. There’s a delicate balance of sorrow and tenderness throughout, most evident in poems like Death Wrapped a Shawl Around My Shoulder, where Death emerges as a caregiver gentle, yet unnerving. In Death Amongst the Daffodils, the afterlife glows with warmth, casting eternity as a sunlit field. Light and shadow dance across the verses, invoking Dickinson’s own paradoxes while offering fresh interpretation.
What distinguishes this collection most, however, is Jackson’s distinctive, modern voice. Poems like Barbie Could Not Stop for Death and With Covid Deaths We Can More Widely See ground the work firmly in the present, bringing contemporary resonance to timeless themes. These pieces are bold and thought-provoking, yet seamlessly integrated with the more classical compositions.
The illustrations by Daniel Schmelling deserve high praise. Ethereal and deeply emotive, they do more than accompany the text, they elevate it. Each image enriches the atmosphere, pulling the reader further into the dreamlike world Jackson constructs. The visual and verbal elements work in harmony, enhancing the immersive quality of the collection.
Jackson’s ability to evoke deep feeling with spare, lyrical lines is her greatest strength. When First I Saw My Baby Boy is heartrending in its simplicity a quiet elegy for a lost child. In contrast, Owl Ensconced on Oaken Branch offers quiet wisdom and gentle reflection. The final section, Soulscape, concludes the journey with wonder and serenity. Poems like Galaxies with Memories transform death into a cosmic return, a homecoming among the stars.
Death Kindly Stopped For Me: A Book of Poetry Inspired by Emily Dickinson is an essential reading for admirers of Dickinson, Poe, or Mary Oliver for anyone who cherishes introspective poetry that lingers long after the last line. Jackson doesn’t merely contemplate death she reimagines it. Her work invites us to walk with it, to find comfort in the mystery, and perhaps even, to dance.
Pages: 162 | ASIN : B0D1GL5J23
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Posted in Book Reviews, Five Stars
Tags: Angels & Spirit Guides, author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, Christian Death & Grief Counseling, christian poetry, Corey Elizabeth Jackson, Death Kindly Stopped For Me: A Book of Poetry Inspired by Emily Dickinson, ebook, goodreads, indie author, inspirational, kindle, kobo, literature, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, religion, story, writer, writing
An Unexpected Voyage
Posted by Literary_Titan
Crossing Borders and Generations follows an immigrant navigating life in America as he travels through time, uncovering his family’s past. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My 1st book sequel genre is historical fiction, emigrant memoirs, time traveling, OBE, Out of Body Experience, Afterlife, Inspirational, Faith-based, storytelling from Eastern Europe, Ukraine, Greece & Bulgaria.
Crossing Borders and Generations and Afterlife Stories My Grandpa Told Me narrates an unexpected voyage bridging Heaven and Earth, unveiling our lost family history.
The narratives traverse our physical and spiritual borders, spanning generations, cultures, and ideologies, interweaving tales of emigration and international exploration.
Crossing Borders and Generations is a historical fiction memoir in which names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. A Testimony of Faithfulness to God, this memoir chronicles the family history spanning four generations across the Old and New World. It’s dedicated to the memory of Captain Georgiy Kakhovskiy, the author’s great-grandfather, who migrated from Kakhovka, Ukraine, in the Russian Empire to Ljubimetz, Bulgaria, in the Balkans in 1878. Following his ancestor’s footsteps, George embarked on his journey to America in 1952, precisely 460 years after discovering the New World.
Crossing Borders and Generations marks an astounding, stunning, and awe-inspiring narrative…” Angel Kolev, the President of the Bulgarian Writers League in America, commends the work for its profound exploration of heritage and migration.
“For the dreamers and do-gooders. For the weirdos, outsiders. For the curious ones who have the guts to be different and adventurous_ This historical fiction story of an immigrant is for you.” – Kiril Kristoff
Who are you? For Bulgarians, you are an American, yet for the Americans, you are an immigrant with Bulgarian roots. Sometimes, you linger as the passenger aboard the original flight from Paris to New York, from the old airport 70 years ago. Yes, the outset was daunting. George encountered numerous closed doors in Sofia but stood resolute, recognizing that yielding to fear and retreating home would equate to defeat.
He couldn’t come back. He committed treason. If he wanted to succeed, he had to burn the bridges to his past to escape.
He had to believe in the future.
Today, we read tales of talented Bulgarian writers. For the immigrant’s reality, the battle for survival is “pearls in the mud.” Real and miserable!
George always believed that to craft something beautiful, something authentic, he needed to use the ink of blood from his wounds. He had to sit in front of his computer and sense that he was metaphorically bleeding. Only when the final word had passed, and pain and anguish had become a shared experience in his life, could his writing be a genuine success. America was an “enigma” to our generation, a life mystery we couldn’t quite explain but had to navigate in our unique ways. After the fall of 1989 and the collapse of the wall, many Bulgarians resembled hungry sharks, confined in the Communist-Controlled aquarium, suddenly set loose into the treacherous and untamed ocean. Each person had to find their own way of coping. In my personal experience, unless you had someone to guide you from the start, life as an immigrant was a tragedy. You were thrust into one ordeal after another. Overall, one had to endure several painful phases of adaptation:
The emotional pain from being separated from your parents, your siblings, and close friends, and your country.
The uncertainty is due to starting a life abroad, literally from scratch.
The painful sorrow is because of missing everything you knew before and being rejected for everything you tried before you were finally adopted.
This book represents the life of six generations, highlighting family members who are steadfast in identifying themselves as good ‘Bulgarians,’ particularly Ukrainians. George hails from a Russian noble family rooted in Kakhovka, Ukraine.
Within this historical narrative of two brothers, Georgiy Kakhovskiy emerges as a figure determined to uphold family traditions while remaining loyal to the Russian czar, symbolizing the grand empire that influenced a nation as small as Bulgaria and defeated the triumphed over the fading Ottoman Empire in the Balkans.
Remarkably, Captain Georgiy, the protector of his Christian brethren, settled his family in the shadow of the two mightiest empires, straddling the borders between Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey. This decision starkly contrasted with his brother, Vasiliy Kakhovskiy, who harbored revolutionary fervor, actively engaging in the tumultuous events of the October Russian Revolution in 1917. Vasiliy emerged as a staunch Bolshevik leader and Stalin’s red commissar in the USSR, playing a pivotal role in shaping Socialism in
Bulgaria following the conclusion of World War II in September of 1944. The family name was altered to Kakhovskiy to embrace their new identity, reflecting a desire to assimilate more seamlessly into Bulgarian culture.
However, Georgiy Kakhovskiy was among the “lost generation,” forced to emigrate from Bulgaria during the communist regime’s grip. He ultimately sought refuge in America in 1948, where he adopted George Kakhovskiy. Like a boomerang, the next generations in his grandson will return to Socialism, a value he always tried to escape. One day, he returned to his birth country after the fall of the Berlin Wall, where he unearthed the missing fragments of his ancestors’ generational history. These revelations he shares with his grandson, Alex, against the backdrop of peculiar changes sweeping through America following its 2020 US Elections.
I firmly believe that my story is a compelling narrative, chronicling the unique struggles that I’ve overcome in pursuit of a brighter future. It is a testament to the true essence of bravery, sacrifice, perseverance, determination, and, perhaps most importantly, love. For many, this tale will offer newfound perspectives as I guide them beyond their comfort zones. For others, it may guide them to steer their lives and personal paths toward improvement.
I anticipate and hope my readers will be from all walks of life. Regardless of one’s origin or purpose, I am sure this story can tell—or contribute to—a universal truth. More than anything, I hope this book makes readers think more critically about their freedom, specifically. I know that at least one reader will understand that, though they, as humans, are entitled to freedom, it is still a great privilege they’ve been given to live under it and that such a thing is— in no way— free.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
My first book sequel, Crossing Borders and Generations, is memoirs, spanning historical fiction, time travel, afterlife exploration, and the immigrant experience, which are woven from the fabric of his own memories. The book delves into the intricate tale of the Kakhovskiy family, focusing on their trials and triumphs as immigrants in Brighton Beach, New York, and the City of Chicago. This narrative is a timeless tale of an immigrant grandfather finding his place in Brighton Beach, New York. While it may appear short and straightforward, its significance extends far beyond that moment. Delving into the journey of George’s family to America, the story explores the sacrifices and challenges they faced, ultimately shaping the trajectory of their family history—for better or for worse.
The story begins with George and his unwavering faith in his grandfather, Georgiy, and the revered military icon of Saint George. George shares with his grandson the profound significance of the icon and its storied history just before embarking on an otherworldly journey triggered by a harrowing car accident.
As they battle for survival in a coma, both George and Alex are granted a unique opportunity to journey through their family’s history, as well as George’s own. Throughout this extraordinary experience, George guides Alex, unraveling the significance of each moment and its profound implications. Alex gains insight into the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that shaped George and his lineage, paving the way for Alex’s present existence. From a younger, newly immigrated George, Alex learns the true meaning of perseverance and diligence with an open heart.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
My book Crossing Borders and Generations is a masterfully crafted fictional memoir that chronicles the lives of multiple generations of the Kakhovskiy family. At its heart is George Kakhovskiy, a Bulgarian native who, at just sixteen, escapes the oppressive grip of communism and emigrates to America. In this new world, he fights to survive, driven by the dream of a better future. However, through a surreal twist of fate following a car accident, George and his teenage grandson embark on an extraordinary, otherworldly journey—one that allows them to relive George’s past and trace the profound impact of immigration on their family’s history.
Using innovative narrative techniques elevates the storytelling, making George’s life unfold in an immersive and deeply emotional way. The supernatural journey shared by George and his grandson, Alex, serves as a compelling literary device, allowing readers to experience George’s struggles, triumphs, and sacrifices firsthand. More than a mere retelling, it becomes a deeply introspective exploration of generational resilience and the enduring consequences of leaving one’s homeland.
Themes of displacement, perseverance, and the pursuit of the American dream permeate the novel. As Alex observes his grandfather’s past, he gains an appreciation for the hardships George endured. The novel effectively captures this realization, and moments like these bridge the generational gap, transforming historical struggles into personal revelations.
One of the novel’s most striking elements is its ability to convey emotion through memory. The re-experiencing of George’s past does more than recount events, it immerses the reader in his emotional reality. The skill in translating raw emotion into words, allowing the reader to step into the mind of a man who has lived through exile, hardship, and ultimate resilience, is unmatched.
Beyond George’s personal journey, Crossing Borders and Generations skillfully examines how immigration shapes an entire lineage. The novel portrays the pain of separation, the struggle to adapt, and the complex emotional landscape that immigrants and their descendants navigate. George’s mental health, his son’s feelings of alienation, and the often-complicated father-son dynamic all intertwine to form a rich, multi-layered narrative. Yet, amid the adversity, the novel celebrates the enduring strength of the human spirit and the invaluable privilege of freedom—something often taken for granted by those born into it.
This novel is a captivating and inventive take on the memoir genre, skillfully blending fiction with personal history. Through its unique structure and poignant storytelling, Crossing Borders and Generations offers a compelling glimpse into Bulgaria’s past and the lived realities of those who sought a better future beyond its borders. Thought-provoking, deeply moving, and beautifully executed, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in immigration narratives, family sagas, and the timeless quest for belonging.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
His 1st book sequel, “ Crossing Borders and Generation,” received INCREDIBLE RECOGNITION, “Literary Titan – Book Award.” He is so grateful beyond words for the recognition bestowed upon his book with this fantastic award!
I am publishing my 2nd book sequel:” Finding Your Roots”; ‘One Man’s Journey to Discover His Ukrainian, Greek, and Bulgarian Roots’ and working on my website creation. My book will be available on Amazon very soon.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook
Meet George, a courageous immigrant who leaves behind the familiarity of his Bulgarian homeland to seek a better future in America. Experience his trials and triumphs as he navigates the complexities of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness in a new country, from the upheavals of war to the challenges of assimilation.
From working at the bottom rung of a car repair shop to building his own business, George’s journey embodies the struggle and perseverance of immigrants striving for success. As he grows old and becomes Grandpa George, his story intertwines with that of his grandson Alex, bridging the gap between traditional upbringing and modern American life.
Their relationship takes a transformative turn when a tragic accident leaves them both in a coma, guided by the spiritual presence of their Patron Saint Georgie and Grandpa Captain Georgiy. Together, they navigate the teachings of the saints while confronting Vasiliy the demon and George’s Bolshevik grand granduncle, who seeks to unravel their family’s legacy.
Based on true-life events, “Crossing Borders and Generations” offers a poignant commentary on the immigrant experience, the American dream, and the resilience of the human spirit. Through meticulous storytelling, author Kiril Kristoff weaves a captivating narrative that transcends time, leaving readers with a profound appreciation for the sacrifices of those who came before us. Prepare to be transported through history and inspired by the extraordinary tale of love, resilience, and the enduring power of heritage.
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Posted in Interviews
Tags: afterlife, author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, CROSSING BORDERS AND GENERATIONS One Man's Journey To Search For His Ukrainian Greek And Bulgarian Roots, ebook, emigrant memoirs, Faith-based, fiction, goodreads, historical fiction, historical mystery, indie author, inspirational, kindle, Kiril Kristoff’, kobo, literature, nook, novel, OBE, Out of Body Experience, read, reader, reading, story, Thriller & Suspense Fiction, time traveling, writer, writing
CROSSING BORDERS AND GENERATIONS: One Man’s Journey To Search For His Ukrainian, Greek, And Bulgarian Roots
Posted by Literary Titan

Kiril Kristoff’s Crossing Borders and Generations follows an epic journey of family, history, and identity. Blending memoir, historical fiction, and a touch of the spiritual, the book follows George, a Bulgarian immigrant, as he navigates life in America while uncovering his family’s past, spanning Ukraine, Greece, and Bulgaria. The story unfolds with surprising twists, including a near-death experience that enables George and his grandson Alex to travel through time, witnessing the hardships and victories of their ancestors—many of whom they had barely known existed. At its core, this is a book about survival, faith, and the sacrifices made by those who seek a better life—not just for themselves, but for the generations to come.
Kristoff’s writing shines when he details the harrowing realities of immigration and the emotional weight of exile. The depiction of George’s struggles in both communist Bulgaria and capitalist America is striking. One particularly moving passage describes his time in a Soviet-controlled Bulgaria, where food was scarce and hope even scarcer. His determination to escape, despite the risks, is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Kristoff skillfully captures the isolation of an immigrant trapped between two worlds—too unfamiliar for his new home yet too transformed to return to his old one—compelled to forge a new identity in uncharted territory.
The novel’s structure is bold and unconventional. The blend of historical narrative, spiritual exploration, and generational storytelling creates a layered reading experience. The time-traveling, near-death elements feel jarring at times. While the afterlife journey adds a unique touch, it occasionally disrupts the story’s emotional momentum. For instance, the moment George and Alex find themselves in 1948 Bulgaria, reliving George’s youth, is gripping, but it sometimes overshadows the real-world immigrant experience, which is the book’s strongest element.
Kristoff’s prose is passionate and personal. His descriptions of family traditions, the immigrant experience, and the weight of history feel deeply authentic. The dialogue can sometimes be heavy-handed, particularly when characters serve as mouthpieces for historical exposition. At times, the book leans into overly sentimental moments, but given its themes of faith and family, this is forgivable. The storytelling is at its best when it lets the characters’ struggles speak for themselves, such as George’s heartbreaking survivor’s guilt over the friends he left behind in Bulgaria.
Crossing Borders and Generations is a deeply personal and ambitious novel that will resonate with those who appreciate stories of immigration, resilience, and family legacy. It’s a book for history lovers, for anyone who has ever felt caught between cultures, and for readers who enjoy narratives that mix reality with the metaphysical. Kristoff delivers a compelling story about the price of freedom and the power of remembering where we come from.
Pages: 399 | ASIN : B0CZJ5Q376
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Posted in Book Reviews, Four Stars
Tags: afterlife, author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, CROSSING BORDERS AND GENERATIONS One Man's Journey To Search For His Ukrainian Greek And Bulgarian Roots, ebook, emigrant memoirs, Faith-based, fiction, goodreads, historical fiction, historical mystery, indie author, inspirational, kindle, Kiril Kristoff’, kobo, literature, nook, novel, OBE, Out of Body Experience, read, reader, reading, story, Thriller & Suspense Fiction, time traveling, writer, writing
I Speak to the Reader’s Soul
Posted by Literary_Titan

Your Words Your Love is a heartfelt collection of poems and photographs that intertwine themes of faith, love, and personal reflection. What inspired you to write this particular collection of poems?
Inspiration comes from God, it is a gift from Him. Nothing is more powerful than God’s love. He loves us deeply and unconditionally and I wanted to write about it because I know what a difference it makes in one’s life to have an intimate and personal relationship with Him rather than having none.
Do you have a favorite poem in the book, and if so, why does it hold special meaning for you?
I have several but Love would be the one because it’s very personal. I chose to share with the reader a season in my life.
Do you think there is a particular mindset or environment that a reader should be in to fully appreciate your work?
I think a quiet environment would be the best choice. I speak to the reader’s soul with simple words that have deep meaning. Also, it’s best to take your time, same for the photographs so as not to miss all the beauty or the message behind the words.
How has this poetry book changed you as a writer, or what did you learn about yourself through writing it?
I think the more you write, the better you become, same thing with photography. This is my fourth book and I see the change in the poems and the photographs as compared from years ago.
Author Links: Goodreads | X | Facebook | Website
The sign on the door
In big bold gold letters
Reads
Vacancy
There’s room
Inside
Ample
Always
No sincere hearts
Will be turned away
For lack of any kind
An excerpt from the poem There’s room, part of this artistic new collection.
Insightful poetry that speaks directly to your heart and soul about God and His love.
Intriguing story poems where faith, hope, salvation, and trust in Him are center stage.
Among the pages of riveting verses are endearing photographs of nature in all its splendor throughout the seasons.
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Posted in Interviews
Tags: author, book, book recommendations, book review, Book Reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, christian poetry, ebook, goodreads, indie author, inspirational, kindle, kobo, literature, Louise Bélanger, nook, novel, poem, poetrry, prose, read, reader, reading, religion, story, writer, writing, Your Words Your Love











