Blog Archives
We Watch All: Priest’s Last Call
Michael Spencer’s We Watch All is a thought-provoking science fiction novel that mixes dystopian suspense, psychological drama, and a fascinating exploration of power and truth. Set on Neo Mars, a human colony that has built a seemingly stable civilization far from Earth, the story begins with a major announcement. Glen, the colony’s longtime Priest and keeper of humanity’s history, is preparing to retire after sixty years of leadership. His successor will be selected through a series of mysterious trials open to the colony’s young adults. What initially sounds like an extraordinary opportunity quickly becomes something much more unsettling. The Priest holds knowledge that ordinary citizens aren’t permitted to access, and the governing Council maintains an uneasy relationship with the mysterious beings known as the Ones. Spencer creates an intriguing society where secrecy is woven into everyday life, and the promise of protecting humanity carries a disturbing price.
I really liked the ensemble of characters, and how each approaches the trials with different motivations, insecurities, and personal histories. Skyler, a young woman who uses a wheelchair, brings determination and vulnerability to the competition. Max, who has spent years without a stable home, struggles with belonging and self-worth. Meanwhile, characters such as Mark, Jason, Stacy, and Thomas offer contrasting perspectives on loyalty, ambition, and responsibility. Their individual experiences give the story an emotional dimension that extends beyond the larger mysteries of Neo Mars. Spencer frequently shifts between viewpoints, allowing readers to understand how the same circumstances can affect people in very different ways. The trials themselves are especially interesting because they challenge the candidates’ beliefs, memories, and emotional resilience. These encounters can be intense, sometimes deeply uncomfortable, and they raise compelling questions about what makes someone worthy of leadership. The conversations between characters also bring moments of humor and familiarity into an increasingly tense environment.
Readers familiar with Lois Lowry’s The Giver will recognize some interesting similarities in Spencer’s approach to memory, authority, and the preservation of history. Both novels imagine communities whose apparent stability depends on carefully controlled information, with certain individuals entrusted to carry knowledge that others cannot possess. There’s also a shared fascination with the emotional cost of remembering what society has chosen to conceal. Spencer, however, develops these ideas through a larger cast, a Martian setting, and an unsettling combination of science fiction and almost spiritual experiences. The Ones add an element of cosmic mystery, while the Council’s involvement introduces political tension and questions about institutional accountability. Spencer’s writing is especially effective when characters confront their own convictions under extraordinary psychological pressure. Some passages revisit similar emotional conflicts, and the changing perspectives occasionally interrupt the narrative’s momentum, but the book’s central mysteries provide a strong reason to keep reading.
What makes We Watch All memorable is its interest in the relationship between knowledge and responsibility. The novel repeatedly asks whether protecting a civilization justifies controlling its history, how much authority any individual should possess, and what happens when obedience becomes a measure of personal worth. These questions give the story substance beyond its suspenseful premise. Spencer also makes good use of the Martian setting, presenting a society with familiar family relationships, educational ambitions, and everyday routines alongside deeply unusual traditions and governing structures. That contrast makes Neo Mars feel recognizably human even as its secrets become increasingly troubling. The book’s darker moments carry genuine emotional weight, especially when ordinary families must live with the consequences of decisions made behind closed doors. With its ambitious ideas, varied characters, and persistent sense of mystery, We Watch All: Priest’s Last Call is an engaging read for science fiction fans who enjoy stories about hidden histories, difficult moral choices, and the complicated nature of human freedom.
Pages: 308 | ASIN : B0FVWDVJTV
You Must Believe in Spring
Steven Hutton’s You Must Believe in Spring is a literary fiction novel that explores love, commitment, fatherhood, and the unpredictable ways life asks us to grow up. Set in southeastern Pennsylvania, the story follows Evan, a thirty-two-year-old man whose active imagination is both his favorite escape and one of his biggest obstacles. When his girlfriend, Ellen, becomes unexpectedly pregnant, Evan finds himself facing a future that suddenly feels very real. He’s already imagining their daughter, Helen, picturing everything from childhood adventures to conversations they’ll have decades down the road. There’s something wonderfully revealing about a man who can envision an entire lifetime with a child who hasn’t been born yet, even as he struggles to figure out his own next steps. Hutton builds this contemporary literary fiction story around that tension, giving readers an intimate look at a man trying to reconcile the life he’s imagined with the responsibilities waiting for him.
Much of the novel’s personality comes from Evan’s distinctive narrative voice. He’s funny, observant, occasionally exasperating, and capable of turning an ordinary moment into an elaborate mental production. A walk through town, a conversation over breakfast, or a visit with neighbors can send his thoughts spinning in unexpected directions. His imagination is constantly at work, creating scenes that range from genuinely touching to wonderfully absurd. Hutton has a particular talent for finding humor in mundane situations, and Evan’s running commentary gives the novel a lively, unpredictable rhythm. The writing is richly descriptive, sometimes following a thought through several unexpected turns before returning to the moment that inspired it. Readers who enjoy character-driven literary fiction will appreciate how much personality emerges through these digressions. They’re an essential part of understanding Evan, whose restless mind reveals his anxieties, affections, insecurities, and hopes, often all within the same conversation.
The relationship between Evan and Ellen gives You Must Believe in Spring its emotional center. Ellen is intelligent, independent, practical, and understandably concerned about the enormous changes an unexpected pregnancy could bring. Evan approaches their situation with enthusiasm and a remarkable capacity for romanticizing the future, while Ellen wants to consider what their choices will mean for their lives and careers. Their conversations capture the complicated dynamics of two people who love each other deeply but don’t always see their circumstances the same way. The supporting characters add welcome texture, particularly Evan’s outspoken friend Finn, whose sharp humor and spirited exchanges bring another dimension to the story. Hutton also draws thoughtfully on the rhythms of small-town life, friendships, family expectations, work, and the natural world. Springtime becomes an especially meaningful presence, with birdsong, shifting light, gardens, and changing weather reflecting the possibilities and uncertainties surrounding the characters.
What makes this work of contemporary fiction engaging is its interest in the everyday experiences through which people discover who they are and what matters to them. Hutton approaches serious subjects with humor, tenderness, and a willingness to linger over the details that give ordinary life its emotional weight. The novel’s reflective, sometimes meandering style invites readers to spend time inside Evan’s thoughts, where philosophical questions about love, mortality, imagination, and personal responsibility mingle with affectionate observations and comic distractions. Music also plays an important role, adding another layer to the book’s contemplation of time, memory, and hope. At its heart, You Must Believe in Spring is a thoughtful, frequently funny exploration of what it means to love someone while learning how to show up for them. Readers drawn to introspective literary fiction, relationship-centered novels, and stories about personal growth will find plenty to appreciate in Hutton’s distinctive portrayal of a man discovering how much life can ask of him, and how much he wants to give.
Pages: 257 | ASIN : B0HK79XGLN
The Wall
The Wall, written and illustrated by Natalia Morris, is a thoughtful and emotionally engaging children’s book about sensory overwhelm, social anxiety, and the longing to belong. The story follows a young girl who finds comfort in quiet, familiar activities but struggles when faced with the unpredictable sights, sounds, and interactions of a busy playground. What seems like an ordinary outing becomes an emotionally complicated experience as she navigates her desire to connect with other children and the overwhelming feelings that make doing so difficult. Morris approaches these experiences with sensitivity, creating a story that encourages readers to consider how differently children can experience the same environment. At its heart, this is a book about wanting to participate in the world while learning to manage the challenges that come with it.
After a brief introduction, Morris allows the illustrations to carry nearly the entire narrative. The wall itself serves as a powerful visual representation of the barriers that can arise between a child and the social world around them. Its imposing presence makes an internal struggle visible and understandable, even for younger readers who may have difficulty articulating similar emotions. The book also incorporates sign language, facial expressions, and body language as meaningful forms of communication. This approach gives the story a distinctive rhythm, inviting readers to slow down, observe the characters, and consider what their gestures and expressions reveal.
Morris uses a combination of vibrant colors, soft watercolor-like textures, and expressive character drawings to create an atmosphere that shifts with the protagonist’s experiences. The girl’s bright yellow coat and patterned boots make her immediately recognizable, while the reddish brick wall provides a striking visual contrast. Particularly effective are the illustrations showing the girl curled up beside the wall, where her small posture conveys a powerful sense of vulnerability. Other images capture the energy of children playing, with colorful playground equipment, changing seasons, and lively movement. These details give the illustrations warmth and personality while helping readers understand the emotional distance the protagonist sometimes feels.
What makes The Wall especially meaningful for me is the personal experience behind its creation. In an author’s letter, Morris explains that her daughter’s experiences with autism, language impairment, and sensory overload inspired the story. That perspective gives the book an authenticity that comes through in its attention to emotional challenges and the importance of patience. Morris recognizes that connection can require considerable effort and that every child’s progress follows a different path. The book offers families an opportunity to talk about neurodivergence, empathy, inclusion, and the many ways children communicate their needs. With its expressive artwork, gentle storytelling, and compassionate understanding of childhood experiences, The Wall is a touching book that encourages readers to look more closely at the feelings and experiences of those around them.
Pages: 49 | ASIN : B0HKGGKVSD
Go Home a Winner
Mathematical Strategies to Winning Short-Term Play Video Poker explores how probability, strategic card selection, and mathematical analysis can help video poker players make decisions and understand their chances during short casino sessions. What inspired you to focus on sessions lasting one to eight hours?
Casinos offer a large variety of games and entertainment options to the players. For the guests who do not wish to stay seated behind the same machine for extended hours, they can select another machine, a different variation of the machine, an entirely different game of chance, watch a show or sports event available at the casino, or even take a break and recollect themself. If a player does not feel the machine is paying at the expected averages for the play duration, he may just be having a “streak of bad luck” and wish to try another machine or an entirely different game.
In my opinion, you should go to the casino to have a good time, enter tournaments, and try your luck at the many different types of games. Sure, to go home a winner is always a plus, but if you don’t and exercise proper money management, you should still have a great experience at the casino.
When analyzing which cards to hold or discard, what surprising mathematical discoveries challenged conventional video poker strategies or your own initial assumptions?
I wanted to do all of the math myself and derive a strategy for the best draw opportunities in each hand. For example, if your initial hand is a Pair, should you draw 1, 2, or 3 cards to form the best hand? Every choice is analyzed from a mathematical perspective, and a suggested play strategy is offered. This strategy may comply with or disagree with conventional wisdom, but is offered from an unbiased mathematical perspective. Also, new opportunities for improving a “junk hand” on the draw are analyzed. Finally, a thorough discussion is presented which allows players to create a drawing strategy of their own and test its effectiveness.
How do differences in pay tables and bonus structures among the six video poker variations influence your recommendations for short-term players?
I suggest that machines that have the highest payouts for the middle-third of the hands (Straight, Flush, and Full House) should be sought to offer the highest returns for the players. The top three hands (Four-of-a-Kind, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush) offer much higher payouts, but are less likely (but not definitely) to appear in a short play session. Bonus payouts are generally considered a very good benefit and can increase your rate of return on the game.
How do you reconcile the mathematical advantages of optimal play with the unpredictability of short-term outcomes, especially when advising readers about bankroll management?
I would consider mathematically derived best play strategies with a touch of luck, as being the best strategy in video poker, even on those machines with a poor pay table. All of the examples worked are done with playing only one bet per play, which should help proper money management for the short-term player, since it is statistically unlikely that he will hit a winning Royal Flush. However, a Royal Flush can, in reality, hit at any time, making you regret that you did not play the full coins. But gambling is all about taking chances and winning and losing streaks. May luck be on your side!
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Finding the Humour
Around the World With a Spare Pair of Jeans is a humorous, engaging memoir of your 1975 journey along the Hippie Trail, capturing the challenges, discoveries, and unexpected kindnesses of budget travel across Europe and Asia. Why was this an important book for you to write?
For those who weren’t there, it is really hard to imagine travelling in a pre-digital world… no cell phone?…no GPS?… no instant cash or online bookings? Truly, in those days, when we were gone, we were really GONE! No safety net at all. That’s how we travelled 50 years ago, and looking back, it does seem challenging. Perhaps even foolhardy. So it just felt right to tell the story now….
Was humour your natural response to difficult situations?
Well, there’s usually a funny side to every situation, and I think finding the humour really helps soften the edges of difficult days. Certainly, things could have gone terribly wrong a number of times, and there was nothing the least bit amusing about the night in Teheran when two men tried to break into our room at 5:00 am.
How did you reconstruct the details of a journey that took place more than fifty years ago?
They say that writing things down carves the words into the brain…I’m sure there’s probably a long Latin word for it!… and since I wrote in my journals every evening, I had a wealth of material. Of course, we didn’t have TV, and it was dark (and cold) quite early at that time of year! I also wrote a lot of letters home…at least every week, sending updates on where we were, although leaving out some of the more scary details, of course! I also kept all the tickets, brochures, and receipts which I accumulated along the way. So when it came to transcribing the journals, I had a mass of information, and everything came back so clearly in my mind. It really is amazing to realize it all happened more than 50 years ago now.
What advice would you give young women considering independent international travel today?
Sometimes it’s hard not to feel jaded when we see awful things happening on the news, but most people are genuinely kind and good. I think it’s important to remember that travelling puts you in the shoes of a visitor, and being respectful in dress and demeanour goes a long way toward being accepted in new or very different communities.
Getting along and fitting in is really just a matter of common sense; nobody appreciates loud and rude visitors. As far as safety goes, again, use common sense!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon
Departing from London, England, Jean started out in France and Italy, then moved on to Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Thailand, before she made it to Australia. However, Jean’s journey was not without its setbacks. Travel in the 1970s meant no internet, no GPS, and no easy way to retrieve cash. Access to safe drinking water was not guaranteed. Jean describes
with candour and humour how she tackled obstacle after obstacle as she roamed further into unfamiliar cultures.
Although Jean didn’t know it at the time, many places she visited were about to go through drastic changes. The Iranian Revolution and the Soviet-Afghan War closed borders and changed the face of Asia. The eventual capture of serial killer Charles Sobhraj, many of whose victims were back-packers travelling on the Hippie Trail at this time, casts her adventures in a whole new light. Jean’s writings provide a snapshot into this part of the world during a fascinating era in its history. For adventure lovers, armchair travellers, and everyone in between, Jean Ramer’s travel memoir is an eye-opening story of resilience, awe, and self-discovery.
Empowered Kitchen
Empowered Kitchen, compiled by physician and chef Dr. Colin Zhu, connects plant-forward cooking with personal health, community life, and care for the environment. Its contributors include doctors, dietitians, chefs, and farmers, whose perspectives give the book the feel of a shared project. Four opening “toolkits” address nutrition questions, kitchen habits, agriculture, and practical ways to reduce waste. The recipes then put those ideas on the table. Zhu’s introduction recalls watching his parents cook together, and that memory gives the book its center: food is a daily practice shaped by skill, culture, and the people who gather to eat it.
The guidance is most useful when it moves from a broad health goal to a decision a reader can make today. Contributors explain how to stock a pantry, plan meals around a busy schedule, use a freezer, adapt familiar dishes, and build flavor through heat, acid, herbs, and texture. Advice for feeding children, eating at work, and sharing meals at celebrations recognizes that habits have to fit real households. Chef Caryn Dugan captures the book’s encouraging approach: “Cooking is a practice, not a performance.” The chapters also give space to nutrient planning, including vitamin B12 for people eating entirely plant-based diets. Their question-and-answer format makes the material easy to revisit while shopping or deciding what to cook.
The recipe collection ranges from black bean stew and chickpea korma to roasted eggplant with lemon tahini, Haitian epis, red lentil wraps, and sweet potato brownies. Contributor notes often explain a dish’s family or cultural roots, while preparation times, substitutions, and storage tips help readers use the recipes beyond a single meal. Some dishes are quick enough for a weekday; others invite slower cooking and shared preparation. The range of voices brings welcome variety, though it also produces shifts in tone and in how confidently health benefits are described. The book is strongest when a recipe’s flavor, method, and possible variations carry the case for making it.
Its environmental chapters widen the view from the kitchen to soil, farm labor, food access, plastic use, forests, and oceans. Farmers discuss how growing practices affect the food supply, while other contributors suggest smaller household actions, such as using leftovers well or starting an herb garden. This breadth can make individual subjects brief, but it gives readers several points of entry into the book’s central idea. Zhu writes, “Food is meant to be communal and shared.” Empowered Kitchen follows through on that belief by treating cooking as something learned from others and passed along. It’s a generous, practical collection for readers who want more plants on their plates and a closer connection to the people and places behind their food.
Pages: 256 | ASIN: B0HNW5GX2Q
Emotional Journeys
Serenity Farm follows a young aspiring animal rights attorney whose extraordinary connection with animals helps bring healing and hope to a sanctuary community devoted to rescuing abused and abandoned animals. What is the most rewarding aspect of writing a series?
The most rewarding part of writing the Safe Haven series has been giving animals a voice. I wanted readers to recognize that animals experience a wide range of emotions and form meaningful connections, just as we do. Showing their individuality and emotional depth has been both a joy and a privilege.
I have also loved honoring the people who devote themselves to animal welfare. Whether they care for rescued animals at sanctuaries, advocate for stronger protections, or risk difficult and often heartbreaking work to expose cruelty, their dedication inspires me. If readers finish the series with a deeper sense of compassion for animals and the people who protect them, then I feel I’ve accomplished something meaningful.
Did you always envision the series as a collection of interconnected stories centered on animal welfare?
Interestingly, Serenity Farm was actually the first book I wrote. Before publishing it, however, I found myself wanting to understand and explain how Brie developed her extraordinary gift of communicating with animals. That exploration led to Safe Haven, which ultimately became the first book in the series.
From the beginning, though, I knew the stories would be rooted in compassion, animal welfare, and the bond between humans and animals. Those themes are at the heart of everything I write.
I do envision continuing Brie’s journey with at least one more novel in the Safe Haven series. I’m also fascinated by the possibility that she may not be the only person with this gift. Are there others out there who share her connection with animals? How has it shaped their lives? What paths have they chosen? Those questions continue to spark my imagination and may lead the series in exciting new directions.
Were your characters inspired by people you have known or observed?
Some of the human characters were inspired by traits I’ve observed in different people over the years, but none of them were modeled after a single individual. I often find myself drawing from a variety of personalities, experiences, and interactions, blending those influences together to create characters who feel authentic and relatable while remaining entirely fictional.
The animals, however, are a different story. Many of them were inspired by animals I’ve met personally through sanctuaries, rescues, and my lifelong love of animals. Their quirks, personalities, habits, and even some of their emotional journeys often come from real-life encounters. Anyone who has spent time with animals knows that each one is a unique individual, and I wanted that individuality to shine through in my books.
In fact, all of the rescue stories featured in Serenity Farm are based on actual rescues. While I adapted the names and places for the novel, the situations that inspired them were very real. By weaving real rescue experiences into fiction, I hope readers come away with a greater appreciation for the lives of animals and for the compassionate people who devote themselves to giving them a second chance.
What conversations about animal welfare or compassion would you like the novel to inspire?
I would love for Serenity Farm to inspire people to think differently about farmed animals and the lives they lead. Much of their suffering remains hidden from public view, which can create a sense of disconnect. It’s often easier to overlook what we don’t see or fully understand.
One of my goals in writing the novel was to help bridge that gap by portraying farmed animals as sentient beings with distinct personalities, emotions, and the capacity to form deep bonds. They experience joy, fear, grief, affection, and companionship just as many of the animals we share our homes with do. When we begin to recognize their individuality and emotional depth, it becomes harder to view them as commodities rather than living
beings deserving of compassion and respect.
I also hope the novel encourages conversations about the important work being done by sanctuaries, animal advocates, investigators, and those working to improve animal welfare laws. Real change often begins with awareness, and awareness begins with empathy.
Ultimately, I don’t expect every reader to come away with the same opinions. My hope is simply that they pause and consider the lives of farmed animals in a new way. If the story helps someone make a deeper emotional connection and inspires even a little more kindness toward animals, then I feel the novel has achieved something meaningful.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon
For fifty years, Owen and Lillian have built something rare—a farm sanctuary where the abused and abandoned find safety, grace, and second chances. But now an industrial livestock complex—the kind that chokes waterways and treats suffering as the cost of doing business—has set its sights on the land surrounding their safe haven. Everything they’ve spent a lifetime building could wither in its shadow.
For two years, Jack has thrown himself into his work as a veterinarian at the sanctuary, haunted by a past he’s desperate to outrun. Then Brie arrives, and something he’s kept buried begins to surface. She eases into the rhythms of the sanctuary as if she’s always belonged there—as though the animals know something about her that even she cannot explain. And along the way, it’s the animals who draw her and Jack together.
As the threat to the sanctuary escalates, loyalties are tested, and the line between neighbor and enemy blurs. Bound by their love for the animals, they band together—holding fast to their conviction that compassion can still win.
Elizabeth Stiles’s second novel, Serenity Farm, weaves together themes of compassion, courage, and the healing power of unconditional love—a tender reminder that the bond between humans and animals can mend what’s broken and rekindle hope long thought lost.
Serenity Farm stands on its own, though readers of Safe Haven will find a familiar face at its heart.
I Wanted To Taker Her Home
The Fortress of Us follows a grieving father and his eight-year-old daughter who are attempting to rebuild their lives after suffering an unimaginable loss in coastal South Australia. What inspired you to write this novel, and how did the idea of a grieving young girl becoming the protector of another vulnerable child first develop?
The story was inspired by an event from my childhood that had a profound impact on me. When I was eight years old my family visited relatives in Queens, New York where I met a little girl who didn’t speak and was clearly neglected. I wanted to take her home with us, but of course my parents said no. When we got in our car to leave however, the little girl tried to get in with me, and when we drove off, she ran down the street after our car, trying to reach me. I never saw the girl again and always wondered what became of her. As I got older and had first children and then grandchildren, I found the image of that little girl chasing after us, arms outstretched, kept coming back to me more and more. To the point I began to imagine a series of follow-on events that would give me some closure on the matter. That string of events turned into a story, and that story became The Fortress of Us.
How did you approach developing Kelsey as a neurodivergent child whose emotional experiences and understanding of the world influence her decisions?
I suffered from learning disabilities as a child including dyslexia, ADHD and hypersensitivity. In creating the character Kelsey I drew on my memories of how these conditions effected me. Through Kelsey’s experience in the story I tried to relate the physical sensations associated with these conditions, as well as the resulting behavioural struggles and difficulties with learning and relating to others.
How do the relationships among Kelsey, Molly, Ryan, and Shannon explore the different ways people can support one another while struggling with their own losses?
Molly is the sister Kelsey never had and always wanted. But as a much younger, more vulnerable child, she arouses Kelsey’s protective instincts to the point she becomes almost a mother to Molly, the very person she herself has lost. Shannon sees in the bond between them her own relationship with her sister whose death she feels responsible for. And Ryan must set aside his grief to help Kelsey deal with her won. As each character helps the others they come to see that life after loss is still worth living.
What do you hope readers take away from the novel’s examination of resilience, family bonds, and the unexpected relationships that help people recover from loss?
As with all my stories, I hope readers come away from Fortress feeling uplifted. I hope the experience of Kelsey, Molly, Ryan and Shannon leaves them with a stronger belief in people’s willingness to help one another even when recovering from loss themselves.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Eight year old Kelsey once believed her father could do anything, an illusion shattered the day he failed to save the woman at the centre of her world. As a neurodivergent, Kelsey struggles to process her grief and instead begins to slowly withdraw. Until she meets a girl with no name and vows to protect her against the deadly threat surrounding her.
In the year since his wife’s passing, Ryan has watched his beloved only daughter slip further and further away from him. Desperate to save what remains of his family, he moves them from Adelaide to Port Lincoln, leaving behind the house where Kelsey’s mother died.
Through the bond she forms with their new neighbour, Shannon, Kelsey seems to find what she needs to finally overcome her loss and Ryan rejoices in the change he sees in her. Until he learns the true reason for his daughter’s recovery is her caring for the neglected runaway she’s been hiding up in her tree house. The object of a madman’s search whose aim is to silence both girls forever.
