Blog Archives
Vital Historical Knowledge
Jigsaw: Shadow Ball follows a group of Temporal Guardians trying to preserve and repair the timeline from a ruthless organization set on altering history and erasing the racial integration of Major League Baseball. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Excellent question. I love baseball, and I have always wanted to do a story on that. However, in the vein of my formerly titled History’s Forgotten series, I wanted to focus this book on Larry Doby, the second man to break the color barrier in baseball after Jackie Robinson. Most know the story about Robinson, but not as many know about Doby, and I wanted to delve into his importance in baseball and integration in American society in general.
When discussing the civil rights movement, most people automatically think of figures like Dr. King and other politically recognized activists; the involvement of athletes is not as well known, and I appreciate that you brought this aspect into the series. Was it important for you to deliver a moral to readers, or was it circumstantial to deliver an effective novel?
Yes. I want my stories to be both entertaining and educational where readers enjoy the tale but also take away vital historical knowledge, character education lessons, and moral parables.
I find that authors sometimes ask themselves questions and let their characters answer them. Do you think this is true for your characters?
Sometimes, especially with my two major protagonists, Francesca and Noah.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where, and when, will the story take readers next?
The next installment in the Jigsaw Series, titled Temporal Apocalypse will be released in the spring of 2026. It will center on the post-World War I era and take place in Jerome, Arizona, the Russian-Polish war front, and Fiume off the Adriatic Coast.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
A rip in reality is spreading, and the fate of history hangs by a thread.
The ruthless organization Global Harmony has launched Project Shadow Ball, a devastating mission to erase the racial integration of Major League Baseball—rewriting the past to build their own twisted future.
Temporal Guardians Francesca and Noah are the only ones standing in their way. As they hurtle through time, they must protect baseball greats Rube Foster and Larry Doby, whose very existence is at risk.
With every pitch, every stolen base, and every moment altered, the fate of history—and the fight for truth—hangs in the balance.
Time is slipping away. The stakes have never been higher.
Can Francesca and Noah outwit their enemies before baseball’s greatest revolution is erased forever?
Or will history be rewritten in the shadows?
If they fail, history shatters. If they fall, the future is lost.
Calypso Blue: A Len Buonfiglio/Caribbean Mystery
Calypso Blue is a murder mystery set on the lush and vividly imagined Caribbean island of St. Pierre. The story follows Len Buonfiglio, a former New York bartender turned island bar owner, who is reluctantly drawn into a local web of secrets, violence, and intrigue after the suspicious death of Lord Ram, a beloved calypso legend. As the island buzzes with rumors and buried histories start to surface, Len navigates local culture, his own past, and a cast of unforgettable characters to piece together the truth. All the while, the book pulses with the rhythm of soca, rum punch, and the heady, sometimes seedy charm of island life.
The writing is slick, confident, and casually poetic in spots, with Silverman painting scenes that feel both intimate and expansive. What stood out to me most was the deep emotional undercurrent. Len isn’t your average amateur sleuth. He’s haunted, tired, and trying hard not to admit how much he cares. I found myself rooting for him even when he seemed too worn out to root for himself. And the dialogue is sharp, funny, and soaked in local flavor. It felt real, not forced. The island, with all its beauty and bite, practically becomes a character in itself.
I didn’t always feel the plot moved as swiftly as I wanted, especially when the book leans into Len’s reflections or side conversations. But even then, there’s a richness to the detours, whether it’s a discussion about calypso lyrics or a strange bottle of vermouth left on a doorstep, the atmosphere always pulls you back in. It’s a story that trusts its characters and its setting to carry the weight, and mostly, they do.
Calypso Blue is an intriguing whodunit. It’s a meditation on regret, redemption, and the thin line between paradise and ruin. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries with heart, vivid settings, and characters that stay with you after the last page. Perfect for fans of Caribbean noir, or anyone who wants to feel the heat of an island mystery without leaving their chair. It’s not a beach read, it’s a beach experience.
Pages: 277 | ASIN : B0F2S5TPW8
Loyalty, Desperation, and Fear
Gangsters and Demons follows a dockworker trying to survive in Chicago during the 1920s who is forced to join an organized crime syndicate to provide for his family and encounters literal demons, both personal and paranormal. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for Gangsters and Demons came from a fascination with the gritty, morally complex world of 1920s Chicago, a city pulsing with industrial hardship, organized crime, and social upheaval. I wanted to explore the human cost of survival in such a ruthless environment through the eyes of a working-class figure like Jimmy Maloney, a dockworker who’s not inherently a criminal but is forced into that world to protect his family. The idea of blending a classic noir gangster tale with supernatural horror stemmed from my interest in how external pressures—like poverty and crime—can mirror internal struggles, such as addiction or guilt, which I personified through literal demons. I was also inspired by the era’s cultural undercurrents, like Prohibition and labor struggles, which felt ripe for a story where the line between human corruption and paranormal malevolence could blur. The challenge was to take a familiar historical setting and twist it into something unsettling and unexpected, where the real horror might not just be the demons but the everyday grind that breaks people down.
What is one pivotal moment in the story that you think best defines Jimmy Maloney?
One pivotal moment that defines Jimmy Maloney occurs when he’s forced to make an impossible choice between killing a close friend for the crime syndicate or risking his family’s safety by defying the syndicate’s brutal leader. Without giving too much away, this moment—set against the backdrop of a tense, rain-soaked confrontation at the Chicago docks—strips Jimmy down to his core. He’s not a hero or a villain, just a man caught in a web of loyalty, desperation, and fear. His decision in this scene, driven by his love for his family but haunted by the moral cost, encapsulates his struggle to hold onto his humanity while navigating a world of crime and supernatural terror. It’s a moment where his personal demons and the paranormal ones he faces collide, showing his resilience but also his vulnerability.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
I’ve always been drawn to the horror and paranormal genres because they allow you to explore the unknown in ways that reveal deeper truths about the human condition. What intrigues me most is how these genres can externalize internal struggles—fear, guilt, addiction, or loss—into tangible, terrifying forms. In Gangsters and Demons, I wanted to use the paranormal to amplify the noir atmosphere of 1920s Chicago, where the line between human evil and supernatural malevolence feels porous. The idea of demons, both literal and metaphorical, gave me a way to dig into themes like exploitation and faith, which are woven into the story’s fabric. Horror also has this raw, visceral power to grip readers, to make them feel the stakes of Jimmy’s world, where every choice could lead to damnation, whether spiritual or societal. Blending that with the historical noir thriller felt like a fresh way to tell a story that’s both pulpy and profound.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The next book I’m working on is another historical fiction. I won’t reveal too much here because it is still in its early stages. Release date: TBD.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Gangsters and Demons is a historical fiction with a dark twist. A noir thriller that blends gangster drama with supernatural horror, exploring how far a good man will go to protect his family, and what prices power truly demands in a city where ancient evil wears modern suits.
The Dungeon of Peril Mystery: A Case Twins Adventure for Teens (Case Twins Adventures)
Dorian Rockwood’s The Dungeon of Peril Mystery is a delightfully old-fashioned teen mystery wrapped in charm, humor, and just enough shadowy suspense. It follows seventeen-year-old twins Paul and Dan Case, one is a budding boxer, the other an aspiring artist, as Dan lands a paid art commission that seems simple enough: paint portraits of a wealthy woman’s dogs. But what starts as a lighthearted gig in a quirky old mansion quickly turns into a puzzle involving odd sightings, whispered warnings, and a supposed haunted dungeon. With sharp wit, clever pacing, and characters that leap off the page, the story blends humor, teen antics, and mystery in equal measure.
What I liked most was the voice. It’s cheeky and self-aware, never trying too hard to be clever but landing plenty of genuinely funny moments. Dan and Paul feel like real brothers. They’re constantly teasing, deeply loyal, and occasionally exasperating each other. The banter had me smiling more than once. And Rockwood’s writing balances that humor with atmosphere surprisingly well. The mansion felt both cozy and creepy, like something out of an old Saturday matinee mystery. The author also has a knack for dialogue that feels sharp and snappy without sounding fake or forced.
That said, the story doesn’t reinvent the wheel, and that’s okay. It doesn’t need to. There’s comfort in its throwback charm. The mystery is more Scooby-Doo than Sherlock Holmes, but it’s paced well, and there’s a pleasant confidence to the writing that made me trust the ride. The characters carry the book, especially Dan, whose earnestness and occasional awkwardness made him easy to root for. I also appreciated how the book wove in themes of artistic self-doubt, friendship, and responsibility without hammering them over the head.
The Dungeon of Peril Mystery is a feel-good read that blends humor and intrigue in just the right amounts. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves classic teen sleuth stories with a modern wink. It’s great for younger readers looking for something fun but not too fluffy, or for grown-ups like me who still love a good mystery set in a spooky old house. If you enjoy a light read with heart, you’ll find this one an easy pick.
Pages: 194 | ASIN : B0F2J8P8YC
AndroBiotica 2: Journey In Time
AndroBiotica 2: Journey in Time picks up where the first story left off, throwing us straight into a whirlwind of parallel dimensions, mysterious androids, and high-stakes pursuits through space and time. Derrick Faulk and Aurora Zolotov return, still tangled up in the chase for Romulus, the rogue synthetic being who may hold the key to a future none of them understand. As the story unspools, the stakes climb. Secrets multiply. The characters find themselves navigating bizarre timelines, strange worlds, and even stranger versions of themselves. The central question still lingers: what happens when artificial life wants more than just existence?
Gittlin has a way of throwing ideas at the wall, and most of them stick. I loved how unpredictable the story was. One moment we’re in a sterile lab, and the next, we’re tumbling through cosmic portals into alternate Earths. The writing leans on quick scenes and snappy dialogue, which keeps the story clipping along. Still, there were points when I had to pause and reread to make sure I caught what just happened. But the overall ride was wild, weird, and worth it.
What really pulled me in was the tone. This offbeat mix of old-school pulp and heartfelt soul-searching. There’s something relatable in how these characters fumble toward understanding, both of themselves and of the androids they’re trying to control. The themes sneak up on you. Identity. Freedom. What it means to be real. I caught myself sympathizing with Romulus more than I expected. There’s a sadness to him that lingers. I didn’t love every bit of the prose, but the heart of the story beats strong. You can feel that the author cares about these characters, and that pulls you in deeper.
Journey in Time isn’t just a sci-fi adventure. It’s a strange, thoughtful look at what it means to evolve. It doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. It asks the questions anyway. I’d recommend this book to sci-fi readers who like their stories messy, fast, and full of big ideas. If you liked the first book in the series, this one’s even more ambitious.
Pages: 222 | ASIN : B0D94ZDZ49
The AndroBiotica File: Nearly Human
The AndroBiotica File: Nearly Human is a fast-paced science fiction novella that centers on Derrick Faulk, a hard-nosed investigator for the National Science Service, tasked with recovering a stolen file that contains plans for hyper-realistic androids. Alongside his savvy and mysterious partner, Aurora Zolotov, Faulk dives headfirst into a high-stakes investigation that quickly evolves into a journey across dimensions. With synthetic humans on the verge of becoming indistinguishable from the real thing, and a rogue android possibly escaping to a parallel world, the story explores the fine line between artificial and alive intelligence, all while blending espionage, sci-fi tech, and a dose of romantic tension.
Reading this novella was like getting dropped into a high-tech thriller with just enough emotional grit to keep you grounded. I liked how David Gittlin built the world. It’s slick, slightly offbeat, and full of detail, but he doesn’t drown you in explanation. The pacing moves. And Faulk’s dry wit cuts through the tension in just the right way. That said, some dialogue can feel a little stiff, and the inner monologues tend to meander. Still, there’s charm in how raw and personal the narration is. Gittlin isn’t afraid to let his characters brood, stumble, or flirt awkwardly. I appreciated that. Also, the tech hit the sweet spot between weird and cool.
But what really got me thinking was the heart of the story. This idea that machines are edging closer to life. What happens when they start wanting things? Romulus, the runaway android, is more than a plot twist; he’s a whole ethical hand grenade. There’s something unsettling and sad about him, like a kid who outgrew his purpose. The bigger questions about work, identity, and control aren’t hammered home, but they hover in the background. It’s sci-fi that’s self-aware without being smug.
The AndroBiotica File is a fun ride. It’s got brains, action, and just enough emotional punch to make you care what happens when the gears start turning in the wrong direction. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves near-future science fiction with a pulpy edge and a conspiratorial tone. Fans of Michael Crichton, Blade Runner, or even Altered Carbon will enjoy this story.
Pages: 112 | ASIN : B0CN5YSZL5
1989: An Eye For An Eye
1989: An Eye for an Eye is a riveting and emotionally tangled novel that centers around a decades-old murder case that left deep scars on a small Southern town. At the heart of the story is Ingrid, a woman haunted by her hidden identity, a web of family secrets, and a burning desire to clear her father’s name. After faking her death to go underground, she returns under a new identity, determined to expose the corruption that destroyed her family. What unfolds is a suspense-filled narrative that weaves together revenge, redemption, and revelations, touching on systemic injustice, identity, and the burden of legacy. With alternating perspectives and past secrets slowly coming to light, the novel drips with tension, building a compelling mystery around who’s guilty and who deserves justice.
I found myself genuinely pulled in by Smith’s writing. It’s not fancy or highbrow, but it’s honest and raw, and that made it powerful. The dialogue feels real, like you’re eavesdropping on two people who have been through hell together. The way he builds emotional weight around every choice Ingrid makes, especially the internal tug-of-war between vengeance and doing the right thing, hits hard. That said, the book has a big cast, and a few times I had to flip back to remember who someone was. Still, the pacing and reveals kept me hooked. It’s a big story with layers of betrayal, hidden ties, and long-buried pain. Every time I thought I’d figured something out, another twist would shake it up.
What really got me was the heart underneath all the thriller elements. The relationships, especially between Ingrid and Nicole, carry the emotional muscle of the story. You see how trauma doesn’t just affect one person, it ripples through generations. And when Ingrid gets her moment to finally breathe and step out of the shadows, you feel it. You also feel the price she pays to get there. The moral ambiguity in this book is thick. You’re constantly questioning what’s justified and what isn’t. And while some characters are undeniably evil, others live in this gray space that makes them unforgettable.
It’s gripping, it’s personal, and it asks big questions without offering easy answers. I’d recommend 1989: An Eye for an Eye to anyone who loves mystery, family drama, or stories about strong women navigating impossible choices. If you’re into slow-burning revenge tales that pack a gut punch, this is your kind of read.
Pages: 278
LITERARY TITAN 