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See the Good Ahead
In Who Is Living In Apartment #203?, a teenager dealing with a breakup becomes invested in attracting the attention of his beautiful but mysterious new neighbor. Where did the idea for this story come from?
The story follows a boy named Richard, a bright yet impulsive high school student, as he navigates the troubled waters of teen life, dealing with peer pressure, love, and a broken relationship which he was greatly hurt by. Richard embarks on an adventure to solve the mystery surrounding his new neighbor living in apartment #203. This story comes from my past life growing up in the city. Writing this book reminded me of that life and helped me a lot. I knew it could help others as well. My life has changed for the better after writing this book. I went through many stages in my life from mental and emotional stress to depression and feeling alone and abandoned–searching for attention and encouragement. I have come out of a bad relationship that left me broken and hurt, so this is why I wrote this story to encourage and uplift other people and let them know they can have hope, joy, peace, and be an over-comer.
Is there anything from your own life in the experiences of your characters?
Yes, that’s why I wrote about this character, Richard, because I’m just like him. I had a lot of experiences of feeling alone, going through peer pressure, and the personal loss of a boy who was the love of my life. Sometimes we are attracted in the wrong direction, and sometimes our minds can shift into a dark place, and we cannot see the good ahead for us. Richard couldn’t tell what wasn’t real and what was just reality. What is really the truth versus what is wrong–that is my experience in writing this lovely story.
What were some of your inspirations as a writer?
My inspiration is my passion to uplift, teach, motivate, instruct, train, elevate reading skills, and challenge children and younger teens to achieve their goals and dream for greatness. This is why I love stories like this; so people can find joy and inspiration in reading my books.
I find a problem in well-written stories, in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned?
Yes, there is a second book planned: Torn Between Loves.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Amazon
Who is Living in Apartment 203? is a fun and exciting teenage detective story that explores the joys and complications of being a teenager. First love can be as fragile as a reputation, and Richard will discover that the hard way. Richard is a smart high school student whose impulsiveness can sometimes get him into trouble. He has to deal with peer pressure, love, and loss, and in the process, he makes some mistakes. His best friend, Josh, and Josh’s cousin, Kelly, team up to help Richard sort out his conflicts and solve more than one mystery.
After Richard’s girlfriend dumps him, he experiences some rebellious and impulsive behavior that gets him involved in a mystery that soon becomes messy and hilarious. After meeting a new enigmatic and attractive neighbor and hearing the rumors about her, Richard embarks on an adventure to become a hero and get the attention and respect he craves.
Who is Living in Apartment 203? delivers fun twists and turns that will keep readers eagerly wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery.
An Honest Telling
To Venus and Back: One Man’s Quest to Rediscover Love is your story about becoming a widower and single parent at the age of fifty-one and your return to the dating world two years later. Why was this an important book for you to write?
There was an odd inner pull I felt to write my story, a story I never would have believed if I hadn’t lived it. I thought people needed an honest telling—from a man’s—perspective of what can happen in the world of dating, love, and sex. Dating memoirs and relationship books are a significant non-fiction category but are differentiated by gender. There are books about dating and relationships for women by women (spoiler alert, men don’t fare well) and the same for men (bro-books often written with locker-room mentalities). My book uniquely bridges this divide and fills a void—a dating memoir about women for women written by a man.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The biggest thing is that there are still people in this world—men in particular—for whom kindness is paramount. I also wanted to debunk the pervasive popular cultural thinking among some women that men are rather clueless—and maybe a bit unfeeling—when it comes to love. Lastly, for those who think love is about checking all the boxes, that’s not love. That’s accounting.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Several things were particularly hard. One was writing about various intimate situations. That was oddly strange in a way I’ve never felt before. Another was writing about—confessing—difficult personal failings and doubts. But if I was being honest about my story, I had to fess up and be honest about everything, including where I felt I was falling short. By far the most difficult thing I wrote about however was describing how my wife died. When I began writing my memoir I swore to myself I would not write about how she died. I didn’t think I could do it and I talked myself into thinking it wasn’t relevant for a book about the crazy world of online dating in middle age. But then I realized I had to, and it changed the narrative.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
We all have in our lives certain things we never talk about and never share—that which is the most personal and intimate and rarely makes it past a hushed conversation with a trusted friend if even that. After all is said and done, and after years of writing and all the work that went into it, I’m not sure how much the big picture on dating, relationships, and sex will change because of my book. But I do know for sure that between the covers of the book, one thing has changed—a man has spoken about things we just don’t speak about, and it’s one incredible story.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
At age fifty-one, Turner Grant became a widower and single parent to his twin boys. Deep in grief, he often found daily routines difficult and his work arduous. But after two years, Turner embarked on a journey to find his future, both in life and love.
What Turner discovered shocked him. After tentative steps into the shallow dating waters, he was quickly immersed in a deep ocean filled with unexpected riptides and crosscurrents within a digital-dating universe that didn’t exist when he last dated decades earlier.
In three years, he met fifty-four single, middle-aged women who took him to a totally different world—Venus. It was a journey—a journey that’s, well … complicated.
Strong Line Between Good and Evil
In Joseph’s Coat, evil enters the home of a young couple when they adopt an orphan following the loss of their own baby. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I had written the MC years ago, but I knew something was missing, untold. I finally, after about nine years, realized the MC’s story needed to begin with his childhood. And his situation just created itself, if that makes sense. LOL.
I felt this story was very well written. What’s your experience as a writer?
Thank you! I’m honored for you to say that. I’ve written since I was small. Sketching comic strip-style stories as a way to tell these stories. Then, during high school, I started to actually write them instead of sketching them. And have not been able to stop. I’ve had three novels/novellas that were published for which the contracts expired. Joseph’s Coat is my first novel since 2015.
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
I love this question. I’m not sure I ever had guidelines for emotions or morals. It all seemed to dictate itself. I did want to create a couple, though, who were deeply in love enough to withstand the pain of loss, and grief, and yet allow them high emotion that I hoped was real and relatable and, most of all, very human. As for morals, each character dictated their own if that makes sense. And, now that you mention it, maybe subconsciously incorporate a strong line between good and evil where, of course, the goodness of humanity would triumph.
Can you give readers a glimpse inside book 2? When can fans expect to see it released?
Oh, this has been a trial! I had planned to skip in years for the child in the story to be much older; however, I felt I was missing too much of his history that ought to be told. SO…Book Two will be the growth of the newly adopted child in his new environment and a new antagonist to be introduced, this time one who will be a highly trusted friend who will be a huge threat to the family. And I’m working on it now, hoping to finish by the end of this year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Amazon
Brooklyn, New York. 1924.
Giovanni and Kate Di Paolo are a young, affluent couple. They are wildly in love, devoted to each other, but are mourning the death of their infant son.
When Kate volunteers at Saint Hyacinth’s Orphanage, she is especially drawn to one of the orphans.
Enrico.
He entered the orphanage with no last name, no history. A mysterious child, strange but gifted, teased by the other children with the Italian name, Jettatore—evil eye, one who brings bad luck.
With Enrico’s arrival into their world, the Di Paolos’ lives will be altered forever. Secrets will be exposed. Entities of evil and darkness will battle light. Love will be tested, especially when the biggest mystery of all is revealed.
The advent of this enigma could bring the curse of division and further loss, or it could be the force to bring healing, acceptance, answers to prayers which had never been spoken.
To Move Past All The Hurt
Silent Screams follows four friends in the aftermath of a school shooting that unravels secrets and relationships. What was the inspiration for the idea behind this compelling story?
It came from a song called Prom Queen by Katie Turner. She has a line about a audience that was never meant for me. It was where the idea for Zachary came to be. It was also my 50th novel that I wrote. I wanted to add elements from each of the first 49 in there.
We really get to dive deep into each unique character in the story. Who was your favorite character to write for?
Honestly, it was Cass. I just had such love for her. I wanted so much for her to be strong and be able to move past all the hurt she had to deal with. I just honestly don’t know how she handled that situation. You find out your boyfriend is cheating on you, and you can’t hate her because she lost her life from one of your best friend’s actions. Then on top of that Jarele was a good guy. He helped Cass through so much. It was hard for Cass to hate Jarele. I just was impressed by her strength and where she ended up.
In this story we get to explore how families and relationships are all different and complex. What were some themes you wanted to capture within them?
Honestly, that everyone goes through some hardships in their life. I also wanted to go through this idea that no one is a full villain or victim. With Gabe each person viewed Gabe in such a different way, and I really wanted to portray that. My theme for all my novels is make sure to not judge someone because you don’t know what’s behind someone’s closed doors.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available
I’m working on a campy book. It’s a lot like my High Schools Queen trilogy. It’s called Cutthroat Cheerleader. It’s sassy, campy, and a murder mystery too. It will be out actually in October.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook
In the aftermath of a tragic school shooting, the group must find their own form of justice and a way to begin healing from a wound that just won’t stop hurting.
For them, the lines were drawn.
Right and wrong became blurred.
Friends became enemies.
Told from the perspective of four friends, we learn how one student’s revenge reigned terror over a school and a community– causing secrets to unfold and relationships to be tested.
A compelling and powerful story about a school shooting. A must read.
Panorama: The Missing Chapter from the Memoir Views from the Cockpit
A true story of love, loss, and finding one’s true self, Panorama: The Missing Chapter from the Memoir Views from the Cockpit by Ross Victory is remarkable. We follow our author Ross Victory while he is in Seoul, South Korea, on a work abroad program. While in Seoul, Ross meets Alveré and slowly a romance blooms. Ross and Alveré are both masculine bisexual men trying to find their way in a world that denies their existence.
The stunning writing is what sets this book apart! Victory has a talent for taking life events and turning them into a page-turning work of art. While the author is going on his journey, you feel as if you are along for the ride with him; the scenes where Ross is in distress, you feel his pain.
Victory touches on sensitive topics with truth and grace, male bisexuality, toxic masculinity, and trauma, just to name a few. Victory seeks to not only educate himself through his life experiences but the reader as well. We learn the importance of finding and having someone in your life who understands you.
My favorite section is Panorama The Essay. Victory discusses in-depth the previously mentioned topics on a social-political level, while still captivating you with his writing. This is a memoir and self-help book combined into one! There is personal growth to be found among the pages. Quick but informative, Panorama: The Missing Chapter from the Memoir Views from the Cockpit by Ross Victory is a thought-provoking and engaging read.
Pages: 81 | ASIN: B08719F8CC
Now It’s Inescapable
Bill Mccausland’s Now It’s Inescapable depicts the psyche of a drug-addicted physician. Through his main character, Glen, he tells a relatable tale of how easy it is to slip into addiction, especially if you’ve lived a life full of adversity.
From the outside, Glen seems to have an incredible life. With his own practice and a beautiful wife, he appears to be the epitome of health and success, a stark contradiction to his real circumstances. As we read from chapter to chapter, his life unravels right before our eyes.
The author doesn’t depict Glen in the best of light. In many ways, he seems to be the villain of the story; reckless and unaffected by the way his addiction impacts those closest to him. On the other hand, his wife Julie is painted as the ever-supportive but highly enabling spouse. However, ultimately it is revealed that the two of them have a dangerous codependency that only births destruction. Interestingly, neither is purely evil nor purely good; each one has their own demons to fight.
This story mirrors real life by attempting to explain the complex multilayered nature of the human soul. By telling the story through the main character’s perspective, the author seems to bring us so intimately into his life. We not only see what Glen does but also why he does it and the mental process that leads to his decisions. Great details are given about all drivers of Glen’s addiction, giving us a fuller understanding of him.
However, the book contains some grammatical errors and inconsistencies that make it hard to get through this otherwise interesting story. There is also a lot of use of grandiose terms and long winded dialogues that don’t feel natural.
That aside, I do acknowledge that the author does a great job of expressing important themes through the book. The outstanding ones are the role that family dynamics play in adult dysfunction and the cyclic nature of life. Ultimately, I do believe that with a little bit of polishing, this story has the potential to be a fan favorite.
Pages: 245 | ASIN: B07GC72TTL
Sex, Cons & Rock ‘N Roll
Dating can be hard. Online dating can be even harder. Between scammers, sleazeballs, and the all too rare sincere connection, it can be a pretty rough road. But if you never try, you may never have that chance to find love.
Gloria Moodie has looked for love in all the wrong places, all the right places, and all the places in between. In her book Sex, Cons, & Rock ‘N Roll- A Tale of Love, Passion, and Betrayal! she gives an abbreviated glimpse into her journey to find a genuine connection, mostly through the use of online dating sites. Moodie moves quickly through the stages of her life, giving a brief synopsis into each of her serious relationships, and even some of the less serious ones. She injects her stories with both humor and humanity. There’s a sincerity to Gloria Moodie’s book that is rare and I wanted to dive deeper into the stories she tells, but they were often too brief for being way too interesting.
Throughout the book, Moodie focuses on the people who prey on others online, and the damage it does to those sincere in their search. Having been the target of scammers in the past, she makes an effort to educate others to prevent it from happening to them as well. She provides many useful tips and helpful resources that will assist you in furthering your research after you’ve finished this book.
Sex, Cons, and Rock ‘N Roll succinctly illustrates the pitfalls of putting yourself out there. Gloria Moodie’s anecdotes were engaging and funny and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light memoir that’s also informative.
Pages: 180 | ISBN-10: 1525575341
LITERARY TITAN 