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Laugh Like A Mother
Laugh Like A Mother by Kathryn Sprandio Ells is a wonderfully engaging blend of humor, chaos, and heartfelt emotion, capturing the rollercoaster ride of parenthood. What sets this book apart is Ells’ knack for portraying the madness of raising small children in a way that feels intensely personal yet universally relatable. Through witty illustrations and short, vibrant stories, she offers a candid glimpse into the joys and frustrations of parenting, all while keeping readers laughing from start to finish.
Ells writes as if she’s sitting across from you, coffee in hand, recounting her latest parenting disaster. Her voice is real and conversational, making the reader feel like they’re swapping stories with an old friend. She doesn’t sugarcoat the struggles, but she also doesn’t dwell on them. Instead, she finds humor in the chaos, whether it’s wrestling with an umbrella stroller in a crowded parking lot or accidentally setting herself on fire while cooking. Her ability to make you laugh out loud while still recognizing the underlying challenges of parenthood is what makes her stories so compelling. What truly sets Laugh Like A Mother apart is its balance between humor and sentiment. While the stories are quick and light, they’re layered with moments that catch you off guard. Ells reflects on her children’s growth, her own insecurities as a mother, and the small victories that come with parenting, adding depth to what initially seems like a breezy read. The mix of light-hearted anecdotes with deeper reflections turns this book into something much more meaningful than just another funny parenting book. The inclusion of poetry adds an unexpected and thought-provoking touch. These poetic interludes offer a reflective pause between the more humorous tales, allowing Ells to explore the quieter, more introspective moments of motherhood. Simple yet evocative, these poems capture the tenderness and emotional complexity of being a parent, lingering in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.
Laugh Like A Mother is a book that will strike a chord with anyone who has ever found themselves laughing and crying at the same time. It’s not just a funny take on motherhood; it’s an honest one, and that’s what makes it a must-read for parents everywhere.
Pages: 119 | ASIN : B0D3T5YXS8
Relatively Sane
Your Biggest Fan follows a 53-year-old AP Literature professor writing to a pop music idol whose music resonates with his life and he feels she is the only one who really understands him. What inspired the original and fascinating idea at the center of the book?
I think our culture demands far too much of its celebrities. We don’t just rely on them for entertainment; we want them to raise our children, tell us which breakfast cereal to buy, and provide psychological support for all our emotional needs. So while other books have certainly been written about celebrity obsessions, I wanted to add this layer to the discussion–it’s not just that we idolize celebrities too much; we demand that they be responsible for making our lives fulfilling, even though they obviously have no power to do so. In terms of the whole English teacher thing: I’m an English teacher myself, and some of our current pop stars are supremely literary—especially the amazing pop star my novel happens to be based on. So it’s not much of a stretch to imagine a slightly loopy English teacher who is convinced that said pop star is speaking to him on such an elemental level.
What research did you do for this novel to ensure that you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
I listened to an absurd amount of music! It’s funny to think of this as “research,” because the word conjures up images of dusty old libraries or science labs. I did most of my “research” in my car on the way to work—blasting my stereo at top volume! If only research could always be so much fun….
Is there anything about the narrator that came from yourself or your life experiences?
I like to think of myself as a relatively sane human being, and my narrator is clearly not. But other than that, he’s my doppelganger, my double. He’s a different version of me, just one that happens to be a little more bonkers.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
If YOUR BIGGEST FAN becomes a runaway bestseller, I was toying with the idea of writing a novel about an author who becomes such a huge celebrity that people are always stopping him on the street, asking him what breakfast cereal to buy or hitting him up on advice about how to raise their children! But in all seriousness, as anyone who has read my first novel can tell, I’m a huge fan of unreliable narrators. I’ve started working on my second book, which features a narrator who is even loopier than the one in YBF. Still plugging away—stay tuned!
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Your Biggest Fan is the debut literary work by Jeremy Rosenholtz, a dark and often hilarious metafictional fable about celebrity obsession, growing older, and the search for meaning in a world where the glamor of pop culture can be incompatible with the harshness of everyday life.
Your Biggest Fan
Jeremy Rosenholtz’s debut novel, Your Biggest Fan, is a captivating fusion of metafiction, satire, and horror. The story unfolds through three letters addressed to “TS,” and these letters gradually expose the intricately woven details of the author’s life, his admiration for TS, and the darker undertones that hint at his true motives.
While the letters never explicitly name her, I think it’s strongly implied that TS refers to none other than Taylor Swift, a global cultural icon. This premise becomes even more intriguing when we discover the author is a 53-year-old man claiming to be her “biggest fan.” The unexpected perspective immediately piqued my curiosity, and it will draw readers into the mystery of why he’s writing to her. As a fellow Taylor Swift fan, I found the narrator’s connection to her music both touching and unsettling, creating an emotional rollercoaster that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
One of the novel’s standout moments is the narrator’s use of Taylor Swift’s music in his AP Literature classes. This unique twist delighted me as both a Swiftie and a lover of literature. The book also touches on a deeper theme, the power of music to evoke memories and nostalgia, helping us revisit the past while forging new emotional connections. With layers of mystery, and a story that is packed with subtle references to Swift’s music and personal life, the book keeps readers guessing, and the twists leading up to the climactic reveal are fantastically shocking.
This novel is a great read for a wide audience, but I think Swifties will particularly love this story. Whether you’re a casual listener or a dedicated fan of Taylor Swift, this book will draw you in with its clever plot and leave you pondering its twists. Literature enthusiasts, in particular, will appreciate the intricate storytelling and the skillful way the ending unfolds.
Pages: 228 | ASIN : B0DDH6471B
Whirl of Birds
Whirl of Birds, by Liana Vrăjitoru Andreasen, captivates with its rich tapestry of short stories, each distinct yet interconnected by threads of surrealism, deep introspection, and the intricacies of human experience. This anthology bursts with emotional intensity, taking readers on a journey through diverse landscapes—some familiar, others utterly alien—yet all striking a chord with universal truths. The narratives sweep from the raw, untamed instincts of ancient humanity to the subdued, reflective nuances of contemporary life. In every story, there’s an exploration of the human condition that lingers, rendered with an elegance that’s haunting and unforgettable.
The imagery that Andreasen conjures is immediate, almost visceral, pulling you into the world she crafts with an undeniable force. Take “My Big Man,” for instance—a story drenched in the primal essence of prehistoric life. The bond between the narrator and her “big man” pulses with an intensity that is both raw and poetic. The wilderness surrounding them feels alive as if every word is an echo of ancient rhythms. The language is sparse yet profound, each sentence a brushstroke that paints a vivid picture of survival’s harsh realities. Andreasen’s ability to evoke such deep emotions with so few words is a testament to her skill, transporting the reader to a time when life was governed by the primal laws of nature.
In “The Puppet Show,” Andreasen blends the bleakness of post-communist life with a surreal, almost dreamlike atmosphere. The story centers on a puppeteer whose life, drowned in alcohol and lost dreams, serves as a metaphor for a generation’s disillusionment. It’s a narrative that haunts long after the last word, as the puppeteer’s fading reality mirrors the crumbling of his own creations and stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of both dreams and reality.
Then there’s the titular “Whirl of Birds,” a story that strikes with particular force. Bianca, the protagonist, becomes entranced by a flock of birds swirling overhead, leading to a catastrophic car crash. This moment of distraction becomes a powerful metaphor for her life’s disarray. The story speaks to the ways in which we all occasionally lose our grip on reality, caught up in fleeting obsessions that can have devastating consequences. Andreasen juxtaposes the ordinary with the profound, making us question what truly holds value in our lives. The result is a story that is as compelling as it is thought-provoking.
Whirl of Birds is a book I highly recommend to those who seek narratives that challenge the mind and touch the heart. Andreasen’s writing is layered with emotion and insight, crafting stories that resonate long after the final page. This collection is perfect for those who love to immerse themselves in literature, where each story is not just a tale but a journey into a different world. Every story is a reflection of life’s complexities, told with a sensitivity and depth that is both refreshing and profoundly moving.
Pages: 180 | ISBN : 979-8-88838-732-0
Colorful Characters and Their Banter
The audiobook Baseball Humor: A Collection of Stories from Master Storytellers takes readers on a delightful journey through the eccentricities of baseball as told by some of the greatest sports fiction writers of all time. What inspired you to put this collection of stories together?
I’m a big fan of baseball and love baseball fiction. Several years ago, I worked as a voice actor on a radio drama based on You Know Me Al by Ring Lardner and I really liked his writing style. Then, a couple of years ago, I narrated a baseball biography about a Major Leaguer named Cy Williams who played from 1911 to 1930. The author included excerpts from newspaper and magazine articles, and I noticed the “flowery” writing compared to sports writing of today. At that time MLB was the dominant professional sport and the sports stories were a major source of entertainment. So, I read more Ring Lardner. He started as a sports writer but also wrote satire for magazines. And I discovered that many other writers, not just sports writers, wrote pieces about baseball. It dawned on me that the colorful characters and their banter would work well in audio format.
This is an amazing collection of Baseball stories that many readers may not have ever found on their own. How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
The idea for the book was to find short stories that were both humorous and had dialogue that would be fun to bring to audio format. There first golden age of baseball started in the 1920s. I concentrated on that era. This project started out slowly. At first, I recorded stories in breaks in my audiobook narration schedule. It’s taken two years to complete but not full-time.
What was your favorite story in this collection and why?
I’ll say my favorite is “Alibi Ike” by Ring Lardner. It’s a satire about a talented ballplayer’s habit of making excuses about everything he does, whether good or bad, on or off the field. That earns him the nickname Alibi Ike from his teammates. He falls in love with the sister-in-law of the team’s manager. She mistakes his excuses for modesty and falls for him. She goes on a road trip with the team. He proposes and gives her an engagement ring but tries to keep it a secret from the team. In fact, one night he denies it. She finds out and walks out. He stops hitting, the team drops out of first place, and the irascible manager has to fix the mess. The story is almost entirely told through Lardner’s delightful dialogue.
What is the next book that you’re working on and when can your fans expect it out?
I’m working on a story about a courageous mayoral aide who is dealing with the squabbles in her city between a wealthy condo developer on beachfront property and the grumpy neighbors who oppose it. She leads a staff team on a retreat at a lake where they are instructed in sailing as a team-building exercise. While sailing she spots a man overboard and makes a rescue, and receives five million dollars. With that money, they come up with a solution to the property squabbles of which they had not previously thought. The timeline on it 6 months to complete but I’ll also be doing audiobook narration, which has deadlines that vary.
Author Links: X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
A Curious Interviewer
Interview With a Sinner follows a professional mourner who meets a demi-goddess who is looking for someone to interview about humanity in their quest to create a new civilization. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Growing up Christian, I have heard so many interesting philosophical debates about the nature of worship and questioning why a benevolent Creator would allow awful circumstances to plague the innocent. So I started thinking how I would do any better while still granting people free will to act as disorderly as they want. It became a headache to ponder. All my random musings and speculations took form in Marigold, who could be a curious interviewer to some degenerates in this story. It wouldn’t have been interesting if she questioned saintly or righteous individuals, after all. They might have all the answers. Scoundrels like us have to be creative with our conjectures.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
Morality, definitely. It can be boring to follow virtuous people we would like to be, and despise villains who represent everything we detest in society. But great fiction can provoke you to sympathize with the worst or even feel they’re relatable. Nothing was harder for me than to write the scenes of Hollace with her sexual temptations, but it was an exercise in showing the humanity of even the most shameful and perverse, and that her guilt pushed her to otherwise be as helpful and caring as possible for the outcasts. People who are horrible to each other can become friends, and deadly rivalries can sometimes dip into playful banter.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It was essential for me to introduce as many theological concepts as possible for the debates. From Judgment to reincarnation, to what happens to the morally erratic if the world ends and they have to be sent to either Heaven or Hell. Also the rationale behind atheism or those who are content being agnostic. The book was never meant to pick a side or even truly confirm if Marigold is what she claims to be. Life itself is ambiguous and that was the theme behind every single question arising.
I found this novel to be a cutting piece of satire. What is one thing that you hope readers take away from your novel?
Artistic endeavors are a big part. That some aggrandize the idea of violence, death, or suicide for the sake of art, and I’m hoping this book kind of deflates that notion and makes apparent that such things in real life are gruesome, messy, and never convey an “artistic message.” Like how the snuff filmmakers brag their production company transcends the mere butchering of people, even though that’s the gist of it. We tend to insert superfluous ideas and meanings into our undertakings to pretend they’re something grander than they are, especially if our deeds are reprehensible. To rationalize a killing, there was an understandable motive. To justify discrimination, there’s a ridiculous “moralistic” excuse. There’s an illusion of “destiny.” Sometimes people who spout about their destiny are the scariest to me.
Thank you so much for your time and exploration of my debut novel.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Amazon
Baseball Humor a Collection of Stories from Master Storytellers
Baseball, with its rich history and colorful characters like the irascible Yogi Berra, has enchanted fans for generations. Those who love the game revel in its subtle nuances, from every ground-rule double to dazzling outfield play. Yet, this sport, steeped in tradition, often ventures into the realm of the absurd and hilarious. The audiobook Baseball Humor: A Collection of Stories from Master Storytellers by Ward Paxton takes readers on a delightful journey through the eccentricities of baseball as told by some of the greatest sports fiction writers of all time.
This anthology is a cavalcade of excellent short fiction centered around baseball, with most tales originating from the 1910s and 1920s—a period when the game looked dramatically different from today. Readers will find themselves immersed in baseball’s bygone era, brought to life by literary titans such as Zane Grey and Ring Lardner. Paxton’s collection places readers in good hands. Passionate baseball fans will appreciate not only the meticulous dissection of the game and its cultural significance over a century ago but also the quirks and eccentricities of the fictional characters that make these stories special. While these tales are crafted from pure imagination, baseball historians will recognize the shades of real-life managers and players from the early years of the sport. In this collection, no one connected to baseball is spared from satire. The writers mercilessly ridicule managers, team owners, players’ wives, and even the fans. However, despite the frequent humiliation heaped on the protagonists, there’s an undeniable sense of admiration throughout.
The many authors featured in this anthology clearly cherish the game, even as they highlight some of its more ridiculous tendencies. This blend of good humor and genuine affection for baseball shines through most, making Baseball Humor: A Collection of Stories from Master Storytellers a true winner. Fans of the sport and lovers of well-crafted fiction alike will find much to enjoy in this engaging and entertaining collection.
Listening Length 8 Hours and 10 minutes | ASIN : B0CZF7JL43
Lofty Ambitions
In Elliefant’s Graveyard, a rookie police officer’s journey home to honor her family leads her directly into a mystery when she begins to suspect a tragic accident is actually murder. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Heather Prendergast arrived out of the blue. After writing four legal thrillers drawing on my background at the sharp end of the music industry, I wanted a new challenge and scoped out a dark psychological thriller. It was going to be one of those shiver-down-the-spine hair-on-end Scandi-noir style novels that were so much in vogue. But then the project was hijacked in the very first paragraph by what was intended as the most minor of incidental characters – a young woman police officer roped in to assist a grizzled detective investigating a suspicious death. This young, pretty, posh, ambitious PC leapt off the page and wrestled the entire darn book out of my hands – she wouldn’t, wouldn’t, wouldn’t take no for an answer. It was her book, she said. Like it or not like it. And so Heather Prendergast – Prendergast of The Yard – was born and refused to be stuffed back into the inkwell. And so inanity followed insanity. When searching for a suitable description for Baby Caspar – don’t worry, you’ll meet him – the word ‘plumpenormous’ sprang to mind. Having let the genie out of the bottle, the text demanded wordplay. More . . . more . . . more. Mind you, it took a greying of the hair to revise to the point where the wordplay melded seamlessly into the narrative.
I must admit, I was gobsmackered with the response. Jaded hacks who normally rushed off to wash their hair when I timidly asked them to cast an eye over a draft emailed me the next day wanting more. The constant refrain was, “What does Heather do next?” So I decided to find out and wrote two sequels. Goodness greatness me, what an ambitious young lady. It’s just a shame that her deductive abilities don’t measure up to her lofty ambitions.
The Prendergast of The Yard casebooks are a fun read. Almost without exception, the response is that the reader has never read anything like it. More than a few have compared Heather’s adventures to a modern-day Alice in Wonderland. Maybe. Maybe not. Because the bottom line is, Heather is Heather. Unique.
What was your favorite scene in this story?
Heather’s final standoff with a psychopathic murderer and her bungled attempt to free his hostage
What was the hardest part about writing a murder mystery story; where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
It’s all in the plotting
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
There are two Prendergast of the Yard sequels ready to go
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
LITERARY TITAN 