Blog Archives
Forces Outside Our Control
Lily Starling and the Storm Riders follows the captain and crew of a starship who, while on a routine rescue mission, get ambushed by a group of raiders wielding the power of a cosmic tempest. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The first book is about agency—Lily finding her own way, claiming an identity, learning she has a voice in her own story. For the second book, I wanted to put her up against something she couldn’t just outwit or outfight. There are forces in life that are simply bigger than us, no matter how defiant we feel. You can raise your middle finger to them all you want, but they don’t go away.
So the storm became that unstoppable force. It isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a presence—something ancient and impartial that challenges the crew at every turn. Lily has to confront what it means to face chaos after she’s already defined herself. She’s grown, but she’s still running from her heart, still scared of commitment, and still making messy, very human decisions. Some of the consequences this time around are unavoidable. I wanted to see how she—and the people around her—hold up when survival itself is on the line.
The supporting characters in this novel were intriguing and well-developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?
Xynn, without a doubt. She plays a much bigger role in this book, and her dynamic with Lily is becoming one of the central threads of the series. They’re opposites—Xynn is organized, methodical, practical, while Lily is impulsive and emotional—and that tension makes every scene between them spark. I hit a point while drafting where I realized something was missing, so one night I sat up in bed and wrote an entire novella about their time together on Adius II between books. That’s how real they feel to me—sometimes the story just demands more space for them to breathe.
Beyond that, I had so much fun bringing in new voices. Charlie and Tevya were a blast to write, and Ronin—well, who doesn’t love a good villain? But Xynn and Lily together are where a lot of the emotional heart of Storm Riders lives.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
A big one was the idea of forces outside our control. The storm is a metaphor for that—chaos that no one can outrun. I think the pandemic left us all with a deeper understanding of how uncontrollable events can reshape our lives, and how our reactions to them can send us in completely different directions.
Another theme is faith twisted into extremism. I grew up in a religious environment, and while that gave me empathy and perspective as an outsider, I also saw firsthand how beliefs can be damaging or dangerous when taken too far. That’s woven into Leviathan’s Hand in the book, which is less about any specific faith and more about how conviction can be distorted into violence.
I also wanted to explore Earth. Lily didn’t want to go back—she dreaded it—because she already knew it could never be the place she once imagined. And she wasn’t eager to reopen her own past. That visit forces her to confront the tension between leaving the past behind, letting it haunt you, or finding some middle ground. For her, it’s not nostalgia—it’s reckoning.
And threaded through all of this is a layer of hypocrisy. If you look closely, it comes up again and again: institutions, leaders, even individuals who claim one thing but act in another way. That contradiction is part of what the crew—and Lily in particular—are wrestling with in Storm Riders.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
The main arc will be at least five books—possibly more if spin-offs grow out of it—but there’s a clear throughline I’m building toward. Book three, Lily Starling and the Death Machine, continues some of the threads from Storm Riders while taking a few turns I don’t think readers will expect.
The central theme this time shifts toward the institutions we put our trust in every day. When you start peeling back the layers, you may find less to believe in than you hoped. Any organization with great power, even one with the best intentions, carries secrets. The questions become: where is the line that finally causes you to lose real trust? Is it possible to do good from within a flawed or corrupt system? Or does integrity mean walking away?
And of course there will be plenty of adventure—space chases, a manhunt across the stars, friends pitted against each other, and a mystery or two to keep readers guessing. I’m just as excited as anyone to see where the adventure takes us.
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Lily Starling thought she’d finally found her place among the stars. But when a routine rescue mission turns into a devastating ambush, she watches in horror as the Storm Riders—a ruthless band of spacefaring raiders—vanish into the chaos, taking her closest friend with them.
Now, with the Salamander crippled and the galaxy on edge, Lily must convince her crew that the Storm Riders are more than just pirates. They are zealots, wielding the power of a cosmic tempest the Union refuses to understand—one that may have been set in motion long before Lily was even born.
As the hunt takes her to the farthest reaches of known space, Lily must rely on unlikely allies, question everything she’s been taught, and face the growing storm within herself.
Because the leader of these zealots is hiding a dark secret.
And if Lily can’t stop them, the storm will swallow everything.
Lily Starling and the Storm Riders
The book drops us straight into a storm of action and emotion. Lily and her crew are thrust back into danger when a rescue mission spirals into chaos, colliding with an ancient cosmic storm and a fanatical enemy who wields it like a weapon. At its heart, this is a story about survival, love, and the weight of choices when the universe itself feels like it’s stacked against you. The pace moves between quiet, intimate moments like conversations, stolen touches, inner doubts, and scenes of sheer calamity, where ships burn and loyalties fracture. The writing is vivid, cinematic, almost like watching a film unfold one cut at a time, and it never lets you forget that every storm has both destruction and renewal at its core.
I found myself swept up not just by the big set pieces, but by the little moments of humanity tucked inside them. The way Lily clings to fleeting closeness with Xynn, even when she can’t say the words that matter. The way Calan feels the burden of leadership pressing on his back, even in the rare seconds of rest. These characters feel authentic. They make mistakes, lash out, and then turn right around to hold each other up. Sometimes the dialogue felt a little on the nose, but I forgave it because the raw feeling underneath was honest. The ideas the book wrestles with, like faith twisted into violence, what it means to belong, whether love can anchor you through chaos, stick in your head long after the action cools.
What I enjoyed most was the storm itself. It isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a character. It moves like a god, ancient and impartial, swallowing whole colonies without malice, carrying both ruin and rebirth in its wake. That idea sat heavy with me. It made me think about how much in life is out of our control, and how we cling to each other anyway, even if we know the tide is going to take us eventually. There were moments where I had to stop, take a breath, and remind myself these are fictional people because the grief and yearning bled off the page like it was mine. That’s not easy to do, and I admire the author for leaning into the messy vulnerability of it all.
I’d say this book is for readers who love their space operas messy and full of heart. If you want battles alongside bruised relationships, if you like a science fiction story that can swing from humor to heartbreak in a single chapter, if you want characters who feel like friends you’re worried about, this book is for you.
Pages: 412 | ASIN : B0FHG94GBQ
A Connection of Souls
Kheira & Khogee: The Legend Begins follows two soul-connected beings who are Twin Flames separated by memory loss and a mission that transcends lifetimes and galaxies, and together must resist powerful agents sent to erase them from existence. What was your inspiration for creating the kind of relationship that Kheira and Khogee have?
My inspiration came from a desire to showcase a genuine relationship, between souls having a human experience, primarily based on trust, loyalty and friendship.
Your characters go on a deeply emotional and transformative journey in your novel. Is this intentional or incidental to the story you want to tell?
Their bond and story unfolded organically within my consciousness every time I sat down to continue writing their story. It was like I was an observer to their story and just as surprised as a reader as to what happened next.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Some of the most important themes I wanted to portray were trust, loyalty and a connection beyond time and space. I feel most of what we see in entertainment today is based on a physical connection. I desired to bring to life a story where the connection was at a soul level.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
The first book ended with a cliffhanger and my goal is to pick up where ‘The Legends Begins‘ ended with ‘The Legend Continues‘. I do not have a firm release date yet but my goal is to get it published sooner than later.
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Things take an unexpectedly shocking turn when Kheira suddenly forgets who she is, which puts a strain on their mission and relationship together, but Khogee is there for Kheira to help her remember who she is, their bond, and their purposeful plan for saving the galaxy together.
At the heart of this cosmic adventure are vibrant dialogues that drive a journey of fierce battles, hidden truths, and shocking betrayals—even from their own family. Each dangerous mission reveals new secrets, adding layers to their unforgettable voyage across space and time.
Kheira & Khogee: The Legend Begins offers you the experience of a lifetime! Buckle up! Don’t miss it!
A Million Tomorrows
A Million Tomorrows is an emotionally rich novel that follows Perry Roberts, a young oncologist in San Francisco haunted by personal grief and the long shadow of cancer. Through his relationships with patients, colleagues, and especially the enigmatic Beverly Bowen, the book explores how we navigate memory, love, guilt, and second chances. The story is told in the first person, and its power lies in the deep interiority of Perry’s voice as he relives past traumas, unexpected connections, and one strange, beautiful relationship that may defy time itself.
This book surprised me. At first, it felt like a standard character-driven drama, maybe a little too heavy on introspection. But as the story unfolded, I was hooked. The writing is tender and relatable. Middaugh has a real gift for voice, and Perry’s narration walks a fine line between thoughtful and raw. The supernatural elements that emerge later are handled with a kind of casual magic that made me believe them without blinking. There’s a warmth and ache to this book that stayed with me.
What struck me most was how it deals with grief, not as something to “get over” but as something you live with, reshape, even share. The love story at the center of the book is unusual and a little odd at times, but I found it touching and refreshingly honest. And Beverly Bowen? She’s a wonder. Funny, sharp, and complicated. Their conversations felt like real conversations. The baseball stuff, which I expected to be filler, turned out to be beautifully woven in. Not just a theme, but a language of connection and healing. I found myself smiling at the smallest moments.
A Million Tomorrows is a book for anyone who’s lost someone or loved someone in a way that didn’t make sense on paper but made perfect sense in the heart. It’s for readers who like stories that stretch time and memory and emotion without shouting about it. If you’ve ever stared at the past and wondered what would happen if you got one more shot, this is your book.
Pages: 254 | ASIN : B0CW1NB6NW
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.
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
Anticipation Day
Anticipation Day follows Dr. Joshua Lee, an Australian computer scientist who becomes the unlikely leader of a groundbreaking U.S. government initiative to allow citizens to experience fully immersive simulations of past historical eras or even specific days in their own lives. At the heart of the novel is the concept of “Anticipation Day,” an annual event during which eligible citizens can experience a vivid alternate reality. Through political maneuvering, technical innovation, ethical debates, and deeply personal moments, Michelson crafts a narrative that spans continents, emotional landscapes, and big philosophical questions about memory, identity, and the power of longing.
What struck me first was how real the characters felt. Joshua isn’t a stereotypical genius or a cold bureaucrat. He’s a loving father, a tired husband, and a man caught between ambition and regret. The writing is informal but polished, with a strong conversational voice. Michelson uses humor with a deft hand, not too much, but enough to ground the high-concept tech in everyday moments. This book is packed with big ideas about simulated realities, but it never forgets to be relatable.
Some parts felt like a detailed journal, more than a novel, especially in the first third. The world-building around the simulations is dense, but I appreciated the scientific depth. That said, once Part 2 hits, when we experience individual simulation stories from different characters, it absolutely soars. These sections gave the concept heart, showing not just the tech, but what it means to people: closure, adventure, peace, sometimes even sorrow. The vignettes felt like short stories inside a larger novel, and I enjoyed that structure. It gave the book emotional highs that made me reflect on my own life and what day I might choose to relive.
By the end, I felt something rare: hope. That’s not to say the book is rosy, it deals with trauma, loss, politics, and the ethics of tech, but it never loses sight of the value of memory and imagination. Michelson writes with warmth and sincerity. I’d recommend Anticipation Day to fans of thoughtful science fiction, especially those who enjoy character-driven stories with a speculative edge. If you liked Black Mirror episodes that tug at the heart or enjoyed the moral dilemmas of The Midnight Library, this book might be for you.
Pages: 544 | ASIN : B0DPJB1PMB
The Adventures of Mrs. Hats: The Mayan Headdress
Christopher Corbett’s The Adventures of Mrs. Hats: The Mayan Headdress is a fast-paced, time-bending sci-fi adventure full of emotion, action, and philosophical weight. The story follows Martha Bullock, a fierce and seasoned time traveler, as she hunts her estranged former partner, Richard Akridge, across history, prehistory, and dimensions within a multiverse known as the Voidspan. Along the way, she navigates personal grief, old friendships turned sour, and the moral dilemmas that come with playing god with time. The book weaves together cosmic science fiction with deeply human moments, setting the stage for a story that’s as emotionally charged as it is high-concept.
I found Corbett’s writing style both chaotic and charming. There’s an energy in the way the dialogue slingshots between cutting sarcasm and heartfelt confession. Martha is a powerhouse of a character. She’s wounded, proud, endlessly tired, but still burning with fire. Her dynamic with Richard, which drips with resentment and pain, gave the story emotional heft, especially in the quieter moments when the consequences of time travel catch up with them. I also appreciated how Corbett balanced worldbuilding with character development. The mechanics of time travel and the Voidspan are rich without being dry or overly technical, and the “rules” feel flexible in a way that matches the emotional tone rather than constraining it.
The sheer volume of action, warps, duels, and jumps through centuries sometimes left me dizzy. There are moments where the prose gets tangled, and I found myself rereading passages to reorient. But even when the pacing slows, the emotional core of the story never does. The hurt between the characters felt real. I was particularly moved by Martha’s quiet grief for Riko and the way her past clings to her like old battle scars. Even the antagonist, Richard, had layers. He’s not just a villain, he’s a man obsessed with saving a friend in his own warped way. I found myself rooting for and against him at the same time.
I’d recommend The Adventures of Mrs. Hats: The Mayan Headdress to readers who love character-driven science fiction with wild plots and deep themes. If you’re into time travel stories that are as much about healing old wounds as they are about jumping between centuries, this one will hit home. For fans of Doctor Who, The Time Traveler’s Wife, or even The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, there’s something here that will spark the imagination and tug at the soul.
Pages: 246
LITERARY TITAN 