Blog Archives
Progress in Her Healing Journey
Smoky Blue Sunrise follows a woman haunted by her sister’s death who flees to the mountains to start over, and an impending storm forces her to face what she’s running from. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup of Smoky Blue Sunrise was to introduce a new character or two and put them in the same setting as in my debut, Elizabeth’s Mountain, which takes place in Asheville, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I kept two of the main characters from the first book and intertwined them with the new main characters of the second book. While I was writing Smoky Blue Sunrise, Hurricane Helene struck the region, forcing me to make a significant alteration to my contemporary narrative to incorporate the destructive storm.
Jolie’s internal monologue carries much of the novel. How did you balance introspection with forward momentum?
Jolie’s grief process, mixed with her survivor’s guilt, was a huge hurdle for her to overcome. Her self-reflection and healing progress were essential for the story’s satisfying advancement.
The hurricane operates as both a literal danger and an emotional catalyst. When did you know a storm needed to be part of this story?
The storm was essential for realism, yet it also symbolized Jolie’s progress in her healing journey and the varied nature of survival.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it out?
As of this moment, I am considering my next work in progress to be either a prequel to Elizabeth’s Mountain or a standalone sequel to my Lunch Tales series. I’m hoping for either late 2027 or early 2028.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Jolie-Mae Buckley doesn’t think her heart can ever heal. Two years ago, she graduated from college summa cum laude and was on track for medical school. Drowning in guilt after a disastrous mistake turned deadly, she’s unable to move forward.
When she answers an ad for a live-in nanny four hours away in Western North Carolina, on Elizabeth’s Mountain, Jolie knows this is her opportunity to start her life anew.
As details of Jolie’s misfortune emerge, her new employers, Jesse and Amanda Taylor, detect a nefarious undercurrent in her story. Jesse’s protégé, Brody, gently persuades Jolie to revisit that awful day when a perfect storm of events destroyed her world. In the meantime, Hurricane Helene is barreling toward Asheville, where survival becomes paramount, exposing the fragile line between hope and terror. In the aftermath of Mother Nature’s chaos, and with Jolie’s heart hanging in the balance, the truth about that fateful night breaks free like the floodwaters no one predicted.
A Second Chance
A Second Chance follows Mikaila, a teen in 2003 who juggles school, a fragile home, and a growing Christian faith, along with her best friend Chara and an older boy named Asa. Mikaila lives with her grandparents while her mother cycles through untreated mental illness, and Chara recovers from a horrific SUV crash that injures her and leaves her dad in the hospital. As Chara heals, Mikaila begins to have vivid dreams that seem to show the future and even Chara’s funeral, so she believes God has given her a limited window to help her friend turn toward Him. Asa first appears as a nerdy chess champ online, then starts a secret, sexualized chat relationship with Chara and later betrays her by leaking doctored conversations to the whole school, triggering brutal shame and gossip. Through all of this, Mikaila deals with a violent crisis at home when her mother holds a knife to her sister, a deepening faith, and a controlling boyfriend who does not share that direction.
I connected most with the writing when it stayed close to concrete, everyday detail. The short, dated chapters feel like diary entries and move between points of view, so the story hops from bus rides and Golden Girls reruns to hospital rooms and church services without losing the thread. I liked the way early 2000s touches sit in the background. Moments like the knife scene in Kait’s room feel incredibly sharp and cinematic. The prose leaned on repeating certain emotions and openly providing the moral takeaways in dialogue, especially in some of the more spiritual conversations and the sermon at Mikaila’s funeral. It works for the intended readership, and it still registered for me as an honest teen voice.
Asa’s arc stood out to me because it starts with such believable, flirty banter on IM and webcam, then slides into sexual comments, secrecy, and “our little secret” language that made my skin crawl. When the mass email of doctored chats goes out, and Chara gets humiliated and catcalled at school, I felt sick for her, and I appreciated how the book shows not only the initial thrill of attention but also the long fallout and the gaslighting that follows when Asa denies his role. Pairing that plot with the resource list on grooming at the back makes the story feel like both a narrative and a warning label. On the spiritual side, the book leans fully into God speaking through dreams, salvation language, and an explicit view of heaven, yet it is grounded in messy reality, including mental illness, divorce, and flawed Christians. I found that mix surprisingly tender. The focus on a God who sees, and on a faith that has to survive trauma, felt sincere. By the time I reached the last stretch, I was more emotional than I expected. The way things are handled keeps the focus on grief and on the ongoing story of the living, which I liked, and the funeral scene where Chara raises her hand to recommit her faith felt earned after everything she had endured.
I would recommend A Second Chance to older teens and adults who are open to Christian themes and who can handle heavy content around grooming, mental illness, and domestic violence. It feels especially suited to readers in youth groups, Christian schools, or families who want a story that can open up hard conversations about online boundaries, consent, and what healthy love looks like, with a strong emphasis on faith and hope. For the right reader, this book offers a heartfelt, sometimes painful, but ultimately hopeful look at how one girl’s love and faith echo far beyond her short life.
Pages: 345 | ASIN: B0GDG6WZF9
Teach Me How to Die. A Novella and Other Stories
Teach Me How to Die opens with a quiet but striking premise. A small group of strangers gather in a New York rehearsal studio to attend a master class on writing suicide notes. Their teacher, Professor Scott Mirrormord, runs the class with a mix of dry humor, unsettling calm, and sudden flashes of emotion. Each character carries a private storm. The Violinist trembles under his own sensitivity, the Hunter bristles at the world that has rejected him, the Accountant clings to order like a life raft, the Poet aches for beauty, the Loser sinks under the weight of lifelong disappointment, and the Philosopher hovers above them all with cool detachment. Across several sessions, their stories unravel in ways that feel surreal, funny, raw, and sometimes painfully honest. The novella blends this unusual setup with short stories that explore gender identity, empathy, loneliness, and the strange ways people hold themselves together when the world feels inverted.
The writing feels theatrical in the best sense. Scenes move with quick beats, like spotlights snapping on and off, and the dialogue carries a rhythm that made me imagine the characters speaking just inches away. Sometimes the tone shifts fast. One moment I laughed at Scott’s odd habits. The next I felt a sharp ache when the Poet revealed the quiet desperation behind her romantic bravado. The emotions hit hard because author Lisa Monde does not overcomplicate them. She keeps them human. There were times I wanted the prose to hurry because the tension between characters felt so tight it made me restless. Still, that uneven pulse worked. It mirrored the way real people think when they are standing at the edge of something dark and trying to talk themselves back toward the light.
The book treats suicide with seriousness and compassion. It does not glamorize it. It does not trivialize it. Instead, it asks why a person might arrive at such a thought and what might pull them away from it. The Poet’s loneliness shook me the hardest. She sees beauty everywhere, yet cannot see herself reflected in anyone else. I also found myself oddly moved by the Accountant, who tries so hard to appear composed while cracking open from the inside. Even the humor carries weight. It softens the darkness without hiding it. The stories that follow the novella expand the book’s themes in unexpected directions. Some felt warm. Some felt strange. All of them carried a heartbeat that stayed with me after I closed the pages.
Teach Me How to Die would be a meaningful read for anyone who enjoys character-driven stories that ask real questions about why people suffer and how they heal. It is also a good fit for readers who appreciate theater and intimate ensemble pieces. For readers willing to sit with tough emotions and still look for hope, this book will land with force.
Pages: 216 | ASIN : B0FXNNRLR3
Dramatically Changed by Circumstance
Born Again American: Megan follows a wounded woman and the boy from her past as they reunite and slowly rebuild their lives and each other through friendship, patience, and imperfect healing. What were some sources that informed this novel’s development?
My wife is a country artist who has had several songs on the charts and was nominated for Best Female Artist in country music in 2002, She wrote a song about a decade ago called Born Again American. This is the story behind that song. It was intended to be inspirational, and at the same time, is written as the back story for Megan, one of the main characters in the Tachyon Tunnel series.
Why was Alaska the right setting for Isaac and Megan’s reunion, and how did it shape the emotional tone of the book?
Megan grew up in Alaska and Isaac was a military brat who spent 18 months there during a time when they both were learning to become adults. When he leaves, he continues along his trajectory, but hers is dramatically changed by circumstance. Alaska has significant mental health problems because of the long periods of darkness in the winter. This adds to the storyline.
How did you approach writing addiction and depression with honesty without letting them overwhelm the relationship arc?
The point of the story is not necessarily the depression as much as how solving problems and pulling oneself out of tough situations builds strength and character. The point of the book is not the depression, but instead how determination and belief in something can make a person stronger. Megan is the strongest character in the Tachyon Tunnel series, and this book shows the challenges she had to overcome to rise above and truly build the foundation of that strength. There’s a line from an old Dan Fogelberg song: “When faced with the past, the strongest man cries.” That line explains that strength is built in adversity.
What do you hope readers take away about healing and second chances after finishing the book?
Even the worst situations can be turned into something positive. Just pick a target, focus, and don’t let the chaos around you pull you under.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Megan Hoglund had every reason to give up. Life shattered around her, family lost, dreams abandoned, and nothing positive to turn her around.
Then one Marine picked her up… and taught her how to save herself.
Megan learned that American Dream doesn’t begin with success, but instead is forged in the hottest furnace, forcing her to rise in the wake of failure.
With discipline, grit, and a spark of genius she once believed was gone forever, Megan rebuilds her body, mind, and spirit. She becomes a fighter, a creator, a visionary, and a woman who refuses to be defined by tragedy. She turns tragedy into strength and renewed purpose.
And in that transformation, she discovers something profound: She is not just surviving.
She is becoming a born-again American.
In the process, Megan crafts a revolutionary technology that could change the world, and discovers the higher she climbs, the more powerful the forces that try to pull her back down.
This is the second in the Born Again American series, telling the early life of Tachyon Tunnel badass, Megan Hoglund.
Born Again American Megan
Born Again American: Megan is one of those books that sneaks up on you. At first, it feels like a quiet, character-driven story about reconnecting with someone from your past, but it quickly turns into something much deeper and more emotional. The opening chapters set a vivid scene in Alaska and immediately pull you into Isaac and Megan’s shared history, making their unfinished high school bond feel authentic and unresolved. The writing is straightforward and easy to sink into, which makes the emotional moments hit harder because they don’t feel forced or over-polished.
Megan, in particular, is a raw and painfully honest character. Her struggles with grief, addiction, depression, and self-worth are portrayed in a way that feels uncomfortable at times, but that’s kind of the point. She isn’t written as a “fixed” or sanitized version of someone going through trauma. Instead, she’s messy, sarcastic, defensive, and deeply human. Isaac works well as a counterbalance to her chaos, bringing steadiness and patience without coming across as some unrealistic savior figure.
What really stands out is how the book handles healing. There’s no overnight transformation or miracle cure. Progress comes in small, uneven steps, going to the gym, sharing meals, and talking instead of running away. The relationship builds slowly, grounded in friendship and trust before anything romantic takes center stage. Even when the story leans into intimacy, it feels like an extension of emotional connection rather than the main attraction.
Born Again American: Megan is a heartfelt, sometimes heavy read that rewards patience. It’s not just a romance, and it’s not just a redemption story, it’s a mix of both, anchored by believable characters and emotional honesty. If you enjoy stories about second chances, personal rebuilding, and relationships that grow through shared struggle rather than perfection, this book is worth your time.
Pages: 145 | ASIN: B0G75T3YLD
Literary Titan Silver Book Awards
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
Losing Mom by Peggy Ottman
This Is For MY Glory: A Story of Fatherlessness, Failure, Grace, and Redemption
Toil and Trouble by Brian Starr
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Trade-Offs
Crossfire follows a high-powered executive who is struggling to juggle corporate pressure, family expectations, and the uneasy beginnings of an environmental partnership that pushes her boundaries. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I am fascinated by the impact of each choice we make in life, and each benefit requires a sacrifice, no matter how small. I wanted to use the green energy debate to show how small decisions really add up over time. For the series inspiration, I think we have so many books focused on coming-of-age stories, decisions that define the original trajectory of a life in early adulthood, but few dealing with middle age, which is where I wanted to focus. This first book series looks at a woman in the middle of her life, reflecting back on all those trade-offs she’s made—like choosing career over family, or balancing what she believes about the environment with what’s actually practical. I was most inspired by the idea that all these choices we think are separate actually connect and end up shaping where we land in life, but one or two different decisions can change everything at any point.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
It was important that Moirin, the main character, remained deeply committed to her convictions while being unyieldingly tough and independent in the workplace, yet vulnerable and yearning in her personal life.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
This series explores the experiences of women in midlife, and a common theme is the impact of life choices, such as prioritizing work over having a family or vice versa. I wanted to explore this with the extra layer of the moral, ethical, and financial choices made on behalf of a corporation. Every choice each of us makes impacts not only what we expect, but often has implications we could have never imagined. The results end up being our legacy in life, and the ultimate choices Moirin made.
What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?
The next book in the series follows Jo Sanderson, Moirin’s best friend, who is dealing with the midlife financial challenges of a widow who loses her job, but a deeper struggle is at play with overcoming decades of loss and grief. As a result of her history, she developed a people-pleasing personality, constantly seeking to support the dreams of others, even those deceased, at the sacrifice of her own. It’s another story of growth that has a lot of cowboy and Wyoming outdoor influences. It will be available by mid-year 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Everyone around her marked the passage of time through celebrations of weddings, anniversaries and graduations, measuring life success through joy in family portraits. Everyone else had a life with husbands and wives, children, grandchildren. Moirin has a cat named Orson.
After decades spent building her grandfather’s Denver-based energy company into an international corporation, she’s poised to be the next CEO, when the Board of Directors announced a rigorous vetting process, ostensibly to avoid nepotism. It should have been a formality, but the challenges of an environmental impact study, resolving a string of increasingly suspicious management issues, and a vindictive business associate aren’t helping her pass their scrutiny.
When she meets a state brand inspector and team roping cowboy, his pragmatic outlook and life philosophy challenge her ideas about environment, life, and legacy. On the verge of achieving everything she’d worked for, Moirin Garrett wonders – had she made the right choices in life? At this stage, was it too late to change her legacy?
Tracking Ariana
Tracking Ariana opens with a quiet spring afternoon that turns into a nightmare. Ariana Wilkinson, a young Afghan immigrant and mother of two, is detained after an Eid celebration, swept up with other families by ICE despite carrying full legal documentation. Her husband Joe, a newly retired Air Force colonel returning from deployment, arrives home to find his wife and children missing, sparking a desperate search. Meanwhile, attorney Seth Bodner and private investigator Dan Burnett begin uncovering the political machinery and secrecy behind the detentions. The story moves quickly, shifting between Ariana’s terror, Joe’s rising panic, and the investigative puzzle unfolding around them.
I felt pulled in by the writing’s straightforward, almost unvarnished style. The chapters move fast, and the scenes stack tension one on top of the next. The emotional beats land without feeling forced. Ariana’s fear hit me hardest. Her instinctive scanning for danger. Her remorse at wearing a hijab. Her panic as ICE officers question her. These moments felt raw and personal, and they gave me a knot in my stomach. Joe’s chapters brought a different kind of emotional punch. His transition from joyful anticipation to helpless dread felt honest, especially when he struggles to calm his children or walks into an empty house that should have held a reunion.
I also liked how the story brings in bigger themes without sounding preachy. There’s anger simmering under the surface. There’s confusion, too, and the sense that the characters are caught in a machine much larger than themselves. Watching Seth and Dan pull together scraps of information while the government stonewalls them made me feel both frustrated and invested. The narrative balances personal drama with political suspense in a way that feels accessible. I found myself rooting for everyone to just catch a break. The pacing keeps rising, and even the quieter scenes carry tension because the stakes never let up.
By the end of what I read, I felt fully locked into the characters’ emotional worlds, and that’s what made the story work for me. If you enjoy thrillers rooted in family, justice, and real-world tension, this book is a strong pick. It’s especially good for readers who like fast pacing, clear writing, and stories that weave personal stakes with political complications.
Pages: 272 | ASIN: B0FYZNJ81B
LITERARY TITAN 