Blog Archives
Being Afternoon Rebecca
Mike J. Kizman’s Being Afternoon Rebecca follows Rebecca, a young woman navigating faith, friendships, and the awkward-yet-sweet world of online dating. The story kicks off with her first date with Jeff, whom she meets through a Christian dating app. As the novel unfolds, we see her juggling her role in the church, her friendships, especially with her best friend and roommate Maxine, and her position as a bullpen catcher for a local softball team. The book blends romance, faith, and small-town charm while offering glimpses into Rebecca’s struggles, doubts, and moments of personal growth.
One thing that really stood out to me was how effortlessly Kizman captures everyday interactions. The dialogue feels natural, full of warmth, humor, and little quirks that make the characters feel real. Take, for instance, the lunch scene between Rebecca and Maxine at Scott’s Dogs and Diner. Their playful banter about Rebecca’s “weird” way of eating a gyro had me grinning. These small, mundane moments add richness to the story, making it feel like you’re eavesdropping on real conversations rather than reading fictional ones. There were a few moments where the book leans more toward telling rather than showing. At times, emotions are spelled out rather than unfolding naturally through actions.
Another strong aspect of the book is the balance between faith and personal struggles. Rebecca isn’t some flawless heroine. She’s full of self-doubt, second-guessing everything from her feelings about Jeff to her role in the church. One of the best moments is when she reassures a young girl struggling with prayer, telling her that “it’s not about asking for what you want but about establishing a relationship with God”. It’s such a simple but powerful reminder, and it showcases Rebecca’s wisdom and kindness.
Being Afternoon Rebecca is a heartwarming read perfect for anyone who enjoys faith-based fiction with a slice-of-life feel. It’s not overly preachy, nor does it shy away from the messiness of relationships and self-discovery. If you like stories about friendship, small-town charm, and sweet romance with a touch of humor, this book is well worth picking up.
Pages: 194 | ASIN: B0CWSMZYP9
Anasazi Vision
Anasazi Vision is a novel that blends personal transformation, spirituality, and adventure, all wrapped in the vast landscapes of the Four Corners desert. The protagonist, True, embarks on a journey that is both physical and deeply spiritual. Through encounters with ancient wisdom, self-discovery, and the teachings of Indigenous cultures, she is guided toward understanding her own purpose and the larger cosmic balance of life. The book is part fiction, part memoir, and part channeled storytelling, making it a unique, immersive experience.
The opening chapter, where True describes her mother’s unemotional nature compared to her own deeply sensory experience of the world, is striking. It sets the tone for a journey that is about feeling, listening, and understanding—both internally and externally. The writing is poetic at times, almost meditative, yet it remains grounded in real, tangible emotions. There’s an honesty in the way the author wrestles with personal doubts and triumphs, which makes the book resonate beyond its spiritual themes.
The spiritual elements are fascinating but also challenging. The book delves into ideas of energy, intuition, past lives, and communication with guides and ancestors. At times, it feels like a deep dive into esoteric knowledge, which might not be for everyone. However, what keeps it from becoming preachy is True’s questioning nature. She doesn’t simply accept everything at face value; she grapples with it, doubts it, and ultimately finds her own meaning. One of the most powerful moments comes when she realizes she has been chosen to hear the Earth’s message—a concept both thrilling and overwhelming.
Another highlight of the book is its setting. The Four Corners desert isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a character in itself. From the vision quests to the discovery of an ancient solstice site, the descriptions make the desert feel alive. The book beautifully captures the idea that nature is both teacher and guide. Even when the narrative slows, the deep connection between True and the land keeps the story engaging.
Anasazi Vision is for readers who enjoy introspective journeys, spirituality, and a touch of adventure. If you’ve ever questioned your path, felt a pull toward something bigger than yourself, or wanted to explore the wisdom of ancient traditions, this book will speak to you. It’s not a casual read; it demands reflection and openness. But if you’re willing to lean in, it just might point you toward your own True North.
Pages: 419 | ASIN : B0DLT1MH9N
One Breathtaking Show
Adventures of a Gala Guru is a laugh-out-loud romp through the unpredictable, drama-filled world of event planning, where disasters become comedic gold and every party is an opportunity for mayhem. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I thought it was important to write this book to pull the curtain back on how pandemonium becomes the perfect party. Coming from a theatrical background, I see every event like a grand performance, where vision becomes reality right before your eyes. These flawless moments don’t just happen. Like theater, every celebration is a production where countless details merge into one breathtaking show, leaving guests spellbound by the magic.
What was the most challenging part of the book for you to write?
With over 3000 events to choose from, selecting which stories best illustrated the transformation was the most challenging part.
What do you hope readers take away from Adventures of a Gala Guru about resilience and finding humor in chaos?
I hope readers walk away with a newfound respect for the event-planning wizards who turn chaos into elegance, understanding that behind every flawless moment lies an army of quick-thinking professionals who’ve mastered the art of invisible problem-solving.
What’s the best advice you’d give to someone navigating high-stakes, high-pressure work like event planning?
Stay calm in chaos and remember no one dies from a fallen soufflé. Build a reliable network, trust your instincts, and make crisis management look effortless. Never let them see you sweat!
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
Behind Every Perfect Party is Pure Chaos!
“Adventures of a Gala Guru” – The hilarious tell-all that exposes what really happens behind those Instagram-worthy events.
Ever wonder what happens when the guest of honor at your party is a dead guy, Santa needs a twelve-step program, or the comedian is anything but funny?
This laugh-out-loud journey through the chaotic world of high-end events will have you snorting champagne through your nose.
Follow the wacky adventures of a Bonafide gala guru and party planner extraordinaire along with her elite team of event operatives as they scramble behind the scenes to transform pandemonium into parties, fiascos into fiestas, and the utterly ghastly into glorious galas-all, just in the nick of time.
Escapist Literature
Biker Bodyguard follows a fiery career woman who stumbles into a terrorist conspiracy and a brooding ex-soldier tasked with keeping her safe as sparks fly in this action-packed romance. What inspired you to combine a high-stakes terrorist plot with a romantic enemies-to-lovers arc?
Biker Bodyguard is Part One of Soldier Banker, a four-book set; 1 story across 4 books. Basically, because I write at the saga end of the book spectrum, my stories are all quite long and involved, and usually broken down into a set of 4, or occasionally 5, books with lots of cliffhangers to keep the reader engaged and a couple of sub-plots involving secondary characters. That means there has to be more meat in the story than a straightforward enemies-to-lovers tale, and in this case that involves a terrorist plot with an unusual rationale behind it and how this impacts several individual characters as well as the hero and heroine. Actually, I’ve never really planned out any of the stories I’ve written. The ideas just seem to come to me as I write and that’s how the tales get embellished and progress with all their twists and turns. I’ve never suffered from writer’s block and where all my inspiration comes from I’ve absolutely no idea! I blame my cat, because I discuss them with him as I type… so there you are!!
How did you approach balancing humor, like Alex’s witty banter and Rhett Butler the cat, with the darker suspense elements?
I like to offer some light relief to the reader as my stories progress, along with melodrama, action, adventure and the inevitable passionate romance; I feel it makes the tale more rounded and offers more variety and enjoyment to their reading experience, and again, as I write the ideas just come to me as I type and the scene lends itself to a bit of humour. As far as this four-parter, Soldier Banker, is concerned, I’ve had various pets in my life, including a slightly brainless, very fluffy cat at present, so know how they bring pleasure, humour and comfort to both single people or indeed to whole families. In fact, further on in the story, in part 4, the hero is left by himself all day to babysit a delinquent toddler, Rhett the cat and an energetic new puppy, and the chaos and despair it causes him was a delight to write and I hope that chapter makes readers laugh out loud at this one time dangerous soldier’s hopeless efforts to cope with them all! I feel if there wasn’t any light relief, the story would be too intense and a bit grim, and that’s not how I write at all. I’m deeply into escapist literature, I leave the reality, doom and gloom to other authors.
What do you hope readers take away from the dynamic between Alex’s fierce independence and Marcus’s protective nature?
As you can probably tell from all my various books, I’m a hopeless romantic, yet have always been a curious student of people, what motivates them and how everyone has an individual persona and personality . And how both are often influenced and develop as a result of their childhood, their upbringing, as well as events in their life and work. But balancing that, the influence of being in a long-term, loving relationship, or even a short-term, all-encompassing and intense love affair, can change people – both for good and bad, depending on the influence each party exerts on the other. As I’ve wandered down life’s various pathways during my own life and career, I continue to find it fascinating how events or relationships change or shape people’s outlook or lives, and what might have been if things had been different, and I often wonder where my own life would have ended up if I had had parents with different views on how to raise me. But at the end of the day, when people are in love, it affects them and influences them in all sorts of ways… and that is what happens to Alex and Marcus. I just hope the dynamic these two characters have, and the influence of their childhood, their parents, and life’s ups and downs, makes them more believable and empathetic and readers find it both interesting and thought-provoking.
Marcus and Alex have strong, distinct personalities. Did you base them on anyone in particular or draw from personal experiences?
They’re not based on any one individual in particular, more of a mix of several people I’ve met or known over the years, like a lot of the other characters in the story. However, I did spend part of my career working in a PR agency in London, just like the one where Alex works, so that world and her work, and the people who populate the media world, are very familiar to me. I’m definitely not an ex special forces soldier or assassin, but, as I’ve said, I’ve come across all sorts of interesting individuals during my life… and I’ll leave it at that!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Their electric attraction sizzled from the moment he turned up on her doorstep to be her temporary bodyguard, a rather unmilitary-looking soldier who merely said he was on indefinite leave. However, behind the long hair and handsome face he was physically, mentally and emotionally scarred. And she had her own personal issues. Let down by a man more than once, she thought most a waste of space, was cynical and told herself she wanted nothing to do with the species, especially a rich womaniser.
It was a classic case: former ruthless soldier turned successful financier and an irresistible charmer, versus an extremely intelligent, opinionated, classic man-hater and career woman. He tried to boss her around but she simply ignored him, and that had consequences, on more than one occasion, as both dangerous enemies and personal jealousy threatened their turbulent relationship.
This four-part, enemy-to-lovers story is full of suspense and steamy romance; it’s a rollercoaster, unputdownable tale about keeping the faith, second chances, and moving on from one’s past… all set against a scorching, passionate love that simply wouldn’t die.
Part One: Biker Bodyguard
“That woman drives me completely insane! Why does she never do what I tell her… and don’t even mention the wretched cat!”
Charisma and sexual allure simply oozed out of every pore, and didn’t he know it! Even with his long, unruly hair and unshaven face, one look from those big sky-blue eyes with their thick fringe of dark lashes and most women became complete putty in his hands. Except her, of course.
She was immune to the leather-clad, muscled hulk who roared up on his red motorbike and tried to take over her life. She was having none of it – she didn’t need some neanderthal military bodyguard bossing her around, nor invading her personal space and the tranquillity of her quiet suburban home. She and her cat could manage perfectly well on their own. She wasn’t some helpless, needy female; she was a financially independent, self-confident, intelligent and assertive career woman. In her opinion, men were generally a waste of space and she was a match for most of them.
However, Alex Carmichael did need a bodyguard. She’d inadvertently picked up a USB stick which contained explosive information about international terrorist activity and its mysterious owner wanted it back. So, while alarmed Government security services investigated the intelligence on the little flash drive, she was deemed to need protection, hence the arrival of her irritating, unwanted minder. And then one day, she saw his back… and suddenly, possible reasons why this very unmilitary soldier was on leave, didn’t like the dark, or sleep at night, made her wonder exactly who and what he really was.
He called her an uptight, anti-social spinster and her cat made him sneeze. She called him bossy and inappropriate, but sparks flew as they constantly argued, until the invisible enemy struck…
The Treachery of Sisters
The Treachery of Sisters transports readers to the ancient sands of Egypt, weaving a gripping tale of ambition, betrayal, and survival. This historical fiction novel by Gail Combs Oglesby reimagines the lives of Arsinoe IV and Cleopatra, daughters of Ptolemy XIII and princesses of Egypt, during a period of monumental upheaval. When Rome invades, Julius Caesar captures the royal family, elevating Cleopatra as a puppet ruler. Meanwhile, Arsinoe, her younger half-sister, escapes with the aid of her mentor, the eunuch Ganymedes. Declaring herself Pharaoh and Queen of Egypt, Arsinoe leads a courageous resistance during the Alexandrian War. At its core, this is a story of family bonds turned treacherous, power struggles, and unyielding destiny.
Oglesby recounts the rise and fall of the Ptolemaic dynasty through Arsinoe’s eyes, providing a fresh perspective on an infamous chapter in Egyptian history. Estranged from her chaotic family as a child, Arsinoe’s journey becomes one of reclaiming her birthright and defying her sister’s betrayal. Cleopatra’s alliance with Caesar, which sacrifices Egypt’s sovereignty, contrasts sharply with Arsinoe’s fierce determination to fight for her people. Central to the narrative is Arsinoe’s unshakable loyalty to Egypt’s royal traditions. Even after Caesar spares her life and exiles her to a temple, she refuses to yield. Speaking out against Cleopatra’s treachery, she risks everything to rally those who share her vision of an uncorrupted Egypt.
One of the book’s most striking elements is the immense burden of leadership Arsinoe bears. It’s astonishing to realize that this young heroine, barely in her mid-teens, orchestrates such a formidable resistance against the Romans. Her obsession with preserving the purity of her family’s bloodline fuels her defiance and sheds light on the Ptolemies’ notorious practice of incestuous marriage, an unsettling yet historically accurate detail that underscores the dynasty’s unique complexities.
What makes The Treachery of Sisters particularly compelling is Oglesby’s straightforward and accessible prose. Despite the weighty themes of war and betrayal, the writing remains clear and engaging, making the story both informative and entertaining. The balance between historical detail and narrative momentum ensures that even readers unfamiliar with the era can immerse themselves in the drama without feeling overwhelmed.
For anyone captivated by historical fiction or the enigmatic world of ancient Egypt, The Treachery of Sisters is a must-read. Oglesby’s vivid portrayal of the Ptolemaic dynasty and its tumultuous reign offers both enlightenment and entertainment. Through Arsinoe’s eyes, we witness not just a struggle for power, but an enduring fight for identity and justice in the shadow of betrayal.
Pages: 301 | ASIN: B0DKFX2DZ7
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
Return of the Star Lords: A Dystopian Journey of Survival and Sacrifice
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award February 2025
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
Brotherhood of the Wolf: The Lesser Evil by Wes Al-Dhaher
Stay Curious Journal by Audrey Lawrence
Passion in the Bone by AL Falcon
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
He’s The Friend I’d Like To Have
The Onionologist follows a flight attendant who is disenchanted with her career and love life, who meets a handsome new man and now she has to choose what path her future will take. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was a long-haul flight attendant myself, based in London for several years. It was such a big part of my life. I made some very special friends there, and I wanted to pay homage to that in my first book. It was such a unique experience and one many people wouldn’t be able to relate to. My friends went on to do some really interesting things in life, and it’s from them that I got my inspiration.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I adore Angus. He’s the friend I’d like to have. I struggled with Alex. I’m eternally disappointed in bad people.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It started as a message to my daughters that a woman should find out who she is and establish herself before compromising to fit into someone else’s life. After I wrote it, I suddenly realised they were all over it!
More generally, we see a lot of mental health struggles in younger generations, and I worry that they absorb these perfect online lives and feel their own are lacking. I hope The Onionologist explains that life is random, and bad things happen to all of us daily—how you deal with it is what matters! Lastly, I wanted to explore the domino effect that one person can have on many lives. In this book, Elle, without realising it, profoundly impacts every other character’s life.
What will your next novel be about, and what will the whole series encompass?
My current work in progress is a love story between two singers who’s worlds don’t seem compatible. I’m quite excited about it.
Before I launched into the sequel of The Onionologist, I wanted to test the waters and see if readers are eager for more. It’s outlined and ready to be started. I’d be escatitic to have a reason to get reaquanted with the characters.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Instagram
Elle, a long-haul flight attendant, has the kind of day at work she’d rather forget, but she doesn’t wait for everything to come crashing down; when life sends her champagne problems, she decides to become someone else entirely.
On her new path, she meets Jude, a handsome Californian, and she has to choose between the life she craves and the love she feels deep in her heart.
Her journey is shared with her two best friends and the true loves of her life, Lucy and Angus, as they navigate the obstacles and miscalculations of life.
Elle is the glue that holds the trio together as she stumbles and falters through life as an unlikely TikTok sensation called ‘La Fille Maladroit.’
LITERARY TITAN 