Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
The
Subtle
Art of
Finding
A Niche
Self-help author
Mark Manson
reflects on his
success
BY MATIA BURNETT
Mark Manson
M
ark Manson, the author
of the bestselling self-
help book The Subtle
A r t o f Not G i v i n g a F * ck : A
Counterintuitive Approach to
Living a Good Life (HarperOne),
didnt star t out planning to
INDIE SUCCESS
become an advice guruor to Though many authors would be meeting with publishers. I told
become a professional author for over the moon about the attention, my agent that I was looking for
that matter. Manson began his Manson says that he felt pretty a certain number for this to be
career doing freelance web work agnostic on the whole publishing worthwhile.
and online marketing. But around vs. self-publishing thing. He adds Manson considers himself very
2007, he started blogging about that he still considers himself an fortunate to have met the right
dating, among other subjects, entrepreneur of sorts and not editorLuke Dempseywho imme-
and that work led him to launch really a writer. But he is shrewd: diately got the book and cared
a mens dating advice website. I viewed it, and still view it, as about the message. It made sign-
As the site began to attract a a business decision and will do ing with HarperOne to publish
niche audience, he decided that whatever makes the most sense The Subtle Art feel like the right
the next step would be to write a for each book and for my career path forward.
book. as a whole. And so he signed According to Manson, much of
I felt like I had something to with the agent Mollie Glick, of the books appeal has to do with
say that needed to be heard and Creative Artists Agency. the way that it takes the self-help
nobody else in the mens dating category in a new and fresh direc-
world was saying it at the time, tion. A lot of its advice is coun-
Manson says. That was it. At terintuitive or about stuff that
the time, I saw myself as an a lot of people havent considered
internet entrepreneur, so [work- before, he says. Knowing his
ing with] a traditional publisher intended readership very well,
never even crossed my mind. Manson went full force in giving
Manson first self-published them material that he felt was
the book Models: Attract Women lacking in the world of self-help.
Through Honesty on his blog. In my book proposal, I noted
The topic, which Manson calls that every generation has a self-
super niche and a bit taboo, help book that kind of comes to
drew an online cult readership. define it, as it reflects the traits
Through word of mouth and and preferences of that particu-
discussion forums, Mansons lar generation, he says. I felt
fan base grew. I kind of intui- that no self-help book had been
tively knew that because the written for millennials yet, so
book was saying something so my ultimate goal was to write
radical for the industry at the it.
timeyou know, like, be honest Manson is working on another
to women and stuffif it reso- book that deals with relation-
nated with people, it would ships. For now, hes sticking with
spread fairly quickly, he says. HarperOne, but he has some
After multiple revisions, the salient advice for aspiring authors
book is now available digitally Following his self-publishing contemplating the self-publishing
and in print and has been the success story, Manson found him- route: Self-publishing provides
top-selling mens dating book on self in a highly advantageous more freedom and control, but it
Amazon for several years, selling position. I had a huge platform also provides more risk. Publishing
more than 100,000 copies. with millions of readers, he says. provides more credibility and
Manson assumed that he would I had an email list in the hun- promotion, but your vision can
self-publish his second book, The dreds of thousands. I knew I could also get lost in the bureaucratic
Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: guarantee tens of thousands of machinery of the business. Its a
A Counterintuitive Approach to sales, potentially even more. So tough decision to make. And the
Living a Good Life, as well, but self-publishing was never a bad answer is going to be different
his robust online presence ended option. I kept it in my back pocket depending on the book, the mar-
up attracting agents and editors. and it gave me leverage when ket, and the authors goals.
W W W. P U B L I S H E R SW E E K LY.C O M 35
COVER ART
Cover Redesign
This month, Deborah Bradseth at Tugboat Design reimag-
ines the cover of Little Guide to Unhip by Kate Rigby, who
said she was thrilled with the new design and described
Bradseth as wonderful to work with.
To submit your book for a free cover redesign, email us at booklifeeditor@booklife.com.
Original Cover
I angled the
The original words in the
cover matched title to make
the books it more playful
genre and tone, and chose
so we kept the a serif font
same upbeat instead of a
and fun tone for decorative
the new design. font to make
the design less
distracting.
Everything on
the original
cover was just a
little too small
We used bright
for readers
illustrations
to quickly
for the design
comprehend,
because they
so in the new
instantly
design we made
lighten the
the title and
tone and are
other elements
eye-catching.
larger.
36 B O O K L I F E , J U LY 3 1 , 2 01 7
PARTY WITH THE PW STARS
Celebrate the innovators in publishing and their achievements at PW s Star
Watch event.
PW and the Frankfurt Book Fair present the Top 40 innovators and the Top 5
finalists, naming one of these individuals the PW Star Watch Superstar, who
receives a complimentary trip to the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Network with the movers and shakers shaping the next generation of publishing.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
DIY Self-Help
laurene ducrocq
Author and artist Jessica Abel
offers creative coaching via
self-publishing
BY ROB SALKOWITZ
J
essica Abel, a respected cartoonist, educator,
and graphic novelist, has been running a suc-
cessful seminar on creative productivity for the Jessica Abel
past 15 years, helping would-be authors, filmmak-
ers, entrepreneurs, and other self-directed creators can help dispel the demons of distraction and self-
get past the self-made barriers that keep them from doubt. She says Growing Gills and its accompanying
seeing their projects through to completion. Now workbook are intended to bring that message to a
shes distilled what shes learned from her students wider audience.
and her own life into a unique self-help book called Despite generally positive experiences with editors
Growing Gills: How to Find Creative Focus When and publishers throughout her career, Abel decided
Youre Drowning in Daily Life. And, true to her do- to self-publish Growing Gills for two main reasons:
it-yourself ethos, shes taking it straight to readers speed and control. She says she wanted to get the
by self-publishing through Amazons KDP Select. book to market in time for her next video seminar
and workgroup. It is intended to be a resource for
Powering Through Roadblocks students and to raise the profile of her coaching
If you look at Abels career and bibliography, its and consulting practice. That meant managing the
hard to believe that she has a problem with produc- writing, editing, design, marketing, and promotion
tivity or creativity. She started in comics by writing, processes on a demanding six-month timelinea
drawing, and distributing handmade minicomics scenario that gave her ample opportunity to prac-
in the early 1990s. Her award-winning series Artbabe tice what she was preaching in terms of time
was picked up by independent publisher Fantagraphics, management and focus.
followed by an original graphic novel, La Perdida, I was good at the writing, Abel says. I hit
published by Pantheon in 2008. She has taught my landmarks and deadlines. Indeed, she notes,
comics at the School of Visual Arts in New York, writing a prose book was a relief compared to the
published two how-to books for teaching time-consuming effort required to draw,
cartooning, and followed those with ink, letter, and color a work of graphic
forays into graphic journalism, including literature.
a graphic look at the rise of podcasting Design and production, however,
in 2015 (Out on the Wire: The Storytelling created problems. I realized I knew
Secrets of the New Masters of Radio). how to be a writer, but I didnt know
This year, Papercutz, a publisher of graphic how to be a publisher, Abel says. She
novels for children, published Abels fun applied the techniques described in
YA graphic novel, Trish Trash: Rollergirl Growing Gills, such as breaking down
of Mars. Along the way, she traveled, daunting and complex tasks into a
raised a family, and developed workshops series of doable steps. The big lesson?
on creative focus. Dont set the launch date without a firm
For over a decade, Abel has developed understanding of how long all that
an online course to teach practices that other stuff takes.
38 B O O K L I F E , J U LY 3 1 , 2 01 7
GOING INDIE
W W W. P U B L I S H E R SW E E K LY.C O M 39
BOOK MARKETING
Cultivating
Superfans
Finding readers is just the beginning;
building relationships with them is
what matters
BY MARK COKER
Mark Coker
M
ost book marketing with every interaction. Youre Cover Design
advice focuses on how either earning their admiration, A good cover makes a promise.
to get readers to buy your trust, and confidence, or youre Through imagery, symbolism,
books, yet ignores how to care squandering it. and design, a cover either tele-
for your readers once youve got As readers, were inclined to graphs that this book is exactly
them. With subtle tweaks to your protect our limited resources of what youre looking for, or it says,
publishing process, you have the time, attention, and money. Our Im not for you! Readers will
opportunity to cultivate more conscious and subconscious perceive most homemade covers
passionate readers. I call these m i n d s a re tu n e d to o b s e r ve a s a m a te u r a n d t h e re fo re a
passionate readers superfans. positive and negative inputs, turnoff. A professionally designed
Superfans are your evangelists. which we store on invisible men- cover, by contrast, will draw read-
Superfans buy everything you tal scorecards. These scorecards ers in by making an honest, aspi-
publish. Theyre the first to pre- guide our reading decisions from rational promise.
order your next book and the one second to the next. We ignore
first to give it five-star reviews. or abandon works we consider Book Description
Superfans are how bestsellers unsatisfying, repulsive, or high- Your description often comprises
sell more books. risk, and we gravitate toward the first words that your readers
The process for cultivating authors whom we trust to satisfy will read from you. Why then do
superfans unfolds over minutes, our desires. These scores are so many self-published books
days, and years. Before you can cumulative, in that two typos in have poorly written book descrip-
create the optimal environment your book are unlikely to shake tions? Common mistakes include
for superfan cultivation, its help- readers admiration, whereas a inadequate information, typos,
ful to first peek inside the minds typo on every page could make and poor sentence casing. Such
of readers. Why do they read? them quit reading and remember sloppiness sends the message
Reading is an aspirational exer- your author brand for the wrong that you wont honor the readers
cise. Readers read to receive plea- reason. time with a professional-quality
sure, knowledge, or both. Lets itemize a few of the touch read.
Whether theyre reading your points both outside and inside
book, meeting you at a confer- the book where you have the The Author Persona
ence, or following you on social opportunity to either build or Readers will form opinions of
media, readers form positive and diminish readers perception of you as an author based on how
negative perceptions about you your author brand. you comport yourself both online
40 B O O K L I F E , J U LY 3 1 , 2 01 7
BOOKLIFE_HALF_VERT_Layout 1 5/14/14 4:16 PM Page 1
BOOK MARKETING
Scouting Report
In this months look at the best-reviewed self-published
titles, we highlight a Sherlock Holmes pastiche and a
memoir of cancer, as well as some fantasy and sci-fi,
and a nonfiction book about how we perceive time.
42 B O O K L I F E , J U LY 3 1 , 2 01 7
&
JOIN NOW!
bookworks.com
WRITING ADVICE
the
reread it carefully, making sure it this way: Its time to send your
that the story is worth telling and work out into the world when
you have told it well; the opening you can read the entire manu-
PA U L F R A N C I S M A L A M U D P R E S E N T S
B O O K L I F E .C O M 45
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46 B O O K L I F E , J U LY 3 1 , 2 01 7
A THRILLING MEDICAL MYSTERY SERIES
featuring Dr. Lindsey McCall
Pages: 278
Publisher: Wyatt-Mackenzie Imprint
ISBN-10: 1942545681
ISBN-13: 978-1942545682
PW SELECT LISTINGS
paper (108p), ISBN 978- (362p), ISBN 978-1- McDowell
1-5246-7737-4; $4.99 942545-70-5; $19.50 William Coles.
e-book, ISBN 978-1- paper (362p), ISBN 978- Storyinliteraryfiction.com.
5246-7739-8 1-942545-71-2 $22.95 hardcover
Amazon Ingram (348p), ISBN 978-0-
A group is working on A story of grit, love, 9961903-4-3; $10.95
a secret project to synchronicity, and paper (348p), ISBN 978-
develop a new world belief in God set in the 0-9961903-3-6
to ease the Earth from its heavy load. tumultuous panorama of life in Europe Amazon, BN.com, Smashwords
circa World War II. A highly successful but arrogant sur-
Guardian of Deceit geon convicted of second degree mur-
William H. Coles. Storyinliteraryfiction.com. Lavenders Blue der escapes captivity to seek a new life
$11.95 paper (316p), ISBN 978-0- Janet Tyers. Xlibris. as a hunted fugitive.
9961903-0-5 $23.28 paper (194p),
Guardianofdeceit.com, ISBN 978-1-4931- Of Captivity & Kings
Amazon, BN.com, 9389-9; $4.99 e-book, E.Y. Laster. E.Y. Laster.
Smashwords ISBN 978-1-4931- $5.99 e-book, ASIN
Darwin Hastings 9390-5 B071H7KJP2
confronts the evil Amazon Amazon
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new celebrity football- different times, are caught in a whirl- death sentence in
star mentor on his journey to become a wind of mystery as they are brought Nabara. When a Roman
physician. together by secrets that haunt them ship wrecks off the coast, King Kashta
both. must unite ruling families against the
Hurry the Night trade and corruption of everyone it touches.
John J. Asher. John J. Mara, Marietta:
Asher. $3.99 e-book, A Love Story in 77 PrimoDeus
ASIN B07196KM4L Bedrooms John LaChance.
Amazon Richard Jonathan. AuthorHouse. $28.99
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who left him, Parker ISBN 978-2-9559751- 1-5246-5394-1; $3.99
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destitute single mom and a musician Amazon, Apple iBooks, 5246-5393-4
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off a psychopath bent on his destruction. She is a theoretical physicist and a Meet the Antichrist in his glory, including
musician, he a poet and rock song lyri- those others now shaping him as told in
Illustrated Short cist. He asks her to break his heart. She flashbacks and flash-forwards.
Fiction of William H. agrees to do it. The lovers pact: free-
Coles: 20002016 dom versus destiny. Who will win? Revelations
William H. Coles, illus. by Charlotte Phoenix. Xlibris. $18.99 paper
Peter Healy, David Riley, Mask by Mask (440p), ISBN 978-1-4990-3115-7; $5.99
Dilleen Marsh, Betty Tyler Kyle. Balboa Press. e-book, ISBN 978-1-4990-3112-6
Harper, and Anna $16.99 paper (232p), Amazon
Sokolova. ISBN 978-1-5043- African-American women from five gen-
Storyinliteraryfiction.com. $24.95 paper 7132-2; $3.99 e-book, erations take readers on a journey
(403p), ISBN 978-0-9976729-2-3 ISBN 978-1-5043- through American his-
Amazon, BN.com, Smashwords 7133-9 tory through their poi-
Thirty-three award-winning short sto- Amazon gnant personal stories
ries, two graphic novels, and a novella, A woman returns to Barcelona in search and perspectives on
each unique and character based. of a man from her past who may pos- events during their
sess the key to everything that haunts lifetimes with eye-
Iron String her. opening revelations.
Rudy Revak. Legacy. $29.50 hardcover
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psychology of loners, Amazon Children are missing from the small
their obsession with Attorney David Georgia town of Otter, Gordan Huddes
family, and their many Chartiers client Jean adopted home. The sheriff needs help,
means of escape from Davis is suspected of and the FBI is not all that interested.
what they perceive as murdering her husband.
a dark and frightening When she reveals Intimate Encounter
world. years of abuse, David Deren Icke. Onwuegbuna
must find a way to con- Ikechukwu. $16 paper
The Meaning of Love vince a jury of her innocence. (268p), ISBN 978-0-
Kerry Arko. Dorrance 9945740-7-7; $5
Publishing. $9 paper Buried Secrets e-book, ISBN 978-0-
(32p), ISBN 978-1- S.D. Tooley. Full Moon 9945740-6-0
4809-3745-1 Publishing. $26.95 hard- Amazon, Ingram
Dorrancebookstore.com cover (268p), ISBN 978- Jeff, an ex-playboy and journalist, must
Poems and short sto- 0-9846357-3-3 set an imprisoned sex slave free. He risks
ries that bring a fresh Amazon, BN.com, Ingram everything and must fight terrifying ordeals
perspective to love and tragedy. Be The eighth book in the and his own lusts.
inspired to achieve and never give up. Sam Casey series
involves voodoo, root curses, century- The Karma Code
Sonnets Walking the Great Divide old secrets, and Civil War history. Daniel Davidsohn.
Cecil Welles. AuthorHouse. $15.18 paper CreateSpace. $12.99
(114p), ISBN 978-1-5246-7801-2; $4.99 Circled: Part of the Crime After Time paper (338p), ISBN 978-
e-book, ISBN 978-1- Collection 85-922784-0-3
5246-7809-8 Anne McAneny. Farrington Amazon, BN.com
Amazon Press. $2.99 e-book, What if a persons fate
In a collection of 90 ASIN B011SI6I2Q could be predicted? A
sonnets inspired by Amazon, Audible murder in a remote Finnish village leads
his deep desire for Arson, murder, lies, to an experiment capable of accessing a
thought explanation, and gators. Resilient surviving consciousness.
Welles presents reporter Chloe Keyes
eclectic verse that reflects on a variety of uncovers the truth Lady Beth
emotions. about her missing childhood friend in her Caroline E. Farrell.
not-so-homey hometown. CreateSpace. $7.50
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Moustafa F. Moukarim. AuthorHouse. $11.45 Rochester Mystery Amazon, BN.com, Book
paper (108p), ISBN 978- Wendy Soliman. Depository
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4033-8829-2 Amazon, Apple iBooks, Beth goes back to her old life, a sordid
Amazon Kobo, Scribd past, and the man she tried so desper-
Following the destruc- Inspector Rochester ately to forget.
tion of Islams holiest has his loyalties called
shrine, world leaders into question when a girl dies in a fellow Panther 27
convene in Jordan to forestall a devas- aristocrats house. J. Curry Druz. Xlibris.
tating global conflict. But the concluding $19.99 paper (222p),
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A Gordan Hudde Novel 6636-4; $3.99 e-book,
Beyond Terror: A Battered Wife on Trial Mark Hudson. Mark ISBN 978-1-5245-
for the Alleged Murder of Her Husband Hudson. $4.99 e-book, 6635-7
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(244p), ISBN 978-1-4620-4864-9; $9.99 Amazon, BN.com, Kobo, A young wildlife biologist discovers the
e-book, ISBN 978-1-4620-4865-6 Smashwords remains of one of the endangered
50 B O O K L I F E , J U LY 3 1 , 2 01 7
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Florida panthers. Determining its cause The Unexpected Resolution: naked in the jungle, must save the world.
of death is met with frustrationuntil Jolie Gentil Mystery #10
she meets a troubled engineer. Elaine Orr. Lifelong Dreams Publishing. $2.99 Scarecrow: Book Three of the Vanir
e-book, ISBN 978-0- Trilogy
Pink Slips 9863380-5-2 George R. Dasher.
Beth Aldrich. Restoring Amazon, Apple iBooks, iUniverse. $20.99 paper,
Essence Press. $14.99 BN.com, Google Play, ISBN 978-1-5320-
paper (265p), ISBN 978- Kobo 1929-6; $3.99 e-book,
0-9988874-0-1 A 911 call during their ISBN 978-1-5320-
Amazon, Apple iBooks, wedding forces Jolie 1928-9
BN.com, Kobo and Scoobie to con- Amazon
Betsy Ryan is con- front someone long out of his lifeand Jarl Hawkins must travel into space to
fronted with threatening pink notes from decide whether to accept an interloper. save one of the great, golden coloniza-
an anonymous person. The options mix humor and murder. tion ships and prevent the subjugation
of the planet by the brutal and all-pow-
Quantum: The Watson Girl: erful empire.
The Trilogy Begins A Gripping Serial Killer Thriller
Dean De Servienti. iLab Visions. $18 paper Leslie Wolfe. Italics Theyre Among Us
(368p), ISBN 978-0- Publishing. $9.99 paper M.L. Wilson.
9974899-2-7; 99 (244p), ISBN 978-1- CreateSpace. $13.99
e-book, ISBN 978-0- 945302-10-7; 99 paper (384p), ISBN 978-
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Amazon B01N6PUOSU Mlwilsonauthor.com,
The ruthless hunt for Amazon Amazon
an object that hides a FBI Special Agent Tess This is the story of the
secret about life on Winnett and her team frantically search greatest conspiracy in human history.
Earth. A new vision about our origins. for the prolific serial killer who has man-
aged to stay hidden for many years but The Things That Grow with Us
Rabbits Redemption: left an unknowing witness behind. Jordan Anderson. Jordan
Book 2, Truth Conspiracy Series Anderson. $2.99 e-book,
D.P. Vent. CreateSpace.com. $10.99 paper SF/Fantasy/Horror ASIN B01MFGP2A6
(308p), ISBN 978-1- Demon Leap: An Urban Fantasy Amazon, BN.com
5453-8728-3 Tricia Owens. Tricia Owens. $13.99 paper UFOs, demented tree
Amazon, BN.com (307p), ISBN 978-1- trunks, deep-space
After being saved by 5467-8735-8; missions, and more
the TPA, Rabbit and $3.99 e-book, set the foundation
Baby have been ASIN B0713NH23M for horror and emotion in this debut
trained to hunt and kill Amazon collection of stories.
would-be terrorists Arrow has an impossi-
and mass shooters, but Jack Kendahl ble dream: overthrow Romance/Erotica
soon finds himself on their trail again. the corrupt government. Chasing Shadows
But to do so, shell need to align herself Bernadette Marie. 5 Prince Publishing. $4.99
The Streetlight with the strangest, most dangerous e-book, ISBN 978-1-
Matt Dever. CreateSpace. magic criminals in the city: the Specials. 63112-196-8
$15.95 paper (394p), Amazon, Apple iBooks,
ISBN 978-1-5397- The Horror Writer BN.com, Kobo
1042-4 Jerry Jay Carroll. Detective Lacy Pratt
Amazon Swaggering Press. $11 must find a killer
A mysterious pres- paper (277p), ISBN 978- before her relation-
ence has taken con- 0-9898269-5-2 ship with Declan
trol of a 10-year-old Amazon, BN.com Matthews, brother to one of the victims,
boy and seeks street justice and ven- A horror writer and marks her as a target.
geance. financial executive,
B O O K L I F E .C O M 51
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Hot, Deadly Desire Aphrodite: Vietnam, 12,000 miles from home.
Judy H. CreateSpace. A Modern Day Goddess Love Story
$4.99 e-book, Lily Rose. Xlibris. $19.99 The Book of Steven
ASIN B071RMHKNZ paper (288p), ISBN 978- Steven T. Stevenson and
Amazon, Apple iBooks, 1-5245-4139-2; $3.99 Shah R. Azad. iUniverse.
BN.com, Kobo e-book, ISBN 978-1- $17.95 paper (284p),
An on-edge homicide 5245-4138-5 ISBN 978-1-4917-5616-
detective. A mysterious, Amazon 4; $3.99 e-book, ISBN
compelling stranger. A sadistic serial When Aphrodite breaks 978-1-4917-5615-7
killer on the loose. A love affair that could up with her fianc, she Amazon
quickly turn deadly. is left without home, car, or work. It is A humorous tale in which Steven finds
during the quest to rebuild her life that heaven to be insufferable without food,
Shelby: she discovers true love and happiness. booze, sex, or the internetleading
The Deadly Agendas Steven to question why he killed himself.
Katie Murphy. Waldorf Appraisals: Kiriti Sengupta; Breaking
Publishing. $16.95 paper the Barriers Bright Friends:
(328p), ISBN 978-1- Various. Transcendent The First Twenty-Five Years of
68419-421-6 Zero Press. $15 paper Visitations Tucson, Arizona 19471972
Amazon, Target (314p), ISBN 978-1- Karen Kalliopi Papagapitos. BalboaPress.
Tragedy drives a D.C. 946460-94-3 $17.99 paper (242p), ISBN 978-1-5043-
socialite to San Diego to hide from the Amazon 6871-1; $3.99 e-book,
media. Her grief heals as a lifeguard This is a collection of ISBN 978-1-5043-
saving lives. But the accident was really reviews, interviews, 6927-5
murder. The media and enemies are and articles about bestselling Indian Amazon
now hunting for her. author Kiriti Sengupta by colleagues, In 1951, Papagapitos,
admiring fans, and literature enthusiasts then four years old,
Comics all over the world. was visited by other-
Angelboy, Vol. 1 worldly beings. She
N.M. Beguesse. Asheville Movies, Vol. I: breaks her silence and details the first
Angelboy.com. $15 The Silent Era 25 years of visitations by her Bright
paper (216p), ISBN 978- Frank Thompson. Men Friends.
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Amazon $15.95 paper (104p), A Childs Voyage to New Life:
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resurrected as an angel Menwithwingspress.com Rose Catalano. iUniverse.
in this debut story that resonates with An illustrated history $13.99 paper (146p),
anyone whos ever felt like an outsider. of films made in Asheville, N.C., 1900 ISBN 978-1-5320-1186-3;
1929, an unexplored chapter of cinema $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-
Nonfiction history. Featuring 136 images, most of 1-5320-1188-7
All I Want to Do Is Live: them previously unpublished. Amazon
A Collection of Creative Nonfiction The life lessons
Trace Ramsey. Pioneers Press. $16 paper Blood on China Beach: shared in this book
(224p), ISBN 978-1-939899-28-6 My Story as a Brain Surgeon in Vietnam reflect Catalanos belief that regardless
Amazon Paul J. Pitlyk. iUniverse. $19.95 paper (254p), of ones nationality or heritage, there is
Ramsey examines ISBN 978-1-4759-5943-7; $3.99 e-book, always someone we can look up to,
family history, show- ISBN 978-1-4759- admire, or be inspired by.
ing how darkness 5944-4
trickles through gen- Amazon Coincidence or Christ?
erations. In clean, Pitlyk, a neurosurgeon Dimitri Skopos. WestBow Press. $30.95
deliberate prose, he from the Mayo Clinic, hardcover (160p), ISBN 978-1-5127-8810-
relays stories that tells how he learned 5; $13.95 paper (160p), ISBN 978-1-5127-
are brutal and achingly pretty. his craft in a rudimen- 8809-9
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A book of selfspiritual discovery. AuthorHouse. $19.76 refreshing look at birds, ferns, wildflow-
Coincidences and paper (244p), ISBN 978- ers, and our native trees and shrubs, and
miracles are analyzed 1-4969-9413-4 shares his love of nature and gardening.
from a historical and Amazon
personal perspective She was a model; he Grandpa and Andy: A Grandfathers
to develop our intimate fled Azerbaijan and Handbook
eternal relationship joined the Foreign Richard B. Liposky. Green
with the Trinity. Legion. They met in Ivy Publishing. $15.95
Paris and were married in Teheran. A story paper (223p), ISBN 978-
Eccentricity: Societys Secret Sauce; of two courageous lives. 1-946775-42-9
The Value of Being Eccentric Grandpaandandy.com,
Brett Sinclair. Alpha Academic Press. $9.95 Free to Fly: Life Is a Journey It Can Take Drliposky.com, Amazon,
paper (170p), ISBN 978-0-9975603-5-0 You Anywhere You Choose to Go BN.com
Amazon Jean Bisbey. A fun story about the relationship between
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world be without paper (116p), ISBN 978- Grandparents will reminisce, parents will
eccentrics, people 1-5246-6657-6; 99 remember, and children will reflect.
who changed the e-book, ISBN 978-1-
world? Go beyond the 5246-6658-3 Great Objectives
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theory into the reality A book for anyone who $23.99 paper (532p),
of the value of being eccentric. has ever wondered what life is about. ISBN 978-1-5245-
Whether Christian or atheist, humanist 0072-6; $3.99 e-book,
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A Memoir of Excess overriding factor that should never be 0071-9
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Writes Press. $16.95 Finch discusses the methods of making
paper (336p), ISBN 978- From Antarctica to Zimbabwe: plans and evaluating them with regard
1-63152-258-1 How I Hit the Reset Button on My Life to the ethical and moral problems an
Amazon, BN.com, Dr. Quinta. Squinti Publishing. $24.99 paper individual or society might face at the
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This memoir addresses the importance 947350-01-4 Hana: A Photographic History of
of belonging and the impact of social Amazon Hawaiis Paradise
isolation in childhood on self-esteem This is the story of Bruce McAllister. Roundup Press. $40 paper
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around the world. For Besspress.com, Amazon
Fountain of Change: How the Life and three months, she A photo history of
Ideas of Jesus Reshaped Our World traveled to 23 coun- Hawaiis paradise,
Oscar R. Nordstrom. tries on seven continents. She found including its transfor-
North Stream Publishing. herself and the courage to live as she mation into an exotic
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ISBN 978-0-9983109-1-6 the Hana Highway,
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about non-Christians, womens rights, (246p), ISBN 978-1- Hello, My Sweetheart:
politics, and many other fascinating 5320-1449-9; $3.99 A Life and Career on Three Continents
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Gassner-Robertss provides instructions for self-healing, road as a drifter, and the many adven-
memoir evolves from self-knowledge, and self-love. tures he and his wife went through along
her recollections of the way.
narrating her life story The Joy of Gluten Free and Dairy Free
to her husband, whos Cooking Living in Peace While Living in Pieces:
in a coma. She recalls Meg Fish. AuthorHouse. A Memoir
their life and love start- $37.99 paper (132p), Michael J. Washington.
ing from their first date. ISBN 978-1-5246- iUniverse. $14.99 paper
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Providing a refreshing they seek their own place of fulfillment.
view of God and reli- Life as Seen in the
gion, this book encour- Eyes of Tatiana Living with Depression
ages you to think Monica Brosnan. Xlibris. Nick Weatherhogg. AuthorHouse. $15.18
seriously about what you have so easily $31.60 paper (48p), paper (116p), ISBN 978-
accepted as your beliefs about God ISBN 978-1-5245- 1-5246-6366-7; $4.99
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$9.95 paper (139p), Life Is Hopeful for the Living health problems, arguing that there is
ISBN 978-0-692- M.A. Monareng. Xlibris. always hope.
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of Answers from My Spirit Guides will be better. in a combat zone where
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lifes mysteries, chan- 1-5408-0070-1 paper (114p), ISBN 978-1-5246-2706-5;
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When I Turned kids mistake Moms The Cloud
Nineteen: A Vietnam worrisome direction Jack A. Hancock.
War Memoir for fun things to add iUniverse. $13.99 paper
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Worker Cooperatives and Revolution: Alex Adams and Ian A Diamond in My Pocket (The Unaltered,
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com. $16.95 paper the superheroes their $14.99 paper (286p),
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Chinese, English & French Words in Use Amazon S.J. Lomas. 8N Publishing.
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e-book, ISBN 978-1- Christine is recruited
5246-6836-5 A Cat that TravelsCamper Style, into a secret govern-
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this book is for English speakers and ISBN 978-1-5245-3673-2; $3.99 e-book, the complexities of love to succeed in
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French vocabulary and classic Chinese Campy the cat travels in a camper with The First Adventures of Thelma Thistle
ideograms. the family that and Her Friends
adopted her. Campy Joyce Crawford. Vivien
The Amazing Tree House sees famous places Wilhelmina Publishing.
Naomi Rogers, illus. by Travis Eberhard. Tru in France and Spain. $15.99 paper (38p),
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While building a tree house, Dad and the even though she is
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not beautiful or dainty, she is special Life After the Undead My Large Wild Animal Book
because she is strong and brave. Pembroke Sinclair. Lori Schweigert. Xlibris. $21.99 paper (38p),
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Daisy takes life very seriouslyno time T.E. Corner. Balboa Press. $13.95 paper mal as the adult male, adult female, and
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takes her dog, Freddie, for a walk, she 1-5043-7492-7;
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Gogi and Mogi Redemption changes the lives of all those there
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The Second Adventures of Thelma ence fiction journey packed with ficti- mined street cats
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Vivien Wilhelmina Scotty Williams. Xlibris. Portuguese mountain dog.
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58 B O O K L I F E , J U LY 3 1 , 2 01 7
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and artistry with flowers, Sandro becomes has a love for hard drinking and the blues.
B O O K L I F E .C O M 58a
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Ghost Cave Land of Hidden Fires Match Fit
Helen Currie Foster. CreateSpace, $12.99 Kirk Kjeldsen. Grenzland Press, $12.95 trade Amelie S. Duncan. Amelie S. Duncan, $0.99
trade paper (213p) ISBN 978-1-505414-30-1 paper (212p) ISBN 978-0-9984657-2-2 e-book (290p) ASIN B01M000NJJ
Fosters debut and series launch combines Kjeldsen tells a small-scale tale about Duncan (Tiger Lily) opens the Love and
an independent lead with evocative descrip- Norwegian resistance to the Nazis in this Play series with a scorching winner of a con-
tions of the Texas hill country. After work that should appeal to historical thriller temporary romance. Brooke, age 23, is
receiving bad medical news, Ollie West fans. Its March 1943 in the Stjrdalen Valley determined to do without her affluent par-
asks attorney Alice Greer, who works in the of Norway when 15-year-old Kari Dahlstrm ents connections and make her own way as
backwater of Coffee Creek, to draw up a new looks up from her farm chores to see a P-47 an actress in New York. She has the talent
will. Ollie wants to protect some unusual falling from the sky. That night she disobeys its just a matter of getting the break. Enter
cave paintings located on the property he her father, Erling, and goes in search of the Dylan, a new player for the New York City
owns while giving his daughter, Mary, and downed pilot, fantasizing about rescuing a Football Club (which plays soccer, not
his late brothers stepson, Allen Debard, the dashing American flyer. She does find Major American football). Hes also determined
right to live on his ranch during their life- Lance Mahurin and, after gathering some to make it in the acting world, but his repu-
times. Alice undertakes the laborious trek meager supplies from her farm while her tation as a partying playboy is scaring
up the Guadalupe Mountains with Ollie to father sleeps, the pair begins a perilous trek Hollywood away. Brookes agent sets her up
see the cave art for herself and get a better through the late winter mountains of to be Dylans wholesome fake girlfriend to
understanding of why their preservation is Norway toward Sweden and safety. Erling help rebuild his reputation, and soon
so vital to her client. Inside the cave, the soon discovers Karis absence and follows her. theyre blurring the line between public
realistic images, including a snake and a Also on their trail are the local Wehrmacht and private personas. Dylans domineering
mountain lion, startle her. The subsequent Oberleutnant and Sverre Hattestad, a and occasionally crass attitude initially
murder of someone connected with Ollies Norwegian would-be collaborator. Karis comes across as abrasive, and Brookes girl-
estate puts Alices life in peril. Foster bal- actions are somewhat foolhardy and of little next-door charm is tarnished by her fre-
ances plot and characterization effectively, consequence to the war, but she and her taci- quent lapses into insecurity. The highly
which bodes well for the seriess next entry. turn father are heroic, nonetheless. Kjeldsens charged erotic romance between the pair
pacing is steady and intriguing, with view- sparks hot and heavy, laden with instant
Killing It Softly point changes adding to the tension. His attraction and sexy submission. There are
Edited by Suzie Lockhart. Digital Horror descriptive prose does a fine job of conveying several richly developed side characters
Fiction, $14.39 trade paper (483p) ISBN 978- the breathtaking scenery of the wintry whose stories may unfold in later books.
1-927598-50-4 Norwegian mountains.
This reprint anthology of 32 horror sto- The Militarized Zone: What Did
ries by female authors maintains an impres- Little Girl Gone You Do in the Army, Grandpa?
sively high level of quality in both prose and Margaret Fenton. CreateSpace, $10.10 trade Wayne E. Johnson. Tradewinds, $14.95 trade
chills. After opening with a few pieces with paper (268p) ISBN 978-1-5232-6699-9 paper (302p) ISBN 978-0-9896921-2-0
period settings, including H.R. Boldwoods In Fentons weak sequel to 2009s Little Despite some laugh-out-loud moments
Lambent Lights, the book moves through Lamb Lost, Birmingham, Ala., social worker and clever comebacks, Johnsons debut feels
most of the standard types of horror in Claire Conover tries to help a 13- or 14-year- dated. The book chronicles a draftees reluc-
informal, ambling groupings: body horror old girl found sleeping underneath a card- tant tour of duty in the U.S. Army, where
stories such as Rebecca J. Allreds Ecdysis, board box behind a discount store. The girl, mischief, mishaps, military incompetence,
spooky house stories such as K.S. Dearsleys who tells Claire to call her Sandy, is uncoop- and the occasional vindictive high-ranking
Graffiti, stories evoking folktales such as erative. When Sandy concedes that she wont officer make for comical and sometimes
Elaine Cunninghams Ravens, and be able to go home for a long while, Claire poignant moments. In 1969, Will Jensen
zombie and vampire stories such as Nancy arranges temporary shelter for her. The unsuccessfully attempts to avoid the draft,
Holders Changed. Though the collection murder of Sandys mother and Sandys sub- so his goal becomes to complete his two
doesnt aim for cultural diversity, a few sequent disappearance lead Claire to team years of service and have a good time doing
pieces, including Sarah Hanss voudou- with untrustworthy reporter Kirk Mahoney it. Through a bit of luck and scheming, hes
centered Long Time No See and Nidhi and street-smart teen LaReesa Jones to get assigned to G-1, formally known as
Singhs Guilty by Chance, reach beyond answers. Unfortunately, repeated informa- Headquarters Company, Eighth U.S. Army,
American and European topics. The collec- tionvia Claires inner monologue as well Yongsan Compound, Seoul, Korea. Its at
tion doesnt make any particular statements as in conversations with reporters, officers, G-1 where the fun really beginsofficer
about femininity; Lockhart focuses on and suspectsslows the action. Fenton pro- assignments are made or modified there,
raising up female horror writers as a com- vides more details about Claires eating and and Will and his cohorts take full advantage
munity, eschewing any notion of common poor sleep habits than she does about the of the power theyre given. Will also
themes or approaches. case. Still, Claire makes a sympathetic lead. explores Asia, which adds to his military
experience in both funny and profound
58b B O O K L I F E , J U LY 3 1 , 2 0 1 7
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ways. Johnsons GIs have some hilarious being roused by a handsome police con- know is that someone has attached a bomb
scenes, but too often the story feels old and stable, John Kelly, who believes her to be a to her car, planning to detonate it once shes
tiredright down to the ironic Army vagrant. To her alarm, she realizes her in the secure compound of Camp Citron,
quotes at the beginning of chapters. This memory is impaired; she doesnt even know the local military base. Fortunately shes
book will entertain those still tickled by her own name. She does have visions of blood saved by Pax Blanchard, head of a Special
MASH reruns or who enjoy poking fun at and of holding a revolver, but her belief that Forces team stationed in Djibouti. Together
the U.S. military; otherwise, theres nothing she may have shot someone is rebutted by they discover that the fossils are just a piece
new here. the officer, who notes the absence of powder of a bigger political puzzle and that the
burns on her palms. And despite her warlord involved is desperate to get his
Monkeys Wedding amnesia, Lucy is able to make some accurate hands on Morgan. Grants greatest strength
Rossandra White. Mindola, $12.96 trade deductions about the constable. Her path to is her ability to write gripping suspense
paper (194p) ISBN 978-0-9985949-0-3 regaining her memories is filled with peril, with a wonderfully brisk pace, but the
White (Loveyoubye) spellbinds with her though she does have the pleasure of romance can be clunky. The scenes between
inspired fiction debut set on a sisal planta- renewing her acquaintance with John before Morgan and Pax are fine, but dont really
tion in 1953 Southern Rhodesia (now finding herself in the midst of another high- help build the relationship and feel a bit
Zimbabwe). Young Elizabeth McKenzie stakes investigation. Readers will look for- episodic. However, readers preferring more
tries in vain to appease her pregnant mother ward to Lucys further adventures. political intrigue and great action in their
as she silently questions the dismissive romance will be willing to overlook that.
treatment of black servants by her elders. Still Shot: The Point and Shoot
Despite racial tension, she finds friendship Mystery Series; Book Two Tuning the Symphony
with Tururu, son of one of the familys ser- N.L. Quatrano. WC Publishing, $10.98 mass William C. Tracy. Space Wizard Science
vants, who struggles to learn ancient incan- market (287p) ISBN 978-0-9903419-9-4 Fantasy, $2.99 e-book (160p) ISBN 978-0-
tations and potions for healing and protec- Set in 2005, Quatranos entertaining 9972994-0-3
tion from his grandmother Anesu, the local sequel to 2015s Murder in Black and White Tracy launches his Dissolution universe
tribal witch doctor. Anesu hopes to rid the adds more depth to her intrepid lead, FBI with this delightfully imaginative fantasy
valley of whites as British officials force the agent-turned-PI AJ Buchanan, who has a novella. The Nether is a junction that con-
Federation Day union of Southern Rhodesia love for photography, justice and [her] hus- nects 10 alien homeworlds, and maji are the
and its two neighbor countries. The spirit band Travis, not necessarily in that order, only ones who can create portals to connect
of rebellion is personified in Anesus first and who runs on an insane sense of respon- them all. All maji are capable of working
grandson and former apprentice Karari. sibility to right social injustice. AJ and magic with the notes of the Grand
After injuring Anesu with dark magic he Travis travel to New Orleans to attend the Symphony: It was the music that underlay
cannot control, volatile Karari incites wedding of a cousin, Merline Thoubodore, the universe. Change... one note... and the
fellow native black kaffirs, who have been whom she barely knows. Its also an oppor- universe changed with it. Rilan Ayama is
given no voting rights, to strike against tunity for AJ to learn a family secret tested by the Nethers Great Assembly of
whites. Tururu must help Anesu stop her involving her late mothers family. The Species and is granted the title of majus.
rogue apprentice before Karari destroys awkward family reunion turns tragic when Before seeking an occupation that will be
everyone, including himself. The protago- one of her other relatives, Clive Thoubodore, based on her new status, Rilan agrees to
nists encounter not only cultural injustice falls down a flight of stairs, breaking his accompany Origon, her friend and teacher,
but malevolent fire spirits and supernatural neck. Foul play is suspected, and AJ and to the homeworld of Festuour in order to
Shona apparitions. Fine storytelling illumi- Travis investigate. The family secret AJ take custody of his brothers body. The
nates this fable about coming of age and the learns of proves to be a possible motive for gravity of Festuour is different, the animals
bonds of friendship. murder. Quatrano effectively combines are remarkably terrifying, and even the
characterization, plotting, and suspense. foliage industry is peculiar. Origon and
Remember, Remember: A Lucy Rilan become closer as they search for
James/Sherlock Holmes Mystery Tinderbox: Flashpoint, Book 1 answers regarding his brothers mysterious
Anna Elliott, with Charles Veley. CreateSpace, Rachel Grant. Janus, $11.99 trade paper death. The complex details of magical
$12.80 trade paper (356p) ISBN 978-1-5450- (260p) ISBN 978-1-944571-06-1 manipulation of music, color, and all the
4916-7 Set in the turbulent country of Djibouti, senses are laid out with a refreshing clarity
Elliott (the Twilight of Avon trilogy) and the first entry in Grants Flashpoint series and consistency. Fans of fantasy will find
Veley, her father, collaborate on the winning works better as suspense than romance. Dr. much to love about this enchanting story.
third mystery pairing Sherlock Holmes and Morgan Adler, a paleoanthropologist,
his daughter, Lucy James (after 2016s The knows that her discovery of a Lucy-like fos- Winterbay Abbey
Wilhelm Conspiracy). A woman, whom most silized human will significantly change John Bladek and Davonna Juroe. Coda
readers will quickly realize is Lucy, regains what people know about the predecessors Publishing, $14.95 trade paper (246p)
consciousness near the British Museum after of the human species. What she doesnt ISBN 978-0-9973648-0-4
B O O K L I F E .C O M 58c
REVIEWS
Nonfiction
Bladek and Juroes lukewarm haunted vascular surgeries that threaten both his
mystery opens with architect Will Larson cancer treatments and his limbs, while brief
under intense pressure: his wife is pregnant interludes written by his wife, as well as
and grappling with an injury from a horrific Do You Know What a Book touching scenes with his children, provide
car accident that he caused, and hes at risk Publicist Does? A Guide for a 360-degree view of the familys experience
of losing his job. His boss asks him to head Creating Your Own Campaigns with Harps illness and remission.
to the coast of Maine to transform abandoned Claire McKinney. Plum Bay, $11.99 trade Throughout, Harp emphasizes his good
Winterbay Abbey into a hotel for a couple of paper (174p) ISBN 978-0-9988617-0-8 fortune to have had nearly continuous
hip Seattle developers. Its going to be a McKinney, a veteran book publicist, has employment in the tech industry and
tough job, and if he doesnt get it right, hell produced a clear, basic road map to publi- quality health insurance. Harps writing is
be fired. Shortly after he arrives, he witnesses cizing a book. McKinneys advice illustrates matter-of-fact, exquisitely detailed, and
a young woman dressed as a nun disappear that the same rules (mostly) apply regardless often moving, while eschewing sentimen-
into the roiling sea and calls the police, but of whether an author has been signed by a tality. Harp surpasses his goal of offering
its dismissed as a teen prank. When he finds major house or is self-published, or whether hope as a friend who, like you, endures.
a room in the abbey full of records indicating an author specializes in fact or fiction. Chief
that it may have been a haven for unwed among these rules is that writers need to The Power of Time Perception:
mothers, the mystery deepens, but not actively promote themselves, in all and any Control the Speed of Time to
enough to matter. The haunted abbey story ways that they can, and that they must begin Make Every Second Count
has been done to death, and done better. planning their publicity early on. The book Jean Paul Zogby. Lighthouse, $4.99 e-book
Skeptical Will is often off-putting, seeming does well at covering the basicssuch as (248p) ISBN 978-0-9957347-7-7
to resent the fact that his gentle and sup- defining the difference between publicity and Zogby, an engineer long interested in the
portive wife, Emily, is pregnant and unable marketing or explaining what a distribution human perception of the speed of time, shares
to work. Ultimately, this gothic ghost tale agreement isand in explaining step-by- the intriguing results of his readings into and
fails to scare up any real thrills. step how to track contacts. It spends too interviews with experts in the field. Having
much time dwelling on how the industry grown up during the Lebanese civil war,
The Worst Man on Mars operated 20 years agoemphasizing the Zogby escaped death on multiple occasions
Corben Duke and Mark Roman. Grand Mal, rapid pace of change could have been better and witnessed the deaths of close friends and
$14.99 trade paper (413p) ISBN 978- accomplished by comparing publishing family members; these experiences gave him
1536930979 today to five years agoand it occasionally an appreciation for how precious time is and
Duke and Roman inspire much laughter lapses in providing definitions (search engine a desire to somehow slow it down. Zogby
in their first book, which features a British optimization, an important topic in maxi- begins by introducing the topic of the psy-
crew on the first manned trip to Mars in mizing exposure, gets a single paragraph). chology of time perception, which describes
2029. Mission commander Flint Dugdale However, the case studies of the authors cli- how people sense time, before delving into
is looking forward to becoming the first ents are helpful, and the book is a solid begin- brain biology. He also discusses how time is
man to set foot on the red planet. However, ners guide to an ever-faster-paced industry. limited to the speed at which the brain cap-
his position as leader was only achieved tures and processes sensory information. The
through luck and the suspicious death of Into the Fun House: middle chapters address the many factors that
the original commander. Dugdales person- An Unpredictable Story of a influence ones experience of time: among
ality is loathsome, but at least the ship has Relentless Leukemia them, mindfulness, extreme alertness, emo-
reached its orbit. Theres only one problem: Walter Harp. LS Publishing, $14.95 trade pa- tional control, personality type, and the use
the domed habitat where the team is meant per (288p) ISBN 978-0-9982068-3-7 of drugs. In the final chapters Zogby delves
to survive is not ready. The androids sent Harps harrowing debut exhaustively into remembrance, mental time travel, and
ahead to prepare the facility have failed, and chronicles the twists and turns of his the aging brain before concluding with
the reasons become clear as their ridiculous struggle with acute lymphoblastic leu- thoughts on living in the moment and for a
antics unfold. The story moves swiftly kemia over the past decade. Diagnosed at prosperous, long time. Zogbys endeavor is a
between the struggles of the crew with their age 38, Harp writes that he felt nothing worthwhile one, and his thoughtful explana-
ships hysterically intrusive programming at first, but soon his intense treatment tions and meditations have a wide appeal.
and the bumbling, anthropomorphized began: chemotherapy, radiation, and stem-
androids. Plenty of intriguing plot twists
expand the story and its characters. With
cell transplants, as well as an experimental
treatment that aimed to weaponize his own Childrens/YA
humor that ranges from slapstick to the T-cells to fight leukemic blasts. At one
macabre, this story reveals the absurdity point, he spent 17 frightening days in a The Mark
that might ensue if technology is endowed padded metal cocoon suspended in midair Eric Grissom, illus. by Claire Connelly.
with too much personality. to keep him from drowning in the fluid Frankensteins Daughter, $25 (76p) ISBN 978-
filling his lungs. His story is studded with 0-9889516-2-4
58d B O O K L I F E , J U LY 3 1 , 2 0 1 7
REVIEWS
Through immersive rhyming stanzas and The Blue Marauders line of defense. The tender resolutionin
inky b&w cartoons, Connelly and Grissom Ted MacVeagh. Stone Pond, $14.99 paper which readers learn that Lucy is just looking
tell an eerie medieval cautionary tale that (376p) ISBN 978-0-9972236-0-6 for a hugwill trigger smiles while putting
straddles picture book and graphic novel MacVeaghs debut novel about a youth Henrys tightfistedness in perspective. Ages
terrain. A female trapper with an elfin cap, soccer team delivers both excitement and 38.
beaklike nose, lantern, and sword is forced frustration. With the help of some adults,
to spend a night in the forest before seventh graders Nick McCoy and Erik
returning to her village. Desperate to find Steiner form a new soccer team, the Blue The preceding reviews of
fuel for a fire, she breaks a sacred vow by Marauders, in their small town, hoping for self-published titles ran in
burning branches she cuts from an oak tall a shot at the playoffs in the competitive Tri-
and grim./ A gnarled and twisted face upon State League. Nick and Erik are both prom- Publishers Weekly during the
its bark. A phantasmal figure with staglike ising soccer stars, but Erik is more dedicated past month.
antlers rises from the fire she builds, the to doing well in school than Nick is. Drama
Forgotten King both demon and a liar. and tension are heightened by the team-
Upon returning to her village, the trapper mates varying skill levels and personalities,
is shunned when its revealed that her palm classmates who dont play soccer, and a few
now bears a mark resembling the branches strong-willed adults. As MacVeagh details
of a tree. Grissoms verse appears on left- the teams season, he avoids predictability
hand pages opposite Connellys moody pitfalls, yet readers may struggle to connect
panels, which grow increasingly tense as the with Nick, Erik, and their teammates, even
banished trapper returns to the fateful tree as they root for them to succeed. The kids
and faces her fate. Grissoms cryptic verse tend to talk and act like adults (We want
doesnt spell out all of the storys mysteries to win the rest of the games, and we dont
or circumstances, but its rich imagery casts want you jeopardizing that), and the story
a captivating spell. Ages 10up. oddly centers Eriks father, who steps in as
coach. Sports enthusiasts should enjoy fol-
Blue Dust Days lowing the Blue Marauders, but general
Laura McGrail. Heart to Heart, $14.99 paper readers may find too much space is devoted
(288p) ISBN 978-1-937008-48-2 to play-by-play recounting, terminology,
Trust, unconditional sibling love, and and strategy. Ages 812.
connections between humans and animals
are key themes in McGrails solid historical Henry and the Hidden Treasure
novel, set during the Great Depression. B.C.R. Fegan, illus. by Lenny Wen. TaleBlade,
Destiny Rose Soames, who is 13 and goes by $15.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-9953592-4-6
Dessie, is furious about her alcoholic fathers For a boy named Henry, the pocket
negligence when a fire breaks out and forces money his parents give him is nothing less
her family of six to lose their home and be than treasurewhich needs to be kept safe
indebted to Paps boss for help. Its winter from his younger sister, Lucy. Henry believes
of 1933, and Dessies family is trying to sur- that shes a secret ninja spy sent to steal his
vive in the dusty coal-mining town of treasure, so he devises an elaborate way to
Whitburn, Ky. Pap selfishly arranges for safeguard it, moving it into a secret cave
Lemuel, Dessies 15-year-old brother, to quit guarded by superheroes, soldiers, and even a
school and become a coal miner in order to giant and ferocious pig. Theres an odd
help pay off the familys debts. Lems dream switch in tense as Henry outlines his plan
of working with horses appears dashed until (Fourth, he will build a huge maze inside
Dessie devises a plan for the two of them to the cave.... Fifth, he would design some
run away on an adventure. Dessies deter- clever booby traps), but its clear that
mination and selflessness will draw readers Australian writer Fegan understands how
in, as will the resilience and mutual devotion much childrens possessionsespecially
that she and Lemuel display. Endearing if cold, hard cashcan mean to them. Wen
somewhat predictable, the novel is best captures the over-the-top premise in cine-
suited for readers who love animal stories or matic scenes that build tension as Henrys
enjoy rooting for the good guys to prevail heavily guarded cave takes shape, then
against the odds. Ages 812. defuses it with comedy as little Lucy, dressed
as a ninja, makes short work of every single
B O O K L I F E .C O M 58e
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