A P RIL 2018

Your guide to self-publishing

How Writing Coaches Can Help Indie Authors •
Book Cover Redesign • Indie Scouting Report •
First Lines from BookLife Authors • 82 New Titles Listed

Caped Crusader in the Kitchen

Indie food photographer makes “
I
’m not a foodie,” insists Alan Batt, or Battman, as
he is known in culinary circles. However, anyone
community connections looking at his oeuvre of food photography might
be surprised that he counts a Quarter Pounder with
BY MATIA BURNETT cheese and fries as one of his favorite meals.

A page from Alan Batt’s

Master Chefs of France
 ® INDIE SUCCESS
Batt, who began taking
photographs profession-
ally in 1981, boasts a
varied career, with stints
at his father’s sweater
manufacturing company
in Brooklyn and as a toy
salesman in California.
However, that line of
work wasn’t a good fit:
“I didn’t have a standard-
ized approach.” Batt (r.) with chef Jean-Louis Dumonet, president of
It’s a description that Maîtres Cuisiniers de France USA/Canada, and pages launched the website the
might apply to other from Master Chefs of France.
aspects of Batt’s life.
After moving back to New York
City in the 1980s, he wasn’t
sure what professional path to
take, but felt drawn to photog-
raphy. He began capturing the
city’s sights and selling the
images as greeting cards.
From 1987 until 2004, 35 of
Batt’s photos of the city were
on display at the Empire State
Building. Batt then went on to work as the lead
photographer at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
and is the photographer behind the charitable New
York City Firefighters Calendar.
In 2001, Batt reached out to New York chefs, ask-
ing to photograph their dishes. Then, in 2004, he
hatched a new concept: he challenged 85 chefs to
put their own spin on a classic dish. The result of
this first project was The Great Bagel & Lox Book.
Batt has gone on to self-publish 12 additional
collections of food photography and recipes. Among
his titles are: New York Sweets, Summer in New York,
Sandwiches of the World, and Soup. Releasing this
spring is Master Chefs of France, a collection of
recipes from renowned members of the Maîtres
Cuisiniers de France culinary organization. Batt’s
book of sweet and savory recipes, Crossing Borders/
Sweet Crossings, also publishes this spring.
As Batt meets chefs from restaurants and kitchens
around the world, he makes a point to be nonintru-
sive; his photography equipment is modest in size
and easily transportable. “I don’t bother them. I just
tell them, I want to take a picture of your best dish,”
Batt says. Other than that, “I schmooze with them.”
After the shoot, Batt works with a small team of
42 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
graphic designers and editors
to finalize the recipes, many
of which are appearing for
the first time in print. Batt
says he appreciates the low-
tech aspect of cooking: “I
really like working with chefs
because it’s all from them
working with their hands. No
computer. It’s just all their
creations.”
Fo u r ye a r s a g o , B a t t
Chef’s Connection. In addition
to serving as a showroom for
Batt’s food photography and a virtual
bookstore for his titles, the site
provides a number of services for
the cooking community, including
chef profiles, a calendar of New York
food events, and job listings. The
site currently gets between 18,000
and 20,000 hits per month.
Sales of Batt’s recent books have
averaged 7,000–12,000 copies. He
has also reached out to the New York community
in a big way: each year, Batt launches a new book
at the Great Gathering of Chefs. Profits from the
event go to children’s charities. Batt has also started
a line-cook training school, which is held at the Food
and Finance High School in Manhattan. The free
program trains unemployed individuals from low-
income backgrounds to work in New York’s kitchens.
For a self-described nonfoodie who runs a cookbook
publishing enterprise and photography business,
Batt has an enviable recipe for success. And he has
straightforward advice for individuals looking to
self-publish: “Get lots of honest feedback. You don’t
need to hear the good stuff. You need the real, bad
stuff. You also need a way to sell it. Social media is
very successful if you have enough followers. Start
working on it before you even have the book.” 
But, as anyone following a recipe knows, a cook
can get all the ingredients right and still end up
with a dish that’s missing a certain je ne sais quoi.
Along with people skills and entrepreneurism, the
secret of Batt’s success may boil down to his non-
standard approach to life, and what can be found
when the path forward isn’t entirely clear. As Batt
puts it, “You never know where you’ll end up.” ■
COVER ART ®

Cover Redesign
This month, Michelle Argyle at Melissa Williams Design
reimagines the cover of The Equine Legacy by C.S. Purdy,
who is “thrilled with the redesign” and “confident it will
catch some eyes.”
To submit a book for a free cover redesign, email us at booklifeeditor@booklife.com. Original Cover

Superimposing
A larger
an image of the
subtitle makes
flag onto the
it immediately
sky indicates
clear to readers
to readers the
that the book is
book’s focus
nonfiction.
on America.
But I kept it
subtle so the
image doesn’t
compete with
the title.

The author’s
name is a little
lost on the I was happy
original cover, with the layout
so I made it of the original
more prominent cover but added
in the redesign. a striking
photo that will
immediately
draw in readers.

B O O K L I F E .C O M 43
 ® SELF-PUBLISHING SERVICES
A Guided
Process
What writing coaches do
and how indie authors
can use them
BY BROOKE WARNER
W
riters tend to look for coaches once they’ve
hit obstacles too big to overcome: they’re
stuck and they need help, they’ve written
themselves into a story they can no longer make
sense of, they know something’s wrong but aren’t
sure what.
I’ve long maintained that it’s never too early to
hire a coach to support writing goals. Most writing
coaches love to work with clients from concept
through completion, and a good coach should be an
ally and, if appropriate, a cocreator. A coach should
be a gentle guiding force and never take credit for
shared ideas or suggested story lines. A coach should
be encouraging but firm. A coach is a cheerleader,
yes, but writers should not hire coaches to stroke
their egos. The point of spending the money is to
get constructive feedback and to become a better
writer.
Writers’ reasons for hiring coaches vary, but the
three most common seem to be to instill discipline,
to have a professional sounding board, and to offer
creative collaboration.
The value of discipline cannot be overstated. It’s
not easy to write a book. We have so many demands
pulling at us each day, and sometimes knowing that
a coach is expecting a deliverable is the single most
important factor in making it happen.
Sounding boards can be meaningful in ways that
writers might not anticipate. Writers often get too
close to their writing. They can have tendencies
44 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
Brooke Warner
they’re unaware of, lose track of the bigger picture,
or get seduced by tangents that aren’t critical
to the story line. In all these ways, coaches hold
the line and help writers ascertain what matters;
they may even be so bold as to say when some-
thing isn’t necessary and to help writers kill off
their darlings.
Finally, there’s creative collaboration, which can
be a hard thing for newer writers to invite into their
practice. Seasoned writers who’ve been through
rigorous editorial processes know the power of col-
laboration and the value of a coach’s direction and
queries. This kind of support is invaluable to many
authors and pushes them to be their best and noth-
ing less.
A Coach’s Value
It’s not that indie authors need coaches more than
other authors. Rather, indie authors have more
responsibilities because they’re striking out on their
own and publishing their own work. To do this they
need to build a team—and a writing coach can be an
integral part of that team.
Though different writing coaches offer different
services and assist with different aspects of projects,
there are many—those with book production and
publishing experience—who will see writers all the
way to the finish line. And any good coach will insist
that writers publish their best work, that the
manuscript be revised and polished. Many coaches
SELF-PUBLISHING SERVICES ®

they know or admire for referrals. Many coaches

offer complimentary intro sessions, so writers can
The most critical get a feel for the coach’s energy and test out her
services. Coaches will also use this time to make
thing when hiring sure they are a good fit for new clients.
Agents and publishers can also provide leads on
a coach is instinct. The writing coaches—and many recommend that authors
work with coaches to tighten manuscripts before
relationship should they’ll consider them. Writers may also find coaches

feel good.
will refer authors to copy editors, proofreaders,
and designers.
Coaches should also deliver a spirit of encourage-
ment and generosity—and this is something writers
should be able to feel early on. If there’s no encour-
agement or intellectual meeting of the minds,
writers would do well to move on and try to find a
better fit.
How to Hire a Coach
Writers can find coaches online or by asking authors
at writers’ conferences, which are increasingly
inviting coaches to sit on panels, lead workshops,
and participate in pitch sessions.
The most critical thing when hiring a coach is
instinct. The relationship should feel good. Writers
should like the energy of the coach and see the
value in the coach’s comments on their work. If
defenses come up, it probably means the coach is
not a good fit, or that the writer isn’t quite ready
to be coached.  ■
Brooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press and
SparkPress and author of Green-Light Your Book
and What’s Your Book?.

B O O K L I F E .C O M 45
 BOOKS TO WATCH ®

Scouting Report
In this month’s roundup of the best-reviewed BookLife
titles, we highlight a manifesto about toxic masculinity, a
Regency romance, a thriller that peers into the dark under-
belly of society, and a memoir of food and friendship.

★ In Wolves’ Mean Men

Clothing MARK LIPTON
GREG LEVIN
Synopsis: Amid the chorus
Synopsis: Levin movingly of women’s voices that is
conveys the stomach- the #MeToo movement,
churning horrors of child New School management
sex trafficking in this effec- professor Lipton issues a
tive thriller. detailed and methodical
PW’s Takeaway: Levin pro- critique of male behavior
vides a window into one of at its worst.
the world’s darkest under- PW’s Takeaway: Readers
bellies, while somehow managing to insert with “mean men” for bosses will feel newly
appropriate lighter moments.... This author empowered by Lipton’s well-timed, scathing
deserves a wide audience. manifesto.
Comparable Title: Timothy Hallinan’s Breathing Comparable Title: Jack Urwin’s Man Up
Water Sample Line: “They step on others to get ahead.
Sample Line: “The trick to looking excited when They are deceptive and ruthless. They have
children are presented to you for sex is to explosive tempers and abusive personalities.
remember you are saving their lives.” In a word, they are mean.”
Read the Review: Read the Review:
publishersweekly.com/9780990402947 publishersweekly.com/9780998613024

Anne and Cooking with Brynnde

Charles Adrienne M. PEPPER
ROZSA GASTON JOAN M. HARPER LANGLINAIS
Synopsis: An Synopsis: Harper Synopsis: A young
orphaned duchess presents a heart- woman finds a kin-
enters into a politi- felt portrait of her dred spirit and
cal marriage that culinary camara- both buck against
becomes a loving union. derie with French cuisine doy- society’s expectations in this
PW’s Takeaway: The blend of roy- enne Adrienne Zausner. Regency romance.
alty, love, and the French renais- PW’s Takeaway: With these recipes, PW’s Takeaway: Great characters
sance is enchanting. the cuisine of the masters is within and crackling banter keep the
Comparable Titles: Philippa reach. plot moving.
Gregory’s Plantagenet and Tudor Comparable Title: Julie Powell’s Comparable Title: Bronwyn Scott’s
Novels Julie and Julia Claiming His Defiant Miss
Read the Review: publishers- Read the Review: publishers- Read the Review: publishers-
weekly.com/9780984790654 weekly.com/9781539936077 weekly.com/ASINB01NAYDN6F

46 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
FIRST LINES ®

First Lines
Djinn
SANG KROMAH
“Imagine not being able to tell whether
it’s you or the person beside you who’s
Our monthly look at some of the best schizophrenic.”
first lines from titles by BookLife What It Is
authors. KIT SERGEANT
“Contrary to what my mother always
April brings domestic violence, dirty underwear, taught me, it’s not really necessary to
and dead fathers. To submit a first line, email wear clean underwear in case you get
booklifeeditor@booklife.com. in an accident.”

Keys to the Truculent Me The End of the Curse

JOHN BRANNING WILLIAM STANISH
“This morning my sleep was ended not “The Chicago fans had waited for
by the ringing of the alarm clock but one hundred plus eight years for
by my wife Carol punching me in the the Cubs to banish demons,
nose.” curses, and untold tears.”

Requiem Practice Makes Purpose

LAUREN E. RICO C. PAUL SCHROEDER
“Watching my father die isn’t nearly as “This is a book about how to love.”
entertaining as I thought it would be.”

BOOKLIFE_HALF_VERT_Layout 1 5/14/14 4:16 PM Page 1

Q&A SPONSORED

BookLife Talks with

Debra Bailey
A Colonial Williamsburg Love Affair:
Tales, Takes, and Tips from a Lifetime Get one.
Taps the experience, integrity and
of Visits is Bailey’s guide memoir authority of Publishers Weekly to
about her lifelong passion for the Virginia historic Support for
assist indie authors achieve their
site. We talked with her about the book and why she INDIE AUTHORS
publishing goals.
loves Colonial Williamsburg. from Publishers Weekly
Professionaltips,
• Profesional
n tips,insights
insightsand
and
strategies creating and
strategies for creating and
What led you to write a book about Colonial marketing book
marketing your book
Williamsburg? n Connect and
• Connect and share
share with
with other
other
Whenever friends were considering a visit, they indie authors
indie authors
would ask me for information. I would bury them in n A free and easy way to submit
• A free and easy way to submit
self-published books for review
a mountain of details, such that I could see them wilt self-published books for review
in Publishers Weekly
under the weight of it all. I began to joke that I had in Publishers Weekly

enough to write a book.

Why is this book particularly relevant now?

Our founding fathers risked wealth, health, life, and Support for
family for an ideal: freedom. But not all Americans INDIE AUTHORS
could share in it. The legacy they created due to slav- from Publishers Weekly
ery and inequality plagues us still. New generations
need to see the founding fathers’ successes and fail-
ures, so we can bring that freedom to all. booklife.com
For the complete interview, visit booklife.com/bailey
booklife 1/2V rev10_6.indd 1 10/6/14 2:24:54 PM

B O O K L I F E .C O M 47
 ® WRITING ADVICE

Ask right for your book. (3) Write an

intelligent, clear letter describ-
over-the-top boasting, and generic
submissions to multiple agents

the
BOOKWOKS_HALF_V_0715_Layout 1 7/24/15 10:10 AM Page 1
ing how your book differs from are instant turnoffs.”
others in its field, who the read- For John Silbersack, “If a writer
ership is, and why it will sell well. has strong publishing credentials,

Editer But don’t just take it from me;

here’s what several top New York
literary agents have to say.
A veteran editor answers For Lisa Bankoff, “a query letter
should have a sense of immediacy—
your writing questions as if the author were right there in
the room with me. It’s also essen-
BY BETTY KELLY SARGENT tial that the writer has done her
homework, knows my list and the
I’d lead with that. If not, begin
with a pitch line, the kind of tag
found on a book jacket. Grab my
attention, but too much plot and
a CliffsNotes synopsis make me
feel like I’m back in school playing
catch up. Unless you can convey
your excitement, I’m unlikely to
get excited for you.”

H ow do I write a query letter

to an agent? –Sally A. Calling all
type of writers I represent.”
Emma Sweeney says, “I love
Indie Authors
finding that letter with the prom-

Y ou need to do three things:

(1) Determine which agents
are right for your book. Check the
acknowledgements page in simi-
lar titles. Those are likely the
agents for you. (2) Do your home-
work. Tell the agent why she’s
ise of a gem of a project. The let-
ter demonstrates that the writer Betty Kelly Sargent is the
What can BookWorks do
has both a great idea and the founder and CEO of BookWorks.
ability to pitch it.” for you:
Robin Straus says she “looks for If you have a question for the
enticing, well-crafted letters. editor, please email Betty Sargent
Grammatical and spelling ● Help
errors, at booklifeeditor@booklife.com.
You Find Your Reader

Q&A SPONSORED ● Post Excerpts from Your Book

for Peer Review
BookLife Talks with Shani
● Get a Featured Author Cover
Major Medallion for Your Book
Major’s Meme Is the New Mean:
Bullying Behind the Screen is a car- ● Chat With Our Experts
ing and useful account of the poten-
tially harmful effects of social media. ● Showcase and Sell Your Books With
can BookWorks do
What Direct-to-Retailer for you:
Links
How did you become concerned about the effects
of social media? ● Find
• Help you the
FindBest
Your Editors,
Reader Designers,
It lost its fun factor for me, which led me to reflect • PostIllustrators,
Excerpts fromMarketers,
Your Book forandPeer Review
on the impact social media would have on my Publicists in the Business
• Get a Featured Author Cover Medallion for
daughters’ adolescent experiences and those of
Your Book
generations to come.
• Chat
AndOur
With
that’s just for starters
Experts
Let us help you Prepare, Publish and Promote
What are some of the harmful effects you discuss • Showcase and Sell
your books. Your Books
We show you how With
to make
in the book? Direct-to-Retailer Links
indie publishing easier and, yes it’s true —
Incidents of cyberbullying and suicides linked to • Find the Best how
Editors, Designers,
to make it fun. Illustrators,
cyberbullying are on the rise. Readers will connect
Marketers, and Publicists in the Business
to the behaviors and experiences I describe, such as
shame sharing, displaying digital courage, and seek-
ing external validation. I hope to reach anyone who
uses social media, specifically adolescents and young
adults. Social media affects their development, iden-
JOIN NOW!
tities, and peer interactions both on- and offline. bookworks.com
For the complete interview, visit booklife.com/major

48 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
 PAID LISTINGS

PW SELECT LISTINGS ®

New Titles from

Self-Publishers
Booksellers, publishers, librarians, and agents are encouraged to look at the 82
self-published titles below. Each appears with a list of retailers that are selling the
book and a description provided by its author. Some of these writers are waiting to
be discovered; others have track records and followings and are doing it on their
own. If you are a self-published author interested in listing titles in this section,
please visit publishersweekly.com/pw-select for more information.
Fiction to become a deacon in the Catholic DorranceBookstore.com
The Boys Who Danced with the Moon Church. Part of a series on Jesus’s life and his rela-
Mark Paul Oleksiw. Mark tionship with the Essenes, an important
Paul Oleksiw. $14.99 Don’t Look at Me Jewish sect left out of the New
paper (282p), ISBN 978- J.P. Grider. Fated Hearts Testament. For readers who want a
1-77511-110-8 Publishing. $15.99 paper researched take on an untold story.
Amazon, BN.com (344p), ISBN 978-0-
Taunted by mysterious 9997834-7-4 Knights of the Castle of Light
letters reminding him of Amazon, BN.com, Kobo Maher Alkaser. Maher
a tragedy years ago, A severely disfigured Alkaser Books. $8.78
Kiran Wells returns to his hometown to newscaster and a dis- e-book, ASIN
confront the demons that haunt him. Will honorably discharged ex-soldier must B0789RK23W
he finally find peace or much more? adapt to life in their new roles in this Amazon
reversed retelling of the “Beauty and the In parallel with the
Budland Beast” tale. world we live in there’s
Tom Kranz. Lulu. $19.99 a hidden world where
paper (160p), ISBN 978- Hope Dies Last: An Alaskan Adventure a hidden war between God and Satan
1-387-32525-2 Megan Webb. rages.
Amazon, Apple iBooks, CreateSpace. $8.23
BN.com, Google Play paper (204p), ISBN 978- The Long Road Home:
A successful career as a 1-5192-8413-6 A Tale of Redemption
TV news producer is Amazon Chuck Gaucin. WestBow
derailed when Bud Remmick kills his boss A deadly plane crash. A Press. $28.95 hardcover
after finding out he is sexually blackmail- desperate plot gone (110p), ISBN 978-1-
ing a fellow employee. Hero or murderer? awry. Battered by the 973605-04-1; $11.95
elements and memories from a painful paper (110p), ISBN 978-
Count Dumb Time past, Mekana must find the strength to 1-973605-02-7
David Price. CreateSpace. keep more than her faith and humor alive. Amazon, BN.com, WestBow Press
$12.99 paper (244p), Joe Galindo has misgivings about
ISBN 978-1-986429- Jesus and the Essenes: restarting his coaching career. Through
78-8 The Untold Story the grace of God, this alcoholic has-
Amazon, BN.com, Book Ralph F. De Flores. been will regain his place as a cross-
Depository Dorrance Publishing. $68 country and track coach.
Gilmore Funnel falls to paper (456p), ISBN 978-
temptation in his pursuit 1-4809-3715-4

B O O K L I F E .C O M 49
 PAID LISTINGS

® PW SELECT LISTINGS
Mad Druggist 41-5 crises in faith across
Frank Hozeska. Xlibris. Amazon, BN.com two continents and two
$19.99 paper (280p), An obedient son, decisive decades in
ISBN 978-1-5434-3110- Manuel, tries to fulfill this anthology of
0; $3.99 e-book, ISBN his father’s dying wish, poetry, humor, art, and
978-1-5434-3111-7 not knowing that it will spirituality, moving
Amazon serve as the turning from entertainment to
Louie gets fired from every pharmacy point for everyone’s lives. conversion.
job. He ends up a washed-up pharma-
cist and is ready to give up his fight, until The Tricolor and the Scimitar: The The Growth of a Girl to
something crazy happens in the final Chevalier Chronicles, Book 1 the Wisdom of a
round. Jean-Paul Sinclair Lewis. Woman
Page Publishing. $20.95 Stephanie Olivia Bell.
Meet the Lidwells! A paper (472p), ISBN 978- Xlibris. $19.99 paper
Rock n’ Roll Memoir 1-4560-8784-5 (122p), ISBN 978-1-
Jon Chaisson. Mendaihu Worldwide 5245-7552-6; $3.99
Press. $2.99 e-book, The first historical e-book, ISBN 978-1-
ISBN 978-1-370- novel in a four-part 5245-7553-3
38610-9 series that recounts Amazon
BN.com, Kobo, Napoleon and l’Armée d’Orient’s inva- Bell has always turned to paper and pen
Smashwords sion and occupation of Egypt. when excited, in wonder, or distressed.
Six teenagers start a rock band and She has found that writing down the
achieve worldwide critical success, all Without Warning obtrusive thoughts frees the mind.
while growing up and facing their own Thomas C. Sanger. River
demons in front of millions of fans. Grove Books. $16.95 I Love You Already
paper (305p), ISBN 978- Anna Ressler.
Midway Field 1-63299-141-6 CreateSpace. $12 paper
Mike Marcon. Marcon Amazon, Ingram (34p), ISBN 978-1-
Publishing. $7.99 paper A historical novel 985040-11-3
(122p), ISBN 978-1- based on actual people Amazon
5442-0994-4; $9 and events related to the sinking of a A love poem from a
e-book, ASIN passenger liner by a German submarine mother to her unborn
B06XVR7P2F on the first day of World War II. baby.
Amazon
An aging pilot crashes his airplane and Poetry Mystery/Thriller
discovers he has gone where all of us Best Evidence Black Angel
may go when we leave this reality. Mark S. Osaki. Dolores Maria Davis. Dolores Maria Davis.
CreateSpace. $6.38 $9.99 paper (230p), ISBN
Natalia paper (66p), ISBN 978-1- 978-0-9976240-1-4
Johanna K. Hansen. 984198-32-7 Amazon
Dorrance Publishing. $22 Amazon This novel tells the story
hardcover (130p), ISBN These soulful poems of upbeat Magdalena,
978-1-4809-4143-4 speak to readers as whose embittered
DorranceBookstore.com members of families, as lovers, and as father chooses to work
When Natalia answers travelers, and rewards readers for taking as a counselor for the
an unexpected call to the journey. Mafia in L.A. Not judging the mob, she
come to New York, she’s taken on a jour- becomes a lawyer for them.
ney, discovering places, people, and Delivered on Christmas
herself. Dean McFalls. Xlibris. $12.99 paper (200p), Dominion: Resurrection Day
ISBN 978-1-5434-1278-9; $3.99 e-book, M.A. Smith. M.A. Smith. $22.50 paper (600p),
The Promise ISBN 978-1-5434-1279-6 ISBN 978-0-692-99439-9; $13.99 e-book,
Cramer Louis Jackson. Toplink Publishing. Amazon ASIN B079PQXB76
$7.99 paper (33p), ISBN 978-1-948556- Follow the author’s misadventures and Amazon

50 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 8

PW SELECT LISTINGS
A suspense tale of a
gifted hacker’s ritualis-
tic murder. This
unusual case leads two
FBI agents to uncover
a darker conspiracy
threatening the power
grid and maybe even
the government.
Gestation Seven:
One Was Black and
One Was White
J. Stewart Willis. Xlibris.
$29.99 hardcover
(382p), ISBN 978-1-
5434-1015-0; $19.99
paper (382p), ISBN 978-
1-5434-1014-3
Amazon, BN.com, Xlibris
Two dead babies are found in a dump-
ster south of the city, challenging a
newspaper reporter and the Alexandria,
Virginia, police department.
A Handful of Might
Joel Green. Amazon.
$12.99 paper (310p),
ISBN 978-1-980229-28-
5; $3.99 e-book, ASIN
B079NWSXBL
Amazon
In 1975, Blake Drysdale
accepts a mission to pursue a Nazi war
criminal and a fortune in gold. He and
his crew must fight to protect the
world, their lives, and their share of
the loot.
Nimbostratus: Rain
Clouds of Death
Hank Patterson. Xlibris.
$19.99 paper (218p),
ISBN 978-1-5434-5651-6
Hankpattersonbooks.
com, Amazon, BN.com,
Xlibris
A family on vacation along with an
uncanny crew investigate strange
and deadly occurrences coming out
of the clouds above Aruba. NASA has
its own plans to keep their secret safe.
PAID LISTINGS
®
The PREAH Secrets SF/Fantasy/Horror
K.B. Beaumaaks. Dog Ear Beyond the Blue: A
Publishing. $28.95 hard- Journey Through the
cover (290p), ISBN 978-1- Heavens
4575-4443-9; $16.95 Tara Knight. CreateSpace.
paper (290p), ISBN 978-1- $16.99 paper (468p),
4575-4169-8 ISBN 978-1-983638-
KBBeaumaaks.com, 81-7; $8.99 e-book, ASIN
Amazon, BN.com, Ingram B079TMCVC1
A tangled scandal inspired by real events Amazon
takes readers on wild ride of secrets, sex, A hidden celestial kingdom faces its
drugs, and murder. greatest adversary as a Paladin from
beyond the blue uncovers a secret that
Untouchable could unravel its very existence.
Sibel Hodge. Wonder
Women Publishing. $2.99 The Last Iteration
e-book, ASIN Mel Arthur. Edge Science
B01GHALZ8M Fiction and Fantasy
Amazon Publishing. $14.95 paper
A conspiracy, a cover- (268p), ISBN 978-1-
up, and a whistle- 77053-155-0; $5.99
blower who knows too much. You think e-book, ISBN 978-1-
you know whom to trust? You’re wrong. 77053-153-6
The truth may kill you. Amazon, BN.com, Google Play, Kobo
Seven people are dropped into a fea-
Whistleblower tureless maze. If they are going to sur-
Terry Morgan. tjmbooks. vive, they must withstand the brutally
$2.99 e-book, ASIN dangerous terrain, fight bizarre mon-
B00QCGP3H6 sters, and trust one another.
Amazon, Smashwords
International aid money Portals in Time:
is being stolen by those The Quest for
at the heart of govern- Un-Old-Age
ment. An epic thriller covering events in John Joseph Teressi. High
the USA, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Castle Publishing. $17.99
and Asia. paper (410p), ISBN 978-
0-9641854-3-2; $9.99
Wildfell e-book, ISBN 978-0-
London Clarke. Carfax 9641854-2-5
Abbey Publishing. $2.99 Amazon, BN.com
e-book, ASIN A metaphysical adventure through time
B07BN5BJ4W to a land of conscious nature and
Amazon, Apple iBooks, unusual beings who try to share Seven
BN.com, Kobo Harmonies with battling intruders seek-
A chance encounter ing the secret of Un-Old-Age.
on a flight to London leads Anne to a
house with a history of disappearances. REAP 23
Are any of the tenants who they claim to J.J. Perry. Xlibris. $19.99
be? Or are other forces at work? paper (390p), ISBN 978-
1-5434-2741-7; $3.99
e-book, ISBN 978-1-
5434-2740-0
Amazon
B O O K L I F E .C O M 51
 PAID LISTINGS

® PW SELECT LISTINGS
On a one-way space mission, four cou- the world’s most influential figures? The Romance/Erotica
ples, experimental pharmacology, planet Umban’s enigmatic author, J.S. Mail Order Mayhem
impending doom, sabotage, sacrifice, Freeman, breaks her long silence. Cynthia Woolf. Firehouse
boredom, sheer terror, science, insanity, Publishing. $2.99 e-book,
adultery, and honor all collide in tight The Vengeance Code ISBN 978-1-947075-
quarters. An epic of survival. Nat McKenzie. Whipple 44-3
House Publishing. $14.99 Amazon, Apple iBooks,
Rehab for One-Hit Wonders paper (484p), ISBN 978- BN.com, GooglePlay, Kobo
George Traikovich. 0-9911785-7-5 When Lucy is threat-
CreateSpace. 99¢ Amazon, BN.com, Book ened by a murderer, Drew will do all in
e-book, ASIN Depository, Kobo his power to keep her safe.
B07BFHYRL6 A stolen code. A deadly
Amazon secret. An unlikely alliance. Linix Grey Towards the Inner
Waking up inside must avenge her father, whose virtual Jerronime. Jerronime.
rehab was guitarist reality code was stolen after his hushed- $7.99 e-book, ASIN
Rick Paulsen’s latest up murder. B079T866BZ
setback, not his last. But the therapy Amazon
designed to revitalize his career exposes Wagers of Fate: A woman transforms
arcane secrets no treatment could pre- The 108 stars from a desperate,
pare him for. Noureddine Hifad. gloomy, and damaged
Noureddine Hifad. $2.99 wreck into a real being full of love. Based
The Rift e-book, ASIN on true events.
R.J. Clark. CreateSpace. B078TNJ77N
$2.99 e-book, ASIN Amazon, Kobo Nonfiction
B004XD9V82 A young heir to the Becoming Okay (When You’re Not Okay):
Amazon throne, Prince Hector flees in an attempt A Step-by-Step Guide to Decrease
A down-on-his-luck PI to gather 108 righteous heroes to save Suffering and Increase Acceptance
with a demon bound to the country from the usurping general. Bryan Bushman. BCS.
his soul searches for a $14.95 paper (420p),
child kidnapped by a demon in the City The Waters of Eden ISBN 978-0-692-
that Care Forgot. C.W. Irwin. CreateSpace. 07825-9
$7.99 paper (255p), ISBN Amazon
The Rocket Girl’s Tale 978-1-977813-42-8 How is acceptance
K. Hippolite. iUniverse. Amazon developed?
$19.95 paper (275p), ISBN A biologist and his wife Dr. Bushman, a psy-
978-1-5320-3152-6 move to the Amazon chologist, provides easy-to-remember
iUniverse basin to develop a bet- steps to help people find balance.
The steampunk tale of a ter rubber tree. A native chief gives them Relates to depression, anxiety, chronic
young rocket scientist a flower that can revive the deceased pain, or addictive behaviors.
who meets with love and possibly instill eternal life.
and destiny. Bullets to Bandages: Life Inside the
The White Raven Israel Defense Forces
Stillwaters: The Four Lives of J.S. Carrie D. Miller. FiveFold Mark Terris. Xlibris.
Freeman, Book 1 Press. $12.99 paper $23.99 paper (442p),
Yvonne Anderson. (410p), ISBN 978-1- ISBN 978-1-5434-1227-
Gannah’s Gate. $14 paper 947024-01-4; $3.99 7; $3.99 e-book, ISBN
(322p), ISBN 978-1- e-book, ISBN 978-1- 978-1-5434-1228-4
946985-01-9; $2.99 947024-00-7 Amazon
e-book, ASIN Amazon, Apple iBooks, The author explores
B079RLCGGT Audible, BN.com daily life inside the Israel Defense
Amazon A modern witch and a centuries-old curse. Forces, providing the reader with an inti-
How does a person rise from the Does the elusive white raven hold the mate view of the Israeli army.
shrouds of obscurity to become one of secret to her release—or is it the cause?

52 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
 PAID LISTINGS

PW SELECT LISTINGS ®

The Casting Couch Bound, Powell’s Books paper (244p), ISBN 978-1-
and Me: The Rediscover the forgot- 984337-05-4
Uninhibited Memoirs ten treasures of the Amazon, BN.com
of a Young Actress history and principles This book takes the
Joan Wood. Ace of the Declaration of reader through the mind
Publishing. $10.99 paper Independence and how of a borderline person-
(208p), ISBN 978-1- those principles apply ality. It is written so both
984142-77-1 today. the person still suffering
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com and loved ones may understand this dis-
This book follows a young actress Gathering No Moss: Memoir of a order.
searching for work in the “biz.” That Reluctant World Traveler
young actress was the author, young and Don Feeney. iUniverse. The Limitations of God
fresh from England. Dreams collided $23.95 paper (376p), Ted Johnson. Xlibris.
with reality, as her story will tell. ISBN 978-1-4917- $15.99 paper (95p), ISBN
3486-5; $6.99 e-book, 978-1-5245-5855-0
CBT for ISBN 978-1-4917- Limitationsofgod.com,
Psychotherapists: 3488-9 Amazon, BN.com, Xlibris.
Theory and Practice Amazon com
Avigdor Bonchek. A retired Air Force offi- This book bridges sci-
PartridgeSingapore. cer and U.S. diplomat shares his favorite ence and Scripture. Johnson and the
$12.33 paper (110p), stories from a lifetime of traveling reader look at creation and the by-prod-
ISBN 978-1-4828-8282- around the world in the pursuit of work, ucts, and merge an explanation via sci-
7; $3.99 e-book, ISBN love, adventure, lust, danger, and mean- ence, the supernatural, and humanity.
978-1-4828-8283-4 ing.
Amazon Loopey to Beau: A Troubled Author’s
Bonchek, a clinical psychologist, His & Hers: Relationship Journey with Dogs
explores how cognitive behavioral ther- Do’s and Don’ts James W. Bennett. Page
apy and treatment programs that derive Tamara Neal. Tamara’s Publishing. $19.95 paper
from theory can help solve a variety of Books. $12.97 paper (288p), ISBN 978-1-
psychological problems. (106p), ISBN 978-0- 64214-034-7
9909379-5-1 Amazon, BN.com
Courageous Warriors: Tamaraneal.com, Amazon, YA novelist Bennett’s
Overcoming Obstacles BN.com autobiographical nar-
to Inspire and Lead A resource that men and woman can rative of his long-term struggle with
Lee F. Satterfield. Xlibris. come to for relationship expertise. Neal’s mental illness and profiles of the dogs
$15.99 paper (78p), ISBN book bounces from signals of trouble- who shared the journey, bringing support.
978-1-5434-1687-9; some women to symbols of men to avoid.
$3.99 e-book, ISBN 978- Meals from the Mitten: Celebrating the
1-5434-1685-5 Horses, Heartache & Healing Seasons in Michigan
Amazon Elizabeth Denniss. Rafa Life Publishing. Gina Ferwerda. Story
This book is about courageous warriors $5.99 e-book, ISBN 978- Farm. $35 hardcover
and how they adjust to setbacks, make 0-9925486-1-2 (208p), ISBN 978-0-
greater comebacks, and overcome Amazon, Book Depository 9969441-7-5
extraordinary obstacles to live, inspire, The true story of wild- Nomnews.com
and lead. born horses rescued The Michigan-based
from drought and cer- coffee-table-style cookbook focuses on
The Founders’ Revolution: The tain death in outback all of the fresh ingredients grown in the
Forgotten History and Principles of the Australia. state.
Declaration of Independence
Michael S. Law. Morgan James Publishing. Inside the Mind of a Borderline Merchant Adventurer Kings of Rhoda:
$17.95 paper (234p), ISBN 978-1-68350- Personality, My Life and Recovery with The Lost World of the Tucson Artifacts
585-3 BPD Donald N. Yates. Panther’s Lodge. $19.95
Amazon, BN.com, Books-a-Million, Indie Matthew J. Gewinner. CreateSpace. $9.99 paper (346p), ISBN 978-1-974677-72-6;

B O O K L I F E .C O M 53
Contact Joe Murray at JMurray@publishersweekly.com for more information.

® PW SELECT LISTINGS
$9.95 e-book, ASIN
B078YD825N
Amazon
Yates tells the story of
a forgotten Roman-
style military gover-
norship in ancient
Mexico. The book may
change everything we thought we knew
about pre-Columbian history.
No Time to Kill: True
Stories of an Arizona
Bounty Hunter
Victor M. Alvarez. Victor M.
Alvarez. $9.99 e-book,
ASIN B07BD45D61
Amazon, BN.com
Alvarez tells of his
action-packed, fast-paced life as a
bounty hunter out after several danger-
ous bail jumpers.
The Russia Probe:
What Did Trump Know,
and When Did He
Know It?
Earl Ofari Hutchinson.
Middle Passage Press.
$7.95 paper (110p), ISBN
978-1-881032-02-1
Amazon, Ingram
This book takes a hard, wide-ranging
look at what’s known and what still
remains to be answered about Trump
and Russia.
A Short Story of Women’s Self-Esteem,
My Life, & Positive Motivations
Chislene Lora. Dorrance Publishing. $17
paper (38p), ISBN 978-1-
4809-4404-6
DorranceBookstore.com
In her memoir, Lora
shares how to overcome
trauma, toxic relation-
ships, and low self-
esteem to live the life of
your dreams. Persevere to fulfill your
goals.
The Silver Thread of Life
Phillip B. Chute. Phillip B. Chute. $20 paper,
56 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
PAID LISTINGS
ISBN 978-0-692- Afarin should be
06056-8 thrilled with the direc-
Silverthreadoflife.com, tion her life is taking,
Amazon but she is spiraling into
True accounts of spiri- the depths of madness
tual interventions by after being drugged
people who bared their and raped by col-
experiences with the leagues at Rolling
etheric spirits. Stone magazine.
Stress Makes You Fat, Wrinkled and You Must Know Everything! A Quixotic
Dead Compendium of Human Knowledge
Eliezer Ben-Joseph. AuthorHouse. $19.99 Ronald Pies.
paper (230p), ISBN 978- CreateSpace. $65 paper
1-5246-9241-4; $13.99 (574p), ISBN 978-1-
e-book, ISBN 978-1- 981229-24-6
5246-9240-7 Amazon
Amazon A grand tour of human
The author attempts to knowledge, ranging
answers life’s age-old over the arts, sciences, and humanities.
perturbations. Here’s a
book for any age to learn what it means Children’s/YA
to live a happy, stress-free life. Bear Company (Dark Corps 1)
Cameron Alexander. Bickering Owls
The Tactical Heart: Get in the Fight Publishing. $6.99 paper (154p), ISBN 978-0-
Mark S. Caronna. Kindle 9991138-1-3; 99¢
Direct Publishing. $7.99 e-book, ISBN 978-0-
paper (58p), ISBN 978-1- 9991138-0-6
980516-82-8 Amazon, BN.com
Amazon When Timmy’s father,
The book is a detailed Dr. Barnes, is forced to
examination of spiritual open a portal to another
warfare and the armor dimension, the world is
of God as found in the Bible. invaded by shadowy, shape-shifting
creatures known as the Dark.
The Watford Knight’s Fee: The Manors
of Medieval Watford, Northamptonshire Beauty Kills the Beast: Stories for the
Murray Johnston. Mill City Press. $17.99 Young at Heart on Love and
paper (356p), ISBN 978- Self-Respect
1-5456-1705-2 Astrid Hoffmann. Balboa
Amazon, BN.com Press. $8.95 paper
An accurate deep dive (118p), ISBN 978-1-
into the manors, lands, 5043-8531-2
and people of one Balboapress.com,
knight’s fee in medieval Amazon
England. Told by nar- The book is addressed
rating surprising and true stories from to the young at heart, and its intention is
Watford. to shed light on modern issues and give
a hand in the search for one’s power and
Writing and Madness in a Time of Terror true love.
Afarin Majidi. Afarin Majidi. $19.99 paper
(326p), ISBN 978-1-973484-17-2 The Bored Lamb: And the Brightest Star
Amazon, BN.com Fran Rathmann. Xlibris. $15.99 paper (24p),
 PAID LISTINGS

PW SELECT LISTINGS ®

ISBN 978-1-5245- Jane Austen’s 9996760-0-4; $8.99

6776-7; $3.99 Pride and e-book, ASIN
e-book, ISBN 978- Prejudice B0799F3BGK
1-5245-6775-0 Ellie Fabe. Beauty Misslittlebeasharp.com,
Amazon Panic Press. $30 Amazon
Curly is an adven- paper (157p), ISBN 978-0-692-50341-6 What type of music
turous little lamb Beautypanicpress.com, Amazon does Miss Little Bea
looking for excitement. One day, guided Austen’s classic tale is reenvisioned with Sharp want to belong
by a bright star, Curly and his flock wit- 39 color illustrations. A limited printing to when she grows up? She takes a
ness a glorious scene, and Curly’s life is of 500 copies numbered in gold foil. magical journey through Musical Town
forever changed. with her mentor, Treble Clef.
Just a Shelter Dog
Cleo the Basset Hound Sally H. Cronk. Kindle An Ordinary Reindeer
Sandra M. Barrett. Direct Publishing. $2.99 Fran Rathmann. Xlibris. $15.99 paper (24p),
Dorrance Publishing. $24 e-book, ASIN ISBN 978-1-5434-
hardcover (30p), ISBN B078HFQVN5 2006-7; $3.99
978-1-4809-3722-2 Amazon e-book, ISBN 978-1-
Dorrancebookstore.com An intuitive, mind- 5434-2005-0
Cleo is lost. As she tries reading hound narrates this tale as he Amazon
to find her home again, grows from a lonely rescued pup into a The ordinary rein-
she encounters strangers who seem beloved service dog for an autistic boy. deer has always
helpful, but Cleo knows it could be dan- wanted to pull Santa and his sleigh. But
gerous to accept rides or food from The Keeper of Fire: when Santa gives him the greatest
strangers. Book One of the honor, he doubts himself. Will Santa be
Dolphin Code Trilogy able to help him?
Crimson: The Dragon Davina Marie Liberty.
Keeper Chronicles Archway Publishing. Pinky Promise: Breaking the Code of
(Vol. 1) $18.99 paper (282p), Silence
Tai Manivong. WaveCloud ISBN 978-1-4808- Alicia J. Turner, illus. by
Corporation. $8.99 paper 5983-8 Justin Richburg. Alicia J.
(247p), ISBN 978-1-5356- Amazon, BN.com, Ingram Turner. $18.99 hardcover
1191-6 A village girl is summoned into an (34p), ISBN 978-0-692-
Amazon, BN.com, Ingram, apprenticeship with a necromancer, 92277-4
Kobo who trains her to fight evil forces and Amazon, BN.com
In this epic fantasy, Crimson must pro- bridge the gap between two estranged The promise is between a child and
tect the dragon young from those who societies. responsible adult. The child promises to
would kill them and take their magic. tell the adult anything that makes the
Crimson must harness the dragons’ Live by the Feelings child uncomfortable, and the adult
power before it’s too late. Not by the Thoughts promises to listen, believe, and protect.
Ephraim Tyler.
Incan Warrior CreateSpace. $14.99 Siona’s Tale
Kathleen Kelley. Xlibris. paper (420p), ISBN 978- Barbara A. Liepe, illus. by
$19.99 paper (160p), 0-692-95888-9 Maddie Kathleen. iUni-
ISBN 978-1-5434-4804- Amazon verse. $14.99 paper
7; $3.99 e-book, ISBN A young man named (202p), ISBN 978-1-
978-1-5434-4806-1 Reggie meets and befriends a young 5320-3896-9
Amazon woman named Ashley. They become Amazon, BN.com, iUni-
Huchuysisa and really close until an unexpected tragedy verse
Ninasisa are two young girls who want to threatens their relationship. A minuscule creature of the sea, hatched
make a change within their society and 521.2 million years ago, harbors the
help their culture for the better. Miss Little Bea Sharp secret codes of humanity.
Jessica Rosen, illus. by David R. Martinez.
Jessica Rosen. $15 paper (32p), ISBN 978-0-

B O O K L I F E .C O M 57
 PW SELECT LISTINGS
Q&A SPONSORED Top Choice
Sophie McAloon. Hegge
BookLife Talks with Press. $2.99 e-book, ISBN

Nicole Audet 978-1-77524-261-1

Amazon, Kobo
Audet, known as Dr. Nicole, is the author of the What if the battle of the
Felix and Booboo children’s books, a series that is sexes turned into an
designed to help children and their caregivers actual battle—and you
discuss medical issues. We spoke with her about realized you were falling in love with the
the challenges of explaining these complex topics leader of the opposing side?
to young readers. More information is available at
drnicolebook.com. Tough Mauve
Ashley Atkins. Aea Media.
How and why did you begin writing the Felix and Booboo books? $12.99 paper (324p), ISBN
As a child I was fascinated by picture books. I dreamed of becoming an 978-0-9862908-2-4
author but became a doctor first. My daughter-in-law, who died of lung Amazon, BN.com
cancer, loved the stories I wrote and made me promise to never give up When Lulu finds an
on my dream. Eventually, I started to write children’s stories about the unlikely home with Aunt
human body. The Felix and Booboo series currently includes eight books, Karma, life seems okay.
each available in both English and in French. They cover gastroenteritis, Then a local reporter goes missing, trig-
vaccination, lice, otitis, broken arms, chicken pox, allergies, and the gering events that bring Lulu’s father to
human body. town,whether she likes it or not.
In my latest book, Special Food for Sam, Felix faces a big challenge: he
must bake special cookies for his friend Sam who is allergic to eggs, nuts, World of Dawn: Arise
and cow’s milk. He asks Booboo, his magical stethoscope, to help him Shawn Gale. Xlibris.
prevent these ingredients from jumping into the cookie dough. $17.99 paper (242p),
ISBN 978-1-5144-3659-
These topics can be hard for kids to understand. How do you make 2; $3.99 e-book, ISBN
them accessible to children? 978-1-5144-3507-6
Picture books that teach health, diseases, and the human body to chil- Amazon
dren are not readily available. Medical books currently on the market A sci-fi adventure com-
for children are too difficult for them to understand and the text is too ing-of-age story in which a journey to
long. In the tradition of Walt Disney and Dr. Seuss, I decided to breathe find a way home becomes a quest to
life into my medical instruments to engage children in powerful ways. save the world. ■
My books fill a gap in that specific area.
My target audience is children four to eight years of age. Emerging
readers love my series because the books are less than 1,000 words each
and include beautiful illustrations. Teachers like to use my books to
For more
educate children about health, common diseases, and the human body.
They also love to use the quizzes at the end of each book to challenge
information about
children’s reading skills and critical thinking.
marketing your
How has your work as a doctor and educator informed your writing?
In addition to my medical degree, I have a master’s in medical educa- book with pw se-
tion. I teach pediatrics and family medicine at McGill University and
Montreal University, so I have full knowledge of the topics I write lect visit:
about. In addition to this series, I have written other children’s books,
as well as a peer-reviewed health guide for parents. I have also won booklife.com/
many literary book awards and have sold more than 150,000 books.
These accomplishments, combined with my medical and teaching about-us/
background, give me solid credentials to write books for children on
health topics. pw-select.html
For more information, visit booklife.com/audet.

58 B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
REVIEWS
Fiction
Aboard Providence
Keely Brooke Keith. Edenbrooke, $12.99
trade paper (272p) ISBN 978-1-5425-8956-7
Brooke Keith (The Land Uncharted)
returns to the frontier settlement featured
in her previous Uncharted series in this
inviting prequel about an expedition from
Virginia to Brazil in 1860. Eight Christian
families make a plan to pioneer a new,
peaceful settlement in Brazil, far from the
civil unrest brewing in America after
Abraham Lincoln’s election. Jonah Ashton,
a medical student studying in Pennsylvania,
has been called home to Virginia to join the
expedition. But a desire to graduate and
clear his name after false allegations are
lodged against him creates a conundrum for
him. Unwilling to disappoint his father, he
devises a plan he believes will allow him to
appease his family by going on the trip
while also finishing school. Marian Foster,
a self-taught botanist who is also part of the
expedition, sees the trip as a new adventure
full of promise. Despite an immediate
attraction, their relationship is hindered by
Jonah’s desire to eventually return to
Pennsylvania. Brooke Keith’s abundantly
detailed and romantic adventure tale fea-
tures a faithful, colorful cast that face the
unknown with grit and determination,
making for a fresh and satisfying story.
Anne and Charles: Passion and
Politics in Late Medieval France
Rozsa Gaston. Renaissance Editions, $14.95
trade paper (357p) ISBN 978-0-9847-9065-4
A young, orphaned duchess, whose polit-
ical marriage with the king of France
becomes a loving, productive union, is the
center of Gaston’s pleasant first novel in the
Anne of Brittany series. In 1488, at age 11,
Anne becomes Brittany’s ruler after her
father’s accidental death; in a symbolic mar-
riage with a proxy groom, she marries the
Holy Roman Emperor in 1490. But with
France invading the smaller duchy, Anne,
14, whose marriage to the Holy Roman
Emperor has been annulled, agrees to marry
the 21-year-old king of France, Charles
VIII, as a patriotic move to save Brittany.
Anne shrewdly requires privileges for her
country in a marriage contract with the
smitten king, displaying impressive
wisdom and fortitude for her age. She is
crowned queen, and her marriage to Charles
becomes an amorous, genuine, and (mostly)
honest relationship. The marriage results
in cultural advancements, particularly to
art and architecture, yet it is characterized
by tragic misfortunes with their children
and problems resulting from Charles’s
Italian military campaign. Anne’s legacy is
that of an intelligent, beloved, and capable
queen, with no shortage of heartache as a
mother and a wife, as King Charles was a
habitual womanizer. Gaston’s blend of roy-
alty, young love, and the French Renaissance
is enchanting.
Brynnde
M. Pepper Langlinais. CreateSpace, $2.99
e-book (200p) ASIN B01NAYDN6F
Langlinais (Manifesting Destiny) has
crafted a wonderful, witty Regency
romance. Brynnde Archambault is facing
another season where she is expected to find
a suitor, and she doesn’t hide her disdain for
being “traded off like a heifer.” She finds a
kindred spirit in Garrick Sommerford,
Viscount Burbridge, as both buck against
society’s expectations of how a proper lady
and gentleman should act. Brynnde accepts
Garrick’s eventual proposal, but her father
calls it off when Garrick’s family is involved
in a shocking society scandal. Brynnde
resigns herself to spinsterhood and dedi-
cates herself to playing matchmaker, but
fate may have other plans—she is suddenly
taken ill and Garrick rushes to be at her
side. Great characters and crackling banter
keep the plot moving, and the slow, steady
growth of Garrick and Brynnde’s relation-
ship will please fans of chaste romance.
Dreamers of the Grail
Dale Geraldson. Stone Ring, $24.95 trade
paper (860p) ISBN 978-0-9829712-2-2
The story of Perceval and Galahad’s quest
for the Holy Grail gets an ambitious
retelling in Geraldson’s action-packed if
overstuffed debut. A chance encounter with
a group of knights gives Perceval the oppor-
tunity to leave his mundane life on the farm
behind and seek adventure. Meanwhile,
Galienne (who later takes the name
Galahad) seeks a life beyond the simple one
expected of women and finds purpose in
®
King Arthur’s court. The novel intertwines
their tales from their teenage years through
every milestone in the Arthurian legends,
from brewing rebellions, to love and loss,
and ultimately finding the mythical
chalice. Though Geraldson provides a
unique perspective on familiar events, some
major moments—including Arthur’s ulti-
mate duel against Mordred—are given
curiously short shrift in the overly dense
tangle of plots and subplots. Readers enam-
ored of Arthurian legend will appreciate
Geraldson’s meticulous update—particu-
larly his smart twists on well-established
characters—but those interested in a fast-
paced adventure will want to look
elsewhere.
Little Flower
Ted Oswald. Dispatch Publishing, $9.99 trade
paper (256p) ISBN 978-0-9886005-5-3
In Oswald’s rollicking novel, set in Delhi,
an elderly nun teams up with a prostitute to
find the killer of a boy they both loved, albeit
in very different ways. Meeta Chandralekha
is escaping from her brothel with her client
and true love, Ram Kumar, when Ram gets
into a fight at the train station with an
unknown man and is thrown under a train
and killed. Sister Shanti, of India’s
Missionaries of Charity, who has known the
troubled Ram since he was a small boy,
decides to investigate after she learns of his
death in the newspaper. When she meets
Meeta, they reluctantly partner to find
Ram’s killer. What follows is a dizzying few
days spent on the teeming streets of Delhi,
where Shanti and Meeta collide with vicious
thugs, drug dealers, and noble street kids,
while following a trail that leads to a slightly
unhinged Bollywood actress who holds a
shocking secret. The story is told in a letter
written to Pope Francis, requesting Shanti’s
canonization, by Sister Immaculata, whose
gentle, wry humor adds levity to this story
about a terrible crime and the blossoming
of an unlikely partnership. Oswald’s novel
is a unique, lovely take on faith, under-
standing, forgiveness, and love.
Nuclear Blues
Bradley K. Martin. Great Leader Books, $19.99
trade paper (338p) ISBN 978-1-54391-596-9
Korean-American photojournalist Heck
Davis, the hero of Martin’s topical near-
B O O K L I F E .C O M 58a
 ® REVIEWS
future political thriller, is taking a tour of
the demilitarized zone within South Korean
territory when he sees his friend Joe
Hammond, a foreign correspondent, break
away from his tour group on the North
Korean side. Joe knocks down a guard and
dashes in Heck’s direction, only to be
gunned down. The tragedy is compounded
when Joe’s insurance company contests
paying out on his life insurance policy,
maintaining that his actions were tanta-
mount to suicide. Heck’s editor sends him
into North Korea to investigate why Joe,
who was probing the source of Kim Jong
Un’s wealth, risked his life. Heck not only
stumbles onto a complicated conspiracy but
finds romance as well. Unfortunately, the
implausible ending doesn’t match the
intriguing setup. Martin, who was chief
North Korea watcher for Bloomberg News,
clearly knows his subject, as was also evi-
dent in his nonfictional Under the Loving
Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea
and the Kim Dynasty.
Secret Desires
J.L. Regen. J.L Regen Enterprises, $7.99 trade
paper (200p) ISBN 978-0-9984099-1-7
Credible and touching moments are
sprinkled throughout Regen’s simple story
about a young woman’s response to the ebbs
and flows of life. There’s instant attraction
when 23-year-old Margo Simmons visits
Edward Master, a handsome 30-something
widower, for advice on how to invest her
inheritance. Though Margo finds herself
desiring a relationship with Edward, she is
not sure she can handle any more drama in
her life. Margo is a sympathetic protagonist
whose relationships with the people around
her, especially her mother, reveal her
thoughtfulness and sensitivity. The por-
trayal of Edward’s conflict—his attraction
to Margo and his memories of his late wife
that complicate a new relationship—is real-
istic and heartwarming. However, the lack
of development in the characters and some
overly convenient plot points make it dif-
ficult to fully engage with the story. Despite
some hackneyed descriptions, Regen cre-
ates heat in the sex scenes between the two
shy new lovers. The narrative is flat at times
due to minimal description, but the short
chapters and changing perspectives help
move the plot forward. There’s enough heat
58b B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
and happiness in the story to keep unde-
manding romance fans satisfied.
Taking on Lucinda:
A Kent Stephenson Thriller
Frank Martorana. VinChaRo Ventures, $13.50
trade paper (283p) ISBN 978-0-99893-260-6
In Martorana’s promising debut and
series launch, veterinarian Kent Stephenson,
who lives in Jefferson, N.Y., is shocked to
learn that Aaron Whitmore, the upstate
village’s former police chief, has been found
dead from an apparently self-inflicted gun-
shot wound. Kent can’t believe that Aaron
committed suicide. Shortly before he died,
Aaron, who became a journalist after leaving
the force, told his mother he was working
on a story that he feared would hurt her.
Meanwhile, Kent joins forces with his
brother, Merrill, who succeeded Aaron as
police chief, to solve an arson case after a fire
guts the research wing of Copithorn, a local
company that tests cosmetics on animals.
Copithorn was the recent target of a group
of animal rights protesters headed by sexy
celebrity Aubrey Fairbanks (“Testosterone
gushed like toilets flushing, pouring into
the bloodstream of every man in the place,
when Audrey stepped into Kolbie’s
Tavern”). The memorable characters and
plotting will appeal to Paul Doiron fans.
Untethered
John Bowie. SilverWood, $13.49 mass market
(192p) ISBN 978-1-78132-667-1
Set in 1998 in Bristol, England, Bowie’s
dark, hard-edged crime novel inaugurates a
promising series. The 27-year-old man
calling himself John Barrie, “drunk, bored
and alone,” has just started “another nonde-
script corporate job” as part of a witness
protection program, but finds working with
“repressed zombies” hard to stomach. Since
he can’t externalize his true feelings without
risk, John is unable to benefit from the
therapy his minders have arranged, and he
gets through his days self-medicating with
alcohol. Then John’s brutish neighbor,
whom John has dubbed Sean the Bastard,
asks for help finding his missing girlfriend,
Cherry O’Neill. Although John’s door just
happened to be the first one Sean banged on,
John takes advantage of the request to pose
as a private investigator and agrees to search
for Cherry. Bowie’s delayed reveal of John’s
past proves an effective way of undermining
the reader’s feelings about the lead, who
becomes surprisingly sympathetic, with an
inner life complex enough to sustain future
books. Noir fans will find a lot to like.
What Child Is This?
An Ellie Kent Mystery
Alice K. Boatwright. Cozy Cat, $14.95 trade
paper (258p) ISBN 978-1-946063-40-3
Set in the village of Little Beecham,
England, Boatwright’s appealing sequel to
Under an English Heaven finds amateur
sleuth Ellie Kent, an American expat, still
in some disbelief that she now lives in an
18th-century Georgian house with her new
husband, the town vicar, Graham Kent.
When the police make little effort to find
missing 20-year-old Anthea Davies, a stu-
dent at Oxford, her parents turn to Ellie for
help in locating her. Meanwhile, during a
nativity service on Christmas Eve, Ellie dis-
covers that a real baby has been left in the
crib in the church’s manger. Ellie and
Graham drive the infant to the hospital,
where the maternal Ellie soon becomes a
regular visitor to the abandoned child now
known as Rosie. Ellie’s search for Anthea
eventually connects to the mystery of
Rosie’s parentage. Boatwright vividly con-
jures the warmth of the snowy, candlelit
holiday through her descriptions of English
Christmas rituals and community gather-
ings, which also serve to provide a grati-
fying structure to the story. Anglicans and
Anglophiles will find a lot to like.
★ In Wolves’ Clothing
Greg Levin. White Rock, $13.95 trade paper
(272p) ISBN 978-0-9904029-4-7
Levin movingly conveys the stomach-
churning horrors of child sex trafficking in
this effective thriller. Zero Slade works for
Operation Emancipation, a globe-trotting
group of operatives with intelligence back-
grounds, who pose as prospective clients as
a way to bust the traffickers and liberate
their young captives. After one such mis-
sion, while waiting for a flight from
Guadalajara, Mexico, to L.A., Zero muses:
“Before I joined Operation Emancipation,
I was just like the dozens of people fuming
at Gate A-11 right now. Flight delays
would ruin my day.... Now I can smile and
whistle while walking through a pediatric
REVIEWS
cancer ward.” Zero feels deep empathy for
the helpless victims he labors to save at
great personal risk. The conflict between a
facade of professionalism and heartfelt
involvement with the suffering he witnesses
reaches a head after he bonds with Sung, a
five-year-old girl he rescues in Cambodia.
Zero does his best to keep Sung safe, but
more perils for the girl lie ahead. Levin pro-
vides a window into one of the world’s
darkest underbellies, while somehow man-
aging to insert appropriate lighter
moments, as when Zero meets a new recruit
to OE, a Buddhist former FBI agent. This
author deserves a wide audience.
Nonfiction
Cooking with Adrienne:
A Story of Friendship and Food
Joan M. Harper. Harper Publications, $19.99
trade paper (156p) ISBN 978-1-539-93607-7
Harper, a close friend of 1970s French
cuisine doyenne Adrienne Zausner, presents
a heartfelt portrait of their culinary camara-
derie in this inspired, slim cookbook. After
Zausner was diagnosed with progressive
dementia in 2010, Harper collected 50 years
of her cooking mentor’s recipes and travel
journals (she documented every meal) for the
first in a series of books about Zausner’s trail-
blazing role in America’s food revolution
from the ’70s to the ’90s. In this primer for
cooking modern French cuisine, Harper
shares what she learned of Zausner’s simple
but elegant nouvelle techniques: how to
make vinaigrette, cook en papillote, deglaze,
and create basic stocks. French sauces are
also featured, such as a sauce batârde, a quick
version of a hollandaise sauce. Fish com-
prises most entreés— sole in rosemary cream
and salmon in red wine butter sauce are but
two examples. Methods for preparing foie
gras, duck, and beef are straightforward, as
are fruit-focused desserts and a chocolate
mousse. Zausner’s handwritten menus and
personal photos with famous French chefs
(the Troisgros brothers, Roger Vergé, etc.)
bring her story to life, as do Harper’s remi-
niscences of cooking and traveling with
Zausner. With these splendid recipes, the
cuisine of the nouvelle masters is within
reach of many a home cook.
Happy Starts at Home: Getting
the Life You Want by Changing
the Space You’ve Got
Rebecca West. Bright House, $13.99 trade
paper (212p) ISBN 978-0-9976237-0-3
In this unusual, original self-help guide,
interior designer West shows readers how
to use their home “as a tool to make change
happen in your life.” It’s not just about get-
ting organized; West writes that one’s home
can be “the key to better health, better
sleep, better relationships and an all-around
better life.” It worked for West—after her
marriage ended, she repainted the walls of
her house and refurnished (with help from
Craigslist); as a result, she “transformed
how I saw my future” and embarked on a
new career. West’s rules work, she says,
whether readers are postdivorce, empty
nesters, or parents trying to set limits for
their kids. The process starts with “defining
your perfect place,” and she provides a
number of helpful quizzes, activities, and
worksheets to help. West’s tone is consis-
tently positive and motivating (“Say Yes to
New Adventures”), patiently guiding
readers over hurdles big and small, ending
with a simple four-day approach to home
reorganization. “You don’t have to know
how,” West reminds readers, but “only have
to take the next step,” a smart reminder as
readers prepare for change.
The Heart of an Angel: Becoming
God’s Messengers of Love and
Hospitality to a World in Need
Tom English and Wilma Espaillat English.
Dead Letter, $12.95 trade paper (202p)
ISBN 978-0-9966936-1-5
The Englishes (Angel in the Kitchen), hus-
band and wife, ask readers to redefine hos-
pitality by considering it from a biblical
sense in this impassioned book. In modern
parlance, hospitality implies entertaining
perfectly and putting on a show, they write.
But, for them, this is misguided; they see
expressing love in a practical way and devel-
oping relationships as the true nature of
hospitality. By creating an environment in
which God can work and reaching out when
others are in need (instead of waiting for the
perfect set of circumstances), they believe
that one can rediscover the heart of hospi-
tality. There are many stories from the Bible
(as well as some from Martha Stewart and
®
Wilma’s mother), and the book’s repetitive
construction is filled with biblical impera-
tives (“Cheerfully share your home with
those who need a meal or place to stay”) and
stories of how hospitality helped people
find grace (Abraham greeting the three
angels at his home is used as an origin tale).
Bringing together all the Bible has to say
about being hospitable, the Englishes’
forceful book will appeal to Christians
interested in deeply scriptural reading.
Master Chefs of France:
The Cookbook
Edited by Karen Dumonet. Chefs Connection,
$45 (350p) ISBN 978-0-933477-62-9
Founded in 1951, the Maitres Cuisiniers
de France is the oldest global chef organiza-
tion, with more than 500 members. Here,
77 MCF members from the U.S. and Canada
put their imagination and talent on full dis-
play in a remarkable, if sometimes intimi-
dating, collection of more than 150 recipes.
Decadence (Raymond Ost’s foie gras stuffed
quail) and opulence (Eric Gonzalez’s Egg
Faberge) are on full display. Some of the
dishes, such as Bruno Lopez’s seared salmon
with mango, ginger, and papaya salsa, and
Phillipe Verpiand’s wild mushroom ravioli
with port wine sauce, are within the reach
of home cooks, but most of the fare is prob-
ably best left to the pros—Herve Malivert’s
Duo of Duck (a two-day process that
involves pressing duck-leg meat in square
containers); Jean-Luc Royere’s smoked beef
tartare, caper gelee, and egg yolk-roasted
garlic jam; and Christian Delouvrier’s beef
fondant with glazed carrots and wild mush-
rooms are just a few examples. The book’s
design feels dated, and its oblong rectan-
gular shape and small print makes it diffi-
cult to cook from. But as an aspirational
cookbook, it works remarkably well,
offering readers a glimpse into the restau-
rant kitchens of outstanding chefs.
Mean Men: The Perversion of
America’s Self-Made Man
Mark Lipton. Voussoir, $16.95 trade paper
(288p) ISBN 978-0-9986130-2-4
Amid a chorus of women’s voices
sounding the #MeToo movement, Lipton,
a New School management professor, issues
a detailed, methodical, and scathing cri-
tique of male behavior at its worst. He asks
B O O K L I F E .C O M 58c
 ® REVIEWS
what it is in American culture that allows
“mean men” to function and be celebrated
in many sectors of society, including in the
country’s highest political office. Lipton
focuses on entrepreneurs, the “go-getting,
risk-taking and rebellious” class now lion-
ized in America, as a rich source of exam-
ples. From “Opportunists” to “Dogmatists,”
Lipton discusses six distinct types of prob-
lematic archetypes that all share the
common traits of being abusive to
coworkers, unprincipled, unempathetic,
deceitful, lacking in remorse, and prone to
shunning responsibility. Whether the
example is Mark Pincus of Zynga, Steve
Jobs of Apple, producer Harvey Weinstein,
or Dov Charney of American Apparel,
Lipton has no qualms about naming names
and telling the stories of men long allowed
to flourish despite their unpleasant
behavior. As for mean women, Lipton
argues that they certainly exist, but that
social norms make them less likely to
thrive. What to do about their male coun-
terparts, then? Empathy, Lipton says at the
conclusion, can be used to understand and
thus stand up to them. Readers with “mean
men” for bosses will feel newly empowered
by Lipton’s well-timed manifesto.
On Becoming God’s Servant
Audrey Dorsett. Outskirts, $13.95 trade paper
(66p) ISBN 978-1-4787-4999-8
Dorsett (Starting My Day with Him), a
nurse who has worked in Kenya and South
Sudan educating women on health issues,
offers Christian women a simple, concise
guide to becoming a holy woman. The first
step to success, in Dorsett’s estimation, is
developing spiritual maturity. She lays out
a clear plan of prayer and Bible study and
bases her program on knowing God, clari-
fying a purpose, knowing oneself as a
woman, understanding oneself as God’s
servant, and strengthening others. “To be
an effective servant you need to know: who
God is, His likes and dislikes, His promises,
His love and compassion.” Each chapter
begins with instructions before Dorsett
turns to quotes and rephrasings of well-
known passages from the Bible to back up
her points. Discussion questions, prompts,
and charts fill the rest of each chapter, with
meditations and prayers coming at the end.
Dorsett’s text is brief, but this biblical
58d B O O K L I F E , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
primer will be effective for time-pressed
Christian readers looking to include more
structure in their prayer.
The Once and Future Queen:
Guinevere in Arthurian Legend
Nicole Evelina. Lawson Gartner, $19.99 trade
paper (336p) ISBN 978-0-9967632-2-6
This uneven examination of the character
of Guinevere in literature by novelist
Evelina (Camelot’s Queen) aims for a popular
audience, but is formatted more like an aca-
demic work. The bulk of the text consists
of a scholarly examination, beginning with
the earliest medieval Welsh works men-
tioning King Arthur’s queen and moving
forward to the present. Discussing widely
recognized works such as those of Marion
Zimmer Bradley, Thomas Malory, Alfred
Lord Tennyson, and T.H. White, along with
other, lesser-known authors, Evelina focuses
on how Guinevere’s depiction reflects the
status of women and the religious climate
at the time of writing. These chapters do a
fair job of summing up the scholarship of
others with the notes and extensive source
lists one would expect of an academic piece.
For the final chapters, Evelina turns to the
works of two self-published authors, herself
included. While readily admitting the
unconventionality of evaluating herself, she
makes a spirited case for her own contribu-
tions to the Guinevere character. These final
chapters rely more on reviews from popular
websites, such as Goodreads and Amazon,
than scholastic references. This change from
an academic to a popular tone is jarring, but
Arthurian buffs may find use for Evelina’s
study as a readers’ advisory tool.
Rise and Fall of the 80s Toon
Empire
Jason Waguespack. CreateSpace, $18.99
trade paper (402p) ISBN 978-1-974098-60-6
Waguespack presents an in-depth look
at the cartoon industry in the 1980s in this
over-long but fascinating work. The late
1970s was a turning point in television,
Waguespack argues, when the FCC imple-
mented new regulations that made it easier
for independent stations to start up due to
concerns that the big three networks were
monopolizing content. Soon, the Reagan
administration rolled back advertising
restrictions on commercial time during
children’s programming, which meant
more advertising opportunities for toy com-
panies. This confluence of events was the
catalyst for the biggest boon in children’s
entertainment, with shows like Strawberry
Shortcake, Transformers, and Thundercats
becoming mega hits. But by the end of the
1980s, the glut of properties (and toys)
caused the balloon to pop. When the toys
stopped selling, companies stopped adver-
tising and studios lost their production
partners, causing studios to close.
Waguespack offers clear, detailed assess-
ments of the decade’s cartoons as a water-
shed moment in entertainment history:
“The creation of so many hits made it pos-
sible for children of the ’80s to immerse
themselves in their favorite fantastic uni-
verses as never before in American culture.”
Waguespack has provided a valuable—if at
times overly detailed—history, which will
be of most interest to diehard fans of TV
cartoons.
Second Labor: Mothers Share
Post-Birth Stories
Edited by Chaya Kasse Valier. Elan, $12.95
trade paper (150p) ISBN 978-0-9988551-0-3
“Mired in the hardship of the ‘fourth tri-
mester’ ” after giving birth for the fourth
time, Valier, a doula, was inspired to com-
pile the stories of postpartum mothers into
this sometimes hard-going but heartfelt
collection. Her reason for embarking on the
project came from her discovery that, while
birth stories are freely shared, postpartum
stories are relatively hard to come by. The
resulting testimony doesn’t sugarcoat the
problems women can face. A first-time
mother recalls, “it took me four months
before I felt like myself again.” Another new
mother, exhausted and depressed, flew with
her three-week-old baby to another conti-
nent to be with her mother so she would
have a support system. Those support sys-
tems, the book shows, are vital—one
woman, “tired and confused,” joined a
mom’s group that proved so helpful that,
33 years later, the group still meets
monthly. The emotions described vary
widely, from overwhelming grief to
enduring gratitude, as do the contributors,
who include a 16-year-old anxious to return
to high school, a 40-year-old feeling
“blessed” to have had her first child, and a
REVIEWS ®

woman in her late 30s riding out the emo- to marry Helda, but she’s able to convince
tional ups and downs of the adoption pro- him to wait after her mourning period is
cess. Women who can relate to the experi- over, allowing her time to devise a plan to
ences shared here may well find Valier’s kill the count and take back Kratzenfels. As
collection cathartic. Helda searches for a way to escape her
imprisonment, she discovers that the count
The Six Functions of Management: is responsible for much more sinister things
A Functional Action Planning than just the war. Jones’s story is decidedly
Guide for People in Management lacking in worldbuilding, but what is there
George Phirippidis. Kerr Hill, $24.95 trade pa- is imaginative, such as the terrifying part-
per (144p) ISBN 978-0-99127-680-6 man, part-machine creatures called spider-
Phirippidis, CEO of the consulting firm wights that hunt Helda relentlessly, and the
KerrHill, offers a highly practical treatise Twain brothers, two halves of one brain in
on the primary functions of management in two different mechanical bodies, who prove
this inviting and useful work. Extracted to be valuable assets to Helda in the final
from the author’s management course, the battle. She is a strong and engaging char-
advice works on three levels, showing acter who uses her wits to get her out of
readers how to manage themselves, their trouble, and she also happens to be a crack
employees, and their business. The author shot. Ages 12–up.
identifies what he considers the six most
crucial aspects of the subject, namely, com-
munication, planning, organizing, staffing,
controlling, and leading. He dedicates
chapters to each, providing self-assessment
and development tools to help readers
create personal action plans and work on
areas needing improvement. He includes
his own examples of shortcomings turned
into learning moments, such as when he
delayed dealing with an underperforming
account manager until other employees
started to complain of unfair treatment.
One of the book’s strengths consists of its
uncluttered format, which allows readers to
quickly scan for pertinent topics and extract
nuggets of relevant advice. Easy to navigate
and full of wise and insightful approaches
to the practice of management, Phirippidis’s
book will arm readers with the tools needed
to be accessible, efficient, and effective
managers.

Children’s/YA
The Outlaws of Kratzenfels
M. Jonathan Jones. Brandyke, $5.99 trade
paper (167p) ISBN 978-0-9935200-5-1
Jones’s steampunk-esque fantasy world
calls to mind the dark origins of fairy tales.
Princess Helda of Kratzenfels is forced to
watch as her kingdom is conquered and her
father killed by Count von Falkenhorst after
a long war of machines vs. magic. To cement
his claim to the kingdom, the count wishes

B O O K L I F E .C O M 58e