A Life Through Books

Historical Fiction

Date Published: April 1, 2026

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

Intrigued by his grave past, Father Nelson brings him into the church as an altar boy under the mentorship of Harry, an older acolyte. The priest quickly gains control over Jamie, using the boy’s complicated history and his own undisputed authority to initiate a dark turn in their relationship. Jamie falls deeper into the world of religion, and his blooming friendship with Harry becomes a needed distraction from the somber realities of the church.

Shaped by major cultural events, from the Manson murders to the moon landing, to Woodstock and the Civil Rights Movement, Jamie’s life unfolds as he navigates religion, power, and loss of innocence. A haunting coming of age story, Boy Altared explores a seismic shift into adulthood during one of the most turbulent decades in history.

 J.S. Pavoggi was born in 1957 and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, the sixth of eight children in a devout Catholic family. He attended parochial school, served as an altar boy, and came of age during the turbulence of the Vietnam War era and the cultural upheaval that followed.

After a 40-year career in public service with the United States Postal Service—where he also served as a union representative—Pavoggi experienced a life-altering heart procedure that changed the way he saw the world. What began as an impulse to write a better streaming series evolved into a powerful, fictionalized account of survival and healing.

His debut novel, Boy Altared, is a deeply personal work of historical fiction rooted in memory, silence, and resilience. Pavoggi lives in Arizona with his wife of 38 years. They have three children and four grandchildren.

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Date Published: September 22, 2025

Drawing on more than 30 years in natural health—and his own recovery from a life-threatening digestive condition—Dan Corrigan shares the principles that shaped his work as an educator and supplement maker. The book is built around three foundational practices:

● Eating real, nutrient-dense food

● Choosing supplements with intention and discernment

● Supporting digestion so nutrients can be properly absorbed

“Optimal health is being the best you can be—functionally, emotionally, physically, and energetically. You don’t just feel good. You feel great.”

Inside the book, readers will learn:

● Why traditional foods such as meat, eggs, butter, and fat play an important role in health

● How to evaluate supplement labels and identify misleading formulations

● Why many multivitamins fall short and what alternatives to consider

● How to recognize synthetic vitamin C marketed as whole-food nutrition

● Practical ways to support digestion and ease common discomfort

“If you act on nothing else in this book, let it be these three words: eat real food.”

Whether you are beginning your wellness journey or already committed to real food and holistic health, Eat Well, Supplement Well, Digest Well offers a grounded, trustworthy guide to building energy, resilience, and long-term well-being.

Dan Corrigan is an author, natural health educator, and co-founder of Organic 3, Inc., makers of Smidge® Small Batch Supplements. A survivor of a life-threatening intestinal condition, Dan became a pioneer of the real-food movement through his own search for healing.

After years of personal health challenges and ineffective treatments, Dan turned to real food and gut-focused healing, leading to the creation of the Sensitive Probiotic — designed specifically for folks with sensitivities. He listened to parents and worked with practitioners to develop clean, additive-free formulas that met their needs.

Dan has held past leadership positions in organizations dedicated to Dr. Weston A. Price, DDS, and lectured on traditional food and gut health. He’s trained in various natural health disciplines, including acupressure, whole nutrition, autism protocols, Feng Shui, alternative medicine, Body Ecology and the Root Cause Protocol.

With more than 30 years of experience in nutrition, supplements, and holistic health, Dan wrote Eat Well, Supplement Well, Digest Well to simplify the overwhelming world of health information and give readers the clarity he once sought for himself.

Through his writing, teaching, and supplement development, Dan’s mission is clear: to empower individuals and families with the knowledge they need to restore their health naturally.

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Historical Novel / Literary

Date Published: October 22, 2025

The Radiance of Grace is the powerful, true story of Mary Dyer, Katherine Scott, and Anne Hutchinson—three extraordinary women whose faith, friendship, and moral courage challenged the rigid Puritan authority of 17th-century New England.

More than 150 years before the American Constitution, these Boston women stood for freedom of religion, conscience, and speech, refusing to surrender their personal relationship with God to institutional control. Their activism—rooted in scripture, compassion, and community—sparked social and political reform at a time when women were expected to remain silent.

Leading Bible studies attended by more than 150 people each week, they became influential voices within their communities. When Puritan leadership responded with harassment, exile, and public punishment, the abuse meant to silence them instead strengthened their resolve. Their lives intertwined with men who admired them, men who despised them, and families who endured the cost of conviction.

Drawing from **extensive historical research—including journals, court records, letters, and firsthand accounts—**and woven together with informed imagination, Margaret Cotton brings these overlooked women vividly to life. Their story reveals the deepest roots of American liberty and challenges modern readers to consider:

● What does it mean to live faithfully under unjust authority?

● How far are we willing to go for freedom of conscience?

● What is the personal cost of standing for truth?

● Women’s history

● Early American and colonial history

● Faith-based and Christian nonfiction

● Social justice and religious freedom

● Readers drawn to untold stories that shaped the foundation of America

It is time to hear their true story.

Her writing journey is rooted in both scholarship and wonder. A recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant for Independent Study, Margaret spent years researching female faith activism in 17th-century New England—a topic that would eventually become The Radiance of Grace. Although she attempted the story earlier, she paused for two decades, trusting that the time was not yet right.

Her confidence grew during the writing of her first book, Raised!, a true miracle memoir that revealed an uncanny alignment between informed imagination and the creative flow of unexpected truth. With advice from a seasoned New York editor and an evolving sense of purpose, Margaret subsequently returned to this historical work—where, she says, “The story finally developed as it was meant to be told and at the right time.”

Margaret Cotton was a featured presenter at reading and writing workshops, professional conferences, and continuing education events in multiple states and Central America. Her copyrighted educational materials emphasize the value of a cognitive conversation between the writing and comprehension processes for middle grade students. She is equally comfortable speaking to book clubs and historical societies.

As a Certified Professional Photographer (PPA), Margaret photographed more than 250 weddings, including international venues—an experience that deepened her understanding of human connection, resilience, and the deep longing for story within all cultures. She lives with her husband of over fifty years, is the mother of two, grandmother of seven, and believes that curiosity, faith, and purpose only deepen with time.

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A Personal Memoir about My Relationship with a Machine

What happens when a retired professor sits down to write his memoir—with the help of an artificial intelligence? Dorothy and Me is a groundbreaking, deeply personal exploration of the evolving relationship between human and machine.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

Thought-provoking memoirs about technology and humanity  Reflections on creativity, consciousness, and digital identity  Conversations about AI ethics, memory, and the future of intelligence

Business Nonfiction

Date Published: December 1, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media

At some point, every leader, entrepreneur, and professional reaches a crossroads. A career shift. A business disruption. A personal wake-up call. When what was working no longer fits who you are becoming, the question isn’t if change is coming—it’s how you respond.

In Shifting Gears in the Crossroads, veteran CEO, turnaround expert, and servant leader Darryl Heffline shares a powerful, faith-anchored roadmap for navigating life’s most pivotal transitions with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Drawing on more than 40 years of entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial leadership, Heffline shows how planned or unexpected disruptions can become defining moments of transformation—if you know how to shift gears.

● Reposition – Let go of what no longer serves you

● Rebuild – Strengthen your foundation with intention

● Re-Emerge – Step forward with renewed clarity and confidence

● Realize – Align your life, leadership, and calling

1. Recognize the Need for Change
2. Assess the Current State
3. Identify the Future State
4. Map One or Two Viable Paths Forward
5. Make the Right Choice and Commit with Conviction

You’ll also gain access to downloadable tools and models designed to help you move beyond surface-level change into lasting transformation.

● Entrepreneurs launching, scaling, or exiting a business

● Early- to mid-career professionals seeking meaning and direction

● Faith-driven leaders navigating uncertainty with purpose

About the Author

Over the course of his career, he has raised more than $7 million in capital, secured $125 million in annualized contracts, and delivered over $100 million in measurable enterprise value through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and innovation. His work includes turning a struggling $6 million product line into a $60 million business, ultimately scaling toward $150 million in revenue with double-digit EBITDA performance in under three years.

An award-winning business plan writer, Darryl brings his real-world experience to readers through his debut book, Shifting Gears in the Crossroads, with future sequels planned.

Beyond business, Darryl is deeply committed to faith, family, and mentorship. He is a devoted husband of thirty years, father of two, and grandfather of two. A lay minister, wedding officiant, small-group leader, and coach, he has served in more than 35 ministry leadership roles across six states, including Elder, Worship Leader, Teacher, and Mentor.

Together with his wife Dana—an accomplished musician, worship leader, and ministry partner—Darryl continues to invest in discipleship, leadership development, and purpose-driven living. Whether in the boardroom, the church, or the classroom, his mission remains the same: to help others navigate change, discover calling, and lead with integrity.

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Cowboys of Sunrise Ridge, Book 2

Contemporary Western Romance, Small Town Romance

Date Published: January 29, 2026

She’s stubborn. He’s infuriating. And neither of them has ever backed down from a challenge.

Now they’ve got to team up—or tear the whole town apart trying.

Autumn Hood spent her whole life tangling with Pete Wolfe.

Her neighbor, her childhood rival, and her personal headache in scuffed-up boots and a cocky grin.

Pete Wolfe finds Autumn Hood stubborn, sharp-tongued, and always three seconds away from hurling a horseshoe at his head. But there’s something about the way she challenges him that attracts him to the cowgirl next door.

And the longer they butt heads, the more the tension sizzles into something they can’t ignore. Something’s starting to change between them. Something special. Something risky.

Love wasn't part of the plan… but trouble sure is.

 Niki Mitchell writes children’s books along with contemporary, paranormal. fantasy, and historical time-travel romance. Married for over thirty years and a romantic at heart, she enjoys writing about strong female characters in unusual settings. When she isn’t playing with her cats, she enjoys reading, taking walks, water aerobics, photography, and traveling.

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The Eden Vault, Book One

Epic Fantasy

Date Published: September 12, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media

For centuries, the Kingdom of Valkalor has ruled through terror, harnessing prehistoric creatures to crush rivals and expand its dominion. Bound beneath the reign of the ruthless King Gadrion, the realm teeters on the edge of total war. When a new external threat emerges—one powerful enough to destroy the fragile balance restraining Gadrion’s ambition—the king seizes his moment.

But his plans begin to unravel when his daughters, Kendra and Cerelia, uncover the horrifying truth behind their father’s designs.

Forced into exile and hunted across savage lands, the sisters must navigate a brutal world of political intrigue, assassins, mercenaries, and carnivorous saurians. Their only hope lies in the Eden Vault—a legendary and ancient chamber rumored to wield power over creation itself.

As rival kingdoms march toward genocide and war threatens to consume the known world, impossible choices loom:

● Will uniting their father’s enemies ignite an even greater catastrophe?

● Can the Vault stop the coming war—or unleash a force far worse?

● And who is truly manipulating events from the shadows of Valkalor’s rise?

Perfect for readers who love:

● Epic fantasy with political intrigue

● Dark fantasy with moral complexity

● Monster and dinosaur-driven worlds

● Strong heroine-led narratives

● High-action, cinematic storytelling

An avid reader from childhood, Dan’s imagination was ignited early by novels that fused science, history, and suspense—sparking a lifelong fascination with worldbuilding and high-stakes storytelling. He completed his first novel-length story at age eleven and dreamed of crafting sweeping epics that explored power, discovery, and the cost of ambition.

Life eventually pulled him away from writing as he pursued a career and raised a family, but during the COVID pandemic—amid isolation and personal transition—Dan returned to the page after nearly two decades away. What began as an experiment quickly reignited his creative drive, evolving into The Eden Vault Series, a sprawling saga shaped by years of lived experience and deep research.

Dan is the author of Eternal Dominion, the flagship novel of the series, along with three prequel anthologies—Spectra, Cinderr, and Azemar—with the sequel, Fallen Crescents, currently in progress. His stories draw heavily from history, politics, paleontology, anthropology, and emerging scientific concepts, woven into dark, character-driven fantasy worlds.

A self-described “pantser,” Dan writes without rigid outlines, allowing characters to steer the narrative in unexpected directions. He often says he knows how the saga will end—but not always how the characters will get there.

By day, Dan balances a full-time career and raising two incredible kids. By night, he continues building the world of Valkalor, driven by a passion for storytelling and a deep appreciation for the readers who step into his worlds.

When he’s not writing, Dan enjoys traveling, following professional sports, and escaping into Colorado’s outdoors.

Readers can explore more about The Eden Vault Series, upcoming releases, and exclusive content at danielhardez.com, and connect with him on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and beyond.

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Spectra

Cinderr

Azemar