A Life Through Books

Memoirs / Humor

Date Published: August 15, 2025

 The Station is an extraordinary true story—an elegy of childhood alienation, social dysfunction, and psychological terrorism. Narrated by the foul-mouthed antihero himself, this filthy account will have you washing your hands with the turn of every page.

After being expelled from middle school, a young boy must find his way through the struggles of the working class. After not looking very far, he finds employment at a small gas station in a dangerous part of town. There, beyond pumping gas, slinging cigarettes, and wrestling with hoboes, he finds himself working for a man who has a fetish for mayhem. Falling prey to the influences of his surroundings, laughing hysterically, and cursing as if he invented it, the boy embarks on a journey into senseless chaos and the macabre. But just as he becomes confident of his abilities, he’s accused of a crime. And without support or witnesses to his character, he’s left waiting for his fate to unfold.

About the Author

 The GwaK, author of the writing on the wall—the stall wall that is, an unfiltered, unrestricted, uncompromising voice of self-preservation. Born a bastard somewhere in the 1970’s at a high elevation, among a-holes gaslighting him into their slave fallacies, he’s unleashed himself upon the page. His work is derived from personal experience, bringing the macabre into focus with ruthless phraseology leaving his readers with pink eye. With that, The Station is the first volume in an upcoming series entitled Resumé of my Discontent. These memoirs of angst, strife, and hilarious introspection weave the author’s bio leaving no stone unturned and no wallet untapped.

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(Holiday Hanky Panky 1)

Date Published: October 30, 2026

Publisher: Changeling Press

Agent Nick Pierce is known as an effective tracker with a caustic wit and unparalleled paranoia. He’s harassed or insulted more magical creatures than most people have ever met. He’s hidden his bisexuality for fifteen plus years and is content to take that secret to his grave until he meets a police detective moonlighting as a dancer at a gay club.

Bob White is protective of this newbie who’s followed a friend into Ravencrest, at least until his full-time gig as a police detective makes him think Nick might be a suspect.

As their attraction grows, Nick’s virginity and his terror of one specific vampire are thrown into the light. Nick must defend himself from Bob’s suspicion and the vampire’s next attack. But can he quell SearchLight’s desire to wipe Bob’s memory?

The crowd was a little ugly tonight. Not because of their glitter or makeup but because of their forced smiles. Bob White, who went by Birdie when he was performing, read the signs. Most of the drag queens were being protective of their dates and of anyone who looked fragile. Bob approved. Maybe he could lighten the mood. Tonight was his show. He wasn’t dancing every song on stage, but he got to couple with many of the drag kings and queens. Being androgynous as well as good at disguises meant only a few knew him with all his costuming in place.

Now, though, he was stripped to the waist and clad in jeans. Because it was his show, he’d chosen most of the night’s music. However, when he strode onto the stage, the music that began to play wasn’t what he’d picked. He caught CJ’s eye, saw the wicked gleam in it, and inwardly sighed. He had a choice. He could either dance to this country song or he could raise a stink.

He chose to dance to the het-suggestive song. He’d heard this one a few times. The other officers at the station listened to just about everything at one time or another. He did his best to turn the heterosexual-focused song into a gay anthem through the movement of his body and his facial expressions.

The Ravencrest Club, which was mostly a gay bar although all were welcome, seemed hotter tonight than usual, and Bob turned a swipe of his forehead into part of the dance. Considering it was November in New York, it really was warm in here.

He quit worrying about the heat when he caught sight of three men standing close to the edge of the stage. Two of them, a Native American and a Caucasian man with black hair, had their arms around each other. The third stood close to them but he looked distinctly uncomfortable. He had lovely light brown eyes and hair like wet sand’s deepest hue swept back from his forehead. He was tanned and fit and although he didn’t wear a skintight T-shirt, the leather jacket that he kept zipped showed off his physique. He was sweating. It gleamed on his forehead. Bob wondered why he didn’t show whatever he was wearing underneath. Maybe it was offensive. Or maybe he was embarrassed by it. Or maybe he just wanted to feel protected. His anxiety was almost palpable.

Bob didn’t examine the other two quite as closely. For one, they were obviously together. For another, they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Bob danced right up to the discomfited man, presenting his ass for either a smack or nothing depending on the guy’s nervousness level. After he’d danced there for five seconds, he faced his intended target again. To his surprise, the man was holding up a five-dollar bill and looked intimidated. Bob took pity on him and took the money with a bow and a smile.

The object of his attention flushed but didn’t drop his eyes, even when the Native American half of the couple nudged him. He gave off a general air of confidence despite the way he chewed at his lip for a moment.

The music ended then and Bob came back to himself. He hadn’t meant to spend so much time with this unknown person. He retreated a few steps and bowed to the cheering, whistling crowd.

Emily Carrington is a multipublished author of male/male and transgender women’s speculative fiction. Seeking a world made of equality, she created SearchLight to live out her dreams. But even SearchLight has its problems, and Emily is looking forward to working all of these out with a host of characters from dragons and genies to psychic vampires. And in the contemporary world she’s named “Sticks & Stones,” Emily has vowed to create small towns where prejudice is challenged by a passionate quest for equality. Find her on Facebook at Shapeshifter Central or on her website.

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Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

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Thriller, Drama, Suspense, Action, Redemption, Healing

Date Published: July 9, 2026

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

RESCUED FROM A BRUTAL CULT, SHE BELIEVED SHE HAD ESCAPED THE SHADOWS. BUT TEXAS HARBORS EVEN DARKER SECRETS.

Blake is a steely, enigmatic force, fiercely loyal to her one-eyed horse, Ira. As she navigates the patriarchal arena of cutting horse competitions, her steadfast devotion teeters on the brink of danger, unearthing a dark past she had long sought to bury.

Across the scorched Lone Star badlands, retired detective Sonny Harrell hunts the killers who murdered his father. His trail of blood and lies uncovers a ruthless syndicate that would flay you to the bone to guard its empire of corruption.

When Sonny's path collides with Blake's, she is swept into a vortex of violence. Outnumbered and outmatched, they must claw through the chaos-or vanish into oblivion.

About the Author

 Paul’s debut crime thriller Nannerl’s Symphony—based on Mozart’s history—was published soon after he completed his PhD in Mathematics from Imperial College London. He has since authored over 100 academic papers in top journals. The Gershwin Cutter is his second thriller, with two more on the way. Currently, he holds an endowed professorship at the University of Texas in Austin. A recipient of multiple research awards, Paul was also a finalist for the U.S. National Library of Poetry Award. He has lived on three continents and is fluent in several languages. An animal lover, Paul is the proud pet parent of a blue-eyed Alsatian.

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Fiction

Date Published: July 27, 2026

Publisher: MindStir Media

The Book of Ribbner by Ronnie Vergnolle is a sweeping literary adventure that travels across wild rivers, distant oceans, and sacred landscapes in search of answers to humanity’s most enduring questions.

At the center of the story is Hannah Ribbner, a grieving adventurer drawn into a mysterious prophecy involving the legendary Golden Mahseer, the haunting song of the 52-hertz whale, and a decision that could change the relationship between humanity, nature, and artificial intelligence forever.

As Hannah’s journey unfolds, she encounters extraordinary wildlife, ancient wisdom, spiritual mysteries, and the unspoken code shared by those who understand the water. Each discovery leads her closer to a truth that challenges everything she believes about love, loss, consciousness, and the sacred connections that unite all living things.

Blending adventure fiction, environmental themes, spiritual discovery, grief and healing, and thought-provoking questions about AI, The Book of Ribbner is an imaginative and emotionally resonant novel for readers who enjoy meaningful stories set against the beauty and danger of the natural world.

Can technology understand the human soul? Can a machine experience awe? And can one sacred fish help restore the balance between humanity and nature?

The prophecy is waiting. Hannah must decide how the story ends.

About the Author

Ronnie Vergnolle is the author of The Book of Ribbner, a sweeping literary adventure inspired by his lifelong connection to fishing, nature, and exploration. His journeys across some of the world’s most remote rivers and wild landscapes have shaped his perspective on conservation, spirituality, grief, human connection, and the mysteries that exist beyond what science can explain.

Through vivid storytelling and firsthand experience, Vergnolle invites readers to consider profound questions about humanity’s relationship with the natural world. His writing explores the healing power of water, the responsibility people have to protect vulnerable ecosystems, and whether artificial intelligence could ever experience wonder, love, or awe.

In The Book of Ribbner, Ronnie Vergnolle blends global adventure, sacred wildlife, emotional discovery, and philosophical fiction into an unforgettable story about loss, purpose, and the choices that may determine humanity’s future.

Learn more at www.ronnievergnolle.com.

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Historical Thriller

Date Published: November 17, 2026

In the ruins of post-war Europe, Sophie Faulkner only wants the past to leave her alone.

Once a gifted German-speaking clerk at Bletchley Park, Sophie’s life was destroyed when British intelligence uncovered the truth she had tried to bury: she was born Sophie von Adler, daughter of a wealthy Nazi industrialist. Interrogated, imprisoned, disgraced, and abandoned, she has survived the war with nothing but a ruined reputation and a talent for keeping secrets.

Then MI5 offers her a way back.

Her father’s hidden fortune lies in a Zurich bank account — millions in Swiss francs and bearer bonds intended to finance the escape of senior Nazis fleeing Allied justice. To reach it, Sophie must become the woman Europe’s most dangerous men expect to see: the cold, entitled heiress of a dead Reich loyalist.

But the money is only bait.

Drawn into a shadow war between British intelligence, American pragmatists, Vatican fixers, Swiss bankers, Soviet agents, and the remnants of the SS, Sophie finds herself trapped inside the very network she was sent to expose. Every alliance is temporary. Every identity is a weapon. And if the men around her discover where her loyalties truly lie, she will not live long enough to choose her own future.

Malcolm has spent a lifetime gathering stories, living and working in Australia and the Middle East before returning to the UK. Today, he weaves that global experience into gripping historical novels that explore the intersection of crime, war, and espionage.

The Manchester Noir Series: Gritty 1990s crime with a unique twist (The Honey Talker, The Fatal Formula).

The Aviation Collection: High-octane tales of courage and dogfights in WWI and WWII (LMF, The Way Back, Leviathan).

The Lisbon Series : Follow ex-cop Dinis Lopes through the treacherous, "neutral" streets of 1940s Portugal.

Cold War Espionage: Revisit the 1950s with the fast-paced adventures of Contrail and Czechmate.

When he isn’t uncovering the secrets of the 20th century, Malcolm lives and writes in Cheshire, England.

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Date Published: October 24, 2025

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

Superstorms flatten cities. Coastlines collapse. Climate change is no longer theoretical—it is lethal. When a near-apocalyptic storm nearly kills their family, teenage siblings Jimmy and Lizzie Marshall urge their brilliant but reluctant father, nanoscientist Greg Marshall, to deploy a technology before he’s brave enough to release it.

WhiteGrass—a self-replicating nanotechnology capable of removing carbon from the atmosphere is the parent technology. It saves golf courses and ski resorts and the towns they serve. Icarus could reverse climate change on a global scale. It could also reshape global power forever.

To protect the technology, Greg and his wife Ginny, an elite AI expert, reprogram the world’s most advanced humanoid android, Valada. Designed as property—an object without rights—Valada begins to evolve, developing emotional awareness, moral judgment, and something disturbingly close to humanity.

As governments unravel and climate disasters accelerate, a covert alliance of oligarchs, corporations, and political power brokers moves to seize WhiteGrass/Icarus for themselves. Led by the President of the United States, the syndicate will stop at nothing—surveillance, blackmail, assassination—to control the technology that could save the world or enslave it.

They deploy their own deadly android.

Now the Marshalls are trapped in a global sci-fi political conspiracy, hunted by forces with unlimited resources, as skyscrapers fall, cities burn, and artificial intelligence begins to ask questions no human is prepared to answer.

At its core, WhiteGrass is a gripping near-future climate change thriller about family survival, technological power, and the terrifying moment when artificial intelligence stops serving humanity—and starts judging it.

Blending nanotechnology science fiction, AI humanoid emotional evolution, and hard-science realism, WhiteGrass delivers relentless pacing, cinematic stakes, and deeply human emotion. It is a story about parents willing to risk everything to protect their children—and a world forced to confront whether it deserves saving at all.

Perfect for fans of near-future disaster thrillers, technothrillers with political intrigue, and science fiction where artificial intelligence becomes human, WhiteGrass is a powerful warning—and an unforgettable ride.

Richard H. Smith, MSc., is a futurist, technologist, and climate policy expert whose career has placed him at the intersection of nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, healthcare innovation, and climate change foresight for more than three decades. Drawing on real-world experience working alongside scientists, engineers, Fortune 50 companies, and Ohgovernment agencies, Smith writes hard science fiction grounded in plausible futures, where technology collides with political power, ethics, and human survival.

Smith’s professional background spans leadership roles in nanotechnology R&D, AI-based medical diagnostics, strategic technology forecasting, and science policy, including serving as research director at a major university medical center and founding multiple technology ventures. He has advised U.S. and international governments on emerging technologies and was formally trained on climate change science by Al Gore, giving him a rare combination of technical depth and policy insight.

Raised in Virginia, Smith built his career while raising a family—an experience that deeply informs the emotional core of his fiction. Today, he lives in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, a coastal community already facing the realities of sea-level rise. He teaches courses on climate change and coastal vulnerability, witnessing firsthand how future scenarios are rapidly becoming present-day realities.

WhiteGrass is Smith’s first full-length novel and the culmination of a lifetime spent studying how advanced technologies shape—and endanger—civilization. The novel explores nanotechnology, climate collapse, political conspiracy, and artificial intelligence becoming human, all through the lens of family survival in a destabilized near-future world. A prequel, The Iliad Virus, is available now, with the sequel Icarus Rising currently in development.

Smith writes with one driving purpose: to expose uncomfortable truths about climate change, technological power, and political control—while telling a story compelling enough to feel like a blockbuster movie unfolding on the page.

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Walmart

Date Published: 10-22-2026

Publisher: Time At Last Books (Indie)

Cassie Mitchell is juggling the responsibilities of new motherhood and the drama surrounding her sister’s return to Whale Rock while welcoming another tenant to the carriage house. Adding to her worries are the recently discovered letters revealing a stunning confession. Could one of her seven baby brothers, who supposedly died at childbirth, have survived?

Cassie begins unraveling this new family mystery with guidance from the ever-present spirits of her ancestors, the original residents of The Bluffs. However, the fog of pregnancy brain is impeding her deciphering of their messages.

Cassie’s husband, former FBI agent Daniel Benjamin, surprises her with an au pair to help with the baby. But there’s something unnerving about Abbigail Grant, and soon after her arrival, the community is shaken when a body is found sprawled on the rocks near The Bluffs. With the case ruled a homicide, Cassie becomes entangled in the investigation and butting heads with Chief Brooks Kincaid, who is under pressure to solve the case before tourist season begins. A prominent politician appears on the scene, with questions arising over his connection to the victim. And why has the mysterious new owner of the Red Herring estate been nosing around suspiciously?

Can this murder be solved in time to save the summer season? Will Cassie determine if her brother survived? And if he did, will it be a blessing or another curse on the Mitchell family?

About the Author

 An award-winning author of fiction, Loretta Marion’s writing bridges the genres of mystery, suspense and women’s fiction, always with hints of romance and humor, sometimes delving into the psychological and paranormal. She creates strong but flawed characters as appealing as the rich atmospheric settings in which the stories take place.

A true bibliophile, she has loved reading and creating with words since she was a young girl. That affection for the written word followed her like a shadow throughout her life, but her passion for writing fiction evolved from the unlikely world of hospice. As a volunteer, she established a Legacy Story program to honor and preserve the rich heritage of the fascinating people who were soon to leave this world. The meaningful experience inspired her to create her own interesting characters and stories.

Though born and raised in the Midwest, Loretta fell in love with New England and has made it the setting for much of her writing. When not whipping out words on her laptop, she is traveling, enjoying outdoor pursuits, or is curled up with a delicious new book.

Loretta lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Geoffrey, and their devoted Mr. Micawber, a sweet and amusing German Shepherd Corgi cross

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