A Life Through Books

Date Published: June 9, 2026

Publisher: Clay Bridges Publishing

Sometimes, the second chance we truly need is the one we give ourselves.

Ginny Carmichael feels trapped in her abusive relationship until an otherworldly visit ignites her determination to break free. With her baby daughter in tow, she embarks on a courageous road trip that not only takes her away from danger but also leads her to unexpected kindness, genuine connections, and profound forgiveness.

Along the way, she meets a compassionate waitress, a spirited aunt, and ultimately her estranged mother, who may hold the key to her healing. As Ginny approaches her destination—and the truth about her worth—she discovers that escape was never the destination. Wholeness was.

Second Chance Highway is a poignant tale of faith, friendship, and the path to restoration and redemption, and is the sequel to the award-winning Always Think of Me.

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Without question, the hardest part of writing a book is marketing. Every month, thousands of new titles flood Amazon and other retailers, all competing for readers’ attention. That’s why I’m especially grateful for book lovers like you, who help spread the word about fresh stories and new worlds.

What are your most played songs?

That’s an interesting question. I don’t have a single most-played song, but I do have favorite artists—Nathaniel Rateliff and Chris Stapleton, to name two. Their voices and lyrics always resonate with me. Chris’s rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, for example, stopped me in my tracks.

 

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I have three critique partners—talented women from the Knoxville (Tennessee) Writers Guild. They’re all accomplished writers who never hesitate to give honest feedback. They not only highlight the scenes that work well but also suggest where a different turn of phrase or a deeper perspective could strengthen my writing.

 

What book are you reading now?

I’m currently reading The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn.

 

How did you start your writing career?

I feel fortunate to have known by third grade that I wanted to be a writer. My career began in journalism, writing for daily newspapers and trade publications, which led to freelance magazine writing and to starting my own communications business. Before retiring, I spend nearly 20 years subcontracting for NASA—a great experience. Although fiction was always on my bucket list, I didn’t pursue it seriously until later in life. I often started projects only to stop when the story wouldn’t quite come together. It ultimately took a personal tragedy for me to finally write Always Think of Me, the prequel to Second Chance Highway.

 

Tell us about your next release.

Coming-of-age stories—like To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, and A Separate Peace—have always inspired me, so I’m taking a stab at writing in that genre. With the recent release of Second Chance Highway and a house full of company, I haven’t worked on the manuscript in what feels like weeks. But this week, I’m determined to dive back in.

 

 

About the Author

Lori Keesey is the author of Second Chance Highway, the sequel to the award-winning Always Think of Me. Lori discovered her love for writing at a very young age and then pursued a professional writing career as a journalist, freelance writer, and communication consultant. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park.

 

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Frontier & Pioneer Western Fiction; US Historical Fiction; Action/Adventure

Date Published: March 20, 2026

With all the swagger of a classic western, a legendary buffalo claims his rightful place among the genre's most iconic heroes.

Meet Rathuun. Born in an idyllic canyon, tragedy strikes on his first day. A grizzly bear scatters the herd, devours his twin, and leaves him to shiver and die. But the buffalo calf with a white spot on his chin survives.

The plains are changing fast. Wagons roll west in endless streams. Telegraph wires stretch across the horizon. Locomotives scream down polished rails, slicing through the earth. Extinction

seems imminent when everyone wants to kill the biggest buffalo on the prairie. Native people shoot arrows and drive herds over cliffs. Hide hunters slaughter millions. An obsessed buffalo assassin is determined to wipe them all out and change the world forever. There's an army of barking rifles, and they're all pointed at Rathuun.

Will the hunters take Rathuun's head and leave his carcass to rot on the prairie?

This sweeping epic thunders across the American West, taking listeners to unforgettable western landmarks. If you like classic westerns, thrilling action, and high-stakes historical adventures, grab your copy by the horns.

Welcome to the prairie!

Excerpt

Rathuun heard a fierce roar that rattled between his ears.

He had just finished nursing for the first time since he was born a thrum, hours earlier. His mother’s warm breath had tickled his flank just moments ago.

It was a peaceful morning on the prairie, but in a flash, everything had changed.

The thunderous roar boomed again. The entire brum was on the move.

In his haste to lead his followers away from danger, Drumm sounded the alarm and leapt forward. The old bull crashed into Rathuun, sending the thrum sprawling.

Rathuun’s legs wobbled as he tried to stand. It was a miracle that the collision hadn’t broken him. There was an instinctive pull to follow the brum, and it was centered beneath his chin, between his front legs.

He blinked rapidly, whipping his head from side to side, searching for his mother. Moments ago, she had been beside him. “Hathah!” he bleated, searching for the young cow who was his whole world.

But he knew she was gone. Gone with all the others. Why had she left him behind?

He shivered at the realization that he was all alone. His heart throbbed against his ribs. It was a struggle to make sense of what had happened.

Everything turned upside down and sideways. The panicked brum quickly vanished as the plains swallowed the pounding hooves and flashing tails, leaving nothing but a faint echo of their distant bellows.

It was eerily silent in the wake of the wild scatter of the buffalos’ frenzied exodus. Rathuun took a tentative step forward, not knowing what to do or which way to go.

Dust choked the air. His third, translucent eyelid swept sideways across his eye, clearing away the grit kicked up by the fleeing brum. He stood, dazed and completely alone.

Or so he thought. The silence quickly gave way to horrible sounds.

Rathuun turned his head. Twenty feet away, something moved. A dark, hulking monster hunched over something. Rathuun’s blood pounded with fear. There was a heavy thump in his chest. Then he saw the creature.

It was a rumbler.

 

About the Author

David Fitz-Gerald writes frontier and pioneer western fiction from the wilds of western Vermont—about as far west as you can get without slipping into New York.

Though he’s never wrangled beeves to market, Dave was a top hand on his grandfather’s dude ranch in the Adirondack Mountains… before he turned ten. He’s lived most of his life on dirt roads. Whenever he gets the chance, he travels west to recharge his spirit on the windswept prairies.

He’s an Adirondack 46’er which means that he’s hiked to the top of every mountain in the park. In 2018, Dave completed the 1960s fitness craze by hiking 50 miles in one day. That’s one heck of a long walk, but not nearly as grueling as the iconic trails that he chases in his fiction.

Even after all these years, Dave still has his head in the clouds like Ken from MY FRIEND FLICKA, and a quiet, self-reliant spirit like Sam from THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN. That blend of wonder, heart, and spirit runs through the characters he portrays. His editor states he is “exceptionally good at creating real moments between characters”—and readers seem to agree.

Dave’s breakthrough series, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail won Chanticleer’s Grand Prize for Book Series. He’s now the author of nearly twenty novels and counting, and as long as there’s coffee in the kitchen, Dave will be plotting one adventurous story after another.

 

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Action Adventure Thriller

Eradicate

The Custodian Trilogy, Book One

Published: January 21, 2025

Baptized in fire. Sworn to honor. Bred for blood.

Kyle Quinn, a former elite operative turned black ops mercenary, is a “Custodian” trained to execute the world’s most dangerous missions. But when he’s assigned to dismantle a child abduction cult buried deep in Louisiana’s Cajun underworld, the mission takes a personal turn. The cult is tied to his dark past—and to the man he fears most: his own father.

What begins as a straight-forward mission spirals into a relentless battle of survival, forcing Quinn to face the sinister Tenet family, a web of deceit, and an assassin whose skills mirror his own. As Quinn uncovers long-buried secrets, his ultimate confrontation with his father tests the limits of his strength, morality, and resolve.

Prepare for a high-octane thrill ride filled with relentless action, shocking revelations, and a hero who redefines justice.

Ready to join Kyle Quinn on his mission? Grab your copy of Eradicate today and experience a story that will leave you breathless.

Fans of Vince Flynn and Lee Child will devour this pulse-pounding start to a gripping new series.

 

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Action Adventure Thriller

Eviscerate

The Custodian Trilogy, Book Two

Publisher: Rough Edges Press

Published: February 14, 2025

 

Forged in Fire. Bound by Creed. Relentless in Retribution.

After dismantling a child-abduction cult and confronting the horrors of his past, black-ops mercenary Kyle Quinn, known as “The Custodian,” emerges with a renewed purpose: to protect the vulnerable and eradicate the worst of the worst. But leaving his past behind is easier said than done, especially when his next mission forces him to face an enemy as cunning and lethal as himself.

Tasked with taking down a revived Sinaloa Cartel in Austin, Texas, Quinn steps into a shadowy world of human trafficking and terror. With a new leader, a dangerous product flooding the streets, and untold power at their fingertips, the cartel threatens the very fabric of Quinn’s country. But they aren’t his only challenge.

A mysterious assassin emerges—one whose skills and strategies mirror Quinn’s in chilling ways. As the deadly game unfolds, Quinn is forced into a battle not just for survival, but for the truth about his own identity and the purpose of his fight.

With everything he thought he knew crumbling around him, Quinn must decide how far he’s willing to go—and what he’s willing to sacrifice—to bring justice to the darkness.

Packed with explosive action, gripping suspense, and shocking twists, Eviscerate will keep you hooked until the final page. Ready to stand with Kyle Quinn against the forces of evil? Pick up your copy today and join the fight.

 

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Action Adventure Thriller

Extricate

The Custodian Trilogy, Book Three

Publisher: Rough Edges Press

Published: March 14, 2025

 

Own Your Past, Accept the Pain, Rise to Redemption.

Kyle Quinn, once the elite black-ops mercenary known as “The Custodian,” has broken the unbreakable code of his guild. Betraying the manipulative Priest has made him the target of the world’s deadliest assassins—his former allies. But survival isn’t enough. To free himself from Priest’s shadow, Quinn must face his greatest enemy, no matter the cost.

Even as the onslaught intensifies, Quinn uncovers a sinister conspiracy shaping his life since birth. To destroy Priest and escape the web of deceit, he must confront his darkest fears, heal old wounds, and fight for the family he’s vowed to protect.

When justice and vengeance blur, and the line between savior and sinner disappears, how far will Quinn go to end the fight that began long ago?

The final chapter of Kyle Quinn’s journey is here. Will he find freedom…or fall to the darkness? Pick up your copy today to find out.

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Jarrett Mazza is a graduate of Goddard College’s MFA in Creative Writing Program in Plainfield, Vermont as well as The Humber School For Writers. Before completing his terminal degree, Jarrett studied writing at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies and completed the Novel Writing class at Sheridan College under award-winning writer, Melodie Campbell. He has also taught in a Writer’s Craft classroom at his former high school, and at Mohawk College in the Continuing Education department, has had stories published online in the GNU Journal, Bewildering Stories, Trembling With Fear, Aphelion, Silver Empire Publishing, The Scarlet Leaf Review, and Toronto Prose Mill, Zimbell House Publishing. He will also be featured in forthcoming anthologies entitled Mother’s Ghost Grim and The Killer Collection Anthology, both published by NBH Publishers, as well as another by MuseWrite, an anthology that features work by underrepresented voices and another by Dragon Soul Press, both set to be released in 2020. He has published two trilogies with Rough Edges Press, the Doormen trilogy and the Kyle Quinn “Custodian” series.

He lives in Hamilton, Ontario.

 

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Children's Middle Grade Chapter Book, Action/Adventure

Date Published: March 6, 2025

-Enter the embattled woodland of the Lizard King Anole

-Behold a tail of enchanting alliances beyond sword and shield, claw and cutlass

About the Author

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Sci-Fi / Action - Adventure

Date Published: 07-09-2025

Publisher: Severed Press

About the Author

 Doomsday Planet is William Burke’s fifth novel, following a long career in film and television. He was the creator and director of the Destination America paranormal series Hauntings and Horrors and the OLN series Creepy Canada, as well as producing the HBO productions Forbidden Science, Lingerie and Sin City Diaries. His work has garnered high praise from network executives and insomniacs watching Cinemax at 3 a.m.

During the 1990’s Burke was a staff producer for the Playboy Entertainment Group, producing eighteen feature films and multiple television series. He’s acted as Line Producer and Assistant Director on dozens of feature films—some great, some bad and some truly terrible.

Aside from novels Burke has written for Fangoria Magazine, Videoscope Magazine and is a regular contributor to Horrornews.net.

He also served in the United States Air Force, reaching the rank of sergeant.

He can be found at williamburkeauthor.com

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Sci-Fi / Action - Adventure

Date Published: 07-09-2025

Publisher: Severed Press

About the Author

 Doomsday Planet is William Burke’s fifth novel, following a long career in film and television. He was the creator and director of the Destination America paranormal series Hauntings and Horrors and the OLN series Creepy Canada, as well as producing the HBO productions Forbidden Science, Lingerie and Sin City Diaries. His work has garnered high praise from network executives and insomniacs watching Cinemax at 3 a.m.

During the 1990’s Burke was a staff producer for the Playboy Entertainment Group, producing eighteen feature films and multiple television series. He’s acted as Line Producer and Assistant Director on dozens of feature films—some great, some bad and some truly terrible.

Aside from novels Burke has written for Fangoria Magazine, Videoscope Magazine and is a regular contributor to Horrornews.net.

He also served in the United States Air Force, reaching the rank of sergeant.

He can be found at williamburkeauthor.com

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Crime Thriller, Military Thriller, Action Adventure, Vigilante Justice

Published Date: July 31

Publisher: Runner House Books

 “It wasn’t like breaking into a prison was on my bucket list. But then again, neither was helping terrorists stage a jailbreak. And yet, here I was.”

fire to extract Khalid Al-Mansour, an Al-Qaeda moneyman turned informant. Khalid promises intel that could save American lives, but it

comes at a price— his sons must be rescued from a rebel-controlled prison deep in hostile territory.

traitor, leading Al-Qaeda right to the US embassy. Trapped, outnumbered, and fighting on hostile ground, Blaze and his team face a ruthless enemy

and impossible odds.

Blaze won’t just hold the line—he’ll blow the enemy to hell.

Praise for the series:

“Blaze combines the force of Reacher, the unapologetic badassery of

Dirty Harry, the savagery of Frank Castle, and the calculated precision of Bourne.”

"Blaze is a no-nonsense guy. Shoot second...after head butting the guy first. My kind of hero!"

“Blaze is a badass in the real sense of the word. He doesn’t stop until every bad guy is broken or dead.”

Readers are saying:

★★★★★ “…non-stop action…”

★★★★★ “…fast and violent…”

★★★★★ “Blaze is the new badass in town!!”

★★★★★ “Must read! This series rocks!!”

About the Author

 Bill Runner is the author of eleven books in the bestselling Axel Blaze thriller series. After the resounding success of his debut novel, Blaze

Returns, each subsequent book entered Amazon’s Crime Action Fiction or Military Thriller charts in the Top 5, with his last five books debuting

at #1. By 2025, combined sales for the series had crossed a quarter of a million copies.

his stories. His love for classic Westerns and lone ranger heroes profoundly influenced the creation of Axel Blaze, a character who stands

up against injustice no matter the odds.

help him craft action scenes that are realistic, vivid, and exhilarating. To learn more about Bill and his books, visit him on Facebook under the name Bill Runner Author.

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Fantasy, Action/Adventure

Date Published: May 2, 2025

In their secluded home beyond the city walls, Eska was taught the skills to survive in a world teeming with monstrous creatures, her childhood marked by rigorous training, resourceful hunting and unyielding discipline.

Beneath her exterior lies a dangerous secret: her mastery of Bloodcraft, a rare and forbidden magic that allows her to manipulate her own blood as a weapon.

The church views her power as heresy, branding those like her as abominations. Their relentless hunt for Bloodcraft users has forced Eska and Oblea to live a life of quiet exile, far from the safety of the towering walls that protect humanity.

But the wilds are unforgiving and no amount of isolation can keep Eska hidden forever. As whispers of her existence reach dangerous ears, Eska's carefully constructed world begins to unravel and her survival skills are put to the ultimate test.

About the Author

Tessedan Devalere writes fantasy fiction, exploring narratives rich with magic, romance, and heartfelt tragedy. Before turning to novel writing, Tessedan spent nine years as a software engineer, with much of that time dedicated to indie game development.

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A Gay BDSM Sea Adventure Romance

Action Adventure, BDSM, Gay Romance

To Be Published: May 30, 2025

North, a rural water farmer, has come to the big citta to be trained in the art of deep-water treasure diving. A man can make enough in a season to take care of his family for years -- except as a novice and a country boy, North can't find anyone willing to teach him the job.

That is, until he finds a mentor in the wild, sexually charismatic "Storm." Storm promises to teach North everything he knows, from navigating the dangers of the hunt to submission in bed -- but only if North is willing to give himself over completely.

Praise for North Storm

"Will Okati has once again written a book that will capture you attention from the first page, with the rich world in which this story unfolds and with the lava hot sensuality that the characters express. The love that these two share will leave you flushed and reaching for something to cool down!"

--Sabella, Joyfully Reviewed

Excerpt

Copyright ©2025 Will Okati

For someone who had been raised on the sea, North was beginning to hate the sight of it. Blue waters, green, aqua, all of them stretching as far as his eyes could see. He'd been rowing for two weeks now, the winds too calm for his small sail to pick up much of a breeze to help propel him forward.

Lucky for him, then, that he'd almost arrived at his destination.

Just ahead, North could see the tall, stone turrets and walkways of the Citta del'Acqua, the massive capital of his world. There were other boats not too far away, fishermen dangling rods over their sides and glancing up in interest at North, scruffy from his fortnight's travel and pale with exhaustion.

"Ho!" one of them shouted, his voice carrying across the water. "Where are you bound, boy?"

"I'm no boy!" North fired back automatically. True, he looked younger than his years, but he'd passed boyhood five years back and was fully an adult. He hated it when people thought him younger than he was.

"Oh, oh, a temper he has, a fine temper!" The fisherman and his cronies laughed. Still others lifted their heads to watch. "Well, firebrand, where are you going? Come to see the sights of the citta?"

North sailed in a little closer, careful not to lose control of his small craft and bump into one of the fishing boats. "I'm looking for the master clamsmen," he said, once he didn't have to shout. "The divers. Can you tell me where to find them?"

The fishermen laughed. "A boy from the country, come to be a diver?" One of them hooted. "Boy, have you ever been deeper than eight feet below the surface of the water?"

North stiffened. "I'm not a boy. And yes, I have been further down. Fifteen feet, last I counted."

"You'd have to go a distance more to hunt the clams," the fisherman said, his weathered face crinkling in amusement. "What are you really doing here, anyway? Run away from home, did you, boy?"

North's jaw tightened. "Just tell me where I can find the divers," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll be on my way, then."

"Why, when this is so much more fun?" The fisherman gestured toward his boat. "Come on, we've a spare rod and reel. You could help us out with the day's work, and we'd split the catch evenly. Give you a little money to help you through your first night here. Plenty of wine, song, and women, eh?" He winked and splashed his oar into the water, to the great amusement of his mates.

North shook his head. "I prefer men. And I'd rather not stay and fish." His back was still bristling from their calling him boy. "Do you know where the divers are or not?"

"Well!" The fisherman drew himself upright, as if taking offense at North's rejection of his offer. "There's no need to get all hoity-toity with me, young man. Of course I know where the divers are, but why should I tell you? You haven't earned the right to the knowledge yet."

North sighed. If this was the way they operated in these parts, he'd just as soon go home. But he couldn't, could he? He'd come to the citta for two reasons: one, to learn how to dive for the giant clams that had bizarrely migrated to his village, and two, to learn how to be a Man Hand, one of those who taught others how to give sexual pleasure. And how could he teach if he didn't know himself? "Fine," he said, taking out his own rod and reel. "If I catch a fish for you, will you be happy then? Will you tell me where to find what I'm looking for?"

The fishermen nudged each other, grinning. "A big fish," their leader clarified. "Larger than my hand, and thicker than my arm. None of this penny-ante stuff for us, thank you. Then we'll send you on your way."

"Good," North said, as he reached into his nearly empty bait bucket and pulled out a scrap of dead fish innards from the last meal he'd caught. "Storm is waiting for me. Or at least his letter said he was supposed to be."

The fisherman's jaw dropped. "S-Storm?" he asked after a moment, voice wobbling. "You're supposed to report to Storm?"

"Why?" North cast his line. "Is there more than one?" He grinned wickedly at the fisherman, who looked completely taken aback, mouth moving in a useless motion up and down. "No worries. I'll be sure to tell him what good care you took of me." He laughed to himself, softly, as the fisherman began to curse underneath his breath. No, indeed. He was no callow boy to be played with.

About the Author

Willa Okati (AKA Will) is made of many things: imagination, coffee, stray cat hairs, daydreams, more coffee, kitchen experimentation, a passion for winter weather, a little more coffee, a whole lot of flowering plants and a lifelong love of storytelling. Will's definitely one of the quiet ones you have to watch out for, though he -- not she anymore -- is a lot less quiet these days.

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An Axel Blaze Crime Action Thriller

Action Adventure; Military thrillers; Vigilante justice

Date Published: April 10, 2025

A cartel kingpin. A botched raid. A blood-soaked vendetta.

When Mexico’s deadliest cartel, La Manada, spills blood on American soil, Delta Force Captain Axel Blaze gets the call. His mission: capture cartel boss Javier Salazar and crush his empire. No red tape. No half-measures.

But when an ambush forces Blaze to pull back stateside, the cartel takes the fight across the border—hitting civilians, targeting officials, daring him to respond.

Now, it’s personal. This time, it’s not about taking prisoners—it’s about ending threats. Blaze is coming for Salazar, and he won’t stop until La Manada is nothing but a smoldering memory.

About the Author

Bill Runner cut his teeth as an investigative journalist, plunging into the gritty underbelly of crime, before turning to writing edge-of-your-seat thrillers. Raised on a steady diet of westerns and lone ranger sagas, Bill’s real-life encounters with rogues and heroes shaped his electrifying protagonist, Axel Blaze. An adrenaline junkie at heart, Bill is a seasoned mountain climber and paraglider, and also a lifelong student of martial arts. Working the crime beat and studying the art of fighting honed his skills to craft pulse-pounding thrillers, renowned for their razor-sharp action sequences. You can find out more about Bill at his FB profile under the name Bill Runner Author.

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