2025 ALA Special Section within Summer Reads

1

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

2

CALLING ALL PUBLISHERS AND AUTHORS FROM ANYWHERE W I N N

WHO CAN ENTER? Print and audiobooks can be submitted by: • independent publishers • hybrid publishers • self-published authors • university presses • association presses • small, medium and big house presses * including any of the big five publishing houses and their imprints.

Outside of the big five publishing houses, any publisher or author may submit to both competitions, IndependentPressAward.com (every spring); and NYCBigBookAward.com (every fall).

See webpages for complete details.

WHEN CAN I ENTER the NYC Big Book Award?

We are on a rolling submission, approximately every two and a half months, with two hard deadlines: (1) September 1, 2024 to December 30, 2024 (2) March 1, 2025 to August 15, 2025 Final entries must be received no later than August 15, 2025. This final deadline will not be extended.

What if I miss the deadline? Enter our spring program Independent Press Award as we take books until December 2025 for IndependentPressAward.com.

ENTRY FEE $99 per title/per category, plus $79 for any additional category.

I

N

G

2025

U I

S H E D

I T

AWARD

R

That’s right, no limitation on where the author is located or the topic of the book.

O

2025 E R

2 5

T

0

I S

2

D

AWARD

E

Submit your book on any subject for the 2025 NYC Big Book Award!

F A

V

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS 1. Decide which books or audiobooks (copyright date within the past three years is recommended to enter into this year’s competition.

2. Calculate the total entry fee.

Choose which categories, https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/categories to enter each book into. You may enter a book into as many categories as you’d like. The fee for the first category is $99. Any additional book categories for that same book is $79 per category. SINGLE BOOK, MULTIPLE CATEGORIES: One who enters “Book One” in Children’s Educational and Book Cover Design Children’s category, the entry fee is $99 + $79 = $178.

MULTIPLE BOOKS: One who enters “Book One” in Children’s Educational and Book Cover Design Children’s category, the entry fee is $99 + $79 = $178, and “Book Two” in Mystery and New Fiction (first-time published), the entry fee is $99 + $79 = $178, so $178 + $178 = $356 in total book entry fees.

3. Download a form from this page, https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/submitviamail OR submit the entry form online on this page, https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/submit-online Complete form.

4. For print books, Email a PDF or epub file to: Gabby@NYCBigBookAward.com (No Kindle Gifts). Please mail ONE copy of your print book, even if it’s entered in multiple categories. For audiobooks, you may email us a redeemable Audible gift code.

IF SUBMITTING application form and payment ONLINE, you may send a book directly from Amazon.com or other retailer/printer: NO PAPERWORK IS REQUIRED. 5. Pay via PayPal button on the website or mail a check, along with your books and printed entry form, and ship to: NYC Big Book Award Attn: Gabby Olczak 63 Clinton Road Glen Ridge, NJ 07028 Phone: +1 973-969-1899 All international checks or money orders must have “USD” or “US Dollar” pre-printed on the check/money order.

3

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

PUBLISHER'S LETTER Dear Reader, As the days grow longer and the nights get warmer, we are thrilled to present our curated selection of summer reads!

We believe that a great book is the perfect companion for any summer adventure, whether you're lounging by the pool, relaxing on the beach, or simply enjoying a quiet afternoon in your backyard. This year, we've handpicked a diverse collection of titles that will transport you to different worlds, introduce you to unforgettable characters, and keep you turning the pages long into the starlit night.

For those who love to escape into different worlds, we have "The Quelling" or try the "Writers of the Future, Vol 41" anthology or an audiobook "With Love, From Planet B." If you're looking for a heartwarming story about love and second chances, there are titles to captivate you. And for readers who enjoy a thrilling historial mystery, "Heart of Fire" will keep you on the edge of your seat. We're also excited to feature "DAMAGED HERITAGE: The Elaine Race Massacre and A Story of Reconciliation" by J. Chester Johnson, a

Imaginative, thought-provoking RELEVANT, & engaging!

thought-provoking exploration of a universal topic. And for those seeking lighter fare, "Hookups, Hiccups, and Happenstances: Erotic Short Stories from the Sexual Revolution" will satiate your desire.

The year’s best new sci-fi and fantasy short stories selected by legendary authors.

No matter what your taste, we're confident you'll find the perfect summer read within our collection, and on the pages of www.independentpressaward.com and www.nycbigbookaward.com. We hope these books bring you joy, inspiration, and a much-needed escape this season.

We are sponsoring Table 1652 at the American Library Association Conference June 27 - 30, 2025. In our Special Section starting on page 12, you can view some of the talented authors who will have their books on display and signing their books. Do visit their page on www.printedwordreviews.com/authors before heading out, and be sure to bring your questions as they love to talk with readers and will personalize your new book.

Happy reading until next issue!

Ted Olczak

15 Illustrated Short Stories plus Art & Writing Tips Get yours today.

TED OLCZAK Publisher

Available wherever fine books, eBooks and Audiobooks are sold. www.PrintedWordReviews.com

4

TABLE of CONTENTS 2

Current THE GAB TALKS Guests

3

Call for entries for the 2025 NYC Big Book Award

4

Publisher’s Letter

6

GAB TALKS with Lee Woodman, author of SOULSCAPES

8

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL with Dr. D.W. Knight, author of TONGUE TEASERS

12-23

Special Section: Printed Word Reviews' Preview of the 2025 American Library Association, June 27 - 30, 2025

18

Seeing Through Her Eyes: A Conversation on The Female Gaze In Art & Photography with Australian author, Anita Selzer.

24

Great Summer Reads

25

Printed Word Reviews

27

Author Signings at the 2025 Annual ALA Conference

The Printed Word Reviews magazine has been issued the following ISSNs by the U.S. ISSN Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: Format: Online Format: ISSN 3067-011X. The title was previously published under the Independent Press Award and NYC Big Book Award Present and was published eight times per year with the following ISSNs by the U.S. ISSN Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: Format: Online Format: ISSN 2836-9157; and the Print Format: ISSN 2836-9149.

Any questions or comments, please contact the Publisher Ted Olczak at Ted@GabbyBookAwards.com or Ted@PrintedWordReviews.com.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express permission from the publisher.

All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system - except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper - without permission in writing from the publisher. To submit your book for review, send to: Printed Word Reviews, 63 Clinton Rd, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028. Allow 8 -12 weeks. Unpaid reviews are not guaranteed. More details available on our website at www.printedwordreviews.com/ To submit your book, visit our websites: Fall 2025: www.nycbigbookaward.com/ (More consumer focused; different judging; allows for all authors and publishers to participate; announced in the fall of every year) Spring 2026: www.independentpressaward.com/ Ted@GabbyBookAwards.com or Ted@PrintedWordReviews.com, or visit our website, www.independentpressaward.com/advertise

JOIN

PWR’s MEMBERSHIP

monthly (only $5 per month) or annually ($50 per year)

a. Four issues of BookCamp Magazine included at NO CHARGE with an annual membership. b.

Small Press and Fall Trade Book Fairs? (AUGUST 2025 special supplement) c. other publishing professionals. d. Sign up now & receive an ADDITIONAL BONUSES as we add them throughout the year! (Outside of the United States /International digital magazine only). https://www.independentpressaward.com/membership

5

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

Lee Woodman Author: Soulscapes

P

oet Lee Woodman’s latest collection, Soulscapes was awarded the Winner for Poetry in the 2025 Independent Press Award. Soulscapes is the fifth collection in her Scapes poetry series which has been the recipient of numerous awards including a Distinguished Favorite in Poetry in 2023 from the Independent Press Award. She is also winner of the 2020 William Meredith Prize for Poetry, the 2021 Atlantic Review International Poetry Competition MERIT AWARD, and First Prize in Poetry and Prose Contest for Carve Magazine 2022.

Her essays and poems have appeared in numerous publications.

Lee’s debut poetry collection, Mindscapes, was published in 2020. She received an Individual Poetry Fellowship from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities in 2019 and 2020, and a Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Fellowship in 2022.

Lee has a bachelor's degree in art from Colby College and a master's degree in art education from Hartford Art School. She has had careers in radio, television, and film production.

A lifelong passion for art, theatre, music, and words, Lee has held numerous leadership positions at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of American History, and the Library of Congress. She is an award-winning t.v, radio, and multimedia producer.

Lee is the founder of Lee Woodman Media, Inc. and launched K-12, Inc., an online education company that now trades on the New York Stock Exchange. She resides in Washington, DC

Gabby: Soulscapes is the 5th in your poetry series “Scapes”.

Simplistically framed, Soulscapes is an examination of life and death. You refer to it as a journey toward connection and meaning through imagery and words.” Describe what Soulscapes means to you?

they have “scapes” as the ending title. The first one, HomeScapes, was about living in France and India while I was young and coming to America when I was 14. Adapting from India, a big city, to New Hampshire and a high school with 33 people in my class.

Mindscapes is more about wishes, lies, and dreams from a woman's point of view. It calls on myths, folktale, and goddesses. Women in the world. Then, what seemed to follow right after that was a book called Lifescapes. It was a life scape of going through divorce and separation and Covid. That whole time was pretty charged. For a writer, in a way that was lifesaving because I could really, really think about the next topic and the research. The next topic was Artscapes, ekphrastic poems that go back to my college years.

Lee: It means other ways of looking beyond traditional religions. I did a lot of research into different ways of thinking that would include origin stories, spirit animals, tarot, witchcraft, lucid dreaming, and past lives. I had a clear intuition that all these things basically bring people to the same conclusion. They want to think of something bigger than themselves, to feel some kind of oneness with the universe.

Gabby: Many of your poems in Soulscapes begin with a quote or an excerpt that inspired the ensuing poem. The breadth of your inspiration is vast and personal. Artists, writers, astronomers, musicians. You have B.B. King, the author, E.B. white.

Gabby: Do you think poetry is having a moment in our culture right now?

Lee: I do, music, rap culture, and performance art, have had a huge effect on young people. Not only are they intrigued by it, they are getting really good at competing with each other, memorizing lyrics, getting on stage, and projecting.

How did you compile each book in the Scapes series?

Lee: Each of the books cover completely different topics, even though www.PrintedWordReviews.com

6

They have messages to tell us. I think in a way it's like poetry. The lyrics can be very compressed. They have to use words carefully.

Then there are wonderful institutions that are still promoting literature and poetry such as The Poetry Foundation, The Aspen Institute, and the Kennedy Center.

Gabby: The sixth collection, ColorScapes, is expected to be published this year. Share your inspiration and the theme of the collection.

Lee: I have two art degrees, and, besides just loving smells and sounds, I just adore colors. The sources of color are absolutely fascinating, going way back to Egyptian times.

Mud, rocks, shells. Then into the industrial revolution and the use of different chemicals to change colors in paints, fabrics, and so forth.

Many of the poems are about sources, but I try not to make them too professorial. I want to light that source material and lift it up into the aesthetics and the psychology of color.

Gabby: You attended your first poetry workshop at the age of 68 and have had a huge impact on the poetry community. What would you recommend to aspiring poets who may be struggling?

Lee: Take classes. Learn the craft. Read a lot of poetry, both old and contemporary.

Gabby: What words encapsulate Lee Woodman and her poetry?

Lee: Persistence and whimsy!

Listen to the entire interview and hear Lee read her poetry www.thegabtalks.com. To learn more about Lee Woodman and the Scapes series of poetry visit https://poetleewoodman.com/.

7

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

Dr. D.W. Knight

S

tep right up and meet the whimsical world of Dr. D.W. Knight, the creative force behind "Tongue Teasers: Laugh-Along Songbook Origins - A Taste of the Poems Before the Music"! More than just an author, Dr. Knight is a true storyteller who weaves together hilarious wordplay, wonderfully weird characters, and often, a sprinkle of heartfelt wisdom within his rhyming verses. Not only does he pen these delightful tales, but he also brings them to life with his own quirky and expressive illustrations. Imagine a blend of Shel Silverstein's playful oddities and the Sherman Brothers' catchy charm, and you'll begin to get a sense of the joy Dr. Knight brings to readers of all ages, especially those between five and twelve. Having spent years as an educator and a global traveler fluent in multiple languages, Dr. Knight infuses his work with a unique perspective, ultimately inspiring the collaborative musical project, GiGGLE SPOON. Get ready to dive into a world where laughter and learning go hand in hand, crafted by the one and only "Mr. Positivity" himself!

AMERICAN POETRY/HORROR/LGBTQ

AMERICAN POETRY/LGBTQ/LOVE POETRY The Ghosts of Gold: The poetry of Clem Stambaugh Clem Stambaugh

D WAR SA ES

202 5D IS

Hisses Like Whispers HED FAVORITE UIS •P R NG TI

Clem Stambaugh

A highly engaging work that simultaneously combines Clem’s darkly romantic poems with the intriguing story of vampire Henri Martineau and his murderously lustful quest to possess Olivia Dandridge. Through both prose and verse, Clem reveals, Olivia holds her own shadowy secret that may have monstrous consequences even for a powerful and ancient vampire.

In his second book of poetry, Clem Stambaugh continues to draw on a lifetime of love, life, and soul-searching.

Where his previous volume, the top-selling In Black and Light, took a deep dive into and out of relationships, melancholy, and discovery, The Ghosts of Gold empowers him to follow fresh paths to find new “words,” as he calls his poetry.

ISBN: 979-8989675869 •Price $16.99 hardcover; $9.99 paperback; read for free with Kindle Unlimited

ISBN: 979-8218249045 • Price $11.99 hardcover; $5.99 paperback; free with Kindle Unlimited

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available exclusively at Amazon.com

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available exclusively at Amazon.com

AUDIOBOOKS

HEALTH

With Love, From Planet B

Miller’s Review of Critical Vaccine Studies, Volume 2.

Zaayin Salaam MD We ignored the climate deadlines. The bombs made it worse. Now it’s 2085, and the 6th extinction event is unfolding.

Neil Z. Miller

Harry van der Zee, MD

202 5D IS

“This book stands as a monumental achievement deserving widespread recognition and attention.” —

Zara is a master lucid dreamer, training her team in this rare skill, so that one day, if a suitable earth-like exoplanet is found, they can safely teleport there. It seems her dreams are coming true when Lex, her girlfriend and team mathematician discovers Planet B.

But Planet B won’t let anyone in... Join Zara and Lex on their hero’s journey as they dive deep within themselves to enter into this new home. Will they manage to cure themselves of the Three Spiritual Diseases that afflict all Earthlings? And will they get to survive on Planet B?

ISBN: 978-1881217442 • $21.95

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available through IPG/Midpoint; Ingram Wholesale; Amazon; New Atlantean Press www.vacbook.com/ www.PrintedWordReviews.com

HED FAVORITE UIS •P R NG TI

D WAR SA ES

The most significant vaccine research summarized, volume 2. Contains recent peer-reviewed studies on measles, vaccinated versus unvaccinated, child mortality, aluminum, the covid-19 vaccine, including blood clots, cardiovascular disease, menstrual irregularities, and neurological disorders.

ISBN: 978-1736866269 •Price $17.77 paperback

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores.

www.planetbthebook.com

8

I met Dr. D.W. Knight in person recently, both at the LA Festival of Books, and then again at the Independent Press and NYC Big Book Awards Dinner, as TONGUE TEASERS was the 2025 NYC Big Book Award winner in the Childrens Humor category. A tall, inviting man, who often travels with Patricia Knight of BD Brands (aka GiGGLE SPOON) and Bradford Knight, who composed music inspired by some of the poetry within TONGUE TEASERS and released it under the name GiGGLE SPOON. The trio's radiant happiness, always on display through their smiles, makes being around them a joy.

he loves the process of inventing and creating new characters from scratch. They take shape and evolve with each new sketch into what he recognizes as new “friends” to introduce to the world. His takeaway point is to impress upon kids, especially the ones who have some selfdoubt and don’t yet know where their strengths are or their place in the world, that we are all a work in progress. It’s a metaphor for life – we are unfinished, constantly being shaped, tweaked and refined into a work of art.

Dr. D.W. Knight credits his grandmother Eleanor for having instilled in him a genuine love for words and the beauty of language. She had devoted her career to developing a reading curriculum for children in response to her own son’s, Knight’s father’s, inability to read by third grade and the teacher telling her she didn’t know what else could be done. Determined, his grandmother made it her life’s work and became the reading director for the Minnetonka public school district in Minnesota.

Dr. D.W. Knight began writing poetry as a creative expression during his senior year as an undergraduate studying abroad in Madrid, Spain.

He likens poetry to his favorite techno music for its structure and form that keeps him focused with set boundaries to follow, as compared to writing a novel which is more like jazz with its freeform and endless possibilities.

The poetry in TONGUE TEASERS is inspired by his experiences as a teacher and coach to kids he saw struggling with self-doubt, feelings of hopelessness, and fears of failure. Having empathy for them and recognizing the social stressors that kids are enduring more so today with the repercussions of pandemic isolation, social media influences and escalating cyber bullying, Knight hoped his form of storytelling through poetry could bring joy to kids and help them to better cope with and overcome these rising challenges by imparting universal life lessons and good values through relatable and funny characters, ultimately so they would know they're not alone. And just as he loved exploring imaginary new worlds by reading books like the original Oz series or playing video games like Zelda when he was a kid, Knight hoped that he, too, could take readers to fun, new places where they could escape and laugh.

Shel Silverstein remains a favorite of D.W.’s since childhood when his grandmother gave him a copy of “Where the Sidewalk Ends”. He devoured the pages and his linguistic imagination played under Shel’s tutelage. Also in his home, shaping his mind for rhythmic words, were the joyful and catchy songs of the Sherman Brothers. His mother and father were always singing, filling their home with the sounds of music.

It’s no wonder D.W.’s brother became a musician, composing music and writing songs.

Knight thanks “K-12 teachers everywhere, parents who have the most important job in the world, kids across the planet, his brother Brad who keeps making great music, his late grandmother, parents, and Larry and Patty who always believed if New Yorkers loved the poems, others would too!”

In addition to writing the words, D.W. is also the illustrator. For TONGUE TEASERS, he included black and white sketches that he’d made for nearly every poem in the book. But with each book in the growing collection of Laugh-Along Songbooks, he’s making multiple pages of drawings to tell each individual poem’s story. The artwork is also used in the video production to accompany each poem’s music. D.W. says

TONGUE TEASERS is a collection of illustrated poems written in rhyming verse with hilarious wordplay and outlandish inventiveness imbued with wit, life-lessons and wisdom that transcend age but equally entertain children with zany, memorable characters, making this book a favorite for all ages!

MILITARY FICTION

HISTORICAL FICTION Heart of Fire: A Novel of the Ancient Olympics

T

N

G

2024

U I

S H E D

R

I S

AWARD

O

D

I

I T

E

From Vicksburg to Bennett Place: The Long March to Victory

F A

V

Adam Alexander Haviaras

T.W. Harvey

A Mercenary... A Spartan Princess... And Olympic Glory...

E

From Vicksburg to Bennett Place: The Long March to Victory relates that Captain Porter served as the aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Mortimer Leggett, assisting the general as Major General Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of Tennessee moved south from Shiloh and fought in the Vicksburg and Atlanta campaigns. Once successful, the army, now under the command of Major General William Tecumseh Sherman, marched to the sea and then north through the Carolinas.

Two weeks after Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Grant, Joseph Johnston surrendered to Sherman at Bennett Place in No. Carolina, effectively ending the war. Captain George Porter lived through it all.

T

N

G

2024

U I

S H E D

I T

Step into the world of the ancient Olympic Games with this epic story based on actual events.

R

I S

AWARD

O

D

I

F A

V

heart of Ancient Greece.

Remember... There can be no Victory without Sacrifice.

ISBN: 978-1988309033 • $16.99

ISBN: 978-1881217442 • $21.95

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available on Amazon and TWHarvey.net www.twharvey.net

www.IndependentPressAward.com

With Heart of Fire, award-winning author and historian, Adam Alexander Haviaras, gives readers a gritty, mysterious and emotional journey into the

Retail / distributor availability: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, all major online retailers, independent bookstores, brick and mortar chains, and public libraries. https://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/historical-fantasy/

9

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

SELF-HELP: MOTIVATIONAL

NEW ADULT AND ROMANCE The Great Dempseys

Unpacking the Attic

Brianna MacMahon

Ann M. Mracek 202 5D IS

Ann Mracek’s poignant memoir, set against the backdrop of emptying her parents’ home, explores the echoes of childhood and the hurts of the inner child. Through personal stories and practical guidance, she offers insights into healing and self-discovery, showing readers how to offer love and acceptance to their inner child.

HED FAVORITE UIS •P R NG TI

D WAR SA ES

Fifteen-year-old Audrey Nielsen is awarded a scholarship to Great Gray, an elite private school on the Upper East Side, and she is thrust into a world of wealth, power, and privilege. She starts dating Bobby Dempsey, the sole heir to his family’s fortune, and everything seems to be going well. However, at the end of their senior year, dark family secrets resurface, threatening to destroy both their relationship and the great Dempsey dynasty.

ISBN: 978-0976648871 • Price $17.99

ISBN: 978-1732405141 $18.99 (on Amazon and Barnes & Noble) and $25.89 (on author website, shipping price included)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores.

Buy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CsX6QP

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

www.annmracek.com/

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and author website

authorbriannamacmahon.com

Hookups, Hiccups, and Happenstances:

HED FAVORITE UIS •P R NG TI

D WAR SA ES

202 5D IS

ROMANCE Erotic Short Stories from the Sexual Revolution

Sam L Feldman A linked tale of pleasures across thirteen short stories set in the 1960s and 1970s taking you back to an era experimenting with free love and the reimagining of monogamy.

A time when women were breaking barriers in the culture and the bedroom. A time when love and attraction didn’t have to overlap to embrace a beautiful meeting of minds and passions. Butch discovers the delights awaiting him with the Dancer, the Psychic, and his beautiful wife whose untapped desires change what it means to truly give yourself over to another.

“Feldman’s writing is clear and interesting. It grabs the reader’s attention with its vivid details and in-depth looks at the complicated nature of human desire.”

-The Book Revue

ISBN: 978-1614687740 • Price $11.99

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available on Amazon.

www.samlfeldman.com

THRILLER Code Name: Juggernaut Sherman E Ross

ER N

• INDEPENDENT 24 PR ES 20 S

D AR AW

W IN

It’s America, early in the Twenty-First Century...Howard Brennan, a brilliant but deranged ex-USAF colonel and nuclear engineer, seethes with rage over being publically cashiered from the service after clashes with superiors over policy. Adrift and embittered, nothing seems to matter to him anymore...except obtaining vengeance against the federal government which destroyed his once promising career. He has devised the perfect means to achieve that vengeance. Jacqueline Lynch, alias ‘the Jack-L’ is a seductive, highly skilled and ruthless assassin---a hitwoman for WEREWOLF, a neo-Nazi terrorist group. She is in a romantic relationship with Brennan and has agreed to assist him in his plan. Douglas Rabson is an FBI agent investigating a string of murders attributed to the mysterious Jack-L. Step-by-step, the agent unravels details of the plan, and is in a race against time to stop the murderous pair before they can carry out the ultimate nightmare. Now fate has drawn Brennan, Lynch and Rabson together, culminating in a bizarre plot bearing the Code Name: Juggernaut...

ISBN: 978-1917317603 • $14.99

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores.

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

10

www.IndependentPressAward.com

11

www.PrintedWordReviews.com www.nycbigbookaward.com

Printed Word Reviews' ALA 2025 Special Section

Author Signings and Books on Display at ALA 2025 in Philadelphia, PA As publisher of Printed Word Reviews, I'm thrilled to introduce 12 authors in-person signings at ALA 2025, as well as over a dozen curated authors with their book on display, that represent a vibrant and multifaceted cross-section of the contemporary publishing world. All authors are recognized by our Independent Press and/or NYC Big Book awards. Their diverse backgrounds—from law to medicine to film to financial planning—enrich the contemporary publishing landscape. Librarians, visit the Printed Word Reviews, Table 1652, to acquire these vital titles to fill gaps in your collection!

Michele Kwasniewski is scheduled to hold an author signing at ALA, Table 1652, on Friday, June 27th, at 6:00 PM. She also appeared at the Tucson Festival of Books on March 10th, and the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, as well as AWP in Los Angeles at the Printed Word Reviews table, where she signed “Falling Star: Book Three in the Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart Series.” Michele Kwasniewski is an award-winning author of the Young Adult (YA) series, "The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart," which includes “Rising Star,” “Burning Bright,” and “Falling Star.” Her professional background in film and television production, including work on INDEPENDENCE DAY and BIG BROTHER, inspired her series.

Shane Svorec has an author signing scheduled at ALA, Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 9:30 AM. Svorec will be signing her duel 2025 Independent Press award-winning book “Acorn Adventures”, claiming both the Childrens’ Inspirational/Motivational and Nature categories. Shane has made it her mission to advocate for those without a voice. She is highly involved in her community, an active church member, a staunch public servant, a former Board of Education President, a mental health and crisis intervention worker, a perpetual peacemaker, and a kindness spreader.

Table 1652, on Friday, June 27th, at 6:00 PM

Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 9:30 AM

BIOGRAPHY: HISTORICAL

BUSINESS: ENTREPRENEURSHIP & SMALL BUSINESS / REFERENCE

Khuda Buksh: The Pioneer of Life Insurance in Bangladesh

The Start of All Things Good: A Complete Guide to Building Your Business

Muhammad Obaidur Rahim

• INDEPENDENT 24 PR ES 20 S

D AR AW

W IN

2023

ER N

Khuda Buksh, the Pioneer of Life Insurance in Bangladesh, is the story of a wizard of life insurance who believes passionately in a cause and dedicates his life to it. Buksh chose to serve humanity by sparking a movement in life insurance from 1935-1973 in three countries India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh—even during political unrest. Buksh remains a celebrated figure who transformed the Bangladeshi life insurance industry after calling off his time at EFU.

Danielle Billetz-Reppert

“The Start of All Things Good: A Complete Guide to Building Your Business” is an essential guide for anyone looking to navigate the complex world of entrepreneurship and transform their innovative ideas into successful business ventures.

Authored by Danielle Billetz-Reppert, this comprehensive manual offers a step-by-step journey through every aspect of starting and growing a business.

This biography explores his legacy and the impact on South Asian development.

ISBN: 979-8227477644 • $16.95

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

ISBN: 978-1637108758 • $24.95

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

https://amzn.to/3Ss1xQc

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers.

https://khudabukshlegacy.com/

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

12

Printed Word Reviews' ALA 2025 Special Section

Unpacking the Attic by Ann M. Mracek

The Nurse Florence® Series - Introducing Some Medical Words to Kids in Every Book®

Self-help: Motivational.

ISBN: (paperback) 978-0-9766488-7-1 A unique blend of memoir and healing practices, author Ann Mracek takes you along in real time through the process of emptying her parents’ home as they transitioned into assisted living. Told with humor, honesty, and empathetic insight, she expertly weaves the vivid stories of her childhood with compassion and the intent to heal and forgive. This book will guide you to gain adult perspective and show you how to send love and acceptance back in time to the child still living within. Many of us had to navigate childhood through a maze of broken relationships, dysfunctional families, neglect and even trauma, yet as adults we can empower the child we were, to gain clarity, empathy, and forgiveness through the healing journey of retrospection.

Location: Chapter One Stage: Booth 112 A Q&A session about the multi-award-winning series with stellar reviews. A discussion about why the series was created, how it is produced, and its future plans. Following the discussion, free autographed books will be given to attendees. The presentation will be given by Michael Dow, the author of the series with 164 books and counting. New books are published about every 10 days. Michael holds 2 Bachelor’s degrees and 3 Master’s degrees. He is a practicing Registered Nurse in an inpatient psychiatric hospital.

For learn more, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-dow-6303571b/ or watch an interview about the project, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTPRImlU-Po ______________________________________________________________________________________________ And visit Michael Dow: Nurse Florence® and Nurse Dorothea® author at his ALA booth 109, June 27th - 30th. His books are available for sale on Harvard University’s Online Bookstore at www.Harvard.com.

“Unpacking the Attic” by Ann M. Mracek, is a heartfelt memoir born from the bittersweet moment of her parents selling the family home after more than 50 years. As she sifted through the furniture, trinkets, and countless memories, Ann unearthed a tapestry of experiences—some joyful, others painful, all deeply human. This book is a tender love letter to her childhood home and the girl she once was, offering readers a journey through her past while inviting them to reflect on their own.

The honesty in this book is what sets it apart. Ann writes with a raw vulnerability that feels as comforting as a chat with an old friend over a cup of coffee on a chilly afternoon. She captures life’s contradictions with grace, moving seamlessly between humor and reflection. One moment, you’ll find yourself chuckling at her playful recollections; the next, you’re grappling with profound questions about forgiveness and the weight of childhood wounds. Through her narrative, Ann reminds us that even those who hurt us often do so out of ignorance, not malice—a powerful lens for healing.

CHILDRENS FICTION Bliss and Her Friends Bernadette Wells and Carl Baker Bliss and her Friends is about a girl named Bliss who is learning the value of old and new friendships.

This book also helps parents talk and ask questions to their children about their feelings, and when they encounter new and old friends.

The book is rich with touching vignettes that bring Ann’s past vividly to life. She recalls poignant moments, such as reconnecting with an old piano student now an adult, or the sorrow of losing her childhood dog. Each memory feels alive, like stepping into a photograph infused with emotion. Amid these stories, she asks a question that lingers long after the book is closed: “Did I spark joy in their life?”

It’s a deceptively simple inquiry, yet it invites profound introspection.

Gratitude for the people who have shaped us and acknowledgment of the light we’ve brought into others’ lives become central themes in this reflective journey.

Softcover: 978-1665532259 E-Book: 987-1665532266 Softcover-$20.99. E-Book-$5.99

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Retail/Distributor Availability: Amazon, Barnes & Noble; IngramSpark www.blissandherfriends.com

“Unpacking the Attic” by Ann M. Mracek, is not just a memoir; it’s an invitation to explore your own past, reevaluate your relationships, and embrace the beauty of letting go. Ann’s writing is cozy, introspective, and deeply moving—a perfect companion for anyone seeking understanding or closure. Whether you’re revisiting childhood memories or simply looking for a heartfelt read, this book will wrap you in its warmth and leave you richer for the experience. Highly recommended.”

CHRISTIAN MYSTERY ROMANCE Blessings and Curses Judy Kelly Uncertain about priesthood after seminary, Olivia Douglass, secretly cursed, takes on an assignment: praying with a death row inmate. Their bond sparks curiosity about her pre-adoption life. Fulfilling the inmate’s dying wish, she unearths a past revelation that threatens her ordinary existence, forcing her to desperately cling to her identity and calling.

Literary Titan • Five Stars

ISBN: 978-1612969893 • Price $15.95

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Available on Amazon $17.99

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

www.AnnMracek.com

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores.

https://judycar.com/

REVIEW 13

SPOTLIGHT www.PrintedWordReviews.com

VVPRINTEt

Sunday, June 29, 2025: 11:30 AM – 12:20 PM EDT

Printed Word Reviews' ALA 2025 Special Section

Dr. Susan Agbenoto is scheduled for an author signing at ALA, Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 10:30 AM. An award-winning author, speaker, and lay pastor, Dr. Agbenoto holds a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Her books, “Restore Me! But Privately, Please” and “New Wine: A Journey Into Refueling Your Life in the Spirit,” focus on faith-based leadership and spiritual renewal, addressing the "silent struggles of leaders". “New Wine” was recognized by the 2025 Independent Press Award; and received "Best in Christian Non-Fiction" Impact award. Appeared on "Crosspoint with Mark Taylor" podcast. The Printed Word Review is here:

Kimberly Adams has an author signing scheduled at ALA, Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 10:00 AM. She will be signing “Five Mile Charlie: A Special Pony for Carly,” the first in a children's series inspired by her pet llama, Charlie. The series aims to instill morals of kindness, bravery, strength, and boldness. The second book, “Five Mile Charlie: Charlie Goes to the Library,” is a perfect acquisition for any librarian. Her third and fourth books are “A Five Mile Christmas” and “The Return of Farmer Bud.” Kimberly Adams is also a practicing attorney and Municipal Judge in Oklahoma, with prior publications in appellate practice. Adams is the founder of the Mary Kimberly Public Library in Kiowa.

https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9798890430519

Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 10:30 AM Grace Hodges is scheduled to hold an author signing at ALA, Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 11:00 AM. Known professionally as Dr. Grace Torres-Hodges, she is a board-certified podiatrist and foot surgeon. She is the author of “Private Practice Solution: Reclaiming Physician Autonomy and Restoring the Doctor-Patient Relationship,” which won the 2024 Independent Press Award in Medical Nonfiction. Her book empowers physicians to regain control over their practice through a Direct Care mindset. She is affiliated with "SoMeDocs: Doctors on Social Media". She also offers coaching services through D2P Medicus Consulting & Physician Coaching.

Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 10:00 AM

Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 11:00 AM Danielle Billetz-Reppert is scheduled for an author signing event at ALA, Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 11:30 AM. Her book, “The Start of All Things Good: A Complete Guide to Building Your Business,” won the 2025 Independent Press Award in both the Reference as well as the Business: Entrepreneurship & Small Business categories and received an honorable mention in the Paris Book Festival 2024 Awards. Her background is in entrepreneurship, having grown up in a family with multiple businesses. The book is a comprehensive guide for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 11:30 AM www.PrintedWordReviews.com

14

ordview Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printe

VVPRINTE

Transitioning Your Federal Resume to Private Industry: Are You at the Fork of the Road?

Kathryn Troutman

Kathryn Troutman’s latest guide, “Transitioning Your Federal Resume to Private Industry: Are You at the Fork of the Road?”, arrives at a crucial time for many federal employees contemplating a shift to the private sector. This book serves as an indispensable resource, expertly bridging the gap between the often-complex federal resume format and the concise, results-driven expectations of private industry hiring managers.

One of the book’s most significant strengths is its practical, eight-step methodology. Troutman meticulously breaks down the daunting task of converting a typically lengthy federal resume into a streamlined, impactful two-page private industry document.

VVPRINTE

Learn What is Important for a Two-Page Private Industry Resume: • SUMMARY - See samples of career summaries • ACCOMPLISHMENTS - Learn how to shorten and feature them in the resume • WORK HISTORY - Learn how to write your job duties in a targeted active-voice style • TECHNICAL SKILLS - Write your technical skills clearly for the recruiter review • EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION - If required for your position, feature this experience on Page One

Tracking Systems (ATS) and human reviewers alike. This modern approach ensures that job seekers are equipped with contemporary strategies for today’s competitive market.

The book truly shines through its seven comprehensive case studies. These real-world illustrations offer invaluable insights and practical templates for readers to adapt to their own situations.

Each example provides: • A “before and after” snapshot, showcasing an original federal resume • Target private industry job announcement • AI keyword analysis • The transformed two-page private industry resume • Tailored one-page cover letter • Updated LinkedIn profile summary and competencies

A standout feature is the forward-thinking integration of artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. Troutman demonstrates how these technologies can be leveraged to efficiently extract crucial keywords from job descriptions, a vital step in optimizing resumes for Applicant

Kathryn Troutman’s reputation as the “Federal Resume Guru” is well-earned, and her expertise permeates every page. With over 30 years of experience in federal resume writing and career coaching, she possesses a deep understanding of both federal and private sector hiring landscapes. Her ability to demystify the transition process and empower job seekers with actionable advice is evident throughout the book.

“Transitioning Your Federal Resume to Private Industry” is an essential read for any federal employee considering or actively pursuing a career in the private sector. It is equally valuable for resume writers and career coaches who assist clients in navigating this specific career transition.

In conclusion, this book is a timely, thorough, and highly practical guide. Troutman’s methodical approach, combined with her embrace of modern tools and extensive experience, makes “Transitioning Your Federal Resume to Private Industry” a must-have for anyone at the “fork in the road” of their federal career. It provides the clarity and tools needed to confidently step into the private sector.

Transitioning Your Federal Resume to Private Industry, $29.95, 9781733777933, Kathryn Troutman. Available wherever books are sold. Distributed by Cardinal Publishers Group and available through all library wholesalers, including: Ingram Book Company and Baker & Taylor. Available wherever books are sold!

Kathryn Troutman’s Other Publications: Federal Resume Guidebook, 7th Edition, 9781733407601 The Stars are Lined UP For Military Spouses, 3rd Edition, 9781733777902 Jobseeker’s Guide, Ten Steps to a Federal Job®, 9th Edition, 089173340763

W

ALA 2025 Book Signing & Giveaway at Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 2pm

REVIEW

SPOTLIGHT

15

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

ord Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Prin

d Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed Word Reviews • Printed W

ted Word Review Word • Printed Word Review Word • Printed Word Review • Printed Word Review • Printed Word Review •

Printed Word Reviews' ALA 2025 Special Section Susan Wands is scheduled for an author signing at ALA, Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 12:30 PM. Published by SparkPress, distributed by Simon & Schuster, she’ll be signing High Priestess and Empress, Book Two, Arcana Oracle Series, which has won many literary awards including the NYC Big Book Award, OZMA, American Legacy, and IPPY. Her recent "Emperor and Hierophant Book Tour 2025" stopped in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In October, Wands will be lecturing at the Berlin Occulture Conference. Wands is a writer, tarot reader, and actor, a graduate of the University of Washington, with professional acting experience on Broadway. Her Arcana Oracle Series is inspired by tarot and her research on Pamela Colman Smith. She is co-chair of the NYC Chapter of the Historical Novel Society.

Jessica Bantom has an author signing scheduled at ALA, Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at noon. She is the author of "Design For Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World." She participated in a "Design for Identity: Six Habits for Culturally Competent Designers" event on February 19, 2025, which included a book signing opportunity, and spoke at the "2025 Justice for All Summit". Jessica Bantom's background includes marketing, IT, and management consulting, before focusing on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) consulting.

Her book addresses the lack of diversity in the design industry.

Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at Noon

Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 12:30 PM Loretta Goldberg is scheduled for an author signing at ALA, Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 1:00 PM. Goldberg is an award-winning author. Her debut novel, “The Reversible Mask: An Elizabethan Spy Novel,” has received several awards and her second novel, “Beyond the Bukubuk Tree: A World War II Novel of Love and Loss” was released in June 2024, was recognized by the NYC Big Book Award, along with CIBA and IPPY. She holds a BA (Hons.) in English, Music, and History, and came to the USA on a Fulbright scholarship for piano. She chairs the NYC Chapter of the Historical Novel Society (HNS-NY).

Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 1:00 PM Bernadette Wells & Carl Baker are scheduled to sign their book at ALA, Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 1:30 PM. They are the co-authors of “Bliss and Her Friends,” a children's book about valuing friendships. Carl Baker was inspired to write by his mother's legacy of creating books for children. Bernadette Wells used the book as an outlet during her moves in and out of NYC.

Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 1:30 PM www.PrintedWordReviews.com

16

Printed Word Reviews' ALA 2025 Special Section

Not every author can be in two places at once, so we have curated a special group of books for your library collection: Audiobook: Nonfiction / Business General

Negotiation Simplified

by Jim Reiman $24.95; 978-1645439578 • Book on display Autobiography

Living While Human

by Arwinder Kaur $26.50; 978-0228851325 • Book on display Business / Cultural and Social Issues

Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World

by Jessica Bantom $29.95; 979-8887970134 • Bantom is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at noon Business: Entrepreneurship & Small Business / Reference

The Start of All Things Good: A Complete Guide to Building Your Business

by Danielle Billetz-Reppert $16.95; 979-8227477644 • Billetz-Reppert is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 11:30am Childrens Fiction

Acorn Adventures

by Shane Svorec $20.99; 978-1665532259 • Svorec is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 9:30am

Bliss and Her Friends

by Bernadette Wells and Carl Baker $20.99; 978-1665532259 • Wells & Baker are signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 1:30pm

Five Mile Charlie: A Special Pony for Carly

by Kimberly Adams $16.95; 978-1645436928 • Adams is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 10am

Five Mile Charlie: Charlie Goes to the Library

by Kimberly Adams $16.95; 978-1637550458 • Adams is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 10am

Five Mile Charlie: The Return of Farmer Bud

by Kimberly Adams $16.95; 978-1637551974 • Adams is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 10am Childrens Holiday

Five Mile Charlie: A Five Mile Christmas (Five Mile Charlie, 3)

by Kimberly Adams $16.95; 978-1637554364 • Adams is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 10am

17

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

Seeing Through Her Eyes: A Conversation on The Female Gaze In Art & Photography with Australian author, Anita Selzer.

The Female Gaze in Art and Photography is about how twenty women artists from around the world create their artwork from a female experience and perspective, a female way of seeing and feeling. (Volume I is on contemporary women; Volume 2, deceased women artists; Volume 3 & 4 out this fall and 2026) The Female Gaze in Art and Photography is nuanced. It highlights how the female gaze differs to and challenges the dominant, historical male gaze that has underscored western art, idealising or sexually objectifying women, particularly in the nude. It shows how the female gaze reclaims the female body and form as a site of multiple meanings. It delivers examples of diverse visual images created by the women artists and photographers from their female way of seeing and feeling, including their psychological and subjective experiences then channeled into their art. The book (Volumes 1 and 2) also reveals how social issues are inscribed in the artworks. It provides a socio-historical context, referencing art history and offers biographical sketches of each creative.

With a scholarly background and a passion for amplifying women’s voices, Australian Author Anita Selzer is redefining how we look at art—specifically through the lens of the female gaze. As an author, academic, and advocate for women in the arts, her The Female Gaze book series offers fresh and necessary perspectives on how women create and are seen in visual culture. We sat down with her to explore the inspiration, impact, and future of this important work.

A Career Rooted in Education and Advocacy

Volume One: Creating Space for Women’s Perspectives

Before stepping into the world of publishing, Seltzer cultivated a rich academic and professional life. Holding a BA, Diploma of Education, Graduate Diploma in Women’s Studies, a Master’s in Education, and a PhD in Education, she has long been engaged with the intersections of gender, history, and learning.

Published as the first in a series, The Female Gaze in Art and Photography Volume One is more than a showcase—it’s a reclamation of space and narrative. “It provides visibility to women artists who have often been overlooked,” she explains. “The book explores how these creatives use their female perspective in the production of their work— something rarely discussed in other texts.”

“I taught English and Politics to young and older adults at a college level,” she explains, “and served as Executive Officer in Women’s Affairs in the Premier’s Department in Victoria.” Her expertise also extended into publishing, reviewing books for Cambridge University Press and the academic journal Gender and Education.

Unlike traditional art criticism that often filters women’s work through a male-dominated lens, this book centers the artist’s intention and lived experience. “These women see their female subjects as people, as agents—not as eroticized objects,” she says. “It shows that the female body can carry multiple meanings, interpreted through the multifarious female gaze.”

Currently Selzer channels this rich foundation into her writing, (an award winning author of fourteen adult and children’s nonfiction books) focusing on women, gender, history, education, biography—and most recently, art.

The Female Gaze in Art and Photography Volume One earned the distinction of “Winner” of the 2024 Independent Press Award in the Fine Arts Category.

Inspiration Behind The Female Gaze In Art & Photography

Looking Forward: Volume Two Arrives in 2025

The seed for The Female Gaze in Art and Photography was planted by Charlotte Jansen’s Girl on Girl, a book that examined how 40 women artists used the female gaze in photography. “[Jansen’s] book inspired me to extend the conversation and explore it further,” she says. “I wanted to create a coffee table book—something more expansive.”

Set to release in September 2025, The Female Gaze In Art & Photography Volume 2 builds on its predecessor while introducing a historical dimension. “It made sense to complement Volume One, which focused on contemporary artists, with a volume that looks at significant deceased female artists,” she says. “Both volumes can stand alone or be read together—they inform and enrich one another.”

The Female Gaze was also personal. “[I] had to feel a connection to the work and the artists I selected,” she adds. Encouragement from close friend and fellow artist Jon Cattapan was pivotal. “He told me to give it a go and is now mentoring me.”

The Female Gaze in Art and Photography Volume 2 offers a reflective contrast, reminding us how long women have been shaping and challenging the visual narrative—even if their contributions have been sidelined.

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

18

Printed Word Reviews' ALA 2025 Special Section Professor Emma Redding, Director Victoria College of the Arts comments, The Female Gaze in Art and Photography Volume 2 is a remarkable exploration of creativity, perspective, and resilience.

With stunning and thought-provoking images that resonate deeply, this book is both a visual and intellectual feast. The book not only showcases exceptional works by female artists and photographers but also sheds light on the social and institutional barriers they have faced across history. Selzer provides a compelling narrative that reveals how these challenges shaped their artistic journeys and contributions. Her insights illuminate the power and persistence of women in art.”

Kathryn Troutman is scheduled for an author signing at ALA, Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 2:00 PM. Troutman conducts training sessions on federal and private industry resumes. Troutman’s ”Transitioning Your Federal Resume to Private Industry: Are You at the Fork of the Road?” is a very timely title. She founded The Resume Place over 30 years ago, establishing it as the first Federal resume writing and coaching business in the U.S. She received the Industry Hero Award in 2022, along with multiple awards including the Independent Press Award and NYC Big Book Award. Her website, https://resume-place.com/, serves as her primary online hub. The Printed Word Review is here:

Bridging Past and Present The duality between the two volumes is key. “Volume One captures the present, the here and now. Volume Two looks to the past, showing us how innovative and expressive women artists have always been when it comes to using the female gaze. The series reveals how social issues are inscribed in the artworks. It provides a socio-historical context, referencing art history and offers biographical sketches of each creative.”

https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9781733777933.

The Female Gazevolumes form a continuum—a reminder that women’s creative voices are both historical and ongoing.

Table 1652, on Saturday, June 28th, at 2:00 PM Michael Dow, The Nurse Florence® Series - Introducing Some Medical Words to Kids in Every Book®, will host a discussion and Q&A session Sunday, June 29, 2025: 11:30 AM – 12:20 PM at the Chapter One Stage, Booth 112. Free autographed books will be given to attendees. Dow, the author of the series with 164 books and counting, holds 2 Bachelor's degrees and 3 Master's degrees. He is a practicing Registered Nurse in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. His books are available for sale on Harvard University's Online Bookstore at www.Harvard.com.

What Sets The Female Gaze Apart?

While there are other books that celebrate women artists, few focus on how the female gaze actively informs their work. “[My books] explore this in detail,” she explains. “They also provide biographical insights and socio-historical context, giving readers a more holistic understanding.”

This makes the series an essential resource for both the art world and general readers curious about the evolution of women’s voices in visual culture. “There’s a depth and nuance to how I discuss the female gaze that I haven’t seen elsewhere,” she says.

Booth 112, on Sunday, June 29th, at 11:30AM -12:20PM

A Glimpse Into Volume Three Looking ahead, The Female Gaze: Volume 3 is already in development. This installment will spotlight three significant Australian artists: Jane Sutherland, Emma Minnie Boyd, and Josephine Muntz-Adams.

CONTEMPORARY WESTERN MYSTERY/ THRILLER

“It provides their biographies, explores how they used a female gaze in their art, and situates their work in its socio-historical context,” she shares. The aim is to continue deepening our understanding of how women have shaped art across time.

Draw A Hard Line

With her Female Gaze series, Selzer is not only telling untold stories— she’s helping reshape the lens through which we view art. As each volume builds upon the last, it becomes clear that the female gaze is not a fleeting trend, but a vital, powerful perspective whose time has come. For more, you can view and listen to The GAB TALKS with Anita Selzer here: https://www.independentpressaward.com/thegabtalks/the-femalegaze-in-art-and-photography

$24.99 • 979-8218409852 case laminate $19.99 • 979-8218377724 paperback

Micheal E. Jimerson The booklife editor’s pick and Kirkus recommended buy.

A uplifting story about people drawing hard lines necessary to affirm life and justice.

Distributed by Ingramspark

______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available where fine books are sold everywhere Elwood Jimerson Farms L.L.C.

www.michealjimerson.com

19

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

Printed Word Reviews' ALA 2025 Special Section

ALL AUTHORS & PUBLISHERS INVITED! Print and Audiobooks accepted

Not every author can be in two places at once, so we have curated a special group of books for your library collection:

AUGUST 15th is the final deadline to receive books!

Join us this fall

Childrens-Humor

Tongue Teasers: Laugh-Along Songbook Origins - A Taste of the Poems Before the Music

by Dr. D.W. Knight $19.99; 978-1953411426 • Book on display Christian

New Wine: A Journey into refueling your life in the spirit

by Dr. Susan Agbenoto $13.95; 979-8890430519 • Agbenoto is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 10:30am 5

Education

The Art of Being a School Counselor: Leading with Confidence, Compassion & Authenticity

Any author (self-, hybrid), any publisher, anywhere, can submit their book for the 2025 BIG BOOK AWARD

by Nancy Regas $17.95; 978-1977235961 • Book on display

Contact Ted Olczak at (718) 938-4590 or Ted@GabbyBookAwards.com

ER N

Fantasy/Historical Fantasy/Magical Realism

Plague of Flies: Revolt of the Spirits, 1846

by Laurel Anne Hill $18.95; 978-1949534207 • Book on display

• INDEPEND ENT PR 24 ES 20 S

D AR AW

W IN

www.nycBigBookAward.com AWARD 2

2024 E R

0 2

4

W I N

N

General Fiction

CLEAR-CUTS

by Joshua S. Narins $16.99; 979-8986427041 • Book on display Leadership / LGBTQ

The Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Culture Can Transform Your Leadership Practice

by Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown $24.95; 979-8887970004 • Book on display LGBTQ

Boy Wander: A Coming of Age Memoir

by Jobert Abueva $23.95; 978-1955826273 • Book on display LGBTQ Nonfiction

Dueling Photographers: George Dureau and Robert Mapplethorpe

by Jack Fritscher, PhD $19.95; 978-1890834692 • Book on display Literary Fiction

False Neutral

by Joshua S. Narins $14.99; 979-8986427003 • Book on display Medical Nonfiction

Private Practice Solution: Reclaiming Physician Autonomy and Restoring the Doctor-Patient Relationship

by Grace Torres-Hodges $24.98; 979-8989170715 • Hodges is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 11am www.PrintedWordReviews.com

20

Printed Word Reviews' ALA 2025 Special Section

A. Nonny Mouse: Magical Moon Mouse Finds Merry Christmas

HISTORICAL FICTION, GENERAL FICTION, ANTHOLOGIES/STORIES

Written by Doreen Lindahl, Illustrated by Dave Carlson

Gravity Flow: The Jimmy Whistler Stories E M Schorb

“A. Nonny Mouse” is a whimsical and heartwarming tale that blends fantasy and adventure with the FALCON REVIEW genuine spirit of Christmas. Ideal for young readers and families, this book transports audiences between the Moon and Earth during the festive holiday season, offering a magical story infused with valuable moral lessons.

ISBN: 979-8218564704 • Price $17.95

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores.

The narrative introduces A. Nonny, a moon mouse feeling left out without a moonball. Granted magical powers by a Fairy Moon Mouse, A. Nonny initially uses his abilities to show off, creating friction with friends like B. Infa. A challenge from G. Teeny—to bring a “MERRY CHRISTMAS in a box” without magic—sends A. Nonny on an extraordinary journey to Earth.

Here, he learns about Christmas traditions from two children, Bob and Trina. Through a frightening encounter with a cat and his interactions with the children, A. Nonny discovers that a “MERRY CHRISTMAS” is a heart full of love, something that cannot be boxed.

https://amzn.to/43idI8o

MEDICAL NONFICTION Private Practice Solution: Reclaiming Physician Autonomy and Restoring the Doctor-Patient Relationship

ER N

• INDEPENDENT 24 PR ES 20 S

D AR AW

Is the constant battle with bureaucracies and the suffocating grip of third-party interference leaving you drained and unable to deliver the exceptional care your patients deserve?

W IN

Grace Torres-Hodges

His selflessness, demonstrated by using his last wish to gift Bob and Trina presents, leaves him stranded on Earth. However, this act prompts the Fairy Moon Mouse to bring him back to the Moon.

The story culminates in A. Nonny’s warm return, a reconciliation with B. Infa, and a celebration emphasizing love, friendship, and selflessness, beautifully symbolized by the Star of Hope. This tale is a perfect read for families, reminding us all of the true meaning of the Christmas season.

Private Practice Solution is a powerful guide designed to empower physicians to seize control of their destiny. This book is your key to unlocking professional freedom and unparalleled success in the ever-changing landscape of healthcare.

ISBN: 979-8989170715 • $24.98

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores.

MYSTERY AWARD 2

2024 E R

0 2

4

W I N N

Missed Cue

Lynn Slaughter When ballerina Lydia Miseau dies onstage in the final dress rehearsal of Romeo and Juliet, homicide detective Caitlin O’Connor is faced with the most complicated case of her career. She strongly suspects that someone murdered the ballerina, and her investigation uncovers several people close to the star who had reasons to kill her. But the autopsy reveals no apparent cause of death. If Lydia Miseau was murdered, who did it, and how?

Meantime, there’s Caitlin’s hot mess of a personal life. She has a bad habit of getting involved with married men. She knows it’s wrong, so why does she keep entangling herself in unhealthy relationships? She’s finally decided to go into therapy to find out.

ISBN: 979-8886531534 • $16.99

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores.

REVIEW SPOTLIGHT

www.lynnslaughter.com

21

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

VVPRINTEt

Childrens • Dynotech Publishing • ISBN: 9781885708113

Gravity Flow by E. M. Schorb is a richly layered comingof-age collection that captures the turbulent transformation of mid-20th-century America through the lens of one unforgettable character. Schorb’s writing is as dynamic as the times it reflects, capturing both the personal and cultural upheaval of an era. Gravity Flow is a compelling exploration of identity, creativity, and the cost of becoming oneself.

Printed Word Reviews' ALA 2025 Special Section

Not every author can be in two places at once, so we have curated a special group of books for your library collection:

CONTEMPORARY WOMEN’S FICTION

Military Fiction

Beyond the Bukubuk Tree: A World War II Novel of Love and Loss

Between the Lines: A novel by Sarah Lynn Sarah Lynn

by Loretta Goldberg $18.99; 978-8412232585 • Goldberg is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 1pm

Between the Lines will speak to the heart of those who understand the elusive pursuit of a dream, and the deep-felt desire to find true love, walking the road of heartache and confusion to get there. It is written for anyone who has struggled with self-worth and has fiercely sought the truth, in the midst of endless frustration.

Self-help / Woman's Issues

Pound On!! From the Glass Slipper to the Glass Ceiling

by Robin Rotenberg $25.00; 978-0578703268 • Book on display

ISBN 978-0578303949 Paperback: $15.95 / Hardcover: $25.99

Reference

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Transitioning Your Federal Resume to Private Industry: Are You at the Fork of the Road?

Available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com

https://a.co/d/2CExJNz

by Kathryn Troutman $29.95; 978-1733777933 • Troutman is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 2pm

RELIGION-FICTION

Thriller

The Attractiveness of Wisdom

Archidamus

Judy Kelly

by Janet Shawgo $17.95; 978-1635052145 • Book on display

After a tumultuous marriage and struggling trying to keep it together, Hamilton, a university dean, sets out on a perilous emotional journey to change his life and seek the kind of love he’s always wanted. Hamilton meets Franny, a troubled dance teacher, and accepts her job offer of organizer in her studio.

When Franny injures her foot, Hamilton must step out of his secure place to help.

Legacy of Lies

by Janet Shawgo $14.95; 978-1733404501 • Book on display Visionary Fiction

Will Hamilton wise up and learn how a man truly loves a woman, the value of friendship and the need for prayer?

High Priestess and Empress, Book Two, Arcana Oracle Series

The Attractiveness of Wisdom is a Christian, literary fiction, heart-warming, enthralling novel with endearing, and unforgettable characters.

by Susan Wands $17.95; 978-1684632343 • Wands is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Saturday, June 28th, at 12:30pm

ISBN: 978-1684338504 • Price $21.95

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble www.judycar.com

Women's Fiction

Adopted

by Robert Oberle $19.95; 978-1662485978 • Book on display

VISIONARY FICTION

Young Adult Fiction

High Priestess and Empress, Book Two, Arcana Oracle Series

RISING STAR Book One of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart Series

Susan Wands

by Michele Kwasniewski $20.00; 978-1950544165 • Kwasniewski is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Friday, June 27th, at 6pm

Burning Bright: Book Two in The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart Series

by Michele Kwasniewski $20.00; 978-1950544349 • Kwasniewski is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Friday, June 27th, at 6pm

ISBN: 978-1684632343 • Price $17.95

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Falling Star: Book Three in The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart Series

Available on Amazon. https://susanwands.com/

by Michele Kwasniewski $20.00; 978-1950544363 • Kwasniewski is signing at ALA Table 1652 on Friday, June 27th, at 6pm www.PrintedWordReviews.com

D WAR SA ES

202 5D IS

Artist and seer Pamela Colman Smith returns to London only to find her nemesis, Aleister Crowley, has resurfaced and set his sights on her. Despite his sinister efforts, Pamela continues developing her tarot deck, channeling her muses: Golden Dawn leader Florence Farr and theater star Ellen Terry. But when Ellen is poisoned, Pamela realizes Aleister won’t stop until her muses are dead. When Aleister reveals his plot to assassinate Queen Victoria and all female rulers, war erupts between his Carlists and the Golden Dawn. With so many lives at stake, Pamela must access her deepest magic to win the battle of her life.

HED FAVORITE UIS •P R NG TI

22

23

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

Great Reads Summer

By John Carey

S

ummer is a great time for reading—either at the beach during a well-needed vacation or just hiding out in the air-conditioned house waiting for the sun to go down. Something about this time of year is perfect for discovering newer fiction. But at the same time, it’s always a gamble reading something new. So sometimes I’m happier re-reading some of my all-time favorites.

1. Writers of the Future Volume 41 – This anthology has a variety of engaging and thought-provoking stories. Time travel, robot tales, fantasy, dystopian futures, space travel to new worlds, AI, or witches and strong demons. I’ll talk about just two of my favorites.

at least 5 points. At least, that’s the way I feel after I finish one.

At Home takes you through each room in your house, examining the history behind everything connected to that room. You will learn about the history of hygiene, sex, death, sleep, nutrition, spices, and much more.

We’ve read many robot tales where the robot abides by Asimov’s rules, but a much more imaginative story follows a robot who inexplicably and suddenly doesn’t follow those rules. Another fantasy involves the “Groundhog Day” theme, where a day repeats over and over, except that EVERYONE in this story remembers, not just one person. It is an analogy for times when our own life seems to involve getting up, going to work, coming home, rinse and repeat.

5. Toxic Prey by John Sandford–For murder mysteries, Sandford is my number one read. And over the years, to keep the series fresh, his Lucas Davenport character has grown from a Minneapolis police detective who colors outside the lines and eventually gets fired but always moves on to a higher-level job and finally to being a Deputy U.S. Marshall.

2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams–I don’t think any book has ever made me laugh as much as this one. The humor, the fantastical storyline, and ultimately, the search for meaning in one’s life! This story has everything.

After all of us collectively experiencing COVID lockdowns, this story presents an all- too-familiar theme: a gain-of-function virus about to be unleashed upon the world. Can Lucas and his adopted daughter Letty, who works for Homeland Security, stop them first? This quick read is action-packed and fast-paced.

3. Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard–the absolute best sci-fi novel I have ever read.

Well, whatever your preference, I hope your summer reading is as adventurous as mine and you escape to worlds unknown.

Enslaved humans versus evil aliens who are just here for our gold. Mr. Hubbard knows how to write to pull out every emotion you’ve ever experienced with characters you’ll love or hate. Your feelings will run the gamut as battles are won, and suddenly, completely different and unexpected battles rise to the forefront!

Bio: John Carey paid the bills working as a programmer and IT project manager while he honed his writing skills at night and on the weekends. John has just published his second book, “Not Worthy of the Air you Breathe” set in the future where nations have taken a cue from the business world and terminate their low performing citizens at the end of each year.

4. At Home by Bill Bryson–If you’ve never read a Bill Bryson book, leave for your nearest bookstore now! His books should have a warranty posted on the front cover—GUARANTEED to increase your IQ by

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

24

Printed Word Reviews DAMAGED HERITAGE: The Elaine Race Massacre and A Story of Reconciliation.

J. Chester Johnson

Nonfiction. Publisher: Pegasus Books Ltd; Distributor: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 978-1643134666 J. Chester Johnson's "Damaged Heritage" is a profound exploration of the author's personal journey to uncover and confront the white supremacist roots embedded in his Southern upbringing. The book delves into Johnson's family's connection to the Elaine Race Massacre of 1919, a horrific event where over a hundred African American sharecroppers were killed. Johnson's narrative spans from the massacre to his poignant meeting with Sheila Walker, a descendant of the massacre's victims, nearly a century later. This work is a heartfelt and deeply personal contribution to the literature of white remembrance and a serious reckoning with America's racial past. Written in a popular style, the book is accessible and timely, offering a significant contribution to the ongoing work of racial healing and reconciliation.

The book begins with Johnson's discovery of his family's ties to the Elaine Race Massacre and his subsequent journey to understand the event's impact. He recounts the massacre's brutal details and the unjust legal proceedings that followed, highlighting the role of African American lawyer Scipio Africanus Jones in defending the wrongfully convicted sharecroppers. Johnson then explores the concept of "damaged heritage," the ingrained racism passed down through generations, and the psychological mechanisms that sustain it. His personal experiences growing up in the segregated South and his rejection of those values inform his narrative.

Johnson's relationship with Sheila Walker is a central theme, illustrating the potential for reconciliation through truth and mutual respect. Their friendship, built on the shared history of the massacre, serves as a powerful example of healing across racial divides.

The book also addresses the resurgence of white nationalism in contemporary America, particularly during Donald Trump's presidency, and the critical need for white Americans to distinguish their actions from the past's damaged heritage.

"Damaged Heritage" reasons that acknowledging and addressing the past's racial injustices is essential for genuine reconciliation. Johnson provides compelling evidence through historical accounts, personal reflections, and his relationship with Walker. The book's conclusion emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and the need for white Americans to seek it from African Americans for the pervasive damaged heritage.

"Damaged Heritage" is for readers interested in American history, racial reconciliation, and personal narratives of transformation. It is particularly relevant for those seeking to understand the deep-seated roots of racism in the United States and the steps necessary for healing. This book is a vital resource for anyone committed to fostering genuine relationships that bridge racial divides and contribute to a more just society.

https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9781643134666

Your University Press Book Review can be here.

Contact the publisher Ted Olczak at Ted@PrintedWordReviews.com.

www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews Printed Word Reviews 63 Clinton Road Glen Ridge, NJ 07028 (973) 969-1899 • (718) 938-4590

25

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

Printed Word Reviews The Spear and the Sentinel J.L. Hancock Geopolitical Thriller. Braveship Books. ISBN: 978-1640621718 This high-stakes geopolitical thriller "The Spear and the Sentinel" plunges readers into a world of advanced technology, international espionage, and the enduring power of human resilience. With its fast-paced narrative and intricate plot, the book is a perfect fit for those who crave complex stories involving military operations, cutting-edge science, and global political intrigue. Spanning diverse locations, from the remote Kunashir Island near Japan to the turbulent Xinjiang region of China, the story unfolds in the contemporary era, grappling with issues ripped from today's headlines.

The core conflict ignites with a mysterious and violent incident on Kunashir Island, investigated by the determined Major Igor Orlov. Simultaneously, Kobra Siddik, a courageous Uyghur woman, escapes a Chinese government facility in East Turkistan, driven by a desperate need to expose the horrific atrocities committed against her people. Thousands of miles away in San Diego, Voodoo and Sparks, members of a US Naval Special Warfare team, prepare for a dangerous mission involving artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, in Kazakhstan, physicists Sergei and Misha Titov achieve a groundbreaking discovery in quantum sensing technology, a breakthrough that unwittingly unleashes unforeseen dangers.

These seemingly disparate threads begin to weave together as Voodoo and his team embark on a critical mission: to sabotage China's Integrated Joint Operations Platform (IJOP), a powerful AI surveillance tool with far-reaching implications. Back in Xinjiang, Inspector Chen is tasked with capturing Kobra Siddik, whose escape threatens to expose deeply sensitive information about Chinese human rights abuses and the nation's technological overreach. The narrative skillfully explores the ethical and geopolitical ramifications of these advanced technologies, forcing the characters to navigate a treacherous landscape of shifting alliances, betrayals, and high-stakes operations.

The tension escalates as Voodoo and his team infiltrate a heavily guarded facility in Yining, China, their objective to rescue Kobra's mother and uncover crucial intelligence. Their daring operation leads to a climactic confrontation involving cutting-edge Chinese weaponry, and an unexpected ally, forcing them to rely on all their skills to survive.

The resolution offers a powerful message about the importance of vigilance, innovation, and international collaboration in the face of emerging global threats. The team's perilous mission bears the weight of the sacrifices made and concludes, leaving the reader with a sense of both unease and hope.

"The Spear and the Sentinel" is a gripping exploration of the intersection of technology, politics, and human rights in the 21st century. It challenges readers to confront the profound implications of rapid technological progress and the ethical responsibilities that accompany such power. Through its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and pulse-pounding action, the story delivers a thrilling and thought-provoking experience that resonates deeply with contemporary global issues.

https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9781640621718

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

26

27

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

www.PrintedWordReviews.com

28