WELL READ Magazine August 2022 by three dogs write press

Taketheorphantrain to1925Montana “Thisintricatelyplotted,deeply researcheddebutranksamongthebestof the‘OrphanTrain’-themednovelsandpolishes theWesternnoveltoanewradiance.” —TheLibraryJournal “YouBelongHereNowisanovelasstraightforward andpowerfulasthecharacterswhopopulate.Ilove thisbookandIguaranteeyouwon’tfinda finerdebutanywhere.” —WilliamKentKrueger,NewYorkTimes BestsellingAuthorofThisTenderLand ShortlistedforReadingtheWestbestdebutfiction2021 In1925Montana,threemysteriousorphansshowupona cattleranch,andafterthefamilytakesthemin,theoldestis jailedforfreeingwildhorsesboundforslaughter,exposing hisdarksecretfromHell’sKitchen. USATODAYBESTSELLINGAUTHOR

"Thisintricatelyplotted,deeplyresearcheddebutranks amongthebestofthe“OrphanTrain”–themednovelsand polishestheWesternnoveltoanewradiance.Picture CharlesDickensonanAppaloosaforafusionoftwoclassic genres."—LibraryJournal(starredreview)"Thisintricately plotted,deeplyresearcheddebutranksamongthebestofthe “OrphanTrain”–themednovelsandpolishestheWestern noveltoanewradiance.PictureCharlesDickensonan Appaloosaforafusionoftwoclassicgenres." —Library Journal(starredreview) “SetagainsttheharshbackdropofMontana,YouBelong HereNowisanovelasstraightforwardandpowerfulasthe characterswhopopulateit.Ilovethisbook,andIguarantee youwon’tfindafinerdebutworkanywhere.” —William KentKrueger,NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorof This TenderLand “YouBelongHereNowdistillstheessenceoftheAmerican spiritinthisupliftingstory.Perfectforbookclubslookingto discussthetruemeaningoffamily.” KathleenGrissom,NewYork Timesbestsellingauthorof The Kitchen“Fromthemomentthe readerstepsonthetrainwiththese orphanedchildren,YouBelongHere Nowshowshowbeautycanemerge fromeventhedarkestplaces.”— ErikaRobuck,nationalbestselling authorof Hemingway’sGirlHouse

by LesleyKagen

Thesummerof1960wasthehottesteverforSummit, Wisconsin.Forkidsseekingrelieffromtheheat,therewasa creektobeswumin,sprinklerstorunthrough,andicecreamat Whitcomb'sDrugstore.ButforFrankie,Viv,andBiz,elevenyear-oldbestfriends,itwouldforeverberememberedasthe summerthatevilpaidavisittotheirsmalltown--andtooktheir younglivesasthey'dknownthemasasouvenir. Withato-dolistinhand,thegirlssetforthfromtheirhideoutto maketheirmarkonthatsummer,butwhenthreepatientsescape fromBroadhurstMentalInstitution,theiridylliclivestakea sinisterturn.Determinedtouncoverlong-heldsecrets,thegirls havenoideathatwhattheydiscovercouldcostthemtheirlives andtheonestheyholddear.

EveryNowandThen

ForfansofWheretheCrawdadsSingandThisTenderLand comesaheartfeltstoryaboutthreeyounggirlssearchingfor adventureduringthesummerof1960fromtheNewYorkTimes bestsellingauthorofWhistlingintheDark. Thatsummerwouldchangeus...forever.

Sixdecadeslater,Biz,nowabestsellingnovelist,remembers thatlongagosummerandhowitstillhauntsherandherlifelong friendsinEveryNowandThen,astoryaboutthetiesthatbind us,thetimelessnessofgriefandguilt--andtheeverlastinghope forredemption. LesleyKagenisanactress,voice-overtalent, speaker,andaward-winningNewYork Timesbestsellingauthorofeightnovels, includingTheUndertakingofTess.Herwork hasbeentranslatedintosevenlanguages.A motheroftwoandgrandmotheroftwo,she livesinahundred-year-oldfarmhouseina smalltowninWisconsin.

READINGNATIONMAGAZINE GREATBOOKSTOADDTOYOURREADINGLIST! 6 BOOKSTOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 11 WATCHTHIS! 63 INTERRUPTED 73 MAKINGCONNECTIONS 85 SHARINGTHEWEALTH 89 AUTHORSINTERVIEWINGAUTHORS 95

NEWAUTHORSTOFOLLOW! AUGUST7 2022 ISSUENO.17 TOOGOODNOTTOSHARE 99 IFOURPETSCOULDTALK 101 NETWORKING 105 FYI 111 OFFTHEPAGEWITHRIVERJORDAN 113

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TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST AUGUST9 2022 ISSUENO.17 Followonsocialmediaformorebooklovingfun!

READINGNATIONMAGAZINE WHATAREYOUREADING? 10

TheI-10corridorofTexasconnectssaints,demons,and victimsastheultimatequestionoflifeanddeathis decidedbytwostrangersfatehasboundtogether.They mustmakeahardchoiceinordertosurvive:eitherfollow thelaworfollowtheirconsciences. "BernharddispensesvividdetailsofHannahandAriela piecemealwhileestablishingthecharactersinbroad strokesasempatheticarchetypes:Hannah'sastrong, independentwoman;Arielaisateenwithaverageteen desires.Othernarratorsweighin,includingHannah's daugher-in-law,aborderagent,thegirl'spriest,anda

HannahandAriela by Johnnie Bernhard WhenHannah,aseventy-three-yearoldwidow,findsthesemiconscious bodyofafourteen-year-oldMexican nationalinaditchalongaremote centralTexasroad,shehasnoidea someoneiswatching.Notuntilthe girl’sbrutalattackerarrivesat Hannah’sdoorinthemiddleofthe night,threateningnotjustthegirl’sbutHannah’svery survival.Ultimatelythequestionofjusticeforavictimof humantraffickingandthewomanwhohelpsherliesinthe handsofabiracialborderpatrolofficerandan unconventionalsmall-townsheriff.

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–PublishersWeekly JohnnieBernhard,AuthorandSpeaker -Aformerteacher andjournalist,JohnnieBernhardispassionateaboutreading andwriting.Herwork(s)haveappearedinthefollowing publications:HoustonStyleMagazine,TheMississippi Press,theinternationalWordAmongUs,TheTexasReview, andtheCowbird-NPRproductiononsmalltownAmerica. Johnniewaschosenasaselectedspeakerinthe2020TEDx FearlessWomenSeries.Shealsosupportsyoungwriters throughtheLettersAboutLiteratureprogramwiththeTexas CenterfortheBook,CatholicLiteraryArts,andtheWritefor Mississippiprogram.In2021,shewasnamedateaching artistwithGeminiInkWritingArtsCenterofSanAntonio andthenationalTAPSummerInstitute2021.Johnnieenjoys teachingworkshopsforwritingcommunitiesacrossthe country. JohnnieshareshertimebetweenTexas andMississippiwithherhusbandand rescuedog,Sadie.

Texascountysheriff.Withthisspectrumofperspectives, Bernhardillustratesthedangersoflifealongtheborder andthedominoeffectthattheactionsofonecanhaveon others.Thoughthestoryisprimarilyissue-driven,the authoraddsjustenoughcharacterdevelopmenttogetthe readervested."

ContactforJohnnieBernhard: johnniebernhardauthor@gmail.com Fororders,TexasA&MUniversityPress: 800-826-8911

SingandThisTenderLandcomes aheartfeltstoryaboutthreeyoung girlssearchingforadventure duringthesummerof1960from theNewYorkTimesbestselling authorofWhistlingintheDark. “Kagenskillfullyspinsanostalgic tale...Thisfast-pacedandsuspensefuloutingwillcaptivate Kagen’sfansanddomuchtowinhernewones.” PublishersWeekly,starredreview "Kagenthoughtfullycapturesthespiritof'60ssmall-town America,showingboththeidyllic,rosypastthatinspires nostalgiaanditstroublingunderbelly." —Booklist “Aquickandeasyreadaboutfriendship,family,and community.Irecommendthisforanyonelookingfora heartwarmingcoming-of-agestorywithlovable, endearingcharacters.” —TheGirlyBookClub “Awonderfulcoming-of-agetale...Refreshing.” —New YorkJournalofBooks

READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 12 EveryNowandThen:A Novel by LesleyKagen

ForfansofWheretheCrawdads

Marilyn'squiet,mysteriousbeauty beliestheturmoilinsideherhead. Shemoveswithherchildrentoher parent'sfarmtoescapeher alcoholichusband’sincreasingly violentoutbursts.Herdaughter, Ginny,findscomfortinher grandmother'scompanyandthe discoveryofherfather'sold Browniecamera.AsMarilyn'smentalhealthdeclines, Ginnyembarksonanobsessionwithtaking photographs—particularlyofpeopleinmomentsofraw emotion.AchancetogoawaytocollegegivesGinnyhope foranewlife.ButsoonanewcrisiswithMarilynanda murderinvestigationforceGinnytofaceandreconcileher difficultchildhood.

DebraBowling’sfirstnovel, TheMemoryofFlight receivedthe2015GeorgiaAuthoroftheYearAward,First Novel,andwasaneditor’spickbyStoryCircleBook Reviews.Shehaspublishedessays,shortstories,and poetryandwastheWriterinResidenceforFairhope, AlabamainOctober,2019.

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TheMemoryofFlight:a novel by DebraBowling

BehindtheMagicCurtain:Secrets, Spies,andUnsungWhiteAlliesof Birmingham’sCivilRightsDaysis aremarkablelookatahistoriccity enmeshedinracialtensions, revealinguntoldorforgotten storiesofsecretdeals,lawenforcementintrigue,and couragealongsidepivotaleventsthatwouldsweepchange acrossthenation. “NovelistandformerBirminghampolicecaptainT.K. ThornedemonstratestherewasmoretotheBirminghamof thecivilrightserathanBullConnor,Klansmen,and AfricanAmericanprotestors.Behindthat“magic curtain,”anethnicallydiversegroupfromdowntownto thesurroundingbedroomcommunitiesofministers, priests,rabbis,newspaperreporters,andhousewives comprisedacommunitybelyingmonikerslike “Bombingham”and“MurderCapitalofAmerica”and fightingforjusticeintheMagicCity.”

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―EarlTilford, authorof TurningtheTide:TheUniversityofAlabamain the1960s

BehindtheMagicCurtain: Secrets,Spies,andUnsung

WhiteAlliesof Birmingham'sCivilRights Days by T.K.Thorne

MoonlightinOdessa:A Novel by JanetSkeslien Charles Odessa,Ukraine,isthehumor capitaloftheformerSovietUnion, butinanupside-downworldwhere waitersearnmorethandoctorsand OdessansdependontheMafiafor basicslikephoneserviceand medicalsupplies,nooneis laughing.Aftermonthsofjobhunting,Daria,ayoung engineer,findsaplumpositionataforeignfirmasa secretary.Buteveryplumhasapit.Inthiscase,it'sMr. Harmon,whomakesitclearthatsleepingwithhimisjob one.DariaevadesHarmon'sadvancesbyrecruitingher neighbor,theslipperyOlga,tobehismistress.Butsoon OlgasetshersightsonDaria'sjob. DariabeginstomoonlightasaninterpreteratSoviet Unions(TM),amatchmakingagencythatorganizes "socials"wherelonelyAmericanmencanmeetdesperate Odessanwomen.HergrandmotherwantsDariatoleave Ukraineforgoodandpusheshertomarryoneofthemen shemeets,butDariaalreadyhasfeelingsforalocal.She mustchoosebetweenherworldandAmerica,between Vlad,asexy,irresponsiblemobster,andTristan,ateacher nearlytwiceherage.DariachoosessecurityandAmerica. Onlyit'snotexactlywhatshethoughtitwouldbe… TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST AUGUST15 2022 ISSUENO.17

“T.K.writeslikeaseasonednews editor,meticulouslyhuntingdownfacts andlayingoutthecontextinacolorful, intriguingaccount.BehindtheMagic Curtaindocumentsmanyuntoldstories andfaithfullyrelatesmyownpersonal, unforgettablememoriesofatimeof racialtransitioninBirmingham.”― Tom Lankford, former journalist,The BirminghamNews BehindtheMagicCurtain:Secrets, Spies,andUnsungWhiteAlliesof Birmingham'sCivilRightsDays by T.K.Thorne

GoldDigger:The RemarkableBabyDoeTabor by RebeccaRosenberg DOUBLEGOLDforGOLD DIGGER!2020IBPAandIPPY Awardsforfiction! OnelookatBabyDoeTaborand youknowshewasmeanttobea legendoftheWildWestand GildedAge!Shewasjusttwenty yearsoldwhenshecamewestto workagoldminewithhernew husband.Littledidsheexpectthatshe’dbeabandonedand pregnantandlefttomanagethegoldminealone.Butthat didn’tstopher!Shefellinlovewithanoldmarried prospector,twiceherage.HoraceTaborstruckthebiggest silverveininhistory,scandalouslydivorcedhiswife, becameaUSSenator,andmarriedBabyDoeattheUS capitolwithPresidentArthurinattendance.ThoughBaby DoeTaborwasrenownedforherbeauty,herfashion,and evenherphilanthropy,shewasneverwelcomedinpolite society.Herfriendswerestarstheyhiredtoperformat theirTaborGrandOperaHouse:SarahBernhardt,Oscar Wilde,LilyLangtry,operastarEmmaAbbott.Discover howtheTaborsnavigatedtheworldsofscandal,greed, wealth,power,andpoliticsinthewilddaysofwestern mining. READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 18

Noah'sWife by T.K.Thorne AForeWordReviewsBOOKOF THEYEARforHistoricalFiction. Noah'sWifewilltransportreadersto anancienttimewhiledelvinginto issuesaffectingourcontemporary lives––family,autism,religious freedom,andculturalchange.The authorweavesmyth,history,and ancientculturewithhervivid imagination,wisdom,andhumorintoanepictaleyouwill notforget.Toldfromtheuniqueperspectiveofayoung girlwithwhatisnowcalledAspergers,thisisthestoryof Noah'swife,Na'amah.Na'amahwishesonlytobea shepherdessonherbelovedhillsinancientTurkey––a desireshatteredbythehatredofherpowerfulbrotherand theloveoftwomen.Shewalksadangerouspathinanage ofchange––atimeofchallengetothegoddess'ancient ways.Whenforeignraiderskidnapher,Na'amah'sjourney toescapeandreturnhomebecomesanattempttosaveher peoplefromadisasteronlysheknowsiscoming. “Anovelofepicsweep,emotionalpower,and considerablebeauty.” —RonGholson,TheBlount Countian TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST AUGUST19 2022 ISSUENO.17

TheSecretsWeHide by PatriciaSands “Intheend,onlythreethings matter:howmuchyouloved,how gentlyyoulived,andhowgracefully youletgoofthingsnotmeantfor you.” ~Buddha Thedeeptraditionsandvaluesof KaitoTanaka’sJapaneseheritageareseverelytestedwhen hereturnshometoHonolulufromdutyinVietnamtofind hiswife,Hana,inthegripofprogressivementalhealth challenges. AsHana’sconditionworsens,Kaito’slifebecomes absorbedinprotectingandcaringforherandtheir daughter,Kiana.Hanabecomesincreasinglyreclusive whiletheirdaughterKianagrowstroubledandrebellious. Afriend’smysteriousdeathfollowedbyKiana’ssudden disappearancecutdeeplyintoKaito’ssoul.Meditationis Kaito’sdrugofchoice.Secrecyhidesthetruthfromothers butKaito’scommitmenttoHanaisunwavering. Asyearsgoby,Kaitobeginstomakeanannual pilgrimagetoaBuddhistretreatinKoyasanthatrenews hisspirit.Intheend,aserendipitouscoincidencethere opensthedoortohappiness–ifhecanallowhimselfto acceptit. READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 20

authorof ThePerfectSon and ThePromiseBetweenUs OriginallyfromToronto,Canada,thepandemiccaused PatriciaandherhusbandtomovetwohoursnorthtoThe BlueMountainswithGeorgianBayintheir‘frontyard’and skihills8minutesaway.Anadmittedtravelfanatic, Patriciacanpackabaginaflashandbereadytogo anywhere…particularlythesouthofFrance,forherannual visit. AsofJanuary,2015,alongwithbeinganindieauthor, PatriciahasalsopublishedwithLakeUnionPublishing. Thisisthewomen’sfictionarmofAmazonPublishing. Withafocusonherloveofthesouth ofFrance,women’sissuesand ageing,herstoriescelebratethe femininespiritandthepowerof friendship.Encouragingwomenof allagestostaredownthefearfactor andembracechange,Patriciahas heardfromreaders(mentoo!)ages 20to83.

“SetagainstlushbackdropsinHawaii,Japan,Corsica, andthesouthofFrance,thisbeautifulstoryofresilience perfectlybalancestheheartbreakanddestructionof mentalillnesswiththecompassionandserenityofan unforgettablehero.”

BarbaraClaypoleWhite,bestselling

TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST AUGUST21 2022 ISSUENO.17

“…Anengagingstoryof love,grief,and remotenessonMartha’s Vineyard.” -Kirkusreview AvailableAugust23,2022 TheSilenceintheSound by DianneCBraley

—Thelma Adams,authorof

TheLastWomanStanding and BittersweetBrooklyn

CrazyToLeaveYou:A Novel by MarilynSimon Rothstein “ReadingabookbyMarilyn SimonRothsteinislikesittingat thefuntableatawedding, listeningtoallaninsider’sfunny storiesabouttheblessedevent’s guests,andthoseshe unsparinglytellsonherself. MarilynSimonRothsteinmakes melaugh—andremindsmethat eveninacomicnovel,the emotionaldynamicsinanosy,tight-knitJewishfamily withthreecompetitivedaughterscanbeastwistedasthey arelaughable.InRothstein’sthirdhilariousnovel,we followthevictimofabrutalhit-and-runawaygroom,a bridewithatickingbiologicalclockandabrilliant Manhattanadvertisingcareer.Despiteherbonafides,this abandonedsingletonhasnowaytospinthemortifying situationshefindsherselfin—dumpedatthealtarbya weaklingwhoannounceshisplanbytextinghersister. Willsheeverloveagain?Willsheeverstopeatingtofill theholeheleft?You’llfindout,andifyou’relikeme, you’llbewaitingforthisauthor’snextbook.”

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Pause by Sara Stamey DearDiary, Shallwepausetotakestock? Female(liberated,atleastfrom fraughtmarriage).Age52,height 5’5”,weight120,bonedensity excellent,minimalcellulite, maximalhotflashes.Oneand¾ breasts. Monthssincesex:27 LindseyFriedland,formerriverraftingguideandavidoutdoorswoman,hashittheworst stretchofwatershe'severfaced:divorcefromanabuser, breastcancer,menopausesymptomsthatherfriendsseem tohavepaddledserenelyby.Andshe'slostsightofher dreamofbecominganenvironmentaljournalist. Lindseyneedstogethersparkback. DearDiary,Disastrousblinddatessofar:Thewalking colognebottle.The“reallywantagaltogivemebabies” guy.Thepushypast-lifereintegrationfacilitator. WillLindseymakeitpasttherockyshoalsoffamily upheavals,jobcrises,sexism,andageism...nottomention toxiclovetraps?Does“happilyeverafter”nowmean settlingforoccasional(buthot!)sexwithMr.Maybe?Can shereclaimherjournalismdream? TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST AUGUST25 2022 ISSUENO.17

SummeroftheRedeemers by CarolynHaines TheJexvilleChronicles#1 Inthesummerof1963,KaliOka RoadisBekkahRich’sworld. Trustedbyherparents,shehasthe freedomtoroamandexplorein thesafetyofruralMississippi—as longassheremainsonthereddirt road.KaliOkadead-endsatan abandonedchurchandcrossesthe notoriousCryBabyCreek,where localssayayounginfant, deliberatelydrowned,canbeheardcryingformercylate atnight.Asthesummerrollsout,threeeventschange Bekkahforever.Nadine,withherstableofshowhorses, movesontotheroad.Then,areclusivereligiousgroup— theRedeemers—rumoredtopracticestrangerituals,takes overtheoldchurch.Shortlyafterthat,herbestfriend’s infantsisterMaebellegoesmissing.HorsecrazyBekkah fallsundertheswayofNadine,butitisthedesperateneed tofindMaebellethatmotivateshertotakedangerous actions.NooneonKaliOkaRoadiswhoorwhatthey seem.Bekkahmustfacethetruthofagrownupworldand learnthattrustandjudgmentcomeatacost. Anotefromtheauthor: “Thiswasmyfirstpublishednovel.It’sacomingofage READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 26

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story,aboutayounggirl,BekkahRich,wholivesonared dirtroadinruralMississippiinthe‘60s.Bekkahisagood girl,thoughabithorsecrazyandconfrontingthetime whenshebeginspullingawayfromherfamilyandtrying todiscoverwhosheis.The‘60sinMississippiwerea tumultuoustime,andBekkahconfrontssomeofthose issues.Butthedrivingstoryofthebookinvolvesthe abductionofaninfant,MaebelleVanCampWaltman,the babysisterofBekkah’sbestfriend.Bekkahbelieves membersofareligiouscultaretoblame,butshewhen andAlicestartinvestigating,theybiteoffmorethanthey bargainfor. WhenIwasgrowingup,Iwasthemosthorse-crazykidin theworld.AndIlovelocallegendsandfolklore.Thestory ofKaliOkaRoadandCryBabyCreekoriginatedin MobileCounty,butI“borrowed”themformypurposesin thisnovel.Notasingleeventinthisbookhappened,but thereisalotofemotionaltruthbetweenthecovers. ThisbookearnedacomparisontoTOKILLA MOCKINGBIRD,whichisaboutthe highestpraiseanovelcanreceive, inmybook.” *100%ofproceedsfromthesale ofthisbookwillbedonatedtothe GoodFortuneFarmRefuge, helpingabandonedpetsreceive medicaltreatmentandloving homes.

Touched by CarolynHaines TheJexvilleChronicles#2 Thisbookinvolvesmembersof thesamefamilyasinSUMMER OFTHEREDEEMERS,the McVayfamily.Butit’ssetin1926 inthesamecommunityof Jexville. ConflictsinasmallSoutherntown bubbletothesurfaceinthistaleof repressionandprophecy,the secondbookinTheJexvilleChroniclestrilogy.Sixteenyear-oldMattiecomestoMississippiinthesummerof 1926asamail-orderbrideandfindsaquiet,deeply religiouscommunitywrappedinrigidviewsofawoman’s properrole.WhenDuncanMcVay,thenine-year-old daughterofJexville’smostcontroversialwoman,isstruck bylightningwhiledancing,thetownspeoplearehorrified whenshedoesn’tdiebutsurvives—andisgiventhegiftof prophecy.Abusedandmistreatedbyherhandsome husband,MattiedefendsDuncan.Shefindscomfortinher friendshipwithJoHannaandtheMcVayfamily,but defyingthetownhasconsequences.Whenahurricane lashesthearea,thetownspeopleblameDuncan.Action leadstotragedy.ForbothMattieandJohanna,thefuture holdsheartache,butultimatelyalong-awaitedand READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 28

stunninglyexecutedrevenge.

—RockyMountainNews

-KirkusReview

Review

"Sovivid,soenergetic,sopoignantthatitseemstomove onreelsratherthanpages."

—ChicagoTribune "Haines'sfreshandsuspensefulsecondnovel(after SummeroftheRedeemers)issetin1926,inthe"bleakly ugly"Bible-belttownofJexville,Miss.,wheredancingis lookeduponasasinandwomenareexpectedtobedocile andreligious.Writtenwithalanguidsensuality,thisrich andcomplexworkfeaturesquirky,fullydeveloped charactersinvolvedinanunpredictablestory,with Mattie'slong-awaitedrevengeprovidingabittersweetbut satisfyingcoda."

—TheNewYorkTimesBook

"ActionoverloadasMattieandfriendsmorethanprove theircredentialsascool,modern,andindependentwomen abletocopewitheverything."

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—PublishersWeekly "Absolutelyrivetingasitpulsesforwardwithmounting tension...brilliant!"

"LiketheheatofaDeepSouthsummer,Ms.Haines's novelhasundeniableintensity;it'simpossibletoshakeits broodingatmosphere."

MurderUnderABritish Moon byAbigailKeam MonaMoontravelstoMerryOld EnglandtovisitBrynelleth, RobertFarley’sancestralhome, forthefirsttime.Hopingtomake agoodimpression,Monafinds sheisrebuffedateveryturnby Robert’sfriendsandevenhis servants.Eventsturnmoresour asthestaffquitsafterseeing ghosts,andaphantomkeeps sabotagingrepairsmadetothemanor.Despondent,Mona wantstoreturntotheUnitedStates,buthertripisdelayed whenanAmericanagentisdiscoveredmurderedat Brynelleth.Shecan’tleaveRobertinsuchalurchandbegs hergoodfriend,LadyAliceNithercott,tohelpherfindthe culprit,whoseemstobeoutforblood—Mona’sblood! A1930s MonaMoon HistoricalCozyMystery! Award-winningauthorAbigailKeamwritestheMona MoonMysterySeries—arags-to-riches1930smystery serieswhichincludesrealpeopleandeventsintothestory line. READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 30

WindowsoftheHeavens: ANovel by HenryG. Brinton Whentheheavensopenonthe smallrivertownofOccoquan, Virginia,thestreetsfloodanda candleshopissweptaway.A MethodistpastornamedHarley Camdenwitnessesthe destructivedelugeandthen discovers,inthedebris,adead manwithacrudecarvingof Satan'sclawsinhisback.Harleyisdrawnintothemystery ofwhatcausedthefloodandwhokilledtheman,while divingintoquestionsofgoodandevil,bodyandspirit, humanityandtheenvironment—especiallyquestions aboutthechangeinclimatethatnowthreatenslifearound theglobe. "Witches,gangs,acatastrophicflood--neveradull momentinHarleyCamden'slife!WindowsoftheHeavens isaspellbindingstorythatweavesinthought-provoking perspectivesonreligion,history,andclimatechange. Insightfulandentertaining!" --BethCabrera,authorof BeyondHappy:Women,Work,andWell-Being TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST AUGUST31 2022 ISSUENO.17

“Ebenbachimaginesthefirst pregnancyonMarsinthis gentle,domesticsci-finovel ofarealityshowgone interplanetary....Theresultis funny,fresh,andwinsome.” –PublishersWeekly HowtoMars by David Ebenbach

NakedattheHelm: Independenceand IntimacyintheSecond HalfofLife by Suzanne Spector Atagethirty-nine,Suzanne Spectorfoundherselflooking atwhatconventional1950s thinkinghadbroughther.Yes, shewasawife,motherofthree, andsuccessfulschooldirector. Butshewasalsoneglectedina sexlessmarriage,andfeeling andasifthepassionandjuiceoflifehadpassedherby. Shebeganwithtwoquestions:WhoamI,really?andIsit toolate? Afterdivorcingherhusband,Suzannesetouttodiscover whoshewasasanindependentwomanwithcuriosity, questions,andlustforlife.Tracingmorethanfourdecades ofself-discoveryandintellectual,spiritual,andcreative exploration,NakedatTheHelmisSpector’sstoryof becomingthecaptainofherownshipinmidlife.Her adventurousjourneyledherfromanudebeachonIbizaat forty-onetoaSiberianbanyaatfifty-fivetoahotlove affairateighty.Herintellectualquest,meanwhile,ledtoa secondcareerasdirectorofaworld-renownedpsychology READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 34

center,whiledeepfriendshipswithwomen,includingher daughters,sustainedandnourishedherthroughdecadesof globaltravel. Theseprobablywouldnotbethetalesyourmotheror grandmotherwouldtellaboutherlife,butthiseighty-sixyearold’sebullientmemoirofthesecondhalfofherlife willmoveyoutoweavesomerichnewyarnsintothe tapestryofyourownstory.Andno,it’snottoolate. SuzannegrewupinRockvilleCentre,NewYorkand graduatedfromTheBirchWathenSchoolandBarnard College.SheearnedanM.S.W.fromColumbiaUniversity andaPh.D.inpsychologyfromTheUnionInstitute. ShewasthefounderandDirectorofTheCenterforOpen EducationinBergenCounty,NewJerseyandbecamethe DirectoroftheCenterforStudiesofthePersoninLaJolla, California. Shetookupwritinginherlateseventiesandconsidersit herthirdcareer.Shewasawinnerofthe2019SanDiego MemoirShowcasewritingcompetitiononthetopicIDidn’t SeeThatOneComing.Herentry,DancingHeartsEmoji wasperformedintheShowcasein October,2019andpublishedinthe award-winninganthologyShakingthe Tree:BrazenShortMemoir,Vol,3. Comfortableinherownskin,wrinkles andall,Suzannecontinuestoembrace lifewithanexpansiveverve.

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TheCicadaTree by Robert Gwaltney WHENANELEVEN-YEAROLD,WHISKYDRINKING, PIANOPRODIGY ENCOUNTERSAWEALTHY FAMILYPOSSESSING SUPERNATURALBEAUTY, HERENSUINGOBSESSION UNLEASHESFAMILYSECRETS ANDACATACLYSMIC PLAGUEOFCICADAS. Thesummerof1956,abroodofcicadasdescendsupon Providence,Georgia,anaturaleventwithsupernatural repercussions,unhingingthelifeofAnaleiseNewell,an eleven-year-oldpianoprodigy.Amidstthisemergence,dark obsessionsarestirred,uncannygiftsprovoked,andsecrets unearthed. DuringavisittoMistletoe,aplantationownedbythe wealthyMayfieldfamily,AnaleiseencountersCordelia MayfieldandherdaughterMarlissa,bothofwhompossess anotherworldlybeauty,alinealtraitregardedasthat MayfieldShine.Awhisperandanactofviolenceperpetrated duringthisvisitbyMrs.Mayfieldallconvergetokindle Analeise'sfascinationwiththeMayfields.Analeise's burgeoningobsessionwiththeMayfieldfamilyovershadows herownseemingly,ordinarylife,culminatingindangerous READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 36

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gamesandmanipulation,settingoffachainofcataclysmic eventswithlife-alteringconsequences-allofitunfoldingto themaddeningwhirofacicadasong.

Whenanelevenyearold,whiskydrinking,pianoprodigy encountersawealthyfamilypossessingsupernaturalbeauty, herensuingobsessionunleashesfamilysecretsanda cataclysmicplagueofcicadas.

"FollowinginthemagnificentfootstepsofCarsonMcCullers andHarperLee,RobertGwaltneycreatesawonderful snapshotofthefriendshipthatformsbetweenAnaleiseand EttaMae,twoeleven-year-oldgirlsin'50ssmalltown Georgia...Thisisabooktoloveandremember,andevery bookclubinAmericawouldbewisetosnapitup."-Robert Goolrick,#1NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthor"Thegothic beautyofarelentlessGeorgiasummerisbroughttolife throughGwaltney'sdeliberatedetailsandexquisiteimagery, whileallthewhileevillurksbeneaththesurface;fromwhere orwhatthereaderdoesnotknowbutisasconvincedby Gwaltney'sexpertstorytellingasheis."

-ZoeFishman, bestsellingauthorof InvisibleAir and GeorgiaAuthoroftheYear2020 "Gwaltney'sSouthernGothic,THE CICADATREEmesmerizesand seduces,thelanguageredolentand deadly,thecharacterssteepedinsecrets andmadness,andthewholeofitan enthrallingandperfectread.Easilymy favoritebookoftheyear."

-KimTaylor Blakemore,bestsellingauthorof After AliceFell

WalkingTheWrongWayHometakesyou insidetheextraordinarylivesofordinary people.Wherehiddensecretsarebroughtto lightandburnedwithpastregretsinbrush pilesinthemountainsofEastTennesseeor usedtosetfiretothemassproducedtalland skinniestakingoverEastNashville. Spanningnearlytwentydecades,thestruggles andvictoriesthesecharactersfacearetimelessas theyallworktowardsthesamegoal. Aplacetofeelsafe,aplacetocallhome. WalkingtheWrongWayHome MandyHaynes

TheSunnySideofCrazy by TriciaMikouchi TheSunnySideofCrazyisawork ofnarrativenon-fiction.Itisthe storyofalittleadopteddaughter whocomestoherAmericanmother withsecrets. Shehasmultiplepersonalities. Itisthestoryoflove,courage,and thesearchforanormallife. Thisstoryisboundtoentertainandeducatereadersofall agesandinterests. “Thisisawarmhistoryofonefamilyandonechild growingupwithaconditiondiagnosedinearlyadulthood asmultiplepersonalitydisorder.Aninterestingaspectto meishowthestoryalternatesbetweentheexperienceof thechildandtheexperienceoftheadoptivemother.It'sa remarkablelessonofpatienceandfortitudeundervery tryingcircumstances.” FiveStarreview Compellingstoryofmentalillness,determination, courage,andlove. READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 40

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InMist-Chi-Mas:ANovelof Captivity,everyoneisboundto something.EnglishwomanJeannie Naughtonneverintendstorunaway fromlife,butin1860awoman’s reputationiseverything.Ascandalnot ofherownmakingforceshertoflee toanislandinthePacificNorthwest. Theisland,hometoCoastSalish peopleandHawaiiansworkingfortheHudson’sBay Company,isjointlyoccupiedbyBritishandAmerican militaryforces.JeanniesettlesintolifeatEnglishCamp whereshemeetsAmericanJonasBreed.Asayouthhe wascapturedandheldasaslave—amist-chi-mas—bythe Haida.Jeannieformsapassionate,hiddenliaisonwith Breed.JeannieandBreedplantorunawayandmarry. NewsthatBreedhasbeenkilledinafightwitha dangeroussmugglercausesJeannietotakerefugewith AndrewPierce,anacquaintanceofBreed’s.Shemarries Pierce,thenmovestoSeattleTwentyyearslater,recently widowed,JeanniereceivesanotethatBreedmaybealive. JeannienowembarksonajourneytofindBreed,unaware sheisstirringupanoldanddangerousstruggleofpower andrevenge.

Mist-Chi-Mas:ANovelof Captivity by JanetOakley

TheAncientWay: DiscoveriesonthePathof CelticChristianity by RiverJordan Foryears,fromherhomeona hilloutsideNashville,River Jordanfeltacalltotraveltothe mysticalIsleofIona,offthe coastofScotland--theisland thatgavebirthtoCeltic Christianity.InTheAncient Waysheinvitesustoleavethe sacredspaceofourhomesandourlivesandjoinheron thispilgrimage. Withthehelpoffriendsandthekindnessofstrangers, Jordanwindsherwayacrossgreenmountainstolate-night ferries,acrossislandsanddownone-wayroadsledbythe lightofIonaandatrustinGod.Alongthewayshe exploresancientCelticChristianpracticessuchas cherishingcreation,trustingspiritualfriendship,offering hospitality,creativeimagination,andhonoring community--carryingthemhomewithhertoinfuseher dailylife. Thisisanintimatestoryofimagination,ofpersonal transformation,ofstillnessandprayer.It'salsoaquirky, thoughtfulguideforcultivatingdivineconnectionand READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 42

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creativityasweembarkonourownwildadventures, chasingafterthemysterythatcallsusall.

“RiverJordanisoneofmyfavoriteauthors.Foryears, shehasgivenustalesofbothfactandfictionwhichtouch ondeeptruths.Whethersheisputtingherownlifeinto perspectivebycaringforothersinPrayingforStrangers, orgivingusapoeticyetintensespiritualbattleforthelife ofasmallSoutherntowninTheMessengerofMagnolia Street,Jordanneverfailstomakeusthinkandfeelinnew ways.TheAncientWayfindsheronceagainleadinguson ajourney,thistimetotherootsofCelticChristianityin Scotland.It'sawindingroad,literallyputtingobstacle afterobstacleinherpath,butalsoemotionallyaskingher torethinkherfaithinthemidstofpersonalupheaval--a painfuldivorceandstruggleswithadultchildren.River neversinksintoself-pity,butallowsustoempathizeand fallinalongsideheronhercircuitousjourney.She challengesustofeelthingswehavepusheddownandto reconsiderthingswethoughtweunderstood.”

Eric Wilson,authorof SixLittle Words RiverJordanisastorytellerof thesouthernvarietyandspent tenyearsasaplaywrightwith theLoblollyTheatregroup.She nowteachesandspeaksonThe PowerofStoryaroundthe country.

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ComingSoon! WhatcanpossiblygowrongwhenJesseaskstheuniverseto getheroutoftherutherlifehasbecome?MEETMEIN MUMBAIchroniclestheunexpectedjourneyofa sophisticatedAmericanwomanwholongstoescapesmalltownlife.ShefallsinlovewithanEnglishmanwholoves wildcamping,andhedareshertomeethiminMumbai.Knit yourselfaseatbeltforthemisadventuresofthecouplewho travelonashoestringthroughIndiaandSEAsialiketwentyyear-oldsonagapyear.SetinIndia,CornwallandSEAsia overthreeyears,thenovelrecountsthewaysinwhich Jesse’sexperienceschangeherworldview. Visitmywebsite www.lovelacecook.com andsignupformy emailnewsletter!InJuly2022,I’llsendyouasneakpreview ofMEETMEINMUMBAI–Chapter1. TuneintomyFREEpodcast BollywoodandBooks on ApplePodcasts, Spotify, Audible oryourfavoritepodcast player.Pleaseleavearatingandreview! Staytuned! TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST AUGUST45 2022 ISSUENO.17

LadyFirst-AnInspector InoueMystery by Lea O’Harra ThethirdnovelintheInspector Inouemysteryseriestakesasits themeJapan’spersistinggender imbalance.Asforitstitle,although Japanesemenroutinelytake precedenceoverJapanesewomenin termsofprivilegesathomeorat work,somepossessingaknowledge ofwesternwaysareinthehabitofironicallyuttering‘lady first’ontherareoccasionswhentheyallowawomantogo beforethem:forexample,onenteringorleavingaroom. AfteryoungMayumiIkeuchiisfounddeadonemild Aprilevening,stabbedinthebackoftheneckinaparkin thelittletownofFujikawa,ChiefInspectorInouefinds, onceagain,thatthereisnoshortageofsuspects.These includeMrTani,herbossatthenightclubinaneighboring citywhereshe’dstartedworkingonlyafewdaysbefore hermurder,notoriousforsexuallyharassingthefemale staff,andAtsushiTaniguchi,anofficeworkerwholivesin Mayumi’sneighborhoodandhasahabitofbeatinguphis wife.ThereisalsoNose-san,amiddle-agedloserwho inhabitsashabbylittlehousewithanelderly,sickly motherjustoppositetheparkwhereMayumi’sbodyis found. READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 46

AfterBlakeNelsoncatchesher abusivefiancé,Parker,withanother woman,sheseeksserenityather lategrandmother’sbeachcottage. HefollowsBlaketotheislandand attemptstokillher,butinstead,he diesinanaccidentwhilefleeingthe police.Hismalevolentspiritreturns

TheHauntingonPalmCourt: AnIsleofPalmsSuspense by StephanieEdwards

tothecottagetofinishwhathestarted. ThehauntingintensifieswhenBlakereconnectswithher firstlove,Clint.WillBlakediscoverhowtobanishParker beforeit’stoolate? "Ifyoulikeromanceandthelowcountry,ghostsandfun charactersyouwillenjoythisbook." —ChristyMartin, Blogger,ReadingandWritingSentinel "...aromanticsuspensenovelsogoodthatyoumustfinish itinonesitting." —Readers'Favorite “Funread!!!Keepsyouontheedgeofyourseatand bitingyournails!LovehowIamtransportedtotheareas shedescribeswithherwords!Can’twaittoseewhatelse theauthorhasforusinthefuture!”FiveStarReader Review TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST AUGUST47 2022 ISSUENO.17

SistersBorn,Sisters Found:ADiversityof VoicesonSisterhood by LauraMcHaleHolland SistersBorn,SistersFound:A DiversityofVoiceson Sisterhoodrevealsthecoreof femalehearts,divulgessecrets, andcapturespoignant, compelling,complex relationships.Thisvibrant collectionofworkfromacross theglobeisn'tonlyaboutblood sistersorwomenwholikeeach other.Sisterscanbondover movienights.Stuffsnailsdown eachother'sthroats.Stealeachother'sclothes-andlovers. Scroungeforfoodtogether,tellstoriestogether,work magictogether-evenkilltogether.Seventy-sixgiftedwriters exploreallofthisandmoreisinthememoirs,shortstories, essaysandpoemsthatformSistersBorn,SistersFound. “LauraMcHaleHollandhascompiledanextremelyvaried thematiccollection-withonethingincommondespitethe numerousperspectives:allthewritershavestrongvoices. Thereisalovelyhonestyinthesepageswhichwillforce youtoconsideryourtiesandrelationshipswithyourown bloodsistersand/orthesistersofyourchoosing.” FiveStar review READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 48

TheAriadneConnection by SaraStamey JourneytotheCrossroadsof ScienceandMyth--Winnerofthe ChanticleerGlobalThrillerGrand PrizeandtheCygnusAwardfor SpeculativeFiction.TheNew Leprosyplagueandageomagnetic reversalthreatentheworld’s precariousbalance.Anunlikely triomayholdthekeytoresetthe compassoftheworld: •“SaintAriadne”Demodakis—aGreekbioelectricity researcherwhorealizesshe’scuringplaguevictimsby layingonhands. •PeterMitchell—ajadedAmericanveteranofthelatest GulfWar,nowasmugglerintheMediterranean. •LeezaConreid—apaparazzaequippedwiththelatest neurally-connectedmediaimplants,whowantsrevenge andabigstory. Peter,blackmailedintobringingLeezaalong,hireson withreclusiveAriadnetosecretlytransporthertosacred sitesintheGreekislands.Sheseekstoconfirma connectionbetweenthepandemic,geologicupheavals, andancientlorethatpromiseshealingforhumansandthe planet. TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST AUGUST49 2022 ISSUENO.17

“Provenanceisabeautifullysupple bookaboutthepowerofrenewaland theeveryday,smallredemptionshiding withinfamilies.SueMellartfully capturestheholdofthepastinallits intoxicating,tumbledowngloryand singsittolifeinthepresent.”- Dominic Smith,authorof TheLastPaintingof SaradeVos “WhetherMichaelSimmsiswritingapersonal essayaboutgrowingupwithautismorpoems aboutourdyingplanet,abarfight,orthe mysteryofahummingbird’sradiance,heisa masterstorytellerwhosenarrativeshold memorablemomentsfulloffreshandtelling detailsthatunlocktheheart.Andnow,in BicyclesoftheGodshehasinventedanew genre—apocalypticsatire.Thenovelishilarious attimes,butmakenomistake,Simmsisserious asaheartattackinahurricane.Ittellsanold storyinacompletelynewway,exploringissues offaith,politics,trauma,imagination,andthe triumphofloveovertyranny.” —PeterMakuck, authorof WinsandLosses:Stories

God,DestinyandaGlassof Wine by LindaMason

ordaineddestiny.Somebelieve

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Crawford

Somepeoplelivetheirlivesona dailybasis,navigatingthrough life'shustle,bustle,andthefearof notreachingtheirfullpotential. Theycan'tunderstandhowthey couldhaveapositiveGodtheymightpossiblybeontheright path,buttheyareconstantly challengedbytheirbaddecisionmakingandchoiceofunhealthyrelationships.Someare convincedthattheyaredestinedtofallshortofhavinga goodandmeaningfullife,orofenjoyinganyjourneythat isbeforethem.ThebottomlineisGodhasaJeremiah 29:11forallofhischildren,includingyou,hischild. Whetheryouhaveaclearpathofwhereyouaregoingor youareatalossastowhatyouaresupposedtodo, whetheryouareexcitedaboutyourfutureorfearfuland embarrassedoftheyearsbehindyou,LindaMason Crawford'sbook,God,Destiny,andaGlassofWine,is suretospeaktoyou,rightnow,whereveryouare.Itis boundtohelpyougraspholdofyourofyourway. "Afterall,"Crawfordsays,"thisisyourdestiny.Makea changeandwalkinit."

DanceLikeYouMeanIt by JeanneSkartsiaris "...Anoverthetop,oftenwitty escapeintofantasythat managestoconveysome realisticpoignancyontheroad toasatisfyingconclusion." ~ KirkusReviews Middleagefindsworking womenaroundtheworld overworked,overcommitted, andoverit!DanceLikeYou MeanItpaintsavividportrait oftheall-work,no-playworldofCassieCalabria,a womanjugglingacareer,marriage,andchildren.But, Cassiehasfoundtheperfectwaytokeepherdreamsafloat whilesurvivinghercircusactoffamilyandcareer.She's penninganeroticnovel,hopingitwillbringfameand fortune.Theonlytroublewiththatdreamisthe manuscriptshe'swrittendoesn'treflecttheperfectmother, wife,anddaughterimageshe'sportrayedforyears.Whois CassieCalabria?She'sabouttofind,alongwithfamily andfriends,herauthenticselfinthissexyandhilarious coming-of-middle-agenovel! TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST AUGUST53 2022 ISSUENO.17

ShadowoftheTaj by Lara Bernhardt “LaraBernhardtwriteswith ferocioushonestyandtenderness, layingopentheuglyworldofthe traffickingofyounggirlswitha brightspearofhope.”—Jacquelyn Mitchard,NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorof TheDeepEndof theOcean ★OklahomaBookAwardsBest FictionFinalist★ Howmuchwouldyourisktosaveonechild? LeslieMatthewstravelstoIndiawithherhusbandona businesstrip,neverexpectingitwillturnherlifeupsidedown.Duringatriptothezoo,shemeetsRaveena,an orphandesperateforsomeonetosaveherfroma harrowingfate.LeslietriestorescueRaveenafroma sordid,exploitativeunderworld,butpowerfulandbrutal menholdthegirlanddon’tintendtoletanyonetakeher. Leslietumblesintoaterrifyingunderworldofsystemic abusesheknowsnothingabout.Butshewon'tstopuntil Raveenaissafe,regardlessofthecost. Inabattleagainstimpossibleodds,Lesliewagers everythingshehas—includingherlife—tofreeRaveena. READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 54

DeepEndoftheLake by CarolGraceStratton 2021GoldenScrollAwardWinner WhoSaysGivingUpDreamsIsn't Success? AllyCervanteshasallshewantsin life—anupcomingwedding,a chancetoproveherselfwitha writinggig,andtwogreatkids. Butherlifeturnsfortheworsewhentheunexpected happenandshesoonfindsherselfstrugglingwitha rebelliousteendaughter,ashakyjob,andashakier engagement.Withhernewfoundfaithactingasalife preserver,Allydiscoversifyou’reinthedeependofthe lake,you’dbetterlearnhowtoswim.Althoughfiction, DeepEndoftheLake,iswrittenfromtheauthors’ personalcompassionforfamilieswhohavetheprivilege andresponsibilitytocareforachildwithadisability. Havingworkedwithautisticstudents,Carolhasseenfirsthandthestressanddemandstheseparentsfaceandwanted tocaptureinastorythosepressures,allwhileproviding theencouragementthatabeautifulhopeandfaithcan bringintothestruggles. TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 55 AUGUST 2022 ISSUENO.17

PilgrimInterruptedisacollection of35essays,3poems,and5 excerptsfromSusan'snovelsand shortstories.Comingofageduring theturbulent1960sinJackson, Mississippi;marryingyoungand adoptingthreechildren;leavingthe PresbyterianChurchofher childhoodfortheEasternOrthodox Christianfaithin1987;Susan finallybegantochronicleherjourneyintheearly2000s. “Inthispowerfulcollection,SusanCushmanpullsbackthe curtainonhermostintimatethoughtsasshegrappleswith whatitmeanstobehuman.Fromspiritualitytotrauma,from southernculturetoracism,fromidentitytoself-worth,from lovetoloss.Sheoffersreadersanopportunitytoseethe worldthroughherlens,deliveringanauthentic,soulshapingbodyofwork.”

andUSATodaybestsellingauthor MuchofSusan’swritingisinfusedwithelementsofherown life,includingtheverymysticalspiritualityofherOrthodox Christianfaithandthepersonaldemonsshehasbeenchasing sincechildhood.Heressays,shortstories,memoir,and novelsallreflectwhatshehaslearnedthroughmanydark nightsofthesoul,butalsocontainelementsofhopeand healingandhonorherSouthernroots.

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PilgrimInterrupted by SusanCushman

—JulieCantrell,NewYorkTimes

SharpasaSerpent'sTooth: EvaandOtherStories by MandyHaynes

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You'llmeetEva,theyoungdaughter oftravelingPentecostalpreachers, whocatchessnakeswhileher parentshidebehindthebibleanda largewoodencrate.Eva'slife friendandrealizesthereismoreto lifethanfear. InPlansforSweetLorraine,you'll meetLorraine'smama,Cordelia-a fieryred-headwithatempertomatch,andamindassharpas thestingfromaleatherstrap.She'lldoanythingtokeepher daughtersafe.Evenifshehastobeatthedevilhimself. Laurel,theyounggirlinTheDayIThrewtheRockhasno ideathatshesavedsomeone'slife,orthatshemayhavekilled someonetodoit.Shejustknowsthatsheshouldbeallowedto wearoverallsandplayballliketheboys.Well,ain'tittruethat shecanthrowabaseballharderandfasterthanLukeorJohn Randall?JustaskSarahRose'sUncle... JunebugFischerisreadytosettherecordstraightandletyou knowwhatreallyhappenedthesummersheturnedfifteen.It's true,shekilledsomeone,butsheneverkillednobodyon purpose.Thatwaspurelyaccidental. CussingSnakesandCandyCigarettesisproofthatthere's magicallaroundus,allwehavetodoisopenourheartsand minds

changeswhenshemakesherfirst

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HowtoMars by David Ebenbach

Whathappenswhenyourdream missiontoMarsisareality televisionnightmare?Thisdebut science-fictionrompwithheartthat followsthetraditionofRay Bradbury'sMartianChronicles,with ahintsoftheHitchhiker'sGuideto theGalaxy,theRealWorld,and Mythbusters. Forthesixluckyscientistsselected bytheDestinationMars!corporation,aone-wayticketto Mars--inexchangeforalifetimeofresearch--wasanabsolute no-brainer.Theincredibleopportunitywasclearlywortheven themostabsurdlytediousscreeningprocess.Perhapsworth followingthestrangeprotocolsinanonsensicalhandbook writtenbyaneccentricbillionaire.Possiblyevenworththeir constantsurveillance,thevideoofwhichiscarefullyedited intoaratings-bonanzabackonEarth. Butitturnsoutthatafterawhileevenscientistscangetbored ofscience.Tempersbegintofray;unsanctionedaffairs blossom.Whenperfectlygoodequipmentbeginstofail,the Marsonautsarefacedwithapossibilitythattheirtrainingjust cannotexplain. Irreverent,poignant,andperfectlyweird,DavidEbenbach's excitingdebutscience-fictionouting,likeamissiontoMars, isanincredibletripyouwillneverforget.

SugarBabyandOther Stories by RiverJordan Aunionsoldierwhodeserted,a scaredgirlinanabandoned, antebellumhome,agravedigger lookingforawife,sevensisters whowillkilltoprotecteachother, astake-outatarundownhotel,a Spanishpriesttryingtosavehis peoplefromtheSpanishflu,a younggirlsneakingoffwithan encyclopediasalesman,anold womanaimingtouseherlast bullet.awomanframedformurderonAllSaintsDay,a one-eyedoutcastwholivesdownbytheriver. ThecharactersinShortBabyandOtherStoriesareinfused bydesire,touchedbylove,andseekingretributionand redemptionateveryturn.SugarBabyisstorytellingofthe highestorder,pluckingupthereaderandtransporting themtoaworldofmystery,spirituality,violence,love,and everythinginbetween. "RiverJordanisaholytruth-tellerwhocanmakeeventhe badthingsinlifeseemassweetassugar.ThestoriesinSugar BabyandOtherStoriesareasrealaslifeitself,butthe languageRiverusestocoatthepainissomethingfrom anotherworld.Writer,storyteller,hearthealer.RiverJordanis simplythebest." WileyCash,author, TheLastBallad TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST AUGUST59 2022 ISSUENO.17

Oliveranovella by MandyHaynes “AtatimewhenI sometimesfeelalittle hopelessandhelplessina worldthatseemstobe flippingupsidedown,this delightfulstoryofpure heartandkindness,isthe perfectantidote.After readingOliverIfeltlight andjoyful.Thiswonderful storyremindsusthatpaying attentiontothelittlethings weseearoundusandbeing creativewithhowwecan makeadifferenceforothers isalwayswhatmattersmost.OnceagainMandyHaynes nailsthenarrativevoiceofayounggirlwithdepth,humor andhonesty.Iboughtextracopiestogivetomyfriendsto sharewiththeirchildrenandgrandchildren.Ican imaginereadingOliveraloudandhavingameaningful discussionwithallages.AndMandysuppliescatalyzing questionsattheendofthebook.Readingtogetheristhe bestfamilyuniter.” RuthieLandis,authorof Beyondthe Bookclub:WearetheBookswemustRead,ActingLessons fortheLiving,ActingLessonsfortheLivingGuided Journal, and MyMusings READINGNATIONMAGAZINE TOADDTOYOURTBRLIST 60

KathrynBrown

Ramsperger,authorof ofOurSouls

TheShores

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“MandyHayneshaswrittenagemofanovella,OLIVER. Giveyourselfatreatandreadit.Sheisamasteratbrevity andanevengreatermasteratvoice. Thisstory,fromayoungersister's(Olivia)straightforward pointofview,yieldsitssilverliningonceyoubeginto unravelit.Iespeciallylovedthequotesthatprefacedeach chapter,andthereader'sguide.Bothmakethisnovella perfectforschoolsandlibrariestoorder.Itdealswith toughtopicslikedeathandloneliness,butneverwithan adult’sheavyhand.Instead,withachild’sheart.Yetdon't thinkthemessageisjustforkids;thoughtheyknowthat kindnesscountsandthatmiracleshappen.Thisisforthe restofus,too,thejadedandtheoneswho'vestopped believing,peoplelikethefinalcharacterinthebook,who can'tdealwiththeirpainwithouthelpandcan'tbelieve withouttwosmallmiracleworkersto"shinethelightthat shinesonallofus,"nomatterwhat,who,orwherewe happentobe.Ittakesaboywhocaresaboutpeopleeven whentheyaren'tkindtohim...andconsideringOliverisa boywithspecialneeds,thatis sadlytoooften...toshinethat light.OLIVERwilltakeyouback toaplaceandtimeofneighbors helpingneighborsandhowtofind happinessinsmallmoments.And it’llteachyouhowtogetthat momentback.”

“WhataWonderfulWorldThisCouldBe,Lee Zacharias’sincantatorynovel,isacomplex, generous,unflinchingportraitofAlex—a romanticallyconflicted,artisticallygifted youngwomanwhocomesofageduringthe tumultuoussixties.Readingitislikehearing DylanorJoniMitchellorLeonardCohen,but forthefirsttime.Thereisn’tasmidgeonof nostalgiaorsentimentalityhere.Infact,the worlditinvitesusintocouldn’tfeelmore timelyormoretrue.It’saboutlossandlove andabouthowwecan’tknowonewithoutthe other.’ TommyHays,authorof ThePleasure WasMine WhataWonderfulWorld ThisCouldBe by LeeZacharias

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Ifyou’reanauthor,abookstore,orthe facilitatorofaworkshop,retreat,orany typeofbookisheventandyou’dlike topromoteithere,sendaninquiryto readingnationmagazine@gmail.com MARKYOURCALENDARS AUGUST73 2022 ISSUENO.17

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Ontheothersideoftheroom,nearthedoorshehadto passthrough,twobodyguardswerewaiting.Alireturned mybook,andwithoutawordIgottomyfeetand followedhimdownthehall—hewasthatmagnetic.We werebothyoung,buthehadaccomplishedsomething,and Ihadnot.Hewaslikeagod,goingabouthisbusinessby

henIwasabookishgirl,myfatherhadan annoyinghabitofrippingwhateverIwasreading outofmyhandtosay,"Whycan'tyougooutside andplaylikeanormalgirl?"AnyoneelseIwouldhave whuppedupsidethehead,butyoudon'tgettowhupyour father.Notifyouwanttolivetoseetomorrow. Thenextpersontosnatchabookfrommyhandwas MuhammadAli.Andyoudon'tgettowhupAlieither.Not if…butmyhusbandjustlaughs."Youreallythinkyou couldhavelandedapunch?"

Well,no,thoughit'sprobablyagoodthingmyreflexes wereslow,becauseIdidn'tknowwhoitwasuntilIlooked up. "Whatyoudoinginherereadingabookwhenyoucould comedownthehallandlistentome?"Alisaid.Iwas sittingonasofabeneaththewindowsofanemptylounge inthegothicIndianaUniversityStudentUnion,awouldbewriterwhohadyettowrite,intendingtospendthat Saturdayafternoon—February21,1967—reading.

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interrupting.Imighthavebeenanetmenderfollowing JesustotheSeaofGalilee.InaninstantIbecamea disciple. Iknewwhohewas,thoughIdidn'tfollowboxing. Everyoneknewwhohewas,thoughwe'dknownhimfirst byanothername,ofcourse.CassiusClay.Sixyears before,onthemorningafterheupsetSonnyListonto claimtheheavyweightchampionshipoftheworld,hewas ontheradioinourdormroom,proclaiming,"Iamthe greatest.Ishookeveryoneup.I'mtheprettiestthinginthe world!"Mysuitemateswereappalled.Theego!The unabashedbraggart!Fromtheget-gohehadapersonality thattranscendedthering.Hehadlearnedtofightafterhis bicyclewasstolenwhenhewastwelve.Whenhetoldthe cophewasgoingtowhupthethief,thecopsaid,"You'd betterlearntoboxfirst."Hefoundatrainerandwentto workonhispunchingstyle,stamina,andfootwork.Buthe learnedtheartofboastingfromGorgeousGeorge Wangler,thewrestlerwiththelongblondhairandbig mouth.IknewwhoGorgeousGeorgewastoo,becausemy fatherwatchedwrestlingonTVinthe1950s.Tome GorgeousGeorgewasajoke.HelookedlikeLiberace. Everythingabouthismatchesseemedexaggeratedand staged,buthewasashrewdentertainerwhotutoredthe youngboxerintrashtalk,promisingthatifClaybragged abouthimselfenough,peoplewouldpaytocometosee

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OnthedayheinterruptedmeasIsatreading,hehad beeninvitedtospeakbyaBlackstudentorganization.

Hewasright,thoughwithinamonthoftheListonfight in1964,theheavyweightchamphadchangedhisname, firsttoCassiusXundertheinfluenceofhisfriend MalcolmXandthentoMuhammadAli,thenamechosen byElĳahMuhammad,"TheMessenger,"headofthe NationofIslam.Alihadattendedhisfirstmeetingofthe NationalofIslambackin1961,ayearafterwinningan Olympicgoldmedalasalightheavyweight,butonlyafter hewontheprofessionaltitlewashereadytodeclare himselfaMuslim,aBlackMuslim.Andonlyafterhewon thetitlewasElĳahMohammadwillingtoaccepthiminto hisNation.Americainthemid-'60swasatanuneasy momentinthestruggleforCivilRights,waryofBlack Power,andboththenamechange—therejectionofhis slavename—andtheaffiliationwithanorganizationso deeplysuspecttothewhiteestablishmentalienatedmany inthepressandbeyond.Foryearsthemediaandhis opponentscontinuedtorefertohimasCassiusClay.Ali wouldtauntFloydPattersoninthering:"What'smy name?Saymyname!"thoughonce,whenachildasked whathewantedtobecalled,hesaidsimply,"Callme champ."

himwinorcomeseehimlose,buttheywouldcometosee him.

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Nearlythreeyearsbefore,he'dbegunacollegelecturetour aftertheSelectiveServicereclassifiedhimfrom1-Yto1A."Iain'tgotnothingagainstnoVietCong.NoVietCong evercalledmeanigger,"heannounced,andAmericawent nuts.Ironicallytheboxerwhowouldberememberednot justforhisprowessintheringbutalsoforhiswizardry withwordshadbeenclassified1-Ybecausehehadscored sopoorlyonthereadingandwritingtests—allhislifehe wasdyslexic—butwiththeescalationoftheVietNam War,theArmyhadlowereditsstandards,allowinganyone whoscoredabovethefifteenthpercentiletoserve."IsaidI wasthegreatest,notthesmartest,"Aliquipped,butthe WorldBoxingAssociationstrippedhimofhistitle,and beginningwithNewYork,stateafterstatesuspendedhis boxinglicense.WhentheIllinoisBoxingCommission refusedtosanctionafightagainstErnieTerrell,whohad beennamedheavyweightchampioninAli'sstead,Ali wenttoCanadaandEuropeforotherbouts,butonApril 28,1967Aliwassummonedtoreportforinductionin Houston.Fourtimesherefusedtostepforwardwhenhis namewascalled.CassiusClay.Fourtimesherefusedto answer,andonJune20hewasconvictedofviolating SelectiveServicelaws.Thoughheremainedfreeonbond pendingappeal,hispassportwasconfiscated,andhecould nolongerfighthereorabroad.Hewasnolongeraboxer, butafelon,adraft-dodger.

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Theinterruptiontohisboxingcareerlastednearlythree years,hencehisturntothecollegelecturecircuittomake alivingandpayhislegalfees.Inmanycircleshewasa reviledfigure,butatHowardUniversityfourthousand studentscheeredhim,andin1968,attheleft-leaning UniversityofWisconsin,hedrewanaudienceofthree thousand.IntheMidwestofthelate'60s,Wisconsinand theUniversityofMichiganseemedtobethecentersfor studentactivism,andasifitwerejustanotherBigTen footballcompetition,Indianainevitablyseemedtolag behind.TheroomwhereAlispokeattheIndiana MemorialUnioncouldn'thaveheldthreethousand,not eventhreehundred.Itwasn'tanauditorium.AtAli's invitationIsatinthefrontrow,forinthefewminutesit hadtakenustowalkdownthehall,Ihadbecomeapartof histhree-personentourage.Perhaps,ifIhadlooked aroundtheroom…butIamnotgoodatcrowdestimates.I nevertookmyeyesoffAli.Hewasdazzling.Hedidn't havetodonglovesandjabtomesmerizeeveryonewho sawhim.Itwasn'tjustintheringthathefloatedlikea butterflyandstunglikeabee.Hewasangry,buthisanger wascontainedinthesubstanceofhisspeech,notinhis style.Hewasaspokenwordpoetbeforethetermwas coined,ahiphopartistbeforehiphopwasathing.His rhymeswereclever,buttheyalsopackedpunch.Hespoke againstthewarandadvocatedracialprideandequal

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Atthetime,undertheinfluenceofElĳahMuhammad,he opposedintegration,saying,"Myenemyisthewhite people,notVietCongorChineseorJapanese.Youmy opponentwhenIwantfreedom.YoumyopponentwhenI wantequality.Youwon'tevenstandupformeinAmerica formyreligiousbelief—andyouwantmetogo somewhereandfight,butyouwon'tevenstandupforme athome."YetIfeltnobarbofaccusation.Hehadagiftfor inclusion,ashislaterworkasahumanitarianand philanthropistwouldbearout.IfIhadlookedaround,I mighthavenoticedthatIwastheonlywhitepersoninthe room.OnlywhenAlidieddidIdiscoverthattheBlack studentorganizationwhohadinvitedhimtocampushad decidedtobarallwhites,foroneofmycollegefriends rememberedthatshehadtriedtoattendbutwasturned awayatthedoor.ShepostedhermemoryonFacebook, notingthatafterwardsAlihaddinedintheCommons,the StudentUnioncafeteriawhereshewassittingameretwo tablesaway.

rights,seriousmatters,especiallytohim.Hehadgrownup insegregatedLouisville,Kentucky.Thetwomost memorableeventsofhischildhoodwerebeingrefuseda drinkofwateratastoreandthemurderofEmmettTill.As hesaidlater,"Blackmenwouldgooverthereandfight, butwhentheycamehome,theycouldn'tevenbeserveda hamburger."

Afterhespoke,IthinkIapproachedhimtosay,"Youare thegreatest,"butIcan'treconstructhisresponse.Ican't touchhimforrhymebecausehewasthekingofalltime, asquickwithabeatashewasonhisfeet.Whocanforget whathewouldsaytoDavidFrostbeforethefamous1974 "RumbleintheJungle,"inwhichhewouldwinbackthe heavyweighttitlefromGeorgeForemaninZaire:"Ifyou thinktheworldwassurprisedwhenNixonresigned,wait tillIwhupForeman'sbehind."Ortothepressbeforethe samefight:"Idonewrestledwithanalligator,Idone tussledwithawhale;handcuffedlightning,thrownthunder injail;onlylastweek,Imurderedarock,injuredastone, hospitalizedabrick;I'msomeanImakemedicinesick." LikelythespeechIheardwasoneofthelast,ifnotthe last,onAli'stour,whichwasalsointerrupted,forlaterthat yearaNewYorkpromoter'sfather-in-lawdiscoveredthat Georgiahadnostatelawsgoverningboxing.Ruleswere uptothemunicipalities.Thefather-in-lawwasafriendof LeroyJohnson,thefirstAfrican-Americanelectedtothe GeorgiaStateSenate,andLeroyJohnsonhadhelpedelect Atlanta'smayor.Aliwasgrantedalicensetoboxin Atlantaandgaveupspeakingtotrain,fightingthree exhibitionmatchesatHBCUMorehouseCollegebefore defeatingJerryQuarryinAtlantaonOctober26.The followingyear,June28,1971,theSupremeCourt overturnedAli'sconviction,onthegroundsthatthe

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AppellateCourthadgivennoreasontodenyhimstatusas aConscientiousObjector.Aliwasback,andthoughhe wouldlosehisfightwithheavyweightchampionJoe Frazier,hewouldgoontotakethetitleagain,notoncebut twice,theonlyboxerevertowintheheavyweight championshipthreetimes.

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Ashesaidsometimebeforehisretirement(whichhealso interruptedfortwolastfightswhenhewasfarpasthis prime),"WhenI'mgone,boxingbenothingagain.The fanswiththecigarsandthehatsturneddownwillbethere, butnomorehousewivesandthelittlemenonthestreets andforeignpresidents.Iwastheonliestboxerinhistory peopleaskedquestionslikeasenator." Indeed.

Healsowontheworldover.Politicalsentimentshad shifted—theVietnamWarhadcometobewidelyregarded asamistakeatbest,atworstjustplainwrong.Though IslamhaslongbeenasuspectreligioninAmerica—and nevermoresothanafter9/11,whenAlispokeagainstthe terrorists,statingthattheywere"racistfanaticswhocall themselvesMuslims"andthatIslamwasareligionof peace,"notthereligionoftheso-calledIslamacjihadists," theworldhadcometorespecthiscourage.Hehadpaida highpriceforadheringtohisreligiousbeliefs:threeprime yearsofhisboxingcareerandafortuneinendorsements. Hewasaskilledtrickster,buthewasalsosincere.

AndtoMuhammadAli,thisisfromme:youhadamean lefthookbackwhenyouinterruptedmybook.I'mblessed

Wedid.WhenAlidiedonJune3,2016,BobDylannoted forRollingStone,"Ifthemeasureofgreatnessisto gladdentheheartofeveryhumanbeingonthefaceofthe earth,thenhetrulywasthegreatest.Ineverywayhewas thebravest,thekindestandmostexcellentofmen." TowhichIcanaddonlyAmen.

In1984Alidisclosedthathehadbeendiagnosedwith Parkinson'sSyndrome,andwhenhelittheOlympictorch attheSummerGamesinAtlantain1996theworldwept asitwitnessedhishandtremorsandstutteringgait.They werenottearsofpity,buttearsoflove.In2012hiswife LonniehadtohelphimstandbeforetheOlympicflagas itstitularbearerattheopeningceremoniesoftheSummer GamesinLondon.Hehadlosttheastonishinggraceof motionheoncepossessedintheringbutshowedeven moreastonishinggraceinthefaceofhisillness."Iam blessedandthankfultoGodthatIunderstandthathe's tryingme.ThisisatrialfromGod.Hegavemethisillness toremindmethatIamnotnumberone;Heis,"hesaid.In thesameyearhewasawardedthePhiladelphiaLiberty Medalforlifelongeffortsinactivism,philanthropy,and humanitarianism.

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"IamAmerica,"hesaidinthe1960s."Iamthepartyou won'trecognize.Getusedtome."

thatyoudid,forIansweredyourbid.Youwerethechamp, andIfellintoyourcamp. Thankyouforthememory. READINGNATIONMAGAZINE INTERRUPTED 84 June24,1967,Herald-ExaminerCollection,LosAngelesPublicLibrary.

ShehasreceivedfellowshipsfromtheNationalEndowment fortheArtsandtheNorthCarolinaArtsCouncil.SheisatwotimerecipientofNorthCarolina'sSirWalterRaleighAward andhaswonSouthernHumanitiesReview'sTheodore ChristianHoepfnerAward,PrairieSchooner'sGlennaLuschei Award,andtwoSilverMedalsfromtheIndependentPublisher BookAwards(theIPPYs).

AtRandom wasafinalistinliterary fictionforthe2013InternationalBookAwards,theNational IndieLitAwards,andtheUSABestBookAwards. Acrossthe GreatLake wasnameda2019MichiganNotableBook, receivedthe2020PhillipH.McMathBookAwardinFiction, andwasafinalistinliteraryfictionforthe2018Foreword IndiesBookoftheYear.

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Runaway wasreleasedinthespringof 2020byMadvillePublishing.

Herfictionandnonfictionhaveappearedinnumerous journals,including,amongothers, TheSouthern Review,Shenandoah,FivePoints,Gettysburg Review,CrabOrchardReview,Outdoor Photographer, and OurState. Tentimesheressays havebeennamedNotableEssaysoftheYearby TheBestAmericanEssays, whichreprintedher essay"Buzzards" in TheBestAmericanEssays 2008.Foradecadesheservedaseditorof The GreensboroReview

LeeZacharias istheauthorofacollectionofshortstories, HelpingMurielMakeItThroughtheNight; fournovels, What aWonderfulWorldItCouldBe,AcrosstheGreatLake, Lessons, and AtRandom;andacollectionofpersonalessays, TheOnlySoundsWeMake. Shehasco-editedananthologyofstorieswithLuanneSmith andMichaelGills.

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I’mSuzanneLeopold,theSuzybehind“SuzyApproved BookTours.”

Asayoungchild,Iwasoftenboisterousandgiggling whileignoringmyparents'pleastobequiet.Despitetheir efforts,IlearnedthatbeingloudcanbeausefultoolandI haveappliedthatphilosophytoblogging. Mygoalhasbeentogetnoticedwhilepushingmy messagetoasmanyreadersaspossible.Myreviewsiteon WordPress,www.suzyapproved.com,has13033followers whilemyFacebookaccount,www.facebook.com/ suzyapproved,hasover8600followers. I’vemademanyconnectionsasthehostof“Suzy ApprovedBookReviews”andIwouldliketosharethis communitywithothers.Mygoalistoprovidemyclients withaplatformthatcreatesnoiseacrossmultipleformsof media.Iwantthismessagetobeloudandtocontinue beyondtheinitialbookrelease.I’mcurrentlyexpanding thescopeofmypagefrombloggertoanorganizerofbook tours. Ihavetogivethankstootherswho’veprovidedadvice andhelp.Iconnectwithpublishers,authors,agentsand publicrelationsprofessionalswhohaveallhelpedme along.Ialsoenjoyattendingbooksigningsandindustry events.But,thebiggestcontributioncamefromthe resourcessharedamongbookbloggers.Thiscommunity willbeacriticaltoolformakingnoiseonyourbehalf. Tourscanbetailoredtofittheneedsofyourbook.Please

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READINGNATIONMAGAZINE MAKINGCONNECTIONS 88 contactmetodiscussyourideasorconcerns.Ihaveprior experienceasaCPA&MBAsoIknowtheimportanceof deadlinesandaccountability. WhenyousignupwithSuzyApprovedBookToursyour bookwillreceive“aftercare”.Aftertheinitialbooktour,I willmonitorforanyadditionalreleasesofyourbooksuch aspaperbackorpromotions.Ourbloggercommunitywill thenspotlighttheseeventswhichwillgenerateextranoise. Ideally,aleadtimeof8-10weeksisneededforplanning. Weneedtodelivermediatoeachbloggerwithampletime tobothreadandreview.Shippingcostsforallbookswill beprovidedbytheauthor/publisher.Ifagiveawayis involved,Iwillprovideaddressesfordelivery.

EachbloggerparticipatinginSuzyApprovedtourswill posttheirreviewsontheirindividualblogpagesalong withlinkstoTwitterandFacebookwhenavailable.Iwill alsostronglyencouragesimultaneouspoststoAmazon, Goodreads,orBookbubalongwithphotosonInstagram.I seekoutparticipantswhoarestrongacrossadiverserange ofsocialmedia. Ilookforwardtodiscussingideaswithyou!Contactmeto findoutmore.SuzanneLeopoldat suzyapprovedbooktours@gmail.com

Here’swhatsomeauthorshadtosay: “SuzyApprovedBookToursmadethemostimpactinall thepublicityIdid.Wellworththemoney.” “Going“ontour”wasthebestthingIeverdid!Suzanne isbrilliantandIamneverdoinganotherbookwithout hiringher.” “Suzanneisjustfantastic.Shepitchesyourbooktoa broadnetworkofbloggers,efficientlysetsupand schedulesthetour,thenstaysconnectedtotheauthor throughout,sendingyoulinkstoeveryblogger'sposton everyplatform.Ican'trecommendhermorehighly.” “Suzyisamazing!Shehassomanycontactsandresources, andsetsthingsupwithsuchprecisionandprofessionalism. Highly,highlyrecommend.” MAKINGCONNECTIONS AUGUST89 2022 ISSUENO.17

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ywriter/artistfriendsbelieve,amongother things,that“writingisgoodlucklaidover preparation,”that“bigthingscanbe accomplishedinsmalltimeframes,”thatweshould“stop defining[ourselves]narrowly,”andthat“artmatters.Our voicesmatter.”Theybelievein“readingwithanopen mindandheart”and“do[ing]thework,andrid[ing]the waves,tryingnottobeswayedbypraiseorblame.”They hopewe’ll“let[our]artbeasoftplacetolandamidstthe chaos”andthatwe’ll“allfindthesunandhoneyinthese verydifficulttimeswe'relivingthrough.”(Thatlastperson wasparaphrasingLucilleClifton.)Theyare“justgrateful tostillbebreathingandtakingitin.”

Thequotesabovearefromjustthelastfewweeks.Ifyou doalittleinvestigating,therearelotsandlotsofwise peopletolearnfrom,andtocelebrate.

WhenIstartedthisbirthdayprojectalmostexactlyeight yearsago,inSeptember2014,Istarteditforlargely selfishreasons.Ihadbeenfindingsocialmediakindof toxicandnegative,andhardtonavigate.Ontheonehand,

SHARINGTHEWEALTH

Iknowmywriter/artistfriendsbelieveandhopeand thinkthesethingsbecauseI’vegottenmyselfinthehabit ofaskingeachofthem.Specifically,Iaskthemtoofferup theirreflections,everyyear,shortlybeforetheirbirthdays. Withtheirpermission,Ithensharetheirwordsonmy Facebookfeedsothateveryonewhoreadsmyposts— whichismainlywritersandotherartistsatthispoint—can benefitfromthewisdomoftheseamazingcreators,and alsojoininthecelebrationoftheirbirthdays.

itseemedliketherewasalwayssomeonewho’djust gottenpublishedorgottenaprizeorsomething,andsoit washardtonotfeelenvious.Ontheotherhand,whenever Itootedmyownhorn,Ifeltawkwardandobnoxious doingit.Andso,feelingbadwheneverIwasonline,I decidedthatIneededtoturnthingsaround.

Here’sthething:Facebook,withallitssignificant problems,isbetterinatleastonewaythaneitherTwitter orInstagram.WithTwitterandInstagram,there’sno mutualitybuiltin;youcanfollowsomeone,buttheydon’t havetofollowyouback.FriendingonFacebook,onthe otherhand,isakindofagreement:twopeopleconsenting toamutualconnection.Andthatagreementis,Ithink,a kindofinvitation,oritcanbe.Specifically,itcanbean invitationtoholdeachotherup.

READINGNATIONMAGAZINE SHARINGTHEWEALTH

It'salsonicethatFacebooktellsyouwhenallyour friends’birthdaysare.

Forme,turningthingsaroundmeantraisingupmy friends’successesratherthanjustobservingthem enviouslyfromthesidelines(Icallthis“envyjujitsu,” turninganegativeforceintosomethingpositive),sothat successfeltlessindividualandmorelikesomethingforus alltocherish.Italsomeantmakingsurethatmyfeedwas mostlyaboutotherpeople,sothatIdidn’thavetofeelas awkwardifIdidsometimeshavesomehorn-tootingofmy owntodo.

So:IstartedasimplethingcalledGoodNewsFridays, where,everyFriday,Ijustpostthequestion“Doyouhave anygoodnewstoshare?”Andpeopledoshare.Theylet 92

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Thisbirthdayproject—someofmyfriendscallit“the birthdaything”—isthekindofprojectthatanybodycan do,andIcantellyouit’sworthit.Now,whenIgoto socialmedia,Iknowthatit’sgoingtobeaplacefullof celebration,andoneinwhichwe’renotpittedagainstone anotherbutinsteadoneinwhichwe’rerootingforone anotherandlearningfromoneanother,too.AndsoIgo withexcitement—andIleavewithwisdom.

Aroundthesametime,Istartedthebirthdaytradition, too.Peoplesharetheirgoalsforthecomingyear,their advicetofellowcreativepeople,ortheirwishesforthe community.Sometimestheyshareallthree.

BynowI’vebeendoingthisforeightyears,andIguess I’vepostedthousandsofbirthdayposts.Itcontinuesto givemeaveryselfishpleasure:itjustfeelsgoodto experiencethegenerosityandwisdomandhonestyofthe peoplewhoarewillingtosharetheirthoughts.Anditfeels goodwatchingotherfolksreplytothoseposts,thanking thepersonwhoofferedupsomewords.Itcertainlyfeels goodwatchingnewfriendshipsdevelopaspeoplediscover fellowtravelers.AnditwaslovelythatReadingNation editorMandyHaynes—inresponsetomymostrecent messagetoher,askingforanotherbirthdayreflection— invitedmetowritethispiece.

usknowaboutpublicationsandprizesandgalleryshows, sure—andtheyalsosharegettingoveracoldand welcominganewgrandchildandjustgettingoutofbedin themorning.It’smovingandsurprisingandbeautiful everyweek.

Happybirthdaytome! IknewI’dloveDavid’sstory andI’msogladhesharedit. Now,here’s my birthdaygifttoallofyou. Enjoy,m. Clickhere. READINGNATIONMAGAZINE SHARINGTHEWEALTH 94

DavidEbenbach:Awriter.Chronicallypreoccupiedwith thehumancondition. Asaresultofallthatwritingandpreoccupation,Davidis theaward-winningauthorofninebooks:novels,short storyandpoetrycollections,andbooksofnon-fiction.He livesinWashington,DC,withhisfamily. Hislatestnovel, HowtoMars,isavailablenow.Andhis nextpoetrycollection, What’sLefttoUsbyEvening,due outOctober6th,isavailableforpre-order. SHARINGTHEWEALTH AUGUST95 2022 ISSUENO.17

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nething’sforsurewhenitcomestoTinaHogan Grant’smadwritingskills--shecomesbythem honest.Herfather,successfulauthorJamesP. Hogan,instilledaloveforreadingandwritinginherasa child. “Atayoungage,Itoldmyselfthatoneday,Iwouldwrite abook,”Tinasaid.“Watchingmydadfollowhisdreams whilesupportinghisfamily,inspiredmetofollowmine. Despitehavingideasforbooksinher20s,Tinapushedher inspirationaside,becomingacommercialfisherwoman andspendingmanyyearsontheocean.Whensheretired fromthefishery,shestartedtothinkaboutwritingagain, buteveninretirement,life’sdistractionspreventedher fromfollowingthrough.

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Tenyearslater,theunfortunatecircumstancesofTina’s fatherpassingawayandherownbreastcancerdiagnosis, providedthewakeupcallsheneededtobeginwriting. “Itsuddenlyhitmethatnoneofusknowhowlongwe haveonthisearth,andifIwantedtowritemybook,I’d betterstartgettingseriousaboutit.”

Andwriteabookshedid,followedbynineothers, establishingherfootholdintheindieromanceand women’sfictionrealms.Herthousandsofsocialmedia followersandreaderswilltellyouthereisn’tamore genuine,relatablevoiceinfictionorinTina’sinteractions withherfans.

“I’vewritten10novelsandtheyareallspecialtomein onewayoranother,butI’mgoingtosaymydebut, RecklessBeginnings:Book1intheTammyMellows Trilogy,ismyfavorite.Thatbooklaunchedmywriting careerandisbasedonmylife.Ithelpedmeunderstand myselfmuchbetterandwhyImadethechoicesIdid.” Tinaalsohostslivechatswithauthors–entitledaCuppa &aNatter--at5p.m.Pacific/8p.m.ESTeveryMonday inherReadMoreBooks– TinaHoganGrantgroupon Facebook. YoucanlearnmoreaboutTinaandherwritingonher Amazonpage and website. READINGNATIONMAGAZINE AUTHORSINTERVIEWINGAUTHORS 98

StephanieEdwards

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WhoamI?

Iamaformerjournalistworkingasanauthorand communicationsprofessional. Howdothesetwoprofessionsfittogether?Iamawriter firstandforemost.Ihaveworkedincommunicationsfor morethan17years.Ilandedmyfirstnewspapercolumnat theageof13.Ihavealwayswantedtowriteabook,andI decideditwastimetomakeithappen. AtriptotheeerieSouthCarolinaLowcountryinspired TheHauntingonPalmCourt,thefirstbookinmyIsleof PalmsSuspenseseries.Thenexttwobooksintheseries, ReturntoPalmCourtandChristmasonPalmCourt, launchedsoonafterward. Iloveallthingscreative, especiallywriting,photography andgraphicdesign.Ifeelfortunate thatIhavebeenabletopursuea careerinthefieldwheremy passionlies. IhaveaBachelorofScience DegreeinCommunicationsfrom theUniversityofTennessee,andI amcontinuouslylookingfor opportunitiestobecreative.

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Thanksforsharing, LizaNashTaylor! Forthepasttwenty-fiveyearsI’velivedclosertothe mountains,inanoldfarmhouseinKeswick,Virginia,just outsideCharlottesville,withmyhusbandandthreetofour dogs.Mytwogrownstepsons(andnewgranddaughter!) livenearby.DaughterAnnabelisthrivinginNewYork, workingforanup-and-comingmarketingfirm.Empty nesting,inmyopinion,mustbeapproachedwithattitude andisnottobeunderestimated.Sofar,it’sbeenintrovert heaven. Thefarmhousewherewelivewasbuiltaround1825andI useitasasettinginbothofmyhistoricalnovels. Theoldone-roombunkhouseonourpropertyismy writingspot.It’sfreezinginwinterandswelteringin summer.There’snoplumbing,andthemiceenjoymy stashofknittingyarn. TOOGOODNOTTOSHARE AUGUST101 2022 ISSUENO.17

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Q:(ClaireMatturro)LetmefirstintroduceHadleyFerry, whorecentlyjoinedmyhusbandandmeinFlorida. Hadleyisanelegant12-year-oldcross-eyedmaleblackcat withapenetratingstare.Headopteduswhenwemetatan animalrescueshelterinJuly.Greetings,Hadley.Whatcan youtellusaboutyourjourneysofar?

A:(Hadley)Myfirstnightinyourhouse,whileIwas exploring,oh,bytheway,youcouldvacuumunderthe

Q:(Claire)Hadley,tobefair,itwasn’tjustanyroadbut— A:(Hadley)Itwasaroad,forheaven’ssake.Whynot namemeafteraRomangod?Orsomemajesticliterary character?

A(Hadley):“Whatalong,strangetripit’sbeen”wouldbe myanswer.JerryGarcia’ssongisn’tjustforpeople.And don’tbemakingfunofmyeyes.I’mpartSiamese,and theyarefamousforhavingwhatlookstohumanslike slightlycrossedeyes,butthat’sjustthewaytheireyes workanditisnotadefect.Andaboutthatname.Iknow, youexplainedit.NamingmeafteraroadinGeorgianear whereyouoncelived.Iamnotsurethat’sanhonor.My priorperson,mayherestinpeace,calledmeChumley afterananimatedcharacterin“TennesseeTuxedoandhis Tales.”IamnotsurewhichIliketheleast,beingnamed afteraroadoracartoon.People,can’tlivewith‘em,can’t livewithout‘em.

Q(Claire),Ah,well,let’stalkliteraryanimalcharacters, then.Whoaresomeofyourfavorites?

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bed,youknow,Iknockedoversomebooksfromyour bookcase.TheblackcatonthecoversoftheTroubleblack-cat-detectivenovelsdefinitelycaughtmyeyes.Such ahandsomefellow.Hecouldbemybrother.Iscanned through TroubleinTallahassee,Bone-a-fiedTroubleand TrailofTroubleandacollectionofotherTroublebooks (allpublishedbyKaliokaPressbutwithdifferentauthors) andIcouldseethatTroubleisagreathero.Bigenoughto havehisownseries—14books,Isaw.Evenifhe’sfamous andIamnot,IknowheandIwouldgetalonegreat.We couldstartourownagency—TroubleandHadley,crime solvers.No,BlackCatsDetectives.No,BlackCatsRule.

Q:(Claire)TroublelivesinAlabama,atTammy’s bookstore.Idon’tknowhowyouandhecouldsolve crimestogether.Thoughhedoestravel.Maybewecan arrangesomething.

Q:(Claire)Yes,butTroubleactuallysolvesmysteries and— A:(Hadley)Youwantmetosolveamystery?Okay,you knowthatsilverearringyoulost,theoneyouwereso upsetover?Well,lookunderthethirdcushiononyour couch.Nowhow’sthatforsolvingamystery?Nowabout

A:(Hadley):Anddon’tbethinkingI’mtooold,youhear. Icanjumphigherthanyoucan.Oh,andaboutthedinner menu.Icouldn’thelpbutnoticethatTroublegetsfedfresh fishandgourmetmeals.Iknowyouandtheshelterwere feedingmevet-approvedbalancedhealthyfood,buta specialtreatnowandthen—

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mymenu— Q:(Claire).Okay,specialgourmettreats,itis.(Sighing) Well,withcatsyouneverreallywin. IFOURPETSCOULDTALK AUGUST105 2022 ISSUENO.17

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PatConroyLiteraryCenter 601BladenStreet Beaufort,SC29902 ThursdaythroughSundaynoon-4:00p.m. Othertimesavailablebyappointment READINGNATIONMAGAZINE NETWORKING 108

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Ifyouhaveastoryyou’dliketosharein READINGNATIONMAGAZINE,I’dloveto hearit. Readersthatincludesyou! Iloveourreadersandyouwillalwayshavea placeinthemagazinetoshareyournews. I’mlookingforpetstofeatureonourIfOurPets CouldTalkpage,photosandstoriesofyourlocal bookstoresorlibraries,Authorsinterviewing Authors,andotherfunbookishthingsyou’dlike toshare. Sendthemto readingnationmagazine@gmail.com FYI AUGUST113 2022 ISSUENO.17

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DeadBugs Ihateroaches.Big,black,hairyleggeddefyyouandspit inyoureyeroaches.Theonesthatcrawlandtheones thatpretendtheycanonlycrawl.Untiltheytakeoff flyingdirectlyupandintoyourfaceasyouareabouttohit themwithahammer. WhenIfirstmovedtoTennesseeIgaveGodglory becausetherewerenobig,blackhairyroachlooking thingsaround.Okay,sothescorpionskindatooktheir placebutstill-Isimplykill,kill,killbutIdon’thavea screamthatisreservedfromthem.Morelike,afewchoice fourletterwordsorscreamingdie!Die!Die!asIhitthem. Okay-here’stheinsidescoopifyoudon’tknowit. WhenIwascompletingthenovel,TheMiracleofMercy Land(MercyLandthecharacter’sname)Iwenttostayin acabinofafriendinthewoodsofSouthCarolina.Acute place.Imovedinreadytowakeupthenextmorningwith thesunshineandinspiration.InsteadIopenedmyeyesto seeascorpiononmypilloweyeingmeandreadytosting. Iquicklyandcarefullymovedbackwardsandgotoutof bed.WhenIkilledthatscorpionandflushedhimand returnedtomakethebed-IFOUNDANOTHERONE WAITINGFORMEUNDERMYPILLOW. Whatproceededoverthenext29dayswassurreal.The Cabinbecameinfestedwithscorpions.INFESTEDItell OFFTHEPAGEWITHRIVERJORDAN AUGUST115 2022 ISSUENO.17

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IWROTE. SowhatgetsmeiswhythenisitwhenIcome‘home’, whenIamareasonablysafe,peacefulenvironment,notin awarzone,notascorpioninfestedcabin,WHYTHENdo Ihavesuchahardtimecarvingoutafewhealthyhoursto writeeverydayofmylife.EVERYDAY.OKfine.SOonedayoffforzoningoutandcrammingthreeseasonsof youknowfromNetflix.Butotherthanthat-why? Becauseit’snotdangerousenough.It’snottough

you.Imovedthebedtothecenteroftheroomsothatthey couldn’tclimbupthewallsandgetinbedwithme.Ifelt likeTomHanksinCastaway.Noland.NoWilson.Islept withmyshoeson.Forgoodreason.WhenIgotuptogoto thebathroominthemiddleofthenightIwalkedon scorpions.Idreamtofleaving.Packingmythingsand goingbutIwouldnotgo.InsteadIwrote. IbecameRamboettefortheremainderofthemonth.I becamesosensitivetoascorpionIcouldseeonemove outofthecornerofmyeyeandthrowabookatitandkill itforthefirsttime.Thefirsttimebecausescorpionsare smart.Theywillplaydead.Deaderthanthat.Thenwhen yougotogetsomethingtopickthemupandflushthem andyoucomebackintheroomtheyareGONE.And, somewheretheyarelaughingatyoubehindyourbackas theyplantheirnextattack.JustsoIdidn’tgettoo comfortablewithmykillingsevenormorescorpionsa day(noexaggeration)TheWOLFSPIDERSmovedin.

WhatdidIdo?

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Wemustfindaway.Beinglockedinascorpioncabin andbeingcrazyenough,determinedenough,underreal deadlineenoughtostaythereisn’treallynecessary.Or,is it? Weareforthemostpartgrownups.Wegettoown ourself,ouractions,ourdecisions-andourfreetime.That timemaybemoreforsomeofusandlessforothers.It mightbea40minutelunchbreaksittinginacar.Whothe heckcanconjureupTheMusethatfastunderthose circumstances?Orfrom2-3amafteralongshiftwhenwe arebodybruisedandmindragged.Here’sthemagictrick. Thosewillbesomeofthebesttimesyouhaveever crashedafewwordsdownbecauseyourconsciousmind can’tevenfocus.Youcan’teventrytowritewell.Youjust havetoopenupthebackofyourheadandletitpourout fromsomewhereelse.Thatdeep,deepplacewhereI’ve alreadysaid-THEMUSElivesinsideyou.Downinevery cellandfiberofyourbody.Youwerebornwithyour

enough.Ifsomeonewalkeduptoeachoneofustodayand grabbedourwritingtoolsandsaid,You’reunderarrestif youwriteanotherword.Youwillneverwrite,nevertell anotherstory.It’sagainstthelawsoftheKingdomofShut YourMouth-wewouldthinkofnothingbutwriting.We wouldwriteinourmindsjustlikewedoallthetimenow. Wewouldlookforpiecesoflead.Rocks.Flint.Coal.We wouldeventuallyperhapsonlybeabletoquicklysketch imagesonacavewallbutwewouldfindawaytotellour story. Andnow?

Justlikecleaningupdeadbugsorslayingscorpions-no oneisgoingtodoourrealdirtyworkforuswhenwe growup.Becausethedirtiestworkweeverhavetodois tofulfillourmissioninlifeandNOONEandImeanNO

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WhenIwokeupthismorningIhadforgottenaboutour latenightTANGOandtherehewas.Unlikeasneaky scorpionthatyoubythewayhavetocuttopiecestoknow theyarereallydead-hewasalreadyreallydead.I shiveredandthought,Someoneneedstocleanthatup. Thathideousnightcrawlerneedstogo.ThenIlooked around.Therewasnoone.But.Me.

LastnightwhenIwentintothebathroomaBIG, BLACK,HAIRY-LEGGEDROACHcrawledupthedrain andstaredatmelikewewerefacingoneanotheratthe OKCorral.Ireachedunderthesinkandpulledoutthe onlyweaponIcouldfind.AspraycanofLYSOL.I sprayedhalfacanonhisdefiantself.HALFACAN.That isnotanexaggerationeither.Igaggedandcoughedright alongwithhimbutIdidhaveafewinchesonhim.Ididn’t stopsprayinguntilherolledover,legsintheairandthey stoppedkicking.ThenIsprayedhimonemoregood coatingforgoodmeasure.Andwenttobedwitheyesred enoughtohavebeentear-gassed.

Heavysigh.Getamountainoftoiletpaper,drop strategicallyoverhairy-legswhichattachimmediatelyto bottomofsaidtoiletpaper.Dropintoilet.Flushandhope itdoesn’toverflow.

muse.

RiverJordan isanauthor,speaker,teacherandradiohost. Asasouthernerwithaglobalperspectivesheisa passionateadvocateforthepowerofstory. River'swritingcareerbeganasaplaywrightandshespent overtenyearswritinganddirecting.Sheisthebest-selling authoroffournovelsandathreespiritualmemoirs.Asa critically-acclaimedauthorherworkhasbeenmost frequentlycastinthecompanyofsuchwritersasFlannery O'Conner,WilliamFaulkner,andHarperLee. Ms.JordanlivesonahilljustbeyondNashvillecitylimits surroundedbyherwild,southernfamily.Whennotonthe roadyou'llfindheronherporchatnightwatchingthe moonmovethroughthestar-filledskyandcontemplating allmannerofthingshumananddivine.

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TheAncientWay,DiscoveriesOnthePathofCeltic Christianity aboutherpilgrimagetotheIsleofIonain ScotlandwasjustpublishedbyBroadleafBooksandis availablewherevergreatbooksaresold.

ONEcandothatforyou,orme,orus. IfyouhavebeeninaquandaryofwhatyourmissionisI cantellyouthismuch-NOmatterwhatitis.Tellingyour storyisapartofthatmission.Promise.So. Rollupyoursleeves.Pickupyourwords.Putdownyour story.Oneinch,oneline,oneparagraphatatime.

Inacold-waterWestEndBostontenementthefracturedSykes familyscrapesbyonanitinerantmechanic'swagesandhome sewing.Havingrecentlylosthermother,sixteen-year-oldDorrit Sykesquestionsthereligiousdoctrineshewasraisedin.Dorritis reclusive,heldbackbytheanxietyattacksthathaveplaguedher sincechildhood.Attemptingtounderstandwhatlimitsher,she seeksinspirationinNancyDrewmysteriesandfindssolaceatthe BostonPublicLibrary,writingfairystoriesforchildren.The libraryholdsanswerstobothDorrit'sexplorationoffaithandher questtounderstandandmanageheranxiety.

WhenDorritaccompaniesherfathertoWashington,DC,inthe summerof1932tocampoutandmarchwithtwentythousand veteransintendingtopetitionPresidentHooverforearlypayment ofwarbonuses,shebeginsanodysseythatwillbothtraumatize andstrengthenher.Alongthewaysheredefinesherfaith, learningbothself-sufficiencyandhowtoaccepthelp. Dorrit'sandMay'slivesintersect,andtheirfateswillintertwine inwaysthatneithercouldhaveimaginedorexpected.Setagainst abackdropoftruehistoricalevents,InAllGoodFaithtellsa storyoftwowomen'sunlikelysuccessduringtheGreat Depression.

Inthesummerof1932,Americansarecomingtorealizethatthe financialcrashof1929wasonlythebeginningofhardtimes. MayMarshallhasreturnedfromParistosettleatherfamily homeinruralKeswick,Virginia.Shestrugglestokeepherfamily farmandmarketafloatthroughtheeconomicdownturn.May findsherselfjugglinghermarriagewithatemptingopportunityto revampthefamilybusinesstoadapttochangingtimes.

InAllGoodFaith by LizaNashTaylor

PaperbackEditionwillbeavailableonAugust10th

“InAllGoodFaithisapowerfulnovelinfusedwiththe perseveranceandpowerofitswomen.Expertlyexploringalittle knownpieceofhistory,LizaNashTaylorwelcomesusintothe livesofhercharactersinadazzlingdisplayofproseandheart. Whilerevealingtheprofoundpowerofstoryandfairytalesto helpnavigateourlives,Taylorintroducesustotwowomen whoseliveswillcollideinwaystheycouldneverexpect. Unforgettable,fascinatingandgripping,InAllGoodFaithisdo notmisshistoricalfiction.”

—PattiCallahanHenry,NYT bestsellingauthorof SurvivingSavannah and BecomingMrs. Lewis. ''InAllGoodFaithtakesapoignantandheartwarminglookat theGreatDepressionthroughtheeyesoftwowomenfightingfor survival.Writtenwithadelicacythatgivesthereaderarealistic glimpseofthehardships,itisalsotoldwithsuchbeautyandsoul thatonecan'thelpbutlikeitimmensely.Astoryoffriendship, struggle,family,andlove,withasweepingandvitalhistorical backdrop,thisbookwillhavethereadereagerlyawaitingthe nextstoryfromTaylor.

--Jane Healey,bestsellingauthorof TheBeantown Girls and TheSecretStealers

''--CamilleDiMaio,bestsellingauthorof TheMemoryofUs ''LizaNashTaylor'sDepression-eranovel,In AllGoodFaithisabeautifullywrittenstory aboutthepowerofperseveranceandresiliency inthehardestoftimes.Meticulously researchedwithrichdetailandstrongfemale charactersthatyourootfor,Ilovedthisstory andknowitwilldelightTaylor’scurrentfans andissuretogainhermanymore.''

WELL READ Magazine August 2022

Articles inside

MAKING CONNECTIONS

What a Wonderful World This Could Be by Lee Zacharias

Oliver a novella by Mandy Haynes

Sugar Baby and Other Stories by River Jordan

How to Mars by David Ebenbach

Sharp as a Serpent's Tooth: Eva and Other Stories by Mandy Haynes

Pilgrim Interrupted by Susan Cushman

Deep End of the Lake by Carol Grace Stratton

Shadow of the Taj by Lara Bernhardt

Dance Like You Mean It by Jeanne Skartsiaris

God, Destiny and a Glass of Wine by Linda Mason Crawford

The Ariadne Connection by Sara Stamey

Sisters Born, Sisters Found: A Diversity of Voices on Sisterhood by Laura McHale Holland

The Haunting on Palm Court: An Isle of Palms Suspense by Stephanie Edwards

Lady First - An Inspector Inoue Mystery by Lea O’Harra

Coming Soon!

The Ancient Way: Discoveries on the Path of Celtic Christianity by River Jordan

Mist-Chi-Mas: A Novel of Captivity by Janet Oakley

The Sunny Side of Crazy by Tricia Mikouchi

The Cicada Tree by Robert Gwaltney

Naked at the Helm: Independence and Intimacy in the Second Half of Life by Suzanne Spector

Windows of the Heavens: A Novel by Henry G. Brinton

Murder Under A British Moon by Abigail Keam

Touched by Carolyn Haines

Summer of the Redeemers by Carolyn Haines

Pause by Sara Stamey

Crazy To Leave You: A Novel by Marilyn Simon Rothstein

The Secrets We Hide by Patricia Sands

Noah's Wife by T.K. Thorne

Gold Digger: The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor by Rebecca Rosenberg

Moonlight in Odessa: A Novel by Janet Skeslien Charles

Behind the Magic Curtain: Secrets, Spies, and Unsung White Allies of Birmingham's Civil Rights Days

The Memory of Flight: a novel by Debra Bowling

Hannah and Ariela by Johnnie Bernhard

Every Now and Then by Lesley Kagen

You Belong Here Now