Noteworthy March book release

‘The Lost Apothecary’ by Sarah Penner is a new historical fiction novel and is set for release on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Photo: amazon

Looking for a new book to read this month? The following is a list of noteworthy March releases according to Goodreads. (amazon, 2021)

Mystery & Thriller: ‘Every Last Fear’ by Alex Finlay. Release date: March 2, 2021
In one of the year’s most anticipated debut psychological thrillers, a family made infamous by a true crime documentary is found dead, leaving their surviving son to uncover the truth about their final days. After a late night of partying, NYU student Matt Pine returns to his dorm room to devastating news: nearly his entire family―his mom, his dad, his little brother and sister―have been found dead from an apparent gas leak while vacationing in Mexico. The local police claim it was an accident, but the FBI and State Department seem far less certain―and they will not tell Matt why. When Matt returns to his small hometown to bury his parents and siblings, he is faced with a hostile community, a frenzied media, and memories he had hoped to leave behind forever. Told through multiple points-of-view and alternating between past and present, Alex Finlay’s ‘Every Last Fear’ is not only a page-turning thriller, but also a poignant story about a family managing heartbreak and tragedy and living through a fame they never wanted.

Science Fiction: ‘Machinehood’ by S.B.Divya. Release date: March 2, 2021
From the Hugo Award nominee S.B. Divya, Zero Dark Thirty meets The Social Network in this science fiction thriller about artificial intelligence, sentience, and labor rights in a near future dominated by the gig economy. Welga Ramirez, executive bodyguard and ex-special forces, is about to retire early when her client is killed in front of her. The year is 2095 and people do not usually die from violence. Humanity is entirely dependent on pills that not only help them stay alive but allow them to compete with artificial intelligence in an increasingly competitive gig economy. Daily doses protect against designer diseases, flow enhances focus, zips and buffs enhance physical strength and speed, and juvers speed the healing process. All that changes when Welga’s client is killed by The Machinehood, a new and mysterious terrorist group that has simultaneously attacked several major pill funders. The Machinehood operatives seem to be part human, part machine, something the world has never seen. They issue an ultimatum: stop all pill production in one week. Global panic ensues as pill production slows and many become ill. Thousands destroy their bots in fear of a strong AI takeover. Who are the Machinehood and what do they really want?

Fantasy: ‘The Bone Maker’ by Sarah Beth Durst. Release date: March 9, 2021
From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, a standalone epic fantasy set in a brand-new world of towering mountains and sparkling cities, in which a band of aging warriors have a second chance to defeat dark magic and avenge a haunting loss. Twenty-five years ago, five heroes risked their lives to defeat the bone maker Eklor—a corrupt magician who created an inhuman army using animal bones. But victory came at a tragic price. Only four of the heroes survived. Since then, Kreya, the group’s leader, has exiled herself to a remote tower and devoted herself to one purpose: resurrecting her dead husband. But such a task requires both a cache of human bones and a sacrifice—for each day he lives, she will live one less. She would rather live one year with her husband than a hundred without him but using human bones for magic is illegal in Vos. The dead are burned—as are any bone workers who violate the law. Yet Kreya knows where she can find the bones she needs: the battlefield where her husband and countless others lost their lives. But defying the laws of the land exposes a terrible possibility. Maybe the dead do not rest in peace after all.

Historical Fiction: ‘The Lost Apothecary’ by Sarah Penner. Release date: March 2, 2021
Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries. Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive. With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, ‘The Lost Apothecary’ is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.

Upcoming book release: ‘418: I Am a Teapot’ by Edgar Scott

‘418: I Am a Teapot’ by Edgar Scott will be out on Kindle on March 23, 2021. Photo: google

Edgar Scott is an economist-turned-computer scientist. For over 20 years, Edgar served as a Senior Database Administrator and Development Operations Team Manager in financial, crypto-currency, and medical industries, as well as with several start-ups. His experience has taught him that people’s limited beliefs often keep them prisoners in a life they do not want to live. This theme resonates in his forthcoming dystopian novel, “418: I Am a Teapot” which will be out on Kindle on Tuesday March 23, 2021. (Black Château, 2021)

A must-read novel for our times in the spirit of Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, “418: I Am a Teapot” illuminates the downsides of a society featuring the immersive Internet. We are challenged to evaluate new technology, use our human spirt to avoid the negative aspects, and maintain our power to decide our own destiny, while we still have can. This is a near-future dystopian science fiction novel that explores a world where, whether by choice, birth, or punishment, people relinquish the rights to their physical body. Their brains exist in a constantly-connected virtual interface, where they enjoy a fantasy world of endless indulgences. However, while their minds are distracted and entertained, their bodies do the filthy, dangerous, or boring work that the rest of humanity does not want to do. This growing class of workers are cheap, flexible, and replaceable. Collectively referred to as staff, this new, virtually unpaid labor force are stripped of their identities as they become unaware of the reality of their life circumstances.

Life would have gone as planned for our protagonist, known only by his manager as the number 418: work until his body breaks down, retire, take a few opiates and drift off into oblivion. That is, until 418 suffers a supposedly impossible accident in a self-driving car. Through a quirk of bureaucratic fate, the order is given for him to be repaired instead of written off and retired. The extent of his injuries leads to a prolonged rehabilitation and causes the automatic termination of his online accounts. A personal crisis ensues, as his wife and family believe he has died. 418 then embarks on a dangerous quest to uncover his world from the inside out. To resolve their situations, both 418 and his manager must work together to rediscover their humanity as their journey through this dark, unsettling world.

“418: I Am a Teapot” throws a spotlight on the pressing matters of economic inequality, human rights, freedom, and gender identity. It shows how our actions and beliefs not only shape our lives but, more broadly, society. 418’s journey is one of enlightenment and introspection as he struggles with his desire to join a society that oppresses him and manipulates the working class. A rallying cry against the status quo, “418: I Am a Teapot” will make you look afresh at the current world.

“True slavery is passively accepting the roles that have been presented to us by the events and actors in our lives. This book should make one see that our beliefs hold us back, but also feel hopeful that the human spirit can overcome.” – Edgar Scott

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Upcoming book release: ’13 Days to Die’ by Matt Miksa

’13 Days to Die’ by Matt Miksa will be released on March 9, 2021.

Matt Miksa is a former FBI intelligence analyst who helped prevent foreign spies from stealing America’s secrets. Today, he writes espionage thrillers that blend history, politics, and science. Matt holds a graduate degree in China Studies from Columbia University and has spent time living in Beijing. His debut novel, “13 Days to Die: A Novel” is a mixture of Red Sparrow and Inferno and electrifies a Cold War spirit with fresh, modern-day expertise as the Olen Grave and Dr. Zhou Weilin wrestle society’s darkest nightmares. It is scheduled for released on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. (amazon, 2021)

In “13 Days to Die,” in a far-flung Tibetan village, prayer flags flap against whitewashed houses and a majestic monastery stretches to heaven. It is Shangri-La, an earthly paradise, until a stranger staggers out of the forest and collapses into a bloody, lifeless mass. He is the first victim of a crippling epidemic, but he is no ordinary man. Olen Grave, an American intelligence officer, heads directly into the hot zone to investigate. Posing as a journalist, he joins the Chinese research team, led by a headstrong female virus hunter, Dr. Zhou Weilin. Together, the unlikely allies discover that Patient Zero was a spy who deliberately infected himself. But they do not know why or who he worked for. As Olen and Dr. Zhou rush to uncover the shocking truth behind the epidemic, they unravel a twisted conspiracy that reaches from Beijing’s great halls to Washington’s corridors of power. With the superpowers now at the brink of war, the fate of the world will rest on the duo’s shoulders.

New book release: ‘A Stranger in Town’ by Kelley Armstrong

‘A Stranger in Town’ by Kelley Armstrong is the novel in the Rockton series. Photo: amazon

Kelley Armstrong graduated with a degree in psychology and then studied computer programming. Now she is a full-time writer and parent and lives with her husband and three children in rural Ontario, Canada. She is the author of the Rockton mystery series featuring Detective Casey Duncan, which begins with “City of the Lost,” and the novel “Wherever She Goes.” She is the editor of the young adult anthology Life Is Short and Then You Die. In “A Stranger In Town: A Rockton Novel,” the next riveting thriller from #1 The New York Times’ bestselling author Kelley Armstrong, the paranoia increases, along with the stakes, as the town of Rockton tries to solve the latest mystery at their door. (amazon, 2021)

In “A Stranger In Town,” Detective Casey Duncan has noticed fewer and fewer residents coming to the hidden town of Rockton, and no extensions being granted. Her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, presumes it is the natural flux of things, but Casey’s not so sure. It seems like something bigger is happening in the small town they call home. It is all hands on deck when an injured hiker stumbles from the woods, someone who seems to have come to the Yukon for a wilderness vacation but instead is now fighting for her life. What – or who – attacked this woman, and why? With the woman unconscious, and no leads, Casey and Eric do not know where the threat is coming from. Plus, the residents of their deeply secretive town are uneasy with this stranger in their midst. Everyone in Rockton wants this mystery solved – and fast. Excerpt available here.

New book release: ‘Prodigal Son’ by Gregg Hurwitz

‘Prodigal Son’ by Gregg Hurwitz is book 6 of 6 in the Orphan X series. Photo: amazon

Gregg Hurwitz is The New York Times’ bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including the #1 international bestseller “Orphan X,” the first in a series of thrillers featuring Evan Smoak. He has also written young adult novels: “The Rains” and its sequel, “The Last Chance.” Hurwitz’s books have been shortlisted for numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been translated into twenty-eight languages. Hurwitz is also a bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, The Punisher) and DC (Batman). He has written screenplays for many major studios and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. His new book “Prodigal Son” is book 6 of 6 in the Orphan X series. Forced into retirement, Evan Smoak gets an urgent request for help from someone he did not even suspect existed. (amazon, 2021)

As a boy, Evan Smoak was pulled out of a foster home and trained in an off-the-books operation known as the Orphan Program. He was a government assassin, perhaps the best, known to a few insiders as Orphan X. He eventually broke with the Program and adopted a new name, The Nowhere Man, and a new mission, helping the most desperate in their times of trouble. But the highest power in the country has made him a tempting offer. In exchange for an unofficial pardon, he must stop his clandestine activities as The Nowhere Man. Now Evan must do the one thing he is least equipped to do: live a normal life. In “Prodigal Son,” Evan gets a call for help from the one person he never expected. A woman who claims to have given him up for adoption, a woman he never knew. Her unlikely request: help Andrew Duran, a man whose life has gone off the rails, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, bringing him to the deadly attention of powerful figures. Now a brutal brother and sister assassination team are after him and with no one to turn to, and no safe place to hide, Evan is Duran’s only option. When the hidden cabal catches on to what Evan is doing, everything he has fought for is on the line, including his own life.

Movie adaptation: ‘Nomadland’ by Jessica Bruder

The movie adaptation of ‘Nomadland’ by Jessica Bruder will be released on Friday, February 19, 2021. Photo: amazon

Jessica Bruder is an award-winning journalist whose work focuses on subcultures and the dark corners of the economy. She has written for Harper’s Magazine, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Bruder teaches at the Columbia School of Journalism. Her book “Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century” is a non-fiction book that explores a phenomenon of older American workers traveling the country like “nomads,” campers in tow, in search of employment, many of whom were adversely affected by the Great Recession. It is the inspiration for the Chloé Zhao’s 2020 Golden Lion award-winning film starring Frances McDormand and is scheduled for release simultaneously in theaters and digitally on Hulu on Friday, February 19, 2021. (amazon, 2021)

“Nomadland” tells a revelatory tale of the dark underbelly of the American economy―one which foreshadows the precarious future that may await many more of us. At the same time, it celebrates the exceptional resilience and creativity of these Americans who have given up ordinary rootedness to survive but have not given up hope. From the beet fields of North Dakota to the campgrounds of California to Amazon’s CamperForce program in Texas, employers have discovered a new, low-cost labor pool, made up largely of transient older adults. These invisible casualties of the Great Recession have taken to the road by the tens of thousands in RVs and modified vans, forming a growing community of nomads.

Book review: ‘Life Is Beautiful’ by James A. Cusumano

‘Life Is Beautiful’ by James A. Cusumano. Photo: amazon

James A. Cusumano is an accomplished leader with successful careers as an entertainer, scientist, corporate executive, and entrepreneur. An inspiring speaker and entertainer, he is the author of “Cosmic Consciousness: A Journey to Well-being, Happiness and Success,” “Balance: The Business-Life Connection,” and co-author of “Freedom from Mid-East Oil.” His book “Life is Beautiful: 12 Universal Rules” is a multi-faceted guide to life-long success and personal fulfillment.

In the Preface, James A. Cusumano explains that “Life is Beautiful” centers around the big question of ‘What is the meaning of life’ and the eventual ‘How can I live a happy life?’ His purpose in life is to share what he has learned in the hopes of making a “positive difference in the lives of others and show that Life is Beautiful.” He discovered the parallels between Eastern thought and modern physics but does now want to present his findings as dogma. Instead, he just wants readers to think of what ‘true’ reality means. The book is divided into two parts: The Reason for Your Existence: 12 Universal Rules of Life and Using The 12 Universal Rules to Create the Life You Dream. The first part contains chapters like Consciousness Is Everything, Consciousness And Reality, and The True Nature of Our Universe – they cover the surface of physics and the definition of the soul. He provides references in the bibliography in case the reader wants to pursue the details of the physics presented. The second part covers The Art and Science of Meditation, Creating Your Dreams, and Finding Lifelong Fulfillment – explanations on the arts of relaxation and meditation to be able to uncover a person’s Life Purpose to create personal and professional fulfillments. Appendix B contains The 12 Universal Rules of Life in one section to make it easier to read.

Admittedly, from the title itself, “Life Is Beautiful” at first seems like a self-help book to help readers improve their everyday lives but it is much more than that. James A Cusumano looks at the bigger picture of who and what we are in regards to the universe and he starts off with the definition of the soul, what he calls Cosmic Consciousness, “an energy field that functions by laws of a science that are well beyond our knowledge of quantum physics.” The first six chapters have heavy science content, specifically physics, but at an intermediate level so it is easy to follow. Chapter Seven: Balancing Masculine-Feminine Energies stands out because it addresses Rule #12 “Addressing complex social and cultural challenges requires an appropriate dynamic balance between masculine and feminine energies.” This basically states that for society to work, the masculine and feminine energies should be balanced and that organized religion has “played a key role in elevating masculine energies most often at the demise of feminine energies” in its never-ending quest for power and wealth, which is why the earth is currently hurting. The topics in Part Two are easier to understand because they include tips on how to relax and meditate to create our own reality. Since it is mostly about Eastern philosophy and physics, “Life is Beautiful” may not be for everyone but it opens the readers eyes to the concept of consciousness and the thought that we are all made of energy. It is recommended for readers who appreciate science and Eastern philosophy and are searching for ways to create a more fulfilling life with purpose.

“Time does not exist in the realm of consciousness. It is a man-made fabrication to manage our lives without chaos.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

New book release: ‘Charlie Chaplin and A Woman of Paris’ by Wes D. Gehring

‘Charlie Chaplin and A Woman of Paris’ by Wes D. Gehring. Photo: google

Wes D. Gehring is a distinguished professor of film at Ball State University and associate media editor for USA Today magazine, for which he also writes the column “Reel World.” He is the author of 40 film books, including biographies of James Dean, Carole Lombard, Steve McQueen, Robert Wise, Red Skelton, and Charlie Chaplin. His new book, “Charlie Chaplin and A Woman of Paris: The Genesis of a Misunderstood Masterpiece” is now available from McFarland Books. (CWPR, 2021)

Charlie Chaplin’s A Woman of Paris (1923) was a groundbreaking film which was neither a simple recycling of Peggy Hopkins Joyce’s story, nor quickly forgotten. Through heavily documented “period research,” this book lands several bombshells, including Paris is deeply rooted in Chaplin’s previous films and his relationship with Edna Purviance; Paris was not rejected by heartland America; Chaplin did “romantic research” (especially with Pola Negri); and Paris’ many ongoing influences have never been fully appreciated. These are just a few of the mistakes about Paris. The Foreword is by Anthony Slide, arguably America’s greatest living film historian.

Movie adaptation: ‘The Reincarnationist Papers’ by D. Eric Maikranz

The movie adaptation of D. Eric Maikranz’ ‘The Reincarnationist Papers’ will be released in May. Photo: google

D. Eric Maikranz is the author of “The Reincarnationist Papers,” the electrifying debut novel that introduces readers to the Cognomina, a secret society of people who reincarnate with total recall of their collected past lives. As a world traveler, he was a foreign correspondent while living in Rome, translated for relief doctors in Nicaragua during a cholera epidemic, and was once forcibly expelled from the nation of Laos. He has worked as a tour guide, a radio host, a bouncer, and a Silicon Valley software executive. The Reincarnationist Papers is the electrifying book that introduces readers to the Cognomina, a secret society of people who possess total recall of their past lives. It is the basis for the Paramount Pictures movie Infinite, scheduled for release in May 2021, and starring Mark Wahlberg and Dylan O’Brien.

In “The Reincarnationist Papers,” discovered in an antique store in Rome at the turn of the millennium, The Reincarnationist Papers offers a tantalizing glimpse into the Cognomina, a secret society of people who possess total recall of their past lives. Evan Michaels struggles with being different, with having the complete memories of two other people who lived sequentially before him. He fights loneliness and believes his ‘condition’ is unique until he meets Poppy. She recognizes his struggle because she has the same ‘condition,’ except that she is much older, remembering back seven consecutive lives. There is something else she must share with Evan – she is a member of a secret society of others like them. They are, in effect, near immortals – compiling experiences and skills over lifetimes into near superhuman abilities that they have used to drive history toward their own agenda on a longer timeline. Through Poppy, Evan is invited into the Cognomina but he must decide if he can face their tests before entering this new mysterious society as their equal.

Book review: ‘The Entrepreneur’s Faces’ by Jonathan Littman and Susanna Camp

‘The Entrepreneur’s Faces’ by Jonathan Littman and Susanna Camp. Photo: google

Jonathan Littman is the author of ten books, including “The Art of Innovation” and “The Ten Faces of Innovation.” His bestselling books have sold 750,000 copies worldwide and have been published in 20 languages. He is an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco where he teaches ‘Innovation, Creativity, and Applied Design.’ Susanna Camp is an editor and journalist specializing in emerging technology and business trends. She is the Editor-in-Chief of SmartUp.life and a consultant for CEOs and others wanting to build their social media footprint. Susanna was an early team leader at Wired magazine, where she led the creation of one of the first online communities. In their new book “The Entrepreneur’s Faces: How Makers, Visionaries and Outsiders Succeed,” the authors take readers through the world of ten authentic entrepreneurs from around the world and show how each gets their edge and how they make their way in the business world in the hopes of inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit in them.

In the Introduction to “The Entrepreneur’s Faces,” Jonathan Littman and Susanna Camp explain their goal in writing this book is to “help you to identify the ten essential entrepreneurial types to propel your professional growth, and better gauge potential partners on the journey.” The ten entrepreneurs showcased throughout this book range from a concert pianist, to a physicist, a Stanford Law student and more. They are divided into ten types of workers: The Maker, The Outsider, The Conductor, The Accidental, The Collaborator, The Guardian, The Leader, The Visionary, The Evangelist, and The Athlete. Even though they all have their own individual journey to travel, they all pass through the same seven essential stages, which the authors call The Arc. These stages include: The Awakening, The Shift, The Place, The Launch, The Money, The Test, and The Scale. Each stage makes up a chapter where they describe how each entrepreneur handles the different stages. In the Epilogue, they stress that getting to identify the different entrepreneurial types is an excellent way to maximize a person’s potential but the types are in no way set in stone. People often exhibit more than one of these characteristics and it is usually necessary to adapt and change to maximize growth.

The world of entrepreneurship, like people, is constantly changing and challenging. Even though Littman and Camp focus on ten types of entrepreneurs, they emphasize that these states of mind are not always static. This book was written during COVID, when the business world is being challenged in ways no one thought possible – “The global pandemic is a huge Test for us all…Taking bold, new steps is never easy.” The stories presented, though inspiring, are merely a guide for entrepreneurs and innovators to help them through the 7 major phases of business growth. One chapter that stands out is ‘3: The Place’ because it brings up how the pandemic has made remote working necessary and “Those who quickly adopted these new skills at creating and collaborating online had an edge.” It brings modern reality into the mix. The chapters are short and the language is not too complicated in terms of business lingo and the authors speak directly to the reader: “At heart, you’ve got to make your own luck.” Business owners can also benefit in the sense that this valuable information can help them better understand themselves and their workers. By focusing on personality traits, this unique approach to business growth and management speaks to the heart of what makes individuals strive to succeed. “The Entrepreneur’s Faces” is an immensely useful business guide for both entrepreneurs and established organizations and is recommended for readers who appreciate business advice focusing on individual personalities and strengths.

“History proves that recessions, downturns, and yes, pandemics, demand that we respond to the threat with tremendous creativity and innovation.”