‘I, Alien: Memoirs of a UFO Spy’ is Tony Topping’s new book. Photo: Tony Topping, used with permission.
Tony Topping is a veteran UFO researcher and Close Encounter Experiencer. He has appeared in ITV This Morning, The One Show, Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC 2, Sky Arts, Sony Pictures, E4 Tattoo Fixers, when producers gave him a tattoo for the unusual life he has led, BBC Regional & National News, and various radio show across the globe. He writes for the Australian Paranormal Magazine Oddities, Outer Limits, and French magazine OVNI and is a regular contributor to national station talkRADIO. His new book “I, Alien: Memoirs of a UFO Spy” is his astounding biography that takes readers on a journey of close encounters. (Tony Topping, 2022)
“I, Alien: Memoirs of a UFO Spy” – They chose him, but why? Tony Topping shares his own unique UFO diaries, portraying a deep involvement in a complex intelligence operation between humans and alien visitors called SCOVS. Abused when young, this is the testimony of a survivor who fought back from extreme adversity over his 40+ year involvement with the UFO phenomena. Full of illustrations inspired by his alien contact makes his testimony a unique literary art form. “I, Alien: Memoirs of a UFO Spy” portrays Tony Topping’s journey from boy to man; an asset who witnesses the clash of biblical and alien forces in the skies above. It is truly a read that will take your breath away and have you in tears. The Chronicle element of the book details from 2001 to present his continual involvement in an operation called SCOVS or Special Contact Operation Very See and the shocking saga of contact with ET that led to the establishment of an alien/human information highway.
“I, Alien: Memoirs of a UFO Spy” is available at these retailers.
‘Piedrecitas entre la hierba’ is the new book by José Luis Castro. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
José Luis Castro nació en Camagüey, Cuba en 1966 y emigró a los Estados Unidos en 1980. Ha escrito y publicado artículos, ensayos, y discursos sobre temas de salud pública en publicaciones alrededor del mundo. En el ámbito artístico y cultural, es un estudioso de las primeras dos décadas del siglo XX en Cuba, ha viajado a 98 países, y ha escrito más de 800 poemas, cuentos, ensayos, y obras de teatro en español. Una selección de estos trabajos se publicará próximamente en una antología. Es miembro de la Royal Society for the Arts (RSA), Reino Unido. Ha recibido numerosos premios por su trabajo y reconocimientos por sus servicios a la salud global. En su nuevo libro “Piedrecitas entre la hierba” el escritor rememora la Cuba de 1913. (José Luis Castro, 2022)
“Piedrecitas entre la hierba”– Una historia repleta de amor, odio, amistad y valentía en la que la corrupción y la violencia se enfrentan con la justicia en la cotidianidad de un pequeño pueblo. A cada paso del libro aguarda un nuevo suspenso hasta llegar a un clímax pleno de acción y emociones fuertes. Una noche lluviosa de mayo, Marcelo Cervantes, un hombre malherido llega al pequeño pueblo de Piedrecitas, Camagüey, junto a su mujer y a su hijo. Años más tarde, un licenciado aparece para investigarlo. En medio de la investigación, el oscuro pasado de Marcelo regresa a Piedrecitas para atormentarlo de nuevo. Amor, odio, desengaño y amistad se revelarán en las relaciones entre los habitantes del pueblo en una trama donde la corrupción, la violencia y la justicia se enfrentan diariamente en sus calles.
El autor expone así la realidad de una época en la que los cambios político-económicos y sociales agitaban el país en un ambiente de corrupción y violencia que desataba la crueldad de los hombres. El realismo de la obra invitará a los lectores a reflexionar y a conocer más sobre la historia de un país castigado y reprimido duramente durante muchos años y la lucha que emprendió para lograr su libertad y eliminar los últimos vestigios de represión en un ambiente representado por la clase baja en el que aprenderán a perder los prejuicios impuestos por la sociedad y que, a veces, la familia no siempre es de sangre, sino la que se elige.
Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch return in ‘Desert Star,’ Michael Connelly’s new suspense thriller. Photo: Amazon
Michael Connelly is the bestselling author of over thirty novels and one work of nonfiction. With over eighty million copies of his books sold worldwide and translated into forty-five foreign languages, he is one of the most successful writers working today. A former newspaper reporter who worked the crime beat at the Los Angeles Times and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Connelly has won numerous awards for his journalism and his fiction. His very first novel, “The Black Echo,” won the prestigious Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1992. In 2002, Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the movie adaptation of Connelly’s 1998 novel, “Blood Work.” In March 2011, the movie adaptation of his #1 bestselling novel, “The Lincoln Lawyer,” hit theaters worldwide starring Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller. Michael is the executive producer of Bosch, an Amazon Studios original drama series based on his bestselling character Harry Bosch, starring Titus Welliver and streaming on Amazon Prime. In his new book “Desert Star,” a Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch novel, they team up to hunt the brutal killer who is Bosch’s “white whale”—a man responsible for the murder of an entire family. (Amazon, 2022)
“Desert Star” – year has passed since LAPD detective Renée Ballard quit the force but after the chief of police himself tells her she can write her own ticket within the department, Ballard takes back her badge, leaving “the Late Show” to rebuild and lead the cold case unit at the elite Robbery-Homicide Division. For years, Harry Bosch has been working a case that haunts him—the murder of an entire family by a psychopath who still walks free. Ballard makes Bosch an offer: come volunteer as an investigator in her new Open-Unsolved Unit, and he can pursue his “white whale” with the resources of the LAPD behind him.
First priority for Ballard is to clear the unsolved rape and murder of a sixteen-year-old girl. The decades-old case is essential to the councilman who supported re-forming the unit, and who could shutter it again—the victim was his sister. When Ballard gets a “cold hit” connecting the killing to a similar crime, proving that a serial predator has been at work in the city for years, the political pressure has never been higher. To keep momentum going, she has to pull Bosch off his own investigation, the case that is the consummation of his lifelong mission. The two must put aside old resentments and new tensions to run to ground not one but two dangerous killers who have operated with brash impunity.
A serial killer is loose on the streets of Norfolk in Rae Scott’s new crime thriller ‘The Reaper.’ Photo: Amazon
Born in New England, Rae Scott spent her childhood hiking, fishing, and enjoying the outdoor life inherent to the area. This love of adventure led her to travel the world in a quest to discover new and exciting things, feeding her thirst for knowledge and creativity that she now draws on for her books. In between her travels, she can be found on her porch in Virginia with her family coming up with new ideas as to where their next adventure will take them. In her new book “The Reaper,” a serial killer is loose on the streets of Norfolk. (Rae Scott, 2022)
“The Reaper” – Fear not those who are innocent, for I shall cause you no harm. I seek out only those who have yet to pay for their sins. Fear me if you have no remorse, for I am the Reaper, and I will ensure that you reap what you have sewn. The serial killer known as The Reaper is loose on the streets of Norfolk. Its victims have two things in common: They have each hurt a child but served little to no time in jail for it and none of them regret their actions. Detective Mel Tanner is close to retirement when she is assigned to investigate a murder that leads her in a hunt for the serial killer known as The Reaper. As a seasoned homicide detective of fifteen years, she now finds herself jaded and unfeeling to the atrocities that she has had to witness every day.
When rookie Detective Nat Petrov lands her dream assignment, to work with the best Detective in Norfolk, she is thrown headfirst into The Reaper’s perverse sense of justice. The Detectives race against the clock as body after body turns up with the signature Grim Reaper tarot card, each life ended in a way specifically designed for the individual victim. Will the detectives be able to catch a twisted serial killer before time runs out or will The Reaper exact revenge in a way more personal than anyone could have ever fathomed?
Gabriella Balcom is the author of fantasy, horror/thriller, romance, sci-fi, and other stories. Her new book ‘Down With the Sickness and Other Chilling Tales’ will be out November 22, 2022. Photo: Gabriella Balcom
Gabriella Balcom lives in Texas with her family, works full-time in the mental health field, and has loved reading and writing her entire life. She writes fantasy, horror, sci-fi, romance, literary fiction, children’s stories, and more, and loves great stories, forests, mountains, and back roads. Gabriella has had 350 works accepted for publication, and won the right to have a novel published by Clarendon House Publications when one of her short stories was voted best in the anthology in which it appeared. Her book, “On the Wings of Ideas,” came out afterward. She was nominated for the Washington Science Fiction Association’s Small Press Award, and won second place in JayZoMon/Dark Myth Company’s 2020 Open Contract Challenge, a competition in which around one hundred authors competed for cash prizes and publishing contracts. Gabriella’s novelette, Worth Waiting For, was then released. She self-published a novelette, Free’s Tale: No Homeat Christmas-time, and Black Hare Press published her sci-fi novella, TheReturn, in 2021. Five other novellas pend publication. “Down With the Sickness and Other Chilling Tales” is her new collection of short stories. (Gabriella Balcom, 2022)
“Down With the Sickness and Other Chilling Tales” – Dive into these macabre horror stories, but be careful not to close your eyes. Evil lurks unseen. Supernatural beings keep watch and monsters lie in wait. Some plot vengeance, while others crave human flesh.
*Crystal idolizes rock stars and longs to be one. What would she be willing to do to make her dream come true? Lie, cheat, or steal? Would she go as far as to kill?
*Elaiyne envies Sonora’s golden skin, blonde hair, and slender body, and goes to extremes to try and be like the other girl. But Elaiyne is not the only one wanting to be someone else.
*A naga becomes karma personified when she confronts a parent.
*Bettie struggles to breathe after Rodney blows cigarette smoke in her face. He could not care less — and does worse. But The Watchers see everything, and they have something special in mind.
*Wahasi stalks through the swamp in cocodrie — crocodile — form, infuriated at her lack of food. However, she has a plan involving the sorcerer, Kula, and the townspeople better watch out.
*A true brat, Brad tries to hurt his sister and defies his parents, but he is not the only bully around.
*Abner is delighted to visit Aokigahara Forest, which is rumored to be haunted, but Sharyn is not.
*When a Siamese cat nears the home of a Chihuahua, the dog makes his displeasure known through piercing yaps. However, something startles him.
*Shane dares Angeline to spend the night in The Devil’s Hand, and if she succeeds, she will get to borrow his fancy Dodge Charger. The site is rumored to be haunted or cursed, but she knows that is hooey.
*Tricia is prideful about her looks, loves bullying, and makes a younger girl feel worthless. But she has a surprise visitor — Ria, also known as Justice.
*Life post-COVID has been anything but happy. Deaths skyrocketed. Nuclear bombs hit. Food dwindled. Cole, Vera, and Marianne survived, but they have little left to eat. Rovers are out and about, and must be avoided at all costs.
*Dean likes pushing people around. When he damages his grandfather, Charlie’s, Venus Fly Traps, Charlie is not the only one who is upset.
Gabriella Balcom’s book includes the above stories and more. Some of her works have been described as masterpieces in the horror genre. They will alternately horrify you, touch your heart, make you shiver, and have you on the edge of your seat.
Reader comments about some of her creations include: “… this is a thrilling ride …” “Best plot twist …” “… great job putting unique twists … highly recommended …” “Wow, just freaking wow!” “I was deeply disturbed … loved every minute …! Bravo!” “Heartbreaking and devastating.” “Holy shit … that was so creepy. I loved it!” “I want more, more, more, more, dang it!” “I got chills reading this story.” “Exciting and horrific.”
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‘The Public Relations Handbook” – fifth edition, edited by Robert L. Dilenschneider. Photo: Amazon
Robert L. Dilenschneider formed The Dilenschneider Group in October, 1991. Headquartered in New York and Chicago, the Firm provides strategic advice and counsel to Fortune 500 companies and leading families and individuals around the world, with experience in fields ranging from mergers and acquisitions and crisis communications to marketing, government affairs, and international media. Experienced in a number of communications disciplines, Mr. Dilenschneider is frequently called upon by the media to provide commentary and strategic public relations insights on major news stories. He has counseled major corporations, professional groups, trade associations and educational institutions, and has assisted clients in dealings with regulatory agencies, labor unions, and consumer groups, among others. He is the editor of “The Public Relations Handbook,” a comprehensive and invaluable guide for public relations practitioners in the 2020s and beyond. (Amazon, 2022)
“The Public Relations Handbook”– nineteen contributing authors navigate the subject of public relations. In this field, it is no longer enough to be able to write an attention grabbing press releases and to establish media contacts. Nowadays, you must also be able to navigate the digital world and be prepared to work with other professionals. The skills needed in today’s public relations include supporting a company’s marketing and sales, handling social media, managing government relations, effectively working with the media, communicating with the investment community, supporting top management during a crisis or scandal, and positively positioning the company’s commitment to environmental, social, and government issues. It is divided into seventeen chapters, including Engaging the Community: Public Relations Is All About People and Working with the Media: They Are NottheEnemy, but Care is Required. The first five revolve around public relations, what it is and how it works. The last six deal with how to navigate public relations in different places, like private families, higher education, and countries like China, Japan, and Canada. Each chapter ends with a ‘Takeaways’ section that summarizes the topics covered.
Public relations has always been an important part of all types of businesses because it facilitates relationships among business professionals. “The Public Relations Handbook” was first published in 1967 and this new fifth edition explains how to deal with a more complex and constantly changing digital world and addresses new challenges in the financial, economic, political, public health and societal sectors. Editor Robert L. Dilenschneider is a communications executive who brings together leading experts in the field to address the specific skill sets, strategies, and execution that public relations practitioners need today. The language is relatively easy to understand and the overall layout of the chapters makes the information clear and accessible to the general reader. Highlights include Chapter 11 Crisis Communications: Not If, but When because it discusses what to do in your organization when a crisis occurs including how to handle the backlash and Chapter 13 Going Forward with China: A Guide to Success because it goes into detail of specific scenarios, for example, at a formal meal in China, ‘it is considered very rude in Chinese culture to eat before the host starts.’ The target audience may be public relations professionals but everyone can benefit from it, especially the chapters dealing with how people outside the United States conduct professional and personal business. “The Public Relations Handbook” is a valuable resource guide for the public relations professional and is recommended for readers who appreciate learning about public relations and business management even if they are not in the business of public relations.
“Public relations professionals must be prepared to deal with a staggering variety of people, issues, and subjects. After all, ‘it takes a village’ – public relations, as we know from its very name, is not done in isolation. It is a collegial endeavor.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
‘Rocky Mountain Yoga,’ Book One in the Rocky Mountain Romances series, will be released in the United States on November 15, 2022. Photo: Google
Virginia Fox is an author, mother, horse trainer, and part-time healthy food cook. She is a woman who cares deeply about family, animals, the environment, and friendships. Creative from a young age, she turned her love of books into a prolific career as a writer. Her German-language Rocky Mountain series saw every volume enter the Top 50 of the Kindle charts on day one of launch. Now the bestselling Rocky Mountain Romances series breaks onto the US scene. Set in the Rocky Mountains with a cast of characters who feel like instant friends, Virginia captures the essence of a life most people only dream about in Rocky Mountain Romances. The genre-skipping series features elements of sweet romance, dabs of suspense, a little bit of mystery, and a whole lot of new friends – both human and of the furry variety. Set in an imaginary town nestled in the Rocky Mountains in the United States, a place based on a real community the author came to know as an exchange student, the books promise to transport readers to a cozy and adventurous setting. Book 1, “Rocky Mountain Yoga,” is set for a November 15, 2022 release. (Virginia Fox, 2022)
“I want my readers to escape to a place where they are welcome and feel like instant family—place where they aren’t judged and are free to be themselves. That’s what I experienced many years ago while visiting a small town in Colorado. My books are filled with messages of hope, love, and optimism, and I’m excited to release them in the United States and for other English language readers around the world.” – Virginia Fox
The Rocky Mountain series earned hundreds of 5-star reviews and bestselling status in the European market in its original German language. The English language release kicks off with “Rocky Mountain Yoga” followed by “Rocky Mountain Star” and “Rocky Mountain Dogs,” with releases continuing into 2023, 2024 and beyond. With 30 books in the series, various characters and intertwining storylines mean never-ending adventures for fans of light, heart-warming reading.
“Rocky Mountain Yoga,”Book 1 in the Rocky Mountain Romances series, introduces readers to Jasmine and her dog Rambo. This big city girl runs for her life with her standard poodle in tow after she discovers her boyfriend is involved in some shady business. She escapes to her grandma’s house in a small Colorado town. There, Jasmine discovers her vegetarian diet and yoga-loving lifestyle do not quite fit in. While the nosy, but rather hunky, sheriff keeps poking his nose into her past, Jasmine begins to feel at home in ways she never could have imagined.
“Rocky Mountain Yoga” by Virginia Fox is published by Dragonbooks Publishing House and is available on Amazon and other fine retailers and bookstores.
‘Café de Sophia’ is the literary fiction release by M.A. Alsadah. Photo: Amazon
M.A. Alsadah has a love for world-building, story-writing, and philosophy. He has published a high fantasy novel titled “The Seal: The Five Metal” in which he invented two languages. He also developed and published a story-focused game on Steam titled ‘Sky Realm: Essences.’ Alsadah enjoys reading non fiction books of all sort of topics, especially philosophical and sacred works of antiquity in which Hermes Trismegistus is his favorite author. When he is not reading, he is probably playing a video game of grandiose story, adventure, and imaginative world such as Nier Automat and the Legend of Dragoon. In his new book, “Café de Sophia,” sixteen-year old Nate is in search of purpose and direction in life and befriends others who share his love of philosophy. (M.A. Alsadah, 2022)
“Café de Sophia”– While in a café, sixteen-year-old Nate comes across a man who engages him in an intellectual conversation. Fascinated by the discussion, Nate befriends the man along with his other companions of philosophers in order to better understand his purpose and direction in life. Every encounter with the philosophers explores a different topic that shapes the stepping stones of Nate’s journey. This journey toward the beauty of speech, logic, and wisdom is told in the Socratic dialogue fashion through Nate’s perspective.
The ninth Poetry Showcase, featuring the best original dark poetry, will be released on November 7, 2022. Photo: Amazon
On November 7, 2022, Horror Writers Association (HWA) will be releasing its ninth annual Poetry Showcase, featuring the best original dark poetry from the past year. This year’s showcase includes poets such as Stephanie M. Wytovich, Geneve Glynn, Naomi Simone Borwein, and dozens of poems from the talented members of the Horror Writers Association. (Horror Writers Association, 2022)
Angela Yuriko Smith edited this year’s Poetry Showcase. Along with judges Lee Murray, Maxwell I. Gold, and Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito, Angela chose the 50 poems that make up the table of contents. Kyra Starr created the cover artwork and pays tribute to Peter Adam Salomon, the founder of both the HWA Showcase and National Dark Poetry Day.
“This year’s Poetry Showcase contains dark verse that would make poetry lovers everywhere proud.” – Angela Yuriko Smith
The poets featured in the 2022 Showcase are: Mary A. Turzillo, Christina Sng, Alessandro Manzetti, Victoria Nations, K. H. Vaughan, Cassondra Windwalker, Jacqueline West, Carina Bissett, Hillary Dodge, Lucy A. Snyder, Colleen Anderson, E. F. Schraeder, Sara Tantlinger, Ann K. Schwader, Corinne Hughes, Monica S. Kuebler, Janine Cross, Kathryn Ptacek, Holly Lyn Walrath, Gary Robbe, Marge Simon, Stephanie Ellis, R. Leigh Hennig, Austin Gragg, M. Lopes da Silva, Denise Dumars, Gordon Linzner, Saytchyn Maddux-Creech, Ross E. Lockhart, Teel James Glenn, Bruce Boston, John Claude Smith, Roni Stinger, Dan B. Fierce, Madison McSweeney, Steven Clapp, Rook Riley, Timothy P. Flynn, Dianthe West, Lori R. Lopez, Terrie Leigh Relf, Lisa Becker, Donna K. Fitch, Ai Jiang, J.E. Erickson, and Gerri Leen.
The Horror Writers Association is a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world. The HWA is dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it. This organization was founded in 1980, and currently has over 1,400 members across numerous countries, including Australia, Denmark, Costa Rica, India, and many more. It is the oldest, most professional organization for writers who have a deep appreciation for the horror genre.
‘Fonchito and The Moon’ by Mario Vargas Llosa. Photo: Amazon
Mario Vargas Llosa was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010 in recognition of his contribution as one of the most important voices in contemporary literature. Born in Arequipa, Peru, he received his doctorate in philosophy and letters in Madrid. His novels include “The Time of the Hero,” “The Feast of the Goat,” and “Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter.” “Fonchito and the Moon” is his first children’s book. It is illustrated by Marta Chicote Juiz.
“Fonchito and the Moon” – This is the story of Fonchito, who falls in love for the very first time and discovers that there is nothing one cannot do for a loved one, even if what they wish for is the moon. Fonchito is a little boy with his heart set on winning the affection of his classmate Nereida. She is beautiful, and all he hopes for is her permission to kiss her on the cheek. But she is shy and agrees under only one condition: that Fonchito bring the moon to her. Bring her the moon? What is Fonchito to do? In that moment his love inspires him to find a way to do the impossible.
One of life’s hardest lesson is finding a way to achieve your heart’s desire even when it seems impossible, especially for young children. This first children’s book by Mario Vargas Llosa, one of the world’s greatest writers, is an enchanting story about the magic in discovering how high you can reach for those you love, even if they ask for the moon. Fonchito has a crush on Nereida, a fellow classmate. All he wants is permission to kiss her on the cheek and he searches high and low for a way to grant her wish. “Fonchito and the Moon” is an inspirational story for children, focusing on finding a way to achieve the impossible and the merits of not giving up. The illustrations by Maria Chicote Juiz are bright and colorful and brilliantly bring the story to life. It is recommended for children ages 6-8 years old in grades in kindergarten through fifth.
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
SA Examiner 