Tag: book releases

How to Thrive in the Corporate Environment: A Roadmap to Peak Performance

‘The Success Guide’ is the new book by Edward Bjustrom on building a trust-based workplace culture. Photo: Amazon

Leading with Purpose: A Roadmap to Corporate Excellence

Success in business is not just about what you achieve; it’s about how you lead. In today’s fast-paced, highly regulated corporate world, the bridge between a good leader and a great one is often built on trust, emotional intelligence, and operational clarity. Today’s book spotlight features a guide designed to help you navigate those exact complexities.

Book Spotlight

The Success Guide: How to Thrive in the Corporate Environment A Focused Roadmap for Achieving Peak Performance, Leadership Excellence, and Building a Trust-Based Culture by Edward Bjurstrom

Overview

Drawing on over forty years of experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, Edward Bjurstrom provides proven, actionable strategies that apply across any high-stakes business environment. (Amazon, 2026)

Whether you’re stepping into your first leadership role or guiding a large organization through massive growth, this book equips you to lead with clarity, integrity, and influence.

What You’ll Discover Inside:

  • Leadership Presence: Cultivate emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
  • High-Performing Teams: Learn to build a foundation of trust and accountability.
  • Navigating Complexity: Manage regulatory and operational hurdles without compromising results.
  • Strategic Alignment: Sync your vision, mission, and culture for sustained success.

Perfect for readers of Dare to Lead by Brené Brown, Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek, and Atomic Habits by James Clear.

About the Author: Edward Bjurstrom

Edward Bjurstrom brings over 40 years of biopharmaceutical leadership to his writing, coaching, and consulting. His career has been dedicated to operational excellence in producing life-saving medicines.

  • The Amgen Years: A chemical engineer by trade, Edward spent 18 years helping Amgen grow from a promising startup into a global pharmaceutical leader.
  • The Gilead Chapter: Following a successful stint as a consultant for small biotech firms, he took on a senior leadership role at Gilead Sciences, overseeing Southern California manufacturing operations.
  • A New Legacy: After retiring in 2023, he launched a consultancy dedicated to supporting leaders in highly regulated industries, where the weight of compliance often amplifies the pressures of leadership.

Take Control of Your Career

Don’t just manage, lead. It’s time to create a legacy built on trust, performance, and purpose.

Are you ready to elevate your leadership? Grab your copy of The Success Guide today and start transforming your organization.

The Future Is Now: ‘Ashes of the Republic’ by James Chesterton

‘Ashes of the Republic’ is the forthcoming new speculative thriller by James Chesterton. Photo: Amazon

New Book Spotlight: Ashes of the Republic

A Dark Speculative Thriller by James Chesterton

In James Chesterton’s dark and thrilling futuristic satire, Ashes of the Republic, the year is 2046 and Christian Nationalism has fully consolidated power. Evidence of liberalism is subject to punishment, women’s bodies are governed by data, medical professionals have been replaced with AI, and the blueprint for authoritarian rule is no longer theoretical, it’s fully operational. It will be released on April 28 and is available for pre-order. (Meryl Moss Media, 2026)

The Plot: A Fragile Invisibility Shattered

At the center of the story is Lily Osbourne, a gifted technologist who once helped build the very systems that now govern daily life. After crossing her employer, Dennison Robotics CEO Iwanna Dennison, Lily is cast out of power and retreats into quiet anonymity.

That fragile invisibility shatters during a routine airport screening when a TSA agent informs her that she is pregnant, a state strictly controlled by the government.

In the Republic, all unregistered pregnancies are flagged. The fetus is issued a Social Security number immediately. The state is notified, and the body is no longer one’s own.

Lily and her boyfriend, Jeff Maslow, a former professor once arrested for the “crime” of reading Walt Whitman, must find a way to survive. Meanwhile, Iwanna Dennison claws her way to the highest reaches of power, driven by a psychotic and relentless ambition.

Where Fiction Meets Reality

Deeply rooted in current events, Ashes of the Republic draws from real-world debates surrounding:

  • Reproductive surveillance and the erosion of privacy.
  • The fusion of religion and state power.
  • The role of AI and data in modern governance.

Policies and ideas that felt speculative during the novel’s early drafts have since emerged as real-world court rulings, legislative proposals, and political platforms. This isn’t distant dystopia; it is a “near-now” reality where the mechanisms of control already exist, waiting only for the removal of institutional limits.

Key Themes of the Republic

  • Theocratic Surveillance: The United States has transitioned into a state governed by religious authority and high-tech monitoring.
  • Performative Democracy: Elections still happen, but they no longer carry the weight of choice.
  • Criminalized Dissent: Opposing the status quo is a high-stakes legal risk.
  • Bureaucratized Freedom: Personal liberty is slowly being filed away by administrative systems and unchallenged executive power.

This isn’t your parents’ sci-fi. The tone is controlled, unsentimental, and wickedly funny, a fast-paced thrill ride full of twists and turns.

Ashes of the Republic is the first installment in the Ascent of Dennison series. These gripping political thrillers ask a terrifying question: What happens when legal, cultural, and moral guardrails are deliberately dismantled by leaders who believe themselves divinely justified and technologically unaccountable?

About the Author: James Chesterton

James Chesterton is the author of Ashes of the Republic and Holding Patterns, a financial crime thriller inspired by his 30 years in the banking industry.

A graduate of Hunter College, he began his career teaching high school English before earning an MBA from the University of Connecticut and transitioning into corporate banking. Chesterton’s work confronts the real-world consequences of power exercised at the highest levels.

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Love and Loss in Wartime – Mario Fortunato’s ‘The Innocent Days of War’

‘The Innocent Days of War’ is a haunting portrait of WWII lives. Photo: Other Press

Book Spotlight: The Innocent Days of War by Mario Fortunato

Fans of John Boyne and Simon Mawer will find much to admire in Mario Fortunato’s latest novel, The Innocent Days of War (On Sale: October 28, 2025). This gripping coming-of-age story unfolds against the sweeping backdrop of World War II, tracing how love, ambition, and destiny intertwine as Italy and England are forever changed by the war. (Other Press, 2025)

A Story of Youth, War, and Intersecting Lives

Set in central Italy on the eve of World War II, the novel introduces a group of young Italians whose lives are about to be upended by history. Among them is Stefano Portelli, a hopeful young lawyer filled with idealism and in love with Eleonora. His sister-in-law Nina hides a secret relationship with Sergio, a partisan leader fighting for his cause.

Meanwhile, across the Channel, the story follows Alastair Ormiston, an English Royal Air Force pilot who finds solace in the works of Virginia Woolf as he dreams of an ideal companion. His best friend, Edna, seeks her own sense of purpose and joy amid the devastation of Nazi bombings in London.

When these characters’ paths intersect, the result is both tragic and transformative—a convergence of love, loss, and fate that consumes everything in its wake, blending joy and pain into a single, unforgettable tapestry.

About the Author

Mario Fortunato was born in Cirò, Calabria, Italy. A longtime literary critic for L’Espresso, he continues to write for Süddeutsche Zeitung and has contributed to The Guardian and Le Monde. Fortunato is a former director of the Antonio Ratti Foundation and the author of several novels, including South (Other Press, 2023). He has also translated the works of literary greats such as Evelyn Waugh, Virginia Woolf, and Henry James into Italian.

About the Translator

Julia MacGibbon has translated fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including Sunken City by Marta Barone. She lives near Rome.

Praise for Mario Fortunato:

“As I read Fortunato’s writing, I have the impression of being faced with that kind of writer, rare in Italian literature, who, despite starting from a poetic state of mind, nevertheless manages to be a storyteller.”
—Alberto Moravia

“Mario Fortunato is a natural storyteller.”
—Doris Lessing

Truth, Lies, and the Deep Blue Hour: A Gripping Psychological Thriller by Peter Stamm

‘In a Deep Blue Hour: A Novel’ is the new novel by Peter Stamm. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Psychological thrillers are some of my favorite books. They go into the inner workings of characters’ minds, exploring their thoughts, emotions, and motivations. This genre often blurs the line between reality and perception, creating complex, unpredictable narratives that challenge readers’ understanding of truth. The appeal lies in the deep emotional engagement it fosters, inviting readers to confront their own psychological experiences and question the nature of identity, memory, and consciousness. By emphasizing internal conflict, psychological thrillers offer a more intimate, introspective experience compared to traditional plot-driven stories. This immersive exploration of the human psyche resonates with readers seeking to understand themselves and the complexities of human behavior.

From Other Press, the latest addition to acclaimed Swiss author Peter Stamm’s impressive body of work, “In a Deep Blue Hour: A Novel” will be released on March 18, 2025. It is available for pre-order. (Other Press, 2024)

“In a Deep Blue Hour: A Novel” – A documentary filmmaker uncovers the secrets of an enigmatic author in this subtly enthralling novel from “one of Europe’s most exciting writers” – (New York Times Book Review).

For days, documentary filmmaker Andrea and her team have been waiting for Richard Wechsler in his Swiss hometown. During their first shoots in Paris, the famous writer had not wanted to reveal much about himself, and now the whole film threatens to fail.

In the narrow streets and alleys of the village, Andrea searches for traces of Wechsler’s life, contrary to their agreement. But it is not until she starts reading his books again that she discovers a clue to a childhood sweetheart who might still be living there. An old love who influenced his whole life, but whom no one ever knew about.

Written with Stamm’s trademark subtlety and devastating precision, “In a Deep Blue Hour: A Novel” is a captivating work of psychological fiction perfect for lovers of Jon Fosse’s “Septology,” Jenny Erpenbeck’s “Kairos,” and Stamm’s previous work. In this elusive novel, Stamm explores the meeting point between reality and fiction. I hope to stay in touch with you about possibilities for it.

Peter Stamm is the author of the novels “The Archive of Feelings,” “The Sweet Indifference of the World,” “To the Back of Beyond,” “All Days Are Night,” “Seven Years,” “On a Day Like This,” “Unformed Landscape,” and “Agnes,” and the short-story collections “It’s Getting Dark,” “We’re Flying,” and “In Strange Gardens and Other Stories.” His award-winning books have been translated into more than forty languages. For his entire body of work and his accomplishments in fiction, he was short-listed for the Man Booker International Prize in 2013, and in 2014 he won the prestigious Friedrich Hölderlin Prize. He lives in Switzerland.

About the Translator: Michael Hofmann has translated the work of Gottfried Benn, Hans Fallada, Franz Kafka, Joseph Roth, and many others. In 2012 he was awarded the Thornton Wilder Prize for Translation by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His “One Lark, One Horse: Poems” was published in 2019, “Where Have You Been? Selected Essays” in 2014, and “Selected Poems” in 2009. He lives in Florida and London.

“In a Deep Blue Hour: A Novel” by Peter Stamm • Translated by Michael Hofmann
Other Press Trade Paperback Original
On-Sale Date: March 18, 2025 • Price: $17.99

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Forthcoming new book release: ‘Finding My Rainbow’ by Josh Coleman

‘Finding My Rainbow’ will be released June 12, 2024. Photo: Amazon

An exciting milestone in the world of literature and LGBTQ+ advocacy comes with the announcement that “Finding My Rainbow: A Journey of Courage, Acceptance, and Pride,” the highly anticipated children’s book by Josh Coleman, is now available for pre-order. (Iron City Communications, 2024)

Josh Coleman is a distinguished advocate for social justice and LGBTQ+ rights, serving as the Deputy Director of the Division of Social Justice and Racial Equity in Birmingham’s Mayor’s Office. His pioneering role as the city’s first LGBTQ+ Liaison and leadership in Central Alabama Pride highlight his commitment to inclusivity. His academic pursuits in political science and public administration further underscore his dedication to public service and community engagement. His new book, “Finding My Rainbow: A Journey of Courage, Acceptance, and Pride” is a story of finding oneself, fighting for acceptance, and the power of love. It will be released on June 12, 2024. (Iron City Communications, 2024)

In “Finding My Rainbow,” readers are invited into the world of Josh, a young boy from Alabama, navigating the challenges of growing up gay in a community not fully prepared for his truth. This story of self-discovery, bravery, and the quest for acceptance is poised to become a beacon of hope and understanding for children and adults alike.

It’s a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the beauty of being true to oneself. This book is not just for those who identify with Josh’s journey but for anyone who believes in the transformative power of love and acceptance. Join Josh on his colorful journey, and be inspired to find and spread your own light.

Through Josh’s eyes, readers are invited into a deeply personal narrative that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the power of unconditional love. “Finding My Rainbow” is not just Josh’s story-it’s a call to action for understanding, empathy, and support for LGBTQ+ youth navigating their own paths to acceptance. This book aims to inspire readers of all ages with its message of hope, reminding us that we all deserve to live our truth and find our rainbow. Suitable for readers aged 8 to 13, this story touches hearts and minds, encouraging a more inclusive and accepting world. (Amazon, 2024)

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New book release: ‘Good Night, Irene’ by Luis Alberto Urrea

‘Good Night, Irene’ is the new novel by Luis Alberto Urrea. Photo: Amazon

Luis Alberto Urrea, a 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist for nonfiction and member of the Latino Literature Hall of Fame, is a prolific and acclaimed writer who uses his dual-culture life experiences to explore greater themes of love, loss, and triumph. Winner of a Lannan Literary Award and Christopher Award, he is also the recipient of an American Book Award, the Kiriyama Prize, the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Literary Award, a Western States Book Award, a Colorado Book Award, an Edgar Award, and a citation of excellence from the American Library Association. A professor of creative writing at the University of Illinois – Chicago, he is a member of the Latino Literary Hall of Fame and has won numerous awards for his poetry, fiction, and essays. His new book “Good Night, Irene” asks the question: what if a friendship forged on the front lines of war defines a life forever?” It is an epic based on the magnificent and true story of courageous Red Cross women. (Amazon, 2023)

“Good Night, Irene” – In 1943, Irene Woodward abandons an abusive fiancé in New York to enlist with the Red Cross and head to Europe. She makes fast friends in training with Dorothy Dunford, a towering Midwesterner with a ferocious wit. Together they are part of an elite group of women, nicknamed Donut Dollies, who command military vehicles called Clubmobiles at the front line, providing camaraderie and a taste of home that may be the only solace before troops head into battle.

After D-Day, these two intrepid friends join the Allied soldiers streaming into France. Their time in Europe will see them embroiled in danger, from the Battle of the Bulge to the liberation of Buchenwald. Through her friendship with Dorothy and a love affair with a courageous American fighter pilot named Hans, Irene learns to trust again. Her most fervent hope, which becomes more precarious by the day, is for all three of them to survive the war intact. Taking as inspiration his mother’s own Red Cross service, Luis Alberto Urrea has delivered an overlooked story of women’s heroism in World War II.

New children’s book release: ‘Felix and Eagle Imagine’ by Willie Thomas

‘Felix and Eagle Imagine’ is the new children’s book out by Willie Thomas. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Willie Thomas is an American author born in Birmingham, AL and currently resides in North Carolina. Storytelling and writing books have always been his passion and goal. By the time he reaches the century mark, he would like to have well over a hundred different books out, each with its own unique voice and tale. “Felix and Eagle Imagine” and “Rodowell Sky: Miracles Come to Life” are the first of these books. Follow Willie Thomas on his journey as he makes what he has imagined come to life. (Willie Thomas, 2023)

“Felix and Eagle Imagine”

His goal is not to be a knight. His goal is not to fly a kite. In his bones Felix feels he just might become a great superhero on this night.

Felix is a young boy seeking to become a great superhero. Eagle, his cat, wishes for the ability of flight. After drifting off to sleep, they embark on a shared dream where they Imagine wondrous things only found in ones imagination.

Author Willie Thomas. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

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Upcoming new book release: ‘Later’ by Stephen King

‘Later’ is Stephen King’s new book, set for release on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Photo: amazon

Stephen King is the author of dozens of bestselling books including “The Shining,” “The Stand,” and “The Green Mile.” Film adaptations of his work include “Misery” and “Stand By Me”. In 2003, King received the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and in 2007 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. This month he is back with a brand new novel about the secrets we keep buried and the cost of unearthing them. “Later” is set for release on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (amazon, 2021)

In “Later,” the son of a struggling single mother, Jamie Conklin just wants an ordinary childhood. But Jamie is no ordinary child. Born with an unnatural ability his mom urges him to keep secret, Jamie can see what no one else can see and learn what no one else can learn. But the cost of using this ability is higher than Jamie can imagine – as he discovers when an NYPD detective draws him into the pursuit of a killer who has threatened to strike from beyond the grave. “Later” is Stephen King at his finest, a terrifying and touching story of innocence lost and the trials that test our sense of right and wrong. With echoes of King’s classic novel “It,” “Later” is a powerful, haunting, unforgettable exploration of what it takes to stand up to evil in all the faces it wears.

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Upcoming release: ‘The Retirement Mirage’ by Nancy Hite

‘The Retirement Mirage’ by Nancy Hite will be out February 16, 2021. Photo: amazon

Nancy Hite is a certified financial planner, trustee, and author. She is also founder of The Strategic Wealth Advisor ® LLC, located in Boca Raton, Florida. She offers financial advice and workable options to help her clients prepare for and enjoy the current and future chapters of their lives by focusing on their personal goals. In her upcoming book, “The Retirement Mirage: Time to Think Differently,” which will be released on February 16, 2021, she reveals what experts do not tell people about their financial planning. It is available for pre-order on Amazon. (Black Château, 2021)

“The Retirement Mirage: Time to Think Differently” combines Nancy’s years of financial experience with real-life examples to help readers assess their financial situation and give them the tools to plan for the realities of their financial future. Because people are living longer, technology is advancing quickly, and the world is changing due to climate change, COVID-19, and other factors, ideas about retirement savings are becoming antiquated. The book is an optimistic and practical look at the future and how people can prepare.

Driven by her fiduciary duty towards her clients and a desire to help others, Nancy Hite gives actionable advice in her book. She explores education and how children should have a strong financial foundation. She delves into unsteady markets and how they can impact investments. Plus, readers will discover why her mott: Spend it now, spend it later, or spend it never® makes sense today more than ever.

“So many people are still buying into the retirement mirage, the idea that once they stop working, they will have a perfect life. I’m here to show them that the world is changing, and they need to shatter those old ideas in order to adapt. There is so much hope and opportunity if we are willing to think differently, and that’s what people will find in my book.” – Nancy Hite

Upcoming release: ‘The Commander’ by Kevin Groh

The US version of ‘The Commander’ by Kevin Groh releases on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. Photo: amazon

Kevin Groh is an author born and raised in Hesse, Germany who has been imagining stories and other worlds since early childhood. He visited the United States often and fell in love with the openness of Americans and the non-judgmental environment that accepted him for who he was — a gamer and a nerd. Passionate about the English language, Kevin mastered it by reading, watching movies, playing video games, and traveling. He holds a bachelor’s degree as an industrial engineer with a focus on electrical engineering but by his early 20s, became a sensation in the German sci-fi market with his highly imaginative stories. His Omni Legends book series includes the best-selling subseries, “The Commander,” “The Black Wanderer,” and “The Shadow Guard.” Kevin was an Amazon Kindle Select All-Star in sales every month from August to December in 2019. The young author is now ready to entertain a US readership looking for its next page-turner as the first book in the series, “The Commander” is releasing in the United States on January 5, 2021.  It is young adult fiction for young men and sci-fi lovers filled with adventure, suspense, and action and now available for pre-order on Amazon. (Black Château, 2020)

“The Commander – Guardian of Utopia” is the first book in the US version of the epic New Adult military sci-fi fantasy Omni Legends series. Welcome to Utopia-humanity’s second home for over two centuries. It is a world controlled by the military and corporations, waging war with advanced alien races, but 18-year-old Carter Sanders is about to change the rules of the game. Freshly recruited into boot camp, he needs all his brains and ability to survive skirmishes and develop allies among his fellow-recruits who resent his privilege. Training exercises in weaponry, close-quarter combat, strategy and tactics, and missions test his bravery, while female recruits test his moral fiber in close situations. When bionic upgrades for soldiers become mandatory, Carter feels he needs to take a stand. Can he and his mismatched fellow-recruits get their message about preserving morale through to the top brass? Will they survive sadistic drill sergeant Banes before they are sent off to battle giant, scaled Lorgans on unknown worlds?