‘The City Mouse and The Country Mouse’ is the new children’s book by Henna Morgan. Photo: Henna Morgan, used with permission.
If you are looking for a new children’s book that teaches important life lessons, this one is the perfect choice. Today’s new children’s book release is part of the Fables & Parables: Lessons for Life series by Henna Morgan that is meant to teach children the importance of honesty, kindness, and the power of believing in yourself. The series is made up of fables that are perfect for bedtime or for sharing during moments of learning. “The City Mouse and the Country Mouse: A Lesson in Contentment, Fables & Parables: Vol. 5” is available on Amazon. It will be free for Kindleonly on Sunday,September 24, 2023 and Sunday, October 1, 2023. (Henna Morgan, 2023)
“The City Mouse and the Country Mouse” is a powerful children’s lesson about the moral of contentment. The perfect short story for any child who needs to learn to be happy with what he has, which is probable every child today. With its enduring message, this quazi-rhyming fable reminds us that being content with what we have is the key to unlocking a fulfilling life. Discover a story that echoes through time, inspiring all ages to find richness in the present moment and to embrace the treasures that lie within each individual’s reach.
Join two curious mice, each living in contrasting worlds, one amid the glitz of the city and the other the tranquility of the countryside. When the country mouse hears of all the comforts of the city, he starts believing that the grass is truly greener. Upon entering the city his eyes open wide to the beauty and grandeur of his new surroundings, not yet sensing the flaws of his new location. He soon learns that true happiness flourishes not in chasing dreams, but in savoring what he has and enjoying life’s simple pleasures.
‘Broken-Into-Pieces’ is the new book by L.W. Manley about working in the Department of Education under Betsy DeVos. Photo: L.W. Manley, used with permission.
Ever wonder what it was like working in the Department of Education under Betsy DeVos during the Trump administration? Was the environment as toxic as it seemed to outsiders? L.W. Manley’s upcoming new book “Broken-Into-Pieces” chronicles her experience working in the Department of Education during these years and offers advice on how to survive similar workplaces when even your superiors turn against you and all seems lost. Read all about it on “Broken-Into-Pieces” when it releases on October 29, 2023; it is available for pre-order on Amazon now.
L.W. Manley resides in Chicago with her husband, daughter, and cat named Star. She has been a federal employee for the past 36 years and worked with the Department of Education for 20 years. She has a business degree and is a union advocate for employees in the workplace. Her work experience has given her extensive knowledge on defaulted student loan debt, financial hardships, administrative wage garnishments, and refunds. When she is not writing or working with unions, she enjoys spending time with family. Her new book “Broken-Into-Pieces: A Memoir of a Former Federal Employee/at the U.S. Department of Education/Federal Student aid/In the Age of Trump/DeVos” gives an insider’s perspective of a toxic workplace within the federal government and how to find humanity, and hope when your superiors turn against you. (L.W. Manley, 2023)
“Broken-Into-Pieces”– First, they got rid of the unions. Then they began phasing out experienced minority employees, and replacing them with loyalists. Then they came after her. It sounds like a dystopian novel, but it is not. This is what happened in the Department of Education under Betsy DeVos in the Trump administration. She had been a federal employee for over thirty-six years, twenty of them at the Department of Education. This is her story of survival.
‘Love Is Not A Crime’ is the new novel by Lee Cushing. Photo: Google.
Contemporary romance novels have many sub-genres and those with LGBT characters are more common nowadays. Today’s new release is a combination contemporary romance and political fiction. “Love Is Not A Crime” by Lee Cushing is about a woman who has an affair with the daughter of the Malaysian king who is executed when the affair is discovered so now she requires a bodyguard to protect her. Politics come into play because her parents are major players in the political world. This sounds like an interesting concept considering that in some parts of the world, same sex relationships are still considered a crime. If this sounds like your type of read, check out “Love Is Not A Crime,” it is available on Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribd, and Smashwords.
Lee Cushing is a paranormal thriller author and a lifelong fan of the occult. Having become obsessed with supernatural folklore and the world of horror from an early age, Lee has spent years studying tales of the occult and immersing himself in stories of otherworldly phenomenon. He is also the owner of a number of vampire and horror-related groups in Facebook, where fellow fans of the supernatural come together to celebrate and discuss all things paranormal. His debut novel, “Voodoo Mambo,” blends high-stakes action and shadowy agencies with a dark underworld of demonic creatures and their insidious plots to attack humanity. Lee draws his inspiration from classic horror movies – including Hammer and Universal – as well as beloved TV shows including Doctor Who, Supernatural, The Avengers, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. In his new novel “Love Is Not A Crime,” Bellatrix Hale’s life is in danger after she has a one night stand with the King’s daughter, who was executed for it, and ends up falling for the female bodyguard who was hired to protect her. (Lee Cushing, 2023)
“Love Is Not A Crime” – When Bellatrix Hale watched the video of Latheefa Ayub being executed simply because she slept with her, she felt disgusted that the King had his own daughter executed because she was gay and had a one night stand with Bellatrix, an act which was forbidden in Malaysia and punishable by death. Worried about the King’s reaction to having executed his own child, Bellatrix’s mother hires a security detail to protect her when the King sends a hit team to kill her for sleeping with his daughter. Cara Jordan was a bodyguard, one of the best in the business. Bellatrix hired her to keep her safe from the King’s assassins. The attraction between the two women was immediate. Will Cara keep Bellatrix safe from those who want her dead and will the two women find happiness in each other’s embrace?
The Crown of Tannenley is the new short story by Liza Clarke. Photo: Amazon
Science fiction and fantasy works of literature are fascinating because they transport the reader to make believe worlds, kingdoms, and faraway planets. When I want to escape from the ‘real world,’ I pick up the latest epic novel and get lost in its pages for days. If you like stories similar to The Chronicles of Narnia, A Game of Thrones, and Lord of the Rings, today’s new release, The Crown of Tannenley by Liza Clarke, just might be your next read. It involves kings, queens, invading armies, kingdoms, and all the interesting elements that make fantasy books so exciting.
Liza Clarke lives in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, loves to travel, and has always enjoyed a good book. She has two cats who like to help her write, though their level of helpfulness is questionable. She has always loved reading fantasy and sci-fi and now she gets to write about it. She has a BA and MA in history and hopes to incorporate them more in her writing. In her new short story The Crown of Tannenley, the future of the kingdom is at stake as a young new king takes over. It is available on Amazon and other book retailers. More on the author here. (Liza Clarke, 2023)
The Crown of Tannenley – The young Queen did her best to defend her people and kingdom – she failed. With her death, the crown fell to her young cousin who she had sent with the refugees. Nickolas was never meant to be King, never wanted the throne, but now he was the only one of the family left. Could he rally not only his people but the Mages’ College to drive the invaders back? Clashing with King Edric was not part of the plan but he had no choice, he had to do what was right for his people, even those from other kingdoms who had been forced to flee. Would the line of Tannenbay end with him or would he win the war?
“Living With Depression: Navigating Mood Disorders as a Family: Mental Health: A Journey of Courage and Resilience” is the new book by Damian D. Lewis. Photo: Amazon
The subject of mental health, especially mood disorders like depression and anxiety, touches almost everyone at one time or another. Either we know someone who needs help, or we ourselves need help. It includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being and can be influenced by genetics, our environment, and the sum of our life experiences. According to Damian D. Lewis, author of the new book “Living With Depression: Navigating Mood Disorders as a Family: Mental Health: A Journey of Courage and Resilience,” “good mental health is not merely the absence of mental illness, but also about developing positive qualities like resilience, self-esteem, and a sense of purpose.” This book is not just for the person struggling with mood disorders, but for anyone who cares enough to seek guidance. It is available on Amazon.
“Living With Depression: Navigating Mood Disorders as a Family: Mental Health: A Journey of Courage and Resilience” – Within this book lies a powerful and heartfelt guide to conquering the challenges of depression and mental health disorders with the unwavering support of loved ones. It explores the often-overlooked impact that mood disorders can have on relationships and family, while providing practical strategies for finding hope and healing even in the toughest of times.
With compassion and insight, this book warmly welcomes you to a community of survivors, where you will find the courage to face your struggles and reclaim the joy that has been waiting for you on the other side of depression and related mental health disorders. Whether it is your mental health disorder or that of a loved one, this book offers the inspiration and support you need to move forward with strength and resilience.
Above all, remember this: you are never alone. Take comfort in knowing that help is always available, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how daunting the struggle may seem. Embrace the promise that your story, your strength, and your potential for growth are waiting for you, and let this book be your guide.
Meet Damian Lewis, your friendlyneighborhood storyteller:
“Hey there, I’m Damian, and I’m a firm believer that stories have a magical power. They can whisk you away to fantastical realms, make you ponder life’s big questions, or simply give you a good chuckle—all in the time it takes to finish your morning coffee.
But there’s more to my tales than meets the eye. I’m on a mission to unravel the fascinating tapestry of the human mind, one story at a time. You see, I’ve always been intrigued by the way our emotions dance to the rhythm of our thoughts.
In my writing, I dive deep into the oceans of mental health, exploring the enigmatic currents of anxiety, depression, and resilience. It’s a journey I’m deeply passionate about, and I’ve found that stories are the perfect vessel to explore these uncharted waters.
As I always say, ‘The future is now.’ When you crack open one of my stories, you’re not just reading words on a page; you’re embarking on a voyage through the intricate landscapes of the human psyche. Whether it’s an offbeat comedy, a heartwarming tale of connection, or a spine-tingling thriller, my stories are designed to resonate with the human experience.
And hey, I’m not all about the serious stuff. I love to sprinkle a bit of humor into my narratives because life’s too short not to share a good laugh.
So, come along on this adventure with me. Let’s explore the extraordinary in the ordinary, find joy in the little moments, and dive headfirst into the incredible complexity of our minds—one story at a time. After all, the best tales are the ones we create together.” #DamianLewisStories
‘Pandemia: Wading Through The Pandemic’ is the new book by Serene T. Marshall. Photo: Amazon
Serene T. Marshall was born on the island of Grenada, where she spent her formative years, and now lives on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She has earned degrees in literature from Colgate University and the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Serene’s articles have appeared in the Boston Globe and the Charlotte Observer. Critical social issues facing the nation sprinkled with thrilling island folklore are craftily interwoven in her debut novel “Pandemia: Wading Through The Pandemic” – an account of one community’s experiences during the pandemic. It is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and other online retailers.
“Pandemia: Wading Through The Pandemic” – At the beginning of the pandemic, Mel and a group of ladies are determined to tackle the critical social issues of the day. Tania must accept abrupt uncertainty and allow herself to wrestle with the viral infection thrown in her direction. The story begins with Uncle B and others gathering to watch the evening news on television that is updating the public on the number of COVID cases, testing mandates, and flight information. As the ladies gather at the local Caribbean restaurant, they worry about how immigrants will be treated due to all the mandates and lock downs going on, as they share family stories about how life was like for them years ago. All the while, citizens take to the streets in protest of the current social and racial injustices facing the nation. Meanwhile, in a rural hideout, a militia group plots a revolt against state and national leadership, unable to come to terms with a rapidly changing society. As the virus takes its global toll, a retired Mr. B takes the news in stride, while germaphobe Luanne flees the city in an attempt to protect her sanity and young family from the stark realities of the time. The book is divided into 34 Chapters with an Epilogue that updates what everyone has been up to since those times and the addition of programs to help the community, like the ‘Lifelines for Seniors’ project that helps with transportation and errands.
The growing pandemic woes, travel restrictions, mounting death tolls, and overall uncertainty and worry we felt at the beginning of the pandemic may seem distant now, but the author does an excellent job of reminding us of how it affected others and how universal the human condition is as it relates to pandemics. “Pandemia: Wading Through The Pandemic” describes one woman’s family and community experiences during those troubling times. It is narrated in the first person point of view for optimum effect and the story is heavily dialogue driven. In spite of the heaviness of the subject, it also contains humor to lighten the moments: “’Mask, what masks? It’s not carnival time yet,’ Uncle B chuckled, conversing with the screen.” With relatable characters and language that is easy to understand, we get an insight into what was happening in other communities aside from the national headlines. The author mentions the social issues of the time like shootings of black people and healthcare worker burnout, and oxygen shortages and how they affected neighbors and friends. Highlights include Chapter 27 during Christmas time when people were visiting Santa and Christmas shopping, while a few blocks down, there were food lines and people were dealing with food insecurities and Chapter 34 when the community came together and held a memorial service for several people as well as a fundraiser. While we may not want to revisit all this today, future generations might. Overall, “Pandemia: Wading Through The Pandemic” is a reminder that we are all connected as humans and are capable of coming together when times get tough, regardless of our differences. It is a must-read and recommended for fans of novels based on real events as it pertains to pandemics, sociology, and human relations.
“In due time, persons and countries who choose to dictate whose life is dear and who is not, those who demean, discard, and dispose of life at will, shall have a seismic reckoning.”
*The author was contacted for an honest review of this book. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
‘Lilly The Unicorn: Moves To Town’ is the new children’s book by Michelle Matos that teaches children a valuable life lesson. Photo: Michelle Matos, used with permission.
Aside from being entertaining, children’s books can also teach them life lessons, especially about important subjects such as bullying and accepting yourself. Such is the case in today’s new children’s book release “Lilly The Unicorn: Moves To Town” by Michelle Matos. Being new in town, Lilly can not wait to go to school so she can make new friends, but the experience does not turn out like she imagined. This book teaches children the importance of accepting people just the way the are. Pick up a copy for your little one – it is available on Amazon.
Michelle Matos has always had a passion for art, which led her to earn a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts from Kutztown University. Her love for art started at a young age with reading books. Her mother, who has a love for reading, worked as a librarian. The library was where Michelle would spend much of her time. Remembering how much of an impact books made on her as a child, Michelle was inspired to create heartwarming stories to help children with issues they may face growing up and illustrating them with the beautiful, vibrant colors that captivated her as a child. Her new children’s book is “Lilly The Unicorn: Moves To Town” teaches children that everyone is unique and special in their own way, just like a unicorn. (Amazon, 2023)
“Lilly The Unicorn: Moves To Town”– In this heartwarming story, Lilly, a young unicorn, moves to a new town and can’t wait to start the school year so she can make friends for the first time. But, Lilly quickly discovers that her new classmates would rather make fun of her horn than actually be her friend. It is not until her teacher, Ms. Owl, who sees how cruelly she is being bullied, intervenes by giving the class a unique assignment that Lilly’s classmates suddenly see Lilly in a blinding new light.
“Embodied Imaginations: Fictional Characters Making Experiential Crossings into Real Life: An Unusual Phenomenon” is the new book by Chidambaram Ramesh that looks into the captivating world where characters seem to acquire lives of their own. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Here is an interesting concept: can characters in novels and literature be so well written that they eventually take a life of their own? When writers create a character, they invest so much energy into his/her appearance and personality that sometimes they become the character and attempt to engage with him/her as a real person to the point of describing such interactions as a form of ‘possession.’ This is the subject of the new book by Chidambaram Ramesh titled “Embodied Imaginations: Fictional Characters Making Experiential Crossings into Real Life: An Unusual Phenomenon” in which he attempts to combine modern science with spiritual, mystical, and philosophical theories to create interest in more studies about “how our minds create the world around us.” Curious to find out more about this? Pick up your copy today on Amazon.
Chidambaram Ramesh is a graduate of Madurai Kamaraj University in India with a degree in engineering. He is a freelance researcher and writer striving to rediscover and re-establish several lost, scientifically significant concepts from the past by incorporating these into modern science. He is the author of several works, including “Thought-Forms and Hallucinations: Some Curious Effects of the Holographic Mind Process” and “Lightning as a ‘Photographer’–Revisiting a Forgotten Phenomenon of Nature.” His current interests include studies of consciousness. His new book “Embodied Imaginations: Fictional Characters Making Experiential Crossings into Real Life: An Unusual Phenomenon” introduces readers to the mysterious and profound part of creative writing that they never knew existed before. (Amazon, 2023)
“Embodied Imaginations: Fictional Characters Making Experiential Crossings into Real Life: An Unusual Phenomenon” examines the science behind the writers’ experience of characters developing their own will and taking objective forms. Many writers have the experience that their characters have evolved their own personalities. They start to tell their own stories, and sometimes they could even rebel against the author’s ideas for them and change the course of the whole plot. That is not all, though. Sometimes, literary characters assume objective appearances which are visible not just to the creators, but also to others and manifesting in the real world. These experiences raise several interesting philosophical and scientific questions. Have the writers unwittingly created quasi-conscious entities by the power of their minds? Can thoughts manifest as something tangible that can be seen, heard, or even touched? How genuine are the contents of the mind? “Embodied Imaginations” explores these questions, highlighting the results of an investigation on this fascinating topic, stemming from personal anecdotes of many writers. Providing scientific evidence for the existences of these mental constructs, the goal is to collect robust and reliable building blocks that may help to deconstruct perceptions and provide answers to this phenomenon. The book attempts to give modern science a place where spiritual, philosophical and mystical threads can be interwoven. Efforts have been made to corroborate theoretical claims with experimental evidence, contributing to research in cognitive psychology to determine the role of imagination in creating external reality.
‘Full-Tilt Boogie: A Jade Hui Mystery’ is the latest novel by Robb T. White. Photo: Amazon
Crime, noir, and detective novels have been around for years and their popularity is still strong. Whether it is a gritty and cynical detective solving crimes or a morally compromised private detective solving seedy mysteries, their dark undertones have thrilled readers who prefer more realistic storylines. If you are a fan of this genre of books, “Full-Tilt Boogie: A Jade Hui Mystery” by Robb T. White might just be your next guilty pleasure. This new release is available on Amazon.
Robb T. Whitewrites from Northeastern Ohio. He has published several crime, noir, hardboiled novels, and genre stories in various magazines and anthologies. He has been nominated for a Derringer and “Inside Man,” a crime story, was selected for Best American Mystery Stories 2019. His second hardboiled private investigator series, after the Thomas Haftmann mysteries begun in 2011 with “Haftmann’s Rules,” features Raimo Jarvi in Northtown Eclipse and Northtown Blitz. British website Murder, Mayhem & More cited “When You Run with Wolves” as a finalist for Top Ten Crime Books of 2018 and Perfect Killer in 2019. “If I Let You Get Me” was selected for the Bouchercon 2019 anthology and “The Russian Heist,” another crime thriller, was selected by Thriller Magazine as winner of its Best Novel category. In his new novel “Full-Tilt Boogie: A Jade Hui Mystery,” shortly after being assigned to the field office, Special Agent Jade Hui is stumped by her predecessor’s do-nothing record when there is every indication that something big is about to happen. (Robert T. White, 2023)
“Full-Tilt Boogie: A Jade Hui Mystery”– Something’s going on in Youngstown, Ohio—and it is not pretty. The Bureau is hindering SAC Jade Hui’s attempts at stopping the brutal trafficking of young girls in New York City. She has only a retired senior agent as her backer. Now she is reassigned back to that minor field office in Youngstown, the quintessential rust-belt city—and she contemplates quitting. Her newest assignment holds her back, however: she is to coordinate with Interpol’s Amsterdam contact, an old colleague from her past.
Jaap Ens is spearheading an international drug-smuggling operation that originates in Amsterdam with tentacles reaching into the American Midwest. Jaap tells Jade that the Aryan Brotherhood, a dangerous prison gang which has been operating for decades under law enforcement’s radar, has aligned itself with a cartel of international criminals to dominate the United States with the designer drug Extasy. Camouflaged behind its racism and neo-Nazi politics, the Brand has shifted away from the high-risk and hard-to-control production of meth to this designer drug, where endless supplies of pills are manufactured by the hundreds of thousands in labs across the Netherlands. Using the same routes in place from their sex-slave trafficking in Europe and the Balkans, this cartel of Albanian and Russian mobsters is beginning to flood the huge market of vulnerable American teenagers.
Adding to Jade’s challenges is a raw agent assigned to assist her: Derek Bensusan. Jade is determined not to fail this time, and she has the qualities of mind and heart to succeed. She and Derek interview a convict given a “death sentence” by the Aryan Brotherhood at the state penitentiary. He reveals an expected drug shipment and mentions a bar downtown.
Derek’s ongoing investigation into a corrupt local bank with links to the Russian crime organization out of Brighton Beach needs help. She calls New York for technical support and they send their ace hacker. Jade, meanwhile, has a disturbing experience after an interview with a striking woman who runs in dangerous, wealthy circles over a female prize fighter’s brutal death.
Jade attempts to re-establish a rapport with the detectives of Youngstown P.D. but discovers hostility and suspicion. The drug investigation will take Jade to Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, and Moscow and back again to Youngstown. She will be surrounded by a vile host of sleazy characters between Hollywood and the Midwest, some with Russian connections to crime organizations. As Jade gets closer to the top figures in the international drug ring, the body count rises as the expendables are cut loose.
‘The CBT Social Anxiety Workbook for Women’ is the new book by Adele Payne. Photo: Amazon
At one time or another, almost everyone struggles with anxiety, most likely social anxiety, including me. There are so many books out there that deal with the subject and today’s new book release is by an author who has experienced it herself and now, as a life coach, is out to help women overcome social anxiety. “The CBT Social Anxiety Workbook for Women” by Adele Payne is now available on Amazon in Kindle format.
Adele Payne is a life-coach, public speaker and author who focuses her effort on helping women overcome social anxiety and awkwardness. As a teenager, she suffered from severe anxiety that threatened to disrupt every aspect of her life. Thoughts about visiting friends or a picnic would send her heart racing and her emotions wild for several hours. She set out to find lasting cures for her social anxiety and while her journey of self-discovery took several years, she learned the right strategies for defeating social anxiety. Over the last five years, she has continued to help people, especially women, overcome their anxiety problems by sharing the strategies that worked for her and dozens of other people who have tried them. Her latest book, “The CBT Social Anxiety Workbook for Women: Essential Cognitive Behavioral Skills and Techniques to Overcome Fears and Anxious Behavior, Improve Confidence, and Feel Comfortable in Any Situation,” is for anyone who wants to be able to step beyond anxiety and find a new way to tackle the kinds of events that we have avoided for far too long. (Adele Payne, 2023)
“The CBT Social Anxiety Workbook for Women” focuses on themes such as cognitive behavioral therapy strategies for overcoming anxiety and boosting self-confidence; the symptoms, complications, and drawbacks of anxiety disorders; the role of fear in our response to anxiety; development of social skills for anxious women; instant strategies for dispelling fear, worry, and anxiety; and the stress response and how it fuels anxiety.
Social anxiety is something that can happen to any of us at any time. Stress at work can trigger feelings of insecurity. Relationship issues can knock your confidence and some of us have just always seemed to be facing the struggle that is social anxiety for years. It is about time we changed all that.
The author knows from her own experience that you can be someone who is a confident, caring and compassionate woman in every area of your life and that it may not be easy when you hear someone who speaks with such confidence. Surely it is all just empty words, right?
Wrong! She made the shift from anxiety to calm in just a few short months by tapping into her inner narrative using a proven approach. CBT is a simple way to reprogram and realign the way the brain works so you can go out there into the world and experience everything it has to offer in your own personal way.
Inside “The CBT Social Anxiety Workbook for Women,” you are going to learn:
What anxiety is
Symptoms of anxiety
Social anxiety and symptoms
Social anxiety in men vs women
Common causes of social anxiety
CBT interventions for dealing with social anxiety
More strategies that work for dealing with social anxiety
Inside you will find a wholesome, accessible and compassionate way to change how you approach your inner voice. It is that anxious cycle of thoughts, voices and ideas that seems to be circling around and around when you are trying to force yourself to walk through the door and meet a room. Together, we are going to break that cycle and redirect all of your energy in a way that really will change the rest of your life.
SA Examiner 