Shameless Self-Promo + Binge Assortment

Many thanks to Studio B Arts & Activities Alliance in Boyertown, Pennsylvania https://www.studiobbb.org/ for selecting "Words Echo History Loops" for inclusion in their Legacy: Remembrance Matters anthology edited by Jane E. Stahl and Mish Murphy! This collection offers an assortment of engaging, prose, poetry, photographs, artistic renderings, and essays from talented creatives. Poetry isn't my usual format, but so much of the news reminds me of the bad old days of oppression from centuries past (as learned from educators, classes and books sourced from legitimate historic documents) that this piece flowed from my heart and mind in one short writing session.

Not the Ones Dead (Kate Shugak #23) by Dana Stabenow

mystery

Head of Zeus - Aries Books, April 2023

Once again Mutt*, Kate, Jim, and their overlapping circles of family, friends, and associates work hard to unravel interwoven oddities that just might strangle them and their intimate community. Multiple threads about individuals and groups with conflicting intentions set against the physical backdrop of Alaska and within the historical context of extremism create an intricate story that satisfies the high expectations set by this outstanding series.

*Still hoping for a novella from Mutt's POV about surviving after getting shot.

bumpy roads to travel from friends to lovers

Can't Let Her Go by Kianna Alexander

romance

Montlake, June 2023

The Book Proposal by KJ Micciche

romance

Sourcebooks Casablanca, May 2023

more money, more problems

The Missus (Mister & Missus #2) by E.L. James

romance

Bloom Books, June 2023

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The Best Man: Unfinished Business by Malcolm D. Lee with Jayne Allen Delivers All the Feels

Black love. Black joy. Black drama. Humanity in its vast melanin array. [front cover of a paperback ARC for The Best Man: Unfinished Business; silhouette of three adults] The Best Man: Unfinished Business by Malcolm D. Lee with Jayne Allen adult contemporary fiction with romantic elements Storehouse Voices, July 2025 First, dedicated fans of The Best Man franchise and its beloved characters need not fear how they’re treated in this first of three novels. In fact. One thread of Harper’s storyline seems to reflect the real-life author/screenwriter/director’s battle to protect and maintain the integrity of The Best Man universe. Mission accomplished. Second, once readers - fans or not - start this novel they won’t want to stop. The compulsion to re/watch The Best Man movies and limited series and maybe even to reread this book while anticipating the release of book two in 2026 will prove difficult to resist. Who are you? Who are your people?...

A Million Lives Book Festival - An Unfortunate Exception, Not the Event Rule

[2 decorative stickers on lined writing paper from left to right: a round smiley face arranged upside down to look like a frown and a round smiley face arranged right sight up] By now most bookish folk and others have heard about the inaugural A Million Lives Book Festival held at the Baltimore Convention Center last Friday and Saturday. To recap: according to participating authors and attendees many promises were made and almost all of them were broken. As outreach director and co-organizer for The Write Women Book Fest scheduled to host its 6th event Saturday, July 19 & Sunday, July 20 of this year at the Bowie Comfort Inn & Conference Center in Bowie, Maryland, U.S.A., my reaction to the feedback being shared about A Million Lives is nightmarish. Even though we aren't connected to it in any way or familiar with the event organizer or her company, our completely unrelated event has felt some minor residual effects because people are worried. And that's an understanda...

Hot Love in the Kitchen & Travelling Through Time

Redemption of the Heart by Moni Boyce contemporary romance Love Snacks Publishing 8 January 2019 Despite addressing heavy themes of domestic violence, incarceration, and grief, Redemption of the Heart is a charming and sweet spicy read in the tradition of a 21st-century interracial homage to Janet Dailey’s monthly romance era. Gemma’s open-hearted ingénue contrasts starkly with Alex’s jaded workaholic. They struggle with a variety of challenges, but ethnicity isn’t one of them—a spin that feels particularly modern. Once readers commit to their suspension of disbelief regarding the cascading impact of lacks in due diligence by several characters, it’s easy to settle in to enjoy this love story. The recent public debate about the pros and cons of Gillette’s “We believe the best man can be” campaign ties in with the contradictory messages in the story threads about toxic masculinity. There’s a scene in which Alex apologizes to someone who was openly bragging among cowork...

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