New Book Release: Charlotte, a Holocaust Story of Strength, Courage, and Hope - by Charlotte Adelman and Mala Bloomquist

 

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Charlotte: A Holocaust Story of Strength, Courage, and Hope is a captivating true story of survival during the Nazi occupation of France.

Charlotte Rozencwajg had a picturesque childhood in Paris, but at the age of ten she is faced with the unimaginable terror of being separated from her family. Pursued relentlessly across France by the Nazis, she must rely on her own intuition and the kindness of others to evade capture.

For nine harrowing months, Charlotte hid in the darkness of a cellar, dreaming of the day she would reunite with her family and finally find freedom. But before she could, she had to survive.

About the author:

A native of Arizona, Mala Blomquist grew up in Scottsdale, where she gained an appreciation for the desert and a love of its breathtaking sunsets. As a young wife and mother, she began freelance writing, which spanned into a career as a writer and editor for niche publications in Arizona for more than 25 years. She is currently the managing editor of the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix.

New book release: Her Cabin on Conger Creek - by Sally Harper Bates

 

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The hard truth about the twists and turns of life. A true story, but not about one person. About several women and men, and what happens when life comes barreling at you, forcing decisions that don't always have a good turnout. But life seems to bring redemption, when we are looking for the right answers.

About the author:

Born in Prescott, Arizona, Sally rarely lived outside of Yavapai County. She grew up in the company of working cowboys and their families, cherishing the lifestyle, culture, heritage and experiences. Her family tree is rooted on both sides deep into the sod of Arizona and New Mexico. Seven generations on maternal and paternal side of the “tree” have lived, worked, and grown up in the granite and manzanita of Yavapai County.

After nearly six decades of being in the midst of “cowboy country” it makes perfect sense that what she writes would be full to overflowing with “cowboy”. She is a singer, songwriter, novelist and best known as a poet.

For several years she was an invited poet/singer to cowboy poetry gatherings in Nevada, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Utah and of course, Arizona. She was nominated female cowboy poet of the year through WMA three times in the early 1990’s.

An integral part of the production of the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering in Prescott for over 30 years, a 4-H leader, and secretary to the Arizona Cowpuncher’s Association three times. She’s also an active member of a local church where she leads Bible studies and shares her life experiences as a growing Christian.

A grandmother, and great-grandmother, she enjoys semi-retirement in Chino Valley.

New Book Release: The Route List - by Richard Baron

 

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A business novel that teaches continuous improvement in the office.

The story is set at the North Pole in December, where the elves are furiously making toys. Unfortunately, the route list, which gives Santa directions to each child’s house and what presents to bring, is in danger of not being ready by December 24th. Without the route list, Santa would be unable to leave the North Pole, and Christmas would be delayed or canceled. The novel follows the hero’s journey of the lead elf character, Martin, who must rise to the occasion. Martin has never performed Lean in an office and hesitates to become involved. However, over time, Martin applies his knowledge of Lean manufacturing techniques to the office.

About the author:

Richard Baron is a Senior Manager, Operational Effectiveness for Avnet Integrated Solutions in Chandler, Arizona. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, a Master of International Management, and a Master of Business Administration degree. Richard is also the author of Streamline: Your Path to Government Efficiency Starts Here and the accompanying Streamline Instruction Manual.

New Book Release: The Vengeance Squad - by Bart Ambrose

 

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Some wars never end. Some wounds never heal.

In 1946, after years in internment camps during World War II, Japanese American families return to rebuild their lives near Phoenix, Arizona, believing the worst is behind them. They're wrong.

In the shadow of WWII's aftermath, a merciless group emerges—four men bound by grief and hatred over personal losses in the war. They call themselves The Vengeance Squad. Their mission: to drive every Japanese American from Arizona soil, by any means necessary.

In this unflinching thriller, as homes explode in flames at night and families and businesses are ambushed in broad daylight, Maricopa County Deputy Sheriff Sean O'Conner finds himself pursuing monsters who consider themselves heroes. With his own combat ghosts haunting him, O'Conner races to stop the bloodshed before an entire community is erased.

But the Squad's leader—a decorated ex-marine who believes he's still serving his country—proves as lethal as any enemy O'Conner faced in battle. A desperate kidnapping forces them into a final, shocking confrontation.

The Vengeance Squad is historical fiction that uncovers a little-known chapter of American history. A few men’s patriotism is twisted into something unrecognizable, and justice hangs in the balance between revenge and redemption.

About the author:

Bart Ambrose has always been a storyteller at heart, but his path to becoming an author was anything but ordinary. Born and raised on a cotton farm in the heart of Arizona, he spent his childhood nights immersed in the pages of literary masterpieces like Moby Dick, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Old Man and the Sea. Along the way, he taught himself to play guitar and became an accomplished musician as a teenager.

He pursued a degree at Arizona State University and then worked as a natural resource conservationist across the western U.S. and the far-flung Pacific Basin. His work deepened his appreciation for the land, history, and diverse cultures of the regions he explored.

Along the way, Bart performed as a musician and vocalist with various groups in Arizona and California between his travels. He sharpened his writing skills as a songwriter, and after retiring from his conservation work, he set his sights on Nashville, "Music City," where he spent years honing his songwriting skills, teaching guitar, and coaching other aspiring wordsmiths.

Today, he resides in the picturesque desert foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona. He has taken his writing skills and love of a good story to a new level, producing historical novels set in Arizona. He has also published a memoir of his experiences as a musician and songwriter. When he's not writing, you might find him practicing the art of southwestern-themed haiku, pursuing the perfect chili relleno, or planning his next adventure.

New Book Release: Elektra Fairy Meets Shamed the Wizard - by Elizabeth Ajamie-Boyer

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A young fairy princess, Elektra, explores her home with her friend, Nasif, a hummingbird! One day, Elektra meets a wizard named Shaméd, who offers to take her on an adventure far from home. Elektra sees so many new sights! But danger awaits. Does Elektra escape? What new friends does she make?

About the authors:

Author team TJ Boyer and Elizabeth Ajamie-Boyer write across genres, including science fiction/fantasy, murder mystery, romance, literary fiction, and historical Christian fiction. TJ has been writing and telling stories since his teens. Best known for The Mirror Gate Chronicles, he has authored several books in the sci-fantasy genre. Elizabeth writes her own novels and also co-writes with her husband, TJ. As a Christian, she feels called to write gentle romance and historical fiction.

Picking images for a future release can be pure agony for an author - by Vijaya Schartz

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An unruly Valkyrie on a flying tiger, a stern angel in love with the rules, and evil pounding at the gate… What could go wrong?

Riddled with survivor’s guilt after Ragnarök, Valka wanders the universe as a bounty hunter. But when hired by angels to recruit warriors for the final battle against evil, she welcomes a chance at redemption.

General Konrad Lagarde, First Mate of the angel ship Blue Phantom, strongly rejects Valka’s methods. A stickler for discipline, he also considers this fascinating woman hazardous to his sanity, as she could make him forget all the rules.

Evil from another universe has infiltrated a secret society of former dictators hungry for power. Having massacred all the angels in his former world, the evil one wants to do the same here. The angels of this universe face their greatest challenge yet… destroy the evil one and avenge their fallen brethren… or the bringer of darkness will enslave us all.

Picking the elements of this cover was easy as the sci-fi background was the same for the entire series, and I only had to choose a big cat fitting that story. But my current project CHI WARRIOR presents bigger challenges.

We authors have images in our heads when we write, and the book cover should reflect these images. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to make suggestions to my publisher’s (BWL Publishing) art department, as I’m the only one who knows the world I created. I fancy myself as an artist, but I’m not a professional cover designer. I understand my suggestions might be rejected if they do not fit the current trends or the marketing needs.

Sometimes, the cover artist will take inspiration from the image I suggested and find something similar but better suited to the project.

What are the colors of the created world? What is the mood? How does it make you feel? The challenge is to create an image to make the reader feel, “I want to discover this world, these characters, I want to spend time in this atmosphere, I want to read this story.”

But it also has to reflect the actual setting, story, and characters. You cannot manufacture a tantalizing cover image and not deliver the same flavor inside the pages.

As an added challenge, except for specific historical period novels with costumes, the BWL Publishing covers no longer portray the main characters. Actually, this is a good thing. It’s almost impossible for a writer to find the perfect picture of their hero or heroine in stock photos. And if by miracle you find it, you might soon find another book out there with the exact same picture on the cover. It happened to me once, and I found it frustrating. It also must be confusing for the readers who saw your cover once in passing and are looking for your book.

Looking for these images can also be time consuming, even with the fancy search words and filters. I spent many hours looking at thousands of images… and I am still not happy with what I found.

But I was reminded of deadlines. The art department needs my suggestions now, so I sent what caught my attention so far. I also suggested bright red Asian letters for the main title. I hope the talented Michelle Lee who supervises the cover art, will make something wonderful with it... she always does.

The book, CHI WARRIOR, Protectors series Book One, is scheduled to be released November 1st. Now, back to the finishing, editing, and rewrites… if my kitty cat lets me see the pages.

Happy Reading.

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author
Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, cats
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New book release: A Handbook On Being A Local Tour Guide And Concierge: Including Personal Experiences - by Dorothy N. Yanez

 

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This book is written to provide a brief overview of the requirements for a career in the hospitality industry focusing on specifics for a local Tour Guide and Concierge.

To help with those experiences I have included personal stories, some of the situations that one may encounter, and the attributes on what it takes to be a successful local Tour Guide and Concierge.

Those attributes include: research, being well informed, endurance, problem solving, being a team player, computer literacy, creativity, diplomacy, possesses good oral communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, attention to detail, customer service orientation, the ability to lift heavy luggage, and flexibility because you need to be open to various shifts, including nights and weekends.

About the author:

Dorothy N. Yanez was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, she retired from the City of Tucson in 2004 after 34 years of service across various departments. Following her retirement, she worked in the hospitality industry and continued to pursue her deep passion for Tucson’s rich history. She is a professional tour guide with a focus on the city's vibrant downtown, offering two mural and public art walking tours, a Turquoise Trail tour, and two related PowerPoint presentations. A dedicated supporter of the San Agustín del Tucson Museum, she is also an author of several books, including Presidio San Agustin del Tucson: A View of Tucson’s Birthplace, which reflects her commitment to preserving and sharing the history of Tucson.

New book release: Awaken - by Shelley Watters

 

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Escape to a world where fairytales are twisted and happily ever after is just the beginning of the nightmare.

Tori wakes in a realm of breathtaking beauty, only to discover it’s a gilded cage ruled by a malevolent Queen.

This isn’t the fairytale she dreamed of. It’s a fight for survival. Torn between two captivating men, she must navigate treacherous magic, slay a dragon, and unlock the secrets to her destiny. Will she break the curse or become another victim in the Queen's twisted game?

If you love twisted fairytales with strong heroines and scorching romance, Awaken is the book you’ve been waiting for.

A dark, romantic reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, Awaken is perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, Uprooted by Naomi Novik and Graceling by Kristin Cashore

About the author:

Shelley Watters is an Arizona native. She graduated from Arizona State University with degrees in Sociology and Public Health Epidemiology, and added a MBA just for fun. After spending all day in the corporate world, her evenings are spent driving her equestrian to the stables. She fills every other spare moment creating fantasy worlds, and her novels sizzle with the heat and passion that only growing up in the southwest can bring.

New book release: Mirror in the Sand: Coming of age of a Chinese girl in 1970s Jordan - by Fawzia Tung

 

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Amman, Jordan in the 1970s and early 1980s was mushrooming from a laid-back sleepy city into a modern metropolis. In Fawzia's eleven years in the City of the Seven Hills, she too evolved from an accidental Chinese teenage immigrant into a journalist and a psychiatrist, mesmerized by its rose gold dust at sundown, its archaeological treasures littering the landscape, the generous hospitality of its people, yet also some of its harsher cultural baggage: male chauvinism, honor killings, and attitude toward psychiatric patients. Fired with youthful ardor for reform, Fawzia threw myself wholeheartedly into her work, only to find herself burned once too many times.

About the author:

Fawzia Mai Tung grew up internationally in a Chinese diplomatic family and pursued careers in journalism, psychiatry, and education before turning to full-time writing. A mother of seven and grandmother of ten, she is the author of The Wonderful Tale of Donkey Skin and Mirror in the Sand. She’s a member of several literary organizations, including SCBWI (AZ), where she led the Equity & Inclusion Team from 2019–2023. Fawzia is currently developing translations and an audiobook for Mirror in the Sand and working on multiple upcoming projects, including fairy tale retellings, cultural histories, and her memoirs.

New book release: Burn Me - by Shelley Watters

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After her twin brother dies in a house fire, Katrina Hale is determined to prove she’s stronger than the flames. She doesn’t need a hero. She is one. And she’s determined to work harder than any firefighter on the job to show she deserves to be there. But while her focus on her career leaves little room in her life for romance and her current relationship fizzles, she soon discovers fighting fires is nothing compared to the scorching desire she feels in fellow firefighter Greyson Neal's arms. Problem is, he’s her boyfriend’s brother.

Firefighter Greyson Neal is ruggedly handsome but a boy scout at heart. He’s the type of guy girls dream about when they want their knight in shining armor to wear bunker gear. But he’s not interested in fulfilling every girl’s fantasies. Until Kat signed on to his shift, he’d all but given up on ever finding the right woman. Now he wants the one woman he can never have, and she seems hell-bent on getting herself killed to prove that she’s worthy of her job.

After a near-miss with an arsonist, Kat and Greyson finally succumb to temptation. But before they have a chance to explore their feelings, their secret affair is found out. Now Kat must choose between her career and her heart and fight to keep them both when an arsonist threatens to take it all away.

About the author:

Shelley Watters is an Arizona native. She graduated from Arizona State University with degrees in Sociology and Public Health Epidemiology, and added a MBA just for fun. After spending all day in the corporate world, her evenings are spent driving her equestrian to the stables. She fills every other spare moment creating fantasy worlds, and her novels sizzle with the heat and passion that only growing up in the southwest can bring.

New Book Release: Retreat from the Precipice - by Duke Southard

 

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On Sunday morning, October 14, 1962, two United States Air Force majors flew their U-2 spy planes over western Cuba and the San Cristobal area on a scheduled surveillance mission where previous intelligence gathering indicated suspicious activity. The results of that mission set in motion two weeks of events which are now commonly called the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In Retreat from the Precipice, Duke Southard's eighth novel, the familiarity of the dramatic, tension-filled story of President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev engaged in nuclear war one-up-man-ship serves as a backdrop for three families living in the Philadelphia suburb of Endicott City, New Jersey.

Two weeks of living with the threat of nuclear annihilation places varying levels of tension on families already dealing with personal stress in the regular family dynamics of the early sixties era.

Retreat from the Precipice captures the increased pressures the Johnsons, the Dodges, and the Greenwalts, a cross-section of the societal strata coexisting in one town, endure as their world threatens to blow apart. Their struggles to keep their families together and functioning while facing new threats and fears every day are unique and personal yet present universal human truths.

The dangerous history of the period and the life of ordinary people suffering the anxiety of existing under the cloud of Armageddon blend to build this story into a mesmerizing narrative of what some have termed the most terrifying two weeks in modern history.

About the author:

Retreat from the Precipice is Duke Southard's eighth novel and eleventh book. All seven of his previous novels have been finalists in prestigious book awards such as the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the International Book Awards, the American Fiction Book Awards, and the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.

His short works have earned numerous awards with “The Fallacy of Closure” placing first in the personal essay division of the Writer's Digest Literary Awards Competition.

Professionally, he has received the New Hampshire Excellence in Education Award for his outstanding contributions to the state's school library/media profession. His educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science in English Education from Villanova University, a Master of English Education from Rowan University, and a CAGS from Boston University.

He is married with three children and lives in southern Arizona.

New book release: Dear Grandma and Grandpa / Queridos abuelos - by Vicki Riske

 

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Dear Grandpa and Grandma / Queridos abuelos is a dual language book. Vicki Riske and Sonia Elizabeth Urrutia de Soto co-authored the book. The story is about Jackie Rabbit who lives in the southwest desert. Jackie's friends are too busy to play with her, so she asks her Mother if she can play. Mother Rabbit is too busy writing a letter to her sister and suggests that Jackie write a letter to her grandparents. Jackie doesn't know how to write letters, so Mother is happy to provide guidance. Jackie learns how to write letters. And experiences the joy sending and receiving letters.

About the author:

Vicki has been interested in puppetry and storytelling for many years. She writes and illustrates children's books, designs and builds custom puppets. She has written five books and illustrated four of them. Sonia Elizabeth Urrutia de Soto has translated two of the books into Spanish.The New Polka Dot Tea Party, is about finding shapes in nature and the importance of friendship. Local Phoenix artist Laura Best illustrated Vicki's second book, Grandma Bibi, which tackles the difficulties of memory loss in older loved ones from the perspective of children. La Abuela Bibi is the Spanish translation of Grandma Bibi by Sonia Elizabeth Urrutia de Soto. My Teeth Are Too Big, is about self-confidence, presented with fun thoughtful measure. Her award winning book, Fishy Tales, has also been translated into Spanish by Sonia Elizabeth Urrutia de Soto, Los pececitos aventureros. These two books are about fish who love to swim, and play in the ocean, and encounter a large trash island. This book is a great conversation starter for discussions on climate change and our responsibility to care for planet earth. Dear Grandma and Grandpa /Queridos abuelos her first dual language book, co-authored with Sonia Elizabeth Urrutia de Soto.

Sonia Elizabeth Soto is a Bilingual Family Childcare Specialist for the Family, Friend, and Neighbor program of United Way of Pinal County. She has worked in family and child services for more than 20 years, including owning her own in-home preschool. Originally from Ciudad Juárez, México, Sonia earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Centro Teresiano de Estudios Superiores before moving to Arizona and obtaining her Early Childhood Education certificate from Central Arizona College.Sonia has two beautiful children and a very supportive and fun husband. In her spare time, she enjoys going to concerts, cooking, spending time with her family and rollerblading.

New Book Release: Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt - by Dawn Pisturino

 

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The Ancient Egyptians loved life and celebrated it with joy. Their deepest desire was to live an honorable life and achieve immortality in the afterlife, where they could exist in perfect harmony with the cosmic order and never experience pain, suffering, and hardship again. These original poems by Dawn Pisturino reflect the hopes and dreams of people who were not much different from us. They worked, loved, raised families, worshipped their gods, honored the dead, enjoyed festivals and celebrations, imbibed beer and wine, danced, sang, and played, aspired to better themselves, and appreciated the beauty and wonder of nature. Take a journey back in time to explore the minds and hearts of the Ancient Egyptians.

About the author:

Dawn Pisturino’s international publishing credits include poems, short stories, and articles. Her debut poetry book, Ariel’s Song: Published Poems, 1987 – 2023, earned five-star reviews and ranked #60 on the Amazon Best Seller list for Haiku & Japanese Poetry. Her short chapbook, Lunar Gazing Haiku, became a #1 Amazon New Release in six categories. Haiku for the Midnight Hour, her third book, achieved #1 Amazon New Release status in three categories. Her fourth book, Sun Haiku: 365 Days of Sunshine, climbed to #1 Amazon New Release in Japanese Poetry & Haiku. She is a member of several author organizations.