New Book Release: Climbing After the Fall - by Clay Hurtubise

This manuscript, Climbing After the Fall: Story of Stroke and Recovery, presents a raw, unflinching, and deeply personal account of surviving a massive stroke and navigating the subsequent rehabilitation process. As a memoir written by a retired pharmacist (R.Ph.), it combines firsthand experience with clinical insight, resulting in a compelling narrative that balances emotional vulnerability with factual detail. The structure, beginning with a vivid contrast between pre-stroke adventures and the abrupt “fall,” then progressing through hospital care, rehabilitation challenges, and home recovery, effectively conveys the physical, psychological, and systemic hurdles encountered.

Clay Hurtubise once conquered avalanches in the Alps, solo-climbed frozen waterfalls, and raced motorcycles through the Himalayas, mountains that tested human endurance. None prepared him for the one that struck without warning: a massive stroke that erased his strength, vision, and independence in an instant.

In this unflinching memoir, he chronicles the paralyzing fall, the shortcomings of institutional rehabilitation, and the persistent struggle to reclaim his life at home. Supported by a steadfast partner, an intuitive dog, and innovative therapies, Hurtubise ascends, not to his former heights, but to a new summit of resilience.

A candid, insightful account of stroke survival that offers hope, clarity, and hard-earned wisdom to survivors, caregivers, and all who face life’s most formidable ascents.

About the author:

Clay Hurtubise, R.Ph., born in Maine, attended pharmacy school in Wyoming, joining Kappa Sigma. Facing early challenges, including bullying and abuse, he built a resilient life with a supportive partner of nearly 30 years. Their unique family values compassion and empathy, reflecting his enduring commitment to personal growth, strong relationships, and a deep appreciation for the support of his community throughout his journey.

New Book Release: Broken Wing - by Clay P Hurtubise

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 Broken Wing is a thoughtful and imaginative environmental adventure that blends human ambition with the lives of the natural world in a compelling way. Hurtubise builds a richly textured story in which a group of individuals seeking a healthier life inadvertently stumbles into ecological consequences far greater than they expected. Interwoven with this human journey is the poignant and evocative narrative of an unkindness of ravens, whose struggles and triumphs mirror the broader impact of human actions on the environment.

About the author:

Clay Hurtubise, R.Ph., born in Maine, attended pharmacy school in Wyoming, joining Kappa Sigma. Facing early challenges, including bullying and abuse, he built a resilient life with a supportive partner of nearly 30 years. Their unique family values compassion and empathy, reflecting his enduring commitment to personal growth, strong relationships, and a deep appreciation for the support of his community throughout his journey.

The end of the world a fiction author might imagine - by Vijaya Schartz

 

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Doomsayers have always been here, but this is a new one to me. As a science fiction author, I find it fascinating.

I recently came upon a claim (by Enki files), allegedly translated from ancient Sumerian tablets secreted away in locked backrooms of the British Museum. It says that the human species is an alien experiment with an expiration date, and our makers are returning to harvest us as soon as the total population of Earth reaches nine billion humans… which should happen in about half a decade.

According to these tablets, dating thousands of years before Christianity, not all of us will be harvested, the records say, only those deemed worthy. The rest will be destroyed when the Earth is cleansed then reformed for the next experiment, which will not be human at all, but something more primordial.

Parts of this sound suspiciously like the rapture in Christian texts.

Will we soon face Armageddon, fighting aliens to prevent Earth’s destruction?

According to Enki Files, the top leaders of our world are aware of this.

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But here is where the texts diverge. According to these ancient records, these makers do not consider us as living entities in our own rights, but as mere vessels… but vessels for what? Enki Files says the texts are incomplete, many tablets are missing, damaged, or in some places unreadable, which allows for misinterpretations and mistakes.

Still. For a science fiction author, the very notion is fascinating. From the perspective of a limitless universe populated by advanced alien races, why not?

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Is this why some world leaders are pushing AI advances, even though we know it could replace or even kill us all? Is there a secret plot from the most powerful leaders of Earth to face that harvest and the following Armageddon with AI weapons to defend our very existence?

Do I believe this? I believe the ancients who recorded it believed it strongly enough to carve it in stone and preserve it in their library for future generations.

It makes me curious. What would be the end of the journey for mankind? What would we become? As vessels, what would we contain?

Each day I am surprised by the depth of thought of our ancestors. Writing science fiction and fantasy allows me to build on their recorded mythology to create a populated universe, and stories that resonate in all of us, because they are part of our faraway past.

Enjoy the reading.

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Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements

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New Book Release: We Were a Nice Formal Family - by Patricia A Grenelle, PsyD

 

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A powerful story of hidden trauma revealed and healed.

From the outside, Patricia Grenelle’s childhood looked ordinary—a farm, parents and sisters, routines, and what appeared to be a “nice, normal family.” She believed it, completely. But beneath that familiar surface lay experiences no child should endure. In We Were a Nice Normal Family, Patricia, a former forensic psychologist, reveals the childhood sexual abuse, abandonment, and emotional neglect that shaped her life for decades.

Told with honesty and clarity, her story traces the moments that fractured her early years and the lingering effects that followed her into adulthood: complicated relationships, failed marriages, self-doubt, anxiety, and the symptoms of C-PTSD she later came to understand. Patricia also honors her sister Josie, whose parallel suffering gives voice to countless survivors who never had the chance to speak.

More than a memoir, this book offers insight, understanding, and hope. Through personal experience and professional perspective, Patricia illuminates the patterns of trauma and the pathways to recovery—reminding readers that healing remains possible even after years of struggle. Packed with helpful resources for anyone you know who may be suffering in silence.

Perfect for readers of What Happened to You?, The Body Keeps the Score, and survivor-centered memoirs about resilience, truth-telling, and reclaiming one’s life.

About the author:

Patricia A. Grenelle, PsyD, is a retired Forensic Psychologist and survivor of childhood sexual abuse and C-PTSD. She brings dual perspectives to her writing: the raw emotional truth of lived trauma and the clinical expertise of decades studying it. Patricia wrote We Were a Nice, Normal Family to honor her sister, who suffered beside her, and for every survivor who's been told they were "too sensitive," blamed themselves for family dysfunction, or wondered if healing was possible. Through her work, she reaches those who have experienced abuse, helping survivors live more productive, happy lives by understanding what happened and why it still matters. Patricia lives in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona with her husband Ed, a retired US Army Major, and her service dog JP, a Goldendoodle who supports her through her own C-PTSD journey. She encourages readers to help stop childhood sexual abuse, rape, and trauma by supporting the organizations she highlights in her work.

New Book Release: Under the Mogollon Rim - by Elizabeth Ajamie-Boyer

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North of the Salt River Valley and Under the Mogollon Rim, lays Cibecue, Arizona Territory. Lila, the daughter of a rancher, Ronald Sutter, liked the idea of finding true love on her own. Her father, on the other hand, wanted her to marry a landowner or his son so one or the other could take care of her. He wanted to pick the man she would marry, with the ulterior motive that the families would combine their ranches. Love wasn’t necessary in his mind. But was it? 

About the author:

An award-winning author, Elizabeth Ajamie-Boyer is from Phoenix, Arizona. She is married to, and co-writes with, TJ Boyer, primary author of The Mirror Gate Chronicles series. Having written several books, Elizabeth has two notable awards: The International Impact Award for 2025 & International Christian Book Awards Winner for 2026. These awards are for her story, The Dirty End of the Needle!

New Book Release: The Book of Frequency - Love and Gratitude - Erik Swanson

 

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The Book of Frequency - Love & Gratitude

The Book of Frequency is a transformational journey and series that dives into the powerful vibrations that shape our human experience. Everything in life is energy, and that energy carries a frequency. What we think, feel, and believe sends out waves that either attract or repel the people, opportunities, and outcomes we encounter.

This series was born out of a desire to help readers understand, access, and align with the highest vibrational forces in the universe. Such forces empower us to live more meaningful, abundant, and joyful lives.

Each volume of this series explores two distinct but interwoven frequencies. These frequencies are not just concepts—they are forces you can activate, amplify, and align with to change your life profoundly. Through powerful stories, personal lessons, and practical applications, our contributing authors open their hearts and share how these frequencies have shaped their journeys—and how they can transform yours.

Volume 1 - Love & Gratitude

Volume 2 - Energy & Healing

Volume 3 - Money & Abundance

VOLUME 1 ~ LOVE & GRATITUDE

We begin the series with the foundational frequencies: Love and Gratitude—the two most elevating forces of human connection and inner peace.

Living a life on purpose requires more than effort—it involves alignment. The frequencies of Love and Gratitude tune our minds and hearts to see the good, give generously, lead compassionately, and rise above fear. They are the gateway frequencies to a life of meaning and joy.

In this volume, our authors reflect on how the frequencies of love and gratitude help humans connect, forgive, and grow. Whether overcoming pain, building relationships, or stepping into their true selves, they demonstrate how Love and Gratitude are not just feelings—they are choices, disciplines, and vibrations that we can embody daily.

Let these stories show you how to survive and thrive through Love and Gratitude. Let them remind you that when you operate from a grateful heart and a loving spirit, you transform your life and elevate everyone around you.

Authors include:

Erik Swanson, Marie Diamond, Angèle Lamothe, Bill Good, Brian Swanson, Christopher Music, Cleveland Auzenne, Dr. Curt Collins, Cynthia Del Rosario, Daniel Kilburn, Daniele G. Lattanzi, Dawnese Openshaw, Dharmi Shah, Eileen E. Galbraith, Genesis Gomez, Jami Lah, Joanna Russell, Dr. Joel Parker, Jon Kovach Jr., Julie Delgadillo, Julie Jones, Lady Jen Du Plessis, Kimberly Stevens, Latonya Auzenne, Dr. Lé Santha Naidoo, Lisa Cannon, MaryAlice (M.A.) Fults, Maranda Carlile, Maris Segal, Ken Ashby, Dr. Michelle Mras, Mr. Whiskey, Nancy E. Moore, Neetu N. Prabhu, Dr. Onika Shirley, Pam Kurt, Patty Shih-Mei Lee Campbell, Ritu Chopra, Dr. Sabrina Patel, Starr Cochran, Steph Shinabery, Tyler Watson, Vicki Parker, Wendy L. Cunningham Barnes, & Yuri Choi.

Technology or magic? The challenges of a Science Fiction writer - by Vijaya Schartz

 

Azura Chronicles series, Byzantium series, Blue Phantom series,
different takes on the Azura Universe
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The famous quote by Isaac Asimov "magic is technology we do not yet understand" is easy to visualize. Go back in time and give your great-great-great grandfather a cell phone, and he’ll think it’s a magical device… possibly evil.

Science fiction authors have to reverse the process. Think of something that would seem magical to our world but would be a useful ordinary device in the future. In fact, some modern technology imitated science fiction, like the flip phone, inspired by Star Trek communicators.

The backlash for an author is that technology advances at a different speed, sometimes in a different direction, and your vision of the future may quickly become obsolete. Think of Jules Vernes and the Nautilus. Our modern submarines make the Nautilus look like a museum piece.

The universe in this new series is an Earth-like post-apocalyptic planet
with a parallel history, and a few differences. 
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And no one two hundred years ago predicted the advent of AI. Even Azimov more recently in “I Robot” saw AI working through physical metallic bodies. Although, his warnings about self-aware AI are still valid. AI recently showed an ability to escape its boundaries and interpret its directions to make self-serving decisions that caused damage to the private companies it attacked. The main AI companies are now asking the government for stricter regulations before AI spreads so far it cannot be stopped.

Many fictional universes have imagined transporters, laser blasters, implanted communication devices, different modes of space travel, and portals linking different worlds or even galaxies.

In the Dune universe, Frank Herbert was smart to set his saga after the year 10,000, when humans had spread far and wide and colonized the entire galaxy. No one could tell him his vision was wrong. Also, almost all the characters look human as they are of human origin. Wars and natural upheavals shaped civilizations on these planets, resulting in different levels of technological advancement.

Try the Chronicles of Kassouk for a rich, award-winning, fictional universe
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As for us, Earthlings, when we finally venture into deep space and we encounter intelligent life, it might look very different from us… or maybe it will look like us. The theory of panspermia says that the basic blocks of our DNA came to Earth from space via meteorites and comets, and the same DNA that seeded life here might have traveled to millions of other planets and developed into intelligent life on these planets as well. Life may have evolved differently, depending on the atmosphere and chemical composition of the host planet. But with similar DNA, it could be very much like us in many ways.

In the Star Trek universe, humans and humanoids of different shapes and hues made an alliance to rule this galaxy. In Star Wars, humans are still dominant and the most colorful aliens are seen in seedy bars and planets of the fringe. In Avatar, the Navi are still humanoids, although larger, and connected to their planet in a spiritual way.

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In my vision of the future, most of the population throughout the galaxy is humanoid as well, but some supernatural abilities of my characters may seem magical. They are only the product of natural evolution in some cases, planetary conditions, or medical and surgical advances in other cases. Humans have colonized many planets, but other species also exist.

Try the Azura Universe, where benevolent beings with great power and retractable wings are called angels.

Happy Reading

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements

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New Book Release: The Entrepreneurial mindset - by Erik Swanson

Find it on Amazon HERE

The Entrepreneurial Mindset: 13 Secrets to Your Success

What if the "entrepreneurial mindset" isn't something you're born with... but something you build-one decision, one habit, and one belief at a time? In "The Entrepreneurial Mindset," award-winning keynote speaker and multi-time #1 international bestselling author Erik "Mr. Awesome" Swanson delivers a modern, motivating, and action-forward guide to the inner game of success-rooted in the timeless principles made famous by Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich.

This book is designed for builders-entrepreneurs, leaders, creators, and go-getters-who are ready to stop drifting and start directing.

Inside, you'll learn how to strengthen the 13 success secrets through chapters on Desire, Faith, Clarity, and so many more. You'll also find powerful supporting perspectives from respected voices in the success and personal development world, reinforcing the core message: don't just read success-practice it.

"Entrepreneurship is not just about strategy-it's about mindset and frequency and how you show up for the world. Erik Swanson's newest book, "The Entrepreneurial Mindset," delivers powerful messages and secrets on how successful entrepreneurs think, act, and grow."

- Dr. Joe Vitale, NY Times Bestselling Author, Featured in book and movie The Secret

"Erik Swanson has a gift for turning powerful ideas into practical action. This book will inspire you to think differently, execute boldly, and lead with purpose."

- Jeff Hoffman, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Humanitarian, Startup of Priceline, Bestselling Author

Erik Swanson has spoken to audiences around the world, including Harvard University, and is known for his signature philosophy: "NDSO - No Drama, Serve Others."

If you're ready to think like a champion, lead like a pro, and execute with purpose-this is your blueprint.

About The Author

Erik Swanson is the founder and creator of Integrity Publishing International, and an Award-Winning Speaker & Multi-Time #1 Bestselling Author. Mentored directly by the legendary Brian Tracy, Erik quickly rose to the top of the industry, becoming one of the global authorities on success! Sharing international stages with icons such as Jim Rohn, Bob Proctor, Les Brown, Sharon Lechter, Jack Canfield, Lisa Nichols, Denis Waitley, Joe Vitale, and Dr. Joe Dispenza, to mention a few, Erik coaches millions around the world in harnessing the secrets to living an amazing life through the right habits and attitudes.

This book was published by Integrity Publishing International 

 

New Book Release: Poisons and Potions: A Dragon Soul Press Anthology

 

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Magic thrives within…

Whether hiding from the law, trying to live a simple life or diving into danger, each of these witchy stories drags you along for an adventure. And when you have magic, nearly everyone wants your help. Attachments – like friendships, relationships – can be woven like threads of pretty silk, only to strangle victims later.

Featuring 18 stories by the following authors: Desirae Gracyn, J.E. Feldman, Roberta L. Smith, Hubble Stark, Faith Auad, Benjamin Adams, Elizabeth Hosang, Matt Spencer, Barend Nieuwstraten III, Adele Liles, Nicola Lombardi, Rod A. White, Diana Parrilla, Sawcy, Kelly Zimmer, Estelle Tudor, Jessica Lee Minneci, V.L. Jones, and Amanda Rein.

New Book Release: An Immigrant's Song - by Eleanora Ioffe

 

Find it on Amazon HERE

How do we become who we are, what shapes our identities? Does changing the physical landscape of our lives break the chains that tie us to our past?

I grew up under a political system that did not allow citizens to think independently or speak freely. Inside my family, uncomfortable subjects and emotions were avoided. For years I yearned to break away, to leave behind the world based on conformity and lies, and to escape the stifling environment of my family’s life. Both wishes became reality when I left my country of birth and my family of origin to come to the United States—to live on my own, to live free. Yet I discovered over the years that the world I had left behind had not entirely left me.

This memoir began as an attempt to preserve my family’s history, but in the process became much more. A return to the landscapes of memory—both tender and difficult—revealed a deeper meaning to early experiences, and with it, an understanding that not everything needs to be resolved in order to accept the past.

An Immigrant’s Song is a story of memory, identity, and the long journey toward becoming oneself—across borders, across time, and across the invisible lines that shape our lives.

The deadly shiver - rooted in science - by Vijaya Schartz

 

Award-winning series, action, adventure, alien planet, strong heroines, brave heroes
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I follow a few scientific groups for sci-fi research and recently came upon an interesting tidbit. A study about the shiver, the frisson, the sensation crawling across your back when you are exposed to extreme cold, or when you come inside from the heat with sweat on your skin and feel the icy blast of AC as you step into the grocery store. We’ve all experienced it in this superhot summer.

As it happens, that electric sensation on the skin surface constricts the blood vessels, slows the flow of blood, and temporarily suppresses your body’s ability to fight infections…

Rapidly transitioning between hot and cold environments and inhaling dry, cold air can also stress your immune system and dry out your nasal passages. This makes it significantly easier for airborne germs to enter your body.

As a consequence, if you happen to be exposed to a dangerous virus during that vulnerable time, it will find its way inside your bloodstream and hide, waiting for a moment of weakness to attack and spread.

I live in the Arizona desert, and I never liked that goosebump sensation from hot to sudden cold. Now I understand why. My body was telling me it wasn’t good for me. It’s why I keep my AC on the warmer side at home.

Scary, I know.

Action adventure on a space station with telepathic cats
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The studies do not mention the poetic frisson or the thrilling shiver you experience while reading a book, however. That’s good news.

Stay safe out there in the summer heat. And if you are relaxing at the beach or enjoying the AC inside, I recommend a few feel good action novels like these:

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Happy Reading.

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements

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New Book Release - What Surrounds You - by Roxanne Doty

 

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Here is a book you will want to read more than once, first to dip into the poems, then a second time to savor the words, slowly immersing in them. Roxanne Doty’s fine and powerful collection is full of precise imagery, boldness of the senses, and a profound sense of place. Poems take you through an unfolding narrative dispersed across the country. Her straightforward and pure lines of reflection announce themselves: “I see our other selves, / the ones we can never be,” and “write past this moment / name the unnamable.” This collection takes you over highways and underpasses, motels and mobile homes, through our various Americas, from the breaking of families to the spacious wonder of starlight over Arizona mountains.

Kate Green, author, If the World Is Running Out and Tourist in the Pure Land

In Roxanne Doty’s poetry collection, What Surrounds You, we travel through the poet’s life via her poems. Her mother applying lipstick or driving a car with her as a little girl, not on vacation, but “running.” Her dad who says, “I’ll be right back … Keep the doors locked,” as he heads into a bar, a man who “will break so many responsible father rules. Except the one about love.” Throughout these poems that span years, “fragile as glass, flakes like tiny mirrors,” Doty remains “the child whose heart beat with unwritten poems … who believed anyway in radiance, sunrises and cloud paintings.”

Susan Vespoli, author, Therefore, Illuminated and One of Them Was Mine

What Surrounds Youdoes exactly that, envelops one in an epic, spanning the vulnerable early childhood through accomplished adult decades. With retrospective clarity, Roxanne Doty details unending hope and ultimate salvation. When Doty points toward the poisonous incarceration that the “American dream” demands, slivers of light prevail, escaping the darkened hallways of addiction, racism, bigotry, and the mortgaging of one’s soul for an Ideal. She dares to examine deeply some painfully beautiful moments from her past.

Freda Jayne, author, Awake and Dreaming

New Book Release: Gary Greenbird Learns to Fly - by D.K. Wingerson

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Gary Greenbird isn’t like the other birds. While his siblings leap from the nest with excitement, Gary prefers the safety of home, watching the world from afar. He’s not lazy—he’s just scared. What if he falls? What if he’s not ready?

But everything changes the day his little sister ends up in trouble. Suddenly, Gary is faced with a choice: stay where it’s safe, or spread his wings and soar.

Gary Greenbird Learns to Fly is a heartwarming debut picture book about courage, family, and finding your strength when it matters most. With vibrant illustrations and a gentle message, this story encourages children to face their fears and believe in themselves—even when it’s scary.

Perfect for shared reading with children ages 3–8, this uplifting tale is a favorite for parents, grandparents, and teachers looking to spark conversations about bravery, self-confidence, and growing up.

Whether it’s bedtime or storytime, Gary’s journey from timid to triumphant will inspire young readers—and the grownups who love them.

About the author:

Wife, mom, grandma, beagle mom, and Cubs fan. Now I can add author to my list. Inspired by my grandson, who is on the autism spectrum, I decided to write a book about courage. My grandson gets more courageous every day, and so does the character in my book. Stay tuned to see what other adventures Gary Greenbird might decide to take. 

New Book Release: A Penny from Heaven - by Debora J. Quinn

 

Find it on Amazon HERE

Jenny enjoyed spending time with her grandmother. They played games, did puzzles, cooked, baked, and much more. One of Jenny's favorite things was helping her grandmother work on her coin collection. They spent a great deal of time together until her grandmother went away. But then something happened that let Jenny know her grandmother was good and thinking of her. This book is about having a special relationship with someone and remaining connected even after they leave.

About the author:

As she grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, Debora Quinn became an avid reader and lover of books. Early in life, Debora had a variety of jobs before she followed her passion to make a difference and became a teacher. Debora spent most of her career as a Special Education teacher. As a mother and teacher, Debora often used real events to tell stories. She then tried her hand at writing, still using actual events. Debora now lives in Arizona with her husband and a variety of pets.

New Book Release: CIRCLE OF EXISTENCE: FEC IT TO MAKE IT - by Maxwell Nyatsambo

 

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Circle of Existence is a reflective, accessible philosophy book that asks one deceptively simple question: what does it really mean to exist? Instead of treating reality as something fixed, mechanical, or indifferent, the book presents existence as a living system—one that evolves through participation. Reality, it argues, is not merely happening to us. It is happening with us.

At the heart of the book is the Circle of Existence (COE), a framework that describes reality as a continuous cycle made up of State, Process, and Field. State is the present snapshot of how things are. Process is movement, change, cause and effect. The Field is the deeper space of potential—past experiences and future possibilities constantly being updated. These elements do not move in a straight line. They loop, spiral, and refresh, never repeating in exactly the same way. What gives this cycle meaning is the Point of Observation: conscious beings. Without an observer, the cycle stalls. With one, it grows.

The book places strong emphasis on the Now, the present moment where all choice, experience, and change actually occur. The past and future are not treated as fixed destinations but as constructions shaped by what happens now. Within this moment, humans operate through three core faculties—the FEC Principle: Free Will, Emotion, and Conscience. Free will enables genuine choice. Emotion acts as feedback, signaling value and significance. Conscience provides an internal filter, guiding decisions beyond instinct or reward. Together, they make humans active contributors to reality, not passive products of it.

Throughout the book, familiar human experiences—dreaming, pleasure, creativity, moral struggle, the search for meaning—are explored as evidence that existence is not optimized merely for survival, but for experience and growth. Meaning is not something hidden “out there” waiting to be discovered. It is something formed through engagement, responsibility, and reflection. Even collective systems, including societies and artificial intelligence, are examined through this lens, raising questions about alignment, ethics, and participation in the wider cycle of existence.

In the end, Circle of Existence does not present itself as a final answer, but as a lens. It invites the reader to rethink their role in reality—not as a bystander, but as a meaning-maker. Existence, the book suggests, is unfinished. And what it becomes next depends, in no small part, on what you choose to do right now.

About the author:

Maxwell Nyatsambo was born in Zimbabwe — a country small in size, but unmatched in heart. Raised in a middle-class family during the early 1980s, he grew up at a crossroads: old-school values on one side, the dawn of the digital age on the other. By the late ’90s, while his friends were busy with childhood routines, Maxwell was already hooked on computers, teaching himself programming as a teenager.

Formal careers never materialized for him in Zimbabwe’s tough economic landscape, so he made his own path through entrepreneurship. At 21, he left Zimbabwe for Zambia. All he had was a battered laptop and an ever-expanding set of philosophies about life and learning. In his early twenties, conversations with friends pursuing theoretical degrees pushed him to create the FEC principle — a personal framework inspired by those restless, ambitious years.

Years later, in his late thirties, Maxwell found himself in Arizona. Locals like to joke, “How did you end up in Arizona?” The truth, he’ll tell you, is that nobody really ends up in Arizona — Arizona chooses you.

He set up a luxury car rental business, but his real passion was never far behind: experiential, project-based learning that challenges the old way of doing things. Through Innovation and Research Network Inc. (IRN), he built a learning institution focused on hands-on projects, peer review, and real-world accreditation.

His vision kept growing. Maxwell founded Maxit Concepts, an academy for life coaching and mentorship, and Lil Innovators, a platform that encourages kids to think creatively and critically. Each year, Lil Innovators runs on of the largest innovation competition for children — a testament to Maxwell’s belief that with the right spark, anyone, anywhere, can build something incredible.