New Book Release: To Finish a Feud - by M. Redding

 

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If you are a fan of the X-Files, you will love this new agent, Trace Newater. He brings levity to the world of the supernatural, so check out book number 1 in this new ongoing FBI series.

There’s something about a feud... real or imagined, that burrows deep into the bones of a story. It doesn’t end when the last shot is fired or the last body is buried. Feuds linger. They echo. They learn how to wait. What begins as blood and pride often becomes something stranger over time, twisting justice, memory, and truth into shapes that no longer obey the rules of history.

To Finish a Feud is not just the first installment in the Trace Newater series... it is a time-fractured, mystery-layered descent into a conflict that refuses to stay in the past. What starts as an old Kentucky blood feud soon reveals itself as something far more unsettling... a legacy that moves through generations, leaving behind unanswered questions, impossible coincidences, and traces of events that shouldn’t be able to touch one another at all.

Set against the violent origins of 1882 and propelled forward by a modern-day FBI agent with a talent for asking the wrong questions or perhaps the right ones at exactly the wrong moment... the story weaves history, suspense, and quiet techno-conspiracy with forces that defy easy explanation. From a single gunshot near a courthouse to unexplained anomalies buried in forgotten records, from vanished men to artifacts that seem out of place in their own time, the past begins to press back.

At the center of it all is Trace Newater, a man driven less by answers than by patterns. As he digs into a cold case that should have stayed buried, Trace uncovers more than grudges and missing persons. He encounters distortions of time, of causality, of legacy, that suggest some stories don’t simply survive history… they bleed through it. What has been dismissed as coincidence, superstition, or legend may instead be evidence of something unfinished.

So, whether you’re here for the slow burn of history, the momentum of a present-day investigation, or the unsettling sense that time itself may be an unreliable witness... welcome. The feud isn’t finished yet.

About the author:

M. Redding is a writer who lives in the Phoenix area with his wife, Lee. He is a proud Arizona transplant, and originally grew up in the Detroit area but headed west to attend Arizona State University, where he studied Communication and became a lifelong Sun Devil fan. He’s called Arizona home for over 30 years and has no plans of trading the desert sunsets for snow shovels anytime soon.

A lifelong reader, Redding developed a love for writing somewhere between raising kids, working full-time, and wondering if there would ever be a quiet moment. Now that his children are grown, he finally has time to pursue the passion he's carried all along—telling stories. He writes with the hope that readers will laugh a little, think a bit, and maybe even stay up past their bedtime to finish just one more chapter.

Why I prefer standalone novels in my sci-fi series - by Vijaya Schartz

 

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Sometimes, you discover a novel and you like it, but you feel you are missing something, as it is part of a series, and you didn’t read the previous books. As a reader I found that frustrating.

I don’t want my readers to miss anything.

Another reason for writing standalones in series is that in each story there is a romantic element, and once the happy couple unites at the end, they may reappear later as secondary characters, but I need a fresh romance for the next story… and I like to write about a variety of different protagonists.

Consider my new series, The Protectors. In Book 1, Chi Warrior, my strong, disciplined, warrior heroine meets a handsome barbarian who shatters her preconceived ideas about the real world.

In Book 2, Chi Rebel, coming out in November 2026, the heroine is strong but flawed, making serious mistakes that could cost her life and cause planetary chaos… while the hero is a warrior monk in training.

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In the Chronicles of Kassouk, the alien planet with a human population evolves over the centuries, as each story features different characters, humans, aliens, and felines. From the prequel, Noah’s Ark, the story of how humans ended on the planet, to the conclusion, Snow Cheetah, when the planet is rediscovered by humans centuries later. Each book features a different couple in their struggle for survival, for human rights, freedom, and belonging.

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In all my series, the common thread is the setting, the world I created for each series. Whether it’s a Space Station like in the Byzantium series, or an alien planet, like in the Azura Chronicles and The Protectors, or a spaceship, like in the Blue Phantom series.

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Only for the Curse of the Lost Isle, a fantasy series following a family of gifted immortal ladies throughout the centuries, do the same main characters reappear in different books… as they did in history, according to Celtic legends.

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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: Gold Storm Rising - by M. Redding

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Some stories begin with discovery.

This one begins with a scream that no one can hear.

Gold Storm Rising is a science-fiction thriller forged in grief and driven by vengeance. Beyond the warships, secret technologies, and alien threats lies a far more dangerous force... what happens when a human being survives something they were never meant to survive.

The first contact with the enemy does not bring wonder. It brings annihilation. Ships vanish. Families are ripped apart in moments. Those left behind are forced to live with memories that never soften and questions that will never be answered. Survival becomes a curse... a reminder that the universe did not care who it destroyed.

This is not a story about hope saving the day. It is about obsession taking hold. About grief that refuses to heal and instead sharpens into purpose. The characters in these pages are not chasing glory or peace. They are chasing accountability... no matter the cost.

Revenge is not clean. It corrodes judgment, twists morality, and demands sacrifice from everyone it touches. As humanity races to understand an enemy that hides in the shadows of space, the line between defense and retaliation dissolves. Advanced stealth systems, covert missions, and brutal confrontations collide with raw human fury.

The darkness of space mirrors the darkness within those who choose to fight back. Every step forward pulls them further from who they once were. But turning back is no longer an option.

Gold Storm Rising delivers:

• Unflinching first-contact warfare
• A protagonist driven by loss, not heroism
• High-stakes space combat and covert technology
• A relentless descent into vengeance

This is science fiction without comfort ... where survival is only the beginning, and justice is written in fire.

If you’re drawn to darker military sci-fi, morally fractured heroes, and stories that ask how far humanity will go once everything worth protecting is already gone, this book is waiting for you.

Open it.

The Gold Storm does not forgive.

About the author:

M. Redding is a writer who lives in the Phoenix area with his wife, Lee. He is a proud Arizona transplant, and originally grew up in the Detroit area but headed west to attend Arizona State University, where he studied Communication and became a lifelong Sun Devil fan. He’s called Arizona home for over 30 years and has no plans of trading the desert sunsets for snow shovels anytime soon.

A lifelong reader, Redding developed a love for writing somewhere between raising kids, working full-time, and wondering if there would ever be a quiet moment. Now that his children are grown, he finally has time to pursue the passion he's carried all along—telling stories. He writes with the hope that readers will laugh a little, think a bit, and maybe even stay up past their bedtime to finish just one more chapter

New Book Release: Dollartorium - by Ron Pullins

 

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Called “a boisterous and thoughtful journey through the absurdities of modern capitalism” by Kirkus Reviews, DOLLARTORIUM follows Ralph, a man who makes world-class corndogs in a struggling Kansas shop. The work is honest, repetitive, and increasingly untenable as bills pile up and the economic gap widens.

With wit, compassion, and razor-sharp observation, Ron Pullins explores what it means to take pride in labor that society no longer values. At once funny and devastating, DOLLARTORIUM is a novel about work, survival, and the stubborn hope of people who refuse to disappear.

About the author:

RON PULLINS is a writer working in Tucson AZ. His works have been published in numerous journals including Typishly (Editor's Choice), Southwest Review, Shenandoah, Sunspot, etc., and been nominated for Pushcart. Pullins won the 2022 Malcolm Lowry award for Dollartorium, a satirical novel, forthcoming from Unsolicited Press, Feb 2026. His novella, Ice Dancing, 2019, has been published in Sunspot Literary Journal and Fracture will be published in the fall of 2025. Fracture was a finalist and published Sunspot 2023 First Chapter and the novella will be published in Sunspot Fall 2025. His plays, long and short, have won awards and been produced from coast to coast. A piece of his novel in progress, The Loin, was featured in a radio podcast by Mauhaus Productions, 2025.

New Book Release: Four Corners Voices - Stories - Essays - Volume 2 -

 

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Four Corners Voices: Stories, Poetry, Essays - Volume 2 is a collection of writing published by Four Corners Writers based in Cortez, Colorado. The pieces included (13 short stories, 25 poems, and 13 essays) were gathered through a submission process in the summer of 2025.

Gail Binkly (Editor), Sarah Carr (Editor), Chuck Greaves (Editor)

About the authors:

Jamie Nielsen is an ecologist and a returned U.S. Peace Corps volunteer, based in Flagstaff, AZ, with her husband, two teenagers, a puppy named Osa, and an ever-patient rescue dog, Rainy. Jamie’s writing appears in the Arizona Daily Sun, The Sunlight Press, Cleaver Magazine, Empty House Press, and she is a past contributor to the Arizona Authors’ Association Literary Magazine. She’s currently putting the finishing touches on her first memoir and next month’s Substack! She is honored to be one of more than 40 writers to be featured in the 2025 Four Corners Writers Anthology, Four Corners Voices, Vol 2.

New Book Release: Six Who Stopped the Steal - by Nancy Hick Marshall

 

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What Really Stopped the Steal in the 2020 Elections?

Explore behind the scenes of six men with strength, courage, and integrity who played a pivotal role in stopping the steal of the 2020 elections. This revealing account provides a basic primer for anyone seeking to understand these elections, what integrity looks like in action, and what it can mean for future elections.

Readers will learn:

• Who were the six?
• What monsters faced all Americans in 2020?
• What factors make a valid, canvassed, certified, audited election?
• What was the real story of the steal?
• What the six did, and why it mattered then—and now.

Nancy Hicks Marshall, an advocate for fairness and respect, draws upon her legal experience and familiarity with a county board of supervisors. By shining a light on these six men who courageously upheld their oath of office and their integrity, she offers this essential account of the 2020 elections and what we need to know going forward.

About the author:

Nancy Hicks Marshall was born and educated in the east and moved to Phoenix in 1975. She has always had a concern for fairness and strong dislike of the abuse of power. She writes in a conversational tone when possible, not overly academic, even when tackling a topic such as the nature of the voting process. A retired attorney, Marshall has written several books, usually fiction, for both adults and children.

New Book Release: Hula Girl - by Rob Lezcano

 

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Eighteen-year-old Tommy Tanner never expected his grandfather’s old yellow Corvette to carry him into a world of ancient gods, living legends, and dangerous magic.

But when Tommy discovers that a tiny hula doll on his dashboard is actually La’Ka, a sacred spirit tied to the goddess Pele, his life changes forever.

Suddenly, he is no longer just a kid trying to find his place.

He is the chosen guardian of a powerful legacy.

Guided by a mysterious journal, protected by talking great white sharks, and armed with a magical Makau necklace, Tommy is pulled into a hidden war for the soul of Hawaii. A dark force is rising, poisoning the land and threatening to extinguish Pele’s fire forever.

To stop it, Tommy must cross the ocean, face monsters born of corruption, and discover what Aloha truly means, not just as a word, but as a way of life.

Along the way, he will learn that courage isn’t about being fearless. It’s about standing anyway.

Hula Girl is a heartfelt, fast-paced coming-of-age fantasy that blends Hawaiian mythology, family legacy, humor, and adventure into an unforgettable journey.

About the author:

Rob Lezcano writes across genres, blending memoir, speculative fiction, magical realism, and myth into stories that explore memory, legacy, and the thin space between the ordinary and the impossible. His work circles questions of identity, love, faith, and the things we carry that refuse to release us. Rob mixes nostalgia with futurism, humor with heartbreak, and emotional honesty with bold invention. Influenced by writers like Ernest Hemingway, Ray Bradbury, Gabriel García Márquez, and Kurt Vonnegut, he treats tradition as conversation rather than rulebook, building both interconnected worlds and stand-alone stories meant to surprise and unsettle.

New Book Release: Uncaged Birds - by Mel Goldberg

 

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216 haiku written over several years, many published.

About the author:

Mel Goldberg spent decades teaching literature and writing to high school and college students across California, Illinois, Arizona, and as a Fulbright Exchange Teacher at Stanground College in Cambridgeshire, England. He taught people to read closely, to sit with a line until it opened up, and to trust what a few carefully chosen words could carry.

He sold most of what he owned and spent seven years traveling through the United States, Canada, and Mexico in a small motor home - following roads without fixed destinations, writing along the way.

He now lives in Ajijic, a village in Jalisco, Mexico, where the pace of life still allows a person to notice things. His stories and poems have appeared in print and online publications across the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Mexico.

New Book Release: A Search for Connection - 30 Flash Fiction Stories - by Mel Goldberg

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A Search for Connection is a vivid and emotionally resonant collection of flash fiction stories each under 1,500 words that explores what it means to reach outward, inward, and across time in pursuit of understanding, belonging, and meaning. Ranging from stark realism to speculative science fiction, these stories offer quick but powerful glimpses into the human condition. Though brief, each piece lingers long after the final line, revealing how connection can be both fragile and transcendent.

The collection opens with A Bowl of Stew, a haunting post-apocalyptic snapshot that takes place in the smoldering aftermath of an atomic explosion. Through the simplest of details a lone survivor, a makeshift meal, a moment of reflection the story captures the ache of loss and the ember of hope even in devastation. It is an intimate portrait of survival, where the small act of preparing food becomes a gesture of defiance against annihilation.

 

About the author:

Mel Goldberg spent decades teaching literature and writing to high school and college students across California, Illinois, Arizona, and as a Fulbright Exchange Teacher at Stanground College in Cambridgeshire, England. He taught people to read closely, to sit with a line until it opened up, and to trust what a few carefully chosen words could carry.

He sold most of what he owned and spent seven years traveling through the United States, Canada, and Mexico in a small motor home - following roads without fixed destinations, writing along the way.

He now lives in Ajijic, a village in Jalisco, Mexico, where the pace of life still allows a person to notice things. His stories and poems have appeared in print and online publications across the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Mexico.

New Book Release: The Gold Hunter, A Goldfinder Series Book - by Philip Atlas Clausen

 

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experiences a spiritual transformation guarded by the Old Ones for centuries. The vast amount of gold incites the interest of power mad Dain King. Here is a touching love story of brother for sister and youth’s desperate struggle to survive the darkness surrounding gold fever rampant on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Losing everyone he loves drives him to an unbearable desire for destruction. The maelstrom of the Civil War inspires Petr Valory to insane bravery, leading him to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Abraham Lincoln in Washington City at a meeting of war-weary souls. Finally, Petr Valory returns home, where a mysterious woman has built a stone house on the old homesite of the Valoryvale, leading to a final showdown with Dain King and the destruction of Gold Lake. The historical legend of the “lost gold lake” has never been told in a novel. The Goldfinder Series introduces the category Mystifiction, which is action adventure for readers ready for a red-blooded hero who has lived many lives of gold. Its journey ranges from the gold rich Sierras to the mystical Pyramid Lake of the Paiutes, to rowdy San Francisco, to the Redwood Empire. This series is for seekers of historically inspired adventure infused with mysticism.

About the author:

Born in California, Philip Clausen enjoys hiking the Sierra Nevada Range and Redwood Empire for inspiration and ancient memories. Clausen has a B.A. in Journalism from San Jose State and he studied fiction at the Iowa Writers School (Festival). He lives in Tucson, Arizona, where he retired after years of blue-collar work. He is a lifelong Rosicrucian (AMORC). He is dedicated to strong plain language and strongly opposes the language of “intellectualism.”

The author's voice - by Vijaya Schartz

 

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Unknowingly, what we usually like about an author is the voice. But voice is not style, or grammar, or the way an author strings the words together. Voice is more personal. It’s the way authors look at the world and how they share their own perspective with the reader.

It’s not just the words they use, but the subtle details they point out for you to notice. It’s the small things they describe that reveal so much about a character. It’s how they set the mood for a scene, the details they choose to describe when they introduce the setting.

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Let’s consider the master. Stephen King mastered the spooky genre, because he knows how to manipulate the reader. There are so many odd things in the haunted house, but he will describe everything as simple and ordinary… except for one tiny little detail, almost insignificant, but very disturbing. It could be a stopped clock, a drop of blood on a rug, a faint smell that doesn’t belong, a weird or unfamiliar sound.

Depending on the particular genre of your novel, these details will vary.

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I remember as a very green writer decades ago, submitting short stories to magazines. One editor who liked my story gave me some feedback that always stayed with me. My protagonist opened a closet to grab a pair of boots, and the editor mentioned I had missed a golden opportunity to define that character for the reader.

The editor wanted to know what else was in the closet. It would tell her what kind of person the protagonist was. Surf boards and roller skates? Warm shawls and sweaters? Tennis racquets? Military uniforms? Work uniforms? Cocktail dresses, Sports teams memorabilia? Was it neat or messy? I never forgot that simple comment and learned so much from it.

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Over the years, I have learned a lot about my writing from editors and readers. Knowing what you write also can help in promoting your work. I'm a positive, happy person, a problem solver, and it reflects in my novels. I write tight and make no apology for it. Straight to the point. And all my books are fast reads.

I was accused once of being too wholesome in my novels. I take it as a compliment, as this was my goal. At the end of my novels, I want the readers to feel good about the resolution, the characters, and about themselves. Justice has been served, the villains have been punished, and the universe is a safer and better place... for now at least.

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My heroes and heroines are not perfect, but they thrive to be better. They are brave, sometimes fierce, willing to face overwhelming odds against a higher power, willing to sacrifice themselves to save innocent victims. I do not kill my protagonists at the end. My novels are upbeat, fast-paced, action-packed, sometimes epic. And if you shed a tear or two, don't worry, it will all be worth it at the end.

Happy Reading!

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

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

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New Book Release: The Cancer Chronicles: A Journey of Faith - by Elizabeth Ajamie Boyer

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When I wrote this first blog/chapter I knew my Mom would die soon. Dad had passed in 1996, and now she was following him, both of terrible diseases brought on mainly due to life choices. Mom passed away December of 2016.

At that time, I thought I would never get cancer. No one in our family ever had it, outside of some minor skin type cancers. I ate, yes still eat, healthy. I exercised.

Yet, I was chosen for such a time as this.

About the author:

As a writer, Elizabeth Ajamie-Boyer dedicates all her work to her Lord Jesus Christ. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from ASU. She’s written six books, collaborated with her husband, TJ Boyer on a cozy murder mystery, and co-wrote several of the Mirror Gate Chronicle Books. She’s lived in Phoenix, AZ for most of her life.

 

New Book Release: Enduring Grief: For the widow and widower club - by Afton Zapata-Scow

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Enduring Grief: For the widow and widower club - a club no one cares to join. Membership is by default.

When the death of my husband left me stoic and numb, it felt like I was drowning in my small corner of the world. In 2010, I suddenly belonged to the widow club, a club no one chooses to join. This new identity created a shock to my heart, body and mind. After losing my husband to an eight-year illness, I faced the daunting reality of keeping my head above water, while navigating the emotional waves of widowhood, single parenthood and loneliness. Enduring grief is my journey through sorrow and heartache and provide support to women who find themselves in similar circumstances. Leaning on the counsel of friends and family, I was blessed with the rescue efforts of my community, a deeper faith in God and a steadfast hope for life beyond the grave. I hope to share insights of the widow fog, lessons I've learned, the type of strength to carry on, the healing hand of Jesus Christ, renewed purpose and a quiet joy in the simple treasures of life.

About the author:

Afton Zapata-Scow lives in Mesa, Arizona with her husband, Shaun. She is a teacher who loves writing children’s books for her students and grandchildren. Afton enjoys traveling with her husband to historical sites, especially U.S. capitol buildings and National Parks, drawing inspiration for her writing. Her memoirs include Enduring Miracles, Enduring the End, and Enduring Grief, which explore illness, loss, and healing. As a wife, mother, grandmother, and educator, Afton encourages others to persevere through faith, family, and hope, and to endure whatever challenges life brings.

New Book Release: Breaking the Chain: Cutting Toxic Family Ties & Reclaiming Your Life - by Stacie Webb

 

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Breaking free from toxic family relationships isn’t easy — especially when love, guilt, obligation, and fear are deeply intertwined.

Breaking the Chain is a compassionate, empowering guide for anyone who feels trapped in painful family dynamics and is ready to choose peace, clarity, and self-trust.

This book is not about blame.

It’s about understanding patterns, honoring your experience, and learning how to protect your well-being — even when doing so feels overwhelming or late in life.

Inside, you’ll explore:

• How toxic family patterns form and how they quietly shape your choices
• Why guilt, fear, and self-doubt keep you stuck — and how to loosen their grip
• Practical ways to set boundaries without losing yourself
• Tools for navigating grief, confusion, and emotional fallout
• Healing practices to reclaim your identity, voice, and sense of safety

Written with warmth, honesty, and lived experience, Breaking the Chain offers reassurance for readers who have tried everything — therapy, self-help, silence — and still feel unsure where to begin.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• Why does choosing myself feel so wrong?
• Why do I still feel responsible for their emotions?
• Is it too late to change?

This book was written for you.

You are not broken.

You are not heartless.

And you are not alone.

About the author:

Stacie Webb is the author of Breaking the Chain: Cutting Toxic Family Ties and Reclaiming Your Life, a compassionate guide for those healing from dysfunctional family dynamics. Drawing from lived experience, faith, and deep emotional insight, Webb writes to empower readers to set boundaries, reclaim their voice, and choose peace without guilt. Her work centers on emotional recovery, generational healing, and personal freedom, offering hope to those who have long felt unseen or silenced. Through honest storytelling and practical tools, she encourages others to break cycles of pain and step boldly into wholeness, resilience, and self-worth.

New Book Release: The Sounds of Unspoken Breaths - by Jenna Tulonen

 

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What if the loudest truths were the ones that we never said out loud?

In this deeply moving collection of 100 poems, poet Jenna gives voice to the quiet struggles that we carry - unspoken grief, invisible strength, the weight of feeling everything and nothing at once. Her words unravel the silence that we wear like armor, and speak gently to the soft places that we often hide.

With lyrical precision and emotional honesty, The Sound of Unspoken Breaths is for anyone who has ever felt like too much or not enough, for those navigating the in-between moments of becoming.

This is poetry for the quiet-hearted -

for the ones still standing,

even when it feels like falling.

About the author:

Jenna Tulonen (J. M. T.) is a poet with a retro soul and a deep love for rhetoric, crafting work that sits in the quiet spaces where grief, resilience, and vulnerability meet. Drawn to what lingers between words, she writes to honor the soft truths we often carry in silence. Her poems explore invisible wounds, unspoken love, and the emotional echoes tucked inside everyday moments, offering readers a sense of companionship and recognition. When she isn’t writing, Jenna can be found scrapbooking, learning new languages, or singing along to ’70s and ’80s classics. She creates with heart, honesty, and just the right amount of weird.