Tag: new books

Book Reviews, news from the self publishing world, outskirts press, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 10.15.2018 – New Releases!

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically new releases written by self-publishing authors and published by independent presses! Today we’ll be featuring brand-new releases in the Outskirts Press Bookstore!

If you are looking for a gritty period redemption story, this may just be the book for you. Set in a 1930s port city somewhere in the South, it features Joseph Curcio–homeless, disillusioned, recovering alcoholic–and Amanda, his former student,  who gives him shelter. Their platonic friendship gives him the stability to heal and a foundation upon which to resurrect his career in the writing of a diary–a diary he hopes to use to confront and understand his own failures, and recover his sense of self. Despite his best efforts, though, it seems as though his project is doomed to failure, and that the flaws which brought him down the first time will do so once more. Portrait in Broken Glass is written in sharp and incisive prose, with all the humor, humanity, and realism of the best fiction out there.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist with a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, Lari Kathleen Quinn specialized in domestic violence treatment and prevention–and her expertise shows! Teddy O’Brien, the protagonist of Kiss the Doors, finds herself stranded and struggling to get by in South Dakota when a road trip with her fiancé ends in tragedy. Later a witness to a domestic violence incident and surrounded by hostile strangers, Teddy begins to seek help–and begins to understand more about her own past as a survivor of domestic violence. As she slowly begins to rebuild her life and emerge from her depression, things in town take a sudden unexpected turn (or two!). This book is full of heart and, like Portrait in Broken Glass, finds its feet in a voice of sincerity and insight.

As the season begins when we must close down and mulch our own gardens for the winter, Debra Hester chronicles the days leading up to her mother’s death, and seeks to paint a portrait of all of the wisdom she left behind even while showing, in unflinching prose, the challenges remaining for those left behind: fear, anger, grief, and loss. Debra sets much of the book in the family garden as she grapples with all of those things and more, seeking healing in the beautiful backyard garden which was their shared legacy. A powerful, if heartbreaking tale, My Backyard Garden doesn’t flinch away from the difficulties of loss, but it ends on a hopeful note–reflecting the healing which is ultimately to be found in shared memories and a life well lived.

Last but certainly not least, we couldn’t close out this week’s new releases without mentioning Gabriel F.W. Koch’s latest book: And Comes Day’s End. Koch’s credentials are stellar: winner of the 2004 L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Award, winner of the 2016 CIPA EVVY Award for Fiction/Science Fiction and Merit Award recipient in 2018, finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Award in Science Fiction and Mystery, a nominee for the 2017 CIPA EVVY awards, and the second-place winner of the Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year award, Koch knows his stuff. This book features a new and compelling voice for Koch, and centers on Michael McKaybees, a private investigator working in New York’s five boroughs. When his best friend is killed and he himself is implicated in the murder, McKaybees must fight to clear his name by investigating the city’s criminal elements as well as its most preeminent citizens–all before he himself is locked away for crimes he did not commit. Murder gets personal in this great new mystery, and it’s a definite must-read for longtime Koch fans!

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As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry.This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

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news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Self-Publishing, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 10.16.2017 – New Releases!

hello October word abstrtact in wood type

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically new releases written by self-publishing authors and published by independent presses! Today we’ll be featuring brand-new releases in the Outskirts Press Bookstore!

Are you looking for a whodunit to liven up your October evenings? You can’t go wrong with Reginald Buchanan’s Deceived, a killer story with a serious twist. It follows the story of Joan Witherspoon, a rising star of an athlete and the kind of senior everyone hopes their children grow up to be: a bright spark, full of life and passion. But her life is about to get very complicated indeed. Tragedy strikes while she’s away at volleyball practice, and while her parents’ deaths are explained away by the local law enforcement at the time, she finds herself years later at the heart of a burgeoning serial murder story. There’s plenty of deceit to go around, as the book’s title indicates, but you won’t see the end coming until it arrives! Sure, it may not be as overtly spooky as a book with “Halloween” in the title, but Deceived is a fantastically creepy exploration of the various sides of grief, tragedy, and the mind of a killer.

On a lighter note, who hasn’t wanted to go backpacking or river boating or parasailing through Europe? (Okay, so that last one may be a bit too much, but there’s always room for a personal fantasy or two in the midst of a book review!) Francis J. Clauss is here to walk us through the jewel of the grand European tour of ages gone by: Italy, land of Roman ruins and lush wineries and volcanoes galore. But Clauss has something more to offer than just a smidgen of sight-seeing! A regular at the San Francisco Opera, West Bay Opera in Palo Alto, Opera San Jose, Santa Fe Opera, the New York Metropolitan Opera, and many foreign venues, he and his wife have volunteered behind and in front of the scenes at various venues and know the lay of the operatic land, so to speak. In this volume, Clauss takes readers on a journey through not just the heart of Italy’s opera scene, but also the history of opera and why it has become such an emotional lynch-pin for those like him, and why it has become a city- and nation-building force throughout the ages. Fascinating, right? More than worth a look!

Following up on the joyous ride that was the first book in this series, Tom Boyhan is back with a new installment! If you or someone you know has loved Harry Potter, The Adventurer’s Guide to Successful Escapes, or How to Train Your Dragon, here’s another fantastic fantasy series for young readers that really knows how to blow your socks off! With fire! Dragonfire! What’s cooler than that? I’ll tell you what: a story which combines the allure of martial arts (they win belts!) with boarding school (which we’d much rather read about than attend, except when it’s a magical boarding school for magical kids and DRAGONS) and podracing. I mean, dragon racing! Dragon racing is even cooler than podracing, in our humble opinion. But of course, not all is fun and games at the academy, and our intrepid cast of heroes must fight a shadowy organization in order to survive, save the world, and make it to class on time in the morning. They’ve got a full semester ahead of them, and we have a full evening by the fire reading ahead of us. Can’t wait for book three!

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As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry.This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

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news from the self publishing world, outskirts press, self publishing news, Self-Publishing, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 9.18.2017 – New Releases!

september

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically new releases written by self-publishing authors and published by independent presses! Today we’ll be featuring brand-new releases in the Outskirts Press Bookstore!

Are you looking to kick off the school year with some current and relevant material on supporting diversity in the American education system? We are! Of course, we may be biased by the fact that we have personal connections to a number of students and educators who might benefit from Joseph T. Mayhew and Robert J. Hudak’s combined experience and expertise–but it would be the rare American who didn’t have some sort of tie to these issues. (The Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon thing works for a reason!) Suffice it to say, this is one of our top picks both for new releases and back-to-school reads. Disadvantaged children deserve a better future than the one they’re given, and special education–rightly and compassionately and thoughtfully administered–may help them find that future.

Not everyone’s looking for a five-alarm snot bomb of a book on the eve of Fall … but some people are, and here’s a fantastic new example of the form! This is the memoir of Peter Gordon, who was pulled out of his idyllic life (he’d been recently remarried, developed a thriving career, and lived in a beautiful mountain resort) by a case of leukemia. The only solution? A bone marrow transplant, an invasive and dangerous procedure under his specific conditions. The book copy calls this a “real-world healthcare saga for our times, offering insightful lessons for cancer patients, caregivers, and medical professionals,” and it’s not exaggerating the broad appeal of this fantastic book! Just make sure to bring tissues.

Some of us may not have run across a Gothic novel (NOT to be confused with ‘graphic novel’) since grade school, when we had to read The Castle of Otranto and Northanger Abbey and–oh? That was just us? Not you? Never mind. Still, Gothic novels aren’t what you would consider run-of-the-mill mainstream fiction in 2017. Enter Dwight Brooks and Salvage Optic, stage left. Here’s a novel to delight and confound your expectations, what with its embrasure of archaic diction (a la the Royal Society, circa 1674) and its ferocious, beautifully-plotted character arcs. Did we mention there are pirates? Our bad. There are LOTS of pirates. And that’s fantastic, really. This is a book packed with swash, buckle, and literary Easter eggs which will keep the discerning reader busy in front of a crackling fire this Fall. Really, you couldn’t ask for a stranger–or more appealing–hybrid of a book!

No list of new releases is complete without a seriously awesome picture book! Bertyl, by Sandra Dobozi, fits the bill perfectly. This sweetly rhyming book follows the adventures (not to be confused with the piratey adventures of Salvage Optic) of a turtle looking to nail down answers to some of life’s tough questions: Who am I? What am I here for? Why am I not like other turtles? (Seriously, we can relate.) Fans of R.J. Palacio’s Wonder and its picture book counterpart, We’re All Wonders) will appreciate Dobozi’s take on what it feels like to be “different,” and to want to know one’s place in the world. This is the uplifting, positive, inspiring kid’s book we all need to read in the doldrums of 2017.

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As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry.This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

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news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 7.17.2017

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically new releases written by self-publishing authors and published by independent presses! Today we’ll be featuring brand-new releases in the Outskirts Press Bookstore!

If you’re looking for the perfect book to help you beat the summer heat, you can’t go wrong with Joseph Brisben’s Skip Day, a novel of rural Oklahoma and of one teenager’s ambition to leave a legacy.

Every year, during the high school’s annual ‘Skip Day’ celebration, the students craft a series of hijinks–but this year, 1959, Joe Ralston wants to make a special impression. He rents a hearse from a mortuary, covers it in graffiti, and then is challenged to see how many people they can cram inside. (The answer? 75. You bet these kids were creative.)  Things can only get worse from there, and better, from a story perspective, as Ralston and his friends work through their own personal issues and continue seizing upon every opportunity for fun that they can. This is the sort of book which commands your respect as well as your attention; conversations shift from making meaning out of live to civil rights to the correct way to coax your hungover friends to clean a hearse.

Sometimes, we all really need to hear that we’re more than the sum of our parts or the victims of circumstance, and this is nowhere more true than it is among teens. I Am More contains, as promised, a year’s-worth of empowering short meditations geared toward teens and young adults, providing what the author describes as “things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”

This book is not only perfect for young people, but for people of faith. Myia Ellington cites Philippians 4:8-9 as an inspiration, and speaks to faith as a platform or springboard from which to launch into a healthy, fulfilling future–“a life of art,” as she puts it. And Ellington should know; she’s CEO of Exclusively ME Motivations Inc, an empowerment specialist, spiritual counselor, teacher, and lecturer on top of being an author. She lives the kind of life many of us can aspire to–providing real leadership and hope to teens in need of that little extra boost to make it through the day.

Look, summer is about escape, isn’t it? And those fantasies which always seem too far out of reach at all other times of year. Well, with her new book Sons of Twilight, Collette Jackson-Fink invites her readers to indulge a little in those fantasies. This, the second in a series beginning with Daughters of Twilight, continues the story of Dane Coles–just your average member of a special tactical team trained to deal with ordinary human events–and the edenic war angel who has been brought jarringly back into contact with humanity after the traumatic conclusion to the Genesis story.

Here’s a story you won’t find just anywhere: with a sensitivity to life in a small Midwestern town, Jackson-Fink manages to construct an elaborate fantasy world which strikes just the right notes of familiarity to keep it grounded within the Western mythological canon–and is populated by characters who are bright and warm and interesting. The plot is gripping, too, which doesn’t hurt. Come for the brilliant fantasy, stay for the fascinating plot! Here’s hoping the final book in the trilogy doesn’t take too long to hit our shelves!

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As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry.This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.
Kelly
ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog, kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 6.12.2017

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically newly released self-published books!

  • Mrs. Bonnie Bunny Blueberry Pies

mrs bonnie bunny's blueberry pies delilah jackson hall

This week, I’d like to highlight some exciting titles coming hot off the Outskirts Press, starting with Mrs. Bonnie Bunny Blueberry Pies–a book which has made it to the Amazon Featured Book of the week list! In this thrilling children’s book, Outskirts Press author Delilah Jackson Hall tells the tale of Mrs. Bonnie Bunny and her famous blueberry pies (for which she wins yearly awards at the Fall Festival). These famous pies get Mrs. Bonnie Bunny some negative attention, however, when the Bunny clan and a few other mischievous friends of theirs decide to sabotage Bonnie and snatch her pies from the window sill before she can enter them in this year’s Fall Festival! Watch the scandal unfold amongst these critters and see the truth behind it all “in the most unlikely of places.”

  • Stan, the Little Turtle

stan the little turtle anne toole

Outskirts Press author Anne Toole is up next with another children’s book, Stan the Turtle. A true introvert, Stan the Turtle upset his mother by never wanting to meet the other critters that lived near his family. Instead, Stan insists on swimming on day long, all by his lonesome. This tale of an introvert takes an unexpected turn with Stan’s mom disappears, nowhere to be found, and Stan has no critter friends to help him find her! Will he be able to gain their favor and get help in his search for mother turtle? Read this amazing story to find out and “discover what important lesson little Stand learns.”

  • Good Morning, How Are You?

good morning how are you dr papijazz

Next up is Dr. Papijazz’s children’s title, Good Morning, How Are You?, a story which features Richard the Rooster. Richard discovers that being different can be a great thing, and that each and every one of us has some unique talent that we may need some help discovering. Downtrodden Richard had yet to tap into his unique talent and was feeling sad and lonely, going to bed in the dumps. However, one morning, a beautiful sunrise greets Richard and he is overcome with joy and simultaneously overcomes his depression. In that moment, Richard discovers his unique talent, and lets out a loud crow, teaching other birds around the globe that they can do the same!

  • Old Dog New Tricks

old dog new tricks marie-yolaine williams

In Old Dog New Tricks, Marie-Yolaine Williams paints a heartfelt story of a shelter dog who got a second chance. Hoping to encourage people to adopt shelter dogs, dog lover Marie-Yolaine wrote the tale of Boscoe, an 11-year-old dog who winds up at a shelter, competing with cute puppies for a potential new home. While most families come in and swoon over puppies, Boscoe’s ears perk up when a family finally comes in looking for an older dog. Read this wonderful, EVVY Award winning story to find out if Boscoe finds a forever home.

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As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry.This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

KellyABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog, kellyschuknecht.com.