Rutu Modan, who designed and drew our blossoming Spring Books cover, is an Israeli graphic novelist and artist who lives in Tel Aviv with her family. I first met her at the 2013 Edinburgh International Book Festival, where we were both on a panel to discuss our graphic novels. I loved hers, The Property, which […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/04/08/perpetual-disaster-and-desperate-humor/
Cargo 3120: Ties that Bind follows a retired mercenary on one last mission, which ends up in the middle of a galactic power struggle to control the new energy source. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The efforts to find viable alternative energy sources for fossil fuels in our world today was a major part of that inspiration. For our story, the creative team, Daymond C. Roman, Lloyd Walker Jr., and I wanted to raise the stakes. In our universe, the powers that be left the energy crisis unaddressed for far too long. Now, the need for a new energy source is critical, as countless terraformed planets and moons across the galaxy are in jeopardy. Specifically, the technology that these planets rely upon to maintain their modified atmospheres are on the verge of failing due to the growing scarcity of the existing energy source: Krillium Ore. In Cargo 3120, Marcus finds himself caught in the middle of that power struggle, forcing him to make hard choices that will forever change his life, and the life of his family.
Captain Marcus La’Dek endures a great deal in this novel and has to make difficult choices at times. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Our goal for character development for Marcus, as well as the rest of the characters, was very simple. We wanted to make characters that feel real, even though they exist in the distant future. The reason for this was so the readers would hopefully make a real connection with them, and would want to follow them throughout the series. We didn’t want an action hero that existed for the sake of just being an action hero. Likewise, we didn’t want villains that existed for the sake of being “the bad guy”. In the case of Marcus, while he does have skills from his former occupation, he also has many things in his life that drive him to do the things that he does. He’s not perfect. I believe that Marcus having these flaws is something to which we all can relate, thereby making him feel more “real” in the process.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
As I started writing the book, I wasn’t shooting for any specific theme. I just wanted to tell the story the way I saw and heard it in my head. However, there were a number of themes that did emerge during the course of telling the story. Themes such as the power of family bonds, love, redemption, and even forgiveness. But there were also other themes that emerged, such as revenge, betrayal, and the fact that our actions have consequences. And that in the end, you have to step up and take responsibility for your actions.
Where does the next book in the series take the characters?
Because cargo 3120 is intended to be an ongoing series, the second book will pick up where the first book ended. It’s difficult to tell you exactly what happens without giving anything away, but what I can say is that the next book largely takes place on the war torn planet of Bion IV, the home world of one of the characters. I intended to release book two last year, but due to health and other personal reasons, I was unable to meet that goal. The good news is that I’m back on track, with plans to release the book this year. And I want everyone to know that I’m working hard to make sure that the second book (subtitled: “Severed Ties”), will be worth the wait.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
…because there’s another intergalactic franchise that’s about to suck you into a futuristic adventure like you’ve never experienced before!
The year is 3120 and the Milky Way is in turmoil. Each alien race, including humans, is fighting over the scraps of what’s left of Krillium, the current energy source.
But there’s a new source of energy on the horizon: Ladium Crystals…
…And that’s about to change everything as the powers of the universe jockey for control, knowing whoever gets control of this precious resource will reign supreme within the galaxy.
It all starts when Captain Marcus La’Dek, a retired mercenary fulfilling one last mission to help his old buddies, unknowingly finds himself right smack in the middle of this galactic power struggle when he transports mysterious CARGO to the outer reaches of the stars.
If you’ve been searching for the next big book, this is it!
This action-packed science fiction novel is a high-octane, fast-moving adventure that will literally reach out and grab your attention from chapter one and not let you catch your breath until you’ve reached the last page!
Cargo 3120: Ties that Bind has received multiple honorable mentions:
Honorable Mention – 2022 Beach Book Festival
Honorable Mention – 2022 San Francisco Book Festival
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/08/forcing-him-to-make-hard-choices/
Drawn Into Danger: Living on the Edge in the Sahara by Keith Costelloe is an action-packed novel that follows 24-year-old Dave as he ventures into 1978 Algeria to teach English. Seeking an escape from the monotony of life in the UK, Dave is eager to explore this new world and delve into his bisexuality. However, as he becomes increasingly immersed in Algerian culture, events take a dramatic turn, and Dave is unwittingly drawn into a secret police operation to thwart a coup. The ensuing chaos forces him to question the true cost of revenge.
Costelloe’s narrative is fast-paced and engaging, making for an enjoyable read. While numerous characters are introduced throughout the story, the central focus remains on a select few. Dave, the protagonist, is well-developed, effectively capturing his overwhelming experiences within the unfamiliar environment. I would have loved to have seen more about Dave’s relationships with Sue and Moussa to get insights into his romantic connections. I found Dave’s inner struggles with his own sexuality realistic, and readers will be able to relate to his emotions. The themes of friendship and loyalty are strongly woven into this narrative, combined with the life-threatening danger and conspiracy. The historical context regarding Algeria’s past was fascinating and will appeal to those that enjoy historical fiction.
Drawn Into Danger: Living on the Edge in the Sahara is a novel brimming with action, and its concise storytelling ensures a quick and captivating read. Thrilling subplots surrounding the secret police and local culture will keep readers engaged until this suspenseful story’s end. Author Keith Costelloe’s ability to bring readers into his world through his descriptive writing makes this an unforgettable novel.
Pages: 230 | ASIN : B09TDCX4YZ
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/08/drawn-into-danger/
Gardens, Groves, and Mechanical Trees follows a professor and former student who discuss the ethical implications of AI development. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
From a deep-rooted interest in the Sociology of Values and Beliefs, Ethics, and, the freedom of story-telling in Near-Future Fiction, I felt inspired to take a favorite quote as foundation for writing about the emergence of Artificial Intelligence in western society.
The re-quote from the work of Max Weber is:
“There are, to use the words of F. Th. Vischer, Subject Matter Specialists and Interpretative Specialists. The fact greedy gullet of the former can be filled only with legal documents, statistical worksheets, and questionnaires, but he is insensitive to the refinement of a new idea. The gourmandize of the latter dulls his taste for facts by ever new intellectual subtleties. That genuine artistry which, among the historians, ranke possessed in such grand measure, manifests itself through its ability to produce new knowledge by interpreting already known facts according to known viewpoints.”
My initial inspiration is to explore whether Artificial Intelligence is being developed to be more like Subject Matter Specialists, that is the fact greedy gullet, or, more like Interpretive Specialists with the preference for intellectual subtleties. From this foundation, my research and writing to follow, evolved into the story exploring where wisdom, whether organic or artificial, may lie amongst the Gardens, Groves, and Mechanical Trees.
What do you think were some of the defining moments in Professor Garmin’s development?
Professor Garmin was not a politically correct, tenured academic reeling in the years. Rather he was true to openly teaching and to encourage Critical Thinking. What he taught was that nothing about artificial intelligence is easy-in easy-out.
Singled out for his commitment to a balance of Subject Matter and Interpretative influence, Professor Garmin was erroneously convicted and maimed for questioning the potential of unnatural Artificial Intelligence that would otherwise punish the natural, organic ability of humanity to teach its own values and beliefs. Professor Garmin was prepared to stand up to the AI bullying, until he was targeted and ultimately rendered both physically and emotionally submissive.
Now quadriplegic, and entering his new phase of life, Quad Garmin never accepted the submission, and ultimately overcame his physical and mental prison to discover self-determination on his terms. And, to attain his freedom and self-determination, all he had to do was match Curantus’ Advanced Artificial Intelligence, with the cleverness, cunning and ingenuity only a determined human could achieve and maintain.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this screenplay?
Once I started to research and write Gardens, Groves, and Mechanical Trees the thematic pallet was bountiful.
With respect the main characters of Professor/Quad Garmin and Curantis, an initial theme was that of organic teaching/learning versus inorganic teaching/learning. That is, whether the Advanced Artificial Intelligence of Curantus could accommodate both the organic teaching provided by Professor Garmin, and, while continuing with the inorganic teaching model of merely taking in data and mimicking responses from the processing of raw data and imagery.
An extension of the above theme evolved to provide creative tension when pushing the theme of whether being clever, might ultimately overcome artificial intelligence in a disagreement. Quad Garmin knew he had only his mind to use against the Artificial Intelligence of Curantus, and, that nothing would likely be settled with the RoboHumanoid in a direct Mano a RoboMano confrontation. Left for Quad Garmin to utilize, was his resourcefulness for being clever, cunning, and ingenious. And, of course, this challenge evolved into the theme of whether there would be escape or no escape from the power of Curantus’ Advanced Artificial Intelligence.
Having established some of the thematic storytelling for the main characters, the challenge became one of creating the setting.
What was obvious was that I wanted the broad setting/pallet to enhance and build upon the broader theme of Natural versus Unnatural. What evolved was the Road-Trip, or Yellow Brick Road theme of Curantus pushing Quad Garmin through Natural Gardens of Classic Beauty, and, through Unnatural settings of Irradiated Forests and at times the dark Goth/Steam Punk environs where Mechanical Trees thrive.
From this broad pallet I also wanted to develop the theme of how small a world the data-mimicry driven world of inorganic artificial intelligence can be within the expansive diverse Natural world.
Ultimately, there are the related themes of Natural, organic humanity of Professor/Quad Garmin, to be creatively juxtaposed with the Unnatural, inorganic technology of the RoboHumanoid, Curantus. To express these themes, and more, through the main characters and, to visually enhance the themes through the dynamic and engaging setting(s) was always challenging and a goal (goals) I hope to have realized.
Is there any moral or idea that you hope readers take away from the story?
AI… AAI will have… now has… the potential to coerce humanity into submission. What kind of submission? How much submission, or resistance to submission is there to be tolerated? How will AI force humanity to submit to its artificial notions… will there be violence… negotiation? Will artificial intelligence evolve to be entitled? If so, entitled to what… and will it all come from the resource’s humanity may or may not be willing to offer?
From these questions, will there be a synthetic form of cleverness, yet to be developed, experienced, or will the arbitrary processing of data and RoboMimicry be the only source of definition/redefinition for the future of humanity (our futures)?
These I believe are relevant questions, at a time when there are world’s leading technologists, founders of artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurs calling to pause the roll-out of Artificial Intelligence into the Public Domain. What I would hope is first, there will be a ‘pause,’ and second, that this story, if it is ever distributed into the broader Public Domain, may serve, and perhaps contribute as a form of entertainment that will encourage more populist interest and thought so humanity might appropriately begin to consider the potential ramifications of Artificial Intelligence along the path through the Gardens, Groves, and Mechanical Trees.
Author Links: Facebook | Website | Amazon
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/08/what-kind-of-submission/
Alexandria: Unshattered Love follows a newly divorced psychiatrist who goes on vacation to Paris alone and ends up on a journey of self-discovery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I truly enjoy being inspired by the power of love because love is one of the most complex emotions we could possibly have, and love, sees no color.
Alexandria goes through a lot of growth in this story. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Real-life experience, to some extent, observing others around me, including myself, evolved through life challenges and/or discovering new things about ourselves as life goes on and/or later on in life.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Firstly, romantic scenes to spark the imagination and to invite readers into the characters’ world desires – experiences – love – courtship – family strife – rich inner lives are given value – center stage.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Yes. Unshattered Love Book Series Book 2 title BELIEVE will be available this fall 2023.
‘Everything we think we know, guess again’
With everything on the line, will she risk it all for love?
Book 3 PROMISES will be released 2024.
Author Links: Website | Amazon
Her best friend Samantha invites her on a European trip to Paris. As Dr. Alexandria Belmont starts a new chapter with a bright outlook on life. She affirms her decision to travel abroad for the first time in her life.
At the last minute, Samantha is unable to travel because of an unexpected work obligation. She promises Dr. Alexandria Belmont that she’ll make up for her late arrival to Paris. Dr. Alexandria Belmont will be forced to question her lifelong friendship with Samantha. She will discover the connection between sultry-voiced Alessio, Samantha, and ex-husband Fredrick.
Perhaps, Dr. Alexandria Belmont carries her own secrets?
Alexandria is a powerful probe of matters of the heart and psyche. Its ability to take a psychiatrist’s growth and evolution to the next level beyond a romantic interest alone lends it a three-dimensional heart that will appeal to romance readers looking for more depth than most genre romance offer… The process by which Alexandria overcomes many engrained fears and preconceptions of who she is and her future makes for particularly involving reading… perhaps as compelling as the head-over-heels romance she finds herself entwined in.
Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book, Book Review
Embark on an unexpected journey…
A riveting fiction novel that engrosses one’s attention with a story full of conflict, tension, suspense, unexpected twists, and high stakes, all packaged effortlessly.
This Book Will Both Challenge and Encourage Every Type of Relationship.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/08/the-power-of-love/
A Path to Excellence shares your insights gained from personal experience and research that can guide readers to creating their best possible selves. Why was this an important book for you to write?
In today’s fast-paced, uncertain, and competitive world, many people struggle to find purpose and direction in their personal and professional lives. Many end up giving up, abandoning their goals, and giving in to despair. I have seen firsthand the impact that anxiety, fears, doubts, stress, and a lack of clarity, direction, and purpose can have on individuals and organizations. Furthermore, people feel uncertain about which path to take, especially when they know it’s a life-changing decision!
What choices and decisions we make now as we navigate the challenges presented by the eight inevitable cycles of life: transition, regeneration, focus, rebirth, balance, service, unity, and infinity matter for the future we collectively are creating. By writing A Path to Excellence, I aim to provide readers with hope and a clear roadmap for achieving success in their personal and professional lives, unlocking their full potential, and achieving their goals. To inspire readers to aim high and persevere when the tough gets going so they can reach greater heights.
A Path to Excellence was an essential book for me to write because I was called to offer practical advice and strategies for overcoming these challenges and achieving excellence in all areas of life; thus, each of us can exemplify high human potential. The insights and strategies presented in this book can transform lives and help people take control of their lives and achieve success across all the critical areas of life.
Ultimately, my goal in writing A Path to Excellence is to empower and inspire individuals to pursue excellence because it is a key driver of success and fulfillment in both personal and professional endeavors. When we strive for excellence, we are intrinsically inspired to continuously improve ourselves, our relationships, our skills, our service, and our performance.
This drive for excellence can lead to several benefits, including:
Pursuing excellence is important because it can help us achieve our goals, build our reputation, and lead to greater satisfaction and success in our personal and professional lives. As a transformational life and business coach and consultant, I encourage my clients to embrace a culture of excellence and to strive continuously for improvement in all critical areas of life.
The cover for this book is interesting. How did you create the cover for A Path to Excellence?
The infinity symbol is often associated with timelessness, limitlessness, and endless potential. In the context of excellence, the infinity symbol on the book’s cover represents the idea that excellence is a continuous journey with many stages rather than a destination and that there is always room for growth and improvement.
The number eight is also significant in many cultures and belief systems and is associated with success, abundance, and achievement in numerology. The number eight is considered lucky in Chinese culture because it resembles the Chinese character for “prosperity.” Additionally, the eight cycles of life refer to the idea that life is a series of stages or phases, each with its challenges and opportunities for growth.
The rainbow colors on the cover relate to personal development in several ways. Each rainbow color has a unique energy and symbolism that can be applied to excellence. They provide a framework for understanding and working with different aspects of the self. By tapping into the symbolism and energy of each color, individuals can cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves and their personal development journey.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The importance of mindset: Developing a growth mindset and positive attitude can be crucial for achieving excellence. This includes learning to embrace failure, staying inspired, and maintaining a sense of optimism even in the face of challenges.
Goal setting: Setting clear goals and developing a plan for achieving them is essential to personal development and achieving excellence. This includes identifying specific, measurable, and achievable goals, developing a plan to track progress, and making adjustments as needed.
Self-awareness: Developing a deep understanding of oneself, including strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, is a crucial component of personal development and achieving excellence. This includes learning to identify and overcome limiting beliefs and behaviors and developing a sense of self-awareness that allows for continuous growth and improvement.
Continuous learning: Pursuing continuous learning and skill development is essential for achieving excellence. This includes seeking out new experiences, learning from mentors and experts, and developing a habit of lifelong learning.
Perseverance: Developing the ability to persevere in the face of obstacles and setbacks is a key component of achieving excellence. This includes developing resilience, learning to bounce back from failure, and staying motivated and focused even when the going gets tough.
Overall, A Path to Excellence likely includes a range of ideas and strategies for personal and professional development and achieving excellence, focusing on using the eight steps of the octagon of excellence method to develop the mindset, skills, and habits needed to succeed in any endeavor.
What is one thing readers take away from your book?
One thing readers will take away from reading A Path to Excellence is a proven roadmap for enhancing and growing their spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, relationship, social, career, business, financial, and leadership life. They can use the Octagon of Excellence method to develop a growth mindset and strategic focus, take ownership and accountability for unlocking their fullest potential, and achieve success, greater well-being, and fulfillment.
Author Links: GoodReads | Readers Favourite | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Website
Are you tired of settling for mediocrity? Do you want to become the high-achieving person you know you can be? Are you ready to let go of your limiting beliefs and step into the prosperous, successful, and fulfilled life you know you are meant to have?
If so, A Path to Excellence is for you.
Thoroughly researched with authentic advice and ground breaking strategies, this illuminating blueprint for self-mastery invites you on a journey to realize your full potential, clarify your vision, and dare to achieve your dreams.
Inside, you’ll join #1 bestselling, award-winning author, Tony Jeton Selimi as he reveals a proven path to achieving the highest levels of personal and professional excellence. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Tony went from living homeless and penniless as a victim of civil war, to becoming a self-made millionaire and internationally recognised authority on emotional intelligence and maximising human potential.
Built on his critically acclaimed The Octagon of Excellence Method, this book breaks down Tony’s 30 years of experience into an easy-to-digest blueprint, challenging you to step beyond your limits and become the master of your destiny.
Inside, you’ll discover:
• The Eight Essential Components of Human Excellence
• How to Go Beyond Your Perceived Limits To Face Your Doubts, Excuses and Fears Head On
• A Step-By-Step Path To Address Challenges Mindfully, Overcome Distractions and Sharpen Your Focus
• The Exact Actions to Take to Break Free From the Internal Barriers That Are Preventing You From Achieving Your Full Potential
A must-read for anyone who dreams of creating a rewarding and meaningful personal, professional, and business life, A Path to Excellence will quickly become the key you need to realize your true vision of excellence.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/08/empower-and-inspire-individuals/