In September 1969 Susan Taubes returned to Budapest, the city where she had lived until the age of eleven. Standing outside her childhood home amid the bustle of the late-afternoon rush hour—the veranda bright with plants, the bushes still filled with berries, the wrought-iron gate closed—Taubes was overcome by a feeling of “beauty and grief, […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/05/27/court-and-spark-susan-taubes/
In December 2021 unions won two victories that have significantly reshaped the American labor movement in the years since: Starbucks Workers United unionized the first store in the company’s history, and the NLRB ruled that organizers be allowed into the Amazon warehouse on Staten Island. By early 2022, two enormous corporations that had been considered […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/05/27/the-new-organizers-willa-glickman/
Nurse Florence®, What is Atrial Fibrillation? follows a group of students who learn what A-fib is, the causes, and ways to prevent it. With this being such a complex topic, how do you decide what information to include?
Every disease book in the Nurse Florence series addresses the pathophysiology of the disease, signs and symptoms, causes, risk factors, how it is diagnosed, treatment options and prevention strategies to avoid getting the disease when possible.
The Nurse Florence series is an inspiring collection for young readers to get them excited about STEM. Do you see this branching into other areas aside from books?
Yes, I envision a TV series as well as a live action movie franchise. We are planning a line of merchandise for next year.
What were some of your inspirations as a writer?
Jim Morrison of The Doors inspired my first writing attempts in poetry. The demands of my professors in my three Master’s programs to be concise and quick with accurate information from research helped me in my writing efficiency.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Nurse Florence® What is Atrial Fibrillation?
That they can approach a complex topic and learn the basic facts of a disease to feel empowered by their new knowledge to live a healthier life.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/27/michael-dow-author-interview/
The Rapture: The Great Escape or the Great Deception? delves into the intricate realm of Christian doctrine, a subject that perennially finds itself ensnared in controversy. Within the context of the Rapture, a multitude of diverse opinions and beliefs surface, igniting fervent debates. Nonetheless, Burton fervently underscores the imperative of aligning one’s convictions with the immutable Word of God, regardless of the reception they may encounter.
At the core of Burton’s magnum opus lies a profound proposition: the propagation of teachings regarding the pre-trib Rapture should not be undertaken by adherents. Bolstered by a meticulous analysis of scriptural evidence, the author tenaciously endeavors to dismantle the notion of the Rapture in this remarkable literary work. Drawing inspiration from his discerning assessment, as exemplified in 2 Timothy 4:3, Burton laments, “It is regrettable to assert, but the majority of individuals do not allow the Bible to obstruct their preconceived beliefs.” Undaunted, Burton assumes the mantle of an erudite instructor, boldly challenging deeply entrenched convictions surrounding the Rapture and its subsequent events. He posits that there exists either a pervasive deception permeating numerous modern-day denominations or a profound ignorance of scripture. This conviction serves as the impetus behind the creation of this thought-provoking book, intended to invigorate contemplation and intellectual curiosity.
A notable argument advanced by Burton revolves around the scriptural metaphor of the “early and latter rain.” He forcefully rebuts the contentions of self-professed “pretribists,” staunch proponents of the pre-tribulation Rapture, by astutely illuminating the fallacious nature of their stance. Burton astutely observes that while they assert the absence of Rapture references in the Old Testament, they conveniently employ the metaphor of the latter rain to buttress their Rapture beliefs. However, Burton argues that the verses in the Old Testament alluding to the “early and latter rain” cannot be attributed to the Rapture—a truly compelling point indeed.
For the inquisitive reader and the devout Christian fervently seeking truth, this book stands as a testament to exhaustive research and unwavering conviction. Whether readers find themselves swayed by Burton’s eloquently persuasive arguments ultimately hinges on the robustness of their own positions or their willingness to allow the sacred text to challenge their beliefs. Regardless, this invaluable book serves as an inexhaustible reservoir of knowledge on the profound biblical topic of the Rapture.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/27/the-rapture-great-escape-or-great-deception/
“Christmas in Cave Creek” follows Lucy Vaughn who, after a shocking accident involving an unidentified creature during a Christmas visit to her hometown, must unravel the unsettling mystery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I have always loved cryptozoology – the study of animals whose existence is, as of yet, unsubstantiated, or animals thought to be extinct and then rediscovered. I grew up in a small Virginia town with its own creature folklore, and even organized a cryptozoology club. These experiences helped my imagination foster a “what if…” scenario that became the basis for the plot.
Lucy and Thorne are interesting and well-developed characters. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I wanted characters that were at once relatable and unique. Each of their personalities have a natural inclination for pursuing clues and getting to the bottom of a mystery. Lucy likes entering sweepstakes as a hobby, which comes with certain personality traits. She doesn’t mind taking chances and keeps at it because she believes perseverance breeds luck. At the same time, she cares deeply about her friends and family and can put aside personal goals to ensure their safety. Thorne is a great compliment to Lucy since he believes in facts and research instead of luck. His tenacious personality was a perfect fit for his life goal of news reporting. But he also cares about people a great deal which is what brings passion to his work and to solving the perplexing mystery in Cave Creek. And his passion for Lucy? Well, you’ll have to “read all about it” as the journalists say.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Set against a fun, fast-paced creature mystery, the prominent thematic elements in the book explore relationships – long-standing, ex, and new relationships between family, friends, and lovers. It’s through these relationships that you learn who the characters are, what they are made of, and the lengths to which they will go to either help or destroy the people in their lives.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m in the final polishing stage for The Ballad of Buddy, a stand-alone spin-off novel from the Lucy Vaughn Mystery Series that delves further into the story behind and mysterious disappearance of Lucy’s problematic ex-boyfriend Buddy Wilson. Like the Lucy novels, Buddy’s story combines mystery with a bit of romance. The Ballad of Buddy will be available this year. But Lucy fans can look forward to a third book in the series coming soon after!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | BookBub
Christmas can be a devil of a time.
Screeching tires, smoldering rubber, a near miss on a deserted highway… When Lucy Vaughn returns to her hometown with new boyfriend Thorne for Christmas, their quiet holiday plans are disrupted by strange reports of a mysterious creature. As they investigate, they realize things are more complicated than they initially appeared. Now the couple must race to find out what’s happening before the entire town is put at risk. A burgeoning romance, holiday mystery, and past relationships collide in this second Lucy Vaughn Mystery novel, a riveting read that will have fans turning pages until the surprising end.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/27/solving-the-perplexing-mystery/
The Intrepid: Dawn of the Interstellar Age follows two space crews investigating a potential planet for colonization who discovers a mystery that could alter the course of the human race. What was the inspiration for your story?
It is a big challenge, sitting down to construct a story world and a plot that are not only compelling and fresh but that also have something meaningful to say. My initial inspiration was not for the story itself; it was to write a story that could express the ideas that I believe are the most important for us to be thinking and talking about, as Earthlings. Of course, I then had to find inspiration for the actual story.
I wanted to write hard sci-fi that was as scientifically accurate as possible because, as a scientist, it often bothers me how Han Solo and Captain Kirk manage to avoid the effects that Relativity should have on their relationships with everyone in their lives who is not traveling with them — or aging at the same rate.
I am also passionate about science and believe in promoting scientific literacy. While my background does include the entertainment and technology industries, I was also a science teacher for over a decade, teaching Chemistry and Environmental Science. I am also the co-founder of an international scientific think-tank called The Quantum Bicycle Society (Quicycle.com), where we are making interesting progress in understanding the electron and magnetism at the sub-quantum level. So I wanted my science fiction to reflect the most up-to-date scientific concepts, as well as to show how cool, interesting, and intuitive so many aspects of real science and engineering can be. In fact, I sometimes like to call this S.T.E.M. fiction rather than science fiction.
When it came to the story itself, I wanted one that was not only fun, surprising, and compelling, but that also spoke loudly to many of the central issues surrounding our humanity and the global socio-economic and geo-political interactions that shape our world — today and moving into the future. Human nature and the state of our race is something I have been contemplating for many years. It is the subject of a non-fiction book that I hope to release soon, called The Animal In The Mirror. In it, I seek to unmask our instinctive nature and the way that our fears and emotions govern our thoughts and actions. It is the precise cause of all of our individual and societal dysfunction, and creating a story world provides a wonderful opportunity to present such a message exactly the way I want to say it. In my estimation, the truth of our biological nature is the single most important message about humanity that humanity needs to hear. It is the reason I am writing The Animal In The Mirror, and it is also the reason I wrote this novel.
Although I had not intended to write novels at all, I very much do intend to put these ideas out into the world. A novel seemed like one more logical avenue to employ for the purpose. It also allows these ideas to be presented to those who might not pick up a non-fiction book about human behavior and its evolution as soon as they would an interesting sci-fi novel.
I wanted my story world to bring together some of my favorite sci-fi elements, to write the kind of sci-fi that I would enjoy to read (or watch). I’m a big fan of Asimov, of movies like Contact or Passengers, and shows like The Expanse. My main concern was that it is difficult to approach story elements like the existence of extra-terrestrial civilizations or space colonization without it becoming cliched, cheesy, or implausible, and I really wanted to avoid that if I could.
That is why I decided to write about what our world might be like in 50 years from now, what might be in store for us en route to that future, and how we might react as we reach towards the stars. In reality, how will we humans approach such an interstellar step? Will we manage to achieve and to maintain a stable and peaceful world order? Or will our biological nature get the better of us?
And what if, on our journey, we encountered something REALLY unexpected?
The science inserted in the fiction, I felt, was well-balanced. How did you manage to keep it grounded while still providing the fantastic edge science fiction stories usually provide?
Firstly, thank you. I appreciate you describing it like that. I think a gripping story can occur in the context of any level of science or technology. As a long-time fan of NASA, I wanted to explore what it might be like — what it might really be like — on the first manned mission of exploration to the closest star system — Proxima Centauri, and without employing any ‘fantastical’ science. (Except for one or two story details, like the propulsion speed, for example, but even that I attempted to base upon real physics concepts.)
As I mentioned before, one of the reasons for writing this book was not only to promote scientific literacy but also to bring more attention to the scientific breakthroughs made by members of our Quicycle group. In addition, as a science teacher, I always prided myself on being able to convey scientific concepts in an intuitive and compelling way, making them accessible even to those who don’t see themselves as the ‘science type.’ Science is, after all, a description of the universe around us, and the cosmos is nothing if not super interesting. And science should be intuitive; our own experiences of the world should enable us to relate to the concepts. The fact that many people don’t know the parametric equations that describe a sphere does not mean that they do not have a clear understanding of exactly what a sphere is.
So I don’t think sci-fi needs to dumb down the science in order to be compelling. I think, science is so cool that, if it is incorporated correctly, it can make the story even more compelling. That was my hope. The fact that you asked how I managed to keep it grounded and well-balanced makes me very happy that, at least in your estimation, I succeeded.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The most important theme was how we humans must evolve our behavior and consciousness in spite of our biology — in spite of the fear-based emotional imperatives that hold us back and slow our (psychological) progress, no matter our technological advances. If we choose to, we can evolve our society far more quickly and far less painfully than our instinctive nature would otherwise cause us to endure. But in order to choose it, we must first recognize and accept it.
There are also many misconceptions and unscientific ideas that pervade popular culture regarding important scientific ideas. One example is the Big Bang. It is an idea that violates many basic laws of physics, yet has become a fixed idea — dare I say, a dogma — in the minds of many scientists, and as a result, in the minds of the layman. Fortunately, observations of the James Webb Space Telescope are helping to change that. I also believe it is important that we all understand that our instinctive nature affects our science as much as it affects any other arena of human thought and interaction. It affects our biases and perspectives, and when money or influence are at stake, they corrupt the efficacy of our science. It would be naive to pretend otherwise.
To me, one of the most important things to be concerned with in this life is our deeper purpose. In this book, I try to explore that question on a larger scale. Is it about biological evolution, the evolution of consciousness, or even the idea of galactic community?
It is my deepest hope that, after finishing this book, the reader will continue thinking about it for a long time to come.
Isn’t that why any of us write?
Will this novel be the start of a series or are you working on a different story?
I am very pleased with the way this story world came out. It presents many possible opportunities for sequels and prequels. I have started putting some ideas together for a sequel, and I find the prequel idea also quite compelling. As I mentioned above, I am also working on the non-fiction book about human behavior, The Animal In The Mirror, and I hope to have that finished soon. (I have never found it easy to focus on only one thing. There are just far too many fascinating things out there!)
Author Links: Website | GoodReads | Facebook | Twitter
When crews on the first two interstellar missions confront the same confounding mystery, their dispute over what it means could alter the trajectory of the entire human race.
Thirty years after the last war, in a world of plentiful energy, Lunar and Mars bases, and a global federation of nations, an international crew of exceptional men and women sets out to explore the closest potentially habitable planet in the Alpha Centauri star system.
The stakes become elevated by the unexplained presence of another ship from the solar system, a ship with weapons. When the two crews interpret a perplexing find on the surface quite differently, it brings them into a conflict that threatens to lead to a nuclear showdown — with consequences more far-reaching than they could have imagined.
They may be over 4 light years from Earth, but the implications could not hit closer to home.
And they are too far away for two-way communication.
More than just another space saga, this wild, hard sci-fi ensemble drama (with a touch of romance) digs deep into human nature and the animal instinct that keeps us from elevating our existence. The only question left — is humanity doomed to repeat its mistakes, or are we ready to take the next crucial step?
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/27/isnt-that-why-any-of-us-write/
The Secrets of the Wild follows the creatures of the woods as they embark on their adventures away from the eyes of humans. What was the inspiration for this whimsical tale?
I have always had such a blurred line between what separates something from being an animal vs. being a human being. As I have gotten older, I realized that blurred lines are beautiful. I think that if more people who do hold authority, that do have the control, if they weren’t so set on letting their imagination and childhood go, we as a society would be a lot better off. My inspiration came with the intent to inspire younger generations and to stimulate emotional and educational development. The most pure and unconditional love I have ever received has come from animals and I want the entire world to be open to accepting that every creature on this Earth has as much right to be here, to love, and to exist just as much as you and me. Regardless of the uncertainty they understand you or the actual fact you can’t understand them. With humility, kindness, and patience comes understanding.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I was aiming more to trigger a sense of passion, awe, and creativity that led the readers into their own personal path of education. Certain aspects to do with the exploitation and abuse of animals really just tie into the morals I value and withhold within myself. You never want to force education, but bringing up real world issues gently can head start our children for a brighter future!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with your illustrator?
It was an intimidating process honestly. This being my first experience publishing a book, I was very unsure of what I wanted or how to move it along. But, Srimalie and the company did such an amazing job. It’s almost hard to give direction when who you are working with does such an incredible job bringing your ideas to life. The illustrations triggered a confidence in me about my story that I had not had before. Truly such an incredible job and I am so thankful.
What is the next story that you’re writing and when will it be published?
I write very frequently, and most recently I have been having some pretty intense dreams. They are so bizarre and unfathomable it makes me want to create and build off of them. The constant spewing of ideas and characters make it somewhat difficult to really sit down and have one specific plan of action. I am working on a couple different things and of course, you will be in the loop!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/27/inspire-younger-generations/