Until very recently, few people doubted the government’s authority to disarm domestic abusers. That changed two summers ago, when the Supreme Court announced in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen that only gun laws “consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation” pass muster under the Second Amendment. By requiring gun […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/11/25/bad-facts-bad-law-supreme-court-guns/
In the December 7, 2023, issue of The Review, Nicolas Niarchos grapples with the conclusions of Siddharth Kara’s Cobalt Red, an urgent but sensational account of cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: “Having seen what [Kara] describes, I can attest to just how shocking the conditions in some mines are—and even more […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/11/25/hidden-crimes-nicolas-niarchos/
Manners in the Great Kingdom guides readers on how to build and strengthen relationships with others while also promoting their personal growth through the inspiring stories of Prince Max. What is your background and experience, and how did it help you to write this book?
As children, we don’t take much of our parents’ advice. But in time, all the railings pop up. I had the honor of growing up with good parents. They did everything possible to get a good education and habits. They taught me to achieve my goals more easily. After finishing the barracks, I opened a coffee aperitif. I worked as a bartender. I often had to listen to people’s problems. Involuntarily, I began to understand people. My conclusions were that the problem was rooted in upbringing and habits.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
Observing the increasing blurring of deep human relationships. Due to the rapid increase in technological progress. I set out to write a book that would inspire people to embrace the power of relationships and take the path of personal growth. I wanted to create a book that was both helpful and inspiring.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from your book?
Many people can read it, but what really matters is what they will absorb and apply in their lives. I hope they accept history; that’s a plus. The more this is a success. I can only quote one sentence from the book, “God gives, but we must strive to take.” A simple yet profound statement that resonates strongly: life is not served on a silver platter; we have to fight for what we want and make real efforts to reap success.
What is the next book you are working on, and when is that book due out?
I am currently finishing my fourth book 369 Hours of Punishment. In this story, teenager Tim, the son of millionaires, is challenged to change his life. He rebelled against his parents by refusing to go to school. As punishment, they send him to live for two weeks with a poor family in the countryside. Tim befriends the family’s children, learns new skills, and begins to understand that financial wealth is not the most important thing in life.
Tim learns how to take care of himself and how to have fun without money. He also learns the value of friendship, family, and love. History for the present, giving valuable lessons. I hope it will be on the market by the end of March 2024.
Author Links: Goodreads | Facebook | Linkedin | Website | Amazon
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/11/25/power-of-relationships/
GENEFIRE follows a PhD student studying the DNA of a young girl who discovers a warning from the future about Earth’s destruction. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Having been through a PhD myself, I know how hard it can be. It really can feel like the world will end if you don’t finish your PhD. As an academic over the last 15 years, I have also supervised many successful PhD students, and have also seen the whole range of experiences. Many of my former students were the inspiration for Milton, trying to capture that PhD experience in fiction. The journey that Milton goes through is a bit of a metaphor for that experience when you feel like nothing is going right in your PhD, then suddenly you find something amazing, but then your supervisor pours cold water on the idea. You try like crazy to replicate the results (“it’s not a real result unless you validate it”) and end up heading to your PhD viva filled with imposter syndrome and feeling as though you’re on trial.
The other inspiration for this story is the idea of writing in DNA. I have always been fascinated by the idea that we could write messages in DNA, and I wondered how far could we take it?
The science inserted in the fiction was well-balanced. How did you manage to keep it grounded while still providing the fantastic edge science fiction stories usually provide?
As a scientist, it was important to me that the science presented in GENEFIRE was either possible with today’s technology, or easily plausible and likely to come true. Genetic engineering in humans is on the cusp at the moment. Only a few days ago, there was an announcement of regulatory approval in the UK for curing sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia with CRISPR gene editing technologies. It starts with noble disease-curing goals, but where does it end? That is what this novel sets out to explore. We are already far behind the technology in our understanding of the ethics and potential consequences of editing genes. The main theme of the novel is the idea of unintended consequences and the ethics of tinkering with the human genome. There are some harder sci-fi elements but balanced out with fast-paced action and suspense as the characters make their choices and follow their destinies. I hope that most readers will be willing to come along for the ride.
What was one scene in the novel that you felt captured the morals and message you were trying to deliver to readers?
There is a scene on the international space station where all hell breaks loose. The dangerous chemical that Gessica discovered has arrived with the refugees from Earth and has contaminated the ISS. Everyone is in danger, except Tammy, who is immune to the danger due to his genetic makeup. He has to watch all of his friends die a horrible death. That is the culmination of everything going wrong from one terrible mistake.
“Sweet mercy! What a mistake.” – Gessica Kelly.
Will this novel be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
Yes, I am hoping this is part one of a trilogy. Being the serious “planner” that I am, I have the next two books plotted out (no spoilers), ready to be written, if only I could find… Now where did I put that time? I can’t seem to find it anywhere.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Sometimes it feels as though the world will end if you don’t finish your PhD. For Larry Milton, it’s true.
Larry has discovered a dire warning from the future about Earth’s destruction — written in the DNA of a young girl.
With the destruction of the planet at stake, and no one believing him, he goes to extraordinary lengths to help the messenger from the future save the world… and try to finish his PhD at the same time.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/11/25/unintended-consequences/
The Molossus of Old Man Moyer follows an ex-con hearse driver who encounters a mythical dog, the Molossus, one night, taking him on a thrilling journey into the darkness. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The Molossus of Old Man Moyer is a story I started developing about 20 years ago. I wanted to make a story that could use a common event and turn it into a horrifying experience. That’s when I started to wonder, how can I make walking a dog that horrific event? That’s when I came upon the idea of a dog that looks old but is much older than what is possible. It first started as 200 year old dog, then while I was at it, I changed it to a dog that’s over 2,000 years old. As a bonus, I added magical powers, that the dog would grant the owner a life of luxury but in trade for the promise of a violent death. That setup a kind of Sword of Damocles situation that I found interesting. Then I discovered a list of instinct dog breeds where I found that one great dog breed was called the Molossus that went extinct in 1815 after first being discovered by none other than Alexander the Great. The last little touch was how to frame the story. So, I picked a profession that I first heard on a radio blog about a body transport and the sights, sounds, and smells of such a challenging and high-turnover job. This put the Molossus in the path of a hearse on a country road. That is when all the elements came together, and after that, the writing of the story came together pretty quickly with all the pieces in place.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
Old Man Moyer was the most fun. Most of his appearance is practically all dialogue as he pontificates about his life and history. I had a fun time with the Old Man. I didn’t really have a challenge with any of the characters as they came to me pretty fluid, and they all found their voice pretty easy.
The Molossus of Old Man Moyer delivers the drama so well that it flirts with the grimdark genre. Was it your intention to give the story a darker tone?
Absolutely, the story was always meant to be dark, as dark as I could get it. Beyond just what is spoken and the actions of the characters, I did load it up with dark elements: a hearse called the Deathmobile, psychics, dead bodies, paranormal, ghosts. And all of this fell into place in all formats, including the audiobook, in time for a Halloween release, which was perfect.
What is the next book you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I am currently working on the sequel to The Molossus of Old Man Moyer, which is really a prequel and will be one of two sequel/prequels anticipated within the next year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/11/25/a-horrifying-experience/
Conversations With My Daughter: How to Have a Healthy Baby looks at the rise in infertility issues and illness in children, what the cause of this increase is, and how to make changes that will lead to a healthy baby. Why was this an essential book for you to write?
As a Naturopath my focus is on health and wellness. Starting at the very beginning – that is, with a healthy baby – seemed the best place to begin. Prevention has always been the best form of health care and preventing illness in babies/children must be the foundation for a healthy future.
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
Indirect research covered the past 20 years in clinical practice from the first time I helped a woman conceive the child she had wanted for years to latest research and courses. Once I decided that this information needed to be shared and worked up the courage to start writing, it didn’t take long at all. Writing the initial draft of the complete book took about 8 weeks.
What is your background and experience in writing, and how did it help you write this book?
Writing was never a forte or love of mine. Attending university and college forced me to write essays which, one could see as the foundational training for writing a book. I wrote the book as if I were speaking to a patient in my clinic and hope that this is how it reads.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Conversations With My Daughter: How to Have a Healthy Baby?
Knowledge is power, and this equips every parent with the conviction that they CAN make a positive difference to the health of their child. In today’s society there seems to be a trend to just accept a diagnosis with very little questioning as to ‘why’ a problem exists. Explaining the human body, fertility and the pregnancy journey in light of modern-day living to the reader will hopefully empower them to take positive steps to achieve their desired outcome – having a healthy baby.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | LinkedIn | Amazon
Written by an accredited practitioner of Australian Traditional Medicine Society, Dagmar Ganser.
At last a book that delves into why so many children are born unwell or go on to develop debilitating illnesses. An easy to understand insight into the myriad of contributors to illness. Learn how to stop the illness continuum right at the beginning – ensure your children are born healthy. A must read for both women and men.
Dagmar instills years of her medical experience along with thorough scientific research which cultivates into a significant resource for all prospective parents. Be empowered rather than overwhelmed by understanding how your body works and what you pass on to your baby. Once you realize that you can make a difference and ensure your children, and your grandchildren, have the best chance at long healthy lives, you will ask the question, “Why aren’t we told these things?”
In this book, you’ll learn how to:
Optimize Newborn Health: Explore the correlation between parental well-being and child health, making informed lifestyle choices to promote the well-being of your newborn.
Improve Your Fertility: Empower soon-to-be parents with the resources needed to enhance their chances of conception in a context of decreasing fertility rates.
Focus on Environmental Impact: Special attention is given to the environmental factors that can affect health, emphasizing the potential transfer of toxins to future generations. This insight encourages you to consider the broader impact of your immediate surroundings.
Evaluate Your Lifestyle: Contemporary lifestyles can directly and unknowingly impact health. The book explores the influence of factors such as diet and habits on overall well-being.
“Based on extensive research and lived experiences, Ganser collects the most significant elements that’ll aid women, alongside their partners, in adopting an all-around healthy lifestyle that, by default, will blend into their own children, creating a purposeful, positive impact.
Filled with details… each point the author exposes is backed up by evidence, adding weight to the warnings provided. In the book, readers are shown how to recognize the way in which our modern lifestyles directly and unsuspectedly impact our health. Because of this, particular attention is given to what we eat, breathe, and surround ourselves with. Every toxic particle in our immediate environment will have the potential of not only affecting us. Still, it can also be transferred to our future offspring, negatively affecting their physical and mental health. Even though at first all of the modern problems exposed will seem overwhelming, by the end, each chapter will have fully wrapped up possible and feasible solutions to deal with them. The only thing necessary will be cultivating a strong will to remain on the path toward a healthy lifestyle.
This is a well-researched and deeply impactful book with key medical advice that will lead you and your children on a healthier path. Even though the book mainly focuses on women, current mothers, and mothers-to-be, anyone can find useful tips in it, given that the overall solution for nurturing healthy babies comes first by having a healthy life.”
Karen Almeida, Assistant Editor
Literary Titan
Pick up your copy today for a deep dive explanation on all things that will set up your conception for having an incredibly healthy and happy baby!
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/11/25/the-best-form-of-health-care/
L. Winfrey Young’s Freedom Boulevard offers a vivid journey through post-Civil War Kentucky, as it tells the story of four young African American girls grappling with their new sense of freedom in a world still scarred by slavery. Set in 1875, this historical fiction novel deftly explores the complexities of life during this transformative period, focusing on the lingering impact of slavery, the burgeoning civil rights movement, and the evolving racial and societal dynamics of the time. The narrative compellingly portrays the characters’ resilience in the face of adversity and their unwavering pursuit of a brighter future despite the unfair challenges they encounter.
One of the standout elements of this book is the intricate relationship between James Simmers and Charlotte. Their dynamic beautifully captures the nuanced nature of human emotions, illustrating their interactions of love and frustration. The book’s rich character development and the exploration of their emotional depths are a highlight, though, at times, the abundance of characters and the rapid shift between perspectives can be somewhat overwhelming. A more streamlined narrative could enhance the reading experience, yet those interested in historical and character-driven novels will likely appreciate the depth and detail.
Winfrey’s narrative style is bold and unflinching, particularly in portraying racial themes. The book does not shy away from depicting the harsh realities of racism and its deep-rooted presence in society, even post-slavery. This raw honesty in storytelling, while sometimes confronting, adds a powerful layer of authenticity to the book. It resonates personally, especially as it reflects the continuous struggle against racial prejudices and the internal conflicts faced by African-American communities.
Freedom Boulevard excels in immersing readers in a pivotal historical era, providing an insightful look into the enduring effects of slavery. Its compelling content makes it a significant read for those interested in historical narratives, the complexities of human relationships, and the ongoing journey toward social justice and equality.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/11/25/freedom-boulevard/