In our September 19 issue, Andrew Katzenstein writes about one of Hollywood’s most distinctive contributions to the world: “The hope is that in figuring out what we mean by ‘screwball comedy,’ we might be better able to understand just what it is about these films that transports us.” Surveying dozens of movies from the 1930s and […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/09/07/son-thin-man-andrew-katzenstein/

Calliope Wakes follows a young adult woman who is plagued by relentless nightmares and strange uncontrollable events happening around her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I grew up in the Midwest where I looked like no one else. First-generation immigrant families sometimes don’t assimilate well and I was stuck straddling two very different cultures. You want weird looks? Bring chopsticks for your school lunch. My happy place growing up with the tiny city library and that’s where I started exploring. All the good classics–Lloyd Alexander, Patricia McKillip, Alice Hoffman, Andre Norton, Katharine Kerr, Susan Cooper. If it was available, I read it. I wanted to write a book about an outsider trying to reconcile two completely different worlds. And, of course, I wanted sweeping romance, epic battles, and earth-shattering endings.

Callie struggles with her nightmares and the return of Erik into her life leaving her questioning what is happening and if she is the cause. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

I needed Callie to earn her self-actualization. There’s always someone else telling you who you should be, what you should do, and weighing your worth, screw all of that. It took me a long time to realize I needed to run my own race and I pushed for Callie to start having faith in herself.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

For all young folks moving from high school to college, the mission should be to discover yourself. What do you believe in, what do you want to do with your life, what are your hard limits, or do you even have them? Emerging adulthood is a time like no other because you’re still unformed and that is your first shot at making yourself who you want to be. A key part of that is letting go of the past or resolving old trauma because you don’t want that weighing you down going forward.

Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?

I always intended for this to be a one-shot but now I want to write a full trilogy! Let’s see what my lovely publisher at Evernight Teen thinks. Celtic and Norse mythology is vast and wide-ranging but there are some fantastic myths that I want to tie to the young adult experience.

Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

The gods are alive, and they’re in Michigan.

Then buildings are collapsing, wolves are attacking, people are dying and only Callie can save them. Will this time be different? Will they finally live to see the sun rise on All Hallows’ Eve?

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/09/07/resolving-old-trauma/

Janszoon follows Hollywood icon Humphrey Bogart through his tumultuous personal and professional life who longs for adventure and a lasting legacy while learning about his ancestor, pirate Jan Janszoon van Salee. What inspired you to write this story?

At the heart of all of my historical fiction writing is my soon-to-be-published series about German immigration in the early Eighteenth Century. As the family historian, my wife and I undertook a journey tracing the path of my German ancestor, Hans Heinrich Gruber (no relation to the Die Hard Hans), from Basel, Switzerland, up the Rhine River to Rotterdam. From there, Hans embarked on a ship to New York City. While researching the New Netherlands, specifically the island of Manhattan, I stumbled upon the story of the infamously famous, fabulously wealthy Dutch Barbary pirate Jan Janszoon Van Salee. His sons were among the earliest settlers, and their descendants now number in the millions. Among these descendants is believed to be the Hollywood legend Humphrey Bogart.

As I traveled through the Northeast, from Philadelphia to Canada to Boston, gathering facts for my series, the idea for this book struck me. I envisioned Bogart, amid his career, exploring his connection to Jan Janszoon Van Salee. The story became a journey of self-discovery, legacy, and adventure as Bogart delves into his heritage to understand what it means to leave a lasting mark on the world.

What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?

Bibliography

Widing, Roy. Sluggy: Bogie’s Other Baby. Mayo Methot – Star of Stage, Screen & Wife of Humphrey Bogart. Orlando, Florida: Copyright 2019 Roy Widing. (pgs 131, 142-4)

Thompson, Verita, and Donald Shepherd. A Love Story: Bogie and Me. Pinnacle Books, Inc., 1982. (pgs. 10-14, 17-25, 27-33, 45-49, 53-56)

Hyams, Joe. The Humphrey Bogart Story: BOGIE. The New American Library, Inc., 1966. 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. (pgs. 63, 72, 79-80, 87)

Sperber, A.M., and Eric Lax. Bogart. HarperCollins Publishers, 1997. 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007. (pgs. 227, 235)

Meyers, Jeffrey. BOGART: A Life in Hollywood. A Peter Davison Book, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, New York, 1997. (pgs. 138, 160-163)

Bogart, Stephen Humphrey, and Gary Provost. Bogart: In Search of My Father. Penguin Books USA Inc., 1995. 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Humphrey Bogart and the rest of the gang.

…and of course, lots of old movies.

What draws you to the Golden Age of Hollywood and makes it ripe for you to write such a great biographical fiction story in it?

My draw to the Golden Age of Hollywood stems from a deep love for the silver screen and history. As a longtime fan of classic films, I’ve always been captivated by the larger-than-life personalities and stories that shaped that era. The glitz, glamor, and drama of Hollywood’s golden years offer a rich world for storytelling, where real-life legends like Humphrey Bogart navigated personal and professional challenges while leaving an indelible mark on cinema.

Retired from dentistry, I now have the luxury of immersing myself in history and letting my imagination run wild. Daydreaming about the lives of iconic figures allows me to blend factual history with fictional narratives, creating stories that entertain and explore the human side of these legends. Writing biographical fiction set in this era is my way of paying tribute to the stars who shaped our cultural landscape while indulging my passion for history and classic cinema.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?

There are several thrilling historical fiction projects in the works, each offering a unique dive into the past and beyond. First up is an ambitious eight-book series that will take you on a journey through German immigration from 1700 to 1780, capturing the trials, triumphs, and enduring spirit of those who shaped the Pennsylvania Dutch community. Spinning off from this series is an intriguing standalone novel set around 1715, centered on a girls’ school that spurred the transfer of none other than Yale College to New Haven—a story rich with secrets, ambition, and early American history.

But that’s not all! There’s also the first installment of a gripping murder mystery series, promising twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. And if that weren’t enough, a mind-blowing multi-book sci-fi saga is in the works, ready to transport readers to worlds and dimensions that defy imagination.

The funny thing about crafting a long series is that by the time you’re knee-deep in books, new revelations or ideas often pop up, prompting rewrites and tweaks to earlier volumes. It’s a creative journey that truly only ends once everything falls perfectly in place. One day, these stories will be polished, perfected, and released as a complete set, and I hope readers will enjoy them as much as I’ve loved bringing them to life.

Author Links: Amazon

It’s 1942 and Humphrey Bogart seems to have it all. By day, he’s reading lines for Casablanca with Ingrid Bergman; by night, he’s drinking bourbon on the Sunset Strip with friends like Peter Lorre and Leslie Howard.
But to Bogart, life is not so glamorous. High-profile fights with his wife Mayo and a rigid studio contract committing him to a series of mediocre films have him feeling personally and professionally trapped.
That is, until one day a mysterious note arrives on set.
Heeding the strange invitation, Bogart finds himself in a series of long, secret conversations with his aunt and cousin about the swashbuckling tales of their ancestor, the pirate Jan Janszoon van Salee. These tales of the high seas ignite a fire within Bogart to carve out a path that is uniquely his own—even if it means shedding the roles and people who made him famous.
Janszoon is more than a Hollywood fantasy; it’s a journey into the heart of a man wrestling with ambitions and desires, an actor who yearns to balance his on-screen personas with his off-screen reality. From his tumultuous marriage and infamous USO tour, through his affairs with Verita Patterson and Lauren Bacall, Janszoon imagines a life in which the enigmatic Humphrey Bogart seeks a legacy that transcends the ephemeral glow of stardom.

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/09/07/history-and-classic-cinema/

The Space Between Dreaming follows two women struggling to have a family of their own who meet at an art gallery and form an unlikely friendship. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I had always wanted to write a story that featured strong friendships that was perhaps a bit unexpected. I decided to do this through friendships that spanned different generations and different circumstances as a way to show the strength we gain from women who are in our corner. Since I’m also an artist, I took a lot of inspiration from my own experience in showing in galleries and working at art fairs.

Grace and Jane are both relatable characters that readers are drawn to and want to help. Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your characters’ lives?

I used my real-life great-grandmother’s name for one of the characters, although the personality of the character is totally different. The character of Jane loves the Milwaukee Art Museum and has since she was a kid, which is something I took directly from my own life.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

My love of art and the power of expressing emotions through painting is something I wanted to convey. I wanted readers to feel how valuable the practice and appreciation of artistic endeavor can be in healing, decision-making, and everyday life. Also the theme of moving forward despite difficult circumstances was an important one to include. I wanted this to be an inspiring, hopeful book for someone to pick up.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?

I just released an art book called Poetry and Paint. It features my original paintings and poetry. I’m also working on another novel, but I don’t have a date for its release yet.

Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon

Grace and Jane both crave family but for much different reasons. Grace longs for the child she was never able to conceive and Jane for the new family she will have once she marries her boyfriend. They meet and become unlikely friends when Grace’s husband paints his masterpiece and Jane’s gallery represents him.

As they ponder their future, Jane’s meddling 80-year-old landlady helps them see the beauty in letting go of expectations. Grace and Jane each see something different in the painting, and it causes them to look beyond their stubborn dreams to a fresh reality that could hold the key to their happiness.

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/09/07/moving-forward/

Escape (Haven Series, Book One), by Tracy Myhre, is a post-apocalyptic romantic thriller set in the not-too-distant future, in 2027. The story unfolds across Washington State and Idaho, where Beth, a diner dishwasher in Spokane, meets Ryker Kensington, a recently discharged Marine looking for work. There’s an immediate connection between them, but before they can explore their relationship, a series of coordinated missile strikes devastate the nation, thrusting them into a chaotic new world. As Beth embarks on a perilous journey to reach her uncle’s doomsday prepper compound, Haven, in Idaho, Ryker must navigate the dangerous landscape to find her in a society on the verge of collapse.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot was engaging and maintained my interest from beginning to end. The way Myhre starts the story in the midst of Beth’s ordinary life, from working at the diner to spending time with friends, adds a strong foundation before the chaos hits. The transition from everyday normality to the life-threatening aftermath of the missile strikes felt natural and intense, heightening the stakes as Beth and her friends make a desperate escape from Spokane. I appreciated that the narrative didn’t simply drop readers into a post-apocalyptic world; instead, we experience the dramatic shift alongside the characters. The contrast between Beth’s life before and her fight to survive in the violent new reality was well-executed, and it gave depth to her character. Beth’s mix of strength and vulnerability made her relatable, and watching her adapt to this grim situation kept me invested throughout. One of my favorite aspects of the book is how the tension builds. There’s an urgency in the way the world unravels around Beth, yet the pacing allows space for character development. Her journey from Spokane to Haven isn’t just a race for survival but a gradual transformation as she faces increasingly dangerous situations.

Myhre strikes a good balance between the action and Beth’s emotional growth, making the story compelling beyond just its plot twists. The early chapters introduce a large number of characters, and I felt that keeping track of who was who became difficult at times. The complex web of relationships, especially in a fast-paced survival scenario, was occasionally overwhelming. I feel it would have been helpful if the family trees, which provide clarity on the character connections, had been placed at the beginning of the book rather than at the end. I feel might have made understanding the character dynamics smoother from the start.

Escape is a thrilling and emotional ride through a post-apocalyptic world that feels all too real. If you enjoy fast-paced, high-stakes survival stories with a mix of romance and suspense, this book is for you. The combination of relatable characters, a gripping plot, and the looming threat of a shattered society makes this a strong start to the Haven series. I’m already looking forward to diving into Flee (Haven Series, Book Two), which focuses on two of Beth’s friends, Sadie and Liam, as they navigate their own struggles in this fractured world.

Pages: 432 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW19QR5H

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/09/07/escape/

Blitzed, by Jason S. Comely, is a fascinating and somewhat eccentric dive into language learning through an intense, self-imposed challenge. Comely embarks on a 100-day journey to read 100 books in Polish, a language he is just beginning to learn. The book chronicles his experiment, blending personal anecdotes, language-learning tips, and reflections on the books he blitzes through in this mental marathon. It’s a quirky mix of language-learning guide and memoir, offering insights into the highs and lows of this unconventional approach.

One thing that stands out immediately is Comely’s relentless drive and creativity. His creation of the “Bimodal Blitz” method—reading while simultaneously listening to audiobooks—shows a commitment to hacking his way through the frustrating walls of traditional language learning. For instance, when he tackles classics like Animal Farm and Candide, the struggle is palpable. He often loses his place, gets mentally exhausted, and admits to barely understanding chunks of the text. Yet, there’s something inspiring in his persistence. He doesn’t sugarcoat the experience. That honesty makes the book relatable and motivating for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by learning a language.

Comely is open in sharing his thoughts througohout this experience. When he blitzes through Lolek, a memoir about the bond between a man and his dog, Comely notes improvements in his Polish comprehension but doesn’t seem to connect emotionally with the content. In some cases, the rapid-fire consumption of literature sometimes reduces the books to mere stepping stones in his language journey rather than meaningful experiences.

The book is also full of moments that resonate emotionally. Comely’s reflections on books like Anne Frank show a more introspective side. He finds himself moved by Anne’s unwavering optimism despite the grim historical context, a sentiment that clearly touches him on a personal level. It’s in these moments that Blitzed transcends from being just a log of a language experiment to a heartfelt exploration of human resilience and connection through the written word.

Blitzed is not your typical language-learning book. It’s raw and sometimes chaotic. Full of triumphs and stumbles. Comely’s journey is a testament to the power of immersion and persistence in learning a new language. I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in learning a new language, especially through an unorthodox method. It is also great for people who enjoy stories of personal challenges and growth, with the added bonus of discovering new books along the way.

Pages: 148 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D8BLRXJN

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/09/07/blitzed-what-i-learned-reading-100-books-in-100-days-in-my-target-language/

Most anticipated romance books of fall 2024

Original source: https://www.amazon.com/amazonbookreview/editorspicks.html%3Ftheme=light?ref_=abr_widget_nav&theme=light

What to read next: a book you can see on TV, a vacation rom-com, a tale for dog lovers

Original source: https://www.amazon.com/amazonbookreview/editorspicks.html%3Ftheme=light?ref_=abr_widget_nav&theme=light

Most anticipated cookbooks of fall 2024

Original source: https://www.amazon.com/amazonbookreview/editorspicks.html%3Ftheme=light?ref_=abr_widget_nav&theme=light

Best literature and fiction of August 2024, as chosen by the Amazon Editors

Original source: https://www.amazon.com/amazonbookreview/editorspicks.html%3Ftheme=light?ref_=abr_widget_nav&theme=light