SPR | Self-Publishing Review

Review: When A Rook Takes The Queen by Edward Izzi

When A Rook Takes The Queen by Edward Izzi is an intense urban thriller, taking its name from the Chicago Gambit, an opening used in chess that is widely thought of as a daring way to open the board for the game. The seamy streets of Chicago are the setting here, and the author weaves a set of similar moves into the story with his characters, creating an intriguing assassination puzzle for the reader to unravel.

When a Chicago Tribune reporter, the stubborn Larry McKay, investigates the murder of the city’s mayor, an African-America woman who had been seeking a […]

An Interview with Rich Leder: Author of Cooking for Cannibals

Rich Leder has been a working writer for more than three decades. His credits include 19 produced movies—television films for CBS, Lifetime, and Hallmark and feature films for Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Tri-Star Pictures, Longridge Productions, and Left Bank Films—and six novels for Laugh Riot Press.

He’s been the lead singer in a Detroit rock band, a restaurateur, a Little League coach, an indie film director, a literacy tutor, a magazine editor, a screenwriting coach, a wedding consultant, a PTA board member, a commercial real estate agent, and a visiting artist for the UNCW Film Studies Department, among other things, all […]

SPR2021-01-27T08:44:13+02:00January 27th, 2021|Categories: Interviews|

Review: 1871: Rivers on Fire by Paul Buchheit

1871: Rivers on Fire by Paul Buchheit

Danger, adventure, romance, and sweeping social commentary are all part of the dramatic meld in the novel 1871: Rivers on Fire by progressive author and thinker Paul Buchheit.

Liz and Robert meet in London where both will study neurobiology, overseen by Dr. Alexander Bain, a pioneer in the exploration of thought patterns. Liz is American, drawn to education overseas because of better prospects for females in academia. Robert is involved in the science of conservation, especially forest depletion.

They soon find common ground in intellectual pursuits, especially the realm of word cognition. They also hold similar views regarding social justice, […]

SPR2021-02-24T08:35:56+02:00January 24th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Predict Your Success by Joseph Olaoye

Drawing on a broad spectrum of fields and perspectives, Predict Your Success is an intuitive and impactful guide for discovering your authentic path and remaining resilient through life’s storms. The declarative confidence of the author is encouraging, breaking the complex and daunting tasks of self-improvement and goal achievement into much more digestible steps. The author’s tone is perfectly balanced between an authority and a trusted advisor in this original and engaging personal development guide.

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SPR2021-01-07T05:53:22+02:00January 7th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Own a Fraction, Earn a Fortune by Michael Fox-Rabinovitz

Own a Fraction, Earn a Fortune by Michael Fox-Rabinovitz Own a Fraction, Earn a Fortune: The Complete Guide to Co-investing in Art and Collectibles by Michael Fox-Rabinovitz is an absolutely comprehensive and fascinating delve into the world of collectibles investment, from comics to sports items to rare maps and art. This is an “all you’ll ever need” kind of guide to the brilliant idea of fractional ownership in the field – that is, sharing a purchase of desirable assets with others to spread your portfolio in a somewhat uncertain world.

The author outlines the history of collecting, from Europe to modern-day USA, and explains meticulously the practicalities, such as […]

SPR2021-01-05T14:25:09+02:00January 5th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Finance Book Reviews|

Review: Unleash Your Inner Goddess by Christine Rizzo

Unleash Your Inner Goddess by Christine Rizzo

A life coach who has walked the walk, Christine Rizzo speaks strongly and sincerely to women about discovering, developing, and manifesting their best qualities in Unleash Your Inner Goddess: Start Living the Life You Deserve.

After an introductory affirmative “Let’s do this!” Rizzo states that in order to achieve our goals, we have to know what they are. Each of us holds largely unexamined beliefs inculcated into our thinking by repetition on the part of people we trusted, but beliefs are really just “sentences” – remnants of childhood lodged in the subconscious mind, which can control our lives. We […]

SPR2021-01-19T04:21:27+02:00December 14th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Abandoned Not Broken by Rob Johnson

Abandoned Not Broken by Rob Johnson

An adopted child finds inspiration and determination from family, friends and mentors and grows into manhood successful, well-liked and respected, in the moving memoir, Abandoned Not Broken: The Passion and Perspective to Discover Your Purpose.

Robert Dunckley was the third child of a single mother. His father disappeared not long after the seemingly happy partnership with his mother, and a caring great-grandmother stepped in with financial support. With her oversight, the little boy was taken in by his loving babysitter, Pat Johnson, who soon adopted him, giving him her surname and two older siblings.

Through trying circumstances, young Robert […]

SPR2021-01-13T10:24:38+02:00December 7th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Religious Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

It Happened in Silence by Karla M. Jay

This interwoven tale of family, resilience, betrayal, and the moral evolution of a nation is powerful and stirring, but also subtle and humble in its storytelling. The novel is a striking meditation on America of the past and present, particularly when it comes to exploring ideas of disability, justice, and the small choices we make that change who we become. It’s hard not to draw comparisons to Faulkner, both in the deep colloquial writing style, and a memorable narrator somehow separated from the rest of the world. With breath-catching flashes of poetic grace, unexpected descriptive beauty, and a meaning-laden flow […]

SPR2020-12-04T05:50:59+02:00December 4th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|