John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Yaakov C Lui-Hyden has dreamt up a wild body-snatching and time-jumping adventure in Diary of a Time Traveling Alien, a tale told from the perspective of an observant alien with quite an attitude. Between long speeches on the state of Earth and humanity, and simultaneous desires to be a real part of the world, this whimsical romp is both entertaining and existential. The writing is simple and straightforward, though occasionally bland (and the title needs a hyphen), but the creativity throughout is undeniable and the diary entries are anything but predictable. For young readers who love a zany caper, […]

In Earth Tones: A Journey, poet Gary W. Burns compels readers to lean in, slow down, and savor every thoughtful, delicate verse. Frequently blending the beauty of nature with a longing for connection, tinged with nostalgia, grief, and joy, these poems are powerful and short, some landing hard with the simplicity of a mantra or a haiku, yet also reminiscent of Mary Oliver’s wisdom in certain moments. Some of the ideas and images are recognizable, yes, but the use of such common figurative language aside, this is a meditative collection that bares Burns’ soul in a deeply compelling way.[…]

Self-made investment specialist Brendan Hughes shares his wisdom and jaw-dropping life experiences in The Wandering Investor. Unlike most books on economics, travel or business, this comprehensive memoir easily reads like a novel, but delivers real-world advice that can literally be taken to the bank. This makes the advice and insight not only more palatable, but also more accessible for those curious about finance, particularly younger people who may be intimidated by the field. Hughes can don a journalistic or academic voice, but also the casual, carefree attitude of an adventurer that always manages to keep a good head on […]

Carrying on the Dark Savior series by author Jim Clougherty, Seven Seals answers many of the cliff-hanging questions from Book 1 and expands this wildly unique world. Leaving the cursed mines and their Greed-driven monsters behind, this book sees the protagonists flung apart on separate quests, following interwoven plot lines and introducing creative new pockets of world-building. Boasting sharp, colloquial dialogue, a long and eccentric character list, and a widening web of suspense that leaves plenty of room for more books, Seven Seals is an original fantasy adventure with a classic edge, and one that will appeal to fans from […]