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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

About John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Providing exceptional writing, editing and publishing services to hundreds of international clients, ranging from nutritional copywriting and long-form ghostwriting to substantive editing, assessment/analysis of academic texts and structural/content editing for bestselling novels.

Review: Dreadmarrow Thief (The Conjurer Fellstone Book 1) by Marjory Kaptanoglu

Dreadmarrow Thief by Marjory Kaptanoglu

Given the barrage of young adult fantasy novels in recent years, it can be difficult to find one that truly stands out. Dreadmarrow Thief is a stellar entry into the genre of YA fantasy, and an exciting first installment of one such new series. Author Marjory Kaptanoglu has cultivated a vibrant and enthralling new world for fans of high fantasy to explore.

The spunky protagonist at the center of this wonderful adventure is Tessa Skye, an apprentice with a dangerous secret: a magical object that allows her to transform into a bird and soar over the forest – a forbidden […]

2019-06-19T13:49:23+02:00June 17th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: , , |
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Review: Golden Keys to Open Doors by Harry Meier

Golden Keys to Open Doors by Harry Meier

In the realm of modern spirituality, there are many authors who propose to have the answers, or to know the correct path for spiritual well-being, spawning an entire spirituality industry – valued in the hundreds of billions—for people to lean into in order to clear their mind and cleanse their spirits. In Golden Keys to Open Doors: About Spiritual Cotton Candy, author Harry Meier exposes some of his biggest criticisms with the modern realm of spirituality, and provides his own alternative path.

Meier takes a unique approach to his subject, because where so many other spiritual gurus and guides […]

2019-07-15T10:25:28+02:00June 8th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: , |
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Earth Log by Blaine C. Readler

Earth Log by Blaine C. ReadlerThere are plenty of things we take for granted as humans, but few things seem as easy to overlook as our self-awareness. In Earth Log, a new novel by Blaine C. Readler, that same great power is bestowed upon a ferret, who “wakes up” one day overwhelmed with curiosity, questions, and a new appreciation for the complexity of life.

As the ferret moves through its small universe – his owner Joanne’s apartment – he figuratively and literally bumps into obstacles and quandaries that domesticated animals typically don’t ponder. From tumbling through a laundry shoot, losing his home, and witnessing […]

2019-06-07T12:13:20+02:00June 7th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |
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Review: A Glossary of Life by Manny Garcia

A Glossary of Life by Manny Garcia

Language is arguably the most important advancement of our species, the tool that helps us define and explain our experience and existence. While all words are useful, some are timelessly tied up in mystery, wisdom, philosophy and emotion. Author Manny Garcia has collected and defined some of these universally significant ideas in his new book A Glossary of Life: Deeper Meaning Behind Our Most Common Words, which is almost certainly unlike any text you’ve ever read.

If you’re expecting a narrative story, this isn’t the book for you. As the title implies, it truly is a glossary – one […]

2020-02-21T07:51:32+02:00June 6th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |
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Review: The DNA of Democracy by Richard C. Lyons

The DNA of Democracy by Richard C. Lyons

A comprehensive analysis of democracy and its ideals since inception doesn’t immediately sound like a riveting read, but The DNA of Democracy by Richard C. Lyons is like no other history, work of anthropology, or political science book you’ve read before. With an informal voice and the ability to never take the subject too seriously, Lyons presents an impressive and insightful look at the trials and tribulations of human societies as we’ve attempted to find purpose and make peace.

The scale and scope of this book are initially daunting, but Lyons lays out an intuitive framework and explains the angle […]

2019-07-03T12:48:42+02:00June 2nd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: , |
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Murphy’s Luck 3: Curse vs. Jinx by Benjamin Laskin

Murphy's Luck 3: Curse vs. Jinx by Benjamin Laskin

Author Benjamin Laskin delivers his third dose of ludicrous laughter with Murphy’s Luck 3: Curse vs Jinx, which drops Murphy Drummer and his laundry list of hobbies and skills to his most exotic destination yet: the jungles of South America.

After learning that his in-laws have fallen victim to a bumbling cartel, Murphy must overcome his fear of leaving the house – and the fear of his own jinx – to save the day. With an endearing cast of bizarre characters, including his charming daughter Phaedra, who shares Murphy’s impossible luck, this book positively hums with life and anticipation […]

2021-11-29T05:56:22+02:00June 1st, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |
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Review: The Detour by Travis Pearson

In The Detour, a new novel by rising author Travis Pearson, readers are led down the dark roads of America into a nearly forgotten town, where evil is not only pervasive, but also boasts a badge.

The story starts innocently enough, as recently unemployed Dan Icor decides to take a trip across the country to clear his mind and figure out his next steps. However, it’s not long before the novel takes a savage turn, as Dan must defend an innocent Native American family from a brutal gang of local thugs at a gas station. In the process, Dan […]

2019-07-02T07:24:22+02:00June 1st, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |
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Review: Lacks Self-Control by Roy Sekoff

Lacks Self-Control by Roy Sekoff

In Lacks Self-Control: True Stories I Waited Until My Parents Died to Tell, author Roy Sekoff plumbs his past for anecdotal stories that will leave readers chuckling, cringing, and occasionally crying with laughter. As the founding editor of Huffington Post, Sekoff’s perspective on political issues is well known, but this new collection of stories points his scathing wit squarely on himself.

With acerbic self-awareness, Sekoff opens up about his tumultuous childhood, largely due to his own chaotic behavior and questionable views on authority. He continues the confessional on into his young adulthood, with occasional flash-forwards to even more recent […]

2019-07-01T09:23:52+02:00May 28th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |
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