In Between The Pages with James Lott Jr.

During the second half of the nineteenth century, the rise of industrialization and a gendered division of labor set the stage for tastemakers, architects, and social reformers to elevate the home parlor as a space for leisure and family gathering. Board game makers and marketers capitalized on these trends by peddling a certain exclusionary brand of the American dream.In Family Game Night, Susan R. Asbury provides a history of US board games from the 1880s through the 1920s, the morals and tropes they conveyed, and the influence game designers and manufacturers had on consumers. Drawing from historical documents, marketing materials, patents, diaries, and photographs, Asbury shows how games incorporated and promoted concepts related to progress and abundance, including a clear delineation of the purported beneficiaries: white middle-class families. Asbury further analyzes box covers and game components to uncover the ways in which manufacturers and designers crafted narratives to maintain a sense of cultural hegemony in a rapidly changing society.Through the imagery and instructions woven into the framework of play, Family Game Night reveals how these board games influenced players' values and associations, shaping their worldview.

First the first time on the series, a couple answers! their new novel: Beyond Honor by KB Brodsky is out now! 

In Deadly Dilemma, Anthony takes you on a journey of remembrance and reflection. Everyone has a story. Sometimes, we need a nudge to revisit our stories and confront the experiences that have shaped our lives.Anthony is not famous. He is not a celebrity, an athlete, or a politician. He's an ordinary guy with a story to tell, asking that bigger question about life. He grew up in a small town in eastern North Carolina. A stellar student, he enrolled in college, where it took him ten years to get a four-year degree. He got married, started raising a family, and embarked on a lifelong career working with college students and mentors.Anthony has battled poor self-image and lack of self-esteem all his life. His daddy told him to "Get out of the way. I can't see through muddy water" and "Don't ask me for a damn thing." Those words have haunted him as he struggled to value his own self-worth.As a college counselor, Anthony's advice to young people reflects his life experience:Friends- choose them carefully, and cultivateChoices- make them wisely, and learnConsequences- embrace them graciously, and move on."In a world where many who state their faith seem focused on 'looking' perfect, Anthony simply shares his life's highs and lows (and reflections). This book is relatable, surprising, inspiring, shocking, and believable."- Chris Arline, Guilford College '95"The 'Deadly Dilemma' is real to all of us, and I stand with you, Anthony, in the eternal street fight to live an authentic life."- Jeff Thigpen, author of On Point: Voices and Values of Young Elected OfficialsOut now everywhere! 

A man forged by war, paramilitary operative Kevin Rhoads is recruited for a solo extraction mission deep inside Siberia. CIA analyst Whitney Skyler's investigation into a Russian-backed bank on American soil leads to the President of the United States. Director Cynthia King plays an audacious gambit, leveraging a thirty-year debt of honor to save a captured American agent. But in this world of shifting alliances, even the most careful plans can unravel. Skyler faces an impossible choice: expose her mentor's dangerous game to protect national security or reveal the truth to Rhoads. Already shattered by loss, Rhoads discovers the devastating betrayal that will transform him into a force of vengeance, leaving death in his wake. From the war-torn streets of Damascus to the merciless Siberian tundra, from the rugged Kenai Peninsula to the polished corridors of Langley, Virginia, Beyond Honor is a white-knuckled thriller about duty, betrayal, and the impossible choices made by those who serve in the shadows. K.B. Brodsky is the pen name of Bill and Karen Brodsky, a husband-and-wife writing team based in New York City and Colorado. They are the authors of the new political and espionage thriller Beyond Honor, their debut novel and the first installment in a planned series. The book combines international espionage, CIA intrigue, special operations, political conspiracy, and personal betrayal, with comparisons to works such as Red Sparrow and The Terminal List. Beyond Honor is published by Atria/Emily Bestler Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, and releases September 1, 2026. The novel has already received starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.

by Gerald R PatnodeIn 1889, Archibald Stirling is a man of wealth, privilege, and prestige. As a respected Baltimore criminal defense attorney and partner in a renowned law firm, his life is steeped in tradition and order. But when he accepts a single desperate plea for help; everything he believes will be challenged,One morning, the familiar routine in the Stirling household is shattered. Outside, the shouts of an angry mob rise as four Black men in chains are paraded through the streets by federal marshals. Among them is Henry Jones, the son of the Stirling family's loyal housemaid, Elsie Tolson who has been accused of leading a violent uprising on Navassa Island, where Black laborers fought back against their brutal white overseers. Henry now faces certain execution. With tears in her eyes and fear in her voice, Elsie begs Archibald to save her son.This real event, fictionalized through The Stirling Defense, is a gripping exploration of justice, sacrifice, and moral courage. Through one man's fall from privilege into the crucible of social change. The novel reveals the extraordinary cost of standing for what is right and the lasting impact of one man's fight against an unjust system.Determined to seek justice, Archibald takes Henry's case, setting off a chain of devastating consequences that include expulsion from his partnership, divorce from his wife, his young son brutally assaulted, and their home is torched in an arson attack. Even with several attempts at Archibald's life, he refuses to back down.As the trial unfolds, Archibald exposes the horrors of Navassa Island, where Black laborers were starved, beaten, and worked to death. His defense is not just for Henry but for an entire cla

For years, three couples have gathered at The Villa―billionaire Lincoln Foster's Hamptons estate―for lavish weekends among friends. But this year, mysterious blue cards appear in each bedroom, exposing secrets: their host's betrayals and the guests' own dark deeds. Everyone has something to hide. Marley and Marshall Foster. Suzy and Sean McTeague. Juliet and Josh Jacoby. Lincoln and his new wife, Hazel. Even uninvited guests hoping to be accepted among the elite. With a hurricane bearing down, no one is getting out. When the revelations turn deadly, the trapped friends must confront what their lies have cost them―possibly their lives. Kieran Scott is the author of the domestic suspense novels The Getaway, Wish You Were Gone, Regrets Only and People Will Talk. She has also written dozens of books for teens, including eight New York Times bestsellers under the penname Kate Brian. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and Substack @kieranscottauthor

Her new book You Know Why is out now! 

Kieran Scott is the author of the domestic suspense novels The Getaway, Wish You Were Gone, Regrets Only and People Will Talk. She has also written dozens of books for teens, including eight New York Times bestsellers under the penname Kate Brian. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and Substack @kieranscottauthor

It's the holidays, and photographer Brooklyn Locke is bound for Italy with her husband, Trey, and their two children. But when Trey vanishes from the airport, missing their connecting flight, their impromptu vacation―and life as she knows it―begins to unravel.Desperate to find her husband, Brooklyn accepts help from a stranger on the same flight, Eden Barrow. But Eden soon makes a shocking claim. She is the sister of Trey's first wife, and ten years ago he was the main suspect in her murder.Struggling to comprehend these accusations, fate delivers one more blow: a violent accident that leaves Brooklyn fighting for her life. With nowhere else to turn, Brooklyn leans on Eden for support. But each kindness feels too rehearsed, feeding her doubts about Eden's motives and Trey's true past.Brooklyn has her own dark history she'd rather forget and confronts an unsettling possibility. Her life is not what it seems, and the truth is a trap―laid by someone waiting for the perfect time to strike.J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels of psychological suspense, including the Lt. Taylor Jackson series, the Dr. Samantha Owens series, and numerous acclaimed standalones. She is the Emmy Award–winning cohost of A Word on Words, the literary television series on PBS.Over a twenty-year career, her work has earned widespread critical recognition, with titles optioned for television and published in thirty countries, and millions of copies in print worldwide.A dedicated voice in the writing community, she also publishes The Creative Edge, a newsletter and blog for writers navigating the craft and business of fiction.She lives with her husband and twin kittens—one of whom is a ghost in Nashville, Tennessee.

On the eve of D-Day, the fate of the world hangs not on the beaches of Normandy, but deep within a secret Nazi facility in occupied France. Here, in a claustrophobic, slave-driven mine codenamed Noball 109, German scientists are racing to perfect a terror weapon that would render the Allied invasion obsolete: atomic-tipped V-2 rockets aimed at the heart of London Enter Miriam Maduro, a ghost haunted by her past. A brilliant and courageous Dutch-Jewish SOE agent, she has already been captured, tortured, and escaped the Nazis once. Now, the British pull her from the shadows for an offer she can't refuse: undertake a suicide mission to infiltrate and destroy the rocket facility, and they will guarantee safe passage for her young son and sister from Palestine to England. John Winn Miller is an award-winning investigative reporter, foreign correspondent, editor, newspaper publisher, screenwriter, movie producer, and novelist. The Lexington, Ky., native was a foreign correspondent for The Associated Press and Wall Street Journal/Europe based in Rome, Italy; a reporter and editor at the Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader; executive editor of the Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.) and the Tallahassee Democrat; and was publisher of The Olympian in Olympia, WA., and The Concord (N.H.) Monitor. He also helped produce four independent feature films: “Hitting the Cycle” with Bruce Dern; “Armed Response”; “Band of Robbers,” written and directed by Adam and Aaron Nee, and “Ghost in the Family.” Miller and his wife Margo live in Lexington Their daughter Allison Miller is an actress-screenwriter-director who most recently starred on the ABC series “A Million Little Things.”

At first, silence felt holy. Then the music started—and nothing was ever the same.In the gripping second volume of his memoir series, Chaz Holesworth steps out of the wreckage of his Philadelphia childhood and into a new wilderness: adolescence, longing, awakening, and the dangerous freedom of life beyond the rules that once defined him.Raised in a world where faith meant fear and obedience meant survival, Chaz enters his teenage years numb and isolated. Emotions are weakness. Questions are sin. Desire is the enemy. But when first love cracks open the cage, and forbidden music floods in, everything he has been taught about identity, God, and himself begins to unravel.With every lyric he wasn't allowed to hear, and every mile he runs from home, Chaz discovers pieces of a self he never knew he could claim. Friends become family. Music becomes prayer. And movement becomes the only escape from a growing storm of shame, confusion, and spiritual fallout he doesn't yet have language for.Drugs, heartbreak, adventure, and raw curiosity collide as Chaz tries to live fast enough to stay ahead of his past. But survival has a cost, and reclaiming his voice means confronting everything silence once protected him from.Lyrical, honest, and unflinchingly human, Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven is a coming-of-age memoir about breaking indoctrination, surviving first love, and learning to choose life after years of enforced silence. Set against the pulse of mid-90s music and youth culture, it is a story for anyone who has ever tried to outrun their past, or finally stopped running.Chaz Holesworth is a Philadelphia native and the author of the memoir series Life and How to Live It. Raised in a world shaped by poverty, addiction, and fear-based religion, he writes with unflinching honesty about survival, identity, and the long work of unlearning shame. Music runs through his story as a lifeline, a language, and a way back to himself. Chaz lives outside Philadelphia with his wife and their dog. When he is not writing, he is usually chasing live music, finding new roads to travel, and advocating for the rights of workers and animals. chazholesworthbooks.com

Author of Mob Justice, out now! 

Brianna Labuskes is the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Amazon Charts best-selling author of psychological thrillers and historical fiction. Her books have been translated into several languages worldwide. She grew up in Pennsylvania, lived in Washington D.C. for many years and now calls Asheville, N.C. home. She enjoys traveling, hiking and spending time with her pup. For more: visit her at briannalabuskes.com.

After surviving a terrorist nightmare, Justice Department lawyer Blake Hudson takes on a new enemy: the Chicago mafia. Assigned to the Organized Crime Strike Force, he dives into a world that's nothing like the movies. The Chicago Outfit may still live in Al Capone's shadow, but its power has evolved—slicker, smarter, and more dangerous than ever. At its center is Enzo Renzi—a polished consigliere with an Ivy League mind and a conscience buried beneath layers of loyalty. To Blake, he's the key to bringing the Outfit down. To others, he's a marked man. Ruthless killers close in, and neither Enzo nor Blake knows who's behind the crosshairs. When a secret meeting between rival gangs threatens to ignite a citywide war, Blake races to stop it—only to uncover something far darker than mob violence: a hidden network whose reach extends deep into America's institutions. Chad Boudreaux is a Washington insider hired by the U.S. Department of Justice the night before the September 11, 2001 attacks—launching him immediately into counterterrorism work that earned him high accolades at an early age. His success in the Justice Department carried him to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where his role as Deputy Chief of Staff allowed him to work directly on significant policy, operational, and legal issues facing the Department. He currently is the chief legal officer of a publicly traded, Fortune 300 company and America's largest military shipbuilder. Boudreaux leverages his unique, high-level experience in global security matters and his extensive legal expertise to craft breathtaking, insider stories of mystery and intrigue that are ripped from today's headlines and are sure to shock his readers. book out now! 

Already an international award-winning children's picture book, Floo Flocky Doo to the Rescue, is perfect for bedtime stories, classroom read-alouds, and early readers who love funny animal adventures. Families will enjoy the heartwarming themes of caring, problem-solving, and the magic of friendship. Bring Miss Floo Flocky Doo along with YOU! *** Visit www.FlooFlockyDoo.com to see a Floo Flocky Doo SING-ALONG video!! *** If your child loves Little Blue Truck, What should Danny Do, Llama Llama, The Berenstain Bears, Grumpy Monkey, Fancy Nancy, or Dragons Love Tacos, they'll adore Floo Flocky Doo to Rescue! Award-winning author David L. Gillespie brings a unique blend of imagination, heart, and real-world experience to children's literature. Born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, David embarked on a global journey with his family after earning his commission in the United States Air Force. Throughout a distinguished career spanning military intelligence, public policy, and executive leadership, he served in locations around the world before ultimately channeling his lifelong love of storytelling into writing for children. His debut picture book, Floo Flocky Doo to the Rescue, has already earned more than ten literary awards, including multiple international honors. Inspired by the imagination of his youngest daughter, the book introduces readers to Miss Floo Flocky Doo—a spirited young girl whose zest for life, quick thinking, and compassionate heart lead her on unforgettable adventures with her animal friends, Peanut and Lucky Lou. Filled with playful rhyme, colorful illustrations, laugh-out-loud moments, and heartwarming lessons, the story celebrates kindness, friendship, problem-solving, and the joy of helping others. David and his family are delighted to share Miss Floo Flocky Doo's adventures with children, parents, educators, and libraries around the world. To learn more about David, Miss Floo Flocky Doo, and her lovable companions Peanut and Lucky Lou, visit FlooFlockyDoo.com Book out now!

Every misfit has a story. This one has wings. From internationally renowned author Mark Mustian comes a novel where historical Southern Gothic meets the supernatural, in a story like no other. In the Jim Crow South, a baby is born with strange, wing-like appendages. The townsfolk call him a devil. His mother calls him Johnny Cruel—and to save him, she fakes his death and runs. So begins a life on the margins. Set against the backdrop of 1930s and '40s America, Boy With Wings is a poignant work of Southern literary fiction about one boy's extraordinary body and his lifelong struggle to belong. From a backwoods turpentine camp to a traveling freak show, from found families of outcasts to the halls of power in Tallahassee, Johnny's journey explores the lines between acceptance and exploitation, isolation and love. Is Johnny a monster, an angel, or just a boy trying to live in peace? As he searches for meaning—through love, loss, betrayal, and brutal truths—Johnny must decide whether to keep hiding… or rise on his own terms. Told in vivid, lyrical prose, this tale of identity blends elements of Southern Gothic, outsider fiction, and found family stories. Boy With Wings is a powerful meditation on identity, stigma, resilience, and the quiet miracles that help us soar. Mark Mustian is the author of the novels "The Return" and "The Gendarme," the latter a finalist for the Dayton International Literary Peace Prize and shortlisted for the Saroyan International Award for Writing. It won the Florida Gold Book Award for Fiction and has been published in ten languages. The founder of the Word of South Festival of Literature and Music in Tallahassee, Florida, his new novel, "Boy With Wings," is the winner of the Grand Prize for Fiction from Next Generation Indie Book Awards and has received numerous other honors, including winning the Bronze Prize for Historical Fiction from Independent Publishers Book Awards (IPPY) and being named a finalist for the Hawthorne Award for Fiction. Out now!!!

His latest book Ottos Portal is out now! 

"This is a true story. It just hasn't happened...yet."While considering his imminent death, an old man senses the existence of a force that holds his soul to his body—a force even Einstein never imagined—and he's drawn into the struggle between good and evil.From postwar London in 1946 to LBJ's ranch in 1964, and then to a small Catholic church in northern Minnesota, real history begins to blur with conjecture and myth. Otto's Portal rests between the abyss of man's fears and the apex of his science, while a disparate cast of characters seeks redemption.Out now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble. goto NathanJorgenson on Facebook! 

Arvind is an Olivier nominated playwright who also writes novels and television. His seven graphic novels include the official adaptation of Raymond Chandler's "Trouble Is My Business" and the Bram Stoker Award–nominated "Darkness Visible" with Mike Carey. Arvind has also written multiple chart-topping audio originals, including the science fiction anthology series "Earworms", "The Crimes of Dorian Gray", and the nonfiction audiobook "Douglas Adams: The Ends of the Earth."In theatre, Arvind has created adaptations of the Douglas Adams novels "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" (co-written with James Goss) as well as the children's musical "The Boy With Wings", based on Sir Lenny Henry's children's books, for which he received an Olivier nomination. He was also a lead producer of the Grammy and Tony Award–winning Alanis Morissette musical "Jagged Little Pill".Arvind has written and produced extensively in television, including "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" for AMC/Netflix, "Anansi Boys" for Amazon, and the Asian Academy Award winner "The Garden of Evening Mists" for HBO.His debut prose novel "The Great Game" is published by Thomas & Mercer in July 2026.Follow Arvind @ArvD on BlueSky and @arvind.david on Instagram.

In this heartwarming book, young readers are invited to discover the power of their own words. Whether whispered, spoken, or shouted with joy, every child's voice deserves to be heard. You Have a Story to Tell encourages children to speak up, share their stories, and know that what they say has value. Perfect for classrooms, families, and anyone who believes in listening with the heart, this book celebrates courage, connection, and the magic of making space for every story. Bridget is a dedicated Elementary Educator based in California who is deeply passionate about fostering a love for reading and writing among her students. Her commitment extends beyond academics, as she strongly emphasizes social-emotional learning, ensuring that every student in her care feels acknowledged. Her joy for teaching is not confined to the classroom; she also maintains a personal blog to inspire and encourage her readers. Beyond her professional life, Bridget finds joy in spending quality time with her family. A book enthusiast, Bridget enjoys reading, and when she's not immersed in books or lesson plans, she can be found cheering for her favorite baseball team. Overall, Bridget's multifaceted interests and commitment to education showcase a well-rounded individual dedicated to positively impacting the lives of her students and readers.

It's 1971, and 7-year-old Mishel Manoucherian's family has packed up their life in Tehran and moved to Los Angeles, launching him headfirst into a disorienting new world of social and schoolyard expectations. At once a witty and warm exploration of the immigrant journey and coming of age tale, American Playground illuminates the Iranian American experience through a child's unique perspective.Armed with a handful of English words, a fiery mother who uses her biting wit to open doors and inspire fear while shunning all things Amrikayi, and an adventurous dad who clumsily chases the Amrikayi Dream, Mishel tries to crack the code of schoolyard politics that feels equal parts Brady Bunch and Lord of the Flies.His brown skin gets him thrown in with the school's outcasts, but Mishel wants to run with the Pros - longhaired kids who rule the blacktop in faded Levi's and Pro Keds, radiating the casual yet rugged essence of 70's California Cool. Desperate for a mentor to unravel this dizzying American life, Mishel recruits Bugs Bunny, the only Amrikayi he trusts. Mishel will do whatever it takes to become Amrikayi. He'll have to do it on the only true Amrikayi turf - the playground.James has a great convo with the author! Book is out everywhere books are sold! 

Lucy Wilson-Tagoe is a Ghanaian-American writer and lawyer who writes suspenseful women's fiction and romantic thrillers centered on characters from the African Diaspora and the Global South. She studied History at Tufts University and earned law degrees from Howard University and the London School of Economics. A child immigrant and daughter of immigrants, she brings a global perspective to her storytelling. Her novel To Catch a Sinner is part of The Blurred Lines Duet.

James is sharing some behind the scenes of his songwriting these days!

In this thrilling sequel to Hooked, the secret leaders of a deadly cabal prove to be a veritable match for the determined reporter and the insightful surfing detective who double down to expose them. Investigative reporter Katrina Chopin is back home in San Diego on a mission (or two). The first is personal: reheating the cold case of her parents' murder and investigating her brother's reported suicide. The second involves a new spate of deaths with alleged causes that just don't smell right. She and Detective Ken Goode need each other's help for both. But she has to keep the sexy surfer at arm's length, because dating him is off limits. For now. Teaming up, they make coordinated progress down each path. Digging deeper into La Jolla's corrupt network of elites, they uncover a pattern of lies, depravity, and greed. And with every new discovery, Katrina is pulled closer to danger…and to Goode. Sharing sexy phone calls and sunset drinks isn't exactly following the rules, but fully crossing that line could jeopardize the case. As they start to connect the dots, they realize they must risk everything to bring down the shadowy cabal that kills to keep its secrets. Out everwhere June 16th! James Lott Jr is the host of the show!

Ruta's Closet tells the compelling Holocaust story of a Jewish family, imprisoned in the tiny Shavl ghetto in Lithuania. The Kron family survived the horror of the Nazi regime, thanks to the resourcefulness of Meyer and Gita Kron and the bravery of their rescuers. While Ruta's Closet is based on fact, it reads like fiction. The drama of the events described and the richness of the characters make it a compelling work of narrative nonfiction-as intriguing as it is inspirational. The Krons are the focus but horrific events in the ghetto are also revealed, including mass murders, a Nazi ban on births, the removal of all children to the Auschwitz gas chambers. All dreadful events; but accounts of brave rescues and daring acts offer hope for humanity. Ruta's Closet is also the focus of a Holocaust awareness podcast series, available from all popular platforms. High School teachers can also download a teacher's guide and classroom activities recommendations, authored by the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. Adult readers can download Book Club Talking Points, also authored by VHEC. Both guides, along with additional informative audio and text material, are hosted at the book's interactive website, rutascloset.com.

Crossing the Bronx is an historical literary novel set primarily in the 1950s in The Bronx. It is a modern retelling of the Jacob and Esau story from Genesis. The narrative that propels the story forward concerns the destruction of a neighborhood in the guise of progress. Jay and Eric, the sons of Ike (an Italian Jew), and Rebekeh, (a Mountain Jew), are estranged-as are their parents-and find themselves on opposite sides of a bitter struggle that pits those in power against the defenseless people of a local community.Eric has aligned himself with his father Ike, who by day is a cop-and at other times works surreptitiously for a mobbed-up construction company engaged in major projects transforming New York City-while his younger brother Jay is allied with his mother and with a neighborhood group fighting to preserve its very soul. Their fractious relationship speaks to the issues of how families split apart, and whether or not the pieces can ever be put back together.In addition to sustained tension-filled action, Crossing the Bronx is a story of romance, commitments, beliefs, and triumphs over adversities (lies, theft, murder, concealment, prejudice). Through vivid descriptions, perceptive insights, humor and sensitivity, the reader identifies with the characters who come to life in a realistic fashion to illustrate who we are, how we behave, and what causes us to change.The novel is fast-paced, with uncompromising realism, reflecting the unrelenting tension between antagonists and the anxieties that overwhelm those without power. The underbelly of the criminal and political world is evidenced by brutality, rapaciousness, and a never-ending desire to seek retribution. A love story between Jay and his girlfriend Francesca counter-balances the grimness to show how some people can overcome the odds stacked against them by their birth and places of origin. Smart, savvy women (Francesca, Rebekah, Francesca's grandmother "Nonna Ebrea"-who thinks she is descended from Conversos-and Jay's therapist Dr. Leah Silverman) provide a strong counterbalance to the lies, thefts, beatings, concealments, murders, and prejudice evidenced by the men.It is populated by colorful Italian, Irish, Black, Puerto Rican, and Jewish characters from a variety of different backgrounds; the novel sparkles with dialogue that is representative of their respective cultures

WHEN THE HOWELL FAMILY MOVES INTO A HOUSE on Heckler Lane, it causes quite a stir around the small town of Sunny Cove, Pennsylvania. Elise Howell, a well-known cardio surgeon, has returned home after fifteen years to fill her recently deceased mother's position at Sunny Cove General Hospital. In a town this size, it's big news. But it's Elise's new husband, Artie, who has the whole town talking. Artie Howell is a man who always seems to be wearing a smile. He's an accomplished crime fiction writer, a soccer dad to their young son Nicky, and he volunteers his weekends teaching creative writing to youths in the local detention center. When they first arrived at Heckler Lane, the Howells had seemed like a wholesome American family. Then came the murders. A nun turning up missing from the Convent of St. Mary becomes the first in a string of unexplained tragedies that have befallen the town. Tragedies that all seem to be tied to scenes from Artie's novels. The writer now finds himself as the prime suspect in an investigation that threatens to not only tear apart his family, but the entire town of Sunny Cove. James talks with the prolific writer! Akashic Books! Out everywhere!

The book, An Awesome Bird The Pelican, is a book for kids, written by Rusty Austin, and students from Nellie Coffman Middle School created the illustrations. This story teaches kids about pelicans in a fun and interesting way by showing off their various traits and behaviors.The story starts with a curious pelican going on a trip to find out where it fits in the world. The pelican faces many problems along its journey and gets to learn many important lessons. The pelican learn about never giving up and the value of community. The students' drawings add a personal touch that makes the readers enjoy he story in a different way.This book is useful for parents and teachers to teach youngsters about animals and their habitats. With its easy-to-read text and eye-catching pictures, this book keeps kids curious and excited to learn about animals.This book is fun and educational for kids to read in school or at home. It makes kids more curious and helps them appreciate nature more, which makes it a great book for any child's bookshelf. This book takes readers on an exciting journey through the animal kingdom. Each creature has its own fun poem that shares its unique story. From Axolotl Salamanders to Uromastyx Lizards, every animal gets a moment to explain their behavior.Available on Amazon! James Lott JR is the host!

In a world carefully constructed for murder, solving crimes takes a keen mind and eye in a witty, clever, and fresh reinvention of the whodunit by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.Edison Bixby is wealthy, handsome, and, due to a traumatic brain injury, impulsively rude. He's also a brilliant insurance investigator who solves baffling crimes by figuring out how the design of the man-made world around us makes them possible. Enter Wally Nash: a struggling actor hired to keep Bixby from offending everyone he meets.Their first case together looks like a simple accident. Caroline Crowley took a nasty fall down a staircase at a shopping mall in front of dozens of witnesses. Video clearly shows the deadly misstep. But Bixby is certain she was murdered by design, subtly manipulated into causing her own demise. The mall itself made the crime intentional, if not inevitable.Now Bixby must prove his outrageous theory before a very cunning killer gets others on his hit list to murder themselves, too.Lee Goldberg is a two-time Edgar Award and two-time Shamus Award finalist and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including the Eve Ronin series, the Ian Ludlow series, the Sharpe & Walker series, and five books (and two novellas) in the Fox and O'Hare series, which Lee coauthored with Janet Evanovich. He has also written and/or produced many TV shows, including Diagnosis Murder, SeaQuest, and Monk, and is the cocreator of the Hallmark movie series Mystery 101. As an international television consultant, he has advised networks and studios in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, China, Sweden, and the Netherlands on the creation, writing, and production of episodic series. For more information, visit www.leegoldberg.com.James Lott Jr is the host! 

In case you didnt know! take a listen! We honor and remember all the fallen who served. 

In this episode I spoke with Larry D Graggy about his book "Bugsy's Shadow: Moe Sedway, Bugsy Siegel and the Birth of Organized Crime in Las Vegas." The story of Moe Sedway, the eponymous "shadow" to Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, from his days as Bugsy's right hand associate to his suspected role in Bugsy's unsolved disappearance, and the role Sedway played in the creation of modern Las Vegas.

Midnight Train from Georgia chronicles the incredible rise of Gladys Knight and the Pips from their origins singing in a small Atlanta church to their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. When two families' destinies intertwine at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, they discover the extraordinary musical talents of their children. Young cousins William Guest, Eleanor Guest, Gladys Knight, Brenda Knight, and Bubba Knight unite their heavenly vocals to form The Pips gospel choir. We follow William Guest from his formative years in Atlanta, where his love of music is kindled by evenings listening to his family perform rhythmic gospel songs on their porch. The Pips' journey takes them from these humble back-porch jam sessions to struggle and sacrifice on the road to stardom. With faith, fortitude and William's grandmother's lessons to guide them, the group overcomes adversity through the transcendent power of their music. Midnight Train from Georgia is an inspiring tale about the bonds of family, church and music. It's a story of poverty to fortune, innocence to experience, and childhood friendship growing into Hall of Fame synergy. Their sweet harmonies touched millions over decades, but it all started with kids finding their voices in a small Georgia choir.Lady Dhyana Ziegler, DCJ, Ph.D., is currently President and CEO of Z/Creators, LLC and Professor Emerita of Florida A&M University, U.S.A. . She has worked in the field of higher education and technology for more than 35 years as a professor and administrator. Dr. Ziegler is the author of four books, more than 60 scholarly publications - including book chapters - and has produced more than 100 videos and other multimedia works. She has presented at numerous national and international conferences. Besides her academic career, Dr. Ziegler is a multimedia writer, digital content producer, and songwriter (to name a few). She serves on several boards and other professional organisations.

In this episode I spoke with Justin Baer about his book "House of Fidelity: The Rise of the Johnson Dynasty and the Company That Changed American Investing". When Edward C. Johnson 2d founded Fidelity in 1946, investing was a pursuit reserved for the elite. Today, more than $15 trillion flows through Fidelity's customer accounts and investment funds touching the lives of one in five American adults. 

His new book is out now! Before Leaving the Island, available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org. It ships globally.

WHEN YOUR KID IS LITTLE, the paradoxes of parenting are simple: you can love your child to death, and also be willing to do anything to get them to go the fuck to sleep. But by the time your precious little baby bird is getting ready to spread its wings and leave the nest? That's a whole different level of complexity. You're happy and sad. Thrilled and devastated. You want to give them all the advice you can, but you know they've got to make their own mistakes. You want them to know they can always come home, but also you're turning their bedroom into a gym. With Adam Mansbach's trademark honesty, humor, and profanity, Go the Fuck to College perfectly captures the complicated emotional reality of this poignant, fraught, exciting time. A perfect gift for any graduating senior―or their parents or grandparents―this book somehow encapsulates everything you'd ever want to tell your kid . . . along with a few things you'd never dream of saying out loud. Full color illustrations throughout! out now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble.

JLJ talks to John about his  debut collection of poems, Before Leaving the Island, available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org. It ships globally. His  heartfelt thanks to Trail to Table, an imprint of Wandering Aengus Press, and to the many others whose help along the way made this book possible. This year he also founded Fifth Stanza Press with the mission of publishing first and second collections of poetry by writers in midlife or later. Inaugural submissions window started on May 1.

In Jazz Age New York, a shocking murder shatters the privileged life of the city's most elite family in a propulsive mystery-thriller debut from author K.M. Colley that spans from Harlem to Long Island's Gold Coast and high society's glittering world of deadly secrets.In the glittering world of 1920s New York, the seven Ridley heirs seem to have it all: wealth, status, and protection as the city's most powerful family. But when notorious gossip columnist Dale Caimen is found dead during their family's renowned summer soiree, their carefully constructed world begins to crack.Behind the champagne and jazz, each adopted Ridley sibling harbors secrets that could destroy them. There's Amelia, the responsible eldest trying to hold it all together; Adesua, whose artistic ambitions in the Harlem Renaissance threaten her family's expectations; and wild child Kavita, whose dangerous nights in speakeasies may have finally caught up with her.As the murder investigation intensifies, long-buried tensions surface and family loyalties unravel. Someone knows the truth about the Ridleys—and they're willing to kill to expose it. In a world where appearance is everything and power comes at a deadly price, the siblings must decide what matters more: protecting the family name or each other.goto Amazon or where ever books are sold! 

Dickens in Brooklyn is a virtuoso collection of unusual, compelling essays in which critically acclaimed and award-winning author Jay Neugeboren explores experiences that have been central to his life: caring long-term for a brother with mental illness; finding and connecting with long-lost family members; a posthumous lunch with Oliver Sacks; his years as single parent to his three children; his decision as a General Motors executive trainee to violate company policy and hang out with "hourlies;" a thwarted kiss at a teenage summer camp where he was a young Jewish man in exile among Jews.Neugeboren is the author most recently of Whatever Happened to Frankie King and twenty-three other prize-winning works of fiction and nonfiction. His essays have been recently published in The New York Review of Books, The New York Times, The American Scholar, Los Angeles Review of Books, Tablet, and Commonweal, and are here collected for the first time.

In this episode, I spoke with one of the producers of the film and the author of the book " On the Set of Forest Gump." Forrest Gump is a beloved and frequently quoted modern classic that has captivated audiences and changed the American cultural landscape since its release. The winner of six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay, its portrayal of American history has often sparked debate.

IN this episode I spoke with Martin Dugard about his latest book "The Long Run". A dramatic narrative telling the story behind the running and marathon boom of the 1970s and early 1980s, featuring the stories of Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Grete Waitz, and many others, and how a generation of runners turned a formerly obscure distance into a national obsession

1910, Mexico. As the country's revolution spreads, Dolores, the daughter of a wealthy banker, must flee her comfortable life in Durango or risk death. Her family settles in Mexico City, where, at sixteen, she marries the worldly Jaime del Río. But in a twist of fate, at a party she meets an influential American director who recognizes in her a natural performer. He invites her to Hollywood, and practically overnight, the famous Miss del Río is born. Dolores's star quickly rises, and her days become a whirlwind of moviemaking and glamorous events. Swept up in L.A.'s glitzy inner circle, she takes her place among film royalty such as Marlene Dietrich and Orson Welles. But as her career soars, her personal life becomes increasingly complicated, with family tragedy, divorce, and real heartache. And when she's labeled box office poison amid growing prejudice before WWII, Dolores must decide what price she's willing to pay to achieve her dreams and if her heart and future instead lie where it all began…in Mexico. Spanning half a century and narrated by Dolores's fictional hairdresser and longtime friend, Miss del Río traces the life of a trailblazing woman whose legacy in Hollywood and in Mexico still shines bright today. Out now! Amazon and all bookstores!