Jeffrey L. Carrier ()
Jeffrey L. Carrier's Coal Dust on Purple Asters is a collection of three interconnected stories set in the coal fields of Eastern Kentucky. In ''Rain on Chinquapin Holler,'' Vergie Hicks endures her husband's infidelity until a devastating flood prompts a sacrifice that might save the children. “A Sprig of Purple Asters” follows May Owens during the Depression, who burns her cabin to escape her criminal brothers. But the outcome delivers the opposite of her expectations, a redemption she never saw coming. “Red Snow in the Kentucky Woods” reveal...
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Joseph Policape (Joseph Policape)
The Gift of Misfortune by Joseph Policape tells the story of Armand Etienne, a Haitian immigrant, and his sister Deborah, who leaves behind the dictatorship of Duvalier only to face new trials in America. Initially filled with hope, Armand’s life spirals after he marries Monica, a union vehemently opposed by his family and spiritual advisors. The marriage quickly transforms into emotional and physical abuse, infidelity, and manipulation, leading to a protracted divorce battle where Armand faces false accusations of domestic violence and child a...
Cameron Lane (Stone House Editions)
In The Quiet One, urban planner Sera Linden arrives in the stubborn coastal town of Wintermere to revitalize the historic St. Avila's Chapel. She expects resistance but finds an unexpected ally in Julian Vero, a reclusive craftsman secretly restoring the chapel without credit. Their relationship unfolds not through dialogue, but through shared silence and mutual respect for the space. A single kiss acknowledges their growing bond, but corporate reassignment forcibly separates them. Sera eventually returns to present a revised proposal that hono...
Paul Steven Stone (Blind Elephant Press (Paul Steven Stone, publisher))
Or So It Seems by Paul Steven Stone follows Paul Peterson, a divorced advertising copywriter and former spiritual seeker, who finds himself in a very precarious situation with his son’s teacher, Allison Pratt. This moment triggers a metaphysical “Do-It-Yourself Workshop,” guided by the spirit of his deceased guru, The Bapucharya. Paul revisits important memories, including a humiliating Pinewood Derby involving his son Mickey, turbulent relationships with ex-lover Ellie Eichorn and ex-wife Marilyn, and childhood trauma connected to his abusive...
Cathy Schieffelin (Atmosphere Press)
Set in 1950s Appalachian Kentucky, Snakeroot and Cohosh by Cathy Schieffelin follows Eva Morgan, who has suffered abuse at the hands of her husband, Luther. She is a gifted herbalist who relies on her healing skills, and she disguises herself as a man named “Enos” in her quest for a new start. She lands a job, leading botanical tours in Helton, armed with knowledge passed down from her late mother. But Luther hasn’t given up on her. He tracks her down, but she asserts her independence. While he promises that he has changed, it is hard for Eva t...
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Kenneth Chanko (Luminare Press)
Exit Tickets by Kenneth Chanko offers a raw, multi-perspective portrait of a tumultuous year at P.S. 961, a District 75 special education school on Manhattan's Upper East Side during 2007-2008. The story of Martin “Mr. J” Jordanowski, a first-year white teacher from Indiana who joins NYC's Teaching Fellows program following his sister Cassie's overdose death. His well-intentioned but boundary-crossing relationship with Kandra, a vulnerable 15-year-old student processing maternal loss and family instability, spirals when she writes a disturbing...
Connie Richardson (Black Rose Writing)
In Rapid City Summer by Connie Richardson, fifteen-year-old Natalie reluctantly leaves her life in a Chicago suburb behind when her mother accepts a dream job in Rapid City, South Dakota. Uprooted from her cross-country team and best friend, Syd, just after freshman year, Natalie dreads the move. That is, until she meets Adam, her fly-fishing-obsessed neighbor, who introduces her to South Dakota's natural beauty. As Natalie learns to cast a fly rod on Rapid Creek and to hike rugged trails in the Black Hills, she also learns to deal with family...
Sharon Mikeworth (River Nation Publishing)
The House on Chestnut Circle by Sharon Mikeworth is a haunting story that follows Trent Cooper, a former graphic designer seeking a fresh start in a small, aging neighborhood after leaving his tumultuous marriage. The move will allow him to be near his son, but moving into the fifty-year-old Lance Harrington’s house comes with surprises Trent never imagined. Trent becomes intrigued by the house’s dark history, particularly the mysterious disappearance of Lance’s girlfriend, Valerie Summers, who vanished without a trace twenty-five years earlier...
Karen Black (Karen Black)
Heritage Mountain by Karen Black is a tale of adventure, magic, and a battle to preserve ancient secrets. The story follows a diverse group of characters, including archaeologists, supernatural beings, and guardians of the forest, who explore the Adirondacks in search of artifacts, lost relics, and even a legendary gold mine. Marco Cason is exploring the mountain history with Chase, Maria, and Anita, but he is unaware that they are the guardians of the fae. With maps, they explore the legends of the mountain and discover folklore that reveals t...
Glenda K Clare (Independent)
The Legacy of Prairie Winds by Glenda K Clare is a saga that chronicles the life of Johann (John) Gehring, a young German immigrant who bravely journeys to America in search of a new life. At sixteen, Johann arrives in the Nebraska’s rugged prairies. He encounters tornadoes, prairie fires, and experiences the freezing winters. He learns to survive in the midst of the fiercest challenges. Adopting the name John, he finds love with Helena, and together they build a home and raise five children, including the spirited Berta. Helena teaches her chi...
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