A CLOSER LOOK AT JUNE’S
AMERICAN FAUST
By Rip Brown
Delve into the existential angst of pursuing the American dream
What happens when an entrepreneur with revolutionary software is offered a billion dollars from the devil to find a woman of eternal beauty caught in the clutches of her demon lover? American Faust follows three Americans from different time eras (1920s, 1960s, 2000) whose lives converge when each of them makes a deal with the devil. Alas, all actions have consequences …
Readers can expect to feel the pain and suffering, which leads to the major characters’ personal growth—the worthlessness of Sharon which pushes her to seek eternal beauty; the fear of failure that drives James’ ambition and inability to accept defeat; the abandonment and rejection forcing Lawrence to hatred. The question is: When presented with an opportunity for redemption, will they grab it or let it slip into the abyss?
THE AUTHOR
RIP BROWN is a member of The Writer’s Room, New York City’s first and most acclaimed professional writers’ colony. He studied creative writing at the Harvard Extension School, led writer’s groups and won first prize in Digital Americana’s short fiction competition with an excerpt from his novel, American Faust. A former executive with Walmart in Mexico, Brown turned to writing serious fiction when his daughters became a manageable age. His second novel, The Goatherder’s Tale, is scheduled for release in 2023. He lives and works in New York City.
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THE BEACH BABES
By Judith Keim
Old friends are the best…
Catherine “Cate” Tibbs, Brooke Ridley, and Amber Anderson, friends since they were awkward thirteen-year-olds who named themselves “The Beach Babes,” are about to face their 40th birthdays. Because they haven’t been able to get together for some time, Cate arranges for them to rent a house along the Gulf Coast of Florida for a long weekend. She hopes it will give them the opportunity to celebrate and re-ignite their friendship. Cate, an author trying to finish a book, doesn’t know that Amber, a model, and Brooke, the mother of a boy in college and younger twin girls, are as worried about their own futures as she. Together, the three women support one another as they each face a crisis in her life, proving once again the strength of women’s friendships.
THE AUTHOR
JUDITH KEIM, a USA Today Best Selling Author, is a hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes. Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and find love and happiness along the way, stories with heart. Her best-selling books are based, in part, on many of the places she’s lived or visited and on the interesting people she’s met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many loyal readers love.
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THANK YOU! WITH DEEPEST GRATITUDE
By Michael Floissac
Changing the world one drop at a time
Let’s be honest, you don’t need another how-to book on gratitude. What you need is a guided tour through a life lived with gratitude, making it easier to absorb lessons learned through experience, and to emerge transformed from the inside out.
From a sun-kissed childhood in the Caribbean, through world travels and homelessness, to the everyday trials of modern parenthood, prepare to be treated to an intimate yet relatable exploration of the power of gratitude to transform lives.
Part devotional, autobiography, and workbook, Thank You! With Deepest Gratitude will awaken you to new perspectives on life, and lead you down a path to increased hope, positivity, and appreciation for the world around you. Each standalone chapter in the book delves into the author’s insights and personal stories, divided in to 15 topics such as nature, freedom, parents, friends, music, and time. Then, the focus turns to the reader, with simple questions and challenges to help guide you through reflection and application of what you’ve learned. This easy-to-read methodical structure is smoothly complemented by the author’s poetic voice and wit, motivational quotes throughout, and has charming original illustrations.
THE AUTHOR
MICHAEL FLOISSAC was born and raised on the Caribbean Island of Dominica. Growing up, he was fascinated with nature, and this interest led to a deep love and appreciation for the outdoors. In his downtime, he can usually be found in his nature garden enjoying a new book. He tends to enjoy reading biographies, for he believes everyone has a story to tell. As a self-described, book enthusiast, he hosts his collection of favorite books in an at-home wine cellar converted “book cellar.” He enjoys golf, the beach, hiking, and spending time with his family. He also enjoys rainy days out on his deck watching the rain fall. Michael resides in the Washington, D.C. metro area and is a proud U.S. Navy Veteran. He currently practices law as a Federal Government Attorney.
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ALL WE HAVE TO BELIEVE IN
By Jeffrey J. Lousteau
A captivating story of love and loss, betrayal and redemption
Edward Dooley is a disillusioned veteran of the Great War who comes home to San Francisco, struggles to fit into a fast-changing society, and falls in love with the daughter of immigrants who is as headstrong as he is idealistic. Beneath all the glamour of the dazzling 1920s, however, xenophobia is taking hold, prosperity is undone by greed, and Prohibition proves morally bankrupt.
This historical fiction is told with compassion and is rich in historical detail, while the themes of this story continue to resonate today.
THE AUTHOR
JEFFREY J. LOUSTEAU was born and raised in San Francisco, and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Masters Degree from MIT. An architect by background, he serves as an assistant editor for the literary journal www.NarrativeMagazine.com. He is the father of two sons and lives with his wife in Berkeley, California.
All We Have To Believe In is his first novel.
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To learn more about Jeffrey J. Lousteau, visit his website.
JUDGE’S WALTZ
By Katherine Burnette
Someone played judge, jury, and executioner…
When Federal Judge Patrick O’Shea is found swinging from his courtroom chandelier clad only in his robe, it’s quickly revealed that pretty much everyone wanted him dead. While FBI task force officer Katie O’Connor and her team work to untangle the ever-growing lists of suspects, a small town attorney and former federal law clerk, Buck Davis, helps the court by identifying vengeful litigants and overseeing the law clerks during this turbulent time.
It’s hardly an easy task, seeing as Davis now needs to juggle his small town law practice, a budding romance with Katie, and somehow rebuild his relationship with his opioid-addicted brother.
THE AUTHOR
KATHERINE BURNETTE is a former federal and state prosecutor. Burnette graduated with a B.A. in English and Politics and a JD degree from Wake Forest University. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte. Her work has appeared in Flying South 2019, Red Fez and Sky Island Journal. She is a state district court judge and lives in Oxford, North Carolina.
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To learn more about Katherine, visit her website.