MEET THE AUTHOR! Getting to Know Linda Buzzeo Best, Author of Antonio’s Story: Coming of Age on the Battlefields of WWII

Dr. Linda Best, Professor Emerita of English/Writing at Kean UN, NJ, has written and published in many genres, from Academic Writing to Non-Fiction and Fiction, and continues her work in the field as a writing coach, editor, and instructor of Writing Memoir. … More MEET THE AUTHOR! Getting to Know Linda Buzzeo Best, Author of Antonio’s Story: Coming of Age on the Battlefields of WWII

“The Kylie Android” by Michael J. Metroke

“The mid-day heat of the Australian Outback desert scrubland did little to distract the two Arrernte hunters from tracking a kangaroo mob. Crouching in a dry creek bed, they searched the ground for signs of their nearby prey… ‘The bloody weaver birds must’ve decorated this mulga,’ Alawa said. ‘But where did they find all this metal?’ The answer to Alawa’s question laid a short distance from the acacia. Pointing to a badly damaged humanlike head and its detached torso, an alarmed Waru said, ‘Something very bad has happened here.’” – The Kylie Android … More “The Kylie Android” by Michael J. Metroke

“A How Pretty Town” by Bruce Evans

“A How Pretty Town” by Bruce Evans follows Wayne, an aging, privileged white man who is quite happy with how things are, thank you very much. He does not necessarily understand that constant changes in technology and social media, or in shaking up the history books, or in replacing old town relics with shiny new chain restaurants or fancy buildings. He has lived in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, his entire life. Now, as he passes his 80th birthday, all he really wants is to train hard so he can achieve his current dream: Win the gold medal in softball at the Huntsman Senior Games. … More “A How Pretty Town” by Bruce Evans

“Antonio’s Story” by Linda Buzzeo Best

Antonio’s Story: Coming of Age on the Battlefields of WWII is a truly beautiful story that is full of hope, love, respect, family, and perseverance. In this book the author tells us the story of her father’s life from his beginning in Italy to his immigration to the United States, to his return to Italy as a hero of World War II. … More “Antonio’s Story” by Linda Buzzeo Best

MEET THE AUTHOR! Getting to Know Jo-Ann Vega, Author of Wolf Woman & Other Poems

Jo-Ann Vega is a published author and dynamic speaker with 30 years of experience designing, presenting, and evaluating learning programs for academic, business, and community groups. She has twenty years of experience as an adjunct, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on management and leadership.
She has 10 years of experience delivering ancestry and history programs as part of a University Lifelong Learning Institute and to community members. She incorporated what she learned about history and the Italian character into her memoir. She inaugurated a Celebrating Italian Americans Series program at a local library two years ago.

Recent publications include Wolf Woman & Other Poems [2022]; Moments in Flight: A Memoir [2021]. Lifewriting essays, Serendipity, and Empathy in the Time of Covid [Volume 21 and Volume 22 of Story Circle Network’s Annual Real Women Write Anthology, 2021-2022]. Several poems published: Musings, Then & Now, Awaken, and In Remembrance. Awaken, a poem, is scheduled to appear in Wild Librarian Press’ Anthology [2023].

Jo-Ann Vega lives with her life partner and canine companion. … More MEET THE AUTHOR! Getting to Know Jo-Ann Vega, Author of Wolf Woman & Other Poems

“When Tomorrow Comes” by DL Larson

In this episode, several members of the Douglas family take off on a variety of adventures that cover parts of the east coast, Midwest, and the west coast. Danger awaits them at every turn. The political climate between the United States government and Native American tribes has heated up, and some of the Douglas members are journeying to the Kansas Territory to witness The Great Council, which is a pow-wow that will result either in resolution or in a huge massacre between the tribes and the US government. Other Douglas family members head to the east coast to discover who is embezzling from the family shipping business. In doing so, they become involved with a freed slave and her runaway brother. Lives are forever altered by what happens with them. Another adventure takes place in San Francisco. Greed, jealousy and betrayal are at the heart of most of the dramas taking place. Unrequited love also plays heavily into the Douglas family. The family must overcome horrific challenges handed to them in order to be able to continue the Douglas family legacy. … More “When Tomorrow Comes” by DL Larson

“Darkheart: A Novel of Judas Iscariot” by Jeanne Blanchet

“Darkheart: A Novel of Judas Iscariot” by Jeanne Blanchet reimagines the life of Judas, disciple and betrayer of Jesus Christ.

As a young boy, Judas Iscariot was known as a troublemaker who often embarrassed his father. After meeting an enigmatic young boy about his own age, Yeshua, Judas becomes passionate about being a religious father, and convinces his father to help him begin formal studies. While these dreams were ultimately waylaid by tragedy and hardship, Judas once again encounters the young Yeshua while he is living with his aunt and uncle. Over the following years, the blood brothers grow from boys to young men, and venture out into the world on their own paths. Once again, however, Judas would be brought back into the circle of his boyhood best friend, becoming a disciple of a man who was becoming known throughout the land as the foretold Messiah come to Earth. Temptation and psychological distress remain dangerous forces for a humble, meager man like Judas, however, and soon he will discover that sometimes the ones we love the most are also the ones we hurt the most. … More “Darkheart: A Novel of Judas Iscariot” by Jeanne Blanchet

“Wolf Woman & Other Poems” by Jo-Ann Vega

A good poet is able to take the ordinary from everyday life and turn it into something we get to see in a brand new way. That is exactly what Jo-Ann Vega does in her book, Wolf Woman & Other Poems. It’s a small collection of poems that span fifty years of the poet’s life, so rich, beautiful and provocative that it is as though you know the poet well by the time you get to the end of the book. She shares memorable points of her life in this book – death, love, separation, etc. – and the reader is treated to verse that captures the beauty, ugliness, disparity and ultimate glimpses of hope through beautiful verse. … More “Wolf Woman & Other Poems” by Jo-Ann Vega

“In Spite of It All” by Constance Bierkan

“In Spite of It All” by Constance Bierkan entwines the lives of two young women: Claire Fitzgerald and Madeleine de Beaulieu. Set against the backdrop of the end of World War II, all three characters, though from vastly different backgrounds, find themselves enmeshed in a plot by the Allies to take possession of Hitler’s propaganda art, which is hidden in a mine in France. Claire and Madeleine grew up in vastly different worlds, one in abject poverty and one in comfort. Claire joins the Red Cross after her husband, Billy, allegedly died in a plane crash in Alaska. Meanwhile, Madeleine is left facing a dire consequence after a rash trip to Morocco ended more horribly than she could have imagined. As both manage to get involved with men working to recover the propaganda art, they will learn that the troubles of the past seem inconsequential compared to the new dangers they are facing. For Claire and Madeleine, they will even discover a startling connection between them that neither could have ever seen coming.  … More “In Spite of It All” by Constance Bierkan

“Twisted Piccolo” by Steven Lane Smith

“Twisted Piccolo” by Steven Lane Smith follows Daniel Cromwell from the plane crash that killed his wife through his excruciating years recovering in the burn unit, life as an Air Force pilot and, finally, working covert missions for the CIA. Known by his friends and comrades as “Stitch,” Cromwell finds himself unfulfilled by the life he has and riddled with money issues, an imperfect marriage and prejudice from fellow pilots because of his disfigured appearance. As Daniel sets his sights on improving his financial situation, he ends up flying unapproved missions for the CIA to aid the smuggling of cocaine for a Mexican cartel.  … More “Twisted Piccolo” by Steven Lane Smith