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JR VERSUS STINKY DUMPING GROUND
Twelve-year-old JR is convinced the toxic dump next door killed his sister—and no one will listen.If JR fails, the danger won’t stop with his family—it could destroy the entire neighborhood.The adults say he is wrong. They say keep quiet. They say let them handle it. But JR has watched them do nothing for years. So, he is taking matters into his own hands. With help from his friends, a school project that becomes an investigation, and a heart that refuses to give up, JR sets out on a mission to expose the truth.Fueled by courage, determination, and a heart that refuses to give up, JR sets out on a mission that seems impossible: “Stinky Dumping Ground has got to go!”But can one kid really take on something so big? Can kids make a difference and get environmental justice?JR Versus Stinky Dumping Ground is about community activism inspired by kids. An enjoyable read for adults. A must-read for kids.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
More than an environmental mystery. A funny, sharp 12-year-old takes on an illegal dump in Brooklyn, but the real story is about grief, family, and finding your voice.
Rooted in personal loss. Rawle lost his younger sister at age 12, the same age as JR. That experience shaped the book's emotional core.
Community matters. Inspired by a Spike Lee vibe, the Brooklyn neighborhood is full of characters who argue, support, and show up for each other when it counts.
No perfect victories. JR doesn't get everything he wants, and that's intentional. The book respects young readers enough to keep the ending honest.
A series with a twist. Future books will feature different kids with the initials J.R. in different communities, each tackling environmental issues. Three more drafts are already in progress.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ellis Brown grew up surrounded by stories, the kind his uncles told with flair and detail, the kind that stick with you. Now he tells his own. A debut novelist and children's book author, Brown writes across genres with a consistent thread: characters navigating big stakes, real-world issues, and the complicated question of who the heroes really are.
By day, Brown works as a Business Advisor at the Pace University Small Business Development Center, where he has spent two decades helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into reality, not unlike what he does on the page.
Learn more about R. Ellis Brown and his work - Connect with him at: 
Website: www.rellisbrown.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r.ellis.brown/ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/rellisbrown.bsky.social 

Bring One Home: A Memoir of Boyhood, Basketball, and Hometown Spirit
In the 1960s, the biggest dream for many young boys across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was to play for their high school basketball team. In the small town of Bessemer, this meant one thing: wearing the blue and gold of the Speedboys. The two obstacles standing in every young Bessemer boy's way were bitter winters of endless snow and a padlock on the doors to the only good gym in town. One day, when a young inexperienced coach is hired to lead the team, the Speedboys' usual aspirations of winning championships suddenly become far humbler: they merely want to win a single game. Mired in an epic losing streak, the team's declining fortunes come to mirror those of the town itself. Iron ore mines are shuttered. Jobs are lost. And the Speedboys' losses start piling up. What transpires is nothing less than a test of the town's soul and the character of its people. Bring One Home is an irresistible trip back to the days when kids played basketball on snow-covered driveways, drank chocolate malts at the Tip Top Cafe, and folks got their news in the local barbershop. Told from the viewpoint of a young, anxious boy striving to fulfill the expectations set forth by the adults in his life, this is an underdog story as heartwarming as it is at times heartbreaking. Filled with historical insights and laugh-out-loud moments, Bring One Home is a tribute to the author's beloved hometown and their undeniable determination to win.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
About Bring One Home and the inspiration behind the book
How the decline of the iron ore mining industry and a historic 42-game basketball losing streak became the unexpected backbone of one powerful story
The eerie connection between the new basketball coach's first pep rally and the assassination of President Kennedy
What it was really like to grow up in a small town where the rivalries were fierce and losing brought the community closer together
How eight years of research uncovered the surprising root cause of the losing streak
How proceeds from the book have been donated back to Bessemer schools, local libraries, and senior meals in the community
A beautiful reminder to support your local library, where his own love of reading began with Green Eggs and Ham
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Thomas L. Pelissero grew up in Bessemer, a small town nestled in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Drawing on his roots, he shared the spirit and history of his hometown in his debut book, “Bring One Home: A Memoir of Boyhood, Basketball and Hometown Spirit.” As a natural storyteller with a flair for humor, Thomas delights friends and family with vivid tales from his youth and the community that shaped him. His book has won a bronze medal in the North American Book Awards, named a Finalist in the Best Book Awards, and his memoir was placed into the Congressional Record in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 21, 2026 and is on the shelf in the Library of Congress. He has donated his net proceeds from sales of his book “Bring One Home” to support literacy in libraries and schools in Michigan and Wisconsin.
Thomas earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of St. Thomas and an MBA from Concordia University, both located in St. Paul, Minnesota. He dedicated 18 years to the broadcasting industry, where he made a notable impact. Thomas’s work with popular artists in the 1980s was recognized with two Gold Records and one Platinum Record. In 1991, Thomas transitioned to a corporate marketing in St. Paul until his retirement in 2017. That same year, he founded the Erwin Township Historical Society, serving as its President. Under his leadership, the Society was recognized in 2025 by the Michigan Historical Society as the Best Local Historical Society in the state.
Thomas is married to Joy, and together they have five children and twelve grandchildren. The couple shares a love for outdoor adventures, hiking, biking, and fishing—and cherishes time spent with family and exploring history.
Learn more about Thomas L. Peliserro and his work at: https://www.thomaslpelissero.com/ 
Get the book: https://amzn.to/4tHXlMK 
 

EMPOWERED WEIGHT LOSS
Are You Gaining Weight Despite Doing Everything Right? The Truth About Perimenopause Weight Loss That Your Doctor Isn't Telling You
If you're a woman over 40 struggling with unexplained weight gain, crushing fatigue, sleepless nights, and mood swings—despite eating well and exercising regularly—this book reveals why traditional weight loss advice fails women in perimenopause and menopause, and what actually works.
The Hidden Truth: It's Not Your Willpower. It's Your Hormones.
This is the exact strategy we've used to help over 1,800 women achieve remarkable results: not only with weight loss, but also with reversing their most debilitating symptoms and feeling like themselves again. We've discovered that 5 specific hormone imbalances sabotage weight loss efforts during perimenopause and menopause. Most women have 2-4 of these imbalances simultaneously—which explains why "eat less, exercise more" stopped working after age 40.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
The book's origin and audience — How their own hormone struggles led them to co-found Vitality Health Matrix and write Empowered Weight Loss, aimed at women 35+ navigating perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.
The five hormone metabolizer types — Insulin resistance, cortisol dysregulation, vitamin D deficiency, sex hormone imbalance, and thyroid dysfunction, and why all five must be addressed together rather than in isolation.
Normal vs. optimal lab values — Why standard lab ranges include people who are sick or symptomatic, and why "normal" results don't mean a woman is actually feeling or functioning well.
Women's biology vs. men's — How women lose muscle mass, have cyclical hormone patterns, and have fundamentally different metabolic demands — making male-designed diet and fitness plans ineffective for most women.
Medications, supplements, and self-advocacy — Why needing prescription support isn't failure, how integrative medicine addresses root causes, and how women can educate themselves to advocate for better care.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
SARAH GIBSON is a Physician Associate, author, speaker, and fierce advocate for women's health. Certified by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine in using food and nutrition to reverse chronic disease, she is the founder of Vitality Health Matrix and the medical architect behind The Matrix Method — a comprehensive hormone optimization protocol that has helped over 1,800 women lose an average of 22.7 pounds in 90 days. Sarah is an associate producer and featured medical expert in Balance: A Perimenopause Journey, now available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime, and co-author of Empowered Weight Loss. She delivers the results women have been told are impossible.
Credentials: MPAS (Master of Physician Associate Studies) | PA-C (National Board Certified Physician Associate) | Certified by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine | HWC (Health & Wellness Coach)
ABBEY WALSH is a Certified Nutrition Specialist, author, speaker, and nationally recognized expert in personalized nutrition, advanced supplementation, and hormone optimization for women in midlife. As co-founder of Vitality Health Matrix and co-creator of The Matrix Method, Abbey brings 15+ years of expertise in fitness and functional nutrition — including proprietary women. She is the co-author of Empowered Weight Loss and a nationally recognized speaker on the intersection of nutrition, supplementation, and hormone health. Abbey's work goes far beyond standard nutritional counseling — she delivers results that diet and exercise alone simply can't achieve.
Credentials: MS (Master of Science in Nutrition) | CNS (Certified Nutrition Specialist®) | LDN (Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist) | Fitness Expert (CPT, CGFI, & RTY200)
You can learn more about Sarah and Abbey and their work at
Company website: https://vitalityhealthmatrix.com/Book website: https://empoweredweightlossbook.com/
CONNECT WITH THE SARAH GIBSON AND ABBEY WALSH!
Sarah Gibson @sarahgibsoncoaching  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahgibsoncoaching/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahgibsoncoachingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahGibsonCoachingFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.o.gibson
Abbey Walsh @Abbeyswholelife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Abbeyswholelife/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@AbbeyswholelifeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbeyswholelife/
Vitality Health Matrix
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitalityhealthmatrix/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vitalityhealthmatrix YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VitalityHealthMatrix Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vitalityhealthmatrix
 

THE DIVINE FEMININE
What if the Divine Feminine was not an idea, a symbol, or a distant archetype — but a living presence you could feel, speak with, and walk beside every day?
In The Divine Feminine: From Awakening to Walking in Union, James Crompton shares his raw, unfiltered journey from a restless, ego-driven life into a direct and intimate relationship with the Sacred Feminine. Written from a man’s perspective after an accidental and traumatic Kundalini awakening, this is more than a memoir, it is atransmission of Her presence, Her words flow through the pages.
Through visions, energy awakenings, and everyday encounters, She transforms from a whisper in meditation into a constant companion. Each chapter reveals not only the wonder of mystical union, but also the practical steps of integration — how to let Her dissolve old wounds, embody new wholeness, and walk with you in daily life.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
The Book and Its Inspiration — James shares how The Divine Feminine: From Awakening to Walking in Union grew out of a deeply personal Kundalini awakening experience he kept a diary of for six months. Unable to find honest, relatable accounts written from a Western man's perspective, he wrote the book he couldn't find — one that might offer comfort and clarity to others going through the same disorienting experience alone.
What a Kundalini Awakening Actually Is — James breaks down what this energetic awakening involves: the dismantling of the ego, the rising of energy through the body, and the experience of accessing levels of consciousness that feel autonomous and separate from everyday thinking. He draws parallels between Shakti in Hinduism, Sophia in Gnostic texts, Layla in Sufism, and the Virgin Mary in Catholicism.
The Dark Night of the Soul — James opens up about the darkest moments of his process — feeling mentally unraveled, considering he might be having a breakdown, and at one point being suicidal — and how surrender ultimately became the turning point.
Spiritual Awakening and Emotional Healing — How the awakening process physically released years of stored pain and suppressed emotion, broke longstanding patterns of self-sabotage, and led to James giving up alcohol entirely.
Hidden Awakening Stories in Myth and Culture — James and Sheri explore how stories like The Wizard of Oz, Sleeping Beauty, and Pinocchio carry deeper awakening themes, and why these meanings often go unexplored in Western culture.
The Second Book: Integration — James discusses his follow-up work in progress, focused on what life looks like after the initial awakening — the long-term path of integrating presence, devotion, and inner stillness into everyday life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Crompton is a spiritual writer exploring awakening through lived experience, embodiment, and direct relationship with the Divine Feminine. His work emerges not from doctrine or tradition, but from an intimate inner journey, one that moved from restlessness and striving into surrender, healing, and mystical union.
During meditation, James experienced a profound kundalini awakening through consciously taking in prana through the solar plexus. What began as an inner energetic opening became a living, ongoing process of embodiment, reshaping how presence is felt, wounds are met, and the sacred is lived in everyday life.
Writing from a man’s perspective, James bridges grounded human experience with subtle spiritual realities. His work speaks to those who feel called beyond external success toward inner wholeness, conscious embodiment, and a deeper listening to the intelligence moving through the body and heart.
Through his writing, James invites readers into a felt experience of awakening, where transformation is integrated, the body becomes a doorway, and the Divine Feminine is encountered not as an idea, but as a living presence.
Learn more and connect with James Crompton at: https://jamescromptonauthor.com/ 

FOR CAUSE (3J Legal Thriller Series Book 5)
When Kansas City attorney 3J takes on an energy company's bankruptcy case, a video surfaces showing her client confessing to years of financial fraud and her case collapses in seconds. Her client swears it's a fake, but with twenty days to prove it, she's pulled from downtown courtrooms to Oklahoma oil fields and into the orbit of Kansas City's Irish mob boss, a man whose illegitimate empire now includes the power to manufacture reality itself.
For Cause is a smart, fast-paced legal thriller where corporate greed, organized crime, and deepfake technology collide. Truth never stood a chance.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
For Cause is the fifth book in Mark Shaiken's 3J Legal Thriller Series
The story centers on bankruptcy attorney 3J, whose client's reputation is suddenly destroyed by a deepfake video
Her client, Remy Paxton, is an oil and gas businessman who finds himself unable to get a loan from the bank group that has backed his family for decades
The book digs into how deepfake technology is creating real challenges in courtrooms today — and whether the legal system is equipped to handle it
3J's determination to win at all costs puts her relationships and her career on the line
With fraud running deeper than it first appears, nothing — and no one — is quite what they seem
Real Kansas City history, landmarks, and local restaurants make their way into the story, giving For Cause an authentic sense of place
The ending leaves 3J in uncharted territory, setting the stage for the next book in the series
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Shaiken lives with his wife Loren and their dog Emily in Denver Colorado. He schooled at Haverford College and Washburn University, and practiced commercial bankruptcy law for almost 4 decades before moving on to writing, board service, and his photography and music.
CONNECT WITH MARK SHAIKEN!
Website: https://markshaikenauthor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markshaikenauthor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@markshaikenauthor8374 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markshaikenauthor/ 

LAUGHING THROUGH THE STORM
Diagnosed with epilepsy at 13, Jane's life took a wild turn full of seizures, specialists, and some seriously strange hospital adventures. But instead of letting it break her, she learned to laugh-at the chaos, the cringe, and even the curveballs. Laughing Through the Storm is a hilariously honest memoir about finding resilience, ridiculousness, and unexpected joy in the middle of life's messiest moments.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
Living with epilepsy for 30+ years — Jane shares what it's really like to have grand mal seizures every two days, including the physical toll, the brain fog, and the invisible nature of the struggle that others simply can't see.
Being diagnosed at 13 and the social impact — Jane opens up about how her childhood diagnosis led to being labeled as "different" by peers, how she learned to stay quiet to protect herself, and how finding her voice became central to writing the book.
The hidden side of seizures — what happens after — Jane explains that the seizure itself is only part of the story; the exhaustion, disorientation, and constant unpredictability are what shape daily life in ways most people don't understand.
Humor and resilience as survival tools — Jane discusses how humor became a coping mechanism, with a candid and funny story about the most awkward place a seizure has ever hit, and how her husband and the Hoffman Process helped her find her true self. 
Donating proceeds to Epilepsy Ottawa — Jane shares why this book is a purpose-driven project, how Epilepsy Ottawa supported her family after her diagnosis, and her broader mission to give hope to anyone living with a chronic condition.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jane Rogers is an accidental expert in epilepsy, diagnosed at 13 and living with it ever since. She’s spent over three decades navigating seizures, side effects, and hospital adventures with grit, sarcasm, and a solid sense of humor. Laughing Through the Storm is her first book—a tribute to resilience, ridiculous moments, and finding light in the darkest places.
She lives in Ottawa with her supportive husband, Pascal, and their two mischievous chihuahuas, Junior and Bailey.
Learn More and Connect with Jane Rogers:
Website: https://laughingthroughthestorm.com/ 
Facebook-  https://www.facebook.com/jane.rogers.339999
Instagram- @laughingthroughthestorm
Linkedin- linkedin.com- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-rogers-46684842

MATTHEW'S JOURNEY: The Return Home
Caroline and Matthew have been nearly inseparable for as long as they both can remember. That is, until the untimely call of war summons Matthew far away to the battlefields of Vlaysar.
With grand designs on an epic adventure, he promises to safely return to Caroline and Meadowshire a hero. But, seriously wounded on the battlefield and left for dead, those delusions of grandeur quickly fade as he, unbeknownst to Caroline, slowly and painfully makes his way home.
Matthew's return becomes a desperate struggle against both time and circumstance. Losing hope at every turn, Caroline grows more desperate with each passing day, not knowing Matthew's true fate, nor certain if they will ever truly be reunited.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
About the book and the inspiration behind the story
Bringing history, love, and war together on the page
Why the story begins with the ones left behind
A soldier’s journey through fear, duty, and survival
The emotional toll of war on families and relationships
What it really means to make it home after war
What's next for William J. Birrell
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William J. Birrell is a longtime educator, teaching at a well-known Canadian university for over twenty years. In addition to holding several university degrees, including a graduate degree in Education (M.Ed.), William has also developed a passion for writing and telling stories.
He is the proud father of three adult children and seven young grandchildren. He currently lives in the Niagara Region, with his loving partner Sue, nestled in the heart of Southern Ontario.
LEARN MORE AND CONNECT WITH WILLIAM J. BIRRELL
Website: https://williamjbirrellauthor.com/
Facebook – William Birrell or William J. Birrell – Author 
Instagram – william.birrell.5
Linked in - William Birrell 
Get your copy of Matthew's Journey

DEBRIS: A MEMOIR OF LOVE, GRIEF AND COURAGE
Debris is a hauntingly poignant memoir of true love scorched by the flames of Australia's Black Summer Bushfires. What began as a casual online connection blossomed into a beautiful family, ultimately torn apart by tragedy, leaving behind physical wreckage and emotional ruin. Josie's mental health was deeply affected by the traumatic loss of her husband, yet her love for her daughter became an anchor, a reason to live and the quiet force that guides her through grief's darkest corners. As she learns to live with the loss, she begins to uncover what is best for her and her daughter. She embraces change, rebuilds with courage and discovers ways to heal.
Written with fierce tenderness, Debris speaks to anyone who has loved deeply, lost profoundly, and found themselves gathering the fragments of a life altered by tragedy.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
Debris: Josie’s love story, the Black Summer loss, and the moment she knew she had to write this book
The “before” and “after”: what life looked like with John, then how everything changed overnight
Inside the firestorm: what happened during the bushfires and the emotional whiplash that followed
Grief in real life: parenting through heartbreak, mental health, asking for help, and the stuff people don’t say out loud
Finding solid ground again: what healing actually looked like for her, and what she hopes readers carry with them after Debris
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josie L. Smith is an author, visual artist, mother, and a public servant whose work spans memoir, community service, and creative expression.
Her debut memoir, DEBRIS: A Memoir of Love, Grief and Courage, traces her powerful journey through love, devastating loss, and the long, courageous work of rebuilding after Australia’s Black Summer bushfires.
In her book, Josie narrated her life with her husband John and their daughter Ems, the tragic loss of her husband, and the emotional aftermath of navigating grief while raising their daughter alone. With honesty, courage, and deep vulnerability, she explores what it truly means to survive, heal, and find strength in the ruins.
Alongside her writing, Josie is an exhibiting artist whose work centres on cathartic process, resilience, and the emotional landscapes left behind by trauma. Her exhibition CATHARSIS, Embers of Resilience brought her paintings and John’s sculptures together as an artistic extension of the themes that shape her life and her memoir.
Beyond her creative practice, Josie works in the Department of Communities and Justice in NSW Australia, supporting children and families through trauma-informed, community-centred practice.
Josie uses her voice—in writing, in her art, and in her community work—to inspire others to face their own storms with courage and resilience.
CONNECT WITH JOSIE L. SMITH
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Josie Smith | LinkedIn