Category: Literary Fiction

“Celebration Playhouse” by Gary P. Cohen

November 16, 2024

Author Gary P. Cohen has drawn extensively on his long-term background and experience as a theatrical producer, playwright, and author of non-fiction theater books to create his high-intensity thriller, “Celebration Playhouse: A Theatrical Thriller.” It conveys the excitement of ambitious, artistic young people as they follow their dream to put on their first community theater production in an imaginative new venue, versus the opposition they encounter from local hard-core hate groups and individuals who want to see them fail. … More “Celebration Playhouse” by Gary P. Cohen

“The Oracle of Spring Garden Road” by Norrin M. Ripsman

November 5, 2024

How does a promising young man wind up living on the street? Is it possible there’s a good reason for it?

“The Oracle of Spring Garden Road” by Norrin M. Ripsman may not give you the best answers in its 407 pages — when is there ever a satisfying explanation for homelessness? — but the ride will be compelling, fascinating, heartbreaking. … More “The Oracle of Spring Garden Road” by Norrin M. Ripsman

“Dog Logic” by Tom Strelich

October 24, 2024

The 1976 sci-fi cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth starred professional oddball David Bowie as an emissary from another planet.  Tom Strelich gives us something similar, except in the case of “Dog Logic” the messenger from another civilization drives a Mister Softie ice cream truck.  He also blends into his social landscape – the countryside just outside Bakersfield, California – far better than Bowie managed.  And while Bowie’s character comes from another planet, Mister Softie is more of a time traveler.  But not exactly.  You’ll see. … More “Dog Logic” by Tom Strelich

“Two Thousand Miles from Omaha” by S.D. Goldman

October 11, 2024

Since completing his sentence, Ryan’s life has been a series of drunken one-night stands and forgettable faces. There are plenty of women, but Ryan can’t give them what they want, not when his heart belongs to someone else. His days are spent working a factory job, where he finds comfort in the monotony of routine—anything to prevent him from thinking of her. … More “Two Thousand Miles from Omaha” by S.D. Goldman

“Town and Country” by Carl Parsons

October 11, 2024

The ten stories in Carl Parsons’ short story collection, “Town and Country: Voices from the Mid-Ohio Valley” focus on the people of the Mid-Ohio Valley, a region that overlaps with the northwestern part of Virginia and eastern Ohio. It’s mostly known for charming towns, historical sites, and natural beauty. The stories revolve around the people who live and work here and showcase their lives, loves, and the importance of community. … More “Town and Country” by Carl Parsons

“Mit Out Sound” by Rick Lenz

October 9, 2024

In “Mit Out Sound,” Rick Lenz has woven an entertaining tale against the backdrop of Hollywood mythology, where the history of film, personal ambition, and convoluted interpersonal relationships merge. The action revolves around Emily Bennett, a would-be film producer whose life is turned upside down when she finds the fabled lost movie called Showdown, featuring no less than James Dean and John Wayne. This was a page turner from the start that just got better with each new chapter. … More “Mit Out Sound” by Rick Lenz

“The Photograph” by Eve M. Riley

October 8, 2024

What happens when a charming, completely “out” and loving-sex-with-multiple-partners gay man is confronted by a geeky, “boringly stable” tech guy who doesn’t do one-night stands and prefers to take things slow? One who’s stuck firmly “in the closet?”

Buckle your seatbelt, grab your favorite snack (though, honestly, you won’t need it—you’ll be in too much of a rush to take a break), and dive into Eve M. Riley’s fourth book in The Techboys Series, “The Photograph.” … More “The Photograph” by Eve M. Riley

“At the Altars of Money” by Graydon D. Hubbard

October 3, 2024

“At the Altars of Money” by Graydon D. Hubbard is a book that dives into the complex world of high finance through the eyes of four young, multifaceted characters.  Set against the backdrops of places such as New York City, Denver, Scotland, and even the Bahamas, the book takes readers for a ride through the financial frontier of America, leading up to the financial crash of 2008.  The book filters through the perspectives of Kelly, a fiery SEC attorney; Arthur, the son of a Coca-Cola titan who feels mediocre in his father’s shadow; Fran, whose ascent on Wall Street shatters the glass ceiling; and Hamish, a securities trading scion who is conflicted between his professional aspirations and his personal beliefs and desires.  … More “At the Altars of Money” by Graydon D. Hubbard