#BookReview: Ride or Die: A Husband's Memoir by @thedailymba @GoSparkPress

Synopsis: Modern society has a warped sense of the partner-caregiver role, especially for men. Too often, men are ill equipped to handle switching from provider to caregiver, and the “just suck it up” advice so many offer up falls as flat as the Kansas prairie in the face of the reality of life and death.

Ride or Die takes its audience through the intimate conversations and thoughts of a Gen-X latchkey-generation husband—a man who has always had to fend for himself and believed that it’s up to him to solve his own problems—as and after his wife, Jane, succumbs to a terminal disease.

Jarie Bolander wrote this raw, heartfelt tribute to Jane and her handling of her illness to help men and the people who love them through the experience of loss and grief. A frank chronicle of how an intimate relationship can change and grow—even when the people involved feel there is nothing left to give— Ride or Die offers a detailed exploration of the male experience of grief, in the hopes that others suffering through it will not feel so alone.

This title will be released on September 5, 2023.

#BookReview: Underwater Daughter by Antonia Deignan @shewritespress

Synopsis: Tuni’s father began sexually abusing her when she was just four years old. Her mother, though aware of the abuse, was a silent witness—one either incapable or unwilling to intervene—and the abuse continued until Tuni was eleven. Three years later, when Tuni was fourteen, she was raped by an adult actor who was part of her cast in a professional theater production. These traumas would go on to shape much of her life.

Underwater Daughter follows how Tuni grappled with her relationship with her parents, the aftermath of her rape, an eating disorder, drug and alcohol excesses, and shame as she came of age and began to build a life. In order to not lose her inner innocence, in order to protect herself, in order to believe in love, she began early on to create imaginary worlds into which she could escape—to use dreams to transport her away from her fears. By early adulthood, she was well practiced at slapping lipstick (pink, frosty, kiss-me, gloss-over, perfect lipstick) over whatever darkness might be bubbling beneath. Hired by a dance company right out of high school, she found success as a dancer in Chicago and New York, but in her personal and emotional life, she continued to struggle. Ultimately, it took her decades of dancing, hiding, faking, fucking, costuming, implanting, dissociating, marrying, divorcing, and purging—all while staying silent about her past trauma—before a bike accident at age fifty-five forced her to stop and truly take stock of her life. As she did, she came to a resting place, finally, in regard to her father; developed the loving relationship she’d always wanted with her mother; and came to understand that, in the end, love is all anyone wants—or needs.

#BookReview: Unfinished Business by Melanie Smith @shewritespress

Synopsis: Melanie Smith knows from experience how complex and immovable grief and trauma can feel. She used that experience to fuel her research into the issues of trauma, loss, and finding happiness, which led to the creation of Unfinished Business—an eight-step, actionable process that will help you overcome heartbreak, emotional wounds, limiting beliefs, old patterns, and unconscious habits, as well as the negative self-talk, self-judgment, overwhelm, and misalignment that have held you back from succeeding in love, relationships, business, finance, and health.  
 Grounded in a scientifically supported and solution-based methodology, this system has already transformed people’s lives globally through her one-on-one and group coaching sessions; now Melanie has put it on the page so everyone can access it and change their lives once and for all. With her guidance, you will clear out the heartbreak, trauma, and grief of your past and make space for joy, hope, and possibility—giving you the self-awareness, clarity of vision, and courage to create the purpose-filled life that was meant for you.

This title will be released on August 8, 2023.

#BookReview: A Smoke and a Song: A Memoir by @SherryFLYYoga @shewritespress

Synopsis: January 2021, ten months into the global pandemic, Sherry Sidoti’s mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer—so Sherry prioritizes a trip to Manhattan over long-awaited empty-nesting and her “second chance” with fiancé Jevon. With new life blooming and loss looming, she is beckoned to answer the question that has haunted her since is freedom found in “letting go,” as the spiritual teachers (and her mother) insist—or is it found by digging our heels deeper into the earth and holding on to our humanness?

A Smoke and a Song is Sherry’s story of her quest to make meaning from the memories homed in her body. Told with tenacity, tenderness, and wry humor, Sherry stumbles towards self-actualization, spiritual awakening—and, despite it all, love. This is a story steeped in art and spirituality that explores the complexities of transgenerational maternal bonds, attachment, loss, and leaning in to our wounds to find the wisdom.

This title will be released on August 1, 2023.

#BookReview: Baby Making for Everybody by Ray Rachlin & Maria Goodman

Synopsis: This inclusive, straightforward guide to fertility is What to Expect Before You’re Expecting for families outside the heterosexual nuclear family model—perfect for LGBTQ+ and solo parents who want to have kids but don’t know where to start.   
 
In  Baby Making for Everybody,  queer millennial midwives Ray Rachlin and Marea Goodman use their professional expertise to demystify the dizzying process of pursuing parenthood as queer and solo people, offering detailed, gender-affirming, body-positive advice on topics  
The result is a much-needed compassionate step-by-step guide for every aspect of the complicated, messy, and glorious process of building a family. Combining practical information with personal narratives and first-person community wisdom, this book provides prospective parents with the information they need to grow their families.
 

#BookReview: Reconfigured: A Memoir by Barbara Wolf Terao

Synopsis: When Barbara Terao moves into a new home in Washington, two thousand miles from her husband in Illinois, she doesn’t know when—or if—she’ll ever live with him again. Her diagnosis of breast cancer three months later changes both of them in ways they never imagined.


In the ensuing months, Barbara’s husband and adult children show up to help her through a year of difficult treatments and surgery, and Barbara, in her Whidbey Island cottage, learns to listen to her heart and intuition. Nurtured by Douglas fir forests, the Salish Sea, and her community, she changes her life from the inside out. Her journey, she realizes, wasn’t about leaving her husband so much as finding herself. Reconfigured in body, mind, and spirit, Barbara finally has words for what she wants to say—and the strength to be a survivor.

This title will be released on July 18, 2023.

#BookReview: Baby Making for Everybody by Ray Rachlin, LM, CPM & Marea Goodman, LM, CPM @HachetteUS

Synopsis: This inclusive, straightforward guide to fertility is What to Expect Before You’re Expecting for families outside the heterosexual nuclear family model—perfect for LGBTQ+ and solo parents who want to have kids but don’t know where to start.   
 
In  Baby Making for Everybody,  queer millennial midwives Ray Rachlin and Marea Goodman use their professional expertise to demystify the dizzying process of pursuing parenthood as queer and solo people, offering detailed, gender-affirming, body-positive advice on topics  
The result is a much-needed compassionate step-by-step guide for every aspect of the complicated, messy, and glorious process of building a family. Combining practical information with personal narratives and first-person community wisdom, this book provides prospective parents with the information they need to grow their families.

#BookReview: You Could Make This Place Beautiful by @maggiesmithpoet

Synopsis: Keep Moving offers a lush and heartrending memoir exploring coming of age in your middle age.

“Life, like a poem, is a series of choices.”

In her memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful, poet Maggie Smith explores the disintegration of her marriage and her renewed commitment to herself in lyrical vignettes that shine, hard and clear as jewels. The book begins with one woman’s personal, particular heartbreak, but its circles widen into a reckoning with contemporary womanhood, traditional gender roles, and the power dynamics that persist even in many progressive homes. With the spirit of self-inquiry and empathy she’s known for, Smith interweaves snapshots of a life with meditations on secrets, anger, forgiveness, and narrative itself. The power of these pieces is cumulative: page after page, they build into a larger interrogation of family, work, and patriarchy.

You Could Make This Place Beautiful, like the work of Deborah Levy, Rachel Cusk, and Gina Frangello, is an unflinching look at what it means to live and write our own lives. It is a story about a mother’s fierce and constant love for her children, and a woman’s love and regard for herself. Above all, this memoir is an argument for possibility. With a poet’s attention to language and an innovative approach to the genre, Smith reveals how, in the aftermath of loss, we can discover our power and make something new. Something beautiful.

This title will be released on April 11, 2023.

#BookReview: Working From Home: Slacker to Superstar by J. S. Kirby

Synopsis:  Working from Home: Slacker to Superstar is a book for anyone who wants to learn how to be the best possible remote worker whether you are a CEO or just landed your first job. Transitioning from an office to working remotely can be a huge challenge for some. This book will provide you with the strategies and tools you need to maximize productivity and make sure that every minute of your work day counts.

You'll gain knowledge on managing your time effectively and organizing tasks so they are accomplished in the most efficient way possible. Working from Home: Slacker to Superstar will give you tips on structure, concentration, motivation, self-discipline, focus and goal setting when working from home. 

Working from Home: Slacker to Superstar is an indispensable resource for anyone wanting to dive into the pros and cons of WFH while learning valuable tips and tricks to improve productivity, physical, and mental health as well as increase your efficiency and productivity levels. Take advantage of these working from home tips to help take control of your career and goals.

#BookReview: Teaching Witchcraft: A Guide for Students & Teachers of Wicca by Miles Batty , Jamie Hendrickx (Foreword) @LlewellynBooks

Synopsis: A Lost Underground Classic for Seekers and Instructors of the Craft

Teaching Witchcraft is written for today's practitioners, both in coven groups and solitary study. Featuring more than thirty-five lessons that reflect current cultural perspectives and practices in the Wiccan community, this resource includes contemporary lesson guides and exam questions, as well as an emphasis on inclusivity.

Miles Batty presents an extensive variety of topics, including spellcasting, ritual construction and procedures, the Wheel of the Year, the principles of Wiccan belief, and the four cornerstones of magick. You'll start with the fundamentals and progress through the Craft's many facets, from its history and tools to divination and etiquette. This step-by-step-guide also covers the faces of the goddess, sexuality in Witchcraft, correspondences, and magickal ethics. With lessons and study questions for every level of student, this is the essential resource for learning and teaching Witchcraft.

#BookReview: How to Be a Rule-Breaking Letterer by Huyen Dinh

Synopsis: Break the rules, embrace imperfection, and express your unique self through lettering art!

This book is for anyone who's felt the pressure of perfection. As a schoolgirl in Vietnam and later in online lettering classes, Huyen Dinh was always told to perfect her penmanship. Instead, she started embracing her own imperfect style—with squiggly lines, cheeky messages, and pastel colors.

In this upbeat guidebook, Dinh walks you through the basic rules of lettering and then teaches you how to break them in clever and creative ways. She shares challenges and triumphs from her own artistic journey and offers inspiration as well as technical tips. You can use your new lettering skills to tell your personal story, support a cause you care about, or decorate your tote bags and sneakers! Fully illustrated in Dinh's signature pastel palette, this book is the perfect companion for any aspiring creative. 

EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ONE BOOK: This fresh and fun guide includes: 
Affirmations for a positive mindset
Lettering language 101
A step-by-step guide from brainstorming to finished art
Inspiration for telling your story through lettering
Fun DIY projects with how-to instructions
And much more
MAKES LETTERING FUN: No need to sweat over creating technically perfect calligraphy. Instead, let this guidebook infuse your creative projects with fun. Lettering is a chance to explore your personal style and share your passions with the world.
 
EMPOWERING MESSAGE: By sharing her own story, Dinh offers inspiration for anyone who dreams of a creative career, especially other young Asian American women. This is an approachable and inclusive handbook for pursuing your artistic goals.
 
RISING STAR: Huyen Dinh's refreshing honesty and irresistible illustration style have resonated with thousands of fans online. Her lettering art has graced murals, sweatshirts, magazine covers, and more. With this book, she welcomes anyone to join her in creating perfectly imperfect lettering.

Perfect for:
Letterers, artists, and illustrators looking for a fun and practical resource
Students of all ages looking for a creative outlet
Casual creatives and hobbyists who love hand lettering, drawing with letters, and font, alphabet, and script design
Fashionistas who want to add personal flair to their accessories
Engaged couples doing hand-lettered DIY wedding invites
Pinterest addicts and bullet journaling enthusiasts seeking new letter design ideas and inspiration

#BookReview: The Last Hill: The Epic Story of a Ranger Battalion and the Battle That Defined WWII by Tom Clavin, Bob Drury

Synopsis: Bob Drury and Tom Clavin's The Last Hill is the incredible untold story of one Ranger battalion's heroism and courage in World War II.

They were known as “Rudder’s Rangers,” the most elite and experienced attack unit in the United States Army. In December 1944, Lt. Col. James Rudder's 2nd Battalion would form the spearhead into Germany, taking the war into Hitler’s homeland at last. In the process, Rudder was given two objectives: Take Hill 400 . . . and hold the hill by any means possible. To the last man, if necessary. The battle-hardened battalion had no idea that several Wehrmacht regiments, who greatly outnumbered the Rangers, had been given the exact same orders. The clash of the two determined forces was one of the bloodiest and most costly encounters of World War II.

Castle Hill, the imposing 1320-foot mini-mountain the American Rangers simply called Hill 400, was the gateway to a desperate Nazi Germany. Several entire American divisions had already been repulsed by the last hill's dug-in defenders as—unknown to the Allies—the height was the key to Adolf Hitler's last-minute plans for a massive counterattack to smash through the American lines in what would become known to history as the Battle of the Bulge.

Thus the stalemate surrounding Hill 400 could not continue. For Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, there was only one solution: Call in Rudder's Rangers. Of the 130 special operators who stormed, captured, and held the hill that December day, only 16 remained to stagger back down its frozen slopes. The Last Hill is replete with unforgettable action and characters—a rich and detailed saga of what the survivors of the 2nd Ranger Battalion would remember as “our longest day.”

#BookReview: Drinking Games by @sarahliliane @StMartinsPress

Synopsis: Part memoir and part social critique, Drinking Games is about how one woman drank and lived — until sobriety freed her.

Drinking Games explores the role alcohol has in our formative adult lives, and what it means to opt out of a culture completely enmeshed in drinking. Sarah explores what our short-term choices about alcohol do to our long-term selves and how it challenges our ability to be vulnerable enough to discover what we really want in life. While many millennial women will see themselves in Sarah's words and story, Drinking Games is dedicated to anyone who feels like their private struggles are terminally unique. Whether it’s alcohol, food, exercise, or work, so many of us are grasping for control and struggling to keep our heads above water.

Candid, dynamic, Drinking Games speaks to the millennial experience of working hard, playing harder, and wanting everything to look perfect on social media. Dedicated to those who might be questioning their relationship with alcohol but scared that quitting drinking is an ending, Drinking Games illustrates how, for one woman, sobriety was just the beginning of the story. Sarah's words strike the perfect chord of relatability and biting honesty. Instead of claiming to have the answers, she takes readers by the hand throughout her journey, and shows us that life's messiest moments are the ones that can end up being the most profound. 

This title will be released on January 3, 2023.

#BookReview: The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff, Chuck Lorre (Foreword)

Synopsis: AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER

"Talking with Jessica, I realized how easy it had been for me to kind of put all 12 years of my time on Big Bang Theory under one general umbrella, as it were. The questions she asked and the information she’d reveal to me from someone else she’d interviewed forced me into a frame of mind where each season - and sometimes each episode - became it’s own, separate entity again. . . Frankly, it turned into a version of therapy I hadn’t realized I’d needed and couldn’t have known how much I’d enjoy." —Jim Parsons

The definitive, behind-the-scenes look at the most popular sitcom of the last decade, The Big Bang Theory, packed with all-new, exclusive interviews with the producers and entire cast.

The Big Bang Theory is a television phenomenon. To the casual viewer, it’s a seemingly effortless comedy, with relatable characters tackling real-life issues, offering a kind of visual comfort food to its millions of dedicated fans. But the behind-the-scenes journey of the show from a failed pilot to a global sensation is a fascinating story that even the most die-hard fans don’t know in its entirety. 

THE BIG BANG THEORY: THE DEFINITIVE, INSIDE STORY OF THE EPIC HIT SERIES is a riveting, entertaining look at the sitcom sensation, with the blessing and participation of co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, executive producers Steve Molaro and Steve Holland, as well as Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik, and more. Glamour senior editor Jessica Radloff, who has written over 150 articles on the series (and even had a cameo in the finale!), gives readers an all-access pass to its intrepid producing and writing team and beloved cast. It’s a story of on-and-off screen romance told in hilarious and emotional detail, of casting choices that nearly changed everything (which even some of the actors didn’t know until now), of cast members bravely powering through personal tragedies, and when it came time to announce the 12th season would be its last, the complicated reasons why it was more difficult than anyone ever led on. Through hundreds of hours of interviews with the sitcom’s major players, Radloff dives into all this and much more. The book is the ultimate celebration of this once-in-a-generation show and a must-have for all fans. 

#BookReview: Uncertain Fruit: A Memoir of Infertility, Loss, and Love by Rebecca Majoya, Sallyann Majoya

Synopsis: A loving lesbian couple raising their two boys as a blended family in Vermont, Rebecca and Sallyann are deeply committed parents who dream of having a baby together. They try everything from foster care to fertility trials, and after nearly ten years of failed attempts, find an opportunity to participate in a local, private adoption with a teenage mom. Rebecca and Sallyann are overjoyed when they hold their newborn son in their arms. They take the baby home from the hospital and welcome him into their family. But outside forces intervene and the birth mother reclaims the baby, sending the couple into a tailspin. To survive this traumatic loss, Rebecca and Sallyann lean on their love as a couple, and grow stronger in their grief. 

From their distinct voices, this dual memoir explores how feelings of self-doubt, longing, and heartache sneak into the layers of life, informing the decisions you make and the place where you belong.

#BookReview: Conversations Across America by Kari Loya

Synopsis: Conversations Across America is about a father-son journey of a lifetime: a 73-day, 4,600-mile cross-country bike trip Kari took in 2015 with his 75-year-old dad, Merv, who had early-stage Alzheimer’s. Their adventure reminds us of the power of perseverance and adaptability in the face of uncertainty. It’s also a heartwarming example of listening and discovery, including 300 short conversations with people who approached them along the way, providing a rich snapshot of America, especially rural America.

Conversations is a mix of Blue Highways, Tuesdays with Morrie, and Humans of New York… on a bike. As you read, you can’t help but reflect on your relationship with your own father and children, while gaining perspective on Alzheimer’s—which now afflicts more than six million Americans—and getting a sense of the TransAmerica Bike Trail and America itself. Above all, you will be inspired to seize-the-day with someone you love—whatever that means to you.

#BookReview: Lost Souls of Leningrad by Suzanne Parry @shewritespress

Synopsis: June 1941. Hitler's armies race toward vulnerable Leningrad. In a matter of weeks, the Nazis surround the city, cut off the food supply, and launch a vicious bombardment. Widowed violinist Sofya Karavayeva and her teenage granddaughter, Yelena, are cornered in the crumbling city.

On Leningrad's outskirts, Admiral Vasili Antonov defends his homeland and fights for a future with Sofya. Meanwhile, Yelena's soldier fiance transports food across the Ice Road--part of the desperate effort to save Leningrad. With their help, the two women inch toward survival, but the war still exacts a steep personal price, even as Sofya's reckoning with a family secret threatens to finish what Hitler started.

Equal parts war epic, family saga, and love story, Lost Souls of Leningrad brings to vivid life this little-known chapter of World War II in a tale of two remarkable women--grandmother and granddaughter--separated by years and experience but of one heart in their devotion to each other and the men they love. Neither the oppression of Stalin nor the brutality of Hitler can destroy their courage, compassion, or will in this testament to resilience.

This title will be released on November 8, 2022.

#BookReview: Radical Radiance by Angela Jia Kim

Synopsis: A magical 12-week self-love program that helps readers to radiate inner and outer glow to manifest beauty, abundance and joy, from the founder and CEO of Savor Beauty + Spa.

We can all think of someone who radiates beauty, vibrancy, and confidence that emanates from a lit-from-within quality. But what exactly is this irresistible magnetism, and how can you develop it within yourself to manifest all the abundance, beauty, and joy that you not only crave, but deserve?

In this customizable 12-week self-care program, Angela Jia Kim teaches you how to nourish your inner and outer glow so your radiance shines from every pore of your being. Drawing upon her Korean beauty heritage and decades of experience as a former concert pianist and founder of Savor Beauty, she reveals how your skin and soul have a lot in common—they both need purification, detoxification, exfoliation, and nourishment.

Within, you will find:
- A profound self-love practice: how to treat your skin “like the most expensive silk on Earth,” as Angela’s mom would say, which sets a deep foundational lesson for how to treat your soul
- Over 50 simple-yet-powerful self-care prompts, purposeful plans, and radiance rituals.
- Real-life stories to inspire you to become a magnetic manifesting force by restoring self-worth, awakening feminine energy, and connecting with your Higher Self.

Radical Radiance teaches you how to illuminate your authentic beauty and transform your life for radiance, magic, and happiness.

#BookReview: Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood by @MaitlandWard

Synopsis: An empowering, sex-positive, behind-the-scenes look at both Hollywood and the porn industry in this celebrity memoir unlike any other. Perfect for fans of Pleasure Activism and How to Make Love Like a Porn Star.

Maitland Ward got her start in acting as a teenager when she was cast in The Bold and the Beautiful, but it wasn’t until she joined the later seasons of the sitcom Boy Meets World that she got her first taste of fame. As the loveable, sexy (but not too sexy) co-ed Rachel McGuire, Ward soon found herself being typecast as the good girl next door and was repeatedly denied darker, more intriguing roles. So she made a career change—one that required her to turn away from the Disney universe—and eventually established herself as one of the most-respected actresses in the porn industry today.

Now, Ward reveals the ups and downs of her fascinating career, including personal stories from her time on one of the most beloved shows of the 1990s, in this anything but a run-of-the-mill memoir. By showing Hollywood and triple-X stardom in a whole new light, she offers a fresh and stirring perspective on the sex industry. Ultimately a story of hope and triumph, Rated X is a sharp and provocative look at a former Disney princess who found her fairy tale in porn. 

This title will be released on September 6, 2022.

#BookReview: Guided Tarot for Teens: A Beginner's Guide to Card Meanings, Spreads, and Trust in Your Intuition by Stefanie Caponi

Synopsis: Adapted from the best seller Guided Tarot with over 2400 reviews, this essential guide is a must-have for teens ready to embrace the wisdom of their inner voice through understanding tarot cards.

With tarot, you have the power to unlock wisdom beyond your years. A tool for cultivating intuition, it allows you to celebrate your truth and release resistance, fear, or doubt. For beginner tarot readers, learning the cards--all 78 of them--and understanding how to use spreads may seem daunting. Tarot expert Stefanie Caponi explains that interpreting the cards is a blend of knowing the card meanings, listening to your heart, and trusting your inner knowing. In this fully-illustrated book, Guided Tarot for Teens, she offers easy exercises to nurture and grow your intuition, not only to understand the cards' universal meanings, but to channel your own meanings. This comprehensive guide also shows you how to attune your energy to the deck for more accurate readings. With this book as a companion to your deck, you'll learn more about yourself, get divine guidance with life decisions, and overcome obstacles in your relationships--all while celebrating your unique gifts and honoring your higher self.

Guided Tarot for Teens features: 



Guided exercises to strengthen your intuition and tarot interpretation skills
Illustrated tarot card profiles with astrological, numerological, and elemental combinations, guidance for career, love, and spiritual life, and key upright and reversed meanings
Beginner's tools offering step-by-step advice to prepare for readings, such as attuning your energy to the deck
Introductory spreads for different types of inquiries, including a deconstruction of the Celtic Cross to help beginners practice it with ease
Quick reference chart with all the card images and meanings

This title will be released on August 23, 2022.