New Books - NewInBooks

Interview with Alisse Lee Goldenberg, Author of The Wizard's Apprentice

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

This book came from a number of places. At its heart, The Children of Colonodona is a sequel series to The Sitnalta Series. It\'s what happens when you, as a writer, get to look down the road a ways. What happens after the happily ever after? What about the next generation? I wanted to be able to tell a different kind of story, with a new batch of characters (and some old familiar faces). One of the biggest questions that these characters are dealing with is the idea of acceptance. These royals are a very different grouping. We have a prince who has magic in a kingdom where power is important. However, there has never been a wizard to take the throne, as it\'s believed they would have too much power over the people. In contrast, his sister, who as the eldest, should take the throne. But who she is, and who she loves means that there will never be a clear cut heir. Both of these characters are fighting for acceptance from their people, from their family, and ultimately from within. These are all issues that readers are dealing with as well (albeit with a little less magic).

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

Ooh, this is fun. I’d have to say that the Colonodona playlist would look something like this: Lucas: “I’m the Problem” by Morgan Wallen, Audrina: “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, Gertrude: “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift, Lettie: “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love reading fantasy novels, especially anything by Charles de Lint or O.R. Melling, both fabulous Canadian authors. I also love mystery books, and Laurie R. King is a big favourite of mine. I do tend to write what I like to read, although lately my works in progress are looking a little contemporary fiction right now. I have a few works in both YA and Middle Grade that are very much set in the real world. So, I suppose my TBR pile is where I get to escape to other realms.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I am currently reading my way through the “Fourth Wing” series by Rebecca Yarros, and I’m loving it so far. Next up, when I’ve finished that, there’s the futuristic novel “Califia’s Daughters” by Laurie R. King, writing under the name “Leigh Richards.”

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I love to write dream sequences, or in this case—nightmares. It’s a chance where I can turn the world on its head, expose characters’ inner thoughts and fears, and bring issues to light in ways that might not make sense in other scenarios. “The Wizard’s Apprentice” has a few of those, where I get to play with fate and the idea of what’s possible in scenarios that have consequences that are far-reaching in unexpected ways.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I do a lot of writing in longhand—pen to paper. It’s so much easier to toss a notebook and pen into a purse in case I get an idea than it is to tote a laptop around. I’ve also begun making playlists for my books and my characters, so I listen to what I feel they would be listening to. It really gets me into the right mindset and mood to get some writing done. It’s also been a lot of fun.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

My cousin Oskar told my kids, “If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.” That really stuck with me because it’s so simple, and it’s also so true. We make our own opportunities, and we also decide how hard we’re going to push for something to happen. I don’t want to look back and think “if only…” I want to be able to see that I did my best, and I pushed my hardest to make my dreams a reality.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

We are who we are, and we should accept ourselves and each other for who we are, flaws and all. All life is beautiful, and all love is as well.

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Alisse Lee Goldenberg is the author of the new book The Wizard's Apprentice (The Children of Colonodona Book 1)

Connect with Alisse Lee Goldenberg

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The Wizard's Apprentice (The Children of Colonodona Book 1)

Interview with Abdullah Boulad, Author of Be Human First

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

The story behind Be Human First is deeply personal. I did not sit down one day with the plan to write a book about communication. In fact, for many years, I believed I already understood communication very well. In my late twenties, I was leading a venture capital firm in Zurich. The world I worked in rewarded clarity, speed, and confidence. I knew how to negotiate, how to read a room, and how to move conversations toward a result. At the time, I thought that was what good communication meant. But something happened that forced me to look at myself differently. One day, while I was away, I received a handwritten letter from my best friend and business partner. In the letter, he explained why he could no longer stay in the company. It was not written in anger. It was written honestly. He described how the way I communicated and led, even though I believed I was being clear and effective, often made people feel pressured, unheard, or emotionally distant. Soon after, he left the company.

My brother left as well. At first, my instinct was to defend myself. I wanted to prove that my intentions had always been good. But underneath that reaction, a deeper question began to grow: How was I actually showing up in the lives of the people around me? There was another moment that stayed with me. I was standing in an elevator with my wife and spoke to her in the same direct, efficient tone I often used at work. She looked at me calmly and said, “Don’t talk to me like you’re talking to an employee.” That sentence hit me in a way I did not expect. I realized that somewhere along the way, I had started communicating with people through roles — employee, colleague, investor — instead of meeting them as human beings. That realization became the seed for this book.

Over time, I began studying communication more deeply: psychology, trauma, neuroscience, and what actually happens inside us during difficult conversations. I came to understand that communication is not mainly about choosing the right words. It is about nervous systems, safety, power, and presence. It is about whether the person in front of you feels met or managed. Be Human First grew out of that journey. I attempt to explore what lies beneath our conversations, especially in moments where the stakes are high, emotions are strong, and relationships matter. More than anything, this book was written from a simple insight: before we are leaders, partners, colleagues, or parents, we are human beings. And communication works best when we remember that.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

That’s a fun question. My book doesn’t really have “characters” in the traditional sense, but if I imagine the different voices or states of mind that appear throughout the book, a few songs come to mind. For the version of me that believed communication was about control, precision, and outcomes, I’d probably choose “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. It captures that mindset of certainty and determination. For the moment of self-reflection and disruption, when I started questioning how I showed up in relationships, “Fix You” by Coldplay feels fitting. It carries the sense of realizing something inside needs attention and repair. For the deeper message of the book, meeting people as human beings first, with presence and humility, I would choose “Human” by Rag’n’Bone Man. The line “I’m only human after all” captures the spirit of the book.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I’ve always been drawn to books that explore psychology, human behavior, and personal transformation. I’m fascinated by what happens beneath the surface of our decisions. So naturally, I tend to read a lot of psychology, neuroscience, and reflective nonfiction. That’s also the space I tend to write in. My first book, Living a Life in Balance, already explored questions around personal growth, well-being, and how we create a healthier relationship with ourselves and the world around us. Writing that book made me realize how powerful reflection and self-awareness can be. Be Human First continues that journey, but with a deeper focus on communication, especially in moments where pressure, emotion, and relationships intersect. So in many ways, the genre I love reading is the same one I love writing: books that invite us to pause, reflect, and understand ourselves and others a little better.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Right now, my TBR pile includes a mix of psychology, neuroscience, and reflective nonfiction. Books by authors like Gabor Maté, Daniel Siegel, and Stephen Porges are always close to the top of the list because their work explores the connection between the nervous system, trauma, and human relationships. I’m also drawn to books that sit at the intersection of science and philosophy, works that ask bigger questions about meaning, identity, and how we live with each other in an increasingly complex world.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

One of the moments that stayed with me the most while writing the book was the story about receiving the handwritten letter from my best friend and business partner. Writing that scene forced me to revisit a difficult period in my life, when I was confronted with the possibility that the way I communicated and led had unintentionally hurt people close to me. At the time, my first reaction had been defensiveness. But while writing the book, I could look at that moment with more honesty and perspective. It became clear to me that this letter was not just criticism; it was a mirror. In many ways, writing that scene was both the hardest and the most meaningful part of the book, because it reminded me why the message of Be Human First matters so much.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I wouldn’t say I have many writing rituals, but I do notice a few patterns. I tend to write best very early in the morning or late at night, when the world is quieter, and there’s a bit more space to think without interruption.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

One philosophy that has become increasingly important in my life is very simple: be human first. Before roles, before titles, before outcomes. For a long time, I believed success in communication meant being clear, efficient, and persuasive. Over time, I learned that what people remember most is not how precise your words were, but how they felt in your presence. So if I had to express the philosophy I try to live by, it would be this: create enough safety in a conversation so that truth can enter it.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Before trying to win an argument, persuade someone, or prove a point, pause and ask yourself a simpler question: Does the person in front of me feel met as a human being? Because when we remember to be human first, the quality of every conversation changes.

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Abdullah Boulad is the author of the new book Be Human First: The Psychology of High-Stakes Communication

Connect with Abdullah Boulad

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Be Human First: The Psychology of High-Stakes Communication

Interview with Donell Jackson, Author of Jeremy

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to write a different kind of horror story. When people think of horror, they often imagine the same familiar formula—an evil ghost, a haunted house that randomly terrorizes people, and a story built mostly around jump scares or supernatural violence. I didn’t want Jeremy to be like every other horror story. Instead, I wanted the horror to come from something deeper and more unsettling: the idea that places can remember what happened inside them. The concept behind Jeremy: A Horrible Truth began with a simple but disturbing question: What if a house wasn’t just haunted… what if it was remembering something terrible that happened there? From that idea, Jeremy’s story started to take shape. Jeremy himself isn’t meant to be a typical villain or monster. He represents something more tragic and complex. His presence is tied to the pain and injustice he experienced while he was alive. The house becomes a kind of witness to that trauma, holding onto it and eventually forcing the truth to surface. So instead of the haunting being random or malicious, it becomes something almost purposeful.

The house reacts to fear, reflects it, and slowly reveals what was buried in its past. The horror grows not just from supernatural events, but from the realization that something terrible happened to a child, and the world chose not to see it. That was the emotional core of the story for me. I wanted readers to feel unsettled, but also reflective. The real horror in Jeremy: A Horrible Truth isn’t just the ghost or the house—it’s the idea that suffering can go unnoticed, that terrible things can happen behind closed doors, and that sometimes the truth has a way of forcing itself back into the light. In that way, Jeremy: A Horrible Truth isn’t just a horror story. It’s also about memory, justice, and what happens when the past refuses to stay buried.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

If I had to pick a theme song for the main character, I’d probably go with “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Fantasy is my favorite genre to write. Building worlds is something like no other. It really opens the door for creativity and leaves the door open for the reader to walk into a world or story like no other.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Don’t have any at the moment.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

One of my favorite scenes in the book is the moment when Jeremy truly shows Mark and Elena that he means business. Up until that point, the strange things happening in the house could almost be explained away—unsettling noises, objects moving, the feeling of being watched. There’s tension, but there’s still that small part of them that hopes it’s just their imagination. Then Jeremy removes all doubt. That scene is important because it marks the turning point where the haunting stops feeling mysterious and starts feeling intentional. The house isn’t just reacting randomly anymore—it’s sending a message. Jeremy forces Mark and Elena to confront the reality that something powerful is inside the house, something that understands fear and knows how to use it. What makes that moment so powerful to me is that it changes the entire tone of the story.

Mark and Elena realize that they aren’t just dealing with a ghost or a strange house. They’re dealing with a presence that has purpose, one that wants them to see the truth about what happened there. From that point on, the story shifts. The house isn’t just haunted—it’s revealing something. Jeremy isn’t just lingering in the shadows anymore. He’s making it clear that the past is not going to stay buried. For me as a writer, that was the moment when the story truly came alive, because it’s the scene where the reader understands that Jeremy isn’t just part of the house… he’s in control of what it remembers.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

One writing habit that really helps me stay creative is listening to music while I write, especially R&B or jazz. There’s something about those genres that helps open up my mind and puts me in the right space creatively. The rhythm, the emotion, and the atmosphere of the music allow me to relax and let my imagination flow more freely. When I’m writing, I try to create an environment where my mind can fully focus on the story and the characters. R&B and jazz have a smooth, almost cinematic quality that helps me visualize scenes and feel the emotions I want to bring onto the page. Sometimes the music even helps set the tone for certain moments in the story, whether it’s something intense, emotional, or suspenseful. For me, writing isn’t just about putting words down—it’s about getting into the right mindset. Music helps me reach that place where ideas start flowing naturally, and the story begins to unfold in a way that feels real and alive.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“The best stories don’t just live in imagination—they come from the truths we refuse to ignore.” — Donell Jackson

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

One thing I hope readers take away from *Jeremy: A Horrible Truth* is the importance of paying attention to the things people try to ignore. At its core, the story isn’t just about a haunted house or a supernatural presence—it’s about what happens when pain and injustice are overlooked for too long. Jeremy represents the voices that were never heard and the truths that were buried instead of being confronted. The haunting in the story is really a reminder that the past doesn’t simply disappear.

When something terrible happens, and no one speaks up about it, that silence can have lasting consequences. If readers walk away from the book thinking a little more deeply about empathy, awareness, and the importance of acknowledging difficult truths, then the story has done its job. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply choose to see what others might try to hide.

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Donell Jackson is the author of the new book Jeremy (A Horrible Truth Book 1)

Connect with Donell Jackson

Interview with George Alexandros, Author of Beneath the Mire

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

I love mythology, religion, and ancient history. While most parents read books like *The Very Hungry Caterpillar* to their kids, my parents read to me Greek and Mesopotamian myths and stories from the Bible. I grew up on Gilgamesh and Zeus and Thor, and, of course, Jesus and King David and Enoch. I’ve carried them with me throughout my life and still read books by scholars and historians on these topics. I find it endlessly fascinating to learn about these ancient people, what they believed in, and how they lived. Eventually, it led me to develop this dark fantasy, sword and sorcery story about a Christian antihero in the Roman Empire, fighting off demons, fallen angels, and wayward gods while also dealing with his own struggles.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

“My Salvation” by Sakis Tolis, easily. Sakis Tolis is a Greek musician in a black metal band (this song comes from his solo album). Despite being a devout Orthodox Christian, I love black metal, especially Hellenic black metal. Black metal takes a lot of inspiration from mythology and ancient history.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Michael Moorcock. I know—that’s a writer, not a genre, but Michael Moorcock has written in every genre, and I adore his books. I’ve also been known to read a good romance novel. I’ll devour a Colleen Hoover or Rachel Van Dyken book.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Right now, I’ve been going through Steven Erikson’s Malazan books. Erikson is a fantastic writer. He’s created such a complex world, but his writing is both simple and engaging. I have no idea what the heck is going on, and yet I find myself engrossed nonetheless. I’m also going through John Strickland’s four-volume series Paradise and Utopia: The Rise and Fall of What the West Once Was. It’s nonfiction, involving history, religion, culture, and philosophy.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I would say the last battle. It’s full of action, but it’s also highly emotional, and much gets revealed that will end up leading the reader into the rest of the series. It both closes the current story and opens it up for more stories to come.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I script before I write the scene. Meaning, I write the scene as a play before I fill it with the details, the emotion, and the action. It sounds like it would take more time to write a book this way, but for me, it makes the writing much faster.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

The Jesus Prayer — “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” This short, singular Orthodox prayer has been used by saints and monks for centuries.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

That this was a fun ride - and that they want to ride again!

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George Alexandros is the author of the new book Beneath the Mire (Demon Slayer Rome Book 1)

Connect with George Alexandros

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Beneath the Mire (Demon Slayer Rome Book 1)

Interview with Martin Parece, Author of Whispers of the Sower

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

This started as a series of dream sequences, kind of Lovecraftian in nature, that I wrote two or three years ago. I had recently read some vintage sci-fi - Singularity Station by Bell, The Heirs of Babylon by Glen Cook - and I was inspired to return to a dystopian near future that I’d originally created for my books The Cor Chronicles (fantasy of all things). Before I knew it, I had an ensemble cast that took on its own life, exploring a dark retelling of the Parable of the Sower. Not the novel by Octavia Butler, but Jesus’ story from the Bible. In the parable, the “sower” spreads seeds on four kinds of ground: path (or road), rocky, thorny, and good soil. How the seeds take root is a reflection of the quality of the ground, mirroring how the truth of God takes root in the hearts of people. But what if the most fertile ground is the sour ground?

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

My favorite genre varies with the day. Right now, I’m on a sword & sorcery kick (not high fantasy), but I enjoy all forms of fiction from classics to pulpy genre stuff. Similarly, my favorite genre to write also moves around. I’m a little burned out on fantasy genres right now, leaning into horror and historical horror. That being said, Whispers was my first real push into sci-fi, and I really enjoyed it.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Oh no... I have 70 books there as we speak. From Glen Cook’s fantasy/detective Garrett PI series to Paul Tremblay to multiple Battletech novels to some World War II nonfiction to...

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Oh wow. Tough one. There’s a chapter where things really go south all at once. The chapter shifts scenes through different characters’ POVs. It’s very cinematic, and I’m very proud of it. But there’s one scene in the medical center. A nurse/colonist has her back turned to one of our main characters as she works on something at a counter. She’s not even supposed to be there. She’s not on the schedule. Let’s just say it has to do with her asking earlier in the novel, “Do you ever feel like your fingers are too long?”

Do you have any quirky writing habits?

Not really, unless procrastination counts.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Not really, but I’ve found a sort of mantra in the song Lux Aeterna from Metallica’s 72 Seasons album. The whole song—its uplifting, driving message—has kept me going hard for almost three years now. If I were to boil it down to two lines: “Cast out the demons that strangle your life.” “Full speed or nothing.”

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

It’s a harsh truth, but one of my characters, Kaminski, said something very important toward the end. And I find no reason to disagree with him. Life is pain, challenge, and trauma. Anyone who says otherwise is full of shit. Overcoming it gives us meaning. We carry it with us. It makes us who we are. My pain makes me the man I am, and no one gets to take it away from me.

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Martin Parece is the author of the new book Whispers of the Sower

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Business Books That Rethink How Success Works

Success rarely follows a straight path. These books examine the strategies, challenges, and mindset shifts that shape meaningful careers and lasting impact. They offer practical insights for readers looking to rethink how they work, lead, and grow.

Unchained: Your AI Blueprint for Liberation

by Mark Mueller

Release Date: January 27, 2026

Amazon #1 New Release. Stop looking for a magic AI button. This isn't a panacea for the comfortable; it’s a manifesto for the 98% tired of the system beating them down. If you want a dry manual, look elsewhere. If you're ready for a mind shift, look in the mirror. Reclaim your spark from the grind. This is the book to start your inner revolution.

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Do you have any quirky writing habits?

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Unchained: Your AI Blueprint for Liberation

by Mark Mueller

No Regret Money Rules

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Get It Done — NOW!

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Still Waters

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Falling for the Enchantress

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The Things We Survived

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When We Were Strangers

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Yes, Your Serpentine Excellency