Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Knut-Erland Berglundfor his latest release, CSR History and Practice: A Study on Swedish Large-Scale Entrepreneurship at the Company Level.
Book: CSR History and Practice: A study of Swedish Large Scale Entrepreneurship at the Company Level Circa 1940 – 2010 Author: Knut-Erland Berglund Publication Date: 02.06.25 Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand Pages: 243 Genre: Non-fiction, Business studies Available Formats: eBook, Paperback
About the Book
CSR History and Practice: A Study of Swedish Large-Sclae Entrepreneurship at the Company Level Circa 1940 – 2010.
Social scientist with project management experience and a strong interest in GIS. Used to being involved in, running projects and organizing my work. Specialized in social innovation, corporate responsibility (CSR & Sustainability) and sustainable development. Several experiences as a lecturer and presenter of research at international conferences.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Charleston Lim for their latest release, 1521: The Defiance.
Book: 1521: The Defiance Author: Charleston Lim Publication Date: April 15, 2026 Publisher: – Pages: 243 Genre: Historical Fiction Available Formats: eBook, Paperback, Hardbound For Readers who Enjoyed: Historical Fiction stories
About the Book
History remembers the fall of Ferdinand Magellan, but it forgets the lives caught in his death’s shadow.
1521: The Defianceย is not merely a retelling of the Battle of Mactan. It is a reckoning with how history is written, who is remembered, and whose stories endure.
Drawing from Antonio Pigafettaโs chronicle, the only surviving firsthand account of Magellanโs final expedition, and grounded in precolonial Visayan culture, this novel explores the lives, fears, and convictions of those who stood on both sides of this historic encounter between islanders and empire.
Written by a Filipino author rooted in the land where these events unfolded, 1521: The Defiance reimagines the human stories behind the clash, filling the silences between recorded facts with narrative, emotion, and cultural memory. It offers a perspective rarely centered in colonial histories, one that restores agency, dignity, and complexity to those long reduced to footnotes.
This is a story of belief and resistance, of men who sought to change the world, and of those who refused to let it be taken from them.
โTell me, Antonio. What will your pages call him if we cannot make him bend?โ The Venetian hesitated, then gave a thin smile. โA rebel, perhaps. Or a heathen. Orโฆโ He glanced at his parchment, as if unsure. โOr a fool who defied destiny.โ
Charleston Lim is a Filipino author known for his multi-genre work, including science fiction and historical fiction novels. Based on the island of Cebu in the Philippines, he identifies as a science fiction nerd and draws inspiration from complex themes like quantum physics, artificial intelligence, psychology, philosophy, and history.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Wendy Swift for her latest release, A Dream Life.
Book: A Dream Life Author: Wendy Swift Publication Date: 12 May 2026 Publisher: Vine Leaves Press Pages: 296 Genre: Memoir Available Formats: e-book & Paperback For Readers who Enjoyed:The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, Liar’s Club by Mary Karr, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, The End of Normal by Stephanie Madoff Mack, & A Beautiful, Terrible Thing by Jen Waite
About the Book
When Wendy Swift discovers a letter demanding nearly two million dollars in restitution from her attorney husband, she realizes that her life as a suburban stay-at-home mother has been built on illusion. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, she believed the quintessential dream life she shared with her husband and three daughters was secure and enduring.ย A Dream Lifeย traces Swiftโs search for validation through marriage, motherhood, and social mobility, and the unraveling that follows.
After her husband begins his incarceration in the 1990s, Swift becomes solely responsible for supporting her three young daughters as they navigate loss, shame, and uncertainty. Her path forward is uneven and hard-won, revealing resilience, reflection, and growth, as well as the perils of blind materialism.
This powerful memoir illuminates the complex challenges families face when confronted with addiction, mental illness, and incarceration. Swift blends unflinching truth-telling with wry self-reflection, awakening readers to the consequences of denial and the restorative power of self-possession.ย A Dream Lifeย ultimately affirms that anyone can unknowingly fall prey to false beliefs, but once the truth is revealed and the fear of dislocation and upheaval is faced, renewal and strength can emerge.
Wendy Swift is the author of a memoir,ย A Dream Life, as well as essays published in HuffPost, Memoir Magazine, Grub Street Literary Magazine, Barely South Review, Yellow Arrow Journal, Brevity Blog and Lonesome Press. Inย 2006, Swift earned the Press Club of Long Island Award for her essay โRitterโs Pond,โ and in 2022, she earned Honorable Mention from the Connecticut Press Club for โThe Sentencing.โ In addition, Swift is a mentor with We Are Not Numbers, a writing platform for Palestinian writers. Swift serves as a fiction reader for Mud Season Review. Sheย livesย in Connecticut and when she is not writing or thinking about writing, she is walking wooded trails with her hound, Lulu.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
A rogue planet is coming. Humanity’s last city has a plan. You won’t like it.
Pete wakes in POD 217 with blood on his face and no memory of yesterday. The Last Great City is clean, pleasurable, and perfectly controlled โ as long as its citizens follow the cycle. Reset. Comply. Repeat.
Pete keeps failing the reset.
Somewhere in the city, a woman named Marla is looking for him. Somewhere in the past, two scientists just watched something enormous pass in front of Betelgeuse. And somewhere at the edge of a dying wasteland, a cybernaut older than civilization is sitting under a cherry tree, watching the feral descendants of humanity dance under a dying star.
Salvation Reigned moves across fractured time and colliding perspectives โ the scientists who saw it coming, the city that chose control over truth, the lovers whose bond survives every attempt to erase it, and the machine left behind to witness what persists when everything else is gone.
Raw. Nonlinear. Uncompromising.
This is not a story about heroes. It is a story about what love, memory, and consciousness do when a system tries to delete them.
Adult content: extreme language and graphic violence.
For fans of Philip K. Dick, Chuck Palahniuk, and Jeff VanderMeer.
Travis James Peterson is a former Marine. He has spent much of his life analyzing the world through geospatial data. Reading patterns. Looking for truth in the noise by shaping chaos into something meaningful.
The story came the way most truths do. Slowly, like water undercutting a riverbank. Then all at once. Like a mass waste event dumping earth into a violent flow. For years it lived in fragments. Flashes of light, neon flames crawling across a dark sky. Images without a frame. It wasn’t until sleep was contingent on writing a few good words that the story started taking shape. Then dreamscapes fueled his race with the morning sun to capture a story that flashed behind closed eyes.
Travis writes dark, philosophical science fiction. Short, punchy, and unafraid of hard questions.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Peter Mattson for his latest release, The Ranch: For The Betterment of Hunmanity.
Book: The Ranch: Forย Theย Betterment of Humanity Author: Peter Mattson Release Date: February 20, 2026 Publisher: Mattson Publishing Genre: Political Dystopian Formats Available: e-book and Paperback For Readers Who Enjoyed: A Handmaid Tail by Margarat Atwood, 1984 by George Orwell, & Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
About the Book
In the dystopian nation of Harkiem, no one questions the systemโuntil journalist Jones Torren investigates the death of thirteen-year-old Jack Ovens and uncovers a conspiracy that could cost him his life.
Jack Ovens has always been labeled a troublemaker. After a series of mistakes, he is sent to the Refinement Centreโa government-run program promising discipline, reform, and job training. What Jack encounters is a system that favors some boys while quietly keeping others down.
Months later, journalist Jones Torren is assigned to cover Jackโs death. What begins as a routine human-interest story quickly unravels into something far more disturbing. Records are missing. Testimonies donโt align. And more families are coming forward with the same quiet, devastating truth: their sons never came home. As Jones digs deeper, he uncovers a hidden extension of the program, The Ranch. What happens there isnโt reform. Itโs something worse.
Exposing The Ranch could topple a nation. It could also get Jones killed.
The Ranch is a gripping dystopian novel that asks the question: What if the system meant to save society is quietly destroying its children? The Ranch explores what happens when authority goes unquestioned, and government policies operate in the shadows, revealing a chilling world where the perfect society comes at a devastating human cost.
Peter Mattsonย grew up in a Los Angeles suburb and now lives with his wife and children inย theย Coachella Valley. He has worked as a public high school Economics and Government teacher forย theย past 25 years.ย Theย Ranch: Forย theย Betterment of Humanityย is his debut novel, and he is currently at work on a follow-up book.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Stefanos Sampanis for their latest release, The Grey Winter of the Enslaved (The Journey of the Wish Book 1).
Book: The Grey Winter of the Enslaved Author:Stefanos Sampanis Series: The Journey of the Wish (Book #1) Publication Date: 19 January 2026 Publisher: – Genre: Fantasy Formats Available: E-book and Paperback
About the Book
I perceived the world and acknowledged all of its colours. There was truth; the kind you cannot simply speak of. A tale suits the cause better. It is a disguise that anyone can enjoy and if intrigued, look behind it. This is my testament. Aย fantasy sagaย exploring the mostย human reality. A Journey that lies ahead and matures with each page turned.
You can findย The Grey Winter of the Enslavedhere: Amazon
About The Author
Stefanos Sampanis
Stefanos Sampanis was born and raised in Greece. He graduated from the Hellenic Naval Academy and has since served as an officer in the Hellenic Navy. Although his profession and curiosity have led him to many parts of the earth, he has travelled even farther into worlds crafted on the page. His first published book was a non-fiction collection of short stories, followed by a poetry collection, both in Greek. The Journey of the Wish, an epic fantasy saga, marks his debut in international publishing.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring authorsย Scott Martin andย Coryanne Hicks for their latest release, Play From Your Heart: A Journey Through Loss, Resilience, and the Beautiful Game.
Book:Play From Your Heart: A Journey Through Loss, Resilience, and the Beautiful Game Author:Scott Martin andย Coryanne Hicks Publication Date: 9 June 2026 Publisher: Library Tales Publishing Genre: Soccer Biography Formats Available: E-book and Paperback
About the Book
When rising college soccer coach Scott Martin was struck down by a rare, flesh-eating infection that took both hands and parts of his feet, doctors told him he was lucky just to survive. But survival wasnโt enough. Overnight, the man who lived for the game had to relearn how to move, teach, and live without the very tools that defined him.
From hospital beds and courtroom battles to the touchline of a dusty youth-league field, Martinโs twenty-year odyssey is one of heartbreak and rebirth. He rebuilt his body, lostโand foundโhis purpose, married the doctor who saved him, adopted five children from around the world, and, when everything seemed over again, rediscovered his passion by leading a ragtag team of twelve-year-olds to an undefeated state championship.
Told with unflinching honesty and humor,ย Play From Your Heartย is a memoir about endurance, grace, and the power of sport to heal what medicine cannot. For anyone whoโs ever faced the unthinkable, and still chosen to stand back up, this is a story that proves the human spirit is undefeated.
Fans ofย Wild,ย Crying in H Mart, andย Good for a Girlย will find themselves cheering, weeping, and ultimately believing again in the beautiful game, and in the resilience of the human heart.
You can findย Play From Your Hearthere: Amazon | Website
About The Author
Scott Martin
Scott Martin is an award-winning soccer coach, educator, and advocate for the disability community. Holding an advanced national coaching license, he has spent over 30 years coaching at the select youth, high school, and college levels, earning Coach of the Year honors four times and leading multiple teams to state championships. His expertise has connected him with top coaches in the U.S. and internationally.
Beyond the field, Martin is a dedicated educator in Wisconsin and the host of the Lifeโs a Road Trip podcast, where he highlights stories of resilience and disability advocacy. After surviving a life-threatening illness that led to the loss of his hands and feet, he became a powerful voice for amputee abilities and prosthetic advancements. His contributions to research at the University of Washington and Johns Hopkins University have helped shape innovations in the field.
Recognized for his advocacy, Martin serves as a Global Advisor for Billion Strong, a worldwide disability organization. His journey has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Positive, and he is the author of Play From Your Heart (Library Tales Publishing), a memoir that chronicles his remarkable path of perseverance, reinvention, and the unwavering spirit that has guided him forward.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author John Westley Turnbull for his latest release, A Symbol of Time.
Book: A Symbol of Time Author: John Westley Turnbull Publication Date: 14 November 2025 Genre: Science Fiction Formats Available: E-book on Amazon, including Amazon Unlimited, Paperback and Hardcover. For Readers Who Enjoyed: Asimov, Harry Harrison, other science fiction well known authors of the 60โs,70โs & 80โs
About the Book
Survival requires sacrifice. But what if the price is an entire world?
Their home is cold and dying, choked by the toxins of their own progress. Now, an advanced alien species looks toward the Third PlanetโEarthโwith hope and fear. They see a fertile paradise, but one that is hostile, hot, and dominated by massive, predatory reptiles.
The choice is stark: die in the heat, or remake this new world in their own image.
As they descend to alter the climate and purge the planet of its prehistoric masters, they set in motion a chain of events that will echo through geological time. A Symbol of Time weaves palaeontology and astronomy into a chilling tale of survival. As the new masters of Earth terraform the planet, the question remains: does high intelligence inevitably carry the seeds of its own destruction?
I amย an Australian, whose fascination with science fiction began during long nights spent reading Asimov and other giants of the genre. I am a retired lawyer, husband, father and grandfather. I bring a lifetime of observation to my work, blending curiosity with a steady regard for how the world might have unfolded along other possible paths. My interests lean toward alternate histories and the points where timelines could diverge into something stranger. I continue to write with the same sense of wonder that first kept me awake long past bedtime. A Symbol of Time is my first novel.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author B. Marcus Walker for his latest release, Spirit of the Plain: The Unnamed (Book #1).
Book: Spirit of the Plain: The Unnamed – Book 1 Author(s): B. Marcus Walker Publication Date: ย May 30, 2025 Publisher: Killbot Factory Page Count: 463 Genres: Dark Fantasy, Coming-of-Age
About the Book
The Forest Plain will not allow men to settle, farm, or cross with armies. Men of the west dream of breaking its curse, but doing so will destroy the way of life of the nomadic people who live there. In Grayhaven, they say, โGlory to Ahur and to the Plain,โ because it has kept them safe for five centuries and has allowed them to grow into the wealthiest nation on the continent. COLLIER TRUIT is from Grayhaven, but flees after his grandfatherโs failed political machinations led to the murder of their family. He is part Yurbo, through his father and seeks out his fatherโs clan, determined to win their help in retaking his ancestral titles. While in the plain, Collier faces mounting threats with his Yurbo hosts. One threat is the fearsome wolfmen known asย Lyken, themselves refugees from colonized homeland. This includes the drunk and shaggy ARNAK, and his friend, the troubadour MOJAG. They flee for Grayhaven but run into the Yurbo. The greater threat is from the west. There, ASHLYN, an acolyte of the order of mages known as the Bruj, heads into the Forest Plain to complete her prophesized destiny to break the Plainโs curse.
Originally from Chicagoโs south side, Brian Walker has worked twenty years in numerous industries as a web and eLearning developer, facilitator, and project manager. His true passion has been as a writer of fiction, both genre and literary. You can find his writing on Medium in publications including Thought Thinkers, ILLUMINATION, and Morning Musings, as well as short fiction in the Minetta Review. His first novel, Spirit of the Plain, is available in print and eBook.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Mir Seidel for her latest release, Teslaโs Opera: The real, stranger-than-fiction Nikola Tesla.
Book Cover
Book: Teslaโs Opera: The real, stranger-than-fiction Nikola Tesla Author: Mir Seidel Publication Date: September 2, 2025 Publisher: Fomite Press Genres: Non-fiction, Crossovers Opera & Biography Available in: Paperback For Readers Who Enjoyed Reading: The Prestigeย by Christopher Priest,ย The Current Warย by Adam Cline,ย The Three Ghosts of Teslaย by Richard Marazano (graphic novel)
About the Book
Teslaโs Opera: The Real, Stranger-Than-Fiction Nikola Tesla brings the visionary inventor Nikola Tesla to life through the opera he inspired, Violet Fire. For its creators, only opera could encompass the extremes and surreal qualities of Teslaโs life and career: the visions he had from childhood, his inventions that helped create our wired and wireless world, even his unrealized ideas. Tesla moved in the heights of New York society, yetย he never married, and gave his love to a white pigeon.ย With a score by minimalist composer Jon Gibson, libretto by Mir Seidel, and directed by Terry OโReilly, Violet Fire had its world premiere in Serbia, Teslaโs homeland, on the 150th anniversary of his birth. Teslaโs Opera includes the full libretto, stunning photos from the performance, and haunting images from the continuous video projections, along with commentary by the operaโsย librettist, director, and conductor, critic Merilyn Jackson, and author/poet Andrei Codrescu.ย This book offers us the Tesla we need nowโstranger than fiction, worthy of remembrance, and packed with meaning for our time.ย
“In Tesla’s Opera, Mir Seidel has crafted an inspired and visually stunning tribute to one of history’s greatest minds. Through music, choreography, and imaginative staging, this colorful book celebrates Nikola Tesla’s life in a way that is both joyful and moving. To quote one of the book’s contributors, “Tesla could make you proud to be human”โand this creative homage does just that. Insightful, festive, and richly layered, Tesla’s Opera brings Tesla’s multifaceted brilliance to life with style, wit, and heart.”
โMarc J. Seifer, author ofย Wizard: The Life & Times of Nikola Teslaย andย Tesla: Wizard at War
“Whatever happens through the centuries about Tesla, misusing his name, copying his work, this will still never overshadow his genius and contribution to mankind.“
โMarina Abramovic, Serbian-American artist
“The book is immersive in tracking the history, mysteries and mystique of Nikola Tesla. This is a fascinating, fun book about the world of science, opera and avian love. Poet Andrei Codrescu even weighs in on the current currency of the Tesla name in his fiery intro to the book about a certain musky billionaire appropriating the Tesla name.”
โLewis Whittington, Review of Tesla’s Opera in CultureVulture
About The Author
Mir Seidel
Mir Seidelโs latest book,ย Teslaโs Opera: the real, stranger-than-fiction Nikola Teslaย (Fomite Press), considers the pioneering inventor through the opera about Tesla that she wrote the libretto forโa magic-realist retelling of Teslaโs life. The opera,ย Violet Fire, was performed in Belgrade, New York, and Philadelphia. Her novel,ย The Speed of Clouds, is out from New Door Books. Her writing has also appeared in places includingย Art in America,ย The Philadelphia Inquirer,ย Calyx,ย Bourbon Penn, andย Theย New York Review of Science Fiction.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring authors Stephanie Vaccaro & Louise Allen for their latest release, The Lucky Penny.
Book: The Lucky Penny Author(s): Stephanie Vaccaro and Louise Allen Publication Date: ย April 3, 2024 Publisher: – Page Count: 402 Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic Editions Available: Paperback and Ebook (Kindle) For Readers Who Enjoyed Reading: Hunger Games and Divergent
About the Book
Penny never thought sheโd have family. Penny lost family when Penny little. Penny scared when taken away from home. Penny stay quiet. Penny lost, Penny found. Now Penny have new family. Penny brave. Penny tell her story.
Julietta Milardโs life had been rather mundane up until a few years ago when she found herself in the small town of Waterwealt. Though she had intended to move on to bigger and better things, a beautiful museum preserved in time had her sprouting roots rather than traversing the Wastes further.
Having helped the sleepy town with its various mechanical-based problems, Julietta thought found herself in a smooth routine. That was until the universe decided to throw a curveball her way when about two cycles later a small girl shows up at her doorstep, sick, injured, and unable to speak with only a penny necklace as any identification.
Nearly a cycle and a half later, the young girl, whom Julietta named Penny, has recovered but remains mute despite her best efforts. On top of taking care of little Penny, restoring the museum, and trying to find a solution for the now increasingly weakening water pressure in town, Julietta is faced with another issue. A stranger has come to town, a โdoctorโ named Charles Hawthorne, who seems to think the Arcane is real. Brushing him off, she finds herself questioning what the world is coming to. That is until the world as she knows it to come crashing down around her and vanishes in a cloud of dust.
It was the year 2018. Stephanie (USA) had joined a Minecraft server of an online friend. One Sunday morning she was working on her homework when she got a ping on Discord from another server member asking if anyone was around to play. Meanwhile on the other side of the pond, a woman named Louise (England) was bored and wanted to play some Minecraft, pinging the discord server of her friend asking if anyone was around. And thus the dynamic duo of Stephanie and Louise was born! Having been friends ever since Stephanie and Louise have delved into many creative endeavors, usually combining Stephanieโs programming abilities and story telling with Louiseโs writing prowess and digital artistry skills. Which is why it was not strange for them to decide to write a story together at the start of 2023. What was originally supposed to be a way for Stephanie to learn a thing or two from Louise about writing turned into a full blown story filled with what they describe as โChaos, Shenanigans, and most importantly CCCsโ.
You can findย authors Stephanie and Louise here: Stephanie | Louise
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author David Yarnton for his latest release, GameTrap: Silicon Dreams, Criminal Schemes.
Book: GameTrap: Silicon Dreams, Criminal Schemes Author: David Yarnton Publication Date: December 8, 2025 Publisher: 8TE,ย 8 Tech Express Limited Page Count: 472 Genres: Techno-Thriller, Financial Thriller, Boardroom/Corporate Thriller Available in: e-Book, Paperback & Hardback For Readers Who Enjoyed Reading: Bad Blood by John Carreyrou, The Fear Index by Robert Harris, The Circle by Dave Eggers
About the Book
G L A M O U R, G R E E D, A N D A G A M E C O N S O L E B U I L T O N L I E S.
G A M E T R A P I S N O T J U S T A T I T L E. I T โS A W A R N I N G.
When Isabella Lindstrรถm is drawn into the glittering world of VANTIXโข the tech startup promising to take on Nintendo she thinks sheโs backing the next big thing. But as launch parties give way to missing money, vanished allies, and whispers of criminal ties, she and her friends uncover a scheme far bigger than anyone imagined.
Set across Stockholm, London, and Los Angeles, โGameTrapโ is a gripping financial thriller where ambition comes at a cost, and the truth is buried under layers of branding, buzz, and betrayal.
INSPIRED BY REAL EVENTS
Against the high-stakes backdrop of early 2000s tech ambition, โGameTrapโ weaves a compelling tale of deception, ambition, and fractured loyalties loosely inspired by the real-world collapse of Gizmondo. What begins as a flashy handheld-console launch spirals into a far-reaching thriller filled with questionable finance, charismatic manipulators, and a determined trio trying to uncover the truth.
David Yarnton has spent more than thirty-five years in the global video games industry, including seventeen years in senior roles at Nintendo in Australia and the UK. A pioneer in esports, he was a founding director of Gfinity, the first company to open a dedicated esports arena. He has since advised governments, tech innovators, and universities worldwide on gaming, digital commerce, and the future of interactive entertainment. David has also been deeply involved in policy, industry leadership, and education. He has served on several boards, including as Chairman of the esports subgroup for UKIE, the UKโs interactive entertainment trade body; Board Advisor for the British Esports Federation; Chairman of the Edinburgh Interactive Festival; and Founder Chairman of the British Inspiration Awards, celebrating UK creative achievement. His expertise has taken him worldwide as an advisor on national video games and esports strategies from the UK, Korea to the Middle East and China working with organisations such as NEOM and Qiddiya. He has guest lectured at institutions including LBS, ISDE Barcelona, Loughborough University, and Stanford University, contributing to research on video games, esports, technology, and social responsibility. In his spare time, David channels his passion for teamwork and discipline into managing a semi๔ฒprofessional National League Rugby Union side in the UK. GameTrap is his latest venture drawing on decades of industry insight, global experience, and an eye for the stories that unfold behind the screens.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring authorย Brian L. Reece for his latest release, Stealing Stealth: A Gabrielle Hyde Thriller.
Book: Stealing Stealth: A Gabrielle Hyde Thriller Author: Brian L. Reece Publication Date: January 13, 2026 Publisher: Waffle Ink Press Page Count: 472 Genres: Cold War Techno-Thriller Available in: ebook, paperback For Readers Who Enjoyed Reading: Atmosphere: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Le Carrรฉ); Action: Damascus Station (McCloskey); Tech: The Hunt for Red October (Clancy)
“Reeceโs background in military intelligence gives the novel authenticity… The action is sharp, the briefing-room politics are tense, and the heist sequences cinematic.”ย โย Publishers Weekly
About the Book
The only way to protect the ultimate secret is to steal it.
1977. Deep inside the secretive Skunk Works facility, the United States is forging its biggest advantage of the Cold War: Stealth technology. Invisible to radar, it will shift the global balance of power forever. But a traitor at the highest level is about to hand the blueprints to the Soviets.
CIA Officer John Olson has seven days to stop the leak. But his agency is compromised, the FBI is hunting him, and the official protocols are a suicide pact. Out of time and out of options, Olson realizes he canโt save the program by following the rules. He has to break them.
Olson turns to the only person capable of stealing the unstealable: Gabrielle Hyde. The brilliant, elusive con artist he spent a decade hunting is now his only hope.
Together, they must launch an elaborate con against the U.S. government itself. From the dusty streets of Africa to the high-security vaults of Los Angeles, they must outwit a ruthless KGB assassin and a vengeful FBI agent to pull off the greatest heist in military history.
You can findย Stealing Stealth: A Gabrielle Hyde Thriller here: Amazon | Goodreads
“A stellar series debut… sophisticated thriller that prizes psychology as much as action.”ย โย BestThrillers
About The Author
Brian L. Reece
Brian L. Reece spent 26 years in Air Force special operations, flying combat missions across the Middle East and Africa. He holds masterโs degrees in strategy, history, and business. An award-winning screenwriter and SAG actor, he also served as a technical advisor on films like Transformers and Terminator Salvation. His work fuses real-world experience with hard-boiled noir, exploring what happens when systems fail and professionals are forced to make terrible choices.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Alexandra Devane for her latest release, Inconclusive Volume 1.
Book: Inconclusive Volume 1 Author: Alexandra Devane Series: The Shards of Sansatia Series (Book 1 of 2:) Publication Date: 31 August 2025 Publisher: – Page Count: 139 Genres: Fantasy, dark Romantasy Format Available: ebook and paperback For Readers Who Enjoyed: Fourth Wing and ACOTARย
About the Book
Eighteen-year-old Acteo Venand is anย elite striker cadetย at Inoton Academy, a military institution that prepares him to battleย Noxvaleres, supernatural warriors who hold sway over the three pillars of desire: memory, fantasy, and reality.ย With graduation just a few months out, Acteo is ready to dedicate his life to the righteous destruction of Noxvaleres and avenge the traumas that he and his family have enduredโuntil anย ill-advised prize fightย entangles him with Reyna Ward, anย alluring assassin and Inconclusive, meaning a human with a chance at converting into a Noxvalere.ย Reyna continuously challenges Acteoโs worldview, and soon, his understanding ofย the distinctions between human and Noxvalere, and justice and desperation, begins to fracture. In thisย spicy dark Romantasy Series,ย you will find – Magic, mystery, and mayhem – Crime & Intrigue – Sword & Sorcery with aย modern twist – A fascinating cast of characters who areย as skilled at secrecy as they are at combat
Alexandra Devane is a Fantasy novelist who is partial to powerful female leads with a dark side and love octagons. Her passions include family, spicy food, and of course, the thrill of writing.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Adam Lawlessfor his latest release, Shards of an Empire.
Book: Shards Of An Empire Author: Adam Lawless Publication Date: December 14th, 2025 Publisher: – Page Count: Genres: Fiction, Thriller Available in: ebook, paperback, hardback For Readers Who Enjoyed Reading: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Other Side of Me by David Cordisco
About the Book
Four lives. Four nations. One slow-burn collapse of the world order.
Drawn together by desire, betrayal, and ambition, four strangers from opposite corners of the world collide as love turns toxic and loyalty becomes lethal. As the world edges toward an Armageddon of historic proportions, one question remains: can love redeem the brokenโor will the master manipulator finish what fate began? A soldierโs blind devotion. Brian, a Delta Force Colonel once celebrated as a patriot, is erased after reckless ambition leads to the deaths of 22 American soldiers. Court-martialed and cast out, he reinvents himself inside the power corridors of Washington. But his greatest vulnerability isnโt his pastโitโs the affair he begins while still married. As scandal, blackmail, and surveillance close in, Brian must decide how much of his country he is willing to burn to feel redeemed. Heroes fall quietly. Damage does not. A South Asian immigrantโs disappointment. Sayeed arrives in America believing in freedom, tolerance, and the promise of a better life. A Muslim immigrant with hope in his heart, he soon finds himself torn between family, culture, and a nation that does not always practice what it preaches. As injustice and hypocrisy mount, will Sayeed cling to his idealsโor will betrayal push him toward a darker path? The Chinese spy who loved too deeply. Jie rises swiftly through the ranks of Chinaโs MSS, driven by brilliance, discipline, and ambition. But her greatest weakness is the one thing she cannot controlโher heart. Preyed upon by a married man, her beauty and vulnerability ignite obsession wherever she goes. In Washington, D.C., love tempts her once more. The Arab dreamer on the edge of ruin. Ahmed, a poor but joyful youth from Iraq, is manipulated into stealing a sacred Islamic relic from Uzbekistanโan act that destroys his life and reshapes geopolitics. Captured and imprisoned in China, he is stripped of dignity, belief, and mercy. What survives his confinement is no longer innocent. When he finally emerges, the question is no longer if he will be usedโbut by whom.
Shards of an Empire is a bleak, high-stakes political thriller where nations maneuver through human weakness and love is the most exploitable asset of all. As these four lives converge, the world inches toward collapseโnot with a bang, but with quiet decisions made in dark rooms.
History will call it unavoidable. The truth is far more personal.
Adam Lawless is an avid student of world history, culture, philosophy, and religious thought. He loves meeting people from diverse cultures, religious backgrounds, points of view, and exchanging ideas. While he is not authoring books, he loves eating out, hanging out with friends, camping at Yellowstone National Park, sit by the fireplace and sip hot chocolate, watching thrillers, and comedy movies. Adam’s mantra for life – Life is too short to be grumpy, enjoy the tiny joys in life, be grateful for the warm sunshine, the green grass under your feet and the blue skies spread over your head. Whenever he can, he travels to other cultures to learn about their history, their civilization, their customs, and their way of life. Human beings fascinate him! His favorite thing to do is sit by the beach and watch the sun set in the orange skies.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring authorย James D. Reginatoย for his latest release, Quiet Endurance: A Memoir.
Book: Quiet Endurance Author: James D. Reginato Publication Date: 26 October 2025 Publisher: Coffee Shop Publishing (Self-Published) Page Count: 139 Genres: Personal Memoirs, Patient Experience, Mental Health Book Links: (Paperback) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXTW8W41 , (Kindle) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FYTLKY8M
About the Book
Quiet Endurance traces the collapse of a young manโs health after a post-travel illness triggers relentless gastrointestinal and autonomic symptoms that no one can explain. As his body falters, the medical system repeatedly reframes his condition as psychological, leading to misdiagnoses, harmful assumptions, and an admission to an eating-disorder unit that never fit his reality. The memoir follows his struggle to stay alive, be believed, and make sense of a body that no longer obeyed the rules, revealing how easily complex patients are dismissed when their symptoms defy neat categories. It is a story of misdiagnosis, persistence, and the quiet resilience required to survive a system that stops listening. Quiet Endurance speaks to readers who appreciate memoirs grounded in vulnerability and insight, those drawn to works like When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan and The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmรฉ Weijun Wang. It will resonate with readers navigating chronic illness or misdiagnosis, healthcare professionals seeking to understand the patientโs perspective, family members supporting someone medically complex, and anyone drawn to the moral and emotional landscape of modern medicine.
Key Themes
The intersection of medicine, identity, and meaning. The emotional cost of misdiagnosis and disbelief. How illness reshapes relationships, purpose, and self-perception. Endurance as an act of courage when clarity is denied.
James Reginato is an Australian writer, musician, and former law student whose work examines resilience, identity, and the unseen realities of chronic illness. His writing emerged after a sudden collapse in health in his early twenties, an event that dismantled the structured life he had been building and forced him to confront the loss of mobility, certainty, and independence. Living with conditions including Gastroparesis, POTS, Osteoporosis, Atrial Tachycardia, Ehlersโ Danlos Syndrome, and Small Fibre Neuropathy, James navigated years of misdiagnosis, medical uncertainty, and the isolation of invisible illness. Writing became his anchor; a way to reclaim agency, translate chaos into meaning, and hold on to the parts of himself that illness could not diminish. His debut memoir, Quiet Endurance, explores collapse, adaptation, and the reclamation of identity, offering an unfiltered account of what it means to live honestly within chronic illness rather than triumph over it. James also writes about the systemic limitations of medicine, advocating for more humane and nuanced care for those with complex conditions. Outside of writing, he is an accomplished guitarist and lifelong aviation enthusiast; pursuits that reflect his search for clarity, structure, and freedom. Through all of his work, James seeks to illuminate overlooked experiences and give voice to those whose stories often remain unseen.
You can findย author Reginato here: Website | Amazon
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Chris Waddington for his latest release, Christmas in Flanders Fields.
Book:Christmas In Flanders Fields Author: Chris Waddington Publication Date: 19 October 2025 Publisher: Coffee Shop Publishing (Self-Published) Page Count: 288 Genres: Historical Fiction, WW1 For Readers Who Enjoyed Reading: Sebastian Faulks,ย Christmasย Truce – Malcolm Brown & Shirley Seaton,ย Christmasย Truce by the Men Who Took Part – Mike Hill & Silent Night – Stanley Weintraub.
About the Book
I donโt know if Iโm living longer or dying slowerโฆ
Armed with dreams of heroic victory and Lord Kitchenerโs rally cry ringing in his ears, Jack Crosby proudly made his way to the front line. Once there, he quickly realised that there was no glory to be had on the blood-soaked fields of Flanders. On the back of unrelenting German fury, December delivers a brutal Belgian winterโฆ
Water pours in, swirling around Jackโs ankles, it meanders effortlessly through the trench, bringing with it the pungent stench of death. Body parts intermingle with rats and slushy mud, facilitating the inevitable spread of disease. Cutting a forlorn figure, Jackโs hardening heart aches for home, his beloved Rose and the idyllic life he now mourns. But then, on Christmas Eve, dulcet German tones carried on the wings of angels float serenely through the gloriously placid night airโฆ
Christmas in Flanders Fields is a poignant and moving depiction of the ungodly struggles encountered by decent men, too young to die. Set against the backdrop of the remarkable Christmas truce in 1914, Itโs a story that encompasses love, hope, fear, bravery and the most unlikely friendships forged on the rugged plains of No-Mans-Land.
You can find Christmas In Flanders Fieldshere: Amazon | Goodreads
About The Author
Chris Waddington
The Christmas Truce of 1914 has always been a source of great fascination and the idea of writing a fictional story set during this remarkable and historic event has danced around my head for more than 2 decades. The thought that opposing groups of men thrown together and made to endure the most atrocious conditions can lay down the weapons and come together in the name of Christmas showcases the very best of humanity. I toured around Belgian battlefields and war cemeteries in the Flanders region conducting research for this book and found the whole experience emotional and humbling. Iโm very excited to produce a story that pays homage to this momentous occasion and the brave souls, regardless of nationality, who risked and gave their lives.
This is my second novel following the release of Coffee Shop Girl in 2020. Prior to that I have wrote childrenโs books, poetry and even lyrics to the odd song. Iโm a proud Grandfather to Nirvana & Neveah, a staunch Liverpool supporter and a self-confessed Elvis fanatic! Itโs a passion I share with my beloved daughter, Chantelle. Iโve enjoyed visits to Graceland, Tupelo and my favourite city, Nashville.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author ย J. J. N. Whitley for his latest release, The Orichalcum Crown.
Book:The Orichalcum Crown Author: J. J. N. Whitley Publication Date: November 1, 2025 Genres: High Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Coming of Age Formats Available: Kindle, Paperback (in progress)
About the Book
Makoto lost her mother to a battle she can’t remember before being adopted into the Kauneus Empire’s royal family. Upon her eighteenth birthday, she receives her mother’s necklace from the emperor. Makoto’s memories slowly return, haunting her with visions of her lost sister and her mother’s murder.
She is torn between the family and answers awaiting her across the sea and the relationships with her family, best friend, and his handsome brother. Makoto fears returning home will cast doubt upon her loyalty to the emperor and sever her from the family. After all, Kauneus has no need for a disloyal princess.
Makoto’s eldest adoptive sister, Athena, remains banished from Zenith Palace for uncovering the emperor’s secret bastard. She is visited by her former dragon uncle, who shares a rumor that the emperor will be assassinated during the annual ball. Athena has no choice but to break her exile to save her father. Returning home risks death, but she’ll pay any price for her family’s safety.
As night falls upon the ball, lurking shadows and hidden agendas threaten the empire’s fragile peace. Makoto and Athena must navigate the delicate lines between loyalty and betrayal and learn what they are willing to sacrifice for freedom, truth, and family.
โA cleverly plotted fantasy with a cast of memorable characters. Highly recommended!โ
โ The Wishing Shelf
โThe Orichalcum Crownย is a lush and wonderfully imagined work of fantasy that centers on a princess who, after recovering lost memories of her former life, seeks out the truth about her past. Whitley slowly develops the narrative tension, enticing readers through atmospheric worldbuilding and stirring writing.โ
โTheBookLifePrize
โIn a land populated with deadly monsters, reluctant immortals, vicious secrets, and persistent whispers from a hidden past, a young woman finds her voice in The Orichalcum Crownโฆ a family-first novel steeped with mythology and shrouded in mystery.โ
J. J. N. Whitley is a licensed attorney and proud cat-dad. His time in Okinawa sparked a love for anime and JRPGs, and living in Australia did the same for sports.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author KZK for her latest release, Filaments.
Book: Filaments Author: KZK Publication Date: Sept 23, 2025 Genres: Psychological Thriller, Murder Mystery, Quiet Horror Page Count: 215 Formats Available: Kindle & Paperback For Readers Who Loved Reading: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
About the Book
Drawn back to her Minnesota small town, Thea begins to unravel the mystery behind her mother’s erratic behavior and two men’s disappearances. She unknowingly awakens a force that has patiently waited in the shadows for her return. With each new revelation, Thea’s accosted by her small town’s prejudice and simmering bitterness of former friends. What started out as a trip to save her mother becomes a fight for her own survival and sanity.
As a debut author, KZK infuses thrillers with a touch of creepy and a bit of scientific flair. KZK enjoys incorporating quiet horror through the natural world to plant readers in her setting.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author S.A. Sterling for her latest release, AWAKE: Notes from the Quiet Hours.
Book:AWAKE โ Notes from the Quiet Hours Author: S.A. Sterling Publication Date: 25 October 2025 Genres: Creative Nonfiction, Memoir/Personal Essays, Womenโs Personal Growth/Midlife Reflection, Mindfulness & Self-Reflection, Contemporary Journal, Midlife Diaries Page Count: 75 Formats Available: Kindle, Paperback For Readers Who Loved Reading: The Year of Magical Thinking โ Joan Didion, I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death โ Maggie OโFarrell, Tiny Beautiful Things โ Cheryl Strayed, Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace โ Anne Lamott and Untamed โ Glennon Doyle
About the Book
2:47 a.m. Again.
For two years, she woke in the quiet hoursโwhen the house slept, when the world felt suspended between night and morning. In that stillness, she began to write.
AWAKE is a collection of sixty nights lived in real time: the hum of insomnia, the weight of perimenopause, the questions that surface at 3 a.m. when defenses are down.
These pages don’t offer solutions. They offer presence.
For anyone who’s ever felt alone in the dark hours, this book is company.
You can findย AWAKE: Notes from the Quiet Hourshere: Ebook| Paperback
About The Author
S.A. Sterling
S.A. Sterling writes about real life: the quiet struggles, late-night thoughts, and moments that push us to grow. Sheโs lived across oceans, taught languages for years, and met women from all walks of life who share one thing in common: the desire to keep showing up, even when life gets messy.
Her latest book, AWAKE: Notes from the Quiet Hours, was born from sleepless nights and honest reflection. Before that, she wrote Ride On!โthe story of Dame Sarah Storeyโs extraordinary journey of resilienceโand several books designed to help women navigate everyday life with more clarity and courage, including Executive Functioning Skills for Women with ADHD, The 369 Manifestation Journal, and The Women Rising Strong 2024 Workbook.
She lives in northern Italy with her husband, where she teaches, writes, and keeps a pot of lemon water on her desk for the early hours that refuse to sleep.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Alison Bellringer for her latest release, Whisper: Book One.
Book: Whisper: Book One Author: Alison Bellringer Publication Date: April 26, 2024 Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers Genres: Middle Grade Page Count: 78 Formats Available: Ebook & Paperback For Readers Who Loved Reading: Because of Winn-Dixieย by Kate DiCamillo,ย Lassie Come-Homeย by Erick Knight, and of course, the rest of the trilogy by Alison Bellringer,ย Lucas (Book Two)ย andย Escape (Book Three)
About the Book
Britney is a young, extremely malnourished child, who comes from a poor family with an abusive father. Her mother does everything she can to protect her daughter from her husband, receiving the brunt of the aggressive beatings herself. The girl barely speaks, afraid of being overheard by the wrong person, and the only words she knows are the few repeated words her mother uses to calm her after a fight. A total of three words in all, namely โ Whisper, Britney, and Ma. There is a very private, sheltered spot in the nearby forest which Britney uses as a place to hide away if ever her mother has to spend the day walking into the nearest town to purchase supplies or to trade goods. They have discreet, non-verbal signals which they use to keep the area hidden and make sure that Britney is secure (far away from Pa’s prying eyes). On one such day, Britney hears unusual sounds and is terrified that her father has found out about their system, but the surprise turns out to be just a lonesome little puppy. The girl quickly becomes friends with the stray, instantly joining forces in their solitude, only ever meeting in the secret place where they share such a deeply silent, unspoken bond. This continues until Ma helps her only child run away for good, tearfully leaving Britney to fend for herself in the best way she knows how. The adoring puppy (promptly being referred to as Whisper) unexpectedly follows the girl, and together they set off on a journey that will forever change their livesโฆ
Alison has been writing short stories to share with friends and family for many years and always enjoys exploring her creativity when putting pen to paper, so she is excited to have the opportunity to share her love of writing with others through the art of publishing. Alison loves spending time with her pet dog, a Labrador x Huntaway called Smoky, teaching her tricks and taking her for walks. She lives in a small town in New Zealand near many beautiful parks and beaches. Alison has been playing trombone since about 2010, euphonium from mid-2019, and always likes getting together with a few friends to โmake a joyful noiseโ sharing music. She also enjoys a bit of freelance photography when she gets the chance, especially if it involves taking pictures of sunsets.One of her books,ย The Bronson Escapades, is a Silver Recipient of the Momโs Choice Awardsยฎ honorary seal of excellence, andย The Wolf Cubย is a 2ndย Place winner of the Royal Dragonfly Book Award Competition of 2024 in both the โEducationโ and โCoffee Table & Gift Booksโ categories, in addition to obtaining Honorary Mention in several others: Best Cover Design, Childrenโs Chapter Books, Middle Grade Fiction, and Animals/Pets (a complete list of results can be found on the Story Monsters Book Awards website). More recently,ย The Wolf Cubย received the Bronze Medal for the ‘EBook Pre-Teen Fiction’ category in the 2025 Moonbeam Book Awards. Alisonโs 2024 trilogy titledย Whisper,ย Lucas, andย Escapeย have also been presented with the NAPPA Award winning seal.ย
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author David Morabitoย for his latest release, The Old Clock Peddler.
Book: The Old Clock Peddler Author: David Morabito Publication Date: September 30, 2025 Genres: Dark Fantasy, Suspense, Romance, Science-Fiction Page Count: 270 Formats Available: Kindle & Paperback For Readers Who Loved Reading: Lord of the Rings (J. R. R. Tolkien), The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Frank Baum), Aliceโs Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Caroll), Crazy Hawk: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller (R. J. Stewart)
About the Book
This novel continues where theย Night of the Fishermanย left off and is packed with suspense, fantasy, and romance as well as elements of science fiction with shrouded references to quantum physics. The characters are instantly transported between different realms in the cosmos using wormholes where the entry and exit ports are defined by clocks composed of mysterious substances. Each clock is the mirror image of the other, with each working backwards from the other.
We follow the exploits of the intriguing dark character known as the Old Clock Peddler, who sells paired clocks to unsuspecting consumers in different worlds causing interesting and unexpected interactions between diverse populations of beings. All the while, the Peddler has mysterious interactions with the characters caught up in his intergalactic web of intrigue, which include Lexicon, the principality of Yore and the land of the Druids.
Intrigue continues to follow two of the main characters fromย Night of the Fisherman, Fish (a.k.a. the Fisherman) and Kara in the 1950’s-1960’s suburban town of Lexicon. They along with other neighbors now have to contend with the power-hungry Surf, the surviving son of Poppa, who previously terrorized the local neighborhood and beyond. All the while, the character known as the dark Entity lurks about ready to do Surf’s bidding.
A secret society in Lexicon known as the City Fathers anoints Surf as their new Boss in their quest to amass more power and wealth, after the death of Poppa. A shady slimy lawyer named McAlister Bilge aids Surf in his quest for more power and wealth. Other neighbors such as little Elmo get caught up in the intrigue as well as the old man Mr. Ages, now reunited with his long lost son after several decades, Tommy, who once served as King of Yore under the name of Twede.
A host of new characters are introduced, including three college students, one of which believes he understands the physics of instantaneous intergalactic transport, while another desires Kara, the Fisherman’s girlfriend, to be his own. Frank Knightlite, a heroic figure in the small town of Lexicon, is known to shed light within the bowels of darkness. Aisling is a young Irish lass whose family got marooned in the strange world of mutated descendants of the Druids, courtesy of one of the Peddler’s wormholes. She gets rescued by the Fisherman and Frank Knightlite, who use a recently reestablished porthole to bring her back to Lexicon and eventually to that big green island across the sea to be united with her surviving relatives. Frank Knightlite has a clandestine encounter with Leena, the terrified and neglected young wife of Surf, in order to extract needed information from her.
In the Kingdom of Yore, an ensuing power struggle is in the works as Renigade a wayward Elder had escaped the palace dungeon and seeks to solidify a power sharing pact with Surf. The small gnomish person Georgos contributes to the drama as he again is put into service by his dethroned king Twede, now known as Tommy Ages. Twede reunites with his love Tarala when the porthole between Lexicon and Yore is reestablished by the Peddler.
It is later disclosed that Surf has an estranged brother who covets what Surf has and is determined to claim all that Surf inherited from Poppa as his birthright. Finally, the novel climaxes at the scene of the lake of fire, a huge cauldron-like depression in the planetary surface of Yore. Here, Surf plans to send his prisoners to their demise in the same way his Poppa attempted in theย Night of the Fisherman. However, Surf does not count on having to contend with his brother as they confront each other near the precipice of the fiery lake, as the prisoners look on while the drama unfolds in unexpected and suspenseful ways.
You can findย The Old Clock Peddler here: Amazon | Goodreads
About The Author
David Morabito
David Morabito is a retired engineer who lives in the mountains and deserts of Southern California.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Sloane Mercer for her latest release, Catalyst.
Book: Catalyst Author: Sloane Mercer Publication Date: October 2, 2025 Publisher: AMEE Publishing Genres: Psychological Thriller, Political Thriller, Terrorism/Espionage Thriller, Literary Suspense, International Intrigue Page Count: 193 Formats Available: Kindle & Paperback For Readers Who Loved Reading: I Am Pilgrim (Terry Hayes), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson), American Assassin (Vince Flynn), The Night Manager (John leย Carrรฉ), and Our Kind of Traitor (John leย Carrรฉ)
About the Book
Everyone’s the hero in their story. Even the monsters.
Jake Rossi, a Capitol crewman trying to rebuild his life, isnโt looking for meaning โ just a paycheck, a place to belong, maybe someone to talk to. Then he meets Emily, a reserved Belgian chocolatier with a scar on her collarbone and eyes that never blink. Her silence is magnetic. Her past, untouchable.
But the closer Jake gets, the more off-kilter things begin to feel. Curiosity twists into obsession. Obsession curdles into fear. Is Emily a survivor haunted by shadows, or the shadow itself? Every answer Jake uncovers only deepens the riddle, and every step closer drags him toward a truth too dangerous to name.
By the time the city gathers under banners and floodlights, it may already be too late.
For readers of dark, atmospheric, slow-burning psychological thrillers with flawed heroes and razor-wire tension, Catalyst will keep you turning pages deep into the night.
Sloane Mercer is a storyteller of blurred lines, crafting fiction from fragments of truth. The portrait on this page is no different from the story itself โ part fact, part invention, and deliberately incomplete. What matters is not who the author is, but the worlds they leave behind โ the shadows you carry after closing the book, and the questions that follow you into the quiet.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author MJ Walker for her latest release, Italian By Default.
Book: Italian By Default Author: MJ Walker Publication Date: July 25th, 2025 Genres: Womenโs Literature, Memoir, Humour Page Count: 283 For Readers Who Loved Reading: Bill Bryson’s works Formats Available: e-Ebook ($3.99 USD)
About the Book
AN ADOPTION REUNION – based on a true story – Meet Polly, her Italian husband Joe and his identical twin brother Cicero. Polly is adopted and wants to find her heritage, but the twinsโ passion for Italy dominates her life. She gets more style than Gucci, more opera than Verdi and more pasta than she can eat. If this isnโt bad enough, Pollyโs friends insist that she belongs where she is loved โ safe and secure in her wealthy Sydney suburb. What should Polly do? She has met her birth mother, but not only will that lady refuse to discuss the past, she has barred Polly from ever meeting her siblings. Then one day Polly reads in the newspaper that her mother has been murdered. Or has she? Pollyโs longed-for adoption reunion finally happens but not in the way she expects.
Margaret Walker is a teacher. She lives in Sydney, Australia with her family. Her first two novelsย His Mostย Italianย Cityย andย Through Forests and Mountainsย were published by Penmore Press in the USA.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author E.F. Nordmed for his latest release, Market of the Never Setting Sun.
Book: Market of the Never Setting Sun Author: EF Nordmed Publication Date: July 14th, 2025 Genres: Sci-fi Cozy Mystery, Private Eye, Amateur Detective, Tech Noir Page Count: 184 For Readers Who Loved Reading: Malka Ann Older, “The Mimicking of Known Successes”; Mur Lafferty, “Station Eternity”; Samit Basu, “The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport”; Annalee Newitz, “Automatic Noodle”
About the Book
Stout works as a tech by day, saving up money to achieve his dream of leaving the planet. His plans are thrown in disarray when he’s asked to look for a missing college student, Andrew, and he quickly finds himself over his head while looking for answers. He reaches out to his old flame, Yasmeen, who works on the police force for help.
Yasmeen is unhappy with the corruption she sees in her job, but is trying to change the force from the inside. When Stout asks her for aid, she’s hesitant to assist his amateur investigation, but when he’s falsely framed for murder and kidnapping knows she has to get involved.
Can they navigate Corporate Security agents, industrial spies, and the criminal underground to rescue the student and clear Stout’s name before it’s too late? Will they be able to stay true to their values in a world that rewards corruption? And will they let their feelings for each other reignite, or will the world get in their way?
You can findย Market of the Never Setting Sun here: Amazon
About The Author
E.F. Nordmed
After a childhood spent devouring any science fiction he could get his hands on, he went to college as an English Major and was “fired” from the English Department at the University of Houston because he liked math too much. ย He spent a tour in the US Marine Corps and finally completed a bachelors and a masters degree in computer science, but never lost his love of the written language or adventure. ย He has traveled extensively outside of the military, to include visiting all seven continents. ย This is his second foray into the realm of writing, the first being a technical manual while working for IBM.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Ever had the exact same nightmare every night. Miles was beginning junior high and trying out for the basketball team. While trying to fit in and excel on the court, he started to have nightmares he couldnโt get rid of. In Dreamland, the court he once loved twists into a living nightmare. Monsters whisper his name. Shadows chase his every move. And at the center of it all stands Selimโa sinister, red-eyed creature that seems to know Milesโs deepest regrets. Miles must navigate a haunting dream world that mirrors his own mistakes. With the help of friendsโboth real and imaginedโhe sets out to uncover the truth behind the dreams. A fantasy about the monsters we create when we forget who we are.
You can findย Dreamland: Selim’s Echo here: Amazon
About The Author
Robb Watson
Robb Watson is a family man and lifelong sports enthusiast whose love for the game shines through in everything he creates. Inspired by his own experiences with family and sports, Robb brings heart and authenticity to every page, aiming to spark young imaginations and bring families closer together.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author David Finley for his latest release, Billy 9F.
Book: Billy 9F Author: David Finley Publication Date: 2021, 2nd Edition 2025 Available Formats: ebook and paperback. Publisher: Genres: YA Dystopian Satire, YA Humor, YA Adventure, YA Science Fiction Page Count: 212 Contact:billy9f@gmail.com
About the Book
Like Orwellโs 1984 โ but even funnier!
In a grim School-centred dystopia where humour is outlawed and laughter triggers ruthless punishment, 15-year-old Billy 9F is the ultimate threat: a Class Clown. When he’s labeled a menace for his extremely convincing and sublimely funny fake snot, barf and turd pranks, Billy joins a underground comedic resistance movement with a mysterious new student, Jamie 9F, her mysterious grandfather, the Major, an ultra-mysterious revolutionary leader named Poopoo the Clown, and Billy’s not-at-all mysterious but highly malfunctioning android mentor, Uncle Mike. Inevitably, the regime cracks down and the stakes rise. To free his imprisoned parents, save his little sister’s life and liberate the joyless populace, Billy must fully realize his own natural-born gifts โ and harness the awesome power of laughter.
Darkly funny, fast, and surprisingly hopeful, BILLY 9F blends dystopian stakes with sharp satire and heart. Perfect for readers 12 years of age to infinity who love page-turners with big ideas.
David Finley is an award-winning Screenwriter, Filmmaker, Playwright and published Author, living in Toronto. Muchย ofย his work has been in family and children’s entertainment. He has had a long career as a writer and story editor, mostly in TV. He has also written, produced and directed his own film and theatre projects and had several short stories published in various literary magazines. “Billy 9F” is his first novel, aimed at readers 12 and above.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Veronica Preston for her latest release, Book of the Devil: Genesis.
Book:Book of the Devil: Genesis Author: Veronica Preston Publication Date: August 27, 2025 Available Formats: Paperback, eBook, Audiobook (coming soon) Publisher: Independently Published Genres: Spiritual Fantasy, Mythic Fiction, Speculative Fiction Page Count: 201
About the Book
This isnโt a tale of horns and pitchforks. Itโs a tale of questions, echoes, and exile. Book of the Devil: Genesis reimagines the Devil as Iblisโa being of fire, loyalty, and impossible choices. Born into a world of smokeless flame, Iblis is chosen to serve God, but he begins to question the nature of obedience, justice, and divine will. His rebellion is not out of vanity, but love, sorrow, and a desire to understand. As he rises through the celestial order, Iblis walks the line between sacred and profane, setting the stage for a fall that may be more holy than it seems.
You can findย The Book of the Devil here: Author Website
About The Author
Author Image
Veronica Preston
Veronica Preston is an author of spiritual fantasy fiction whose debut novel, Book of the Devil: Genesis, reimagines the myth of Iblis through a deeply philosophical and emotional lens. A lifelong lover of books, Veronica draws inspiration from sacred texts, spiritual philosophy, and her own reflections on morality, free will, and destiny.ย
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring authorย Eva Barber for her latest release, Unborn (Dark World).
Book: Unborn Author: Eva Barber Publication Date: December 18, 2024 Publisher: Independently Published Genres: Science Fiction Page Count: 366
About the Book
Olesya was not born like other people but was found in the Siberian Forest by a couple unable to have children. Plagued by mysterious visions and dreams, she struggles to fit into a society both as a socially inept but brilliant child and as she becomes part of a research team to discover the nature of dark matter. The findings of this discovery never make it to the scientific community as the project leader goes missing and the physics lab blows up, destroyed by a powerful foe with seemingly noble intentions. Seattle detectives question Olesya in connection with the explosion and the disappearance of her boss. She becomes a person of interest until she goes missing. From her kidnappers, she learns that her parents, knowing she lacked a belly button, suspected she was created by the Russian government as part of a scientific experiment, and emigrated to the USA to hide and protect her. She also learns she possesses powers related to dark matter and of the existence of a brother held captive since his discovery by the Russian government. Even though she suspects her kidnappersโ interest in her and their motivations arenโt so noble, she joins them in rescuing her brother. Catastrophic world events following the successful rescue force her to continue working with her foes to save the world from destruction. While working to save the world, Olesya experiences a moral dilemma and becomes someone she never thought sheโd beโa mother. Olesya learns of mysterious chambers scattered around the world, and her visions return to haunt her, until she opens the chambers and learns their secrets, wishing she hadnโt. Now she faces the heart-wrenching realization that she must travel into a dark dimension to save the world from self-destruction. Worse yet, her daughter, Emery, is the key to humanityโs salvation and must follow her mother once she becomes an adult because she is the only being who can travel where no one else can to restore balance to the universe and return with an extraordinary gift for humanity. But powerful entities have reasons to keep the gift away from humanity and will do anything to stop her.
Eva currently lives in Washington State. She is a biologist and artist and is passionate about books and storytelling. Eva’s firsthand experience growing up in the Soviet-era Eastern Block adds a unique perspective and a distinct dimension to her stories. When she is not painting or writing, she spoils her two mutts and her husband, Mike, with treats and attention (not necessarily in that order). Her debut novel,ย Misunderstanding, won a Literary Titan Silver Book Award given to an outstanding author who has captivated her audience with skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. The award recognized it as a book that stands out for its innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction.ย
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring authorย Josh Martin for his debut supernatural thriller series release, B&G Mystery: We Canโt Tell You: Parts 1, 2, and 3.
Book: B&G Mystery: We Canโt Tell You Author: Josh Martin Publication Date: July 20, 2024 Publisher: Independently Published Genres: Mystery, Supernatural Thriller, Horror Page Count: 100
About the Book
From Book 1: Have you ever awoken from a deep sleep and still feel like youโre dreaming? A few minutes of confusion is certainly commonโฆ.. But what about several months? Not so common, unfortunately. One day, not quite a year ago, it happened to me. I couldnโt shake the feeling. I could remember, and not remember, all at the same time. Confused? Yeah, I was tooโฆ. Still am, as a matter of fact. That one morning changed everything. I mean everything. Nothing could have prepared me for the events that followed. Prepare yourselfโฆ.
Youโre about to see why.
You can findย B&G Mystery: We Canโt Tell You here: Amazon
About The Author
Josh Martin
Bio – Josh is happily married and a father to two awesome boys.ย He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2007 with a major in Sociology.ย The B&G Mystery series is his first published work.
You can findย author Martinย here: Website | Amazon
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
The Reading Bud 