Failing Gravity by Jordan S. Keller Genre: Dystopian Cyberpunk Science Fiction

 

A story of friendship and forgiveness in a world that knows neither. 

Failing Gravity

by Jordan S. Keller

Genre: Dystopian Cyberpunk Science Fiction

Roman Koa knows that to survive, he must be ruthless.

The Slums beneath the floating city of Icaria were never meant to thrive—but they did. A gritty junkyard city of thieves and robot fighters, it’s everything Icaria isn't. Roman has grown greedy after clawing his way to the top of the robot fighting hierarchy with his powerful electromagnet robot, taking from anyone who crosses his path. When Icarians come to the Slums for a night of risky entertainment, Roman takes twice as much.

But when he’s offered the chance to steal advanced tech from Icaria, the job is too tempting to resist—even with Oliver Flint offering it, his former best friend who sold their robotics code for a new life in Icaria. Without Roman.

The job is simple: Roman helps Oliver save Icaria’s failing gravity beams, and Roman gains access to technology to build powerful robots to secure his position as King of Ring and King of the Slums. Roman’s hatred for Icaria is hard to ignore, though and he is tempted to let the city Oliver betrayed him for crash back to Earth, but dooming Icaria means dooming everyone.

As Icaria’s gravity—and Roman’s fragile bond with Oliver—fails, Roman must choose: will he let Icaria crash, or is there a chance for forgiveness, for both his friend and the city?

Failing Gravity is a high-octane, cyberpunk-inspired adventure about friendship, betrayal, and the fight for forgiveness.

 

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Jordan S. Keller is the author of the Ashes Over Avalon superhero trilogy and Failing Gravity. She is a type-one diabetic, a serial dog walker, and is impatiently waiting for her favorite bands to visit. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and their critters. You can visit her online at JordanSKellerAuthor.com 

Jordan is one of the hosts for the Everyday Writing podcast and founder of the Queen City Fiction Writers Workshop.

 

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Improbable and Extraordinary by Saúl Horwitz & Erika Horwitz, Ph.D.

Memoir

Date Published: April 21, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media 

 

 

Winner of the 2025 Literary-Titan Book Award (Memoir)!

Winner of the 2025 Firebird book award (Addiction and Recovery)!

Winner of the 2025 Firebird book award (Mental Health)!

Finalist, 2024 Literary Global Book Awards and American Writing Book Awards!

 

I believe Improbable and Extraordinary will be an extremely influential book - it's rare to see such a personal and raw account of mental illness, and then the continuous (and in this case, unique) process of overcoming it. Overall, an outstanding and moving manuscript...The flow is excellent and engaging and the voice is very strong. A true accomplishment!

Megan Patiry, author of The Alice Effect.

 

Escaping the torment of depression, anxiety, mania and addiction: Saúl's memoir is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit, showing how even when it seems unattainable, transformation is possible. Once tormented by the crushing grip of bipolar disorder, depression, severe anxiety, anger, and addiction, Saúl shares the raw, unflinching truth of his battle with mental illness and trauma.

Through a profound exploration of love, not as a romantic ideal but as a fundamental force, and by adopting practical, yet challenging principles, the author discovers a path to inner peace and freedom. Saúl's candid reflections on overcoming a deep, persistent darkness reveal the possibility of peace, freedom, and personal growth.

This memoir doesn't just chronicle survival; it celebrates the power of transformation. Saúl's path through addiction and mental illness reveals that true peace and freedom are within reach, even for those who have lost everything.

By sharing his experience, Saúl aims to inspire understanding and hope, and communicate that healing is not just possible but transformative. This book is a beacon of hope for anyone wanting to find hope for themselves or someone they love.

 

From co-author, Dr. Erika Horwitz, Licensed Psychologist:

As Saul's sister, I witnessed his torments and struggles and his amazing transformation! As a psychologist, I understood the enormity of what he achieved-moving from a place of deep mental illness to stability, inner peace and wisdom. His story is inspiring and a testament to the amazing ability of human beings to transform. It's a story that offers hope to anyone facing mental health challenges and their loved ones. I knew it was essential for Saul to share his story, and I believe it will resonate with anyone who believes in the power of transformation."

 

About the Authors

Saúl Horwitz

Saúl Horwitz is an addictions expert and counsellor for people in rehabilitation and recovery. From an early age he had to struggle with his personality due to suffering from bipolar disorder. Suicide attempts, suicidal crises, depression, euphoria, and other drastic changes in his personality prevented him from leading a normal life like that of others. After receiving help from a non-traditional AA group, El Despertar, not only did he transform many of these symptoms, but he also became a skilled counsellor to those afflicted by addiction and mental illness.

 

Erika Horwitz, Ph.D.

Erika is a Licenced Psychologist working in private practice in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada.  In addition, she is an author, public speaker, university lecturer, and certified Mindfulness Teacher.  She was the former Director of Counselling Services at Simon Fraser University.  She is currently the President of the Board of Directors at the British Columbia Psychological Association, the Vice-Chair at the Council of Professional Associations of Psychology and a council member at the American Psychological Association.  She wrote Through the Maze of Motherhood: Empowered Mothers Speak.  In her leisure time she loves meditation, reading, movies, working out, and spending time with her amazing husband, her family, and friends.

 

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Dangerous Times by William Kinsolving

 

 Fiction

Date Published: May 1, 2025

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

 

This book's background is the prophetic but overlooked decade of American history, 1846 to 1856, from the Mexican War to the presidential election of James Buchanan. The decade was a foreshadowing of our national cataclysm. Underlying every social aspect was the nation's fatal flaw, slavery, that perverted the Constitution on which the Enlightenment ideals of a "United States" were based. And on every day, similarities to the distortions of the present decade are obvious.

I chose a Southern ethos, finding an unexpected woman to suffer and survive the decade; and three brothers, each of whom carves a unique path through it, one as a fugitive unjustly accused of murder and slave-stealing, one as an enigmatic operative across the jagged spectrum of antebellum party politics, and the eldest who inherits his family's storied tobacco plantation as its lands burn out.

The story is told chronologically, the fiction adhering to the history. Should a question arise as to which is which, any event of historical significance - no matter how bizarre or implausible -- did indeed happen.

The novel echoes ethnic truths as they were at the time. I write of intimacies as well as horrors found in historical records. Both public and private relations were often infused with their own destruction -- as were the expanding "United States" in that decade, and I fear in this one.

 

About the Author

After a questionable academic career at Stanford (I mean, how practical is a double major in Drama and Far Eastern Theology?), Kinsolving fled to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to play Richard II. He then attended The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art for polish. Returning to New York, he appeared as an actor under-, off- and on Broadway, as well as a saloon singer in foul Greenwich Village nightclubs. For creative diversion during these years, he acted and/or directed back in Oregon, at the Stratford (CT) Shakespeare Theater, Harvard, Dartmouth, Café La Mama, then went out and won the Best Actor of the Year award from the San Francisco Chronicle for performing at the Berkeley Rep.

Ineluctably transitioning to a second career, Kinsolving wrote a play with 84 speaking roles, was awarded a Ford Foundation Playwriting Grant, and had the play produced by the Stratford Ontario Shakespeare Festival. This led to the first of some 54 films on which he worked for every major studio (and several distinctly minor ones) in Los Angeles, London and Rome (ask him about Zeffirelli sometime) as screenwriter and script doctor. Suspecting that such a life was leading to the utter corruption of his soul (not to dare mention his body), he retreated to Carmel to write the first of five novels (a NY Times best-seller, a couple of Literary Guild Main Selections, he adds humbly, but only if asked).

While serving on the Board of Trustees of the California Institute of the Arts, he regressed happily to nightclub and fundraising performances, accompanied by the likes of Peter Duchin and Emmanuel Ax, singing at the Algonquin Hotel’s late lamented Oak Room and for one of the late Brooke Astor’s better birthday parties among many other less name-dropping venues.

Last year, he directed a musical for which he wrote the book and lyrics in the nave of San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral about Johann Sebastian Bach and his family. Bach provided all the music, and proved to be very easy to work with. THAT WEEK WITH THE BACHS had the best voices in the Bay Area, including the ineffable Frederica von Stade.

He began work on the historical novel DANGEROUS TIMES between the diversions above. He knew the history, but even so, was startled by how constant the similarities are in that destructive time to what’s going on in this one.

 

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Ophia’s Sister-Soul by Seth Mullins

 

 Parting the Veils, Book One 

Epic Fantasy / Visionary Fiction / Magical Realism

Date Published: 04-19-2025

 

 

Colleen Addison fears that the messages she receives from a place called Ophia prove she’s losing her mind. As she grieves for her lost twin sister, Earth’s civilizations, divorced from magic and wonder, crumble.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Partition, Esperidi Mon-Sequana discovers she’s the last surviving Sophryne, a Wakeful Dreamer cast adrift as Ophia convulses beneath the weight of atrocities done to Her, spilling Her anguish in fire and floods.

With naught but dreams and waking omens to guide her, Esperidi ventures across a ravaged land where marauders are a law unto themselves, and the Shetain priesthood demands that Ophia’s children appease the Rupture with penance and blood.

Lost and bereaved, Colleen and Esperidi reach for hope and salvation beyond the camouflage Veils, unsuspecting of the ties that bind them across lifetimes and worlds…

About the Author

Throughout my life's myriad twists and turns, one desire has always stayed strong in me: to write epic tales that illuminate the inner world of our souls. I write fiction that depicts the journey of self-discovery in a dramatic and emotionally cathartic way. I'm inspired by methods of inner exploration like dream-work and shamanism, wherein one takes an inward plunge and then shares the fruits of that deep descent with the broader community. That is the essence of what any art form is really about.

I think the artistic impulse takes it for granted that the universe is forever unfinished; we all have unique gifts that bring something to Creation that would not otherwise ever exist.

My inspirations/influences include writers like Jane Roberts, L. Frank Baum, Barbara Marciniak, Stephen R. Donaldson, Frank Herbert, Lewis Carroll, Jack Kerouac, and Robert E. Howard.  Though I've enjoyed writing in many genres and styles, speculative fiction remains my biggest passion.

 

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Madagascar Marauders by B.K. Boshell

 

Young Adult Fantasy Adventure

 

 

In the heart of Madagascar’s wild forests, danger lurks—and survival depends on courage, loyalty, and the strength of brotherhood.

When a ruthless gang of fossae ambushes a sifaka family home, two friends witness their families being taken hostage. Slick and Isaiah—spared from the tragedy—rally themselves and unexpected allies, vowing to embark on a daring rescue mission.

Their journey is treacherous, filled with shifting shadows, fierce enemies, and heartbreaking choices. But in the face of overwhelming odds, these young heroes discover that true strength lies in camaraderie, resilience, and daring to hope when all seems lost.

Madagascar Marauders: In Pursuit of Precious Plunder is a thrilling young adult fantasy adventure packed with action, suspense, humor, and heart. Dive into a world where danger and wonder collide, where adolescent bravery meets gritty survival, and where the wild and mysterious island of Madagascar springs vividly to life.

Perfect for fans of animal fantasy, high-stakes adventure, and unforgettable friendships.

 

 Adventure. Brotherhood. Survival. The fight for family begins now.

For readers ages 13+ who love:

• Action-packed animal adventures
•  Heartfelt themes of loyalty and courage
•  Gritty yet heartwarming coming-of-age journeys
•  A deep dive into Madagascar’s fascinating wildlife

About the Author

I am B.K. Boshell, I research and sponge off my parents because $14 is still the minimum in Florida. I am currently a sophomore in high school, play varsity basketball, and enjoy spending time in nature. Writing is a passion of mine.

 My journey began at the age of nine with a summer experiment into writing that evolved into a passion, which I pursued increasingly as the years progressed. My writing process revolves around noise-cancelling headphones, owl hours, a lot of paper, and a ballpoint pen. I draw my inspiration from the myriad places of research I have found myself in over the years. Creating characters and giving them life is incredibly fulfilling as you channel personal experience, the experience of others, and stories of old into forming something that you hope is compelling.

 Truthfully, I want people to enjoy the book for what it is, but also learn of the arcane and intriguing world that is Madagascar. Whether it be the elephant birds that weighed up to one ton, or the merciless feline-esque fossae, I want people to be thrilled about the bizarre and intriguing facts the island has to offer.

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Disgracefully Easy by Thomas F. Hanchett & William “Bill” Hanchett

 

A B-24 Pilot’s Letters Home 

Memoir/WWII History

Date Published: May 27, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

 

In this posthumously published collection of letters and postal cards, William “Bill” Hanchett shares his candid experiences as a flight-school cadet, and later as an Army Air Forces pilot in command of a B-24 Liberator bomber during World War II.

Through Bill’s first-hand accounts, we learn that mastering the art of flying during wartime is about more than understanding engine throttle and airspeed. It’s about wondering when you’ll be called to fight and if you’ll be asked to betray your ideals. It’s about working hard and documenting the days, dreaming about the future, and longing for home.

An extraordinary primary document, Disgracefully Easy offers us a rare glimpse inside the military in the 1940s, a time when Americans worried about the fate of their great country and looked to the brave and courageous to deliver them from fear. This unique collection will be long remembered as an important addition to the annals of aviation history.

About the Authors

Thomas F. Hanchett

Now retired from federal civil service, Thomas Forster Hanchett holds a bachelor’s degree in government and two master’s degrees, one in history and one in public administration. In 2016, after his father Bill’s death, he found over three-hundred letters Bill had written during WWII. Given Tom’s interest in military history, it seemed only natural that he be the one to edit and present his father’s letters in manuscript form. Tom has also written historical and educational articles for various publications. A native Californian, he resides in North San Diego County.

William Hanchett

William “Bill” Hanchett (1922-2016) grew up in a wealthy family in Evanston, Illinois. His father lost his municipal bond company business during the Great Depression, changing their family’s lifestyle drastically. Bill attended Black Mountain College, but his time there was cut short because of World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces, rising from private to second lieutenant, and then to airplane commander of a B-24 Liberator bomber.  After the war, he continued his education, worked as a civilian historian for the U.S. Air Force, and taught history for over thirty years at San Diego State University. Bill authored numerous articles and historical books, including The Lincoln Murder Conspiracies (1983). He loved living in San Diego, California, where he spent time sailing on the bay.

 

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Instagram: @historiantom (Thomas Forster Hanchett)

 

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Mend Your Heart and Find Emotional Freedom by Alina Palancean

 

 

Nonfiction

Date Published: May 16, 2025

 

 

"Mend Your Heart and Find Emotional Freedom" is a deep dive into people’s hearts and their love stories.

This book provides a unique perspective on heartbreak from grief, loss, pain, trauma, divorce, and love.

 

It offers insight into people’s hearts and how to heal from past experiences with love, compassion, kindness, and forgiveness.

 

Love is the path to true healing!

 

With Rapid Transformational Therapy, Alina has been empowering women and men all over the globe to reclaim their voice, own their power, find love within, embrace their story to create and manifest the life they truly desire. Her experiences led her to her purpose of helping others let go of past burdens, break the cycle of suffering, and find peace, healing, freedom, joy and happiness. Alina inspires everyone to lead with love from their heart space and see the magic unfold in the most extraordinary ways.

About the Author

Alina Palancean is a Rapid Transformational Practitioner and an Inner Child Specialist. Rapid Transformational Therapy has allowed her to change people's lives in minutes rather than years. This unique method gets to the root cause of the problems and unlocks limiting beliefs, lifelong blocks, and cycles that keep us trapped. The RTT sessions empower individuals to discover their own strengths, let go of the past and develop the skills necessary for personal transformation. Alina is passionate about raising awareness of the power of the subconscious mind and the impact it has on our daily lives. She regularly shares insights and tips through her social media, aiming to inspire others to take charge of their emotional well-being.

Alina believes that everyone has the potential to overcome their challenges and achieve their dreams. Her warm and empathetic approach creates a safe space for healing and growth, tailoring her sessions to meet the individual needs of each client.

Alina is convinced that inner child healing is the path to the rediscovery of the true self and reconnecting with lost parts of your inner world. Looking through your inner child lens opens you up to curiosity, kindness, magic, acceptance, and unconditional love.

 

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Deviously Delicious by T.J. Descahmps & About Beth Whiteman

 

 Jills of All Trades, Book One

Mystery, Contemporary Fantasy

Date Published: May 31, 2025

 

 

On the Northern California coast, beyond the mists of the ancient redwoods, there’s a quiet town like any other. Sueños del Mar has bakeries, repair shops, and friendly neighbors looking out for one another.

Or so it would seem.

This is a deviously delicious lie.

Every resident of Sueños del Mar has a skeleton in the closet. Even polar opposite best friends, roommates, and business partners Allison and Dorseigh.

Dorseigh McHale is a simple girl next door, seeking to earn a living wage and let go of her need to please everyone.

Allison Liddle seeks to leave her past behind and travel the world in style.

Their simple plans are thwarted when an unconscious boy ends up in their driveway.

The key to unlocking the secrets of the people and the town itself surfaces once kids start to go missing. Accused of the kidnapping, The Jills of all Trades, Allison and Dorseigh must add another skill to their resume: Amateur detectives.

With the help of friends, and some red herrings along the way, the Jills discover the missing children aren’t the only thing wrong with the town of Sueños del Mar.

About T.J. Descahmps

T.J. Deschamps is a multi-genre author who lives in the Pacific Northwest with her three kids, three cats, and one unbothered tortoise. In her spare time, she can be found either curled up with a book and cats by a fire or out in the forests and lakes hiking or kayaking.

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About Beth Whiteman

Beth Whiteman is a multi-genre author who lives in the Midwest with her husband, three children, dog, and cats. In her spare time, she is a champion kid chauffeur, crocheter, crafter, and jewelry designer.

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Anticipation Day by Jeff Michelson

  

 Science Fiction

Date Published: December 3, 2024

 

 

2025 Book Excellence Awards Finalist in Science Fiction

“A musing science fiction novel about the future of AI, Anticipation Day follows a group of friends as they try to improve their lives through government-sanctioned fantasies." —Foreword Clarion Reviews

“A boundary-pushing plunge into a vividly imagined future, Anticipation Day poses powerful questions about identity, the human experience, and our digital destiny as a species, resulting in a provocative mixture of Black Mirror and The Surge.” —The Independent Review of Books

 

In the summer of 2026, amidst the sights and sounds of one of the oldest pubs in London, Dr. Joshua Lee receives a call that will alter his life for the foreseeable future—he’s asked to work on a clandestine project that will transform every American’s way of life.

Six years later, amidst the steel and glass canyons of the Denver suburbs, a group of friends assemble for dinner the night before their first escape into Anticipation Day, an immersive simulated experience that is promised to be an annual respite from the daily grind.

Amongst this group of friends are Alexandra, Eric, Patrick, Mike and MaryAnne, each at inflection points in their lives and each with their own life scars and unrealized dreams. As they prepare to plug into the simulation, they are forced to confront their own fears and desires, all while interfacing with their chosen simulated experience, blurring the lines between reality and the artificial dreamscape.

These experiences force the group to confront their deepest fears, chase exclusive happiness, and unlock truths buried within their souls. As they delve deeper into the algorithmic labyrinth, more truths about their existence are fully revealed.

However, the question begs: Will their journey lead to salvation, or will it unravel the very fabric of their existence?

 

Join this eclectic band of suburbanites as they look for meaning amidst the chaos of the digital age. Anticipation Day beckons, but not everything is as is seems in this electrifying tale of urban futurism.

About the Author

Jeff Michelson is a Certified Public Accountant by trade, a deli owner on the weekends and a first time author. Jeff lives in the NJ suburbs with his family, including their dog Maggie and lots of koi fish!

As a first time author, Jeff really enjoyed the creative process of writing this book and hopes others enjoy reading the story as much as he enjoyed writing it!

 

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