Middle-grade fantasy Adventure, fantasy

Date Published: January 6, 2026

Publisher: MindStir Media

One boy. One impossible dream. One journey that could change his world
forever.

When a mysterious force hurls young Chetanna into the home of an enigmatic old
bird, he arrives carrying an extraordinary dream: to bring peace to the wicked
and divided world around him.

Even Chetanna is unsure such peace is possible.

But when his mother tells him of a distant land of possibilities—a place
where hidden answers may be found—Chetanna finally sees a path forward.
As darkness spreads across the island he calls home, he begins a dangerous
quest armed with only a slingshot, a mysterious name whispered by his mother,
and the ancient power of the Eight.

Chetanna believes that courage, hope, and determination will be enough to
complete his mission.

He is wrong.

Halfway through the journey, betrayal changes everything. The companions he
trusted most abandon him, convinced that the quest is doomed. Left for dead
and stranded in an unforgiving wilderness, Chetanna loses nearly everything he
depended upon.

He should turn back.

He should surrender.

Instead, he holds tightly to the one thing no enemy can take from him: his
dream of creating a better world.

Driven by resilience, courage, kindness, and an unshakable belief in what
might still be possible, Chetanna presses forward. But when he finally reaches
the legendary land he has risked everything to find, a devastating truth
awaits—one powerful enough to destroy his mission and shatter everything
he believes.

The Baal of Shangisha is a lyrical middle-grade fantasy adventure filled with
mystery, ancient power, dangerous choices, unexpected betrayal, and
unforgettable lessons about hope, sacrifice, selflessness, and perseverance.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

Blending atmospheric storytelling, African cultural echoes, and timeless
themes, O. Mez delivers a powerful debut novel for young readers who believe
that courage is not the absence of fear—but the decision to keep moving
forward.

How far would you go to save your world when everyone else has stopped
believing?

Begin Chetanna’s unforgettable journey in The Baal of Shangisha today.

 O. Mez is a Nigerian-born author whose storytelling is shaped by the rich oral
traditions, cultural rhythms, and imaginative tales that surrounded him while
growing up. Inspired by stories passed down through generations, he writes
lyrical, atmospheric fantasy that explores courage, resilience, hope, and the
quiet strength of those who dare to believe in a better world.

Now based in Colorado, Mez brings together African cultural echoes, timeless
life lessons, and immersive fantasy adventure to create meaningful stories for
young readers. His debut middle-grade fantasy novel, The Baal of Shangisha,
follows a young hero on a dangerous quest filled with mystery, betrayal,
ancient power, and the unshakable determination to change his world.

Through his writing, Mez hopes to encourage children to embrace kindness,
perseverance, selflessness, and the belief that even the smallest voice can
make a lasting difference.

When he is not writing, he enjoys watching football, spending time with his
wife and daughters, and reading stories about forgotten lands, brave souls,
and extraordinary journeys.

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Crime Thriller / Suspense

Date Published: 09-07-2026

Publisher: Mission Point Press

 Life is a dangerous place to be. The woods, skies, lakes, and oceans are filled with creatures bent on killing and eating each other. Nothing in nature dies of old age, as the adage goes. 

Prey animals are taken down by predators. It’s as if prey animals are made to be food. 

Carnivore predators possess razor-sharp canine-like teeth. Carnivores are the watchers from the shadows. All of them, such as lions, tigers, bobcats, and wolves, are wired the same way. They don’t eat lettuce for lunch. To a carnivore, you simply look like another rabbit in the grass. 

There’s another carnivore that is often overlooked – humans. Humans have canine teeth. They are born wired with the same instincts as the alpha predators. 

We’re taught to control it. Supposedly. 

Birds will tell you when the sun is going to come up. At the faintest glimmer of dawn’s early light, they begin to converse with each other, presumably to find out where the bugs are that day. Usually, we don’t hear them in their earliness. Our day starts later. Usually. 

Frogs and insects do the same during the pre-dawn moments, buzzing and croaking in the woods, fields, and swamps. Presumably they do this to find out where the predators are. It’s been said that frogs might be telling each other where the rattlesnakes and blue herons are at any given time. We don’t usually hear them croaking away in the early hours of the day. Usually. 

Today, however, as the woods came to life with this early morning serenade, Jim Peters could hear them very clearly. It was August of 1990. He was in his cabin in mid-Michigan, situated on the edge of a quiet, deep-woods nature refuge known as Turtle Lake. Peters was lyingin bed backwards, that is, with his feet at the head of the bed and his head at the foot of the bed, chin resting on his wrists as he looked at a model train set. 

The train set, an ancient Lionel from the 1940s, included buildings, roads, bridges, cars, trucks, a shopping center, and a train running through it. The set looked ordinary enough to the casual passerby or rare visitor to the cabin. But in fact, it was window dressing, a model of the crime scene that was to come. The train had nothing to do with it. 

In a short while, when the birds, frogs, and bugs had quieted down, Peters would push a button and Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute would float from the speakers connected to his compact disc machine. Peters liked Mozart. The music was pure and uncluttered. It flowed from one section into another so smoothly that it was hard to tell a transition had taken place. The complexities of its composition flowed as smoothly as pouring oil. 

As smoothly as the diabolical scam he was planning.

About the Author

Bob’s extraordinary musical abilities were the subject of numerous brain
studies, which have inspired a popular RadioLab podcast.

Little did they know that Bob was also a talented writer.

For years he wrote articles about his saloon-playing days for music
publications. Many of these stories were compiled into a book called The
Journeyman Piano Player: Adventures in Gracious Dining. Bob has written reams
of poetry, some of which became lyrics to songs that he composed. The longest
piece of poetry he ever wrote was the lyric book for The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow, a grand opera he composed and orchestrated.

Mr. Milne has been fascinated by nature his entire life. At a young age he
realized that instincts are present in all species of birds, mammals
(including humans), and literally every living thing in nature. He has used
this information countless times over his lifetime to predict what the human
species will do in future situations.

Bob is now retired from the long piano tours and is enjoying his woodland
home. Today he spends his time studying nature in the woods. Signed copies of
his book may be purchased through his website.

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And Other Mostly True Stories

Date Published: June 12, 2026

Publisher: MindStir Media

The Hero of Pamplona and Other Mostly True Stories is a memoir told through
twenty-two vividly rendered short stories drawn from the extraordinary life of
Len Wechsler. Spanning decades and continents, these deeply personal
reflections move effortlessly from New York to Los Angeles, Paris to Pamplona,
Lisbon to Tangiers—each place leaving its mark, each moment carrying
emotional weight.

With the voice of a philosopher, the instincts of a filmmaker, and the honesty
of someone who has lived fully, Wechsler explores friendship and betrayal,
risk and reinvention, longing and belonging. These are stories shaped by
youthful bravado, artistic pursuit, cultural collision, and the quiet
reckonings that come with time.

Sometimes humorous, sometimes haunting, and always human, this memoir invites
readers into a life lived on the edge of experience—where truth and
memory blur, and where the author believes one simple thing: if a story
touches him, it may touch you too.

Whether you read it as travel memoir, coming-of-age reflection, or a
meditation on identity and chance, The Hero of Pamplona and Other Mostly True
Stories is a journey worth taking.

About the Author

Len Wechsler is a writer, filmmaker, and lifelong storyteller whose work
spans continents, cultures, and creative disciplines. Raised in New York City
and educated in the Midwest, Wechsler studied philosophy at the Sorbonne in
Paris before earning a master’s degree from New York University. His
early adult years were marked by adventure and movement—from playing
professional basketball in France and Italy to traveling across Europe and
around the Mediterranean.

In the United States, Wechsler taught in both New York and California before
launching a filmmaking career in the mid-1970s. He was among the earliest
filmmakers to capture the raw beauty, risk, and exhilaration of surfing and
skateboarding on film, later transitioning into screenwriting for feature
films. His creative life continued overseas when he lived and worked in
Portugal for thirteen years as a teacher and theater director.

More recently, Wechsler co-wrote a stage play exploring the underbelly of Los
Angeles, which debuted in New York City. A member of the Writers Guild of
America West, he now lives in California, where he continues to
write—and still plays basketball when he can, even if the three-pointer
no longer falls as easily.

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BDSM Erotic Romance, Multicultural & Interracial

Date Published: August 7, 2026

Reeling from her ex-husband’s infidelity and buried in the mountain of
debts he left behind, Brandi needs to make money — a lot of money — fast, or
she’ll lose her home. When she applies for a job as a hostess at an
adult club, the last thing she expects is to come face to face with her high
school flame.

Greg has grown up a lot since high school, but he’s never forgotten the
woman who left him behind. No longer a quiet geek, the self-made
multi-millionaire intends to win Brandi back, and his first step is to make
her an offer she can’t refuse. He hires her as his escort for the
evening at an adult party in his mansion. Now he has one night to convince her
he’s matured into the masterful mate she needs.

EXCERPT

Brandi stared at her reflection in the mirror. The lush black velvet suited
her better than she’d expected, contrasting nicely with the soft brown
of her skin. She’d had her hair styled last month — the day before her
world fell apart — and it fell just below her shoulders in a shimmery dark
curtain. Definitely a good investment. She twisted sideways, wiggling her
butt. Yup. That skirt was short. Real short. Short enough she’d be
afraid to bend over. Then again, if she bent over her breasts would probably
spill right out of the low-cut top that formed the other half of the costume.
Did people really work in outfits like this?

She gave her head a mental shake. Of course they did. If you wanted the big
tips, you needed to show off a little of the merchandise.

Life wasn’t fair, and happily ever afters only happened on the pages of
those sappy romance novels. Losing her job and then watching her husband
desert her for a teenaged slut sure brought that one home in a hurry. She
needed this job, needed to pay off the huge stack of bills he’d left her
with before she lost her home as well, and in this labor market she
couldn’t afford to be picky.

When she’d seen the ad for a hostess at a local after-hours club,
she’d plastered what she hoped was a come-hither smile on her face and
applied for the position. If nothing else, it would give her some breathing
room while she figured out what she wanted to do. She’d be damned if
she’d let that lecherous excuse for a husband ruin her life.

Opening the front closet, Brandi perused the selection of winter coats. Since
she’d been reduced to using public transit, she’d better make sure
the skimpy costume didn’t get her mugged before she got to the
interview. The man who’d dropped off the costume had been very specific.
The interview for the job was at three sharp, and the manager did not expect
to be kept waiting.

Picking a thick wool coat that fell partway down her calves to hide the
scandalous outfit, she made sure she buttoned it all the way up to her chin.
Catching a chill and sneezing all over the manager would not improve her
chances of getting this job. She grabbed her purse off the side table and
locked the door behind her.

* * *

Oh, shit! Brandi folded her hands behind her back and tried not to stare. Greg
Bridger. With the way her luck had been going lately, why hadn’t she
realized it would be him doing the hiring when she desperately needed the job?
Greg Bridger was the guy she’d spent her entire high school career
dating. The guy everyone expected her to marry. The guy she’d walked out
on for the worthless piece of trash who’d just deserted her for the
pom-pom queen.

She hadn’t kept track of him for the past ten years, hadn’t really
given him much thought while she’d been so entranced with her scumbag of
a husband. Maybe she should have. He carried himself with a self assurance
that spoke volumes. He wore his dark hair short these days, in a cut that
flattered the rugged lines of his face. Six feet tall, he had the muscular
frame of someone who spent hours every week at the gym. That hadn’t
always been the case.

Although he’d been quiet in high school, more of a geek than a jock,
Greg had always had plans and dreams, big dreams. Somehow she never thought of
him settling for a safe job like manager of an adult club, even if it was the
most popular club on the east side of town. Maybe he’d decided to trade
in his dreams of corporate success for that fantastic body.

She had no idea if she had a snowball’s chance in hell of getting this
job. If Greg recognized her, he gave no sign. He circled her slowly, his eyes
impersonal as he made notes on the clipboard he was holding. Was it her
imagination, or did his eyes linger with just a hint of lust on her cleavage?
And should that upset her or give her hope?

Brandi made an effort to rein in her errant libido and tried not to fidget. It
wasn’t her fault. Seeing Greg again had been a shock, and reawakened
feelings she’d long forgotten. He’d been an enthusiastic, if
somewhat awkward lover in high school, and he’d matured impressively in
the last ten years. Sex appeal was stamped all over his rugged frame, and if
she were honest with herself, she had to admit that her husband had never
really satisfied her in the bedroom. She’d always longed for him to be a
bit more inventive, but he’d never really done more than give her a
quick slam-bam before he’d rolled over and commenced snoring.

After the first few disappointing months, she’d resigned herself to a
less than inspired sex life. She was surprised to feel the corner of her mouth
tugging upward as she wondered if the little tart he’d run off with was
getting bored with his insipid technique yet.

“Do you find this amusing? I was under the impression you wanted this
job.” Frost tinged Greg’s voice as he stopped in front of her, one
dark eyebrow raised in query.

“Not at all, sir.” It was fairly obvious he didn’t recognize
her, and personal history aside, she really did need this job. “I was
thinking of something else. It won’t happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t.” His voice rang with disapproval.
“I expect my staff to pay close attention to my instructions at all
times.”

“Of course.” Damn. She really needed this job.

“Well, then.” His gaze swept over her in frank assessment before
he consulted the tablet. “I have to say, I don’t feel you are
suited for the position.”

Brandi felt her heart drop. She really needed this job. “You
don’t? I’ll work really hard, I promise.” She hated the
whining note in her voice. “I’ll do whatever you want me to. Just
give me a chance.”

A hint of a smile hovered at the corner of his mouth. “I’m afraid
not. We are looking for someone younger, someone the clients will keep buying
more drinks from in the hopes of getting lucky.” His gaze swept over her
briefly. “You are definitely not the cheerleader type. The clients would
take one look at you and know they were outclassed. I do, however, have
another opening that you might be interested in. If you would care to take a
seat out in the lobby while I finish up here?”

Crap! He’d as much as told her she was over the hill. Definitely not
something you want to hear from an ex-lover. Then again, he had mentioned
another position. She’d come looking for a job, not a lover. At least he
wasn’t holding their shared past against her, assuming he even
recognized her. He’d given no signs.

About the Author

Anne Kane lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with a bouncy little rescue
dog whose breed defies description, a cantankerous Himalayan cat, and too many
fish to count. She spent many years trying to fit in and act normal, but
finally gave up the effort. She started writing romance in 2008, and her fate
was sealed when she won a publishing contract with Red Sage Publishing and
just a month later Changeling Press accepted her first submission. Since then
she has published more than thirty stories in a variety of sub-genres, all
with a happily ever after.

She has two handsome sons and six adorable grandchildren and enjoys spending
time with them whenever she can. Her hobbies, when she’s not playing
with the characters in her head, include kayaking, hiking, swimming, playing
guitar, singing and of course, reading.

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Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Solander Press

On the ride, while A.J. daydreams, Lady Star sees the pond. A.J. learns that daydreaming, horseback riding, and ponds don’t go well together. In this book, Sherry Roberts continues to tell stories inspired by her father’s childhood during the 1930s and 1940s in Northeast Oklahoma. For those who enjoy stories of the American West, as well as history, Just Look at Those Boots is must-read. 

About the Author

 

 Sherry Roberts holds a Ph.D. from the University of Louisville in Curriculum and Instruction. She is an award-winning author and photographer of children’s picture books: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…A First for Gus; Hello, Can I Bug You?; Sonnet, Sonnet, What’s In Your Bonnet?, The Best Reading Buddy; What’s Wrong With Barnaby?, A Visit Through the Wetlands, and Amica Helps Zoe.

Dr. Roberts has a three-book middle grade series. Book one, The Galaxy According to Cece, began the series. Book two, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Mysterious Dr. Pruitt arrived next, followed by book three, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Stars Align.

Her debut chapter book series begins with Just Call Me Pardner. The second book, Just Look at Those Boots, launched March 2026 and book three, Just Don’t Give A Girl A Frog, is coming in 2027. Each book can stand alone in this series.

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