BookTrib’s Bites: The Stories We Tell — and the Truths We Uncover
(BookTrib)
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“L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42” edited by Jody Lynn Nye
Each year, the L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest discovers new voices in science fiction and fantasy — and Volume 42 of its annual anthology showcases its latest award-winning writers and artists. Selected from entries around the world, winning writers and artists are paired together for the project, resulting in illustrated stories that highlight the creative collaboration at the heart of the program.
This year’s collection spans a wide range of speculative storytelling, from explorations of identity and consciousness to mysteries shaped by shifting realities, alongside richly imagined fantasy and darker, more unsettling tales. These are emerging creators at a pivotal moment in their careers, offering fresh perspectives and bold ideas. With contributions from established authors alongside these new talents, “L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42” serves as both a celebration of this year’s winners and a glimpse of the genre’s evolving future.
Purchase at https://amzn.to/4tBqERz.
“The Architect of Deception” by Debbie Baldwin
In Debbie Baldwin’s latest, privilege and power mask a far more dangerous game. Razz James — once destined for Manhattan’s elite circles — has spent six years unraveling in grief after his twin brother’s death. When his best friend receives an invitation to an exclusive secret society, Razz seizes the distraction, volunteering for an initiation challenge that seems reckless but harmless: steal a memento from a billionaire’s fantastical mansion high above the city.
He pulls it off — or so he thinks. When a body surfaces, Razz is thrust into a twisting web of lies, corruption and shifting loyalties, where wealth bends the rules and truth is anything but fixed.
Blending psychological tension with high-society intrigue, Baldwin delivers a layered thriller packed with riddles, red herrings and escalating stakes. As Razz races to uncover the mastermind behind it all, one question drives the suspense: in a world built on deception, who can he trust?
Purchase at https://amzn.to/4elvPQR.
“What the Heart Carries” by Susan Appel
In this emotionally resonant novel inspired by a true story, Susan Appel explores identity, family and the truth that refuses to stay hidden. Stephanie grows up in a loving Brooklyn household, yet a quiet unease about her origins follows her into adulthood. Miles away, Carmine is shaped by instability and loss, driven by a need to understand where he belongs. They are strangers — until a single revelation brings their lives together, exposing a shared past neither knew existed.
Spanning decades and moving between Brooklyn and Florida, “What the Heart Carries” traces the ripple effects of one long-buried secret. As the truth surfaces, both must reckon with what was lost, what remains and what it means to move forward. Appel delivers a heartfelt story of reconciliation, faith and resilience — and the fragile, enduring ties that define family.
Purchase at https://amzn.to/4d89Lbb.
“The Overprivileged, Underqualified Manifesto: When Leadership Forgets Competence and the Emotional Cost We All Hide” by Giovi Zaro
Technology and digital transformation leader Giovi Zaro draws on decades inside global organizations to deliver a sharp, unflinching look at why so many workplaces fall short of their promises. Blending firsthand experience with cultural critique, Giovi argues that failure isn’t rooted in technological complexity, but in leadership that prioritizes optics over outcomes.
Written for high performers, new managers and anyone quietly burning out in “successful” environments, the book names the emotional toll of navigating politics, exclusion and performative progress — where integrity is often sidelined and truth goes unspoken.
Yet it’s not purely diagnostic. Giovi points toward a more hopeful path grounded in accountability, humility and honest leadership. Part manifesto, part mirror, this concise work gives language to what many professionals feel but rarely articulate — and challenges readers to rethink what leadership, and work itself, could be.
Purchase at https://amzn.to/4cNIkSB.
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“The Lost Panel” by Mark Steven Hammond
- Artificial intelligence is likely to have a greater impact on the military’s wartime operations than on peacetime tasks, according to a new report from the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in AI.
- For nearly eight decades, the Marine Toys for Tots Program has brought hope and joy to disadvantaged children across the United States. What began as a Christmastime tradition has become a year‑round mission to deliver emotional comfort, educational resources, and critical support to millions of children in need. This impact is possible because of the generosity of the American public and through partnerships that raise awareness about the year-round mission and of the needs of children nationwide.
- As warm weather approaches, it’s time to spread the word about spreading sunscreen.
- School absenteeism remains a significant problem in the United States. Long-term improvement in attendance requires reframing the problem as more than a compliance issue, according to Concentric Educational Solutions, an organization that collaborates with school systems and community partners nationwide to identify and address barriers to school attendance.
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“The Woman from Warsaw” by Salah el Moncef
“Kyla's Kite Is Flying” by Simon P.J. Dorey
“Seeds of Purpose: Seven Keys to Unlock Your Gifts and Fulfill God's Desired Will for Your Life” by Marlyse Tchamko
“Fault Line: Still Standing” by Tim Smith
- Next-generation robotics and advanced manufacturing are key to preserving American leadership in technology and AI, but the United States has fallen behind China in this essential arena, according to a new report from the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in AI.
- Gold prices near historic highs amid inflation concerns are prompting Americans to consider precious metals for retirement portfolios. A self-directed precious metals IRA holds physical gold, silver, platinum, or palladium instead of traditional stocks and bonds, following specific IRS rules that differ from standard retirement accounts.
- For decades, a quiet “third party” has sat in exam rooms across America: the computer screen. Patients have grown used to seeing the back of their doctor’s head—eyes fixed on a keyboard or tablet instead of on them—as notes are diligently entered.