Success In the Press: The Cali Book of the Dead by Max V. Carp

"A story that readers will feel to their core." - Los Angeles Book Review

★

"A story that readers will feel to their core." - Los Angeles Book Review ★

From the Author: Landon Briggs is a small-time crook, gambling addict, Iraq war vet, and a dabbler in Buddhism amongst other things. He finds a new mission in trying to stop his ex-wife from marrying Ray, the trucking company con man who is about to become his son's "new dad".

When Landon steals one of Ray's cigarette-filled trucks one sunny day, all hell breaks loose. Landon finds himself navigating an increasingly dangerous cat-and-mouse game while, along the way, friends and foes share their unexpected insights into what Buddhists call the "luminous path of innate wisdom". As the long Cali days tick by, the question arises: which final path will Landon ultimately travel?

““Max V. Carp integrates spiritual concepts such as Buddhism, oracles, destiny, dream sequences, and bodily possession into a rough and ready story that readers will feel to their core.””

— Kyle Eaton, Los Angeles Book Review

Our Take: Fast-paced, darkly funny, and strangely meditative, The Cali Book of the Dead is a wild ride through the sun-baked chaos of modern California. With dry wit, sharp edges, and a surprising spiritual undercurrent, Max V. Carp delivers a gritty meditation on fatherhood, forgiveness and the clarity that comes from chaos; This one is perfect for readers who like their redemption stories weird, wise, and a little bit wild.

From a Reader: “[…] it blew my mind. Fantastic plot, characters, one memorable scene after another, I could go on and on. [The] ending is not for the squeamish […]”

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Success In the Press: Blue Dragonfly by Joseph Bingham

International Review of Books Gold Medal Award

★

International Review of Books Gold Medal Award ★

From the Author: Pedí and Adací are born with unusual gifts inherited from their massacred ancestors. Pedí, a boy discounted and shunned due to his peculiarities and heritage, understands the healing plants of the forest and has a rare relationship with the animal world. Pedí can communicate with animals but stammers when he tries to talk with people. Adací is an adopted girl whose lineage is kept secret. Her dreams and visions of the past, present, and future, create havoc within her family and society. Despite her best efforts, these dreams often come true. She is afraid she’s going to kill the boy she loves.

Blue Dragonfly takes you into a tropical world of fantasy, disease, forbidden love, and strange creatures of the natural world.

Our Take: Blue Dragonfly is a lush and lyrical story set in a world where ancestral memory, nature’s magic, and quiet rebellion shape the lives of two young people with mysterious gifts. Pedí and Adací are outsiders in their own community, but their deep connection to the natural and spiritual realms offers both danger and possibility. With rich worldbuilding, emotional depth, and a thread of star-crossed love, this is a tender, imaginative novel for readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories laced with myth, mystery, and the magic of the natural world.

From a Reader: “Great storytelling and immediately engaging! Loved the mix of nature, ancient cultures, and the mix of real and the mythical. Would highly recommend!”

Bragging Rights:

★ Gold Medal Award from International Review of Books

What the author has to say about working with Yellow Bird: “Rebecca Maizel at Yellow Bird helped me so much with my early draft. Her suggestions helped me craft the final manuscript, though it still took me time as a beginning writer to make all the changes I needed to do.”

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Success In the Press: For the Minds and Wills of Men by Jeff Lanier

2023 Finalist in Historical Fiction

★

First Novel for the Next Generation Indie Book

★

2023 Finalist in Historical Fiction ★ First Novel for the Next Generation Indie Book ★

From the Author: MANHATTAN, 1953. Fear of communist subversion and espionage are tearing America apart. Abstract expressionism is on the verge of exploding, making New York the cultural epicenter of the world. While recovering a stolen Jackson Pollock for a wealthy client, art insurer Will Oxley falls for the client's daughter, Liz Bower, who leads him deep into the rebellious and seductive world of the abstract expressionist painters, their Village bar haunts and East Hampton binges. But when Will learns the painting-and Liz-may be hiding communist secrets better left hidden, he finds himself torn between exposing the girl he loves or risking his life by trusting her instead. Realizing nothing is as it seems, Will is caught between communist espionage, secret government programs, and the grip of cold war fear, suspicion, and betrayal where trust is all he has left...

With post-World War II New York, 1950s avant-garde art world, and the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings as background, the novel tells the story of abstract expressionism and mid-century American politics- through the thrilling search for a stolen Jackson Pollock.

Bragging Rights:

★ 2023 1st Place Winner in Fiction for the IndieReader Discovery

★ 2022 1st Place Winner in Historical Fiction and New Author Fiction for the Dragonfly

★ 2023 Finalist in Historical Fiction and First Novel for the Next Generation Indie Book

★ 2023 PenCraft Award A Best Book Winner

★ 2023 Readers Favorite Book Award Winner

★ 2023 Readers Favorite Five Star Book

Our Take: Set against the charged backdrop of Cold War paranoia and the birth of abstract expressionism, The Minds and Wills of Men is part noir thriller, part love story, and part art world history. Jeff Lanier skillfully blends espionage, political intrigue, and cultural revolution into a suspenseful and intellectual narrative. A compelling pick for readers drawn to atmospheric historical fiction—especially those curious about the collision of art, power, and trust in a world where nothing is quite what it seems.

From a Reader: “[..] an historical art fiction and cold war thriller that will both entertain and electrify the imagination. With a fair bit of noir, significant intrigue, and plenty of fact and fiction expertly intertwined, this story will rank high on the to-read meter and then even higher on the recommend-to-friends-and-family meter. In short, it’s fabulous.”

Get your copy today at the links below!

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Success in the Press: Blood Throne of Caria by Roy Casagranda

"A gripping, fast-paced adventure." -Kirkus Reviews

✹

"A gripping, fast-paced adventure." -Kirkus Reviews ✹

From the Author: In the early fifth century BC, Artemisia is trained in medicine, the sword, and statecraft--and no one cares. Her marriage will cement an alliance for her father and make a prince heir to his throne. However, this Amazonian spitfire will not be reduced to a traded commodity.

When the Persian Emperor demands a hostage, Artemisia's father sends his thirteen-year-old daughter in her brother's place. Refusing to succumb to loneliness, Artemisia charms the Imperial Court and converts her exile into her own private tutelage.

Three years later, she returns to Caria as the heir to her father's throne. Princes fight to marry her. Artemisia delays the wedding, only to discover that her suitors are willing to kill for her hand. Brutally forced into wedlock, she outmaneuvers the kings of Caria in the palace and on the field of battle, cleaving the ramparts of patriarchy to become one of history's fiercest heroines.

““A gripping, fast-paced adventure that delivers passionate writing””

— Kirkus Reviews

Our Take: A fierce and cinematic reimagining of a real-life ruler, Blood Throne of Caria brings ancient history to life through the eyes of a girl who refuses to be ruled. Roy Casagranda charts Artemisia’s transformation from political pawn to sovereign force with vivid detail and steady pacing. This one’s for fans of historical fiction with teeth—especially readers drawn to untold stories of bold women who shaped the world against all odds.

From a Reader: "A true historical thriller - The Blood Throne of Caria is a brilliantly researched, riveting read about Artemisia, whose struggle to direct her own destiny in a brutally patriarchal world is as relevant today as it was more than two thousand years ago."

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Success In the Press: Some Mistakes Are Great Kissers: A Dating Memoir by Stephanie Kleine

Fifty 5-Star Reviews on Amazon & Goodreads

★

Fifty 5-Star Reviews on Amazon & Goodreads ★

From the Author: Stefanie Kleine seemingly has it all…a highly successful career, an excessive number of degrees, loving parents, devoted friends, and great legs. The only thing she has not been able to accomplish is finding the right person to share her life with.

In this no-holds-barred memoir, Stefanie takes us on her brutally honest, hilarious, heartbreaking, and at-times utterly bizarre quest to find true love. Some Mistakes Are Great Kissers is the story of a modern woman who has bravely refused to settle. Stefanie is raw, relatable, unapologetic, and utterly hysterical as she recounts her experiences in the dating world. From freezing her eggs to flying home in the middle of the night in a sexy cat costume to calling an ambulance for an emergency sex injury, Stefanie shares the inspiring tale of how she has boldly stared her pain and insecurities in the eye, and somehow managed to summon the strength to forge ahead.

For anyone deep in the trenches of dating, this book serves as a reminder to search for the lesson in every relationship and find the humor in a life that doesn’t always go as planned.

Our Take: This dating memoir is equal parts outrageous, honest, and deeply human. With laugh-out-loud moments and sharp emotional insight, Kleine takes readers on a wild ride through the highs and humiliations of modern dating. Stefanie Kleine’s storytelling is fearless and funny, never shying away from the messier parts of seeking love. For readers who enjoy personal narratives that balance vulnerability with sharp wit, this one delivers heart, humor, and a refreshing dose of real.

From a Reader:

“This book is amazing. I laughed out loud many times but it also reminded me to recognize my value. The dating world is kinda scary so it helps to know even stunning funny athletic actress/doctors have to date a lot of frogs before finding a prince.”

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