Author: Marissa DeCuir

MADISON, Wisconsin – Kristina Amelong’s powerful memoir, “What My Brother Knew” (She Writes Press, May 27, 2025) begins with a chilling prophecy — her brother Jay’s precise prediction of his own tragic death — and unfolds into a profound exploration of grief, healing, self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

As a boy, Jay Amelong predicted the accident that caused his death, down to the color of the car that hit him. “I will die young, while riding my bike,” he told friends and family repeatedly. “It won’t be much longer, I want you to be prepared.” These were baffling words to hear from the mouth of a content 13-year-old — but when Kristina Amelong was only 17, her brother’s tragic death unfolded exactly as he said it would, radically changing her life.

Propelled down a self-destructive path of drug addiction and reckless sex, Kristina spent much of her young adult years wanting to die. Once or twice she came close. Always, Jay’s bizarre story and his inexplicable acceptance of his own death lived in her body.

More than 30 years after losing Jay, Kristina embarks on a journey of discovery, seeking truth about herself, her brother, and the universe. The result of her investigation is a memoir that defies belief. Charting a life path from loss and abuse to healing and spiritual awakening, “What My Brother Knew” demonstrates the transformative power of facing the mystery of death head-on and our incredible ability, as humans, to do just that.

“What My Brother Knew”

Kristina Amelong | May 27, 2025 | She Writes Press | Memoir 

Paperback | ISBN: 9781647429089 | $17.99 

About The Author

Kristina Amelong lives on the east side of Madison, Wisconsin, just a few miles from where she grew up. From a working-class childhood filled with abuse, addiction and loss, she has overcome addiction and chronic illness, raised four children, and founded a successful holistic health business, Optimal Health Network. She’s developed natural protocols which have helped thousands heal from a wide range of digestive and other chronic issues. She is the author of “What My Brother Knew” (She Writes Press, May 27, 2025), an emotional, eye-opening memoir about her journey from loss and abuse to healing and spiritual awakening. Her first book was “Ten Days to Optimal Health: A Guide to Nutritional Therapy and Colon Cleansing.”

Kristina is a senior board member for the Center for World Philosophy and Religion, a non-profit organization dedicated to a reweaving of the human story that will guide humanity through the current evolutionary crisis. She has a passion for photography, gardening, backyard chicken raising, and pickleball. She has three dogs and three grand-dogs that she walks on frozen lakes every winter. Find out more about her at www.kristinaamelong.com.

Follow Kristina Amelong on social media: 

Facebook: @kristina.amelong | Instagram: @optimalhealthnetwork 

Early Praise for Kristina Amelong

“Amelong writes from the heart and has a gift for arresting imagery…A sincere and valiant attempt to understand the unfathomable.” 

— Kirkus Reviews 

“This is a searing memoir about a sister’s love for a younger brother who was brutally struck on a BMX bicycle by a green car that drug him to his death. Jay repeatedly described the event beforehand, likely because of an LSD opening, even asked that “Stairway to Heaven” be played at his funeral. The story explored in these pages made me weep. We are totally messed up . . . and we are perfect.” 

— Jeffrey J. Kripal, author of “How to Think Impossibly: About Souls, UFOs, Time, Belief, and Everything Else”

“Tormented by grief and haunted by her brother’s chilling prophecy of his own death, Kristina Amelong stumbles along a dangerous path to addiction and self-destruction until she sets out on a journey to unravel the mystery of his uncanny foresight. Her relentless search for truth ultimately leads to her own healing and profound spiritual awakening. What My Brother Knew is a beautifully written, spellbinding memoir.”

– Judy Reeves, author of “When Your Heart Says Go”

In an interview, Kristina Amelong can discuss:

• The Mystery of Jay’s Premonition – Her brother had a magnetic energy and wisdom beyond his years, deeply connecting with people and the world around him. 
• Death as a Teacher – Jay’s passing unraveled and rewove Kristina’s understanding of life, death, and the unexplained, leading her to explore deeper philosophical and spiritual concepts.
• Reconnecting Through Shared Grief – Revisiting Jay’s life with those who knew him brought healing and allowed Kristina to see him through a broader lens, reminding us of the shared and evolving nature of grief.
• Signs and Synchronicities – Kristina believes in signs as meaningful messages from the universe, guiding growth and understanding.
• Nature as a Healing Force – Nature played a central role in Kristina’s spiritual awakening, offering solace and a mirror for her healing process. She encourages others to find comfort in nature’s cycles.
• Self-Love and Compassion in Healing – Kristina’s memoir serves as a love letter to her younger self, underscoring the importance of self-compassion as the foundation for healing from trauma and loss.
• Navigating Doubt on the Spiritual Path – Kristina openly shares moments of reluctance and frustration, offering practices and insights that helped her stay motivated on her spiritual journey.
• Beliefs About What Comes After Death – Kristina sees consciousness as continuing in some form, woven into the universe’s fabric, and encourages embracing awe and discovery in the face of the unknown.
• Unanswered Questions and Embracing Mystery – While questions about Jay’s life and death linger, Kristina finds peace in the mystery and uses it to connect with the deeper meaning of existence.
• Personal Growth Through Writing – Writing her book was a transformative journey for Kristina, allowing her to share Jay’s story with the world, and in doing so, achieve deeper healing.

An Interview with Kristina Amelong

First, can you tell us about your brother, Jay? What kind of kid was he, and what was your relationship like with him?

Jay was extraordinary. Even as a child, he had magnetic, wise-beyond-his-years energy that could draw you in. He was curious, creative, and had an unusual ability to connect deeply with the people and world around him. We were close in the way siblings often are—sharing secrets, squabbling, and building dreams together—but there was also a reverence I held for him. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but Jay had a clarity about life and death that was rare, almost otherworldly.

Jay had a stunningly accurate prediction of his own death – he said a green car would hit him while riding his bike. Do you remember the moment you made the connection that what he had foreseen had actually unfolded? Did others believe you when you spoke about Jay’s premonition? 

The moment it happened was surreal. I didn’t just make the connection—it slammed into me like a wave. I remember the details, how eerily they matched what Jay had said. It was both devastating and bizarrely affirming, as if he had known something none of us could comprehend. At first, I hesitated to talk about it—the idea of a 13-year-old predicting his death is still hard to grasp. When I finally did, people had mixed reactions. Some believed me, while others thought it was just grief playing tricks with my memory.

How did this prediction — and Jay’s passing — shape your understanding of life, death and the unexplained? How did it impact your philosophical and spiritual beliefs? 

It completely unraveled and rewove my understanding of existence. Jay’s premonition forced me to question everything I thought I knew about reality, time, and consciousness. Over time, it pushed me toward exploring philosophies like Donald Hoffman’s theory of Conscious Realism, quantum physics, and the concept of a cosmic tapestry where everything is interconnected. It also deepened my appreciation for the mystery of life and death—how they aren’t opposites but intertwined aspects of the same infinite process.

Download press kit and photos

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

FLANDERS, New York — An unflinching exploration of growing up in a dismissive family and navigating a world that often feels misaligned, “Becoming Carly Klein” (SparkPress) by Elizabeth Harlan is a raw and compelling coming-of-age story about personal identity and human connection.

Neglected by self-absorbed parents who divorce when she’s 16, Carly leans on her best friend Lauren for solace. But when Lauren moves away, Carly is left adrift and becomes fixated on Daniel, a blind Columbia student and her therapist mother’s patient. Desperate for connection and to start up a relationship, she pretends to be a Barnard College student. What begins as a thrilling escape spirals into first love, deception and self-discovery as Carly grapples with the fallout from her choices. The novel takes readers on an emotional journey through family dysfunction and teen alienation that leads to the discovery of strength and resilience in unexpected places.

Flawed but fiercely determined, Carly makes bold — and often questionable — choices in her quest for connection. Perfect for fans of contemporary coming-of-age fiction, this novel is for anyone who has ever wrestled with feelings of alienation, struggled to find their place, or made mistakes in pursuit of love and belonging. With its resonant and realistic presentation of human psychology and personal relationships, “Becoming Carly Klein” is a story that will stay with readers long after the final page.

“If Holden Caulfield had a great-grandchild, it might be Carly Klein. J.D. Salinger used Holden as narrator to animate his novel; Elizabeth Harlan uses her powers of vivid observation. This will be a riveting read for many teenagers — and a meaningful cautionary tale for their parents.” 

— Glenn Kramon, former assistant managing editor, The New York Times 

“Becoming Carly Klein”

Elizabeth Harlan | Sept. 17, 2024 | SparkPress | Young Adult

Paperback, 9781684632664, $17.99

Praise for “Becoming Carly Klein” and Elizabeth Harlan

“An engaging tale about family, maturation, and love.” — Kirkus Reviews

“With sparkling prose and witty dialogue, Harlan captures the electric energy and tension of a teen awkwardly keeping secrets.” — BookLife

“A fearless exploration of how stepping in the wrong direction can help us step into ourselves.
Perceptive and engrossing, this coming-of-age story is an anthem for an under-parented generation, and a reminder that growing up can happen at any age … in all its funny, heartbreaking and messy glory!
A deeply satisfying read and one not to miss.”
— Mary Pascual, author of “The Byways” and “Walk the Web Lightly”

“As much as her plot and characters, it’s Elizabeth Harlan’s spare, elegant way with words that gives Carly’s coming of age story its power to engage a reader of any age, gender, or station.”
— Brooke Kroeger, author of “Undaunted: How Women Changed American Journalism”

“Catch the vibe of 1980s NYC — ambitious, gritty, stark, and real — in this utterly charming coming-of-age novel with a cast of memorably flawed and deeply human characters.”
— Melissa Walker, author of “Small Town Sinners” and “Unbreak My Heart”

About the Author

Elizabeth Harlan’s journey as an author is deeply rooted in the vibrant tapestry of New York City, where she spent her formative years and where Carly’s captivating story unfolds. A versatile writer, Harlan has crafted compelling narratives spanning young adult novels to probing literary biography tailored for adult readers. Her writing openly addresses themes that she has not only defended but celebrated as an integral and beautiful part of life.

 At the heart of her work lies the poignant exploration of mother-daughter dynamics. Having mothered two children and grandmothered four grandchildren, despite the passage of time and the roles she has embraced, Harlan’s soul remains intertwined with young girls navigating the labyrinth of adolescence and struggling to grow out from under the oppressive yolk of mismothering.

Residing on the picturesque East End of Long Island and a bridgeless barrier island off Florida’s Gulf coast, Harlan draws inspiration from the diverse landscapes that surround her, infusing her prose with an evocative sense of place and emotion. Her stories resonate not only with authenticity but also with a profound understanding of the human experience, inviting readers to embark on transformative journeys of self-discovery and connection. For more information, visit her website: elizabethharlan.com.

Follow Elizabeth Harlan on social media

Facebook: Elizabeth Harlan Author | Instagram: @elizabethharlan | TikTok: @ellizabethharlan 

Coverage for “Becoming Carly Klein”

• An interview with author Elizabeth Harlan and Waking Writer
• Book Reader Magazine’s featured author
• Reading list for Shepherd on the best books about young girls prevailing against adversity
• An interview with YA Book Central on the inspiration behind writing the novel
• Fresh Fiction interview: What if 15-year-old Carly Klein could become a different person?

In an interview, Elizabeth Harlan can discuss:

• Carly’s decision to masquerade as a college student and the ethical gray areas surrounding her choices, and how this ties into modern-day online personas and the allure of creating an alternate self
• The universal themes of self-reinvention and belonging — especially during adolescence — and how Carly’s experience of crafting a false identity resonates with anyone who has ever felt like they don’t fit in
• How mistakes are transformative and show that personal growth often comes through trial, error and reflection
• How parental neglect shapes teen decision-making and how Carly’s sense of abandonment fuels her risky decisions
• The psychological complexities of feeling unseen by those closest to you, leading to the need for external validation
• The “emotional crime” Carly commits in infiltrating Daniel’s world and how deception is not a villainous act but rather a coping mechanism and a path to self-realization
• How the book is a springboard for conversations about boundaries in relationships
• How the novel is a deeply human story, offering something for everyone — from young adults to seasoned readers

An interview with Elizabeth Harlan

1. “Becoming Carly Klein” has been in the works for decades — can you tell us a bit about that? 

This novel began as a series of autobiographically linked short stories that I submitted for my Columbia Master of Fine Arts in fiction. It morphed into “Becoming Carly Klein” during the COVID-19 pandemic when I was sheltering on a little barrier island off Florida’s southwest coast. With little to do and nowhere to go, I pulled my Columbia writing program thesis out of a drawer and reimagined it as the novel it became. When I was a teenager with problems of my own, I was seen by a therapist who worked out of her apartment and whose young daughter would sometimes be hanging out in the hall by the elevator when I arrived for a session. I always wondered what this young person thought about her mother’s patients, and this inspired the central plot twist in “Becoming Carly Klein.”

2. You previously wrote a biography on French novelist George Sand. How did writing nonfiction differ from your experience writing fiction? 

The most marked difference would be controlling for the data that’s involved in nonfiction. Creating a story, be it fiction or nonfiction, is not that different a process. As I look back, I believe my adult biography of the French 19th-century woman author, George Sand, is very much on a continuum with my YA novels that feature teen protagonists. It’s Sand’s complicated development as a young girl growing up and her subsequently troubled relationship with her own daughter, Solange, that captured my imagination and became the fulcrum of my focus. Be it fiction or nonfiction, I’ve woven the thematic thread of girls coming of age and mother/daughter relations into the warp and weft of my writing.

3. You’ve also written two other YA novels, “Footfalls” and “Watershed.” What is it about YA that feels particularly compelling to you as a writer? 

I’ve gravitated to YA over the course of my 40 years since my first YA novel, “Footfalls,” was published. There’s something about writing in the voice of an adolescent that frees me up to describe experiences and to express feelings that connect me still and always with my impressionable and formative teenage years.

4. Are there certain aspects of YA writing you find more challenging? Certain things you find more enjoyable?

For me, as for many girls and boys coming of age, adolescence was an especially emotionally intense time of life. My impressions of people, places, events and relationships that I developed in those years have remained present and vivid in my imagination. When I write through the lens of a teen protagonist, I feel deeply connected to what I felt and experienced as a young person growing up and seeing the world with fresh, unjaded eyes. Maybe it’s simply that what stirred me then stirs me again as I give “voice” to my young characters, but whatever the reason, they speak to me with all their heart and I hear them loud and clear.

5. What kind of research did you do to write accurate representations of characters that are mental health professionals, blind, pregnant, etc.? 

You could say that my research consists of my life and my experience living. In terms of representing a psychiatrist, a blind man, a pregnant teen, or a gay relationship between a father and his boyfriend,  I rely on my protagonist, Carly’s point of view, so these portrayals are “true” to the way Carly perceives these characters. 

Download press kit and photos

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

Afghanistan vet Dexter Grant is broke, reeling from PTSD, and on the verge of divorce when he’s approached by his old Army buddies to help rescue their former interpreter, the man who once saved Dex’s life. It means ripping off a vicious queenpin’s drug proceeds — but not to worry, they have it all worked out. And if anyone can pull it off, it’s Dex’s former team lead, Staff Sgt. Saenz.

Tempted by an easy score that could make his own problems disappear and imbued with new purpose, Dex agrees to play his part. But just as in combat, the best-laid plans don’t survive first contact with the enemy. When the heist goes off the rails, Dex’s wife and daughter become targets for bloody revenge. Dex must face down his spiraling inner darkness and call on all his strength and training to save his girls. In his quest, he’ll learn there was much more to this heist than he ever imagined.

Jeremy D. Baker bursts onto the crime fiction scene with a debut thriller that recalls C.J. Box’s unlikely hero Joe Pickett and the small-town, lived-in noir of S.A. Cosby. The Guilty Sleep is a riveting tale of robbery and betrayal in which a father’s love faces off with a soldier’s debt.

“A terrific debut–fast, tough and hard, shot through with hard-won authenticity and deep humanity … don’t miss out.” — Lee Child

“The Guilty Sleep”

Jeremy D. Baker | May 6, 2025 | Diversion Books | Crime thriller 

Hardcover, 9798895150290, $29.99 

Ebook, B0DPLFWB93, $19.99 

Jeremy D. Baker grew up in Italy, Florida, and Maryland. He’s a former US Army counterintelligence agent and combat veteran. He served alongside US Special Forces in Afghanistan and is a PTSD survivor. Over the past 20 years, his work in national security has focused on intelligence, counterterrorism, transnational organized crime, human trafficking, climate risk and resilience, and cybersecurity. He lives with his family in Maryland. Read more at https://www.jeremydbaker.com/. 

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

“A wise and charming debut” –NYT Bestselling Author Alison McGhee

Montpelier, VT– For fans of Jenna Evans Welch and Barbara Dee, Mima Tipper’s “Kat’s Greek Summer” (SparkPress, May 13, 2025) is a timely and uplifting contemporary YA story of a fourteen-year-old girl risking it all for self-truth, family, and first love over one sun-drenched Greek summer.

Ready—set—look out, world! Kat Baker is about to explode… onto the high school scene, that is. All she has to do? Spend July and August training with New Canaan High’s cross-country team, become a running goddess and, come fall, claim her place as the team’s star freshman runner.

When her mom shocks her with the unwelcome news that the family will spend the summer exploring their roots in the rustic Greek village of Paralia, Kat’s sure her high school popularity plan is toast. Once in Paralia, punishing heat and cultural clashes force her to launch a risky and covert training strategy to keep her running-star dreams alive. And it is during these hidden sessions that Kat is swept into late-night encounters with Theofilus Zafirakis, a beautiful but off-limits Greek boy.

As Kat’s lies mount, her secret odyssey spirals out of control, finally putting one of her cousins in danger. In the end, it takes the unexpected meddling of a village full of crazy, wonderful (and not so wonderful) Greeks for her to open up to her Greek side, discovering at last that the key to belonging anywhere is belonging first to herself.

About the Book…

“Kat’s Greek Summer”

Mima Tipper | May 13, 2025 | SparkPress | Genre 

Paperback | ISBN: 978-1684633067 | $13.99

Ebook | ASIN: B0DJC8Q6J7 | $9.99

Praise for the Book…

“sparkling… a coming-of-age story that explores themes of identity, family, and self-discovery with grace and insight.”

–Publishers Weekly, BookLife (Editor’s Pick)

“Mima Tipper excels at bringing to life the gentleness and fire of first love, as well as Kat’s dawning awareness that only she can stake her own claim in the world. A wise and charming debut.” 

–Alison McGhee, New York Times bestselling author of “Someday”

“Meet Kat Baker. She’s not the girl you want to be; she’s the girl you are. Mima Tipper’s impetuous, likable protagonist learns that desire is a wellspring that spurs her forward like Artemis, the goddess she can be if she trusts her instincts and stays true to herself. Readers will love this fresh for-real heroine.”

–Julie Pidgeon, Principal and Middle School English Teacher, Folsom Education and Community Center, South Hero, Vermont

“‘Kat’s Greek Summer’ is the fantasy we all dream of…a secret romance in a Mediterranean paradise with the swooniest local boy on the Aegean Sea? Sign me up! And yet author Mima Tipper skillfully navigates the complexities of young love against a backdrop of stark inequality for women in Kat’s new surroundings. With her unflinching portrayal of the challenges Kat faces, Tipper delivers a triumphant narrative that celebrates love and family while confronting the gritty truths of life.”

–Kristin Nilsen, author of “Worldwide Crush” and “The Scott Fenwick Diaries”

About the Author…

MIMA TIPPER: Half-Greek, half-American, Mima Tipper and her writing reflect her heritage—a little bit old-country, a little bit rock and roll: one foot wandering through the dreamy realms of myths and faerie tales, the other running on the solid ground of fast-paced, contemporary story. She earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and has published YA fiction in Hunger Mountain and Sucker Literary magazine. Her YA short story “A Cut-out Face” received an honorable mention from Hunger Mountain’s Katherine Paterson Prize, her work-in-progress “Chasing a Blue So Wild” was a top ten finalist in Voyage YA’s first chapter contest, and her work-in-progress “Channeling Marilyn” came in second place for Paranormal Romance in the Chesapeake Romance Writer’s annual Rudy contest. “Kat’s Greek Summer” will be her first published novel. Beyond devoting most of her time to writing, Mima volunteers at her local library and is committed to promoting literacy. Mima lives in Vermont with her family. Learn more at: www.mimatipper.com

Follow Mima Tipper on social media:

Facebook: @mimatipper | Twitter: @meemtip | Instagram: @mimatip 

In an interview, Mima Tipper can discuss:

• How her own Greek-American heritage inspired “Kat’s Greek Summer”
• Why connecting with your roots can be an empowering experience
• How she wrote about first love with both compassion and candor
• The book’s many timely lessons, including the importance of finding your voice and standing up for what’s right
• What she hopes young readers will take away from the book

An Interview with Mima Tipper

1. What inspired you to write “Kat’s Greek Summer”? 

I let Kat Baker, my fictional character, say and do and ask things that I never knew or had the courage to say and do and ask. A lot of my remembered feelings and experiences surfaced. These feelings and experiences informed Kat’s story more and more, and the result of that process is Kat’s Greek Summer. Though Kat’s story is fiction, many, many aspects of her story hold the emotional truth I discovered exploring my own heritage growing up half Greek/half American. 

2. Did you have your own summers in Greece as a girl?

 Regarding the Greek characters and Kat’s relatives, most are compilations of my true family members and of Greeks I met during my Greek summers, especially Yiayiá Sofia. My Greek grandmother Kalomira passed away a bunch of years ago, and it was amazingly fun and personal to bring her back through my fiction. No spoilers, but pretty much everything that happens in the book actually happened to me or to one of my cousins—fictionalized, of course😊

3. Is Paralia a real town? How did you capture the uniquely Greek setting of this book?

My Paralia is not an actual place, but is based on many actual Greek villages I’ve visited and researched. The word “Paralia” means “beach” in Greek, and I figured that was a perfect name for my small, rustic Greek fishing village. I’ve set the story on the Aegean Sea, and there are many real Greek places and villages in that part of Greece that have the word Paralia in them. I thought Paralia would be general enough to encompass the kind of Greek setting I wanted for my story. I also just love the word because it kind of sings off the tongue. 

4. What do you hope young readers will take away from the story?

When my readers turn the last page of Kat’s Greek Summer, I want them to take a big satisfied breath because they feel like they’ve gone along with Kat on her daring, swoony adventure in gorgeous Greece, and were rooting for her all the way. I want my readers to feel powerful and hopeful about their own possible choices and future. I want their takeaway from this reading experience to be the message that to belong anywhere or to anyone or anything, they must first belong to themselves.

5. What’s next for you?

Right now, I’m going through the final rounds of revision on a paranormal YA novel that I hope to publish with SparkPress sometime in 2026. Beyond that publishing goal, I hope to continue championing my writing community and local literacy efforts by helping out at my local library in South Hero Vermont and at Inklings Children’s Books in Waitsfield, Vermont. I am also starting the wheels turning on a family trip to Greece. We are long overdue!

Download press kit and photos

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

“L.A. Coroner” explores the untold story of the first celebrity coroner and his work on iconic cases from Marilyn Monroe to RFK and Natalie Wood

LOS ANGELES – Anne Soon Choi’s “L.A. Coroner” (Third State Books, April 22, 2025) is a gripping true crime biography of Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the controversial “Coroner to the Stars,” whose career intersected with some of the most famous and controversial deaths of the 20th century, including Marilyn Monroe, Robert F. Kennedy and Natalie Wood. It blends Hollywood, celebrity death, Asian American history and Los Angeles history in a feat of exquisite storytelling.

“L.A. Coroner” is the first-ever biography of Dr. Noguchi, the Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner of the County of Los Angeles from 1967 to 1982. Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Noguchi conducted the official autopsies of some of the most high-profile personalities of his time. His elaborate press conferences, which often generated more controversy than they did answers, catapulted him into the public eye.

Noguchi was also the inspiration for the popular 1970s-80s television drama “Quincy, M.E.”, starring Jack Klugman. Featuring never-before-published details about Noguchi’s most controversial cases, “L.A. Coroner” is a mesmerizing, meticulously researched true crime biography, set against the backdrop of the racial politics of 1960s and 1970s America and Hollywood celebrity culture.

“L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood Hardcover”

Anne Soon Choi | April 22, 2025 | Third State Books | True Crime / Biography 

Hardcover | ISBN 979-8890130075 | $29.95 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anne Soon Choi, Ph.D., is a historian and author of “L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood.” Her essay “The Japanese American Citizens League, Los Angeles Politics, and the Thomas Noguchi Case,” on which her new book is based, won the 2021 prize for best essay from the Historical Society of Southern California. Choi has previously served on the faculty of Swarthmore College and the University of Kansas and is an Andrew Mellon Fellow and an American Council of Learned Societies Digital Ethnic Studies Fellow. She is currently Assistant Vice President of Faculty Programs at California State University, Northridge. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

In an interview, Anne Soon Choi can discuss:

• Investigating Iconic Deaths – The high-stakes celebrity autopsies of Marilyn Monroe, Robert F. Kennedy, Sharon Tate and the victims of the Charles Manson Family, John Belushi, Natalie Wood and more, which thrust Dr. Thomas Noguchi into the limelight. These cases not only tested his professional mettle but also fed his need for the intense glare of media sensationalism and opened him up to public scrutiny and persistent conspiracy theories.
• A Trailblazing Legacy – Noguchi’s pioneering achievements as America’s first Asian American chief coroner. Despite facing racial prejudice and political pressures in a field dominated by white professionals, he broke barriers and set new standards in forensic science.
• Timely Reflections on Race and Power – How Noguchi’s story can be used as a lens to explore enduring issues of race, the “model minority” myth among Asian Americans, representation and systemic power structures in America.
• A Complex Character Study – The interplay of Noguchi’s ambition, ego and the societal pressures he faced. His pursuit of fame and occasional professional missteps reflect an internal struggle that adds depth to his story.
• A Cultural Lens on Forensics – Noguchi’s career within the vibrant cultural and social fabric of Los Angeles in the 1960s and 1970s, shedding light on how the era shaped his groundbreaking work and public persona.
• Hollywood Meets Forensics – The intersection of Hollywood’s glamour, the gritty realities of forensic science and how Noguchi’s work blurred lines between professional duty and public spectacle.
• Racial Advocacy and Reinvention – Noguchi’s relationship with Los Angeles’ Japanese American community, which rallied for his reinstatement as coroner after his first dismissal in 1969. This movement reflects broader themes of political mobilization and resilience within marginalized communities.
• Our Fascination with True Crime – How Noguchi’s career reflects and feeds America’s growing obsession with true crime, particularly the allure of forensic mysteries and celebrity intrigue.
• Debating Celebrity Deaths – The ongoing controversies surrounding high-profile death investigations, the ethical and procedural challenges they pose and their enduring place in public discourse.
• Balancing Ethics in True Crime – The challenges of crafting a true crime biography that captivates readers while maintaining respect for the victims and avoiding sensationalism in recounting these gripping narratives.
• Hidden Truths – Previously unknown aspects of Noguchi’s life, uncovered through meticulous research, which include personal accounts, archival materials and historical records, offering fresh insights into his extraordinary career.

Download press kit and photos

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

NYT opinion writer Maura Casey tells of her family’s journey from chaos to grace

In her debut memoir, “Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery” (Skyhorse Publishing, April 1, 2025), journalist Maura Casey crafts a vivid and poignant narrative of a working-class family’s resilience in the face of a terminal diagnosis.

Financial privation and her father’s drunken scenes formed the backdrop to Casey’s childhood, but her sister Ellen’s years-long struggle with kidney disease consumed her whole family. Determined to see Ellen live to adulthood, her mother fought medical advice to donate a kidney at a time when organ transplants were  medical miracles. She concealed the true impact of that decision, which would affect their large Irish family for years to come.

Set in Buffalo amidst the tumult of the 1960s and 70s, “Saving Ellen” traces the author’s recovery from alcoholism and sexual assault and tells of her irrepressible older sister Ellen, who fought to claim her dream of becoming an athlete; her smart, feminist mother, whose World War II Army service prepared her to manage her own platoon of six children; and her adulterous, alcoholic father who, at the end, was haunted by his shortcomings and  regrets. Despite hard truths, “Saving Ellen” is ultimately a story of humor at unexpected moments as well as the grace of reconciliation and gratitude.

“Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery”

Maura Casey | April 1, 2025 | Skyhorse Publishing | Memoir 

Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-5107-8077-4 | $32.99 

Maura Casey grew up in an Irish-American family in Buffalo, New York, the youngest of six children. For more than 30 years, Casey was an opinion writer for three New England newspapers and The New York Times, where she had a seat on the exalted Times editorial board. Over the course of her career, Casey won 45 state, regional and national awards for her writing. She and her husband Pete have two adult children and two grandchildren. They live on a small Connecticut farm with their two dogs and a barn cat. Casey writes a weekly column, Casey’s Catch, (https://maurac.substack.com), and when the breeze is right, she coasts on Long Island Sound in her sailboat, Second Wind. “Saving Ellen” (Skyhorse Publishing, April 1, 2025) is her first book. Find out more about her at www.caseyink.com.

Follow Maura Casey on Instagram @author.maura.casey and Substack @maurac

Praise for “Saving Ellen”

“I loved this book: it gives a fascinating insight into an Irish Catholic family in Buffalo in the very early days of renal transplants. As one of Ellen’s doctors, I knew something about the limitations of treatment for kidney failure at the time, and the difficult choices that her family – and Ellen – faced. I was fascinated to hear the whole story, with the domestic turmoil, told with biting humor – and the final reconciliation.” 

– Dr. Mary Hawking, sister of theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking

“Saving Ellen broke my heart and renewed my belief in the triumph of the human spirit—sometimes in the same chapter!  The Casey family story is one I’ll fondly recall long after other memoirs will have faded from memory.” 

– Wally Lamb, author of “She’s Come Undone”

“Saving Ellen is a shimmering memoir of childhood, tender and honest, full of tumult and complicated love. It’s a stunning portrait of an Irish Catholic family, but the heart of the story, and the beauty of how the Caseys love each other through it all, is universal. It’s a brilliant book.” 

– Luanne Rice, author of “Last Day” and “The Shadow Box”

“I love this brilliant, stunning, shattering memoir about a complicated, tight-knit family. While reading it, I laughed out loud and I wept. Maura Casey writes masterfully about a mother’s devotion, and a daughter’s evolution into becoming a woman and a writer. Unforgettable.”

–  J.Courtney Sullivan, author of “Maine” and “The Cliffs” 

“This is a story for anyone who has refused to give up on someone, including themselves. With her skills as a veteran journalist, Casey takes us on a journey through the nooks and crannies of working-class life, which is always hard but full of people who insist on joy, too. With her ever-expanding heart, she helps us find the words for unspeakable grief and the map to forgiveness.” 

– Connie Schultz, Pulitzer prize winner and author of “Daughters of Erietown” 

In an interview, Maura Casey can discuss:

• Addiction as a family disease – Addiction is not just a personal struggle — it impacts entire families. Her memoir reveals how alcoholism became both a character and a catalyst in her family’s story, showing readers that healing is possible, even in the aftermath of generational patterns.
• Revisiting childhood through diaries – Dusting off decades-old diaries during the pandemic unlocked vivid memories, unexpected humor, and poignant self-discovery. These entries gave voice to Maura’s younger self, capturing her mother’s wit, her family’s dynamics, and the raw beginnings of her own struggles with addiction.
• A mother’s courage – Her mother’s decision to donate a kidney to Ellen, at a time when such procedures were experimental, exemplified selflessness and hope. Through research, Maura uncovered the fact that women donate organs more often than men, and that it is nearly always better to get an organ from a relative than from an unrelated donor. For her mother, there were emotional and medical complexities behind this life-saving act, offering a poignant exploration of maternal love.
• Reconnecting with Dr. Mary Hawking – Reuniting with Mary Hawking, sister of Stephen Hawking and Ellen’s doctor, added depth to Maura’s understanding of her family’s medical journey. Mary’s vivid recollections and preserved letters illuminated the groundbreaking history of kidney transplants and filled in missing pieces of Ellen’s story.
• Exploring redemption and forgiveness – Writing “Saving Ellen” allowed Maura to reframe her perspective on flawed family members, particularly her alcoholic and adulterous father. It’s a story of guilt, remorse, and eventual forgiveness — an acknowledgment that even deeply flawed individuals are capable of redemption.
• Universal themes of resilience – “Saving Ellen” speaks to anyone who has faced illness, addiction, or family dysfunction. It’s a testament to the power of asking for help, finding moments of serenity, and embracing hope — one step at a time.
• Humor amid hardship – Humor, rooted in her Irish heritage, was a survival tool for her family. It punctuated even the darkest times, adding levity and humanity. From laugh-out-loud diary entries to moments of comedic absurdity during family conflicts, humor provided balance and kept despair at bay.
• Buffalo’s influence – Growing up in Buffalo, a city marked by post-industrial resilience and blue-collar ethos, not only shaped Maura’s values but also sparked her rebellion. Her mother’s feminism, steeped in her Army service during WWII, challenged the patriarchal limits of the 1960s and inspired Maura and her sisters to do more.  It also provided a stark contrast to her mother’s groundbreaking act of kidney donation when transplants were highly unusual — an act of courage that defied societal norms.
• The healing power of writing – Writing became a lifeline, a path to navigate trauma, recovery, and self-discovery. Processing painful memories — such as her sexual assault at 12 and her struggles with alcoholism — was cathartic. Inspired by essayist Mary Karr’s advice, Maura explored raw, unfiltered emotions before shaping them into a story that could connect with others.

An Interview with Maura Casey

“Saving Ellen” explores deeply personal family dynamics, including illness, addiction and recovery. Why did you want to share these intimate details of your family and childhood? 

First, I wanted to tell a story. After I read all my diaries from that period I realized they contained a distinct narrative arc, and alcoholism – which affected my family for generations – was part of it. Addiction is a universal disease and struggles with it are nothing new. But through the journals, I could trace the beginning of my own love affair with alcohol starting when I was a teenager. As I wrote, I realized that booze was a character in the book just as much as any member of the family. Without discussing those details, the story would be incomplete. 

What was it like growing up in Buffalo, New York, during the 1960s and ‘70s?

When I was growing up, women simply did not have the choices that they have today. Women could not be altar servers or even sing in our church choir; virtually all sports were closed to women; jobs women obtained paid little and were sharply segregated by gender; want ads had skimpy columns of “jobs for women” and far more full columns of “jobs for men.” My sister’s desire to row like our brothers at the West Side Rowing Club, which was closed to women for decades, became a sub-plot of the book. 

In your book, you describe your father as deeply flawed but capable of redemption. Did your perspective on him change as you wrote this book?

My father was deeply Catholic, and he knew he screwed up. He never stopped feeling guilty about how he mistreated the family in the throes of his alcoholism. It literally kept him awake many nights. And he was honest with us later, and apologetic. My view of him changed over the years.  As I grew older, I became more forgiving. I never envied him or the hell he experienced in the years of remorse he felt.  

What do you hope readers will take away from your mother’s story of courage and sacrifice in donating her kidney to your sister, Ellen?

Kidney transplants are now ordinary, but kidney disease is still debilitating. I appreciate  all that patients and their donors go through. Like my own mom, women everywhere are far more likely to donate than men. (Source: “When Death becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon” by Joshua Mezrich, MD, page 297) 

Download press kit and photos

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

Historical fiction reclaims the narrative of Jesus’ ‘favorite disciple’

Washington D.C. – What would Jesus do? Or more importantly, what will Magda do? “Magda Revealed” (She Writes Press, April 8th, 2025) is a wry, irreverent, fictionalized account of his life and ministry—told from the perspective of disciple Mary Magdalene—that will implode everything you thought you knew. 

Jesus Christ—Yeshua, to his friends—is not happy. Two thousand years after his death, he sees Earth heading toward oblivion. Ever eager to save humanity, he asks Mary Magdalene (Magda) for help. Still pissed that she’s been called a whore for almost two millennia, Magda resists—but ultimately, out of love for Yeshua, agrees.

Magda’s evocative story revisits Yeshua’s life as a man of flesh and blood, one wholly devoted to spreading his message of radical equality. Magda recounts her travels with Yeshua and his followers around Galilee, where they are menaced at every turn by Roman rulers. She weaves tales of miracles and murder, jealousy and acceptance, misogyny and female empowerment. She uncovers her relationship with Yeshua, clarifying centuries of speculation about whether or not they were in love. And, painfully, she reveals the truth about who orchestrated his death.

Magda’s life with Yeshua teaches her that she has more strength than she ever imagined, and she begins to tap into a spiritual power uniquely her own—the power to connect people. Magda’s true role in the history of humanity, it turns out, is just beginning to unfold.

“A provocative novel, Magda Revealed is constructed as an alternative gospel that retells Jesus’s message with added contemporary relevance.” –Foreword Reviews 

“Magda Revealed”

Ursula Werner | April 8, 2025 | She Writes Press | Historical Fiction 

Paperback | 978-1647428648 | $17.99

Ebook | 978-1647428655 | $12.99

Ursula Werner has been writing for over twenty-five years. She has published one novel, The Good at Heart (2017), and two chapbooks of poetry, The Silence of the Woodruff (2006) and Rapunzel Revisited (2010).  She holds graduate degrees in English literature and law and works part-time as an attorney. She and her husband live in Washington, DC. Find out more about them at her website.

Follow Ursula Werner on social media:

Facebook: @UrsulaWerner 

Instagram: @UrsulaWerner_Author

In an interview, Ursula Werner can discuss:

• The historical implications of Magda’s story, and how it impacts religion & feminism today 
• Why Ursula felt drawn to the history of Mary Magdalene, and how she hopes “Magda Revealed” “sets the record straight” about Magda’s reputation 
• How her philosophy of “uncovering truth, justice, and history through storytelling” is important in today’s political and social climate  
• Researching Mary Mary Magdalene and creating a compelling fictional narrative 
• Why it is timely and critical for feminist-driven stories to give a platform to marginalized voices silenced by history
• The disconnect between today’s political climate and religious beliefs: What did Jesus really teach and believe? How can people vote for morally bankrupt politicians who call themselves Christian? 

Praise for “Magda Revealed” 

2024 Firebird Award Winner for Best Christian Fiction 

Co-winner of the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in Fiction for Winter 2024

“Fresh take on the story of Jesus, from Mary Magdalene’s perspective…Fans of historical retellings will be captivated.” 

–BookLife Reviews, Editor’s Pick 

“A message of love and equality is centered in Magda Revealed, a piquing alternative historical novel that reconstitutes a figure whose significance was buried in the Bible.”

–Foreword Reviews 

An Interview with Ursula Werner

1. Why is Mary Magdalene important today?

If Jesus Christ is important today, then so is Mary Magdalene.

Now, not everyone will agree with the ongoing importance of Jesus, especially non-Christians. But the messages Jesus tried to bring to humankind – love each other as yourselves, tolerate your differences, forgive each other your wrongs – are messages that withstand the test of time.

Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ right-hand woman. More than anyone else – even other apostles – she understood what Jesus was trying to say. She was the apostle Jesus told others to turn to for guidance after his death. In fact, in 2022, after 2000 years of falsely labeling Mary Magdalene a whore, the Catholic Church finally acknowledged her importance, hailing her as the “apostle to the apostles.” 

2. How has Jesus’ message gotten hijacked through the ages and how does your re-telling share the truth?

Jesus’ message to humanity in the first century was a simple one with profound implications: Everyone is equal. Everything Jesus said and did underscored his belief that all people are inherently the same, regardless of race, nationality, or economic position.  

In fact, a fundamental premise of all Christianity today – that humans can only be “saved” if they adopt Christ as their savior – would flat-out be rejected by Magda and Jesus. Jesus never demanded that people believe in him, nor did he think of himself as divine. (This last assertion might be disputed by New Testament theologians, but I believe it is consistent with the historical Jesus presented by most historians.) 

3. Tell us more about your writing of “uncovering truth, justice, and history through story-telling.” How is this mindset especially important as an author writing in today’s political and social climate? 

I love to tell stories, and I love language. I didn’t know that my concern for social justice would end up informing my novels as much as it does. I thought, when I began my narrative about Magda, that hers would be a story of intense love and devotion, and it is that. But it is also a story of re-making society – how does one begin doing that, and is it even possible? 

The superpower that Magda has (spoiler alert here!) – uniting people together, merging their spirits – is her first step in reforming society. If you experience someone else as you experience yourself, how can you turn around and hurt them? As an author, my only superpower (if I’m being effective) is to expand the reader’s world, to introduce them to an experience they would otherwise not have had.  And maybe even, to give them a more compassionate view of the world. We could certainly use more compassion in the current political and social climate.

4. What do you hope readers will take away from this story? 

Ideally, I would love readers to take away two ideas. First, what I think of as Jesus’ primary message – that we are all basically the same and that we should look past superficial differences and try to connect with each other. (One reviewer of Magda Revealed chastised me for reducing the complexities of “Christian theological categories” into this “exasperatingly simple” message. That person, I respectively submit, completely missed the point.)

Download press kit and photos

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

Coming-of-age story features journeys through the sexual revolution

BERKELEY, CA – Follow three young women on the cusp of adulthood as they explore their sexual freedom and adapt to 1970’s new ideas of feminism in award-winning author Jessica Levine’s Three Cousins (She Writes Press, Apr 8, 2025). Amidst the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the current degradation of women’s rights, author Jessica Levine looks back wistfully on the hopeful ideas and the sense of possibility that second wave feminism brought to an entire generation in the United States.

Next Gen Indie Awards winning author Jessica Levine returns to her “The Cousins Series” as she takes us back to the years before The Geometry of Love and Nothing Forgotten. Inspired by her familial relationships and personal experiences, Levine portrays the excitement and complications of the times. A story of friendship, sexual freedom, and growing up, Three Cousins explores the hurdles that three young women face as they make their way into the world. Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s Firefly Lane and Anita Shreve’s A Wedding in December.

About the book: It’s 1976 and three cousins share an apartment in college. Each seeks her own path in love and work. All three, not knowing how to use the new freedoms available to them, alternate between supporting and undermining each other. Julia wants the security of a monogamous relationship. Anna plans on traveling the world to escape her boyfriend and alcoholic mother. Robin, who is bisexual, dreams of open relationships. All fall for a charismatic musician, Michael, who is too wounded to be available. By the end of a year of experiments and necessary mistakes, the cousins have made crucial decisions that will determine the course of the rest of their lives.

Three Cousins

Jessica Levine | April 8, 2025 | She Writes Press | Fiction

Paperback | 978-1647428686 | $17.99

Ebook | 978-1647428686 | $12.99

About Jessica Levine

Jessica holds a B.A. from Wellesley College, an M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of California at Berkeley, where she was a Mellon Fellow. After receiving her Ph.D., she decided not to pursue an academic teaching career, but to become a hypnotherapist. She trained at HTI (Hypnotherapy Training Institute) and has been practicing for 20 years. Jessica also has had a rich and varied experience teaching creative writing, composition, and literature in universities, high school, adult education, and the private sector. In 2014-15, Jessica held workshops on writing the novel at the American Library in Paris. Previously, she taught at the University of Toronto, New York University, and the University of California at Berkeley. She is the author not only of novels but also of a literary history, Delicate Pursuit: Discretion in Henry James and Edith Wharton. Visit her at her website.

Follow Jessica Levine on social media

Facebook: JessicaLevineWriter | Instagram: @jlcreativearts

Praise for Jessica Levine

A Booklist top-10 women’s fiction pick for 2019

Winner Next Generation Indie Book Award (Second Novel)

Finalist Next Generation Indie Book Award (General Fiction)

First Place, Northern California Publishers Association (General Fiction)

Merit, CIPA EVVY Book Award, (Women’s Fiction)

“A vivid travelogue . . . reminded me of the Italian television series . . . that proved compulsively engrossing, ‘The Best of My Youth,’ . . . delicious insights into Italian life.” 

— San Francisco Chronicle

“Fans of Emma Straub, Anne Tyler, and Liane Moriarty will adore Levine’s treatment of domestic drama . . . . Immersing the reader in Roman decadence and San Francisco’s modernity, Nothing Forgotten is an intricately layered, deeply heartfelt, and bittersweet novel.” 

— Booklist, Starred Review

“. . . an example of women’s fiction at its best. Its exploration of history, memory, family, and the particular struggles of women looking for experiences and love is enjoyable, memorable, and thought-provoking all at once.”

— Foreword Reviews

“A richly detailed story of passion and failure, deception and honesty, with anticipation and nostalgia. It is about making hard choices and living with those decisions, and the twisted ties that hold a family together.”

— Story Circle Book Review

2015 Top Ten Women’s Fiction Title — American Library Association’s Booklist

“Spanning 1987 to 2004, the novel’s scope and sweeping character arcs will appeal to fans of Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings . . . Julia’s emotions, insecurities, and pleasures are laid bare and recall Isadora Wing in Erica Jong’s Fear of Flying . . . An outstanding first novel.”
— Booklist, starred review

“Jessica Levine has crafted a lyrical and realistic examination of the complications and exhilarations of romantic entanglements. . . . Julia is a compelling and relatable protagonist. “
— Foreword Reviews

In an interview, Jessica Levine can discuss:

• How Jessica drew inspiration from her family and her cousins to create her series
• Why she decided to write a prequel to her “The Cousins” series and how all the books in her series intertwine
• The successes and disappointments of the women’s movement since the 1970s
• Why the young women of today are less optimistic about work, relationships, and women’s rights
• How her three main characters portray various ways women approached the new freedoms created by second-wave feminism
• Why the mothers of each character are deeply rooted into the story and the crucial role they play in each woman’s upbringing
• How her Jewish identity has played a crucial role in her journey through spirituality and influences her writing

An Interview with Jessica Levine

• Discuss the other two books in this series. How does Three Cousins connect to them? 

The Cousins Series will ultimately consist of five novels, of which two are yet to be written, that follow three women from their early 20s into their sixties. The books can be read in chronological order or as standalones. Whereas Three Cousins follows Julia, Anna, and Robin in their last year of college, The Geometry of Love focuses on Julia in her early 30s with a fast-forward to ten years later, and Nothing Forgotten starts with Anna in her 40s with flashbacks to her life in Rome in her early 20s. The next novel I write will concern Robin in middle age and her twenty-something daughter.

• How did your relationship with your cousins and your family inspire your series?

A cousin of mine who has read my previous two novels said to me, “Everything in here feels familiar, but I don’t recognize anyone.” That was my aim. I took the structure and history of my family and played freely with it, inventing characters that would contrast with each other in dramatic ways. My family did indeed inspire my series. However, I have sought to reinvent it in order to address the obstacles that my generation and my mother’s generation have faced: the lack of female role models, the frustrating expectations placed on women, and the disappointments of intimate relationships and the workplace.

• How have you seen the women’s movement change from the time period of Three Cousins to today?

Over the past 40-50 years, the women’s movement has had its successes and failures. Ground that was gained has been lost (Dobbs v. Jackson) and some ground was never won (the E.R.A.); however, Title IX, #metoo, and gay marriage would never have happened without the feminist fight. What a mix, and how do we sort it out? On the one hand, the basics we fought for (universal childcare, women’s health, maternal leave, etc) have not been achieved. On the other hand, the LGBQT movement has made gains, more women have entered the professions, and marriage is no longer destiny.  

Unfortunately what I’m seeing at present is discouragement and battle fatigue that predate the Trump victory. Many young, straight women have “given up” on men and relationships. They don’t discuss the patriarchy or male privilege, etc. anymore. They just look at each other and roll their eyes as in, “Gals, we all know that guys are hopeless, so why even talk about it? Just order another round of drinks.” Many women who actually are in heterosexual relationships aren’t much happier once the honeymoon phase is over. They often feel manipulated and gaslit by the other sex. The fundamental sense of men and women as different “species” speaking different languages has only deepened. The silver lining is that this alienation has opened up a space in which the non-binary, trans, and queer communities are inviting us to imagine things differently.

• How has your practice as a hypnotherapist influenced your writing?

My understanding of the development and evolution of personality has been enriched by the countless stories that I’ve been privileged to hear as a therapist. My writing reflects my understanding of “the journey of life” which I’d summarize as follows: most people have childhood wounds that send them on a quest for emotional survival strategies. If those strategies are successful, they can develop a personal philosophy that gives meaning to their lives. The Cousins Series as a whole will ultimately dramatize the arc from youthful hopes through the struggles and frustrations of mid-life to the wisdom–and/or bitterness–of our later years. For women, that arc has particular challenges and inflections that I hope to capture.

Download press kit and photos

Discover more Books Forward authors like Jessica Levine by visiting our Lit Happens blog.

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

High school LGBTQ+ club members race to solve a crime, clear their names and save the future of their group in this genre-bending debut

DALLAS – When members of a high school LGBTQ+ club are framed for the attempted murder of the head cheerleader, chaos takes center stage in “Pride or Die,” (April 15, 2025, Wednesday Books) the uproariously funny and deeply heartfelt debut from author CL Montblanc. Blending dark comedy with a twisty whodunit, this genre-defying novel follows a quirky group of 17-year-olds as they juggle crushes, anxiety and small-town prejudice — all while racing to uncover the true perpetrator behind the crime.

In this delightful dark comedy debut, when the members of an LGBTQ+ club find themselves accidentally framed for attempted murder, it’s up to them to clear their names before it’s too late. It’s kind of hard to graduate high school when you’re the prime suspect in an attempted murder. Seventeen-year-old Eleanora Finkel just wants to finish her senior year and get the hell out of Texas. But when her LGBTQ+ club meeting inconveniently coincides with an attack on the school’s head cheerleader, she and her friends find themselves in the hot seat.

In order to clear their names and ensure the survival of their club for future queer teens, they’ll have to track down the real culprit themselves. Unfortunately, Eleanora is far from a professional detective; she’s riddled with anxiety, annoyingly attracted to the case’s cute victim, and her trusty crochet hook feels insufficient for fighting off a killer. But if her chaotic friend group can’t sleuth their way out of an entire freaking murder mystery, they might just become the next targets.

“The funniest debut of the year. Exceptionally timely, and the most lovable, chaotic cast.
CL Montblanc is an author to watch.” — Page Powars, author of “The Borrow a Boyfriend Club”

“Pride or Die”

CL Montblanc | April 15, 2025 | Wednesday Books (Macmillan)
YA / Mystery | Hardcover | ISBN: 9781250340474 | $20

Early Praise for “Pride or Die”

“This dark and comedic mystery by debut author Montblanc deftly explores the gray areas between right and wrong, successfully addressing the complexity of people’s characters…the fast-paced plot and delicious mystery more than carry the narrative. A delicate queer romance that slowly blossoms throughout the story is the icing on the cake.” — Kirkus

” ‘Pride or Die’ is an entertaining mystery novel for young adults that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Fans of murder mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels will enjoy trying to solve who attempted to kill Kenley and whether the murderer is still out there.” — YA Books Central

“Timely, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud hilarious, ‘Pride or Die’ is the kind of book I wish I had as a queer teenager growing up in a conservative state. Truly, this book has everything: attempted murder, gay chaos, and some of the most charming and relatable friendship dynamics I’ve ever read about. CL Montblanc is one to watch.” — Kayla Cottingham, author of “This Delicious Death”

“With a loveable, wacky friend group, a sweet, budding sapphic romance, and an absolutely killer voice, ‘Pride or Die’ is a masterful genre blend. This suspenseful delight of a book shows the importance of identity acceptance and brings ‘be gay, solve crime’ to hilarious new heights.”
— Justine Pucella Winans, author of “Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything”

“Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. With an incredibly fresh voice, witty dialogue, and a cast of characters you’ll love, ‘Pride or Die’ is the most fun you’ll ever have reading about attempted murder!” — Elle Gonzalez Rose, author of “The Girl You Know”

About the Author

CL Montblanc is a writer, producer, and escape room enthusiast. Despite hailing from Texas, CL is intimidated by both horses and very large hats. If you have any leads on where to acquire buried treasure, or a decent bagel, you can find CL on social media. “Pride or Die” is their debut novel.

Follow CL Montblanc on social media:
X: @clmontblanc | Instagram: @clmontblanc
TikTok: @clmontblanc | Threads: @clmontblanc
Bluesky: @clmontblanc.bsky.social

In an interview, CL Montblanc can discuss:

• Using joy and humor as tools to balance tougher realities and navigate difficult circumstances both in writing and in everyday life
• The importance of creating a space where readers — especially younger ones — can see themselves and experience both reflection and relief 
• Merging genres, especially those that seem contrary like a teenage rom-com and a murder mystery
• The author’s goal to provide a story in which LGBTQ+ teens, especially those from conservative backgrounds, could see themselves reflected in a story that is both fun and meaningful, offering a heartfelt portrayal of those fighting for acceptance and a sense of belonging
• How the author explores the intersection of personal identity, friendships and high school politics in a way that feels authentic and empowering
• How the book centers LGBTQ+ teens in a way that celebrates identity, resilience and friendship while also addressing the struggles LGBTQ+ youth face, particularly in small-town or conservative environments, without losing its upbeat, empowering tone
• The author’s background in TV/screenwriting/comedy writing and transition to writing books
• Why Montblanc thinks putting characters before anything else, including plot, is most important when it comes to writing

An interview with CL Montblanc

1. Why was it important for you to include humor and joy while still addressing tough topics like anxiety and discrimination in the novel?

Humor and joy were the most important things for me with this novel. Oftentimes mental health, social issues etc. are constantly top of mind because they’re realities that people already deal with everyday. But joy can be more rare and fleeting, so I find a lot of value in nourishing it whenever you can.

2. “Pride or Die” blends two genres: teen rom-com and murder mystery. What inspired you to merge these genres?

Both were popular genres for YA (circa 2021), and I had seen them successfully combined in shows like “American Vandal” but not so much in literature. I enjoyed reading fun teen rom-coms, but a lot of them had similar stakes and were confined to “normal high schooler activities.” Adding in a mystery opened up the types of scenarios these kids might find themselves in, and there just felt like a lot of untapped comedic potential.

3. How do you approach blending genres that seem to be in opposition, like a lighthearted teen rom-com and a tense murder mystery? What does that mix add to the narrative? Did it make the writing process more difficult?

The trick is that they aren’t really in opposition. Both coming-of-age stories and murder mysteries are about facing injustices, dealing with loads of horrible crap, and just trying to make it out alive. There’s the issue of balancing tone, but teens tend to have a morbid sense of humor anyway, and they already have to be worrying about active murderers at school and everywhere else, so this type of scenario is hardly above what they are normally forced to handle. It was challenging, and sometimes unpleasant, to include some of the scarier moments in the story, but it was worth it — the wilder the plot gets, the wilder the potential hijinks.

4. How did your own experiences influence the writing of “Pride or Die”?

The book is a fictionalized version of my own teen years, with more in common that you might think (or hope). But it felt best to write something that’s true enough to my own experiences that its authenticity might balance out some of the camp and the wackier, more unbelievable elements. In general I’m a huge proponent of trying to both write and read as authentically as possible.

5. What kind of impact do you hope “Pride or Die” will have on LGBTQ+ teens?

I hope that teens will feel seen and authentically represented. While the book contains messaging about standing up for yourself, building a community and more, I also don’t really want to tell anyone what to do. I just want my readers to enjoy the book — even coming away from it with a temporary “happy and entertained” feeling would be an amazing impact in my eyes. Oftentimes, that’s really what people — especially teens who are really going through it — are needing most.

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Discover more Books Forward authors like CL Montblanc by visiting our Lit Happens blog.

Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/

DENVER, Colorado – In “Captain Kidd: A Tale of Treasure and Betrayal” (Diversion Books/Simon & Schuster, May 13, 2025) bestselling author Samuel Marquis delves into the legendary life of his own ninth-great-grandfather, Captain William Kidd (1654–1701), casting new light on one of history’s most infamous figures.

Captain Kidd has captivated imaginations for over 300 years and inspired many stories about pirates, but was he really a criminal? Just how many ships did he plunder, how many men did he force to walk the plank, and how many throats did he slit? Or is the truth more inconvenient, that he was a buccaneer’s worst nightmare, a revered pirate hunter turned fall guy for scheming politicians? 

In “Captain Kidd,” Marquis reveals the real story. Kidd was an English-American privateer and leading New York husband and father, dubbed “trusty and well-beloved” by the King of England himself and described by historians as a “worthy, honest-hearted, steadfast, much-enduring sailor” who was the “victim of a deliberate travesty of justice.” With honors far more esteemed than the menacing Blackbeard or any other sea rover at the turn of the 17th century, how can Kidd be considered both gentleman and pirate, both hero and villain?

“Captain Kidd: A Tale of Treasure and Betrayal”

Samuel Marquis | May 13, 2025 | Diversion Books | Nonfiction / History 

Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1635769685 | $34.99 

About the Author

The ninth-great-grandson of legendary privateer Captain William Kidd, Samuel Marquis, M.S., P.G., is a professional hydrogeologist, expert witness, and bestselling, award-winning author of 12 American nonfiction-history, historical fiction, and suspense books, covering primarily the period from colonial America through WWII. His American history and historical fiction books have been #1 Denver Post and Amazon bestsellers and received multiple national book awards in both fiction and non-fiction categories (Kirkus Reviews and Foreword Reviews Book of the Year, American Book Fest and USA Best Book, Readers’ Favorite, Colorado Book Awards). His historical titles have also garnered glowing reviews from #1 bestseller James Patterson, maritime historians, U.S. military veterans, Kirkus Reviews, and Foreword Reviews (5 Stars). His pirate book “Blackbeard: The Birth of America” has been an Amazon #1 Bestseller in Colonial Period History of the U.S. Marquis lives with his wife in Louisville, Colorado, where they raised their three children. Find out more about him at samuelmarquisbooks.com. 

Follow Samuel Marquis on social media:

Facebook: @samuelmarquisbooks | Twitter (X): @Sammarquisbooks 

Instagram: @sammarquisbooks 

Early Praise for 

“Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal”

“A swashbuckling account of privateers, pirates, and pirate brokers on the Caribbean high seas at the dawn of the 18th century. With Captain Kidd, Samuel Marquis deftly separates the man from the myth in a riveting narrative that includes a compelling cast of characters, cannon fire, sword fights, mutiny, and treasure—all with the fate of empires hanging in the balance. A rollicking tale that proves that true stories are the best ones.”

—Buddy Levy, bestselling author of Realm of Ice & Sky and Empire of Ice and Stone

“Marquis paints the life of the inimitable Captain Kidd in bold, rich colors. A dashing, absorbing tale.” 

—Stephan Talty, bestselling author of Empire of Blue Water

In an interview, Samuel Marquis can discuss:

• Balancing Family Descendancy with Truth – Discovering his ancestral connection to Captain William Kidd began with childhood stories but was solidified through modern genetic-genealogical research, which shaped his approach to researching and writing this book.
• The Sensational Legend That Still Resonates Today – The enduring fascination with Captain Kidd stems from his complicated life story, his close connection to many important historical figures, his rigged London show trial, and the myth of his buried treasure — a mix of fact and folklore.
• The American Hero Behind the Pirate Myth – Captain Kidd was far more than a mere “pirate” — he was a colonial American hero with a complex legacy, including wartime bravery and civic leadership. The myth of Kidd as a villain was a political construct by the English Crown, masking his true role as a trusted privateer and scapegoat for England’s failure to capture the English pirate Henry Every and other “real” seafaring outlaws. This book challenges the pirate caricature to reveal Kidd as a democratic sea captain, devoted family man, and misunderstood hero of early America.
• Real Estate, Rectors, and Revolution – Captain Kidd’s impact on New York includes his role in building Trinity Church and his influence as a prominent citizen shaping the early maritime city.
• A Sea Commander Ahead of His Time – Captain Kidd’s egalitarian practices aboard his gunships reflected values of inclusivity and democracy, making him progressive in an era of rigid social divides.
• The Thrill of the Chase – One of Captain Kidd’s most exhilarating moments was his dramatic battle off India’s Malabar coast against the Portuguese, showcasing his strategic brilliance and tenacity.
• A Love Story Lost to History – Captain Kidd’s relationship with his wife Sarah was one of devotion and resilience, shaping his life and legacy in ways rarely acknowledged.

An Interview with Samuel Marquis

How and when did you first discover you were related to the legendary Captain William Kidd? 

My parents and relatives told me at an early age that I was the ninth-great-grandson of Captain Kidd based upon our Marquis family tree on my father’s side. However, the stories I heard represented the traditional British Crown and East India Company narrative that he was a New York gentleman who went off the rails and “turned arch-pirate” — which is complete balderdash.

What was it like reexamining an ancestor with such a controversial past? How did your familial connection shape how you researched and approached this book? 

As a professional scientist and hydrogeologic expert witness in addition to being an American history author, my approach was to research and write the book as a scholarly historian and not as a family descendant. At the same time, it was important to me to present a sympathetic portrayal of Kidd since he has been badly mischaracterized and maligned as a vicious cutthroat and arch-pirate over the centuries due to the original anti-piracy propaganda campaign in the late 1690s by the English Crown and East India Company.

Why do you think Captain Kidd’s legacy stays with us more than other impactful people from his time? Why do you think his tale continues to capture the imagination of so many people? 

Over the centuries, Captain Kidd has come to define the “pirate” brand even though he was never actually a pirate. He remains such a pivotal figure in the history of piracy because of his unique and complicated life story and career trajectory; his key role in the creation of buried-pirate-treasure mythology; his ridiculously unfair trial in which the English Crown illegally stacked the deck to win its case against him; and his Forrest-Gump-like connection to a wide variety of important historical events and people from 1689-1701. 

Did Captain Kidd really bury treasure here in the United States – and be honest, have you ever looked for it?

 Most, if not all, of this “treasure” was tracked down and seized by Kidd’s treacherous business partner and sponsor of his Indian Ocean voyage, Lord Bellomont, the royal governor of New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, who arrested and imprisoned him. Thus, Captain Kidd did not “bury” treasure in the way that we have come to know from Treasure Island and Pirates of the Caribbean. 

What do you hope people will take away from this book?

I want my readers to see Captain Kidd as he truly was, as a gray-shaded colonial American hero, and not as the villainous, heartless, dastardly, and fiendish arch-pirate, as falsely created by the English Crown and East India Company, who made him out to be a monster to suit their own political agenda. Perhaps my dedication at the beginning of the book sums up the Captain Kidd legacy best:

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Marissa DeCuir

A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.

Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.

booksforward.com/about-us/marissa-decuir/