Author: 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.

Books paired with Djo songs to celebrate the release of The Crux

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

Following his viral hit “End of Beginning”,  Djo, aka Joe Keery (yes, that Joe Keery), is finally back with his third album and I could not be more excited. His two singles “Basic Being Basic” and “Delete Ya” have only been out for a few weeks and they have already made their way to my top streamed songs in the past six months. To prepare for The Crux’s release on April 4th, we’ve put together a book list that features the vibes and themes of his first two albums.

“On and On” paired with “No One Is Talking About This” by Patricia Lockwood

“Scrolling on and on and on / Feed the algorithm some”

A woman who has recently been elevated to prominence for her social media posts travels around the world to meet her adoring fans. She is overwhelmed by navigating the new language and etiquette of what she terms “the portal,” where she grapples with an unshakable conviction that a vast chorus of voices is now dictating her thoughts. When existential threats–from climate change and economic precariousness to the rise of an unnamed dictator and an epidemic of loneliness–begin to loom, she posts her way deeper into the portal’s void. 

“Delete Ya” paired with “Tell Me An Ending” by Jo Harkin

“Oh God, I wish I could delete ya / Cause nothin can compete with ya” “Wind it back and never be with ya / Then I’d be happy just to meet ya” 

Across the world, thousands of people are shocked by a notification that they once chose to have a memory removed. Now they are being given an opportunity to get that memory back. Four individuals are filled with new doubts, grappling with the unexpected question of whether to remember unknown events, or to leave them buried forever. Noor, a psychologist working at the memory removal clinic, begins to reinstate patients’ memories, and the moral foundations of her world are shaken. As she delves deeper into how the program works, she will have to risk everything to uncover the cost of this miraculous technology.

“Half Life” paired with “Y/N” by Esther Yi 

“You think these people really care for you? / You think they will be there for you? / Plugged in, that’s a half life”

It’s as if her life only began once Moon appeared in it. The desultory copywriting work, the boyfriend, and the want of anything not-Moon quickly fall away when she beholds the idol in concert, where Moon dances as if his movements are creating their own gravitational field; on livestreams, as fans from around the world comment in dozens of languages; even on skincare products endorsed by the wildly popular Korean boyband, of which Moon is the youngest, most luminous member. Seized by ineffable desire, our unnamed narrator begins writing Y/N fanfic—in which you, the reader, insert [Your/Name] and play out an intimate relationship with the unattainable star.

“Chateau (Feel Alright)” paired with “Happy Place” by Emily Henry 

“ I turn back the time / I’m at the Chateau and I feel alright”

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college. But they broke up five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends. Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. And this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. How hard can it be to fake it for one week…in front of those who know you best?

“Just Along for the Ride” paired with “Followers” by Megan Angelo

“It’s stranger than I thought / My anonymity is gone”

Orla Cadden is a budding novelist stuck in a dead-end job, writing clickbait about movie-star hookups and influencer yoga moves. Floss–a striving, wannabe A-lister–who comes up with a plan for launching them both into the high-profile lives they dream about. Thirty-five years later, in a closed California village where government-appointed celebrities live every moment of the day on camera, a woman named Marlow discovers a shattering secret about her past. Despite her massive popularity–twelve million loyal followers–Marlow finally summons the courage to run in search of the truth. Followers traces the paths of Orla, Floss and Marlow as they wind through time toward each other, and toward a cataclysmic event that sends America into lasting upheaval.

“BNBG” paired with “The Right Swipe” by Alisha Rai 

“I met somebody in a different way / I just to think it was wrong / Try licking letters in a virtual way” 

Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionized romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career—and the occasional hookup. Former pro-football player Samson Lima woos her one magical night but then he disappears.  Rhi thought she’d buried her hurt over Samson ghosting her, until he suddenly surfaces months later, still big, still beautiful—and in league with a business rival. He says he won’t fumble their second chance, but she’s wary. A temporary physical partnership is one thing, but a merger of hearts? 

“Gloom” paired with “Swing Time” by Zadie Smith

“I told you that our friendship couldn’t handle much more / But then you went behind my back to settle the score” 

Two brown girls dream of being dancers—but only one, Tracey, has talent. The other has ideas: about rhythm and time, about black bodies and black music, what constitutes a tribe, or makes a person truly free. It’s a close but complicated childhood friendship that ends abruptly in their early twenties, never to be revisited, but never quite forgotten, either.

“Climax” paired with “Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World” by Naomi Klein

“I know you, I swear I’ve seen your face before / Must be true / I saw it through the open door / Something new, an older me I met before / Deja vu”

What if you woke up one morning and found you’d acquired another self—a double who was almost you and yet not you at all? What if that double shared many of your preoccupations but, in a twisted, upside-down way, furthered the very causes you’d devoted your life to fighting against? Not long ago, the celebrated activist and public intellectual Naomi Klein had just such an experience—she was confronted with a doppelganger whose views she found abhorrent but whose name and public persona were sufficiently similar to her own that many people got confused about who was who. Destabilized, she lost her bearings, until she began to understand the experience as one manifestation of a strangeness many of us have come to know but struggle to define: AI-generated text is blurring the line between genuine and spurious communication; New Age wellness entrepreneurs turned anti-vaxxers are scrambling familiar political allegiances of left and right; and liberal democracies are teetering on the edge of absurdist authoritarianism, even as the oceans rise. Under such conditions, reality itself seems to have become unmoored. Is there a cure for our moment of collective vertigo?

“End of Beginning” paired with “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro

“Another version of me, I was in it / Oh, I wave goodbye to the end of beginning” 

As children, Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were students at Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school secluded in the English countryside. It was a place of mercurial cliques and mysterious rules where teachers were constantly reminding their charges of how special they were.

Now, years later, Kathy is a young woman. Ruth and Tommy have reentered her life. And for the first time she is beginning to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special—and how that gift will shape the rest of their time together.

Bonus: “Truly, Madly, Deeply” by Alexandria Bellefleur

I don’t have a song to pair with this book, but Bellefleur clearly picked Joe Keery as her fancast for the male lead. I will admit, I did purchase a copy of this book because of that. Marketing works! 

Award winning journalist’s memoir of hope amid tumult

Posted on | by 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) 

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Mary Magdalene is pissed. After two millennia, she’s ready to set the record straight.

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

Jesus’s ‘favorite disciple’ reclaims the narrative in new historical fiction

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 angry 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, depicting him 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.

“Wickedly clever, yet respectful in its bold retelling, this is an inventive, immersive, and enthralling tale, reminding readers that written history rarely captures the whole story.” 

– SPR 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.)

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Bestselling author investigates the life and lore of his ninth-great-grandfather and one of the world’s most famous outlaws: Captain William Kidd

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

DENVER, Colorado – In “Captain Kidd: A True Story 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 True Story 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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From a high stress career in global advertising to a simple rural life in a barn in an Italian hill town

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

A writer’s journey of transformation through love, food and community in Piemonte 

SAN FRANCISCO – Barbara Boyle’s inspirational new memoir, “Pinch Me: Waking Up in a 300-Year-Old Italian Farmhouse” (She Writes Press, Feb. 11, 2025) is an evocative account of leaving the frenetic life of an advertising creative director to create a dream life in the faraway hills of Northern Italy.

Newly retired and traveling through Europe, Barbara stumbles upon the ancient Italian hill town of Monforte.  She is enchanted by the castles and the sweeping vistas reaching out to the Alps, captivated by the region’s cuisine, and confounded by its extraordinary culture of kindness. One morning, she awakes and looking out over the valleys, finds herself longing to be there in her own home, drinking her coffee and watching the sunrise. 

This is the story of how she leaves her life behind in San Francisco and takes apart a 300-year-old stone barn to build a new home, a new life, in Italy. It’s a tale filled with discoveries, disappointments, pleasures, frustrations, and triumphs. And given the gastronomic excellence of the region, she shares some special recipes as well. Ultimately, this journey lets her see the world, and herself, through a different window; a memoir filled with food, friendships, and scenes of Italy, of love and the powerful joy that comes from building a dream.

“Pinch Me: Waking Up in a 300-Year-Old Italian Farmhouse”

Barbara Boyle | Feb. 11, 2025 | She Writes Press | Memoir 

Paperback | ISBN: 978-1647428327  | $17.99 

About the Author

For years, Barbara Boyle enjoyed a colorful worldwide career as a creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi, Grey, Lowe and other advertising agencies, creating commercials and stories for Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Mars Inc, and dozens of other marketers. Always a writer, this is the first time she has had the time required to author a book. Her flash fiction has appeared in Sky Island Journal, Star 82 Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, and other literary journals. Food and wine have also been a lifelong passion of hers. While living in Paris, she took the Regional French Cuisine course at Le Cordon Bleu and later completed the professional cooking course at The Institute of Culinary Education in New York. She now resides in a farmhouse in Piemonte, Italy with her husband, Kim, surrounded by orchards, vineyards and barking deer, and maintains a home in San Francisco. Find out more about her at https://www.barbaraboyleauthor.com/ and https://boyleb.substack.com/. 

Follow Barbara Boyle on Instagram: @barbaraannboyle10 

An Interview withBarbara Boyle

In your book, you talk about t retirement as an opportunity for reinvention. Can you elaborate on that? 

Retirement is a unique time. You have experience, and you have time, and if you are lucky enough to have good health, you have nothing holding you back from going for an exciting new chapter. Sure, you could put your feet up and take it easy, but I found that learning a new language, a new cuisine, a new culture and way of life, is invigorating and very satisfying. I could not have imagined how joyous this chapter of my life could be.

Moving abroad already comes with its challenges. Why did you decide to renovate a 300-year-old barn into a beautiful new home brimming with charm and character?

We just took it one step at a time. It did not cost too much money to buy the home, by U.S. standards. And we took the reconstruction one step at a time too; the roof, the structure, the finishes, and at each turn we thought, if we had to sell now, we would not have lost much, and this would have been a great adventure. We were also lucky in that we found a great builder who knew his stuff, and was a good, kind person who we trusted. That was key.

How did you and your husband immerse yourselves in your new community? How did you forge and maintain meaningful connections? Did you experience any resistance from locals not wanting Americans moving into the region? 

After living in Paris before this, I was shocked at how welcoming the Italians were. There had been a few Americans as frequent visitors to the area before us, kind, gracious Americans, who helped to build trust in our country. But honestly, Italians still credit Americans for helping them win the war in their backyard, World War II, so they were predisposed to like us. And we were still a novelty; not many Americans live here full time. Other than that, we just lived our life with respect for their culture, tried to learn the language and do what we would do anywhere. They all knew who we were, it was such a small community, and we just tried to be ourselves. Before we knew it, friendships formed. It was pretty magical.

PRAISE FOR “PINCH ME” BY BARBARA BOYLE

“Richly evoked…The process of restoring the house makes for a satisfying read, in part because it fulfills the fantasy many readers have likely had and never acted on.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Barbara does what many of us dream about—escapes a familiar life and creates an extraordinary, idyllic one in a faraway land. Authentic, deeply personal, and unfailingly optimistic, Barbara’s tale nevertheless has a real-life plot twist, her triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis. This unique adventure is a joy to read and leaves us remembering the importance of sometimes seeing the world through a different window to find what matters in life.” 

Maxine Paetro, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author with James Patterson

“A captivating memoir about falling in love with a rustic village in Italy, renovating an ancient farmhouse and bringing a dream to life. With warmth and wit, Barbara Boyle envelopes you in an unhurried world of ripe vineyards, fairytale castles, and mouthwatering meals (recipes included). Bellissima!” 

Terry Trucco, frequent contributor The New York Times, and Martha Stewart Living

“Truly immersive and a lovely read, ‘Pinch Me’ feels like curling up with your favorite blanket and binging HGTV, The Food Network and The Travel Channel … all at once.  This inspiring memoir shows readers that you can make that far away dream a reality.” Shelby Saville, author of And They Had a Great Fall and CIO, Publicis US

“Barbara Boyle takes us to the countryside in her charmingly renovated farmhouse and captures the flavors of the people and the country that so captivated me when I first fell in love in Tuscany. I can taste her recipes. But more importantly, I am transported to that magical place we share such a love for and the simple life and memorable people who are sure to capture your heart as well. Brava.” 

Sheryl Ness, author of “Love in a Tuscan Kitchen: Savoring Life through the Romance, Recipes, and Traditions of Italy”

Download press kit and photos

Industry Interview with the creator of of story time teen, James Tilton

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

For our 2024 blog series, we’re highlighting industry professionals to find out more about their time in the book world. Follow along for insight on what catches a reviewer’s interest, things to avoid when pitching a media outlet, what librarians are searching for and more. 

Today, we’re chatting with James Tilton, the creator of Story Time Teen and a Creative Writing teacher at his local public high school, where he’s helped hundreds of students publish poems, vignettes, and short stories for distribution at a nearby independent bookstore. He’s hoping one day he can see his own words in print as well.

1. As someone who hears about A LOT of books, what makes one stand out to you?

I’m always a sucker for new titles from authors I already love. Nic Stone and Becky Albertalli come to mind especially. I’ll read anything they write, and I suspect their teams are well aware of that at this point!

2. What’s the worst thing an author (or publicist!) can do in telling you about book they’d like you to consider for coverage?

I know that some people say “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but I’m a sucker for a good cover. If you’ve got a great cover, include it at the bottom of your email. I love seeing stunning covers! It’s how I first fell in love with Nicola Yoon‘s A Sun Is Also A Star.

3. What makes your job easier?

We at StoryTimeTeen have a long-running series where young adult authors write letters to their teen selves. It’s incredible! We get the most honest, heart-breaking/warming letters from the most incredible authors, and it’s truly a pleasure to publish them. BUT sometimes those same amazing authors and publicists assume that we already have their bio, headshots, and book covers or can find that information easily online. The problem is that those things change sometimes, and it can be a little tricky to know if we got the right bio or the finalized cover or the most recent bio. Authors and publicists who remember to send that information to us, whether via email or as a Google Drive link, are my favorite! That simple step saves us tons of time and can help us make sure we’re getting everything right before the post goes live.

4. What’s the most memorable (or maybe funniest) pitch that’s ever come your way?

I’m a sucker for wordplay. One of my favorite pitches recently came from Books Forward actually. You pitched Tracy Badua‘s newest book as “When A Music Festie With Your Bestie Gets Testy.” That headline grabbed me. I guess you could say I thought it was the… bestie. Too much? I’ll stop.

5. Did you always know you wanted to be involved in the book world?

I got involved in book blogging when I first started writing young adult novels myself. My agent thought it would be a good way for me to find a bookish community, and I’m so glad I listened to her. I’m a high school teacher as well, and I’ve found so many books that I can recommend to my students. We’ve even got a book club now and take regular field trips to local book festivals, including YALLWest, where I was lucky enough to be honored with a Purple Ink Award. None of that would have happened if it wasn’t for book blogging.

6. What is your most recommended book and why?

That’s such a hard question, and it’s why I created an algorithm to do it for me. It takes a reader’s bookish preferences and gives them a personalized recommendation in less than a minute. I call it the Book Rec Generator, and it’s one of the things that really sets StoryTimeTeen apart! You can try it here.

7. What is a book that surprised you recently?

I just finished TJ Klune‘s In The Lives Of Puppets this morning, and it was incredible. It’s this Pinocchio retelling set in the future that manages to be laugh-out-loud funny and still have so much heart. His writing always makes me fall in love with being human, and this book is no exception.

8. What is your favorite part about working in the book community?

The free books, for sure. I think it’s my students’ favorite part too. My classroom library is loaded at this point, and they love it!

Exploring AI Part 2: limitations and legalities

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

Content alert: the following was written by a human.

In this three part series exploring AI, Books Forward is chatting with Dr. Andrew Burt, author of lots of published science fiction, including his newest novel, “Termination of Species”, for those who like AI, biotech, chess and a bit of romance.

Dr. Burt was VP of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) for several years. He heads Critters, the first writers workshop on the web and home to other writerly resources. He runs ReAnimus Press and Hugo-winning Advent Publishers, helping award-winning and bestselling authors breathe life into great books. Outside of writing, he’s been a computer science professor (AI, networking, security, privacy and free-speech/social issues); founder of Nyx.net, the world’s first Internet Service Provider; and a technology consultant/author/speaker. For a hobby, he constructs solutions to the world’s problems. (He jokes: Fortunately, nobody listens.)

PART 1: Changes in publishing

What can AI NOT do?

There are plenty of non-writing related aspects that AI won’t help with; at least for now.

The current breed of AI is focused on creating content, not so much on finding answers to questions or planning. So ChatGPT isn’t going to be great at finding a list of places to advertise, but it can help write ads. It could regurgitate ideas for marketing plans that it’s found that others have written, but AI’s can’t yet really plan such things. Remember, it’s all based on the probability of what word could come next in an answer.

That’s just today’s AIs. Nobody foresaw ChatGPT’s capabilities just a couple years ago; it just popped up based on AI people trying things with huge amounts of data. (And, frankly, getting surprised at the result.) Tomorrow’s AIs… who knows. That’s one reason I wrote a novel about where AIs and humans might be going.

What should authors be wary about when it comes to using AI?

If a newbie wants to use AI to write their whole book/story/article, then it won’t really be “theirs”; it won’t be their own artistic creation. If the goal of a certain author is to breathe life into their own artistic creation, then the more they use AI the less they’re doing that.

If an author’s goal is to make money, by quickly creating some particular text, then AI is getting pretty close to that in a number of areas. Again, the shorter the text, the better AI will be at it. A lot of AI generated text won’t be salable, though; so don’t bother trying to get rich quick by sending in a bunch of AI stories or books to get published. (As many people are doing, clogging the slush piles of publishers. This ultimately hurts new authors, as publishers shut their doors to slush and only accept work from authors they know, or via agents or other forms of vetting.)

If an author does want to create “art,” they should minimize the use of AI. That applies to any use of it, for idea generation, editing for length, smoothing out word choices, or critiquing—any of that reduces their artistic input.

A big problem with AI content is that it often contains factually incorrect information. So, never rely on AI content to be correct. The technical term for it is “hallucination,” but the lay term for it is “lying.” I wrote a couple blog posts about this showing how insidious their lying is. Generative AI’s are structurally incapable of telling true from false information (they are literally making randomized guesses at what the next word in a sentence might sound good), so I’ll repeat this: Never rely on them for factual accuracy.

Another pitfall to be aware of with AI created text is that it tends to have a certain style about it. It can often come off as bland, corporate, uninspired or generic. AI’s are, after all, mimicking the sort of “average of everything ever written” in their approach. Even if you ask it for a certain style, the way these AIs work is by looking for the most generic output. They look for the “most likely” next word that follows the words they have so far. Then they look for the “most likely” next word after that, and the next. This inevitably produces a sort of non-unique style, or if you ask it for a specific style, like “write like a pirate”, you get a generic version of a requested style.

To further keep you up at night, there may be obvious or unknown biases in AI output. (Gender, race, ethnicity, etc.)

And some readers may react negatively if they know or think you’ve used AI. For example, people have won awards based on what turns out to be AI generated content. People ask, how deserving are they? How much of the award-winning aspect is their own, vs. software created?

What are the legalities surrounding AI?

From a legal standpoint, it’s unclear if there are copyright infringement issues at play. The current batch of AIs were “trained” by “reading” massive amounts of (copyrighted) material. If they then spit out some text, there’s a question whether it’s either a direct copy of some of the input text (unlikely, but not impossible), or a close enough derivative of it, that some author of the original text could find out and bring legal action about it. Such lawsuits are already happening. (Whether they win or lose, defending yourself against a lawsuit is costly and time consuming.) Some authors contend that merely using their work as input without permission is illegal (thus anything it creates as output they contend is likewise illegal). It will be for the courts to decide this since it’s such unexplored legal territory. There’s no law against copying an artist’s style (freedom you have to like Yoda write); you just can’t copy others’ specific artistic creations.

It’s also unclear if AI-generated or AI-assisted text itself can be copyrighted. So far the answer has been “No” on AI generated text. So if you use AI to write a book, article, etc., it may not be something you can copyright—that is, anyone else may be able to copy it for free. Using AI for assistance? Totally unknown copyright issue.

As a final thought, Amazon has been asking authors if their KDP content was produced with assistance from AI. It’s unknown what they’ll do with this information, but it’s possible they’ll refuse to publish such works (as they now do with books that contain whatever they deem too much public domain content).

 

Worried about book industry scams? A few helpful resources

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

Recently Writer’s Digest ran an article I wrote to help authors avoid AI-generated Bookstagram scams.

As a former newspaper journalist, I feel so passionate about helping people discern reality from fake information.

The rise of social media has certainly played its role in causing a sincere confusion between real and fake news, though propaganda and scams are nothing new.

Many industries have their share of scammers trying to con people out of money.

Specifically in the book industry, our author clients often ask our Books Forward team if a promotional offering is worthwhile. And while it’s typically not, the real question cuts even deeper: is the opportunity even legitimate?

We’ve had the joy of representing authors and promoting their books for decades, and with that experience has come many promotional programs that make ridiculously exaggerated (sometimes flat out false) offers to our clients.

Be alert, be aware and ask questions.

Ask your author friends and industry insiders for their experiences and guidance on whether or not a promotion is credible.

And consider these helpful resources:

  1. Stay tuned to The Authors Guild Publishing Scam Alerts.
  2. Writer Beware consistently shares real scam examples and questionable trends in the industry.
  3. Author Alexa Donne released this video walk through of two real book marketing scams. 
  4. Books Forward author Dr. Seema Yasmin’s “What the Fact? Finding the Truth in All the Noise” may not be book industry focused, but there are plenty of great concrete tips and tools to lean on in considering what’s real or fake.

Happy truth hunting!

Exploring AI Part 1: changes in publishing

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

Content alert: the following was written by a human.

In this three part series exploring AI, Books Forward is chatting with Dr. Andrew Burt, author of lots of published science fiction, including his newest novel, “Termination of Species,” for those who like AI, biotech, chess and a bit of romance.

Dr. Burt was vice president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association for several years. He heads Critters, the first writers workshop on the web and home to other writerly resources. He runs ReAnimus Press and Hugo-winning Advent Publishers, helping award-winning and bestselling authors breathe life into great books. Outside of writing, he’s been a computer science professor (AI, networking, security, privacy and free-speech/social issues); founder of Nyx.net, the world’s first Internet Service Provider; and a technology consultant/author/speaker. For a hobby, he constructs solutions to the world’s problems. (He jokes: Fortunately, nobody listens.)

PART 1

When ebooks emerged, experts predicted “the end” of traditional book publishing. Is text generative AI “the end” of traditional book writing and promotion?

I was a fan of ebooks since the late 90s, when the very first ebook devices were coming out, and I largely only read only ebooks. As such—plus being a computer science professor and science fiction writer, inevitably peering into the future—I was indeed one of those predicting significant changes to how people read, and thus, to publishing.

However, my predictions came with a caveat, one which has not (yet) materialized: I said that when ebooks could mimic the most relevant aspects of a paper book, they would likely replace paper books. The tipping point I proposed was that when there a device that looked like a book, i.e. several hundred sheets of pages with words and images on them, bound at a spine, the “codex” format, but digital—basically a bound set of hundreds of sheets of thin digital paper, that can each act as a screen displaying whatever pixels we want—and super cheap—then there would be no real need for print books. There is something that people inherently like about these objects we call books: the shape, the multiple pages that you can riffle, that you can stick a finger in to hold a place, that you can quickly flip forward and back in, that can be dropped in a bathtub without causing (too much) emotional damage, etc. (and, as is almost invariably pointed out, “the smell”). But make the pages digital instead of static text, and wow, that would be a game changer.

Ebook devices don’t mimic that today. They display one page at a time and navigation within is cumbersome. The bound, multiple page aspect of a book is critical to its success. This “codex” format pretty much replaced “scrolls” of old. It’s a better format for humans to use. So, the market for print books still thrives.

On the publishing side, it’s not ebooks per se that have altered publishing, but the inexpensive cost of anyone being able to publish a book—both as an ebook and as a print-on-demand (POD) physical book. The one competitive advantage that traditional publishers still have that small or self publishers don’t, is the massive marketing dollars. This creates not just the ability to run ads and do all kinds of promotion to lots of eyeballs, but also the ability to print thousands or millions of copies in advance and get them on store shelves across the country and world. Thus, new authors with a traditional publisher still don’t get access to those huge advantages, and this is where publishing has changed. Now if you submit to the major publishers and get rejected, you now publish it yourself for a lower cost. It may not sell many copies, but it might. Lightning strikes. And the sheer volume of such books does, in aggregate, take readers away from books from the major publishers. A small number of readers each of millions of self-published books represents millions of readers who aren’t reading books from the majors. Readers have vastly more choice.

So—and I’m really working my way back to AI!—the new technology of ebooks, POD and free platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) did change publishing, but only when they meet the needs of the consumers. Likewise with AI.

So how do you anticipate AI will affect the industry exactly?

AI is really taking off recently in terms of capabilities, mostly because the computing power has reached the point it allows the massive amounts of calculations necessary.

It’s worth briefly mentioning how these “Generative” AIs work (also called “Large Language Models”, or LLMs; because they were trained on massive amounts of text). They look at a huge amount of text (and images, etc.), mush it up into hundreds of billions of numbers, and spit out the most likely next words based on the clues it finds in a question you ask it. It’s all based on the probability of what word could come next in an answer.

What we see today is the tip of the iceberg in what these AI systems can do. But, looking at what they can already do today, we can (at last!) get to some kind of answer to the question:

When AI can do what consumers-of-writing want, and do it better than humans can do it (notably in the realm of cheaper and faster, of acceptable quality writing), then, yes, AI will be “the end” of that kind of traditional writing.

But note I put some weasel words in there: “that kind” of writing.

There are all kinds of written material out there. Science fiction novels, fantasy short stories, scripts for rom-com movies, self-help web pages, historical scholarly journal articles about the crusades, scientific papers describing experimental results in quantum physics, holiday greeting cards, ad copy for TV commercials about cat food, headline news articles, business proposals, answering support questions in a chat session, getting ideas where to visit for a road trip, job descriptions, condolence emails, instructions for assembling a bookcase… the variety of “writing” is just massive.

Generative AIs like ChatGPT, Gemini, etc., can do some of these things already to the point where paying humans isn’t needed. This of course applies beyond words, to any kind of content, images, videos, audio, etc. These are human “creative” endeavors, even if Ikea pictorial assembly instructions aren’t exactly heartwarming art. 🙂

And that’s a big divide: Content created for art’s sake vs. content for commercial purposes.

I can say with near certainty that AIs will be “the end” of many of these human content-creating endeavors as career type jobs. Chatbots are already replacing human jobs for tech support. (Maybe not well, but they’re so much cheaper that businesses can’t help themselves.) AI created artwork can already replace costly human artists. There won’t be any aspect of “writing” (or other content creation) that won’t be touched by AI in some way. It’s simple economics: When a free/cheap method of producing something is discovered that mostly gets the same job done, it mostly replaces the old more expensive method. Cars replaced horses. How often do people mail hand-written letters to each other? Or send faxes? etc.

If/when this will happen to writing (and promotion) will depend on the kind of writing and promotion we’re talking about. But there are so many kinds of content creation that people are paid for now that simply will be cheaper to replace with AI generated content.

In terms of book writing specifically, how does AI come into play?

At book length, it will take longer. AI can’t quite today write a horror novel better than Stephen King—most AI generated novels are pretty horrible—today—so Stephen King’s job is safe for a few years. Maybe 5-10? If we’re talking non-fiction, since generative AI’s are untrustworthy for factual correctness, they could maybe produce readable prose, but you’d have to carefully check every single fact. AI might be able to scrounge up some actual facts (that you verify) that you didn’t know about, since they’ve been trained on massive amounts of data, although there are a lot of older books and articles that aren’t scanned yet, thus not available to AIs and only to humans. So, I don’t foresee AI replacing book length non-fiction for some time (although it may help make it much easier/faster to write).

At short length, AIs can already create poetry that humans can read and think has deep meaning, even when the AI creating it had no such intention. For that matter, I wrote a really simple AI back in the 90s that created a particular kind of gibberish writing derived from some input text. [It’s at critters.org/bonsai.] It was only a few lines of computer code, but it produced some random, intriguing sounding output that was so odd it often seemed “deep”—simply because humans are good at finding meaning in randomness. Think of how we find animal shapes in clouds.

When we add in the concept of collaboration, where a human author uses AI as a tool to help them write a “better” book than they could have alone, that opens up even more options for AI to replace human effort. Just like spreadsheets made it possible for non-techies to do some complex tasks, people who are less capable at writing can use AI to create books or other length content, especially (non-factual) non-fiction, like a book of jokes (to the extent facts don’t play a role). An AI is suited to taking stilted, grammatically incorrect, typo-ridden prose and making it sound much better. There’s a large market for that. But this could be a double edged sword: In this case, more newbie human “authors” benefit from being able to write “better”; but flooding the market with magnitudes more competent texts means even fewer sales for authors who have the native talent for writing and don’t need AI help. This isn’t to say anyone can ask ChatGPT to “write a 300 page book on the evolution of dinosaurs” and presto! out pops a bestseller, but AI might cut down their effort by a factor of, say, ten. (And who knows, in 5-10 years…)

People write a lot of short- and mid-length reports on things, like news articles, progress reports, job descriptions, etc., where beautiful prose isn’t a goal. If factually verified, AI’s can probably take over a lot of this work. Then the human becomes mostly the creator of the prompts, provider of the data to describe (both of which can be somewhat automated as well), and (very importantly!) the fact checker for the output.

On the promotional side, AI tools will also make writing book blurbs, ad copy, etc. easier for novices. It will allow for creating more variations that can be tested, to see which of several ads sells the most.

Stay tuned for more information!

Unlock your inner spy: New book exposes real-life espionage tactics and persuasion skills

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

NEW YORK CITY–In “Sell Like a Spy” (Diversion Books, Aug. 27, 2024), espionage expert and corporate intelligence agent Jeremy Hurewitz dives into the clandestine world of intelligence-gathering – drawing from his extensive network of former CIA, FBI, and special forces operatives – to unveil field-tested spycraft strategies.

Hurewitz knows that spies are the world’s best salespeople. He’s built his career around former CIA case officers, FBI agents, and other intelligence officers—people like Steve Romano, former Chief Negotiator at the FBI; former Director of the Secret Service Mark Sullivan; General Stanley McChrystal (Ret.), former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command; and former member of the CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service John Sipher. 

Drawing on in-depth interviews about their skillsets, stunning anecdotes from the history of espionage, and science-backed principles of emotional intelligence, Hurewitz has created a handbook of tradecraft lessons and tactics that will strengthen readers’ ability to foster better relationships, to persuade, and to sell anything—in business and everyday life.

Though a spy’s targets may be odious — terrorists, criminals, corrupt diplomats, and more — the agent’s focus is on cultivating relationships and understanding people’s motivations to better persuade them to give something up: information, hostages, money, or simply their feelings. Elicitation, Radical Empathy, Disguise, and RPM (Rationalize, Project Blame, and Minimize Fault) are just a few of the methods in Sell Like a Spy that readers can use as sales professionals or people who simply want to connect more deeply with friends and family.  

Packed with interviews and anecdotes from intelligence officers of all stripes, and with a foreword by Robert Grenier, former Director of the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center, “Sell Like a Spy” puts James Bond in its dust, offering a secret playbook of persuasion tactics from the real world of the Secret Service, special forces, law enforcement, and international espionage.

“Sell Like a Spy: The Art of Persuasion from the World of Espionage”

Jeremy Hurewitz | Aug. 27, 2024 | Diversion Books | Nonfiction 

Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1635769937 | $28.99 

About the Author

Jeremy Hurewitz spent the first decade of his career overseas building the media association Project Syndicate while based out of Prague and Shanghai. He spearheaded a business development strategy that saw the association grow from a few dozen member newspapers in mostly Eastern Europe, to a truly global association of over 300 newspapers in over 100 countries. 

During Jeremy’s time abroad he also worked as a freelance journalist writing on a variety of topics for dozens of publications around the world. Jeremy continues to write regularly with recent articles appearing in Bloomberg, USA Today, and The Hill. 

Upon returning to the U.S. after his time overseas, Jeremy settled in New York City and worked for several well-known global consulting firms in the world of corporate security. These companies are staffed by former intelligence officers and Jeremy worked closely with these former spies. He came to notice how good these individuals were at connecting with clients, how quickly they were able to establish rapport and put people at ease and get them to open up. In addition to former spies, his colleagues included former members of the FBI and the law enforcement community, the Secret Service, the military, the State Department, and other government agencies. Jeremy learned unique and impactful skills from all these former government employees, and he began utilizing the methods he picked up. He quickly noticed the tangible difference it made in his salesmanship and his ability to connect with clients. By practicing the same methods that government officials use to develop relationships and overcome a range of challenges, Jeremy was able to achieve some of the biggest and most meaningful sales of his career.  

Jeremy has synthesized these lessons from government service into the Sell Like a Spy program and works with clients to share these strategies to help them improve their ability to connect with targets, develop creative approaches to close deals, and overcome challenges. Find out more about him and his book at www.selllikeaspy.net.

Praise for Jeremy Hurewitz and “Sell Like a Spy”

“Brilliantly illuminates two misunderstood skills: spying and sales! Jeremy Hurewitz pulls back the curtain on effective spying to reveal thoughtful, empathetic people – the same kind we trust enough to buy houses, cars, and businesses from. A great guide to mastering the intensely human side of building trust that determines success or failure.” 

– Gen. Stanley McChrystal, former commander of U.S and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) Afghanistan and former commander of the nation’s premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)

“Part memoir, part practical guide, Jeremy Hurewitz’s “Sell Like a Spy” brings together lessons from the world’s most elite information gatherers and people influencers, distilling the spymaster untrained readers can apply to succeed in business. Hurewitz draws on decades of experience as an investigative journalist turned jet-setting corporate security expert, as well as interviews with intelligence agents, law enforcement officials, hostage negotiators, special forces, and more, to ground his writing in real-life case studies. An essential read for anyone interested in becoming a better salesperson – or a half-decent spook!”

– Ian Bremmer, President, Eurasia Group

“Popular culture portrays salesmen and spies as transactional and inauthentic. Jeremy Hurewitz knows what the best sales and intelligence professionals understand: espionage and business are about relationships, and the secret sauce of success is the ability to seek connection and develop purposeful and authentic relationships. In ‘Sell Like a Spy’ Hurewitz illustrates with stories and examples that persuasion is not the ability to find the right words, but the ability to build real relationships of trust and empathy, and even share vulnerability. ‘Sell Like a Spy’ is a fun primer on the skills, traits and professional discipline to succeed in business.” 

– John Sipher, founder of Spycraft Entertainment, previously a member of the CIA’s clandestine service for 28 years

“Reading ‘Sell Like a Spy’ is time well-spent for anyone, whether you’re a salesperson or just someone who wants to get along with people in your everyday life. Jeremy Hurewitz brings his real-world experience and provides readily usable techniques that are easy to assimilate. From the streets of Pakistan to the boardrooms of New York City, ‘Sell Like a Spy’ will help you listen, connect, and influence.”

– Stephen J. Romano, former FBI Chief Hostage Negotiator

“The lessons of espionage directly relate to sales – it all comes down to the art of human persuasion.  That’s why this book is so useful and fascinating – because modern sales teams can adopt practices that have been employed by governments for years.  And not in a nefarious way but in a way that actually builds trust.  This is a great read and a lot of fun!”

– Sam Jacobs, CEO & Founder, Pavilion

More praise for “Sell Like a Spy” HERE

In an interview, Jeremy Hurewitz can discuss:

  • The riveting world of espionage through his unique journey from journalist to corporate intelligence operative
  • The fascinating psychology behind spycraft tactics, why they are so effective, and how they can be applied to elevate your game in business and everyday scenarios
  • Intelligence insights from his extensive network of former CIA, FBI and counterterrorism operatives (including former FBI chief hostage negotiator Gary Noesner, former head of the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center Bob Grenier, and Gen. Stanley McChrystal)
  • Cultivating relationships by having a better understanding of persuasion and human motivations
  • The role of emotional intelligence in both spycraft and everyday interactions with others, whether work or personal
  • The art of negotiation, from sealing high-stakes business deals to convincing your teenager to do their homework
  • How to detect deception and read body language to understand your counterparty better
  • How to overcome challenging situations through insights from elite law enforcement agents
  • Agent development methods that bridge the worlds of sales and everyday relationships, unlocking your full potential in both realms
  • Moving beyond the theoretical and curating a handbook-like approach to “Sell Like a Spy” – including field-tested strategies and government tactics

An Interview with

Jeremy Hurewitz

Can you share a bit about your professional background and how it led you to explore the intersection of sales and espionage in your work?

I crossed paths with spies when I was a journalist overseas and I reported on intelligence matters, all of which increased my interest in this world. Returning to the U.S. I jumped at the chance to work directly with them in the corporate security world, and I soaked up lessons from these individuals. At the same time, I was in a new position of cultivating relationships with clients, so I was immediately putting these lessons to work and seeing results. As I continued in this industry I came to learn from other former government officials – FBI agents, military negotiators, secret service agents, members of the special forces and others – and I applied lessons from these amazing individuals as well. 

“Sell Like a Spy” draws heavily from your network of former CIA, FBI, and counterterrorism agents. What inspired you to tap into these connections, and what unique insights did they bring to the table?

Even though I never served in the military or government, I’ve always admired those who have, and that admiration drew me to these people, and I’ve wanted to learn more about them and how they do their often dangerous work. Because the work they were involved in was so high stakes, they had unique experience and skill-sets that they applied to these situations. Applying radical empathy, for instance, in order to really find a way to connect with and recruit a potential agent who might be a terrible person that they would otherwise someone they would want nothing to do with is an example, and one with an application to the world of sales, where salespeople often have to sell to people who they don’t like. Or negotiating like an FBI agent needing to understand whether the hostage-taker is motivated by an instrumental or expressive need, where there is also a direct application to the business world. 

Why are spies the best salespeople?

Spies are often recruited into the intelligence world because of their unique personality gifts and emotional IQ. They cultivate these instincts and refine them to become masters of connecting deeply with their targets, no matter how sketchy those individuals may be. I believe that convincing someone to commit treason against their country or organization is the hardest sale to make, and one that spies are experts at. They apply battle-tested methods of emotional engagement, an understanding of body language and the role it plays in rapport building, along with cultural smarts to become masters of the art of sales. 

Your book emphasizes the application of spycraft tactics in both business and everyday life. How can these strategies be implemented in different contexts?

Anyone in business should first start practicing the techniques in the book in their everyday life, which offers low-stakes chances to try new rapport-building methods with friends and family. Skills like mirroring (both physical and verbal) can be tricky to get used to and can be easily seen if done poorly, so practicing is a good idea. But that practice in everyday life is a good example of the universal aspect of these techniques. Practicing empathy, being a good active listener and paying attention to body language are not just skills that can help someone make a sale or recruit a foreign agent to conduct espionage – they are methods that can bring us closer to people in any circumstance. 

What do you hope readers will take away from “Sell Like a Spy?”

I hope it will bring more fun and intellectual satisfaction to their work and help make people more successful. I write about people leaning in their passions, cultivating those passions, and how doing so can open up hidden doors to success – I also hope that by doing that people will lead richer lives. I hope readers will have better conversations, learn the value of listening, and that in doing so we might foster a bit more societal amity than what we have in the divisive age we’re living through. 

What roles do empathy, vulnerability, intellectual curiosity and cultural awareness play in forging meaningful connections in espionage and the business world alike?

These are essential traits in the most successful spies and salespeople. The idea of vulnerability is personal to me, and I share how I lost half my hearing and how that misfortune has had the silver lining of helping to draw people close to me when I share what I went through. Not all of us experience tragedy, but we all experience misfortune and commune together when we share these experiences – people almost automatically respond in-kind when you do so and it will draw you closer. Cultural awareness – whether it’s at the level of different countries or just different subgroups within an organization – can give you an advantage when seeking to cultivate someone. 

In “Sell Like a Spy,” you discuss the importance of cultivating relationships and understanding people’s motivations. Could you elaborate on how these principles from the world of espionage translate into effective sales strategies?

Spies and the support groups around them invest tremendous efforts in ascertaining what might motivate a potential agent to spy for their government. For instance, if they find out a diplomat has a child that can’t get the medical care they need in their impoverished autocratic country, they might consider the right overtures from a spy to work for them. In the sales world, not enough is done to understand a prospects’ motivation – salespeople think they are charming and their product or service is compelling and that’s enough. But if you know a bit more about what is going on with that company (is it struggling or thriving?) or more about your target’s career and life you might be able to subtly push different buttons in your pitch to connect with them. This is just one example. 

Salespeople, despite their charisma and expertise, often struggle with active listening, missing out on crucial client engagement. Why is this such a challenge? What successful techniques do spies use to be better listeners?

The answer resides in our evolution. When archaic man was wandering the plains language developed in short, clipped phrases so they could keep an eye out for opportunities and dangers. The mind still works in this way, processing small bits of information and then retreating internally to assess how this fits into our world. Our minds then work to think of a similar anecdote, or a contradictory opinion, rather than really taking in what the other side is saying. But if you can steady your mind to really focus on the individual you’re speaking with and what they are saying, and if you ask clarifying questions, your conversational counterpart will feel seen and respected and think highly of you. 

What is it like to be a spy? Is it anything like we see in the movies?

I’ve only been a corporate spy, not working for any government. When I do the work I do I need to get people to open up to me quickly and share their point of view, and that’s part of what’s in the book. But I do know a good bit about government-sponsored espionage and I write in the book about how it is quite far from what you see in the movies. I think a better analogy would be making friends with someone and then being there for them during some difficult times. Most spies agree that their job is closer to that of a therapist than Jason Bourne. 

What are defusion skills, and how do spies use them? How can we use them in a business setting?

It’s more about how FBI and other law enforcement use them, that’s what I write about in the book. FBI hostage negotiators, for instance, are experts at maintaining a slow, calm speaking voice because people tend to revert to the social mean that someone is insisting upon. So a quick lesson from that is if you’re in a meeting and someone gets angry and raises their voice, don’t raise your voice as well, continue to speak calmly and somewhat slowly and hopefully they calm down. Also, remain seated if you can, invite that person to sit, because if you stand up it will raise the temperature of the encounter. 

What is mirroring?

Mirroring is a short-cut to rapport building using human psychology. We are programmed to mirror – it’s one of the first things we do as infants looking up at people around us to mirror their behavior and observe how to act like a human being. It has been shown to have a physiological explanation rooted in the neurons of the human brain. When you combine physical mirroring with verbal mirroring – which is a key tool in the tool-kit of FBI hostage negotiators – you can powerfully augment your process of connecting with someone. 

What can we learn from how spies navigate cultural differences and build trust in high-stakes situations?

You need to get outside yourself and your particular cultural experiences and how you view the world and allow yourself to not pass judgment. Spies are deeply mindful of being sensitive to who they are talking to and where they might be coming from, and we can all do that to foster great connections. Whether you’re a New Yorker dealing with someone from the midwest or you’re from Texas and talking to someone from China, being empathetic and sensitive to cultural differences, and trying to understand them, can distinguish you from others. 

How does your book address detecting deception, particularly in corporate environments?

It references how the FBI and other law enforcement agencies use verbal and nonverbal clues to try to understand whether someone is not fully telling the truth. I don’t believe that anyone can be “a human lie detector” despite what some claim; humans are simply too complex. But there are some very strong methods you can utilize to see a red flag in someone’s behavior – whether it’s their failure to answer a question directly or being cold in a room where the temperature is comfortable – to make better decisions about whether someone is being deceptive. 

What’s next for you?

I’m focused on this book reaching as wide an audience as possible. While the methods in this book are great for corporate sales, I highlight whenever I can that there are “skills for everyday life,” and I have a strong desire to promote that because I want people to have better conversations, to connect more deeply, especially because of how highly polarized society is at the moment. I want to help people to lean into their passions and interests, to develop new ones, because it can open hidden doors to success and lead to a more enriching life. And I want to highlight the world intelligence professionals, the real work, not the Hollywood version, because I deeply admire their skills, experience, and public service.

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