Author: Marissa DeCuir

New York City, NY–In “Cyborg Fever,” acclaimed writer Laurie Sheck brings us a probing and lyrical philosophical fiction in the spirit of Umberto Eco, Italo Calvino and Donna Haraway’s “Cyborg Manifesto,” that enacts an incisive and moving exploration into what it means to be human in the age of AI and increasing transhumanism. 

Throughout, many strange, surprising facts appear: an artist clones a flower from his DNA and the DNA of a petunia, an astronaut plays golf on the moon, a mathematician on a rest cure re-thinks the life of Shakespeare, and particles and antiparticles collide at lightning speed beneath the green hills of Switzerland and France. 

Amidst everything, one question lingers: in this age of AI and genetic engineering, how can we come to know more fully what it means to love and be human among the wonders and destructions we have wrought on Earth?

“Cyborg Fever”

Laurie Sheck | June 1, 2025 | Tupelo Press | Literary Fiction 

Paperback | ISBN: 978-1-961209-26-8 | $19.95 

About the Author…

Laurie Sheck is the author of “A Monster’s Notes,” a re-imagining of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” which was chosen by Entertainment Weekly as one of the 10 Best Fictions of the year, and long-listed for the Dublin Impac International Fiction Prize. She is also the author of the novel “Island of the Mad,” and five books of poems including “The Willow Grove,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. A recipient of awards from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Creative Capital Foundation, among others, she has also been a Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library. Her work has appeared widely in such publications as The New Yorker and The Paris Review. She lives in New York City. Learn more at: www.lauriesheck.com 

In an interview, Laurie Sheck can discuss:

• The job of the writer as a “curator” in the information age when readers consume enormous amounts of facts (and misinformation) each day
• What this glut of information is doing to us as a species, and what reaction (if any) is appropriate for us to take
• How she incorporates AI and bioengineering in “Cyborg Fever” and whether or not scientific advancements can remain morally neutral
• Some of the artistic works that inspired this book, including RW Fassbinder’s film “In A Year of 13 Moons”
• How “Cyborg Fever” is connected to her previous books, “A Monster’s Notes” and “Island of the Mad,” forming a loose trilogy

Praise for Laurie Sheck…

On “A Monster’s Notes”

“An electrifying literary triumph” 

—Entertainment Weekly

“A remarkable creation, a baroque opera of grief, laced with lines of haunting beauty and profundity”

—The Washington Post

“An intellectual phantasmagoria… a magnificent book”

—NBC’s Weekend Today

“Utterly astonishing and not to be missed”

—Kirkus Reviews

On “Island of the Mad”

“There is no better evidence for art’s capacity to foster connections than Sheck’s own warm and lyrical narrative.” 

—Los Angeles Review of Books

“Sheck returns with a gorgeously written work that layers together strands of history in one bravura act…A dizzyingly inventive work”

—Library Journal

“Poetic novelist Sheck draws on classic works… to create an exquisitely intricate and moving literary pastiche…In concise, haunting, inquisitive, and incantatory passages, Sheck imaginatively and compassionately explores the mysteries of the body and mind, of brokenness and aloneness, while celebrating language as a lifeline across pain, time, and space.”

—Booklist

An Interview with Laurie Sheck

1. You have suggested that in the information age, a writer must also be a curator. What do you mean by that?

I don’t think a writer has to be a curator, but I think it’s one interesting option. We are all googling these days—the web is full of information but there is so much of it that to find the gold among the dross can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. Part of what I have tried to do as a writer is to gather facts, anecdotes, quotes, etc. that seem to me deeply resonant, illuminating, often beautiful, surprising, and create a meaningful vessel for them, a way to gift them to the reader.

2. “Cyborg Fever” touches on AI and bioengineering, and even reproduces a speech from Elon Musk on traveling to Mars. Why incorporate scientific material into this book?

We live in an age where what’s happening in science and technology is affecting us at every level of our being. In this highly technological age of smart phones, AI, space exploration, computers, bioengineering, how can we think about empathy, human loneliness and connection, and other basic aspects of what it means to be human and to live on this threatened earth, without considering these changes? At this point, they are as embedded in our reality as the air we breathe.

3. Do technological advances require moral and philosophical inquiry? How do the topics above relate to your understanding of what makes us human?

Yes, technological advances require and benefit from moral and philosophical inquiry. Look at Mary Shelley’s monster in “Frankenstein.” He was a technological miracle created by a scientist who gave no significant thought to what his relationship to the monster or the monster’s relationship to the world would be after the monster came to life. He did not think about his moral obligation to the being he created. The consequences were devastating. At each step of technological advancement, there are all sorts of questions to be considered—questions of human dignity, privacy, autonomy, wealth and power and the abuse of power. Even questions of loneliness, empathy, the rights and needs of other species and the natural world.

4. You took some inspiration from RW Fassbinder’s film “In A Year of 13 Moons.” How did that film inspire you? What other artistic works do you reference in “Cyborg Fever”?

All of my novels have interacted in some way with other works of art— “A Monster’s Notes” interacted with Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” “Island of the Mad” interacted with Dostoevsky’s “The Idiot,” and “Cyborg Fever” interacts both with Fassbinder’s film and Jorge Luis Borges’ wonderful story “Funes the Memorias.” When I first started writing “Cyborg Fever” I thought Fassbinder’s film would take a more prominent role, but as the book progressed I found that although I retained the names of two characters from the film, it was the film’s essential feeling of loneliness and the quest to build an identity that did not feel deeply at war with itself and at odds with the larger world, that stayed with me most deeply. In Fassbinder’s film there is a character who feels in a sense trapped in the wrong body after a sex change operation; this feeling is also true in many ways of the Cyborg I created in “Cyborg Fever” who in this case was changed against his will.

5. “A Monster’s Notes,” “Island of the Mad” and “Cyborg Fever” can be read as a loose trilogy. How does your latest novel connect to your previous ones?

Before I wrote “A Monster’s Notes” I had never written a prose book and had no inkling that I ever would. It came as a surprise. After I wrote it, I realized the methodology and form I had developed was something I very much wanted to continue exploring. Each of the first two books takes place in the present but echoes back to an earlier era—in “A Monster’s Notes” to the time of Mary Shelley’s life, the early to mid-1800’s, in “Island of the Mad,” to Dostoevsky’s lifetime (1821-1881) which is just a little closer to the present, and now in “Cyborg Fever” the book does not look back but engages the present moment with an eye toward the future. So the books have been moving through time while at the same time dealing with similar themes—issues of loneliness and connection, tenderness and alienation, and the self in an ever-changing, technological world.

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/

Perfect for fans of “Percy Jackson” and “The Wingfeather Saga,”  a MG fantasy of friendship and teamwork

Southwest of Western Australia – Follow Tilly through Clayton Forest and Wythic Woods filled with magical creatures, wizards, and “Gobight” martial arts as she searches for her lost cousin in the fun-filled first book of “The Wythic Wood Mysteries” series, “Vanishings” (May 20, 2025, SparkPress). 

Debut author Catharina Steel’s fantastical, fresh worldbuilding inspires young readers to break down their mental blocks, embrace their differences, and encourages them to put down their phones and explore the world outside. 

Here’s more about the book: Tilly’s friend Michael disappeared from Wythic Wood a year ago, and he’s still missing. Convinced that no one’s searching for him, Tilly persuades her Gran to allow her to spend the summer with Opa, their family’s magical teacher and wizard, at his home in Clayton Forest—which just so happens to be right next to Wythic Wood.

In Clayton Forest, alongside her twin cousins, Jess and Zach, Tilly meets magical beings like fairies and gnomes, gets lessons in potion-making and a goblin style of martial arts called Gobight fighting, and starts to understand her own magic better. But none of this excitement distracts her from her real goal, and with Jess and Zach at her side, she soon embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth about Michael’s vanishing. But as usual, impulsive Tilly doesn’t exactly think ahead—and she and her cousins soon find themselves hunted by the Witch of Wythic Wood and the creatures under her command. 

“Vanishings: The Wythic Wood Mysteries Series”

Catharina Steel | May 20, 2025 | SparkPress | Middle Grade Fantasy 

Ebook | 9781684633098 | $9.99 

Paperback | 9781684633081 | $13.99

CATHARINA STEEL has an adventurous spirit and enjoys traveling and exploring. The forests in The Wythic Wood Mysteries series stems from her love for hiking, the outdoors, and the enchanting essence found in these settings. She’s had various pets over the years, among them a kid goat called “Billy,” named after the famous “Billy the Kid.” Her current cherished companion is Macherie, a gentle and sweet greyhound. During her leisure time, Catharina enjoys viewing properties, walking in the southwest region of Western Australia where she dwells, reading, sketching, and watching TV series. Find out more about them at www.catharinasteel.com.

Follow Catharina Steel on social media:

Facebook: @CatharinaSteel.Author | Instagram: @catharina_steel_author 

TikTok: @catharinasteel_author 

Youtube: @CatharinaSteel_Author | Goodreads: @Catharina_Steel

In an interview, Catharina can discuss:

• How her love for the fantasy and mystery genres came from her need for escapism
• How she developed a passion for telling children’s stories
• How she created “gobight,” a goblin style martial arts
• Why she emphasizes exercise and outdoor exploration to help children overcome anxiety
• How she experiences anxiety and how she works to overcome it

An Interview with Catharina Steel

1. What is the most important lesson that you want readers to gather from your stories? 

I hope the readers will learn to show kindness to those around them, regardless of how similar or different they are to themselves. I hope they will see how much our differences make us unique and special in our own ways and that this is something to appreciate about others/ourselves. I would love to encourage them to stand up for others and help those who feel left out, to be included and welcomed.

2. How did your personal experiences shape this novel?

I stood out from my peers—literally—I was tall for my age, and am now 6 foot! I also had white blond hair with dark eyebrows and eyelashes—an uncommon trait but more typical of Frisian people. I also tended to stand up for others who were bullied or made to feel less than—perhaps because I knew what this felt like from the age of seven. I was bullied a lot, mostly by boys, which I found very confusing as a child. I still struggle with the effect of how this shaped my view of the world.

I discovered reading fantasy [the faraway tree is one of my childhood favorites] and/or mystery books [the famous five series] gave me a place where I could adventure in different worlds and experience things like friendship which were hard-won in my youth.

3. What drew you to writing novels for a younger audience?

I care about the impact that bullying can have on a child. I also remembered how much novels helped me and I wanted to write something that would do for young readers as the books I read at this age did for me—I guess it’s like giving back to something–recognising how much benefit I got from reading. I wanted to write a fun and magical story that took the reader away from themselves and allowed them to experience something wonderful, uplifting, and to also show them the beauty that can be found in the great outdoors!

I’m a strong believer that fitness and health can be nourished in children—creating good habits that will carry through to their adult lives—setting them up for a healthier future. 

4. Tell us about gobight martial arts!

I originally had the children learning martial arts but an editor (rightly) suggested that I make it more interesting. This was in the early stages of me learning to write—I still am [chuckles]. The children learn the skill from a goblin called Mort, and his goblin friends. Goblins have long arms and sharp fingernails and toenails. It made sense that the hand-to-hand combat stances would need to be altered for both attack and defence moves.

I also wish I had learned self defense as a child, or even as an adult, because it would have helped me feel safer in certain environments during my life. I believe it’s a skill all people should learn—particularly girls. It also made sense, for this story, that the children learn a style of martial arts as they would need to defend themselves if they were to risk the dangers of Wythic Wood.

5. Why write about anxiety and how does being outside help with it?

As someone who was bullied a lot, I’ve developed a thing for keeping my “back to the wall” so that I only need to focus on what is in front of me. When you are out in the open, this is simply not possible, inducing anxiety.

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/

In her deeply personal new memoir, Bonnie Comfort shares the unfiltered story of her 30-year marriage to a Hollywood screenwriter

PORTLAND, Oregon – Can a loving relationship endure career setbacks, infidelities, and mismatched sexual desires? This is the question psychologist Bonnie Comfort grapples with in “Staying Married is the Hardest Part: A Memoir of Passion, Secrets, and Sacrifice (She Writes Press, June 17, 2025)” as she navigates her unpredictable 30-year marriage to Hollywood screenwriter Bob, while she provides marital therapy to others. 

Bob is affectionate, brilliant, and hilarious — but his sexual desires are incompatible with Bonnie’s. Despite her misgivings, she indulges his kinks, which often include photographing her in lingerie. Their Hollywood life is exciting, but eventually Bob’s growing career frustrations lead to his complete sexual shutdown. Tensions rise, and Bob suggests Bonnie have discreet affairs and not tell him. She does just that — but when she confesses her infidelities five years later, his sexual demands become more extreme. When she complies, Bonnie feels shame; when she refuses, as she increasingly does, their fights threaten to tear their marriage apart.

Bonnie understands the rhythm of disconnection and repair that is common in love relationships. With honesty and vulnerability, she recounts the highs and lows of her own marriage which sadly ends with Bob’s death. As she grieves, Bonnie reflects on her role in their marital struggles and offers profound insights from personal and professional experience. Her story lays bare the complexities of love, the ongoing challenges women face in intimate relationships, and how even difficult marriages can find a way to thrive.

“Staying Married is the Hardest Part: A Memoir of Passion, Secrets, and Sacrifice”

Bonnie Comfort | June 17, 2025 | She Writes Press | Memoir 

Hardcover | ISBN 978-1647429447 | $17.99

Bonnie Comfort has been a practicing psychologist for 30 years. She has an MSW from the University of Manitoba and a PhD in psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology Los Angeles. Her novel, “Denial,” a psychological thriller from Simon & Schuster, was published in eight countries and translated into five languages. As an expert on marital therapy, she has been a guest multiple times on podcasts about marriage and has taken extensive workshops with marital and sex experts like Terrence Real, David Schnarch, John Gottman, and Marty Klein. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with her long-time partner, Douglas Covey, MD. Find out more about her at http://bonniecomfort.com.

Follow Bonnie Comfort on Facebook

In an interview, Bonnie can explore:

• Breaking the silence – Bonnie knew that exposing the intimate sexual struggles of her marriage would be uncomfortable for some readers, but as a psychologist and a woman, she wanted to reach people suffering in silence, believing their struggles were unique or shameful. She wanted to normalize sexual variations and encourage more dialogue about it.
• When a therapist faces her own marriage – As a marital therapist, Bonnie helped countless couples navigate their relationships, but that didn’t make her immune to struggles in her own. 
• Recognizing control in relationships – Power in relationships isn’t always about dominance; it’s about subtle shifts that shape attraction and resentment. 
• The ebb and flow of long-term love – Many expect passion to be constant, but love follows its own unpredictable rhythm. 
• Why traditional relationship advice doesn’t always work – Most relationship advice assumes a one-size-fits-all approach. 
• Navigating sexual incompatibility – Sexual incompatibility isn’t just about mismatched libidos; it’s often tied to unique desires, disappointments or resentments. 
• Why women put themselves last and how to stop – Women are often conditioned to prioritize their partner’s desires – sexually, emotionally, and in daily decisions. 
• Owning your sexuality at any age – Society teaches women that their sexuality is either for male pleasure or tied to their physical appearance. 
• The fear of disappointing others – Many women stay silent about their needs to avoid upsetting their partner. 
• The myth of a perfect marriage – No two relationships look the same. Lasting love isn’t about perfection; it’s about resilience, adaptation, and showing up. 
• Rebuilding trust after betrayal – Trust is fragile. Some betrayals can be repaired, while others expose deeper patterns that won’t change. 
• How to know when it’s time to leave a marriage – Leaving a marriage is rarely a simple choice. 

An Interview with Bonnie Comfort

1. Your memoir delves deep into your relationship with your husband, Bob. What inspired you to write about it, and what do you hope readers take away?

Being extremely revealing of what went on behind my closed doors was a way of reaching out to others who struggle with sexual conflicts or feel sexually inadequate and ashamed, because learning that an experienced therapist still struggled with those issues may reduce shame and secrecy, and promote meaningful dialogue and sharing. But my story is not only about sexuality. It’s about how marital conflict can damage self-esteem and ruin love. Bob and I were able to weather our conflicts, find compromises and make peace with each other. I want readers to feel hopeful about long-term love and take away two opposing ideas: be gentle with yourself and your partner, more accepting and less judging, and if you’re thinking about leaving that relationship, ask yourself “What am I doing that’s contributing to the problems?” because being able to step out of your tendency to blame the other can shift everything.

2. As a psychologist, how did your professional background shape your understanding of marriage and personal struggles? Do you think your perspective would have been different without that expertise?

My professional training in marital and sexual issues definitely made me more patient, accepting and forgiving of some of Bob’s behavior than others might have been. I know as I share my story some people will wonder why I stayed with him, but the dominant set of feelings I had for Bob was profound emotional connection, joy in his presence and the strong sense that he was way more right for me than wrong for me. I also had a great deal of empathy and respect for him. I understood his talent and his struggles, and was far less judgmental of him than others might have been because I’ve always been fascinated by what goes on inside of people, and my focus and my work has always been on understanding rather than judging. 

3. Power dynamics and control can subtly shift in relationships. How can people recognize these changes, and what did you observe in your own marriage?

Here’s how you recognize even a subtle shift in power: one of you becomes less willing to accommodate the other’s needs. Success in the world or chronic anger toward the other can shift the balance. The stresses of childrearing can shift power dynamics as well. Sometimes feeling hurt by a partner can result in caring less whether you stay together, and that creates a subtle power shift: the one who has lost faith in the relationship no longer cares to accommodate the other as much. In my own marriage, a number of events shifted the power balance between us – Bob’s career ups and downs, my surprising success with my novel, financial stresses and Bob’s health issues. While Bob endured a grueling chemotherapy, I took over every aspect of our lives. When he recovered, he was profoundly grateful for how I had looked after him and everything else, and he became more giving and respectful than before.

4. In your new book, you explore the natural rhythms of intimacy in long-term relationships. Can you explain this concept and why it’s important?

Long-term relationships expand and contract depending on the circumstances faced. For example, different phases of career may result in greater absence of one partner, which may force the other to tolerate more distance or feel ignored. Times when things are great, and both feel deeply in love, create more intimacy. Over the years every couple goes through crises of one kind or another such as the changes that come with success, the heartbreak of a sick child, a financial loss or big gain, the death of a parent or someone else close, illness or injury to one of the partners. How your partner handles these situations can either bring you closer or push you farther apart. You either feel deep gratitude or a way in which you feel abandoned or angry, but the aggregation of years and experiences together can help give you perspective, foster acceptance and forgiveness, even when your partner doesn’t serve you in the way you want. Being able to have this long view, knowing that in some ways your partner shines and in others disappoints, helps you continue to treasure the relationship despite its shortcomings.

5. Relationship advice often feels one-size-fits-all. How can people in non-traditional relationships find guidance that truly fits their needs?

I do think when seeking guidance, it makes sense to find a therapist or counselor who has experience at working with people in non-traditional relationships. Although I have worked with gay and straight couples, I think the challenges of transgender love, fetishes, sexual compulsions or “open” relationships require a therapist with specific experience and education, and I would seek someone who has that training and expertise. The Psychology Today website is great for that. You key in your city, and a huge list of therapists in your area comes up, with specifics about their specialties, therapeutic training, fees and availability. It’s a great place to start.

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/

Palm Beach, FL –For fans of “The Glass Castle” and “Educated,” an abuse survivor-turned-advocate examines the full circle of generational trauma, resilience, and healing in “Facing the Jaguar” (She Writes Press, June 17, 2025).

The average person can keep a secret for forty-seven hours. Babs Walters held onto the worst kind of secret for nearly 70 years. 

Since age 11, Babs suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her father. His edict–children should be seen and not heard–defined her childhood. Desperate to be loved and seeking approval, Babs absorbed both the responsibility and the shame that was not hers to begin with.

Now, decades later, Babs Walters shows us how uncovering the truth is a critical step to healing. “Facing the Jaguar” is an inspirational story of resilience and courage—a story that proves anything is possible when we claim our truth and shine a light in even the darkest of places. As Babs says, “We are not what happens to us. We are the meaning and purpose we give to what happens to us.”

“Facing the Jaguar: A Memoir of Courage and Confrontation”

Babs Walters | June 17, 2025 | She Writes Press | Nonfiction, Memoir 

Paperback | ISBN: 9781647429201 | $17.99

Ebook | ASIN: B0DKFPPDD8 | $12.99

Praise for “Facing the Jaguar”…

“In this honest and raw memoir, Walters exposes a secret that burdens the souls of countless children–because most don’t tell. Her story is a plea to all adults to believe and help the courageous children who do tell. An important and brave journey from a frightened child to an empowered woman.”

–Feather Berkower, M.S.W., Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Educator and author of “Off Limits: A Parent’s Guide to Keeping Kids Safe from Sexual Abuse”

“‘Facing the Jaguar’ is one of the few books that will hold you spellbound from the very first page to the last. Walters is a beautiful writer and I look forward to reading more of her work. I also applaud her bravery, courage, and strength in sharing her story.

–Readers’ Favorite

“‘Facing the Jaguar’ is a powerful story of reclamation. Without offering advice or excuses, Walters’ reveals what it takes to heal. This is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand a survivor’s journey or for survivors looking for healing and hope.”

–Jane Epstein, author of “I Feel Real Guilty: A Memoir of Sibling Sexual Abuse”

“‘Facing the Jaguar’ is a chilling, honest account of parental abuse, but it is also a story of hope, tenacity and the belief that with hard work and a determination to understand, the cycle of generational trauma can be terminated.”

–Patti Eddington, author of “The Girl with Three Birthdays: An Adopted Daughter’s Memoir of Tiaras, Tough Truths and Tall Tales”

About the author…

Babs Walters: is a speaker, advocate, and author as well as a survivor of domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse. She brings difficult subjects to the surface through the power of storytelling.

With a Masters’ in Counseling Human Relations, Walters developed creative, healing, journal-writing workshops for women in alcohol and drug recovery. During her corporate career, she led workshops on Preventing Sexual Harassment and continues to teach women to raise their voices today. 

Babs lives in Florida where she teaches Jazzercize and enjoys time with family. Learn more about her life and work at www.babswalters.com and on Instagram @walters.babs

In an interview, Babs Walters can discuss:

• How holding onto secrets causes us harm, and why it’s important to share stories of abuse as a path toward healing
• How we should talk about generational trauma and ways to put a stop to cycles of abuse
• What she wants people to know about child safety
• How to forgive without compromising on boundaries
• Steps we can all take to find healing after life-changing pain

An Interview with Babs Walters

1. How does keeping secrets harm us? How did telling your story help you?

Keeping secrets can create a heavy emotional and physical toll for individuals, resulting in a negative self-image fueled by self-criticism, shame and guilt. Fear of the secret being discovered produces ongoing anxiety. This adds to difficulty in trusting other people, or even the ability to form healthy relationships. Breaking the silence around my story has not only given me a sense of relief but also enabled me to find the support of a community of other survivors and memoirists. Through fostering those connections, I no longer feel isolated and want to use what I learned to help other secret keepers.

2. What is generational trauma, and what role does it play in your story?

Generational trauma occurs when one generation transmits trauma from a deeply distressing situation they may have experienced to the next generation, passing down behaviors often unconsciously. These patterns can be systemic or familial, like discrimination and oppression or neglect, violence and abuse.

3. What is your advice to readers who are trying to heal from their own adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)?

What helped me heal from my ACE initially was finding connection. Talk therapy began the process. Journal writing allowed disassociated memories to resurface and acted as a witness. Most recently what has made a difference is giving meaning and purpose to what happened to me through sharing my voice to help others.

4. What do you hope readers take away from your story? How do you hope they approach child safety moving forward?

I would love for my story to encourage and inspire other family secret keepers to find their voices and bring awareness to the world of areas where more attention, advocacy and action is needed. We teach children to keep innocent secrets. But this can subtly teach them that some things should be kept hidden to avoid trouble. Encourage children to know the difference between surprise parties and harmful secrets. Help foster an open, honest environment where they are free to express themselves or seek support.

5. Is there anything else you want readers to know?

Telling my story has taken an act of courage. I am still facing disapproval from family members. I have learned to respect myself, flaws and all, and honor my promise to make sense out of the confusion and shame of my young life. It’s not easy or comfortable. There can be no far-reaching change without awareness first. We can no longer hide from the truth. As we repair ourselves, we are also repairing other dark corners of the world.

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/

“a beautifully unsparing, rollickingly funny, tender story about fact and fiction” 

–Philip Bennett, former managing editor, The Washington Post

BOSTON, MA – In Diane Wald’s sharp and tender novella, “The Bayrose Files” (May 27, 2025), ambitious young journalist Violet Maris goes undercover at a prestigious writers’ colony in 1980s Provincetown. Determined to secure a coveted residency, she fakes her talent, using her friend’s stories to gain admission. Her intention: to write a captivating exposé based on her experiences. However, Violet’s promising start at the colony takes a dark turn when tragedy strikes—her friend, the true author of the stories, succumbs to AIDS. This loss plunges Violet into turmoil, compounded by the weight of the terrible secret she carries. Compelled to confess, she confides in a member of the colony’s board with whom she has become romantically involved. The revelation of her deception leaves Violet grappling with disgrace and searching for a path toward redemption and reconciliation—with herself and those she has inadvertently hurt.

A short but powerful and provocative read, “The Bayrose Files” explores art, morality and identity with humor and a gentle heart.

“The Bayrose Files”

Diane Wald | May 27, 2025 | Regal House | Literary Fiction

Paperback | ISBN: 9781646035953 | $18.95 

Praise for the book…

“Young journalist Violet Maris tells a daring lie that launches her on a collision course with the truth about herself. ‘You just can’t trust a writer,’ Violet says. Trust Diane Wald to write a beautifully unsparing, rollickingly funny, tender story about fact and fiction, love and art, set in the creative hub of 1980s Provincetown. A great read you won’t want to put down.”

—Philip Bennett, former managing editor, “The Washington Post”

“‘The Bayrose Files’ is a gem of a book, taking us into the creative and complex world of an art colony, seen through the eyes of an impostor. The characters, story, structure, language, setting, and pacing are brilliant. The moral lessons are gentle, human foibles forgivable. I devoured it in a single sitting and remain in awe of Diane Wald’s imagination.”

—Romalyn Tilghman, author of “To the Stars Through Difficulties”

“I gulped down ‘The Bayrose Files’ in one sitting. What starts as a simple story of deception unspools into a tale of grief, love, and complicated regret. In prose that crackles, Diane Wald crafts a marvelous storyteller in Violet Maris. Violet is sharp, endearing, and deeply human. It was a pleasure to follow her every bad decision. Violet—and Wald—kept me guessing until the last page.”

—Miriam Gershow, author of “Closer” and “Survival Tips: Stories”

“For Violet Maris, the temperature varies in inanimate objects. This is her guide in The Home, a prestigious artist colony in Provincetown where, as a journalist, she poses as a fiction writer in order to write an exposé. Following the relative heat of things, she navigates the death of a dear friend, a love affair with a board member, and her own deceit. Of course, there is a reckoning, but it is not what she expects, in this metaphysical and gripping story where the pages seem to turn by themselves. What will touch her now?”

   —William C. Dell, author of “Home Alone in the Multiverse”

About the author…

DIANE WALD is a poet and novelist who grew up in New Jersey, but lived most of her life in Massachusetts. She has an MFA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has worked as a library assistant, periodical circulation manager, English professor, academic dean, and in-house writer for a national animal welfare organization. Her novella “Gillyflower” was published in 2019 and won first place awards from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and American Book Fest, among other accolades. “My Famous Brain,” her second novel, won first place in Visionary Fiction from the New York City Big Books Awards, first place in Visionary Fiction, New Adult Fiction, and Speculative Fiction from the Firebird Book Awards, and was a bronze winner in the Foreword INDIES Awards. Diane has also published more than 250 poems in literary magazines. She is the recipient of a two-year fellowship in poetry from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and has been awarded the Grolier Poetry Prize, The Denny Award, The Open Voice Award, and the Anne Halley Award. She also received a state grant from the Massachusetts Council on the Arts. She has published four print chapbooks and won the Green Lake Chapbook Award. Her new novel, “The Bayrose Files,” is forthcoming in May 2025 from Regal House Publishing. Learn more at www.dianewald.org.

Follow Diane Wald on social media:

Facebook: @sleeperina | Twitter: @sleeperina | Instagram: @dianewaldwriter 

In an interview, Diane Wald can discuss:

• How her own time spent at a writers’ colony influenced this book
• The unique metaphysical aspects of the book
• Writing morally gray characters and exploring the intersection of art and ambition
• How her career as an award-winning poet influences her approach to fiction
• Her writing process, and what’s next for her

An Interview with Diane Wald

1. What inspired you to write “The Bayrose Files”? Did you spend time at a writers colony like the one Violet goes to?

I was in my twenties when I was accepted for a poetry fellowship at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown (FAWC) in 1973, and that was renewed for a second year. The Bayrose Files is based on my experiences there – although it is totally fiction. The protagonist is a fiction writer, not a poet, and she cheated to obtain her residency. The story is set in the 1980s, which allowed me to explore the topic of AIDS in those days.

2. Provincetown is an interesting setting. What drew you to that place?

My parents packed up me and my younger brother and drove us almost every summer from our home in New Jersey to one of the towns on the outer Cape for a week or two, and every year one day was dedicated to visiting Provincetown. I not only got to know the place; I fell in love, and visited as often as I could when I grew up. Provincetown as a setting allowed me to explore a wide array of lifestyles, ages, careers, art forms, and beliefs in order to enhance my book’s themes of personal ethics, creativity, love, and friendship. I often think of the setting as a character in my book.

3. A unique subplot is that Violet can sense items by their varying temperatures as a “thermopath.” What does this signify for you?

I’m not sure if “thermopath” is actually a word or if one of my blurbists coined it, but it does describe this interesting talent of Violet’s. I like to include extrasensory concepts in my work, and have done so in my previous two novels. In The Bayrose Files, Violet is forced to pay attention to these temperature clues all through her various experiences and misadventures as a sort of grounding device. By the end of the book she’s paying a great deal of attention to them.

4. You are also an award-winning poet. Does your poetry influence your approach to writing fiction?

I was terrified of showing my fiction to anyone for many years, although I started writing it in my forties. I didn’t resurrect the idea of publishing it until a few years ago. I do think my poetry influences my prose writing because I always work with a piece from the word to the phrase to the sentence to the paragraph. I want all the words to be the best ones I can come up with, and that’s a lot like writing poetry. Imagery is tremendously important to me as well, and making sure the imagery repeats and transforms itself and creates a sensory whole. What I love about fiction is adding dialogue to the mix.

5. Since retirement, you’ve been writing more than ever. Do you find you have more inspiration, more time to focus, or both? What is your writing process like?

Since I retired four years ago, I’ve published four books:  a volume of poetry, two novels, and now this book. Plus, I’ve placed quite a few poems, stories, and memoir pieces in the last few years as well. Some of that is just luck; some of it is having more time. I have a lovely room to write in and the calmness that develops over time when you don’t have to worry about all the vicissitudes of your day job. My last day job, as an in-house writer for a large organization, was especially stressful, although I don’t regret it because my duties included writing every day. That keeps your writing muscles strong.

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/

Aruba – Debut author Claudia Daher’s science fiction novel follows a diverse group of teenagers who are secretly training in an alternate reality video game, R.A.T.S, to prepare for water-stealing aliens attempting to infiltrate Earth. Spanning timelines from ancient Atlantis to a near-future world, “R.A.T.S: Revolutionary Army of Teens: We Are One” (Pegasus Publishing, June 5, 2025) explores climate catastrophe activism and the power of unity, love and respect in the face of global challenges.

In 2040, 15-year-old David discovers that he and his friends are Earth’s final defense against extraterrestrial forces determined to steal Earth’s water. Through an alternate reality game, R.A.T.S, created by his grandfather HB, David and his allies undergo training and unite across the globe. As they prepare for an apocalyptic battle, they unravel hidden truths about the universe and their own destinies—while battling environmental collapse and a relentless alien invasion.

“R.A.T.S” explores themes of artificial intelligence, climate change, alien life, and global cultures as the characters quickly become part of a revolutionary movement to combat environmental disasters and uncover hidden truths about the world and beyond. Through their journey, they must navigate friendships, challenges, and the pursuit of knowledge while striving to make a difference.

“I wrote this book because I believe that, at its core, we are all very similar. We all have families, with their complexities and differences, but at the end of the day, we are all human, seeking love, understanding and belonging. Together we are stronger. We Are One!”

 – Claudia Daher, author of “R.A.T.S: Revolutionary Army of Teens”

“R.A.T.S: Revolutionary Army of Teens: We Are One”

Claudia Daher | June 5, 2025| Pegasus Publishing

YA Science Fiction | Physical | 978-1-83794-375-3

About the Author

CLAUDIA DAHER is a Brazilian-born author who has made Aruba her home for the past 34 years. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and businesswoman, Claudia is deeply connected to her family and community. She is an entrepreneur and philanthropist, with a heart dedicated to giving back and making a positive impact on those around her.

Claudia’s unique life journey, filled with adventure, self-discovery, and resilience, has shaped both her writing and her perspective on life. She is a passionate advocate for love, unity, and the transformative power of faith. Her story is a powerful reminder that through faith, perseverance, and a commitment to love and family, we can overcome any challenge.

In addition to her writing, Claudia is an accomplished artist, with her paintings displayed worldwide, including at the Chabad Synagogue in Aruba. She is also actively involved in community volunteer work, making significant contributions to various local organizations to help those in need.

Claudia’s life is a testament to perseverance, and her journey serves as an inspiration to others. Her story is not just about overcoming challenges but about embracing the beauty of life, the importance of family, and the deep connections we share with one another. Find out more about her at claudiadaherauthor.com.

Follow Claudia Daher on social media:

Facebook: @ClaudiaDaher.Author | Instagram: @claudiadaher_author

In an interview, Claudia Daher can discuss:

• The importance of young adults disconnecting from their electronics and connecting with nature and themselves
• How her religious background contributed to the writing of her YA sci-fi novel, intended to empower the next generation
• How she, coming from a diverse background and raising her family in one, uniquely explores multiple cultures in the book
• How her son inspired David, the main character; family inspired most of the story
• The book’s setting of Aruba, where the author has lived most of her life
• Why she chose to make the book a clean read free of negative influences
• How her faith and personal experiences have influenced her to write a book about unity, love and respect

An Interview with Claudia Daher 

1. When starting your creative process, why was it important to you that your novel featured characters from different religions and backgrounds? 

From the very beginning, I wanted R.A.T.S: Revolutionary Army of Teens, We Are One to reflect the world we live in—a world filled with diverse cultures, beliefs, and experiences. By bringing together teenagers from different religions and backgrounds, I aimed to show that unity is possible despite our differences. The slogan We Are One is at the heart of the story, emphasizing that respect, understanding, and shared values can bridge divides. In a time when division is so prevalent, I believe young people have the power to create a movement that fosters true connection and change.

2. What do you believe young adult readers can learn from the book, and your tagline “We Are One”?

Young adult readers can learn that despite differences in culture, religion, and background, we share a common humanity and the ability to stand together for a better world. We Are One is more than just a tagline—it’s a call to embrace unity, respect, and empathy, showing that collaboration and understanding can overcome division. The book encourages young people to see strength in diversity and to work together toward positive change. In a time when society often highlights what separates us, this message is a reminder that true power lies in coming together.

3. For young adults, how does your book inspire a generational shift to disconnect from screens?

My book inspires young adults to disconnect from screens by showing the power of real-life connections, teamwork, and hands-on action. The characters in R.A.T.S: Revolutionary Army of Teens, We Are One don’t rely on technology to make a difference—they build relationships, solve problems, and take meaningful action in the real world. This encourages readers to step away from digital distractions and engage more with their surroundings, their families, and their communities. The story serves as a reminder that true change happens not behind a screen, but through personal effort and genuine human connection.

4. How does your clean book, free of negative influences, offer a fresh perspective on unity, love and respect?

I wrote R.A.T.S: Revolutionary Army of Teens, We Are One with a deep conviction that young people deserve stories that uplift, inspire, and empower them. In a world where so much media normalizes division, disrespect, and negativity, I wanted to create something different—something that reminds readers of the beauty of unity, love, and respect. My book proves that a powerful story doesn’t need violence, drugs, or harmful influences to be exciting and meaningful. Instead, it focuses on the strength found in friendship, the courage to stand up for what is right, and the belief that even the smallest act of kindness can change the world. I truly believe that if we nurture these values in the next generation, we can build a better future—together.

5. How does your book emphasize mankind’s deep connection with nature?

My book emphasizes humanity’s deep connection with nature by reminding readers that we are not separate from the world around us—we are part of it. The air we breathe, the water we drink and share with plants and animals, the earth that nourishes our food, and the vast sea that sustains life all connect us in an unbreakable cycle. Even our own bodies, made up of about 75% water, reflect this profound relationship with nature. Through the story, I encourage young readers to respect and protect our planet, recognizing that harming it is ultimately harming ourselves. Now, more than ever, we must take action to care for nature before it is too late—because our future depends on it.

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/

CHARLESTON, SC – After volunteering at the Charleston Fire Dept., Wendy Gee was inspired to write “Fleet Landing” a gripping mystery novel about a team dedicated to stopping a rogue arsonist.

In the book, ATF Special Agent Cooper “Coop” Bellamy’s rigid adherence to rules has left his relationship with his 11-year-old daughter in ashes. When Charleston’s fire chief calls him to investigate a series of mysterious nuisance fires ravaging the city, Coop sees a chance to redeem himself as a father and catch a dangerous arsonist. But as the fires turn deadly, he finds himself torn between family and duty.

Enter tenacious TV reporter Sydney Quinn, whose pursuit of justice for a man wrongly convicted of arson puts her on a collision course with a sinister figure known only as the Falcon. After uncovering a decades-old conspiracy, she receives a chilling warning to back off.

Forced to work together, Coop and Sydney must navigate a labyrinth of lies and corruption. Their investigation ignites a powder keg of danger, testing Coop’s ironclad principles and Sydney’s journalistic integrity. With time running out and lives on the line, the duo must fight to extinguish the threat before everything they love goes up in smoke.

“Fleet Landing”

Wendy Gee | June 10, 2025 | BooksFluent | Fiction, Mystery

Paperback | ISBN: 978-1-953865-87-8 | $15.99

Ebook | ISBN: 978-1-953865-88-5 | $6.99

WENDY GEE: After a successful career in the U.S. Navy, Wendy Gee now channels her boundless energy into community volunteering, leaving no stone unturned—or unpainted—at the Charleston Fire Department, Friends of the Lewes Public Library Board of Directors, and Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. A proud graduate of the University of Michigan, University of Arizona, Naval War College, and Old Dominion University, Wendy combines her academic prowess and life experiences into her writing.

Residing in Lewes, DE, she is an avid golfer, a diehard Detroit Tigers and Lions fan (even when they’re not winning, but so excited when they are), and a pickleball enthusiast who’s always ready to serve up some fun. Her work has been shortlisted with Killer Nashville and the Writer’s League of Texas. And as a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime, Wendy’s passion for the mystery genre is no secret—though she might leave a few clues lying around just for fun. Learn more at: www.wendygeeauthor.com 

In an interview, Wendy Gee can discuss:

• How her volunteer work with the Charleston Fire Department led her to writing her debut novel
• What it takes to be a firefighter, and the surprising true stories she witnessed at the station
• What drew her to the mystery genre, and how she crafts suspenseful stories based in part on the everyday lives of firefighters
• What her plans are for the Carolina Crossfire series moving forward

An Interview with Wendy Gee

1. How did you get involved with the Charleston Fire Department?

Back in the day, my neighbor was the CFD Fire Marshal, and he was practically a celebrity—always in the news. Curious about his division’s many challenges and adventures, I offered to help out as a volunteer. Little did I know, I’d end up writing about their tales. I didn’t think of myself as a writer back then, but those stories were so colorful, I had to put them on paper.

2. What was the inspiration behind “Fleet Landing”?

The story is loosely based on an actual series of unsolved fires and the true story of a man released after spending more than four decades in prison for a fire he didn’t commit. When those narratives were woven together, the combination resulted in what I hope is a compelling story.

3. What is your writing process like?

I start with the crime I’ll be working through–which is tangential to the “murder(s).” That leads me to researching, headline ripping, then mashing things all together into an amalgam that I hope will capture people’s imagination.

4. What drew you to the mystery genre? What writers inspire you?

I have always enjoyed the twists and turns of a well-conceived story. I try to figure things out ahead of the story’s investigator, but am completely satisfied when the author makes a final tug of the rug. I love Robert Crais, Janet Evonovich, Karin Slaughter–just to name a few of the brightest stars.

5. What’s next? Can readers expect to see more of Coop in the future?

Coop will reappear. But Sydney takes the lead in Book 2 solving a high-stakes cybercrime. And Dino takes charge of Book 3 as we delve into his origins as a police officer.

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/

TORONTO – Since the Age of Enlightenment, Black bodies have been sites of trauma. Drawing on anti-colonial theory, “From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter” interrogates how this has shaped understandings of Black life, Black trauma and Black responses to trauma within psychiatry and other mental health professions. 

Focusing on the impact of racism on the mental health of Black communities in Canada, the U.K. and the U.S., author Ingrid R.G. Waldron examines the structural inequities that have contributed to the legacy of racial trauma in Black communities. Drawing on existing literature, as well as the voices of Black Canadians who participated in recent studies conducted by the author, Waldron uses an intersectional analysis to pinpoint how the intersections of race, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age and citizenship status shape experiences of racial trauma, mental illness and help-seeking in Black communities. Tracing the ideological representations of Black people within psychiatric and other mental health institutions that influence the diagnoses applied to them, chapters also highlight the beliefs and perceptions Black communities hold about mental health and help-seeking. 

A timely challenge to the colonial and imperial legacy of psychiatry, “From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter” demonstrates how the politics of race and psychiatric diagnosis collide when diagnosing Black people and what this means for our current public health crisis.

“From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter”

Ingrid R.G. Waldron | Nov. 25, 2024 | Emerald Publishing 

Race and Ethnic Studies / Discrimination and Racism / Mental Health 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Ingrid Waldron is Professor and HOPE Chair in Peace and Health in the Global Peace and Social Justice Program in the Faculty of Humanities at McMaster University. Her research focuses on the health and mental health impacts of racism and other forms of discrimination in Black and other racialized communities, including environmental and climate justice in Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities, including mental illness, dementia, cancer, COVID-19, as well as the health and mental health effects of environmental racism and climate change injustices. Waldron is the author of the book “There’s Something in the Water: Environmental Racism in Indigenous and Black Communities,” which was turned into a 2020 Netflix documentary of the same name and was co-produced by Waldron, actor Elliot Page, and Ian Daniel. She is the founder and Director of the Environmental Noxiousness, Racial Inequities and Community Health Project (The ENRICH Project) and helped develop the federal private members bill a National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice (Bill C-226). Bill C-226 was approved at the Senate on June 13, 2024, and given royal assent on June 20, 2024, becoming the first environmental justice law in Canada. Dr. Waldron’s book, “From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter: Tracing the Impacts of Racial Trauma in Black Communities from the Colonial Era to the Present,” was published on November 25, 2024. It traces experiences of racial trauma in Black communities in Canada, the US and the UK from the colonial era to the present.

Follow Ingrid R.G. Waldron on Twitter (X) @ingrid_waldron

PRAISE FOR INGRID R.G. WALDRON

“This book is illuminating and groundbreaking in many ways for its examination of how anti-Black racism and the interstices of identities contribute to the legacy of racial trauma in Black communities in Canada, the US, and the UK. Its comparative edge makes the book a must read for all interested in fighting anti-Blackness in Black health, racial trauma and beyond. By tracing perceptions of the Black body in the field of psychiatry, and how these perceptions have informed diagnosis and treatment from the colonial era to the present, readers get new exposures. The book drives home much-needed considerations to be had and actions to be taken to address racial trauma and mental illness in Black communities in Canada, the US and the UK.” — George J. Sefa Dei, Professor of Social Justice Education & Director Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies, OISE, University of Toronto

“Ingrid R.G. Waldron has done something truly remarkable: authored a definitive exploration of the effects of racism on Black mental health. From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter is a powerful, systematic and wholly convincing account of racial trauma – and of the mental and physical effects and consequences that Black and other racialized people experience after being exposed to racism. The book represents a brilliant summation of the strengths and limitations of our efforts to intervene to arrest racism’s searing psychological effects. This is required reading for anyone who wants to learn more about how the crimes of past shape the psyches of the future; and about what we can do to start the process of making things right.” — Jonathan M. Metzl, author of “What We’ve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms”

In an interview, Ingrid R.G. Waldron can discuss:

• Foundations of racial trauma in psychiatry – The late 19th-century debate on the supposed absence of “madness” among non-White populations reinforced harmful stereotypes about Black resilience and immunity to pain.
• Racial trauma and mental illness – Systemic racism significantly contributes to poorer mental and physical health outcomes in racialized communities. 
• The role of psychiatry in upholding racial inequities – Psychiatry has historically framed Western culture as superior, marginalizing non-Western understandings of mental health.
• The racialization of psychiatric diagnoses – Black individuals face higher rates of involuntary hospitalization due to systemic biases in healthcare and policing. 
• Black Lives Matter and the public health crisis of racism – The social determinants of health, such as employment, housing, and policing, contribute to racial trauma. 
• Mental health perceptions and help-seeking in Black communities – Historical, social, and cultural beliefs influence how Black individuals perceive and seek help for mental illness.
• Strategies for decolonizing mental health – Addressing racial trauma requires a multilevel approach, involving systemic reform, cultural shifts, and grassroots advocacy 

An Interview with Ingrid R.G. Waldron

1. What drew you to investigating the history of racism in psychiatry? 

I first began investigating the history of racism in psychiatry back in 1998 when I was doing my PhD. My PhD thesis focused on Black women’s experiences with mental illness and help-seeking, and as I continued conducting a literature review on that topic I started to encounter articles on the history of racism in psychiatry, which I found to be fascinating and relevant to my doctoral work. I decided to include that information in my new book because it provided a needed historical perspective on the mental health system and the racism that can be imbued within it.

2. How has historic bias in mental healthcare shaped the diagnosis and treatment of Black patients? How does that differ from how white people are treated and diagnosed? 

The biases, stigma, prejudice and racism that Black people faced during and since the colonial era, and in particular during the Age of Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution, has informed how Black patients are perceived, assessed, diagnosed and treated within the mental health system. The diagnoses that are applied to Black people  are often aligned with characterizations of Black people as pathological, dangerous, violent.

3. What patterns did you notice in comparing how racism affects Black mental health in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom? What were some similarities and differences of note?

While we are more likely to see instances of direct and overt forms of racism in the U.S. than in Canada and the U.K., I believe experiences of systemic racism are similar in all three countries. The impacts on mental health will also be similar, but since there are less studies on this topic in Canada than in the U.S. and the U.K., it is difficult to say.

4. How has everyday racism and historical oppression contributed to psychological distress in Black communities? How does this manifest? Can you draw a connection from historical oppression to modern psychological distress?

Everyday racism is embedded within all our social structures – from education to the criminal justice system, employment, labour, public infrastructure, and environment. Decisions and policies are developed by policy makers and decision makers within the social structures, and those decisions and policies are often informed by racist ideologies or they exclude the needs of Black and other racialized peoples. I often say that racism gets written into policies in ways that harm racialized people in their everyday lives. 

5. What does it mean to decolonize mental health? What steps can professionals, institutions and policymakers take to make mental health care more equitable?

If we understand that the mental health system, just like the education system and other systems, is a colonial institution that centers whiteness and Euro-Western thought in programs, policies and practices, then we can better understand what it means to decolonize mental health. In my book, I offer a multilevel analysis for decolonizing mental health where the needs of Black and other racially diverse communities are more strongly considered in health education, clinical services, clinical programs and policy. 

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/

Palo Alto, CA – Debut author J. E. Weiner pens “The Wretched and Undone” (History Through Fiction, March 18th, 2025). A Killer Nashville Top Pick for 2024 and Claymore Award Finalist for Best Southern Gothic. 

This captivating saga blends real historical events with fiction as Weiner draws from her lived experiences with the supernatural in the Texas Hill Country. “The Wretched and Undone” offers a fresh take on Southern Gothic with a unique and genre-bending dash of Texas Noir and the traditional Western – genres traditionally dominated by male authors – lifting up voices silenced and lessons still not learned. 

On the eve of the Civil War, Polish immigrants Marcin and Agnieszka Anderwald arrive in Bandera, Texas, seeking a fresh start in a new land of faith, fertile soil, and freedom. But their dreams quickly become nightmares when Marcin provokes a sinister specter hell-bent on revenge. A battle ensues for the hearts, minds, and souls of the Anderwalds and their extended family of immigrant outcasts, Arab camel wranglers, wounded warriors, and a songstress on the verge of madness. As the generations unfold, each faces its own harrowing ordeal against unrelenting evil. Will the Anderwalds break free or remain forever wretched and undone? 

“A genre-bending thrill ride through Old Texas. Once in a while, a book catches you off guard with its depth, innovation, and storytelling. This is that book.” 

– CJ Howell, author of The Salt Cutter

“The Wretched and Undone”

J.E. Weiner | March 18, 2025 | History Through Fiction 

Historical Fiction, Southern Gothic

Hardcover | 978-1963452105 | $33.95

 Paperback | 978-1963452112 | $19.95

Ebook | 978-1963452129 | $9.99

J.E. Weiner is a writer and novelist based in Northern California. Her debut novel, “The Wretched and Undone”, is a searing and genre-bending Southern Gothic tale set in the heart of the Texas Hill Country and inspired by real people and actual events. The book manuscript was named a Killer Nashville Top Pick for 2024 and a Claymore Award Finalist for Best Southern Gothic. 

Weiner’s previous work has appeared in the literary journals Madcap Review, Five Minutes, HerStry, and Chicago Story Press, as well as the recent grit-lit anthology “Red-Headed Writing” (Cowboy Jamboree Press, 2024). Weiner is a founding member of the Pacific Coast Writers Collective, and while living and writing in blissful exile on the West Coast, her heart remains bound to her childhood home, the Great State of Texas. Learn more about J. E. and her writing at her website. 

Follow J. E. Weiner on social media:

Facebook: @J.E.Weiner  | Instagram: @jeweinerauthor 

Advanced Praise for “The Wretched and Undone”

“A tale from a promising writer that grabs readers from the very first line!” – Kirkus Reviews

“A compelling, slow-burning horror story of a cursed family, haunted across the generations…The author takes her time, building the suspense with an Old Testament sense of inevitable damnation while masterfully pulling from the rich and violent history of Texas and its immigrant settlers…”

– Jim Nesbitt, author of the award-winning Ed Earl Burch hard-boiled Texas crime thrillers

“A grand saga of a novel by J.E. Weiner, “The Wretched and Undone” is set in the heart of the Texas Hill Country and, although a deftly crafted work of historical fiction, was inspired by real people and historical events. Author J.E. Weiner’s singularly effective and distinctive storytelling style has created an inherently fascinating and entertaining read from start to finish. One that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book is finished and set back upon the shelf.” 

– Midwest Book Review 

In an interview, J. E. Weiner can discuss:

• The real-life experiences with the supernatural propelled her to write this gripping Southern Gothic novel
• How the story engages the universal themes of family, faith, grief, forgiveness, hope, and the resilience but not infallibility of the human spirit
• How her debut is one of few books that blends Southern Gothic, Texas Noir and Western genres, genres long dominated by male authors such as Cormac McCarthy, Larry McMurtry, and most recently Taylor Sheridan 
• How immersing herself in history, particularly in Bandera, Texas, helped her craft the plot for “The Wretched and Undone” 
• The “trope-defying” aspects of the novel: a unique spin on the traditional Western with paranormal elements and the commentary on societal disenfranchisement of the period 
• How the novel embraces an “on the nose” style that delves into tough truths about dark and morally ambiguous times in Texas and US history
• The role music, and specifically the history of country music plays as a backdrop to the story
• How her training as a historian shaped her approach to background research for the novel, including the adaptation of family and oral histories for historical fiction writing

An Interview with J.E. Weiner

1. Tell us a bit more about the personal experiences that inspired “The Wretched and Undone.” Is there an autobiographical element to the story? 

All stories are autobiographical in some way, and this novel is no exception. Many of the characters in the book are drawn from historical records, memoirs, and family oral histories, but it was one particular story that surfaced from multiple sources that inspired “The Wretched and Undone.” Several witnesses described strange encounters with a mysterious woman in white on an old cattle ranch near Bandera, Texas. 

2. The presence of ghosts haunts the Anderwald family. What do you think the “ghosts” might represent in the broader context of history, and do you believe in ghosts? 

The ghosts of “The Wretched and Undone” are the manifestation of each character’s struggle to navigate love and loss, sin and redemption, good and evil, and faith and loss of faith. So, too, are the demons. But they also represent the enduring and universal human condition and the resiliency of the human spirit in this world and beyond. Do I believe in ghosts? Though I am trained as a historian, attuned to the critical power of facts and data, and a bit of a skeptic, I cannot discount the experiences of those I know, trust, and respect, or my own personal encounters with the seemingly unexplainable. So, my answer: I absolutely, one hundred percent believe in ghosts.

3. What about Bandera and the Texas Hill Country compelled you to write this story? 

The ghost on that old ranch down along the Medina River drew me to this story, and the ruggedly beautiful topography of the Texas Hill Country drew me to the place, but it was the complex and fascinating history of Bandera and the region that consumed my imagination as both a historian and a writer. The intrepid pioneers who crossed the Atlantic on a cramped steamship and made their way over 300 miles by oxcart from the Port of Galveston to Bandera on the eve of the American Civil War had no idea what hardship awaited them at a tough and morally ambiguous crossroads in the history of Texas and the United States. They persevered over the generations, loyal to their families, faith, and land, often at their own peril. And the history of the self-proclaimed “Cowboy Capital of the World” is as quirky and funny as it is tragic. The story of Bandera is a quintessential American tale.

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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.

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