Author: Marissa DeCuir

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

A powerful Boston family is desperate to keep old secrets buried …

BOSTON – At the center of Edwin Hill’s intricate mystery series is Hester Thursby, a research librarian who’s complicated, bookish and realistically flawed. In the acclaimed series’s newest installment, “Watch Her,” (Dec. 29, 2020, Kensington Books), Hester teams up with reader-favorite Detective Angela White to investigate missing alumni of a decadent for-profit university, plunging into a world of academic scandal, old money, infidelity, buried secrets … and murder.

While attending a gala at Prescott University’s lavish new campus, Hester and White, are called to the home of the college’s owners, Tucker and Jennifer Matson. Jennifer claims someone broke into Pinebank, their secluded mansion on the banks of Jamaica Pond. The more Hester and Angela investigate, the less they believe Jennifer’s story, leaving Hester to wonder why she would lie.

When Hester is asked by the college’s general manager to locate some missing alumni, she employs her research skills on the family and their for-profit university. Between financial transgressions, a long-ago tragedy and rumors of infidelity, it’s clear the Matsons aren’t immune to scandal or mishap. But when one of the missing students turns up dead, the mystery takes on new urgency. Hester is edging closer to the truth, but as a decades-old secret collides with new lies, a killer grows more determined to keep the past buried with the dead …

Praise for Edwin Hill and the Hester Thursby series:

“Complex characterization and a masterly mystery make this a superior read.”
— Kirkus review of “Watch Her”

“Quirky characters complement the suspenseful plot. Readers will agree that a failing school makes a grade-A mystery.”
— Publisher’s Weekly review of “Watch Her”

“Intense…Poignantly looks at the fragility of emotional health and the pitfalls of trying to make a fresh start … Hill’s affinity for creating realistic characters with complicated personalities and suspenseful plots shines.”
– Associated Press review of “The Missing Ones”

“Addressing the impact of illegal drug dealing and use, this whodunit has broken family dynamics and a wonderfully complex and intricate mystery, plenty to engage readers looking for a new amateur detective to follow.”
– Library Journal STARRED REVIEW of “The Missing Ones”

“Hill demonstrates the same humor, malice, and zinging dialogue that made his debut novel one to savor, and he commands our attention as a rising star in the mystery genre. Don’t miss out on The Missing Ones.”
– New York Journal of Books review of “The Missing Ones”

“The Missing Ones is a resounding triumph that reaffirms Edwin Hill’s emergence as a fierce new voice in crime fiction. While the mysteries of the missing and murdered are skillfully rendered and satisfyingly (if sometimes heartbreakingly) resolved, it’s the characters themselves and their myriad dreams and disillusionments that demand our attention. This book, then, is a salient reminder that we are all broken in some way and that we are all trying to put ourselves — and each other — back together again.”
– Criminal Element review of “The Missing Ones”

“[A] well-crafted, extremely promising debut and series launch…An increasingly tense plot and striking characters – in particular, compassionate, conflicted, loving Hester – make this a standout.”
– Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW of “Little Comfort”

“Thursby is a tough, cerebral, relatably flawed sleuth who lulls herself to sleep with horror films and takes on serial killers and unexpected motherhood without skipping a beat. A dark but compassionate psychological-thriller debut with great appeal for fans of Ruth Ware and Cornelia Read.”
– Booklist STARRED REVIEW of “Little Comfort”

“Watch Her” (A Hester Thursby Mystery #3)

Edwin Hill | Dec. 29, 2020 | Kensington Books | Mystery
Hardcover | 978-1-4967-2676-6 | $26.00 ($28.95 CAN)

EDWIN HILL is the author of the critically acclaimed Hester Thursby mystery series, the first of which, “Little Comfort,” was an Agatha Award finalist, a selection of the Mysterious Press First Mystery Club, and a Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books selection. The second installment, “The Missing Ones,” was also an Agatha Award finalist and a Sue Grafton Memorial Award nominee. Formerly the vice president and editorial director for Bedford/St. Martin’s (Macmillan), he now teaches at Emerson College and has written for the L.A. Review of Books, The Life Sentence, Publishers Weekly, and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. He lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts with his partner Michael and their Labrador, Edith Ann. Visit Edwin online at www.Edwin-Hill.com.

In an interview, Edwin Hill can discuss:

• Writing a successful award-winning female-led mystery series as a male author
• The process of developing characters across multiple books in a series
• Crafting a novel that accurately captures the realms of higher education and academia
• His connection to the Boston/New England area and setting his books in those locations
• Writing on social status and gender dynamics and crafting characters that defy stereotypes

An interview with EDWIN HILL

1. This is the third installment of the Hester Thursby series. How has Hester evolved from the beginning of Book 1 to now?

I like to think that she’s grown (and grown up) a bit! When we first meet Hester Thursby in “Little Comfort,” she’s recently been saddled with her 3-year-old niece, Kate, and has decidedly mixed feelings about raising someone else’s child. That ambivalence strains her relationship with her long-time boyfriend, Morgan Maguire. The traumatic events of “Little Comfort” leave Hester emotionally scarred. She carries those scars into the second novel in the series, “The Missing Ones,” and those scars almost break her relationship with Morgan.

“Watch Her” picks up a year-and-half later. As a couple, Hester and Morgan have healed stronger than they were before, and they’ve both committed to raising Kate as full-time caretakers. They’ve also continued to expand their found family. Many of the recurring characters in the series, including fan-favorites Angela White and Jamie Williams (and Waffles, of course) make appearances in this book.

2. Are there any challenges you’ve come across as a male author writing a female-led series? How have you overcome those challenges?

I always say that writing is a series of problem-solving exercises, and this would be one of those exercises! Anytime you write a character who’s removed from your own experiences, you have to make sure you’re asking the right questions and talking to people who have had those experiences to test your assumptions. The job of the fiction writer is to inhabit characters and represent them as fully realized and three-dimensional. You wouldn’t want to read a novel about me (too boring!), so all my characters have to be developed through my imagination. Hester experiences all sorts of things that I’ll never experience — she’s a woman; she’s 12 years younger than I am; she has a child; she works as a librarian; she’s estranged from her mother; she’s very short — and my goal is to make those experiences seem authentic to the reader. I talk to lots of people and have a group of reviewers look at drafts of novels before they go to my editor to flag anything that seems off. Ultimately, though, it’s up to me and whether I can provide that connection for the reader.

While Hester and Morgan are the central characters in the novels, all of the Hester Thursby novels are told from multiple points of view, so this challenge doesn’t stop with Hester!

3. The book focuses on gender dynamics between the 1990s and 2010s. Can you talk a bit about writing characters that explore and defy stereotypes?

Each of my books explores different aspects of gender and sexuality. Hester struggles against submitting to gender norms. I also bring queer-identified characters into the novels. Angela White is one of the recurring characters in the series. She is a detective in the Boston Police Department and lives with her wife, Cary, and Cary’s son in Dorchester. Angela had a small role in “Little Comfort” and a somewhat larger role in “The Missing Ones,” but I wanted to bring her into the forefront of “Watch Her” and to fully explore her work and home life. For me, she’s a standout in this book.

4. Can you speak a bit to your connection with the Boston area and why you’ve set the series there?

I grew up in Massachusetts, and after a few years in California, have lived here for the past two decades. One of things I like about Boston and New England is that the landscape offers a lot of variety in a relatively compact area, which is perfect for writing. Hester and Morgan live in Somerville, where, not coincidentally, I lived when I first started the series. Each of the books is set in Somerville and in other picturesque locations — Beacon Hill and the Lakes District of New Hampshire for “Little Comfort”; an island off the coast of Maine for “The Missing Ones”; and Jamaica Plain for “Watch Her.” I’ve also enjoyed playing with the weather — something that also varies in New England. “Little Comfort” is set in the dead of winter. “The Missing Ones” is set in the autumn, and “Watch Her” is set in spring.

5. The book centers around the fictional for-profit Prescott University. Did you do any sort of research to help accurately depict the world of higher education?

My research for this book was three-fold. I worked in higher ed publishing for many years and saw some of the ins and outs of academia in that job. For-profit schools differ from traditional schools in that they report to a board of directors that expects a return on their investment. I didn’t want Prescott University or Maxine Pawlikowski, the character who serves as the general manager of the school in the book, to be over-the-top corrupt, so I tried to base the college on good educational principles, even if some of the characters wind up making poor decisions. I also read up on for-profit colleges that have failed or been shut down in the past two decades like Corinthian Colleges. I wanted to understand what could make a seemingly thriving business go belly up and what impact that had on the students enrolled at those schools. What really helped me most, though, was graduating during a recession in the early ’90s. I had a series of terrible, terrible temp jobs that provided plenty of fodder for any poorly run business. When I wanted to show something going badly at Prescott University, I consulted my vast database of personal experiences!

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/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Williamsburg, VIRGINIA – From debut author Pamela N. Harris comes a timely, gripping teen novel about a boy who must take up the search for his sister when she goes missing from a neighborhood where Black girls’ disappearances are too often overlooked. “When You Look Like Us” (Jan. 5, 2021, HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books) is an intense and realistic story that is perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Tiffany D. Jackson.

When you look like Jay Murphy and his sister, Nicole — brown skin, brown eyes, black braids or fades — everyone else thinks you’re trouble. No one blinks twice over a missing Black girl from public housing because she must’ve brought whatever happened to her upon herself. Jay can even admit that, for a minute, he thought his sister Nicole just got caught up with her boyfriend, a drug dealer, and his friends. But she’s been gone too long.

It’s time for Jay to step up, to do what the Newport News Police Department won’t. Bring his sister home. Will there be enough people who believe in him even though the odds are stacked against him?

“A powerful story about misperceptions, reality, and the lives lived in between.” — Kirkus starred review

“When You Look Like Us”

Pamela N. Harris | Jan. 5, 2021 | Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins | Realistic/Suspense YA
Hardcover | 9780062945891 | $17.99

Pamela N. Harris was born and somewhat raised in Newport News, Virginia, also affectionately known as “Bad News.” A former school counselor by day, she received her bachelor’s in English and a master’s in school counseling at Old Dominion University, her M.F.A in creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision at William and Mary. When she isn’t writing, Pam is rewatching Leonardo DiCaprio movies, playing with her kiddos and pretending to enjoy exercising.
For more info on Pam, visit https://www.pamharriswrites.com/.

In an interview, Pamela N. Harris can discuss:

• The positive impact of teachers and school counselors who believe in their students
• The importance of school-family-community partnerships for students of color
• The Black Lives Matter movement and its presence in her story
• Being a debut author in the time of a global pandemic
• The importance of representation in media and how the characters in her book are representative of her personal teenage experience
• The real-life issue of Black girls going missing without much concern from police
• Juggling writing with parenthood and working full-time
• Her experiences being Black in the world of academia

An Interview with Pamela N. Harris

1. How does your book address stereotypes about Black people, both from others (like the media) and the ones that have been internalized?

I felt it was extremely important for my Black readers to see themselves on the page, and for readers from all backgrounds to see the dimensionalities of characters who don’t look or speak like them. Jay, my main character, lives in public housing — and because the media often portrays individuals from these neighborhoods in a negative light, Jay wants to prove he’s not this stereotype but isn’t aware that he holds some of these misperceptions, too. I wanted Jay to gradually become aware of his biases in an authentic way, and hopefully readers could follow him on that journey.

2. How did you successfully balance the mystery elements of your story with the larger real-life issue of Black girls going missing without much consideration by authorities?

When I was drafting “When You Look Like Us,” I was reading these series of tweets and other social media posts from devastated friends and family members of Black girls who had gone missing but who were not being acknowledged through major media outlets. While the mystery was definitely an important element, I also wanted to pay respect to those voices who felt as if they were being stifled.

3. How did your background in counseling school-aged children help you craft these characters?

My seven years as a school counselor was one of the highlights of my life. I’ve been fortunate enough to have former students reach out to me to let me know how much of a positive impact I had on their childhood — mainly because they always felt heard around me. Kids often go through their days being told what to do by adults, but I tried to empower them to be the experts in their own lives. To tell their own stories. And I listened. I remember my students of color coming to my office to complain about reading so many books with characters that didn’t look like them. At the time, the majority of the characters I wrote were white — mainly because that’s who I read about as a child and teen. I felt like I needed to wait for permission to tell the stories I wanted to tell featuring the characters I really wanted to write. My time with my students gave me the push I needed to stop waiting and to start putting my authentic voice on the page.

4. The story is based in Newport News, Virginia, the city you were born and raised in. What similarities are there between Jay’s neighborhood and experiences and yours?

I always say that I was born and mostly raised in Newport News since I lived on several different military bases off and on until I was 13. However, I never truly felt “home” until the summers I got to visit my cousins back in Newport News, or when my dad finally left the Marines and we moved to Newport News to be closer to family. I tried to “escape” several times. I got accepted into an out-of-state college but chose the one that was a 45-minute drive away. As an adult, I moved to another state for three years, but again, I felt unsettled until I decided to move closer to home. Since I spent my high school years struggling financially and living in public housing, just like Jay, I had associated Newport News with a negative experience. I’m now able to self-reflect and realized that I feel tethered to Newport News for good reason: My family, my friends, my teachers, the community as a whole made me the strong woman I am today. I wanted Jay’s story to be my love letter to Newport News. Even though he goes through similar feelings of resentment about being from there initially, he’s able to appreciate the city in the long run.

5. How did having mentors that encourage you change your life and help you persevere?

I was a first-generation college student, so having mentors beginning at a young age was critical for me. My parents did their jobs by loving and supporting me to the fullest, but they didn’t know what they didn’t know. What they did know is that they wanted to help me fulfill my dream of going to college and writing, so they didn’t mind reaching out to the village for guidance. I had strong, beautiful Black female educators help me navigate the college and scholarship application process. When I wanted to pursue my doctorate degree, I made sure to have two Black female professors on my dissertation committee. I was (and still am) intentional about who I seek for mentorship because it’s important to have someone who can relate to the obstacles that I go through as a female of color while also demonstrating how to be resilient and successful. Now that I’m living my dream as a writer, I look to other female authors who have the careers that I aspire to have as my guiding point.

6. What inspired you to write this story, and why is it so important to you personally?

I absolutely loved the noir movie, “Brick,” starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the TV show, “Veronica Mars.” While both of these featured characters of color, these characters only had supporting roles. I wanted to write a mystery with a Black protagonist simply because I hadn’t seen or read stories like this when I was growing up. I think it’s important for young readers to read about characters of color in all genres.

7. What do you hope readers gain from reading your novel?

It’s difficult to answer this question. As a school counselor, I know kids hate it when you obviously try to teach them a lesson. However, I would love for readers to walk away with a more open mind and heart — and to understand that skin color and ZIP codes only tell part of someone’s story.

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/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Jen Lu and her AI sidekick confront climate change and longevity drugs in 2033

TORONTO, Canada — Set in Washington, D.C. in 2033, climate change has hit hard, fires are burning, unemployment is high, and controversial longevity treatments are only available to the ultra-rich. Enter resourceful young police detective, Jen B. Lu, and her partner, Chandler, a synthetic computer implant in her brain acting as her link to police records and a constant voice inside her head. He’s a wannabe tough guy with a sense of humor and his own ideas about solving crimes.

As a detective in the Elder Abuse unit, Jen is supposed to be investigating kids pushing their aging parents to “exit” so they are eligible to get the longevity drug. But what really has her attention are the persistent rumors about Eden, an illegal version of the longevity drug, and the bizarre outbreak of people aging almost overnight, then suddenly dying.
When Jen’s investigations of Eden take her too close to the truth, she is suspended, Chandler is deactivated, and her boyfriend is freaked out by “the thing inside her brain”—leaving Jen to pursue a very dangerous investigation all on her own.

“The Last Exit: A Jen Lu Mystery”

Michael Kaufman | Jan. 12, 2021 | Crooked Lane | Mystery
Hardcover | ISBN: 9781643855677 | Price: $27.99

Praise for the book…

“[An] outstanding series launch…Exceptional worldbuilding is complemented by sympathetic characters and suspenseful plot twists. Kaufman is a writer to watch.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Kaufman keeps the pot boiling…A strong, richly imagined brew.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“An engrossing thriller set in a fascinatingly plausible near future, The Last Exit centres on a human-AI partnership that’s as believable as it’s moving.”
—Emma Donoghue, New York Times bestselling author of Room

“The Last Exit hits hard. Fast action—a melding of the mental and physical—keeps this smart futuristic thriller racing, and its contemporary implications keep the reader thinking.”
—Thomas Perry, bestselling author of A Small Town

“Global warming, deadly epidemics, and frightening advances in artificial intelligence combine to add unbearable tension to this fast-paced and, somehow, even funny mystery.”
—Richard Reyes-Gavilan, executive director, DC Public Library

“Detective Lu has troubles aplenty coming at her in this fast-paced thriller: a baffling mystery to solve when too many people start dying too fast, personal moral quandaries to wrestle with, and a cruel and inequitable society on the brink of chaos to navigate.”
—Con Lehane, author of the 42nd Street Library mysteries

“I love a book that makes me think, shows me a different world, and makes me savor the world I have, and be more grateful for it.”
—Anne Perry, international bestselling author of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt mysteries

“A highly accomplished debut that does not miss a beat.”
—Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, bestselling author of Last Ritual

About the author…

MICHAEL KAUFMAN: Michael has worked for decades engaging men to support women’s rights and positively transform the lives of men. He is the co-founder of the White Ribbon Campaign, the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women. He volunteers as a senior fellow at Promundo (Washington, DC) and has worked in fifty countries with the United Nations, governments, NGOs and educators. He advised the French government in 2019 as a member of its G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council. He is the author of numerous nonfiction and fiction works, and was awarded the Canadian Jewish Book Award for Fiction. His most recent nonfiction book is The Time Has Come. Why Men Must Join the Gender Equality Revolution (2019) and his most recent novel is The Last Exit: A Jen Lu Mystery (2020). His books and articles have been translated into fourteen languages. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, having lived in Durham, North Carolina, and now living in Toronto, Canada, he is married and has a daughter and a son. For more information, please visit: https://michaelkaufman.com/

In an interview, Michael Kaufman can discuss:

• Which aspects of the novel parallel our biggest fears in 2021, and what a hopeful take on dystopian themes can teach us about moving forward.
• How a decades-long career in gender equality influenced his fiction writing.
• How The Last Exit blends elements of the police procedural mystery genre with those of political thrillers, science fiction, speculative fiction, anti-racist and feminist works.
• His thoughts on weaving themes about climate change, technology, the role of the police, and political corruption into a work of fiction.
• What’s next for Jen Lu.

An Interview with Michael Kaufman

1. You’ve written seven non-fiction books and worked in fifty countries with the UN, governments, women’s organizations, companies, and educators to engage men to support women’s rights and end violence against women. Why are you making this shift to writing fiction?

I’ve always read much more fiction than non-fiction, including a zillion mysteries, and I have two other published novels. I’ve long wanted to focus on fiction-writing, but for many years there were so few men speaking out for women’s rights and for men to play an equal role in raising children that I felt a responsibility to put most of my attention on that. Now there are thousands of us and many organizations that engage men and boys–so I felt that the time had come to focus on the thing I’ve long dreamed of doing.

2. Your book has people wearing N95 masks, a virus affecting great numbers, a massive forest fire, and an uprising against the police. Did you write this in response to Covid-19, the 2019 and 2020 West Coast fires, and Black Lives Matter?

It does have a bit of a “ripped from the headlines” feel, but I swear on a stack of Bibles all that was in the drafts written in 2018 and early 2019. An early draft has “Jen put on her N95” because of smoke from a forest fire; I edited it to read “her N95 mask” because I figured readers wouldn’t have a clue what I was talking about. Oh how things change. There are details, however, that even the most fevered imagination couldn’t cook up: like a virus killing millions being called a hoax and people showing their lemming-like political loyalties by defying simple public health measures. That definitely is not in this book.

3. Why did you choose to highlight hope within what might otherwise be a very dark novel? In these difficult times, can we actually imagine a future with real hope?

Set in 2033, The Last Exit, does have a few dystopian elements, but the same could be said for Washington, D.C. in, say, 2020 and 2021. But it’s a positive book, full of hope–not because I’m naive, but because I believe in our personal and collective capacity to build a better future. One reason I wrote this book (other than to be utterly entertaining!) was to give people a chance to experience that hope and to understand how we can act, both on our own and together, to change the world.

4. While there’s an important mystery at its core, The Last Exit also blends in elements from other genres, such as: political thrillers, speculative fiction, dystopian fiction, anti-racist and feminist works. Which elements did you seek to highlight (or avoid) within these multiple genres?

First and foremost, The Last Exit is a mystery, with strong elements of a police procedural. I wanted it to be exciting but also a ton of fun to read. I wanted it to be thrilling, but definitely not a techno-thriller or a chase novel. I wanted it to be a page turner but have solid literary chops. Yes, it’s set in the very near future, but it doesn’t focus on technology–a few things have changed but it looks pretty much like Washington, D.C. today. I wanted my feminist, anti-racist, LGBQT-positive, and pro-economic-equality ideals just to be there, as part of Jen Lu’s world, and not something the book makes speeches about.

5. What’s next for you? Can readers expect to see more from Jen Lu in the future?

Although I’ll continue as a public voice for women’s rights and better ideals of manhood, my focus for the years ahead is my fiction writing. I’ve finished a draft of the second Jen Lu mystery and I’m really excited by the direction it’s taking. I’m writing a screenplay based on my first novel, and I’ll soon return to work on a literary novel I started years ago.

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/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Can your zip code predict when you will die? Should you space out childhood vaccines? Does talcum powder cause cancer? Why do some doctors recommend e-cigarettes while other doctors recommend you stay away from them? Health information―and misinformation―is all around us, and it can be hard to separate the two. A long history of unethical medical experiments and medical mistakes, along with a host of celebrities spewing anti-science beliefs, has left many wary of science and the scientists who say they should be trusted. How can we unravel the knots of fact and fiction to find out what we should really be concerned about, and what we can laugh off?

In Viral BS, medical journalist, doctor, professor, and former CDC disease detective Seema Yasmin, driven by a need to set the record straight, dissects some of the most widely circulating medical myths and pseudoscience. Exploring how epidemics of misinformation and disinformation can spread faster than microbes, Dr. Yasmin asks why bad science is sometimes more believable and contagious than the facts. Each easy-to-read chapter covers a specific myth, whether it has endured for many years or hit the headlines more recently. Dr. Yasmin explores such pressing questions as

• Do cell phones, Nutella, or bacon cause cancer?
• Does playing football cause brain disease?
• Should you eat your placenta?
• Do the flat tummy teas promoted by celebs on Instagram actually work?
• Is the CDC banned from studying guns?
• Do patients cared for by female doctors live longer?
• Is trauma inherited?
• Is suicide contagious? and much more.

Taking a deep dive into the health and science questions you have always wanted answered, this authoritative and entertaining book empowers readers to reach their own conclusions. Viral BS even comes with Dr. Yasmin’s handy pull-out-and-keep Bulls*%t Detection Kit.

“Viral BS: Medical Myths and Why We Fall for Them”

Seema Yasmin | January 12, 2021 | Johns Hopkins University Press | Nonfiction, Science
Hardcover | ISBN: 1421440407 | $24.95

Based on her original reporting from West Africa and the United States, If God Is A Virus charts the course of the largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic in history, telling the stories of Ebola survivors, outbreak responders, journalists and the virus itself. This highly anticipated debut poetry collection by journalist, epidemic expert and poet, Dr. Seema Yasmin, features documentary poems exploring which human lives are valued, how news editorial decisions are weighed, what role nonprofits and the aid industrial complex plays in crises, and how medical myths can travel through the hot zone faster than a virus itself.

These poems also give voice to the Ebola virus. Eight percent of the human genome is inherited from viruses and the human placenta would not exist without a gene descended from a virus. If God Is A Virus reimagines viruses as givers of life and even authors of a viral self-help book.

If God Is a Virus: Poems

Seema Yasmin | April 6, 2021 | Haymarket Books | Poetry
Paperback | ISBN: 1642594598 | $16.00

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Seema Yasmin is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, medical doctor, disease detective and author. She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in breaking news reporting in 2017 with her team from The Dallas Morning News for coverage of a mass shooting. Yasmin was a disease detective in the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where she chased outbreaks in maximum-security prisons, American Indian reservations, border towns and hospitals. Currently, Dr. Yasmin is a Stanford professor, medical analyst for CNN and science correspondent for Conde Nast Entertainment. Find her at seemayasmin.com, Twitter @DoctorYasmin and Instagram: @drseemayasmin.

An Interview with Dr. Seema Yasmin

1. Viral BS feels especially relevant during a pandemic. Did you write it because of Covid-19?
   I started to write this book in 2016 following the success of a regular column I wrote called Debunked. Every week I’d dissect reader questions about medicines, chemtrails, vaccines, diets, and other health hot topics – and there were plenty of topics. Medical myths and health hoaxes are not new and sometimes the way studies are reported in the news can give a false sense of what a study actually found. That’s why there are chapters about dietary supplements, cholesterol-lowering medicines, vaccines and other topics on which there is much confusion. So it feels timely now because we are experiencing a pandemic and an infodemic, but the spread of health misinformation and disinformation is nothing new!
2. How did you go from being a doctor and disease detective to a journalist?
   I went from medical school and the CDC to journalism school because while I was investigating epidemics I witnessed the spread of not only disease, but rumours and hoaxes about disease. I also saw the unraveling of decades of public health achievements, such as vaccines, because anti-vaccine groups were so effective at sharing their misleading stories. Journalism school was a way to train in effective storytelling, to try and counter some of the health misinformation out there, and to extend my public health work to a much wider audience. I wanted accurate health information to be available to as many people as possible.
3. We’re living in a world where we are bombarded with misinformation. How do we become more mindful consumers of information related to disease and health? Do you have any tips on what to look for to help decipher between “real news” and fear-mongering?
   Use the BS detection kit at the back of Viral BS! It’s important to remember that false information often thrives and goes viral because it’s sensational, emotionally triggering and novel. It’s the kind of stuff that feels new and makes you want to share with others, versus accurate information which isn’t usually as “wow” inducing. False information is designed to go viral by being compelling. So consider that a first red flag. And then, like the United Nations #PledgeToPause campaign that I’m involved with, take a minute and pause before you retweet, repost or forward on Whatsapp. Do your due diligence, check what else has been reported on this issue, do a reverse image search and some fact checking before you share with others. And finally, talk to friends and family about what you’ve seen before deciding to believe it. Studies show that people exposed to false anti-vaccine messages on social media were less likely to fall for the lies if they discussed the messages with loved ones.
4. What medical myths did you believe as a child?
   So many! The intro to Viral BS tells the story of how I believed lots of conspiracy theories as a kid, why that was, and how that informs my research on the spread of health misinformation and disinformation. As frustrating and dangerous as they can be, I have empathy for people who believe falsehoods because conspiracy theories often have a kernel of truth and because the reality of medicine and public health is that it was built on a legacy of exploitation of the most vulnerable people, and there are histories of unethical experiments that sound like conspiracy theories but are actually true.
5. Your book “If God Is a Virus” focuses on the largest Ebola outbreak in history. How did you go from reporting on Ebola to writing poems about Ebola?
   There’s a line from one of my favourite poets, Marwa Helal, in her spectacular book Invasive Species that says: “poems do work journalism can’t.” I like to disrupt the boundaries of genre and find power in the way journalism can be interrogated and used through poetry. When I finished reporting on Ebola in West Africa and had published the magazine and newspaper stories that were expected of me, the stories of the people I had met never left me, and I wanted to see what poetry could do that traditional journalism could not.
6. What were the greatest myths (or misinformation) you witnessed surrounding the recent Ebola outbreak? How can we prevent this?
   There was a myth that the outbreak was started by researchers at Tulane University in an experiment gone wrong; a myth that vaccines for Ebola would only work on White people; that it could be cured with herbal medicines. There were a ton of myths and hoaxes, some well-meaning and false, others malicious and spread with the intention to cause chaos and harm. We prevent this reoccurring by acknowledging that there is a chasm between science and the public – particularly some communities – and by building bridges ahead of a crisis.
7. While I’m sure this is hard to narrow down, especially given the strength and courage of all disease survivors — do you have a survivor story that stays with you most?
   I can’t stop thinking about Salome Karwah, who I reported on for Scientific American and who is featured in some poems in If God Is A Virus. Salome lost her parents to Ebola, she lost friends and uncles, and her community was devastated by the epidemic. She couldn’t even properly bury her family members and mourn them according to tradition. Salome had survived two civil wars, then she became infected with Ebola – and survived. I attended Salome’s wedding to another Ebola survivor in December 2015. Her two children were there and it was a beautiful series of ceremonies. But a year later, Salome died in childbirth. And even though she had survived Ebola, it was that virus that in some ways killed her, because first responders and neighbors did not want to touch her or help her when she was suffering because she was an Ebola survivor and there was so much stigma about survivors. The headline for my magazine story about Salome was along the lines of, “A woman survives Ebola but not childbirth.” The two poems about her are titled “Baby Sister Survives Ebola…” “…& Dies in Childbirth.”

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/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Northfield, MN — Staying alive depends on knowing whom to trust and when to run. In Should Grace Fail (Dec. 8, 2020, Coffeetown Press), Priscilla Paton once again shows her deft skill at creating a whodunit that contains adventure and intrigue, but also delves deeply into the psyche of its characters.

When a man who saves lives has his own brutally taken, Detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger have their empathy and their wariness pushed to the limit. The murdered man rescued trafficked teen addicts from a crime boss, but he was also an alcoholic who left the police force under suspicion. Is his murderer a drug dealer, a pimp, a corrupt police colleague, all of the above? Or could the killer be a victim who lashed out at her savior?

In the mix is the imperious matriarch of a hotel chain who is blind to incidents on her properties. The best friend of the dead man yearns to help but shows up in the wrong place at the wrong time with his therapy dogs. And a young mixed-race pianist, haunted by drug abuse, endangers herself by protecting a charming sweetheart from the draw of crime.

To solve the case, blunt Deb has to ingratiate herself with the hotel matriarch. Reserved Erik needs to earn the trust of wrongfully accused teens. The detectives are pushed over a riverbank, pushed off a golf course, and pushed into a tiger enclosure. If they don’t catch the killer, the best friend and the pianist are as good as dead. Erik and Deb, working with and against each other, must move fast before helping others proves fatal.

Praise for “Should Grace Fail” and Priscilla Paton

“Should Grace Fail is a lively police procedural featuring an unusual and highly enjoyable pair of investigators. Snappy dialogue, sharp plotting, and a colorful cast of characters kept me entertained and guessing until the last page!”
Mindy Mejia, critically acclaimed author of Strike Me Down

“Priscilla Paton delivers another exciting Twin Cities Mystery as she reunites detectives Deb Metzger and Eric Jansson. The partners find themselves facing a complex investigation in a novel that touches on murder, racism, and police brutality. Should Grace Fail is a timely addition to the crime fiction genre.”
Elena Taylor, award-winning author of All We Buried

“Priscilla Paton adds a fresh voice to the mystery scene with Where Privacy Dies. Paton delivers lively descriptions, and has an ear for dialogue that works well defining her characters. I loved the interactions, and verbal volleyball, between the unlikely G-Met partners, Detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger. From the discovery of a well-dressed man’s body in a wetland, to the unsavory dealings of people in high places, she kept me reading, trying to figure out who was really in the bad guys’ corner.”
Christine Husom, National Best-selling Author of the Snow Globe Shop Mysteries. and the Winnebago County Mysteries.

“Fans of SJ Rozan and Deborah Crombie are going to love the mismatched crime fighters at the center of this masterful and timely debut novel; Priscilla Paton tells their story with confidence, style and cunning.”
David Housewright, Edgar Award-winning author of Like to Die

“Should Grace Fail”
Priscilla Paton | Dec.8, 2020 | Coffeetown Press
Trade paperback | 9781603817684 | $16.95
Ebook | 9781603817615 | $5.95
Mystery | thriller | police procedure

More about Priscilla Paton

Priscilla grew up on a dairy farm in Maine, a state of woods, lakes, and rivers. She now lives in Minnesota, another state of woods, lakes, and rivers, not far from urban Minneapolis and St. Paul. She received a B.A. from Bowdoin College, a Ph.D. in English Literature from Boston College, and was a college professor. She has previously published a children’s book, Howard and the Sitter Surprise, and a book on Robert Frost and Andrew Wyeth, Abandoned New England. She participates in community advocacy and literacy programs, takes photos of birds, and contemplates (fictional) murder. The first in the Twin Cities Mystery series, Where Privacy Dies, was a finalist for a 2018 Foreword Indies Book Award.

In an interview, Priscilla Paton can discuss:

• How to do thorough research and preparation to flesh out a story idea
• Continuity in a mystery series
• Plotting (fictional) murder
• How to balance character studies with more traditional thriller elements

An Interview with Priscilla Paton

1. What sort of research did you do for this book?

The serious research involved reading about sex trafficking and the opioid crisis and speaking with experts on abuse and psychological manipulation. I also read memoirs by addicts and the children of addicts. For the music component (the Jaylyn character is a classical pianist), I drew on my experiences as a violinist in community orchestras, interviewed a professor of piano, and attended a master class in which a student of color played a virtuoso piece by Liszt. Then there was eating out: lunches at a golf course, several truck stops, the Wilde Café (duck fat French fries), and Betty Danger’s in Minneapolis.

2. Your stories have such a strong sense of place. Why do you think that’s important?

I was formed by the distinctiveness of Maine and did academic work on literature and art about nature and place. I can’t NOT be aware of place. Minnesota, like Maine, has a strong outdoor culture. With the Twin Cities, it also has a vibrant, if troubled, urban area, so Erik Jansson can easily be outdoorsy and urban. Characters’ responses to settings reveal much about them—look for Jaylyn’s reaction to different places, and settings create opportunity and danger. For Should Grace Fail, I hung around the famous Stone Arch Bridge area of Minneapolis and visited the Minnesota Zoo when the baby tiger was on display.

3. What are some challenges you faced with writing the second book in the series? Were there things that came easier throughout the process?

Panic. I had ideas but a hard time starting until I heard a YouTube interview with a Famous Writer. She said that after the success of her first mystery, she was so worried about writing another that she wanted therapy. If the best of us can be nervous, I can accept panic as standard. You move ahead anyway. I did have a better sense of structure, but nothing felt easy.

4. What goes into plotting a good murder?

Every mystery is a new game to invent and master. I focus first on conflict and desire—what do people want and what, or who, is in their way? What are the worst outcomes that they fear? For the choreography of the events, I depend on research on real crimes and procedure, and on what I discover at site visits. In this book, Erik is stuck in a passageway beneath government buildings and the conversation around him mirrors one I heard. Then comes the quirky invention.

5. In a sense, your books are as much character studies as they are mysteries. Which one is easier to write?

Character comes to me more easily than structure. I can go down a rabbit hole with characters as I write their backstory, trial scenes, their desperation, their hopes, their way of processing the world which can be dangerously different from others’ views. My two detectives have distinct mindsets that can complement each but often clash. I admire Elizabeth George (the Inspector Lynley series) for her character development. HOWEVER, I can easily overpopulate a book and have had to murder darlings.

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/

New Orleans, LA — The critically acclaimed memoir Big Freedia: God Save the Queen Diva! (Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster; $16) will be released in paperback on December 1, 2020 and is available for pre-order now.

“I am so excited about the paperback release,” says Big Freedia, whose star has risen since the release of the hardcover book. “Now more than ever, I’m looking forward to sharing my story with the next generation — from activists to LGBTQ+ youth to any ally. I truly believe my story can have a unifying effect.”

In this eye-opening memoir that bursts with energy, you’ll be transported into the world of Big Freedia, following her path from an overweight gay choir boy to the reigning queen of New Orleans Bounce. Readers will learn the history of Bounce, the New Orleans twist on hip-hop, and meet all of the colorful characters who pepper its music scene. Big Freedia reveals the inside story of her path to fame, the peaks and valleys of her personal life, and the liberation that Bounce brings her and every one of her fans who are searching for racial and LGBTQ+ acceptance.

With her own unique voice and unabashed enthusiasm, Big Freedia shows us how she arrived at this defining moment in music and culture, and how Bounce ultimately has allowed her to become her own version of diva, one booty-pop at a time.

Big Freedia: God Save the Queen Diva! is available now for pre-order via Amazon.

For press inquiries, please contact Angelle Barbazon, Books Forward, angelle@booksforward.com.

Follow Big Freedia:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
| Soundcloud

WHAT THE PRESS SAYS ABOUT THE BOOK

“Freedia’s story is inspirational, a journey overcoming poverty and discrimination to become an internationally known star. The rise of Big Freedia is the rise of bounce, and God Save the Queen Diva! serves as a worthwhile encapsulation of that tale.” — PITCHFORK

“Whether detailing the highs or the lows, Freedia’s tales pop as much as the booty that made her famous.” — OUT MAGAZINE

“In Big Freedia: God Save the Queen Diva (Gallery Books) the rapper goes deeper, with a tale that is as much a capsule history of the bounce-music world as it is his own story.” —TIMES PICAYUNE

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/

NEW YORK, NY– Annette Libeskind Berkovits’ poetry offers a searing portrayal of a mother’s anguish after a sudden hemorrhagic stroke renders her son, father of two young daughters, quadriplegic in the prime of his life. In her stunning use of poetry as memoir, Berkovits wrestles with questions of faith, hope, and guilt, and presents an intimate glimpse of a world shattered by stroke.

“A book on how to cope when the body and the blood betray, surprise, fail, and ultimately, reinvigorate”–Matthew Lippman, poet

ANNETTE LIBESKIND BERKOVITS was born in Kyrgyzstan and grew up in postwar Poland and the fledgling state of Israel before coming to the United States at age sixteen. Her professional background is in the biological sciences and education. Her stories and poems have appeared in Silk Road Review: a Literary Crossroads; Persimmon Tree; American Gothic: a New Chamber Opera; Blood & Thunder: Musings on the Art of Medicine; and in The Healing Muse. For more information on her life and work, please visit: https://annetteberkovits.com.

“Erythra Thalassa: Brain Disrupted”
Annette Libeskind Berkovits | November 12, 2020 | Tenth Planet Press | Poetry
Paperback | ISBN: 978-0998757827

In an interview, Annette Libeskind Berkovits can discuss:

• Why she wrote “Erythra Thalassa” and how writing poetry helped her cope
• How, as an elderly mother, she is able to help her adult son, and her advice for caregivers
• Her thoughts on the medical system as it relates to severely disabled individuals
• How she blends her science background with her love for the arts in her poetry

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/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

J. Elle’s YA novel “Wings of Ebony” tackles racism, privilege, empowerment

HOUSTON, Texas – With one tweet, first-time novelist J. Elle rocketed from obscurity to earning a six-figure book deal with Simon & Schuster for her YA novel “Wings of Ebony” (January 26, 2021, Millner Books), described as “The Hate U Give” meets “Wonder Woman” in a “Black Panther” world. Elle has now sold a total of four novels to major publishers within a single year, all of which elevate the voices of inner city kids with an empowering, magical twist.

“Wings of Ebony” is a lead title for new S&S imprint Millner Books, to be released during Black History Month. The novel is part of a YA fantasy duology about a black teen demigoddess named Rue who must rise up against racist deities poisoning her block with drugs, violence, and crime. It extends a unique perspective on racism, privilege, cultural appropriation, community, and resilience. Six months after her first contract, Elle sold a second fantasy duology for middle grade readers at auction to Bloomsbury Publishing.

Elle’s debut sparked a firestorm of interest when she participated in #DVPit, a Twitter book pitching event for historically marginalized voices. Her tweeted pitch for “Wings of Ebony” went viral and had 22 publishers (including each of the Big Five) requesting pages, with S&S winning a preempt deal.

While Elle’s one tweet helped fulfill her dreams, it’s her years of hard work, perseverance, determination and giving spirit (mirrored in her protagonist, Rue) that define this prolific, multifaceted writer. A former teacher to inner-city students, Elle is the founder of “Your Story is Your Power,” a creative writing workshop that empowers teen voices. She drew inspiration for the novel from her own experience growing up poor, and from her desire to inspire younger generations. Her novel has already been integrated into four school curriculums and is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.

Editor Denene Millner told Military Spouse magazine that Elle’s story is “familiar and yet something I’ve never seen; it honors the beauty and challenges one finds in the black community, but also creates an ideal world where black people literally are gods. Not since ‘Black Panther’ have I been this excited about a story that reimagines black people in this way, without clinging to stereotypes.”

“Wings of Ebony”
Author: J. Elle | January 26, 2021 |Simon & Schuster Young Readers (Millner Books) | YA Fantasy

J. ELLE is a prolific Black author and advocate for marginalized voices in both publishing and her community. Her debut novel, Wings of Ebony, sold in a six-figure pre-empt and is part of a YA fantasy duology about a Black girl from a poor neighborhood who learns she’s magical. Wings of Ebony is a lead title in Simon & Schuster’s Spring 2021 lineup.

Six months later Elle also sold, at auction, A Taste of Magic, a MG contemporary fantasy duology about a Black girl who learns she’s a witch and fights to save her inner-city magic school with baking. Park Row Magic Academy: A Taste of Magic is also a lead title on Bloomsbury’s Spring 2022 list.

From growing up poor to being a first generation college student, Jess’ tenacity and passion for empowering others dates back to her first career in education, teaching tweens and teens from traditionally underserved areas to fight for their dreams. More recently, as the founder of the Your Story Is Your Power, a creative writing workshop, she mentors high schoolers on the craft of writing and the importance of sharing stories from their perspective.

Elle has worked as an Editorial Intern at P.S. Literary Agency and Gelfman / ICM Partners. She’s also served as a mentor for both Pitchwars and Author Mentor Match. Elle is the founder and co-host of #MondayMixer, a Twitter chat to engage writers on the platform with networking opportunities, writing questions, and encouragement. In her spare time you’ll find her cooking up some dish true to her Texas and Louisiana roots, loving on her three littles, and traveling the country with her nomadic spouse. Learn more at https://authorjelle.com and https://www.wingsofebony.com.

Praise for Wings of Ebony

“The best fantasy novels invent alternate worlds in order to illuminate our own. Wings of Ebony is one of them—a bold, inventive, big-hearted and deeply perceptive vision of a Black girl’s journey to reclaim her magic from forces determined to destroy her. The parallels to our current reality are unmistakable and the book brings us all a much-needed ray of hope.”
—NICOLA YOON, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also A Star

“Wings of Ebony is an intense, page-turner of a book about magic, sisterhood, community and family. Debut author J. Elle offers us a richly-wrought world, weaving together past and present with a rare blend of deft insight and keen humor that leaves the reader wanting more.”
—SABAA TAHIR, #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes

“There is little on earth more powerful than seeing a reflection of the self, not only as it is, but also as it COULD be. Wings of Ebony is a rooftop-shout of affirmation that black girls from ALL walks of life are magic.”
—NIC STONE, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin

“A remarkable, breathtaking, earthshaking, poetic thrillride bristling with magic, life, and so much love. Rue and her incredible adventures will change the world.”
—DANIEL JOSÉ OLDER, New York Times bestselling author of Shadowshaper

“A heart-racing thrilling fantasy that sucks you in from the very first page. J. Elle has such a voracious voice and she’s about to change the game!”
—TIFFANY D. JACKSON, author of Grown and Monday’s Not Coming

“J. Elle has crafted an unapologetic heroine determined to save her block from agents of stolen magic in this immersive hidden world. A thrilling and irresistible new saga about loyalty and lineage.”
— KIM JOHNSON, Indie bestselling author of This Is My America

“A powerful, thoughtful, and masterful exploration of #BlackGirlMagic that enthralls you from the first page and refuses to let you go.”
—ALECHIA DOW, author of The Sound of Stars

Additional News Details

• Elle completed the manuscript for “Wings of Ebony” in 35 days.
• New imprint Millner Books is spearheaded by NYT-bestselling author Denene Millner, and focuses on fresh African-American voices.
• Elle has served as a mentor for both PitchWars and Author Mentor Match.
• She is the founder and co-host of #MondayMixer, a Twitter chat to engage writers with networking opportunities, writing questions, and encouragement.
• Elle grew up in the Houston neighborhood that inspired her novel, where her younger teen sisters still live.

In an interview, J. ELLE can discuss:

• Her unique approach to portraying inner-city communities as places full of magic and power
• Her unconventional path to publishing success as a debut author–and how she’s now coaching other authors toward their own success
• Why she writes about kids who are impacted by and who must grapple with racism, privilege, cultural appropriation, single- or mixed-parent homes, and finding family within community
• How the unique challenges of growing up in an inner-city neighborhood inspired her writing
• Why YA Fantasy is her chosen genre for portraying powerful Black characters and communities
• How her passion for education and empowering young voices, paired with the importance of leaning into African American heritage and legacy, had an influence on her writing
• Why it’s important to create a dialogue around how non-POCs can be allies to POC communities
• How to have conversations about privilege with friends who don’t “get it”

An Interview with J. Elle

1. You have a wonderful vision of inner-city communities as places full of magic, potential, and power. How do you approach blending some of the harsher realities of these communities with the more fantastical elements in your novel?

Outside of the pages of a book, those of us living with these harsher realities can find it tough to reimagine a world without them. But in fiction, we have limitless imagination, tools, and power. I try to examine societal complexities that might inhibit us from challenging the status quo, and I put magical resources at my character’s disposal so my readers metaphorically understand that they are indeed capable of more than they can even imagine. The mindset that we can’t impact change is the first injustice we must eradicate.

One of my favorite characters in “Wings of Ebony” is tattoo-covered, gold grill-wearing Julius. How the media typically portrays kids who look like Julius is decidedly different from Julius’ real story–the story I set out to tell in “Wings of Ebony.” I’m going to make sure Julius and kids like him get their space on shelves.

2. Why is the blend of YA Fantasy and Contemporary genres particularly important for you when crafting “Wings of Ebony?”

I tend to like books that have real-world issues front and center, but I realize exploring difficult themes through fantasy is more palatable for many readers, becauses it’s a step removed from reality. Ultimately, I want my books to spark tough conversations. There will always be commentary in my books, weightier topics I want to challenge teens to consider, and the contemporary elements of my story allow me to explore these topics more directly. But I wrap those contemporary elements in a fantastical story, so that while teens grapple with these weightier topics, they are also inspired and encouraged by the metaphorical, magical “what-ifs.” Readers will finish “Wings of Ebony” and have had an unflinching look at the reality of racism (toward inner-city kids in particular). But they will also have reconciled that disgusting truth with how powerful we are in the face of that injustice, how we are changemakers that will be reckoned with.

3. Why is “Wings of Ebony” so important to you personally?

This book is a love letter to younger me, to my teen sisters, to my community and the home that raised me. I grew up seeing communities like mine depicted only as troublesome, wrought with crime, full of kids “not going anywhere.” But that wasn’t how I viewed my home growing up. So, I decided to shift the narrative and show a home like mine as magical, so that kids from places like where I am from see their neighborhood on the page/screen in a different way than how it is typically portrayed. This is vitally important so kids in our community realize their day-to-day lives are rich with magic, too. I believe shifting the connotation of the term “inner-city kids” will help fill shelves, and conversations, with representation that shatters stereotypes. “Wings of Ebony” is a no nonsense, unapologetic step in that direction.

4. Who is “Wings of Ebony” for? Who will be drawn to this book?

Though there’s a beautiful badass Black girl in a hoodie on the cover, this story isn’t just for Black kids. This book is for underdog changemakers and their allies–those who know how to become allies and those hungry to learn. Fans of Katniss Everdeen, Starr Carter, and anyone in love with all things Wakanda are going to rave about “Wings of Ebony.” I can’t wait to see the cosplay!

This book can also be instructive and a great fit for classrooms full of kids learning how to have safe, productive discussions about race with others who may not share their identity. A 6-week curriculum complete with a Hyperdoc, day-by-day lesson plans, vocabulary list, hands-on activities, discussion questions, and a culmination project that ties well with Black History Month can be found here.

5. Why are conversations about privilege important for kids to have with one another, particularly today?

We have one world with thousands of cultures within it that, for the good and health of this world, must learn to work together. We can’t exist singularly in our own communities and choose to not coexist. First, that allows the powerful to remain powerful without challenge; second, it’s not realistic. But in order to come together in collaborative environments and engineer true change, creating a world we are proud to live in, we must learn how to work together. This starts with checking our bias at the door, and realizing that our preconceived notions–often subscious–are shaping how we interact with and treat people who are different from us. And an often ignored facet of that conversation around bias, racism, and xenophobia is privilege.

Privilege is the dagger that stabs you in the back that you never saw coming–because you “didn’t know” it existed. People who are unaware of the privilege they possess do damage to others around them without even realizing it; and yet they wonder why they’re unable to have productive, meaningful discourse with people who are different from them. On a global level, that lack of self-awareness stalls productivity, throws a wrench in business connections and the economy, and fractures our growth. On a personal level, at minimum, it shatters relationships and breeds toxic thinking.

We all suffer when the privileged are afforded the ability to live within a bubble without awareness. “Wings of Ebony” aims to pop that bubble. I want to equip the next generation with tools to have these tough conversations that yield self-awareness, in order to usher in a more tolerant and mutually respectful world. Colleges are catching on to the importance of conversations around privilege. There are resources being implemented at the university level to study the social construct of privilege, and I’m excited that “Wings of Ebony” is appropriate to be a central part of these and conversations to come.

6. It’s incredible that you wrote the manuscript for “Wings of Ebony” in just 35 days. How long has this story been developing in your mind? What can you tell us about the writing process?

Honestly, Rue’s voice just came to me one morning. I’d had an image in my head of a girl standing over an injured little girl and using her magic to save her life. The setting of that image was my neighborhood, where I grew up. And it just hit me that this is what I hadn’t seen before: my neighborhood, the people there, the places, depicted as magical. I can’t explain it, but the story just poured out of me, and while it’s undergone significant revisions since that 35-day-version, Rue’s fierceness, her fire, her heart, and her magic are still the same. The writing process varies from person to person, but what I can say is that if there is a story or character or voice burning to just pour out of you, let it.

7. Few authors experience the kind of whirlwind success you’ve experienced in the past couple years. What has this publishing journey been like for you? What has surprised you, challenged you, and helped you grow?

The fact that I am going to have a book headed to shelves still surprises me. When I set out to write “Wings of Ebony” I was very new to writing fiction and wasn’t sure what to expect. My DVPit pitch blowing up on Twitter shocked me, but from then on I knew I was on to something highly marketable. One of the reasons I’m committed to mentoring aspiring authors is because I want them to understand I was just where they were. I’m so new at all of this, so they too should keep fighting, hoping, revising, growing, and I believe they’ll get there, too.

There’s nothing like going on submission to editors that makes you realize just how much of a privilege it is to have a book in the world. This industry really forces you to remember that patience is important and there’s no use in stressing about things out of our control. I was on sub for 5 months, and during that time I completed a revision for a brilliant editor at a Big 5 publisher who gave me some very candid, pointed feedback. I have an ambitious, can-do attitude–just tell me what needs to be done and I’ll blow you away with how fast and well I do it.

Writers should understand that revising can be magic for your story, so don’t be overly precious about your words. If you want to publish traditionally, understand you’re looking for a partner (to put their money behind your book) so you’re going to have to flex some. And a good editor is going to actually make your book much stronger. That’s the best part!

I completed my revision quickly, and we sent it to everyone still considering my pages, which was about ten editors or so. From there we had multiple editors interested, but Denene Millner at Simon & Schuster came in strong and fast with so much enthusiasm and ultimately won me over. Working with her has transformed my writing. This book is miles from where it was. As such a novice writer, I just feel so fortunate and lucky to have this opportunity. I still pinch myself everyday wondering how any of this can be real.

8. What top advice do you give to other writers who are working to make their voices and stories heard?

First, understand that there are so many factors involved in pursuing traditional publishing, and most of them are out of your control. All you control is the writing. Focus on being well-read in your genre and writing the best book you can write.

Second, know that rejections are an inevitable part of the process and are not a reflection of you as a person. They are not brick walls, they are stop signs. Pause, learn, grow–KEEP GOING.

Third, and most importantly, neither of those two facts negate the need for your voice. The voices drowning out ours have a lot more privilege and access. So remember, tenacity is your greatest weapon.

9. In what ways did your own childhood experience inspire Rue’s neighborhood and community?

“Wings of Ebony” is set where I grew up, on the southeast side of Houston. The “community as family” aspect of my story is probably one of the strongest parallels to my own childhood. Growing up, neighbors are aunties. “It takes a village” isn’t just a saying. Communities like mine look out for one another because we have to. We are forged with a closeness rooted in our identity and the “hood” we call home; it’s one of the most magical parts of my upbringing.

Also, Rue is an enigmatic mix of kids teachers see in inner-city classrooms, kids I’ve taught, best friends I’ve had–the kid with a hard exterior that reads like a chip is on their shoulder. That chip is necessary armor, and what’s beneath is ridiculously powerful love. I hope this book helps those kids feel more seen, more capable, and opens their eyes to their own magic; but also, I hope it helps others think twice the next time they roll through my hood, see one of these “hoodie-wearing-kids” walking down the street, or have a particularly stubborn kid in their classroom–I hope “Wings of Ebony” challenges them to see what’s beneath.

10. What message(s) do you want Rue’s story to send to readers (of any age)?

You are capable. You are power. You are strength.
A’laya nah ick e’bah.
Yes, you’ll have to read the book to find out what that means.

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/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DETROIT – A global pandemic, disastrous climate events, erratic U.S. politics and … murder hornets? 2020 has been rough, and our inner voice doesn’t have a problem reminding us. Tell it to f*ck off with this new irreverent, laugh-out-loud guide, “Move on Motherf*cker,” (Nov. 3, 2020, New Harbinger) by board-certified psychologist Jodie Eckleberry-Hunt.

When we’re anxious, stressed, or fearful, the negative voice in our heads can be extremely powerful. It tells us we’re not smart or attractive enough. It berates us for our mistakes. And it keeps us feeling stuck in an endless loop of worry, shame, and hopelessness. But there is a way to shut it down. Blending evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and profanity, this unexpected guide will show you how to respond to your negative inner voice with one very important phrase: Move on, mother*cker!

You’ll learn to manage worry and anxiety, put a stop to unhelpful internal dialogue, and approach new situations with humor, levity, and perspective.

You’ll also find real tools to help you:

• Set personal and professional boundaries
• Identify toxic or codependent relationships
• Become assertive without being aggressive
• Stop seeking perfection

The book also includes journaling and other self-awareness exercises to help you put MOMF to work every day. So, stop letting your inner voice tear you down! With this fun and effective guide, you’ll learn how to take control of your negative thoughts and get back to living your best life.

“Move on Motherf*cker”
Jodie Eckleberry-Hunt | Nov. 3, 2020 | New Harbinger
Self-Help | Paperback | 978-1-68403-486-4 | $16.95

About the Author

Jodie Eckleberry-Hunt is a board-certified health psychologist who swears her way to sanity using cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, humor, positive psychology, and profanity. Jodie has more than 25 years of professional experience helping others find meaning in a crazy world. Follow Jodie and get some inspiration on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @jeckleberryhunt and at jodieeckleberryhunt.com.

Early praise for Jodie Eckleberry-Hunt:

“This is an excellent wake-up call for those wracked by self-criticism.”
— Publisher’s Weekly

“This is an honest-to-goodness self-help book, packed with useful tools and psychological wisdom that will generate results, inside and out.”
— Foreword Reviews

“Honest, salty self-talk can be a true balm for anxiety, shame, sadness, and despair. So take it from one motherf*cker to another: move on, and read this book!”
— Sarah Knight, New York Times bestselling author of “Calm the F*ck Down”

“Move On Motherf*cker is a modern, efficacious self-help tool kit designed to provide relief for people with common mental health issues surrounding depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, bad habits, and personal or work related relationship problems. … It’s a ‘hell-yes,’ hands-on, user-friendly approach to begin feeling empowered to get better.”
—Timothy Jay, PhD, professor of psychology emeritus
at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and author of “Why We Curse”

“MOMF is like that blunt friend who calls you on your sh*t and puts things into f*cking perspective. Using humor, a lot of profanity, and the foundation of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), Eckleberry-Hunt’s book guides readers through a reality check, and teaches them to change the voice of negativity and doubt to that of a motherf*cker who is ready to kick ass! This is a readers guide to self-empowerment!”
— Britt A. Nielsen, PsyD, ABPP, associate professor of psychiatry and psychology
at The MetroHealth System and Case Western Reserve University

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/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

In ‘They’re Gone,’ two women’s lives are turned upside down after violent deaths, and both will risk everything to survive the secrets that are uncovered

Fairfax, VA — A respected and skilled veteran of the thriller community, E.A. Aymar returns with a new novel written as E.A. Barres. They’re Gone, (Nov. 10, Crooked Lane Books) opens with a bang and never lets up.

Two men from vastly different backgrounds are murdered one after another on the same night, in the same fashion with two bullet wounds: one in the head, another in the heart. The two slayings send their wives on a desperate search for answers–and a desperate attempt to save their families’ lives.

Grief takes a heavy toll on northern Virginia freelance editor Deb Linh Thomas when she learns of her husband’s murder. And utter dismay sets in when, just a week after the funeral, she discovers that he had been the subject of an FBI investigation after withdrawing a large sum of money from their shared accounts.

Elsewhere, Baltimore bartender Cessy Castillo is less bereft when her abusive husband, ex-cop Hector Ramirez, is killed. But it turns out that he was deep in hock–and now Cessy’s expected to pay up. Deb and the FBI agent assigned to her case start digging into her husband’s murder and learn that he had been the target of criminals.

As Deb and Cessy join forces to learn the truth, their investigation reveals an ever-darker web of clues, but if they’re not careful, they may just end up like their husbands.

“Smartly plotted, violent, and utterly absorbing.”
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“They’re Gone”
E.A. Barres | Nov. 10, 2020 | Crooked Lane Books
Hardcover | 978-1643855554 | $26.99
E-book | B084V8GKLG | $12.99
Thriller

Praise for E.A. Aymar and ‘They’re Gone’

“Expertly plotted and action-packed, but it also features a diverse cast of characters — including two strong women of color as protagonists — and offers biting social commentary.”
Buzzfeed

“Solid… This women-fight-back thriller will please those looking to vicariously smack down a few hulking villains.”
Publishers Weekly

“They’re Gone is a powerful, gritty mystery that firmly establishes E.A. Barres as a voice to be reckoned with in the genre. Barres deftly weaves two very different stories together to create one compulsively readable and defiantly of-the-moment whodunit that lingers with you long after you’ve read the last page.”
Alex Segura, acclaimed author of the Pete Fernandez series

“In his new novel, E.A. Barres masterfully weaves together the stories of two very different women and their burning desire to learn the truth about their murdered husbands. They’re Gone is about secrets and marriage, betrayal and grief, and will leave you questioning whether you can ever really know someone. A stunning, dark, evocative thriller.”
Jennifer Hillier, award-winning author of Jar of Hearts and Little Secrets

“They’re Gone is a relentless, pulse-pounding thriller that showcases E.A. Barres’s talent for injecting gritty crime stories with sympathetic, emotionally complex characters and sharp black humor. Barres skillfully combines a dark story about corruption, greed, and violence with an emotional arc about grief, resilience, and the lengths a person will go to protect their family—all while keeping the pace swift and the dialogue witty.”
Kathleen Barber, author of Are You Sleeping and Follow Me

“Boundaries fade and clay feet abound in this nail-biter of a thriller as E.A. Barres guides readers skillfully through the minds, hearts, and pasts of three women who have nothing in common until they have everything to lose. Perfect pacing and imperfect heroes make this book a hard one to put down!”
Susan Crawford, bestselling author of The Pocket Wife and The Other Widow

“Intense, gritty and absolutely riveting, E.A. Barres’s perfectly constructed plot unfolds with the thoughtful precision and menace of a cat burglar. They’re Gone seamlessly blends heart-pounding action with searing social commentary. This thriller has a deliciously dark wit that makes for an unforgettable read.”
Hilary Davidson, bestselling author of One Small Sacrifice

More about E.A. Aymar

Anthony Award-nominated E.A. Aymar’s next thriller, They’re Gone, will be published in November under his pseudonym E.A. Barres. His most recent thriller, The Unrepentant, was published in 2019 and is currently a 2020 nominee for the Anthony Award in the category of Best Paperback Original.

His past thrillers include the novels-in-stories The Swamp Killers and The Night of the Flood, in which he served as co-editor and contributor. He has a monthly column in the Washington Independent Review of Books, is a former member of the national board of the International Thriller Writers and, for years, was the managing editor of The Thrill Begins, an online resource for debut and aspiring writers. He is also an active member of Crime Writers of Color, the Mystery Writers of America and SinC. He also runs the Noir at the Bar series for Washington, D.C., and has hosted and spoken at a variety of crime fiction, writing, and publishing events nationwide. He was born in Panama and now lives in the DC/MA/VA triangle.

Learn more at https://eaymar.com/.

In an interview, E.A. Aymar can discuss:

• The challenges and his approach as a man writing female characters
• Incorporating his heritage into his books, and including perspective from characters with mixed race backgrounds
• His work in the D.C. area in support of writers, as well as his work with writing organizations
• Why he thinks the DC/MD/VA region is such a hub for crime fiction
• Pivoting to virtual events during COVID times for his popular D.C. Noir at the Bar

An Interview with E.A. Aymar

1. As an experienced thriller writer, how do you keep your ideas fresh?

There’s an excitement in crime fiction today that I’ve never felt before; it’s a movement that embraces marginalized writers, and gives their work a sense of placement and importance that’s historically lagged. I’m a part of this change, both because of my race and the topics in my writing, and it’s so exciting to be part of a literary movement. And that excitement has opened the door to new ideas and approaches to crime fiction that weren’t accessible before. Ideas are fresh when they’re inspired, and this is an inspiring time to write.

2. Many of your characters have mixed race backgrounds. Why is this important for you to include?

I was born in Panama, and my mom is Panamanian and my dad is white. I lived there for about three years before we moved to the states, and I was always the only mixed kid in my classes. I wasn’t fully accepted by the white or hsipanic kids and, even though I wasn’t friendless, it was always a bit isolating. And I didn’t really feel like I had a voice that was worth contributing.

That’s not the case anymore. There are so many mixed-race kids out there, and I just love it. I love that my son won’t experience the isolation I did, because growing up in the DC/MD/VA triangle exposes him to dozens and dozens of cultures. And I see so many people who don’t know where they fit in, who were raised in two (or more) cultures and don’t have a sense of representation. I want to give those people someone to whom they can relate.

3. What is your approach to writing women protagonists?

I don’t want to be the kind of guy who goes overboard with this, or is way too thirsty – you know, the kind of guy who has an IG profile photo of him wearing a “This is what a feminist looks like” t-shirt. But I grew up in male-dominated cultures, whether it was as a military brat, or in sports, or in a fraternity, and I witnessed firsthand how vicious and violent men can be. That’s not to say women are blameless; just that the proclivity for violence and bigotry was never as pronounced (or present) when I was among groups of women.

Plus, I write crime fiction. Which means I research crime, and most of the most heinous criminals out there are men. The stats for sexual violence, or violent criminals, are filled with men. Not women. But, in thrillers, it’s always men who are the heroes. I want to write against that. I want to be honest.

4. You belong to and contribute to many writing organizations and events in the D.C. area. How has that changed you or helped you in your field?

The D.C. region is so fantastic for writing. National writing organizations like Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime have wonderful local chapters here, and there’s a wealth of talent and knowledge in the area. I run a reading series for crime fiction writers called Noir at the Bar, and I have a pool of close to a hundred traditionally published crime fiction writers I can pull from. And it’s a terrifically supportive community, as well. I think this region is producing some of the best crime fiction written today.

5. How did you manage to combine the gritty elements of a thriller with humor and the warmth of a newly found friendship?

Two of my favorite writers are John Updike and Anne Tyler, and neither writes crime fiction. I admire their close look at families and friendships, and how they’re able to draw so much from relationships. As much as I love crime fiction and the tension of a tight plot, I love character, and the feeling when a reader identifies with someone they’re reading about. I never want to write a book where that lacks. I want pages to move because the plot is pulling you forward, and that has to happen because you’re reading about someone you care about.

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/