Author: Marissa DeCuir

CHICAGO, IL & PAWTUCKET, RI– Co-authors Meghan Elizabeth Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli turned a decade of work with their organization, Conceivable Future,  into a no-nonsense, compassionate guide for authentic family and political life amid the climate crisis. “The Conceivable Future: Planning Families and Taking Action in the Age of Climate Crisis” (Rowman & Littlefield, February 8th, 2024) is an empathetic, data-backed argument written in conversational prose that cuts through the noise to address how people, on an individual and collective level, can get politically involved to make the world safer for everyone’s children. 

“The Conceivable Future” explores the ways in which the erosion of our planet impacts our personal decisions about family planning, parenting, and political action. This book offers fresh, timely insights to questions such as: How do I decide to have a baby when there’s the threat of environmental collapse? How do I parent a child in the middle of the climate crisis? What can I actually do to help stop global warming?

Kallman, a sociologist and Rhode Island State Senator, and Ferorelli, an activist and writer, offer both informed perspective and practical steps for taking meaningful action in combating the climate crisis, while also making smart, balanced decisions when it comes to starting and maintaining a family.

“The Conceivable Future: Planning Families and Taking Action
in the Age of Climate Change”

Meghan Elizabeth Kallman & Josephine Ferorelli

February 6th, 2024 | Rowman & Littlefield

Global Warming & Climate Change, Women’s Health, & Environmental Science

Print | 978-1-5381-7969-7 | $26.00 

Praise for “The Conceivable Future”

“I know so many young people are trying to figure out what a burning world means for their most important choices…Now I’ll be able to send them this wonderful book, which manages to be both shrewd and kind; it understands on the deepest level that when we think of the world only as a series of individual decisions, those decisions become overwhelming, and that the only alternative is to build joyful and humane societies that work for all of us, including those who haven’t gotten here yet!” 

–Bill McKibben, founder of Third Act 

“Kallman and Ferorelli provide a compelling and compassionate framework for working though seemingly insoluble dilemmas, beginning with the decision to have a child, but not ending there. The book ends with a commonsense guide on how to make change happen.” 

–Amitav Ghosh, author of “The Nutmeg’s Curse” and “Parables for a Planet in Crisis” 

“This is a book full of feeling as much as politics; a rigorous, compassionate and empowering companion which holds its readers close while navigating the hardest of questions.” 

–Brett Story, filmmaker, “The Hottest August” (2019) 

“This book is like finding a friend when you are lost in a wilderness of despair and disinformation. With compassion, radical honesty, and humor, Kallman and Ferorelli guide us through one of the most heart-wrenching and necessary questions of our time: should we bring children into a world destabilized by climate crisis? The authors help us navigate uncertainty and find the collective will to change what’s possible.” 

–Madeline Ostrander author of “At Home on an Unruly Planet: Finding Refuge on a Changed Earth” 

“The climate crisis is a crisis of reproduction. Reproductive justice is climate action. Kallman and Ferorelli have created a guidebook for climate action that recognizes these realities, and which is fierce, funny, open-hearted and never prescriptive.” 

–Meehan Crist, writer in residence in Biological Sciences, Columbia University 

MEGHAN ELIZABETH KALLMAN & JOSEPHINE FERORELLI: Meghan Elizabeth Kallman is a professor in the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development at UMass Boston, a state legislator, and climate organizer based in Rhode Island. Josephine Ferorelli is a writer, illustrator, and yoga instructor who makes her home in Chicago, Illinois. Together they have been friends, collaborators, and co-directors of Conceivable Future, the organization that birthed this book, for a decade. 

Find out more about Meghan and Josephine at their website. 

Follow Meghan & Josephine on social media:

Instagram: @conceivable.future | Facebook:  @ConceivableFuture

 Twitter: @ConceivableFut

In an interview, Meghan & Josephine can discuss:

• Why “The Conceivable Future” focuses on family planning as the heart of their environmental activism 
• How to move beyond a focus on “should we be/not be having children?” toward real solutions
• Why a justice-based perspective is the pathway to healing
• The common myth that overpopulation is a keystone issue to our climate crisis 
• How Kallman’s work as a climate activist informs her career as a Rhode Island State Senator

An Interview with

Meghan & Josephine

1. Your book stems from over a decade of work through your organization called Conceivable Future; how did that organization come to fruition? What made you two decide to transform that work into this book? 

In 2014, we met at a mutual friend’s concert. We were both activists, feeling alienated and discouraged with climate activism. And we were both 30 years old at the time, so family planning decisions were starting to feel both more pressing and more impossible. Together we started what would become Conceivable Future, bringing young people together at house parties across the country for conversations about the reproductive crisis that is climate change, based on the idea that sharing stories can build strength and resolve, and can help create a framework for transformative action. We found that people badly needed to talk. And since then, research has emerged proving that these concerns–about how to care for the children we have, about whether to have a child or more children as the climate crisis continues to unspool–are global. As soon as we began facilitating this conversation, we could see it was a much bigger topic than can fit in a 2 hour meeting. The book expands on what we’ve heard, and learned, through ten years of our organizing work.  

2. What is your view of global population? How do you address the misconception that overpopulation is a main contributor to our climate crisis? 

Across the world, abusive, authoritarian population control efforts have attached legacies of trauma to the subject of reproduction. In the US alone, the reproductive rights of Indigenous women and women of color have been repressed by many governmental and non-governmental actors and by implicit and explicit policies for literally hundreds of years. 

The history of population control is a transnational history of cultural elites deciding whose babies are desirable, and whose babies are to blame for any number of societal ills. That is not a world we want. The argument for reducing the human population as a way to reduce emissions feels compelling in its simplicity: more people means fewer resources, more hunger, more suffering, more pollution. By reproducing, the argument goes, poor people create their own poverty. By focusing on population size, Global North institutions, whether governments or NGOs, are absolved from both responsibility and nuance! 

But not only does this approach obscure real solutions, it identifies the wrong problem. A 2012 study of global economic drivers of carbon emissions found “no relation between short-term growth of world population and CO2 concentrations. We need to be tackling the bad economic and political systems that create inequality and climate change, not policing people’s bodies and their reproduction. 

We will never achieve a more just world by attempting to control people’s reproductive lives. We don’t get to justice by coercion or force. The future we are struggling for stands on a foundation of human rights, in which we share, celebrate, and defend full reproductive autonomy and self-sovereignty. This includes the right to have children, as well as the right not to have children. 

3. How does The Conceivable Future provide an intersectional framework for those who are interested in learning and taking action about climate change? 

As Conceivable Future invites people to join this highly personal and deeply political conversation, we recognize that these topics– of population, reproduction, and climate justice, and how they connect to who we all are– have different meanings for everyone, rooted in different histories of oppression and trauma. We honor your story. We advocate for self-determination, an inalienable right for ourselves and our communities. Everyone on the planet lives with the fossil fuel regime in different and interlocking ways, and those ways reflect our identities, histories, and experiences. What we know we have in common is our desire for a sustainable future for all families.

4. What is climate justice and why is it important to your work? 

Everyone deserves to survive and thrive, but inequalities make the climate crisis more dangerous for some than for others. Climate justice begins with the understanding  that some people and groups are feeling  more negative impacts than others. For instance, dangerous fossil fuel infrastructure is more likely to be located in poor communities than wealthy ones. And so, real solutions to climate change put justice first. That means that risk and harm mitigation is well-planned and funded, and costs and benefits are equitably shared. It means that we, in our groups and institutions, take responsibility for our decisions so that past inequities are not exacerbated by climate change, but remedied through our responses. 

5. What do you hope that The Conceivable Future will accomplish for readers? 

We want readers to know that they’re not alone if they’re feeling anxious, frozen, and frightened about the climate-changing world, and their place in it. We want readers to feel less guilty (the problem is not you personally, but rather our institutions) and more inspired (we can fix the real problems!). We hope this book is a starting point for readers to get unstuck, and get ready for the struggle–and the adventure–of our lives.   We’ve created  a climate action playbook that takes readers from the micro (individual, internal, and interpersonal work) to the macro (collective action strategies) level of engagement. We offer strategies and guidance for living a balanced life of climate action.

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/

Enemies become lovers while facing ancient terror in epic romantasy

Madison, WI – Welcome to the world of Meerdon, where magic exists, dangerous creatures roam, and where physicist Jon and his assistant Megan find themselves after a botched experiment blasts them into another dimension in David Scidmore’s romantic fantasy,  Aylun (Meerdon Publishing, Oct 23, 2023).

An energetic and romantic debut fantasy series flings two ordinary humans across parallel universes to a magical world where a mysterious prophecy may spell disaster for its inhabitants. Aylun can be read as a companion novel to his critically acclaimed Dellia, or as a thrilling standalone fantasy!

While David Scidmore’s first novel shares the story of Jon’s romance and travels with Dellia, Aylun follows Megan who is immediately kidnapped by the heartless tyrant, Aylun. Forced to confront an impossible prophecy that threatens her and her oldest friend, she undertakes a harrowing journey to a city lost centuries ago.

As she struggles to find answers, Jon and new friends Dellia, Garris, and Kayleen are drawn into a conflict with a dark and ancient menace that could obliterate everything and everyone they care about. As the puzzle deepens, the threats multiply, and their situation grows more desperate, Megan’s best hope to save them all and return her and Jon to their home world lies  with the very tyrant who abducted her, Aylun. Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Outlander.

“Aylun”

Book 2 of The Ever-Branching Tree series

David Scidmore | October 23, 2023 | Meerdon Publishing | Fantasy

Hardcover | 978-1-64571-006-6 | $39.00

Paperback | 978-1-64571-005-9 | $30.99

E-Book | 978-1-64571-007-3 | $6.99

More about David Scidmore:  Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, David Scidmore has held many jobs over the years, from fast-food worker to musician to electrical engineer. He now lives in Verona, Wisconsin, with his wife, Brenda. In recent times, his lifelong passion for playing keyboards and composing music has turned into a fascination with crafting literary works. His enthusiasm for weaving complex stories that stir the emotions led to his first book, Dellia. With an obsession for expanding his ability as a storyteller, he continues that tale in Aylun, the second book in the Ever-Branching Tree series. Find out more at his website.

Follow David Scidmore on social media: 

Facebook: @dscidmore

Explore Dellia, the first book in the Ever-Branching Tree series!

Jon was a physicist who wanted nothing more than a simple life with few responsibilities and someone to share it with. In the middle of an ordinary day, a horrible accident leaves him stranded in a baffling world of impossible phenomena, terrifying creatures, and mysterious prophecies. Desperate to get home, his only hope is a harrowing journey across three distinct realms.

But his arrival in the new land has not gone without notice. Suspicious of the circumstances of his arrival, a nervous ruling council requires someone to investigate. So they send the one warrior most suited for the job: the dedicated and compassionate Dellia. She lives to serve because helping people is what gives her life purpose and meaning, but as a protector, she is also bound by an unshakable devotion to the council.

Lost and alone in a vast world, Jon is in dire need of help. Skilled and knowledgeable, Dellia is exactly the kind of help he needs. If only he can keep from falling for the one person whose duty may drive her to stop him.

In an interview, David Scidmore can discuss:

• • Creating a “fish out of water” fantasy where two people journey to a parallel universe
  • Using two characters from the real world to center in an epic fantasy world
  • David’s love of bringing exciting and romantic stories to life
  • The use of physics to help develop the characters and explain the world
  • Picking up Megan’s journey in an unknown world and elaborating on the world that he’s already created
  • The influence of different ethnic cultures to help develop the world
  • Challenges faced when creating a multi-POV narrative with unique perspectives that fit together into the same storyline
  • The key themes of relationships and how they affect Aylun and Megan
  • Dellia, the first book in the series and subsequent books in the future

An Interview with

David Scidmore

1. Can you elaborate on the different cultures represented in Aylun and the significance of the cultures for the storyline?

Talus is based on the question: “What would happen if you plopped the militaristic people from ancient Sparta into a world where some of their women became empaths.” The idea was particularly appealing because in Sparta, the women owned the land, ran the household, and had a reputation for being highly outspoken. All of this made Dellia a fascinating character. Erden is a similar concept but based on a forerunner of ancient India, and Elore is based on ancient China. Part of the motive for mixing cultures is structural. I wanted three realms whose cultures didn’t mesh well, making rule by one central government problematic. Perhaps a bigger motive was that I have spent an embarrassing number of hours watching movies and television from India and the Far East and have enjoyed them a lot. It has given me an understanding and appreciation for their people, what they value, and how they see themselves and the world.

2. How would you describe Megan’s character and her development throughout the novel? What about Aylun’s character development?

Megan was a very fun character to write, and constantly surprised me. She has a tragic past, one that has made her determined to live life for herself and no one else. Often, she is fun-loving and often behaves frivolously, but when she sets her mind to something, she can be a force to be reckoned with. In a way, her journey is about discovering that if she is to protect the things she loves, she can’t just live only for herself. Aylun is, in some ways, the polar opposite. He has lived a life of discipline and service to a greater cause. He has suffered a terrible loss that has left him deeply troubled, and through his time with Megan, he learns to overcome much of it. Their strengths and weaknesses complement each other and make them a great team.

3. What inspired you to write Megan’s journey of being abducted by Aylun?

To be honest, it wasn’t anything grandiose. When I was figuring out the plot for Dellia, it occurred to me it would be more intriguing if Megan went with him, but they got separated. That forced me to figure out what happened to her, or at least gave me a start. From there, things just evolved. The truth is, I don’t really know who the characters are until I start writing. I always have some concept, but I don’t really get to know them until I put them in a scene and start writing down what they do. Much of the dynamic between Megan and Aylun and how their relationship starts and evolves came from them, not me.

4. What are some important ideas you want readers to take away from Megan and Aylun’s respective journey?

I’m always searching for answers myself, so it’s never made sense for me to try to send a message through writing. I do, however, like my characters to have conflicting opinions, to debate them, and to have each one make the strongest possible case for their point of view. If I were to try to find a message in what I’ve written, it is perhaps that life is messy and complicated and often defies simple answers. Each character has their own issues and relationship problems, and none of them is entirely right or wrong. Another message might be that persistence is its own reward, that if people work hard and don’t give up on each other, they can overcome tremendous difficulties and find a better balance in their lives.

5. Do you have plans to continue the Ever-Branching Tree series or some new writing plans?

Oh yes. When I started Aylun, I wanted to create a story with more than one protagonist. I hoped to acquaint people with Megan and Aylun, then bring Jon and Dellia back in, so it becomes a story about four different people, each with their own ideas and agenda. In the next book, I want to do the same with Garris and Kayleen. I want to go back in time to when this all started and take each step down the road to Garris’s banishment. Then I want to jump forward and have Megan, Aylun, Jon and Dellia encounter something that connects to that past and they have to deal with the same issues again.

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 pulse-racing, gritty action fantasy perfect for fans of The Stormlight Archive

GOLD CANYON, AZ – The fate of the world rests on the shoulders of an enslaved gladiator who must unlock the secrets of his own memory and survive as the prince’s spy in this character-driven epic fantasy drama by debut author, Tim Facciola. A Vengeful Realm: The Scales of Balance (Oct 24, 2023, First Torch Books) thrusts readers into the dark and fast-paced world of vengeful royals and a bloody plot to overthrow a kingdom beset with rebellion at any cost. Perfect for Gladiator fans and right on time for Gladiator 2 out in 2024!

After spending ten years perfecting his epic fantasy, Tim Facciola debuts with an action-packed story of blood, espionage, prophesied destiny, and the journey to freedom captivating readers as Zephryus contends with his amnesia, his captors, and works to forge balance between the world of gods and humans.

In a world where shedding blood brings peace, Zephryus, an enslaved gladiator, must do what is necessary to restore the balance between the gods and the kingdom. With only his fractured memory and the weight of his prophecy, Zephyrus joins forces with Prince Laeden to infiltrate the kingdom’s enslaved gladiator network and spy on Queen Danella before her plans to take over the throne come to fruition. But freedom comes at a cost and as Zephryus’s involvement grows, so does the twisted fate of their empire.

With nods to the Roman Empire’s Hellenistic culture set during Europe’s middle ages, fans of Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, and Django Wexler will be enthralled by this dark and tenacious story of freedom, revelation, and hope. 

“A Vengeful Realm: 

Book One: The Scales of Balance”

Tim Facciola | October 24, 2023 | First Torch Books | Fantasy

Hardcover | 979-8986285535 | $24.99

Paperback | 979-8986285528 | $14.99

TIM FACCIOLA: When Tim isn’t writing epic fantasy, he can often be found in his garage-gym or in the mountains where he lives. A virtual fitness professional by trade, he integrates his creative passions into movement, training with maces, clubs, staves, and swords to unlock his inner gladiator. To inquire about Gladiator Training, reach out to him at TimFacciolaFit@gmail.com.

More than writing, reading, gaming, playing music, hiking, and paddle-boarding, Tim loves story. If he’s not working on his own story, he’s helping others develop theirs as an author coach. To inquire about Author Coaching services, visit firsttorchbooks.mykajabi.com. 

Living in Arizona with his wife, Colleen, Tim continues writing epic fantasy novels while exploring different storytelling mediums so he can inspire others to hope. To live. And to believe. Find out more about him on his website.

Follow Tim Facciola on social media:

Twitter: @timfacciola | Instagram: @timfacciola_theauthor | TikTok: @timfacciola

Advanced praise for A Vengeful Realm

★★★★½

“A sprawling cast of vivid characters and a meticulously crafted realm, with exposition and world-building unraveling seamlessly alongside the plot…an original work of fantasy that doesn’t trod familiar ground”

-Self-Publishing Review

“Arena-set action sequences shine … but even more impressive is the constant political maneuvering, as characters mingle with enemies while plotting against them. There is, of course, plenty of mystery, and Facciola amps up excitement with signs of magic, appearances from gods, and betrayals.”

-Kirkus Review

“It is difficult to overstate the storytelling prowess of author Tim Facciola.”

-Independent Book Review

“Tim Facciola’s A VENGEFUL REALM (THE SCALES OF BALANCE, Book 1) is a strong debut fantasy action-thriller.”

-IndieReader 

In an interview, Tim Facciola can discuss:

• His familial estrangement and reconnection and how it encouraged him to use his characters to explore human connection
• His fitness background in training with maces, swords, etc. and how that played into his writing
• How he incorporates modern themes of human rights, systemic racism, classism, and nationalism 
• The research and use of Hellenistic culture blended with the Middle Ages
• Why he uses fantasy to reinforce the idea that we are stronger and better together, rather than divided 
• The ten-year process to create deep world building and character development through his novel that’s easy to read
• How his wife’s difficulty connecting with female characters and stories inspired his approach to formulating strong and independent women without sacrificing their femininity
• The importance of writing non-toxic romantic and platonic relationships in fantasy
• Why he wrote the full trilogy before releasing the first book
• How doubt plays a role in healthy faith journeys and how his own impacted his characters’ worldviews

An Interview with

Tim Facciola

1. Your fantasy story is based on some of the Hellenistic culture blended with the middle ages. How did the research go into that and what were some of the ways you incorporated it into your book?

I was very fortunate to partner with a freelance editor (Chersti Nieveen of Writer Therapy) who has extensive knowledge in the history and culture of ancient Rome. She was instrumental in bringing the historical context of Hellenistic culture to the manuscript while balancing the fantastical elements that made New Rheynia feel real. Of course I had my own, much less academic approach to research by watching movies like Spartacus (1960) and the Starz TV Series by the same name (2010). I wouldn’t call it research, but playing the original God of War video game series (2005-2010) prompted me to explore Greco-Roman mythologies which was a gateway into other mythological research that helped formulate the Valencian pantheon.  

2. You’ve used many modern social issues like human rights, systemic racism, classism, and nationalism. Why was it important to include these into your epic fantasy story?

I believe we were created to be creative and with that purpose comes power. And with that power comes responsibility. Art has a way of bypassing people’s heads and actually connecting with that thing that beats in their chest, so to have access to this medium and not use it to try to encourage others to ask questions—to me, that’s creative-negligence. My goal including these issues in my story is never to preach, but rather to ask people to think critically, to ask questions, and to take introspective inventory. We are all human, and these issues face humanity. After all, what are stories if not opportunities to teach us more about ourselves? 

3. I heard that you used your fitness training background to help write the action scenes. What went into that process?

So I’ve always been fascinated with swordplay, martial arts, and human movement. As a personal trainer, I always sought to push the boundaries of the typical modalities of training and athletic performance. What began with calisthenics became Mike Fitch’s Animal Flow and GMB’s mindful movement and athletic autonomy. From there I got into training with the steel mace, clubbells, staves, and swords. The more I played around with those implements, the more I wanted to write; and the more I wrote, the more I wanted to dance around with these different tools. Inevitably, learning took place, and I believe it injected life into my combat scenes and playful exuberance into my exercise practices.  

4. How did you use your characters to explore human connection and what was the inspiration behind it?

Long, long ago when I was just jotting ideas down in between personal training sessions, this story only had one point of view character (and it was actually meant to be Fenyx’s story!). I soon realized that one perspective only allowed the reader to experience the world in one way, which is how many of us live our lives. It can be difficult to put ourselves in others’ shoes (or sandals in this case) amidst our own chaotic lives, but only through that empathy can we actually start experiencing the world. So one POV character quickly became seven, and my goal was to show the world from the perspective of different faiths, social-standings, socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, etc. but it also allowed me to play with interpersonal relationships. The father-son, brother-brother, father-daughter, mother-son, mother-daughter, friend to friend, brother-sister, sister-sister—the list goes on, but this series and these characters allowed me to flex that creative-responsibility to explore for myself and encourage others to try to see things from the other’s perspective. Who knows, perhaps we’re all just a little misunderstood and a little grace would go a long way to reconciliation and progress.

5. What’s next for Zephryus and the rest of your characters?

Well, this is a complex question, because for me, for the series, Zephyrus, Vykinallia, Threyna, Fenyx, Laeden, Iylea, and Danella have all had their stories wrapped up with a bow. So if you’re asking for book 2… if you were hoping Zephyrus’s ride would be smoother now that he knows who he is, guess again. Still learning who he is and what he’s supposed to be, he also must contend with who he was and the regrets that spawned from his past choices. Except now, he’s got two armies and a traitorous God coming for him. If you’re asking what’s next now that the trilogy is finished (coming out soon!), I will say this much… I left a few unresolved stitches that COULD be reopened (and yes I use that phrasing intentionally) to make way for a second installment in the aftermath of AVR. But first, I already have projects in the works like Threyna’s origin story, and a story that takes place 400 years earlier that sets the table for the struggles in the divine realm as seen in the first trilogy. Beyond that, one day I may come back to this world and explore it with some of these characters as a sequel trilogy. But endings are important to me; I take too much pride in the world, these characters, and the current ending to reopen it if I can’t wrap it up and deliver an equally cathartic conclusion. 

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/

Grand Lake, CO–Based on a remarkable true story, Glenn Hileman’s “A Yellow House in the Mountains” (March 2024) honors the lives of his parents, Lyle and Marylin, who were lost to Colorado’s East Troublesome Fire, by showcasing the love, faith and determination which guided them through difficult times.

By the end of the day on October 21, 2020, more than 193,000 acres and over 400 homes were consumed in the East Troublesome Fire, Colorado’s fastest-moving fire in history. Lyle and Marylin understood living in their mountain paradise had risks, and their approach to the oncoming fire was consistent with their approach to other challenges in their lives–they faced it together.

An awe-inspiring novel based on a love story like no other, “A Yellow House in the Mountains” traces Lyle and Marylin’s relationship from their high-school sweetheart days to their 68-year marriage. Filled with a sense of the couple’s ambition and determination, “A Yellow House” will leave readers with a strengthened resolve to overcome life’s challenges and embrace life’s miracles.

“A Yellow House in the Mountains”

Glenn Hileman | March 1, 2024 | GLH2 Holdings | Fiction, Historical

Hardcover | ISBN: 979-8-9888228-1-3 | $27.95

Paperback | ISBN: 979-8-9888228-0-6 | $18.99 

Ebook | ISBN: 979-8-9888228-2-0 | $12.99

GLENN HILEMAN: Glenn is the CEO of Highmark School Development and has spent over fifteen years living in Bountiful, Utah. His love of Grand Lake, Colorado led to him purchasing his parent’s home in 2020. His family is actively working to restore the property from the devastation of the East Troublesome Fire. In doing so, they hope to honor the legacy of his parents. Learn more about Glenn at: www.yellowhouseinthemountains.com 

In an interview, Glenn Hileman can discuss:

• The lasting impact of the East Troublesome Fire in Colorado, which was the fastest growing fire in the state’s history
• Why it was important to tell Lyle and Marylin’s story, as the only two lives lost to the fire
• The powerful lessons he learned from Lyle and Marylin, and the real-life miracles that touched their lives
• Why he’s planning on restoring the property Lyle and Marylin lost to the fire
• What he hopes readers will take away from “A Yellow House in the Mountains”

An Interview with

Glenn Hileman

1. Why did you decide to share Lyle and Marylin’s story with the world? 

Their lives were filled with remarkable experiences that can inspire others. Through their commitment to one another and with faith, they overcame numerous obstacles in life and left a legacy worthy of remembrance. A love story, “A Yellow House in the Mountains” provides relatable examples of how to navigate life.

2. Do miracles really happen?

Miracles occur frequently but may be overlooked or mislabeled as coincidences. Lyle and Marylin’s story contains several examples of miracles. Some of their encounters were immediate while others played out over a sixty-eight year marriage. Their story will touch the hearts of many that look to understand our purpose in life and the role miracles play.

3. How did Lyle and Marylin overcome life’s challenges?

An unwavering commitment to their marriage provided Lyle and Marylin with the strength to get through hard times. They believed their relationship could endure through eternity and that working together, they could improve and grow. 

4. What lessons will readers learn from Lyle and Marylin?

Challenges and adversity are a normal part of life and often provide our greatest opportunities for growth. Personal improvement takes effort and having the support of loved ones helps facilitate change. Our potential in life is magnified as we collaborate with others, especially with family and friends.

5. What should readers know about you?

Perhaps the greatest written insights into my life are contained within the pages of the book. Like my parents, I lean heavily on my family and faith to navigate life.

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 remarkable account of public health advocacy in developing nations interwoven with vivid details of a rich, adventurous life

WASHINGTON, DC – Medical anthropologist, former Harvard AIDS Prevention Project director, and former member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS bares his personal and professional adventures as a rebel researcher and intrepid traveler in his stunning memoir, “On the Fringe: Confessions of a Maverick Anthropologist” (Black Rose Writing, October 19th, 2023). 

At a young age, Edward “Ted” Green rejected his privileged upbringing and was considered the “black sheep” of his elite family. Eventually turning away from academia, Green pursued applied field research to prevent infections from HIV, cholera, and other diseases found especially in developing countries across the globe, beginning in Southern and Eastern Africa and eventually across the entire globe. Green takes the reader on an intimate and thrilling journey through diverse corners of the globe, giving on-the-ground insight into the world’s most fascinating cultures, such as the Suriname Maroons (descendants of escaped enslaved Africans in the Amazon rainforest), “spirit mediums” in Nigeria, sex workers in Tanzania, Shaolin masters in China, and Samaritans in Palestine. 

With vulnerability and candor, Green also reflects on his notable career as an anthropologist: how he helped transform public health initiatives while battling periodic anxiety and depression and deep-seated Impostor Syndrome. He underscores the importance of outsiders understanding local, indigenous knowledge and wisdom as crucial tools in developing public health programs. He also delves into paranormal phenomena, both his own as well as those he encounters in countries like Nigeria.  

Green’s memoir is a deeply moving, expansive account of his adventurous life as a self proclaimed rebellious anthropologist– and his uncommonly fearless approach will encourage others to dig more deeply and honestly into what it means to live an authentic, boundless life. 

“On the Fringe:  Confessions of a Maverick Anthropologist”

Edward Green | October 19th, 2023 | Black Rose Writing | Memoir

Print | 9781685132965 | $22.95

EDWARD GREEN: is a retired American medical anthropologist, who has served as a senior research scientist at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, later becoming the director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project. He is currently Research Professor at George Washington University. Green was appointed a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (2003-2007) and served in the Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council for the US-based National Institutes of Health (2003-2006).

Prior to his retirement, Green was not only a pioneer in the field of anthropological research on Africa’s indigenous healers, “witch-doctors” in colonial lingo, but he’s also considered a maverick in developing public health programs based on collaboration between African indigenous healers and western-styled biomedical personnel. He has guided such programs in Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa, and Nigeria. His maverick status was confirmed when he was one of the first voices to argue against the entrenched Western condoms/testing paradigm of AIDS prevention, proposing instead a simple behavior-based model he discovered operating in Uganda, locally known as the Zero Grazing Campaign.

Dr. Green has been asked to testify in Congress 5 times and he has served on multiple boards of nonprofit organizations. His fieldwork notes, photographs, and tape recordings from his work with the Suriname Maroons, and also from work in several other cultures and countries, have been archived at the Smithsonian’s National Anthropological Archives, near Washington DC. He was profiled in Forbes Magazine in 2009. He is married and currently lives in Washington DC and Maine.

In an interview, Edward Green can discuss:

• How his upbringing in his highly influential family aided in his successful career as a medical anthropologist 
• His decision to depart from academia in order to directly advocate for others through his anthropological efforts 
• How his career positioned him to become one of the leading experts in AIDS/HIV treatment and prevention in developing nations such as South and East Africa and the Middle East 
• His time working on high profile public health committees including a President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS in 2003

Advanced Praise for “On the Fringe”

“[On the Fringe is] a deeply moving, reflective, and indeed soul-baring account of his prominent family’s history and its far-reaching effects on his life’s extraordinary journey… Green’s uncommonly fearless approach to his autobiography may encourage other professionals to dig deeper and more honestly.” 

–Charles Good, Professor emeritus at Virginia Polytechnic and State Institute

“In this equally disturbing and uplifting book, Green lays bare the self-doubt that dogged his decades of high-powered and highly effective public health consulting… in this unique autobiography, Green’s clear writing about his peripatetic career is yet another of his many contributions to the social science canon.”

 –H. Russell Bernard, Professor emeritus of anthropology, University of Florida; Director, Institute for Social Science Research at Arizona State University, recipient of the Franz Boas Award (2003), member of the National Academy of Sciences.

An Interview with

Edward Green

You have self-identified that you struggle with impostor syndrome even though you have had an immensely successful career. What inspired you to write this memoir? 

I speculate in my book that this goes back to my expulsion from an elite boarding school at age 15. My mother seemed traumatized by this and reminded me quite often, accelerating  after age 15, that she considered me a failure and that indeed, she saw nothing but failure in my future. I was rebellious as a youth and liked to get drunk and hang out with undesirable kids. Yet part of me wanted to prove my mother wrong. As I began to take off at my career, I always felt deep down that I really was a failure, a fraud, and that the day would come when my colleagues or the general public would expose me as a total imposter.

What was it like to be regarded as the “black sheep” of your highly successful family? Did that contribute to your accomplishments throughout your career? 

I come from a long line of successful people, especially on my mother’s blue-blooded side of the family. I was undoubtedly a difficult child, one who today would probably be diagnosed hyperactive. My mother, backed up by my less insistent father, had my whole life planned out for me: Groton school, then Yale (my father’s School), then an Episcopal Bishophood or becoming a professor at an Ivy League school. I rebelled against all that and went out of my way to forge my own path. I think I told my mother once that I was starting my sociological research with the criminal class, then I would slowly work my way up to her class. But I was aware as I started achieving (unconscious?) career goals that I was gradually turning into almost exactly the son my mother planned for.

Why did you choose to leave academia in order to pursue anthropological advocacy, particularly for folks living in developing countries such as South and East Africa and the Middle East? 

This question is quite easy to answer because there had been a great overproduction of PhDs in the social sciences and humanities by the mid-1970s, meaning there were few academic jobs even available. My mentor Russ Bernard suggested that I do a postdoc that he knew about at Vanderbilt University and then go to Africa and write a few peer-reviewed articles about wherever it was I went. Then I would be much more marketable in Academia. But I took to applying anthropology outside “the academy” and I  almost never looked back. Then, rather late in my career, I learned about postdoc fellowships at Harvard for people in “mid-career” with important ideas about public health. I applied and was accepted to the Takami program, and then was asked to stay on as a senior research scientist. But wait a second: me, a Harvard scientist? I felt like an imposter, for real this time!

How did you feel after you decided that prevailing efforts at AIDS prevention were ineffective and that your findings and ideas would be anathema to most who worked in AIDS? 

When I began to criticize the prevailing paradigm in AIDS prevention, the belief was that condoms (along with testing) were the best means of HIV prevention. Those of us who were working in Africa should have caught on to the fallacy of the belief that greater availability of condoms would translate into lower HIV infection rates. I kept expecting someone else to point this out to the major Western AIDS prevention agencies and organizations. But no one did, and so I started my crusade against these misguided beliefs.

My own doubts began in 1993 when I spent a brief consultancy examining the Ugandan AIDS prevention program in-country. This program was developed largely by Ugandans themselves, without the dubious benefit of Western input. Then in 1998 I went back to Uganda, the only country at the time where HIV infection rates were falling. The World Bank hired me to look at and identify what seemed to be working in AIDS prevention. I concluded that it was partner reduction, or not having multiple concurrent sexual partners. But no one wanted to hear this (except Africans.) I was jumped on by critics who said, Green is now promoting “abstinence-only!” Some of my colleagues didn’t want to be associated with me anymore. I can’t pretend this didn’t hurt.

What do you hope that readers will learn and take away from reading your memoir? 

As I say in my book, I have trepidation about revealing so much of myself. I have encountered few memoirs by science professionals that delve into career setbacks, disastrous job interviews, fears and failures, anxiety and depression, deeply rooted feelings of being a fraud, an imposter. Such memoirs usually just list one career success after another. I hope that this book might be useful for especially younger people entering public health, anthropology, international development, or allied fields in order to know about both my internal and external struggles and not feel so alone, different, and isolated if they have experienced life events (failures, setbacks) and feelings like my own.

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Marissa DeCuir

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

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

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

Author Suzette Mullen reminds us: “It’s never too late for a new beginning.”

LANCASTER, Pennsylvania – Inspired by a tiny love story she wrote for the New York Times’ popular Modern Love series, author and writing coach Suzette Mullen is releasing “The Only Way Through Is Out” (University of Wisconsin Press) on Feb. 13, 2024. Introspective, bittersweet, and empowering, her memoir is both a coming-out and coming-of-age story, as well as a call to action for anyone who is longing to live authentically but is afraid of the cost.

Suzette Mullen had been raised to play it safe—and she hated causing others pain. With college and law degrees, a kind and successful husband, two thriving adult sons, and an ocean-view vacation home, she lived a life many people would envy. But beneath the happy facade was a woman who watched her friends walk boldly through their lives and wondered what was holding her back from doing the same.

Digging into her past, Suzette uncovered a deeply buried truth: she’d been in love with her best friend—a woman—for nearly two decades—and still was. Leaning into these “unspeakable” feelings would put Suzette’s identity, relationships, and life of privilege at risk—but taking this leap might be her only chance to feel fully alive. As Suzette opened herself up to new possibilities, an unexpected visit to a new city helped her discover who she was meant to be.

“The Only Way Through is Out”

Suzette Mullen | Feb. 13, 2024 

University of Wisconsin Press | Memoir 

Hardcover | ISBN-10: 0299345505 | $26.95

Ebook and audiobook editions also available

About the Author

Suzette Mullen is the founder of Your Story Finder nonfiction book coaching and a founding board member of the Lancaster (PA) LGBTQ+ Coalition. Her “tiny love story,” the seed which became her new book, The Only Way Through is Out, was published in the New York Times “Modern Love” column. Mullen is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Wellesley College.

Follow Suzette Mullen on social media: 

Facebook: @Suzette-Mullen-Author | Instagram: @urstoryfinder

Praise for Suzette Mullen and “The Only Way Through Is Out”

“With candor and deep vulnerability, Suzette Mullen offers a compelling, honest and hopeful memoir that examines the hidden truths involved in accepting our deepest wants and desires. The Only Way Through is Out is a lesson to all of us on what great things can happen when we act with authenticity and honesty.” — Jessi Hempel, author of “The Family Outing”

“I could not put this book down. Mullen shows us the search for one’s authentic self has no expiration date and is worth whatever it takes. This book is a glorious tale of tenacious courage that anyone searching for their own path in life will love.” — Jennifer Louden, bestselling author of “Why Bother? Discover the Desire for What’s Next”

“An honest and insightful delve into coming out later in life, The Only Way Through Is Out is filled with tears, laughter, and, above all, hope.” — Lara Lillibridge, author of “Girlish: Growing Up in a Lesbian Home”

“In The Only Way Through Is Out, Suzette Mullen reveals how she unearthed her true sexual identity from beneath a mountain of cultural, familial, and internalized heteronormativity. Swimming upstream, she emerges in midlife as the heroine of her own story, and as inspiration to any reader struggling to express their most authentic self.” — Robin Rinaldi, author of “The Wild Oats Project: One Woman’s Midlife Quest for Passion at Any Cost”

“In this courageous memoir, the reader feels keenly both the writer’s anguish and her emerging strength as she chooses between a safe, comfortable path and a leap into the unknown. With raw honesty, Mullen is willing to make herself vulnerable on almost every page of this story of poignant loss and sustaining gain, as she stills the external voices in her world and listens to her own truth.” — Mary Alice Hostetter, author of “Plain: A Memoir of Mennonite Girlhood”

“A memoir of discovering one’s sexuality and finding the courage to act, the book has a strong positive message for the many people who come out later in life—the late bloomers, as they are known in the queer community. Such stories are important, and this one is told well and fun to read.” — Lori Soderlind, author of “The Change”

“An affecting coming-into-consciousness narrative that burrows into the urgencies of queer awakening and carries its reader through the agonies and ecstasies of living one’s truth. Suzette Mullen masterfully conjures the battling inner voices that prolong the reconciliation of her Christian beliefs with the urgings of her body and heart. A touching, visceral story that celebrates giving into queer joy, no matter how long it takes.” — Alden Jones, author of “The Wanting Was a Wilderness”

In an interview, Suzette Mullen can discuss:

• Dealing with the fears of coming out, including family impact
• Starting over at midlife in your career, personal life, and sexuality
• Navigating “silver divorce,” and dating at midlife and beyond
• How and why it’s possible to be in decades-long denial about your sexuality
• How to discover and live as your more authentic self 
• How living authentically in your personal life positively impacts your professional life
• Writing a tiny love story for the New York Times Modern Love series
• Her work to amplify LGBTQ+ voices
• Her work as a book coach helping LGBTQ+ memoir writers raise their voices, write their stories, and becoming published authors
• Her career as a writing coach, how that experience helped write her own memoir and publish her first book in her 60s
• The art of memoir writing, how to know where your story starts and ends

An Interview with

Suzette Mullen

Tell us about the Modern Love tiny love story you wrote for the New York Times that eventually transformed into your new memoir, “The Only Way Through Is Out.”

While I was in the midst of revising my memoir manuscript before querying agents and publishers, I wrote a one-hundred word “tiny love story” for the Modern Love column titled “Crafting a New Life,” essentially my capital S Story in miniature. The tiny love story described a moment when I attended my first Pride event ever with one of my two sons by my side and contrasted it with a moment four years later when I returned to Pride with my wife by my side. I loved the challenge of distilling my story down to its essence, and I still remember the thrill I felt when I received an email from the New York Times editor telling me they wanted to publish my piece! 

Prior to the events that led to my coming out and attending my first Pride, I lived a safe, comfortable, and very straight life. Married nearly thirty years to a man. Mother to two young adult sons, one working on Wall Street, the other in college. Financial security. A home in Houston and a vacation home in Montauk. With the arrival of an empty nest, my husband and I were actively discerning what we wanted our next chapter to look like. Let’s just say me coming out and us getting divorced wasn’t on our radar.

Was there a defining moment when you realized that coming out would be the right path for you?

For me, coming out was a gradual process of unpacking decades of denial. I went through stages that are common to many who come out later in life: First, I acknowledged my attraction to a particular person, in my case this was Reenie, my best friend. I wondered (hoped?) that maybe “this” was “just her.” Then I got real with myself that “this” wasn’t “just her,” and it hadn’t been “just her” for decades, but I still didn’t know what to do about this revelation. Could I keep on living as I had, in a marriage to a man, presenting to the world as straight? Even after “sort of” coming out to Reenie, my now ex-husband, my sons, my mom, and my sister (“I think I’m gay?”), I still wasn’t ready to fully embrace who I was. It wasn’t until one early morning when I sat in stillness with a cup of coffee in hand that I knew what I had to do. I knew who I was. I knew what I wanted. And I knew I wasn’t willing to go to my grave without knowing that part of me. That’s when I made the leap and fully came out.

How did you feel when Reenie, the woman you were in love with, did not reciprocate your feelings?

When Reenie indicated that she didn’t feel the same way about me that I felt about her, my initial reaction was relief. Her response was what I had expected, and for a brief moment, I thought maybe all “this” could be over. Maybe since I no longer had to worry about leaving my marriage to be with her, I could go back to my very nice life with my husband and my friendship with her. But within seconds, another feeling rushed through me: fear and dread. I knew at the deepest part of my being that “this” wasn’t just an attraction to Reenie. “This” was an attraction to women in general and what the hell was I going to do about that?

How did your now ex-husband, sons, other family and friends respond when you came out to them?

While the hardest person to come out to was myself, it also wasn’t easy coming out to others. My now ex-husband initially told me he didn’t think I was gay, but over time he was generally gracious, patient, and accepting as I processed what was true for me and what was not true. For my two sons, in their twenties at the time, the news that their parents were contemplating divorce was harder to hear than the fact that their mom thought she might be gay. Other close family members had difficulty understanding how I could possibly leave my very nice and comfortable life, even if I was gay. One family member wondered if this was a phase or a midlife crisis. While their initial lack of acceptance was hurtful, later I realized that they needed time to process this big change, which would impact their lives too. Overall, my friends were very supportive when I came out to them. A few, however, urged me to stay in my marriage, to avoid hurting my husband and to “honor my vows.”

Did any part of you want to resist this later-in-life realization that you’re a lesbian and continue with your life as is just because it was familiar and comfortable? How did you navigate those complex feelings?

Uh yes. That’s a huge part of what my book is about! I had a good life. I was married to a man I loved. I didn’t want to leave that life. For a long time, I wasn’t even sure I was really gay—I hadn’t even kissed a woman. And seriously, who risks everything for a life they’ve been living only in their head? Especially someone like me who had been conditioned to play it safe. Ultimately, I was faced with this choice: was I going to stay in the comfortable, safe life I had built or was I going to leave behind everything I knew to discover this part of me? I struggled. I wrestled. I worked with a therapist. I talked to friends. But finally,  I had to decide whose voice to listen to … and the answer was my own.

Did you experience any grief over the “loss” of your former life?

Absolutely. After the initial euphoria of coming out, reality set in and I experienced bouts of deep grief, which I initially misinterpreted as evidence that leaving my marriage had been a grave mistake. My thought process was: I chose this new life; shouldn’t I be happier? The first Christmas after the divorce was hard as my sons and I sat in my sparsely furnished new apartment, nothing familiar surrounding us. I couldn’t help feeling replaced as I contemplated my ex-husband and his new partner living in the beautiful ocean-view house that used to be mine. Seeing Instagram posts of gatherings with friends that I was no longer invited to. You don’t just walk away from a thirty-year marriage that had so much good in it without feeling loss. What I’ve come to believe is that leaving a marriage and an entire life like I did can be the right choice and you can still grieve what you left behind. Joy and grief can co-exist. It’s important to allow yourself to feel all the feels.

This must have been a lonely journey. Where did you find support?

Initially, I didn’t know a single other person who had experienced an awakening of their sexuality at midlife. I felt extremely alone and isolated, with no one to lean on or to show me a path forward. One of many, many internet searches led me to a newly-formed Facebook group for women questioning their sexuality or coming out later in life. That group of 50 women, which eventually grew to 2000+ women from all over the world, became my lifeline. The Lalas, as I call them in my book, answered my questions, carried me when I couldn’t carry myself, and helped me see a way forward when I couldn’t see one myself. Today I count some of these women to be among my very closest friends. 

How did you discover, uncover and cultivate your authentic self? Do you think everyone already knows who they are deep down? 

Ironically, writing is what led me to discover and uncover my authentic self. While working on a different book project, I started writing more and more about Reenie, my best friend. One day I wrote about a moment when my fingers grazed her arm and an electric charge went through my body. At some level, I knew those words were important—and dangerous—I almost deleted them after writing them. Instead, I shared the scene with a book coach I was working with, and her comment about the electric charge moment was what set this journey in motion. “That sounds exactly like someone falling in love,” she wrote. She was right. There was my truth in black-and-white on the page, as obvious as can be, but I hadn’t been able to see it before. The words I wrote that day emerged from a still, quiet voice inside of me, a place of deep knowing. Everyone has a voice inside them calling them back to their true and authentic self, but it requires stillness and deep listening to hear that voice. It requires a willingness to step away from the noise of all the other voices and distractions competing for your attention. The answers ARE inside you. Your inner voice will lead you to your authentic self, who you are at your core.  All you need to do is listen.

How do you deal with the question many have of those who come out later in life (“Did you really not know you were gay?”)? Is it possible for people to be in prolonged denial about their sexuality?

I really did not know I was gay, despite ample evidence to the contrary! Despite crushing on a female high school teacher. Despite writing in my journal when I was a teenager that I was “rather worried about my sexuality.” Despite fantasizing about women when I was having sex with men. Despite wanting to run away with my “friend.” My experience is that it is absolutely possible to be in prolonged denial about one’s sexuality, and I’ve seen this same denial play out in the lives of many of the women in the later in life support groups I have been part of. While some late-in-lifers know from a very young age that they are gay, many others, like me, feel as if the revelation comes completely out of the blue. It’s only when we look back on our lives that we see the evidence. That we ask ourselves: How could I have NOT known I was gay?

Why do you think you were in denial about your sexuality?

I’ve thought about that a lot. I think it’s a combination of (1) growing up in a heteronormative culture and being conditioned to believe I was straight—being gay/queer/lesbian was not even on my radar; (2) not having any queer role models growing up—I wasn’t aware of a single student or teacher in my high school in the mid-late ‘70s who was “out;” (3) falling in love with the man who became my husband—if I was in love with a man, how could I be gay?; (4) family conditioning that valued safety over risk; and (5) in my late thirties, working with a therapist who suggested my fascination with women’s bodies might be a result of me not having been breastfed as a baby. Yes, a therapist really said that to me.

Do you think you were always gay and suppressed it or do you think you were bisexual before or sexually fluid or what? How do you feel about labels when it comes to sexuality?

Early on, I spent a lot of time wondering if I was “born gay” or became sexually fluid later in life or what had really happened. There was no way for me to definitively answer those questions, and later those questions became less important to me. What mattered was what I knew to be true about myself and my identity in the present. Today, I identify as a lesbian, and as part of the LGBTQ+ community and the queer community. Like many of my younger peers, I’ve come to embrace the term “queer,” which for me means “not straight.” I am most definitely not straight.

Similar to Glennon Doyle’s “Untamed,” your book asks whether a woman has the right to go after her desires when doing so throws a bomb into the family ecosystem. Can you elaborate on this? How did you navigate this? 

Women, particularly women who are mothers, have been conditioned to put everyone else first—their spouses, their children, their elderly parents. Sometimes that conditioning is so entrenched that we don’t even allow ourselves to think about what we want—let alone contemplate going after those desires. I grew up believing that life was about being careful, not making mistakes, following the rules, and avoiding risks. Change was scary for me, and the truth is that when one person in a family changes, the whole family changes. In the book, you see me doing everything I can to try to avoid causing others—and myself—pain, and ultimately realizing that, of course, there was no way forward without pain—for myself and for the people closest to me. My now ex-husband had no interest in staying in a marriage that was unhappy and neither did I. I finally made the decision to go after my desires, despite the cost to myself and others, when I realized that the only possible path to happiness for me was leaving my marriage and exploring life on the other side. I wasn’t willing to go to my grave without knowing who I was in all aspects of my life.

What would you advise others who have reservations about the impact that coming out – or in any way being their more true self – might have on their family or loved ones? 

Every day I see people in the messy middle posting in the coming out later-in-life support groups that I am still part of who can’t imagine how they are going to get unstuck. I reach out and tell them that I understand. That I was once them, feeling hopeless and despairing. I get how hard it is to be in that place. And the best part is that now I get to show them what my life looks like 7+ years on the other side. I may have thrown a bomb into my family ecosystem, but my family was not destroyed. It just looks differently now. Everyone is thriving in their own way, my ex-husband, my two sons, and me. For anyone worried about the impact on others if they come out or live more fully as themselves in any way, I would say this: In the end, you have one wild and precious life, as poet Mary Oliver so eloquently wrote. Don’t waste it by living a life that isn’t truly your own. The people who matter will embrace you being your truest self, although it may take some a while to get on board. Try to be patient with them. And for those who won’t embrace the true you? They aren’t your people. This is your one wild and precious life. Live it.

What would you say to anyone who doubts their ability to start over? 

First, I acknowledge that I enjoyed significant privilege in my starting-over journey: financial security, marketable job skills, and a generally supportive ex-husband. I don’t want to minimize the challenges of starting over when you don’t have these advantages. But what I can speak to are the fears and doubts many people have as they contemplate starting over—at any age. Somehow as a society we have adopted the mindset that once you’ve made your bed, you have to lie in it, and as a consequence, many of us stay stuck in unsatisfying personal and professional lives. You don’t have to stay stuck. You don’t have to lie in that bed. You are more capable than you think. People called me brave for starting over in my mid-fifties. I didn’t think I was brave. I didn’t feel brave. But ultimately, I didn’t give over my agency to fear and doubt. I didn’t let fear stop me from taking a first step and another and another. And when fear and doubt threatened to overcome me, I called out for help and the universe responded. Friends took me in. Unexpected possibilities opened up. Synchronicities unfolded. You may think you don’t have what it takes to start over. I’m betting you do. I believe in you.

You’ve been in the ever-evolving writing industry since your first byline in 1978. In 2024, you’re publishing your first book in your 60s. And not only are you a published author, you’ve also had a successful career as a writing coach. How has the industry changed since you first entered? Are there old industry practices you wish we’d bring back? Likewise, in what way has the writing industry’s evolution helped writers? 

Long gone are the days when editors at traditional publishing houses routinely took writers under their wings, helped them develop their books, then sent them off on glorious all-expenses paid book tours!  

Maybe that happened for Prince Harry, but for the rest of us? Not so much. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, writers are now responsible for getting their manuscripts in the best condition they can before querying agents or publishers. This change in publishing is one of the reasons why book coaching has emerged as an industry, as book coaches provide editorial support, accountability, emotional support, and strategic help for publication path decisions and marketing. Today, authors are also asked to carry a larger share of the marketing for their books and/or hire other professionals to help them with marketing.

The good news for writers is that there are many more options for publishing than there were even a decade ago. The gatekeepers are still there in traditional publishing but with the advent of smaller presses, (reputable) hybrid publishers, and many self-publishing options, anyone with a reasonable amount of tenacity and determination can get their book out into the world.

How did the professional experience as a writing coach guide you in writing your own book?

As a book and writing coach, I knew how valuable it was to have someone by my side to provide ongoing feedback and accountability and to support me when the doubt demons inevitably whispered in my ear as I went from idea to first draft to revision and eventually to publication. Throughout all those phases, I worked with various book coaches associated with Author Accelerator, the book coaching community where I received my training and where I was certified as a fiction and nonfiction book coach. With my coaches’ support, and with my own understanding of craft and storytelling, as well as my knowledge of the publishing landscape, I was able to write a book I am proud of and land a book deal with a publisher who valued my story and my project.

Did coming out impact your career? 

Yes! For many years before I began to question my sexuality, I struggled to find my right-fit professional path. The road from Harvard Law School to author and book coach was winding, often frustrating, sometimes satisfying, but never felt fully aligned until I was aligned in my personal life.  After I came out and was living more authentically, I opened myself up to professional opportunities that were aligned with my gifts and my values. The work I do with writers, especially LGBTQ+ memoir writers, brings me great joy and is the work I was born to do. It just took me a while to get there. 

Can you tell us more about “Your Story Finder,” where your mission is to amplify LGBTQ+ voices? 

Your Story Finder is the name of my book coaching business, where I help LGBTQ+ writers and allies raise their voices, write their stories, and become published authors. As an LGBTQ+ author and advocate, I’m aware of the urgency to get more real-life LGBTQ+ stories out in the world in today’s political climate, and of the barriers that prevent those stories from being told. To address this issue, I’ve created an accessibly-priced group coaching mentorship program called Write Yourself Out exclusively for LGBTQ+ memoir and nonfiction writers. Inside that mentorship program, I provide a safe space and judgment-free zone where queer writers can be vulnerable in community and not have to explain themselves, in addition to providing editorial support and strategic guidance about publication. 

Can you tell us more about your other activism efforts, including being a founding member of The Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition? 

I’ve been engaged in social justice work for decades, and I put my experience to work soon after I came out and moved to Lancaster, PA. At the time, the City of Lancaster and surrounding county did not have a center or an organization dedicated to serving the LGBTQ+ community. With other community members, I began to discuss the possibility of founding a non-profit to promote a more equitable Lancaster County where all could live courageous, full, and authentic lives. After months of conversation, planning, fundraising, and organizing, the Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition was founded in early 2019. I had the privilege of serving the Coalition as a founding board member and later as an adviser. Today I serve on the advisory committee of the Lancaster LGBTQ+ Giving Circle, which oversees grants to LGBTQ+ related projects throughout Lancaster County. 

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Marissa DeCuir

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

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

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

Ann Arbor, MI–Michigan Medicine CEO and Dean of the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Marschall Runge, warns of the dangers rooted in the advancement of medical technology in his new ripped-from-headlines thriller, “Coded to Kill” (Post Hill Press, June 13, 2023).

About the book: Is medicine’s greatest breakthrough also the world’s most efficient killing machine? After a decade of development, the cutting-edge Electronic Health Records system is about to become the national standard. Housing the real-time medical records of every American, the EHR system will enable doctors to access records with a keystroke and issue life-or-death medical orders with a finger swipe.

No one wants the EHR to succeed more than Hugh Torrence, a former NSA honcho who sees the system as a tool for unimaginable and unaccountable power. The only thing standing in his way is a loose-knit group of Drexel employees with conflicting agendas and questionable loyalties. While they search for answers, the suspicious patient deaths keep mounting…and the target on their back grows larger.

“Coded to Kill”

Marschall Runge | June 13, 2023 | Post Hill Press | Fiction, Thriller

Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1637589274 | $30.00

Paperback | ISBN: 978-1637589250 | $18.99 

Ebook | ASIN: B0C83Q9624 | $7.99

Praise for Coded to Kill…

“A beautifully written, complex mix of medical drama, espionage story, and hi-tech skulduggery, ‘Coded to Kill’ is a thrilling read under the guidance of someone who knows what he is talking about, and never fails to enthrall with its detail and deft plotting.”

–Iain Pears, author of “An Instance of the Fingerpost” and “The Dream of Scipio”

“Dr. Marschall Runge gives us both a heart-stopping thriller and a searing indictment of the degree to which technology has sapped the soul of medicine and handed it to the technocracy.”

–Holden Thorp, Editor-in-Chief, Science Family of Journals

About the Author…

MARSCHALL RUNGE, MD, PhD, is the executive vice president for Medical Affairs at the University of Michigan, dean of the Medical School, and CEO of Michigan Medicine. He earned his doctorate in molecular biology at Vanderbilt University and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he also completed a residency in internal medicine. He was a cardiology fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the author of over 250 publications and holds five patents for novel approaches to health care. As a Texas native who spent fifteen years in North Carolina and an avid thriller reader, Runge has experienced so many you-can’t-make-this-up events that his transition to fiction was inevitable.

In an interview, Marschall Runge can discuss:

• The benefits and drawbacks of the mass collection of medical records
• How the medical industry should be approaching privacy concerns
• Whether or not AI has a place in the medical realm
• How much of “Coded to Kill” is grounded in reality
• What’s next for his author career

An Interview with

Marschall Runge

1. Where did the idea for “Coded to Kill” originate from? 

Two words: aggravation and imagination. Like many physicians – I’m a cardiologist – I found the transition to electronic health records (EHRs) to be problematic because they increased our paperwork and diverted attention from patients. As a hospital administrator, I learned more about the power of EHRs – they do improve communication between healthcare providers and make previously illegible notes now legible. But there is little evidence that, overall, EHRs have reduced medical errors, which was their promise. And protected health information (PHI), which previously had to be obtained in written medical records, is now on-line and accessible both to all who have access to these records, as well as to nefarious characters cruising the internet for private information. With these ideas swirling in my mind, and having read too many thrillers, it occurred to me that a novel hinged on the promise and perils of emerging medical technologies would be a fun and effective way to share my concerns with the public.

2. What are your thoughts on recent ransomware attacks on hospitals and how does this phenomenon relate to “Coded to Kill”?

Ransomware attacks – where hackers steal or take control of vital systems and information – are a growing threat to public safety and health. Hospitals are an especially attractive target because we must maintain highly detailed and organized information on those we care far and because our work truly involves life and death stakes. Though the potential risks of online medical records are heightened in “Coded To Kill,” it is important that everyone who uses EHRs and/or have their information contained in them understand their vulnerabilities. In “Coded to Kill,” the action of my “heroes” provide a realistic hope that we can fight back.

3. How should the medical industry approach privacy concerns?

Hospitals have a sacred duty to safeguard Protected Health Information (PHI) even as we face challenges not just from malevolent hackers, but, ironically, from our own decision to improve patient care (and generate revenue). “Data aggregators” like Google offer tens of millions of dollars for access to large medical record databases and high quality information that can be used to devise new diagnostic tools and treatments. “Coded To Kill” illustrates a reality – that some of these arrangements become deals with the devil as “anonymous” patient records can, in some circumstances, be de-anonymized. I am proud to say that Michigan Medicine has become a leader in implementing programs to thoroughly evaluate and vet these requests.

4. In the medical field, do the pros of technological advancements outweigh the cons? Is there a clear path for mitigating the negative effects of progress?

I am convinced that medicine is on the edge of a golden age of innovation that will deliver lifesaving and life-enhancing results to patients around the world. Technological advances are already resulting in amazing therapies and many diseases that were untreatable when I began my career four decades ago can now be cured. A major problem, which “Coded To Kill” illustrates, is that technology can also be hijacked by bad actors. These vast changes also create another problem: the opportunity of fraudsters such as Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos to exploit this hope to peddle high-tech versions of snake oil that hurt those who need help.

5. In your opinion, does the future of medicine involve AI?

Absolutely. Generative AI and deep machine learning are already providing amazing advances in drug discovery, diagnosis and prevention. When I began my career, it took months or even years for advanced medicinal chemists to identify a small number of compounds they could modify and test to inhibit key disease pathways. Just within the last year, AI/ML algorithms have been developed that can generate more than one million new structures a day. But, like the advanced EHR featured in “Coded To Kill,” we never forget that machines are tools that must be used and controlled by human beings, who possess a conscience and morals. We are the secret sauce of innovation.

6. What’s next for you?

My experience writing “Coded To Kill” has convinced me that novels provide a great opportunity to bring important medical issues to life – to start meaningful conversations with the people we care for. I am working on a second novel that revolves around an extraordinary investigator using AI to discover secrets that seem to reverse aging. But shortcuts were taken, data was faked, and terrible outcomes in an illicit clinical trial involving prisoners were suppressed…. you get the picture. As with “Coded to Kill,” I will use real-life examples as a starting place for each of these themes.

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/