#Bookreview of Sidney's Games

By: Lolisa Marie Monroe

Illustrated by: Patrizia Donaera

Publisher: Miss Lolisa's Tales & Tails

Publication Date: June 8, 2025

ISBN: 979-8991209199

Reviewed by: Nellie Calanni

Review Date: October 15, 2025

In Sidney’s Games, Lolisa Marie Monroe introduces young readers to Sidney, a squirrel whose idea of fun doesn’t involve gathering acorns like the rest of his forest-friends. Instead, he’d rather invent games, explore, and – most importantly – invite others to play. When Sidney proposes a special “Make a Friend Day,” he and his two sisters, Sadie and Sophie, roam the forest reaching out to different animals: some shy, some cautious, all with their own quirks.

What works beautifully in this book is how it treats friendship as something simple yet meaningful. Sidney’s enthusiasm is infectious and his inclusive approach shows children that friendship isn’t about being the fastest, the loudest, or having everything in common, but about being willing to try, to be kind, to listen, and to invite. Each animal Sidney meets has a small hesitation. Maybe the turtle feels too slow, the bunny is too shy – and yet, each is welcomed. That gives the story heart and makes it approachable for young children who may themselves feel hesitant at times.

Patrizia Donaera’s illustrations are a strong companion to the story. The woodland settings feel alive and warm, and the animal characters are expressive without being overly detailed, which helps keep the pages accessible for little eyes. There are moments where you pause on the art just to take in the scene: woodland critters playing, animals gathering, leaves rustling, the forest dappled with light. It creates a cozy, inviting mood that reinforces the theme of belonging.

Sidney’s Games is neither too short nor too busy. It strikes a good balance for early readers or for read-aloud time with younger kids. The pacing allows the story to breathe without losing momentum, giving each new encounter its own moment.

The message is not new. Many children’s books celebrate kindness, inclusion, and friendship. But what sets this apart is Sidney’s inventiveness, and how those small choices (asking someone to play, welcoming the shy one, being patient) are shown in detail. That gives it authenticity and makes it more likely kids will feel empowered to practice those same actions themselves.

Quill says: Sidney’s Games is a sweet, encouraging tale that reminds children (and adults reading with them) that making friends starts with a simple hello and a kind gesture. With warm illustrations and an inclusive spirit, it’s a book young readers will want to return to again and again.

For more information about Sidney's Games, please visit the author's website at: misslolisa.com/

 #Authorinterview with Alden Windrow

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Katie Specht is talking with Alden Windrow, author of The Canceled Life of Zander Wolbach.

FQ: Tell our readers a little about yourself. Your background, your interests, and how this led to writing a book?

WINDROW: I grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, and hold both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in English Literature. I've always been passionate about music and songwriting—I have recorded three albums and an EP under my birth name, and another album under a different moniker. Unfortunately, music never became a sustainable career, and over time, I found myself unable to record at home the way I once could. That's when I decided to channel my creativity into writing a fictionalized book illustrating the difficulties of being a DIY home recording artist.

FQ: Have you always enjoyed writing or is it something you’ve discovered recently?

WINDROW: I have always enjoyed writing. I had an English professor in college who influenced me to become an English major. As an undergrad, I learned how to write faster since we had to complete papers in class and submit them the same day. In grad school, I wrote academic papers more thoughtfully because I had more time to absorb the reading material.

For creative writing, I took a couple of courses as an undergrad, which helped me build a foundation in short story writing. I struggled with my first attempts at writing fiction, but by the second writing class, the process began to make more sense, and my professor noticed my fiction writing had improved to the point where I thought I could apply for an MFA. I ended up getting an MA in English Literature instead, but along the way, I took a creative writing class in poetry, which is another form of writing I thoroughly enjoy. I've written many lyrics for songs, but lately, I've been writing more spoken word/poems for YouTube, accompanied by music and visuals.

Unfortunately, once I finished grad school, I stopped writing fiction altogether; there didn't seem to be any point to it, nor were there the opportunities for self-publishing we have today. My creative life had to reach a point of crisis for me to become willing to write again twenty-five years later.

Author Alden Windrow

FQ: Tell us a little about your book – a brief synopsis and what makes your book unique.

WINDROW: The Canceled Life of Zander Wolbach is a work of literary autofiction that serves as an in-depth character study of its protagonist, Zander, beginning at age twenty-five and spanning nearly twenty-five years of his life. The word “canceled” in the title plays off the idea of “cancel culture,” but takes it beyond the social media definition—Zander’s life is frustrated by endless canceled opportunities and setbacks as he struggles to survive within an inhumane economic system. With relatively short chapters, each one can almost be read as a self-contained short story, but together, they highlight Zander's ongoing struggles and disillusionments.

Set in the fictional city of Folksport, the novel follows Zander as he navigates a series of low-paying jobs he feels disconnected from while also pursuing songwriting and recording as an unpaid side hustle. Over time, the story reveals the depths of Zander's social anxiety and depression, as well as his need for a more meaningful existence, which eventually becomes his focus, leading him to an exploration of Buddhist spirituality in the latter half of the book.

The uniqueness of this book lies in its blend of hyperreality with fiction. I wanted readers to know what it really felt like to be Zander by the time they finished reading the book. I would also add that this is a once-in-a-lifetime book for me; while I may write other books, this one can never be replicated.

FQ: Do you have any plans to try writing a book in a different genre? If so, which genre and why?

WINDROW: Yes! There will continue to be elements of autofiction in future novels, but not nearly as much going forward. The second novel I've started working on could be classified as a dystopian sci-fi comedy. I'm drawn to satirical novels such as Catch-22 and dystopian novels like 1984. I fear our society is losing its ability to appreciate satire, and so I would like to attempt to write something that mirrors our society, critiquing it in a way that is relevant today. It's a real challenge to write this way because it relies so much on the reader’s sense of humor, which I'm also afraid may be slipping away due to society becoming a satire of itself. I realized with my first novel that my sense of humor seemed to be coming through naturally, so I'm planning to lean even more into that for my next novel and will have to trust that readers will see the humor in it. Publishing a second novel would feel like a small victory—it might serve as a kind of redemption for readers who found the ending of the first one too dark.

FQ: Did your family & friends encourage you to write your book?

WINDROW: The only person who ever asked me if I ever thought about writing a book was my mom. But at the time, I just assumed no one would be interested in reading anything I wrote—and I had no idea what to write about. I went through a similar experience to Zander: being rejected by the MFA program and having my work thrown in the trash despite having success in my creative writing classes. That didn't do much for my self-confidence as a writer. My friends are aware of my educational background, but aren't particularly serious readers, so I never received much encouragement from them. They are somewhat surprised I've gone in this direction since they know me better as a songwriter and musician. One of them told me they could never write a book, and I had a similar mindset until I had a clear vision of what I wanted to write about. Life, more than anything else, pushed me to write a book.

FQ: Was the plot worked out completely before you started or did it evolve as your wrote?

WINDROW: Yes, I did have an entire idea of the book’s plot, although it’s not as fluid as most conventional novels, but more like a series of connected short stories. At this point, I don't consider myself someone who writes spontaneously with no idea of where I'm going with the story (a "pantser") but someone who needs to have a clear idea of what is going to happen in the story. I had everything outlined beforehand, and for now, I plan to keep using that method going forward.

FQ: Tell us about the protagonist in your story.

WINDROW: Zander is what you might call a functional melancholic. He's gifted in music and other arts, but can't find his place in the world. He's not great with relationships either, but many of Zander’s internalized struggles are beyond himself in ways that he’s not aware of. He's in a punishing system that doesn't reward creativity or originality, but one that exploits people like himself who are misfits, a square peg forced into round holes. He's an idealist and has expectations of the world that are frequently thwarted, such as his belief that the music industry will recognize talent when it hears it. He's a frustrated follower of the American Dream until he realizes it no longer exists. His own crumbling interior mirrors that of the landscape around him, a place of no real economic opportunity for those with the audacity to follow their dreams and passions, which has devastating consequences. He wants to play his own game but is punished for doing so. He's a victim of constant layoffs. In short, he experiences the dark side of capitalism, the side that hides in the shadows.

FQ: The “bad guy/gal” in your book … was he/she fun to create and how difficult was it to write those scenes where he/she plays a central role?

WINDROW: There are a couple of "bad bosses" Zander encounters during his employment at various workplaces. I'd say yes, they are fun to create and not difficult to write. Garrett is the first real bad boss Zander runs into. He's technically a supervisor, but he still positions himself like a boss who is constantly annoyed by Zander approaching him for work, putting Zander in an unenviable position. I wanted to include these types of characters to show how belittling they are toward Zander, emphasizing his struggles with the uninspiring everyday worklife. Garrett can't understand someone like Zander or appreciate who he is; he just sees him as a pawn fit for meaningless tasks. He has no compassion for Zander or his situation.

The other bad boss, Cole, evolved in my mind as I wrote his character—how he dresses and walks around mumble-rapping, for example. I didn't see him that way initially, but I began to really picture him as someone who takes his insecurities out on others, including the people he supervises. He's younger than Zander and has a kind of arrogance Zander finds appalling. On a physical level, he resorts to fighting to hide his insecurities and will often pick fights when he sees an opportunity. I wanted to expose characters like these because they're not unlikely to show up in real life, and their behavior deserves to be ridiculed. Fiction is the one place I can do this safely, but in the real world, characters like this often get away with their abhorrent behavior without consequence, making office workplaces real hellholes for the people who have to work in them.

FQ: Tell us about your favorite character and why that person is your favorite.

WINDROW: Zander is my favorite character, of course, since the novel is about him, but my second favorite would be Lou. Lou is a former monk and a wise, experienced meditator who helps society by opening his home as a place of spiritual practice. Having him in the novel helped weave in what had been happening in my life on a spiritual level since I had been learning and practicing Buddhism for over a decade by the time I wrote this book.

Lou is able to speak to—and sometimes challenge—Zander's perspective while giving him guidance in his meditation practice. Their conversations help formulate where Zander sees himself heading toward the end of the novel. Their final conversation underscores the despair Zander feels when he decides to move from Folksport.

Lou asserts the novel's underlying message in his final speech. While he is disheartened, he doesn't view Zander's life as a personal failure, but the result of a society in decline, one that doesn't seem to share the same values as someone like Zander. Lou is almost as harsh a critic of society as Zander and serves as the only voice left still speaking for him at the end, refusing to let a capitalistic society off the hook for its casualties.

FQ: What made you/Why did you decide to write this book? Did you see a need?

WINDROW: I'm in the camp that says literature should not just be an escape for entertainment purposes. During my education, it was drilled into me that we don’t study or write literature for no good reason, and I still believe that. I'm not against entertainment, but I think what I would want to do is write something meaningful and engaging at the same time.

Zander's world is a microcosm of what is happening to America on a larger scale. I see America as an illusion of a dream rather than a united country where anyone can realize their highest aspirations. We're seeing more people wanting to leave America who are alienated from the tribalized political climate, while also being disillusioned with our political leaders. For someone like me, and for the average American, there’s little real power or leverage in this society beyond trying to express oneself artistically. I feel for the younger generations facing limited economic opportunity to build a good life—housing is no longer affordable, job stability is no longer guaranteed, and the looming development of AI threatens to wipe out creative and professional work.

As a member of Gen X, I was among the first generation to realize that many of us wouldn’t have as good a quality of life as our parents did. That's exactly what Zander experiences in the book, and it's becoming increasingly obvious that for people like Zander, their struggles are not personal failures, but rather the result of trying to live in a broken system. Everything that happens in the novel culminates in his total alienation—an inhumane society he no longer feels is worth living in.

 #Authorinterview with Laurie Thomas Vass

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Ephantus Muriuki is talking with Laurie Thomas Vass, author of Beneficial Economics: A Red State Citizens Guide to Crafting A Better Constitution When the Government Fails the Citizens.

FQ: Congratulations Mrs. Vass, on completing such an ambitious and bold work. Beneficial Economics is not just a book but a blueprint, and that takes an unusual amount of conviction and intellectual courage. What moment or series of experiences convinced you that Madison’s 1787 Constitution was beyond repair, and pushed you to undertake the enormous task of drafting an entirely new constitutional framework?

VASS: Part of the explanation for writing this book concerns my work as a capital market advisor to small technology companies in the Research Triangle, N. C. The social/business networks for venture capitalists were heavily tilted in favor of the VCs, and against the interests of the entrepreneurs and small companies. The more that I investigated the rules of raising capital, the more I realized that the rules were unfair, and that to balance the scales of fairness, new rules would need to be created. Eventually, this line of thought led me back to Madison’s rules, of 1787, and the contrast between Madison’s unfair rules and the much better rules for common citizens in the Articles of Confederation.

FQ: You use the term civil dissolution instead of the more common national divorce. Can you explain why you chose that language, and how you see dissolution unfolding in a way that is both peaceful and constructive?

VASS: I deliberately chose the term “civil dissolution,” to avoid the more inflammatory term “civil war.” In a civil war, the winner continues to rule over the losers, while in a civil dissolution, the two sides peacefully part ways.

FQ: You describe the last few decades as a period of “The Great American Betrayal.” Can you walk the reader briefly through how you have personally witnessed that betrayal taking shape, perhaps in the economy, politics, or culture, and how that maybe influenced your thinking?

VASS: I had been involved in a political conflict in North Carolina, in the 1980s, over the strategy of using tax dollars to recruit large multi-national corporations to North Carolina. I was a plaintiff intervenor in the John Locke amicus brief in the N. C. Supreme Court case of Maready v. Winston Salem, and our side lost that case. As a part of that political conflict, I became involved in trying to avoid the consequences of the first NAFTA agreement, which devastated the small towns of North Carolina. The forces behind NAFTA and the WTO were then, and are now, very well organized, and those forces betrayed the financial interests of ordinary common citizens in North Carolina. That betrayal was aided and abetted by the transition of national politics to what Zywicki describes as crony corporate capitalism in Washington.

FQ: It is rare for a writer to go as far as including a full draft of a new constitution. What was that process like? Did you model your draft on historical texts, or did you start with a blank slate and let your ideas evolve?

VASS: The historical model I used was an updated version of the Articles of Confederation, plus my vastly increased use of citizen grand juries in each new national judicial district. What I added was moral values and fair rules, especially in the emerging threat to liberty from the corporate deployment of artificial intelligence.

FQ: Your book rests on the conviction that if fair rules are created and agreed upon, a stable social order will naturally emerge. Do you see this as an idealist’s faith in human nature or as a realist’s confidence in historical and scientific evidence?

VASS: Neither option. The emergence of stable beneficial order is grounded in the evolutionary changes in the human brain, that allow humans to anticipate the behavior of other humans, and also on the work of both Prigogine and Polanyi on how quantum physics works to create order in the natural environment.

FQ: You write directly to “red state citizens,” placing them at the center of your vision. What first steps should they realistically take?

VASS: In each red state, citizens must agitate in their state legislatures for the creation of study commissions on the relationship between the states and the national government. Those legislative committees are the launching pad for crafting a new constitution.

FQ: You bring in neuroscience and complex adaptive systems theory to support your economic arguments. How do you see these scientific ideas deepening the reader's understanding of how societies either thrive or collapse?

VASS: In a very direct causation, I say that nothing bad will happen if citizens pursue their happiness, and something good will emerge when all citizens follow fair rules that they made for themselves.

FQ: You argue that America has transitioned to a form of predatory state capitalism. How would you describe the difference between that and ordinary "crony capitalism?" Why is this distinction important for your readers to grasp?

VASS: I describe the immediate prior economic era (1945 – 1992), as monopoly capitalism, as described by Baran and Sweezy. President Eishenhower called this era as the military-industrial complex. As I describe, around 1985, the U. S. corporate executives had a collective “eureka moment” when they realized that they did not need the United States to remain a sovereign state. The transition to global predatory capitalism replaced the concept of a sovereign nation with the global “rules-based-order, which is entirely disconnected from the will of the citizens. What the global corporate executives needed, after 1992,  was for the U. S. military power to enforce the global rules on behalf of central banks and large corporations.

FQ: You invoke not just economics but also moral values like trust, reciprocity, and honesty. Why was it essential for you to ground your vision in morality rather than leaving it purely at the level of law and economics?

VASS: Fair rules and moral values are the primary factors for citizen allegiance to obey the rule of law. That allegiance to obey the rule of law depends on citizens believing that the fair rules are applied equally to all citizens.

FQ: If your constitutional vision were adopted in even a few red states, how would everyday life look different for an ordinary family within one generation? What changes would they feel most immediately and most powerfully?

VASS: The family social unit is the fundamental building block which instills moral values in children. Under the new constitution, families and the next generation would be free to pursue the future that their brains are imagining.

 #Bookreview of Beneficial Economics: A Red State Citizens Guide to Crafting A Better Constitution When the Government Fails the Citizens

By: Laurie Thomas Vass

Publisher: The Great American Business & Economics Press

Publication Date: October 2025

ISBN: 979-8218817350

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: October 8, 2025

Beneficial Economics: A Red State Citizens Guide to Crafting A Better Constitution When the Government Fails the Citizens by Laurie Thomas Vass is a well written and deeply insightful political and economic manifesto that comes out pretty bold in its objective. Inspired by the author's belief that the current U.S. government, based on James Madison's 1787 Constitution, is totally broken and has been captured by a global corporate elite called the "predatory state," this book aims to guide the people in politically conservative "red states" on how to draft a new federal constitution from the ground up.

In a nutshell, the book argues that the political divide in the U.S. has gotten so bad that a "civil dissolution" is basically inevitable. Instead of just accepting a future under what Vass calls "blue state Democrat Marxism," she thinks red state citizens should peacefully separate and create a new nation. A big chunk of the book is dedicated to explaining why this is necessary - tracing how America supposedly betrayed its citizens and transitioned into a "predatory state capitalism" run for the benefit of a few - and then it lays out the entire blueprint for what comes next. It goes as far as to provide a full draft of a new constitution for a hypothetical "Democratic Republic of American States," something rarely seen outside speculative political thought.

There aren’t really characters in the traditional sense, but abstract forces: the predatory global corporations, the failed U.S. government, and the everyday "red state citizen" who is the book's intended hero and who the author tries to "arm" with a radical plan. You get chapters on "complex adaptive systems" and the neuroscience of decision-making right next to passionate calls to action which makes the read feel like a cross between an academic textbook and a political rally.

The main themes are significant and they include liberty, decentralization, sovereignty, and a deep, distrust of centralized power, whether it's the federal government or big corporations. The author is very focused on the idea of "fair rules" and one gets the sense that she cannot be swayed away from believing that if you create a constitution with truly fair economic and political rules that everyone agrees to follow, a stable and prosperous society will just emerge naturally. I love how the book’s motive is crystal clear right at the start: "The starting premise of this book is that the political polarization between citizens in red states and citizens in blue states has reached a threshold level. At this point in American history, middle and working class citizens in red states are confronted with two paths."

Quill says: Beneficial Economics: A Red State Citizens Guide to Crafting A Better Constitution When the Government Fails the Citizens by Laurie Thomas Vass is a book that is super clear from the start regarding who its intended audience is. It is unique, thought-provoking and solid in its stance. It seems to look the reader directly in the eye and say, “You’re not just a victim, but the next founding father... Here’s how to go about it.” It will leave you wondering what it would actually take for people to try its bold recommendations and what could actually happen if someone tried to put its radical plan into motion. It is a work that stands apart in its conviction and carries a tension that gives it an edge. Is it a dangerous recipe for treason or a last-ditch manual for preserving liberty? The answer to this question isn’t handed to you neatly, but instead the author compels you to take stock of the state of the nation and to decide for yourself just how far things have gone and how far you might be willing to go to fix the system.

For more information about Beneficial Economics: A Red State Citizens Guide to Crafting A Better Constitution When the Government Fails the Citizens, please visit the publisher's website at: www.gabbypress.com.

 #Authorinterview with Dan Buzzetta

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Diana Coyle is talking with Dan Buzzetta, author of The Manipulator.

FQ: One of the first things I do when I read a book by an author I’m unfamiliar with is read the author’s bio to get to know them better. Would you please tell us a few things about yourself so that new readers, like myself, can learn about you?

BUZZETTA: I'm a husband, and a father to three wonderful children ages 23, 21 and 16. I'm also a business trial attorney and partner in the New York City office of a national law firm. I'm very involved in my local community in New Jersey. In 2024, I was elected to a three-year term on my hometown's governing body and I'm also a volunteer firefighter. And, of course, I fulfilled a life-long dream of becoming a published author with the release of my debut novel, The Manipulator, published by Severn River Publishing, in August 2025. Of all the titles I have, the one I'm most proud of is being called "dad."

FQ: Can you please tell our readers a brief synopsis of your book, The Manipulator, and what specifically makes your book unique?

BUZZETTA: The Manipulator tells the tale of a young Harvard Law School-educated attorney named Tom Berte who is living a story-book life in New York as a hot-shot lawyer in the world's largest and most prestigious law firm where he is on-track to becoming a partner. Unexpectedly the managing partner of his firm recommends Tom for a job in the U.S. Department of Justice as the Executive Deputy Attorney General. The job offer seems too good to be true, but it is just the latest in a long-line of successes and achievements that always seem to fall in Tom's lap. After accepting the position at the DOJ and moving to Washington DC with his wife, Brooke, Tom is tasked with bringing to justice the enigmatic mastermind of an international criminal syndicate named Cosimo "Nino" Benedetto who spends his days sailing the Mediterranean on a floating fortress. As he investigates Benedetto and the syndicate he controls, Tom discovers that things aren't always as they seem. He uncovers connections between his former law firm and the criminal empire he's determined to dismantle, and long-hidden secrets that hit much closer to home. He also discovers that his life and career have been manipulated as part of a high-stakes gamble by those he's pursuing. But the ultimate manipulation occurs when Tom is forced to choose between justice and protecting those closest to him.

In addition to being a legal thriller, The Manipulator is a book about family, loyalty, the pursuit of justice, and the discovery of secrets that lead you to question whether lies and protecting those closest to you from harmful truths can be compatible with the love a family shares.

FQ: I loved how well-written and detailed The Manipulator was and how you wrapped the storyline around Thomas Berte, a rising star of the law firm he worked at: Balatoni, Cartel & Colin. Readers see everything through his eyes right from the start and are working alongside him as he is assisting on the AMX case. The story accelerates to the start of what seems to be a joyous new job proposition, the position being Executive Deputy Attorney General in Washington D.C. What made you want to create a storyline specifically set that Tom would get this prestigious promotion, but then have his life spiral out of control once accepting the position?

BUZZETTA: The idea for The Manipulator came to me thirty years ago when I was still a law student. I was drawn to the notion that things that seem too good to be true often are, and the unfortunate reality that those at the pinnacle of success often have the furthest and farthest to fall. But it's also a story of redemption and discovery and the theme that, ultimately, good triumphs over evil. Even when things seem bleak, "doing the right thing" can still lead to the best of outcomes.

FQ: What made you decide to have Tom the suspect of criminal misdoings?

BUZZETTA: I wanted Tom to face a moral dilemma where he's accused of serious crimes and facing the option of giving in to dark forces to protect himself or pursuing justice even if it means exposing long-hidden secrets about his past and his own family. This plot line heightened the tension and and makes Tom a tragic and sympathetic figure. Most people at one time or another have been accused of doing something they didn't do. How people respond to those situations says a lot about their character and integrity.

FQ: Are there any future novels in the works? If so, can you tell us any information about them?

BUZZETTA: My second novel in the Tom Berte series, The Winter Verdict, will be released in 2026 and takes place five years after we last see Tom and Brooke in The Manipulator. Tom has dropped the trappings that came with being a successful lawyer at a big-time law firm and holding the number two position at the DOJ. He's learned a lot about himself and his family and is now a small town lawyer who stumbles upon a big plot that has the potential to harm millions of people. And Tom has the ability to stop the massive destruction if he can just find the evidence in time and convince the authorities to believe him. He's in a race against time where the final verdict is literally the difference between life and death.

FQ: Where do you look upon for inspiration for what you write?

BUZZETTA: The world we live in which is constantly presenting all of us with pitched battles of good versus evil and justice versus dishonesty. I don't mean to sound too Pollyanna-ish but there's a lot happening in our society everyday that makes you question whether there is enough justice in the world and whether good can triumph over bad. I like writing about this theme, and I continue to believe that in the end our moral compass can lead to a correct and just result.

FQ: Please tell us what is your writing routine like?

BUZZETTA: I like writing in the early morning before my family awakes and while the world is still asleep. Mornings provide me with a sense of new beginnings when my mind is full of ideas and inspiration and I'm highly motivated to work. I tend to write in my home office or in a small cabin we have in the mountains about a three hour drive from my home. I only drink one cup of coffee a day and it's in the morning when I write. I like to savor my coffee while thinking about exciting plot points. I particularly enjoy writing on weekend mornings, from 6 to 11 am and then spend time with my family.

FQ: To wrap up our interview, is there anything you would like to add to tell our readers?

BUZZETTA: I have just a simple message: I know my books won't bring about world peace or change the world we live in. My goal is simply to entertain and give folks a respite from the issues they face in their everyday lives with easy to read books with short chapters that hopefully keep readers interested and wanting more. There are obviously a lot of books out there for readers to choose from, and most readers I know have a limited amount of time to devote to reading. So, if you choose to read my books, thanks in advance and I hope you enjoy it.

 #Bookreview of Teddy Lou, Bell Guru

By: Chris Demeropolis

Illustrated by: Sara Fox

Publisher: Belle Isle Books

Publication Date: October 28, 2025

ISBN: 978-1-966369-36-3

Reviewed by: Shrubaboti Bose

Review Date: October 6, 2025

Teddy Lou, Bell Guru by Chris Demeropolis follows the adventures of a young boy named Teddy Lou, who loves the sound of bells.

Within this story, we are transported to Teddy's world and the author invites us to accompany him on his quest to learn more about bells. At first, he is curious about the different sounds each bell can make, then soon enough, he learns so much about them that he can even list the names of all the largest bells in the world. As he gains knowledge about the ringing sounds of a wide variety of bells in his town, one particular question keeps nagging him: ‘‘Do bells have strange smells?’’ That’s when Teddy’s skills and expertise as the bell guru are put to test. And as readers, we are forced to wonder, will he be able to live up to his name?

Intended for children, this book’s subtly muted color scheme and unique illustrations beautifully complements its narrative. The author employs a language style which is not just easy to understand, but also has a simple rhyme, making it engaging for young readers. What is interesting to observe is how the three laws of Newton are intelligently sneaked in within the tale. This undoubtedly makes the theory more accessible to children who might be otherwise struggling to grasp the concept. The idea to incorporate it this way is unexpected and quite amazing in itself.

Children are said to remember their favorite stories even after they have grown up. Teddy Lou, Bell Guru has the potential to become one such story. Not only does it serve the purpose of entertaining its readers, but it also has an educational aspect which contributes to the learning experience. This book is meant to be cherished and read aloud by parents to their children. It can help parents create wholesome memories with their children that will remain etched in their young minds for years to come.

Quill says: Teddy Lou, Bell Guru is a lovely story about pursuing your ambitions and being ready and willing to take risks to achieve your dreams.

For more information about Teddy Lou, Bell Guru, please visit the author's website at: chrisdemeropolis.com/

 #Bookreview of Alaska Bloodlust

By: J.L. Askew

Publication Date: September 9, 2025

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

ISBN: 979-8891327702

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: October 1, 2025

When Private Eye Race Warren barely survived a deadly case in Alaska, he thought that horrible time in his life was finally behind him in Alaska Bloodlust by J.L. Askew.

Little does Warren know, someone from that same group is coming after him after his return to his hometown of Memphis. Unfortunately, the same people he worked the case with in Alaska are very much in danger as Warren is. No matter where he turns, people close to him are being seriously injured, if not killed. Warren must decide how he is going to stop the madman who is on a killing rampage of everyone near and dear to him. Is he able to takedown this killer, or does the killer have other plans for Warren and his friends?

This was one nonstop mystery thriller that will have readers’ hearts in their throats the entire time they are reading this masterfully penned story. The action scenes were fast and furious, making you feel as if you are another person standing right next to Warren while he was experiencing all the fast-paced action. You will find yourself believing that you will have to work with Warren to solve the mystery of who this crazy madman is that is on a killing spree.

The characters throughout this heart stopping story were so believable that this reviewer felt as if they were people that you could become friends with in real life. The kind of people that you invest time and your emotions in getting to know, and when something happens to them, you feel a personal loss. When you open the pages to this novel, you find yourself becoming immersed in the story right from the first sentence.

The detailed location descriptions were done so meticulously throughout this story that readers will feel as if they are transported to each locale. You begin to feel the snow falling all around you and the freezing temperatures as if you are experiencing the Alaska winters firsthand. No matter where the location, readers will be drawn into their surroundings immediately.

This action-packed story was so intricately written that it could easily be turned into a motion picture. I’m sure Askew’s fans would love to see this book become a movie they could relish just as they did the book. This is an ongoing series so this would be perfect to watch on the screen, having one movie based on each book of the series.

Quill says: Alaska Bloodlust by J.L. Askew is one mystery novel that readers will have a hard time putting down once they start reading it. The suspense keeps readers riveted to their seats until the very last sentence is read.

For more information about Alaska Bloodlust, please visit the author's website at: jlaskew.com.

 #Bookreview of Will Rogers and His Great Inspiration

By: Bart Taylor

Publisher: Yorkshire Publishing

Publication Date: November 4, 2025

ISBN: 978-0881441611

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: October 3, 2025

Will Rogers and His Great Inspiration by Bart Taylor is honestly, one of those true story books for young children that looks simple at first, but then proves you wrong once you dive in. It is about this big, heavy idea regarding how we become who we become, which it shows not by preaching, but by walking you through the life of Will Rogers, the man who famously said “I never met a man I didn’t like.” This book isn’t really about his fame; rather, it’s about how he got there, as well as all the people who built him up, piece by piece.

The book starts with Will as a child on a ranch in Indian Territory where he learns to rope. He’s not a natural genius or anything, he just practices for hours. The book shows all the people who inspired him - his dad, his mom, a cowboy named Dan Walker, and then this vaquero he saw in a tent show who just blew his mind. It follows him as he joins Wild West shows, travels the world, saves the day in a rodeo by roping a runaway steer, after which he becomes a huge star on the radio and in movies.

The characters aren't super deep, but they feel real. You feel for Will - his drive and desperation to be good at something. You also encounter these people around him who just have this kindness. They include his wife Betty, who tells him to start telling jokes during his act. She sees the humor in him and that got to me, leaving me wondering whether I have such a person around me who can see that kind of talent in me and who can cheer me on like she did.

The writing is simple and pretty straightforward. It just tells the story without being fancy and has these little questions sprinkled in, such as: “What’s something you could learn by watching someone else?” The main theme is so clear. It’s about inspiration - how we all need it, how we can get it from other people, and how we’re supposed to turn around and use our own talents to inspire others. It’s a chain - a quiet chain of kindness and skill getting passed from one person to the next, from a ranch in Oklahoma all the way out into the world. This is a really nice, hopeful idea that makes you look around in your own life.

Quill says: Will Rogers and His Great Inspiration is an exciting book that will leave you smiling but curious, and maybe even asking yourself who inspires you and what gifts you can share with the world. It talks about never giving up, learning from others and using what you love to make others happy. Its biggest message may be just what you need to hear today: that you do not have to be perfect to inspire people; you only need to be yourself.

 #Bookreview of The Manipulator

By: Dan Buzzetta

Publication Date: August 19, 2025

Publisher: Severn River

ISBN: 978-1648756337

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: October 5, 2025

Thomas Berte is a hard-working lawyer working at the prestigious law firm Balatoni, Cartel & Colin in Manhattan in The Manipulator by Dan Buzzetta.

Thomas knows he has to put in his time in order to move up the corporate ladder to become partner, something he’s wanted since he was hired by the firm. But little does he know that the only surviving owner of the firm has some other plans for him. Ignatius Balatoni has been asked by a close friend, Attorney General Bradley Mitchelson and former partner at BC&C, if he knows of someone within the firm that could fill the Executive Deputy Attorney General position that will be vacant soon in his office. Ignatius undoubtedly knows that Tom is the perfect candidate for the position. He discusses the proposition with Tom soon after and things start moving very quickly from setting up a formal interview to actually being offered the position. Tom and his wife, Brooke, are ecstatic over how quickly things are progressing and how fast their move to Washington, D.C. is approaching.

As Tom begins acclimating to the new position and starts working on a top secret investigation, the reality of this new position starts to take a bit of a toll on him. The information he starts learning from his team is beyond staggering. The investigation is following none other than crime boss Cosimo “Nino” Benedetto, and his sophisticated global mafia group, The Syndicate. One piece of information specifically makes Tom realize that the people that he worked for at BC&C are not the people he thought they were. What does Tom find out about some of the partners at BC&C? What happens to Tom that has his and his wife’s lives spiraling out of control?

When Tom started finding out some very volatile information about not only Nino, but also the partners at BC&C, his perfect world immediately started crashing down around him. The very people he had warm feelings for now had him questioning everything he felt and thought about them. What was the information he found out about Nino and his connection to the BC&C law firm? Could this information even be legitimately real? What did this mean for the surviving owner, Ignatius Balatoni? He knew he had to get down to the bottom of things before taking criminal action against anyone. Little did he know that what was happening during this investigation would turn his life into living hell for him and his wife, Brooke.

This legal thriller was one that this reviewer couldn’t put it down. The buildup of Tom’s story within the first few pages is like the start of a slow roller coaster ride in which you build your momentum reaching the first peak on the ride. Once at the peak, you plummet down at full speed, holding on for dear life. Dan Buzzetta did just that for this reader. He did the slow ascent up the roller coaster and once at the top, his allows his readers plummet right into a fast-paced novel that will have its readers eagerly turning the pages to see what happens to Tom and Brooke.

Dan Buzzetta has been an attorney for three decades. He started writing The Manipulator during the summer of his first year of law school. Although aiming to complete the story after graduating law school, life had other plans for him. It was during the COVID pandemic that Dan decided to dust off the chapters he had written and try fulfilling his dream at becoming a published author.

Quill says: The Manipulator by Dan Buzzetta is one legal thriller that you will not be able to put down once you start reading. It is so intense, you believe you are right at the center of this criminal investigation as one of Tom’s team members. It has intrigue, well-crafted characters, and a storyline that could be made into a motion picture. It comes highly recommended!

 #Bookreview of Essentia: The Winding Path of the Soul, Selected Poems

By: Joe Giampaolo

Publication Date: December 1, 2025

ISBN: 979-8262305803

Reviewed by: Rebecca Jane Johnson

Review Date: October 2, 2025

When life delivers challenges, as we seek inspiration and enigma, the poems in this collection, Essentia: The Winding Path of the Soul, Selected Poems bring companionship, wisdom, and inspiration. This mix of haiku, tanka, and chöka display wit, brevity, and insight. Bestselling author Joe Giampaolo, who was born in Rome and emigrated to Canada, has written on philosophy, spirituality, poetry, and more and has published fifteen books and numerous magazine articles.

Delivering Giampaolo’s familiar introspective flair, these poems inspire reflection and resonate deep within. Tender phrases encourage the reader to “delve inward and uncover the nucleus of your being” (31). Open up perception to evoke “the non-duality between all of us…and our relation with the One” (39). These poems weave together emotion and existential inquiry. Here we find simple truth, easy joy, and necessary sorrow. When faced with challenges, these poems reveal how we triumph. Continue to crave, but also abandon cravings. Embrace beauty, but also be mesmerized by care for the meek and hidden lyricism.

With the variety of forms and memorable imagery, these poems can help readers to cultivate the kind of patience needed to bring wisdom. Under a tree “wait for the longing/and the fear to vanish” (13). Poems teach us. Poems ask these vital questions: what is the greatest good that we can do? Where does our true essence reside? What must we do to decode the messages that we are given along the way? The following stanza offers a glimpse into the nature of Time:

Galaxies are born

and die in the span of time

that on Earth it takes

for a petal of a rose

to float gently to the ground. (38)

This poem transports the mind to a cosmic realm. Similar to bending our minds with Time, these poems provide ways to contemplate pain. Pain accompanies living in a chaotic world with an awakened consciousness, and pain takes on a purpose. How do we find truth through parable, through thought? “Dream as a poet, explore as an adventurer, / test as a scientist” (56). Maybe we can return to that time when we could hear the sounds of the stars, talk to the wolves, and feel the heartbeat of the flowers. Travelers visit the poet from far away; they and we are those with whom he shares bread. At one turn, these poems help a reader explore the core of being and at the next turn, a reader finds a place “where the living and the dead inhabit the same space, / and communicate freely with one another” (108). These poems invite conscious engagement with the soul, inquiry, nature, Time, pain, and joy.

Quill says: Those who read and reflect on Essentia: The Winding Path of the Soul, Selected Poems will realize the ways inner turmoil leads to awakening. This is a precious collection that gives a precious gift.

For more information about Essentia: The Winding Path of the Soul, Selected Poems, please visit the author's Amazon page at: amazon.com/stores/Joe-Giampaolo/author/B08FXWZTLD.

 #Bookreview of They’re Coming for Your Elders and Your Inheritance: Ways to Protect Your Family, Mitigate the Damage, and Change the System

By: Léonie Rosenstiel

Publisher: Dayspring Resources

Publication Date: April 3, 2025

ISBN: 978-1962888028

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: October 1, 2025

Léonie Rosenstiel’s They're Coming for Your Elders and Your Inheritance: Ways to Protect Your Family, Mitigate the Damage, and Change the System is one of those books whose message hits like a shock wave. Here, Rosenstiel boldly and fearlessly dedicates herself to critique the whole system of elder care, dementia, and family dynamics which she compares to a giant spider web made by a huge, venomous spider that is big enough to swallow a horse. At first, the metaphor seems excessive and melodramatic but a few pages in, it becomes clear that she means it as she recalls being caught up in a system designed to restrain, control, and consume. She lived through it, not for a month or a year, but for 14 long years, battling courts and guardians over the fate of her own widowed mother. That image of being trapped in sticky threads, pulling tighter each time she struggles, lingers and sets the tone for the nightmare in the form of a slow-motion horror movie that follows.

This book is not a neat memoir or a detached legal handbook. It is something rawer, more urgent, a mix of personal testimony, investigative journalism, and survival guide written from inside the nightmare, not after it ends. The exhaustion and anger bleed through the pages, but so does the determination. What makes the book so disturbing is how ordinary the situations sound at the start. We are shown how a family thinks they have done everything right—a will drafted, a trust established, powers of attorney signed, thinking they are safe but then an accident, an illness, or the slow creep of dementia sets in, and suddenly the paperwork doesn’t hold. Courts step in, guardians get appointed, lawyers multiply and families discover they are no longer in charge of their own loved one’s care or even their own inheritance.

Rosenstiel doesn’t just recount horror stories but she also tries to "arm" her readers. Each chapter ends with practical takeaways, questions to ask, steps to consider and which documents to review before a crisis hits. They aren’t silver bullets, but real tools that show that even small measures can help a family resist the first tug of the web, or at least see it for what it is. By the time the book closes, the feeling one experiences is both devastating and oddly grateful. Devastating, because the system she describes is chillingly effective at stripping elders of dignity and families of control, and grateful, because she lifts the curtain and forces us to look at what we might prefer not to see. The book leaves you unsettled, haunted, and unable to dismiss its warning. It isn’t just her story, but a map of what can happen to any of us, unless we pay attention now.

Quill says: They're Coming for Your Elders and Your Inheritance: Ways to Protect Your Family, Mitigate the Damage, and Change the System is not an easy read but a critical one that ably shows that odds can be beaten and that freedom can be regained. It is written by a person who was totally gagged by a judge, but who legally regained full freedom of speech and who since then, has done her best to help others avoid and/or reform this system. Its principles are bound to help many more people regain their civil rights. Read it, remember it and be vigilant, for knowledge of what lies in wait is the first line of defense in ensuring that your elders and the hard-earned inheritance stay unencumbered.

 #Bookreview of Day Drinkers

By: Kitty Turner

Publisher: Daily House

Publication Date: August 26, 2025

ISBN: 978-1733668781

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: September 29, 2025

Kitty Turner’s Day Drinkers drops readers right into the messy, sunburned heart of St. Columba, where tourists, drifters, and locals collide in a haze of heat, booze, and uneasy history. At the center is Gemma, a young woman caught between two worlds - her Vermont upbringing and her Caribbean bloodline - and who’s trying to scrape by selling timeshares by day and drinking too much by night. She’s not a polished protagonist. She’s hungover half the time, defensive, insecure, and stubborn, but that’s what makes her real. Her life feels like a patchwork of contradictions: pitching luxury fantasies to tourists while dumpster-diving for food in the off-season, claiming island identity while still being looked at like an outsider, chasing money while worrying that every opportunity offered to her is actually a trap.

The plot is really pushed forward by two hooks that never quite let go - Vaughn, the local sailor who vanishes without a trace, and Cowboi Rivers, the island’s mythic country star whose shadow looms over everything. Gemma getting pulled into Cowboi’s orbit through the “water taxi” scheme - ferrying young women to his private island, Easter Cay - is where the book sharpens from just sweaty bar scenes into something heavier. Turner plays it smart. She never makes the job cartoonishly evil or the choice simple, instead she lets the moral grayness build as Gemma weighs survival against her conscience. The whole Easter Cay setup becomes less about boats and islands and more about how easy money bends people, especially when desperation is already eating at them.

What’s clever is that these two threads - the missing sailor and the shady side hustle - mirror each other in tone but together, they dig into themes of exploitation, complicity, and temptation without preaching, but rather just showing how ordinary people like Gemma stumble into extraordinary compromises. The prose is rich and sprawling, sometimes almost too lush with detail - long passages about the markets, the cruise ships, the yoga retreat, the dive bars - but it works because the island itself is a character, alive and contradictory, just like the people in it. The world-building mixes the raw and the polished: behind every glossy resort photo there’s a rusting shack, behind every beach party a darker rumor, behind every easy friendship a hint of exploitation. Turner doesn’t clean it up for the reader, and sometimes that unevenness in pacing feels deliberate, like life on the island: fast, intoxicating, and then suddenly bleak.

What kept me hooked was the tension between Gemma’s personal flaws and the wider story swirling around her. There’s a missing friend, shady offers from local power players like Boon, and the looming shadow of Cowboi Rivers’ private island - rumored to be glamorous, corrupt, maybe even sinister. Underneath all that plot is the constant hum of themes, among them: belonging, survival, compromise, and what happens when you drink away your choices until someone else makes them for you.

Quill says: Day Drinkers is less a clean, straight-shot novel and more a messy cocktail, that is, part mystery, part social drama, and part boozy character study and that’s exactly why it lingers. It is a richly atmospheric and character-driven novel perfect for readers who enjoy flawed protagonists, strong senses of place, and stories that live in the morally gray area between right and wrong. Fans of atmospheric literary fiction with elements of mystery and social commentary will find much to savor here. Additionally, readers who like their fiction flawed, sweaty, and morally gray, with a strong sense of place and characters who don’t always make the right call, will probably feel right at home under Kitty Turner’s tarp.

For more information about Day Drinkers, please visit the author's website at: kittyturner.media

 #AuthorInterview with Geoffrey R. Jonas

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Diana Coyle is talking with Geoffrey R. Jonas, author of Being Broken: Tales and Essays of Survival and Death from Narcissistic Parental Abuse.

FQ: One of the first things I do when I read a book by an author I’m unfamiliar with is read the author’s bio to get to know them better. Would you please tell us a few things about yourself so that new readers, like myself, can learn about you?

JONAS: Well, everything about me is already in the book since it is a personal memoir. I’m pretty down-to-earth. I’m retired and you can typically find me puttering around my yard, out on the lake I live at, or working on paintings and writing. I enjoy music, movies, and games. I’m not very social these days as my CPTSD is something I have to manage daily. I like my isolation but do get out socially once in a while. I like to keep my cards close to my chest.

FQ: Can you please tell our readers a brief synopsis of your book, Being Broken, and what specifically makes your book unique?

JONAS: The book is the story of the abuse my sister and I went through our whole lives, culminating in her death. It has been a hard journey of discovery for me. The later chapters show how I have been healing myself of my trauma and what I am still struggling with. I like to think that my inclusion of science and essays and showing the real-life consequences of the topics are reflected in my sister’s and my experiences are what stands out for my book. That and my honesty. I didn’t try to cover up or pad the truth about what we went through.

FQ: Your emotions are raw and very real on every page. Did you find writing Being Broken as a means of therapy in trying to heal your abusive past with your family members? Or did it rip the wounds open deeper for you?

JONAS: As a man of science and evidence, I needed to understand what happened. I had been writing essays about my own journey with SUD and it evolved into understanding trauma and child abuse. I needed to be able to let go of so much guilt and shame that I was carrying, to find the inner child that never was. It was healing in that sense as all the work I put in and the knowledge I gained gave me a better understanding of my experiences.

Writing this was difficult though. Writing about your own trauma, and that of my sister, could be very overwhelming. I would tackle a difficult topic, which may only be a couple of paragraphs, and I would have to stop for the rest of the day, or a couple, before I could get back to the keyboard. Sometimes it can feel like re-traumatization.

FQ: What made you decide to write your book and did it help you achieve whatever goal you set for yourself in wanting to write it? If you don’t mind sharing, what was that goal you set out for yourself?

JONAS: Simply put, the death of my sister. After her death, I began to research how such a thing could happen. I had already been studying Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and trauma for many years; however, this was the first time I started looking directly into my family. The writing began as essays, discussing the abuse and trauma and how it relates to SUD. Once I started connecting the dots between trauma and SUD, I wanted to incorporate real-life examples of our experiences to better communicate that relation.

I do feel like I achieved that.

FQ: What did you learn about your writing journey while writing this book?

JONAS: That I enjoy it. I have been writing for my whole life. Mostly poetry and lyrics, essays for school, and technical writing for my companies. I think with the positive reviews and some recent awards I am now encouraged to keep going on my writing journey.

FQ: Are you working on any other books at the moment? If so, please tell us something about that work.

JONAS: I am not currently working on another book. This book was very difficult for me to write. I do have some ideas rattling around in my head, perhaps a follow up called “Getting Fixed”, but most likely I will be trying my hand at fiction. I am an avid reader of fantasy and science fiction and have many character backgrounds, stories, and ideas written throughout the years that may come together into a science fantasy series.

FQ: Please tell us what is your writing routine like?

JONAS: That depends on how motivated I am. Sometimes I write all day, sometimes it may be days or weeks in between sessions. This book was hard to write, so sometimes I had to take time to recover after writing about very difficult events in my life. Also, summer is pretty short where I live in northern Canada, so writing is more of a winter activity since I want to take advantage of the summer months.

FQ: To wrap up our interview, is there anything you would like to add to tell our readers?

JONAS: Follow your heart and say what you want to say. We are often too concerned with how others will receive what we are trying to convey. We can’t please everyone. There will always be people who don’t like what we have to say. Don’t mind them. Know and trust yourself.

 #Bookreview of Pandemic Hacker 2: Time to Hunt

By: B.D. Murphy

Publisher: WorstAuthor LLC

Publication Date: September 25, 2025

ISBN: 979-8231023066

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: August 22, 2025

In Pandemic Hacker 2: Time to Hunt by B.D. Murphy, Sam finds herself planning her death in order to escape leaders of an extortion and trafficking group that she crossed paths with. Sam then becomes Martha, with the help of her AI companion, Zoe.

Martha then undergoes extensive reconstructive surgery to change everything about how she looks, from the features of her face, all the way to making her taller by extending her skeletal frame. Only a select few know exactly who Martha is and what her plan of action is against these criminal leaders that wreak havoc no matter where they go. She will stop at nothing to bring every member down, even if that means she’ll lose her own life. Is Martha successful in bringing these leaders down before they uncover her true identity?

This was one of those stories where right from the very first page you’re pulled into the storyline. Readers will eagerly find themselves turning the pages to understand why Martha went through such an extensive reconstruction of her features and her skeletal frame just to hide her true identity from these criminal leaders. One has to wonder why she went through all the blood, sweat, and tears to try to bring these individual criminals down.

Due to the intensity of the storyline, Martha had to continually be on the move if Zoe, her AI companion, felt her safety was at stake. Readers will literally have a first-class ticket to traveling the world as Martha continually moves around in order to keep her identity safe. B.D. Murphy eloquently described each location and made this reader feel as if she were visiting each place right alongside Martha.

It is necessary to mention that it would benefit you to read the first book in this series to better understand Martha’s drive to not only bring these criminals down, but her motivation to undergo such extensive reconstructive surgeries to hide her identity. Reading the first book in the series will enhance the reader’s experience continuing straight through to this second installment.

Quill says: Pandemic Hacker 2: Time to Hunt by B.D. Murphy is one mystery/sci-fi novel that will keep readers riveted to their seats as they eagerly turn the pages to see if Martha will be successful in bringing the criminals down. It has well created characters, beautiful scenery throughout the story, and a plot that will keep readers anxious to see what happens next.

For more information about Pandemic Hacker 2: Time to Hunt, please visit the author's website at: authorbdmurphy.com

 #Bookreview of The Canceled Life of Zander Wolbach

By: Alden Windrow

Publisher: Ethereal Leaves Press

Publication Date: May 20, 2025

ISBN: 979-8218593261

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: September 19, 2025

Zander Wolbach, a 25-year-old living in Folksport, thought his life would have been more fulfilled by this age in The Canceled Life of Zander Wolbach by Alden Windrow. Zander struggled with social anxiety and severe depression, along with digestive issues that caused him excruciating pain. Hoping to cure his digestive issues, he went in for surgery, but it only helped his problem slightly. Everything that he had hoped for seemed miles away from him. Even his love of singing and song writing seemed to cause issues for him, but he trudged through the hardships, hoping that one day his big break would come.

Unfortunately, Zander’s phobias, anxieties, and stomach issues continued weighing heavily on him even through his older adult years. He couldn’t find gainful enough employment in his degree of study, so he had to accept menial jobs that he did not really enjoy. No matter what he did to help his mental and physical status, nothing worked. By the time he reached 50 years old, Zander had tried everything he could have. He finally settled on one decision that seemed to work for him. What did Zander ultimately decide?

This turned out to be a heavier read than this reviewer originally anticipated. When readers meet Zander, they will immediately feel empathy for him because nothing seems to be going right for him in his life. He experiences a deep depression and social anxiety that seem to cripple him in all avenues of his life. Not only that, but he also suffers from severe digestive issues as well, and all of this together leads him to seem to hate life. The author Alden Windrow created Zander to be a person that people could not only relate to, but feel sorry for. As a reader, you will believe that you can offer Zander a lifeline and you will find yourself wanting to bring him out of his dark tunnel of daily life.

The emotions written within these pages were pure and raw at times. You will find yourself laughing at something silly that Zander was doing or saying, and in the next scene you will find tears welling in your eyes as you feel for a person who was so lost in life. Some readers may know someone like this in their own lives, or could even be the Zander in their own life. When you turn the pages, you grow more invested into what Zander is thinking and feeling as if you were him.

Quill says: The Canceled Life of Zander Wolbach by Alden Windrow will pull readers in from the first page, taking them on a journey of many emotions until the very last sentence is read. This is a powerful story not to be taken lightly.

For more information about The Canceled Life of Zander Wolbach, please visit the author's website at: aldenwindrow.com

 #AuthorInterview with Robin McMillion

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Lily Andrews is talking with Robin McMillion, author of The Children of the Children.

FQ: You've penned an exceptional book that captivates readers from the start and keeps them engaged. What inspired you to focus on character development over plot?

MCMILLION: Of all types of extremism, I think religious extremism is the most oppressive, because religion gets to the core of who we are as human beings. Religion offers answers to where we come from, how to live our lives, and where we go after we die. But religion can be used against you. Not everyone who joins a cult is “messed up,” had a bad childhood, or is on drugs. Some are just going through a bad time and get sucked in. I focused on character development so that the reader could see himself or herself in Danny, Deborah, Martha, and the others, so the reader might understand what drives a person to make the choices they make in life.

FQ: How did you manage to incorporate the historical and religious aspects that are central to your novel?

MCMILLION: The United States is infused with extremism, both religious and political, so incorporating that into my novel was fairly easy. In fact, Father Joseph’s Letters to his followers were the easiest part of the novel to write. There really is a Bible verse for everything! As for the historical aspects: The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 thrilled me. I wanted to set the coming of age of the second generation in my novel against that backdrop. East Europeans’ freedom is now very much in doubt, especially in Ukraine, but perhaps we can be inspired again, anew, by the yearning for freedom in all of us.

FQ: In what ways has your background influenced your writing perspective? 

MCMILLION: My parents were journalists, so conversations about politics and current events were common when I was growing up. I came to believe that national and even international events can shape decisions that people make about their personal lives, in ways we may not realize. Danny drops out of U.S. society at the height of the Vietnam War; years later, his son tries to escape a cult as East Europeans are escaping communism. Both The Children of the Children and my other novel, The Catchings Press, are set against a backdrop of world events. This was deliberate.

FQ: Do you think you would get along with your main character, Danny? What would your first words be if you encountered him in real life?

MCMILLION: One of the things I struggled with in this novel was to not get angry with my characters. I had compassion for Danny: Those last few weeks before he met the Fishermen were awful. But he also frustrated me: He had chances to leave the group and didn’t take them. If I were to meet Danny, I would say to him what his father, Sam, said to him in Munich: Don’t let the man you’ve chosen to follow lead you over a cliff.

FQ: Danny Calvert is a well-developed character that you skillfully use to advance the narrative and delve into the themes you wanted to express. Should readers anticipate seeing more of him in a potential sequel? 

MCMILLION: Danny is a prominent character in my second novel, The Catchings Press, which, as readers may recall, is the name of the newspaper that Danny’s parents own. The main character is his sister, Annette, who readers briefly met in The Children of the Children. Though not a sequel, The Catchings Press, like this novel, explores issues of agency and autonomy. If Children asks “Who owns your mind?” then Press asks “Who owns your body?”

FQ: You've tackled intricate themes like cultism, which some authors shy away from, offering deep insights into faith and the nature of existence. Did you find this challenging to write about, and if so, how did you approach it? 

MCMILLION: I found it very challenging to write this novel, especially the sexual abuse. In fact, I almost didn’t put it into the story. But sexual abuse in extremist religion isn’t just possible, it’s practically inevitable. If a religious leader’s followers believe, as many Americans do, that the Bible is infallible, then that leader can use nearly anything from the Bible to justify his actions. The first step to stopping this kind of abuse is to shine a light on it. I’ve tried to do that.

FQ: Which character in this book resonated with you the most, and why? 

MCMILLION: The characters who really resonated with me were Deborah and Japheth. Both were vulnerable, but Deborah recognized she was vulnerable, whereas Japheth didn’t recognize his own vulnerability until he was nearly abandoned on a snowy street. Both were clever and resourceful. But they differed: Deborah believed in the religion, whereas Japheth never believed. I think what resonated with me the most was that they were tougher than they realized, and, when push came to shove, they stood up for the people they loved.

FQ: How extensive was your research on the Cold War era? 

MCMILLION: Very. I’ve been paying attention to world events since I was a child and I remember, or have read about, most of the historical events depicted in the novel. Also, I lived in Europe during some of the years when this story takes place. As for specific books about the Cold War, I highly recommend former Newsweek reporter Michael R. Meyer’s The Year That Changed the World: The Untold Story Behind the Fall of the Berlin Wall. 

FQ: I noticed the thoughtful design of your book cover, which enhances its authenticity and appeal. Could you share your experience with the design process? 

MCMILLION: I found my cover designer, Peter O’Connor of Bespoke Author in the UK, through a simple Google search. Peter and I had a Zoom call to discuss the story and exchanged numerous emails. I immediately liked his idea of a silhouette. A silhouette effectively erases a person. Extremist groups erase who people are and a silhouette conveys that. This particular silhouette could represent either a parent and their child, or a child and the adult that the child grows into. Finally, whereas the silhouette and title are stark – black, white, and red – the background is layered and has texture. All in all, I think it works.

FQ: Your book raises many compelling ideas. What is the most important message you hope readers will take away after finishing it?

MCMILLION: The message I hope readers take away is that anyone can become susceptible to cults or to cult-like thinking. That includes you, dear reader. And me. And everybody we love. We have to keep our minds open. We have to think for ourselves. It’s damned hard to do, but is the only way to live free.