WASP OIL Independently Published 2025 ISBN: 978-1999410872

Not long after Chelsea Tygrah left her mark on Halburton, the city became encompassed by an electric, heavy, pulsating power, embracing and encouraging unprecedented anger in everyone it could get its gnarly grip on. Through a strange orange light following everyone’s move, a creature emerged with its own anger, casting its mark on the bravest ones who would dare defy it. BUY LINK

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• Origins and themes of Black Rose Cocoon and Wasp Oil – How the sequel builds on the first book’s exploration of crime and horror, with a focus on emotional and psychological transformation rather than just detective work.

• Character development of Rosaria Castilla – Her evolution from a by-the-book detective to someone confronting trauma, blurred memories, and the “goods and evils of anger.”

• Inspiration and personal experiences – Flitcher’s injury at the zoo, therapy, and emotional healing as catalysts for the story’s darker tone and introspective horror.

• Creative structure and stylistic choices – Use of the fictional city of Halberton, a background true-crime radio show, chaotic pacing, and psychological disorientation to immerse readers.

• Future projects and overarching messages – Discussion of the upcoming novel Dead Mirror’s Follow, the continuation of Halberton’s universe, and the broader human themes of anger, fear, and self-awareness.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AG Flitcher is a twelve-time award-winning author who placed in the finals twice for Fantasy Series, first place for horror -serial killer novel, and for independent Fantasy novels . In addition, he has taught the art of storytelling to many novice writers and avid readers. His obsession with questioning the good and bad in life, the grey areas, and the tethering and frantic metronome of life and death, is what makes his work enthralling, confounding, and colorful. Fear has become a powerful aphrodisiac for him, making it a haunting yet delectable component in his stories. Fear is not what scares us, it's what follows when we respond to it.

To learn more about AG Flitcher and his work, follow him on social media through the links listed below:

In the heart of Yellowstone National Park, little Charlotte the wolf pup dreams of chasing grasshoppers and dancing through meadows — not tracking prey or following rules like the rest of the pack. But when danger threatens her family and the powerful Alpha Queen, Charlotte’s mother and leader of the pack, it’s up to this free-spirited pup to race for help and prove that being different can be a strength. A heartwarming tale of courage, loyalty, and finding your place in the world, CHARLOTTE, A YELLOWSTONE WOLF PUP is a celebration of individuality and the unbreakable bonds of family. Perfect for children of all ages — and their grown-ups too.

A portion of proceeds from this book supports wolf conservation efforts through The Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Wolf Conservation Center.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• Inspiration and purpose – Celia’s framework of choosing endangered animals, tying each book to a grandchild, and supporting conservation.
• Story and themes – Charlotte’s journey of independence versus belonging, and the lessons for kids about individuality and family.
• Research and authenticity – How Celia studied wolves and balanced realism with age-appropriate storytelling.
• Illustrations and collaboration – Working with Maria Hahn, capturing Yellowstone accurately, and adding interactive coloring pages.
• Takeaway for young readers – Charlotte as a relatable, brave, and lovable character, and what Celia hopes children remember after closing the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Celia Straus has written hundreds of shows for television and film throughout her career, and most recently, she is proud to have received an Emmy nomination for Kids Speak Out, a YouTube series created in partnership with the United Nations that features conversations with children worldwide about their lives. Her work has earned her Cine Golden Eagles and industrial film festival gold and silver awards, as she has served as a script-writer for numerous networks including Discovery, History Channel, and PBS.

For five years, from 2012 to 2017, Straus created and wrote the Emmy Award Winning Memorial Day Concert that was broadcast nationally on PBS. She also had the honor of creating and writing the Anti-Defamation League’s Concert Against Hate, which was performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for several years.

In addition to her television and film work, Straus has authored several books on different topics. Her poetry trilogy for middle school girls, including the national bestseller Prayers On My Pillow, was published by Ballantine Books in 1998. On military topics, she wrote Hidden Battles on Unseen Fronts: Stories of American Soldiers with PTSD and TBI, published by Casemate in 2009, and Pathfinder Pioneer: The Memoir of a WWII Bomber Pilot, published by Casemate in 2017.

Her passion for storytelling extends to children’s literature, and she has collaborated with various illustrators to create children’s picture books, such as the three BoBo and Iris books about an orphaned baby elephant in Kenya, Livy Little Honey Bee, and Sophie, the Monarch Butterfly, Mission to Mexico.

Straus currently resides in Washington, D.C. but travels frequently to see her two daughters and gorgeous grandchildren, who are the apple of her eye.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CELIA STRAUS AND HER WORK AT: https://www.celiastraus.com/

UNFORGIVING THRESHOLDS - Given that Mother Nature tends to correct unfavourable exceptions of the whole, then change is in order, soon to come. The unforgiving threshold of positive and negative energy is also one step away in front of us. In overview are the culmination of unforgiving thresholds that humankind has caused. These thresholds are like the stone in the pond, producing ripples that ever expand outwards, reaching into unstoppable. All thresholds will collapse together as one.

Some readers will agree, then read again; some will give consideration and read again several times. Naysayers set the book aside until the declarations become everyday topics, then read again. To those in denial: close the book, it's not for you.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• Inspiration and meaning behind Unforgiving Thresholds – Don Trudeau explains how carbon credits, salmon, and beavers sparked his reflections on ecological thresholds and humanity’s imbalance with nature.
• Environmental imbalance and consequences – Discussion of overproduction, waste, species decline, deforestation, and how humanity has stepped outside of balance with the natural world.
• Energy and interconnectedness – Exploration of energy as a unifying force among all life, how it circulates, and the First Nations perspective of “all my relations.”
• Personal health and lifestyle thresholds – Reflections on obesity, inactivity, addiction, and self-abuse, connecting personal choices to broader survival and societal collapse themes.
• Future survival, writing, and preparedness – Insights on his upcoming books, survival knowledge, stockpiling resources, and simple steps individuals can take to restore balance and prepare for harder times.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Taught observance as a child and practised until becoming an Elder, Don Trudeau has, for seventy-two years, witnessed the changes on wildlife, climate, economy, health, weather, catastrophic land events, and conveniences which changed our interaction with the planet. Today he sees that we are on the very brink of disaster, and he has come to understand that threshold has two meanings. One is to begin, the other to end. He is a Shaman in First Nation depiction and has been on the cusp of change since six years old until now, aged seventy-eight. Some of what he has witnessed is described herein, to give warning, as is one of his Shaman duties, to bring awareness of what approaches.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DON TRUDEAU AND HIS WORK AT: https://dontrudeau.ca/

MY WINGMAN

Life had never been easy for Clover. With the loss of her mother at birth and her grandmother's descent into dementia, she felt like she was constantly dodging curveballs. But nothing could have prepared her for the devastating heartbreak of losing her best friend and soulmate, Elliot. Crushed by grief, Clover is encouraged by her rebellious friend Reese to escape to an enchanting town where coffee flows freely and friendships spark like fireworks. Here, she meets Sadie, a kind single mom, and reconnects with Everett, the charming brother of her late friend. As she navigates unexpected connections and is haunted by ghostly glimpses of Elliot, Clover must decide whether to hold on to the past or take a leap of faith towards a new future. Join Clover on her journey of healing and rediscovering love, because sometimes the best wingman is the one that stirs your soul. Let Clover's story touch your heart and inspire you to find your own courage in the face of loss and new beginnings.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• The inspiration behind My Wingman and how personal challenges led Tessa to writing
• Themes of grief, healing, faith, and transformation woven throughout the story
• Clover’s relationships with Elliot, Everett, and her new community as sources of growth and support
• Tessa’s writing process, including shifting timelines and character development
• The debut publishing journey, reader feedback, and a sneak peek at what’s next

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tessa King is an emerging author whose debut novel, My Wingman, explores themes of courage and the journey of rediscovering happiness after grief. With a professional background in laboratory science, Tessa brings a unique perspective to her storytelling and enjoys analyzing rich, emotional narratives. When she isn't writing, you can find her supporting her husband at the dragstrip, indulging in her passion for coffee and books, or enjoying quality time with her beloved German Shepherd, Preacher. Residing in the Midwest, she admits to having a terrible green thumb and is still mastering the art of knitting. However, she shines in the art of sarcasm and delights in baking sweet treats. A devoted Detroit Lions fan, Tessa embraces life with humor and heart, inviting readers to join her on her literary adventures.

CONNECT WITH TESSA KING!

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tessaking

Website: https://www.tessa-king.com

Social Handles:

https://www.facebook.com/tessakingwrites https://www.instagram.com/tessakingwrites https://www.tiktok.com/@tessakingwrite https://www.goodreads.com/tessaking https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tessa-king

ASPASIA

A peaceful mountain village in 1990s Crete. Katerina is an American who lives a tranquil life with her husband Dimitris and their daughter Aspasia. But when Dimitris leaves to work on a cargo ship, a terrible secret shatters Katerina’s world. Suddenly, life in the village turns claustrophobic, threatening both Aspasia’s safety and Katerina’s sanity. Drawing inspiration from Sophocles' timeless play Antigone, Aspasia is a gripping tale of two shocking crimes. The novel delves into the depths of a mother's love and the extraordinary lengths one woman will go to safeguard her child.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• The story and inspiration behind Aspasia – including Florence’s time in Crete, the “village secret,” and how another novel influenced her to give her character a different kind of ending.
• The meaning of the name Aspasia – its personal, historical, and symbolic significance, and why she chose it for the book.
• Katerina’s perspective as an outsider and a mother – her integration into village life, her strength and vulnerability, and how she reacts differently from the community.
• Themes of secrets, silence, and power – including the role of Christos, how fear and routine shift after the secret is revealed, and the tension between what’s spoken and unspoken.
• Florence’s writing journey – revisiting a book she began 30 years ago, the evolution of publishing/self-publishing, trigger warnings, and what projects she has coming up next.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Florence Wetzel was born in Brooklyn, NY. She writes in different genres, including the memoir Sara My Sara: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss. Her novels include the thriller The Woman Who Went Overboard; the Swedish mystery The Grand Man; and Dashiki: A Cozy Mystery. She has also authored horror short stories, a book of poems and memoir essays, and co-authored jazz clarinetist Perry Robinson’s autobiography. Aspasia is her latest novel, published in July 2025.

You can learn more about Florence Wetzel and her work at https://linktr.ee/FlorenceWetzel

SWITCH

Mari Ellwyn and Derek Abernathy return to track a string of unsettling bank robberies. Their case takes a dark turn with the bizarre disappearance of a body from the local morgue, a mystery connected to the vanishing of the previous Medical Examiner, Dr. Camille Bota. Their investigation plunges them into the dangerous world of a multi-national organization involved in suspected fraud and fringe technology research. For Mari, the case ignites a personal quest, forcing her to confront the long-unresolved disappearance of her father, CIA operative Richard Ellwyn. The deeper she digs, the more Mari realizes that both she and her father are inextricably linked to their lifelong nemesis, the notorious international crime boss Jacques Martel. The missing body and the secrets surrounding Dr. Bota become entangled with her father's shadowy past and Martel's deadly machinations. In a high-stakes collision of family secrets and criminal enterprise, Mari must confront her father and their shared enemy before they both become casualties in Martel's lethal game.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• The Explosive Finale of Mari & Derek’s Journey – Why Switch brings the trilogy full circle.

• Family, Betrayal, and a Deadly Nemesis – Mari’s reunion with her CIA father and showdown with Jacques Martel.

• Heists, Missing Bodies & Quantum Secrets – The tangled web of crimes at the heart of Switch.

• From Beverly Hills to Spy Gadgets – How real research and tech fuel the authenticity.

• Behind the Curtain – Lisa’s writing process, shadowy power themes, and what’s coming next.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Towles is an Amazon bestselling, award-winning crime novelist and a passionate speaker on the topics of fiction writing, creativity, and self care. She has 13 crime thrillers in print with a new title, Switch, forthcoming in September 2025. The first two books in her E&A Investigations series, Hot House and Salt Island, were #1 Amazon Kindle bestsellers. She hosts an author interview series on YouTube called Story Impact. She has an MBA in IT Management and works full-time in the tech industry in the San Francisco Bay area.

Learn more at www.lisatowles.com or linktr.ee/authortowles.

RED SHADOWS AT SAUGATUCK

Darrell Henshaw hoped he was past it all. After all, no ghosts had visited him for years. Instead, he learns his five-year-old-son, Leo has inherited his “gift.” Now, they both can see ghosts. Upon his parents’ insistence, Darrell agrees to drive his young family 800 miles to celebrate his Aunt Gertrude’s 80th birthday. But, once in the resort town of Saugatuck, Michigan, their participation gets derailed by the spirit of a Native teen who went missing weeks earlier. When he and Leo inquire about the girl, the locals dismiss their concerns—"Those girls run away all the time.” Still, as questions pile up and threats grow, Darrell senses they may have stumbled onto something far worse and even more evil than one missing teen. Can Darrell continue to pursue justice for the girl if it places his wife and five-year-old son in danger?

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

About Red Shadows at Saugatuck and the Haunted Shores Mystery Series – Randy shares how the series grew from a single novel into four books, with this latest installment focusing on Darrell, Erin, and their young son returning to Michigan.

Family, Parenting, and Leo’s Gift – The story highlights family relationships and parenting dilemmas as Leo, a precocious five-year-old who also sees ghosts, propels his father into solving the mystery of a missing teen.

Setting and History in Saugatuck – The novel blends a richly detailed sense of place with the legend of the ghost town of Singapore, capturing the charm, beauty, and history of the Michigan lakeshore.

Social Issues and Authenticity – Randy discusses weaving in the real crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), informed by conversations with tribal elders to ensure cultural respect and accuracy.

Book Launch and What’s Ahead – He reflects on the warm reception at the Saugatuck launch, shares how each book in the series stands alone, and talks about possible future entries alongside other projects.

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author, speaker and podcaster. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades and has mined that experience to create captivating fiction, authoring two series, the bestselling series, “The Haunted Shores Mysteries,” and the award-winning series, “Lessons in Peril.” His novels have won critical acclaim and garnered national awards including Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) Best Book Award (Chanticleer Books and Reviews) and the Gold Award (Literary Titan) and amassed hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Dr. Overbeck also hosts the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and can be heard wherever listeners get their podcasts. He is a speaker in considerable demand, sharing his popular presentations about ghosts and the world of book publishing with hundreds of audiences all over the U.S.

As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

When he’s not researching, writing, speaking or podcasting, Randy enjoys traveling with his wife Cathy and visiting both his far-flung family and the scenic locations around this country, often in search of inspiration for his next great story.

CONNECT WITH DR. RANDY OVERBECK!

More info about his novels, programs and podcast can be found at his website www.authorrandyoverbeck.com

Email: randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorrandyoverbeck Twitter: https://twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorrandyoverbeck/ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/randy-overbeck Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Randy-Overbeck/e/B07QQHW7DM Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4825632.Randy_Overbeck

Feathers and Flame: Poetry of Australian Landscapes and Personal Transformation

A heartfelt collection that intertwines the beauty of Australian wildlife, international locations and personal growth. It reveals emotional truths, inviting readers to explore the process of healing through nature.

Observing nature, especially how animals and birds interact and give unconditionally, provides moments of stillness, enabling deep gratitude and peace.

Learn more about Kathryn (Kate) Carlisle and her work at https://kcarlisleauthor.com/

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• About Feathers and Flame and the Inspiration Behind the Collection – Kate shares how nature walks, personal memories, and her experience in the Australian Defence Force inspired this deeply reflective and healing body of work.

• Writing as a Path to Healing – Through poetry and journaling, Kate explored grief, self-forgiveness, and emotional transformation, using stillness in nature to process past experiences and reconnect with herself.

• Themes, Style, and Visuals – The collection blends short poems, longer reflections, and full-color landscape photography to create a layered, sensory storytelling experience grounded in emotion and place.

• Author Readings: “Mirror Me” and “Storm” – Kate reads two poems aloud, one reflecting on self-acceptance (Mirror Me), and another capturing the destructive and renewing force of nature (Storm).

• What’s Next for Kate – She’s continuing to write, including poems from the perspective of animals, and is considering turning Feathers and Flame into an audiobook.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Carlisle spent her early years in various regions of Australia, sometimes in a double-decker bus and a caravan, travelling across New South Wales, South Australia, north Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. During the family's travels, Kate learned to write by listing all the creeks and rivers they crossed in a notebook. This unique background, filled with diverse landscapes and experiences, shaped her experiences and writing. It instilled a deep appreciation for nature and a sense of adaptability that would later help her heal.

Kate served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for almost 39 years. At 16, she joined the Royal Australian Navy as an apprentice Electronics Technician, her formative year. After 10 years, she transitioned to the Royal Australian Air Force, serving nationally and overseas, separating in March 2023. Throughout her career, Kate found solace in writing, using it to express herself. She wrote about her experiences in the ADF, the challenges she faced, and the moments of triumph. Her writing served as a form of self-expression and a way to connect with others who might be going through similar experiences.

As a veteran, Kate completed the ADF Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills program, which helps build confidence and resilience in people experiencing health and wellbeing challenges related to service in the ADF. Kate found joy and an unlimited opportunity for healing through creative writing, and combined this with her love for nature and the outdoors. When at home, Kate spends time in the Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, a space that Kate loves and uses to connect and experience the profound healing power of nature.    

CONNECT WITH KATE CARLISLE

Website: https://kcarlisleauthor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.carlisle.148 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kate-c-40702b9a Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kate1_carlisle?igsh=MThnZmVtbzR5M2llaw==