THE BOOKWRIGHTS MAGAZINE
LONDON
BOOK FAIR
The London Book Fair is a trade show for exhibitors to engage with customers, build brand awareness, conduct face-to-face business and make sales. The event unites the global publishing community to develop relationships, gain insights, and define the future of creative content. From publishers, dealmakers, copyright pros, commissioners and global licensers - the entire publishing industry is represented.
Greetings everyone! It is a privilege to introduce the 7th edition of Book- wrights House Magazine. As we prepare for the ener- gy and inspiration of the London Book Fair 2026, we find ourselves reflecting on the enduring power of the written word to bridge cultures and spark innovation. This issue is a celebration of the creative spirit that defines our society. From the bustling literary corridors of London to the quiet corners of a reader’s study, we have curated content that explores the intersection of tradition and modern storytelling. Our goal is to pro - vide you with a window into the diverse voices and bold ideas that are shaping the future of our industry. We are deeply grateful for your continued place in the Bookwrights House family. It is your passion for discov - ery that fuels our work. We hope these pages offer you a moment of connection, a spark of inspiration, and a deeper appreciation for the stories we share. Happy reading! Publisher: Bookwrights House Editor-in-Chief: Katherine Deakins / Clauds layout designer: James burtons/ jolly
ARTICLES
• London Book Fair • The Prince, The Princess, And The 20-Room "Apartment": Survival At Kensington Palace • Weekend At Bernie’s? No, Weekend At The World’s Biggest Fortress: A Guide To Windsor Castle
BOOK EXPOSURE
• Violence In Heaven: Meeting God Where Rubber Meets The Road | Vincent V. Brechtel • The Usefulness Of Hippopotamus: A Humorous Chapbook For Trying Times | Vincent J. Tomeo
BOOK CAMPAIGN
• Joseph Martin | Impulse of the Lyric Moment: Everyday Pleasures in Crafted Verse • Joseph Martin | ALEXANDER PUSHKIN’S VERSE NOVEL EUGENE ONEGIN: A Form-True Dialogic Verse Translation with Lyrical Replies and Supplements • Joseph Martin | Shakespair: Sonnet Replies to the 154 Sonnets of William Shakespeare • Joseph Martin | Religion and Passion in Russia and France • Mary Beth Allen | The City of Mystery • Mary Beth Allen | The Battle Cry for Freedom • Gilbert Leslie | Dillard's Promise • Renee Servello | Humor All The Way • Rev. Henry Malone | Voices from the Passion: Voice Dramas For Lent & Easter • Rev. Henry Malone | The Sacred Writings of St. John the Apostle: The way to Eternal Life with God The Biblical Scholarship series on the New Testament writings Modern Received Ecleptic Text compared to the Early Papyri and Unciales Volume IV 3rd Edition • Elizabeth Len Wai | Children Do Come with a Manual: It is the Bible • Joseph Turchi | The Quotationary Manifesto: A Positive Daily Dose of Inspiration To Instill Motivation and Undergo Transformation
• Martin Bidney I Shakespair: Sonnet Replies to the 154 Sonnets of William Shakespeare • Kay E. Thomson | Finding JOY In the Midst of Grief & Oh NO, Where Did He Go • Vincent J. Tomeo | The Usefulness of Hippopotamus • Alfonso Watts | Joseph Martin The Men in the Shadows • Amy Twilegar | Psychology Within the Context of Psychiatry • Mikaya Heart | My Sweet Wild Dance • Wynona Rogers | Riches to Rags: One Woman's Story of Betrayal and Redemption (2nd Edition) SPOTLIGHT TV INTERVIEW • Joseph Turchi | The Seven Laws and Principles that Govern Success: A Proven Simple Step Process to Achieve Happiness & Less Stress • Gregory M. Dixon | Just Because • Vincent J. Tomeo | My Cemetery Friends: A Garden of Encounters at Mount Saint Mary in Queens, New York • Craig Beck | The Nevada Trilogy: Book Two: THE STORM RIDERS • incent Brechtel | Violence in Heaven: Meeting God Where Rubber Meets the Road (Spanish Edition) • Joe W. Boyou Sr. | Antonov-225 • Shelby Luse | From the Hill to the Hall • Carmen. M. Velazquez | Nia: If I Only Knew • Gwen Poe | Bingham the Bobcat • Carl Dodrill | Jesus Is There: Discovering Jesus at Work in the Old Testament • Jesse Briviesca | The Misadventures of Paco The Flea • Lawrence Lambelet | Musings: Vietnam, Conjectures, and More • Marcos Cummings | X…: Collection of Poetry
LONDON BOOK FAIR 2026
At Bookwrights House, we believe that every manuscript is a partnership and every author a vital part of our community. We are deeply committed to providing a supportive home for creators, ensuring that their unique voices and lived experiences are treated with the care and excellence they deserve. It is a profound honor to act as the bridge between these writers and the global reading public, bringing a diverse spectrum of narratives—from the deeply personal to the grandly imaginative—to the forefront of the industry.
We invite you to immerse yourself in this edition of the magazine, which serves as both a guide to London’s storied literary landscape and a showcase of the incredible talent we represent. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.
As we look forward to the London Book Fair 2026, we are thrilled to present our authors’ latest achievements. These works represent the pinnacle of their dedication and our shared vision for literary excellence.
The Prince, The Princess, and the 20-Room "Apartment" Survival at Kensington Palace
If you’ve ever lived in a shared building where you had to dodge a chatty neighbor in the hallway, you have more in common with the Prince and Princess of Wales than you might think.
Welcome to Kensington Palace, the world’s most glamorous co-living space. While the name suggests a sprawling, singular home, the reality is more of a high-stakes "Royal Dormitory" where the elevators are gold-leafed and your downstairs neighbor might literally be a Duke.
William and Catherine’s primary London residence is known as Apartment 1A. Don't let the "Apartment" label fool you; it’s not a two-bedroom walk-up with a broken intercom.
• The Scale: It features 20 rooms spread across four stories. • The Kitchen Situation: There are three kitchens. One for the family to actually make toast in, and two for the staff to handle the "I’m hosting the President of the United States" level of catering. • The Layout: It includes five reception rooms, three master bedrooms, and a basement with its own gym. It’s essentially a vertical mansion disguised as a flat. King Edward VIII once ungraciously nicknamed the palace "The Aunt Heap" because it was so stuffed with his elderly relatives. Today, it remains a "Royal Commune." Living at KP means the Wales family shares the grounds with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and Princess Michael of Kent. It is the ultimate aristocratic cul-de-sac where "borrowing a cup of sugar" might involve passing three security checkpoints and an armed guard. One of the main perks for the Princess of Wales—a known gardening enthusiast—is the walled private garden. However, "private" is a relative term when your backyard is also the designated landing pad for the royal helicopter. The family frequently commutes via the "Kensington Heliport" (the lawn), making their school run slightly more dramatic than the average parent's. Kensington Palace is a place where history and modern parenting collide—where you might see a future King riding a tricycle in the same hallway where Queen Victoria was told she was the monarch. It’s cramped by royal standards, vast by ours, and definitely the only apartment building in London where you need a clearance from MI5 to deliver a pizza.
Weekend at Bernie’s? No, Weekend at the World’s
Biggest Fortress A Guide to Windsor Castle
If you think your house has a lot of "character" (which is usually code for leaky pipes and a drafty window), wait until you see Windsor Castle. It is the ultimate "fixer-upper" that’s been in the same family for nearly 1,000 years, and it’s the place where the British Monarchy goes when they need to get away from the "cramped" 20-room apartments of London.
Welcome to the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world—or, as the late Queen Elizabeth II called it, "home."
Most people have a spare room for hobbies. The royals have a 13-acre complex. Windsor is essentially a fortified small town. It has its own chapel, its own post office, its own police station, and a wine cellar that holds about 18,000 bottles.
It’s the perfect place for the Prince and Princess of Wales (who live just down the road at Adelaide Cottage) to pop over for Sunday lunch—assuming they can find their way through the 1,000 rooms. If you want to visit Windsor, you have to contend with the Long Walk. It’s a perfectly straight, three-mile avenue leading up to the castle. It’s magnificent for photos, but it’s basically nature’s way of saying, "Are you sure you’re invited? Because you’ve got about 45 minutes of walking left to change your mind." Windsor is famous for its secret tunnels. There is a hidden passage beneath a rug in one of the offices that leads to a stone staircase, allowing the royals to slip out into the gardens or escape an invading army (or just a particularly boring dinner guest). Windsor Castle is where the monarchy keeps its "good china" and its deepest history. It’s a fortress, a palace, and a burial site all rolled into one. It’s been survived by fires, sieges, and a thousand years of family drama—making your neighbor’s loud lawnmower seem pretty tame by comparison.
VINCENT V. BRECHTEL Vincent V. Brechtel is an American author and spiritual writer whose works explore divine guidance, faith, and human transformation. Currently residing on his remote homestead farmland in South Dakota, Brechtel finds inspiration in the serenity of nature, which deepens his connection to the Creator. Before returning to the land, he spent over three decades in a successful technical career-a period marked by accomplishment but also by an unfulfilled longing for inner peace and spiritual purpose. Answering this call, he turned to writing as a medium to share his profound journey of rediscovering faith.His recent work, Violence in Heaven: Meeting God Where Rubber Meets the Road, reflects his belief in God's active presence in everyday life and His transformative power through trials. Brechtel also advocates for unity among Christian faiths, particularly valuing the fellowship of Cowboy Churches while maintaining roots in the Orthodox Catholic tradition.
Violence in Heaven: Meeting God Where Rubber Meets the Road by Vincent V. Brechtel is a soul-stirring and powerfully written journey that speaks to the heart of every believer who has ever wrestled with pain, purpose, and faith. Brechtel, an American author and spiritual writer, masterfully crafts this story as both a personal reflection and a universal invitation-to meet God not only in sacred spaces, but in the everyday struggles where "rubber meets the road." His writing is raw yet deeply compassionate, exploring how divine love can transform even the most broken soul into something beautifully whole. At Bookwrights House , we are honored to present and publish this remarkable work of faith and transformation. Brechtel's voice emerges from the quiet strength of his South Dakota farmland, where his connection to God and nature inspires a message that resonates far beyond its pages. His background in both technical and spiritual disciplines brings a unique authenticity to his storytelling-grounded, relatable, and profoundly uplifting. In Violence in Heaven, readers follow the journey of Aspot, a man shattered by loss and despair, who unexpectedly encounters God's grace in the midst of life's chaos. Through moments of despair and revelation, the book reveals how God shapes human imperfection just as a blacksmith tempers steel- through fire, pressure, and purpose. Now available through major online retailers, Violence in Heaven: Meeting God Where Rubber Meets the Road offers readers not just a story, but a path toward renewal. It's an inspiring reminder that even in life's fiercest storms, God's refining fire leads us toward strength, love, and everlasting faith.
Meeting God Where Rubber Meets the Road Violence in Heaven describes a broken man's sudden encounter and continued dialogue with God that finds him transformed, tempered, and perfected in mind, strength, and spirit by the Master Craftsman. Through an extraordinary series of encounters, we see that the Master Craftsman is not just working with a man. Rather, in a distinctly tangible manner, He is explicitly teaching and calling each of us to take hold, pull in tightly, and fervently embrace God. Our King of Heaven is expressively offering guidance and preparation for new birth into His Kingdom and the fullest experience of His promise of Abundant Life. In this story, the man called Aspot is so named because he has proven himself to be problematic and blemished. Yet for all practical purposes, Aspot is only a placeholder for all mankind, as God discusses life with you, the Reader. Perhaps you are the kind of person who can satisfy God as He and you work together...fruitfully...building Life.
A Humorous Chapbook for Trying Times
I am staring at a blank piece of paper, wondering what to write. Where do I begin? My mind begins to wander- pleasant thoughts of Disney's Fantasia dance in my head. The dancing hippopotamus comes to mind, and this made me laugh. The result: I penned a poem on the hippopotamus from which a chapbook was born: The Usefulness of Hippopotamus: A Humorous Chapbook for Trying Times. One cannot imagine a world without humor. Without humor, the world will be dark, cold, and a sad place, tragically lacking joy, cheerfulness, and laughter.
In challenging times, I chose humor. During the Pandemic, I had to deal with my bladder cancer. In my struggle not to get depressed or dwell in negativity, to find solace, contentment, and peace, I chose to seek out beauty and laugh. In search of happiness, the humor worked its charm, resulting in a treasure chest of joy. So, I wrote my chapbook, The Usefulness of Hippopotamus: A Humorous Chapbook for Trying Times and discovered humor even among the hippopotami!
Humor is medicine. During rough times, humor will help lighten and lessen physical and mental anxiety.
Humor is the Best Form of Medicine
Humor is the best form of medicine. It helped me get through cancer, and a pandemic, as I laughed my way back to my health. To help me cope with my condition, cancer, and the pandem- ic, I wrote a humorous chapbook: The Usefulness of Hippopotamus: A Humorous Chapbook for Trying Times. Winner of the Golden Literary Titan Award, May 2023. Let us all laugh together, as we need more cheerfulness and joy in this sick, sad, and sorry world. Let me share that joy and humor with you and your audience. Let us laugh together. Cannot imagine a world without humor!
Vincent J. Tomeo is a poet. He was born and raised in Corona, Queens, NYC, and has lived in the most diversified urban area on the planet his entire life. He has recited his poetry everywhere across the United States, throughout Queens, and internationally, in South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Italy, Tanzania, Kenya, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Germany, and France. Regarding poetry, his proudest accomplishments are the publication of his book, "My Cemetery Friends: A Garden of En- counters at Mount Saint Mary in Queens, New York" (Atmosphere Press, 2020), winning Honorable Mention in the Rainer Maria Rilke International Poetry Competition, and having his poem, "A View from a Tower in Calabria, Italy," sculpted into marble in Italy. In 2018, Vincent was awarded "The Best Overall Free Verse" by United Poets Laureate
International World Brotherhood and Peace Through Poetry, World Congress of Poets, Bangkok, Thailand, for his poem, "I Visited the Grave of Marine Michael D. Glover." Another unique publication is Vincent's poem, "Idaho," framed, mounted, and displayed on a wall in the Idaho Potato Museum, Blackfoot, ID. n 2020-2021, two of his poems: "Belleau Wood 2020" and "Remembering A corona Marine, US Marine, Private William Frederick Moore," were distributed and read in schools as part of the Aisne-Marne (WWI) Cemetery Project, Rue des Chevaliers Colomb, 02400 Belleau, France. In addition to writing, Vincent is also an archivist, historian, and community activist. For more you can visit: www.Vincent JTomeo.com.
BOOK CAMPAIGN Beyond the Booth: Global Book Campaigns Connecting Stories With Readers Everywhere.
IMPULSE OF THE LYRIC MOMENT Everyday Pleasures in Crafted Verse by Martin Bidney
I’m going back to the roots of my poetic practice, which were actually e-mails. While I was still teaching (35 years at Binghamton University in upstate New York) I began to discover that writing messages to friends would be many times more interesting if they were metered and rhymed. You’ll notice varied impressions conveyed to friends in poems with the intended hearer clearly indicated. The book includes many memories of music played (violin, fiddle) or sung (folk performance or choir) by me, plus random musical movements or tunes from website presentations. I write about being sick and taking medicine and checking sugar count. I love sudden changes of mood or purpose or level of attention. Poems 176 through 180 are five commentaries on a single verse from the Hebrew Bible. Several times I practice fortune telling with the Qur’an, opening the book at random and writing up the verses that request it. I like humor, quirks, and whimsy. What brought on the eight-part epilogue? I have no idea. I’m acutely aware that most people don’t see their lives as intimately related to wordsong patterns of harmony and rhythm. I create the “supply,” while at the same time attempting to generate the “demand.” It’s the best way to run a business when you’re in a state of rewirement.
Impulse of the Lyric Moment: Everyday Pleasures in Crafted Verse
by Martin Bidney
The lyric miniatures or snapshots I love to write each day turn time into the timeless. I work fast, and my writing tempo is rapid. That’s partly because an intimation, or a revelation, may last only a nanosecond. A poetic epiphany is itself a moment, and a moment is, etymologically, something that moves (Latin mo(vi)mentum). This book of “senior poetry” is a journal from July 2024 to February 2025 of moments from many decades, insights or feelings or pictures I wanted to cherish when made into wordsongs. I preserve the epiphanies, poetic disclosures, of everyday life; of paintings and musical compositions I regularly sample on computer sites; of colloquial e-mails memorable when framed in melodious verse; of spiritualities from a number of times and places; of animals and landscapes that have charmed and refreshed me. The brief lyrics are written in a variety of meters or regular rhythm patterns that are playfully and casually applied to suit changing moods. Recite everything aloud, or the song won’t be heard and you’ll miss the real fun of the project.
ALEXANDER PUSHKIN’S VERSE NOVEL EUGENE ONEGIN
by Martin Bidney
ALEXANDER PUSHKIN (1799-1837) is Russia’s most beloved poet. Eugene Onegin, called by Pushkin a “novel in verse,” is Russia’s favorite narrative poem and her most influential novel. The narrative—about what was widely called a “su- perfluous man”—sets a context for works by Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov that were to follow. From Lord Byron, Pushkin borrowed a clever device: the use of a casual narrator who becomes a fascinating character in the story. Tchaikovsky made Onegin into a great tragic op- era, but he had to leave out the entertaining character of the narrator—plus all the delightful mood changes in the storyteller’s personality. Form-faithful translator MAR- TIN BIDNEY has created a new genre of literature, the verse interview book. For every 14-line poem of Pushkin’s, Bidney
writes a Pushkin-style “reply” poem! So the book becomes a total dialogue, really two verse novels in conversation. Utterly unprecedented. The translator as collocutor. Professor Caryl Emerson is the foremost authority on the “dialogic” approach to literature explored by Russian critic Mikhail Bakhtin. So Bidney’s “Introduction” takes the form of a dialogue with her! At the start she writes: “I just read the first two stanzas . . . you’re awfully good. And of course an in-form dialogic response is completely in keeping with the digressive, invasive, in-your-face na- ture of Pushkin’s indulgent Narrator.” That sets the tone for all of her remarks.
Alexander Pushkin’s Verse Novel Eugene Onegin: A Form-True Dialogic Verse Translation with Lyrical Replies and Supplements Including a Dialogic Introduction with Caryl Emerson (the present essay by the Author, Martin Bidney) A lexander Pushkin (1799-1837) is Russia’s most beloved poet. Eugene Onegin, called by Pushkin a “novel in verse,” is Russia’s favorite narrative poem and her most influential novel. The narrative – about what was widely called a “superfluous man” – sets a context for works by Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov that were to follow. From Lord Byron, Pushkin borrowed a clever device: the use of a casual narrator who becomes a fascinating character in the story. Composer Tchaikovsky made Onegin into a great tragic opera, but the had to leave out the entertaining character of the narrator – plus all the delightful mood changes in the storyteller’s personality. As Pushkin’s form-faithful translator, I’ve created a new genre of literature, the verse interview book. For every 14-line poem (sonnet) of Pushkin’s, I offer a Pushkin-style “reply” poem. So the book becomes a total dialogue, really two verse novels in conversation. Utterly unprecedented. The translator as collocutor. Professor Caryl Emerson is the foremost authority on the “dialogic” approach to literature explored by Russian critic Mikhail Bakhtin. So my“Introduction” takes the form of a dialogue with her! At the start she writes, “I just read the first two stanzas… you’re awfully good. And of course an in-form dialogic response is completely in keeping with the digressive, invasive, in-your-face nature of Pushkin’s indulgent Narrator.” That sets the tone for all of her remarks. Pushkin’s novel features one of the best-loved characters in Russian prose or verse, the young woman Tatyana Larina. Her thoughtful strength of spirit and convention-defying boldness will remind many readers of Charlotte Brontë’s admirable Jane Eyre. In one of my podcasts dealing with the present volume I tried to show what an honor it was to be the commentator responding to this heroine in interpretive poetry (see martinbidney.org). In another podcast I responded to the more satirically treated Eugene. I’ve been thinking about this Pushkinian verse novel since at age 19 I first encountered it as a Russian major at Indiana University in a course taught by Prof. Walter Vickery. It still carries, for me, such a wealth of memories (literary and biographical) that I have included in this book a fair number of related poems by other, mainly Russian, poets – many of them contemporaries of Pushkin. Additional light may be cast on this ultimate masterwork of Russian narrative verse by a perusal of Pushkin’s glorious happy-and-solemn Gabri-iliad, which I have also translated in – of course – my favorite “con-vers-ational” book format.
SHAKESPAIR Sonnet Replies to the 154 Sonnets of William Shakespeare
S hakespeare's Sonnets (published in 1609 but mostly written in the 1590s) offer surprises everywhere, but two big ones in particular. These relate to the plot and to the range of the poet's passionate feeling. The story line has the makings of a high suspense love drama, but the author wants, more crucially, to explore his thoughts on a myriad of topics in what feels like verse journaling - moody, mercurial, unpredictable, and intense. That's why the genre of the narrative hovers between a play and what we'd now call a psychological novel.Complicating both the dramatic tension and the introspective depth is the bisexual range of the poet's passionate temperament. The fact that his boyfriend and mistress are attracted to each other will account for some of the strong conflicts in the speaker's mind. But the wild oscillations of his feeling toward each of them are also rooted in his widely receptive sexual nature.I'm a dialogic poet, carrying on a long tradition of friendly rivalry among verse writers. Here I undertake a book-length dialogue in sonnets with Shakespeare. The best way to respond to a poem that won't let go of you is to write another poem and try to make it worthy of the first.Often I sum up a lyric from a new perspective. Or I'll respond with parallel or contrasting memories and imaginings of my own. Poets, philosophers, mythic figures, musicians, or novelists may enter my replies. Psychological sidelights will be many. The possibilities revealed by the genre of lyrical response appear unlimited. There's no better con-verse-ation partner than Shakespeare, who gave me a deep love for his favorite lyric form. Entering into it, I assumed a stranger-self, and it made a stranger me. by Martin Bidney
Shakespair: Sonnet Replies to the 154 Sonnets by William Shakespeare An Introduction by the Author, Martin Bidney
Shakespeare’s collection of short love poems called “Sonnets” offers a colorful kaleidoscope of bipolar moods and a suspenseful, inclusive dramatic plot involving three triangles of passionate lovers (MMF, MMF, and MMM). Martin Bidney answers the poet with 154 sonnet replies in a richly human dialogue. Just look at Sonnet Dialogue 20, and you’ll see what an unprecedented con-vers-ation this book offers. The Shakespeare narrator calls his boyfriend “Master-Mistress” and speculates that Nature was trying to create a woman but somehow got distracted and added an extra organ to the lovely female body. Since Nature “prick’d thee out for women’s pleasure,” not only the lyric speaker but men and women everywhere find this androgynous bisexual being immensely attractive. The dialogue collection is a series of verse interviews. But it also has the appeal of a TV series of episodes, or a psychological novel converted to a dramatic presentation. In high schools the text is rarely studied in its entirety, so nearly all context disappears for the young reader. It’s important to realize, one might think, that when the poet says, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate?” he’s talking to his boyfriend. The world of changing passions where the Shakespeare narrator thrives will mean that every relationship he has will be volatile, ranging from disillusion and sadness to confidence and hilarity. The entire diary or journal feels intensely real and personal: in the teasing Sonnet 135 the poet jokes cleverly about presenting the “real me,” so to speak, when he puns repeatedly on his name, “Will.”
Shakespeare’s Sonnets are one big story poem, with a startling plot. The speaker devotes the first 39 of the 154 lyrics chiefly to persuading his male friend to get married and have children, for such a handsome, likable man ought to leave an abundant biological legacy. The speaker is in love with the lady introduced in sonnet 40, and his gentleman friend is in love with her, too. How to love one of these friends without offending the other? Tensions grow, and no resolution is reached. Even so, the Sonnets are one of the best dramas the poet ever wrote. I’m a dialogic poet, carrying on a long tradition of friendly rivalry among verse writers. The best way to respond to a poem that won’t let go of you is to write another poem and try to make it worthy of the first. The Shakespeare narrator has a remarkably engaging charm because of his welcoming, inclusive attitudes toward human passion as it shapes a varied, worthwhile life. You won’t find anywhere a more LGBTQ+ friendly mindset than here with Will. Often I sum up a lyric from a new perspective. Or I’ll respond with parallel or contrasting memories and imaginings of my own. Poets, philosophers, mythic figures, musicians, or novelists may enter my replies. Psychological sidelights will be many. The possibilities revealed by the genre of lyrical response appear unlimited. There’s no better con-verse-ation partner than Shakespeare, who gave me a deep love for his favorite lyric form. Entering into it, I assumed a stranger-self, and it made a stranger me.
RELIGION AND PASSION IN RUSSIA AND FRANCE Gabri-iliad by Alexander Pushkin; Mystical Book by Alfred de Vigny; Year in a Monastery by Alexei Apukhtin
by Martin Bidney
R eligion and Passion in Russia and France includes 19th century works I have translated by Pushkin (1821), Vigny (1858), and Apukhtin (1883). Readers will see how the selected story-poems by these artists (now newly and form-faithfully rendered in lyrical English) advanced the liberation of our thinking about passion in its continuing and intensifying conflict with religious authority, leading straight toward, or even antedating, 20th-21st century psychoanalysis. No critic has ever put these three storytelling poets together to illustrate the developing thought current I describe. An introductory context including Genesis 3 and the Platonic-Aristotelian exaltation of the allegedly immortal intellect will set the stage for the unfolding rebellious French and Russian dramatic narratives.
Religion and Passion in Russia and France includes 19th- century works I have translated by Pushkin, Vigny, and Apukhtin. The three French and Russian narrative poems I translate here were shaped by gifted artists who are among their countries’ ingenious and penetrating lyrical creators. The works may differ greatly in mood and outlook. But they share a central focal interest: the roles played by religion and passion in the lives of us human creatures. Readers will see how the selected story-poems by these artists (now newly and form-faithfully rendered in lyrical English) advanced the liberation of our thinking about passion in its continuing and intensifying conflict with religious authority, leading straight toward, or even antedating, 20th-21st century psychoanalysis. No critic has ever put these three storytelling poets together to illustrate the developing thought current I describe. An introductory context including Genesis 3 and the Platonic-Aristotelian exaltation of the allegedly immortal intellect sets the stage for the unfolding rebellious French and Russian dramatic narratives. I would like to hope that this gathering of superb verse writers will help bring about a changed attitude toward their stature, their exemplary wisdom and craft, and the degree to which, as these selections may demonstrate, they merit far more extensive praise and popularity than they’ve so far attained. Pushkin, though his country’s greatest poet, offered in Gabri-iliad a comic masterwork that has so far attracted little attention among readers of English. Students of French poetry have not yet done justice to the marvelous lyrical word-magician and profound thinker Vigny. Apukhtin is far more important as a psychologist and verse technician than even Russian students and scholars have yet realized. He is a poetic virtuoso of quite remarkable skill and sensitivity. I hope also to have shown in the prefatory essay the unity of the impulse generating the three creators’ movement of thought and feeling and the scope of its implications for understanding the growing depth of our psychological vision in the course of the 19th century. RELIGION AND PASSION IN RUSSIA AND FRANCE : Gabri-iliad by Alexander Pushkin; Mystical Book by Alfred de Vigny; Year in a Monastery by Alexei Apukhtin Form-faithfully Translated from Russian and French with an Introduction by Martin Bidney
by Mary Beth Allen
T he adventure begins with a mysterious gift in the form of a crystal received by Michal, a twelve-year-old girl, as an inheritance from her grandfather. Michal concludes that her grandfather left her the starburst-shaped stone as a clue and that clue led to the City of Mystery! Her grandfather had thrilled her with stories of how the City of Mystery held the answers to solving the problems caused by the occupying Tresdids in her beloved city, Salvatore. Her best friends, Petra (a male unicorn colt), and Flyby (a male golden eaglet) join her, and they all head to the mysterious city. They later meet Zyon, a small purple female dragon, who also adds her expertise to the mission. On the way, they go through dangerous swamps, get lost in spooky forests, and face giant poisonous centipedes, as well as many other escapades. They also have the privilege of meeting the Firsts, the first speaking dragon, eagle, and unicorn, including the first man who was awarded the Blue Orb.
Mary Beth Allen, who is she? What prompts her to write fantasy books? First, she is a believer in Jesus Christ. Her books, The City of Mystery, The Battle Cry for Freedom, and Iamadore (soon to be republished) were influenced by the conviction that Jesus is the Son of God, creator of the universe, and coming back again. All three books have the same theme—to tell the story of Jesus in a manner that would be entertaining, full of adventure, and excitement. The second is the expansion of her mind from a trip to a third-world country: the poverty, the conditions that the individuals lived in, and how the government oppressed them. One thing she found intriguing—a single tree on a mountain slope. The missionaries informed her that the tree kept the farmers anchored by a rope while they planted their crops. Tied to it, they were safe from falling down the steep incline. The rest of the trees had been cut down and burned for firewood. Third, her job as an admission registrar at a nearby hospital allowed her to better understand a variety of human emotions. As she chatted with the patients, they would share a little about themselves, from their interest in sports to the fear they felt with impending procedures, to a request for prayer. These brief conversations gave Beth fresh insight into how to bring depth to her characters. May Mary Beth’s books bring you enjoyment and hope. God bless you!
by Mary Beth Allen
W hen Michal, Petra, Flyby, and Zyon were babies, an old woman visited their parents and prophesied the four of them would embark on a journey. She predicted they would find answers for their city to rid it of the occupying enemy, the Tresdids, and they’d solve the problems of poverty and hunger. Michal, a human girl; Petra, the unicorn colt; Flyby, the golden eaglet; and Zyon, the little purple dragon, return home from their quest to the City of Mystery. They’ve discovered the answer they sought in Salvatore with the dreaded Tresdids. As they attempt to follow through with that answer, many adventures await, such as a flight above a giant mountain, a dangerous fire, and more. A sequel to The City of Mystery, The Battle Cry for Freedom follows the four adventurers as they each use their special gifts and talents to do good in the world.
B efore the city ever cried out for freedom, a prophecy was spoken. An old woman foretold that four newborns—Michal, a brave human girl; Petra, a steadfast unicorn colt; Flyby, a swift golden eaglet; and Zyon, a clever little purple dragon—would one day embark on a journey to uncover the truth their city needed and help defeat its enemies. In The Battle Cry for Freedom, the sequel to The City of Mystery by Christian children’s author Mary Beth Allen, the four friends return home from their first quest carrying an answer discovered in Salvatore, the stronghold of the fearsome Tresdids. But putting that answer into action is no simple task. They face towering mountains, raging fire, and new dangers that test their courage, faith, and friendship. Each adventurer must use their unique gifts—not for glory, but to serve and protect. Together, they discover that true strength comes from unity, bravery, and doing what is right, even when the path forward is uncertain. Mary Beth Allen, a graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, brings imagination, heart, and Christian values to her stories. Inspired by the adventures she shared with her nieces and nephews, and by her poem Forgiven and Forgotten, she creates tales of hope, courage, and purpose. The Battle Cry for
Freedom invites young readers into a fantastical world where prophecy calls the brave, friendship drives the journey, and even the smallest heroes can help change the fate of a city.
In April 2010 in the city of Beverly Hills, California, a routine traffic stop quickly escalates into an arrest, of an African-American man, placing his blood into CODIS - the FBI database of DNA evidence collected from crime scenes and convicted criminals - revealing a mitochondrial connection to a string of unsolved murders in the 1970s. The racist history of the forgotten township of Lafayette, Virginia, is revisited through the revival of a cold-case of the brutal murders of four white people in one week of July, in 1975. Houston Jenkin's life is changed forever, as one week in the past and one week in the present converge to shape his future and his emotional state. With the help of his wife, Sabrina, he must navigate his emotions and the family history that ties his fate to Lafayette, Virginia and a death bed confession.
Gilbert Leslie was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Gilbert has always enjoyed reading all genres of books, anything from philosophy to comic books, and would write short stories for friends. Dillard’s Promise is a story he allowed to simmer for years before he felt the urge to complete the book. He is a first-time author and is currently working on a sequel to Dillard’s Promise. He hopes his work will be well-received.
Humor All The Way by Renee' Servello
This is a humorous book on aging and her personal observations on life experiences. Renee' tends to see humor in just about any situation and you will laugh along with her. She doesn't miss much and her observations tend to be on target. She invites her readers to sit back, enjoy the laughs and remember that HUMOR IS THE RX for LIFE.
R enee Servello was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, when it was still a U.S. territory, during a time marked by post–World War II optimism and exploration. Her early years were shaped by adventure and resilience. Her father, a former Army Air Corps pilot, was among a group of aviators who ventured west to establish a flight training school that later evolved into Golden North Airways. Her mother, equal- ly enterprising, opened a local grocery store to support the growing community. Following the untimely loss of her father due to medical complications, Renee and her mother returned to Texas, where family, perseverance, and renewal became defining themes of her life. Renee’s upbringing was truly international. After her mother remarried, the family lived in West Texas before relocating overseas to Western and Eastern Venezuela. While formal schooling there ended at the seventh grade, Renee spent her adolescent academic years in Texas, returning to Venezuela each summer to remain deeply immersed in its culture and family life. This global upbringing fostered a lifelong appre- ciation for people, stories, and human connection. As a young adult, she embraced her love of travel by becoming a flight attendant, a career that mirrored her adventurous spirit. Renee later married her longtime love, Anthony, and together they raised their family in Caracas, Vene- zuela, welcoming their daughter Kelli and son Ty. In 1972, the family returned to the United States, first settling in Miami, Florida, and later making Houston, Texas, their permanent home. There, Renee built a highly successful career in retail management, advancing from business owner to Regional Manager and ultimately Senior Zone Manager, overseeing operations of 200 stores across the western United States for a national chain. In 2003, following an autoimmune diagnosis that required her to slow down, Renee rediscovered a life- long creative impulse: writing. Drawing from her vivid memories, keen observations, and sharp sense of humor, she began crafting stories that celebrated life’s absurdi- ties and joys. This led to the publication of her first humor book, You’re Kidding…
I’m a Senior?, a lighthearted and empowering reflection on aging that resonated deeply with readers. Over the years, she expanded this work into additional titles that continue to celebrate laughter, perspective, and resilience. As her writing evolved, Renee turned her attention toward legacy—capturing gentle lessons about family, pets, child- hood, and the simple moments that leave lasting impres- sions. Her work reflects a belief in the power of humor, kindness, and shared experiences to connect generations.
Voices from the Passion Voice Dramas For Lent & Easter
V oices from the Passion is written as a novel or dramatic presentation for churches to used during Lent. It was written as witness to the Passion Story of Jesus Christ from people outside the church. This bold witness attempts to address all those who disbelieve in the resurrection. It should be read and presented with raw emotions. It is factual, historic and dynamic. This proclaims the Truth in Love. Joy & Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord
Pastor Hank, or simply Pastor, is my preferred identification. I was born in Whittier, California. Raised in the Midwest, St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood, until I went to high school. Attended St. John’s Academy, Winfield, Kansas, and one year of Junior college. The Second year of college was at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. From there, I entered the Navy as a Fireman and spent twenty years and one day, then retired as a Lieutenant. I put my education in the Navy as an engineer to work at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles for three years as Assistant Director of Plant Service, and at night went to LA City College, Cal State LA. and Christ College Irvine. I worked as a general contractor for about three years in Oceanside, maintaining a shopping center and picking up rebuild and remodel jobs. Six years out of the Navy, I received my personal call to become a pastor, put my last daughter into college, and went back to St. Louis for the training necessary for me to become a pastor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. I received ordination on June 12, 1994. My first church was St. John’s Lutheran, Palms, Michigan. The church I now Pastor is St. John’s Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, Utah. My first book, authored, is the Sacred Writings of St. John the Apostle, now in its third edition. Rev. Dr. Henry B. Malone
THE SACRED WRITINGS OF ST. JOHN THE APPOSTLE The way to Eternal Life with God The Biblical Scholarship series on the New Testament writings Modern Received Ecleptic Text compared to the Early Papyri and Unciales (Volume IV 3rd Edition)
REV. DR. HENRY B. MALONE
Written for pastors and serious students of the Bible, this edition is designed to give more time and focus to the Greek text itself. The foundational question for any serious scholar of Scripture must be: “What is the text?” Only after establishing the text can one rightly ask, “What does it mean?” The Sacred Writings of St. John the Apostle (Third Edition) presents the evolving history of the Received Text—from its earliest form to the eclectic text in use today. Through a color-coded Greek script, changes and developments in the text over time are clearly documented. The top line records the work of textual critics in their ongoing effort to reconstruct the original autographs. A level-one English translation accompanies the Greek, functioning similarly to an interlinear Bible, to assist readers in navigating the text with clarity. Beneath this, presented in a parallel and vertical format, are the major Greek Uncials and published Papyri, some dating within twenty to forty years of the original writings.
The labor-intensive groundwork has been completed—now, your study can begin with the text itself.
Pastor Hank, or simply Pastor, is my preferred identification. I was born in Whittier, California. Raised in the Midwest, St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood, until I went to high school. Attended St. John’s Academy, Winfield, Kansas, and one year of Junior college. The Second year of college was at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. From there, I entered the Navy as a Fireman and spent twenty years and one day, then retired as a Lieutenant. I put my education in the Navy as an engineer to work at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles for three years as Assistant Director of Plant Service, and at night went to LA City College, Cal State LA. and Christ College Irvine. I worked as a general contractor for about three years in Oceanside, maintaining a shopping center and picking up rebuild and remodel jobs. Six years out of the Navy, I received my personal call to become a pastor, put my last daughter into college, and went back to St. Louis for the training necessary for me to become a pastor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. I received ordination on June 12, 1994. My first church was St. John’s Lutheran, Palms, Michigan. The church I now Pastor is St. John’s Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, Utah. My first book, authored, is the Sacred Writings of St. John the Apostle, now in its third edition.
CHILDREN DO COME WITH A
MANUAL It is the Bible
BY ELIZABETH LEN WAI
P arenting is one of life’s most rewarding yet challenging journeys, and in Children Do Come with a Manual: It Is the Bible, Elizabeth A. Len Wai shows that the guidance parents seek can be found in Scripture. Building on her earlier work, Parenting Using God as Your Mentor, this book offers a faith-centered approach that helps parents navigate challenges while raising children with purpose, love, and spiritual grounding. Together, the two works create a unified roadmap for families seeking wisdom and encouragement in everyday life. Len Wai emphasizes that the Bible provides practical lessons for raising children, from cultivating patience and compassion to teaching responsibility and moral integrity. She encourages parents to apply Scripture in daily interactions, fostering a nurturing, faith-filled environment where children feel supported, inspired, and guided toward meaningful values that last a lifetime. Drawing from decades of experience as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Len Wai writes with warmth and relatability. Her storytelling combines personal insights with spiritual reflection, connecting deeply with readers and offering guidance that resonates across generations. The book demonstrates how faith can be a steady foundation through the joys and challenges of parenthood. At its heart, Children Do Come with a Manual: It Is the Bible is an invitation to embrace parenting with faith, purpose, and love. Len Wai’s mission is to spark thoughtful conversations about spiritual growth, parenting, and the enduring relevance of biblical principles. For families seeking guidance and encouragement, her work is both a practical resource and an inspiring reminder of the transformative power of God’s love.
by Joseph Turchi
A Positive Daily Dose of Inspiration To Instill Motivation and Undergo Transformation
The Quotationary Manifesto: A Positive Daily Dose of Inspiration To Instill Motivation and Undergo Transformation by Joseph Turchi is an empowering guide crafted by a seasoned life coach with over 30 years of experience in helping people reach their fullest potential. Drawing from his background as a teacher, mentor, and motivational speaker, Coach Joe inspires readers to embrace positivity and transformation in their everyday lives. His lifelong passion for guiding others-students, parents, entrepreneurs, and professionals alike-shines through every page, making this book a personal reflection of his journey to help others achieve success, balance, and fulfillment.
In this book, you will learn:
• Attitude is what you make of it. • A positive experience is 10% about what happens to you, and 90% how you react to a situation. • How to become a better leader in your personal and professional life. • Better time management, discipline, and goal setting. • How to appreciate the "present now" and live in the moment. • How to deal with life's adversities, embrace change, and welcome challenges. • That readers are leaders!
The Quotationary Manifesto invites you to begin each day with a positive mindset and a renewed sense of direction. Let Joseph Turchi's words guide your mornings and awaken the power of transformation within you-one quote, one reflection, one inspired step at a time.
by Joseph Turchi
A PROVEN SIMPLE STEP PROCESS TO ACHIEVE HAPPINESS with LESS STRESS
The Seven Laws and Principles that Govern Success: A Proven Simple Step Process to Achieve Happiness & Less Stress by Joseph Turchi is a life-changing guide born from the author's three decades of experience as a life coach and educator. With a passion for helping others reach their personal and professional dreams, Turchi brings his expertise in personal finance, time management, goal setting, and relationship building into a clear, motivating path toward transformation and fulfillment.
This book is a proven method that walks you through an action plan and will... • • Allow you CLARITY in what you really want with results. • PUSH you to think outside your present circumstances. • SHOW you how to think positive in any challenging situations. • SECURE your goals in an executed timeframe. • PROVIDE a roadmap to live a successful and fulfilling life. • DEVELOP the leader within you. • STOP PROCRASTINATING!! The Seven Laws and Principles that Govern Success: A Proven Simple Step Process to Achieve Happiness & Less Stress is now available through major online retailers. Step forward with confidence, embrace change, and let Joseph Turchi's timeless principles guide you to the success and happiness you deserve.
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