Jack Current had a plan. Just not a good one. And ending up in the river with the woman who may or may not be his soulmate certainly wasn’t part of it.
In First Date, the darkly humorous follow-up to Mark E. Scott’s debut novel, Drunk Log, readers witness the immediate aftermath of Jack’s failed attempt at ending his life and follow him as he spends the next 8 hours getting a free ambulance ride to the hospital, being watched by the deputy who tased him, avoiding a psyche exam and maybe falling in love with the bartender responsible for his second chance at life, love and redemption.
It all began on a dark and snowy night, when Jack executed his plan to take his own life without knowing Aria was right behind him. Instead of dying, they find themselves shivering on a riverbank, having survived a fall from a suspension bridge into the currents and debris of the Ohio River. Lucky enough to slam into an anchored barge, they emerge from the water stunned, bruised and still somewhat drunk. Now, they must work their way through the muck of the riverside to solid ground. Fully intent on ending it all just minutes before, Jack finds himself clinging to Aria for dear life — a life he feels just might be worth living after all.
First Date is a story of individuals haunted by suicide, remorse and unanswered questions: questions whose answers are not to be found in the bottom of a bottle. Secrets are revealed and souls are bared, but answers are still elusive. For now, they only have each other, a dollar store notebook and a teddy bear.
First Date is the second installment in Scott’s three-part, Day in the Life series, in which the unexpected, twisted saga of Jack and Aria unfolds over a combined period of 24 hours. Book One, Drunk Log, was released in 2022 and traces the first eight hours of Jack’s unsteady march toward his intended demise.
About the Author
Born in the small manufacturing town of Galion, Ohio, author Mark E. Scott lived in various burgs in Ohio and Michigan before joining the Navy and spending four years traveling the world aboard the USS Mount Whitney. Upon returning home to southwest Ohio, he enrolled at Miami University and completed a degree in Education, only to become a banker soon thereafter. Scott now lives happily in a condo in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. In his free time, he enjoys writing, finding new and creative ways of tricking his children into answering their phones, and anything related to travel and outdoors, of late including tumbling down snow covered mountains while dragging otherwise perfectly good skis behind him.
Sailing the Southeastern Caribbean for six years and living in countries where life is simpler allowed adventurer Scott Davis to understand and appreciate the true meaning of life.
“When we think about significance and meaning, it all comes down to this: entropy has an eraser, and it’s going to erase any evidence that you existed,” Davis said during a recent interview. “The trick to the meaning of life is making it really hard for entropy to erase you.”
In his enlightening new book, Surf the Seesaw: Unconventional Essays on Balance, Beauty, and Meaning in Life, Davis shares engaging stories from his existence off the beaten path. Each one reveals powerful truths about human nature, relationships, decision-making, parenting and the ever-pondered topic: the meaning of life.
“I would say that I wrote the book with my children and grandchildren in mind,” Davis said. “With the idea of sharing a few handfuls of key concepts that when properly understood can transform a human lifetime into something spectacular — something with so many positive consequences that the universe’s norm of entropy will have a hard time erasing the evidence of the person’s existence.”
When he was 30, Forbes called him one of the country’s most promising young corporate executives, but Davis stepped off the career treadmill to spend years exploring the world. His adventures led him to remote shores in the South Pacific, the Atlantic and the Caribbean, where he faced many challenges, met many interesting people and saw many different models of meaningful living.
Inspired by his life and adventures, Surf the Seesaw is a collection of 30 thoughtful essays contemplating key concepts that drive the world — the common theme being active balance — including:
– Human nature and, in particular, common misconceptions about how the brain works
– Relationships and how to cultivate healthy ones without losing oneself in the process
– Decision-making and a few bad assumptions at the root of many regrettable choices
– Positive parenting to raise amazing kids
– The meaning of life and, specifically, how to create meaning in a universe dominated by chaos
Each thought-provoking essay concludes with an invitation to put core concepts into action, so readers can work toward more effective behaviors. For anyone searching for lasting satisfaction and meaning in life, Surf the Seesaw offers the essential toolkit needed to create balance, accountability and greater happiness.
Tripti Kandari of Foreword Reviews had this to say: “Featuring inspiring personal stories, Surf the Seesaw is an informative self-help work filled with recommendations for attaining personal balance in the face of perennial challenges.”
About the Author
Scott Davis’ adult life has followed an explorer’s wandering path: corporate leader, tech entrepreneur, adventurer, inventor and essayist.
Profiled by Forbes at 30 as a rising star in corporate leadership, he ignored industry expectations and walked away from the executive suite to pursue a life off the beaten path, ultimately selling everything and heading off to sea in an old sailboat. Returning to the states at 50, Davis patented innovations in boatbuilding and founded a company to help sailors fulfill their dreams of building their own sailboats.
Today, Davis spends much of his time writing and speaking on how to create a meaningful life, guiding friends and family on adventures, teaching boatbuilding, and occasionally making something interesting in his workshop.
Numbers are alive, and each digit from 1 to 9 carries unique qualities that manifest in the form of physical energy, says world-renowned numerologist Jesse Kalsi.
“Many of us are attracted to certain numbers and don’t know why, or we think a specific number will bring us luck,” Kalsi writes in his new book, The Power of Home Numbers: Discover the Best Numbers to Increase Harmony and Prosperity in Your Home. “But if we don’t have adequate knowledge about the workings of numerology, we are more likely to pick numbers that not only don’t increase our luck, but can be downright disadvantageous to us.”
In The Power of Home Numbers, Kalsi combines ancient elements of Vedic numerology along with his extensive knowledge of numbers and their corresponding planets to deliver valuable information to help readers choose the right numbers that will protect them and help them progress toward their goals.
“This groundbreaking book offers an innovative approach to the specific energies of home numbers and is a powerful tool to escape stagnancy and break through blockages both big and small,” Kalsi said.
Through this book, readers will learn:
The influences and qualities of each number from 1 through 9, as well as the amplifier 0;
All about the original method of number patching, which Kalsi created, and which can drastically improve a home or business’ vibrations;
The endless combinations of numbers on homes or businesses that are responsible for success or failure, happiness or desperation;
The timing of numbers and how to work with — and not against — the cycles of life to make progress and eliminate confusion and frustration;
The energies of famous addresses, politicians and celebrities; and
How the proper use of jewelry, crystals and tokens can elevate your energy and expand your sense of awareness.
“Jesse Kalsi’s book exemplifies his skills as a numerologist and guides readers to manifest the future they deserve through their best numbers,” said Bollywood celebrity Zeenat Aman. “I intend to use all the knowledge Kalsi shares in The Power of Home Numbers to protect both my family and myself. It’s a compelling must read!”
About the Author
Jesse Kalsi is a world-renowned numerologist. He specializes in residential and business numerology and provides valuable insight on the power of numbers and how they affect our lives. In his books, The Power of Home Numbers and All About Numbers, he combines his Eastern upbringing with his Western experience to bring awareness and understanding of this phenomenon.
Over the past 20 years, Kalsi has consulted thousands of people and affected their lives positively. His clients include prominent businesspeople and extremely successful communication and entertainment companies. He has appeared on many radio and television shows in the U.S., and his unique perspective on numerology has amazed his audiences.
A successful real estate broker by trade, Kalsi is also a Certified Federal Aviation Administration Flight Instructor and holds a commercial pilot’s license. He received his bachelor’s degree in India and holds an LLM in International Legal Studies from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California.
Kalsi graduated from the National Defense Academy of India and pursued advanced studies at the Indian Military Academy. He served as a Captain in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Gurkha Rifles, formerly called “The Queen’s Own.” Intending to devote his life to military affairs, he left the army when he was informed of his true life purpose while posted at the Jammu-Kashmir frontier. He originally came to the U.S. to learn to fly, but eventually returned here to make his home in California with his family.
For more information, visit www.jessekalsi.com, or follow the author on Facebook (iamjessekalsi) and Instagram (iamjessekalsi).
In the real world, “espionage is not a tuxedo and a martini,” quipped prolific author Jeffrey S. Stephens, who has written extensively about missions involving CIA operatives and national security.
“They work in the shadows. They’re in danger,” he added. “There’s so much that goes on that we don’t know about — so many near misses that we can never hear about for obvious security reasons.”
His latest book, The Handler, pays homage to those who “work in the shadows” to protect the people of the United States with a chillingly realistic plot centered on the revival of Al Qaeda and its efforts to pull off a large act of terrorism.
The book features Nick Reagan, an abundantly confident CIA operative and American hero who will go to any length to protect the country he loves. And in The Handler, Reagan and his team travel to the ends of the earth to locate an anonymous terrorist determined to unleash a series of unholy attacks on America. Can their mission succeed when they don’t even know who they’re looking for?
Readers first meet Reagan as he traces a trail of clues to China in search of the Ghost Chip — a new technology that turns cell phones into detonators and renders them untraceable. In the hands of terrorists, the Ghost Chip would be catastrophic.
When the CIA uncovers details of a violent assault planned in New York City, Reagan and his partner, Carol Gellos, are assigned to prevent it — facing long odds and danger along the way.
As events unfold, it becomes apparent the incident in Manhattan was only the first in a series of intended terrorist strikes within the United States. Even worse, Reagan discovers that the man behind this onslaught is further along in his preparations than anyone in the intelligence community anticipated.
The anonymous ISIS handler behind these assaults is using new technology, as well as information gathered from three American scientists kidnapped in Pakistan, to coordinate his plans. The result will be a gruesome fate for thousands of innocent people … unless Reagan can stop him.
After deciphering the code being used by the Handler to plot his bloody scheme, Reagan races against time, needing help as never before from his group of talented associates, including his lover, top CIA analyst Erin David.
Throughout The Handler, the author toggles between perspectives, giving readers a chilling look inside the minds of Islamic terrorists hellbent on carrying out heinous acts in the name of the Koran, while simultaneously, Reagan risks his life to thwart the awful carnage.
BestThrillers.com calls The Handler, “A taut terrorism thriller that mesmerizes with a dizzying global conspiracy and believable stakes,” and The Real Book Spy calls it, “Jason Bourne for the new millennium.”
About the Author
A native of New York City, Jeffrey S. Stephens is a successful attorney in private practice, admitted in both New York and Connecticut. Stephens has lived for more than 30 years in Greenwich, which is where he and his wife, Nancy, raised their two sons, Graham and Trevor. Stephens is the author of the Jordan Sandor thrillers, Targets Of Deception, Targets Of Opportunity, Targets Of Revenge and Rogue Mission, as well as the Anthony Walker murder mystery Crimes And Passion and the Pencraft First Place Award winning novel, Fool’s Errand.
For more information, please visit www.jeffreystephens.com, or follow the author on Facebook (Author Jeffrey Stephens), Instagram (jss50) and Twitter (@j_stephensbooks).
Renowned real estate and oil and gas entrepreneur Younas Chaudhary has announced the release of his highly anticipated book, Path to Wealth & Wisdom: 100 Commonsense Tips for Self-Growth & Fulfillment. In it, Chaudhary provides practical tips, lessons and reflections drawn from the ups and downs of his own journey on his way to becoming a self-made millionaire.
The book is comprised of 100 brief chapters featuring actionable takeaways about life, business and finance. Dictums such as “Keep meetings short,” “A bottle of Coke can be a luxury” and “7 tips to save money at home” are building blocks that are easy for readers to remember, implement and adapt to their own individual circumstances.
“The format is ideal for readers who are looking for a few quick tips and points of reflection throughout their day,” said Chaudhary, who added that this book will primarily appeal to entrepreneurs, readers interested in motivational business techniques, and those seeking practical business and financial advice. “But this book is not just about money,” he said. “It’s about personal growth and finding your purpose in life.”
Peppered with encouragement, humility and humor, Chaudhary’s insights on how to develop a growth mindset, overcome limiting beliefs, and achieve one’s full potential come from a place of experience and authenticity. From his education in a dilapidated school in Pakistan; to living with 23 others and an array of farm animals in a bustling home (a haveli); to his first sundry work experiences in the West; to the trials and tribulations of the oil and gas industry, Chaudhary has been at the top and at the bottom — with as many struggles as victories.
For those just beginning their journey toward financial freedom or those simply looking to take their lives to the next level, Path to Wealth & Wisdom offers a no-nonsense starting point from a man who took on the world with just a few dollars and a dream.
“This book is for those who have ever doubted themselves or their abilities,” Chaudhary added. “My message is simple: perseverance, consistency and self-belief will make you successful.”
About the Author
Raised in a remote village in Pakistan, Chaudhary built several successful businesses in the U.S. and Canada using a mix of common sense, hard work, consistency and determination. When he first landed in Edmonton, Alberta, in late 1973, Chaudhary had only $30 in his pocket. To change the trajectory of his life, he worked day in and out, rising up from a slaughterhouse worker to a landman, to a successful entrepreneur. Then, just when he thought he had it all, tragedy struck when his wife Bushra was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and dementia.
This book follows the author’s first autobiographical work, From Dirt Roads to Black Gold, offering his tools and tips for productivity, finance and business — the same ones that allowed Chaudhary to establish himself as a visionary businessman in the volatile oil and gas industry. In it, readers will find practical business and financial advice, as well as wisdom for facing the unexpected twists and turns of life. All proceeds from the sale of Path to Wealth & Wisdom will benefit charitable causes supported by the YBC Foundation (http://ybcfoundation.com).
In addition to his roles as a successful entrepreneur and author, Chaudhary is known for his dedication to philanthropy and community development. His commitment to empowerment and positive change is reflected in both his business endeavors and his writing.
Adventurer William Owens doesn’t just talk about a “faith journey” in theory. He demonstrates it by traveling the world by bike, train, bus and even motorcycle to engage in conversations with people from all walks of life about what it means to discover God’s will — and then fulfill it.
Owens spent five years crisscrossing the United States in a motorhome; then biked 1,000 miles from Nevada to Texas. Now, he’s pedaling through Southeast Asia, from Singapore to Indonesia and Vietnam, learning of their culture, and connecting with the people God puts in his path. What happens next is a kaleidoscope of genuine conversations about the journey each person is taking. Owens then weaves his faith into those conversations in a way that is both organic and relevant.
“Regardless of where you are in life financially, emotionally or spiritually, you can start taking your journey by faith — literally,” Owens said. “While God’s will for your life reveals itself moment by moment, it starts right where you are.”
Through his book, Journey By Faith, and the accompanying mobile app (available free for iOS and Android devices), audiences get an intimate look at a faith-based journey for the modern era during which Owens lives out his faith by example.
Hoping to awaken “the consciousness of every soul who longs for the deepest place of satisfaction and fulfillment,” Owens carefully explains in his book that discovering God’s will and fulfilling it by faith alone is the most mysterious yet joyous journey a person can take. And while the complete realization of the purpose God created for each individual is never fully known in this life, Owens reveals, there are scriptures that beseech believers to seek out the specific purpose God created for them — now.
Owens, through his journey by faith, asserts that the key to discovering this purpose is to follow after Christ, which he says by no means refers to religious work, but rather, “an intimate, deliberate moment of following Him where He leads by His spirit, knowing that He will complete the work that He has begun in us.”
About the Author
William Owens is a prolific author, playwright and adventurer. After traveling for five years in America in his motorhome and doing 1,000 miles on his bike from Nevada to Texas, he is now on a world adventure on his bike again, sharing the power of a God-given journey. His vision is to express and demonstrate his faith through living out his journey by faith and inviting others to experience what God is capable of when we trust Him. He has written 16 books on the spiritual life, including Warriors Arise, Poems for America, Naked Before God, Bastards in the Pulpit, Wisdom the Principal Thing Get It!, Astonished! and his latest, Journey By Faith.
At her charming flat above a bistro in England, Pauline Parry was constantly enveloped in the comforting aromas of slow-roasted lamb and fresh-baked pie crusts, punctuated by the occasional whiff of freshly chopped garlic. It was the setting of Parry’s culinary apprenticeship, and where she discovered the secret recipe for a life filled with flavor and substance.
In her engaging new memoir, My Culinary Love Story, Parry invites readers inside her formative years in hospitality, the early days of her romance with her future husband and the life experiences that fed her entrepreneurial spirit. Along the way, she introduces readers to the people who nurtured her talents and helped shape the award-winning catering powerhouse she is today.
“In this book, I share my story with you. Food is an important part of it, as is love. Both are the foundation on which my marriage and my business are built and how we journeyed from England to America,” Parry writes. “It’s the reason I say that everything I do has been guided by food, fun, and love.”
It all begins when, as a newly single mother, Parry gets an unexpected invitation to work at a bistro in a quaint English market town. The job includes a flat above the bistro, so she would be able to work without being far from her children. After moving in, she finds she loves the excitement of the kitchen and of being on her own. But Parry is not alone for long.
She is soon joined on her journey by a handsome carpenter, and the result is a snowy, romantic Christmas wedding. Every juicy detail of Parry’s romantic relationship and every bite of the cuisine Parry learns to master are chronicled in a story that takes the reader from one English Christmas to the next.
Peppered with 64 delicious recipes, accompanied with beautiful watercolor illustrations by Janette Carpenter, My Culinary Love Story maps the author’s serendipitous encounters, the setbacks she faced with resilience and the many victories she met with gratitude.
In My Culinary Love Story, the lesson is clear: life is all about food, fun and love.
About the Author Pauline Parry is the renowned and highly sought after founder and president of Good Gracious! Events, an award-winning food and beverage company, and the author of My Culinary Love Story, a memoir and collection of her favorite recipes that started her on her career path and journey.
Parry’s awards include Caterer of the Year, Best Event for a Corporation, Best Off Premise Caterer, The I-3 Award (Innovation, Inspiration and Instruction), ACE (Achievement in Catering Excellence) and the John Mossman Award for ICA, among others. She was an inductee into the Event Industry Hall of Fame and the Wedding Industry Hall of Fame.
Greatly respected by her peers, Parry serves as an expert consultant to her colleagues throughout the country.
She enjoys bringing friends and family around the table at her home, watching films, drinking a good red wine and munching popcorn. She is a lifelong Beatles fan. On the few occasions of downtime, she enjoys spending time with her husband and grandsons, and keeping on top of all her favorite magazines.
For more information, please visit https://paulineparry.net, or follow the author on Instagram (@paulineparry) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PaulineParryGG).
