How to Live Like a Monk: Medieval Wisdom for Modern Life by Danièle Cybulskie 

How medieval monastic practices―with their emphasis on a healthy soul, mind, and body―can inspire us to live fuller lives today

We know that they prayed, sang, and wore long robes, but what was it really like to be a monk? Though monastic living may seem unimaginable to us moderns, it has relevance for today. This book illuminates the day-to-day of medieval European monasticism, showing how you can apply the principles of monastic living, like finding balance and peace, to your life.   

With wit and insight, medievalist and podcaster Daniele Cybulskie dives into the history of monasticism in each chapter and then reveals applications for today, such as the benefits of healthy eating, streamlining routines, gardening, and helping others. She shares how monks authentically embraced their spiritual calling, and were also down to earth: they wrote complaints about being cold in the manuscripts they copied, made beer and wine, and even kept bees. 

How to Live Like a Monk features original illustrations by Anna Lobanova, as well as more than eighty color reproductions from medieval manuscripts. It is for anyone interested in the Middle Ages and those seeking inspiration for how to live a full life, even when we’re confined to the cloister of our homes.

 

This beautifully illustrated self-help guide . . . reimagines monastic practices to help readers live with greater peace, simplicity, and purpose.— Publishers Weekly

Cybulskie relates how people today can. . . find peace, simplicity, and purpose in their lives. . . Though modern-day readers might not want to fully embrace the monastic life, they can benefit from such practices as meditation, making peace with their pasts, and practicing gratitude.
Library Journal

This is a brilliant concept, beautifully delivered. . . told with great knowledge, with a view to passing on lessons learnt many hundreds of years ago, but still so relevant today. ­This highly original work is the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life.— Charles Spencer, historian and best-selling author of Killers of the King and The White Ship

More From Daniėle Cybulskie:

“…well organized and accessibly written […] a good starting point for students of history who want to examine quotidian life.”
Booklist

“An eye opener… Brilliant.”
Books Monthly

an excellent book… It is refreshing to finally see a book that puts to bed all the false impressions and caricature of medieval life as depicted in so much popular media.”
Battles and Book Reviews

About Daniėle:

As a writer, TEDx speaker, former college professor, and podcaster, Danièle has made medieval history fun, entertaining, and accessible for millions of people around the world. As well as introducing a general audience to the fascinating world of the Middle Ages, her books, articles, videos, and weekly podcast have been used as resources in schools and universities across North America. Danièle’s mission is to share the joy of history by highlighting our common humanity across time and space. When she’s not reading, writing, or recording, Danièle can be found drinking tea, doing Krav Maga, or sometimes building a backyard trebuchet.

To request additional review copies or an interview with Danièle, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.   

We look forward to the coverage!

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New Release: These Lingering Shadows: An Anthology of Gothic and Haunting Tales 

Brought to you by Daemon Manx and Last Waltz Publishing

The anthology is published by Last Waltz Publishing and is available worldwide in e-format

Last Waltz Publishing brings you an anthology of gothic tales and horrors for the season, filled with, tragedy, heartbreak, wonderment, and terror. Journey into these thought-provoking worlds and behold the majesty of traditional gothic elements delivered with a modern style. Inspired by a true love for the Macabre and the unnerving atmosphere of the Gothic genre, author Daemon Manx has gathered together some of the greatest literary voices of our time.

With a foreword by Candace Nola this anthology of fifteen short stories from some of the most terrifying authors in today’s horror world will transport you into the shadows. 

Light a candle and lock the doors because the hour of the witch is close at hand. The tales within this haunting collection are of dark places and shadows, catacombs and hidden passages, witches, vampires, secrets and curses. There are stories of deception, possession, despair and remorse, betrayal and of course … death

These Lingering Shadows features stories from:

Jeremy Megargee – A Dream of Dead Leaves”
Christy Aldridge – “A Halloween Ghost Story”
Michael J. Moore – “Nory’s”
Jae Mazer – “Behold, Death Arrives, a Duet of Ash and Fang”
Jo Kaplan – “Hallow House”
James, G. Carlson – “Flesh and Chocolate”
Heather Miller – “The Far Field”
Diana Olney – “Hell Hath No Fury”
Guy Quintero – “Cries in the Night”
Danielle Manx – “Belladonna’s Curse”
Tony Evans – “The Dare”
Jack Wells – “Riding the Ghost Train”
Matt Scott – “Mine”
D.E. Grant – “The Feeding”
Daemon Manx – “Devlin’s Manse”

About Daemon Manx:

Daemon Manx is an award-winning American author who writes horror, suspense, supernatural, and speculative fiction. Daemon has recently been nominated for the 2021 Splatterpunk awards for his debut, Abigail in the best short story category. In 2021 he received a HAG award for his story The Dead Girl. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and the Horror Authors Guild (HAG) and has been featured in magazines in both the U.S. and the U.K. Daemon lives with his sister, author Danielle Manx and their narcoleptic cat, Sydney where the patiently prepare for the apocalypse. There is a good chance they will runout of coffee far too soon.

To request additional review copies or an interview with Daemon Manx, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.   

We look forward to the coverage!

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My Book Review of United Vidden by Fern Brady

DESCRIPTION: 

Shattered by her father’s decision to deny her the throne as the first female heir of Dravidia, Princess Verena makes the worst mistake of her life: She runs away. Her departure, days before her wedding to the heir of the Principality of Aulden, throws her nation into war. In a desperate bid to reverse the consequences of her choice, the princess returns to planet Jorn, anxious to prove herself worthy to rule. But it is too late. The princess finds her kingdom conquered by Prince Amiel ra Aulden. Now, Verena must earn back her birthright as well as the trust of her people.

MY REVIEW:

The description of the book barely covers what you’ll find between the pages.  The world-building is excellent and Jorn’s society is a bit steampunky as it’s a mix of tech and old-world customs. 

I really felt for Verena’s plight at being forced to marry a man that used to be her bestfriend, but is now someone she no longer trusts and fears may do her harm.  But her decision to run away caused total chaos in her kingdom.  After her return to Jorn, she uncovers some answers to why Amiel may have changed. 

As for Amiel, I also felt for him as he’s being manipulated by forces darker than he or his family understood.  There is a lot of intrigue and underhanded dealings going on.  Even a quest to uncover the truth of the secret faction trying to take over Jorn and the surrounding worlds. 

I really liked the story and found myself, a few times, flipping the pages faster and faster.  What threw me out of the tale, though, were several incidences of a missing letter in front of a word and some inconsistences.  Something happened in one paragraph and then happened again a few paragraphs later.  Made me have to go back and reread to make sure I had read it right the first time.

I also didn’t like the fact this is a first in a series, but there is no mention of that on the cover or on Amazon.  I thought it was a standalone.  Now, I have to wait for book two to tie up all the loose ends. 

If you love space opera’s, epic fantasy, with a mixture of friends/enemies to lovers, I recommend this book.  I give it 4 stars. 

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#SaharasMusings – Bye-Bye, Flowers

All my beautiful flowers are gone.  Nooooo!  😭😭 

Seems like yesterday that I bought them.  With the long cold Spring we had, they didn’t get planted until June, so yeah, only a few months.  Then we had a way early hard freeze, and BOOM, all gone.  It will be a long winter staring out my patio door looking at empty tables.  Oh well, nothing I can do about it as I’m not Mother Nature.  😁 

I will have been in this apartment eleven years in December and I’ve always had flowers.  When I first moved in, there was an actual outer wall around my deck and they were lined with planters.  Instead of rebuilding the wooden fences, management just tore them down (cheap bastards), and suddenly I was exposed to everyone walking by.  So I bought tables to replace the fence and loaded them with bright rays of joy. 

I’ve received lots off compliments over them from fellow residents of my building and other people walking by with their dogs. When I used to walk to the bus, before I started working from home, I’d notice that a few balconies had plants on them.  In fact, my neighbor above me had a small vegetable garden on theirs.  But the greenery was far and few between. 

Then, several weeks ago, my sister was brining me back from an appointment and we came in through the east part of our driveway and WOW, there were plants everywhere.  Almost every balcony or patio had some containers.  I’m not sure if it was my display of beauty that inspired them, but if I did, how cool is that?  You never know when something so simple as flowers can change someone’s life.  

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Runaway Husbands: The Abandoned Wife’s Guide to Recovery and Renewal by Vikki Stark 

An in-depth healing strategy for women whose lives have been turned upside down due to Wife Abandonment Syndrome by international psychotherapist Vikki Stark

The book is published by Green Light Press and is available in print and e-book format

Based on a study of over 400 women worldwide, Runaway Husbands: The Abandoned Wife’s Guide to Recovery and Renewal, is the first book to explore and offer healing strategies to women whose lives have been turned upside down by Wife Abandonment Syndrome. Wife Abandonment Syndrome is a pattern of behavior on the part of a husband who leaves his wife out-of-the-blue from what she believed was a happy marriage. Following his sudden departure, he replaces the caring he’d typically shown her with anger and aggression. He often moves directly in with a girlfriend, leaving his bewildered wife totally devastated. Written by family therapist Vikki Stark who was herself affected by Wife Abandonment Syndrome, Runaway Husbands helps women understand what motivated their loving husbands to turn into uncaring strangers and provides them with the tools they need to move forward and rebuild their lives in new and unexpected ways.

What Readers Are Saying:

 “Thank you so much for this wonderful book! I experienced a whole range of emotions as I read along – sometimes tears, sometimes giggles – but a whole lot of head nodding and “Yep, that was him all right!” as I turned the pages. Your book and your website have provided invaluable comfort and support in my journey towards recovery from this life altering event.”

“YOU HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE!!!! I just finished Runaway Husbands. I’m recovering from Wife Abandonment Syndrome and your book has been SO Instrumental in my healing.”

“I have now read your book four times. I finally understand. You left no stone unturned. My healing has been amazing. There was always that little part of me that wanted to hang onto him and I have now cut the ties that bound me to him. I feel light and free.”

About Vikki

My work life is multi-faceted.

I have an active international psychotherapy practice in which I work with clients both in my lovely Montreal office and worldwide online.

I’m the founder and director of the Sedona Counselling Centre of Montreal, where we have experienced therapists providing a full range of therapy services to individuals, couples and families.

I’m also an international guest expert on television and radio on issues related to mental health and emotional well being, notably appearing on NBC’s The Today Show and Oprah radio. I was featured in Time Magazine and Maclean’s (Canada), among many other media appearances.

I write a blog for Psychology Today called Schlepping Through Heartbreak for magazine that has had over 4 million views.

I have written three books and edited a fourth. My first book is about sister relationships and the other three are about divorce and divorce recovery. As a result of one of my books, Runaway Husbands, I lead a worldwide community of women supporting each other through recovery from sudden unexpected divorces (learn more at the Runaway Husbands website.)

Other Books by Vikki Stark:

Planet Heartbreak: Abandoned Wives Tell Their Stories by [Vikki Stark]    The Divorce Talk: How to Tell the Kids: A Parent's Guide to Breaking the News without Breaking Their Hearts by [Vikki Stark]    My Sister, My Self: The Surprising Ways that Being an Older, Middle, Younger or Twin Shaped Your Life by [Vikki Stark]

What else?

I’m a New Yorker but moved to Montreal in the 80’s and feel at home in both places! I practiced Buddhism in my twenties so eastern thought informs my practice. I love nature, puzzles, walking, yoga, my little dog Chloe, world music and anything that makes me laugh.

To request additional review copies or an interview with Vikki, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.   

We look forward to the coverage!

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The Spooky Sleuths Series by Natasha Deen 

A new direction from Award-Winning #Own Voices Author Natasha Deen

The series is available by Penguin Random House across all platforms!

Is it science…or strange and ghostly?

Asim’s new town is freaking him out! There are weird noises at night, eerie lights, and now an evil tree that is growing way faster than it should. he’s sure there’s something supernatural going on.
His friend Rokshar believes that everything can be explained by science. But even she’s worried when the tree takes control of their teacher! It’s starting to look like an evil spirit straight out of Guyanese folklore is to blame. Can Asim and his friends save their teacher–and the town–from the ghost tree?
 
Find out…if you dare! It’s a new spooky series based on ghost stories from Guyana.

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:

Spooky Sleuths #2: Beware the Moonlight! by [Natasha Deen, Lissy Marlin]    Spooky Sleuths #3: Don't Go Near the Water! by [Natasha Deen, Lissy Marlin]

An excellent series starter and contribution to the supernatural mystery genre, perfect for older chapter book readers easing into early middle grade. ­Highly recommended.”–School Library Journal, starred review

“A spooky adventure rooted in Guyanese folklore…with just the right amount of chills.”–Kirkus Reviews

About Natasha Deen:

NATASHA DEEN writes for kids, teens, and adults, and believes the world is changed one story at a time. As a Guyanese-Canadian and a child of immigrants, she’s seen first-hand how stories have the power to shape the world. Her works include the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Thicker than Water, Guardian which was a Sunburst Award nominee, and the Alberta Readers’ Choice nominated Gatekeeper. When she’s not writing, she teaches Introduction to Children’s Writing with the University of Toronto SCS and spends an inordinate amount of time trying to convince her pets that she’s the boss of the house. Visit Natasha at www.natashadeen.com and on Twitter/Instagram, @natasha_deen.

Accolades:

CCBC Recommended Read

CBC Books’ 14 YA Books to Watch for in Spring

Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD Kids) September Book of the Month

49th Shelf Selection

Amy Mathers Award Winner
MYRCA Award Nominee
R. Ross Arnett Award Nominee
American Library Association YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers
Red Maple Award Nominee
Red Maple Honour Book

Red Maple Teen Committee Summer Reading List
Barnes & Noble’s Top 25 Most Anticipated Own Voices Novels
Chapters-Indigo Most Anticipated Teen Books
Junior Library Guild Selection
CCBC Best Pick for Kids & Teens
CCBC Red Leaf Literature
OLA White Pine Teen Committee Summer Reading List

To request additional review copies or an interview with Natasha Deen, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com | 403.464.6925.   

We look forward to the coverage!

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Spaceball by Matthew Bennett Young

A fantastic soccer journey through space and time brought to you by critically acclaimed children’s author Matthew Bennett Young

The book is published by Compton Press and is available worldwide in paperback

Do you Love Soccer? Do you also dream of scoring the Greatest Goal in The History of Everything? Find out how it’s done in this thrilling soccer space adventure.

The soccer ball in this story leaves Earth with a mighty strike of the boot and rockets past every planet. Each planet has a landmark of a famous soccer city in the UK. See if you can work out which city and soccer club it is!

The collage illustrations in this picture book are fun and vibrant and really make the story come alive. It genuinely seems as if you are travelling along with the soccer ball through space. Children will learn about the planets in our solar system in a fun and exhilarating way, travelling faster than the speed of soccer!

Let your imagination travel to new soccer frontiers on this magical fantasy adventure. Follow the journey of the world’s most adventurous soccer ball as it travels through our solar system and finally lands….where?

Buy the book today and get the world’s most fantastic soccer surprise!

More Books from Matthew Bennett Young:

About Matthew Bennett Young:

Matthew Bennett Young is a British author and has published in many forms (picture books, flash fiction, short stories and poetry) although his big passion is for picture books. Not only does he write but sometimes he illustrates as well. He is also an artist-educator and has been teaching his inspiring workshops all over the world. He currently resides in Montreal and is a member of Artist Inspire and Culture a L’Ecole. He believes all creativity is a form of expression and is essential for wellbeing, especially now, and it takes practice!

To request additional review copies or an interview with Matthew Bennett Young, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.   

We look forward to the coverage!

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A blockbuster Trilogy of novels by critically acclaimed horror author, Stephanie Ellis

JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN

Released and published by Brigids Gate Press / The novels are available worldwide in paperback and e-format

Return to the Weald, the world Stephanie Ellis introduced us to in The Five Turns of the Wheel.

Reborn is the story of Cernunnos, the Father of all, who has risen. Born of blood offerings, he travels to the Layerings—one of those places, like Umbra, which sit just beyond the human veil.

Reborn is the story of Tommy, Betty and Fiddler, the infamous troupe whose bloody rituals were halted by Megan, Tommy’s Daughter. Rendered weak by Megan’s refusal to allow them to hunt in the human world of the Weald, they seek their rebirth and forgiveness from the Mother and Cernunnos.

Reborn is the story of Megan, who follows Cernunnos and Hweol’s sons on a pilgrimage of hope—one that would see her husband restored to her and the dark presence of Hweol removed.

Ultimately, though, Reborn is the story of Betty, the most monstrous of the three brothers. He is Nature, red in tooth and claw. He is what the Mother made him. And who are we to judge?

With Reborn, Ellis delivers another powerful tale of folk horror that will captivate the reader from the first page until its final bloody climax.

A terrifying pandemic sweeps the world, rendering its victims completely immobile but leaving them conscious with their minds intact. The victims are helpless against the environment, completely at the mercy of wild animals, weather, out of control fires, and other dangers. There’s no hope for those safe in their homes either, as they slowly starve to death, unable to feed themselves or drink.

Dr. Alex Griffiths leads a team racing against time to find a cure before it’s too late. Will he succeed?

Tyler Torrence has inherited his late grandfather’s house, a home filled with bad memories and nightmares from his childhood. He returns hoping to learn the truth of his grandfather’s secrets, especially the secret of the ‘impossible bottles’ and what lay beyond the black door. The door through which he was never allowed to enter as a child.

But returning to the house is a mistake. It doesn’t take long for Tyler to realize the hold the house has over him, and that he is a prisoner of the ancestral curse that claimed his grandfather. Now he must fight to break the curse before it claims him and his son.

About Stephanie Ellis

Stephanie Ellis writes dark speculative prose and poetry and has been published in a variety of magazines and anthologies, the most recent being Scott J. Moses’ What One Wouldn’t Do, Demain Publishing’s A Silent Dystopia and Brigids Gate Press’ Were Tales. Her longer work includes the novel, The Five Turns of the Wheel and the novellas, Bottled and Paused. Her short stories can be found in the collections, The Reckoning, and As the Wheel Turns.

Her poetry has been published in the HWA Poetry Showcase Volumes VI, VII and VII, Black Spot Books Under Her Skin and online at Visual Verse. She has also co-written a collection of found poetry, Foundlings, with Cindy O’Quinn based on the work Alessandro Manzetti and Linda D. Addison. A gathering of her dark twists on traditional nursery rhymes can be found in the collection, One, Two, I See You.

She is co-editor of Trembling With Fear, HorrorTree.com’s online magazine and also co-edited the Daughters of Darkness anthologies. She is an active member of the HWA and can be found at https://stephanieellis.org and on twitter at @el_stevie.

 

To request additional review copies or an interview with Stephanie Ellis, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com | 403.464.6925.   

We look forward to the coverage!

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Below by Kev Harrison

The newest adventure into horror by critically acclaimed author, Kev Harrison

Released and published by Brigids Gate Press / The book is available worldwide in paperback and e-format

Decades after his grandfather was buried alive in a Californian gold mine, Dr. Nick Jones teams up with an adventure travel influencer to venture underground and film a documentary, telling the story of what really happened.

What should be a dream come true soon becomes a nightmare as someone or something stirs…BELOW.

“Expect some truly chilling scenes and to definitely get creeped out by what happens in that mine! This is my first book by the author, and I can tell you it won’t be my last. I enjoyed his storytelling style immensely and found myself feeling like I was stuck in that mine with our characters!” Outlaw Poet, Top 1000 Reviewer Vine Voice

About Kev Harrison:

Kev Harrison is a writer of dark fiction and English language teacher from England, living and working in Lisbon, Portugal. He has previously lived in various areas of the UK, as well as Turkey and Poland.

 

He is a staff writer for This is Horror and has had short fiction published in a variety of magazines and anthologies, including Lost Films, from Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing, Below the Stairs: Tales From The Cellar from Things in the Well, Aphotic Realm Magazine’s ‘Fangs’ issue and ‘In Darkness Delight: Creatures of the Night from Corpus Press. He has also had short fiction featured on The Other Stories and Tales to Terrify podcasts. Thirteen tales of his short fiction are now collected in his debut collection, Paths Best Left Untrodden.

His acclaimed debut novella, ‘The Balance,’ a work of folk-horror with eco-horror themes, is available now, from Lycan Valley Press. He has two releases in Demain Publishing’s Short Sharp Shocks! range: ‘Cinders of a Blind Man Who Could See’ and ‘Curfew’. His second novella, ‘Below,’ is available now from Brigids Gate Press.

  To request additional review copies or an interview with Kev Harrison, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925. 

 We look forward to the coverage!

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The Prisoners of Stewartville by Shannon Felton

The debut novella that speaks to secrets within a dying town by the horror genre’s newest sensation, Shannon Felton

Released and published by Brigids Gate Press / The book is available worldwide in paperback and e-format

Stewartville. A town living in the shadow of the prisons that drive its economy. Haunted by the ghosts of its past. Cursed by the dark secrets hidden beneath. A town so entwined with the prisons waiting outside the city limits that it’s impossible to imagine one without the other, or to ever imagine escaping either.

When a teenage boy digs into the history of the town, he discovers a tunnel system beneath Stewartville, passageways filled with dark secrets. Secrets leading not to freedom, but to unrelenting terror.

Stewartville. Where the convicts aren’t the only prisoners.

“This book was fast paced, tense, and full of creep factor.  Not only was the horror potentially supernatural, but there was the horror of humanity (murder, drugs, prostitution, domestic violence, etc)”_Rescue and Reading

About Shannon Felton:

Shannon Felton lives in Buckeye, Arizona with her husband, their four children, and three dogs. The Prisoners of Stewartville is her debut novella.

Follow her on Twitter @ShannonNova3

To request additional review copies or an interview with Shannon Felton, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925. 

 We look forward to the coverage!

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