Book Nook - A Coven of Witches

 I recently had a chance to review A Coven of Witches (publishing July 14), a book that reimagines witches from folklore, legends, and history - figures like Baba Yaga, Circe, and the Salem Witch Trials.

The book is written for middle grade readers, which means that although they are eerie and slightly spooky, they aren't at all gory. I also like that the figures come from around the world, potentially inspiring more research into the stories of the figures that inspired the tales in the book. It's a beautiful book with haunting illustrations that are perfect for the mood of the stories it contains. It's a great read for anyone interested in legends and slightly dark tales - and a perfect book for later in the year to curl up with on a creepy blustery fall day!

Going Green - Sheila Swimwear

Australian, female-founded swimwear label SHEILA is excited to unveil its latest collection bringing three new hues, the brand’s first-ever print, a new ribbed texture, and seven new styles making it richer in color, broader in coverage and deeper in versatility.

Known for functional swimwear, SHEILA is expanding its design language through bold new colors, texture, and prints. Each of the three new colors offers something different. Cocoa is a rich chocolate brown that feels grounded, warm, and wearable. For something calm, but quietly striking, Daybreak is a soft cornflower blue. And Poppy brings the heat, with a red that is bold without being loud. SHEILA also developed their first-ever print called Sundown Stripe, bringing together Cocoa, Daybreak, and Poppy alongside a new pale yellow and intentionally designed to mix-and-match with the full collection.  This season, SHEILA introduces a new vertical rib fabric that adds visual dimension and a tactile premium feel. The rib construction provides added structure, helping the fabric hold its shape through movement. And it features all the same performance standards: UPF 50+, GRS-certified recycled nylon, and their signature stay-put construction.  Because great design doesn't need reinventing, several best-selling styles return this season, including the Alyssa Mid Swim Short, Cate Rash Guard, Grace Mini Swim Short, Mina One Piece and Nellie Scoop Bikini Top. The Celeste One Piece is back as well, but with a new refined fit. It now has a slightly longer leg cut to reduce rolling on the thighs, and redesigned straps allow for greater adjustability.  The collection also introduces seven new styles, including the Bindi Racerback Swim Top, Elle Swim Tee, Gemma Swim Capris, and Nicole Long-Sleeve One Piece. Also new is the Kylie One Shoulder One Piece, featuring an asymmetric neckline, a waist-defining seam, and a mid-length short. The Naomi One Piece offers a flattering square neckline, sculpting princess seams, a built-in shelf bra with removable foam cups, and mid-to-full coverage.  The new collection is now available to shop at SheilaTheLabel.com with prices ranging from $125 - $250. About SHEILA Founded in 2023 by Clare Barrins, SHEILA is an Australian swimwear meets activewear label made for land, life and sea. Boasting UPF 50+ for sun safety and crafted from luxury GRS-certified recycled nylon, sourced from discarded materials like fishing nets and plastics, SHEILA offers pieces that feel-good in every way. They also keep inclusivity top of mind, honoring every shape, size, and style. Their collections are intentionally designed to offer support and comfort in and out of the water.

Money Makers - Tapping Hidden Wealth in Your Jewelry Drawer with Ease

By Merilee Kern, MBA

Jewelry has long been associated with sentiment, style, and tradition. Yet for many consumers, it remains an overlooked financial resource. Unvault, a fintech platform designed to ease and expedite the appraisal and sale of gold jewelry to function as readily monetizable liquid assets, is shifting that perception by helping people understand that what sits quietly in drawers may represent real, accessible value. The platform introduces a new way to think about jewelry, not only as adornment but as financial power that can be understood, tracked, and acted upon.

Most people own jewelry worth thousands of dollars and have no clear understanding of its value. It often remains unmanaged and misunderstood until a moment of need forces a decision. At that point, consumers are typically left navigating inconsistent pricing, unclear valuation logic, and resale environments that lack transparency. This gap has created a category defined by hesitation and distrust.

Unvault addresses this challenge by offering instant, transparent valuations powered by AI and real-time market data. Users upload photos of their jewelry and receive an estimated value within seconds, including a clear range and confidence level. This approach replaces guesswork with informed insight, allowing consumers to make decisions based on actual data rather than assumptions.

The platform goes further by enabling users to build a digital jewelry portfolio. Each piece can be tracked over time as market prices fluctuate, offering visibility into how gold and other materials impact value. This transforms jewelry ownership into an active, informed experience. Consumers can decide what to keep, what to insure, and what to sell, all from a position of clarity.

When users choose to sell, the process is designed to maintain transparency at every step. Items are shipped using insured labels, then authenticated through a recorded evaluation process. Final offers include detailed breakdowns of weight, purity, and pricing, along with a clearly stated platform fee. The consumer remains in control throughout, with no obligation to proceed.

This model reflects a broader cultural shift. Consumers increasingly expect transparency in categories that have historically been opaque. Jewelry, despite its economic significance, has lagged behind. Unvault introduces infrastructure that aligns with modern expectations, bringing visibility and accountability to a space that has lacked both.

The company’s origin story reinforces this mission. Founder Nidhi Singhvi grew up in Jaipur, a global center for gemstones, where jewelry was deeply tied to financial security and independence. Her experience, combined with a career in financial markets, highlighted the contrast between sophisticated systems for digital assets and the lack of structure for physical ones like jewelry. Unvault represents a return to those roots, with a focus on modernization.

With thousands of users and tens of millions of dollars tracked on the platform, Unvault is gaining traction as a trusted alternative to traditional resale options. Its emphasis on transparency, data, and user control positions it as a new standard for how consumers engage with jewelry.

Ultimately, Unvault is not about encouraging people to sell their jewelry. It is about giving them the tools to understand its value. Whether that leads to holding, insuring, or selling, the decision belongs to the consumer. What changes is the level of confidence behind that decision.

As fashion continues to intersect with technology and finance, platforms like Unvault highlight a new dimension of ownership. Jewelry is no longer just a personal or aesthetic choice. It is an asset that can be measured, tracked, and leveraged. And for many, it may represent value that has been hiding in plain sight all along.

~~~

Entrepreneur Leadership Network member Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand strategist and analyst who reports on cultural shifts and trends as well as noteworthy industry change makers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories, both B2C and B2B. This includes field experts and thought leaders, brands, products, services, destinations and events. As Founder, Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee is a prolific business, lifestyle, travel, dining and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker. She keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. Her work reaches multi-millions worldwide via broadcast TV (her own shows and copious others on which she appears) as well as a myriad of print and online publications. Connect with her at www.TheLuxeList.com / Instagram www.Instagram.com/MerileeKern / X http://www.X.com/MerileeKern / Facebook www.Facebook.com/MerileeKernOfficial / LinkedIN www.LinkedIn.com/in/MerileeKern.

Book Nook - The Only Possible Solution

I recently had a chance to review The Only Possible Solution: How to Shape the Future for Our Next Generations. It's a book that combines journalism-style writing and forward-thinking solutions.

Environmental and health issues like climate change, and social issues like inequality, have been around for quite a while. And despite a lot of people working on solutions, they're still major issues. Instead of treating everything as a separate issue. investigative journalist Fons Burger shows how they're actually all interconnected, and that the way to solve them is together - fixing one problem while ignoring others often makes other issues worse or creates whole new issues. This book looks at ways to get back at the roots so that human well-being and ecological balance reinforce each other.

I liked this book. My family and I already do what we can in small ways to improve our communities, but have often wondered if there weren't larger things that could be done. This book is hopeful and optimistic, written with the attitude that we have all the abilities and skills we need to solve big problems - we just need to take a holistic approach.

Music Minute - Blake Whiten: Something to Say

Enchntmnt / Warner Records singer-songwriter Blake Whiten releases his debut album, Something To Say, available everywhere now. Arriving as the first full-length statement from one of country music's most gripping new voices, the 12-track collection captures Whiten's raw vocal, confessional instincts and alt-rock-leaning country sound in full force. Just hours after the album's release, the 21-year-old Six Mile, South Carolina native will make his national television debut this morning on NBC's TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle. Live from New York City during the 4th Hour of TODAY, Whiten will perform his fast-rising single “Bet On That.”    Following his morning show appearance, Whiten will head back to his 750-person hometown of Six Mile for a special "Back Home" fan event on Sunday, July 5, where he will perform the full album with free gas, food and a bonfire for the community.   LISTEN: SOMETHING TO SAY   “This album means so much to me,” shares Whiten. “I've put so much time, heart and effort into this project, and I'm so happy I finally get to let everyone hear it. These are 12 songs I've brought with me on my journey so far. This is my story and I've got something to say.”   Produced by Austin Shawn, Something To Say finds Whiten turning instinct into identity. After breaking out just a year and a half ago with head-turning bedroom originals and covers, Whiten has quickly separated himself through a voice that feels lived-in far beyond his years and songs that pull from heartbreak, grit, small-town roots and the emotional weight of growing up fast. Across the album, he teams with esteemed writers including Erik Dylan, Ben Johnson, Wyatt McCubbin, Hunter Phelps, Taylor Phillips, Brock Berryhill and more.   The result is a debut that introduces Whiten as more than a viral discovery. Opening with the bluesy “This Bar Is My Friend,” Whiten finds refuge in a barroom confession before delivering the gut-punch power ballad “Barely Gettin' By,” a heartbreak anthem built for the back row of an arena. “Mess You Made of Me” leans into the tortured edge of his alt-rock influences, while the clever, steely “Bet On That” flips a poker metaphor into a no-looking-back breakup anthem. On “Whiskey Wish,” he sinks into bottom-shelf devastation with a shot of acoustic comfort before “Boots By The Wrong Bed” pairs sharp hooks with a melodic drive that nods to the radio rock he grew up on. Watch the music video HERE.   Across the back half, Whiten counts down to romantic disaster on the addictive “Number 7's Gone,” while early releases “Ghost House” and “Break Me” show his ability to turn pain into something haunting and visceral. The album closes with “Time,” a tender look back at his hometown of Six Mile and the cost of rushing toward a future before realizing what gets left behind.   The release arrives amid a defining stretch for Whiten, who has already surpassed 340M global streams and continues to turn early discovery into long-term momentum. Just a few weeks ago, he hit No. 1 on SiriusXM The Highway with “Hard to Break,” while the recently released “Bet On That” surges to over 15M streams and continues to gain traction on SiriusXM The Highway.   Whiten has also spent the year proving himself onstage, bringing his heavy-hearted songs and signature broken-glass vocal to crowds across the country. After completing Bailey Zimmerman's Different Night Same Rodeo Tour, Whiten is off to a run of major fairs and festivals this summer before joining Morgan Wallen's Still The Problem stadium tour later this month. Come fall, he will launch his 17-stop headlining Something To Say Tour, kicking off Oct. 8 in Lexington, Ky. and hitting major markets like Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, New York City and more. The run has already seen multiple sellouts, including Madison, Cambridge, Toronto and Nashville, where a second show has been added.    Whiten's rise has been matched by early support from SiriusXM, Pandora, Country Now and more, including recognition as a SiriusXM Highway Find, one of Pandora's 2026 Country Artists to Watch and one of Country Now's “Country Next: 10 Artists To Watch in 2026.” For tour dates and more information, visit www.blakewhitenofficial.com and keep up with him on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Blake Whiten Live Dates: July 7, 2026 in Memphis, Mo. at Scotland County Fair July 10, 2026 in West Salem, Wis. at Country Boom # July 11, 2026 in Chicago, Ill. at Windy City Smokeout # July 16, 2026 in Kansas City, Mo. at Hot Country Nights: Kansas City Live! July 17, 2026 in Petersburg, Ill. at Menard County Fairgrounds July 18, 2026 in Paris, Ill. at Edgar County Fair Grounds July 24, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Mich. at Michigan Stadium ! July 25, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Mich. at Michigan Stadium ! July 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pa. at Lincoln Financial Field ! Aug. 1, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pa. at Lincoln Financial Field ! Aug. 6, 2026 in Sikeston, Mo. at Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo # Aug. 7, 2026 in West Chester, Ohio at Voice of America Country Music Fest # Aug. 8, 2026 in Oshkosh, Wis. at XRoads41 2026 # Sept. 4, 2026 in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico at Cabo Country Splash # Sept. 4, 2026 in San José Del Pedregal, Mexico at Paradisus Los Cabos   # festival ! with Morgan Wallen   Something To Say Tour Dates: Oct. 8, 2026 in Lexington, Ky. at Manchester Music Hall # Oct. 9, 2026 in Knoxville, Tenn. at The Mill & Mine # Oct. 10, 2026 in Chattanooga, Tenn. at Barrelhouse Ballroom # Oct. 15, 2026 in Chicago, Ill. at Joe's on Weed Street % Oct. 16, 2026 in Madison, Wis. at High Noon Saloon % Oct. 17, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minn. at Fine Line % Oct. 22, 2026 in Charleston, S.C. at Music Farm # Oct. 23, 2026 in Anderson, S.C. at Wendell's Dippin Branch # Oct. 24, 2026 in Charlotte, N.C. at The Fillmore - The Underground # Oct. 29, 2026 in Cambridge, Mass. at The Sinclair # Oct. 31, 2026 in Washington, D.C. at The Atlantis # Nov. 2, 2026 in New York, N.Y. at Bowery Ballroom # Nov. 5, 2026 in Toronto, Ont. at Horseshoe Tavern # Nov. 7, 2026 in Grand Rapids, Mich. at The Intersection - The Stache # Nov. 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Ga. at Terminal West # Nov. 13, 2026 in Nashville, Tenn. at Exit/In # Nov. 14, 2026 in Nashville, Tenn. at Exit/In #   # with Slater Nalley % with Eli Winders

ABOUT BLAKE WHITEN: Wielding a broken-glass vocal on self-penned songs that cut straight to the bone, Enchntmnt / Warner Records singer-songwriter Blake Whiten is a 21-year-old instinctive songsmith raised in Six Mile, South Carolina, whose talent launched him from bedroom videos to the biggest stages in the world. Revealed as a generational diamond in the rough, raw emotion and heavy-hearted lyrics have earned Whiten over 340 million global streams in two years since his first public performance, with more to come. Growing up on everything from Keith Whitley to Nickelback, Whiten learned guitar at seven and was penning angsty tunes by 15. After discovering the depths of his raspy vocal, a cover of Morgan Wallen's “I'm the Problem” racked up 9 million views and sent him down a new path. His solo-written 2024 single “Rollin' Stone” amassed over 129 million streams and his co-write on Bailey Zimmerman's “Holding On” broke the Top 40 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. The self-penned 2025 EP debut Six Mile captured his essence, while SiriusXM, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Country Now, Holler and All Country News have lined up in support. After headlining his Rollin' Stone Tour and making his Grand Ole Opry debut in early 2026, Whiten's first album Something To Say is out now and features 12 co-written songs, as his confessional instincts collide with pitch-black alt-rock intensity. Having just wrapped Bailey Zimmerman's Different Night Same Rodeo Tour, he'll take the stage in stadiums this summer for Wallen's Still the Problem Tour 2026 before embarking on his headlining Something To Say Tour this fall.

Music Minute - Exile: Rain Keeps Fallin'

American country rock legends and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame inductees Exile are continuing the countdown to their forthcoming album Look Out Heart with the release of their new single, “Rain Keeps Fallin’” Available now through StarVista Music on all major digital and streaming platforms, the emotionally charged ballad showcases the band's signature harmonies and timeless storytelling.

“Writing ‘Rain Keeps Fallin’ was one of those special songwriting sessions where everything clicked,” Exile shared. “J.P., Sonny and Clay built the song around the story of a man haunted by the loss of his love, with the sound of pounding rain and a lonely wind serving as a backdrop to his heartache.” 

Driven by vivid imagery and emotional storytelling, “Rain Keeps Fallin’” follows a man haunted by the memory of a lost love as relentless rain mirrors the heartache he carries within. The song's universal themes of longing, loss and perseverance invite listeners to reflect on their own experiences while finding comfort in the hope that every storm eventually gives way to sunshine. 

“Rain Keeps Fallin’” brings together three highly accomplished and respected songwriters with deep roots in Nashville and beyond. Exile founding members Sonny LeMaire and J.P. Pennington are Kentucky Music Hall of Fame inductees and architects of one of country music’s most successful group careers, helping Exile achieve 11 No. 1 country hits and more than 8 million records sold. As songwriters, the duo penned numerous chart-toppers for Exile and wrote songs recorded by major artists including Alabama, Diamond Rio, Restless Heart, Janie Fricke, Kenny Rogers and others. 

Joining them is award-winning songwriter Clay Mills, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame nominee and multi-million-selling-hitmaker whose songs have been recorded by Darius Rucker, Lady A, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Diamond Rio and many others. Together, these three accomplished writers bring decades of hit-making experience and proven songwriting excellence to “Rain Keeps Fallin’.”

The new recording features original members Sonny LeMaire (bass guitar/lead and harmony vocals), J.P. Pennington (electric guitars/percussion, back vocals /acoustic guitar), Marlon Hargis (keyboards/vocals), Steve Goetzman (drums), and Les Taylor (acoustic guitars/lead and harmony vocals). 

Exile continues to captivate audiences worldwide with a career marked by chart-topping hits and unforgettable performances featuring their stellar musicianship and signature soulful harmonies.

EXILE Tour Dates:
07-10-26 - The Ledge Amphitheater - Waite Park, MN
08-05-26 - Ulster County Fair - New Paltz, NY
08-13-26 - Hertz Arena - Estero, FL
08-15-26 - Pensacola Bay Center - Pensacola, FL
08-16-26 - Tucks Bar - Minor Hill, TN
08-21-26 - Iowa State Fair - Des Moines, IA
09-06-26 - Historic Shuler Theatre - Raton, NM
09-11-26 - Jackson Live & Event Center - Seymour, IN
09-12-26 - McLeansboro Fall Festival - McLeansboro, IL
09-17-26 - Black Gold Festival - Hazard, KY
09-18-26 - The Vine at Chenault Vineyards - Richmond, KY
09-26-26 - Covered Bridge Days Festival - Elizabethton, TN
10-03-26 - Harris Park - Dunlap, TN
10-09-26 - Georgia Mountain Fair (Anderson Music Hall) - Hiawassee, GA
02-28-27 - Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts Concert Hall - Conway, AR
03-13-27 - '70s Rock and Romance Cruise 2027 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
03-14-27 - '70s Rock and Romance Cruise 2027 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
03-15-27 - '70s Rock and Romance Cruise 2027 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
03-16-27 - '70s Rock and Romance Cruise 2027 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
03-17-27 - '70s Rock and Romance Cruise 2027 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
03-18-27 - '70s Rock and Romance Cruise 2027 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
03-19-27 - '70s Rock and Romance Cruise 2027 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
03-20-27 - '70s Rock and Romance Cruise 2027 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Produced by J.P. Pennington and Sonny LeMaire, the track was recorded at two iconic studios, Tower Station Studio in Lexington, Kentucky, where Jeff Myers engineered the initial sessions, and The DAWg Houze in Gallatin, Tennessee, with Tony Cottrill behind the board for additional recording. The song was expertly mixed by Paul Scholten at County Q in Nashville, Tennessee, and mastered by Mike Purcell at the same facility, ensuring a polished, radio-ready sound that shines with Exile’s trademark energy and musicianship.

Stay current with Exile on their official website and social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Stream and download their music on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, YouTube Music, and watch videos on their official artist YouTube channel HERE.

About Exile:
Formed in 1963 in Richmond, Kentucky, Exile rose from playing local clubs to topping both the pop and country charts with eighteen hits collectively, including eleven No. 1s during their 60-year-long career. Their iconic smash hit, “Kiss You All Over,” spent four weeks at the top of Billboard’s pop chart in 1978. In the early 1980s, Exile started to focus on country music. During their run on the country charts, Exile had ten No. 1 singles, including “Woke Up In Love” and "Give Me One More Chance." The hit song "Kiss You All Over" was used in the 1996 Adam Sandler movie Happy Gilmore and the 2006 film Employee of the Month, among others. They have written hit songs for other major label artists, including Alabama, Diamond Rio, and Restless Heart. The five original Exile members re-formed in 2008 and continue to tour today. Current band members include J.P. Pennington, Les Taylor, Sonny LeMaire, Marlon Hargis, and Steve Goetzman. In 2023, Exile celebrated its 60th anniversary as a band and the 45th anniversary of the hit song “Kiss You All Over.” They continue to tour, promoting their most recent album, A Million Miles Later, released in August 2023, and the recent album release, Exile Hits Anniversary Edition. 

About StarVista Music:
With years of experience distributing entertainment-based content and live entertainment through our sister company, StarVista LIVE, StarVista Music is a trusted and effective label partner. We provide world-class resources, including multi-channel marketing, publicity, promotion, in-house creative expertise, and long-standing industry relationships and partnerships built over our history.

Travel Tidbits - Maldives

MALDIVES...You've seen the photos...the overwater villas, the infinite horizon pools, the turquoise that does not look real until you are actually standing in it Some fun facts to consider about this stunning gem: The Maldives is not one island, it is 26 natural atolls with 1200 islands It's fascinating to swim with whale sharks in the South Ari Atoll, one of the few places on earth where they can be reliably encountered year round Night diving or snorkeling with bioluminescent plankton on a dark beach, an experience locals call the sea of stars, is jawdropping and unforgettable You can head out in a traditional dhoni fishing trip at sunset with local fishermen using the same rod and line techniques practiced for generations Getting local means visiting a remote island for a genuine glimpse of Maldivian culture Learning marine biology is possible at its true core, especially fascinating for kids who will find this destination transformative

Area Attractions - Wonder Works Summer 2026 (Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Branson)

Special offerings at Wonder Works this summer include patriotic decorations, official America 250 merchandise in the gift shop, and a “Red, White & Delicious” family meal in the Cruisin' Café that is only $17.76, which includes one large pizza, four soft drinks, and four freezer pops. Plus, cool off with another brand-new menu item: delicious Pineapple Dole Whip. The Great American Summer of Wonder is running now through Labor Day.

Guests will not want to miss the highlight of American innovation and patriotism on display in the American Pride exhibit and theater on the second floor. This popular exhibit--unique to WonderWorks Branson--explores the greatest achievements and innovations in the history of our country, showcases various ways in which every military branch is involved in STEM education and more.

About WonderWorks

WonderWorks, a science-focused indoor amusement park, combines education and entertainment uniquely and engagingly. With over 100 hands-on exhibits, there is something unique and challenging for guests of all ages. WonderWorks is open 365 days a year and hosts birthday parties and special events year-round. For more information visit WonderWorksMB.com, and follow @WonderWorksMB, @WonderWorlsORL on Facebook and X (Twitter), @WonderWorksBranson on Facebook, @WonderWorksBR on X (Twitter), @WonderWorks_MB, @WonderWorks_ORL, @WonderWorks_BR on Instagram, and @WonderWorksOfficial on TikTok.

Book Nook - Borrowed Child

Author Marguerite Welch is very familiar with what they say about good intentions: when it comes to trying to parent across a cultural divide, well-meaning intentions can quickly turn sour.

Drawing on her own personal experiences, Marguerite has written Borrowed Child, a forthcoming novel about grieving mother Helen—a white, wealthy woman—who takes in Mia, a troubled undocumented Mexican teenager. Helen’s good intentions with mentoring and parenting Mia creep into a form of control, and things spiral.

A haunting and suspenseful cautionary tale, Borrowed Child is about what happens when a well-meaning inclination toward “salvation” goes awry. Though fiction, it mirrors a lot of the author’s experience with her own “Mia,” a young woman whom Marguerite still has a relationship with and consulted while writing the book.

Borrowed Child releases July 15 with She Writes Press.

I had a chance to learn more in this interview:

What was the inspiration for the book?
Borrowed Child was inspired by my relationship with a troubled, undocumented Mexican teenage girl, whom I tutored for eight years and who lived with us her junior year in high school.

This book tackles a variety of issues, including immigration and caregiving. How do you approach writing with topics that require sensitivity and nuance?
In this case, Borrowed Child evolved from a series of interviews with my collaborator, IG, who had complete control over the telling of her story and hoped it would function as a cautionary tale for other young girls who might find themselves in similar circumstances.

What do you hope the reader will gain from reading this book?
I hope the reader will come away with a more nuanced and human understanding of the complex issues surrounding the immigration question and the pitfalls of being overly focused on “salvation.”

Book Nook - Lullaby: A Bedtime Story

Do you remember what it was like to believe in miracles? A childlike imagination is full of hope and wonder and joyous laughter, where unicorns speak, and children keep finding gold at the rainbow’s end. In this day and age of impersonal communication, this story will bring back the precious memories of the time when parents came into their child’s room and read a book aloud, with eye-to-eye contact, gentle touch, and a deep loving connection. Lullaby: A Bedtime Story awakens the imagination for both child and parent and leaves plenty of wiggle room for heart-centered dialog, and perhaps will be so well cherished that when the children grow up, they will read it to their own children.

Scott Randall Lindberg is a passionate musician, songwriter, and music teacher with a joyful heart, working with children from ages 3-73. He is also an author and storyteller whose popular soul-touching and hope-filled stories entertain and inspire readers worldwide. His first book, The Heart Speaks, was published in 2023. Scott is a gifted artist and photographer with a talent for capturing multicolored flares and auras. He is a gemstone expert and artisan, crafting crystal necklaces which he conspires to give away daily. Scott describes himself as a meandering musician, unreasonably silly, unrealistically positive…a starstruck storyteller, playful friend-makin’, earth-shakin’, cookie-bakin’ mystic. A puddle-jumpin’, heart-thumpin’ giggling troubadour. He is a woods-walkin’, tree talkin’, bubble blowin’, childlike, friend findin’ fun fiend who would gladly lose his mind to find his soul.