Best Independent Books November 14
We are delighted to recommend the following books from the independent publishing sector.
FICTION
Camilla Learns to Shine
by Elizabeth Connell Lewis and Mark S. Lewis
Camilla is no ordinary cuttlefish. She looks different from the others and cannot swim as fast as the cuttlefish and squid around her. Worried about her appearance, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
Along the way, she learns to appreciate her special body type and unique abilities as she meets new friends near her ocean home. As she navigates the vibrant underwater world, she encounters various sea creatures who teach her valuable lessons about self-acceptance and the importance of embracing one’s uniqueness. Through her interactions, she discovers that her differences make her special and that true beauty comes from within.
This charming tale not only entertains but also educates young readers about marine life, fostering a love for the ocean and its inhabitants. Camilla’s heartwarming story celebrates diversity, resilience and the joy of helping others.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Children's
ISBN: 978-1637353219
The Opaque Conspiracy: Finding a Way Through Destruction and Despair
by Grace Flores-Hughes
The story revolves around a hard-working couple who fall prey to a ruthless conspiracy involving their company’s bank and a group of unscrupulous business executives.
When an unexpected setback leaves their company temporarily unable to meet its obligations, the bank seizes the opportunity to demand the sale of the company’s assets. The bank, having financed the company, misuses its power and colludes with the executives to engineer a rigged sale process, aiming to gain possession of the entire company, not just its assets. The story is narrated by Bonita Levine, a woman of remarkable resilience. She must draw upon every ounce of toughness she developed growing up in a harsh environment to navigate the dire situation they find themselves in. Her husband, C.E. Levine, a distinguished and decorated military veteran, is forced by the lender to sell his company’s assets, shattering their once happy and prosperous life.
This novel uncovers the dark underbelly of the modern business world, serving as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in dealing with those who prioritize greed above all else.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Mystery & Thriller
ISBN: 978-1637352236
NON-FICTION
UNLEASH the potential and make it happen
by Patrick Steiner
This guide to thriving in the digital world is tailored for businesses and leaders. A practical handbook, it demystifies the digital landscape with real-world solutions, such as the Digital Success Canvas and the Digital Pulse Check, for evaluation and planning.
More than just a book, this is a toolkit for transformation. Featuring pragmatic levers and modules for digital success, it converts theory into action, providing a structured approach to implementing digital strategies. It demonstrates how to navigate complexities with ease and make informed decisions.
This guide is an accessible companion for turning digital challenges into victories. It shows not only how to survive but to thrive in the digital age, leveraging every opportunity with confidence and clarity. The book is not an endpoint but a gateway — a gateway to a world of digital excellence, collaboration and continuous growth.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-3952598818
Business Success Secrets: Entrepreneurial Thinking That Works
by Tamara L. Nall, Victor Agapov et al.
Every Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs started out as nothing more than a person with an idea – and ideas are a dime a dozen. The mindset, processes and teams behind a business are the keys to success.
Buried beneath the impressive awards and accolades of each successful entrepreneur lies the hard-knocks story of the grit, determination and resourcefulness it took to mount the summit of a dream. This is a book written for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs. Forget the flashing banners, false promises of overnight success and the phony Internet gurus. This is business insight straight from the source.
Laying it all on the line, each author in the anthology has come together for one singular purpose: to bring the undiluted truth of what it takes to make a business dream a reality.
A practical and actionable book — GoodreadsHonors: Silver Medal, Non-Fiction Anthology, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637350522
How to Live to 100: Secrets from the World's Happiest Centenarians
by Dr. Elizabeth Lopez
This book shares the secrets of how regular people embrace a long, healthy and happy life.
The book consists of ten individual case studies from the Nicoya peninsula on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
It reveals the insights (known only by Costa Rica's famous Blue Zone centenarians) to living a long life full of purpose.
The author explains the role peace and well-being play in day-to-day life and why connecting to others is life's best medicine. She investigates the ways in which culture can extend life expectancy. She has also collated simple recipes that have been part of the centenarians’ happy and healthy way of life.
Honors: seen on ABC and NBC
Category: Health, Family & Lifestyle
ISBN: 978-1943386550
In case you missed the books featured in the last newsletter, here they are again:
FICTION
Laughing is Forever
by Jason Stocks
This book is a powerful and raw collection of poems. The author’s writing is characterized by its immediacy and unflinching honesty, blending profanity and pop-culture references.
Living in south Florida, the author brings a wealth of life experience to his writing, having worked various jobs before becoming a teacher. He has created a unique voice that is both tender and brutal.
This is a brave and unflinching exploration of the human experience, delivering a punch to the gut while also offering moments of tenderness and insight
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Recognition for Author: Finalist, Contemporary Poetry, American Legacy Book Awards, 2024
Category: Literature & Fiction
ISBN: 978-1962987103
NON-FICTION
Investpreneur: Real Estate Lessons for the Determined Investor
by Kristin Cripps
This book lays out the proven track that the author followed to become a real-estate mogul and a millionaire before her 30th birthday. She has built an empire from the ground up.
The author explains the first crucial step toward investing. She describes some out-of-the-box ways to save for the first down payment. She explores different types of loans available and discusses the common investments that can result in a loss. When deciding on properties, she points out those that should be avoided like the plague, but also shows the right way to fix up a fixer-upper. There is also guidance on when and why to sell properties and an insider’s scoop on what buyers are likely to be looking for.
The author has spent years learning the ins and outs of real-estate investing. In this book, she shares her hard-earned knowledge so that others can follow her lead.
Honors: seen on CBS, Fox and NBC
Recognition for Author: Bronze Medal, Biography, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, 2020
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637352441
Play Bold: How to Win the Business Game through Creative Destruction
by Magnus Penker
In this book, the author, a world-renowned thought leader, details a modern approach to innovation. He finally and comprehensively answers the question why it is that some companies succeed where others — even those with great potential — fail.
The author teaches how to identify and mitigate the corporate antibodies that kill innovation. He outlines how to gain the capability and culture necessary to jump from S-curve to S-curve so as to avoid going down with the ship. He explains why playing it safe is the surest way to a slow death in today’s globalized economy.
The lifespan of companies is rapidly shrinking. This book points the way forward. Innovation at its best destroys what doesn’t work and builds something brilliant from the pieces. Everything we need is right in front of us. All we need to know is how to bring it together.
Honors: seen on CBS and Fox
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637350584
The Price Whisperer: A Holistic Approach to Pricing Power
by Per Sjofors
Consumer behavior is irrational. People are finicky, temperamental and subjective, but they’re also highly predictable. Thus, when it comes to determining optimal product pricing, it’s important to keep in mind that the perception of value is value.
In this book, the author explores the complex network of variables that regulate customer perception of price and value. By isolating key factors that determine a target market’s willingness to pay, businesses can effectively hack their existing model, thereby increasing asking price and sales volume. It’s simple psychology. This book explains the unique internal and external factors that control consumer purchase behavior; how to increase pricing without sacrificing sales volume; how to identify the right customers for products and save marketing dollars; why pricing does not exist in a vacuum and how the set-and-forget approach is a recipe for failure; why lowering prices and offering frequent discounts seldomly translates into greater purchasing volume; and how price sets an expectation of quality and benefit or lack thereof. The author advises to approach consumer behavior through a psychological mindset, not an entrepreneurial one.
The product might be right, the marketing strategy might be right and the branding be right, but if the pricing is off, the business will suffer. It’s essential to value a product correctly.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637351178
Success Mindsets: How Top Entrepreneurs Succeed in Business and Life
by Alinka Rutkowska, Nedra J. Barr, Catherine Bassick et al.
This anthology explores the thought process, attitude and approach of leading entrepreneurs. The difference between success and failure is how people face problems.
This book brings together advice from several dozen exceptional leaders, ranging from CEOs to champions to game-changers. Each chapter reveals methods for developing the right approach to achieve success.
The book looks at several different elements of the success mindset, including adaptability, growth, drive, learning and self-compassion. Minds are more effective when they are open. Someone can always adapt a mindset to the situation in pursuit of particular goals.
One of the collection's standout qualities is its emphasis on the individuality of the success journey. It underscores that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to success... — Readers’ Favorite Honors: seen on MarketWatchCategory: Business
ISBN: 978-1637350928
We trust that your readers will enjoy our hand-picked selection.
For more bestselling and award-winning books from the independent publishing sector, please go here.
Warm regards,
Alinka Rutkowska
CEO, LibraryBub
