Literary Buzz

A selection of publications from our members

The Impeded Stream

Michael R. Howard

This book is the second collection of poems from a former Naval Officer and Navy SEAL. His work speaks to the vibrancy of life across a myriad of landscapes, lives, and experiences. The Impeded Stream extends Michael’s reputation as a gifted poet and storyteller. His attention to detail and adventurous sense lifts the reader to new worlds, ones that Michael knows well.

Michael is a former Naval Officer and Navy SEAL who served over 26 years on active duty. Much of his career was spent overseas in the Western Pacific and Southwest Asia. He draws from this adventurous career as well from his colorful southern upbringing to flavor much of his poetic work. His voice is unique, colorful , and visceral. His work might well be described as attractive to those not inclined to pursue poetry yet discover his work very appealing.

• Publisher: La Maison Publishing
• ISBN: 978-1-970153-44-6
• Published: January 2024

The Almost Perfect Crime

Detective Quinn Isaacs Series

Jacque Jacobs

Serendipity brings joy yet it can also lead life into never imagined directions. Detective Quinn Isaacs entered law enforcement after the worst trauma a high school student can experience—an active shooter on campus. In the Smoky Mountains in her second week on the job, the deaths of two women and a complicated web of family connections swirl through the mountains like the winter wind. Building a team of detectives and facing her own demons, Quinn begins to understand the long-held belief about mountain life: it’s a place where people take care of each other—except when they don’t.

Jacque wrote her first novel, High on a Mountain, in 2020. It was a finalist in the mystery category for the Royal Palm Literary Award, the American Writing Award in 2022, and received the Gold Award from Literary Titans in 2023. Her debut into fiction is rooted in the tradition of storytellers from the Smoky Mountains. Her new series Detective Quinn Isaacs launched in January 2024: The Almost Perfect Crime. She is the Board President of the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation: “The Literary Hub of Indian River County, FL.”

• Publisher: Drellag Press, LLC
• ISBN: 979-8-9873453-2-0
• Published: January 2024

The Last Floridian

Pete Clements

Drawn on the same model and proportions as classical journeys of a hero, this is the story of Clayton Ian McIver. His father worked in the citrus industry before Greening Disease, a bacteria plague —like that of “scorpions of the Earth”—obliterated citrus in Florida, leaving many citizens with no work and less future. Exploding population and out-of-control construction were annihilating Florida’s wild, now no longer vast, natural resources. Worse, the water, that elixir of life itself, was poisoned by pollution. Florida became an endangered species. Clayt McIver and his father knew the water of Florida was poisoned. This is the story of how Clayt and his lady friend, Joleen, became the young heroes who accepted the mission to save the natural environment of Florida.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Pete Clements worked in advertising and documentary film production. His 2020, novel, The Latitude, was the recipient of many honors, including the Eric Hoffer Award. Pete has lived in Vero Beach, Florida since 1970 and is writing a new Florida-based novel.

• Publisher: Black Rose Publishing
• ISBN: 13-978-1685133733
• Published: December 2023

Family Planet

Jim Scutti

Jim Scutti’s “Family Planet” is a medley of poems on family matters, observations of people and nature and lyrics that express the disappointments, sadness, joy and surprises of a long life. Learn how his mother copes with the death of a young son and how later she becomes the most popular person in her church. Smile at his father’s many failed ventures to get rich because he wanted to be smart–like Rockefeller. Meet an old man who in his prime could drive a nail through a two-by- four with his hand but now enjoys simply sitting in his garden, a pleasure “that only God could match and worth every nail.” In the book’s final poem enjoy his light-hearted approach to death. Like a simple gravestone, just enough for birds to perch. So bring seed.

Jim Scutti’s poetry and fiction has appeared in numerous literary magazines, including Comstock Review, The MainStreet Rag, FutureCycle Poetry, Common Ground Review, The Rattling Wall and Slant. He practiced law prior to retiring and now devotes most of his time to writing, reading and running. He lives on the Indian River in Vero Beach, Florida.

• Publisher: Finishing Line Press
• ISBN: 979-8-88838-356-8
• Published: September 2023

Outside the Spotlights

Elaine Spooner

Outside the Spotlights: Conversations with Unsung Creatoers Behind the Screens in Hollywood features behind-the-scenes insights from 37 innovators in a business everyone knows, written to encourage and enterain readers dreaming of succeeding in entertainment or who just want to know more about how the business really works.

Elaine Spooner is an entertainment industry insider who worked behind the the screens to imange entertainment websites, and in technology roles at internet startups, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Disney and Universal during the firte decades of Hollywood’s digital revolution.

• Publisher: Elaine Writes Media
• ISBN: 978-1735791128
• Published: May 2021