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Amazon: Now I Know It’s Not My Fault: A Novel

“Now I Know It’s Not My Fault is a thoroughly absorbing and cautionary tale that reminds us of the vulnerability of our children, the power of those in positions of authority, and the complex nature of abuse. It’s an important read for teens, parents, and mental health professionals.”
–Lauren Meisels, PhD

“Dr. Levine has written a poignant, heartfelt, and sometimes funny story. It’s the telling of a young woman’s journey through a common type of abuse that is rarely recognized and addressed. This book will help therapists and clients. Parents and victims will learn to understand why they are not alone in their struggle.”
–Dr. Joan D. Atwood, Professor & author, Marriage and Family Therapy

When Laurie B. Levine heard that a teacher in her hometown of Maplewood had been charged with sexual misconduct with several male students, her first reaction was to make sure her teenage son, who was in the class, was okay. Levine, a family therapist, was also encouraged to revisit the novel she had started years before, about a trauma bond between a student and female teacher.

Levine’s debut young adult novel NOW I KNOW IT’S NOT MY FAULT is the story of a teenager who finds herself in a traumatic relationship with her charming teacher in the 1980’s. Alexandra Geller is a bright but underachieving girl with a mother who has been dead for five years, and a father who is emotionally unavailable as he throws himself into his career as a physician. At the beginning of freshman year, Alex’s science teacher Paula senses Alex’s vulnerability and befriends her, leading Alex to believe that she was chosen by Paula to be in a “mother-daughter” type of relationship.

Paula’s intentions aren’t so benevolent, and she slowly and carefully grooms Alex for a relationship designed to fit her own needs. She starts telling Alex about her sex life and issues with her live-in boyfriend; blaming her for little things like being late; and asking Alex questions about her friends and family that she later uses as ammo against her. As their relationship continues, Paula begins to physically abuse Alex in ways she deems as motherly, such as slapping her across the face or spanking her in front of students. Desperate for maternal attention, Alex finds ways to ignore that something is wrong with Paula. Meanwhile, her relationships with her best friend Amber and boyfriend Adam begin to crack because she can’t get Paula out of her head.

NOW I KNOW IT’S NOT MY FAULT is about teenagers facing the challenges of growing up in a complex world where sometimes, people will cross lines and boundaries, creating the potential for abuse. As an experienced marriage and family therapist, Levine is aware of how insidious these behaviors can be in relationships. Her portrayal of Paula and Alex’s friendship points out a scenario that is not always recognized for the problem that it is, with even longer-lasting effects.

Readers will enjoy Alex’s story in NOW I KNOW IT’S NOT MY FAULT as she stands up to abuser, in spite of their damaging relationship that takes place through her entire high school career. They will also learn more about how these inappropriate student-teacher trauma bonds can be formed, and what to do about it.

About the Author:
Laurie B. Levine has a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Syracuse University, and is a Clinical Fellow in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She has been in private practice, helping people understand their trauma stories, for more than twenty years. She lives in Maplewood, NJ with her husband, three children, and a massive dog.

NOW I KNOW IT’S NOT MY FAULT
By Dr. Laurie B. Levine
Publication Date: January 15^th, 2017
ISBN: 9781535511582
Original Trade Paperback & E-book
Price: $14.99 / $9.99
299 Pages

 

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Amazon: Meet the Bobs and Tweets (Bobs and Tweets 1)

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THE INTERSECT
by Brad Graber

Amazon: The Intersect: When life veers off course, strangers find comfort and lasting connection

Brad Graber was thrilled to move to Phoenix in 2009, a friendly city with a diverse community. But the state of Arizona had its struggles, especially regarding immigration. The rich culture of Phoenix, set against the political and social issues of Arizona in 2010, is the backdrop to Graber’s charismatic debut novel THE INTERSECT (September 2016, ISBN 9780997604207, Original Trade Paperback).

In THE INTERSECT, Graber uses his personal history, professional health care background, and the social issues of today, to paint a moving portrait of lives that connect in a deep and meaningful way. The novel weaves together the stories of disparate characters who are striving to survive in a world where the most lasting connection is made among strangers. Graber takes a close look at what it’s like to be an older woman struggling to navigate the health care system while being swindled by her family; a gay man in a long term relationship thrown off-balance by early retirement; an illegal immigrant who considers himself to be an American, in a country that tells him otherwise; and a gay teen who has come out of the closet to a rejecting family.

THE INTERSECT opens with Daisy, a spry 75-year-old woman living on her own. When Daisy gets into a car accident and is whisked away for hip surgery, her stay in rehab threatens to transition to long-term care. Her nephew Jack and his second wife Enid nefariously garner power of attorney and, without Daisy’s knowledge, sell her Biltmore home. Months later, Daisy returns to discover that a gay couple in their 50s, Dave and Charlie, have purchased the property. Charlie welcomes Daisy into the couple’s guestroom, believing she’s Dave’s distant aunt from NYC, before discovering her circumstance. The men bond with Daisy, even as Dave and Charlie’s relationship starts to take a turn when Dave quits his high-end career and spirals into a post midlife crisis.

Meanwhile, Ernie is a Mexican-born immigrant who was smuggled into the United States when he was a young child. He owns a handyman business and prides himself on being a model American, despite his illegal status. When Ernie stops by the house of a client, he finds the woman held at knifepoint in an attempted robbery. When the police arrive, Ernie is falsely arrested and deported to Mexico, where his American grit helps him to succeed despite overwhelming odds.

These characters’ stories become intertwined with those of a psychic, a physical therapist, and a lonely teen, and along with scheming love interests, the novel takes many dramatic twists. Lives become entangled: relationships are strained, secrets are revealed, personal identities are threatened, hearts are broken, and justice is sought.

Exploring today’s hot-button issues of immigration, elder abuse, and teen homelessness, THE INTERSECT shows readers that strangers can make unexpected and lasting connections—even as they reveal the most vulnerable part of themselves.

About Brad Graber:

Brad Graber was born and raised in New York City. He obtained a B.A. in Biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and an M.H.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. As a healthcare administrator, Brad has held a number of positions living in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago; West Bloomfield, a suburb of Detroit; and Mill Valley, a suburb of San Francisco. Brad currently resides in Phoenix with Jeffrey, his spouse of 26 years, and their dog Charlie. Brad volunteers with non-profit organizations, most recently with Duet, which provides support for seniors. He has in the past volunteered with OnenTen.org, which supports GLBTQ youth. THE INTERSECT is Brad’s first novel. For more information visit his website www.bradgraber.com or follow him on Twitter @jefbra1.

THE INTERSECT
By Brad Graber
Publication Date: September 2016
ISBN: 978-0-9976042-0-7
Original Trade Paperback & E-Book
Price: $15.99
460 pages

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Amazon: Nanjing Never Cries: A Novel

The Nanjing Massacre by the Japanese during the Sino-Japanese War in 1937 left hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians dead. In her book The Rape of Nanking, American journalist Iris Chang opened the eyes of the world to the horrors of this act of genocide in the middle of World War II. Now Dr. Hong Zheng (Hung Cheng), a professor from MIT who was born in China in 1937, has brought a new, personified light on the story through the eyes of four richly wrought characters in his debut novel NANJING NEVER CRIES (MIT Press/Killian Press, September 2016, ISBN 9781944347000).

Having been a child throughout the aftermath of the Sino-Japanese War, Zheng witnessed the difficulties of this time first hand. He has long advocated for the voices of those whom he feels have been ignored by the history books, and during a symposium at MIT on Hiroshima, his frustration rose to the surface. When the panelists discussed American guilt as a result of the bombing, Zheng was prompted to ask whether the Japanese might feel any remorse about their actions? The Japanese speaker later approached Zheng and asked him to sign a petition urging the Japanese government to apologize to China. It was during moments like these that Zheng considered the novel he wanted to write. He traveled to China and met with two Nanjing massacre survivors, and his research and interviews are incorporated into the story.

NANJING NEVER CRIES is focused on MIT graduate John Winthrop and his brilliant Chinese partner Calvin Ren. The two collaborate on a top-secret project to design and build warplanes for the Chinese to defend themselves against the Japanese. As John and Calvin work on their plans, their naïve thoughts of winning the war with their inventions make the actual conflict seem surreal and far away.

While in China Winthrop meets Chen May, a beautiful 18-year-old girl from Nanjing and spends many afternoons with her browsing antiques. Calvin’s wife Judy continues teaching her middle school students while Calvin keeps his nose to the grindstone building their planes.

Ultimately tragedy strikes when the Japanese invade the city, killing thousands including people close to all of Zheng’s characters. Amidst the chaos, the four friends wonder if they will ever see each other again, after the city of Nanjing falls to pieces around them and their loved ones are killed in the attack. May vows to look for the soldier who murdered her beloved father; she finds him after the war, and the novel ends with a touching scene. Vivid and lyrical, Zheng’s novel NANJING NEVER CRIES captures the intimate relationships and churning emotions that are at the heart of war.

About the Author:
Hong Zheng (Dr. Hung Cheng) has been Professor of Applied Mathematics in the Theoretical Physics Group at Massachusetts Institute of Technology since 1970. He lives in Brookline, Massachusetts with his wife, Jill. Nanjing Never Cries is his first novel.

About Killian Press:
Killian Press is a publishing services and distribution imprint of the MIT Press intended for MIT faculty and alumni works. Killian Press titles, self-published by their authors, are distinct from the MIT Press’s own books, which are published by the Press under the MIT Press imprint.

NANJING NEVER CRIES: A Novel
By Dr. Hung Cheng
Killian Press, an Imprint of MIT Press
Publication Date: September 2016
ISBN: 9781944347000
Hardcover & E-book
Price: $29.99
368 pages

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