Pride and Persistence

 
by Joe Chianakas
Book Cover: Pride and Persistence
Part of the Unveiling Aiden series:
Editions:ebook, Paperback
View on Goodreads

What are we fighting for if not each other?

After a roller coaster of ups and downs last year, Aiden Rothe starts sophomore year on a high. After all, he's dating the boy of his dreams. What else matters? But Aiden's hopes for a drama-free school year are thrown aside when a new student captures everyone's attention: Michelle, an incredibly athletic, transgender black belt.

Fearing a repeat of last year's bullying, Aiden's karate club reaches out to Michelle, hoping to recruit her. To their surprise, she already has a team. Michelle is training with local police Captain Decker at his MMA studio, the epicenter of LGBTQ+ hatred in and around Washington High. Soon after, Decker and his notorious partner, Washington High Wrestling Coach Krake, announce a new tournament with a $25k college scholarship as the grand prize. For some, like Mateo, it's a crucial opportunity-he lost his scholarship chances when he came out and quit the wrestling team the year before.

Can the true meaning of martial arts heal the divisions in this town, or will fighting only make things worse? A rousing story of love versus hate, where hidden truths and life-altering decisions lay behind every corner, Pride and Persistence celebrates the indomitable spirit within us all-the fighter that refuses to stay down, no matter how many times one falls.

Published:
Publisher: Mad Cat
Genres:
Romance, YA
Tags:
LGBTQ fiction, sports

About the Author

Joe Chianakas

Joe Chianakas has been an educator for 21 years, the first half as a high school English teacher, the last half as a professor of communication at Illinois Central College. He's published several novels, including his horror series Rabbit in Red, and is working on a new adult horror series, Darkness Calls, with Oghma Creative Media. Under his pen name, NC Nest, he's published a series of LGBTQ YA contemporary books, including Looking for Derek. His next YA LGBTQ series is titled Singlets and Secrets, which will be published by Young Dragons Press.

When he's not teaching or writing, he enjoys spending time with his mini Australian Shepherd, Bailey. Joe loves the outdoors, fitness, reading (of course!), martial arts, travel, and binge-watching TV. He lives in Peoria, IL, with his husband, Brian.

Other Books By Joe Chianakas

Stand-Alone Books

Book Cover: Darkness Calls
Darkness Calls

Series: Unveiling Aiden

Book Cover: Singlets & Secrets
Singlets & Secrets
Book Cover: Pride and Persistence
Pride and Persistence

Angels in the Ozarks

 
by J.B. Hogan
Book Cover: Angels in the Ozarks
Editions:Paperback

Step back in time to the summer of 1940, when professional baseball in Fayetteville met its untimely demise, leaving a void that has never been filled. In the captivating pages of "Angels in the Ozarks," the remarkable story of a nearly forgotten Class D minor league unfolds before your eyes—an extraordinary league that holds the title of the "smallest league that ever functioned in organized baseball." As you delve into the narrative, a bittersweet nostalgia permeates the air, drawing you into the world of the Arkansas-Missouri League and the faded glory of the Fayetteville Angels. The raucous symphony of wood meeting horsehide, the exhilaration of triumphant cheers, and the heart-wrenching cries of defeat—all of these once vibrant sounds now exist as mere whispers, floating in the ethereal realm of forgotten history. Journey into this enchanting tale, and rediscover a bygone era where dreams soared and the spirit of baseball thrived, forever leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who remember.

Published:
Publisher: Otterford
Genres:
Non-fiction
Tags:
sports
Reviews:John Hall, baseball historian and researcher, author of Majoring in the Minors, The KOM League Remembered and Mickey Mantle: Before the Glory, and former batboy for the Carthage (Mo.) Cubs wrote:

“Few people are still vertical who remember the Arkansas State and Arkansas/Missouri leagues. That is now changing due to the diligent efforts of Jerry Hogan who would not let that era pass into oblivion. For nearly a decade, he scoured the pages of time-worn documents, talked with scores people and searched grainy microfilm reels to bring a golden era in baseball to life for generations to come. Great job, Mr. Hogan. ”


About the Author

J.B. Hogan

J. B. Hogan is a prolific and award-winning author. He has published over 270 stories and poems.

His books, including Living Behind Time, Losing Cotton, The Rubicon, Fallen, Tin Hollow, and many more, are available from Oghma Creative Media and Amazon.com.

Other Books By J.B. Hogan

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