For BookstoresLooking to add boundary-pushing fiction and poetry in your shop? Find IngramSpark ISBNs below.
Fiction
1200 Miles from Los Angeles
979-8-3484-8059-2
Finding Oneself, Judaism, Religion
When his car breaks down on his way to Los Angeles, Sanford takes a job at a small-town diner along the interstate to earn the money he needs to keep going west. Here, he learns that being Jewish is something different.
1200 Miles from Los Angeles is a journal novel based on Simon's experiences working at a Starbucks surrounded by Christian colleges. Of being a "token" in a new place.
Simon also touches upon his feelings of "Jewish Identity." He was raised Jewish, went to Hebrew School, and was Bar Mitzvah'd, but still doesn’t know what that really means.
139 Pages
“This is a captivating journal-style novel that blends personal reflection with the trials of a road trip gone awry. It isn’t just about a physical journey, it’s about finding one’s place in the world, navigating the nuances of religious identity, and embracing both the tensions and harmonies of faith. An insightful and moving read that will stay with you long after the final page.”
Ava in Lost Pines
979-8-3485-1292-7
Survival, Youth, Trust
A plane crashes in a remote forest. Ava, a young girl, and Charlie, an autistic boy, are the only survivors. When Charlie runs off, Ava must find him, protect him, and determine who to trust.
Ava in Lost Pines is an American novella that explores responsibility and empathy. Ava, as she is put in the position of protecting Charlie, and the adults they encounter as they search for refuge.
Charlie, who is autistic, is based on Simon's stepson. His mannerisms, speech, and emotions are all represented faithfully.
115 Pages
“From the moment I read the opening of Ava in Lost Pines, I was hooked. The idea that a single moment, a flight to Portland, would divide Ava’s life into “Before” and “After” sets the tone for a deeply emotional and introspective story. It immediately made me think about how we all have moments that change everything, even if we don’t realize it at the time. Ava’s journey, both physical and emotional, feels relatable and poignant, especially as she navigates a new life that is undoubtedly different from what she imagined.”
Into the Fracking Fields
979-8-3484-8166-7
Coming-of-Age, Dystopia, Society
Hundreds of square miles deemed uninhabitable. Alice has heard the rumors of the people who stayed, their proximity to Nuclear One, their cancerous lumps. Her friend Carmen is driven to see the fracking pad where his father was killed – and Michael, unfortunately, is the only one that can get them there.
Into the Fracking Fields is a dystopian novel set in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which encompasses northeastern Arkansas, southwestern Kentucky, southeastern Missouri, and northwestern Tennessee. A series of earthquakes in 1811 and 1812 were so powerful that the Mississippi River temporarily flowed backwards and were felt on the East Coast.
329 Pages
“Simon crafts a haunting portrait of a post-disaster America, using vivid prose to immerse readers in this ruined landscape. The characters live in the shadows of nuclear catastrophe, struggling to find purpose amid the collapse. Though some descriptions feel overly flowery, the dystopian themes and the kids’ harrowing journey throughout will stick with you. Fans of speculative fiction examining society’s fragility will find this a compelling read.”
Red as Apple
979-8-3484-8159-9
Family
It has been years since Keenan had been to the farm. He had vowed to move on, to move up, but this has brought him back. To his introverted older brother and confident sister. After this, their lives will never be the same.
Set in the 1980s, Red as Apple is an American novella that explores family dynamics through three adult siblings. Keenan, who believes what they have found will finally make him wealthy. Ansel, his introverted brother who took the brunt of the abuse in their childhood—who has withdrawn further with his son's sickness. Amanda, her Christian faith that keeps her going.
203 Pages
“Steven has some amazing skills when it comes to novel writing. You can taste it from the very first pages. It starts out with a series of thoughts that you can feel all the way to the bone. They’re profound, courageous, almost lively. By the end of the opening page, you’re already into the beautiful writing that this author is capable of more than if you were to read any other book.”
Poetry
bleach
979-8-3484-8038-7
Loud, gritty poems that linger in your mind. Take your time, invite them in, and let the words settle in the dark recesses.
While Out Pondered the Hare explores youth, indiscretions, and our fragility, bleach reflects on society. The seamless poetry and spoken words hold up a mirror and shows us our imperfections.
109 Pages
“This is the perfect blend of poetry and spoken word, especially if your imagination is vivid and your vocabulary is extensive. The poems are not relatable based on their extremes which worked out perfect for me because sometimes i just want to be taken somewhere and not necessarily know where I’m going. This read was quick but worth the time to slow down and absorb. Some of the poems are dark and heavy which pulls on your heart strings and a lot of them seem to be a testimony of life.”
ENDOTRIZZI
979-8-2958-3265-9
ENDOTRIZZI is a gut-punch collection of poetry. Brutality, violence, and sex are intertwined with quiet reflections of life and death. These poems are unfiltered, triggering, and written with empty promises.
101 Pages
Out Pondered the Hare
979-8-3484-8049-3
A collection of poems written in a Lorazepam fog. A whiskey-infused detour and lysergic-stamped synapses. All in the hopes that some of this makes sense to those who were not there in the Detroit suburbs, way back then, in the 1990s.
These poems are about youthful transgressions, coming-of-age, relationships, death, et cetera.
Simon leans on his experiences growing up outside of Detroit. Some good, and worthy of their descriptions. Others, those that focus on struggle, are equally worthy in their own rights.
146 Pages
“Books like this usually strike me as either as engaging works of art or self-indulgent dribble. I’m pleased to report, Out Pondered the Hare is genuinely engaging. There is real value here. It’s emotive and creative and many of the pieces are highly original.”