edited by Samantha Mann

Featured in Manhattan Book Review’s Pride Month Roundup and Lambda Literary’s June’s Most Anticipated LGBTQIA+ Literature.

Told in multi-faceted layers of memoir, creative nonfiction, and poetry, every story shares a priceless event or moment where queer joy is found. I Feel Love: Notes on Queer Joy honors queer voices through the delightful pleasure in everyday occurrences featuring an anthology of talented voices within the LGBTQIA+ community and edited by Samantha Mann, author of Putting Out: Essays on Otherness. Her work has also been featured in Elle, Romper, BUST, Miss Representation, and The Audacity.

Joy is a form of resistance. Celebrate adoration and exhilaration.

The mission of this anthology is to be inclusive among its participants, establishing a series of experiences that will have the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies delighting in the beauty that is queer love.

The message in I Feel Love: Notes on Queer Joy is clear: being who you are meant to be is a precious gift we all deserve. 

Download the ARC here.

travel essays by Margaret Montet

It's time to pack a bag and ask, “what if?”

Combining relevant history, biography, and the culture of each city with her own experience and revelations, Nerd Traveler is a perfect voyage of mindful traveling for explorers of all generations.

For travelers who want to learn more about their destination through history and culture, Nerd Traveler is the perfect journey for intellectual curiosity. Librarian and professor Margaret Montet writes about her experiences throughout the United States and around the globe in a collection of essays that seek out “nerdy” experiences. Nerds definitely travel better.

More seasoned than a tourist or a sightseer, join Margaret as she sets off across the United States and around the globe on a journey of music, art, and literature.

Download the ARC here.

essays by Susan Padron

2022 Feathered Quill Silver Medalist

Personal Style Discovery
Spiritual Memoir
Practical Style Guide

Susan Padron is more than a personal stylist. She is your spiritual cheerleader, an intuitive guide, and a fashion-forward sage. She makes it her mission to usher others beyond "just okay" and embrace all the possibilities that lay ahead.

Intuitive stylist Susan Padron has created a timeless style guide and spiritual memoir that details her entrepreneurial journey and her diagnosis and struggle with endometriosis. We don’t do “just okay” anymore is filled with fashion, family, styling tips, and crystal magic to create a compelling story infused with humor and insight on every page.

Sharing tips from her years as a personal stylist and her own experiences, Susan Padron infuses her spirituality, intelligence, and compassion throughout every page. With Susan's words and expertise, your own personal style discovery is about to begin.

Download the ARC here.

essays by Samantha Mann

A candid search for self that is humorous and heartbreaking

In her debut collection of essays, Samantha Mann explores the highs and lows of loving yourself and others. Each essay is born out of recognizing one’s trauma and being cognizant and grateful for the person we become, as told through stories of adventurous musings and awkward missteps. As we watch Mann grow from observant teenager to an expressive, creative adult, nothing is off limits - and we are all the better for it.

Samantha Mann explores the stigma that accompanies mental health and the brave choice to seek therapy. She stresses the importance of living as your authentic self as she falls in love with her sorority sister, who will later become her wife.

As an entire collection, Putting Out: Essays on Otherness offers a thoughtful conversation on the power of female sexuality and owning one’s true identity. Samantha Mann has proven that we can appreciate who we once were in order to celebrate the happy ending of who we are now.

Download the ARC here.

by Midge Guerrera

Raise your cup of caffè and shout La Dolce Vita!

The road to change is paved with many adventures. In this case, it began with a tree. As a New Jersey native, Midge Guerrera knows she can handle whatever is thrown her way. But set against the idyllic Italian countryside, Midge never expected car trouble, terrifyingly winding roads, vespa gangs, and crowds of loud soccer fans.

With her Fiat ready to go, Midge sets out to explore the beauty of her new home in Pontelandolfo, journey through the Italian landscape, and take the many detours that leave her driven to distraction.

Hop in and join Midge as she shares the sights of Italy with her signature candor and humor in this memoir meets tour guide, all with unexpected results.

Download the ARC here.

by Bill Hemmig

A many-faceted curiosity. Which are looking back at you?

Explore the different sides of America with an eclectic mix of stories No matter what you're looking for, there's something for everyone: coming of age tales, historical fiction, and more. - A book to get a taste of Americana today.

Bill Hemmig, the author of the One 'n done title Brethren Hollow, presents Americana: Stories.

Americana is a combination of flash fiction and short stories that eclipse the many different sides of the American experience, from riding on the school bus to the backdrop of Disneyland to the lives we live.

Download the ARC here.

by Itua Uduebo

Life is lived between the checklists

Parade of Streetlights is a captivating exploration of the millennial experience. Following a significant incident from his youth in Lagos, Kolawole Idowu always had a haunting desire to return to Nigeria and commit his time to making a difference. Within the course of a year, Kola explores his home of New York City and all aspects of his world with candor and humor. Kola is both self-conscious and observant as he encounters people on the streets of NYC and constantly struggles with the idea of what it means to be himself.

A quarterlife manifesto for the modern malaise

Parade of Streetlights is a deeply personal and introspective debut novel from author Itua Uduebo told in vignettes and featuring characters who are working through many personal absurdities. This is a novel about the choices we make, the ways we restrict ourselves needlessly, and the freedom of embracing the authentic pursuit of happiness. Kola’s voice is a welcome addition to the literary canon and his story will stay with you long after the last page is finished

Download the ARC here.

by Y Rodriguez

A collection of stories infused with elements of magical and spiritual realism.

Urban Folk Tales is a work of fiction based upon the true life experiences of the people who live in the working poor and working class neighborhoods of New York City.

In “Laura and the Kick Boxer,” a chance encounter on the N Train changes the destiny of two people lucky enough to find each other. “The Manicurist” takes us to the most sacred of all spaces, the neighborhood nail salon, and its manicurist who struggles with her gift of clairvoyance and the people she wants to help. Each story explores moments of love, tragedy, joy, and survival - the miraculous and the mundane scenes that play up and down the avenues of the city, giving meaning to our lives.

Download the ARC here.

by Melanie Bell

A refreshing YA debut from Canadian author Melanie Bell, perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell, Becky Albertalli, and Nina LaCour.

Melanie Bell has created a compelling coming-of-age story, featuring a bisexual protagonist, for those that can relate to the search for untapped potential. Told in alternating timelines on Prince Edward Island and Vancouver, Chasing Harmony reminds us of the exhilarating feeling that comes with hearing your heart’s song.

Piano prodigy Anna Stern is used to having all eyes on her. As she becomes a teenager, Anna struggles to find her identity without the soundtrack of sonatas and concertos. There’s also the worry that comes with the crushing expectations of her musical gift and her parents’ imploding marriage.

Anna finds refuge in her best friend, Liss, who is full of magic and escape plans. However, now their relationship is changing and Anna is starting to fall for her. Adding to the complicated status is new kid Darien, who is always vying for Anna's attention.

As the haunting spectre of burnout lurks close by, an upcoming performance with Liss will determine both of their futures. With everything building to a crescendo, what follows is an authentic life in the making.

Download the ARC here.

by Matt Lydon

Another Day, Another Dollar. Another Job, Another Story.

Whether he's a teenager taking shifts at the local bingo hall, or navigating the literal sharks of the corporate world, Matt Lydon puts the term previous work experience required to task. Working Through This offers a fun and insightful perspective on what it means to show up and work, even under the most interesting of circumstances.

Ditch the fruitless job search and find a new career with Working Through This, the book for anyone who's been stuck in a rut for too long.

Download the ARC here.

by Lianne Cruz

The highly anticipated followup to Pursuit: A Collection of Art

In First, Lianne Cruz shares the heartfelt, and often unplanned, moments of pregnancy and motherhood. Drawn in a gorgeous series of vignettes, every panel captures the joys and challenges of first experiences and the people who share them with us.

Based on the webcomic, Li Comics, First documents Lianne Cruz's journey as an artist and a mother. A celebration of all the firsts that life presents to us, this graphic novel is the perfect follow-up to Pursuit: A Collection of Art, a finalist in the 2020 International Book Awards. Through her art and her signature style of warmth, humor, and storytelling, Lianne Cruz invites us to take a look at the beauty and complexity of life and reminds us that we are never alone in our journeys.

Download the ARC here.
(large file size PDF)

Story by Adam Wilson
Art by Jeff Chin

A young woman tries to rebuild her life after the apocalypse in this slim volume of glowing images featuring monsters both real and imagined. In the Fallout is a story of survival and strength told in a series of episodic moments that all lead to an unexpected reveal.

Believing she's the last person left on earth, the unnamed protagonist tries to navigate life in the desert. And while it may become apparent that she is not as alone as she may think, the events leading up to the tragedy that left her stranded are something she will have no choice but to face.

A little volume with a big message, In the Fallout is a tale of loss and grief - and the hope that exists among the missing pieces.

Download the ARC here.

by Lianne Cruz

2020 International Book Awards Finalist for Art

It is said you need 10,000 hours to master a skill…

For an artist, that can mean countless sketches, drawings, scribbles on the sides of restaurant napkins as you fine tune your style and discover your creative voice.

In Pursuit, animator Lianne Cruz (V1 Interactive, Sucker Punch Productions, Bethesda Game Studios) pulls back the curtain on the hours and the inspirations that have helped shape her into the artist she is today. Celebrate the pursuit of art within these pages.

Family traditions, creative rituals, travelogue, and (many) dinosaurs all make an appearance in this gorgeously illustrated collection.

Download the ARC here.
(large file size PDF)

Story by Adam Wilson
Art by Franco Viglino

A superhero story. An unlikely duo. And a story very much not about superheroes.

Perfect for YA readers, Brian & Bobbi takes all of the best components of a superhero story and connects them to an unlikely duo. Both want recognition from their families and working together is the best way to get what they want. The real fun is watching Brian and Bobbi discover that what they want isn’t exactly what they need.

Brian & Bobbi is a story for those who feel ignored on a daily basis. Brian has gone completely unnoticed all his life, despite being born with amazing superpowers. Bobbi is the illegitimate daughter of a superhero who can't seem to convince anyone she's just a regular kid.

By chance, the two meet and what results is a coming-of-age tale set upon a larger than life superhero backdrop. It's a graphic novel where the super villains, the powers, and the incredible fight scenes are really just the catalyst to tell the much deeper story of two people who couldn't be any more different -- or any more alike.

Download the ARC here.

by Andy Chang

A comic that takes a walk on the funny side for fans of The Far Side and Garfield

Northwood Meadows: Lifestyle are slice of life comics as illustrated through a colorful cast of witty animals to be told in three panel comic strips.

In the beautiful place of Northwood Meadows, you will meet an entertaining crew of animals (and one extraterrestrial):

Join our favorite citizens as they navigate society, politics, and the ongoing pandemic with refreshing humor. Take a moment to detach from stress as this collection fills you with warmth, inspiration and hope.

In Northwood Meadows, common sense and humor are all part of the lifestyle

Download the ARC here.

edited by S. Atzeni and Adam Wilson

Dear Reader, what you hold in your hands is a portrait of a state often misunderstood and never fully appreciated for the wonder that it is. Our stories come from the tip of High Point in Sussex County to the shores that run along the beaches of Cape May. Settle into your diner booth and brace yourself for a love letter to a state infamous for its people and places.

As a publisher based out of Central New Jersey, Read Furiously collects an eclectic and talented group of writers and artists to reveal a different side to the state which gave us Bruce Spingsteen, Bon Jovi, Coca-Cola, Bubble Wrap, Band-Aids, and air conditioners (just to name a few).

Each story is a heartfelt reminder of why, even though it is the fifth smallest state in the country, it’s the eleventh most populated.

Download the ARC here.

edited by S. Atzeni and Adam Wilson

The heart. The soul. The pork roll. It’s time for another trip to the glorious Garden State

Dear Reader, the book you hold in your hand is as relaxing as a day at the Shore, as tense as the traffic you hit on the way down to get there, and as expansive as the Pine Barrens you find yourself lost in after that wrong turn off the Parkway.

Stay Salty, the second volume in Read Furiously's popular New Jersey Anthology series, once again reminds us of everything we love and hate (and love to hate) about the Garden State.

Following the tradition of storytelling of The World Takes, Stay Salty features prose, poetry, comics, and photography that showcase the mysterious and fascinating elements that make up New Jersey and its inhabitants.

Grab some salt water taffy and listen in to voices from Sussex County to Cape May.

Because in New Jersey, there's always a story to tell.

Download the ARC here.

by Nicole Zamlout

What you hold in your hands is a celebration of celestial activity.

“Writers can be cruel
gods some days”

– from “Shower Thoughts”

The stars hang in solitude amidst the black of the night sky. For centuries we’ve mapped and charted their patterns, using this array of heavenly bodies as a way to connect with each other.

All These Little Stars explores a dynamic narrative of genres longing to answer the questions of the universe. From the longer pieces of literary realism to the free verse, constellation poetry of fantastical proportions, this is a story of finding one’s place against the backdrop of the swirling universe. The unconventionality of each tale asks us to take another look at the mysteries surrounding us.

Join us as we journey into Nicole Zamlout’s dreamlike and introspective world. This is the work of a storyteller who seeks to understand the truly infinite possibilities of the night sky.

Download the ARC here.

by Christopher Bursk

A metaphorical and mythical exploration of a talented poet’s life and career.

The late Christopher Bursk has given us a lasting gift of shared moments, both of terror and of peace. Told as a recollection of experiences, both real and imagined, Dear Terror reminds us that life must be forgiven in order to be lived.

“Famous poet, before you
take a nap
while I wait in the lobby for you to be done dreaming
ask me just one question.
That'd be enough."
– from “Delivering the Famous Poet to His Hotel”

The poems in this collection acknowledge that fear and anger must exist alongside comfort and longing for a life well-lived and a life thoroughly examined. This book is for those who search for moments alone and moments shared. For those who understand terror as an instrument of desire and of uncertainty.

With a career spanning decades, Christopher Bursk was a beloved father, grandfather, friend, professor, and poet. He was a champion of all literary causes and a great friend to Read Furiously. We are honored to publish this title.

Download the ARC here.

by Jo Freehand

A collection of poetry that redefines the poetry landscape.

Playing with space and creative form, Whatever You Thought, Think Again illustrates a creative agility that showcases the depth of Jo Freehand’s talent.

“... how could I not
walk into the outstretched arms
of that big bosom of a mother drum
inviting me to rest my head on her smooth,
warmed, pulsating flesh.”
-from “Walking Toward Djembe”

Passion and desire are welcome companions as Jo Freehand honors her queer identity through the celebration of the sacred life. With Jo Freehand as our fairytale guide, we are taken on a journey through the hidden forests of trauma, PTSD, and isolation and reach the other side to find beauty and longing.

As a minimalist poet, Jo Freehand plays with different structures - there are long-form poems, confessions, dreamscapes, a Tripadvisor post, and an application for the International Fairytale Princess Society. This mix of poems embodies a memory of healing and survival, reminding us to face our present - monsters and all.

Download the ARC here.