Welcome to My Bookshelf

A near-future science fiction thriller that explores what happens when artificial intelligence begins to outpace the humans who created it. The Torus Run follows a world already dependent on advanced systems—and the quiet, dangerous moment when control starts to slip.

Grounded, tense, and unsettlingly plausible, the story focuses less on spectacle and more on the choices, compromises, and consequences that shape the future long before anyone realizes what’s at stake.

Find the book here:
https://books2read.com/the-torus-run

 A fast-paced science fiction story centered on resistance, survival, and the cost of standing against systems designed to control. Rebel Planet blends action with larger questions about power, loyalty, and what it means to fight for something bigger than yourself. It’s the kind of book that pulls you into its world quickly and keeps the stakes personal, even as they grow. 

Find the book here:

https://a.co/d/0bFcpsRV

 A Children's Book about Bullying, Belonging, and Love 

A tender and uplifting children’s story about kindness, belonging, and embracing what makes us different. Through Henri—a lovable French bulldog who learns that his snort is part of what makes him special—the book offers a compassionate message about self-acceptance and empathy that resonates with children and adults alike. It’s beautifully illustrated, emotionally thoughtful, and leaves a lasting reminder that we are all magnificent just as we are.

Find the book here:
https://a.co/d/0iAYd3OU

A quiet, moving novel about love, loss, and the small things that give life meaning. As a dying man is offered extra days in exchange for pieces of the world disappearing, he’s forced to reflect on what truly matters—relationships, memories, and the presence of his cat. Tender, bittersweet, and deeply human.

Find the book here:
https://a.co/d/0eO7a3p4

A reflective and quietly hopeful novel about the lives we imagine and the choices that shape us. Set within a library that contains every possible version of a life, the story follows one woman as she explores the paths not taken and questions what truly makes life meaningful. Thoughtful and emotionally resonant, this book gently invites readers to reconsider regret, possibility, and the value of the life they’re already living.

Find the book here:
https://a.co/d/06dpYezB

A deeply personal follow-up to Crazy Making, this book blends lyrics with the stories behind the songs and the people who shaped them.

Justin Furstenfeld shares his experiences with honesty and humor, pulling back the curtain on both his creative process and his life. Reading the lyrics alongside his reflections adds a new layer of meaning to the music.

Find the book here:
ttps://blueoctobershop.com/products/bo1435

 Samantha Childs writes with warmth, honesty, and emotional clarity. Her work—spanning children’s books, essays, and poetry—centers on belonging, self-acceptance, and the small, human moments that often go unspoken. Whether she’s writing for children or adults, her voice is gentle, thoughtful, and deeply resonant. 

Author website:
https://henriandthemagnificentsnort.com/

Substack:
https://samanthaachilds.substack.com/

About the author:
https://henriandthemagnificentsnort.com/about

 Parker Lyons writes dark, imaginative science fiction and horror that explores the uneasy intersection of technology and human nature. His stories are sharp, unsettling, and thoughtful—often leaving you with more questions than answers in the best way. As a co-founder of Midnight Carnival, his work consistently leans into bold ideas, twisted futures, and a love of genre storytelling done well.

Website:
https://www.themidnightcarnival.com/parker-lyons

LinkTree

https://linktr.ee/parkerlyons

Substack:
https://midnightcarnival.substack.com/

Free ebook:
https://www.themidnightcarnival.com/free-ebook

A personal essay that blends humor, vulnerability, and insight while exploring what it means to say what we really want—and what it costs when we don’t. This one feels like a deep exhale.

Read it on Substack:
https://substack.com/inbox/post/186232409

A quiet, intimate poem about traveling alone, rediscovering oneself, and the unexpected connections found in small moments. Written with warmth and attentiveness, this piece captures the feeling of being fully present—of noticing people, places, and fleeting encounters that somehow feel like home.

Read it on Substack: 

https://samanthaachilds.substack.com/p/postcards-from-ireland

A deeply personal and contemplative essay about mortality, truth, and the courage it takes to share ourselves imperfectly. Moving through memory, nature, grief, and self-reflection, this piece gently reminds us that our time here is brief—and that living honestly may be the most meaningful way to spend it.

Read it on Substack:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-183374304