Akshay Sharma | MarkFly Founder on His Work in Literature, Cinema, and New‑Age Media

NY Weekly Staff on January 1, 2026

By: Aman Jalan

From Coimbatore to New York, and from Indian bookshelves to Times Square, Akshay Sharma has gained recognition as a prominent figure in literature and media at a young age. An author with international reach, a full-time global publisher, an actor in mainstream Tamil and Indian cinema, an independent music composer, and a creator who introduced the world to an entirely new storytelling format, Akshay Sharma’s journey is defined by purpose over popularity.

At the center of this journey stands MarkFly, his company, and Meninist, his upcoming global book. Together, they define his philosophy and long-term legacy, one that now spans New York, London, Los Angeles, Toronto, Dubai, Singapore, Sydney, Colombo, and significant cultural hubs across India and the United States.

Akshay Sharma is the Founder of MarkFly Publishers, the Founder & Director of the Coimbatore Literary Awards (CLA Global Awards), and the visionary force building the Coimbatore Literary Festival—platforms created not for personal fame, but to uplift writers, thinkers, and artists on a truly global stage.

Books: Where the Journey Truly Began

Before cinema, media innovation, or awards, there were books.

Akshay Sharma’s debut, The Flying Dreams (2018), marked a significant milestone in his career. Instead of focusing solely on sales numbers, the book reached a broad audience, connecting with readers across various age groups and professions. It spread through conversations, classrooms, creative circles, and international readers’ communities.

Akshay has always been clear that reach matters more than the number ofunitss sold. His writing was never meant to sit quietly on shelves; it was meant to travel.

A decisive turning point came in 2018 when he met legendary Indian author and motivational speaker Shiv Khera. That single meeting altered the course of his life. Inspired and challenged, Akshay left his international corporate job immediately, choosing uncertainty over regret. From that decision, MarkFly was born, slowly, honestly, and with vision.

He followed with A Writer on a Mission and later The Rise of Astraavan, which gained attention in numerous countries worldwide. Akshay focuses on writing for impact, longevity, and purpose, rather than pursuing bestseller status.

Readers often quote lines from his books:

“Fly with your dreams, but don’t fly in your dreams.”

Akshay Sharma | MarkFly Founder on His Work in Literature, Cinema, and New‑Age Media

Photo Courtesy: MarkFly

MENINIST & Men in Mystery: Thought Before Timing

Akshay Sharma’s upcoming book MENINIST has sparked significant discussion. The book trailer, released on International Men’s Day (November 19), gained considerable attention across digital platforms ahead of the book’s release.

The book itself is scheduled for later 2026, and Akshay has publicly stated that this may be his only book for the next five years. His focus during this period is clear: running MarkFly Publishers, expanding CLA Global Awards, building the Coimbatore Literary Festival into an internationally respected cultural event, and continuing his work in Indian cinema.

Alongside MENINIST, his global concept “Men in Mystery”—centered on the theme of Respecting Women, Empowering Men—has gained interest in various countries. Readers and audiences across regions like India, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia are engaging with its themes ahead of its release.

MENINIST presents a balanced human narrative: respecting women while acknowledging emotional realities men often experience silently. Experts who align with this thought point out that people frequently change when they believe they have found someone “better.” That emotional insecurity leads individuals to move from relationship to relationship without accountability. The work calls for empathy, emotional maturity, and shared responsibility—without hostility or blame.

A VFX–AI–CGI-Driven Podcast

One of Akshay Sharma’s achievements is the launch of a VFX–AI–CGI-driven podcast, introducing a new approach to podcasting.

By combining cinematic VFX, artificial intelligence, CGI environments, and human conversation, the format introduced a unique visual podcast experience. The podcast has gained attention across social media and international platforms, with notable visibility in cities like New York, Los Angeles, London, Toronto, and Dubai.

This innovative approach has placed Akshay Sharma and MarkFly in a key position, illustrating how technology can support storytelling while maintaining human creativity.

Times Square, New York: A Landmark Moment

In a moment that drew international attention, Akshay Sharma was featured in Times Square, New York. For New York readers and global media, the appearance was viewed as a sign of growing visibility for Indian independent literature on a major cultural stage.

The Times Square feature further strengthened his credibility among U.S. readers, publishers, and creative communities, reinforcing that Indian stories, when driven by authenticity, belong on global platforms.

Akshay Sharma | MarkFly Founder on His Work in Literature, Cinema, and New‑Age Media

Photo Courtesy: MarkFly

Cinema: Built on Trust, Gratitude, and Credit

Akshay Sharma’s identity as an actor was shaped by belief and mentorship. He openly credits Obeli N. Krishna, director of Pathu Thala, as the foundation of his acting career. Obeli N. Krishna trusted Akshay not just as an actor, but as an author with depth, and that belief gave him his cinematic identity.

He has also spoken about the influence of producer Dheeraj Kher, noting his support during Sharma’s early years working in Tamil cinema. Another name Akshay never forgets is Addhava Eshvvara. At the beginning, both supported each other. Akshay is known for one rare quality: he never forgets or omits those who shaped him, irrespective of how far he has reached. He has helped thousands in literature and cinema, yet for him, loyalty to beginnings matters most.

He is also the executive producer of the Tamil film Bhai Sleeper Cell (released in 2025), based on the Coimbatore serial blasts in the late 1990s. The film received positive reviews and played a key role in shaping his growth as a producer.

Icons, One Core Value: Gratitude

Akshay Sharma has connected with numerous personalities across Indian cinema, spanning Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada, and Telugu industries. He has shared his books with many of them, focusing on exchanging ideas rather than seeking validation.

These include Legendary Actor Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, Actor Kabir Bedi, Author Mrs. Sudha Murthy, Legendary Cricketer VVS Laxman, television and film actress Tanaz Irani, and many others.

A rare honor followed when Amitabh Bachchan personally sent Akshay Sharma two handwritten letters, acknowledging his two international books, a moment Akshay considers one of the greatest validations of his literary journey.

Inspiration from Space, Wisdom, and Spirituality

Akshay also met Rakesh Sharma in 2019, India’s legendary astronaut, whose words—“Don’t stop with just one book. Keep writing more. I want to see you rise” became a lifelong motivation.

He later met Monk Gaur Gopal Das and presented his book at the Kerala Literature Festival (2019), reinforcing his belief that literature must blend wisdom with lived reality.

From Bangalore: Being Awarded to Giving Awards

Akshay Sharma’s first major award came in 2018 from Bangalore. Years later, the same city now invites him as Guest of Honour and Chief Guest, where he presents awards and addresses large audiences. From being awarded to giving awards across different parts of India, his journey reflects growth rooted in humility: a point he often highlights on SIWAA platforms.

Mr. Deepak Tater Jain & Twell Media Group

Akshay Sharma consistently gives full credit to Mr. Deepak Tater Jain, the Founder of Twell Media Group and the celebrated organizer of SIWAA. Today, Deepak Tater Jain is recognized as a leading cultural organizer, and Akshay openly acknowledges him for his work. The growing-together mindset, with support from each other, has been a Win-Win for both, as we believe in each other’s vision.

Friendship, Boundaries, and the Quiet Cost of Growth

Behind the public milestones and global visibility, Akshay Sharma often speaks with honesty about the personal cost of growth. As his journey evolved, his circle naturally became smaller. Fame, he believes, is powerful, but it is also lonely.

He openly acknowledges a few friends who stood by him from the very beginning, without envy, without expectation, and without transactional intent. Among them are Akash Vedmutha, Abisheik Menon, and Aman Dube, friends who remained constant when there was no spotlight and no global attention.

Events, Politics, and Leadership

With a wide range of events since 2018, including literary festivals, cinema forums, media shows, and political gatherings, Akshay Sharma has engaged with numerous politicians and leaders, steadily establishing himself as a figure who bridges creativity, culture, and public dialogue across India and beyond.

Mark-Fly, CLA & the Road Ahead

Today, Mark-Fly Publishers operates globally, CLA Global Awards continues to recognize writers worldwide, and the Coimbatore Literary Festival is being built as a lasting cultural landmark.

Often described as a one-person army, Akshay Sharma balances creation with leadership. At a young age, he stands as a celebrated global author, renowned publisher, actor, independent composer, and innovator: yet he remains firmly grounded in gratitude.

With Mark-Fly as his engine and MENINIST as his next global book, Akshay Sharma’s journey is not about fame.

It is about remembering every beginning and building a legacy that lasts.

Learn more about MarkFly Publishers: www.markflypublishers.com 

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When Dragons Kill: Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson’s Journey into the Darkest Corners of the Human Mind

NY Weekly Staff on December 30, 2025

By: Elowen Gray

In the sterile corridors of forensic psychiatry, where science confronts the aftermath of human darkness, Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson spent decades asking a question that has long intrigued him: What transforms an ordinary person into a monster? The answers he found were more disturbing than the crimes themselves because the monsters, he discovered, were not born. They were made. By us. By society. By silence, neglect, and the fractures we often overlook.

This realization became the foundation of When Dragons Kill: Stories of Madness, Betrayal, and the Monsters Within, a collection of ten psychological and forensic narratives that explore the fine line between sanity and darkness, innocence and guilt, victim and perpetrator. Written by a world-renowned neuroscientist and molecular geneticist whose groundbreaking work has contributed to global understanding of addiction and mental health, the book is neither a clinical case study nor a conventional thriller. It is something more unsettling: a mirror.

Where Science Meets Storytelling

Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson is not a writer who simply incorporates science. He is a physician-scientist who has chosen narrative as a scalpel, one sharp enough to cut through the comfortable distance we maintain from human behavior we call “evil.” Educated at the Universities of Glasgow, London, and Oxford, where he earned a medical degree and two doctoral degrees in Medicine and Neuroscience, he has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, including the world-leading textbook, Addiction Medicine. He holds over 100 patents in molecular genetics, has led major academic and clinical centers, and founded Casa Privée and Miami Stem Cell Clinic, pioneering regenerative approaches to brain science.

But credentials alone do not explain this book. What distinguishes this work is its genesis in three decades of real-world clinical and forensic insight, for which years were spent not merely studying trauma and violence from academic distance, but witnessing how psychological, societal, and neurobiological forces converge to shatter human lives. The book channels that experience into ten stories that function less as fiction and more as psychological autopsies of the soul.

The Anatomy of Darkness

When Dragons Kill: Stories of Madness, Betrayal, and the Monsters Within operates at the intersection of dark psychology, forensic psychiatry, and human behavior, which is a territory where most writers might hesitate to tread with authority. Each narrative explores the mechanisms by which ordinary consciousness fractures: the thin membrane separating sanity from madness, the social conditions that can cultivate violence, and the betrayals that corrode moral foundations. Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson examines mob psychology and moral panic, the hysteria that transforms communities into hunting packs, and the cruelty that society performs while claiming virtue.

The book’s forensic psychiatry framework invites readers to consider complexities without offering clear-cut explanations. There are no pure villains here, no monsters conveniently separate from ourselves. Instead, Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson reveals how trauma becomes inheritance, how neglect can compound into rage, how the failure to name and confront psychological wounds may allow them to metastasize into something unrecognizable. These are stories about what happens when we look away and what we become when we finally look back.

The narratives draw on neuropsychiatry not as decoration but as architecture. Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson understands that crime and violence are not merely behavioral phenomena but neurobiological ones, shaped by brain chemistry, genetic vulnerability, environmental stress, and the accumulated weight of unprocessed trauma. This scientific grounding gives the stories a texture that purely imaginative fiction cannot achieve, providing the sense that you are reading not invented horrors but realistic portrayals, fictionalized only enough to protect the guilty and the dead.

The Dragons We All Carry

The book’s central metaphor—“Dragons”—operates on multiple registers. In one sense, dragons represent the darkness within every human psyche, the capacity for destruction that civilization teaches us to suppress but never truly eliminates. In another, they symbolize trauma itself: the wounds we carry, often invisible, that shape our choices and constrain our capacity for connection, empathy, and moral clarity. And in perhaps the most disturbing sense, dragons represent society’s shadow as collective violence, the systemic cruelties, the institutional betrayals that we participate in while believing ourselves innocent.

“We all have our dragons,” Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson writes. “The tragedy is not in having them, but in never learning to name them.”

This philosophy that true strength comes not from denying inner darkness but from naming it, understanding it, and choosing what it becomes runs through every narrative in the collection. It is a philosophy forged not in abstract contemplation but in the crucible of clinical practice, where Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson confronted the limits of traditional psychiatry and the entrenched misconceptions that may prevent society from acknowledging the true origins of human suffering and destructive behavior.

A Lifelong Commitment to Understanding

Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson’s journey to When Dragons Kill: Stories of Madness, Betrayal, and the Monsters Within began long before he considered writing fiction. It started in medical school, in psychiatric wards, in forensic consultations where he saw how legal, medical, and ethical systems often resist uncomfortable truths about addiction, mental illness, and criminal behavior. His work in addiction medicine, which is a field he helped revolutionize, has taught him that the substances we blame are merely symptoms, that the real disease lies deeper, in the neurobiological and psychological terrain where suffering takes root.

Over decades, Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson accumulated not just knowledge but wisdom about human fragility. He learned that the line between patient and perpetrator is thinner than we imagine, that the factors separating functional from dysfunctional, productive from destructive, are often accidents of birth, environment, and intervention. He watched people become what trauma shaped them into. And he realized that science alone, with its peer-reviewed papers, clinical trials, and molecular genetics, could not always capture or communicate these truths.

Fiction became necessary, not as an escape from scientific rigor but as its complement. Stories could reach the parts of understanding that data might not touch. They could make readers feel the weight of psychological collapse, the terror of losing oneself, the horror of becoming unrecognizable. They could force confrontation with the uncomfortable reality that the monsters we fear are often the ones society creates, and the ones we silently carry within ourselves.

An Invitation to Confrontation

When Dragons Kill: Stories of Madness, Betrayal, and the Monsters Within is not entertainment in any conventional sense, it does not offer the satisfaction of justice served or villains vanquished. Instead, it offers something more valuable and more disturbing: psychological truth. Each story functions as a diagnostic tool, revealing not just the pathology of its characters but the pathology of the world that shaped them and, by extension, the pathology we participate in daily.

The book demands that readers confront not only the darkness around them but their own capacity for cruelty, their own unexamined traumas, their own dragons. It is psychological fiction written with the precision of forensic psychiatry and the emotional depth of someone who has spent a lifetime studying what creates and destroys human lives. For readers interested in crime and forensic narratives, mental health themes, and the darker complexities of human behavior, whether general readers, students, authors, or professionals in psychology, medicine, and criminology, this collection offers an unflinching exploration of forces that may shape violence, trauma, and moral collapse.

Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson’s work across neuroscience, addiction medicine, and now literary fiction represents a unified project: understanding the human mind in all its beauty and horror. When Dragons Kill: Stories of Madness, Betrayal, and the Monsters Within is the culmination of that project, which is a book that refuses to let us hide from what we are, what we might become, and what we have already done to each other.

The question is whether we have the courage to look.

Discover When Dragons Kill: Stories of Madness, Betrayal, and the Monsters Within, which is available now in eBook and print format on Amazon.

Connect with Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson:

Exploring Niche Yet Important Books on Modern Asian History

NY Weekly Staff on December 30, 2025

By: Farzana Bashir

Modern Asian history is rich, complex, and pivotal to understanding the world we live in today. While many well-known books cover broad topics like the rise of China, the legacy of colonialism, or the impact of WWII on the region, there are also several niche but equally essential works that dive into specific events, cultures, and ideologies that have shaped the continent. 

These books often go under the radar for general readers, but they offer invaluable insights into the events and people that have influenced modern Asian history. In this article, we’ll explore four books that provide a deep dive into critical yet often overlooked aspects of modern Asian history. These works are expertly written and meticulously researched, giving readers a thorough understanding of their topics.

Comfort Women: The Japanese Empire and the Trafficking of Women During World War II by Chunghee Sarah Soh

One important, though often overlooked, aspect of WWII is addressed in this book by Chunghee Sarah Soh. Comfort Women: The Japanese Empire and the Trafficking of Women During World War II by Soh is a vital book that sheds light on this harrowing chapter of history. Soh explores the stories of the “comfort women”—a term used to refer to the women, mainly from Korea and China, who served during the Japanese occupation of Asia.

In her well-researched and deeply empathetic account, Soh examines the legal, social, and cultural contexts that allowed such an atrocity to take place and the long-lasting impact it had on the lives of the former comfort women. 

Soh’s writing not only provides historical insight but also personalizes the women’s stories, which have often been overlooked or misrepresented in mainstream historical accounts. Soh’s contribution to the field does not end with this book. She has written other works exploring similar themes, such as The Comfort Women and Sexual Slavery during World War II. These works continue to challenge the historical amnesia that surrounds the comfort women issue and remain essential for anyone looking to understand the full scope of the impact of wartime atrocities in Asia.

Anti-Japan Tribalism: The Root of the Korean Crisis by Kyu Hyun Kim

Kyu Hyun Kim’s Anti-Japan Tribalism: The Root of the Korean Crisis explores the complex and often contentious relationship between Japan and Korea, particularly in the modern era. This book takes a deep dive into the underlying factors that have contributed to anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea, providing a nuanced look at the cultural, historical, and political drivers of this animosity. Kim’s work challenges conventional narratives about Japan-Korea relations and urges readers to understand how the legacy of colonialism, combined with post-colonial national identities, continues to shape tensions in contemporary East Asia.

Kim, a distinguished academic in East Asian studies, has written extensively on Korean-Japanese relations. His other notable work, Korea and the Politics of Nationalism, further delves into the formation of Korean national identity and how Japan’s occupation of Korea remains a critical source of both collective memory and political division. Anti-Japan Tribalism provides readers with a compelling framework for understanding the roots of the current Korean crisis. It offers a fresh perspective on the broader implications of historical animosities in international relations.

Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze by Peter Harmsen

Another book that offers a niche but critical perspective on modern Asian history is Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze by Peter Harmsen. This book examines the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, a crucial but often overlooked moment in the Second Sino-Japanese War. The battle set the stage for Japan’s full-scale invasion of China, which had far-reaching consequences for the course of World War II in the Pacific. Harmsen’s work not only covers the military strategy and events of the battle but also highlights the broader geopolitical context and the human cost of this conflict.

The book’s title, Stalingrad on the Yangtze, emphasizes the scale and intensity of the battle, which was one of the most brutal in modern Asian history. Harmsen’s meticulous research draws on a wide range of primary sources, from both Chinese and Japanese perspectives, to provide a balanced account of the conflict. He also highlights the involvement of Western powers, such as the United States and Great Britain, who were both concerned with maintaining their interests in China and managing their relations with Japan.

Peter Harmsen is no stranger to this kind of detailed historical work. He has written extensively on similar themes, particularly in his book The Chinese War of Resistance, 1937-1945. In 1937, Harmsen brings a momentous event that had long been overshadowed by larger battles in Europe and the Pacific to the forefront, reminding readers of China’s role in the broader context of WWII. Harmsen’s work on Shanghai and the Chinese resistance is an essential contribution to the literature on the Second Sino-Japanese War and WWII in Asia.

Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941 by David C. Evans and Mark R. Peattie

For those interested in the military history of Asia, particularly in the lead-up to WWII, Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941 by David C. Evans and Mark R. Peattie is an indispensable work. This book is a comprehensive examination of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during its period of growth and transformation from the late 19th century to the early years of World War II. The book offers an in-depth look at the strategies, tactics, and technological innovations that made the IJN one of the most formidable naval forces of the early 20th century.

Evans and Peattie bring a level of detail to their subject that is unmatched in most military history texts. They analyze the strategic decisions of Japan’s military leadership, the technological developments that gave Japan an edge in naval warfare, and the broader political and economic factors that shaped the Empire’s maritime expansion. The authors also delve into the cultural and institutional aspects of the IJN, providing readers with a fuller understanding of how Japan’s naval officers were trained and how their ethos influenced key military decisions during WWII.

David C. Evans and Mark R. Peattie have written extensively on the history of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Their co-authored work, The Japanese Naval Air Campaign Against the U.S., 1941-194,2 further explores the military history of the Pacific War, with a focus on Japan’s naval air operations. For anyone looking to understand the historical underpinnings of Japan’s naval strategies and the evolution of its military doctrine, Kaigun is a crucial text.

Overlooked Books on Modern Asian History 

These books, though niche, offer profound insights into different aspects of modern Asian history. From the painful legacy of Japan’s wartime atrocities in Comfort Women to the military strategies of the Imperial Japanese Navy in Kaigun, these works give readers a deeper understanding of the forces that shaped modern Asia. 

Whether exploring the complexities of Japan-Korea relations, as seen in Anti-Japan Tribalism, or examining the pivotal events of WWII in Chi, as seen in Shanghai 1937, these books reveal stories and perspectives often neglected in mainstream historical accounts. They are indispensable reads for anyone seeking to better understand the modern history of Asia and the forces that continue to shape its future.

These authors, including Chunghee Sarah Soh, Kyu Hyun Kim, Peter Harmsen, and David C. Evans & Mark R. Peattie, have contributed significant scholarly work to the field, offering nuanced, thorough, and engaging accounts of the complexities of modern Asian history. Their books, often overlooked, are vital for anyone seeking to grasp the actual intricacies of the region’s past and its ongoing impact on global geopolitics.

Tiffany Williams’ Journey: From Brooklyn to Breakthrough and Resilience

NY Weekly Staff on December 30, 2025

By: William Jones

In the compelling memoir God, Are You Listening?, author Tiffany shares a poignant story of faith, survival, and self-discovery from her early life, which covers her birth and childhood in Brooklyn and Houston through her young adulthood challenges, providing an intimate view of overcoming hardship.

From Brooklyn Roots to Houston Beginnings

The memoir starts with Tiffany’s birth in 1989 at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, where she dealt with health issues from birth defects. Adopted by her aunt and cared for by her grandparents at first, her early years felt unsettled. At around age four or five, she moved to Houston with her mother and met her brother. This change highlights the family’s Caribbean background and their strict Jehovah’s Witness beliefs.

In Houston, life brought new difficulties: a small apartment with plastic-covered furniture, strong cleaning smells, and a sense of quiet endurance. Her father, tall and charming but often away on work trips, differed from her mother’s strict rules and preference for her brother, who had seizures. School offered an escape, where Tiffany succeeded in academics and sports, earning awards that helped build her confidence despite home troubles.

Light Amid the Cracks: Faith, Dreams, and Hidden Strengths

The story then explores Tiffany’s inner thoughts, where faith served both as support and as a source of questions. Growing up in a Jehovah’s Witness home with regular meetings and studies, she struggled with ideas of suffering and love. Vivid dreams, such as one in which she rescues her grandfather, suggested divine help, blending real memories with spiritual insights. These parts show her silent prayers at night, seeking comfort from a distant father and a mother whose affection was sometimes limited.

School remained important: special programs, band, and sports gave her recognition. Friendships, such as with Courtney, brought moments of normal life and help. But home was still tough, with arguments, mistreatment, and worries about being separated. Tiffany’s expression grew through writing, music, and small acts of defiance, as she began to doubt the faith that guided yet also restricted her.

Echoes of Adolescence

As Tiffany reached middle and high school, the narrative focused on teenage struggles. She handled school life amid family issues, like her sister’s leaving home and her mother’s worsening problems. Basketball helped, but racism and injuries posed challenges. Her faith shifted; she got ready for baptism while wondering about God’s role in pain.

The account moved to her junior year, filled with heartbreak, the effects of Hurricane Katrina, and denied scholarships. Her father promised a car for good grades, but gave her a Beetle instead of the Mustang she had hoped for, showing unfulfilled hopes. Home violence worsened, with her father harming her mother, leading Tiffany to step in.

Shadows After the Stage

Her graduation, unexpected pregnancy, and assault by a photographer during a modeling job. She had her son in New Orleans, named him after her father, and ended the harmful relationship. Back in Houston, she attended college independently, worked at CVS, and cared for her baby in poverty and loneliness.

“Milk, Prayer, and Smoke” brought new connections, a rapper boyfriend who introduced Islam, leading to a short conversion, and Ron, a tattoo artist with a criminal history and interest in the occult. Tiffany managed parenting, changing beliefs, and unhealthy relationships, culminating with her son’s birth and the father’s departure. Dreams and prayers continued as sources of strength, showing her determination.

Themes of Faith, Family, and Self-Discovery

Tiffany’s tale demonstrates quiet power. Faith is personal, a conversation with God through dreams and prayers. Family reveals patterns of mistreatment and bias, but her successes, school achievements, sports, and early parenting demonstrate her strength. The story addresses racism, sexism, and poverty directly, making it relevant for those with similar experiences.

Tiffany’s style is honest, mixing vulnerability with hope. Her path from a fragile child to a strong mother highlights how hardship can shape identity and how faith can help empower rather than limit.

To Sum up

God, Are You Listening? lays the foundation for an inspiring memoir that urges readers to pay attention to their own lives. Tiffany’s story teaches that voices can rise even in quiet times. For anyone dealing with faith, family, or personal hardships, the book offers comfort and courage. As Tiffany asks God, “Are You listening?” readers find reassurance in her endurance.

An Industry Leader with a Writer’s Soul: Dr. Sushant Rajput Unveils the Next Chapter of His Evolving Legacy

NY Weekly Staff on December 28, 2025

Dr. Sushant Rajput stands out as a rare blend of corporate leader, author, mentor, and thought leader whose career reflects both professional excellence and deep personal purpose. With over two decades of experience across the IT and ITES industries, he has built a journey that moves seamlessly from technology and finance to leadership, literature, and human development.

Currently serving as Vice President at eClerx Services Ltd., Dr. Rajput leads business development, solutioning, and transformation initiatives, playing a critical role in shaping strategic growth. His professional path has been anything but linear. Beginning with a foundation in Computer Science, he transitioned through Investment Banking Operations and Business Development before evolving into an author and mentor whose work now impacts professionals, students, and leaders alike.

Over the years, Dr. Rajput has held key managerial and leadership roles at globally respected organizations, including HCL Technologies, Société Générale, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Deutsche Bank. Alongside his corporate responsibilities, he has remained deeply committed to education, serving as a Visiting Faculty and Corporate Mentor at various MBA institutions. In these roles, he actively guides students on career clarity, professional readiness, and essential life skills, areas often overlooked in formal education.

Dr. Rajput’s journey as an author did not begin with a publishing contract or a structured roadmap. Instead, it emerged quietly from lived experiences, unanswered questions, and the emotional weight of a demanding corporate life. Writing often took place late at night, in the margins of professional commitments, accompanied by rejection, self-doubt, and long silences from publishers. Yet the persistence in putting lived truth on paper never faded. For him, writing became less about recognition and more about responsibility, giving voice to thoughts and struggles many experience but rarely articulate, especially during the early and uncertain stages of professional and personal life.

This philosophy is reflected in his books. His debut, I Wish Someone Told Me This Before My First Job, was shaped by years of mentoring young professionals and observing the stark gap between academic success and workplace reality. The book addresses unspoken rules, early failures, emotional shocks, and practical lessons that are rarely taught but deeply felt. Upon its release, it found its audience quietly but powerfully, resonating with first-time professionals, MBA students, and early-career employees. Readers saw their own unspoken struggles reflected in its pages, leading to its recognition as an Amazon Bestseller and establishing it as a trusted, practical guide for those stepping into the corporate world.

His second book, Mindful Momentum: Navigating Procrastination and Overthinking, emerged from a deeply personal phase marked by inner conflict and the need to slow down, reflect, and rebuild focus. Rooted in lived experience rather than abstract theory, the book explores mindfulness, inner discipline, and sustainable progress in an age defined by speed, pressure, and constant noise. Readers did not merely consume the book; they connected with it emotionally. Many described it as grounding, timely, and deeply human, particularly for professionals facing burnout and self-doubt. Its impact was affirmed by strong reader reviews, organic word-of-mouth, and prestigious honors, including the Sahitya Sparsh Award for Productivity and Time Management.

Dr. Rajput is currently working on his third book, Courage Within: Indian Tales of Grit and Values, which is scheduled for publication by MARK-FLY PUBLISHERS. This work is inspired by a deeply rooted belief that values such as resilience, ethics, and courage must be planted early, before life tests individuals, not after it breaks them. Together, his three books form interconnected chapters of a single journey shaped by struggle, reflection, and the conviction that honest words written with purpose eventually reach those who need them most.

Beyond literature, Dr. Rajput’s contributions have earned him wide recognition. He has received multiple national and international awards, including honorary doctorates, global leadership honors, and literary excellence awards. His work and journey have been extensively covered by leading media platforms. Fortune India featured him as a “Leader Rising Each Year” in 2025, while Forbes India profiled him as a visionary leader. Business Today and India Today listed him among the Inspiring Personalities, with additional coverage across Open Magazine, Outlook India, Hindustan Times, Zee News, Fox Story India, and The Literature Times.

Through his leadership roles, books, talks, and mentoring, Dr. Sushant Rajput continues to empower individuals to overcome mental barriers, build meaningful momentum, and live with intentionality, proving that authenticity, guided by purpose, leaves a far more lasting imprint than hype or titles ever could.

How Dr. Julie Powell Hall Turned One Dog’s Final Journey Into a Story of Hope, Healing, and Second Chances

NY Weekly Staff on December 26, 2025

By: Sherry C. Poulson

In a world where stories of compassion feel more needed than ever, Max’s Last Journey: Paws Across America arrives at a time when such messages may resonate more deeply. A heartwarming gift that gently reminds us that love, hope, and togetherness are what can make life meaningful. Based on a true story, the book follows Max, an aging dog whose declining health seems to threaten his once-bright spirit. But instead of accepting the inevitable, his family chooses to embrace love, adventure, and a cross-country journey that transforms not only Max’s final chapter but their own.

At the heart of this unforgettable story stands the author, Dr. Julie Powell Hall, an educator, world traveler, and lifelong believer in the power of inspiration. Her debut book is not just a tale about a dog. It is a tribute to resilience, compassion, and the extraordinary bond we share with our animals. A perfect read for cozy winter nights, family gatherings, or quiet moments of reflection.

Real Love and Real Loss

Max’s Last Journey is rooted in real events. When Max’s health began to deteriorate, the emotional toll on his family was heavy. Many might have considered keeping him home, comfortable, and quiet. But Dr. Julie Hall and her loved ones saw something different in his tired eyes: hope. Determined not to let his final days be marked by sadness, they decided to take him on one last adventure across the United States.

What began as an attempt to lift Max’s spirits gradually became a new experience for everyone involved. Max, who had once seemed withdrawn and defeated, began to come alive again, wagging his tail, exploring new places, and soaking in the love around him. The journey became a celebration of life, a testament to the healing power of movement, change, and companionship. Through panoramic landscapes, quiet roadside moments, and heartfelt reflections, he found joy in every mile.

And Dr. Julie Hall found a story worth sharing with the world, one that may connect with the warmth and giving spirit of the holiday season.

The Woman Behind the Words

Dr. Julie Powell Hall’s own story is one of perseverance and purpose. Raised in Bethany Beach, Delaware, Julie grew up overcoming early life challenges that shaped her resilience and positivity. She has always believed in seeking the good, even during difficult chapters, and this philosophy is woven gently through every page of the book.

Her career reflects the same determination. From 13 years at Eastman Kodak to finance at Dun & Bradstreet, Julie later transitioned to academia, where she spent 17 years at Napa Valley College, eventually retiring as Professor Emerita in Business Administration. During her tenure, she earned a Ph.D. in Education, focusing on Professional Studies, showing her commitment to learning, excellence, and mentorship.

When her mother suffered several mini-strokes, Julie made the heartfelt decision to retire early and step into a caregiving role. This deep sense of responsibility, compassion, and love echoes the emotional themes at the center of Max’s story. Today, she continues to teach as an adjunct instructor at Delaware Technical College, bringing warmth and insight to every classroom she steps into.

Julie’s passions, such as traveling, cooking, photography, entertaining, and connecting with others, shine through her writing. Having traveled to 46 U.S. states and 26 countries, she brings a worldly sensitivity to her storytelling, capturing beauty in both the grand and intimate moments of life.

Why Max’s Story Is Unique

At its core, Max’s Last Journey: Paws Across America is about choosing love over fear, hope over despair, and connection over resignation. It’s a reminder that aging, whether in pets or people, is not an ending, but an evolving experience rich with meaning. Max’s journey teaches us that life, even in its final seasons, can still surprise us with joy, adventure, and deep emotional renewal.

This holiday season, the story might resonate more deeply, encouraging readers to slow down, cherish their loved ones, and embrace the moments that truly matter. Through every challenge and triumph, the story invites us to pause and reflect:

How can we better cherish the moments we have?

How can we bring more compassion into the world?

And how can love inspire us to live fully, even when the road is uncertain?

A Book That Touches the Heart

Warm, emotional, and deeply relatable, Dr. Julie Powell Hall’s debut book is a gift for animal lovers, families, travelers, and anyone who understands the bittersweet beauty of letting go with love.

It reminds readers that healing often happens in motion, on the open road, in the quiet spaces between miles, and in the courage to embrace life even as we face loss. Max’s story doesn’t just inspire; it has the potential to change. This Christmas, give the gift of hope, joy, and a reminder that every life, no matter how small, leaves a lasting impact.

Celebrate the Holidays with Max

Join Max on his unforgettable journey across America and experience the true story that celebrates love, resilience, and the second chances life offers when we open our hearts. Perfect for gifting, or for reading by the fire with a warm cup of cocoa.

Dr. Rafael Gonzalez: Catholic Anthropology and the Balance of Views

NY Weekly Staff on December 25, 2025

By: Velma J. Campbell

Catholic anthropology is the Church’s understanding of what it means to be human. It examines where we come from, why we exist, and what our ultimate destiny is. Unlike other views that see people as either completely good or completely bad, Catholic teaching takes a middle path. It says that human beings are both made in God’s image and affected by sin.

In Anthropological Optimism Vs Anthropological Pessimism and We Need to Recuperate the Latter, Dr. Rafael Gonzalez explores this delicate balance. He argues that both optimism and pessimism have their place when thinking about human nature. However, leaning too far in either direction causes serious problems. A proper understanding of man, according to Catholic thought, requires both faith and reason.

The Danger of One-Sided Thinking

In modern times, many people adopt extreme views about humanity. Some believe that people are naturally good and will do the right thing if given the chance. Others think humans are selfish and corrupt by nature. Dr. Gonzalez warns that both of these positions are incomplete.

When we think people are completely good, we ignore the reality of sin and the need for grace. We create a false sense of confidence in human ability. On the other hand, focusing only on human weakness risks leaving us in despair. We may think that change is impossible and that salvation is out of reach.

Catholic anthropology avoids both extremes. It teaches that human beings are wounded but not destroyed. We are capable of goodness because God makes us. But we also need His help to reach our full potential.

Lessons from Church Tradition

Throughout history, the Catholic Church has held a rich and thoughtful view of human nature. Saints like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas taught that people are created for goodness but must deal with the reality of sin. Their writings show that the Church has always held both truths at once.

Dr. Gonzalez draws on these teachings in Anthropological Optimism Vs Anthropological Pessimism And How We Need to Recuperate the Latter to show how Catholic anthropology remains relevant today. He explains that modern culture has often lost sight of these lessons. In trying to uplift people, society has removed the need for God. But without God, the human person cannot be fully understood.

Church teaching reminds us that true dignity comes not just from being human, but from being called to share in God’s divine life. This is the ultimate balance: to know that we are both lowly and called to greatness.

The Importance of Balance in Today’s World

In our world, messages about self-love, empowerment, and personal freedom are everywhere. While these ideas can be good in themselves, they become harmful when separated from the truth. Without a clear view of who we are, we fall into confusion. We either think we are perfect and need no help, or we think we are worthless and beyond saving.

Dr. Gonzalez believes that recovering a balanced view of man is essential for personal and societal healing. This is not just a religious issue. It affects how we treat others, how we raise our children, how we build communities, and how we shape laws.

A society that denies sin becomes careless. A society that denies dignity becomes cruel. Catholic anthropology calls us to walk between these two extremes with humility and truth.

Conclusion

In Anthropological Optimism Vs Anthropological Pessimism and We Need to Recuperate the Latter, Dr. Rafael Gonzalez presents a strong case for why Catholic anthropology demands a balanced view. He invites readers to move beyond surface-level thinking and to embrace a deeper, more honest understanding of the human condition.

This book is for anyone who wants to understand themselves better, grow in faith, and respond more wisely to the world around them. If you are searching for clarity about what it means to be human, Anthropological Optimism Vs Anthropological Pessimism and We Need to Recuperate the Latter is a valuable and timely resource. It will guide you to think with both heart and mind, grounded in truth and open to grace.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of any religious or organizational entity. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or legal advice.

The Art of Purposeful Leadership: How Vision and Integrity Shape the Future of Business

NY Weekly Staff on December 25, 2025

By: Robert A. Rangel

When Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella took the reins in 2014, he inherited a company struggling with relevance. Instead of focusing only on profits, he reframed the company’s mission around empowerment and innovation. This purposeful shift did more than revive Microsoft’s fortunes; it rebuilt trust, reenergized employees, and set the stage for long-term growth.

Examples like this are not unique. Across industries, the leaders who are redefining success are those who combine vision with integrity. They understand that the future of business belongs not to those who manage resources most efficiently, but to those who lead with clarity, values, and a sense of purpose.

Purpose as a Business Imperative

For years, purpose was considered a soft concept, something secondary to financial outcomes. Today, research consistently shows that purpose-driven companies outperform peers in long-term performance, employee engagement, and brand reputation. Purpose is no longer a “nice to have”; it is a business imperative. Companies that embrace purpose are better equipped to adapt and thrive in rapidly changing environments. This deeper sense of mission fosters greater employee satisfaction and attracts consumers who align with the company’s values.

Purposeful leadership means setting a direction that inspires people to believe in something bigger than quarterly results. It anchors organizations in a mission that fuels resilience and innovation, even in uncertain markets.

Vision: The North Star of Leadership

The modern business environment is volatile. Consumer behavior shifts rapidly, technology evolves overnight, and global challenges create unpredictability. In this climate, vision is the North Star.

Leaders who articulate a bold and authentic vision help employees navigate uncertainty with confidence. Vision provides context for daily decisions, enabling teams to innovate without losing focus. It also builds loyalty, since people are more willing to invest energy in organizations that are moving toward a meaningful future.

Integrity: The Currency of Trust

As transparency increases, integrity has become the defining trait of sustainable leadership. A misstep in ethics or accountability can erode reputation instantly. On the other hand, leaders who consistently model honesty and fairness earn trust that compounds over time. This trust not only strengthens internal relationships but also enhances the organization’s reputation with customers, investors, and partners.

Integrity is the currency that buys credibility with employees, customers, and investors alike. Without it, even the most compelling vision rings hollow. With it, leaders create the conditions for authentic connection and long-term success.

Why the Future is Human-Centered

Technological advances are transforming industries, yet the future of business remains human-centered. Employees and consumers alike demand more than products or profits; they want to see values reflected in actions. Leaders who combine vision with integrity are uniquely positioned to meet this expectation. They build organizations that innovate without losing sight of the people who make it possible. By fostering a culture of trust and inclusivity, these leaders create environments where individuals are empowered to contribute their best work. As a result, organizations not only succeed but also build lasting connections with their stakeholders.

Connecting to Elevate: The Art of Purposeful Leadership by Benjamin Davis

These themes are explored in depth by Benjamin Davis in his book Elevate: The Art of Purposeful Leadership. Drawing on personal insights and professional experience, Davis highlights the qualities that matter most in today’s world: authenticity, emotional intelligence, resilience, vision, and integrity. His work is both a practical guide and a call to action for leaders who want to create lasting impact.

If you want to prepare for the future of leadership, start by focusing on vision and integrity. Explore how to bring these principles into your own journey in Benjamin Davis’s Elevate: The Art of Purposeful Leadership.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, financial, or professional advice. While we strive for accuracy, we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of this information. Use of this information is at your own risk.

A New Exactness in American Fiction: Laura Veal with Through Fire and Faith

NY Weekly Staff on December 25, 2025

By: Judith S. Davis

The first impression is clarity. Not the cold clarity of a manual, but the warm exactness of someone who has chosen every word because it matters. In Through Fire and Faith, Laura Veal practices a kind of dexterity that you can feel as you read. Paragraphs end one breath early. Verbs carry weight. The pages move with quiet confidence, inviting you to lean in. Nothing is showy. Everything is deliberate.

The promise of this exactness is more than style. It is an ethic. Veal writes as if language can be a form of care. Precision in her book is not a parlor trick. It is a way to keep the reader safe from confusion while still letting the truth do its intricate work. In a literary climate that sometimes mistakes volume for importance, she argues for the opposite. Careful frames. Honest stakes. The courage to leave a sentence when it has done its job.

At the craft level, Through Fire and Faith offers a small master class. Veal trims modifiers until the line rings true. She prefers the proper noun to a paragraph of explanation. Dialogue advances thought rather than winning points. Silences are marked and respected. Even the white space works for the story. You begin to read not for a twist, but for a turn of understanding. The book feels trustworthy because it never demands more attention than it earns.

Structure supports the sentence work. Chapters read like well-lit rooms with a single purpose. Each scene has a focal point and a boundary that the narration will not cross. This restraint does not flatten emotion. It intensifies it. By limiting what we see, Veal increases what we feel. A hand that does not move can say more than five pages of speech. A policy repeated by heart can tell its own story about pressure and fear. The book asks you to notice, and then rewards the attention you give.

Veal’s exactness is also moral. She refuses caricature. Systems behave like systems, with all their blind corners and incentives. People act like people, with mixed motives that shift under stress. Harm is acknowledged without turning anyone into a prop. In this way, the novel protects both truth and dignity. It teaches, by example, that fairness is not softness. It is rigorously tested in ordinary rooms.

Readers who meet this kind of discipline often report the same thing. They finish with better questions than they started with. They find themselves speaking more carefully at home and at work. They listen longer. The book does not preach. It equips. This is one mark of a novel’s high usefulness. You do not need to agree with every choice on the page to leave better prepared for your own cdecisionsin life.

There is a tradition in American letters that prizes clean lines and moral attention. Call it plain style with a whole heart. Veal is working there, though she is no revivalist. The exactness she practices belongs to the present. It understands how emails, memos, and meetings carry pressure. It hears what a pause can protect and what it can hide. It knows how group loyalty can push a person to edit themselves, even when no rule demands it. The book notices these forces without scolding, and that is why its guidance lands.

Of course, restraint can go wrong. It can drift toward evasion or numbness. Veal sidesteps this risk by keeping the stakes human and visible. Responsibility sits at the center of the story. Choices are weighed not only by personal cost but also by who else might be affected. That steady accounting produces suspense that feels grown-up. What happens matters, but what it means matters more. Exactness here is not about tidy outcomes. It is about honest accounting.

What, finally, makes this a new exactness rather than a simple return to old virtues? It is the way Veal integrates craft with social intelligence. The result is a novel that clears the air. You read, and then you breathe a little easier.

Through Fire and Faith is exact because life deserves that care. It is accurate because readers do. It is precise because moral questions deserve a language that can carry them without dropping their weight. In this, Laura Veal has given American fiction a gift that feels both timely and durable. The book does not shout its importance. It shows it, one true sentence at a time.

The Past at Their Heels: A Transatlantic Thriller

NY Weekly Staff on December 25, 2025

By: Lee K. Fox

It begins with the unthinkable: a home in a quiet U.S. college town turned to splinters and smoke. Michael and Ann, ordinary on the surface, are devoted to each other beneath it. In an instant, their life becomes a geometry of exits, angles, and split-second choices. The question is no longer “why would anyone do this?” but “how do we survive the next hour?”

Larry Patzer’s lean, high-velocity thriller, The Past Always Comes Back, runs on that urgency. The premise is as clean as a fuse and just as combustible: a married couple is targeted by a professional team that didn’t come for a warning shot. Michael’s long-buried past—black-ops skills he never intended to use again—surges to the surface. Ann, mild-mannered and spiritually grounded, is pulled into a world where steadiness is measured in muzzle control and moral clarity comes at a cost. The result is a cat-and-mouse chase that stretches from the Pacific Northwest through Canada and across the Atlantic to Austria, continually flipping the roles of hunter and hunted.

What sets the book apart isn’t only the pace (though the pages fly) but the partnership at its core. Michael knows the tradecraft: safe places hidden in plain sight, gear staged for a nightmare he hoped would never arrive, a plan to vanish before the headlines catch up. Ann knows him—and that becomes the novel’s secret weapon. Patzer refuses the cliché of the sidelined spouse. Instead, he writes a marriage that adjusts under fire. Michael can’t protect and fight at the same time; Ann refuses to be cargo. The crash-course that follows is presented with rare credibility: awkward grip, ringing ears, missed shots, breath, repeat. Skill follows discipline; courage follows love.

As the couple recalibrates, so does the story’s moral compass. The Past Always Comes Back isn’t interested in body-count spectacle. It’s about consequence. Every tactical choice (where to hide, when to move, how to read a shadowed room) carries an ethical shadow. How far do you go to stop those who won’t stop? What lines do you cross to keep a life together intact? And who are you—afterwards? Patzer keeps those questions humming under the action without ever slowing it down. You feel the heartbeat and the bullet beat at once.

Patzer’s background—Air Force officer, aerospace systems engineer, certified Spiritual Director, trauma chaplain—quietly informs the novel’s texture. You can feel the engineering in the plot’s clean lines, the military precision in its movement, and the moral seriousness in its pauses.
 The prose doesn’t drown you in boring passages; it gives you just enough to trust what’s happening, then gets out of the way so you can turn the page. It’s that balance that will resonate with readers who love pragmatism, layered intelligence, and relentless pressure, while wanting a story that wrestles with right and wrong in the middle of the firefight.

Crucially, Ann is not an accessory to a man’s redemption arc; she’s the novel’s axis of change. Watching her move from shock to steadiness is the book’s most rewarding through line. She doesn’t wake up a warrior; she chooses, inch by inch, to become capable. She feels the weight of that choice, what it does to her hands, her breathing, her prayers. The tension between her compassion and the necessary hardness of survival powers the novel’s best scenes. When she steps forward, you believe it. When she takes responsibility, you feel it.

For all its velocity, the book makes room for the marriage itself. Pressure reveals character, but it also reveals partnership. They argue in whispers because volume gets you killed. They apologize with actions because there’s no time for speeches. They read each other’s eyes because words are a luxury. That intimacy under fire turns narrow escapes into something more than thrills; it turns them into a referendum on trust.

If you’re worried about spoilers—don’t be. No endgame hints here. This article won’t reveal who set the fuse, what debt is being collected from years ago, or how the final reversals play out. What matters for you, the reader on the threshold, is this: The Past Always Comes Back is a razor-edged, 46,827-word sprint that respects your intelligence and your appetite for tension. It gives you action that feels earned, characters who deserve your rooting interest, and a theme that lingers after the last siren fades: you can’t outrun your history, but you can decide what it makes of you now.

If you are craving a thriller that moves like a chase scene and thinks like a confession, this is the one. Keep the past at your heels, and the book in your hands. The Past Always Comes Back — coming soon wherever you get your thrillers, and run, hide, and fight alongside Michael and Ann across two continents.

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