Welcome to Books & Buzz Magazine! In this issue, we get to know a psychic medium, learn what caused one author’s sudden burst of creativity, find out how another author took the power away from impostor syndrome, and even dive into the morality of telling white lies.

There’s a lot to take in, so let’s get started:

First, what does it mean to live a paranormal life? This is what I explore in my interview with author and college professor Dr. Bruce Olav Solheim. In his memoir, Timeless: A Paranormal Personal History, Bruce talks about his experiences with all sorts of paranormal phenomena, including telepathy, telekinesis, ghosts, demons, guardian angels, precognition, and haunted houses. Get to know this fascinating writer, who is also a college professor and amateur comic book artist, and find out where his ideas come from, why his newest female main character might seem familiar, and how the process of “capturing butterflies”—which has nothing to do with actual butterflies—helps him stay productive.

Then, Anna J. Stewart, USA Today–bestselling romance author, recalls the one question she was asked that opened the floodgates of creativity for her. “With this, I had the green light to write whatever I wanted, however I wanted to write it,” she says. “Which brings me to the most important lesson I’ve learned as an author: to say yes to career opportunities and figure the rest out later.” Anna mixes solid advice with an optimistic outlook on her own writing that might just inspire you to make a change of your own.

We also hear from author and poet D.A. Andrews, who writes about how she deals with impostor syndrome—which she calls her “dance partner”—and how it affects her craft. “It’s one thing to think that you don’t belong,” she writes. “It’s another to think that you are a fraud. It’s even worse to have both thoughts at the same time about something you created with your blood and sweat.” Although its power over her is much diminished, D.A. concludes by saying she’ll likely be in an awkward dance with the devil for some time to come.

Finally, Dr. Lewena Bayer, author and civility expert, explains why telling the truth is so important. Although this might seem obvious, research estimates that most people still lie once or twice a day. For example, if you’ve ever told a half-truth, or fibbed to spare someone’s feelings, it technically counts as a lie. “If there is one thing that I can’t tolerate,” Lewena says, “it’s lying.” But is lying ever acceptable? In Lewena’s article, you’ll find out which lies qualify as “harmless untruths,” how easy it can be to lose trust, and the circumstances under which lying in the workplace might even be required.

As the leaves start to fall and the air turns crisp, pour a steaming mug of your favorite spiced beverage, settle into your favorite reading spot, and enjoy this month’s issue of Books & Buzz Magazine.

Happy reading,

Timothy Pike
Editor-in-chief, Books & Buzz Magazine