The Book Crew Readers CommunityTHE BOOK CREWReaders Community

Featured Spotlight

Meet Our Featured Authors

The complete profiles behind every spotlight — the books, the stories, and the authors who wrote them.

Featured Spotlight
Featured author interview panel for Jarrah White and his spy thriller Trojan SMERSH
Jarrah White

Jarrah White

Author • Filmmaker • Astrophysicist • Geologist

Trojan SMERSH

What if there was something far more sinister planned for January 6?

Spy ThrillerAlternative HistoryPolitical ThrillerMilitary Fiction
PublishedJuly 13, 2026
LanguageEnglish
Pages752 pages
Trojan SMERSH — book cover

About the Book

Trojan SMERSH is an ambitious alternative-history thriller that blends espionage, geopolitics, military science, and speculative history into one high-stakes adventure.

The novel follows rogue Australian intelligence agent and former US Space Force astronaut Sid Tanner after an attempt on his life places him at the center of an international conspiracy involving the Trump administration and the infamous Russian death squad SMERSH.

Hunted by both allies and enemies, Tanner must infiltrate the January 6 Capitol riot to uncover a plot that threatens global security before his own past catches up with him.

Rich with political suspense, action, and historical imagination, the novel explores loyalty, betrayal, sacrifice, and the consequences of hidden agendas while delivering a fast-paced cinematic experience.

About the Author

Jarrah White is an Australian author, filmmaker, astrophysicist, and geologist whose passion for storytelling began during childhood, creating handmade picture books before he could even write.

Inspired by authors such as Ian Fleming and Michael Crichton, along with real historical events and classic adventure stories, Jarrah spent nearly twenty-four years developing the world of Sid Tanner before publishing his debut novel.

He holds qualifications in Screen & Media from the Sydney Institute of TAFE NSW and earned a Bachelor of Science with a major in Geology and a minor in Astronomy & Astrophysics from Macquarie University. Beyond writing, he has appeared in Australian television productions including Fat Pizza and Darradong Local Council.

Trojan SMERSH is the first installment in an ongoing Sid Tanner thriller series and fulfills a promise he made to his late step-grandfather, whose encouragement inspired the project from the very beginning.

Featured Spotlight
Thanks a Latte for Being My Teacher — book displayed with teacher-appreciation gifts on a chalkboard background
Rose Rossner

Rose Rossner

USA Today Bestselling Children's Author

Thanks a Latte for Being My Teacher!

Because the best teachers deserve a latte love!

Children's BookPicture Book
PublishedMarch 4, 2025
LanguageEnglish
Pages40 pages
Thanks a Latte for Being My Teacher! — book cover

About the Book

Espresso your thanks for a tea-riffic teacher with this punderfully heartwarming picture book of appreciation from the USA Today bestselling series that brought you I Love You Like No Otter!

Celebrate a special teacher, mentor, or coach who helped you suc-seed this year and makes learning awesome to the core with this charming picture book of gratitude and love. Filled with punny rhymes of thanks and adorable illustrations of essential educator staples, this erase-istible story is the perfect gift to share on the last day of school with the one who teaches you a latte at daycare, preschool, kindergarten, grade school, and beyond and bakes each day filled with fun!

The book celebrates teachers, mentors, and educators through playful rhymes, colorful illustrations, and heartfelt appreciation. It makes an ideal gift for Teacher Appreciation Week, the end of the school year, graduation, moving-up day, or any occasion to thank an inspiring educator.

Teacher, thank you a hole lotFor everything you do.You're special and tea-rifficIn all you say and brew!

About the Author

Rose Rossner is a USA Today bestselling children's book author known for playful, pun-filled board books and picture books celebrating love, gratitude, and life's sweetest moments.

Since her debut, I Love You Like No Otter (2020), she has published more than one hundred titles, including I Love You More, Babysaur, The ABCs of Love, and Thanks a Latte for Being My Teacher! She lives with her son and her husky named Dino.

Featured Spotlight
Featured author panel for Reza Aslan and No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam
Reza Aslan

Reza Aslan

#1 Bestselling Author, Scholar of Religions & Public Intellectual

No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam

A landmark exploration of Islam's rich history and enduring impact.

ReligionHistoryIslamic StudiesNonfiction
PublishedAugust 30, 2011
LanguageEnglish
Pages464 pages
No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam — book cover

About the Book

No god but God is the acclaimed twentieth-anniversary edition of Reza Aslan's groundbreaking introduction to Islam. Combining historical scholarship with accessible storytelling, the book explores the origins of Islam, the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, and the development of one of the world's major religions.

Tracing Islam from its beginnings in Mecca and Medina through centuries of political, cultural, and theological evolution, Aslan examines how the faith's message of justice, equality, and compassion has been interpreted across different eras and societies.

This revised edition also addresses modern issues including the politicization of religion, the rise of extremist ideologies, Islamophobia, and the ongoing relationship between tradition and modernity. Thoroughly researched yet approachable for general readers, the book offers an insightful and balanced understanding of Islam's past, present, and future.

About the Author

Reza Aslan is an internationally acclaimed writer, scholar of religions, television host, and public intellectual. He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, as well as No god but God, God: A Human History, and An American Martyr in Persia.

Born in Tehran and raised in the United States, Aslan hosted the CNN documentary series Believer and served as an executive producer on HBO's The Leftovers. A professor of creative writing whose work bridges history, spirituality, and contemporary issues, he inspires readers to see beyond stereotypes and engage with the world with empathy and understanding.

Featured Spotlight
Featured live interview panel for Alison James and her psychological thriller The Good Neighbour
Alison James

Alison James

Bestselling Psychological Thriller Author

The Good Neighbour: A Totally Gripping and Addictive Psychological Thriller with a Heart-Pounding Twist

Will her new home turn into a nightmare?

Psychological Thriller
PublishedAugust 30, 2011
LanguageEnglish
Pages321 pages
The Good Neighbour: A Totally Gripping and Addictive Psychological Thriller with a Heart-Pounding Twist — book cover

About the Book

Moving into a quiet apartment was supposed to be a fresh start. But every neighbour has secrets, every encounter raises new questions, and trust becomes increasingly dangerous.

As hidden truths begin to surface, the line between victim and suspect blurs, leading to a shocking finale.

This fast-paced psychological thriller is packed with suspense, unexpected twists, and emotional tension that keeps readers guessing until the final page.

About the Author

Alison James is a bestselling psychological thriller author known for crafting suspenseful novels filled with gripping twists, unreliable characters, and emotional tension.

Her stories explore guilt, deception, hidden identities, and the dark secrets people keep behind seemingly ordinary lives. She has built a loyal readership among fans of psychological suspense through her page-turning storytelling and unpredictable endings.

Featured Spotlight
Featured author panel for Janice Kenyatta and her children's picture book Just As It Is!
Janice Kenyatta

Janice Kenyatta

Author • Educator • Storyteller

Just As It Is!

A story of self-love, acceptance, and the beauty of embracing who you are.

Children's BookChildren's Picture Book
PublishedFebruary 6, 2025
LanguageEnglish
Pages42 pages
Just As It Is! — book cover

About the Book

Just As It Is! is a heartwarming children's picture book about a young African American girl whose parents teach her to love and appreciate her natural features, including her hair, just as it is.

The story gently introduces young readers to the importance of self-love, self-acceptance, and confidence, while also celebrating the differences in people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Through warm, joyful storytelling and engaging illustrations, the book helps parents and educators start meaningful conversations about identity, kindness, and respect.

Written for ages 3 to 10, Just As It Is! is an ideal read-aloud for home, classroom, and library. It also pairs with the Abena Doll, inspired by the book's main character, offering young readers a tangible reminder that their worth is inherent and unwavering.

The central themes of the book — self-love, self-acceptance, confidence, diversity, and appreciating others — make it a valuable addition to any child's library and a meaningful gift for the young readers in your life.

About the Author

Janice Kenyatta is a retired educator and school administrator with more than 40 years of experience in education, including service as a Supervisor of Career and Technical Education.

She holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Business Education and has spent her career championing young people, mentorship, and equitable learning. Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Janice brings a lifetime of community-rooted storytelling to her work as an author.

Janice is also the co-author of Black Folk's Hair, Revisited: Secrets, Shame, and Liberation, a book that explores the sociological and historical reasons many Black women began straightening their hair. She wrote Just As It Is! as a natural extension of that work — building a foundation of self-love and self-acceptance from an early age.

She is also associated with the Abena Doll, inspired by the main character in Just As It Is!, which serves as a tangible reminder to young girls and women of color that their worth is inherent and unwavering. Just As It Is! is her children's debut.