Hisa Igarashi bore witness to a history few today have been privy to. Born into a Buddhist temple, she saw firsthand the savagery wrought on Japan by World War II. She enjoyed a whirlwind romance with an American GI who made a war bride out of her-and then watched her marriage deteriorate in the United States. Alone, with a very young daughter to look after, Hisa worked her way up the ladder of New Jersey's fashion industry, eventually becoming a celebrated and sought-after seamstress. Years later, Hisa was able to return to Japan-but not without first dealing with the horrific impact of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Upon revisiting her homeland, filtered through the lens of time, she was finally able to appreciate the familial roots that forged who she would become in adulthood. Hisa ends her memoir with a bittersweet reflection on those she's lost, certain they'll all be reunited soon. The Quiet is a story Hisa soldiered through a lifetime to tell; it's at once a first-person chronicle of history, and a heartening tale of a compassionate, resilient human spirit.

The Shaping of an "Angry" Black Woman is the debut book of poetry by author Tamara Woods. Written over 15 years, each poem challenges conventional society and is poised with acerbic, witty, and abrasive language that is reflective in the often discussed isotope of society, that being the "Angry" Black Woman. In the words of Tamara herself: "I wore anger like it was my favorite pair of Chucks, giving people what they wanted. A minstrel show played with black emotions rather than a shoe-polished face. This brings around an unspoken rule: The expectation of anger renders my anger invalid as it is my starting point, so it's not that important. This collection of poems takes a look at life, written over a fifteen year span of mine. It is flawed oddities, beauty foiled with ugliness. We are all more than just angry. Women are more complicated than just that."

Ian's debut book, Answer Then Question: Haikus and Other Poems is a collection of poetry comprised of both fictional and non-fictional inspirations. Ian takes a traditional style in Haikus and puts a modern taste to them. Some of Ian's poems are based on his life events and accounts but others are not at all, especially the more melancholy ones. Ian tends to take an actors approach to many of his poems, as in he gets most of his inspiration from observing people and then imagines a situation or scenario and puts himself in as the character of that story. He delves into these fictional situations so much so that as the reader you cannot believe that the events are not his own. Ian has yet to find a subject matter that he will not write and pour himself into. This book demonstrates just that with the wide range of topics he covers. Unlike some writers and poets that stick to particular themes of interest, Ian mixes them up with his favorite being EVERYTHING.

CAUSE, CURE AND CANCER FREE is the self-help autobiography of John Marra, a Cleveland Ohio business man who found out he had cancer and decided to do something about it. Instead of giving in to the doctors around him that were insisting he would die if he didn't have an operation to help fix what was wrong inside of him, John decided to learn about what causes cancer and how to beat it. He did just that. After researching for what seemed like forever, John totally came to the conclusion that the only way to rid himself of cancer was to COMPLETELY change his lifestyle, starting with what he ate. He found that by making sure his ph levels in his blood stayed not to acidic or become saturated with alkaline, he would be able to really help his body fight the disease that was killing him. Along with this, he also learned that this wouldn't be enough to make sure his cancer would stay away. He had to also do several other important things, all of which he explains in this book. John Marra is currently cancer free and hopes to remain this way. He also wants everyone out there to realize they, too, can beat cancer, and become a cancer escapee like he did. It's not an absolute cure by any means, but it's a chance for many people who have been told they don't have one when it comes to fighting cancer.

Downloading the Universe: Click here This is a book, simply put, about "WHY we are here." Written by Japanese author Mihoko Sekido, who published in Japan the very first book on raw food diets, her American debut chronicles her extraordinary life, one that has so far been full of passion, magic, the supernatural, unusual comedy, tragedies, and triumphs. Downloading the Universe is also like a shot of Maccha Green Tea, as it's packed with enlightening holistic ingredients. From personal transformation advice told in layman's terms, to amazing anecdotes based on the real life events of the author, it offers practical tools and methods to leading a more happier and fulfilled life. You will learn how a person can spiritually "die" and be "reborn" as a changed person, after realizing that one can lead infinitely different types of life experiences, if one believes and allows it. Mihoko's life is itself a testimony that nothing can stop a person except for him/herself, and that all things are indeed possible in this lifetime.

Written by esteemed CNN journalist Gina London, this book is a love story written by Gina to her four year old daughter Lulu. More specifically, it's a collection of funny stories about living with her daughter and the hilarious and amazing things that her daughter says. For people who loved Sh*t My Dad Says, this is the female version. It's funny, poignant, and touching, and if you are a parent who observes his or her child often saying the funniest things, you will appreciate Gina's charm and wit at capturing each weird yet strange yet true moment in her young child's life. For all ages and audiences.

Denver author Jimmy Hyten has come up with a hilarious and at times, just plain sad, recounting of his marriage gone horribly wrong. Many men will be able to relate in Jimmy's day to day exploits with his wife, from what it's like to share the same bed every night with a woman, going grocery shopping as a married couple, and of course, what happens when a husband mentions ANYTHING about his lover's weight The anecdotes are plentiful and through the entire book, a message that is part warning and part instructional is provided by Jimmy to any male either married or about to take the plunge. How does it end for Jimmy? You'll have to read the book to find out For fans of books like "Gone Girl," give yourself a chance to read about marriage from a male perspective with "My Awfully Wedded Life."

Ever wonder where the Santa got his elves? There are many myths and ideas about how the man in red got his help, but Jason Kinnear offers us a truly definitive version of the ancient origin of the helping elves. His book is highly imaginative and at times both a realistic, gritty portrayal of a group of people who struggled to make ends meet and also a children's story that centers on cementing a magical realism into place for anyone with an imagination. Expect this title before Christmas, as it would make a perfect gift for anyone who loves the Christmas season.