Thursday, August 13, 2026

Teaser: The Human Language



Develop psychological safety, improve your relationships, transform your life. Launching The MECAnism, a practical framework


Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Business, Parenting, Mind/Body/Soul, Inspirational

Date Published: September 2026

Publisher: Serapis Bey Publishing

 


TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE WITH THE WAY YOU SPEAK

As human beings, we have a deep need for social connection, yet our primitive fight-or-flight response can be a major barrier to achieving it, leading to misunderstanding, conflict and disconnection.

Fortunately, there is a solution.

The Human Language delivers a compelling message. By replacing our habitual, learned patterns of communication we can experience greater understanding, empathy and connection in our relationships, transforming our lives.

Through easy-to-follow chapters, this book introduces The MECAnism, to calm your instinctive reactions, gain emotional clarity and develop psychological safety. It gives you the practical tools and techniques to listen, speak and act in your daily life with compassion, for yourself and others, enabling you to meet your needs with confidence.



"I will recommend using The Human Language 1000 times. It helps me verbalise my feelings and work through moments of overwhelm. There are applications across all areas of life.It can, and will be, a transformative book."

Pam Bryant, Oxford, UK

"Penny uses just enough science to help the reader understand why they behave the way they do while focusing on simple techniques to get to the heart of change.

The Human Language should be required reading for anybody who has to work or live with other people, which is most of us."

Diana D'Ascoli, Philadelphia, US


Excerpt

We all have the ability to re-engineer our relationships, and trade self-defence, blame and inauthenticity for understanding, compassion and trust, leading us to a greater sense of inner peace. We just need to find the right way to communicate.

The Human Language provides just the solution. Through practical tools and techniques, its MECAnism framework empowers you to foster a healthier mindset, to listen empathically, speak authentically and ask for what you truly need, turning conflict into understanding and connection.

In doing so, we not only bring about personal improvements in productivity, relationships and self-worth but also create a world where seeking understanding becomes the default approach.


About the Author

 

 Penny Newton-Hurley is the founder of CommPassion Ltd. She has worked with large private organisations in the UK and globally, and in the public sector across the areas of government, military, healthcare and education for more than 30 years. CommPassion provides training in interpersonal communication skills, resolving conflict between individuals and building psychological safety within teams for higher workplace and relationship performance.

In 2025, her company launched their first four online courses, taking their expertise and experience from the world of business directly to individuals in all areas of their lives. This book reveals the details behind her courses and supports the learning of improved communications skills.

Communication has been a fascination for Penny since childhood, when she spoke with her father in Morse Code! After a few exciting years spent working in International Marketing, Penny had an opportunity to be involved in the nascent field of Internal Communication where she began to understand the importance of humanto-human connection in the workplace. In 2005, she was introduced to the teachings of nonviolent communication. From that moment on, it became her purpose to spread this message as far as possible, a mission to change the way we talk and listen and communicate with each other; to change the way the world speaks.

Today, she is a trainer of compassionate communication techniques, Workplace Mediator, Certified Psychological Safety Facilitator with the Fearless Organisation; as well as a UK Samaritans Listening Volunteer. Penny holds a BA (Combined Honours) in Modern Languages (French/Spanish) with Politics, Economics and Linguistics.

 

Contact Links

Website

Instagram: @pennynewtonhurley

Facebook: Penny Newton-Hurley

LinkedIn: Penny Newton-Hurley

TikTok: @pennynewtonhurley

YouTube: Penny Newton-Hurley



RABT Book Tours & PR

Book Blast : Heidenrรถslein: The Little Rose on the Heath

 



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Christopher Whittaker will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.



Two men. Two worlds.

One war that will remake them both.

Peter Schiller, a disciplined officer from privilege, is trained to lead—but not for what war truly demands.

Gรผnther Klein, a working-class recruit, is thrown into the trenches and forced to learn fast or die.

In the mud and ruin of the Great War, rank and class begin to dissolve. Orders blur into instinct. Honour bends under necessity. What remains is survival—and the thin, unspoken bond forged between two men who should never have met.

But war does not end when the guns fall silent.

Heidenrรถslein is a powerful, unflinching story of war, brotherhood, and the quiet, irreversible cost of becoming what the battlefield demands.


Read an Excerpt

1914

The kitchen was small, but it carried the quiet dignity of people who owned little and cared for everything.

Against one wall stood a heavy sideboard of dark timber, polished by years of careful hands rather than luxury. Fine China sat arranged behind glass doors, each piece positioned with deliberate precision. The plates were reserved for Sundays, feast days, or visits important enough to justify the risk of using something fragile. Crystal wine glasses hung above them, catching the weak morning light and holding it in muted amber reflections.

Nothing in the room was fashionable.

Everything in it was treasured.

In the center stood a small round table worn smooth at the edges where elbows, plates, and years of conversation had rubbed away the varnish. The stove and icebox stood side by side beneath the far wall, black iron beside chipped white enamel, both old enough to have become part of the family itself. Beneath the kitchen window ran a long washing trough, damp to the touch, carrying the faint scent of soap, starch, and boiled cabbage that seemed to linger permanently in the wood.

At it stood Frau Klein.

She held a cup beneath the water, slowly moving the cloth around its rim although it had already been cleaned twice over. Her hands worked from instinct now, broad and reddened from years of labour, fingers thickened from kneading dough, wringing cloth, hauling water, carrying coal, and doing every invisible task required to keep a household alive.

She had once been handsome in the soft, rosy-cheeked way of country girls.

Now life had settled heavily upon her.

About the Author: Chris lives in Perth, Western Australia with his wife Dianne.

Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/183454193X

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Audiobook Tour: Living At the Edge of the World - Summer

 


Twelve-year-old Tabitha returns to the remote Shetland island of Papala expecting adventure – not a mystery linked to an ancient selkie legend.
As pollution threatens the coastline and the island faces an uncertain future, Tabitha and her twin brother Timothy, must uncover the truth before the islanders lose both their livelihood and their home.


Living at the Edge of the World – Summer

The Papala Island Adventure Series Book 3

written by S. J. Barratt

narrated by Gill Mills

Genre: Middle Grade Eco Adventure 



When twelve-year-old Tabitha returns to the remote Shetland island of Papala, she expects adventure with her twin brother and friends–not trouble.

As their ferry approaches Papala, Tabitha discovers what appears to be a selkie skin drifting in the harbour. Local legend says the skin belongs to a mythical creature–half human, half seal–and that if it is not returned before midnight, the island will be cursed with generations of bad luck.

But Papala is already under threat. Pollution creeps along the coast, the bird sanctuary is at risk, and the island’s owner plans to sell. With time running out, Tabitha and her brother must uncover the truth and convince the islanders to protect their home.

A lyrical eco-adventure for those who enjoy atmospheric island stories like The Storm Keeper’s Island by Catherine Doyle, with the adventurous spirit of Malamander by Thomas Taylor.

 

“Educational storytelling doesn't come any better than this.”  Dieter Korger, Science fiction author for adults.

This story has a little of everything that 9-12+year-olds love to read: ocean life, adventure, animals, science and suspense. The list goes on and the pages keep turning!" - Janet Ashmore, children’s writer

“The fast pace and beautifully vivid descriptions add to the richness of the story. Judy Wollin, Writer Fun Fast Reads” 

 “I am still as thrilled with this third volume of the Papala Island Adventure Series: the writing is top-notch, the plot is gripping, and we are getting attached to the characters. This time, the main themes are environmental conscience, and whether it's even worth fighting against a global problem.

An uplifting and important read for young people.” - Anne-Chat – Amazon 5 star review

 

Amazon * Amazon ebook * Apple * Google * Bookbub * Goodreads

 




Don’t miss the first two Papala Island Adventures!


Living at the Edge of the World – Winter

The Papala Island Adventure Series Book 1

Audible * Amazon ebook

 

Living at the Edge of the World – Spring

The Papala Island Adventure Series Book 2

Audible * Amazon ebook



S. J. Barratt is a self-published, professionally edited children’s author whose eco-themed stories celebrate the connection between people and the natural world. Rooted in an English countryside upbringing and shaped by a career in agriculture, she blends a gardener’s curiosity with a storyteller’s warmth to her writing. Now based in Lyon, France, Suzanne creates tales that inspire middle-grade readers to swap screen time for green time—and rediscover the wonders waiting just outside their door.

 

Website * Facebook *Instagram * TikTok * Bookbub * Goodreads



A former BBC broadcaster and journalist, Gill Mills brings over 20 years of experience in entertainment to her narration. Known for her warm, resonant voice, she began her voice career while DJing on BBC Radio 1 and has since voiced numerous TV and audio productions. She now runs a content company specialising in podcast and film production from her studio in East London.

 

LinkedIn* Instagram


Cover Reveal: Head Over Heels


Monica Murphy has revealed the cover for Head Over Heels!

Releasing: April 20, 2027

Cover Designer: Larissa Ezell


From New York Times and USA Todaybestselling author Monica Murphy—author of Lonely for You Only and the Lancaster Prep Series—comes her next sweet and sexy summer romance set in the same world as When Sparks Fly.

Nate has wanted Paige for as long as he can remember. But Paige is the town’s golden girl—beautiful, kind, funny, and smart—and he’s always believed she’s far out of his league. Convinced he’s protecting them both from heartbreak, Nate pushes her away again and again, never realizing how deeply he’s hurting the woman he loves.

Then a health scare forces him to face what truly matters. This time, he’s determined to fight for the future he’s always wanted.

But Paige has finally reached her limit. The attraction between them has never faded, yet trusting Nate with her heart feels like the biggest risk of all. Keeping him at arm’s length is the only way she knows to protect herself.

Now Nate will have to prove that love is worth the leap—and when he finally finds the courage to declare his feelings for Paige in front of the entire town, he’ll discover that winning her heart may be his greatest challenge yet.

Pre-order today!

Ebook: https://geni.us/HOHAmzKU

Paperback: https://geni.us/x3iY

Audiobook: https://adbl.co/4hTvqGO


Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/45Lqtsl


Cover Reveal: For Better Or For Ransom


Releasing September 22, 2026


Entertainment journalist Sol Novo and her partner, private detective Luke Contadino, are a year in, living together, and trying to enjoy some downtime in her native Barcelona. Then, the night she interviews international heartthrob actor Leonardo Pascual, he vanishes from his theater dressing room. All that’s left behind is an open window and a taunting note on the mirror.

When streaming giant Meshflixx hires Luke's agency to find Leonardo—their missing leading man in an upcoming show—Sol steps in as an unofficial consultant. The high-stakes investigation soon pulls the duo away from Barcelona's bustling streets to the sun-drenched, turquoise coast of Mallorca. But chasing a vanished movie star across a Mediterranean paradise leaves a twice-divorced woman wondering if she has one more "I do" left in her.

Sun-soaked, witty, and deliciously twisty, For Better or for Ransom is the next irresistible installment in the Sol and Luke mystery romance series.


Cover Reveal : Bending His Rules


๐ŸŽ€๐‚๐Ž๐•๐„๐‘ ๐‘๐„๐•๐„๐€๐‹ ๐ŸŽ€

๐˜ฝ๐™€๐™‰๐˜ฟ๐™„๐™‰๐™‚ ๐™ƒ๐™„๐™Ž ๐™๐™๐™‡๐™€๐™Ž (Clifford Brothers #2) by USA Today bestselling author Layla Hagen releases on October 2nd! Check out this gorgeous cover! 

PRE-ORDER/ ADD IT TO YOUR AMAZON WISHLIST! 

https://laylahagen.com/bendinghisrules

Apple: https://laylahagen.com/bhrapple

Barnes & Noble: https://laylahagen.com/bhrbn

Kobo:​​ https://laylahagen.com/bhrkobo

๐ˆ๐ง๐Ÿ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ž๐ง๐œ๐ž๐ซ ๐’๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐”๐ฉhttps://forms.gle/arm8cw2E2Ks1YZpp8

Cover Designer: Uplifting Designs

What to expect: 

❤️ Single Dad x Nanny

☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine

๐Ÿฅน Widowed Hero

๐Ÿก Found Family

๐Ÿ’• He Falls First

Blurb:

I run a global security company with my brothers and negotiate high-stakes deals without breaking a sweat.

But my daughter deciding she suddenly hates every outfit in her closet five minutes before school? That brings me to my knees every time.

Honestly, being a CEO is easier than being a single dad.

That’s why I have rules. Routines. Structure. My life runs a whole lot smoother when everything stays organized and under control.

Then my maintenance company bails on me again, and my house descends into complete chaos. Hiring help goes from unnecessary to essential.

Which is how Melody crashes into my carefully ordered life.

Suddenly, my daughter wants to cook with Melody every evening and runs to her for advice about dresses and hair clips. And I can’t stop thinking about the beautiful woman dancing through my kitchen like she already belongs in our lives.

She makes me want things I stopped believing I deserved a long time ago.

But after losing my wife, I swore I’d never give anyone the power to destroy me again.

Because if I let Melody become part of our lives, losing her would hurt not only me—but my daughter too.

The problem is, every time Melody smiles at me, I want to bend every rule I’ve spent years living by.

Add to ๐‘ฎ๐’๐’๐’…๐’“๐’†๐’‚๐’…๐’”: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252177774-bending-his-rules

Find more books by Layla Hagen here: laylahagen.com


Cover Reveal: At First Catch


✨It’s cover reveal day for AT FIRST CATCH by @renee_harless releasing September 23rd!

 

#PreOrderHere 

https://mybook.to/atfirstcatch

 

Why you will love this book…

๐Ÿ’™Small Town

๐ŸŒบFriends-to-Lovers

๐Ÿ’™One-Night-Stand

๐ŸŒบSlow Burn

๐Ÿ’™He Falls First

๐ŸŒบFound Family

๐Ÿ’™Opposites Attract

๐ŸŒบForced Proximity

 

Some mistakes are worth making twice.

Hadley Wright never expected one unforgettable night with a stranger to become the beginning of something she couldn't forget. After slipping away before sunrise, she's convinced she'll never see the quiet, guarded man who made her feel safe on one of the hardest nights of her life again.

Until he walks right back into Coral Bell Cove.

Nolan Pierce has spent his entire life believing it's easier not to need anyone. Buying the town's struggling marina is supposed to be his fresh start—not falling for the woman who comes from the loud, loving family he's never had.

But while Hadley believes love means showing up, Nolan is convinced it means protecting the people he cares about... even if that means shutting them out.

Now they're both about to discover that falling in love is the easy part.

Trusting someone enough to stay might change everything.

At First Catch is a heartfelt, steamy small-town romance featuring a one-night stand, found family, slow-burn chemistry, meddling siblings, marina life, and a hero who falls first, falls hard, and learns that sometimes the strongest thing you can do is let someone stand beside you.

✨INFLUENCERS: Sign up to review here: https://bit.ly/ATFIRSTCATCHSIGNUP

#coverreveal #smalltownromance #reneeharless #spicyromance @theauthor.agency

 


Teaser: The Human Language

Develop psychological safety, improve your relationships, transform your life. Launching The MECAnism, a practical framework Non-Ficti...