Corridors of the Absurd: Sinister tales from the Deep Halls of Power and Dreams by Kenneth Francis

Corridors of the Absurd: Sinister tales from the Deep Halls of Power and Dreams by Kenneth Francis

Corridors of the Absurd: Sinister Tales from the Deep Halls of Power and Dreams

by Kenneth Francis

Following on from his anthology of dark tales, Cities of the Absurd, Kenneth Francis presents us with more sinister stories from the deep halls of power in the various Estates in society. From corruption in politics, to bestiality in a corporate skyscraper, to suicidal situations in academia. A fallen world where robots roam the halls of dark courtrooms and toothless, soy-boy Millennials sit around in their mother’s attic telling tales of the Great Twitter Wars of the Anti-MAGA Revolution.
 
Paperback: $12.95 | Audible: $14.99 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“Kenneth Francis peers into the corridors of power with a morally serious, razor-edged imagination—satire as warning, art as examen. Stark, unsettling, and often darkly funny, these tales expose idols and awaken a hunger for truth.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, author of The Victim Soul in the Dark Night of Nosferatu

​ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kenneth Francis is the current Editor of Mind Matters and a Contributing Editor at New English Review. For the past 30 years, he has worked as an editor in various publications, as well as a university professor in journalism. He also holds an MA in Theology and is the author of The Little Book of God, Mind, Cosmos and Truth, The Terror of Existence: From Ecclesiastes to Theatre of the Absurd (with Theodore Dalrymple), and Neither Trumpets Nor Violins (with Theodore Dalrymple and Samuel Hux). His most recent books are Theology in Music: How Christian Themes Permeate Classic Songs, Theology in Film: How Christian Themes Permeate Classic Movies, and Cities of the Absurd: Strange Tales from the Dark Metropolis and Corridors of the Absurd: Sinister tales from the Deep Halls of Power and Dreams

OTHER CATHOLIC LITERARY WORKS

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

The Space Between by Gerry Turcotte

The Space Between by Gerry Turcotte

Dr. Gerry Turcotte at his book launch on February 10, 2026

The Space Between

by Gerry Turcotte

The Space Between by Gerry Turcotte is a wry, tender novel that explores faith, failure, love, and longing through a series of sharply observed episodes. Moving from boyhood to adult reckoning, Turcotte writes with humor, intellectual depth, and emotional honesty about the spaces between belief and doubt, devotion and rebellion, intimacy and solitude. This is a reflective, often laugh-out-loud meditation on identity, grace, and becoming human.
 
Hardback: $24.95 | Paperback $19.95 USD| Audible: $14.99 USD | Kindle $9.99 USD

TESTIMONIALS

“What Gerry Turcotte has written is an act of welcoming into his unique world. At times comic, at other times tragic, these stories travel back to childhood days to contemplate how small incidents have profound implications. In this semi-autobiographical novel, he relives the hilarity and the trauma of his protagonist’s early life. Readers will rejoice in exploring his insights and his conclusions.” – David Staines

“With wit and wisdom, Gerry Turcotte invites us into a vivid coming‑of‑age journey that spans the full spectrum of human emotion. The Space Between enchants with the joy of youthful mischief, the exhilaration of first love, and the tender complexities of family life. Though deeply personal, Turcotte’s story resonates broadly, offering each reader a chance to rediscover their own adolescence through a lens of wonder, honesty, and profound appreciation.” – Ross Lockhart, Dean of St. Andrew’s Hall at the University of British Columbia

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gerry Turcotte is an award-winning teacher and writer. He served for eleven years as President of St. Mary’s University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and is currently President and Principal of Corpus Christi College and St. Mark’s College, at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He is also the author or editor of 23 books, including the novel Flying in Silence, shortlisted for The Age Book of the Year in Australia.
 

Creative Works

  • The Ghost Wilderness and other plays
  • Flying in Silence 
  • Ridgedon’s Fowl: a novel
  • Border Crossings: Words & Images
  • Winterlude (poems)
  • Neighbourhood of Memory (poems)
  • hauntings: the Varuna poems

Academic Works

  • The Oxford History of the Novel in Australia, Canada, New Zealand & the South Pacific (with P. Sharrad & C.A. Howells)
  • Peripheral Fear: Transformations of the Gothic in Canadian and Australian Fiction
  • Unsettled Remains: The Postcolonial Gothic in Canada (with C. Sugars)
  • (Shortlisted for the Gabrielle Roy Prize for Literary Criticism)
  • Literary and Social Diasporas: An Italian-Australia Perspective (with G. Rando)
  • Canada–Australia: 1895–1995: Towards a Second Century of Partnership (with L. Foster and K. Burridge)
  • The Sum of All Things: Essays Old and New
  • One Last Thing: Reflections on Hope and Resilience
  • Big Things: Ordinary Thoughts in Extraordinary Times
  • Small Things: Reflections on Faith and Hope
  • Compr(om)ising Post/colonialism(s): Challenging Narratives and Practices (with G. Ratcliffe)
  • Jack Davis: the Maker of History
  • Masks, Tapestries, Autobiographies
  • Jack Davis: the Maker of History
  • Writers in Action: The Writer’s Choice Evenings

OTHER CATHOLIC POPULAR LITERATURE

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Becoming Magdalene: The Transforming Journey of a Disciple by Jennifer Ristine

Becoming Magdalene: The Transforming Journey of a Disciple by Jennifer Ristine

Jennifer Ristine interviewed Liz Tabish, the actress who plays Mary Magdalene on The Chosen. Click play on the video below.

Becoming Magdalene: The Transforming Journey of a Disciple

by Jennifer Ristine

Jennifer Ristine’s extensive contact with sacred scriptures, research into multiple historical sources, personal prayer, and first-hand ministry in the Holy Land, particularly Ancient Magdala, give credibility and foundation to creative license as Mary Magdalene’s transforming journey unfolds.
 
Hear the echo of your own heart as you encounter this enigmatic saint. Witness existential tensions in the search for identity and belonging. See her struggles with relationships as she overcomes wounds, defense mechanisms, and false perceptions of self and God. Step into the messiness of life that has potential to reconcile rifts and fulfill grand and noble desires. Listen for interior movements of the heart, indicative of multiple influences at play as she walks with her Rabboni.
 
Join Saint Mary Magdalene, the apostle to the Apostles, as she discovers God’s providential hand guiding her toward authentic freedom and love. It is a path to which we are all called. And it invites a continual response. Read it for fun, for inspiration, for spiritual reading, or make use of it as an ongoing personal retreat. Wherever you are on your journey of faith, you will find a companion here.
 
Paperback $24.95 | Audible: $14.99 | Kindle $9.99
Interviews about Mary Magdalene with other people: Living Heart of an Apostle: Interviews
 
News pieces:
Blogs/Articles:

TESTIMONIALS

“What a remarkable biblical, traditional, and creative exploration of the life of St. Mary Magdalene! I met Jennifer Ristine numerous year ago in Magdala, where she offered my pilgrimage group an inspiring tour of the excavations and prayer spaces of the Magdalene’s chosen city. Jennifer’s years in Magdala, and her journeys to Bethany, Jerusalem, and southern France, have prepared her contemplative heart to produce this imaginative historical novel. I love Mary Magdalene and I devoured this remarkable book. Order it, read it, and fill your imagination with holy, intimate imagery of Jesus and his dear friend and disciple.” – Stephen J. Binz, founder of Threshold Bible Study and author of Holy Land Pilgrimage, at http://www.Bridge-B.com
“I feel like I just met the Magdalene. What a beautiful blending of biblical and pious traditions with profound spiritual and psychological insight, the work not only of good scholarship but even more a true contemplative!” – Dr. Anthony Lilles, St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, Menlo Park, CA, co-founder the Avila Institute of Spiritual Formation
“Jennifer Ristine brings Mary Magdalene to vivid life, revealing the childhood wounds that shaped her into the woman we encounter in the Gospels—and how Jesus transformed her into the model of a female disciple. Weaving biblical scholarship with Ignatian spirituality, Ristine creates an original retreat experience. Following the “apostle of the apostles” through her story, familiar Gospel scenes come alive in startling new ways, while you discover the deeper terrain of your own wounded heart in need of divine mercy. A reading experience that becomes a spiritual journey—where Mary Magdalene’s story of redemption becomes a mirror for your own.” -Dr. Nina Heereman, author of Athirst for the Spirit: Biblical Wisdom for Desert Times

“Jesus Christ is the greatest storyteller of all time. HIStory is the one which matters most. “Becoming the Magdalene” highlights this reality by brilliantly retelling the story of Jesus through the eyes of Mary Magdalene. Followers of Christ never tire of hearing the words of scripture. Jennifer Ristine is obedient to hierarchical biblical accuracy, as she uses historical facts and recent archaeological findings, with a vibrant imagination, to give spiritual insights on the relationship between Mary Magdalene and her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Readers are brought back to the first century where they will visualize the life and times of Jesus as they pore over every word He speaks in the Gospel. Ristine further explores the complexities and difficulties of the first century Apostles. This book invokes one to utter the perfect prayer with their lives. Through Mary Magdalene’s humility, and her title “Apostle to the Apostles”, we give thanks and praise to Our Lord Jesus Christ. We reflect in self-awareness, which leads to repentance and reparation. And finally, we commit our lives to the service of God.” – Mary Driscoll, Script Analyst/Writer

“I loved reading Becoming Magdalene: Historical Fiction. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres because it lets me learn while still getting lost in a story; and Jennifer Ristine does this so well. The history felt alive, and the storytelling pulled me in from the start.” – Fr. Anton Vogelsang, LC, author of Génesis: Crimen, castigo, bendición and El Éxodo: Conversión y regreso a casa

“Becoming Magdalene is a luminous work that blends fidelity to Scripture with imaginative depth. It invites readers into Mary’s journey with Christ, stirring the heart toward deeper faith, love, and discipleship.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, author of The Narrative Spirituality of Dante’s Divine Comedy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Ristine is a consecrated woman of Regnum Christi, which is a Society of Apostolic Life in the Catholic Church. She consecrated her life to God in 1997 and has been engaged in faith and spiritual formation primarily through teaching, writing, conferences, retreats and spiritual direction. She has been a contributor for RC Spirituality, epriest, and an instructor for the online Spiritual Director Certificate course at Divine Mercy University in Virginia. She is the author of Mary Magdalene: Insights from Ancient Magdala and Nine Days with Mary Magdalene. She served for 12 years as a teacher of pedagogy, theology and spirituality classes at Mater Ecclesiae College, and served from 2014-2018 as the Director of the Magdalena Institute and the Visitors’ Center Coordinator in Magdala, the ancient hometown of Mary Magdalene, a first century Jewish site and Christian pilgrim center. She has obtained degrees in Special Education from Western Illinois University, Pastoral and Religious studies from Regina Apostolorum in Rome, a Masters degree in Theology from Catholic Distance University in Virginia, a Masters in Ignatian Spirituality from the Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, Spain and has studies in the Masters in the Mystics from CITeS and the Catholic University in Avila, Spain.

 

OTHER CATHOLIC POPULAR LITERATURE

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

The Wonderful Wizard of Lies by Neal Flesher

The Wonderful Wizard of Lies by Neal Flesher

The Wonderful Wizard of Lies

by Neal Flesher

The Wonderful Wizard of Lies is a dystopian allegory, reimagining The Wizard of Oz in a world ruled by economic illusion. Dorothy and her companions navigate a surreal financial landscape dominated by debt cycles, automation, and hollow leadership. Through satire and symbolism, the story critiques fiat currency, bureaucratic oppression, and the loss of human dignity in a hyper-optimized society.

Full color Paperback: $14.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“Neal Flesher has crafted a brilliant and unsettling parable based on L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. The Wonderful Wizard of Lies peels back the illusions of modern finance with wit, insight, and theological urgency. This is prophetic fiction at its most convicting.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, co-author with Phillip Mahfood of Homework: How to Hire, Manage, and Monitor Employees who Work at Home

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Neal Flesher is a philosopher, author, and former Army officer whose work explores the intersection of money, freedom, leadership, and moral philosophy. He holds a B.S. in Philosophy from the United States Military Academy and an M.A. in Philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He is the author of Modern Chains: The Invisible Shackles of Economic Slavery.

OTHER CATHOLIC LITERARY WORKS

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Cities of the Absurd: Strange Tales from the Dark Metropolis by Kenneth Francis

Cities of the Absurd: Strange Tales from the Dark Metropolis by Kenneth Francis

Cities of the Absurd: Strange Tales from the Dark Metropolis

by Kenneth Francis

This anthology of fictional short stories follows curious moments in the lives of alienated characters confronted in a moral maze of theological, technological, and existential angst in dark places where AI hologram ghosts malfunction, lucid dreams become nightmares, and murderous misfits attack the innocents. These journeys into the black-and-white nights that meander through suicide alleyways are set in and around the edge of the cities with nocturnal themes ranging from surrealism, black humour; a kind of literary narrative with Noir Fiction hints of psychedelia.
 
Paperback: $14.95 | Audible: $14.99 | Kindle: $9.99
Late Lament by Moody Blues (paired with The Burning Mattress)
The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens (Wimoweh) (paired with Edgar)
Mouldy Old Dough by Lieutenant pigeon (paired with The Ghosts of Hologram House)
Dreamchaser by Nirvana (paired with The Busybody)
Everyone's Gone To The Moon by Jonathan King (paired with Kingdom of the Moon)
Tiny Goddess by Nirvana (paired with Albert's Toe)
Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty (paired with Times Square on a Wet Afternoon)
Season of the Witch by Donovan (paired with Eulogy for Roderic)
Are 'Friends' Electric? by Replicas Tubeway Army (paired with Lift to the Twelfth Floor)

REVIEWS

O’Leary, Denyse. (August 30, 2025). “AI Can Even Turn Ghosts to Glitches.” Mind Matters. Click here to read the review.

TESTIMONIALS

“The anthology has been noted for its unique blend of horror and philosophical inquiry, appealing to readers interested in the darker aspects of human experience. Critics have praised its imaginative storytelling and the depth of its characters. Overall, Cities of the Absurd offers a thought-provoking exploration of modern life’s complexities through a lens of absurdity and darkness.” — Barnes & Noble

“Cities of the Absurd ignites a surreal, darkly comic blaze through memory, madness, and modern decay. A vivid, Poe-meets-Kafka meditation on absurdity, haunting, and the strange beauty of ruin.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, author of The Victim Soul in the Dark Night of Nosferatu

​ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kenneth Francis is the current Editor of Mind Matters and a Contributing Editor at New English Review. For the past 30 years, he has worked as an editor in various publications, as well as a university professor in journalism. He also holds an MA in Theology and is the author of The Little Book of God, Mind, Cosmos and Truth, The Terror of Existence: From Ecclesiastes to Theatre of the Absurd (with Theodore Dalrymple), and Neither Trumpets Nor Violins (with Theodore Dalrymple and Samuel Hux). His most recent books are Theology in Music: How Christian Themes Permeate Classic Songs, Theology in Film: How Christian Themes Permeate Classic Movies, and Cities of the Absurd: Strange Tales from the Dark Metropolis and Corridors of the Absurd: Sinister tales from the Deep Halls of Power and Dreams

OTHER CATHOLIC LITERARY WORKS

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

The Joyous, Consequential Life of Dr. Francisco Marquez by Ryan Starrett

The Joyous, Consequential Life of Dr. Francisco Marquez by Ryan Starrett

The Joyous, Consequential Life of Dr. Francisco Marquez

by Ryan Starrett

 
It is the story of Dr. Francisco Marquez, a devout Catholic, Cuban-American principal who leaves a lucrative job in the Florida Keys to take a job on the edge of the Mississippi Delta, in backwoods, rural America. His natural charm, people skills and ability to compromise and compartmentalize turn his foundering school into a success. A success, that is, until the Catholic Far-Right headed by the uncompromising Mrs. Thelma Pruitt, decide to rid the community of the “liberal foreigner.”
 

Paperback: $14.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan Starrett was birthed and reared in Jackson, Mississippi. After receiving degrees from the University of Dallas, Adams State University and Spring Hill College, as well as spending a ten-year hiatus in Texas, he has returned home to continue his teaching career at his alma mater in Madison, Mississippi.

OTHER LITERARY WORKS

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.