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WALK: YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT de Courtney Conley & Milica McDowell

Step into a world where walking isn’t just a leisurely activity or a form of personal transportation, but a vital component of human existence. In WALK: YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT we dive deep into the undeniable truth that walking is as essential to our well-being as breathing and sleeping.

WALK: YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT
by Dr. Courtney Conley, DC & Dr. Milica McDowell, DPT
Balance/Hachette, 2026
(via Mendel Media Group)

With a blend of scientific rigor and accessible language, we shatter the misconception that walking is merely exercise or an optional pastime. Instead, we present a compelling case for walking as a physiological necessity, crucial for both thriving and surviving in the modern world.

Despite its myriad benefits for physical and mental health, walking remains one of society’s most under-prescribed medicines. We confront the paradox: if walking is so beneficial, why are participation rates plummeting? The 10,000-step mantra, once hailed as the gold standard for health, has inadvertently deterred many from even attempting to step out. We dissect this myth and unveil the numerous barriers—pain, time constraints, inappropriate footwear—that hinder widespread adoption of walking.

Our book is a beacon of clarity amidst the complexity of scientific discourse. We distill intricate concepts into actionable strategies, empowering readers to embrace walking confidently and safely.

But WALK: YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT is more than a guide to walking—it’s a journey through human evolution, exploring how our bodies were designed for movement. We uncover the stark realities of modern walking deficits and the alarming impact of footwear on our sedentary lifestyles.

Armed with evidence from global scientific studies, we reveal the transformative power of walking to combat common physical and mental health conditions and enhance overall well-being. From reducing depression to increasing longevity, each step contributes to a healthier, happier life

As readers walk through each chapter, they’ll find themselves increasingly inspired to lace up their shoes and hit the pavement. We provide practical “Movement Snacks,” micro-actions that make walking more accessible and enjoyable. Our goal is simple: to ignite a global movement towards personalized walking practices, unlocking the boundless benefits for mind, body, and community.

WALK: YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT isn’t just a book—it’s a rallying cry for a healthier, more active world.

Dr. Courtney Conley is a distinguished figure in the field of foot and gait specialization. She holds a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine as well as two bachelor’s degrees in Kinesiology and Human Biology. She has worked with many professional athletic teams in the US. In addition to being featured on numerous websites, interviews, providing consultation work to private clients and organizations, Dr. Conley was the featured guest on Dr. Peter Attia’s podcast The Drive on April 1, 2024. She is widely published digitally, with content spanning walking, gait, footwear, and foot mechanics. She is the founder of Gait Happens, a global enterprise that is leading a paradigm shift in digital foot health education, offering innovative solutions to reclaim optimized foot function and economical gait mechanics.

Dr. Milica McDowell, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, has held various professional roles in adult and medical education throughout her career. She served as a university faculty member in Human Performance for nearly a decade, has developed numerous medical education curricula and has been an invited speaker on many national stages, including the American Physical Therapy Association and American College of Sports Medicine’s conventions. She has been an invited presenter for numerous professional organizations, and she has delivered over 300 educational lectures at state, regional, and national levels. She is currently a product spokesperson for a $50MM health and fitness product company alongside retired NFL Quarterback Drew Brees.

STEELBORN de Taylor J. LaRue

Sizzling chemistry, incredible world building, a fiercely complex protagonist and cast of characters that will remain with you long after you’ve turned the last page. While the story zips along with truly jaw-dropping set pieces, there’s also real emotional heft as Taylor J. LaRue tells the story of a young woman who has long repressed her identity but is now realizing her power and her fully realized purpose. It is the story of someone coming to understand the rage at their core: where it came from, and where it might bring them. First in a planned trilogy.

STEELBORN
by Taylor J. LaRue
on submision
(via Park, Fine & Brower Literary)

Never run. Never bow. Never die.

These were the words that Reya Connery’s father, an Etellinian blacksmith, raised her on. But since her parents’ brutal murder, Reya has had to live by a different set of truths. One: There is no honor among thieves. Two: A good blade is key to any successful negotiation. Three: Only the dead keep secrets.

Half-human, half-immortal, Reya survives in an empire that criminalizes magic as its most notorious thief, paying off her debt to the ruthless crime lord who saved her from a life on the streets. When, for her final job, she’s tasked with delivering one of her own kind to an unthinkable fate, Reya helps them escape instead. Her employer gives her an ultimatum: two months to repay the cost of what she lost him, or she will be forever bound in his service—and if she runs or betrays him again, one of her brothers will be forced to take her place.

Desperate to protect what little family she has left, Reya takes on her most impossible heist yet when Caelan Halcyon, an immortal warrior cursed to die, hires her to steal him a fabled cure. But even she can’t steal something no one has ever actually seen—and Reya and her warrior are not the only ones hunting it. When an attack forces Reya to reveal her own immortality, and Caelan realizes she possesses a rare gift that could spare his people from annihilation at the empire’s hands, he’s determined to teach the beautiful, infuriating thief how to control her power.

Their journey takes them to the edge of the known world, and into the depths of their broken hearts. To save them both, Reya must confront the secrets lurking in the shadows of her past, the burning rage that she fears, and the ability she has spent her entire life suppressing. Because this time, her daggers aren’t going to cut it, and the fate of all immortals hangs in the balance.

Perfect for fans of LJ Andrew’s The Ever King and Callie Hart’s Quicksilver, Taylor J. LaRue is one of the most exciting new voices in romantasy in a long time: her writing has true swagger, and she weaves together a story with exciting twists and sizzling romance, set against a world that feels truly lived in. Yet it is her fierce but hurting protagonist, Reya, who will stay with you long after you turn the last page: a young woman who has been forced to bury herself in order to survive, finally stepping into her power and her purpose.

Taylor J. LaRue spent her early career as a journalist in the Windy City. Now she is living out her moody aesthetic dreams coordinating Barnes & Noble author events in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband, their tiny human tyrant, and one very soggy puppy.

A GIFT BEFORE DYING de Malcolm Kempt

In the remote, unforgiving expanse of Nunavut, Corporal Eldrick Cole finds himself exiled and isolated after a disastrous high-profile murder investigation.

A GIFT BEFORE DYING
by Malcolm Kempt
Crown, January 2026

After a botched high-profile murder investigation as a cop in Alberta, Corporal Eldrick Cole is exiled to the remote, rugged landscape of Nunavut, Canada, a vast territory in the Arctic Circle known for its untamed beauty, frigid temperatures, and perpetual darkness. Amid these harsh elements, the indomitable spirit of the Inuit people prevails.

Cole’s bleak existence takes a darker turn when he discovers the hanging body of Pitseolala, a wry, troubled sixteen-year-old Inuit girl who had spent countless nights passed out in the detachment cells under his watch. Her battle with addiction dredges up demons he thought he’d buried—along with the scars of a fractured marriage and the aching divide between him and his estranged daughter, whom he abandoned long before he was ousted from Northern Alberta.

As Cole’s life unravels, so does the fragile thread of his lone, faltering inquiry—until he turns to Pitseolala’s younger brother, Maliktu, a fellow outsider, shunned by his community for his burn-scarred face and schizophrenia. It’s then that Cole uncovers what else binds them: the eerie, relentless visitation of Pitseolala’s ghost, haunting them both with a singular mission—to lead them to her killer and, therefore, expose the looming threat to other young women in their sacred hamlet.

Driven by an obsessive need to redeem at least one fragment of his shattered life, Cole defies every rule in his unyielding pursuit of justice for Pitseolala.

Malcolm Kempt worked as a criminal lawyer in the remote Arctic for seventeen years before leaving to write full-time. He won the Percy Janes Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript. He lives on the island of Newfoundland. A GIFT BEFORE DYING is his debut novel.

EVERY SWEET THING IS BITTER de Samantha Crewson

A woman with a violent past gets a chance at redemption in this upmarket suspense debut, perfect for fans of Lisa Taddeo and Tiffany McDaniel.

EVERY SWEET THING IS BITTER
by Samantha Crewson
Crooked Lane, April 2025

Thirteen years ago, Providence Byrd threw the family car in reverse and ran over her mother. Even though her mother survived, that single instant of teenage madness made Providence a felon and irrevocably altered her life. When her mother disappears years later under suspicious circumstances, Providence tells herself that returning home is her chance to find closure after a prolonged estrangement from her family. Never mind that this is only half of the truth: she’s also returning to finally confront her abusive father, Tom Byrd. Nothing can stamp out Providence’s certainty that he is guilty of whatever terrible thing has happened to her mother.

As the search unfolds, Providence is haunted by the wounds of her past, none of which cut as deep as the distance between her and her younger sisters. Harmony and Grace are both uniquely scarred by her attempted matricide, and both have their own idea of what reconciliations might look like – if reconciling is even possible. Harmony urges Providence to make their father pay for his sins; Grace begs her to end the cycle of violence that has haunted their family for generations. As her thirst for vengeance collides with her desire to heal her relationships with her sisters, Providence must decide which she values more: revenge or redemption.

Sharp and poignant, EVERY SWEET THING IS BITTER is a stunning novel that eschews picture-perfect endings and dares to tell a story about a resilient queer woman and her relentless determination to persevere.

Samantha Crewson graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a degree in political science. A proud queer woman, she currently resides in California’s Inland Empire with her partner and their many cats.

CLEANER de Jess Shanon

A surreal and irreverent story of an awkward, impulsive and self-sabotaging woman. With dark humour and suspense, it aligns tonally with Fleabag and Scarlett Thomas’ writing.

CLEANER
by Jess Shanon
Bedford Square, August 2025
(via Randle Editorial and Literary Consultancy)

When an unnamed woman in her mid-twenties moves back home to live with her parents, she finds fuel in anew obsession for cleaning. What she hadn’t anticipated, was the events that set in motion afterwards, leading her to posting as a nude model foran art gallery, where she also works as a cleaner.

There, she is painted by Isabella and, next, the two women have sex in the bathroom. And, next, the woman is fuelled by a new obsession: Isabella. She wears Isabella’s clothes, she moves in with Isabella’s boyfriend, Paul and introduces him to her parents. She invents alternate realities about who she and Isabella are to each other.

As time passes, the narrator tries to distract herself by cleaning and drawing – until she puts on an exhibition of her own. This is her final attempt at summoning Isabella back. The plan is successful but the narrator is ultimately left wondering if Isabella’s return has changed anything.

Jess Shannon is a writer from Birmingham and proud graduate of the Warwick Writing Programme. She completed her MA in Writing in 2021. As well as fiction, Jess is an avid theatre goer and performer. She’s currently working as an English teacher.