Ballast Book Launch

Check out the conversation between Scott Bloom, author and comedic keynote speaker, and Andy Symonds, president of Ballast Books, about Scott’s upcoming book, The Atomic Morning Miracle.
A mixture of comedy, wisdom, and quantum physics, The Atomic Morning Miracle, a satire of productivity culture and the self-help industry, is a book like no other! It pokes fun at the relentless pressure to optimize every minute of the day, all while offering readers genuine insights beneath the humor
Scott Bloom is a comedic keynote speaker, podcaster, author, and pioneer of Quantomic Productivity Science who has spent his career making people laugh while accidentally discovering profound truths. 
Purchase your copy here.

In this episode, Judy Torres talks her brave and bold memoir, No Reason to Cry, with Andy Symonds, president of Ballast Books.Judy Torres is a Bronx legend, a freestyle music icon, and a voice that helped define a generation. Known as the Queen of Freestyle, Judy rose to fame in the late 1980s with club staples like “No Reason to Cry,” “Come Into My Arms,” and “Love You, Will You Love Me.”
In her memoir, No Reason to Cry, Judy traces her path from a Bronx childhood to a record deal during the explosion of the freestyle phenomenon—and, for the first time in print, she bravely exposes the behind-the-scenes battles she fought along the way.  Get your copy of her memoir here.

In this episode, hear Janielle Lucas, a wellness innovator, and Andy Symonds, Ballast Books president, discuss her new memoir, Taking Heat.
After decades of chronic illness, Janielle was desperate for relief. Finally, an unexpected invitation to hot yoga changed everything. For the first time in years, Janielle felt alive in her body. Convinced she had found a path to healing, she immersed herself in hot yoga, experimenting with escalating heat and humidity. The more intense the room became, the more her symptoms disappeared. 
Eventually, she opened her own studio in Philadelphia. But just as her studio began gaining momentum, her dream unraveled. A crooked landlord, escalating harassment, and a disturbing series of legal battles pulled Janielle into a world she never expected. As the pressure mounted, so did her determination to survive—and to understand why this practice was transforming not only her body but her entire sense of self. 
Get your copy of Taking Heat here.

Take a listen as Chad Jensen, former California police officer, discusses his new book, Badge Under Fire, with Ballast Books president Andy Symonds. Get your copy here!
When Officer Jensen was falsely accused of excessive force during a lawful arrest, he trusted the justice system would protect him—until he became the target of what he alleges was a fraudulent FBI investigation and prosecution. With the support of his friends and family, Chad fought to uncover the truth, resolving to never give up the job he’d dreamt of as a little boy.
Chad Jensen proudly served the citizens of the City of Pomona, California, as a police officer for twenty-four years. As a corporal in 2015, Chad was involved in a low-level use of force arrest that was within policy and the law. In 2017, the FBI began a witch-hunt investigation that resulted in a fraudulent grand jury indictment. 

Check out this episode as Zoë Gregory, author and former Playboy Bunny, talks her book, From Britain to Bunny, with Ballast Books president Andy Symonds. Get your copy here!
What does it take to get from the tough streets of London to the glitz and glamour of the Playboy Mansion? Author Zoë Gregory takes readers on a journey through the rave scene of her rebellious youth to the stark reality of young motherhood and the economic pressures that drove her to reimagine her future. Join her through her life’s greatest turning points, including, of course, her relationship with the iconic Hugh Hefner.
Zoë Gregory started her career in modeling at age seven, appearing in TV commercials and print media. Zoë later became a personal Playboy Bunny to Hugh Hefner, which offered her a unique glimpse into the Playboy Mansion. With her passion for storytelling, she evolved into a talented writer and author.

Check out Mark Hertling's discussion of his book, If I Don't Return, with Andy Symonds, president of Ballast Books.                                               
When Mark Hertling was deployed to Iraq in 1990, he didn’t know if he’d ever return home. He started keeping a journal that could be passed down to his sons, writing about everything from the reality of combat during Operation Desert Storm and lessons on duty and humanity to stories of brotherhood and memories of his family. Now, decades later, he has returned to those journal entries and added detailed reflections to share his wealth of knowledge and experience with the world.
Part battlefield memoir, part father’s journal, part meditation on the challenges of leadership, If I Don’t Return is the story of a soldier who faced death, returned home, and continued to live a life of service. 
Lieutenant General (Retired) Mark Hertling served thirty-eight years in the US Army, as a major in a cavalry squadron during Desert Storm; as an assistant division commander in the 1st Armored Division in Baghdad; and later as the commander of the 1st Armored Division in Northern Iraq. From 2014 to 2024, Mark appeared as a military and national security analyst for CNN/CNN International. Today, he is a freelance analyst and writes on national security and leadership issues for a variety of media outlets.
Get your copy of If I Don't Return here!

Kodey Bogart is back with the fourth book in the Helo Girls series, The Agricultural Pilot, which follows an aerial team on their mission to help a farmer spray crops with pesticides. Check out her discussion with Andy Symonds, president of Blue Balloon Books, as they talk all things STEAM and aviation.
Kodey Bogart is a former United States Army warrant officer and aviator who flew the Blackhawk during medical evacuation missions. She is a decorated combat veteran who has received two Air Medals and a Sikorsky Rescue Award. Kodey has extensive experience across aviation operations, including aviation safety, flight training, maintenance test flights, helicopter air ambulance, and aviation law enforcement. 

In Darryl’s Christmas in Hollis, Christmas gets a magical mix-up, Run-DMC–style! Take a listen as DMC—rapper, producer, and now author—gives an inside scoop to his new project.
As Christmas approaches, Darryl is exploding with holiday anticipation! But first, he needs a new pair of glasses. A trip to the eye doctor opens his eyes to the many ways people celebrate the holidays. When he tries on their new cultural frames, he sees everything from colorful Hanukkah dreidels to the beautiful Diwali lights. Darryl learns that holiday joy comes in all shapes and sizes. With his new perspective on holiday cheer and tradition, Darryl is encouraged to make a selfless decision. He uses his allowance to gift the bike he’s had his eye on to a homeless boy. He realizes that the true spirit of Christmas isn't about getting but about giving. 
Get a copy of Darryl’s Christmas in Hollis here!

Barry Morgenstein takes center stage in this discussion of his book Rock & Soul with Ballast Books CEO Andy Symonds.
From the smoky corners of L’Amour to the thunderous roar of Giants Stadium, Barry poured his blood, sweat, and soul into capturing the faces that defined 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s music culture—including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Steven Tyler, and legends like Chuck Berry—in moments both fabled and intimate. Rock & Soul: Portraits by Barry Morgenstein is a visceral, visual collection of some of the best work throughout Barry’s career. This isn’t just a coffee table book—it’s a backstage pass, a time machine, and lightning strikes on paper. Each image tells an unfiltered story, immortalized by someone who didn’t just shoot the scene—he lived it.

Andrea Mercier speaks with Ballast Books CEO Andy Symonds about her children’s book. Andrea’s journey took an unexpected turn when she became an autism mom to her beautiful son, Gabriel. His extraordinary spirit spurred Andrea to pen Oliver’s Extraordinary Friend. Through her heartfelt storytelling, Andrea aims to bridge the gap between neurotypical and uniquely-abled children to foster understanding and acceptance.
In Oliver’s Extraordinary Friend, Oliver meets Gabriel, a boy with autism. Together, they discover the magic of friendship and embark on adventures full of fun, love, and kindness. This book is a touching reminder that our differences are what make us extraordinary and that true friendship knows no bounds.  
Learn more about the book here: https://blueballoonbooks.com/bookstore/olivers-extraordinary-friend/