FICTION · PREPAREDNESS · SELF-DEFENSE
Stories and practical guides for uncertain times
Explore Matt Pasquinilli’s books on courage, preparation, personal safety, and the people who look after their communities.
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Thrillers
Fiction about ordinary people facing extraordinary disruption.

Before the Lights Return
A Short Thriller
An unexplained blackout hits during a school day. As phones and radios go silent, school security director Jack Mercer and his community must make difficult decisions to protect students and help their neighbors. A short fictional story about courage, faith, and clear thinking under pressure.
Practical guides
Resources for personal safety, school security, and preparedness.

Grid Down and EMP Preparedness
A Practical Handbook for Individuals, Households, Businesses, and Groups
Prepare for prolonged power outages with practical planning for water, food, medical needs, communications, security, and business continuity. The guide includes planning worksheets and considers the uncertainty around EMP-related claims.

Practical Cane Self Defense
An Illustrated Guide for Older Adults and Beginners
A step-by-step introduction to awareness, cane handling, balanced movement, and controlled practice. Illustrated lessons draw on Matt’s instructional videos and offer a manageable progression for beginners and older adults.

Self Defense For Seniors
Practical Skills for Awareness, Balance, and Everyday Safety
Build an everyday safety plan around awareness, boundaries, balance, and practice adapted to your abilities. This illustrated guide includes planning prompts and a practice program.

Practical School Security
An Action Guide for School Leaders and Safety Teams
A working guide for school leaders and safety teams, connecting daily operations, clear responsibilities, communication, emergency planning, and follow-through. Use the prompts alongside your school’s approved procedures.
In preparation
A new fictional story is being prepared for publication.

No Safe Road
A Jack Mercer Blackout Thriller
A Thanksgiving road trip becomes a fight to get home when an unexplained blackout leaves Jack Mercer and his family stranded far from safety. A standalone fictional companion to Before the Lights Return.
In preparation
Earlier books
Earlier print editions, including translated parenting titles. Availability may vary.

The Child Whisperer
Parenting and communication
A guide to communicating with children and encouraging confidence, focus, and self-control.

Behavior Coaching
Co-authored with Dr. Scott Hall
A step-by-step guide for parents and educators looking for practical ways to support children’s behavior at home and at school.

Sí Mamá, Sí Papá
Spanish-language edition
A Spanish-language parenting guide about communication with children, confidence, and focus.

Sim Mamãe, Sim Papai
Portuguese-language edition
A Portuguese-language guide to communication with children and supporting their confidence and self-esteem.
More writing
Matt’s earlier co-authored work also includes Mastering the Martial Arts Business, about the practical responsibilities of running a martial arts school.
His report Martial Arts Business Mastery: 101 Tips shares ideas for building a successful martial arts school.
