The Lost Words

From the gritty streets of Boston, Massachusetts to the warm and secure blankets that wrap up his children at night, John Cole has provided us with a collection of stories and prose that capture the essence of everyday working-class life.

From young adulthood to fatherhood, John Cole uses his own words to paint vivid emotional pictures of the blue-collar realism that exists for most of us during the earlier stages of the twenty-first century.

The weight of his words and the significance of his stories are delicate and powerful, and readers will handle these stories with the care and gentle reserve they ask for.

Peanut Learns to Share

Peanut is having so much fun while on vacation with her new swing she was recently surprised with, that is until a second surprise threatens to ruin everything.

Peanut is forced to face her fear of sharing.

Find out what the second surprise is and if Peanut is able to learn to share before it is too late.

My Friend, Thomas Carl

Thomas Carl was a cat waiting in an animal shelter for a new friend.

I had moved to a new city and was lonely and afraid. I was looking for a new friend as well.

This charming and entertaining tail tells how Thomas Carl and I became best friends, and how Thomas Carl helped me say goodbye to that loneliness and fear. It proves that friendship and acceptance can come from anywhere…

…even a cat!

This story will inspire young readers to think more about the importance of friendship and giving everyone a chance. It also reminds us that, no matter our size, we can all have a positive impact on others.  

Love Hurts

Thomas Pry High School is a place where only the children of the elite study and interact with each other. A place where all the guys and girls fawn over Luke Finnegan, a fencing champion in his third year. But to Jack Whyte, the popular fencer is just another student passing through the halls. All he wants is to make friends and keep out of trouble at his new school.

When their eyes finally meet, however, Luke can’t seem to want nothing more than to be around Jack. So much so, that what was supposed to be a tournament afterparty ends up putting Jack’s life in danger.

Follow the students of Thomas Pry as they begin to learn about each other, and their newfound friendship begins to draw some attention to those closest to them.

Ç'est La Vie

Stella Anderson is no stranger to detention, but her latest infraction leads her to a group of fellow rule-breakers at her new school in Dewberry, Texas. However, when their teacher goes missing, these five misfits, each with their own unique quirks - McClark the ‘psychic,’ Quinby the underqualified ‘social navigator,’ Mira the small-town goth, Reagan the bitter and resentful, and Sella the pig-headed friend - must band together to uncover the truth behind Ms. Weaver’s disappearance. As they navigate their newfound roles as amateur detectives, will they crack under the pressure or rise to the challenge?

You Gotta Have Cheer

You Gotta Have Cheer is full of art games, poems, stories, and best of all, whimsical cheers for school and home interaction with your kids.

“Make hand movements to clap, tap, and hand jive your own way,

To set up class rules and organize your day.”

There are funny toasts and roasts. You might even insert your friends and family names to cheer them on.

“You ran for someone dear you loved,

And I know she loved you on earth and above.”

Lois has had “MOR-TONS” of fun teaching art and has inspired hundreds of kids with her creative spirit and enthusiasm. Her poems, cheers, toasts, and stories were created along her teaching journey. Enjoy!

Privateer Princess

In Privateer Princess, Reginald is determined to bring down the notorious thief Bane, but he can’t seem to catch him. He knows he needs to play by the rules, but breaking them has become a habit. To finally catch Bane, Reginald sets his sights on his hideout, but first he needs to discover its location. With a stowaway on board, he must keep his crew and the passenger safe while stopping a dangerous criminal.

Meanwhile, Leora has always followed the rules, but when it comes to matters of the heart, she wants to take matters into her own hands. She sets out on a mission to find her lost love, which leads her on an adventure across the galaxy. Alongside the crew of the Nero, she uncovers a world filled with deceit, slavery, and danger.

As Leora tries to save her people and her heart, she must navigate a treacherous path to find the one she seeks. Will she be able to find her lost love, or will her destiny take a different turn? Privateer Princess is an action-packed novel filled with adventure, danger, and romance that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Sisters

In Sisters, journey with Ella and Annie as they recount their enchanting encounter with two young coyote siblings. As the tale unfolds, children are not only introduced to the captivating world of coyotes but also to the intricate tapestry of life within the forest. This story fosters a profound appreciation for nature, nurturing a bond with the animal kingdom and emphasizing the importance of understanding and preserving the world around us.

The Little Worry Warts

What if a little lightning bug loses her light? What happens when a horsefly lands in a giant web? Do bumblebees lose their stings?

This book addresses the what ifs of life for everyone!

Lexi, Horace, Bella and Gus teach worriers to focus on the positive aspects of life and their friendships in a way that only The Little Worry Warts can.

Fish at the Fair

At a bustling country fair, young Scoot and Mom are immersed in a whirlwind of vibrant colors, delightful games, and an array of fascinating animals.

Amid the tantalizing scents of fair treats blending with rustic barnyard aromas, they encounter a carnival man boasting bowls filled with shimmering goldfish.

All it takes to win a finned friend is a coin tossed into a dish! But will Mom allow Scoot the chance?

Whether Scoot goes home with a new pet or just a cherished memory, it’s bound to be an unforgettable day at the fair!

Illinois 1000

Illinois 1000 is a quick dive into the lives of the English and the Indians of the Upper Midwest a thousand years ago.

Building on The Year 1000 by British historians Robert Lacey and Danny Danzinger, the author moves from one side of the Atlantic to the other. The contrasts are as much from the past to the present as between the two very different cultures. ‘Primitive’ is often used to describe the Indians’ way of life, and not without at least some reason. So much of what characterized and made English life possible was entirely absent in North America.

Yet, centuries later, hundreds, even thousands of Europeans joined the Indians, preferring their way of living to that which they had known in Europe or colonial America. The Indians, the first people, survived and prospered in what was at that time not amber fields of grain but a very ungenerous landscape. If they were brutal, they were hardly unique. In their affinity to the earth they lived on, there were few like them.

Birthed Anew: From Pain to Passion to Purpose

We all have a part deep within us that is fighting to make its exit. Whether it’s hidden secrets, traumatic experiences, or soul wrenching memories, it no longer wants to reside there. Let me introduce you to Grace. She weaves us through the course of her life as she embarks upon this quest for freedom from life’s shackles. On this journey, we experience her deeply rooted pain, and her drive towards deliverance. We witness her attempts of resurrection from the dark pits of pain to the moment of her personal triumph.

Pursing growth commences through the identification of the who, what, where, when and why’s in our lives. Gaining a better understanding of how our past paves our future can help individuals make positive choices that will support authentic healing and restoration.

Birthed Anew: From Pain to Passion to Purpose will shed light on commonly hidden skeletons while simultaneously revealing the beauty of what it actually means to transition from a painful situation to a purposeful one and ultimately experience the gift of forgiveness.