Animalia: A to Z

There are so many animals in the world.

We have to think about how we as humans are impacting their world.

Every animal deserves to survive and thrive, and with human help, they can do so.

This book is just a sampling of all the amazing creatures found in the diverse habitats on our beautiful planet Earth.

Anna and Darel

Who were these parents who had lived in a tent on an island in the Potomac River during the Depression while the father wrangled WPA guidebooks toward publication, and later wrote speeches for the Senator investigating cartels during World War II, wrote the book on foot-and-mouth disease, and crossed swords with Joe McCarthy’s inquisition? Who was the mother who hadn’t worked in thirty years yet fended off financial disaster after her husband’s early death?

At his mother’s death seventeen years later, the questions still lingered, leaving a void which Jim McConkey fills with a compelling narrative. From ‘drinking wet and voting dry’ during Prohibition to starving as a freelance writer in the Depression, the WPA Writer’s Project, the early days of commercial air travel, and the international cartels that thwarted America’s war mobilization and led to civilian rationing, McConkey’s story captivates and informs.

And finally, that gorgeous farm in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains is vividly preserved. The family’s history, stored in a four-drawer filing cabinet stuffed with family papers, is brought to life in this loving parental biography.

Anna's Story

Anna turned 21 years old on the day that she arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia. She felt twice that age. The mirror on the train reflected dark circles beneath her brown eyes and a thin face. Her overall appearance was only saved by her glowing, abundant hair.

A Jewish girl, she was emigrating from Glasgow, Scotland, with her husband and baby daughter. Her father, on her departure, had said: “You’ll live to regret this decision. You were always the one to chase wild dreams, wanting more than you had.”

“Isn’t a dream better than this?” she had asked, sweeping her arms to take in their surroundings.

It was 1922 and Canada was in the midst of Great Depression. When Anna was called upon to honor a commitment to a Jewish friend caught in pre-war Europe, she needed to balance a career that she had worked hard to establish so she could foster a nine-year-old child. Her dreams took a direction that she had never expected.

Annabel on the Ground

Annabel on the Ground is a charming tale about starting kindergarten for literal kids. Ann Myra is a singer-songwriter, as well as a staunch environmentalist and pro-earth supporter. A percentage of proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Foote School and 1% will be for the planet.

Anoka Stories

Anoka, a little town Northwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is central to this collection of short stories. The stories span two centuries of history, including an Indian tribe’s conflict with intruding white settlers, and a civil war veteran’s souvenir that became a family heirloom. All of the stories have elements of truth; all have elements of fiction.

Anthony Ant Finds His Groove

Do you believe that dreams come true? Well, Anthony does.

He is a little ant with a big dream, but not much support from his family. Only his granny believes that he and his band will succeed. Is Granny’s confidence enough? And will he amaze the rest of the family?

Anya

Anya, a modern romance novel, follows the story of a young woman from Russia who comes to the United States for college. Despite her fluency in English, her accent makes her a target for bullies. As she struggles to adjust to life in a new country, she meets Peter, a wealthy student who takes an immediate interest in her. Despite the challenges of navigating a new campus and dealing with romantic competition, Peter remains devoted to Anya, even going so far as to help her cancer-stricken mother in Russia. As their relationship develops, Anya must navigate her own conflicting emotions and desires, ultimately leading to a dramatic conclusion. The outcome of their love story is left for readers to discover.

Anything but Ordinary

Two members from a small circle of friends set off for a fun trip, split into half business and half pleasure. The whole town of Calhoun is excited for them, especially the art group. On their way to the airport, the pair of friends vanish.

The police are baffled and the case is moving too slow to satisfy the art ladies. Just a few months later, while one member of the group is participating in an art show at a shopping mall, a college student goes on a shooting rampage. The art ladies think this will happen again and again until the root of the problem is addressed, and they decide to take matters into their own hands. Tragic and complicated situations do not discourage this little band of feisty middle-aged artists. They are church-going, family-oriented, and strong-willed. Plus, they have a talent and passion for art. The same critical and analytical eye they use for detail in their paintings is applied to the cases they are determined to solve. The art ladies bring a wide spectrum of life experiences to the group, and their personalities are as different as light and dark. But the things they all have in common are a zest for life and loyalty to one another. Love, humor, suspense, integrity, and snappy dialogue play a large part in this story. Despite what they think, their little painting group and daily activities are not commonplace. In fact, everything about them is quite the opposite. Their lives, all the way around, are anything but ordinary.

Apex Blues

Apex Blues chronicles the extraordinary lives and musical legacies of two generation-spanning Jazz clarinet virtuosos: Jimmie Noone Sr. and his son Jimmy Noone Jr.

Jimmie Noone Sr. rose to fame in the 1910s New Orleans French Quarter jazz scene, forging his iconic ‘Sweet Lorraine’ style during the dawn of the genre. Later, his son Jimmy initially made waves as a San Diego local musician before feeling called to follow in his father’s footsteps. He set out to revive his dad’s New Orleans Jazz sound and mentorship.

As the author witnesses firsthand, Jimmy exceeds even his father’s musical heights through raw talent and relentless dedication to his craft. In his final days, he completes his quest: to honor Jazz history by propelling his father’s sound into the future. Jimmy cements the Noone legacy, ensuring the nation remembers what sublime Jazz can be.

Spanning generations, geographies, and evolutions of musical style, Apex Blues captures how two clarinet greats shepherded Jazz from regional obscurity into an acclaimed American art form.

Apollo the Angora Goat

Apollo the Angora Goat is a heartwarming children’s book that tells the story of Apollo, an Angora goat born and raised on a lively farm in California.

Through Apollo’s eyes, young readers will discover the joys of farm life, the beauty of friendships, and the adventures that come with growing up alongside a diverse group of animal friends.

As Apollo and his companions play and explore their world, they learn valuable lessons about friendship and life.

This charming first book in a series invites children to join Apollo on his delightful adventures, promising a journey filled with fun and learning.

Are We Worthy?

Are We Worthy?

It is a question that haunted Jake and Joey for over a month as they struggled to accomplish what so many people had told them was impossible.

For a whole year leading up to the trip, people had gone out their way to tell Jake and Joey, “People don’t hitchhike anymore, morons! You’re gonna die out there if you really go through with this.”

The boys just gritted their teeth and held their tongue, for it wouldn’t be long until they flew across the country with a one-way plane ticket and a goal to hitchhike almost 3,000 miles back to their hometown.

It turned out to be harder than they ever expected...

From swerving cars to paranormal experiences in the night, Jake and Joey had their eyes opened to a world of suffering they never knew existed.

But every time they starved in the woods, every time they experienced hate, every mile their legs felt like giving out, the same mantra would ring through their minds.

“Are… We… Worthy…?”

“Are we worthy of success?”

“Are we worthy to make it home?”

And on the darkest days, “Are we worthy to make it out alive?”

This book is a story of vulnerability, heartbreak, and struggle, but through it all, there is a consistent pattern of hope and persistence, even in the darkest of times. We can all relate to the feeling of worthlessness or wonder whether or not we should give up. But if there is anything you can take from this book, it is that you are worthy to rise up and accomplish the impossible, just like Joey Oler and Jake Blue did in the summer of 2018.

Are You Free?

The Morettis are a Sarasota family of Cafeteria Catholics, (rejecting some Vatican doctrines—mainly pelvic issue ones). Widower Dante goes to his first Confession in decades. He confesses gossip: telling his two daughters of his brother Nick’s fling with the caterer for his wedding vow renewal with Nick’s then-wife Rosemary. An unusual Penance surprises Dante. Tantrums of Nick’s ex-wife Rosemary impact events. Dante wants another good woman to love, but dating yields only stories that amuse his girls.

Dante’s gossip is repeated, changing with each teller. Floridians talk about freedom (yet yearn to mate). An undreamt-of source for finding love and fulfilling Dante’s Penance offers challenge and hope. Her name is Abigail.

Soon they’re doing everything in a pandemic. How could anything go right?

Are You Free? offers a witty rumination on family, religion, and the search for love in many forms – grief, longing, regret, surprise.