Splinter: My Personal Journey through My Sister's Mental Illness

We have all encountered people with mental illness in school, the workplace, among our friends, and in our families. If the emotional or mental distress is mild or non-threatening, empathy and compassion go a long way. Dealing with someone who has a personality disorder is another matter.

When Charlotte Yardley’s sister moved to her town after they had communicated mostly by phone for 40 years, she found herself ill-equipped to interact with someone whose behavior alternated between tears, depression, anger, blow-ups, and outright cruelty. She had thought they were close, but now she was being blamed for everything her sister believed was going wrong in her life. As Yardley dipped into co-dependence and depression of her own, she sought therapy.

Through journal excerpts, summaries of concepts from books she read, excerpts of her sister’s emails and therapy sessions, even a teacher-like handout, she invites the reader to join her in her journey toward acceptance of the kind of relationship she can and cannot have with her sister. Though the subject is dark, there is some humor, and there’s a section of quick tips at the end for those facing similar relationship struggles.

Spoiled Rotten Reggie

Born into a life of luxury, Reggie is a child who wants for nothing. His parents shower him with the latest toys, the trendiest clothes, and a spacious room filled with endless furniture. No material desire is left unfulfilled. Reggie’s every whim is indulged, from staying up late to dressing as he pleases—or not dressing at all! His parents and their attentive staff cater to his every need and tolerate his every behavior. In short, Reggie gets what Reggie wants.

But when Reggie starts school, problems arise as the permissive environment at home clashes with the expectations of the classroom. Despite his teacher’s attempts to address the situation, Reggie’s family denies any issue—until a peculiar odor begins to emanate from the boy. Classmates and teachers alike start to notice that Reggie has a real problem, one that persists no matter what his parents do.

Will Reggie ever be the same again, or will this mysterious odor linger forever?

Sprinkle Love

This book invites you to explore the power of love and its ability to bring joy to your daily experiences.

By sprinkling love wherever you go, you may be surprised by the transformative impact it can have on people and places.

Join this adventure and let love work its magic in your life!

Squirrel Shared His Nest with Owl

This story is written for younger children to highlight the environmental changes that could impact their activities, reassure them, and relieve their anxiety and fear. These changes not only disrupt their daily routines, but may also require them to temporarily take shelter in places other than their family homes for safety. The sudden changes also put other living species close to us in harm’s way. It is documented that these creatures also recognize the danger of being caught in a storm and wind. They seek refuge in tall trees and return to their homes and nests after the storm passes.

In writing this short story, I have emphasized that, regardless of whether a creature is a predator or prey, when both face a common threat such as a storm, they share resources and accommodate each other to overcome the danger – just as we do by helping friends and neighbors during natural disasters.

Stardust: The Tree Top Angel

Stardust is a snow angel in heaven waiting for her first assignment to top a Christmas tree.  She is very excited and hopes to be picked for a grand, tall tree because she has been practicing every minute to be the best tree-topper she can be.

Tessie is a young girl whose family can’t afford a tree this year. She is very sad and gathers branches to make her own tree.

Come and see what happens when the two of them get together for a glorious Christmas!

Stories & Poems = Happiness

This book is both a poetry book and a story book.

These are mostly stories written in the form of a poem. Of the fifty poems, thirty seven have won either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place. Nine are published in various poetry organizations with other poets. These stories are very interesting and can put a smile on your face. Some are true and some can be true.

Stories From the Heart

Be it the sweetness of courtship, the fragility of flirtation or deep prevailing commitment, these are stories that bring a sigh and a smile as we glimpse love in all its iterations.

Set against the backdrop of Italy, whose very essence is romance, we spend time with a woman who flips the script on actors; a little boy and his beloved violin; a snowy-haired cupid and destined dance partners, all of whom are connected by the powerful theme of love.

Story 1: The Delights of Sean Jr.

Sean Jr. had a tough life—as his mother told him, he had the ‘forbidden illness’: lusting for men. His uncle took him in, yet Sean lived a criminal lifestyle ingrained in the family business. Thug life meant trouble was Sean’s middle name; the drugs and jail did not help much either.

Now Sean had two loving parents. Yet his uncle was in conflict, wanting to protect Sean from the evils of their family’s work while disapproving of his player lifestyle. Meanwhile, the body count from their criminal exploits continued to rise.

Stripping

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance in Stripping - Taking Off Everything to Love What’s Underneath. Join me as I guide you through my personal odyssey from Point A to Z, a path marked by challenges, revelations, and triumphs. As a woman who embraces her unique identity, I invite you to delve into my world and understand the essence of who I am.

Stripping away layers isn’t just an act; it’s an art form of embracing one’s true self. This book is more than a story; it’s a manifesto on the power of self-love and the liberation that comes with it. Once you learn the art of stripping away external expectations and societal norms, you’ll find a profound freedom and an unreturnable transformation.

Discover the beauty beneath the surface, and learn to love the unadorned, authentic you. ‘Stripping’ isn’t just about removing what’s on the outside; it’s about revealing and cherishing what lies underneath.

Strong Boys

When you think of the word strong, what comes to mind? Big muscles, athletic, tough, and brave? Being strong can mean many things! In this playful book, boys can learn many ways to build strength and confidence. Being a strong boy is about developing strong character, trying new things, and being unique. Strong Boys celebrates the many ways to train your body and brain to be dynamic, fun, and strong. The biggest muscle you have is your courage!

Summer of Fun

Joey is an average boy from the suburbs who just wants to seize the day. From water fights to fireflies, Joey doesn’t fail to make the first day of summer last. What’s unique about this particular summer is that Joey meets the love of his life. When you think about yourself meeting fate, you wonder when, who, where, and how. Joey is 11 and never thought his whole life would change on this one day. His family, Jason, Mom, and Dad are just along for the ride. With summer starting and more than half of the families on the block going on vacation, Joey Andrews and his brother are exhilarated to soak up as much from the summer air, 4th of July celebrations, and family time.

This is the best time of the year to be outside. If you were 11 and had the whole summer ahead you, what would you do?

Sun-Kissed Mountains of Home

Heiress Miranda Howarth-Dunn longs for the things money can’t buy. Orphaned and raised by servants, Miranda seeks comfort and companionship at a riding academy. Inspired by her friend whose disabled brother wished to ride, Miranda envisions creating an equine therapeutic program that gives patients and their families opportunities to ride together. All she needs is a genuine cattle ranch to make her dreams come true.

Ethan Baldwin, a fourth-generation of throw-back cowboys, values doing things the old way. He finds his family ranch and land of his ancestors, under constant threat. The unpredictable nature of the cattle industry tests the financial stability of all the ranches surrounding the small community of Rambletap Springs, MO, including the Baldwin’s ranch, Alma Soñada. Though it could secure the finances, the last thing Ethan wants is for his parents to bring tourists to the ranch for some riding program.

Sun-Kissed Mountains of Home brings together two adversaries who, despite their opposite goals and different backgrounds, find mutual understanding as they work together around horses. Learning to communicate using animals as an example, Miranda and Ethan travel on parallel paths seeking a way to bridge the gap created by their differences. Forced into a dangerous situation, they rely on their spiritual connections to the energies around them to cope. Can the ghosts of legends and lore with whom Miranda and Ethan feel a connection be their common ground? Will they discover they might be kindred spirits after all?