The Speck of Sand

Join The Speck of Sand on an unexpected journey, as it tumbles, flies, and clings to travelers from all over the world.

Along the way, The Speck of Sand visits different countries and villages, learning about their unique histories.

Use the included maps to follow the travelers and The Speck of Sand as they explore together.

The Spectacular Tale of Martha Claus

Sure, you’ve heard of “Mrs. Claus”. Everyone has. But what have you heard? Have you heard the whole story? The real story?

Bet you didn’t know she’s had a hand in creating some of the most iconic toys in history. Bet you didn’t know she’s the cofounder and the real mastermind behind the North Pole Toy Company. Bet you didn’t know she saved Christmas, as we know it, from becoming a thing of the past. Bet you don’t even know her first name.

Of course you don’t, no one does. Because, until now, her story has never been told.

The Speculatores: The Men Who Spied for Rome

Over recent decades, scholars of ancient Roman history have begun to peel back the veils on the realm of intelligence within the Roman State, exploring its integral role in shaping Rome’s defensive grand strategy. While the consensus posits a noticeable shift from indifference during the Republic era (509-27 BCE) to a more engaged stance in the imperial epoch post 27 BCE, it particularly highlights the Dominate period (284-476 CE) as the ‘Golden Age’ of Roman intelligence endeavors.

However, a veil of ambiguity still shrouds Rome’s engagement in external or foreign intelligence operations, notably espionage. Amidst this scholarly dissonance, The Speculatores: The Men Who Spied for Rome embarks on an exploratory voyage to unearth the roots of this disagreement. With a keen eye on the historical narrative and a robust analysis, this book endeavors to bridge the gap in understanding, delving into the very rationale that questions the existence and extent of Roman espionage activities

As you traverse through the pages, The Speculatores unveils the clandestine world of those who might have operated in the shadows for the glory of Rome, offering a fresh lens through which to understand the unseen sinews that perhaps bolstered the mighty Roman machinery of statecraft and defense.

The Spider Who Blew Bubbles

Spencer is a curious young spider who decides to disregard his mother’s warnings and ventures beyond the safety of their tree-bound web to explore the neighbouring apartment complex parking lot. He accidentally lands on Charlie Car and catches a soapy ride to the car wash. After a dizzying ‘day at the spa,’ as Charlie calls it, Spencer emerges squeaky clean, wax-coated, and burping bubbles! This charming story follows Spencer’s disobedient adventure and the funny mess he gets himself into when he doesn’t listen to mom. Children will love the humour and relatable characters as they learn about the importance of heeding parental advice.

The Stable Boy

The Stable Boy is historical fiction. It is a love story, a rags-to-riches story, an anti-racist story and a triumph over injustice story. Taking place in the antebellum South, it tells the tale of how a lowly slave... a hidden genius... defies all odds and becomes one of the richest men in America. In Pygmalion* style, the young slave is taught proper elocution and English grammar, a gift that takes him from picking cotton to dealing with some of the wealthiest and most powerful men in America. It’s also a touching, tender... if unlikely... love story between two young men... one a slave, the other his owner. It takes the reader from the rural South to New Orleans, St. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and London. It makes the incredible, credible.

*Pygmalion is the George Bernard Shaw play on which the movie "MY Fair Lady" was based. It shows how the gift of language can change a guttersnipe into a princess.

The Story of Lex

This is the story of Lex, who happens to live in a dictionary. He also happens to be a sleepwalker. One morning, Lex finds himself out of his bed in an unfamiliar page. Helped by a friendly yak and other kind animals and people, Lex journeys through the dictionary to find his way home.

The Story of Walks with Bear and Bro'Ken

Spanning two quests across generations, this tale begins in the 1700s with Kenthaki, a Shawnee youth later known as Walks-With-Bear, who embarks on a journey with his father’s obsidian knife, a pouch of medicinal herbs, and a staff to find his life’s purpose. His confrontation with a bear and the subsequent adoption of its cub, alongside the transformative relationship with a Christian captive, shapes his future. Years later, his grandson, Bro’Ken, undertakes his own quest to locate his missing father, leading to profound changes. Inspired by the 2003-2006 Lewis and Clark re-enactment, this narrative explores life-altering quests and the impact of cultural intersections.

The Story of Words

The Story of Words intricately weaves the tale of Nathaniel Brand’s journey - intellectual, spiritual, and geographical. A deep dive into his life reveals a poignant discovery: the woman he believed was his soulmate, Stephanie Haller, is in reality a stranger. His PhD dissertation challenges decades of literary criticism but fails to bring him professional recognition. Nathaniel’s spiritual exploration, fuelled by marijuana and acid-rock from the 60s, results in seventy-five ‘messages from the beyond’, which he hopes will revolutionize society but are instead seen as negative by his peers. His quest, marked by trials and introspection, takes readers on a transformative path, hinting at an unexpected resolution that reshapes his understanding of life. This novel offers a unique glimpse into the complexities of pursuing dreams and truths.

The Sun and The Moon

In this soothing bedtime story, your child will dream sweet dreams. This Clarke Fable begins with the sun setting, as all of nature quiets and the day becomes fulfilled. Be sure to watch as the friendly gull and otter find shelter under the twinkling stars and the softly rising moon.

The Sweet Pain of Being Alive

In the highly anticipated sequel to her award-winning memoir, Daring to Date Again (She Writes Press, 2014), The Sweet Pain of Being Alive is the second in Ann Anderson Evans’s memoir trilogy. It follows her heartbreaking journey as she seeks to uncover why her beloved husband killed himself. As her agonizing search deepens, her views on gender, sex, marriage, right, wrong, good, and bad start to shift.

“Ann Anderson Evans is a fearless, fierce, divine, and wise woman who has dared to take a huge bite from Eve’s apple and has the guts to share the insights, fights, and delights she has met head-on.”

– M.J. McDermott, Emmy award-winning broadcaster.

“This book reveals a widow’s gut-wrenching process of scrutiny. In the aftermath of her beloved’s suicide, Ann Anderson Evans asks the questions all suicide survivors must ask: Why? Was his life really so bad? How could I have saved him? Futilely searching for answers to this inexplicable tragedy, Ann has beautifully, painfully dissected her relationship, her husband’s life, and his enduring struggles with depression and transgenderism. Ann is left to find acceptance and peace on her own. This is compelling reading.”

– Leslie Hilburn Fabian, Author of My Husband’s a Woman Now: A Shared Journey of Transition and Love.

“‘People are not always, maybe not ever, what they seem,’ writes Ann Anderson Evans. She thought she knew her husband Terry. What she didn’t know – the secret he only partially shared and his anguish about not claiming his authentic self – led him to suicide. ‘This book is stark, unflinching, intensely personal, and powerfully written. I loved the book, and I’m grateful to Ann Anderson Evans for having the courage to write it.’”

– Joan Price, author of Sex After Grief: Navigating Your Sexuality After Losing Your Beloved.

The Sweet Revenge of Marcus Aurelius

The Sweet Revenge of Marcus Aurelius is based on the true story of a talented and ingenious slave who sold his master. When he was still a young house boy, Marcus Aurelius was taught to read and write by the plantation owner’s rebellious twelve-year-old daughter, who also instilled in him a passionate desire for freedom. She even encouraged him to escape, which he did – three different times – thus setting in motion his ultimate and sweetest revenge. His story, even without fictionalizing, is a wide-ranging, swash-buckling tale of a fittingly just revenge set against many venues: the cruelties and dehumanizing effects of plantation life, a year in a unique community of escaped slaves in the Great Dismal Swamp, Paris high society in the Second Republic, duels, an enduring love affair, bad dogs and violent slave catchers, crime-ridden New Orleans street life, and even a stint as a passenger on a pirate ship.

The Teeny Tiny Tree People: A Children's Fantasy

In the enchanting world of The Teeny Tiny Tree People: A Children’s Fantasy, there exists a miniature family nestled snugly within a nearby tree. Their idyllic home is soon overshadowed by a looming threat: a neighborhood cat with a penchant for adventure. Join us as we follow this plucky Teeny Tiny Family and a curious, captivated audience on an unforgettable journey filled with wonder and whimsy.