An Old Lady’s Haiku with Cat

At this point in my life, I’m committed to my work, driven by a deep desire to communicate and explore the many mysteries around us. In a time when it’s more urgent than ever to care for nature and one another, I create not just to please, but to provoke – to gently pause others in their tracks, inviting them to experience the profound, the playful, and perhaps to leave a little bit changed.

My art and haiku often draw on mythology, religion, nature, and personal memories. In this way, I see myself as a storyteller, hoping to intrigue anyone who takes a moment to stop and look.

On the Wings of an Angel

These poems capture my 35-year love affair with my wife, Anna Mae, who recently passed away from stage three ovarian cancer. She loved me unconditionally, and in return, I endeavored to give her countless reasons to feel cherished. Anna Mae was my everything, and her loss has left me devastated. Witnessing her battle with the illness and undergoing chemotherapy inspired me to write and express my emotions. In these poems, I weave our life story, celebrating the decades we shared.

We first came together when I was just sixteen and spent twenty years together before tying the knot in 2007. I suppose I wanted to be absolutely certain she was the one for me - though, in hindsight, there was never any doubt. In 2000, we expanded our family by adopting five nieces and nephews, three girls and two boys, embarking on an extraordinary journey together. I always strived to bring happiness to my wife, embodying the essence of the quote, ‘It doesn’t take much to make a woman happy, but it takes even less to piss her off.’

In January 2023, Anna Mae succumbed to her battle with cancer. To my loving wife, now in heaven, these poems are for you. Thank you for joining me on this incredible ride.

Plastic: The Side Dish You Get with Every Meal

This book provides an eye-opening revelation about how our current practices continue to harm the environment and all its inhabitants. To ensure a more sustainable future for the planet, we must adopt new ways of doing things and eliminate consumer products and practices that cause the most damage to natural ecosystems and threaten life on Earth.

Wildlife species, ecosystem functions, and human health have all been negatively impacted by the excessive amounts of garbage produced globally every day. Many commonly used products linger in the environment for years after disposal, resulting in grave consequences for essential wildlife organisms and their ecosystems, including water sources, land, and soils. Natural resources have been rapidly depleted for decades, diminishing habitats and generating excess pollution.

The time is now to take decisive action. We must move towards using alternative materials and methods that reduce environmental harm caused by today’s common products and practices. This shift is crucial in minimizing the increasing risks of climate change and preserving our planet for future generations.

Reuben Raccoon

Meet Reuben Raccoon, the craftiest critter in the countryside! Every night, this determined raccoon steals more than just dog food – he steals the show with his clever antics! When Grandma Belle and Uncle Mark try to stop his midnight snack raids, Reuben won’t be outsmarted. With a hungry family to feed, Reuben rolls up his sleeves (well, paws) and hatches a plan that will have you giggling. Will Grandma Belle ever win, or will Reuben’s raccoon rascals outwit her every time?

A delightful tale of mischief, teamwork, and never giving up when there’s food on the line!

The Prophet

An accessible and inspiring adaptation of Kahlil Gibran’s bestselling classic The Prophet for all ages, perfect for fans of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse.

A community facing uncertain times has questions. “What of love, of freedom, of friendship?” they ask, and more. And the Prophet answers with powerful wisdom, grace, and guidance.

This beautiful gift book illustrated with vibrant watercolors is perfect for all of life’s transitions, from birth to death and everything in between.

The Nightingale Sings

On the Greek island of Lesbos, in the seventh century BCE, a young lyric poet hones her craft while navigating the world of love, loss, friendship and sex, after having suffered years of abuse by a member of her father’s household. After a series of attempts at a healthy relationship, all the while struggling with the effects of post-traumatic stress and profound grief, she is forced to leave her home for a faraway land across the sea. There she would make a name for herself as an artist that would spread all across the Mediterranean, continuing her search for love and friendship, and trying to raise her only child in a safe and nurturing environment – until her whole world is suddenly upended.

The Nightingale Sings is an imaginary tale of what might have been in the life of the historical Sappho of Lesbos, whose artistry would lead to her becoming one of the most revered poets of the ancient world, and would still be cherished today – more than two and a half thousand years after her death.

And so, the story begins with a simple celebration.

A birthday party for a nine-year-old girl…

80? Oh No!

Science, medicine, and attention to healthy living styles has created an ever-enlarging geriatric population. To arrive at this stage of development in reasonably good health is a blessing. Even so, one cannot escape the arrival of gremlins that enter the body uninvited and proceed to make renovations without permission. For example, they step in, mess around with hormones and cause hair follicles to pop out of a woman’s face and chin. Men may begin to bald while their ears sprout matted hair causing diminished hearing.

80? Oh No! presents an intriguing story about the aging experience with a powerful, authorial, bold, and endlessly entertaining voice. Whether discussing sexuality or mortality, this work is uniquely insightful and poignant. The writing style is unusual and dynamic.

The author hopes the reader will take a walk in her shoes and share her thoughts and feelings throughout the reading of each chapter.

This book is perfect for gift-giving and provocative reading for book club members.

Sincerely

Reign Williams Jr. has spent her life preparing to lead the family company, yet behind her achievements lies a haunting inner battle that leaves her questioning her place in the world. Ezra Hamilton, who was once the embodiment of joy, now isolates himself and refuses treatment as his illness consumes him. When their paths cross at the hospital, Reign and Ezra find unexpected solace in each other’s struggles.

Despite their vastly different backgrounds, an unlikely bond forms. When they discover Ezra’s bucket list, filled with memories he longs to relive, they set out on an exhilarating journey to complete it together. From adrenaline-filled adventures to resolving old conflicts, they confront the painful truths of their lives and face the fears that have held them back.

As they embrace the beauty and fragility of life, can Reign overcome her inner demons and find peace with those who hurt her? Will Ezra let go of his fear of regret and truly begin to live, even as his illness progresses? And as cancer threatens to cut their journey short, will they find the strength to keep moving forward when giving up seems inevitable?

The Things That Made Elliott Cry

A gentle guide for children aged 5-9 who struggle with the challenges of everyday life.

This heartwarming story follows Elliott, a young boy facing common difficulties like bullying, family troubles, shyness, and low self-esteem. As Elliott navigates his day, he encounters the emotions that can make life feel overwhelming. But with a little guidance, he learns valuable ways to manage his feelings and transform his outlook.

This book offers children a reassuring companion in understanding their emotions, helping them find hope and confidence in themselves and their world.

Skylar and Brother D's Adventure

Embark on a whimsical adventure with the adorable and inquisitive Skylar, her fun-loving big brother ‘D’, and their faithful canine companion, ‘The Doodle’! Join this delightful trio as they explore their neighborhood, uncovering the wonders of the world and encountering extraordinary creatures along the way.

With each step, Skylar’s heart brims with excitement and joy as she discovers something new and fascinating. Delight in the magic of exploration, friendship, and learning as Brother D shares his wisdom and teaches Skylar about the beautiful things that surround her.

Get ready for a heartwarming tale that will ignite your imagination, touch your soul, and keep you eagerly turning the pages, wondering what surprises await on the next adventure.

Dad: A Son Remembers

Dad was a proud member of the Greatest Generation. A navigator in the U.S. Navy during World War II, selected for his mathematical skills, he was assigned to transport ships plying the South Pacific Ocean. Even as a youth, his son quickly realized that Dad viewed the world as a place full of challenges and difficulties – interminable adversities that had to be anticipated, grappled with head-on, and surmounted. As a result, he had no patience for complainers, excuse-makers, or shirkers of responsibility. But more than anything, he couldn’t stand liars, prevaricators, or connivers; like many of his generation, Dad believed that “a man’s word is his bond.” He often said, “If you don’t give me ammo, I can’t fire the gun.”

Above all, he expected full effort in every action and could instantly tell if one of his children wasn’t giving their best. Throughout his 84 years, his staunch Catholic faith guided him, and by both example and word, he steadfastly imparted those principles to his six children.

The Clara Conjecture

The Clara Conjecture is a new interpretation of historical facts. In 1938 Germany occupied Austria. Professor Lise Meitner, no longer shielded by her Austrian passport from measures against Jews, was fired. An equal of Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein, she had led the world’s best theoretical physics institute for nearly 30 years. In Berlin she designed the experiment that would split the uranium atom to produce energy. Before it could be executed she fled to Sweden. Without the ability to continue her research, impoverished, fearing for her relatives in the Nazi Reich, she became depressed.

In the tiny community of women scientists in Stockholm she met a psychoanalyst, the Canadian Dr. Leone McGregor Hellstedt (alter ego “Clara”), who rescued Lise with psychotherapy and money. When her German colleagues performed Lise’s experiment, they asked her to explain the result: she did, in terms of Einstein’s E=mc², and called the new phenomenon “nuclear fission” in her article for Nature. Early in 1939 physicists everywhere grasped the menace of nuclear energy. From her former colleagues and students Lise received information about the Nazi atomic bomb program and relayed it to Clara, who then informed Allied spies including William Stephenson (“Intrepid”) of British Security Coordination and Ian Fleming of British Naval Intelligence.

Informed by this detailed knowledge of Nazi atomic bomb initiatives, the Allies were able to efficiently sabotage facilities, kill key personnel, deny resources, and thus cripple the German program that had begun more than two years before the Manhattan Project.