Adventures of the TSEA Ship the Admiral Byrd

Victor Haas served with distinction during the Andevan Wars as Captain of the Sydney. The Sydney was a Deep-Space Class, Heavy Cruiser in the fleet of the Terran Space Exploration Administration, or TSEA. Captain Haas takes command of a very different ship – the Admiral Byrd. The Admiral Byrd, affectionately known as the ‘Byrd,’ is a Scout-Class science vessel. The Byrd has been tasked with a mission that is very different to those Captain Haas usually undertakes. Although Captain Haas brings certain of his Sydney crew with him, the crew on board the Byrd, and the ship itself, requires that the Captain embrace a very different command style than he usually employs. He has been told, however, that if this mission is a success, his captaincy of the Sydney will be revisited. The Byrd is known throughout the fleet for having problems. Will Engineer Siksika be able to fix those problems and allow the ship to finish its mission? In these pages is an adventure that takes you not only to different planets but to other places of interest in space where you will meet very different creatures and societies.

African Financial Ecosystem

Historically and contextually, various integration models were experimented with by colonial powers, but these systems largely collapsed post-independence. For instance, the French attempted to maintain cohesion but prioritized their own interests, leading to fragmentation.

Efforts in East and West Africa similarly faltered, as each nation pursued its own agenda without a unified political will. South Africa made a notable attempt, but integration never materialized; it would have required a different approach, such as the adoption of a SADC currency.

The recent endeavors of AES countries and Zimbabwe’s new currency inject fresh dynamics into this ecosystem. Concurrently, the rise of new technologies presents both challenges and opportunities for financial integration.

Public organizations and pan-African institutions play crucial roles in navigating this journey, where the political dimension holds significant sway. Additionally, international dynamics, exemplified by initiatives like those of the BRICs, further influence the landscape.

Taken together, these elements paint an intriguing picture, fostering discussions on the African ecosystem and brainstorming plausible solutions. The ultimate aim is to achieve, within a reasonable timeframe, a monetary union and a common African currency.

Afterglow

I met Ava when we were teenagers. She was hanging from a cliff, and I rescued her. We were young, naïve, and fused instantly. She was mine from that moment on. We secretly snuck around every day for a whole summer. Then she was gone, never seeing her again for twenty years. I never moved on, no matter how much I convinced myself that I had. Years later we collided, literally, and looking into her eyes unleashed the old memories. I lost her once, I sure as hell wasn’t going to lose her again.A fresh start? Yes, please!When fate brought us full-circle, memories flooded as our eyes locked once more. I had lost her before, refused to lose her again.Seeking a fresh start, I never expected my past to collide with me - But in returning to Vilamor, I found Nick waiting too. We were carefree youths then, with bright futures and innocent love. As adults we couldn’t avoid each other, and I soon yearned to reconnect. Accepting his sudden proposal felt too real, too soon, the façade overwhelming me.Can a long-dormant love truly blossom once more?An emotional second-chance romance portraying grief, personal growth, and the transformative power of rekindled connections – ultimately leading to a satisfying happily-ever-after.

Age of Ascent

The depravity is vanquished, the Biodome restored to its former glory. The existential virus is once again the moral authority of the new order. Sacrifices have been made that set the stage to alter the course of human history. But evil forces are rallying, banding together to unleash the dark side of humanity once again.

So long as the rot remains, there is always another way.

Everett Steele wakes from the coma, seemingly intact. Only she, and the notorious Dr. Draeger, know where she’s been. And what is looming. Undeterred, the evil patriarchy infiltrates the new order once again, this time striking at the heart of the Biodome. Everett discovers another agent with EV immunity, Pedro Ramon, and together, they end his reign of terror. But fear is a powerful manipulator. Draeger maintains control of the Biodome with nothing more than threats of retribution. The only thing standing in the way of total domination is Everett Steele, Jacob Domanso, and now, Pedro Ramon. And they aren’t backing down.

All in a Lifetime

It has taken over 40 years to piece together the story of Anya, Willi, and the Icon, like trying to put together a priceless Faberge egg shattered intentionally without a clue as to how it once looked. Anna (Anya) and Wilhelm (Willi) lived in a small German village when we met half a century ago. Their remarkable life stories are the heart of this novel. Real life has many detours and contradictions, each piece of their stories led to another story. An Icon hung on the wall of the entry to their home and it was there that fact met fiction. Weaving related stories into this novel, preserving the memory of each individual and the times in which they lived, required some manipulation of facts. It is the story of a much-travelled Icon and a treasure (not an ARC “Traveling Treasure”) including the lives it touched. And it is a story of love found late in life.

Always My Forever

In her captivating second novel, Always My Forever, acclaimed author Lorie O’Brien masterfully tells the poignant story of Kristin and Britt, childhood sweethearts whose love was once unbreakable. However, as they embarked on separate paths after their post-college breakup, their hearts were left shattered and their souls yearning for what they had lost. Two long and arduous years passed, filled with countless questions and restless nights.

Fate, with its mysterious ways, intervenes when a chance encounter unexpectedly reunites them. As they cautiously re-enter each other’s lives, they must confront the lingering shadows of their past and the unresolved emotions that still tie them together. Will their newfound connection be enough to reignite the flames of their once-unbreakable bond, or are they destined to remain forever apart?

Amber Tambourine and the Land of Laugh-a-Lot

Amber Tambourine is a sad, lonely little girl who has moved far away from her friends. Then one day, she and her doggies, Bandit and Roxy, encounter a polka dot rainbow. Suddenly, they find themselves in the Land of Laugh-a-Lot, where people are happy – ALL THE TIME! They laugh, they play...then they laugh some more. In no time at all, Amber makes many new friends and is happy once more. But this poses a dilemma: Amber knows she must return home, but if she leaves, will she ever be able to find her way back?

Amelia Teaches Manners

Join Amelia, an adventurous baby elephant, on her extraordinary quest to teach manners to the world! Journey with her through land, river, sand, and sea as she encounters all sorts of creatures, eager to learn politeness from their tiny tutor.Along her travels, Amelia makes wonderful new friends but longs for her beloved family back home. Determined to follow the rainbow’s path, she sets off for the African bush, but a perilous detour leaves her adrift at sea. Will Amelia’s newfound friends come to her rescue?

American Dysfunction: The Adventures of Scott

Scott Miller is a former professional wrestler who can’t seem to catch a break. After yet another layoff from the Union, Scott is at a loss for what to do next. Then, out of the blue, he gets a call from his old promoter at Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, asking him to put on the face paint for one last title shot.

Just as Scott begins to taste the glory he’s always chased, his dreams are shattered when he discovers his promoter’s deep gambling debt to a dangerous biker gang. Realizing the peril they’re all in, Scott rallies his fellow wrestlers to save their friend. Desperate and determined, they’ll stop at nothing to pay off the debt – even if it means robbing a bank.

An Extraordinary Man

In 1962, a naive young Londoner named Dick Starling embarks on what he believes will be a simple three-year stint in the British colonial police force of Warania, a peaceful yet fictitious country in central Africa. However, his adventure quickly takes a wild turn, filled with unexpected twists, romance, and thrilling escapades.

Amidst the escalating tensions of nationalization and demands for independence, Dick witnesses firsthand Warania’s descent into chaos. As terrorism surges and lawlessness spreads, his once manageable rural police station becomes a battleground against escalating crime and unrest.

From abductions to political intrigue, Dick’s journey through a transforming Africa is a rollercoaster of humor, heart, and gripping drama. As his three-year term reaches its dramatic conclusion, Dick faces a climactic finale that will leave him forever changed.

An Ordinary Man

While German bombs were falling on London people didn’t worry too much when hearing Hitler’s doodlebugs, the dreaded V1 flying bomb. But when the noise stopped then they were worried because they knew that the rocket was about to drop – on them!

David, hanging in a basket inside an air raid shelter, was oblivious to all of this for he was just a baby.

Growing up in West London he spoke with a cockney accent even though he wasn’t a true cockney. He went to a good school and later to an art college but not being impressed with the lifestyle of an artist or of an interior designer he left and got an ordinary job, His sporting interests included rowing with a club on the nearby River Thames and gaining instruction in the sport of judo but at the age of 18 he was looking for something more, an adventure.

He joined up for a three-year stint in a colonial police force in Southern Rhodesia and never looked back. He lost his cockney accent, learned a lot about police work and the native Rhodesians, both black and white, and his three-year stint turned into over ten.

Then using his police experience he started two successful private security companies, one in Rhodesia, the other in South Africa, and later emigrated to British Columbia in Canada where he started a third.

In 1984 he began working for the Canadian government, firstly in a security capacity and later in their commercial sector before taking early retirement on December 31st, 1999, and moving to the United States at the beginning of the new millennium.

Now in his fifth country of residence, he resurrected his artistic talents and began selling his art at various shows in the south-eastern United States. He also joined a local rowing club and within a few months was their manager and coach.

He has enjoyed many years of travel to over forty countries, has lived in five on three different continents and continues to live a healthy lifestyle which includes kayaking, cycling and plenty of walking.

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.