Dolls for my Daughter

The Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia during the Second World War brought death, fear, and hopelessness to the country. Already dealing with a broken heart, Marie’s only purpose becomes keeping her daughter Janina alive and safe. Once the war is over and dangers seem to settle, Marie is met with a new threat: keeping her daughter safe from the man she is supposed to trust.

Two decades later, Janina and her own family have their lives brought to a halt with the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia. Once the dangers in the streets awaken the dark, buried memories of her childhood, Janina does whatever she can to keep her family, and daughter Pavka, safe and free, even if that means starting over again in a foreign land.

Young Pavka is blissfully unaware of the true horrors of war, but due to her mother’s only choice, she must learn to face her own fears: living life as an unwelcome refugee in a country far away from the only home she has ever known.

Through generations of struggle, war, heartbreak, and holding onto hope, one thing always remains true: the strength and sacrifice of a mother’s love.

The Bear in the Car

It is an incredible occurrence that can only be described as a ‘phenomenon’…

One family meeting another in such a perplexing way. A stuffed bear amazingly became the means by which a very special journey took place.

A parade that awakened so many memories. A brother who found a way to show his sister he cared about her feelings. An unknown boy who happened by a car and laid eyes on a stuffed bear. A bear he had to have. An act of stealing so oddly brought together an incredible encounter of lost friendships and new discoveries. At the final moment of leaving what both families had found together, yet another surprise.

Coincidence? Maybe.

Incredibly Blessed

An 89-year-old Roman Catholic priest from Minnesota fell in church and required surgery to repair a neck injury. During his recovery in a rehabilitation facility, he did not dwell on bad luck or misfortune but instead reflected on how blessed his life had been.

Born in Indiana, he arrived in Minnesota in a shoebox at just three weeks old and grew up on a farm during the Great Depression. The smallest boy in his class and extremely shy, he first felt the call to the priesthood in sixth grade at his Catholic school. He attended high school and two years of college at a minor seminary in St. Paul, where he gradually overcame much of his shyness. He then continued his studies in philosophy and theology at a major seminary in St. Paul before being ordained as a priest.

His ministry took him to parishes in western Minnesota and to chaplaincy roles in Catholic nursing homes. Over the years, he traveled extensively, visiting Rome, the Holy Land, and a mission parish in Guatemala. His journeys also took him to 22 countries, including the Galápagos, the Amazon, the Antarctic Peninsula, and Easter Island.

This is the story of a life filled with challenges, adventures, and countless blessings.

BeYoutiful Seoul

Being multiracial in America is not for the weak! Anijah Lee Martin was born in Seoul, South Korea to a Black father in the army and a Korean mother more volatile than you can imagine! Post-divorce, Anijah had to grow up fast and deal with hardships upfront with very little guidance. Will she ever be enough? Will she ever just fit in? Will her mother ever just stop and listen? Growing up in Florida, she finally finds a place of solace. She’s able to make friends and have fun only to be uprooted again to a much bigger place with bigger problems.

Her relationship with her mother is hard and although she tries, nothing ever seems enough. Navigating all of this while trying to build a career, some sort of love life, and being a better person, Anijah finds that she’s so much more and truly has a beautiful soul.

Duty Before Love

Fred Carspecken (1914–2003) lived most of his life in a time when society constrained individuals like him. Though he was a closeted gay man until the age of 62, Fred remained true to the responsibilities and expectations placed upon him, often putting duty before his personal desires and needs. This biography explores Fred’s struggle between fulfilling societal duties and pursuing personal happiness. His story is a testament to the many men and women of his era who sacrificed love to meet societal expectations.

Duty Before Love highlights the generational challenges of being a gay man during a time when societal acceptance was not an option. Fred’s life story reveals the emotional and psychological impact of remaining closeted for decades, only to finally embrace his true self in later years. This biography offers an intimate look at a man who quietly lived a life filled with integrity, compassion, and deep relationships, despite having to conceal an essential part of himself for so long.

Unforced Errors: 15 Bad Decisions That Changed American History

Americans often use terms such as “To err is human,” or “nobody’s perfect,” or “we all make mistakes.” Of course, this is true, as it is for all of America’s leaders through the years.

This book is about decisions made in politics or public policy that may be considered unwise; bad decisions that had unintended negative consequences for the decision-maker. This will not include personal decisions like deciding who to marry or whether to get divorced but rather to look at those political and policy decisions that can be considered, at the very least, unwise. Similarly, Kennedy’s decision to visit Dallas in November 1963 led to his death but doesn’t really qualify as a decision of real political or policy calculation. Lincoln going to Ford’s theatre would be in that same category.

Instead, Unforced Errors lists 15 political calculations made by political figures, often at the pinnacle of their own success, which changed American history.

If Only Time Could Tell

Jamil Gammoh’s collection of short stories offers a vivid and detailed account of his childhood and Jordan’s history, enriched with fictional characters who either reflect real people he encountered or embody prevalent archetypes. Woven into each narrative is the author’s personal critique of socio-cultural, religious, and historical issues in the country.

Each story carries a distinct moral, seamlessly integrated into the plot through folk anecdotes, local sayings, and deeply rooted traditions—some still familiar to older generations. Gammoh’s writing blends cynicism, irony, and sarcasm in his critique of societal flaws, yet beneath the sharp observations lies a deep love for his country, its heritage, and its people.

With a mix of humor, nostalgia, and cultural insight, this collection brings Jordanian life to the forefront, capturing its traditions, folklore, and everyday moments in a way that speaks to universal truths.

“Many are those captivating stories that express the variety of human situations. They can be dramatic, moving, realistic, sarcastic, or even infused with imagination. They pass us by without documentation and so are lost in the folds of time. The author, Jamil Gammoh, did not wish for time to tell these stories; rather, he became the voice through which time-old tales were told, tales he had lived and experienced, in his collection If Only Time Could Tell.”

– Basem Al-Zo’bi

“We journey through the stories and their characters, diving deep into their souls. We travel through time like tourists, experiencing their emotions with raw authenticity—sometimes infused with the subtle and touching humor that is so characteristic of Jamil Gammoh. We see ourselves in them, as if life itself were a game woven from fragments of stories and memories. Every moment shapes us, reminding us that the absurdity and universality of existence are what connect us all.”

– Dalizar Damak

“Very impressive! I enjoyed reading the stories, the thoughts, and the challenges. The flowery style of writing reminded me of ancient stories from Persia, to which we had access many years ago. Situations and issues are well-described in a very personal way.”

– Els van der Wilden

“I must say, I really enjoyed the collection. It made me smile and think…so much wisdom may be found in the didactic stories.”

- Ulrike Kreysa

Miss Daisy Weed's Slow Walk to Heaven

Lucy never knew the date she officially died, but she knew that love had bound her to the earth.She never left her daughter’s side. She was there when Daisy cried for her mother, or for a teddy that had fallen from her cot and landed out of Samuel’s sight, while he was desperate to comfort his crying daughter. Lucy was able to attract Samuel’s attention to the teddy by tickling his bare feet.Another time, after Samuel had prepared Daisy’s bottle and was about to give it to her, the phone rang. No one was there at the other end of the phone line, and as Samuel walked back into the child’s bedroom, the baby’s bottle tumbled off the small table and spilt on the floor. It was only as the steam rose from the milk that he remembered he had not waited to cool the milk. Samuel knew, without doubt, that this was Lucy looking after them both. He always felt her presence, and as the years passed by, he felt her more and more, sharing his thoughts, his dilemmas, and always receiving an answer. Daisy likewise knew this was mummy, letting them know she was there, sharing all their laughter and tears.

Amelia & Olivia Go to the Zoo

Amelia and Olivia are twin sisters who do almost everything together. Find out what happens when a normal school field trip to the zoo turns into an unexpected adventure.

The Lazy Alligator

This swampy adventure is set to the catchy rhythm of The Itsy Bitsy Spider, making it a fun and engaging read-aloud experience.

A lazy alligator drifts through the scenic swamp, searching for a tasty lunch. Along the way, he encounters a variety of colorful and clever creatures, from a tenacious redfish to a majestic white egret and a feisty blue crab. But as he glides through the boggy waters, his quick-witted prey spot him first and escape his sluggish attempts to make them his meal.

He may be slow, but he has a mighty CHOMP! Will the hungry alligator ever find something to eat?

With lively rhymes, playful repetition, and the unique wildlife of the swamp, this book will have young readers singing, laughing, and coming back to enjoy the adventure again and again.

The Corps

A heartbreaking loss of a father, Charlie could not show his grief. He decides to form a drum and bicycle corps and, with the help of his dad's former police partner, finds relief from his long-held anger.

The Brothers Grave

The Four were born alone, abandoned, and imprisoned. Their sickness should have killed them, but instead, it left them with unnatural powers. One can summon death, another can dismiss it, a third can speak to it, and the last can guide lost souls to peace.

They survived. They found each other. And now, they walk the edge of life and death.

But someone has betrayed them, awakening the wrath of the soul-stealers – creatures that reap the dead and bend fate to their will. Now, the emissaries of Hell have come for them, seeking vengeance.

How many times can the dead die?