The Scent of Wisteria in the Springtime

The fifteen stories contained in this collection are all individual. None of them are about the same characters or locations. Although they do share commonality: they are all based upon Southern personalities in various Southern locations. There is a slight bend towards autobiographical experiences in some of these stories. I’ll let the readers try to identify those particular stories themselves!

The author’s attempt in writing these stories is to illustrate the frailties, the strength, and the inherent goodness of the human species. To show that all of us are endowed with the capacity to love, to hate, to daydream, and perhaps, to make our dreams come true.

The story: Big Game Hunter is about a twelve-year-old boy in rural Mississippi who fantasizes of being a professional hunter in Africa. I know something of that dream and managed to actually participate in eleven safaris in six African countries. I lived my dream!

The story, Requiem For A Romance That Could Never Be, is about the dark times in the South. The period that we all want to forget, that we wish had never happened. It’s about a sweet, biracial romance between teenagers when the South was segregated.

Lost At The Falling Waters details a young woman’s quest to find her father… a young Southern American soldier. Her teenage parents were separated in Vietnam when that country literally fell apart. Her dream was beautifully realized!

Aunt Sabbath Muggy and the Irreversible Hoodoo is a story about a Black-magic woman in coastal Georgia. Aunt Sabby brings two lovers together, inadvertently but very successfully!

Cry Me A River is a story set in New Orleans. A young romance fell apart, but they reunited in very different circumstances many years later. One of the greatest inherent attributes as human beings is forgiveness; it’s warmly illustrated in this somewhat-tragic story.

Whom Shall I Choose is about a young man named Jesse James Cuevas. He lived a hard life growing up, some of it in reform school and foster care. But when avaricious people tried to manipulate him, Jesse’s true character came through.

In addition to these six stories, illustrated above, there are nine more of them. I had a lot of fun writing them…. I hope that you enjoy reading them.

Jerry Edwards

Somewhere in the hills, north of Atlanta

A Bean Story

A tiny, little, nothing seed can grow big if you just give it a little love, attention, and lots of water to drink. Grandma told me that the beans would grow, but she never told me it would be so stinky!

How can a non-good plastic cup grow such a big plant? My magic hands of course. Now it is like I’m a farmer, I can grow anything and so can you.

The Toad and His Warts

In this endearing Clarke Fable, a young toad finds great delight in counting his glorious warts, but runs into trouble when he tries to count all of them. He remains persistent in his goal, never giving up, and finally finds a solution to his problem. Be sure to look for the beautiful dragonfly as it flits throughout the pages! This book has a repeating chorus that will be helpful to young children who are early readers.

Abby May and the Very Big Day

Embark on a heartwarming journey with Abby May’s First Day, as Abby steps into a new school, eager to make friends despite feeling a tad different.

As she hops onto the school bus with hopes soaring high, little does she know, a world of discovery awaits.

Through the lens of youthful camaraderie, explore the beautiful tapestry of diversity and the magic that unfolds when children embrace the uniqueness within and around them.

Together with her newfound friends, Abby May uncovers that communication, inclusion, and acceptance can unfurl delightful surprises, making the world a smaller, happier place.

Jack and the Royal Mountaineering Expedition to Shambhala

Jack, a precocious nine-year old adventurer, awakens to discover that her grandfather has already departed on a mountaineering expedition to the lost city of Shambhala deep in the Himalayas.

Sadly, he neglected to bring three key items – his mountaineering goggles, map, and compass. With courage and resolve, Jack follows in the footsteps of her grandfather and the Royal Geographic Expedition.

By train, ship, bi-plane, elephant, and pony, she crosses distant seas and lands to come to the expedition’s aid.

Along the way, Jack encounters historic female explorers of the past who encourage our brave young adventurer on her journey.

Kabaslot

Life for Allison Johnson, a young girl growing up in the heart of a thriving independent capital city, was good. Part of a well-to-do Krio family, she and her siblings had enjoyed the best of everything, and Allison was quick to share her life with their new adoptive sister, an orphan from the provinces.

Just as she starts to discover love with an unlikely suitor, tragedy strikes. The Republic is in crisis. As events spiral out of control, Allison’s life as she knows it is turned upside down. On the other side of a vicious civil war, she must give up everything she has known as home, to seek safety in the United States.

Navigating the turn of events and her new life as an immigrant, she finds strength and resilience she had only heard about in the stories of her ancestors.

She immerses herself in a quest for spiritual restoration until a sudden shift puts her at the center of a plot to bring the decayed Republic back from the brink. She’s intrigued by the opportunity but must contend with ghosts from a dark past.

My Friend, Thomas Carl

Thomas Carl was a cat waiting in an animal shelter for a new friend.

I had moved to a new city and was lonely and afraid. I was looking for a new friend as well.

This charming and entertaining tail tells how Thomas Carl and I became best friends, and how Thomas Carl helped me say goodbye to that loneliness and fear. It proves that friendship and acceptance can come from anywhere…

…even a cat!

This story will inspire young readers to think more about the importance of friendship and giving everyone a chance. It also reminds us that, no matter our size, we can all have a positive impact on others.  

Love Hurts

Thomas Pry High School is a place where only the children of the elite study and interact with each other. A place where all the guys and girls fawn over Luke Finnegan, a fencing champion in his third year. But to Jack Whyte, the popular fencer is just another student passing through the halls. All he wants is to make friends and keep out of trouble at his new school.

When their eyes finally meet, however, Luke can’t seem to want nothing more than to be around Jack. So much so, that what was supposed to be a tournament afterparty ends up putting Jack’s life in danger.

Follow the students of Thomas Pry as they begin to learn about each other, and their newfound friendship begins to draw some attention to those closest to them.

Elodie’s Magical Adventures

In Elodie’s Magical Adventures, readers are introduced to a young girl with big dreams and an imagination that knows no bounds. Even with Kindergarten just around the corner, Elodie is already dreaming of magical adventures that may one day come true. With the love and support of those around her, Elodie believes that anything is possible.

Follow along as Elodie embarks on a journey of the mind, exploring enchanted forests, meeting mystical creatures, and discovering hidden treasures. With each turn of the page, readers will be captivated by Elodie’s boundless imagination and the possibilities that await her.

Danielle

In Danielle, the author invites readers into an intimate journey through the life of her seven-year-old daughter, who courageously battled cancer. Far from being just a heartbreaking narrative, this true story illuminates the transformative power of suffering when united with faith. Danielle, with her extraordinary spiritual maturity, finds strength and inspiration from her favorite saint, St. Therese of Lisieux, while navigating the complexities of illness.

This book transcends the usual narratives of tragedy and loss by offering a message of hope and grace. Through sharing the family’s experience – Danielle’s remarkable perspective on life, her deep relationship with God, and her steadfast resilience – the author aims to reveal the beauty that can be found even in immense suffering. Danielle serves as a poignant reminder that life’s hardships and joys are both cradled in the hands of God, and it challenges us to embrace them as such.

The Comprehensive Anthology of Early 21st Century Arab Poets

The Comprehensive Anthology of Early 21st Century Arab Poets offers a rich tapestry of voices from the Arab world, transcending borders of geography, history, and culture.

These poets weave a diverse and intricate mosaic that reflects not only the multifaceted Arab realm with its myriad religious, political, and cultural nuances but also showcases them as enlightened, compassionate global citizens.

Dive into this collection and discover the vibrant heart and soul of contemporary Arab poetry.

Rewind Ranch

What price would you pay to reclaim the vigor and allure of youth? Four spirited Southern seniors are about to find out. Tempted by the promise of Rewind Ranch, a paradise nestled in Hawaii’s enchanting Hana hills, they embark on a journey that promises unlimited cosmetic enhancements, captivating company, and indulgent escapades.

As the ladies dive into a world of luxury, laughter, and liaisons, they soon discover that the ranch offers more than just superficial pleasures. Beneath the veneer of hedonistic delights, a darker secret lurks. As doubts creep in and stakes rise, they realize their dream vacation might be a trap they need to escape to ensure their very survival.

Join these fearless women on a roller-coaster of suspense and camaraderie, where beauty is more than skin deep, and friendship is the ultimate savior.