Missing Parts

In Missing Parts, a powerful and thought-provoking novel, the unbreakable bond of friendship is tested when Lacey Pierce encounters her childhood best friend, Mimi Faraday, in a Boston homeless shelter. The story delves into the complex factors that contribute to resilience in the face of mental illness and life’s challenges, exploring why some individuals thrive while others struggle.

Lacey and Mimi’s story begins in a charming New England town during the transformative 1960s and 70s, where they attend a prestigious prep school. After Mimi’s wedding to Chapin, the couple embarks on a life of community service in Newfoundland, while Lacey joins the Peace Corps in Africa, all young, idealistic, and full of promise.

Fast forward to the summer of 1995, when Lacey’s world is shaken by the discovery of Mimi among the homeless at a soup kitchen in a Boston cathedral. After a quarter-century in Newfoundland, Mimi has returned to Boston, destitute and living in a halfway house for abused women in Cambridge. The novel masterfully traces the parallel journeys of these two women over the intervening decades, revealing the twists and turns that led them to their current circumstances.

Missing Parts is a standalone fiction that explores the enduring power of friendship, the impact of life’s choices, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Through Lacey and Mimi’s story, readers are invited to contemplate the complex interplay of factors that shape our lives and the lives of those we hold dear.

Mission Launch

Have you ever wondered why you are alive?

Have you ever pondered what you are supposed to do here?

Are you aware that you are on a secret mission?

Do you know that you have been given secret powers to enable you to succeed?

Get ready for your mission briefing!

Modern-Day Palmistry

Palmistry can tell you many things about yourself, others, and the world around you.

Discover:

• - if you will marry
• - how many kids will you have
• - what kind of person would suit you as a partner
• - your career path
• - what kind of work would give you the most satisfaction
• - how to get the most happiness and success out of your life.

All of this and more inside of Modern-Day Palmistry!

Mommy…What is Heaven?

This book was inspired by my beautiful daughter upon my grandfather’s passing. At the time, she was only three years old, and she couldn’t understand why mommy was so sad, and I couldn’t stop crying. She kept trying to soothe my pain, and rubbing my hair saying, ‘Don’t cry mommy, you can see him again.’ I knew I had to find a way to explain death to her, without it being too overwhelming for a child that young.

I hope this helps other moms and dads who go through the same thing, trying to explain death to a child… too young to understand. May time help heal your broken hearts, and you feel the love of your relatives’ blowing kisses through the wind from Heaven.

Money Is Sweeter Than Honey

“It is the preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else that prevents us from living freely and nobly.” 
― Bertrand Russell

For other people, Dohan Choudhury is just a weird Bangladeshi immigrant halfway to lunacy as he throws away every opportunity. He is unemployed, he hates businessmen and pawnbrokers, he makes fun of the police, he talks to rivers and trees, and he burns money.

At least, that is what Dohan is in a glance.

The truth is Dohan Choudhury is an idealist who is also a loving husband, a doting father, a poet and writer, and a highly educated man who finished his PhD in Columbia University. He is a man full of dreams, aspirations, ideals, and hopes he was so optimistic to use when he landed in America… until the rampant capitalism, oppressive materialism, pro-American objectivism, tyrannical stereotyping, and severe alienation sucked out all the positivity in Dohan’s life. In a few years, these negativities defining the world poisoned Dohan’s mind, heart and soul… along with his relationship with his family and relatives who are all corrupted by money and high reputation.

Will Dohan be able to free himself from the veil of pretension and greed in the society, or will he succumb to the devils of worldly possessions… just like how everybody else did?

Monty and the Rabbit

Julia Montgomery (Monty) and Paddy Assenfeld (Rabbit) meet one fateful night at an Irish bar called The Lucky Slut. Their initial encounter is marked by sharp-tongued banter and fiery tension, ending in an angry parting. Days later, their paths cross again, and Julia quickly takes charge of Paddy’s fate, dragging him headfirst into a life of crime.

Their partnership begins with the robbery of a local launderette and escalates into chaos when Paddy is unexpectedly drawn into the Mafia, becoming a sicario – a hitman. Together, Monty and Rabbit navigate a thrilling world of danger and deceit, their criminal escapades bound by an unwavering devotion to each other.

More than Just Caregivers

More than Just Caregivers shows how the interplay of early childhood champions and stakeholders makes the field stronger to secure the infinite future for the youngest members of Guyanese society. As a memoir-documentary, it captures the how and why of specialised training needed to raise the professional status of the Guyanese early childhood workforce. Key takeaways include illustrations about how successful outcomes hinge on dedication, collaboration, and willpower, and why sustainability becomes possible with public buy-in, funding, and support.

Mother Nature & Her Human Friends

Mother Nature and Her Human Friends is a narrative poem. The characters include Will, a twenty-year-old, who works for Miller, the landscaper of the Bonvern Valley Park. Will discovers a cave of vines and a hidden pool, and, tired of his studio apartment, spends the night in the cave with his dog Hilda. He has a dream vision of Mother Nature, who speaks to him and creates a new direction for his life. A day later, Will meets Linda in the cave, and together they gather a new group called Mother Nature's Friends. They build a network to save the forest and the wetland in their valley, and risk their lives to protect the living beauty around them.

“I’ve worked all my life trying to re-envision who we are and what nature is and can be. The idea that nature has no soul is a travesty, a monstrous loss of our identity. But now I see a different goal, a new role for us to play.”
– Lisa Nieves, Parks Commissioner for Bonvern Valley

Mourning Bands On

Mourning Bands On is an accessible journey into the hypersensitive world of today’s American law enforcement. The reader is brought into the law enforcement world through an introduction to the history, function, and development of the American police model. With an understanding of policing’s role in American society, the reader is then immersed into the raucous and contentious cultural upheaval which American policing is currently experiencing.

Using well-known examples, the reader is challenged to consider how American culture is affected by critical incidents and the portrayal of those events in our media intensive world. The reader will review the cases in the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, as well as others. The cases are presented as a narrative of events supported by the findings and legal conclusions of the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Each incident is reviewed with a view of how the incident effected American society and brought change to American culture and thus policing.

The reader will experience how American policing has changed through legislative, societal, and cultural pressure resulting from the reviewed critical incidents. With an appetite for more, the reader is encouraged to further explore the relationship between societal norms and American policing.

The work concludes with a final challenge to the reader. How do we, as a society, reform American policing to move forward after this unprecedented period of cultural change? The author offers several possible reforms to enact, what can you add to the conversation?

Moving Stills

‘How did I go from a bold, sassy teenager to a woman afraid to get out of bed?’ laments Paula, 30 and desolate. These 38 strikingly diverse stories reveal the origins of her pain, then lead us through her sometimes difficult, often exhilarating journey toward health. Although inspired by events in her own life, Ms. Slatkin has created in Paula a vibrant fictional narrator. The writing is fast-paced, forthright, and laced with sometimes startling situations. Humour abounds. Paula is an honest spirit, and some stories deal openly with raw emotional experiences. The narrative texture, though rich in dialogue, is poetic in its use of imagery. Despite some difficult subject matter, there is an uplifting zest and vigour throughout the collection.

Mr. Higgins Takes a Stand

A loving family finally adopts Mr. Higgins. However, he still doubts his self-worth and lacks confidence in himself. But then, one day, Mr. Higgins has had enough and boldly rescues a friend from a pack of canine bullies. Mr. Higgins Takes a Stand deals with bullying, caring for others, and gaining self-confidence.

Also available:

A Home for Mr. Higgins

Mr. Higgins to the Rescue

About Mr. Higgins:

In 2014, the authors David Preece and Jim Webber adopted a black Scottish terrier who was a shy, nervous, and somewhat suspicious mid-life rescue dog. “Mr. Higgins” (the fitting name he came to us with) gradually emerged from his shell and enjoyed his new life in his forever home. Still, on guard with most strangers, Mr. Higgins learned to return love while protecting his home and keeping his dads to their daily routines. Not a fan of pats on the head, “Higgins” prefers a light touch on his sides and burrowing into a safe space. He loves walks, other dogs, treats, and – as a born outfielder – plays fetch.

Mr. Higgins to the Rescue

In this delightful and insightful book, Mr. Higgins overhears that he is a ‘rescue dog,’ and he doesn’t know why he is. He discovers that nobody is perfect and that everyone has unique needs. But more importantly, Mr. Higgins realizes his purpose is to rescue and help others.

Also available:

A Home for Mr. Higgins
Mr. Higgins Takes a Stand

About Mr. Higgins:

In 2014, the authors David Preece and Jim Webber adopted a black Scottish terrier who was a shy, nervous, and somewhat suspicious mid-life rescue dog. “Mr. Higgins” (the fitting name he came to us with) gradually emerged from his shell and enjoyed his new life in his forever home. Still, on guard with most strangers, Mr. Higgins learned to return love while protecting his home and keeping his dads to their daily routines. Not a fan of pats on the head, “Higgins” prefers a light touch on his sides and burrowing into a safe space. He loves walks, other dogs, treats, and – as a born outfielder – plays fetch.