Willey's I Wish I Were

Hey Mom and Dad, I guess you are looking for an imaginative book to read to your kids. I hope this book will take you back to your childhood when playing was generated by your wild imagination. The kids could go for a wild ride with Mom and Dad through a make-believe land where the words and pictures paint a portrait that will stick in your minds. When the stress of work and school may occupy your mind, you will remember this book, and it will bring a smile to your face. It is so important to remember how to be a child once again, and to make it a total adventure for your kids to read or listen to a book being read. I hope that light will stay lit in your hearts forever. Maybe someday when you are a grandparent, you will see the true importance of how children’s books ignite the imagination. There is nothing like the sparkling eyes of a child. Love you all, Grandpa Paul.

Winter Afternoon and Other Poems

The TV shows images of heads without bodies and babies wandering the streets all night... Just before sunrise, his blind eyes shine brighter than the sky, illuminated only by memory... The sudden, enveloping embrace of darkness is creamy in its softness, making you marvel at the world's perfection... Daring children to be young, sharing lunch with someone I once loved... Trust betrayed, messages relayed, bets hedged... Gracie lost herself again; her daughter found her in the basement with the photos... A bird twitters away the summers in a movie's belfry... Shriveled worse than a museum fetus drowning in formaldehyde... Pray the boy will learn to read before he learns to kill... The pizza guy slips a homeless man a few quarters... Moonlight bike rides along the river, conversations with the cat... If I touch the sky, how will I know... A glimpse of heaven through the kitchen window... Because no one can speak the sacred word, and no one knows more than they should...

What the "#x@+" is he 'saying'? ... Read on!

Wolves with Furniture

Is the true nature of the human creature more akin to that of wolves or closer to bees or ants? What parts of the human soul are sacrificed by choosing a modern life in a crowded city-hive, an existence severed from the balance of Nature? Do wild wolves have a better sense of humanity than humans themselves?

These are only a few of the questions pondered in L.M. Reid’s poetry collection Wolves With Furniture, in which every intense poem is woven into the stories of Lupa the Wolf Queen and a vibrant girl born unlucky, who grows into a woman carrying within her the towering fury of a flame-haired Lilith.

Will she shatter herself against her own bitter rage, or choose to live a harmonious life guided by the just laws of the wolf? By turns poignant, thought-provoking and redemptive, Wolves With Furniture explores new depths of what it means to be human.

Wordship: My Soul Emptied and Bare

Are you stressed out without even realizing it? So was I. Are you searching for help and coming up short? So was I. If you’re seeking something but aren’t sure what it is, then you’re not alone. This book isn’t a magic fix for all your problems, but it offers companionship for those feeling alone in their struggles. Haunted by past relationships and overwhelmed by life? Inside these pages, you’ll find a fresh perspective on life’s journey. Each path leads us in a unique direction, and it’s up to us to find the right one. Through my personal experiences, I offer insights and lessons learned along the way, which might just help you see your path clearer.

This book is a treasure trove of life tips, quotes, poetry, scriptures, and entries from my personal journals. I share my ups and downs and the daily practices that brought purpose to my life. Even when we feel alone, we are never truly solitary: this truth is affirmed by my experiences and the Word of God. Additionally, I’ve included valuable advice from other authors whose wisdom helped me through tough times, saving you time and money.

Inspired by Toni Morrison’s advice, I wrote the book I wanted to read, hoping it serves as a therapeutic guide for your peace of mind and mental stability. This book is real, true, funny (I hope), and thoughtful. Take it home, curl up, and enjoy some hilarious and heartfelt moments. Unsure what BJJ, BJL, or ROL mean? Great! That’s just another reason to read this book. So, hurry to the register and embark on your own journey of discovery and healing.

Yes, Doctor, We Have Sixteen Dogs

Just how honest was Abe Lincoln? Why should porn stars never be allowed to decide a case? And how did Adam know when Eve was mad at him? The answer to these, and many other questions that you may have never considered lie within.

Yes, Doctor, We Have Sixteen Dogs is off-center, off-kilter (often resulting in a naked Scotsman), and hot off a full court press.

It’s filled with jollity, frivolity, jokes, the most pungent of puns, and the pith and prattle of Northeast Wisconsin.

There are knock knock jokes, obscure observations, obfuscation, and perorations. It’s bawdy but not X-rated, a bit crass perhaps but never cruel.

There are poems, and more than a few groans, but this is, after, the heart of corn country.

There are definitions of things you may have thought were already well defined. Silly you! So come inside and view the world from a mind that was shaped by living with and loving sixteen dogs.

You Are My Person

In times of crisis and upheaval, life has a way of throwing us into unexpected situations that can shake us to our core. Becoming an overnight, full-time caregiver to a young child is one such challenge, one that can transform fear and uncertainty into a journey of profound connection. Through the trials, the bond between caregiver and child deepens, blossoming into a relationship built on mutual trust, love, and unwavering support.

It is within this love that acceptance and peace are found: a sense of safety that comes from discovering your person. This is a story for anyone striving to find balance in the chaos, light in the darkness, and hope in the unknown. Here’s to those blessed with finding their person, for there is no greater joy.

You're Hired and Certified

Are you thinking about a career in the Skilled Trades or maybe you have an Apprentice to mentor?

David Pocock knows first-hand with over 40 years’ experience working with apprentices, employers and advising people looking to work in the Skilled Trades.

The 7 Steps explained provide a fast and logical plan to take you from employment to certification and beyond. Dozens of helpful tips and reminders along with action exercises and fillable templates will keep you focused during your journey to become Trade Certified and earning a higher wage.

The potential for advancement in the trades to more senior positions is excellent. There is also a skill shortage in many trades that will ensure job sustainability for years to come.

This is your Apprenticeship 101 guide to success. An indispensable book for anyone starting out or affiliated with the skilled trades. Congratulations on a great career choice, good luck and enjoy the journey!

Praise for You’re Hired and Certified:

“You’re Hired and Certified is a perfect resource for those who are looking for a career in skilled trades. With follow up exercises included with every chapter, this book will guide you on how to stay organized and think critically when navigating your search for trade employment.”

– Craig Swanberg, Journeyman Carpenter & Workforce Manager, PCL Construction.

“For someone starting or retraining in the work force, this book is an excellent road map for apprenticeship from start to finish! I wish I had this book when I started my apprenticeship!”

– Chris Copeland, RSE, Certified Journeyman Bricklayer, a Business Agent, Local 1 Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers.

“This is a nugget of information for our society to clearly understand how to navigate into and through the trades. David has given us the blueprint to catapult youth, parents, teachers and professionals to a greater understanding of the importance of trades and how to achieve success where society needs it most.”

– Tom Loszchuk, Certified Journeyman Cabinetmaker, Apprenticeship Committee Representative, Employer and Life Coach.

“A great book, a must read for success! With Dave’s handbook as your guide, you’re in the driver seat. The road to success starts here.”

– David Lee, Certified Automotive Service Technician and Service. 

Zelda's Adventures

It’s Pete’s first day at school, and Zelda has the perfect way to celebrate! With one bright idea, anything is possible. Imagination sparks endless adventures as these two friends leap into fun and sticky situations. Along the way, Pete and Zelda must develop the skills to adapt to new environments and emotions while learning together.

Join Zelda and Pete as they explore life as frogs and uncover a new magical world. You can always find your way home with a good friend and a positive attitude. Dive into this whimsical journey of friendship as we explore a whole new ecosystem and discover what it truly takes to have an adventure!

Zion and Me

‘Zion’ is an imaginary place of peace, happiness, and victory. It has been my life’s ambition and pursuit. It has been a dream. An unattainable dream. Since Adam bit the poison apple in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been under a curse – to work at the sweat of his brow for his bread. This causes all of humanity to moan in existential pain. We long for meaning and for love.

Originally, ‘Zion’ was the hill in Jerusalem upon which Solomon built his temple. Zion since then, has come to mean the holy city. Zion is the party, should there ever be one after the defeat of evil in the apocalypse. To me, it is something to hope for, to strive for. However, as life’s problems obstruct the attainment of such a state, we begin to sink into complacency and misery. There’s poverty, heartbreak, and people who want to put you in a cage. After all that - you die.

Zion and Me is divided into three parts. ‘Haphazard Lines’ is mostly Biblical as I had recently converted to Christianity, and includes some speculation on the divine. ‘This Lovely Day’ is more secular and reflects again on life’s melancholia among other lessons to be learned. Finally, ‘Love Poems’ is self-explanatory and concerns various concepts related to love like longing and sadness. Zion and Me is an attempt to explain the ambiguity that goes with the necessity of discovering life’s secrets and to gain insight and wisdom.

Behold a Pale Horse

“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him” (Revelations 6:8, KJV). One man would blaze such a path of death and destruction across the western frontier that he would be forever associated with this passage. Disowned by his family, betrayed by his commanding officer, and framed for atrocities he did not commit, he was branded a murderer and a traitor. Living life on the run and forced to kill those who would take his freedom and his life, he nevertheless fought to defend, and sometimes avenge, those who could not do so themselves. Labelled a monster by most, he was considered a hero by some. In time his name would be lost to history, but he would live on in legend, known only as the Pale Rider. This is how his story begins.

Digital

Two hackers are involved in cyberattacks in two different geographical locations. Shaun Wilson, an FBI agent, has his work cut out for him. He has been recently assigned to the Cyber Crime Unit, only to find out that he is a victim with no privacy at home; especially when he shares his intimate moments with his lovely wife, Carol. Enrique Hernandez, who lives in New York City and hacks for monetary gain, finds himself in the home of Shaun Wilson, among other things. Mark Sandler, who lives in Miami, slows down, intercepts, manipulates, interrupts, or shuts down PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, just to cause mayhem. Meanwhile, Xeron’s location is unknown. Although he runs an underground operation, he sells everything unimaginable from firearms to drugs laced with fentanyl, bringing in well over $2 million a month. Agent Shaun Wilson must follow departmental guidelines and protocol without violating anyone’s constitutional rights. Time isn’t on his side and, before it’s over, the law may not be on his side either. Simply put, he must work fast. His job will never be over until he brings the evildoers to justice. The cat and mouse games seem to never end. Agent Shaun Wilson discovers that he is not in a battle, but at war: in Cyberspace.

Finding the Bones

Finding the Bones is a dark romance set against the youth rebellion and revolutionary violence of the 1910s—an era not unlike 1960s’ America—where idealistic young men and women seek to create a more just society but often fall victim to retribution or disillusionment. Charlie Everett, a journalist on the make, and Olivia St. James, an ardent feminist and journalist in her own right, find themselves caught in a deadly embrace from which neither can escape. “A fine, sophisticated historical novel from author Avery Russell in which she draws from her family history, especially the life of her journalist father who is Charlie Everett in the novel; her father’s first wife portrayed as Olivia St. James; and their mutual friend Maurice Hadley, in real life the early abstract painter Marsden Hartley. Russell’s omniscient narrator moves deftly among her substantial cast of characters, showing us the lives of bohemians and expatriates of pre-World War I and beyond. If there is any symbol of the partially thwarted lives that the central characters endure, it is in Hartley’s poem ‘Finding the Bones,’ which provides the title for the book, where the bones of a dead bird are found with its wings still on and its feathers attached, the last vestiges of a life and an ardor Charlie himself experienced among the bones he hid from everyone. ‘Fixed were the wings,’ Hartley wrote; now they are stiffened, and life has moved on to a ‘fresh history of stifled things.’” — Townsend Ludington, author of Marsden Hartley: The Biography of an American Artist (1992) and Seeking the Spiritual: The Paintings of Marsden Hartley (1998); Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English and American Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill