An American Stairway

As the recession of 2008 unfolds, Richard Deatherage, an architectural draftsman with a three-decade career, faces the harsh reality that his beloved profession may soon become obsolete with the rise of computer-aided drafting.

Unemployed and grappling with an uncertain future, Richard finds solace in assisting his ailing father while reminiscing about their shared memories, sparked by the family photos adorning the stairway wall.

It is within this poignant context that Richard’s extraordinary coming-of-age journey unfolds, resurrecting tales lost in time and unveiling a story of resilience, love, and personal growth.

An Ear for Music, And Hands for Working

Just imagine being a young boy sitting behind your desk at home, and every morning you hear music and the sound of marching feet.

But you’re too short to see over the windowsill. The music passes by, and you wonder what it would be like to play with them.

Then a gift from his housekeeper and some good news from his father gives this young boy a chance.

An Educator's Handbook of Student Disorders

Why can’t Johnny sit still in his seat for more than a few minutes? Why does Sam engage in ritualistic behaviors and remain detached from reality and in his own world? How can I communicate with Jane when she repeats everything I ask her? These are some of many questions that will be answered in this handbook. These are the types of questions that are being asked by educators in schools across the country.

The problem is that there is lack of understanding of student disabilities and disorders. This lack of understanding exacerbates inappropriate behavior, student meltdowns, deficient classroom management, and below average learning and progress. The purpose of this book is to improve understanding of student disabilities and disorders. With better understanding, educators will be in a better position to use appropriate strategies and routines to control student behaviors and improve student learning and progress based on scientific evidence.

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 Illustrative Dictionary of Semantics

The significance of “meaning” goes beyond the word-level. Few disciplines, if at all, would do away with the knowledge and principles of semantics in their spoken and written discourse. ILLUDS is an illustrative dictionary of semantics aiming to provide language researchers with the key terms, terminologies, and phrases with even slight or indirect relation to semantics that appear in linguistics coursebooks and reference books. About 150 references have been used to compile this dictionary, one feature among several others that makes this book the first of its kind in content, approach, and scope.

An Irishman's Story of Survival

Every life is a tapestry of challenges, with resilience as its weft and weave. Amidst the torrent of trials that threaten to engulf one’s spirit, there stand the unyielding souls who, with a spark of defiance in their eyes, dare to face the tempest and emerge on the other side. They are the survivors, the dauntless hearts who tread the rocky path with an unwavering resolve.

Kevin O’Donnell is a beacon of such indomitable spirit, grappling with life’s relentless waves that seek to subdue him. In the turbulent era of mid-20th century, the world could be a harsh, unforgiving place for a young Irish lad. Yet, within Kevin lies a burning desire to carve out his niche, to transcend the barriers that life hurls his way and grasp the reins of a fulfilling existence.

Can his resolute will and earnest endeavor outshine the adversities that loom? Can he navigate the maelstrom and anchor himself to the shores of a prosperous life? Traverse the chapters of his journey within these pages, and unveil the saga of a young man’s undying spirit amidst the trials of time. Through Kevin’s eyes, explore a testament to the enduring human spirit that resonates with every beating heart that refuses to yield to life’s storms.

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.

An Owl's Tales

Life is a trail of crossing paths, some barely noticed, others with profound impacts. Did Santa bring that special football or the right Barbie doll? Did you pass that tough high school teacher’s course? Remember your first love? Was the pound puppy with sad but hopeful eyes ever chosen? Was the homeless beggar on the corner worth helping? The paths of Santa and teachers and loves and others who need help influence the course of our path, some for good, others not so much. But all of your paths make you, you.

Is it better to know or to feel what we should do? Maybe it doesn’t matter as long as the trail is guided by the heart. One man’s journey through a lifetime of crossed paths is portrayed in An Owl’s Tales. Some paths will sound familiar; some will challenge; some will motivate, while others will touch your heart. The wise old owl who sleeps with one eye open observes everything, reacts to little, but remembers. When your race is run, what will have been your important paths?

Anatomy of a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

In Anatomy of a Wrongful Death Lawsuit, journey alongside a determined man seeking justice against a healthcare provider responsible for his wife’s tragic end. Stemming from a heartbreaking fall in May 2017, this riveting account spans a relentless four-year legal battle, culminating in a pivotal wrongful death lawsuit settlement in August 2021.

Delving deep into Florida’s Sovereign Immunity Statutes, the narrative unravels the intricacies of a legal system designed to discourage victims by limiting potential damages. The story casts a glaring spotlight on a flawed healthcare system, where a Medicare facility, under the umbrella of these statutes, can prioritize profit over patient safety. Revelations like Medicare’s astonishing $55,000 bill for treatments and the audacious theft of a valuable wedding ring from an elderly patient underscore the gravity of systemic failures.

Although the initial medical malpractice case seemed promising, its evolution into a wrongful death suit drastically shifted the scales, placing a daunting burden of proof on the bereaved husband. While the eventual settlement wasn’t about financial gain, the core aim was to ensure acknowledgment of a wrongful death lawsuit. However, due to the secrecy of mediation, such misdeeds might remain cloaked, depriving the public of crucial awareness.

This poignant exploration is more than just a personal tale of resilience; it’s a deep dive into the complexities and challenges of confronting a seemingly impenetrable legal fortress.

And I'm Only 30

Ever pondered the shift from a tranquil town to the bustling streets of New York City? In her early twenties, Jess took the leap. Navigating a demanding industry where she often outpaces her male counterparts, yet earns significantly less, balancing life as a devoted dog mom, and navigating the complex terrain of NYC dating, Jess juggles it all while seeking meaningful connections and cherishing moments with friends. Amidst the city’s chaos, will she find the bond she’s searching for?

And So She Did

What happens when you say you “can’t”? Oh, but what can happen when you say you “will”? Scout and Ava are sisters that, along with every child that reads this book, will learn the most beautiful truth… that there is nothing that you cannot be, do or have if you believe in yourself first. And with this knowing, these two strong little girls conquer their doubts and fears by turning the words “I can, I am, I will” into a belief. The most important thing we can give our tiny dreamers of the world is an unwavering faith in themselves.

Angel and the Orphan

From eating raw potatoes in abandonment to being personally served cake by a future African President, experience the extraordinary life of an orphan child through a tapestry of divine interventions and mystical adventures. Driven by his quest to understand the enigmatic voice that has persistently guided and saved him from the jaws of death, each chapter unfolds a series of astonishing true stories.

Witness harrowing accounts of kidnapping, murder, and suicide, juxtaposed against uplifting moments, like growing up as a white child in an Aboriginal orphanage, miraculously surviving an Al-Shabaab terrorist attack, and working as a compassionate paramedic. Journey alongside him as he solves the 110-year-old mystery of a missing police officer and champions the cause of Albino children targeted by witchdoctors in Africa.

Spanning continents – from Northern Ireland and Austria to the USA, Africa, and Canada – these magical yet deeply human stories are not just a testament to one man’s resilience but also an exploration of the unseen forces that guide us all. Take this global odyssey and witness the miraculous in the mundane, the divine in the everyday.