The Things He Lost There

Vietnam. The word still resonates with powerful emotions: death, lost souls, devastation – both human and material – shattered men, and a country equally broken and horribly divided.

Into this turbulent backdrop steps Jack Houston, a graduate student at the University of North Carolina. Thrust into the heart of the conflict, Jack’s journey encapsulates the grim realities of the Vietnam War and the crucial role of the surface Navy. After fierce combat in places like Phu Quoc, Rach Gia, and Hue during the Tet Offensive, Jack’s ship, the highly-decorated Black River, faces a new challenge. A new commanding officer, Cork, takes over, driving – what the crew calls ‘corkscrewing’ – the ship into both operational and morale disasters.

This narrative explores the impact of Captain Cork’s leadership on Jack and the crew, filled with moments of profound sadness and unexpected hilarity. The climax comes with the Black River, now under Jack’s command, confronting six Chinese gunboats in the Taiwan Straits: a hopelessly mismatched battle, given the ship’s unsuitability for naval combat. The survival of Jack and his ship hangs in the balance as they navigate this deadly encounter.

Parallel to the war story is Jack’s poignant love affair with Melanie Lawton, a spirited graduate student back in Carolina. Through her perspective, we witness the defining events of 1968 and 1969: antiwar demonstrations, the chaotic 1968 Democratic Party Convention in Chicago, Woodstock, drug culture, and political assassinations. One devastating decision made in the midst of war shatters Jack and Melanie’s relationship, leaving Jack to question if he can ever reclaim what he lost in Vietnam – his love, his peace, his future.

The Three Americans

It is 1917. Janet Defoe never planned for the day German biplanes would appear and blow her world away. With her French home in shambles and only a derringer for protection, she finds her way across the war-torn town. She meets a band of tattered French survivors and together they form a plan for escape. Before they can reach their rendezvous point, they are overtaken by German guards. With blood on her hands, Janet sets out on her own. She doesn’t know what lies around the corner, perhaps death perhaps another chance at life.

Meanwhile, three Americans named Douglas, Teddy, and Burke, fresh from the trenches, pursue the Germans across the scorched French landscape. They have one goal and that is to kill the enemy. When they are overcome and taken prisoner, they take the matter of their rescue into their own hands. Ultimately, Douglas and Teddy make away with German guard uniforms and return with rifles to retrieve their companion. Upon their escape, they run into a French youth who was drafted by the German army named Jeannot. Together they patrol the town in search of food, ammunition, and shelter against the German presence.

Bianca, a French girl who has lost everything to the Germans, soon finds her way into the lives of the four soldiers… and young Teddy’s heart. With their band complete, the only thing for the five of them to do is survive the occupation. Days pass, perhaps weeks. Jeannot reveals a shocking secret to the others. Planes appear in the sky, but they are not German planes. The liberation of Beau Chateau is at hand. Janet and the three Americans hit the streets in their “grays” and clear a path for the allies with their rifles and grenades. The war for them is about to be over.

The Three Labrador Puppies

Three Labrador Retriever puppies have come to visit Miss Lizardo’s classroom. One is black. One is yellow. One is chocolate. The children have many questions to ask their owner. Their owner has many answers to give them. To their surprise, it turns out that the three puppies have the same mother and the same father. How can that be? The reason leads to lots of discussion. And by the time Mr. Porter leaves with Lou, Blue and Sue, the class has learned that these three puppies have something very important to teach people.

The Timeless Love of Billy B for Scheherazade

Balthazar dreams of the perfect woman, one he can summon or dismiss at will on his computer screen. But as time passes, he becomes ensnared in his own creation, consumed by an obsession with this non-existent figure. As Balthazar spirals downward, losing everything from his identity to the use of his body, reduced to just his mind and the fingers tapping at the keyboard, she, in contrast, rises. She transforms into a modern-day Scheherazade, learning to command her prince.

Baltha B was unaware,
No more sits he upon the chair.
The relics of his body’s ruin,
Are the one last bastion
Of his undoing.
Death beckons when the hands they clap,
To say, ‘Enough! Your time is up’

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.

The Top Ten Historical Locations of the Old West

Wyatt Earp and Tombstone, Wild Bill Hickok and Deadwood, George Custer and the Little Big Horn, Davy Crockett and the Alamo, Bat Masterson and Dodge City; Names and locations forever linked to the legacy and myth of the Old West.

Through hundreds of photographs and illustrations, O’Connor delivers a concise, light-hearted yet accurate depiction of a pivotal event in the settlement of the American frontier, and what the location offers today’s visitor, with particular attention devoted to surviving structures, including authentic saloons!

Whether planning a road trip, or simply interested in America’s Old West history and culture, the reader is provided an entertaining, and informative look into the locations that shaped the history and myth of the Wild West.

The Tortoise and the Hair

You’ve heard it before: ‘Slow and steady wins the race.’ It’s about as good as morals go, but do you ever wonder how Freddy the Tortoise and Harold the Hare fared since that famous race? We all know that Tortoise shocked the world with his win, and Hare hung up his running shoes. But then came…

The fans!

The critics!

The reporters!

Cameras!

Book deals!

Movie rights!

Life in the spotlight can rarely feel very slow… or steady. Will Freddy ever be able to follow his own moral and return to the simple life he once knew and loved?

The Town of Halloween

In the town of Halloween, the moon shines bright across the pumpkin fields while witches and mummies greet you at the gates. Do you dare enter this spooky town? Will you leave with a smile or with a scare? Come trick or treat with ghosts and skeletons and have an adventure in The Town of Halloween.

The Treasure

Child is in search of a treasure and sets out on their own to find it. Child does not know what the treasure looks like, nor do they know where to find it. Child goes into the forest to search for the treasure and enlists the help of many animals that live there. Each animal assists Child by offering their own special wisdom and support. It is not until Child meets Brother Wolf that they are led to the discovery of a treasure so surprising and amazing that they can hardly believe it… for it is a treasure that can change the whole world.

Come and travel with Child to find this treasure. You will be surprised and amazed too.

The Truth About Tennis

Recreational players today are bombarded with ‘revolutionary approaches,’ ‘secrets to success,’ and ‘play like the pros’ techniques all promising to take their game to the next level. Award winning teaching professional Greg Moran says, ‘No!’

“There are no revolutionary approaches or secrets to success, and trying to play like the pros is the worst advice a recreational player can be given. That’s why I had to write this book,” says Greg.

The Truth About Tennis is a unique instruction book written specifically for the millions of recreational players around the globe. Greg has been playing, teaching, studying, and writing about tennis for over 50 years. He’s spent more than 100,000 hours on the court helping thousands of players from ages 3 to 93 improve their tennis. Quite simply, he knows what works and, equally important, what doesn’t.

The Truth About Tennis will help you cut down on your inner chatter and information overload to reboot your path to improvement. It will refocus your attention on the techniques and tactics that will truly make you a more intelligent, confident, and winning player.

The Truth About the Tooth Fairy

Have you ever wondered about the Tooth Fairy’s magical world? Where does she live when she’s not collecting teeth? How does she know the exact moment a tooth falls out, no matter where you are? And what happens to all those pearly whites she gathers?

The Tooth Fairy herself is finally ready to reveal all her secrets! Prepare to step into her enchanting world and discover the answers to all of your questions that have puzzled children for generations. Are you ready?

The Truth Is in the Words

The Truth Is in the Words holds within its pages two novellas, Noula’s Prayer & The House That Called Me Home. The House that Called Me Home begins with a dream, a haunting dream that comes true in steps to reveal the power of prayer, the patience of love and the healing from life controlling shame. It’s a story that touches your heart and maybe even your own story.  It shows you that you’re never too old to find out that you have been loved all along. That is what Celine finds out when her dreams come to an end in reality.

Noula’s Prayer takes you on a journey through many lives which all end up in the same church. When God asks Noula for one prayer and one prayer only, she searches her heart and examines her life, she then seeks guidance in God’s Word. Noula finally prays her one prayer. Will God answer..?