The Last Ordinary Life

In The Last Ordinary Life, debut author Cynthia Bowers invites readers on a deeply personal journey, recounting her life-altering decision to donate one of her kidneys to a critically ill 11-year-old boy at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Registered on the transplant list and running out of time, the boy’s only hope came from a woman he had never met.

This story is not just a recounting of the incredible events that led up to an unprecedented organ transplant between two strangers but a transformative narrative that explores the profound impact of spiritual growth and self-discovery.

The Last Ordinary Life is more than a memoir; it’s a testament to the power of selflessness, the importance of overcoming our deepest fears, and the transformative possibility for success that unfolds when we reconnect with our true selves. Cynthia’s journey serves as an inspiring reminder that within each of us lies the potential to live extraordinary lives.

For a Greater Good: The Tom Swann Story

I wrote this book because you and I both need some inspiration from time to time in a tough world. I came out of the closet in 1992 as a gay Marine Corps veteran and civilian worker with a secret clearance for the Department of the Navy. I was assaulted and faced discrimination and retaliation from Navy officials. I was living with advanced AIDS. I suffered and persevered while the ACLU represented me in litigation against the Navy. I am the last federal employee to have his access to classified information challenged by the government based on being a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Our historic successful ACLU litigation against the Navy prompted the Navy Secretary to add sexual orientation protection to the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy for all civilian employees. The Navy added this protection more than four years before the other branches of the military. Now DEI and the EEOC are being shut down, and we seem to be going backwards. My story will shed light on how difficult work was before DEI and why these programs are so vital for our nation.

The fact that the ACLU and I accomplished this is inspiring. It means you can persevere through adversity and your hopes can be fulfilled. First, have faith in a higher power, and second, believe in the person you see when you stand in front of a mirror. You must never give up hope or give in to discrimination.

After the Flames Have Cooled

This magnificent novel is a fiction filled with passion, thrills, and adventures, and it includes a flair of religious beliefs—beliefs that demonstrate strong characteristics in the characters.

After over fifty-seven years of composition (intense meditation and creativity), the author brings to life a well-developed Beasley family saga (six generations) that relied on hard work, courage, dreams, and God to give them strength to escape impoverishment, deadly romances, triumphs, and tribulations. Female matrons paved the way as traditions molded passionate hearts. High expectations to rise above poverty with rewards (happiness and wealth) were driven via romance, strong family connectivity, and education. As they embarked upon new territory—internal and external to the Mississippi Delta—they survived floods and economic downfalls, wars and societal upheavals, untimely deaths, and heartfelt relationships resulting in pleasure and deep conflicts—even murder. The author was born in such an environment where only the strongest survived!

So be it as it was—mysteries unfold like unto “diamonds in the rough”—in this fictional publication. An in-depth creation of characters & events gives life to individuals trapped in an era of American history via which they are freed as readers are enlightened & entertained. A vivid imagination allows readers to peek into a “bittersweet,” mysterious realm where secrets are told—spreading like wildfire among tall cotton and catfish ponds.

An “Unclaimed Race” of people (Mulattos) created during slavery—survives enduring journeys in spite of many evils, triumphs, and tribulations. Before burials in soil from whence they’d risen (disappearing like unto dust whirling across a broad delta plain), four of life’s secrets to happiness became their golden treasures: (1) Eros Love; (2) Storge Love; (3) Philia Love; and (4) Agape Love—in “After The Flames Have Cooled.”

Isaiah Travels to the Great Water

The westward movement of Americans during the formation of the nation was one of adventure, great hardship, and ultimately, conflict with the native peoples who occupied the land.

Opportunity was the fuel that drove the westward migration. It began with the opportunity to farm the land, which had much fertile soil. At the same time the land was being harnessed for agricultural production, it was also being explored by trappers who harvested the abundance of animal life to feed a growing demand for fur products.

The westward expansion was populated mainly by people of European descent whose culture differed greatly from those of the native peoples, ultimately resulting in conflict.

The westward migration took many lives. The hardships were real, the dangers ever-present, and the necessity of self-sufficiency was a stark reality. There were no roads, only animal trails, and most travel was by foot.

This narrative opens a descriptive window onto the hardships of those travels.

The Web

If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito.

Mr Solomon had once heard this proverb, but to truly understand it, he had to hear something else: her buzzing.

The relentless sound of a mosquito's wings that mercilessly filled his nights.

Night after night, buzz after buzz, he found himself caught in an unusual battle. Forced to stay awake, he spent his nights chasing the unbearable, high-pitched whistles in the darkness.

She was determined to suck his blood. He refused to surrender.

She did not give up. He did not yield.

Until one night…

Nexuses

At the conclusion of World War II, a few top ex-Nazi leaders escaped the Allied nets in Europe and were now living in various South American cities. International police efforts to identify and capture these criminals had been unsuccessful. The government was in desperate need of a new path forward.

Three former friends and recent European emigres to the United States had, totally unknown to each other, found a home in the US after the war. None knew that the others had even survived the war. Each had their own reasons to keep a low profile with the US authorities amid the commie scare of the 1950s, and all three were on shaky immigration ground.

If they could find each other again, and if they could help each other find a path forward, they just might get through their problems. In a curious turn of events, the three became intertwined with the international search for the missing Nazi criminals. Success in capturing the Nazi criminals would rest with the trio’s unique war-time experiences… experiences they had never shared with anyone… Until now.

Stories, Poems, and Secrets Beneath the Waterfall

Some call the Army Residence Community an “old soldiers’ home on steroids.” It is an unusual residence for veterans, spouses, and civil servants, some arriving here before they can draw social security. Most residents are active, referring to themselves as “inmates” (those who live in the Highrise) or “street people” (those living in Legacy cottages, or Lakeside homes). For the most part, they willingly revealed their secrets as did Count Rostov, “The Gentleman in Moscow,” living in The Metropol. Resident writers may have altered names and embellished some stories, creating a mixture of fact and fiction, but in truth ‘life is how we tell it.’ This is not a daily diary of events at a retirement home, as penned by Hendrik Groen in The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen. Groen spoke of “weak tea and potted geraniums, exasperated by the indignities of aging…” and did not inspire this collection of stories.

These are stories of people who lived a life of service. There are more stories to be told by retirees and centenarians living among us, waiting to be discovered if only we listen.

Do Dandelions Grow in Heaven?

Have you ever noticed dandelions appearing in the grass after a beloved dog has gone? Some say it’s a sign—a whisper from heaven that our furry friends are still with us.

This gentle, heartfelt story brings comfort to children who have lost a cherished pet, showing them that every wag, every pawprint, and every dandelion is a message of love that lasts forever.

Shoes to Kill

Shoes to Kill is about the case of a media mogul found murdered at the home of one of the nation’s leading college basketball coaches during a nationally televised game. It plays on the State’s and South’s obsession with college sports, particularly basketball and football.The protagonist, Detective Hatchell Breeze, seeking retribution for a previously botched and forgotten case involving the university football team, enthusiastically takes on the investigation and an inevitable confrontation with the powerful players of the state university once again.This leads him to prostitution, illegal drugs, errant boosters, big business, university stonewalling, and the prominent men and women of college sports. As he tries to connect the two cases, he is reminded of his own bitter history with the university, forever embedded in his mind as his own life spins out of control.

Maggie, the Dog with a Heart: Book 4

What’s so special about Maggie? She looks pretty much like most other dogs of her breed with one exception…there are two large black spots on either side of her body that join together to form a heart when she curls up. That’s why she’s also known as “the dog with a heart.”

“Furry Friends” is a charming story about Maggie, a special Jack Russell Terrier puppy. After being adopted by her forever family and settling into her new home, Maggie realizes she is not always going to be the center of attention. Sometimes, her family doesn’t have time to spend with her as they go about their busy lives full of work, school, and sports. Maggie is left alone occasionally, trying her best to play the role of “watchdog.”

Maggie observes the enjoyment the family’s children experience when they have “playdates” with friends. Hmm...she wonders if she could have playdates as well. But first she must find some friends.

Everyone needs friends…even dogs. Read this heartwarming story to discover the friendship tips Maggie learns as she embarks on her quest for friends.

Highway to Holiness

For God and country, after trying holiness in the seminary, I enlisted in the Navy. There, I protected others and my country while serving God. I discovered that both serving God in the seminary and serving my country in the military could lead me to heaven after my life here on earth. Both taught me about loyalty, courage, discipline, and putting the needs of others before oneself. At my old age, nothing stops me from finding my destiny with my Lord Jesus Christ as long as I follow my Highway to Holiness.

Misadventures of Licorice and Black Jack

The Misadventures of Licorice and Black Jack

In the mid-1700s, two mischievous brother cats, Licorice and Black Jack, and their clever companion Pepper, a black-and-white African parrot, sailed the seas aboard the Fair Winds. Known for their unmatched rat-killing skills, they were beloved by their owner, Captain Benjamin Schiff.

But when a rat chase goes awry, the duo accidentally embarks on an unexpected journey far from home. Chaos follows as they cross paths with a mysterious wizard and his bright assistant, leading to several wild adventures.

It is a light-hearted tale of mischief, magic, and high-seas adventure. The Misadventures of Licorice and Black Jack is a journey where trouble and fun are never far behind.