Playing Through the Break

In the early 1980s, young Chicago architect Phil Ashley and his live-in girlfriend, TV newscaster Alison Knight, find themselves locked in an unlikely love triangle with a neighboring temptress whose undraped window appearances trigger untimely, unfinished spiritual and emotional issues left over from the psychedelic sixties.

When Phil is offered an unusual architectural project set in the countercultural West Coast waterfront community of Samsara, the pair agree to temporarily part ways in hopes that a break will do them good.

Little did they suspect that their romantic recess would soon turn chaotic when Samsara’s pirate broadcast featuring aqua goddess Pearl explodes into international headlines. Could the untimely uproar help reunite the troubled couple… or bring a dramatic end to their relationship?

Please, Adopt Me, America

Please, Adopt Me, America is an enlightening conversation about oppression, disruption, and dispossession. Starting with the personal and corporate struggle for the space of freedom and survival, the author/poet weaves her akuko iho, or enlightening conversations through the fast-changing terrains entwined with the harrowing landscapes.

From personal life to corporate experiences, to the scalding landmarks of history, the author and poet breaks away from her ‘foster’ country, Nigeria, to merge with her people and ancestors who are a vital part of America. Proclaiming her right to reject the raging ‘japa’ syndrome as an all-comers affair, she reveals a veiled tapestry of dark histories and decapitating politics. She embodies the spirit of cultural renaissance and freedom, rolling on wheels of hope to a land of promise. Please, Adopt Me, America, is a touching, penetrating perspective on the deep struggles of finding one’s own space in life – Of leaving home to find it!

Plesia

Exhausted from the day’s trials, Nath collapses into sleep in his New York apartment, only to awaken in the extraordinary world of Plesia. This planet, hailed as the most splendid in the cosmos, is home to 740 eternally youthful inhabitants who, though appearing to be mere eight-year-olds, have thrived on Plesia for millennia. Governed by a benevolent king from a neighboring realm, Plesia is a utopia where every need is seamlessly met.

Amidst this perfection, Nath discovers his heritage as a royal prince of Plesia and that his arrival is serendipitously timed. The peaceful planet faces a grave threat, and it is Nath whom the king and the Plesians need. As Nath joins forces with the king and a valiant group of Plesian allies, he must confront perils and navigate the pernicious disease known as Peur et Haine. His journey is one of courage, friendship, and destiny as he rises to defend the idyllic world that is now his home.

Poem

Meet Fantasia, a small-town girl born in Little Rock, Arkansas on June 15th, 1986. She has found solace in writing, which has helped her cope with a lifetime of trauma. In this collection of poems, she shares her innermost thoughts and feelings, touching on topics that will leave you wondering and inspired.

With her powerful words, Fantasia speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves, conveying the importance of speaking the truth and finding the courage to express oneself. She reminds us that it’s okay not to be okay and encourages us to take a moment to reflect on our day, step back, and take a deep breath. Ultimately, she encourages us to trust in God, who knows when to shine a light on our darkest days.

Whether you’re looking for comfort or inspiration, Fantasia’s poetry will help you find the words you need to express yourself and face life’s challenges with renewed strength and courage.

Poems of the Fire

The campfire that started on November 8, 2018, burned the town of Paradise, California. It was California’s deadliest forest fire, leaving thousands of people homeless with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Not only did it destroy my home, but most of my town. I escaped with my life, and that is what inspired my poems. These poems helped me to express my feelings deeply on paper.

There were so many people trying to leave town at the same time, and it was bumper to bumper. The fire was moving so fast that several people were burned in their cars. People were abandoning their cars and running down the street on foot. This fire brought many people closer together than ever before. We all had to start over again with nothing.

The reason you are reading these poems is that I woke up much earlier than usual on the morning of the fire and wandered down the hall to the kitchen. The clock said 7:00 am, and I never get up that early. I felt so good I decided to stay up, make some coffee, and enjoy the early morning, which I never do. When the phone rang, the voice on the other end said to ‘Evacuate now!’ These poems will take you on a journey as I found new hope and a new beginning. I hope you enjoy what I have composed.

Poems on Eternity, the Endless Universe, and Me

Watterson’s musings press the limits of expression. Planck’s ultimately small 10^-35 meters expands to the Sufi mystic’s Nothingness. Feelings expand from Issa’s compassion for the fleas on his deathbed to a glimpse of God’s anguish at [having to permit] the Holocaust, the price of Israel.

In one vignette, Watterson pictures the cosmos, endless universes, as dust particles at 30,000 feet disappear in the troposphere.

What is the effect? The effect, he says, is something like finding a long-lost reference. Or of having stumbled on the right person just now to tell about a rare instance of moral bravery in his youth.

The effect might be that just now innumerable originals of Beethoven are dipping their quills in ink and starting the seventh symphony. One need only imagine and listen.

Poetry Collection

Delve into a poetic tapestry that weaves the myriad facets of life’s journey. This collection resonates with human emotions, offering solace to souls seeking comfort and connection. Inspired by everyday moments and the indelible impact of loved ones – both present and departed – these verses are a testament to the beauty and complexity of existence. Embark on a literary voyage, and may you find as much joy in these pages as I found in penning them.

Poetsy II

If I knew how to draw a picture of how I feel, I would pick up a pencil and paper and begin sketching.

If I were capable of sculpting a solid figure of my thoughts, I would grab a hammer, some stone or granite, and start chiseling away.

If I could choreograph a dance or even a fight explaining what I want to say, I would rise, do some warmup exercises, and start moving.

Since I am able do none of these things, but I can write in a way that happens to have a rhyme and rhythm to it, that’s exactly what I do.This is to place into the world the love, despair, and everything in between that would otherwise stay hidden inside, where it would do very little good. I believe everyone can find such an outlet, a medium or forum that allows us to feel freedom.

Polly

Polly spent most days sitting alone, sadly looking at her reflection in the mirror. Countless lonely hours were spent trying to figure out why all the squirrels in the forest refused to accept her. In the mirror, she saw long curly eyelashes with huge eyes. Her fur was soft and silky with unusual highlights. It varied in color depending on how the sun beamed on it. The fur underneath her belly was as white as snow. Her tail was long, full, and bushy. As she continued to observe her reflection in the mirror, she became painfully aware of the striking differences between her and all the other squirrels. Just like all the other squirrels in the forest her mother had the same small black eyes, dull gray fur, and semi-short less bushy tail. Even her mother was baffled by her unusual features.

Polly’s plight will illustrate to you how children today will take any characteristic or any physical differences and find fault to make fun, taunt, tease, and sometimes brutally attack you. This can be the cause of low self-esteem, fearfulness, and sadness all because someone dislikes you because you are different. I remember growing up in a community where my peers taunted me about the tone of my skin. Unfortunately, rejection, snubbing, teasing, and taunting still exists in the form of bullying and it’s even more prevalent today.

As you read Polly’s story you will see how one little squirrel gained respect and friendship from her peers through her selflessness, bravery, and courage. Her peers will learn a valuable lesson in pre-judging as it pertains to someone because of their nationality, physical appearance, race, or ethnicity.

Porcupine's Dream

In this imaginative Clarke Fable, your child will learn the lesson of self-acceptance.

The sleepy little porcupine finds that what makes her unique, makes her wonderfully special.

Be sure to watch for the bluebird who hides in and out of the story’s colorful pages!

Positive Thinking As a Way of Life

Penned with a profound desire to aid individuals grappling with mental hurdles like depression, dwindling motivation, and self-assurance, this book serves as a companion in your journey towards self-betterment. Through its affirming lines and a special emphasis on the EODs - daily nuggets of positivity, the author aspires to instill a renewed sense of self-worth, nudging you to stand tall, gradually bolstering your confidence and self-esteem with each passing day.

In the face of today’s global adversities, the narrative underscores the essence of daily self-care, urging not only personal adherence but also the encouragement of loved ones to embrace this nurturing practice. It is a clarion call for humanity to not merely endure, but to flourish and thrive, making the most of our everyday lives.

Powder River, 1957

“The year my mother left us, my father found a dog along the highway just outside of Powder River.”

Thus opens the beginning of sixteen-year-old Matthew Christman’s account of his senior year. Reeling from his loss, Matthew struggles to make sense of the adult world into which he has been forced to enter prematurely. He faces other losses, foremost among them his innocence, as he tries to figure out the difference between being a man’s man, or a good man like his father.

The threat of death is ever present for Matthew as he learns the value of love and friendship in his journey to find his way in a world fraught with unpredictable challenges.