The Ah-Ha Moment

Jokes are intellectual can-openers offering surprisingly powerful insights into not only how our minds work – but into how the world around us works too.

Why? Well, when you think about it, a good joke requires, demands, a very special kind of deep thinking – a kind of world-upturning, no-holds-barred problem solving. It’s the same skill that produces the great insights of art and commerce, the insight that sees solutions and creates opportunities. And yes, such skills can be approached through exercises and study, but there’s no good reason to think such sensible methods work any better than having a sense of humour.

So why not, at least for a moment, throw all conventional thinking to the wind, and start re-examining the world through the very special, very beautiful prism of jokes and riddles?

“With wit and irony, Martin Cohen explains the basic concepts of philosophy and incidentally introduces the most famous thinkers in history.” – Der Spiegel.

The Air That We Breathe - Book One

Father Marcellinus warns the young monk, saying, ‘The air that we breathe, that is the creature that we become’ explaining how every influence, both good and evil ultimately shape us into the person that we are. Based on real events, this novel unfolds in a nineteenth century abbey and is about a young man who struggles to face the truth of who he really is, something that all of us must ultimately do in our own lives. The reader is invited into that cloister, so full of passions and conflicts.

Simon desires only one thing since he was a little boy, and that is to serve God as a priest. He dreams of wearing silken gold vestments and being enveloped in great clouds of incense, offering the Sacrifice to God. When he is seventeen, he leaves home and becomes a monk far north in the mountains of Pennsylvania. His faith is genuine, and he gives himself to his studies in order to become a Roman Catholic priest.

But not all is as he expected. A sexual awakening he had not anticipated, blossoms in him and boyhood dreams are shaken to the core as he wrestles with a side of himself he never counted on. He falls in love in a monastic world filled with holy men, mischievous souls, colorful individuals and also great scoundrels.

A powerful visitor invites him to Rome, something Simon never expected. There is a dark price tag, however, something Simon is unaware of.

The Allies

This book lay almost half a century at the bottom of an old computer before it was published. At the time, it was considered politically ‘inappropriate’ because it was too ‘anti-Russian.’ It was written in America by two political émigrés, refugees from the communist part of the world, who knew Russia as it really is and always has been, even during World War II, when it pretended to be a faithful ally of the United States.

American pilots, crew members of a B 29 bomber, are hit by anti-aircraft fire during a reconnaissance flight over Japan. They make an emergency landing in USSR territory. It would seem that they are safe on the lands of an ally, but the reality turned out to be frighteningly different.

Although this book is historical fiction and its characters are invented, they are woven into real historical events related to the Manhattan Project infiltrated from within by Soviet spies. During Gorbachev’s ‘thaw,’ Stalin was forgotten, and Russia was to be ‘an example and model of democracy’ from then on. Even then, this book was supposed to be a warning; now it is allmost a wake-up call. Today’s Russia, waging a criminal, aggressive war against Ukraine, Russia of Vladimir Putin, with its troll farms, armed green men, murdering disobedient citizens in labor camps, poses an even greater threat to the entire free world.

The Amanda Morgan Story

Fiction teaches us that the monsters among us are hideous, ugly beasts.

History teaches us that the monsters can have a charming voice, a pleasant smile, friendly eyes, and a pleasing appearance.

But if we know one thing, it is that they always have… a dark mind.

The American

America has gone beyond ethicality. Education is not lacking in ethical behavior, although it is lacking in morality. Children know too well what is good and what is bad. If parents were to fail in teaching so, the entire system will take care of teaching it. America has gone so far by making law enforcement greater every day, that it is becoming unethically ethical. When all is enforced, all actions are watched, and everyone is afraid. When people are afraid, they become violent.

The Arrow Academy

Adelaide Abbott never felt like she fit into her own life. She didn’t fit in with the other kids around her, and one day, it became clear why. After discovering she had a very special gift, her parents sent her to the Arrow Academy, a school for exceptional students.

She didn’t seem to fit in much their either. After being at the school for a while, she learned it had a secret that put the older students in danger. It was up to her and the Junior class men to save the day. But are they ready?

Join Adelaide, her older brother Isaac, mean girl Brooklynn, shy Jensen, charming Silas, wild Dylann, unpredictable Ian, and big Lincoln on an adventure none of them were prepared for.

The Assignment

Emerging from the ashes of a stagnant long-term relationship, Dr. Savannah Dawson finds the adrenaline rush of the emergency room has dulled to a monotonous routine. It’s her best friend Lacey who nudges her out of her comfort zone, convincing her to take a leap into the unknown with a new job in Barcelona. However, Savannah soon discovers she’s signed up for more than she anticipated, finding herself entwined in a century-old family coca business that demands she apply her sharp wits and judgment beyond the ER.

Tomas Rey IV, a man who holds the title of the decade’s most eligible bachelor, becomes her most challenging puzzle: a man who might just fulfill her dreams or plunge her into a nightmare. With the aid of serendipity and a loyal group of friends, Savannah navigates the complexities of a new country, a foreign lifestyle, and a covert role she’s intent on keeping under wraps. As she adjusts to this unexpected chapter, she hopes to stay beneath the radar, all while the stakes grow ever higher.

The Attenuating Puritan

Embark on a contemplative journey with our altruistic hero, a reflection of purity in words and deeds, yet occasionally marked by ancestral toxins. With unwavering conviction, he dances under the world’s weight, marching into the unknown, his steps marked by hope and staunch faith.

Bound by a noble quest to restore the splendor of Eden, his every gesture is a sacrifice, a stride towards the pristine and divine. Amidst adversities, he stands a fortified pilgrim, mastering the shackles of mind and body, emerging as a triumphant victor, a mirror to us all daring to confront our reflections.

He is the champion of tainted sacraments, a crusader against the clutches of heavy metal and forever chemicals, hinting that our destinies might be cradled in such hands. As we tread the path of love eternal, each step taken is righteous, a gentle move towards the boundless cosmos that binds us in love.

In The Attenuating Puritan, every breath taken is a whisper of attenuation, every quenched thirst a sigh of grace, and every bounty received a step closer to the celestial, encapsulating a tale of hope, resilience, and the ceaseless quest for the divine amidst the terrestrial.

The Baraboo McGuffin

Explore the fundamental questions of life in The McGuffin Quest. Katie White and Harry Jinx, lifelong friends, set out on an adventure to the Kingdom of Wisconsin in search of the elusive McGuffin. Is it an English teacher who inspires Katie, or is the quest itself the true inspiration? As they journey through the idyllic rolling hills of Baraboo, Wisconsin, the world around them transforms into a whimsical and thought-provoking universe of bizarre tales. Along the way, they confront the age-old dichotomy of pattern and chaos, the nature of connection, and the meaning of literature, from poetry to Moby Dick to Mother Goose. Does it all connect to life? Does anything? With surprises at every turn, The McGuffin Quest is a journey of discovery that will leave you pondering long after the final page.

The Barn Rats of Montana - Book 1

On a grassy prairie surrounded by mountains lies a barn in northern Montana, home to the Montana Barn Rats. What begins as a beautiful day for Alfonso, Sammy, and Chubbs soon turns into a journey of adventure and challenges. The Montana Barn Rats must face the loss of their home, but that might not be the only trial they encounter today. They may also face the heart-wrenching possibility of losing one of their best friends. Will they find the courage to fight? The Barn Rats of Montana is an exciting adventure filled with friendship, love, hope, and bravery.

The Bearmoose

In a blizzard’s blinding fury, the Bearmoose finds herself alone, separated from her pride during their migration south. Her white fur, once a source of warmth and protection, now serves as a camouflage that isolates her in an unforgiving wilderness. As she embarks on a quest to reunite with her family, the Bearmoose faces a series of daunting challenges and encounters unfriendly foes at every turn. Will she succumb to despair and give up, or will her unwavering strength, courage, and indomitable spirit earn her the loyalty of some unlikely new companions? If she can forge these unexpected alliances, will they be enough to help her navigate the treacherous path back to her pride? Follow the Bearmoose on an unforgettable journey of resilience, friendship, and the power of never giving up.

The Beast of Winter Haven

In a quaint resort town in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania, a series of brutal murders shocks the community. Five women are savagely killed, their bodies gruesomely dismembered and left in pieces. The heinous nature of the crimes leaves investigators pondering whether they are dealing with a serial killer or something even more sinister.

As pressure mounts to solve the murders quickly, an anonymous tip leads police to Russell Strait, a drifter drawn to the local ski resort. The police conduct a hasty search of his residence and discover evidence that seems to ensure an easy conviction.

But defense attorney Edwin Reynolds, assigned by the county judge, harbors doubts. Familiar with challenging cases, Ed wrestles with personal demons while sifting through the murder details. He begins to question whether the police have apprehended the correct individual. Could the real killer still be at large, poised to strike again?

A tense chess match unfolds between Ed and the murderer. Each strategic move is countered by another, leading to a climactic betrayal that threatens to overturn everything. With lives in the balance, the truth becomes a hard pill to swallow, perhaps too outlandish for the court or anyone else to believe.