The Goodwill Mission

In 1982, a young girl joins an elite chorus called the Singing Pines from a high school in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. After performing at a Miami Dolphins football game, the group catches the attention of the CIA, who invite them to appear on the Today Show. The group is soon sent on a State Department-sponsored goodwill mission to Poland, unaware of the ulterior motive behind their tour.

As they perform for captivated audiences, the Singing Pines encounter challenges from Polish authorities, student unions, and hostile regimes. Despite the language barrier and danger, the group realizes their strength and what they can accomplish.

Based on a true story, this novel follows the journey of 16, 17, and 18-year-old American teenagers as they unwittingly become part of a plan to help Poland achieve democracy through the subtle art of influence and music. Narrated by the 17-year-old heroine, Jordan Davis, the story is set in Florida, New York, Washington, D.C., and various cities in Poland. Interspersed throughout the narrative are historical references to real events, giving an accurate picture of the U.S. government and Vatican involvement in the first cracks in the iron curtain.

With themes of bravery, diplomacy, and the power of music, this is a captivating and inspiring story of how a group of young Americans helped to bring down the iron curtain.

The Admiral of Bolivia

Six intrepid firefighters from the FDNY set off to Bolivia with dreams of a financial windfall. But instead of fortune, they find themselves ensnared in a web of conspiracy, falsely implicated in a scheming admiral’s fervent mission to reclaim Bolivia’s access to the sea from Chile.

Their journey is a whirlwind of close calls: dodging deadly assassins, unearthing the secrets of a concealed silver mine, and surviving a slew of harrowing events—from explosions and a peculiar boxing match to a treacherous mountain road crash and a high-stakes shootout.

Set against the intricate politics of South America and spanning Bolivia, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador, their adventure is further complicated by unlikely romances and daring firefighting heroics. Even the Pope, on his South American sojourn, becomes an unexpected figure in their unfolding saga.

At the heart of the storm is Mike “Rooter” Mose, torn between his burgeoning affection for the admiral’s stunning young wife, Maria, and his deep respect for the seasoned sailor. As the tale crescendos aboard the admiral’s Manhattan cruise ship, amidst celebrations of their narrow escape from imprisonment, Maria’s covert flirtations threaten to tip the balance.

Dive into a tale of loyalty, love, and the unforeseen challenges that test the mettle of heroes.

Shelter in Place

Aurora Scott was living her best life, guiding troubled adolescent girls on wilderness adventures, and returning to her Arlington home and supportive husband, Peter, an NSA analyst. But all that Aurora holds dear is wrenched from her when an aggressive cancer takes Peter and, just months later, an electro-magnetic pulse attack plunges the United States into a prolonged blackout.

When even the cabin that Peter had prepared becomes unsafe, Aurora finds herself marooned in a hut deep in the George Washington National Forest, her survival skills stretched to their limit and her will to survive trickling away.

"In her novel Shelter in Place Maria Bowling offers us a glimpse into the post-apocalyptic future that is as terrifying as it is realistic. In prose that is spare and unflinching, Bowling tells a story of a lone woman who loses her family and risks everything to find her place in a world that has left so many behind."

 - Wiley Cash, New York Times bestselling author of When Ghosts Come Home.

"A woman is alone in the wilderness, and the society she left behind is descending into lawlessness. Shelter in Place is a terrific work of imagination, sound delivery, deft prose, and thematic power."

 - Richard Adams Carey, author of In the Evil Day.

"Shelter in Place is a unique novel set in the near post-apocalyptic future. It is one woman's struggle to survive, to seek justice, to protect those in need, and to reclaim her life and identity. Aurora is smart, courageous, relentless, and righteous. She's both a warrior and a nurturer, a victim and a winner."

 - Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry, author of The Orchard.

Seychelle and the Cannabis Yachties

The Gulf waters are calm, the beach deserted but for Seychelle, Beauregard and a collapsed orange life raft. Within the raft they find no bodies, no treasure, but a ship’s logbook full of stories and adventures. Seychelle has found a purpose, something to fill the void left by the death of her father. Determined, she follows this trail, searching for the owner, Chianti, if she survived. Abandoning the futile search along the Gulf Coast, Seychelle heads to the Caribbean, but her questions draw attention in Sint Maarten and Jamaica. She gets to know folk who use their yachts to smuggle grass and is soon part of their extended family. However, it is the early ’70s and the American authorities are bearing down, pressuring island governments. The tide is turning. Taking small packages of cocaine into the States is a lot easier and more profitable than bales of cannabis.

Did Chianti survive? In whom can Seychelle trust?

Raven's Nest

Paul Maier never wanted to fly, preferring the comforting aroma of an old book over the pungent smell of aviation fuel. Yet no son of a senior Luftwaffe commander ever has much of a say when it comes to the choice of career, particularly in the midst of a global war. Fresh out of flight training, Paul now finds himself the pilot of “Dora”, an aging bomber assigned to the massive air fleet tasked with destroying the Royal Air Force and paving the way for a German invasion of the British Isles.

Pressed by the demands of a ruthless commander, Paul and his comrades are repeatedly hurled into the teeth of British defenses. Only Dora seems immune to the carnage, protected by uncanny luck and the increasing skills of her young crew. Yet with other German bombers falling like ninepins under the guns of British fighters, Paul begins to harbor doubts about the possibility of victory and, ultimately, the nature of the Nazi regime he until now so dutifully served.

Magellan Point

Magellan Point is a novel about the lives of people living in the Western Pacific and their efforts to create political institutions that encompass many islands—efforts that resulted in states in Micronesia and the territory of the Northern Marianas Islands.

In the Shadow of the Bridge

El closed her eyes and drew into the corner against the rock-clay bank and the rough boards. She could hear water dripping inside the mine shaft, could smell the dankness, feel the cold air being drawn through the cracks between the boards; she could picture Hollie as she had seen her running up the road in her yellow dress, breaking free, running, the yellow dress pressed against her thighs, starlight sliding along her arms and legs, flowing over her long gold hair, white-faced, doe-eyed, and frightened. She opened her eyes and gasped, alarmed by the sounds of a struggle close at hand. They had reached the railroad tracks, and Emmett was blocking the way. There was nowhere for Hollie to run except out onto the bridge.

Huxley Perdu

It can be hard to be grateful for what we have, even if we think those things should make us happy. Hux is disappointed with how his life has turned out. He wishes that he could erase things that should make him happy. He feels lost in a world he thinks is constantly against him. He continuously makes decisions that will only make his life worse. The time will come when he becomes truly lost. He will be forced to reform his view on life, and the decisions that form it. In order to survive he will need to choose to change far beyond what he thought was possible. Hux will come to understand that he will never need more than what he has left behind. Through confronting disaster, including himself, he will find what he feared he had lost forever.

Hold Back the Dawn

In the early stages of Northwestern United States’ development, life presented formidable challenges on physical, emotional, and social fronts. With minimal laws in place, maintaining law and order was uncertain, while prejudice against Native Americans prevailed. Yet, as we all understand, persistence and unwavering dedication to one’s goals can yield remarkable rewards.

However, for our main character, achieving his initial objectives revealed a disappointing reality. Through this realization, he undergoes a transformative journey, maturing along the way and setting his sights on a revised ambition. Amidst the stressful situations they confront, the characters demonstrate unwavering courage, displaying loyalty and a sense of responsibility towards their friends and family. Their close-knit bond may leave readers yearning to be a part of their extraordinary group or inspire them to emulate such values in their own lives.

Although most of us may not face circumstances as depicted in this book, the underlying principles that foster a civilized society remain applicable and teachable on a daily basis. Discover the timeless lessons embedded within the pages, guiding readers to embrace courage, loyalty, and responsibility in their personal interactions. Join the characters on their extraordinary journey as they navigate a challenging era and uncover how their experiences can inspire readers to live their lives with integrity and compassion.

In this captivating tale of triumph and growth, explore the virtues that form the bedrock of a civilized society, and let the story’s echoes resonate within, encouraging us all to strive for a better tomorrow.

He Atoned for Me

He Atoned for Me is a compilation of soul-searching poetry. This work expounds on the impact that Jesus Christ's Gospel had in the author's life. While they are written due to specific moments in his life, we encourage you to apply what you can to yours. Though it is Christian in nature, the works found within are non-denominational and available to anyone seeking comfort.

Detective Ray Shields and the Mountain of Trial

Ray Shields isn’t your average private eye. He’s a little more like your traditional gumshoe than most, and in his line of work, being dedicated to the job is a good thing. Laura is his secretary and, as far as Ray is concerned, she is the best one he’s ever had. She’s never late to work, she keeps his affairs in order, and most importantly, she always has the coffee brewing. Then there’s Eddie, Ray’s partner. He’s a dedicated alcoholic with a troubled past, but he doesn’t let that affect his work. Together, the trio make up the Ray Shields Detective Agency, and the only thing separating the R.S.D.A. from the competition is a rusty chain-link fence.

But everything is about to change…

One day, after receiving a mysterious envelope in the mail, Ray, Laura, and Eddie find themselves thrust into the heart of an ancient prophecy that places them all in danger and unravels a secret about Laura that’s long been hidden.

Together, the R.S.D.A., with the help of a few made friends along the way, will face a myriad of mythical monsters, hunt for a magical relic powerful enough to stop a maddened cultist, and traverse the arid Atacama Desert to fight an ancient evil. Saving the world is all in a day’s work for the Ray Shields Detective Agency.

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.