My Roots, My Self

Clutching a childhood photo to her heart, Jenny asks, ‘Who is the real me?’ before setting off to find the parents who abandoned her. Centuries earlier, Macuya channels the courageous spirit of his father to survive being kidnapped into a hostile world.

Thus begins My Roots, My Self, a gripping historical novel intertwining two epic journeys from 1975 Minnesota to the blood-soaked origins of the Italian Mafia and Spanish Inquisition. A fresh and engaging story about a dual search for self-identity: one character searching back to remove the stains of her crime family, the other striving ahead to forge a family legacy in a racist society.

Jenny’s search starts in Boston, where the FBI detains her after an ill-fated meeting with members of the Anguilo crime family, people of her blood. Threatened but determined, she heads to Sicily and meets a mercurial genealogist who unlocks the secrets of her lineage and her path to freedom.

Macuya, a native of the West Indies, is torn from home and family by Columbus and taken to Spain, where Queen Isabella adopts him as a mascot. Later freed with a baron’s title, he secretly marries Beka, the Jewish love of his life. Together, they move from country to country to escape being burned at the stake.

With six centuries of separation, the reader is plucked from the now and wrenched into the mysteries of the past as both characters struggle forward to find the freedom to honor their true selves.

My Roots, My Self will appeal to fans who were enthralled with the search for faith and home in Scherman’s The Mapmaker’s Daughter, who cherished the journey of self-discovery in Shapiro’s Inheritance and loved the historical intrigue of Cornick’s The Winter Garden.

“I received an advance copy of My Roots, My Self and wow what an emotional ride. Jenny’s struggle to understand where she came from hit me hard; it made me think about my own family stories and what’s been passed down to me. I loved how the book shifted between her story and Macuya’s in 1492. At first, I didn’t see how the two connected, but by the end, it all came together beautifully. This is one of those books that stays with you long after you close it.”

– Abraham Alejandro, Member, Oprah’s Book Club.

“I was lucky enough to get a copy of My Roots, My Self, and I have to say, it’s one of the most unique family sagas I’ve read. I loved the cultural details, the Slovenian pastries, the Taino rituals, the Boston immigrant neighborhoods; they made the story feel alive. Jenny was such a relatable character: restless, a little lost, but determined. And Macuya’s chapters absolutely broke my heart. If you enjoy books about family secrets, ancestry, and identity, this is a must-read.”

– Betty Burgess, What’s the Name of the Book? Book Club.

The Runaways

The Runaways is a humorous, philosophical, pre-apocalyptic tale told from the perspective of Jolson H. Kawasaki, a thirteen-year-old, West Virginian visionary from a broken home who longs for a life away from ‘the abhorrent horrors engendered by polite society.’

 Abandoned by his father, haunted by his mother's grief, and seething with his unquenchable desire for their mechanic's daughter, Addison Dixie, Jolson must confront his leviathan troubles as he plans to escape a life of poverty to lead an expedition west with his disciples, out of ‘The Gray World’ and into ‘a Paradise of Green.’

Is he a prophet? Is he delusional? Does Addison feel the same kind of crazy? What starts as a simple effort to evade responsibility turns into the inheritance of it all as Jolson – guided by fate and depended upon by many – contends with himself, the natural world, and his diabolical opposite on his unforgettable journey toward becoming a man – and perhaps something greater.

Two Days in August

Alex Knight and his daughter, Aia, while early on in their motorcycle road trip to the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota, are threatened with death by Fatso and his troop of outlaw bikers.

Alex will not back away from any threat against him, his family, or his friends, and he has always maintained the best defense is to go on offense.

Alex and Aia meet four couples—regular husband-and-wife bikers—going to Sturgis. Then, at a Montana campground on their first night, they meet Mike, a special ops soldier on leave. At a convenience store in Glacier Park, Alex meets three vacationing Seattle SWAT officers.

Forces are combined to deal with Fatso’s gang, and the Warriors, another violent gang, join Fatso to take care of Alex and his daughter.

This is a high-octane adventure with a heart-of-gold hero who will protect those he

loves with fearless resolution.

The Man Called Death

“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.” (Revelations 6:8, KJV).

Matthew Lloyd Garrison returns in the much-anticipated second instalment of the Legend of the Pale Rider trilogy. Leaving death and destruction in his wake, Garrison flees south, deeper into Texas. Hot on his trail is the one man who may be able to match him: his brother, Joshua Wayne Garrison.

Garrison presses on, determined to outrun his brother and leave his past behind him. But Joshua won’t give up and the past won’t die. Matthew’s headlong flight is soon interrupted as he finds himself embroiled in a bitter land dispute between the greedy Bryce Tillman and the beautiful Abigail Williams. Despite his best intentions, Garrison finds himself falling for this woman, from whom he hides a dark secret. Tragedy looms and before all is said and done, Garrison will be one step closer to becoming a legend: The Man Called Death.

Tales from Vespucci

Our hero, Michael Brown, earlier seen in The Green Palmers Chronicle as a young boy and in Darwin’s Progress as a grown-up man, now retired, travels with guide and friend Isaiah through the Land of Vespucci, which invites travelers through its many provinces, each of which showcases different cultures and thoughts: some are bizarre, some adventurous, some inspiring, but all of them are always thought-provoking. Throughout his travel across 30 or so provinces, which produce these tales from Vespucci, Michael learns about humanity, his own as much as the Vespuccians themselves, which the author shares with the readers as a cautionary tale in this uniquely original and unforgettable collection of stories, reminiscent of classic Guliver’s Travels.

A Secret No More

His mother dead, 16 years old, Clay Trent knew he had to run away when he shot the plantation’s overseer and then his cruel father. His half-brother, Luke, ran with him.From Georgia, months later, hungry and in their ragged clothes, they end up in Arizona where they meet Dan Driver, owner of Double D Ranch. Dan hires them, but Clay needs to confess his crime to Dan. Now, only three people knew his secret: Clay, Luke, and Dan. Still, the secret stayed with Clay, who was unable to forget.Clay and Luke became exemplary cowboys, honored and trusted, fast with a gun, yet they never abused the privilege. Then it happened. Clay’s past was suddenly exposed for all to hear and see. Shamed, Clay did the only thing he could. He had no other choice.

Of Twienfyd Whales

Of Twienfyd Whales is a story of self-discovery, where the supernatural and the secular intertwine. Guided by a mysterious being, Hannah navigates the space between the Methodist teachings of her youth and the ethical complexities of adulthood.

Betrayed by a conservative father insecure in his patriarchal role and manipulated by a prescient younger sister, Hannah is sent to the enigmatic Welsh island of Anglesey. Under the guise of preparing her for womanhood, she is removed from the weight of adolescent decisions – only to face even greater trials.

Ogged, the supernatural conduit, ensnares Hannah both physically and mentally, revealing painful truths through harsh lessons. As she confronts morality, resilience, and the long-reaching consequences of her choices, she begins to understand that compromising one’s values comes at a cost.

When the River Calls

It’s happening again.

Allerton is a beautiful city, full of vibrant people and quiet charm – but darkness has a way of creeping in. After the accident that shattered her world and claimed her mother’s life, Emma is determined not to give in to grief. Though broken, she’s committed to moving forward, even maintaining her friendship with Justin – whose brother was behind the wheel that night.

Together, Emma and Justin navigate emotional wounds, family tensions, and the quiet unease that never seems far away. As their bond deepens, Emma begins to reclaim control of her life – until a sudden attack makes her question whether the nightmare is beginning all over again.

Justin is dealing with his own uncertainties. His mother, once again receiving treatment at the Recovery Centre, is now missing. As troubling signs reemerge, the attacks on the Ryan family feel eerily familiar. Could his mother somehow be involved?

Then the river changes. What was once warm and welcoming turns deadly when an earthquake unleashes a tsunami along the coast. The people of Allerton rally to protect their homes and each other, proving that even in the darkest moments, community matters

Now, as Justin races to find his mother, one question remains:

When the river comes calling, who will answer?

The Taking of the M.V. Acamar

In 1964, Andrew Morrison joined a crew sent to Greece to retrieve the latest addition to his father’s shipping company, the motor vessel Acamar.

While transiting the Gulf of Aden, the ship was hijacked by attackers seeking to recover weapons hidden in one of the cargo holds. The entire crew was murdered, except for Morrison, who managed to escape on a liferaft, hoping to drift towards his island home thousands of miles away in the Indian Ocean.

Will a miracle save his life once again, or will fate decide otherwise?

Pancho the Parrot Reviews the Year 2020

Pancho the Parrot Reviews the Year 2020 stars Pancho, an Amazon parrot just purchased by Noramius Dumas, an average guy living a mundane bachelor life. However, Pancho never tolerates the status quo. Pancho is demanding and obnoxious, energetic, and mischievous, immediately testing the nerves of Noramius from day one. Pancho stirs Noramius to question his own existence and the meaning of life.

Pandemonium ensues. Both Pancho and Noramius find themselves escaping natural disasters and meeting new friends in a land yet unchartered by humans. Pancho encourages interpersonal relationships to solve catastrophic problems. Pancho and Noramius have their enemies, too. Both Pancho and Noramius overcome all odds to save the day.

Pancho the Parrot Reviews the Year 2020 is about a quirky little parrot who always says yes to comical mayhem and high exploits of fun, adventure, and a little mystery. This fairy tale is sure to arouse everyone’s expectations that life is as crazy as Pancho’s.

The Journey

High-schooler Jack wanted to escape his life at home, so he moved in with a caretaker in a quiet town in the middle of Pennsylvania. At first, everything seemed normal – he was living an ordinary school life and even made some friends. However, everything changes when Jack encounters a mysterious woman who awakens a latent power within him that he never knew he had.

Determined to fight the evil lurking inside people’s minds, Jack embarks on a journey across Pennsylvania, seeking allies and battling dangerous foes. He joins a secret organization dedicated to combating these evils, but he soon uncovers its dark and shady past.

As Jack’s mission intensifies, he finds himself facing the son of a powerful and malevolent organization. At the same time, he struggles to keep his double life hidden from his girlfriend, Audrey, who knows nothing about his secret battles. As relationships begin to crumble, Jack is torn between his growing responsibilities as a hero and the personal life he desperately wants to protect.

The Loura Lure – Book 2

Dr. Shamus Bergin and his former patient Erladoch Dunbar have leapt into a time portal hurtling them backwards 20,000 years to Loura, a time and place erased from history. Before the seas rose up to separate Ireland and the British Isles from the rest of Europe, the Kingdoms of Loura thrived in peace.

Much has changed since Erladoch’s departure four years earlier. Enilorac, the Evil King of Treborg has already begun his invasion. He has come looking for the last Angel’s Itavo stone. If found, Enilorac will use it to open the gates of Hell and usher in the end of times.

Having accepted that his parents were descended from the Sacred Order of Keepers, Shamus must find his place amongst this army of part-human, part-angel warriors in their struggle to repel the encroaching darkness. Can this man of science come to terms with a world filled with magic, or will he lose his sanity in the presence of so many emerging voices seeking to direct his Will? These voices, whispers from the past and echoes of future battles, threaten to overwhelm him.

Burdened with so much, the answers he seeks may lie in the hands of a woman he has never met. He doesn’t know her, but her call grows stronger in his mind with every passing danger. With the weight of obligation crushing down on him, he must have faith that his allegiances will hold and that not all paths laid before him will ultimately yield the same destiny.