Britain's First Black Headmaster of a Secondary School in Action

This is the ‘real life’ story of Britain’s first Black Headmaster of a large secondary school. In 1982 when the news first broke, all of Yorkshire where it happened, indeed, all the United Kingdom and beyond came alive with the media frenzy which attended the historical occasion. This was no fluke since that feat was repeated four years later by the same person, this time in the Midlands at one of Birmingham’s largest comprehensive schools.

Once the media frenzy, the seemingly glamour of his achievements, was over, Duncan, the Headmaster in question, had to face the reality of managing and leading the schools which he successively headed. These were not places of friendship but more like hostile gauntlets of racism and sabotage which Duncan must navigate daily whilst equally hostile external eyes watched his every move threateningly and, at times, abusively.

Navigating these obstacles successfully soon became a prominent aspect of the job description of this Headteacher.

Beyond school life, his journey was no less hazardous. It was littered or peppered throughout with difficulties such as police stops and searches, high speed police chase on the motorways, legal battles, romantic and marital discords leading to police lock-up, beatings by in-laws and hospitalization on his wedding day for daring to marrying a Sikh girl. With this Sikh girl, Duncan would make the headlines again in the same year as becoming Britain’s first Headmaster of a secondary school. In the August of 1982, Duncan’s Sikh wife gave birth to the world’s first black test-tube twins which opened the way for a whole new dimension in Duncan’s world.

Beyond the Midnight Shadows

Julie drops the flashlight and it rolls around on the floor, casting odd shadows on the walls. As she turns to pick it up, there is a smoky image of a man's face in the shadow next to her. Startled, she starts to fall backwards down the stairs... With a sudden jolt, she awakes in her chair. She lets out a long sigh and looks around the room. The morning sun is already shining through the windows of the big house. Not everything is always as it seems, and for someone like Julie, there is a blurry line that connects her dreams and reality. As the two begin to merge, what will she discover? Beyond the Midnight Shadows is a collection of stories that will take you on a path of discovery, challenging what the characters (and you) think they know. After all, fate has a different vantage point.

Beyond the Death of Ira Nesbitt

Beyond the Death of Ira Nesbitt is a heart-wrenching tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption. Ira Nesbitt lives in a small town far away from any large city, working at the local mill to support himself and his family. His parents spend their evenings getting drunk at the local bar, leaving Ira to care for his younger sister, Angie. But when Ira’s father starts to suspect that Angie may not be his daughter, he begins to treat her badly, leading Ira to plan her escape to another town.

One fateful night, Ira’s worst fears come true as his father beats Angie mercilessly. In a heroic move, Ira lunges at his father to save his sister, sparking a chain of events that changes the course of their lives forever. As the story unfolds, we witness Ira’s struggles and triumphs as he fights to protect his family and create a better future for Angie.

But amidst the chaos and tragedy, there is a glimmer of hope. In a selfless act, Ira changes the beneficiary on his life insurance policy from his parents’ names to Angie Nesbitt, ensuring that she will be taken care of even after his death. Beyond the Death of Ira Nesbitt is a poignant and powerful novel that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.

Attachment Patterns

Is the artist, Robert Boone, crazy? As his daughter, aspiring novelist, Isolde tells us, he sure doesn’t think so. Okay, yes, he recently found himself in the hospital loudly declaring he wanted to die, but that was a moment of unexplained weakness, of post-pandemic exhaustion. He’s fine now, calm, and self-possessed as always. Only the doctors don’t believe him. They’ve insisted he enroll in a three week, out-patient, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy program. Which is? “Psychotherapy in which patterns of thought are challenged in order to address unwanted behaviour patterns.” With no choice now, Robert Boone will reluctantly look at his life. In lectures and group sessions, he will examine his past, his unspoken fears and grief and his relationships both old and new. As his daughter, Holdie says: “Anything I tell you from this moment on was disclosed to me, remembered by me, surmised by me and in some cases (okay, more than some) was totally and completely made up. (By me.) Still, all of it is the God’s honest truth.” Is Robert Boone crazy? Isn’t everybody? We’ll find out.

At the Movies

In At the Movies, follow the story of Garbonzo, a young boy growing up in Vancouver in the 1970s, whose passion for movies leads him on a journey of self-discovery. As he befriends the local film critic and starts sneaking into restricted shows, he develops a love for the works of director Sam Peckinpah and a deeper understanding of the power of cinema. But when he gets caught up with the wrong crowd and ends up in jail, he loses everything, including his love interest and his job at the local theater. Years later, he returns to his hometown to find the theater industry in decline, but is given a chance to save the remaining theaters and make his dreams a reality. At the Movies is a coming-of-age tale that explores the transformative power of cinema on both an individual and a community level.

Anything but Ordinary

Two members from a small circle of friends set off for a fun trip, split into half business and half pleasure. The whole town of Calhoun is excited for them, especially the art group. On their way to the airport, the pair of friends vanish.

The police are baffled and the case is moving too slow to satisfy the art ladies. Just a few months later, while one member of the group is participating in an art show at a shopping mall, a college student goes on a shooting rampage. The art ladies think this will happen again and again until the root of the problem is addressed, and they decide to take matters into their own hands. Tragic and complicated situations do not discourage this little band of feisty middle-aged artists. They are church-going, family-oriented, and strong-willed. Plus, they have a talent and passion for art. The same critical and analytical eye they use for detail in their paintings is applied to the cases they are determined to solve. The art ladies bring a wide spectrum of life experiences to the group, and their personalities are as different as light and dark. But the things they all have in common are a zest for life and loyalty to one another. Love, humor, suspense, integrity, and snappy dialogue play a large part in this story. Despite what they think, their little painting group and daily activities are not commonplace. In fact, everything about them is quite the opposite. Their lives, all the way around, are anything but ordinary.

Anna's Story

Anna turned 21 years old on the day that she arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia. She felt twice that age. The mirror on the train reflected dark circles beneath her brown eyes and a thin face. Her overall appearance was only saved by her glowing, abundant hair.

A Jewish girl, she was emigrating from Glasgow, Scotland, with her husband and baby daughter. Her father, on her departure, had said: “You’ll live to regret this decision. You were always the one to chase wild dreams, wanting more than you had.”

“Isn’t a dream better than this?” she had asked, sweeping her arms to take in their surroundings.

It was 1922 and Canada was in the midst of Great Depression. When Anna was called upon to honor a commitment to a Jewish friend caught in pre-war Europe, she needed to balance a career that she had worked hard to establish so she could foster a nine-year-old child. Her dreams took a direction that she had never expected.

Altar Boy

In the chilly winter of 1981, Peter Brume, a budding 26-year-old reporter in Paris, finds his career abruptly halted due to budget cuts. This professional setback spirals him into a spiritual quandary, prompting him to delve deeper into the Catholic faith that has always perplexed him. As part of his exploration, he even commits to celibacy while interviewing priests and religious figures.

However, his journey takes an unexpected turn with the entrance of Evelyne, a captivating Parisian. She challenges Peter’s binary perception of women and ignites a passion within him. Seeking answers, Peter travels to Catholic Ireland, a land where divorce and abortion are taboo. From trailing a Jesuit up a mountain to enduring the austere rituals of Lough Derg, Peter’s journey is both enlightening and tumultuous. Along the way, he encounters priests whose intentions blur the lines between the sacred and the profane.

Torn between his spiritual calling and the allure of Evelyne, Peter’s quest culminates in Rome. There, amidst the sanctity of the Holy See and in the company of a priest, he faces a life-altering decision: to answer the divine call or to embrace the love that tugs at his heart.

After Words

Five friends embark on a cross-country train journey in America, unaware they are on the cusp of the COVID pandemic. Their voyage is marked by a captivating word game, where each draws a card corresponding to a letter and shares an experience inspired by an undisclosed word. The game, simple in its premise, becomes a gateway to unexpected memories and stories, evolving in real-time. As each friend takes their turn, readers are invited to guess the hidden word, immersing themselves in the narrative as if seated among the group.

This engaging game sets the stage for a tapestry of associations and reminiscences, pushing the boundaries of what can be spoken. The novel follows each character over three years, capturing their unique circumstances and experiences during the pandemic across various locales and moments. Readers get a new perspective through their lived challenges, joys, and dreams.

As the friends reunite for a second journey on a different route post-pandemic, the profound impacts of both the global event and the word game itself come to light. The narrative, divided into three parts, offers a looping portrayal of time: before, during, and after the pandemic.

Rich with atmospheric and lyrical passages, this novel invites its readers to delve into the intricate world of language, exploring the mysterious and transformative power of words.

A Time to Talk

Imagine being granted the extraordinary gift of one last conversation with a loved one, knowing it would be your final chance to connect. Would you use this precious time to pour out your heart, share stories of love and gratitude, and bid a proper farewell?

For most, such a divine opportunity would be treasured. But for Jolie, a middle-aged woman juggling the demands of her children, job, grieving father, and estranged sister, the conversation might take an unexpected turn. Why, for instance, did her mother choose to ignore the cancer ravaging her body, instead channeling her energy into hosting dance challenges from her hospital bed and teaching her grandchildren the joys of skinny dipping?

Since her mother’s passing, Jolie has been consumed by grief and regret, finding even the simplest tasks overwhelming. Despite knowing that hiding under the covers and napping won’t solve anything, she feels too drained to seek alternatives. As she contemplates the tempting escape of running away – a choice that hardly seems fitting for a woman nearing fifty – Jolie receives an extraordinary gift: one final conversation with her mother. With so much left unsaid, where does one begin when faced with this singular chance?

It isn’t until Jolie faces a heart-wrenching accident involving her own daughter that she finds her answer. You begin by acknowledging the importance of family, and the power of forgiveness and letting go.

Woven with wisdom, humor, and a touch of magic, A Time to Talk is an uplifting story that explores the unbreakable bonds of family, the profound impact of a mother’s love, and the ability to find light even in the darkest of times.

A Night in Monterrey

Young, naïve Jeananne Cameron is swept into a fantastic new life among Texas oil barons and their Hispanic staff of maids, cooks, bodyguards, and chauffeurs. Her fortunes spiral upward when she marries Geoff Wilkins, handsome playboy and heir to the family’s oil-patch business and wealth.

But nothing about this world is as it appears.

The charming Geoff Wilkins is a gambler and a cheat. The family patriarch is leading a double life. And, among the Hispanics are secrets that cause surprise and shock on both sides of the US/Mexico border.

In Monterrey the tensions caused by greed, hidden love, loyalty, lies, and ambition collide to create a story of adventure and romance.

A Jewish Girl Saved Me

The novel is inspired by real incidents and events, the anguish that people have lived and are still experiencing due to conflicts, wars, and diaspora. It combines truth and fiction. The novel’s characters connect between them, taking us from the distant traumatic past to the immediate and more traumatic present.

The novel carries many facts for truth-seekers from Jews, Christians, Muslims, and others. It aims to urge the search for truth and answer many questions, some of which will remain open even after the end of the novel. These questions represent part of the doubts that many people have in our present reality.

However, the role of the truth-seeker will be to complete the process of research, which will be the cause of the beginning of the desired intellectual change phase that leads us to achieve freedom, peace, justice, and peaceful coexistence among all nations.