And the Rest Is History…

Commonplace today, abdominal surgery in its infancy was once little more than a death sentence. Medical textbooks credit a humble country surgeon with the first successful operation of its kind. With limited context and few details, the legend merely whets our appetite for more. What’s the rest of the story?

The Unkindness of Ravens

In 1846, seventeen-year-old midwife’s assistant Caitlin Nee lives on a tenant farm with her family in County Galway, Ireland. She has two great ambitions: to become a wise woman like her mentor Bridie and to win the heart of handsome, mercurial Liam O’Shea. Then one night an unsettling dream about ravens—harbingers of death—proves prescient when a potato blight turns her halcyon world into a living nightmare. Starvation, sickness and loss will soon become a daily reality, and no one is spared from horrific events and heartbreaking choices. Caitlin’s own family—romantic Orla, proud Seamus, pious Colin, fey Mary, and her Mam and Da—will all be tested by the devastating Great Hunger.

The Nees, like many other Irish families, work hardscrabble land for the imperious Lord Wentworth. They live in constant fear not only of dying from want but also of being evicted from their cabins if they can’t pay the rent. For the landlord, hunger and poverty are the fault of the victims rather than neglect and inadequate relief measures on the part of the government. After accidentally hearing a conversation at Wentworth Hall, Caitlin is made aware of the cruel indifference of His Lordship that will result in tumbled homes and mass graves throughout his estate. Will her family suffer a similar fate?

Despite all of the sorrow and devastation around them, love grows ever stronger between Caitlin and Liam. They make plans for a future life together once the famine is over. But when tragedy and rebellion force Liam to emigrate to America, Caitlin must decide whether to stay in Ireland or to follow her heart.

Based on contemporary anecdotes, The Unkindness of Ravens: A Tale of the Great Irish Famine tells the story of a disastrous historical event through the eyes of a strong-willed young lass who embodies the resilience of the Irish spirit.

An Irishman’s Story of Survival

Every life is a tapestry of challenges, with resilience as its weft and weave. Amidst the torrent of trials that threaten to engulf one’s spirit, there stand the unyielding souls who, with a spark of defiance in their eyes, dare to face the tempest and emerge on the other side. They are the survivors, the dauntless hearts who tread the rocky path with an unwavering resolve.

Kevin O’Donnell is a beacon of such indomitable spirit, grappling with life’s relentless waves that seek to subdue him. In the turbulent era of mid-20th century, the world could be a harsh, unforgiving place for a young Irish lad. Yet, within Kevin lies a burning desire to carve out his niche, to transcend the barriers that life hurls his way and grasp the reins of a fulfilling existence.

Can his resolute will and earnest endeavor outshine the adversities that loom? Can he navigate the maelstrom and anchor himself to the shores of a prosperous life? Traverse the chapters of his journey within these pages, and unveil the saga of a young man’s undying spirit amidst the trials of time. Through Kevin’s eyes, explore a testament to the enduring human spirit that resonates with every beating heart that refuses to yield to life’s storms.

Christina’s War

Growing up on a poor farm in Missouri and learning how to sing opera from her war-scarred father, young Christina Cross has no idea the powerful forces of good and evil, of music and war, will one day pull her into the maelstrom of the Second World War, compelling her to make life-or-death-decisions about who she is fighting for and the price she is willing to pay.

Like a masterful opera, Christina’s War deftly transports the reader to early 1940s Paris where Christina and her sister, Nicollet, are sent by their father to live a better life with their Grandfather, Philippe Pétain. Philippe, eager to please the Nazi regime, envisions Christina’s exquisite voice as a means to entertain Hitler and his officers. Yet, unbeknownst to him, Christina’s heart belongs not just to music but to Laurent Gauvion Saint-Cyr, the charismatic leader of the French Underground who had recruited her into the resistance.

When she defiantly refuses to sing, setting Hitler’s fury aflame, Nicollet becomes a pawn in a dangerous game of power and retribution. Now, Laurent must not only fight for their country’s freedom but race against time to save the two sisters from the clutches of a malevolent Nazi officer who revels in torture.

Disasters at Sea

In October 1851, the bustling harbors of Gloucester, Massachusetts marked the onset of a promising venture as the American fishing fleet set sail towards the bountiful mackerel run in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. However, as they neared the waters off Prince Edward Island, Canada, an unanticipated hurricane engulfed them in a tempest of terror and despair, obliterating over 200 schooners and vessels. The calamity claimed the lives of over 100 seamen, a tragic toll that resonated across the waves.

Disasters at Sea unveils the poignant yet inspiring chronicle of the Prince Edward Island residents, who, propelled by compassion, rallied to extend a lifeline to the beleaguered seamen. Their unwavering aid echoed the noble deeds of the Newfoundland residents during the 9/11 crisis. With hearts brimming with empathy, they embarked on a mission of rescue, recovery, and honor for the fallen, manifesting an enduring maritime bond.

This narrative reflects on the ethos of neighborly duty prevalent in the 19th-century Maritime Canada, highlighting a stark contrast against the seemingly indifferent response of the vessel owners in the aftermath, who appeared to evade accountability for the lost souls and shattered vessels. Disasters at Sea navigates through the haunting whys of fate’s discernment amidst the storm, unearthing the profound human spirit that surges even amidst the darkest squalls, painting a timeless tableau of maritime valor and human resilience.

Red Wolf and the Summer Flower

A thousand years ago, two Cherokee teenagers were forced to endure hardship, danger, peril, natural and unnatural disasters, and scorn for simply being teenagers.

They lived in an unforgiving world run by a harsh and dictatorial society but still managed to find meaning in their lives. They found that a good friendship provides strength, and loyalty to one’s friend ensures survival. Then, through a series of unfortunate circumstances, they learned that they had what it takes to be an adult.

This is a story about one short summertime in the lives of a boy called Red Wolf and a girl named Summer Flower.

Windswept Tales: The McDougall Clan’s Women Enduring Strength

In the tempestuous heart of 17th-century Scotland, amidst the wild highlands and fierce clan rivalries, a beacon of resilience shines through the noblewomen of the McDougall clan. Windswept Tales: The McDougall Clan’s Women Enduring Strength introduces readers to the indomitable Lady Michelle; a matriarch whose intellect and fortitude guide her family through treachery and triumph.

Join Lady Michelle and her four fierce daughters—each a lioness in her own right.

As they navigate a world that seeks to confine them to the shadows of domesticity. Lady Kristen’s captivating insights into human nature make her a master manipulator of alliances. Lady Rachel’s eloquent oratory invigorates the hearts of allies and sways the minds of adversaries; her words can rally a clan, but her spirit can also brandish a sword. Meanwhile, the astute Lady Nikole deciphers legal complexities with precision, ensuring her family’s fortunes, as Lady Angela wields her unique combat skills to defend their heritage and carve out their destiny in a world eager to erase them.

As whispers of power intertwine with tales of valor and cunning, these formidable women redefine the role the nobility plays. In an age where strength is often judged by bloodlines, McDougall’s proves that true legacy is built on intellect, alliance, and an unyielding bond of loyalty.

Will they succeed in altering the fate of their clan, or will the encroaching darkness snuff out their light? With suspense, rich historical intrigue, and an ensemble of compelling characters, Windswept Tales beckons you into a realm where sisterhood conquers adversity and women shape history. Immerse yourself in a riveting saga of power, passion, and the enduring strength of the lionesses of Clan McDougall.

Uncertain Times

Times have changed since the grandiose days of Tampa, Florida, in 1890. The success that Quinn and Mika enjoyed at Henry Plant’s illustrious Tampa Bay Hotel changed as well. Twenty years saw the passing of Mr. Plant and the decline of his hotel and its standards, while Tampa’s cigar industry rose to international prominence. Also intervening was Mika, bearing fraternal twins. Marc, the elder by fifteen minutes, is dark-skinned like his mother. Ian favors his father in skin tone and disposition. Mika and Quinn have found that contriving time alone together has become a challenge.

Quinn is the 1910 St. Andrews Chamber of Commerce president. The tourist season is ending, and he, Mika, and the twins are once again off to Florida for the winter. As they prepare to leave St. Andrews, Canada’s trade union movement arrives and attempts to organize the town. Quinn knows nothing about labor negotiations and endeavors to avoid confrontation but becomes entangled in worker demands.

Arriving in Tampa, Quinn and Mika discover that the city fathers are locked in mortal combat with a new union movement called La Resistencia. Union walkouts lead to protest marches, people are killed, two are lynched, and the town is burned. Quinn, Mika, and the boys are caught in a riot; a hurricane wipes out Tampa.

Choirs of Fire and Dust

In the tumultuous fires of the American Civil War, a young New York poet suffers a tumult of tense visions of past and future after a journalistic misadventure in the Holy Land. At the home of his ship chandler benefactor of Beirut, he meets his muse, the daring daughter. Back in New York, he is absorbed in her plot to sabotage her father’s gun-running operation. Self-sabotaged and lost, there is a hellish POW camp, some of the fiercest fighting of the war, and the hallucinatory wages of peace.

Stories, Poems, and Secrets Beneath the Waterfall

Some call the Army Residence Community an “old soldiers’ home on steroids.” It is an unusual residence for veterans, spouses, and civil servants, some arriving here before they can draw social security. Most residents are active, referring to themselves as “inmates” (those who live in the Highrise) or “street people” (those living in Legacy cottages, or Lakeside homes). For the most part, they willingly revealed their secrets as did Count Rostov, “The Gentleman in Moscow,” living in The Metropol. Resident writers may have altered names and embellished some stories, creating a mixture of fact and fiction, but in truth ‘life is how we tell it.’ This is not a daily diary of events at a retirement home, as penned by Hendrik Groen in The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen. Groen spoke of “weak tea and potted geraniums, exasperated by the indignities of aging…” and did not inspire this collection of stories.

These are stories of people who lived a life of service. There are more stories to be told by retirees and centenarians living among us, waiting to be discovered if only we listen.

Nexuses

At the conclusion of World War II, a few top ex-Nazi leaders escaped the Allied nets in Europe and were now living in various South American cities. International police efforts to identify and capture these criminals had been unsuccessful. The government was in desperate need of a new path forward.

Three former friends and recent European emigres to the United States had, totally unknown to each other, found a home in the US after the war. None knew that the others had even survived the war. Each had their own reasons to keep a low profile with the US authorities amid the commie scare of the 1950s, and all three were on shaky immigration ground.

If they could find each other again, and if they could help each other find a path forward, they just might get through their problems. In a curious turn of events, the three became intertwined with the international search for the missing Nazi criminals. Success in capturing the Nazi criminals would rest with the trio’s unique war-time experiences… experiences they had never shared with anyone… Until now.

Dolls for my Daughter

The Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia during the Second World War brought death, fear, and hopelessness to the country. Already dealing with a broken heart, Marie’s only purpose becomes keeping her daughter Janina alive and safe. Once the war is over and dangers seem to settle, Marie is met with a new threat: keeping her daughter safe from the man she is supposed to trust.

Two decades later, Janina and her own family have their lives brought to a halt with the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia. Once the dangers in the streets awaken the dark, buried memories of her childhood, Janina does whatever she can to keep her family, and daughter Pavka, safe and free, even if that means starting over again in a foreign land.

Young Pavka is blissfully unaware of the true horrors of war, but due to her mother’s only choice, she must learn to face her own fears: living life as an unwelcome refugee in a country far away from the only home she has ever known.

Through generations of struggle, war, heartbreak, and holding onto hope, one thing always remains true: the strength and sacrifice of a mother’s love.