Aluminum Highway

JUNE 1944: It is a time of pipes, cigars, Lucky Strikes, chocolate, and whiskey. The world is at war. It takes oxygen masks and heated flight suits for crews to fly 25,000 feet above ground level, in temperatures below 50 degrees over the Himalayas, commonly called ‘The Hump.’

The air route wound its way into the high mountains and deep gorges between north Burma and west China, where violent turbulence, 125 to 200 mph (320 km/h) winds,

icing, and inclement weather conditions are a regular occurrence.

The premier cargo ships, C-46 Commando & C-47 Sky Train, are known to crash frequently. Four young friends and flight officers with the Army Air Corps, vow to make it safely through the Pacific War while assigned to fly The Hump for the CBI, China, Burma, India Theater.

They must fly 750 hours, or complete 6 months with Air Transport Command before going home.

All in a Lifetime

It has taken over 40 years to piece together the story of Anya, Willi, and the Icon, like trying to put together a priceless Faberge egg shattered intentionally without a clue as to how it once looked. Anna (Anya) and Wilhelm (Willi) lived in a small German village when we met half a century ago. Their remarkable life stories are the heart of this novel. Real life has many detours and contradictions, each piece of their stories led to another story. An Icon hung on the wall of the entry to their home and it was there that fact met fiction. Weaving related stories into this novel, preserving the memory of each individual and the times in which they lived, required some manipulation of facts. It is the story of a much-travelled Icon and a treasure (not an ARC “Traveling Treasure”) including the lives it touched. And it is a story of love found late in life.

A Walk Among Heroes

In this skillfully crafted narrative, Cecil Pickler transports you to the iconic fields of the Gettysburg Battlefield through the eyes of a modern-day visitor named Pick. In an extraordinary turn of events, Pick is whisked back in time to march alongside the troops during the historic battle, courtesy of an invitation from the spirits of fallen soldiers. This unique opportunity allows him to witness the conflict unfold firsthand and engage in conversations with soldiers from both sides, all while being assured of his safety amidst the chaos.

Many visitors to Civil War battlefields report a palpable sense of connection with the past, including sightings of spectral soldiers and horses captured in photographs, and mysterious voices carried by the wind. Through Pick, who adopts the role of a correspondent, readers are offered intimate insights into the thoughts and experiences of men clad in both grey and blue.

If you’ve ever felt a deep resonance with these sacred grounds, or pondered the messages the spirits of these soldiers might impart to us today, this book promises to be a profound and enlightening addition to your collection.

1865 New York City Kid

Set in the year 1865, as the Civil War draws to a close, 1865 New York City Kid follows the story of 16-year-old Daniel Kelly. Born and raised in the slums of New York City, Daniel, known as ‘Kid’ among his friends, yearns for something beyond the monotonous life he’s known. Working for the New York Tribune, like his late father before him, Daniel finds himself disillusioned, especially after a much-anticipated promotion eludes him. It’s at this juncture that Daniel meets Big Tom, a fur trapper, who persuades him to leave the familiar streets of New York for the wilds of the Washington Territory. The prospect of becoming a fur trapper and the lure of a new life is too enticing to ignore. Thus begins Daniel’s remarkable journey, chronicled through his own eyes, as he travels by train and stagecoach in search of a better future.

1865 New York City Kid is a tapestry of fact and fiction, weaving historical elements with the imaginative realm of storytelling. The novel delves into the essence of the American West, a place where the line between truth and myth often blurs, giving rise to folklore and legends. This narrative, presented as Daniel’s daily accounts, offers a unique glimpse into a pivotal era in American history, through the eyes of a young man at the threshold of adulthood, adventure, and the unknown.

...By the Way They Treat Their Horses

“Maria knew not to ask Eli where he would be going or when he might return. She felt certain that her birthing time was very close and hoped that Eli might be home early. Then she found herself hoping that he would not be coming home at all.”

Oklahoma Territory 1889:  Eli Brandt is a cruel and profane tyrant, quick tempered and physically brutal. A victim of her abusive husband, Maria endures his frequent rages with a futile hope that things might somehow change. Both Maria and their son Jacob endure years of Eli’s cruelty and suffer his punishments until Jacob rebels in defense of himself and his mother and their lives are forever changed.