The Serum

In 1911, John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, the two wealthiest men in the world, embark on a quest to alter the destiny of humanity. Their journey begins with the discovery of ancient Egyptian scrolls, nearly 4,000 years old, written by scribes for Pharaoh Sekhemib-Perenma. Two millennia later, as the Romans conquer Egypt, the scrolls are presented to Emperor Antoninus Pius. Translated into Latin, the Emperor becomes consumed by the secrets contained within the cryptic phrase: ‘Et reversus est ad mortem deos’ – ‘To Die and come back as gods.’

Rockefeller and Carnegie finance the creation of a clandestine laboratory on Point Nemo, the most remote island in the Pacific Ocean. Over the years, the facility’s staff of elite researchers, scientists, and medical professionals toil tirelessly to unravel the mysteries of the ancient text.

As decades pass, the various boards of directors overseeing the Point Nemo facility manipulate the process and exploit terminally ill patients and those with incurable disabilities as test subjects in their relentless pursuit of immortality.

In the present day, best-selling author Peter Cordell finds himself grappling with writer’s block when he receives an enigmatic call from Mrs. Evelyn Rule. She invites him to Point Nemo and offers him a unique assignment: to write a historical novel commemorating the facility’s 100th anniversary.

Despite a century of progress in extending human life by 50 to 100 years or more, the ultimate breakthrough remains elusive. The key to unlocking the secrets of immortality lies in the development of a miraculous formula known only as The Serum.

The Seven Sacred Pools of Oheo

This narrative delves into the life of a man navigating a sea of universal human trials. It's a journey through loss and the quest for faith and humility, the complexities of relationships, the temptations of greed, and the consequences of selfishness. This story mirrors our collective experience, reflecting how we, as a species, often tread on purity for profit, regardless of the cost.

The book promises to immerse you in the triumph over fear, the rediscovery of faith, and the essence of what truly enriches life. It aims to provoke a profound realization of the impactful presence each person holds on this Earth and the unique value of every individual life.

By the final page, it is the author’s hope that readers will experience an awakening to their potential and embrace the spirit of Aloha: a compassionate ethos that, if adopted universally, could profoundly transform our world for the better. There is none better. Let this be the mantra we live by, making our existence and our world the very best it can be.

No Ka Oi.

The Sisters Graves

In the gripping pages of The Sisters Graves, a shocking murder rocks the tranquil property of Coo Blackstone. The victim, a beautiful woman, is discovered in a grotesque state, sending shockwaves through the community. All eyes turn to Angus, her lover and Coo’s own brother, as a prime suspect in this heinous crime.

However, as the layers of the victim’s life are peeled back, it becomes evident that she was not innocent. In fact, she led a covert existence, manipulating and blackmailing the townspeople. The list of disgruntled individuals with motives to see her silenced grows longer, each unaware of the others’ entanglements with the captivating but treacherous country girl. Money, sex, and revenge emerge as the compelling motives that entwine the dead woman and the town’s residents, leaving a web of secrets and a trail of potential killers.

Determined to defend her brother’s honor, Coo takes it upon herself to unravel the perplexing clues that emerge during her investigation. Yet, the more she digs, the more bewildering and uncertain the truth becomes. Clues begin to implicate not just Angus, but several other individuals, leaving Coo at a loss, torn between her loyalty to her family and her relentless pursuit of justice.

As the local Sheriff, Clyde Buck, steps into the investigation, tensions rise. With the victim found on Coo’s property, suspicion falls upon her, straining their relationship. Clyde is committed to solving the crime, but his growing feelings for Coo make it increasingly challenging to separate personal desires from the demands of upholding the law. Even if the unthinkable truth implicates Angus or even Coo herself, Clyde must navigate the treacherous waters of love and justice to bring the murderer to light.

The Skin Game

Private detective Samantha O’Malley takes center stage in Chicago’s high-stakes crime scene as she’s enlisted to unravel the mysterious murders of three esteemed businessmen on Michigan Avenue. With the police department drawing blanks and the chief’s reluctant nod, Samantha dives into a murky web of secrets. Yet, as she edges closer to the truth, she finds the chief thwarting her every move. Is it fear or a desperate bid to bury truths too dangerous to unearth? Amidst the chaos, Samantha’s heart wavers as Andy Courson, her cherished love, awaits her choice. Will it be the chase for justice or the promise of love? The Skin Game is a pulsating thriller that races through deceit and love, ensuring readers are hooked till the last page.

“Taunt and terrifying. Samantha O’Malley will join fictional Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe, and Lew Archer. Chicago has its own great detective, and I can’t wait for the next case.”

– Joe O’Conner, Los Angeles writer.

“The detailed writing put me right in the story. Chilling!”

 – Laureen Diephof, news reporter for USA and South County newspapers.

“A thriller!”

– John Laughlin, actor and producer.

The Sky Pilot’s Wife

The Sky Pilot's Wife is a historical romance and 'slice of life' novel set in the late Victorian period (1899-1902) in a quaint village on the Yorkshire Moors of England.

An intriguing romance arises between two of the most unlikely characters and it is heightened by the 'secret language of flowers.' The green-eyed monster, jealousy, causes an inevitable conflict and the rising tension creates a catastrophe which triggers a totally unexpected train of events.

Later, during a storm, the vicar's wife, Louisa flees the vicarage to seek shelter within the confines of the church. But providence intervenes and gossip in the village becomes rife, much to Louisa's consternation.

A fire later breaks out in the belltower of the church and the local constabulary is brought in to help solve the unfolding mystery. But who is it that wants Louisa dead? What is the purpose of this heinous crime? And who should pay?

The Speculatores: The Men Who Spied for Rome

Over recent decades, scholars of ancient Roman history have begun to peel back the veils on the realm of intelligence within the Roman State, exploring its integral role in shaping Rome’s defensive grand strategy. While the consensus posits a noticeable shift from indifference during the Republic era (509-27 BCE) to a more engaged stance in the imperial epoch post 27 BCE, it particularly highlights the Dominate period (284-476 CE) as the ‘Golden Age’ of Roman intelligence endeavors.

However, a veil of ambiguity still shrouds Rome’s engagement in external or foreign intelligence operations, notably espionage. Amidst this scholarly dissonance, The Speculatores: The Men Who Spied for Rome embarks on an exploratory voyage to unearth the roots of this disagreement. With a keen eye on the historical narrative and a robust analysis, this book endeavors to bridge the gap in understanding, delving into the very rationale that questions the existence and extent of Roman espionage activities

As you traverse through the pages, The Speculatores unveils the clandestine world of those who might have operated in the shadows for the glory of Rome, offering a fresh lens through which to understand the unseen sinews that perhaps bolstered the mighty Roman machinery of statecraft and defense.

The Stable Boy

The Stable Boy is historical fiction. It is a love story, a rags-to-riches story, an anti-racist story and a triumph over injustice story. Taking place in the antebellum South, it tells the tale of how a lowly slave... a hidden genius... defies all odds and becomes one of the richest men in America. In Pygmalion* style, the young slave is taught proper elocution and English grammar, a gift that takes him from picking cotton to dealing with some of the wealthiest and most powerful men in America. It’s also a touching, tender... if unlikely... love story between two young men... one a slave, the other his owner. It takes the reader from the rural South to New Orleans, St. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and London. It makes the incredible, credible.

*Pygmalion is the George Bernard Shaw play on which the movie "MY Fair Lady" was based. It shows how the gift of language can change a guttersnipe into a princess.

The Starflower

Step into a vast universe teeming with life, romance, heroism, and treachery as experienced and seen through the eyes of Gayle Zimmon. ‘Zim’ a young woman successful in war but naive to the machinations of the greater universe, returns from combat to confront genetically engineered humans and discover that she was sent to war not to win but to die.

While fighting the Aldrakin, Zim learns of a prophecy foretelling that the “Starflower,” her military call sign, will bloom “in the dark of the darkest night” but never know peace. Not one to accept ancient prophecy, after securing victory, she hopes to rekindle her romance with Mac and return to the peaceful life they left on the frontier.

But she is a major player in a galaxy-spanning intrigue she barely understands. Forces alien and cybernetic hold the stakes and align on both sides. Between dodging assassins, hostile planets, deadly robots, mystical aliens, and ancient relics, she must decide whether to continue running from her prophesied destiny—or try to live up to it.

The Story of Walks with Bear and Bro'Ken

Spanning two quests across generations, this tale begins in the 1700s with Kenthaki, a Shawnee youth later known as Walks-With-Bear, who embarks on a journey with his father’s obsidian knife, a pouch of medicinal herbs, and a staff to find his life’s purpose. His confrontation with a bear and the subsequent adoption of its cub, alongside the transformative relationship with a Christian captive, shapes his future. Years later, his grandson, Bro’Ken, undertakes his own quest to locate his missing father, leading to profound changes. Inspired by the 2003-2006 Lewis and Clark re-enactment, this narrative explores life-altering quests and the impact of cultural intersections.

The Story of Words

The Story of Words intricately weaves the tale of Nathaniel Brand’s journey - intellectual, spiritual, and geographical. A deep dive into his life reveals a poignant discovery: the woman he believed was his soulmate, Stephanie Haller, is in reality a stranger. His PhD dissertation challenges decades of literary criticism but fails to bring him professional recognition. Nathaniel’s spiritual exploration, fuelled by marijuana and acid-rock from the 60s, results in seventy-five ‘messages from the beyond’, which he hopes will revolutionize society but are instead seen as negative by his peers. His quest, marked by trials and introspection, takes readers on a transformative path, hinting at an unexpected resolution that reshapes his understanding of life. This novel offers a unique glimpse into the complexities of pursuing dreams and truths.

The Sweet Revenge of Marcus Aurelius

The Sweet Revenge of Marcus Aurelius is based on the true story of a talented and ingenious slave who sold his master. When he was still a young house boy, Marcus Aurelius was taught to read and write by the plantation owner’s rebellious twelve-year-old daughter, who also instilled in him a passionate desire for freedom. She even encouraged him to escape, which he did – three different times – thus setting in motion his ultimate and sweetest revenge. His story, even without fictionalizing, is a wide-ranging, swash-buckling tale of a fittingly just revenge set against many venues: the cruelties and dehumanizing effects of plantation life, a year in a unique community of escaped slaves in the Great Dismal Swamp, Paris high society in the Second Republic, duels, an enduring love affair, bad dogs and violent slave catchers, crime-ridden New Orleans street life, and even a stint as a passenger on a pirate ship.

The Sword of Lucent

Lily grew up in an impoverished and tormented condition. She knew she was different but did not know why. One day, she ran away, setting out to make it on her own. Lily then met Noah, falling in love and getting married to her soulmate. Then one day as she waited for his return to the farm, he was running late, and Lily set out to see why. She saw the men and a horrid looking hooded figure take Noah. The hooded figure giving her a warning that if the debt was not settled, she would never see Noah again.

Lily’s love for Noah was so great that she vowed to find him and get him back no matter what happened. But Lily had no idea that this would take her on a journey that would be filled with danger, mystery, and secrets that had been kept for many years. This takes her on a quest that leads her to The Sword of Lucent.