Scare Record

In the 1970s, a comic book ad promised a chilling record: sold alongside Sea Monkeys and a towering “you control it” Monster Ghost. These novelty ads were often more thrilling than the cheap trinkets they sold, and wise parents spared their children the inevitable disappointment.

But this ad was different. Its eerie artwork hinted at something far more sinister, and for $1.25, buyers got more than they bargained for. The mysterious Gayle House, the company behind it, vanished without a trace. Was it just another gimmick, or something cursed?

For 50 years, parents’ skepticism may have saved us. Or did it?

The Right Oath

What will you do for the person you care about most? How about what you’ll be willing to sacrifice to make amends? Gabriel Ern has committed himself to a troubled life all for the sake of one person. What it ultimately leads to is more tragedy than he has already experienced. He finds himself haunted by his own actions, all done with the best intentions, and is continuously haunted while awake with a girl named Raven he lives at home with. Gabriel wants to do what is right; he wants to feel he is doing the best he can. Instead, the sins he commits only pile up, and the only means of escape is through the truth, which would cost him dearly. For Gabriel, the question isn’t how far he will go, it’s now how much further in the hole he will bury himself in.

An Old Lady’s Haiku with Cat

At this point in my life, I’m committed to my work, driven by a deep desire to communicate and explore the many mysteries around us. In a time when it’s more urgent than ever to care for nature and one another, I create not just to please, but to provoke – to gently pause others in their tracks, inviting them to experience the profound, the playful, and perhaps to leave a little bit changed.

My art and haiku often draw on mythology, religion, nature, and personal memories. In this way, I see myself as a storyteller, hoping to intrigue anyone who takes a moment to stop and look.

On the Wings of an Angel

These poems capture my 35-year love affair with my wife, Anna Mae, who recently passed away from stage three ovarian cancer. She loved me unconditionally, and in return, I endeavored to give her countless reasons to feel cherished. Anna Mae was my everything, and her loss has left me devastated. Witnessing her battle with the illness and undergoing chemotherapy inspired me to write and express my emotions. In these poems, I weave our life story, celebrating the decades we shared.

We first came together when I was just sixteen and spent twenty years together before tying the knot in 2007. I suppose I wanted to be absolutely certain she was the one for me - though, in hindsight, there was never any doubt. In 2000, we expanded our family by adopting five nieces and nephews, three girls and two boys, embarking on an extraordinary journey together. I always strived to bring happiness to my wife, embodying the essence of the quote, ‘It doesn’t take much to make a woman happy, but it takes even less to piss her off.’

In January 2023, Anna Mae succumbed to her battle with cancer. To my loving wife, now in heaven, these poems are for you. Thank you for joining me on this incredible ride.

The Nightingale Sings

On the Greek island of Lesbos, in the seventh century BCE, a young lyric poet hones her craft while navigating the world of love, loss, friendship and sex, after having suffered years of abuse by a member of her father’s household. After a series of attempts at a healthy relationship, all the while struggling with the effects of post-traumatic stress and profound grief, she is forced to leave her home for a faraway land across the sea. There she would make a name for herself as an artist that would spread all across the Mediterranean, continuing her search for love and friendship, and trying to raise her only child in a safe and nurturing environment – until her whole world is suddenly upended.

The Nightingale Sings is an imaginary tale of what might have been in the life of the historical Sappho of Lesbos, whose artistry would lead to her becoming one of the most revered poets of the ancient world, and would still be cherished today – more than two and a half thousand years after her death.

And so, the story begins with a simple celebration.

A birthday party for a nine-year-old girl…

80? Oh No!

Science, medicine, and attention to healthy living styles has created an ever-enlarging geriatric population. To arrive at this stage of development in reasonably good health is a blessing. Even so, one cannot escape the arrival of gremlins that enter the body uninvited and proceed to make renovations without permission. For example, they step in, mess around with hormones and cause hair follicles to pop out of a woman’s face and chin. Men may begin to bald while their ears sprout matted hair causing diminished hearing.

80? Oh No! presents an intriguing story about the aging experience with a powerful, authorial, bold, and endlessly entertaining voice. Whether discussing sexuality or mortality, this work is uniquely insightful and poignant. The writing style is unusual and dynamic.

The author hopes the reader will take a walk in her shoes and share her thoughts and feelings throughout the reading of each chapter.

This book is perfect for gift-giving and provocative reading for book club members.

The Clara Conjecture

The Clara Conjecture is a new interpretation of historical facts. In 1938 Germany occupied Austria. Professor Lise Meitner, no longer shielded by her Austrian passport from measures against Jews, was fired. An equal of Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein, she had led the world’s best theoretical physics institute for nearly 30 years. In Berlin she designed the experiment that would split the uranium atom to produce energy. Before it could be executed she fled to Sweden. Without the ability to continue her research, impoverished, fearing for her relatives in the Nazi Reich, she became depressed.

In the tiny community of women scientists in Stockholm she met a psychoanalyst, the Canadian Dr. Leone McGregor Hellstedt (alter ego “Clara”), who rescued Lise with psychotherapy and money. When her German colleagues performed Lise’s experiment, they asked her to explain the result: she did, in terms of Einstein’s E=mc², and called the new phenomenon “nuclear fission” in her article for Nature. Early in 1939 physicists everywhere grasped the menace of nuclear energy. From her former colleagues and students Lise received information about the Nazi atomic bomb program and relayed it to Clara, who then informed Allied spies including William Stephenson (“Intrepid”) of British Security Coordination and Ian Fleming of British Naval Intelligence.

Informed by this detailed knowledge of Nazi atomic bomb initiatives, the Allies were able to efficiently sabotage facilities, kill key personnel, deny resources, and thus cripple the German program that had begun more than two years before the Manhattan Project.

A Glutton for Punishment

Amidst the divisiveness of the latter stages which the 2020 pandemic presented in society, concerned citizen Alex Domingue takes it upon himself to become involved in local politics and affect positive change in his community. As a corporate professional, veteran, and well-educated man, Alex has developed an extensive resume of working with many people from different backgrounds and points of view to accomplish critical missions. He feels uniquely qualified to move the needle towards a better future.

What awaits him, however, are multiple ongoing political turf wars. As it becomes evident that local politics are no less combative than national affairs, Alex quickly learns that his fellow Republican candidate (Sam Demonikov) for the Board of Education is in the midst of a vengeance escapade towards several for whom he holds violent disdain.

Alex must navigate increasingly dangerous issues. Through hostile disagreements, threats to his safety, and eventual attempts on his life, Alex learns that apparent villains are decent. Apparent heroes are narcissistic villains. In the face of grave danger, he must make bold decisions which do nothing to appease violent opposition from those who were once his partners. The extremes of both sides, including his own as he would learn, threaten the opportunity for rational solutions.

Terahaveen

In Terahaveen, Esmée weaves a mesmerizing tale of strength, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds between women.

Set against a backdrop of cultural diversity and personal revelation, this captivating narrative explores an alternate society where women shape destinies. As powerful female leads navigate a world rife with challenges, their stories of love, motherhood, and solidarity come to life.

Rooted in Esmée’s own experiences as an African American woman who lived abroad, Terahaveen is a poignant exploration of identity, faith, and societal constructs. Dive into a world where the threads of sisterhood are as enduring as the roots of ancient trees.

Full of Grace and Mischief

From the moment they meet at a Catholic summer camp in Savannah, Georgia, Mary Margaret and Theresa, polar opposites, become inseparable. Each summer, they embark on wild adventures, exploring waterways, pulling pranks, and challenging boys to daring contests. But one prank too many gets them banned from camp, and the nuns can’t shield them from the real world forever. As tragedy strikes, their friendship is forged in both joy and hardship.

The girls carry their bond to the beaches of Tybee and through the trials of a Catholic high school, where they face bullies, first romances, loss, and heartbreak. As their lives begin to diverge, Mary Margaret and Theresa struggle to hold onto the friendship that once seemed unbreakable. Can they find a way to salvage their connection as they enter the unpredictable world of adulthood?

The first in a generational trilogy, Full of Grace and Mischief vividly captures the coming-of-age experiences of two young women in the Deep South, celebrating their resilience and the enduring strength of friendship.

Lost Boy

After being kicked out of his childhood home, Jamie Perkins finds refuge with local Presbyterian pastor Pete Gailey and his wife, Meg. Impressed by Jamie’s work ethic and character, Pete offers him a job at the church. Life seems to settle into a peaceful rhythm… until people in the community start dying.

Jamie has an unsettling habit of being the last person to see many of the deceased, particularly the elderly, alive. As suspicions grow, Pastor Gailey must uncover the truth. Are these deaths acts of murder, or could they point to something far more mysterious… and miraculous?

Set in a small Appalachian town nestled in the rolling hills of eastern Ohio, Lost Boy introduces readers to a cast of eccentric and unforgettable characters. With humor and heartfelt poignancy, this story explores what happens when God’s presence defies expectations, challenging both faith and understanding.

The Four Points of the Compass Society: Chapter 1

This is a story of hope for those lost in a world of pain. Four strangers find themselves drawn into a desperate search for an elderly, suicidal millionaire. Racing against time, they must uncover the man’s location before his inner darkness consumes him. With only four geographical clues to guide them, their journey begins.

Along the way, they join an organization called the Four Points of the Compass Society, a group dedicated to helping those in need. The Four Points of the Compass represent the mathematical meaning of life, offering direction and purpose.

Where do we turn: North, South, East, or West? Which path will guide us through life?

The compass not only points the way but serves as a symbol of helping one another along the journey.