Last Phone Booth on the Left in Brooklyn

What possibly can an emotionally unstable, elderly Italian American woman have in common with the recent day’s “La Cosa Nostra,” the Italian organized crime syndicate? Teresa Cussimano, originally from the Fordham section of the Bronx, has now been living in Brooklyn for over 30 years. Italian organized-crime families who dug in roots early in the previous century still hold some power here but they are barely surviving. In the after-effects of the terrorist attacks on America, the justice department and local law enforcement continue where they left off, to further eradicate what’s left of organized crime – La Cosa Nostra. With a confidential informant, the F.B.I. feels it finally has what it takes to achieve this hard-fought goal. At the same time, Teresa Cussimano’s emotional instabilities and her “Orwellian” distrust of the overall system is getting entangled in one scrape after another with individuals whom she deems “her enemy-ship.” She feels threatened, is threatened, and worse. Her beloved nephew who looks out for her can only do so much and the N.Y.P.D. cop’s hands are tied. Full of exasperation, Teresa knocks on a door anxiously, seeking help. That door belongs to a mob boss. For certain reasons, they get involved and duly help with her problems. Later come down racketeering arrests against many who have helped her, particularly the boss. Now Teresa gets involved to help them in their situation in what becomes an unprecedented quid pro quo.

Laughing Out of Context

Mia, mother of her six-year-old son, Cody, strives to balance care and volunteering at Cody’s school the only way she knows how: by recuperating nightly in what she calls her escape room. Meditation and a little bit of solitude at night can fix some hectic mothering days, but sometimes a glass of wine is just what is needed for those extra challenging kids-tell-all no-filter moments.

With the family Dalmatian, Caesar, right by Cody’s side in mischief, Mia works overtime to dodge embarrassing public incidents, hoping her imaginary hats will finally work in making her invisible at just the right time. By getting weekly advice from her mom’s group, Mia realizes she’s not alone in this crazy, funny, and loving motherhood journey.

The struggle is real, and finding a better motherhood routine is right at the top of her list of things to do, before she tips over to the other side of the sanity line.

Learning How to Let It Go in the Shadow of the Belvedere

Sometimes it becomes difficult for us to recognize the beauty of the forest in its full splendour and diverse grandeur, even though it has always been right in front of us. Our view becomes obscured by the thick, opaque tangle of branches. To overcome this universal challenge for us all, we need to be able to adopt a new perspective. This can come from meeting new people and considering their point of view, or even by putting oneself in an entirely different time and place. In doing so, even the most stubborn and set-in-their ways can be jostled out of their slumber and comforting complacency.

The elements necessary for this process of self-transformation are already in our souls for those who allow them to surface, while for others who are more resistant, a more literal journey can be exactly what is required to shake us loose from our preconceived notions.

Leavenworth City

Leavenworth City is a novel that will take you on a journey back though time. Its captivating history told through a fictional character from 1854 to 1861 will have you glued to the pages. This is an adventure you will not be able to forget after you read the journal entries taking you back into the 19th century. Stories with historical figures and other unmentionables telling their antics weave a gripping tale that will leave the reader wanting to learn more about this era in time.

Life

Life is a meditative collection of your innermost thoughts, feelings, and desires.

The poems included throughout are striking and inviting.

Readers will feel welcome to journey alongside you as you discover and find your true happiness.

Like an Image

At the height of the Lebanese Civil War, Rola and Paul, two young teachers, were madly in love with each other and were due to marry soon. But the girl’s parents and the circumstances of the war decided otherwise: Rola found herself in Canada as the wife of a rich Canadian–Lebanese man. Twenty-two years later, the story of the couple bounces back in a completely unexpected way. At the university where he is a teacher, Paul meets an exceptional student who seems to resent him. He investigates to find out his true identity, but something dramatic comes up and interrupts his research…

Living With the Little Devil Man

Sterling was another soul lost to addiction. He was a schizophrenic plagued by the little devil man. Heroin saved him from that reality so many times. Most people aren’t plagued by creatures, but what are they plagued by? What reality are they escaping? Sterling’s story gives us some of the answers we seek. One thing is for certain, his story teaches us the importance of human connection and how to love. Not to love the addiction, but to love the person behind the addiction. It teaches us to the importance of helping others through dark times without judgment. This emotionally riveting story shows how good can triumph over evil in ways we never can anticipate. Expect to both cry and laugh.

‘“Living with the Little Devil Man” introduces us to Sterling, a young man with searing blue eyes. The life Sterling was dealt: childhood cruelty, serious mental illness, and addiction, is woven into an energetic, funny, attractive young man that we come to care for as much as his adoptive mother who opened her home and family to him. Who does that? Who lets in addiction and mental illness, sleepless nights, and worry? This story is unaltered by resentment or judgment. It is a frank telling of one young life, lived with zest despite the terrible odds against him, and the woman who opens our hearts to let him in.’ Dominique Simon-Levine PhD—Founder of AlliesinRecovery.net

‘Reading “Living with the Little Devil Man” was like being on a train that I knew was going to be wrecked. I was on the train, I met all of the passengers and developed feelings for them and about them. I desperately wanted to be able to stop that train. I cried so many times while reading the book that I can't count them. This book encompasses intimacy, compassion, and horror, but it also gives us a sense of hope, passion, and transcendence.’ Eugene Isaak, J.D.—Author in Recovery

‘“Living with the Little Devil Man” is a gripping story about the demons of addiction and the struggles with mental illness during the course of a young man`s life. “Living with the Little Devil Man” brings out the humanistic side of it all and teaches us to love unconditionally, especially those who struggle with addiction and mental illness.’ J. Bruno – Narcotics Detective 20+ yea

Love Under Fire

“Love Under Fire is dedicated to the women who have inspired me and whom I have known and loved and in a few cases loved too much. Their number is many, and I thank all in memory of their timeless appreciation and remembrance – the cornerstones of immortality for all.

Their combined life stories have emboldened the world and enriched the uniqueness of all our individual lives, journeys, and endeavors.”

The Way of the World…

What Loss

My heart is strong enough

to give…

But not strong enough

To give away.

Magellan Point

Magellan Point is a novel about the lives of people living in the Western Pacific and their efforts to create political institutions that encompass many islands—efforts that resulted in states in Micronesia and the territory of the Northern Marianas Islands.

Magic Wings

Magic Wings is a pocketful of poems; a whimsical and poetic portrayal of children, angels, fairies and all magical things.

The poems were written over a 30-year period while the author was living in a remote cabin and hiking the San Gabriel Mountains of California. The beauty of the forests, streams, and waterfalls inspired thoughts that grew into this book.

Accompanying the poems are 100-year-old postcards, reflecting the heartbeat and essence of each poem. 

Marco\'s Journey and Other Stories

Hints of S.P. Peredo’s Mexican American upbringing appear in Marco's Journey and Other Stories as he draws from personal experiences to present rich characters in diverse geographical settings: the scientist traveling through the majestic mountains of southeastern Mexico befriends an unlikely group of strangers, thus starting his own personal journey of self-discovery;; a young traveler who in 1970 ventures behind the iron curtain finding love—and danger; the girl with recurring dreams about a spider’s web struggles for her sanity; the boy with a poet’s heart growing up in America during the Vietnam War fears he is running out of time; a lover left behind during the war writes her heartfelt letter of farewell’ the caricaturesque Mexican musician who, through his performance, gives his listeners a reprieve from their sadness. 

These well-crafted stories, imbued with vivid imagery, lead readers through their own journey to discover the meaning of success, love, and living life to its fullest potential.

Mary McKenzie

On a rainy Seattle night, beautiful and vivacious local author Mary McKenzie is celebrating her latest triumph of a best-selling book with friends and family at a local bar, when a phone call sends her into the alley to a destiny with a man who brutally changes her life forever.

As Mary returns to her life in the public eye, she begins a fast-paced race to discover who is trying to make a mess of her life.

Suffering panic attacks that have controlled her since the attack, Mary begins to try to continue her life. Aided by her loving and protective brother and Danish blond goddess Hege, her head of security, Mary is better protected than the President.

The cast of characters from her past and present includes the intelligent and sensual FBI Profiler, Michael Gryffin, who causes Mary to take a different kind of fall.

From the San Juan Islands to beautiful Pike Place Market, they are pursued by a mystery man who threatens her very life. When Mary finally thinks she is safe, the panic is just beginning.