Happenstance

Happenstance follows the ins and outs of young adults who make decisions that determine the fates of their hearts, at that moment in time.  
Lori returns home after one year of college, certain that age no longer presents an obstacle to pursuing Branson, the older gentleman she met the previous summer. Unexpected circumstances and moral roadblocks taint the possibilities and expose Lori's own immaturity, both spiritually and emotionally. Unable to find her definition of the perfect man, Lori moves her focus from guys to her career before entering into another relationship, complicated by its own set of challenges.
All seems lost until a chance encounter introduces her to the girl that holds the key to her happiness.

Hawdon

This novel is about Nemo, a minor character who dies early in Dickens’s Bleak House and is buried in a pauper graveyard in London. It turns out that Nemo, originally Captain Hawdon, has important relationships with the main characters of the novel. Lady Dedlock, mother of Hawdon’s child Esther Summerson, flees from her husband and dies at the gates to this graveyard. Hawdon: A Prequel to Bleak House brings Nemo to life, consistent with the clues laid down by Dickens. Included in this, we follow Captain Hawdon in Afghanistan during the first Afghan war of 1839 to 1842 and then in Ireland during the great famine of the late 1840s. This is a novel about dedication in relationships, the scourge of disease, and anticolonialism in Victorian times.

Hell's Island

In the heart of Savannah, Georgia, Benjamin Farrows enjoys a life of luxury: a loving wife, an adorable daughter, and a remote island that has been in his family for generations. When a chemical company offers to purchase the island, Ben must decide whether to sell or keep the mysterious land.

Hanley Rivers, an old family friend, fills Ben’s mind with chilling tales of voodoo worshippers and demons who inhabit the island, warning him that they will stop at nothing to protect their sacred ground. Intrigued and determined to uncover the truth, Ben sets out to investigate, unaware that he is about to face a formidable foe: an evil, supernatural demon named Everette Marlowe.

As Ben delves deeper into the island’s secrets, Marlowe lures him into a deadly trap, unleashing unspeakable horror upon his family. Can Ben protect his loved ones and prevent Marlowe from guarding his evil domain, a place known as Hell’s Island, which he has secretly watched over for more than three centuries?

“Hell’s Island is filled with southern atmosphere and local folklore…a spooky horror novel that successfully blends history with demonic chills…”

– Sue Terry, Metapsychology.

“The author hooked me with the fifth sentence on page one. From then on, I had no choice but to go with the tide of words…”

– Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews.

“William Hardy does a wonderful job of weaving a story with interesting twists and turns and then ends with all your curiosity satisfied.”

– Fiction Addiction.net

“Witchcraft, suspense, and plenty of twists and turns add up to a book that’s sure to hold the reader’s interest… William Hardy has a winner with Hell’s Island.”

– Ken Bell, The Beaufort Gazette.

Henrietha/Waiting For the World to Change

It all started in Toronto, Ontario in a coffee shop on the Southside corner of Church and King Street right across the street from St. James Cathedral. Joanna White was having a difficult time in her office as well as in her marriage as her husband had recently walked out on her. Joanna is trying to restructure her life when she’s interrupted by Jamaican-born Henrietha Browne, who had just walked in forcefully pulling her chair out, sitting down, taking a sip of her coffee then humming a song and tapping in rhythm close by. Intrigued by Henrietha’s carefree nature and desperate to get out of her own thoughts, Joanna asks Henrietha to join. Henrietha agrees and quickly bonds with Joanna while exchanging stories of pain, defeat, and abuse. From that day forward, they were inseparable; making plans to continue to share stories as they explore Toronto.

Waiting for the World to Change speaks about marriage and domestic work. Susan Ottawa, a black lawyer in Toronto, and Anita Kingsley, a domestic worker, had met in the same building where they live. One day, they were having lunch and Susan had a book that she had just bought. In anger, she threw a book titled “Is marriage for White People” on the table. The root of Susan’s anger comes from knowing she’s struggling to find a man and men from all different walks of life are quicker to marry white women before the thought of a black woman crosses their mind. Anita drew a comparison to domestic work. As a college educated woman, she too, found it very difficult to find a job outside of domestic work and in her field of study. She finds herself asking “Is domestic work just for black people?” And it continues.

Her

In the haunting aftermath of the Second World War, a war correspondent embarks on a poignant quest to understand the woman he once loved and who spurned him.

As he journeys through the war-torn streets of Europe, he unravels a tale that she never dared to share.

Amidst the backdrop of their passionate love story, he uncovers a harrowing narrative of brutality, sexual abuse, and the indomitable spirit to overcome such darkness.

This tale delves deep into the heart of war’s monsters and heroes, exploring the profound impact of their deeds on those in their wake.

Her Name Is Blue

Florencia-Blue is an introverted dreamer, a believer in the power of love yet skeptically guarded against its reality. She’s crafted a life comfortably hidden beneath the veil of her beloved books and manuscripts, convinced that true happiness dwells only within their pages. Enter James Murray: sweet, albeit grumpily so, with a heart encased in metaphorical stone, having long forsaken the notion of love. Until, that is, a shy New Yorker with a captivating dimpled chin gently unravels his defenses, weaving the concept of love into a tangible tapestry they both begin to cherish. Their bond forms from the roots of friendship, slowly unfurling into something profound, stirring emotions neither was prepared to confront. Yet, as time marches on, they find themselves inevitably drawn into the embrace of something they once dared not acknowledge. She is Jamie’s Sassenach, and he, Florencia’s long-anticipated Ginger lad, a testament to the unexpected paths love carves, leading them towards a shared destiny they never anticipated but ultimately cannot deny.

Hieronymus

Hieronymus is a fiction novel about the life and work of the iconic painter Hieronymus Bosch, which preserves the historical context of the dark end of the Middle Ages in Northern Europe.

Based on the little historical information about the artist’s life, the novel tries to dissect the context in which Bosch’s imagination incorporated the sacred and the profane, the symbol and the metaphor, around which the dramatic life of the creator revolves.

Some documented facts of Bosch’s life regarding his marriage to a wealthy woman whose dowry allowed him the freedom of creation, or his survival of a plague epidemic and the great fire of 1463 in 's-Hertogenbosch, are mentioned in the novel to identify the artist’s personality and recreate the social and historical context of the western European Middle Ages, haunted by the fear of the Inquisition and religious reform. The artist immerses in the creation process in which the factual circumstances disappear and re-emerge into his artistic universe populated by fantastic characters, grotesque situations, tortures and suffering, that evaporates at the end of the story like a nightmare in the morning light.

Hold Back the Dawn

In the early stages of Northwestern United States’ development, life presented formidable challenges on physical, emotional, and social fronts. With minimal laws in place, maintaining law and order was uncertain, while prejudice against Native Americans prevailed. Yet, as we all understand, persistence and unwavering dedication to one’s goals can yield remarkable rewards.

However, for our main character, achieving his initial objectives revealed a disappointing reality. Through this realization, he undergoes a transformative journey, maturing along the way and setting his sights on a revised ambition. Amidst the stressful situations they confront, the characters demonstrate unwavering courage, displaying loyalty and a sense of responsibility towards their friends and family. Their close-knit bond may leave readers yearning to be a part of their extraordinary group or inspire them to emulate such values in their own lives.

Although most of us may not face circumstances as depicted in this book, the underlying principles that foster a civilized society remain applicable and teachable on a daily basis. Discover the timeless lessons embedded within the pages, guiding readers to embrace courage, loyalty, and responsibility in their personal interactions. Join the characters on their extraordinary journey as they navigate a challenging era and uncover how their experiences can inspire readers to live their lives with integrity and compassion.

In this captivating tale of triumph and growth, explore the virtues that form the bedrock of a civilized society, and let the story’s echoes resonate within, encouraging us all to strive for a better tomorrow.

Holding onto Nothing

Sally L. Fulton invites you to enter intimately into her life as she shares the depth of her grief in the death of her husband, her mother, and her unborn daughter, and comes to terms with regret, finding peace through the writing of these poems. Her poetry of gratitude shows the reader, through clear and lyrical imagery how she discovers meaning and beauty in each moment. Her poetry of dissent reflects the suffering caused by self-interest and calls upon the reader to choose compassion while standing against ignorance and oppression and for social justice. Through the clear imagery of her poems, she illustrates the mystery of nature and reminds the reader of its fragility. The expressions of grief, dissent, gratitude, and illumination in this book leads us to a deeper understanding of the Buddhist principle of interbeing, that we are all a part of something greater that unifies us, and that our common lives are part of that unity as well as the unique mystery of the limitless expressions of life.

House of the Beloved

Kurt Lingstorm is doing an archaeological dig under a church in Jerusalem which is believed to be built on top of the home where John the Apostle lived with Mary, the mother of Jesus. He uncovers a secret burial niche and needs an expert on first-century Christianity. He knows who he wants to bring in to help him. Michael O’Brien is a priest and archaeologist who specializes in this area. He is brought in by Kurt and the Cardinal in charge of Holy Shrines. The attraction between the two men is instant but they must also deal with the burial niches and a Vatican representative to Jerusalem who is less than priestly and is blackmailing two of Kurt’s team members to steal from the site.

House Ravenin - The Folded Path

The world is always changing, each step uncertain as the old ways and the new collide in a struggle for supremacy. Yet even the most well-paced paths sometimes turn in odd directions, the rumble of discontent along the western border leading to bloody clashes against the advancing world slowly encroaching upon the once open wilds.

As Crissone lies in flames and the tenuous peace between elven and human people threatens to collapse, the slaves taken in from the attack and sold to the estates are not what they seem to be.

It is here beneath the roof of House Ravenin that the lives of all hang in the balance, the arcing destinies of singular lives quietly merging together to decide the fate of an unsuspecting people. Each has their own part to play out, the Folded Path watchful upon all who grace its stones.

As poisonous secrets are revealed and true natures rise to the surface, careful hands begin to unravel a deadly mystery in hopes of staving off a greater, more sinister threat.

How To Create the Universe

Have you ever wished that science and religion shook hands? It is possible if both surrendered their centuries-old views and renewed their vision. In this book I will take you through simple logic and alternative thinking to show you that science and religion are actually inseparable. Yes, God created this world, but not by simply pronouncing it into existence, but instead worked remarkably hard to accomplish this extraordinary feat. This book will humbly present you with history, ideas, and inspiration to do your own research and draw your own conclusions.