Unraveling Taboo: Love's Unexpected Pathways

In a world where sexuality, love, greed, and money take on new meanings, and death lurks around every corner, a captivating story unfolds. Father, a sophisticated and wealthy 60-year-old man, and his 34-year-old son both find themselves enamored with a stunning 27-year-old single woman. Initially, she becomes the lover of the father, a known adventurer with a penchant for beautiful, young women. However, when she meets his son, she falls deeply in love and marries him, perhaps driven by financial motives.

The tycoon, her ex-lover and now father-in-law, cannot and will not relinquish his love for her. He insists on continuing their intimate relationship, even resorting to pressure and ultimatums when she objects. Despite the husband’s suspicions, it is the wife herself who reveals the shocking truth: she has been regularly sleeping with his father, both before and after their marriage.

A war erupts between the three, as life teaches us to smile through the tears. Who do you think will be the first to die? Or is the human being simply a poor customer of life? Life on earth is a journey filled with people we encounter in all seasons. Some accompany us, while others remain behind. Those who stay with us will witness our happiness, smiles, sadness, and ultimately, our death. In a world that is absurd, full of wonders, and where death is ever-present, life is riddled with disappointment. We always need that breath of air to outlet our emotions, to breathe heavily and calm ourselves down.

‘There is no such thing as one hundred percent security in this life; there are always unforeseen events. Living is an art, and dying is an art as well.’

Unthinkable

Brady Johnson was looking forward to a peaceful retirement on a Northern Minnesota lake and in his St. Petersburg, Florida condo after decades of fighting Mexican drug cartels. He tried to forget the past, but the many bitter enemies he made in his years with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in San Antonio Texas, did not retire, did not forget, and did not give up their burning thirst for revenge. They caught up to Brady in Florida.

Years earlier his wife’s rape and death at the hands of a cartel triggered a murderous rampage against all drug dealers, and when the same cartel murders a new-found love interest in Tampa Bay, it ignites the same rage that drove him over the edge the first time.

He finds himself teamed up with two women – a Mexican National former DEA agent, and a Native Canadian, both of whom had survived cartel assassination attempts – and when they venture into Mexico after the traffickers, they uncover a joint cartel/Muslim terrorist plot to inflict a series of horrific attacks on the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Attacks that would effectively destroy all three countries.

When the cartels realize that they, too will be destroyed by the Jihadist offensive, they renege on the partnership they had forged with the Muslims and eventually join forces with Brady’s small group. But, in trying to prevent the terrorist attacks, the trio uncover another, more sinister plot against the United States unfolding in Northern New York and Ontario. Their quest comes to a shocking conclusion in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River.

Useless Musings

As the hell year of 2020 was drawing to a close, and the collective anxieties of every able-minded person in America were making their threat whispers to never, ever go away no matter how many times you brushed your teeth, Jeffrey Eugene Hoch (the author of this book) had an idea. He would write a poem — or something approximating one — for every calendar day of the upcoming year of 2021. The main reason he wanted to do this was to keep his artistic conscience from atrophying across another potential year of emotional isolation, illness avoidance, and embarrassing cult stupidity.

There was some distant hope that something positive would come out of the process, but that something was unknowable and not even particularly hoped for by the author. A year of video games, whiskey, dates, and deli orders later, Useless Musings was “finished.” More accurately, it could just no longer be truthfully worked on because 2021 was over.

Anyway, the results of this year-long whatever-it-was are documented here for you to read and maybe have some sort of emotional reaction to. These “musings” felt pretty “useless” as I was writing them (Hi, it’s me, Jeff), but maybe you’ll enjoy them. That would be cool.

Varied Verse of WWA

Ogden Nash was the master of humorous poetry. His clever use of language and puns made many of us smile and see each day in a brighter light. While not all of his poetry was light-hearted – he could be somber and address disturbing topics – his writing was mostly joyful and witty. We still quote many of his beloved lines, like ‘Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker.’

This book contains a collection of his largely humorous poems, filled with frequent puns. Occasionally, you may come across a more serious selection that might make you pause and ponder. We hope some of these phrases resonate with you and perhaps stick in your mind for future use. Enjoy the poetry!

Vengeance Is Mine

Vengeance Is Mine is the story of the Calloway brothers, William and Samuel. As young boys, they idolized their father, who served his country in the Marine Corps. Thomas Calloway was a standout student and football player for the Crimson of Harvard University. He became a distinguished lawyer and married the love of his life. He provided a sturdy foundation for his two boys to follow in his footsteps. William is brilliant like his father, with an I.Q. of 170, while Samuel is hot-tempered like his mom but loyal to a fault. William is the older brother, attending Harvard and studying law just like his father.

Upon graduation from college, Samuel is now old enough to enlist, and the boys do so together. They see plenty of combat, and along the way, they are both changed by the brutality of war. True horror is what one human being can do to another. When their tour of duty is over, William decides he wants to make a difference in the world and forgoes his law practice to submit his application to the FBI. His military background, high I.Q., and law degree make him a great fit for the bureau. Samuel is content to open up an exotic knife shop in his hometown of Warm Springs, Virginia. It doesn’t take William long to realize that red tape and politics get in the way of actual justice. Frustrated, suspended, and near losing his job, he has a talk with Samuel one day about how justice would work in their world. Samuel is reluctant to get involved at first but agrees to keep an eye on a suspect who has eluded the law so far, a suspect William knows is guilty but can’t prove. Samuel follows the suspect and catches him in the act of committing a horrible crime against an innocent child. What follows is one man’s definition of justice.

Venus - A Point of Expression

The monsoon rains come to our desert in the summer, when the temperature is highest. The winds shift to the SE, bringing moisture from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California. The rains come as huge, black, thunder storms over the mountains, driven by vivid lightning and high winds. It also provides a magical drop in temperature. The magnificent odor of the desert after a rain is a rich, organic experience.

After the storm I sit on my patio, in the cool fall of night – watching the shadows changing on the mountains as the sun declines. Recently, after such a storm, the sun is dying in various shades of ocher and vermillion… The crescent moon rises, and the planet Venus soon follows. Venus is a bright diamond in the now black sky. I write in my notebook: Venus is a Bright Point of Expression in the Sky. Thus, a poem is born.

Victims and Perpetrators

Dive into the mischievous world of Victims and Perpetrators: Light Verse Judgement on the Criminally Inclined, where the lines between lawbreakers and law enforcers blur in the most whimsical ways. Through the masterful pen of John Gentry, a humorist poet with a penchant for the peculiar, this collection of poems invites readers on a rollicking journey through the underbelly of society, all from the safety of their armchairs.

From the tale of Felony Fred, whose criminal escapades are as endearing as they are egregious, to the saga of a hapless diner in Hard Rock, Idaho, Gentry crafts a universe where crime does indeed pay – in laughter and wit. Each poem is a vignette, a snapshot of life on the other side of the law, told with a twinkle in the eye and a tip of the hat to the absurd.

So, whether you’re a seasoned criminal mastermind looking to take a break from your nefarious activities, or a law-abiding citizen with a love for the lyrical, Victims and Perpetrators offers something for everyone. It’s a reminder that, in the end, we’re all just characters in the grand, ridiculous story of life – some of us just have better alibis than others.

Victoria Ward and the Gilded Age of the Hawaiian Kingdom

1889, Iolani Palace, O‘ahu: The majestic Hawaiian Kingdom teeters on the brink of oblivion. At its heart stands Victoria Ward, a woman of royal Hawaiian blood, bound by her lineage and duty. Armed with vast lands, ancient cultural rituals, and the unwavering loyalty of her villagers, she becomes the beacon of hope for a nation under threat.

But as the sands of time flow, will Victoria’s efforts prove enough to salvage the once-glorious realm she cherishes? Her legacy echoes through generations, influencing descendants who remain fiercely devoted to their roots.

Decades later, an invaluable treasure, left behind by Victoria, is discovered by her kin. Could this discovery be the key to resurrecting the splendor of the Gilded Age of the Hawaiian Kingdom? Join the journey across eras, where history and destiny intertwine, and the past might just shape the future.

Waifs and Strays

These are short stories presented in poetic form. The cadence of poetry lends air and space to a story and heightens anticipation. There is war, loss, love and redemption in this work.

Accompanying these poems are some gritty short stories with twists as unexpected as a Twilight Zone episode. They are at times stark and unforgiving.

We The People

Joanne S. Duffin’s poetry is a captivating fusion of the personal and the universal, delving into the depths of the human experience. Her verses touch upon matters of the heart, offer insightful observations of the world, and fearlessly tackle the pressing issues of our time, both within the United States of America and on a global scale.

As you turn the pages, you’ll find yourself immersed in the wonders and interpretations of the natural world, the joys of family, the treasure of discovered love, the journey of self-discovery, philosophical musings, political commentary, patriotic reflections, and the pursuit of justice. Duffin’s poetry also explores the complexities of friendship, the pain of loss, and the inevitability of death.

This groundbreaking work of fiction will captivate your mind as you traverse space and time alongside the author, who fearlessly delves into the very essence of self-expression. Throughout her poetry, Duffin never loses sight of the profound impact and influence of the past, acknowledging the experiences that have shaped her as both a writer and a human being.

Embark on this transformative literary journey with Joanne S. Duffin, and allow her unique voice to guide you through a landscape of beauty, understanding, and introspection, as her thoughts and words weave a tapestry of the human condition.

What's Love Got to Do With It?

A world of love, a world of death, a world of insanity. These four stories are distinctly different from each other in tone and substance, but is love the defining factor?

What would happen if we refuse to accept defeat, even in death? Would the spirit of love carry us forward? And if we could somehow find the courage to move forward, would love never die?

The four stories, together, encompass a wide range of life and death experiences, as different from one another as night from day. And yet, a similarity exists within the protagonists of each story: an overwhelming loss of hope. Perhaps they’ll each discover, as we all must at some point in our lives, that a new beginning is simply the resurrection of hope; and that love, indeed, has everything to do with it.

What's Wrong with This Picture?

Bobby is a young dog with athletic ability.

One day, he decides to learn how to play the same sports that people play. He tries them all, and learns quickly, but he also makes mistakes.

Can you spot the mistakes he needs to correct if he wants to improve?

This coloring book invites you to bring Bobby’s adventures to life! Each page has a fun sketch waiting for you to add your own colors while helping Bobby become a better athlete.