A Secret No More

His mother dead, 16 years old, Clay Trent knew he had to run away when he shot the plantation’s overseer and then his cruel father. His half-brother, Luke, ran with him.From Georgia, months later, hungry and in their ragged clothes, they end up in Arizona where they meet Dan Driver, owner of Double D Ranch. Dan hires them, but Clay needs to confess his crime to Dan. Now, only three people knew his secret: Clay, Luke, and Dan. Still, the secret stayed with Clay, who was unable to forget.Clay and Luke became exemplary cowboys, honored and trusted, fast with a gun, yet they never abused the privilege. Then it happened. Clay’s past was suddenly exposed for all to hear and see. Shamed, Clay did the only thing he could. He had no other choice.

Dolls for my Daughter

The Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia during the Second World War brought death, fear, and hopelessness to the country. Already dealing with a broken heart, Marie’s only purpose becomes keeping her daughter Janina alive and safe. Once the war is over and dangers seem to settle, Marie is met with a new threat: keeping her daughter safe from the man she is supposed to trust.

Two decades later, Janina and her own family have their lives brought to a halt with the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia. Once the dangers in the streets awaken the dark, buried memories of her childhood, Janina does whatever she can to keep her family, and daughter Pavka, safe and free, even if that means starting over again in a foreign land.

Young Pavka is blissfully unaware of the true horrors of war, but due to her mother’s only choice, she must learn to face her own fears: living life as an unwelcome refugee in a country far away from the only home she has ever known.

Through generations of struggle, war, heartbreak, and holding onto hope, one thing always remains true: the strength and sacrifice of a mother’s love.

If Only Time Could Tell

Jamil Gammoh’s collection of short stories offers a vivid and detailed account of his childhood and Jordan’s history, enriched with fictional characters who either reflect real people he encountered or embody prevalent archetypes. Woven into each narrative is the author’s personal critique of socio-cultural, religious, and historical issues in the country.

Each story carries a distinct moral, seamlessly integrated into the plot through folk anecdotes, local sayings, and deeply rooted traditions—some still familiar to older generations. Gammoh’s writing blends cynicism, irony, and sarcasm in his critique of societal flaws, yet beneath the sharp observations lies a deep love for his country, its heritage, and its people.

With a mix of humor, nostalgia, and cultural insight, this collection brings Jordanian life to the forefront, capturing its traditions, folklore, and everyday moments in a way that speaks to universal truths.

“Many are those captivating stories that express the variety of human situations. They can be dramatic, moving, realistic, sarcastic, or even infused with imagination. They pass us by without documentation and so are lost in the folds of time. The author, Jamil Gammoh, did not wish for time to tell these stories; rather, he became the voice through which time-old tales were told, tales he had lived and experienced, in his collection If Only Time Could Tell.”

– Basem Al-Zo’bi

“We journey through the stories and their characters, diving deep into their souls. We travel through time like tourists, experiencing their emotions with raw authenticity—sometimes infused with the subtle and touching humor that is so characteristic of Jamil Gammoh. We see ourselves in them, as if life itself were a game woven from fragments of stories and memories. Every moment shapes us, reminding us that the absurdity and universality of existence are what connect us all.”

– Dalizar Damak

“Very impressive! I enjoyed reading the stories, the thoughts, and the challenges. The flowery style of writing reminded me of ancient stories from Persia, to which we had access many years ago. Situations and issues are well-described in a very personal way.”

– Els van der Wilden

“I must say, I really enjoyed the collection. It made me smile and think…so much wisdom may be found in the didactic stories.”

- Ulrike Kreysa

Choirs of Fire and Dust

In the tumultuous fires of the American Civil War, a young New York poet suffers a tumult of tense visions of past and future after a journalistic misadventure in the Holy Land. At the home of his ship chandler benefactor of Beirut, he meets his muse, the daring daughter. Back in New York, he is absorbed in her plot to sabotage her father’s gun-running operation. Self-sabotaged and lost, there is a hellish POW camp, some of the fiercest fighting of the war, and the hallucinatory wages of peace.

Uncertain Times

Times have changed since the grandiose days of Tampa, Florida, in 1890. The success that Quinn and Mika enjoyed at Henry Plant’s illustrious Tampa Bay Hotel changed as well. Twenty years saw the passing of Mr. Plant and the decline of his hotel and its standards, while Tampa’s cigar industry rose to international prominence. Also intervening was Mika, bearing fraternal twins. Marc, the elder by fifteen minutes, is dark-skinned like his mother. Ian favors his father in skin tone and disposition. Mika and Quinn have found that contriving time alone together has become a challenge.

Quinn is the 1910 St. Andrews Chamber of Commerce president. The tourist season is ending, and he, Mika, and the twins are once again off to Florida for the winter. As they prepare to leave St. Andrews, Canada’s trade union movement arrives and attempts to organize the town. Quinn knows nothing about labor negotiations and endeavors to avoid confrontation but becomes entangled in worker demands.

Arriving in Tampa, Quinn and Mika discover that the city fathers are locked in mortal combat with a new union movement called La Resistencia. Union walkouts lead to protest marches, people are killed, two are lynched, and the town is burned. Quinn, Mika, and the boys are caught in a riot; a hurricane wipes out Tampa.

Scribbles

Scribbles is a collection of poems written to express feelings that come with intense love, anger, betrayal, trauma, confusion, trust, and worry, and to help make sense of things.

Its goal is to shine a light on some thoughts and feelings one may be having when experiencing the worry for a friend’s death, death of a lover, falling in love, or being betrayed, or being abused, trying to figure out one’s own mind, or feeling as though one has lost their mind.

It is gritty and emotional, even lurid at times, but serves its purpose of letting out what cannot be contained.

Art and Poetry by Pollock

Life was smooth sailing and quite normal up until my mom Janis was killed in a car accident heading from Santa Cruz California to Carmel when I was 11 years old. After her death, life changed drastically from a nice gentle breeze to a category five tornado; an inferno of drugs, lies and alibis. Let’s just say… No more smooth sailing. When the dust began to settle at the age of 24, I enlisted in the United States Navy and set sail for a better life and once again it was smooth sailing.

Here are some of my experiences, thoughts, and photographs of my artwork which I use as a way to process my childhood traumas.

Processing as I stack stones and transfer the negative energy into a beautiful piece of work giving it life; it lives then eventually dies, taking the negative energy with it.

I hope you feel something from these pages within.

Disasters at Sea

In October 1851, the bustling harbors of Gloucester, Massachusetts marked the onset of a promising venture as the American fishing fleet set sail towards the bountiful mackerel run in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. However, as they neared the waters off Prince Edward Island, Canada, an unanticipated hurricane engulfed them in a tempest of terror and despair, obliterating over 200 schooners and vessels. The calamity claimed the lives of over 100 seamen, a tragic toll that resonated across the waves.

Disasters at Sea unveils the poignant yet inspiring chronicle of the Prince Edward Island residents, who, propelled by compassion, rallied to extend a lifeline to the beleaguered seamen. Their unwavering aid echoed the noble deeds of the Newfoundland residents during the 9/11 crisis. With hearts brimming with empathy, they embarked on a mission of rescue, recovery, and honor for the fallen, manifesting an enduring maritime bond.

This narrative reflects on the ethos of neighborly duty prevalent in the 19th-century Maritime Canada, highlighting a stark contrast against the seemingly indifferent response of the vessel owners in the aftermath, who appeared to evade accountability for the lost souls and shattered vessels. Disasters at Sea navigates through the haunting whys of fate’s discernment amidst the storm, unearthing the profound human spirit that surges even amidst the darkest squalls, painting a timeless tableau of maritime valor and human resilience.

Thought Prints

“Birthed in a month, on a day, somewhere in time. Somewhere in history.

Somewhere in my past, I didn’t exist… But I was to be.”

“When I look back in time, exploring my mind, I realize I didn’t glance…

But I was to see…”

– from “A Letter to Myself.”

With intensity and emotion, Thought Prints reels the reader in instantly! Anyone who has the pleasure of reading this compilation of poems will surely find magic. A collection of poetry with a story to tell!

The Lost Words

From the gritty streets of Boston, Massachusetts to the warm and secure blankets that wrap up his children at night, John Cole has provided us with a collection of stories and prose that capture the essence of everyday working-class life.

From young adulthood to fatherhood, John Cole uses his own words to paint vivid emotional pictures of the blue-collar realism that exists for most of us during the earlier stages of the twenty-first century.

The weight of his words and the significance of his stories are delicate and powerful, and readers will handle these stories with the care and gentle reserve they ask for.

Tuk with a Red Scarf

Dive into a heartwarming journey of miracles, divine twists, and a dash of luck in this captivating tale. Meet Tuk, a charming black Labrador adorned with a red scarf, whose simple act of curiosity sets the stage for an extraordinary adventure when he wanders off through an open gate. Left behind is the irritable Scottish Terrier, Scotty, unwittingly embarking on a chain of events that intertwine fates and unveil the tender magic of serendipity. From mistaken identities to life-saving encounters, discover how a single inadvertent moment can unfurl a tapestry of heartening tales. Tuk with a Red Scarf is a true story which celebrates the unassuming yet profound impacts of everyday actions, promising to keep you enchanted till the last page.

Dancing with the Devil

In a desolate stretch of highway on the southwest side of Chicago, a young blonde woman known only as ‘Mary’ has been haunting the living for decades. From police officers to cab drivers, and from airline pilots to curious teens, many have reported chilling encounters with her. But there’s a twist: Mary has been dead and buried since 1936. Why does her restless spirit persist in making such frequent appearances even nearly a century later? Trapped in a web of dangerous political intrigue in life, what is it that Mary so desperately seeks in the afterlife? Why can’t she find eternal peace? As the sightings continue to unfold, this gripping tale unravels the mystery behind Mary’s ceaseless wanderings on this lonely, otherworldly expanse of Chicago roadway.