The Grape Farm is the sequel to The Berry-Picker House and Lace Around the Moon. Set against the backdrop of 1930's Naples, NY and New Orleans, LA, where jazz singer, Pierre calls home, the story follows her struggles and racial discrimination prevalent at the time and depicts not only her perseverance but how she thrived. Her life comes full circle when she finds the son she was forced to give up when she was just a child. The book resolves several mysteries, including who murdered the man who ravaged Pierre as a young woman. Readers will relate to the story as it showcases love between friends and family and the love between a man and woman, who thought that secure love had passed them by. It is an enticing tale that stimulates all of the senses, making you feel as though you can taste and smell the grapes.
Come With Me is a series of intimate conversations between a mother and her daughter. These conversations document the mother's life growing up on the island of Cyprus to her present-day life in the United States. This eighty-year nostalgic journey details the resilient life of Roula Panayides-Santamas as seen through her personal reflections and recollections. Included are added side conversations that showcase the tightly knit bond between Roula and her daughter, Irene. Sparked by a series of deaths among the elders in her family, Irene was inspired to document her family history while the stories could still be told by her mother. From an arrest for being an accomplice to a murder at the age of fifteen during Cypriot political turmoil, to family customs, recipes, and traditions, this memoir chronicles the life of a young girl growing up on the island, the challenges she faced, life as an immigrant, and the eventual joy she found raising her family in America. Come With Me is a heartwarming journey that will allow readers to get to know Roula on a more intimate level. A story that will stir up feelings of nostalgia, empathy, and love.
Let the reader beware.Things are not going well for Ali Kim. On the same day he loses his work badge, his boss tells him, "the boss wants to see you." The idea of seeing his boss's boss is not something that fills Ali with glee or delight. Imagine your boss says, out of the blue, "the boss wants to see you" and then provides you no further explanation. Do you feel delight? Do you feel glee? Ali Kim does not.While Ali navigates the labyrinthine inner-workings of the buildings where "the boss" may be, he encounters a range of characters; some that help him and some that hinder him. Also providing boosts and banes are the insane situations and locations that appear throughout the story.The story of The Badge is not intended for a future streaming service. It is not the story of a hero. It is not the first in a series of books which focus on a person. It is not a story where pretty people will play the characters. It is a story for readers that do not want to be led to the end in a cozy way or in a straight line.Ali's quest to find the boss' boss is an epic adventure, where time and space are not fixed concepts. This may confuse the reader; this may also frustrate the reader quite a bit. It is a story for people who are looking for that kind of story.The reader has been advised.
In the summer of 2019, while staring down a deadening depression, Matt Bindig packed up his family for a three-week road trip out West - circling through six national parks - searching for the truth behind Bill Clinton's words, "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America." After twenty-one days and 3,700 miles, he returned to his mind-numbingly normal suburban life with a collection of classic family photos and a journal full of scribbled notes. Six months later, COVID arrived and the world changed forever. Far From The Twisted Reach is built around the story of that trip, but it's more than just a travelogue. It's also a reflection on humanity's relationship with nature, our carcinogenic compulsion to consume, and the effort it takes to sustain a long, loving marriage. Riding shotgun along the way are passages on the pain of aging, an increasingly fruitless search for spirituality, and the challenges that come with being a dad in a country on the brink. Mostly though, it's a book about hope - lost and found
A Song for KalenOn that fateful day, T.R. awoke in New York, unaware of the news to come. By Noon, he was thrust into a living nightmare where soul-crushing experiences would be measured in seconds. He rushed to South Carolina where he encountered a scene no parent should ever witness. T.R. embarked on a series of brutal decisions only to find himself immersed in an emblazoned battle to retrieve and rescue his eight-year-old son Karter from the clutches of foster care in another state.The book follows he public trial and conviction of the mother and her boyfriend. T.R. shares the exact moment he found forgiveness and the implications his forgiveness had on countless lives. He brings us to the brink of despair, then sets off on the wings of a butterfly, to discover our own humanity through the heart-wrenching talk of father and son.T.R. serves as a father's rights advocate. When his young son Kalen died in 2017 from a gunshot wound, T.R. became a fierce advocate for common sense gun safety and the establishment of a National Database of Child Protective Reports. He is a full-time father and prolific writer.T.R. holds degrees in Psychology, Clinical Psychology and English Literature. He has worked as a diagnostician and therapist in a residential children's treatment center, a Child Protective Services Investigator, a service coordinator writing plans of actions for adults and children with disabilities, and an addictions counselor and child advocate.Most recently he partnered with father's rights attorney Tina C. Bennet, working with clients in the courts and co-founding E-court Coach Consultants and Mediation on Demand.Be sure to follow T. R. on his various Social Media platforms.
A deeply personal, yet candid saga of a gay Secret Service Agent in the Obama era; an agent who was struggling with his own identity, marriage, discrimination and balancing the demands that accompany being assigned to protect the most powerful people in the worldCory Allen delivers an amusing view into his adventurous life, with culture references, twists and turns of his relationships, and an inside look into the life, as a gay Special Agent in the hyper-masculine career field. Through intense self-reflection he recounts the impacts it had on his life and the hardships imposed by a career in the spotlight.At the pinnacle of his career, he left the Secret Service to restart his life in California and begin the process of finally being his own person. Struggling to break free from social norms, creating his identity apart from his all- consuming profession, and learning to listen to intuition are at the heart of the memoir.
There are places you always call home, their smells rotting or warm or sweet, their bruises just deep enough to forgive until you touch them. There are places you leave that will forever contain you or cling to you or cry out for you. Where the difference between love and disgust is no more distinguishable than the point at which you stop trying to forget.Craig Buchner's Brutal Beasts is a trip to these homes. It opens the door and finds us at the edge of a falls weighing the jump, of a bedroom where a father's crumpled body lie failing, of the ability-and the desire-to love through what seems so repulsive.
Baja Silver (The Sam White Homeless Mysteries)A 2022 American Writing Awards Finalist in the Fiction: Thriller/Adventure Category.In a race against a Mexican cartel, Sam White is on a mission to find two young fugitives from Sacramento. Dani and TommyLynn are sex workers, but not fugitives from the law. They're a young woman who is abducted into a sex trafficking cartel, and her friend, an intersex person who is trying to find and rescue her. They are on the run for their lives and their freedom.Sam, director of St. Frances Village, is a man who believes in finding the good where you least expect it. On vacation in Mexico for a reunion with an old friend and a scuba diving trip, off the coast of Loreto, Baja, they find a cave which could hold ancient treasure. TommyLynn suddenly reappears in his life, begging for help.When Sam and TommyLynn take on a vicious sex-trafficking cartel, they soon realize this rescue plan could turn fatal.If you like high-stakes action, jaw-dropping twists, unflinching discussion of sexual identity and California history, then you'll love this dark, but hopeful tale. Plus, there's more adventure to come! Baja Silver is part of the gritty Sam White crime adventure series, including Squatter's Gold and more. Dive into Sam White's adventures today! -- Review From Literary TitanIn the annals of maritime history, Captain Frances Drake stands as a towering figure famed for his seizure of the Cacafuego in 1579. His knack for plundering treasures from rival vessels sets the tone for a narrative woven centuries later in modern-day California in Timothy A. Brown's Baja Silver.Enter Dani, a tenacious sex worker navigating a world fraught with challenges. Facing constant threats from her overbearing pimp, she discovers an ally in TommyLynn, an androgynous colleague with a deeply scarred past, marred by abuse and prejudice.In a parallel narrative, the author introduces us to Sam White, the altruistic director of St. Frances Village, a beacon of hope for the downtrodden. As TommyLynn champions the cause of the LGBTQ community, especially those ostracized by their families, their paths inevitably cross with Sam's. However, danger lurks in the shadows. Trixie's relentless pursuit of control over Dani takes a dark turn, ensnaring them in a sinister world of human trafficking and crime syndicates. As fate would have it, Sam and TommyLynn find themselves embroiled in a quest, not only to rescue victims but also to unearth a buried treasure and dismantle the trafficking network.What sets this novel apart is its character development. Sam emerges as the embodiment of selflessness, a pillar of strength for the vulnerable, balanced beautifully by his unwavering commitment as a husband. Dani, characterized by her indomitable spirit, is accentuated by TommyLynn's loyalty and camaraderie. The narrative delves into the grim realities of prostitution and trafficking, painting a vivid picture of a world where the vulnerable are often exploited by the remorseless.The narrative occasionally veers into profanity I feel is rather excessive, and I think some emotional depictions come across as somewhat overwrought. However, the essence of Timothy A. Brown's Baja Silver retains its magnetic pull. It is a recommended read for readers of contemporary fiction that delves into the intricate layers of human sexuality and resilience.Rating: 4 Stars
A slave without a past. A master without a future. A journey of discovery that will forever change the lives of both men. The ancient world comes alive in this vivid and engaging trilogy by an expert on Roman social history. What if you suddenly discovered that you were not who you thought you were-that your true family history had been hidden from you since birth? What if the truth about your origins would cause others to despise you? What if the man who had arranged the deception was seriously ill and needed your help? What if you were a slave and that man held your life in his hands-and you his? These are some of the questions explored in the first two volumes of the new historical trilogy, A Slave's Story. The story centers on a slave named Marcus who manages the business affairs of a wealthy Roman citizen in central Asia Minor in the first century AD. The first volume, A Rooster for Asklepios, narrates his eventful journey to a famous healing center in western Turkey following a dream in which the god Asklepios appears to promise that his master will be cured there of a nagging illness. The second volume, A Bull for Pluto, relates the aftermath of this journey. . Along the way, both men encounter people and ideas that undermine everything that they have ever believed about themselves, one another, and the world around them. Societal norms are challenged, personal loyalties tested, and identities transformed in this engaging story that brings to life a unique corner of the Roman world that has been neglected by previous storytellers. Christopher D. Stanley is a professor at St. Bonaventure University who studies the social history of early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world. He has written or edited six books and dozens of professional articles on the subject and presents papers regularly at conferences around the world. The trilogy A Slave's Story, which grew out of his historical research on first-century Asia Minor, is his first work of fiction. . For more information please visit https: //www.amazon.com/-/e/B001H6EUCA PRAISE FOR THE FIRST TWO VOLUMES "This compelling and enjoyable story offers the reader a superb 'insider' view of life in the first-century Greco-Roman world. I enjoyed traipsing around Anatolia with Lucius and Marcus!"-Dr. Terence Donaldson, Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament, Wycliffe College, Canada "The realism of this story reflects the author's deep first-hand knowledge of the landscape and culture where the narrative takes place."-Dr. Mark Wilson, Director, Asia Minor Research Center, Antalya, Turkey "This well-researched book really brings the Roman world to life!"-Dr. Alanna Nobbs, Professor of Ancient History, Macquarie University, Australia "The amount of research, imagination, and effort involved in crafting this story earned my admiration, and stirred my curiosity, too."-Dr. Mark Nanos, Lecturer, University of Kansas, USA
A slave without a past. A master without a future. A journey of discovery that will forever change the lives of both men. The ancient world comes alive in this vivid and engaging trilogy by an expert on Roman social history. What if you suddenly discovered that you were not who you thought you were-that your true family history had been hidden from you since birth? What if the truth about your origins would cause others to despise you? What if the man who had arranged the deception was seriously ill and needed your help? What if you were a slave and that man held your life in his hands-and you his? These are some of the questions explored in the first two volumes of the new historical trilogy, A Slave's Story. The story centers on a slave named Marcus who manages the business affairs of a wealthy Roman citizen in central Asia Minor in the first century AD. The first volume, A Rooster for Asklepios, narrates his eventful journey to a famous healing center in western Turkey in response to a dream in which the god Asklepios appears to promise that his master will be cured there of a nagging illness. The second volume, A Bull for Pluto, relates the aftermath of this journey as Marcus struggles with newly revealed secrets about his ancestry and his master comes to terms with his mortality. Along the way, both men encounter people and ideas that undermine everything that they have ever believed about themselves, one another, and the world around them. Societal norms are challenged, personal loyalties tested, and identities transformed in this engaging story that brings to life a unique corner of the Roman world that has been neglected by previous storytellers. Who Will Like This Book?Readers who enjoy complex stories about flawed characters, epic journeys, and characters who struggle with their identities and commitments, including their views of religionReaders who appreciate richly detailed and historically accurate accounts of daily life in the pastReaders who want to know more about the social and religious world of early Judaism and Christianity (including Roman religion and anti-semitism); how Greeks and Romans dealt with sickness and healing (medicine, miracle, and magic); and what life was like at specific Roman archaeological sites in Turkey (Ephesus, Pergamum, Hierapolis, Antioch, etc.). Christopher D. Stanley is a professor at St. Bonaventure University who studies the social history of early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world. He has written or edited six books and dozens of professional articles on the subject and presents papers regularly at conferences around the world. The trilogy A Slave's Story, which grew out of his historical research on first-century Asia Minor, is his first work of fiction. . For more information please visit https: //www.amazon.com/-/e/B001H6EUCA PRAISE FOR THE FIRST TWO VOLUMES "This compelling and enjoyable story offers the reader a superb 'insider' view of life in the first-century Greco-Roman world. I enjoyed traipsing around Anatolia with Lucius and Marcus!"-Dr. Terence Donaldson, Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament, Wycliffe College, Canada "The realism of this story reflects the author's deep first-hand knowledge of the landscape and culture where the narrative takes place."-Dr. Mark Wilson, Director, Asia Minor Research Center, Antalya, Turkey "This well-researched book really brings the Roman world to life!"-Dr. Alanna Nobbs, Professor of Ancient History, Macquarie University, Australia "The amount of research, imagination, and effort involved in crafting this story earned my admiration, and stirred my curiosity, too."-Dr. Mark Nanos, Lecturer, University of Kansas, USA
Rusty Morgan remembered well the photo his bandmate and best friend Terry had taken on their trip to Ireland years earlier. The brokenness of the arch depicted in the photo had haunted him long after they'd returned home.He'd had no idea then that he and his Odysseus bandmates would one day face an irreparable brokenness of their own.Brokenness came in many ways in heavy metal music world. Substance abuse, failed marriages, and the loneliness of long months spent touring were common among their peers. Rusty, Steve, Dave, rick and Terry had won some of those battles, lost others but always stayed connected, their brotherhood forged by the passion for music they shared and the inner battles they'd waged.One night in Cleveland shattered Odysseus' bonds.Rusty and his Odysseus brothers now face their hardest challenge. Will they be able to regroup with one of them gone? Or will their music now be silenced?
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