Presenting an engaging, suspenseful mix of paranormal stories, Reckoning takes you into the lives of ordinary people who face extraordinary and unexplainable situations for which they are entirely unprepared.

In “Solitario Road,” a businessman’s drive home on familiar roads takes him through a strange storm and an unexpected journey through the past. His unsettling encounters with people along the way take him farther away from the present—and his own reality.

“Handshake” is the story of a man whose routine medical procedure leads to a side effect that begins as an uncomfortable nuisance but quickly turns into a frightening threat to everyone around him.

In “’74 New Yorker,” a man inherits his father’s old car and discovers that a strange sense of empowerment comes with it. He soon finds his nostalgic connection to the car spiraling into a pattern of bizarre and risky behavior that has tragic results.

“Flagman” tells of a retired art professor whose spontaneous act of protest against the Iraq War sets off a public reaction that he doesn’t expect. When one of his students helps him continue the protest, they are faced with the dangerous consequences of waging peace.

Rich in visual imagery, the stories in Reckoning deliver a powerful commentary on how the supernatural and reality can seamlessly entwine in the human experience.

Presenting an engaging, suspenseful mix of paranormal stories, Reckoning takes you into the lives of ordinary people who face extraordinary and unexplainable situations for which they are entirely unprepared.

In “Solitario Road,” a businessman’s drive home on familiar roads takes him through a strange storm and an unexpected journey through the past. His unsettling encounters with people along the way take him farther away from the present—and his own reality.

“Handshake” is the story of a man whose routine medical procedure leads to a side effect that begins as an uncomfortable nuisance but quickly turns into a frightening threat to everyone around him.

In “’74 New Yorker,” a man inherits his father’s old car and discovers that a strange sense of empowerment comes with it. He soon finds his nostalgic connection to the car spiraling into a pattern of bizarre and risky behavior that has tragic results.

“Flagman” tells of a retired art professor whose spontaneous act of protest against the Iraq War sets off a public reaction that he doesn’t expect. When one of his students helps him continue the protest, they are faced with the dangerous consequences of waging peace.

Rich in visual imagery, the stories in Reckoning deliver a powerful commentary on how the supernatural and reality can seamlessly entwine in the human experience.

Welcome to Volume 1 of The Little Ho! Ho! Book. (Referred to in familiar circles as the T.L.H.H.B.) This is a compilation of twelve of the Fan’s Favorite Holiday Columns that ran in years past throughout the Midwestern United States in the weekly humor column "And...More, Later." Simple, eh?

Well...not quite that simple. For this Holiday Gift Book is much more than just your average compilation. In this its finest hour, it represents the extremely hard work of several individuals who felt strongly enough about this project to devote an enormous amount of Time, Patience, and Support to it. Its purpose is twofold: to bring attention to a devastating condition, Alzheimer’s, which is affecting our aging population on an ever-increasing basis, and secondly to generate a non-typical source of revenue to the local chapter responsible for increasing the public’s awareness of this serious illness.

The authors and artistic contributors are receiving no monetary remuneration for their efforts. In fact, 100%...again, that’s 100%...of the royalties generated by the sales of this small effort will be paid directly to the Heartland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, the charity selected to benefit from this first edition of T.L.H.H.B. Hopefully, this is just the first of many such volumes that will continue to benefit this particular charity as well as several other worthy organizations in future years.

On behalf of everyone who contributed their energy to this endeavor...“Thanks,” our appreciation, and Happy Holidays.

Dogs change our worlds by giving unconditional love and sharing our lives. In these stories dogs have identi ties and personalities. They are more than companions and friends. They are actors playing center stage, entering our minds and hearts and becoming unforgettable.

Each dog owner discovers that a dog becomes part of the family history, part of the stories told around the table, and sometimes the only thing that touches our emotions. During a dog’s lifeti me a dog finds ways to entertain, dismay, or love the humans around them. A dog can’t be ignored.

Perhaps dogs are highly regarded because they don’t have hidden motives. They love you or dislike you. Life is that simple. Once their decision is made they don’t forget their friends or enemies.

In my opinion most dogs are angels sent to bring unconditi onal love into the world and to battle the dark forces. As you read these stories decide for yourself if dogs change our lives for the better. You may have known dogs like Belle that can do so many things. Read and enjoy and let the dogs entertain you.

This is a book of fictional stories that will allow you to go in to another world. Were being who you are, is the best thing a person can do for themselves. A world like this may only be in ones mind, or it could be reality it’s up to each of us.

The stories and sketches offered by author Wayne Luckmann in The Buried Life offer a unique and intimate perspective of how people respond to the challenges they encounter in the conditions of the time.

While some of the tales are set against the background of events during the 1940s and 1950s, other pieces in this collection develop from initial incidents in a culture that has changed over several decades resulting in crises for the people involved and are often resolved in unexpected ways. The vignettes revolve around a variety of storylines and introduce a wide range of characters—two men who escape a gathering mountain storm in a surprising way; a narrator who meets a being totally oblivious to the busy excitement of Paris; a man who faces the dilemma of choosing between positions at a national level or remaining in one locally that will offer him more money and more responsibility; and another man working to accept the pain of betrayal and a dissolving marriage as he restores an antique auto.

Offering a moving collection of stories, The Buried Life explores the themes of suffering, dealing with memories, and the stinging regrets of the past.

The stories and sketches offered by author Wayne Luckmann in The Buried Life offer a unique and intimate perspective of how people respond to the challenges they encounter in the conditions of the time.

While some of the tales are set against the background of events during the 1940s and 1950s, other pieces in this collection develop from initial incidents in a culture that has changed over several decades resulting in crises for the people involved and are often resolved in unexpected ways. The vignettes revolve around a variety of storylines and introduce a wide range of characters—two men who escape a gathering mountain storm in a surprising way; a narrator who meets a being totally oblivious to the busy excitement of Paris; a man who faces the dilemma of choosing between positions at a national level or remaining in one locally that will offer him more money and more responsibility; and another man working to accept the pain of betrayal and a dissolving marriage as he restores an antique auto.

Offering a moving collection of stories, The Buried Life explores the themes of suffering, dealing with memories, and the stinging regrets of the past.

Love and mystery have a way of intertwining in unexpected ways in life. In Donald Averill’s short story collection, he traces a journey through the lives of vibrant characters driven by love who suddenly find themselves in the midst of intriguing situations.

In “Missing Notes,” A graduate student thinks she has just taken a routine job in the music department matching old class lists with composition notebooks. But when a notebook comes up missing, she and another student suddenly find themselves in the throes of a murder investigation. “The Canoe” sees retired mathematician and widower Samuel Kelly recalling past experiences involving his family canoe after seeing a canoe for sale. Following the sale of the canoe, Sam and a former girlfriend rekindle an old relationship and get involved in a holdup.

In “Hidden Talents,” Clay Coleman, a young physician, misses a turn and arrives at a secluded farm house where he is attacked. Suffering from amnesia, he works his way along Interstate 84 helping people with medical problems—while his wife searches desperately for him. A seven-year-old boy who thinks he is just living a normal life in 1949 soon realizes that the only way to find out any answers about his grandpa’s past is to ask good questions in “The Pumpkin Tree.”

Missing Notes, Hidden Talents, and Other Stories shares four charming stories with important messages about perseverance, courage, and, most importantly, love.

In his first collection of short stories, author Bill Mooney presents a journey through the minds of complex characters seeking life change amid turmoil and shares a window into the foundation of what creates a simple life: love, commitment, and self-discovery.

In “Eddie Masters Down Under,” Eddie Masters is stuck in Australia, living the life of a drifter and awaiting funds to get back to the States. But when he is offered a tempting proposition, Eddie is faced with a tough decision. “Hunting the Kohinoor” introduces Walt and Abbey St. George, an attractive married couple who once had lofty dreams and goals, but now live a humdrum life in a Philadelphia suburb. But when a renowned jewel goes missing, the St. Georges decide to go hunting for the diamond worth millions of dollars, sending them on an adventure halfway across the world. In “Going Home,” newspaper reporter Willie Cole, who has just finished writing the obituary for his friend and co-worker, has no idea his life is about to take a dramatic turn.

Going Home is a poignant collection of engaging novellas and short tales that, through the unforgettable experiences of its diverse characters, share the important message that choices inevitably lead to destinies.

In his first collection of short stories, author Bill Mooney presents a journey through the minds of complex characters seeking life change amid turmoil and shares a window into the foundation of what creates a simple life: love, commitment, and self-discovery.

In “Eddie Masters Down Under,” Eddie Masters is stuck in Australia, living the life of a drifter and awaiting funds to get back to the States. But when he is offered a tempting proposition, Eddie is faced with a tough decision. “Hunting the Kohinoor” introduces Walt and Abbey St. George, an attractive married couple who once had lofty dreams and goals, but now live a humdrum life in a Philadelphia suburb. But when a renowned jewel goes missing, the St. Georges decide to go hunting for the diamond worth millions of dollars, sending them on an adventure halfway across the world. In “Going Home,” newspaper reporter Willie Cole, who has just finished writing the obituary for his friend and co-worker, has no idea his life is about to take a dramatic turn.

Going Home is a poignant collection of engaging novellas and short tales that, through the unforgettable experiences of its diverse characters, share the important message that choices inevitably lead to destinies.

In his first collection of short stories, author Bill Mooney presents a journey through the minds of complex characters seeking life change amid turmoil and shares a window into the foundation of what creates a simple life: love, commitment, and self-discovery.

In “Eddie Masters Down Under,” Eddie Masters is stuck in Australia, living the life of a drifter and awaiting funds to get back to the States. But when he is offered a tempting proposition, Eddie is faced with a tough decision. “Hunting the Kohinoor” introduces Walt and Abbey St. George, an attractive married couple who once had lofty dreams and goals, but now live a humdrum life in a Philadelphia suburb. But when a renowned jewel goes missing, the St. Georges decide to go hunting for the diamond worth millions of dollars, sending them on an adventure halfway across the world. In “Going Home,” newspaper reporter Willie Cole, who has just finished writing the obituary for his friend and co-worker, has no idea his life is about to take a dramatic turn.

Going Home is a poignant collection of engaging novellas and short tales that, through the unforgettable experiences of its diverse characters, share the important message that choices inevitably lead to destinies.