A story of adventure, excitement, and love. Anyone who knows of the connection held by "buddies," "brothers in arms," and those in love, will quickly grasp the concept and depth of Chief Salt. Early Reviews of Chief Salt: "May I say, I felt as though I was part of the plot, as so much of the writing parallels my own experience. I, too, knew characters like those described. Great fun The way the story is structured allows one to venture in and out. It's a nice linked collection of short stories in a way which allows one to do just that. Well done (or "BZ" as we used to say)." - William Putnam, Rear Admiral, USN (Ret), former USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group Commander*. "Serving one's country has a way of honing the virtuous traits in a man's character and developing additional ones along the way. In his book, Chief Salt, James Garrett shows this to be the case. While actual men and women of the caliber described in this novel are not commonplace, I feel fortunate to have known several in my life. They are all of the Chief Salt variety." - Anthony G. Davis, Captain, Pilot, USAFR (1985-1993)*. "Chief Salt is a literary and poetic masterpiece. With both poetry and prose, James Garrett artfully tells an unflinching tale about hard lessons in duty, courage, love, and loss. With humor, wit, and incredible intensity, Garrett's characters come to life. Chief Salt is an outstanding novel " - Micah Larripa, Captain, USMC, Iraq Combat Veteran*. "The writing from each character's point of view is incredibly human. I know who they are, and where they come from. I loved how James Garrett brought their past into the present. He presented them with honest traits, both good and not so good. The poetry makes the characters come alive. The pause brought on a moment to reflect. I akin it to the music or soundtrack in a movie during a background scene. As an Army wife, though my husband is not in the Special Forces, I read this with a compassion

The instigation for this book was the author's doubt that the political and military confrontation in Central Europe would remain stable in a serious crisis. Uncertainty of success may deter Soviet risk-taking forty-nine years out of fifty but not in that fiftieth year if Soviet leaders should face an apparent threat to their continued hegemony in

Shedding fresh light on Wordsworth's contested relationship with an England that changed dramatically over the course of his career, James Garrett places the poet's lifelong attempt to control his literary representation within the context of national ideas of self-determination represented by the national census, national survey, and national museum. Garrett provides historical background on the origins of these three institutions, which were initiated in Britain near the turn of the nineteenth century, and shows how their development converged with Wordsworth's own as a writer. The result is a new narrative for Wordsworth studies that re-integrates the early, middle, and late periods of the poet's career. Detailed critical discussions of Wordsworth's poetry, including works that are not typically accorded significant attention, force us to reconsider the usual view of Wordsworth as a fading middle-aged poet withdrawing into the hills. Rather, Wordsworth's ceaseless reworking of earlier poems and the flurry of new publications between 1814 and 1820 reveal Wordsworth as an engaged public figure attempting to 'write the nation' and position himself as the nation's poet.

A story of adventure, excitement, and love. Anyone who knows of the connection held by "buddies," "brothers in arms," and those in love, will quickly grasp the concept and depth of Chief Salt. Early Reviews of Chief Salt: "May I say, I felt as though I was part of the plot, as so much of the writing parallels my own experience. I, too, knew characters like those described. Great fun The way the story is structured allows one to venture in and out. It's a nice linked collection of short stories in a way which allows one to do just that. Well done (or "BZ" as we used to say)." - William Putnam, Rear Admiral, USN (Ret), former USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group Commander*. "Serving one's country has a way of honing the virtuous traits in a man's character and developing additional ones along the way. In his book, Chief Salt, James Garrett shows this to be the case. While actual men and women of the caliber described in this novel are not commonplace, I feel fortunate to have known several in my life. They are all of the Chief Salt variety." - Anthony G. Davis, Captain, Pilot, USAFR (1985-1993)*. "Chief Salt is a literary and poetic masterpiece. With both poetry and prose, James Garrett artfully tells an unflinching tale about hard lessons in duty, courage, love, and loss. With humor, wit, and incredible intensity, Garrett's characters come to life. Chief Salt is an outstanding novel " - Micah Larripa, Captain, USMC, Iraq Combat Veteran*. "The writing from each character's point of view is incredibly human. I know who they are, and where they come from. I loved how James Garrett brought their past into the present. He presented them with honest traits, both good and not so good. The poetry makes the characters come alive. The pause brought on a moment to reflect. I akin it to the music or soundtrack in a movie during a background scene. As an Army wife, though my husband is not in the Special Forces, I read this with a compassion

A MANSION DISCLOSES ITS SECRETS
"THE MANSION STORIES "is a collection of three unique yet connected short stories: ""The Mansion on the Corner," "Names, Dates, and Places,"" and""Hearts' Reunion"." Once again James M. Garrett writes about what he knows. He bases subjects on his overall life experiences, including his time in the service to his country and his 27 years as a high school teacher. In his second novel the published, award-winning poet, has woven his poetry within the prose to fully reveal and enhance the feelings and emotions of the well-crafted, believable characters. The poems add texture to the imaginative narration.
When the young man in the first story, "The Mansion on the Corner," gently brushes the long, dark hair of the young woman in his life, the poem following the scene adds depth to the inner emotions of the young couple. You can feel their growing love for one another, but at that time they are unaware of the heartache to come. Although there are no poems in the second story, "Names, Dates, and Places," the vivid descriptions of the past and present draw the reader into the lives of the characters. In "Hearts Reunion," the last story in the trilogy, the poem at the beginning expresses the nostalgia, apprehension and dynamics of a class reunion. It allows you to look into the minds of the attendees to set the scenes to come. The poems interspersed throughout are blended into the flow of the fictional word picture drawn by the author.
This technique is a departure from his first novel, "BENICIA AND LETTERS OF LOVE." In that novel he composed over 140 "letters" concerning love and the town of Benicia. His many readers found the letters to be genuine without an over-inflated sense of reality. Individuals were moved to both tears and laughter by the romantic missives that transcend time and geographic location. They could read one at a sitting or a larger number at a time. The concept is the same in "THE MANSION STORIES." As an episodic writer, he tells many small stories within the larger ones. A reader once again can read one section or more in a session. One of James' favorite philosophical thoughts, "Names, dates, and places change, but concepts stay the same," is an overall inspiration for the three stories. There is a similar romantic thread running through the narrative, which can be seen in the various time periods occurring in the stories. An intriguing question is presented: are the same souls present through the centuries, only in different bodies? The Mansion is the key element and remains constant through the years. People come and go. To some The Mansion was merely a house, to others it was a home.
This book will grab your interest from the first page and hold it through the last words. The circle of the journey of life through the centuries will be evident when you have finished reading all three stories. The Mansion will have revealed its secrets. Regardless of your age and/or lifestyle, you will enjoy and be rewarded by the stories of love and loss and reconnection. You will want to recommend this book to your friends or give it as a gift any time of the year.

Your heart will relate to these letters of love.
The letters in Benicia and Letters of Love read so authentically they could be about any town in the United States. We all know people, who have found love or lost love, and feel a connection, positive or negative, to the city where the experience took place. James Garrett chose to use the city of Benicia, where he grew up and currently resides, as the focus of his first published novel.
The novel is a collection of letters written in response to a newspaper advertisement inviting individuals to share the stories of their love. The love is written of in many ways: same race or mixed race, male/female, male/male, female/female, and young/old, to name a few. Each letter has its own style and approach in describing a facet of the emotion called love. Every letter will draw you in and hold your attention to the end, as its personal story unfolds.

The flow of Time is blocked and about to reverse itself. If this catastrophe takes place, it will destroy all life on our planet. Is mankind doomed or can there still be hope? It's a perilous endeavor and Brian McKnight will need help from the "Ancients" if there is any possible escape from annihilation.

Brian follows the footsteps of historical characters and courageous warriors of long ago, as he struggles to understand this death-defying phenomenon, named transcendent procession. Can the past unravel a future paradox? The answer is uncertain. However, failure will affect every species that has ever lived.

" The Strands of Time" is packed full of high adventure and awesome scenery. A pure panoramic and spellbinding journey. The story is a probing insight of the human spirit. Saturated in an atmosphere of danger. This humorous and sometimes heart-wrenching tale kindles the imagination of undiscovered possibilities. Can the barrier be shattered before the reversal of time obliterates everything?

Humanity better hope so