Conquering The Marathon is written for those thousands of individuals now joining the long distance movement of half and whole marathons. Distance walking and/or running should no longer be geared only toward those who are already physically fit, but also for people who are physically untrained. Conquering The Marathon addresses adults who possess very basic levels of fitness, yet want realistic guidance as to how to pursue aerobic fitness such as distance walk to run ratio movement. It is also written for the beginning and seasoned distance runner who strives to reach their physical and aerobic potential. The reader has a year of progressive training schedules, with weekly training tips plus detailed muscular and agility exercises specific for long distance movement. The book also contains a detailed nutrition plan for the active person along with 100 various workouts for all levels of aerobic movement. The content found in Conquering The Marathon will influence and motivate the unfit, those getting fit, and those who are fit.

This short story is a fairy tale for adults--though not the sort that will make you feel tingly. Did you ever wish you could change someone? Did you ever wish your neighbor would be someone who would mow his lawn and not listen to loud music? Did you ever wish your family didn't embarrass you in public? This is a fairy tale about a bunch of people who wanted to change an embarrassing, horrible family in the neighborhood. They went to a mad scientist who was able to help them. At first, everyone thought the change was an improvement. However, unexpected consequences resulted from this, which is exactly why we are always warned to be careful what we wish for. There is also a bonus fairy tale at the end--another "be careful what you wish for" story about a princess and a toad.

Make/Believe is set in contemporary urban Los Angeles and focuses on the suspected kidnapping/murder of a middle-aged Hispanic woman. Her husband reports that she has been murdered after he finds blood in their house and his wife gone. The police find no blood, and so begins a tangled tale of conflicting perceptions, remembrances, histories and secrets. The story proceeds forwards in time as clues to the "crime" are discovered and backwards as possible motives for the crime are revealed. Make/Believe explores the impact of how the person with "the best story" often determines our perceptions of reality and truth; i.e., how frequently it isn't the most logical or believable story that is deemed the truth but the story that satisfies an emotional need, such as that of revenge or justice. And that even with all the information-gathering technology available in forensics and other areas, access to more information does not necessarily lead to clarity but often just the opposite. In a sense, Make/Believe is not a "who-done-it?" but rather a "was-something-done?" and if so, what was it? It is written almost entirely in dialogue, like a courtroom drama, so the stories that are heard are not interpreted by an author or character and the reader is left to decide not only who is telling what they believe is the truth but who is no longer capable of determining what is true and what is imaginary.

"Why, you a gal, ain't ya?" With these fewwords, Worthy, a captured runaway African slave, begins an odyssey with Mary Rivers, a beautiful Chickasaw woman. There was no waythe bounty hunter who tied the beaten and bloody body of Worthy to the abused and violated body of Mary could know that he was also forging the first link of the chain binding their hearts and souls together. Against the majestic backdrop of the mountains and plains of the American West, Mary and Worthy begin a long journey in search of theirfreedom, a journey filled with unspeakable danger and heartache. It's an odyssey they must pursue--to freedom or to death. _____________ I was frankly astonished by SKIN OF THE SUN, for a number of reasons. The plot is unique and compelling, involving characters one doesn't often find explored in contemporary fiction. The action proceeds from the first page at a pace and in a style that made it difficult for me to put the book down and eager to pick it up at the first opportunity. The characters are described and presented with great skill and sensitivity. They came alive for me. The historical references to the people, the landscape, the dress, and the attitudes of the time in which the book takes place reflect careful research and attention to detail. The dialogue is undoubtedly one of the very strong points of this fascinating novel. And the people in the story--whether trapper, trader, priest, Indian or settler--are portrayed with remarkable sensitivity and believability. The Indians, in particular, are portrayed honestly and humanely, in contrast to the unrealistic stereotypical portrayals (both positive and negative) that one frequently encounters. But ultimately, it's the fascinating story and the skillful way in which it's told that elevates this book. For those who crave that rare, excellent read that grips and thrills, enlightens and delights, SKIN OF THE SUN satisfies Leonidas Brown, Jr., Producer, THE LIVING HISTORIES PROJECT

See the World begins with the story of Vern, a man in his late 50s. Following the death of his wife, Vern moves to an isolated cabin in the desert. From here, he decides to leave on what is essentially a walkabout, a vision quest, although it isn't clear to him that this is what he's doing. He simply feels he needs to travel, to "see the world," using a bicycle as transportation. Vern meets an assortment of characters engaged in an assortment of glorious and inglorious pursuits. As Vern searches for himself, he becomes the target of other searches and these quests merge into a tale of losing and discovering love, lurid business dealings involving "custom" autopsy films, hired killers, cowboys, and a wild horse in the middle of it all. See the World is about looking and seeing, about grief and loss, and about what is truly lost as opposed to what seems to be lost. Vern is looking for consolation following the loss of his wife, and on his travels his grief is swallowed by the beauty of the world--the love offered him by a woman (which he is unable to accept) and the responsibility he feels for a wild horse (which he is able to accept).