Ruby Carmichael, a skinny thirteen-year-old, finds her stepfather leaning over her mother's deceased body. Protruding from Eleanor's chest was a pair of scissors plunged deep in her chest. Eleanor had been Jack Parade's ex-wife for more than five years. ... Jack turned and stared at Ruby, who was standing at the kitchen entrance. Ruby stared in disbelief. Her stepdad was leaning over her mother, and her mother was dead on the floor. Eleanor's face was white with fear, and her eyes were bulging out. Jack reached around Eleanor's body to check for a pulse. She was dead. She died after the one scream that was heard by Ruby, Jack, the two men that ran through the laundry room to the rear exit, and the two men who climbed through Eleanor's bedroom window. Ruby was numb with fear. ... ... "Ruby, what are you doing here?" ... ... "Dad, you were touching the scissors in Mom's chest. I saw you. Why?..". Jack Parade marries Maria Louisa Garcia-Stewart and becomes the stepfather of her twin eleven-year-old boys. Ruby instantly becomes a sister, daughter, granddaughter and niece. This is all overwhelming to a young, private girl who suffers with emotional problems, as well as, being eccentric with bouts of depression. She is considered a suspect in her mother's murder. Ruby's life is in danger along with her new family. Ruby has a secret that even Ruby doesn't know about. Her biological father, Lester Carmichael, who was just released from prison after a ten year sentence, wants Ruby. He wants her dead or alive. Eleanor's boyfriend, Boris also wants Ruby, but he wants Ruby alive.

2012 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards Finalist Murder is a ruby's curse: This fascinating tale of mystery, romance and motherhood teaches Maria Garcia-Stewart lessons of forgiveness and family unity. Maria, a widow and single parent of ten-year old twins, finds her life in danger when she is gifted an historic landmark estate after the death of her neighbor, Mr. Samuel Suarez. Maria is also the primary suspect in Mr. Suarez murder. Jack Parade, an Antiquarian Broker, who discovered the body of the prominent Albuquerque resident, becomes romantically involved with the new heiress of the Suarez Estate. He teams up with Maria, her sons, the meddlesome cat, and Detective Buddy Sullivan, who is the investigator on the Suarez murder, to search for the missing ruby in a secret room in the Suarez' mansion. Maria's main objective is to protect her sons all while dealing with overwhelming emotions, pandemonium and physical threats upon her life. Maria just wants a normal, routine family life with her sons and their cat, but her family keeps growing along with the adventures, the turmoil and the suspense.

2012 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards Finalist Bill Pearson, Photograper and his wife, Annmarie Pearson, poet have teamed up to create this novelity book, "Nature Rhymes with Natural Impressions" for your viewing pleasure. The photographs are inspirations of Bill's flair to capture nature's natural attractions in its most panoramic elegance. Annmarie's poetry compliments Bill's photographs and vice versa. Together their art is shared as a dynamic collaboration in poetry and photographs.