I’m the author of a three-novel trilogy called The Secret Shepherd Conspiracies. The first, PRESCRIPTION FOR DECEPTION, has received high praise, including this: "Just finished 'Prescription For Deception' 30 minutes ago! Wow!!! What a thriller!!!! Began reading it this afternoon and couldn't put it down." -- Linda Wilson. (The exclamation marks are hers.) The second novel, THE PLOT TO ASSASSINATE SECRET SHEPHERD, also has enjoyed high praise from reviewers, among these: "It's a magnificent story of faith and hope prevailing in a world under siege." -- New York editor and publisher Lois W. Stern. Most recently released by my publisher Next Chapter Inc., is THE MAIDSTONE CONSPIRACY, the third and final book of the trilogy. I am also the author of the thriller novel THE ULTIMATE THREAT, an Amazon #1 bestseller. Other examples of my work can be found in dozens of anthologies, magazines, journals and blogs. Awaiting publication is a two-volume series of short stories, the first called DRAGONFLIES AND THE GREAT BLUE HERON and the second, MIRACLES AND MISADVENTURES. My books are available online in paperback, ebook and hardcover from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play, among other sites. I've enjoyed a varied career including investigative journalist, college teacher, army officer, vice-president of a Fortune 500 company, author, and business owner.
Ray was terrified of snakes. One day, his fear inspired a group of fellow army recruits to pull a stunt each has regretted ever since. It happened while on a wilderness survival training exercise. Their platoon sergeant, Owen Mendez, had taken them to a distant part of an enormous army base. It was called … More A Snake in the Sack
Today’s post supports the anti-bullying campaign. The story below, called The Bully, first appeared here in September, 2012. It was inspired by a true story. — Eddie Vargas was a bully. It surprised those who met him, since Eddie looked like an average kid. It was his vicious temper and eagerness to fight that intimidated … More The Bully
Friends held a celebration for our 25th anniversary. That’s where our middle daughter was tempted to throttle her father. Now, Kim has a loving soul and generous nature, most of the time. But the morning after the festivities was an exception. Here’s what happened: The venue selected for the celebration was not far from where … More “I’m Gonna Kill Him!”
Willie Nelson was performing at the North Dakota State Fair one summer weekend. A group of us decided to attend, and to travel in our newly purchased motorhome. It seemed like a good idea, for the first couple of hours. The state fair was in Minot. Towns are few and far apart on the 250 … More Willie Offers A Bonus
“Hey, come with us at recess,” an older kid said one winter morning in school. “There’s a big snow drift in the valley.” Our schoolyard was bordered on one side by a deep ravine. In winter, heavy snow and strong winds formed large snowdrifts along one bank. Those 20-foot drifts of hard packed snow were … More The Snow Caves
Chayton was visiting his grandmother one afternoon when he developed a stomachache. “Let’s make a healing energy ball,” she said, wanting to soothe her four-year-old grandson’s discomfort. She held her hands cupped one above the other, at first facing each other, and then side by side, again facing each other, and then in different directions. … More Healing Energy: A True Story
I’m not sure what I expected to see that day, driving along I-10 through Louisiana. Devastation was everywhere. Six months had passed since Hurricane Katrina. Minutes ahead lay an in-your-face encounter. It would be sad, and gratifying. The exit from I-10 leading to the state’s New Orleans information center was lined on both sides with … More The Hurricane
He saw her name on the sign-up sheet. His heart raced. It had been like that ever since he’d seen her for the first time. Hey, maybe this is how I get a date! Greg thought, his excitement growing. The notice posted on the employee bulletin board invited staff to join the company’s mixed curling … More Curling Up On Their First Date
The fathers in our farm community hated Halloween. That’s when local teenagers would sneak out at night and topple neighborhood outhouses. They thought it funny. But those pranks meant we and our families had to wait, sometimes with growing urgency, for our dad’s to set the outhouses upright again. It’s not that the outhouses were … More The Halloween Outhouse Caper
A VERY SPECIAL GUEST BLOG — I’m proud to present an amazing guest blog. The author is Casey Broughton. He’s 14. Casey wrote this story for a high school English assignment. The only direction the teacher gave the class was that their stories had to begin with that infamous phrase, “It was a dark and … More “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night . . .”
