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.
Shelley is a picturesque farming town in southern Idaho. It’s home to Frontier Pies and Restaurant, scene of the Great Mince Pie Caper. One day in early January, a lone Snowbird was heading south from Canada on I-15. He took the advice of friends and stopped at Frontier Pies. The restaurant boasts 29 varieties of … More The Great Mince Pie Caper
Hatchet Lake is frozen over most of the year. It’s that far north. A fly-in fishing camp on the lake opens in late June. It’s risky trying to fish there too early. Two men found that out. They were among a dozen men who flew to Hatchet Lake Lodge in mid-June one year. Patches of … More A Hitch at Hatchet Lake
Blood was dripping from somewhere near my left eye. I was seven years old and lying face up on the kitchen table of our farm home. I wanted to sit up. Dad told me to lie still on the oilcloth that covered the table. Mom was at the wood stove waiting impatiently for a pan … More A Close Call
I could argue, unfairly of course, that my friend Mike was responsible for me sending a runt pig to market so I could get a bike, just like his. You see, Mike had shown up at our one-room country school with a magnificent bicycle. It was red, with bright chrome on the handlebars, pedals, tire … More The Runt Became A Bicycle
Matthew was almost five and very tired that evening as they crossed the lake on the ferry heading home. Slumped between his grandparents, he clutched a large red fire truck they’d bought him earlier that afternoon. The toy fire truck gave him comfort – it was well past his bedtime and Matthew was homesick. Almost … More The Ferry & The Fire Truck
Not many broken bones get credit for buying a house. But that’s just what happened. It all began with a brand new relationship. Jamie and Paige were living in different cities. They were single, newly retired and looking for companionship. Each had decided to try meeting someone online. Long story short: from the moment they … More The Broken Bone That Bought A Home: A Love Story
He admits that at times he’s mischevous like a small boy. It’s in his genes, he’ll argue. That’s his excuse for how he got four of his grandsons into so much trouble one day. It all started over lunch. Their aunt was getting married the next day. They and even more family were all staying … More Grandfathers: Antique Little Boys
Most backyard treehouses occupy one tree. We were lucky. Four trees supported our three-story achievement. Sadly, its brief life ended with a thud. We lived on a wilderness farm. Our cow pasture was dotted with clumps of aspen. One of these became home for our treehouse. It started as a platform about 10 feet off … More Our Treehouse Was A Knockout!
Early in his working life, John Shelley hadn’t planned on becoming chief of a major city fire department. That came later. As a young man in the early 1900s, he worked for a company hauling heavy goods and equipment. Back then, teams of two, four or even more horses provided the ‘horsepower’ of the day. … More Grandad’s Safe Job
Early morning is a great time to observe wildlife in their natural surroundings. Just after dawn one day, I was on our deck with a spotting scope scanning a beach half a mile away. A mother deer with a newborn were standing in shallow water. The mother alternatively drank and lifted her head high checking … More Tender is the Wild
