Family Tree Fiction

She’d waited years for this moment…for him. You can always go home…but what will you find when you do. Jonathan Hansen is about to find out. For years they’ve hidden a huge secret…an island that was home to their small town, the families and friends who live there, and the secrets they've kept for generations. But danger might be right beyond the water’s edge. Together, two guarded hearts are willing to face the impending threat and the danger it poses to the tranquility of their small island home. Ainslin O’Cleary wasn’t the type to over-react but she was beginning to feel ...

Sprout’s final adventure is about to begin and it’s his most important one yet. When there’s a mission to be undertaken, you can be sure Sprout’s at the front of the queue for a spot on the team, especially when the aim is to find the place where all those banished by hare dares have been sent. He has a very good reason for wanting to go. He needs to find out what happened to his pa. It turns out that it’s quite a long journey and involves running, magic, flying, danger, and more magic. There’s even a point at which Sprout is put in charge of a train.

Through Our Teeth has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

—Southern Historical Fiction at Its Best... A Visit to the Rural South that will Bless Your Heart— —VOLUME 2 ANTHOLOGY (6 volumes in all). Faith & Family Friendly— - Daughters (novella 1): Sudden widowhood left her totally unprepared, just as most things in her life had done. It had not been her fault, but it would truly be her fault if she condemned her daughters to the same life. And she wasn’t going to let that happen...no matter the cost. - Love and a Locomotive (novella 2): Lennie M. Marshall was named after Grandad, Leonard Marshall. By age 12, Lennie could shoot a rattler ...

—Southern Historical Fiction at Its Best... A Visit to the Rural South that will Bless Your Heart— —VOLUME 3 ANTHOLOGY (6 volumes in all). Faith & Family Friendly— - Lace Collar (novella 1): What happened should never have happened to any girl, but the product of this calamity was taken over by a doctor who saw great potential. And there was that lace collar that had been lovingly made for a child not yet born. - Chestnut Cottage (novella 2): Something needed to be done for the youngest of humans who had the misfortune to be born without protectors. Hence, the creation of Chestnut ...

This coming of age story rides the ups and downs of Lucy's rollercoaster of emotions resulting from too many secrets and rules. Lucy has just turned 14 and is starting the eighth grade. She lives with her mom and grandmother, both free thinkers.

—Southern Historical Fiction at Its Best... A Visit to the Rural South that will Bless Your Heart— —VOLUME 5 ANTHOLOGY (6 volumes in all). Faith & Family Friendly— - Persimmon Jam (novella 1): The thing about raising pups is that there is no stopping point. Sort of like the chicken and the egg. Even if you love the job, it can turn into its own sort of prison. Just about the time you get it under control, something weird happens. But our Paula is a ‘can-do’ gal, and it just takes a bit of thought, good planning, and maybe an ad in the Classified column of the Wishbone Echo. - ...

When 11-year-old Katy Sue loses her mother, Edna, to meningitis, she and her family must adjust to life without her. The rural farm in the 1940s provides a natural backdrop that is rhythmic and routine but unforgiving, even when a family member dies.

It happened under a tamarind tree! An entire family that lived, loved, and was wiped out by a single dreaded disease! An old house that tells its own stories, in its own unique style! A 'curse' that wields power over generations! A young woman who visits her ancestral home, looking for answers to the questions left behind by her mother. Does she find them? Are certain questions better left unasked?

An epic story about the power of words and actions, and the legacy of violence and abuse passed down through generations - and the redeeming strength of one singular woman to overcome the effects of a horrific secret. Ruth, a clear-eyed young artist with a promising future, is stymied at every turn by men who seek to maintain power over her. Gripping and inspiring, Tree of Lives spans the 20th century, and in following Ruth's development, demonstrates how feisty and independent women paved the way in the fight for social equality as the decades unraveled.

When Pearl’s grandmother Nell dies unexpectedly, she and her family - mother Diana, sister Lucy - return to Kangaroo Island to mourn and say farewell to her. Each of them knew Nell intimately but differently, and each woman must reckon with Nell’s passing in her own way. But Nell had secrets, too; and as Pearl, Diana and Lucy reflect on their feelings about the island, Pearl starts to pull together the scraps Nell left behind - her stories, poems, paintings - and unearths a connection to the island’s early history.

When Pearl’s grandmother Nell dies unexpectedly, she and her family - mother Diana, sister Lucy - return to Kangaroo Island to mourn and say farewell to her. Each of them knew Nell intimately but differently, and each woman must reckon with Nell’s passing in her own way. But Nell had secrets, too; and as Pearl, Diana and Lucy reflect on their feelings about the island, Pearl starts to pull together the scraps Nell left behind - her stories, poems, paintings - and unearths a connection to the island’s early history.

When 15-year-old Sefina Nafo is kicked out of her latest foster home, she gets separated from her little brothers. Now, she’s the only brown kid in her new foster family as she navigates grief from her dad’s death, her mom’s addictions, and the school bully labeling her "Foster Freak". With the court date looming, Sefina comes up with a plan to reunite with her mom and brothers before it's too late. The biggest challenge is trying not to fall in love with her new foster family. As her relationship with foster mom Jen blossoms, Sefina must decide what “family” really means.

Christmas is a time for family, particularly children who keep the magic of Christmas alive. What happens though when children become nasty and fight over the wrapped presents under the tree? Six cousins find out in the Town Beneath The Christmas Tree. In the spirit of Charles Dickens, the cousins are placed into an unfamiliar, upside-down world, where they are forced to deal with - and rely on - each other.

When Troy and his family are forced to move, they take a spot on an old deserted farmhouse. The field out back is barren except The Tree that is in the middle of the field. Strange things start to happen and the family is forced to find out the macabre history of The Tree.

Following the sudden death of Sebby’s mother, his father takes Sebby to live in the family’s summerhouse, hoping it will give them both time and space to recover. But Sebby’s father deteriorates in this new isolation, leaving Sebby struggling to understand his mother’s death alone, dreaming and even reliving moments of her life. He ultimately reaches out to a favorite teacher back home and to two nearby children who force him out of the void of the past and help him to exist in the present.

The town of Eden Grove has a legend: In the center of a pine forest there is an aspen grove, and in the center of the aspen grove is an ancient, magnificent tree. A tree that grants wishes. Mayberry and Marshall have heard the stories about the Wishing Tree, but they know nothing like that could really exist near their dreary town. Misunderstood and restless, the teenagers wish for a lot of things, including being on another planet altogether. Somewhere with magic and adventure - someplace where they can be heroes.

When Rory the Dinosaur starts to get excited for Christmas, he notices that his island home doesn't exactly have the best trees for a traditionally festive holiday. So he and his dad set out to decorate their home the best way they can - but without the perfect tree Rory is worried that Christmas won't be the same! Can Rory and his friends save the spirit of the season? Liz Climo looks at the true meaning of the holidays - spending time with friends and having the love and support of your family - in a place without any snow or evergreens.

These are a collection of poems that I wrote as a teen, young adult, newlywed wife, and mom. I hope you enjoy them, and always welcome and appreciate feedback from my listeners.

Dive into "Ashilda's Gratitude Tree," a touching and delightful story that captures the essence of gratitude through the eyes of a curious and thoughtful young girl named Ashilda. As the seasons change in the small, picturesque town she calls home, Ashilda finds herself growing increasingly disenchanted with her toys, yearning for something more fulfilling. The turning point comes when Ashilda encounters a wise and gentle neighbor, who introduces her to the enchanting concept of a Gratitude Tree.