Forced into an early retirement, I experienced confusion, identity loss, social isolation, and the beginnings of depression. Thanks to my Irish personality, inquisitiveness as a writer, and being the beneficiary of wonderful family and friends' suggestions, I began to explore my problem the only way that has ever made sense to me-reading, writing, and talking to other people about it. I cornered everybody that I knew who had retired or was thinking about it. Over time, my journals, notes from expert's books, and conversations began to emerge into this book. Many experts have begun writing on...

On September 5, 2008, Abraham Lambrechtse died of a massive stroke. I was overwhelmed with sadness for the lost of my friend, Bram. I was honored to be asked to write his obituary, and after his memorial service, I decided that the test way to me, a writer, to honor Bram further would be to write a book about him.

I interviewed his partner, his friends and siblings. I read everything I could find about the history of The Netherlands. I wanted to understand the history and culture from which Bram came. I made long lists of everything that I knew about him. And then I put together this book,...

A 12-year-old girl named Punky Rose Bagley, her friend Sheldon McNamara, small town Ravenswood, Iowa in the 1960's, a mysterious car found in the town's quarry, a murdered man on the Indian Trail by the river, a mother in a mental institution with her mind tipped sideways, the girl's guardian Aunt Haz Limestone, a reprobate from the town living in Florida, two mysterious stalkers, and Sheriff Conneally... all come together to tell this intriguing tale of love and evil in this small town, Iowa.