“The engrossing first book of a series, Lost Seeds addresses various facets of historical racism and piques keen interest in the saga’s continuation.”—Clarion/Foreword Review

A novel chronicling the strained relationship between two brothers born into the remnants of their parents’ former enslavement. One brother seems to overcome, while the other descends further into adversity. What happens when they are forced to face each other?

Lost Seeds is the story of two brothers, Dublin and Timothy Brisco, born into poverty at the turn of the twentieth century to formerly enslaved parents. From birth, they witness firsthand the atrocities their parents had to endure and themselves experience the continued struggles of being Black in the South. Encounters with physical abuse, mental illness, and racism define the brothers’ lives, and despite their best efforts to survive, the seeds of slavery’s wickedness inevitably spawn and lead the two down separate paths. Dublin attempts to overcome his tragic past and hopes to elevate his place in life by escaping oppression and adapting to segregated societal life, while Timothy openly displays his wounds, attempts to reject his Black identity, and descends into a fog of mental illness. The two brothers never discuss their journeys, nor the lifetime of insecurity and violence they experienced, ultimately creating an impassable chasm in their relationship.

Eventually, at the request of their mother, Dublin reluctantly permits Timothy to live on his family’s land in a one-room windowless shack. Although they are once again united on the same property, their feelings of indifference and the distance between the two persist.

Will their relationship forever be lost to the traumas of their past, or will they be able to come together and be each other’s strength in the face of the cruelties of their world? Because no matter how much time or distance passes, the seeds of brotherhood never die.

There’s no getting away from the fact that we, as human beings, can be pretty strange! We frequently think, do and say things that, if we thought about them, we would quickly conclude are far from sensible. And then, even more remarkably, we do them again.

We’re highly agitated by harmless situations, hate looking at social media but can’t stop ourselves from peeking, believe in utterly bizarre conspiracy theories, always underestimate the time and cost of doing things, can’t resist a ‘bargain’, attribute our successes to skill and our failures to bad luck, give up on diets that we’re fully committed to at the first whiff of chocolate and so on.

This book explores the reasons behind our many fallibilities and peculiarities. It’s a fascinating insight into the curious ways our minds work in everyday situations. You’ll understand far more about yourselves and others as a result, while also discovering simple solutions to meaningful problems that can arise.

Liam’s invisible wounds took away his ability to feel the emotions he once had. His untreated condition drives him to suicidal thoughts, uncontrollable anger, and a disconnection from life as a whole. He finds that his only connection to life and return to some level of normalcy comes from the touch of his wife.

After his untimely, but natural death, he is reanimated by science 60 years later; only to find that his wife is dead, a major war has changed society, and that his prior condition is cured. His only penance for being reanimated is that he no longer can grieve and cannot mourn the death of his wife that he so desperately knows he misses and loves.

Liam's journey after his reanimation drives him to question his own philosophies, his religious beliefs and the science that brought him back to what is perceived to be simple but, unfamiliar society. After reading the letters his wife wrote to him after his death and the building relationships with his now elder children and last surviving friend, he begins to understand the world around him and what his purpose is to humanity is and what he must do to protect it.

In the summer of 1970, racial unrest in Asbury Park sends three teenage friends into turmoil.

It’s July of 1970. The decaying beach town of Asbury Park, New Jersey erupts with racial unrest that propels three unlikely teenage friends into turmoil. Adam, Mollie, and Howard struggle with family conflicts and their racial, cultural and class identities in the midst of the chaos. Town and teens will never be the same.

When the smoke clears, secrets that brought the trio to this fateful time and place are revealed and continue to intertwine their lives in the years to come. The boardwalk and beaches become the setting for personal revelations, encounters with the dark side of human nature, and brushes with the supernatural.

No Lifeguard on Duty will stir a range of emotions and its nuanced treatment of race and class is as relevant today as it was in 1970.

Embark on a heart-pounding adventure into the untamed depths of the Amazon rainforest in Lost and Found: Into the Jungle. When Perci Finnegan's world is shattered by the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Ember, he refuses to let the jungle claim her forever.

Driven by an unyielding love, Perci takes an extraordinary leap of faith and plunges into the unknown. But the vast and treacherous jungle is a formidable foe, teeming with hidden dangers and unimaginable obstacles. Determined to unravel the enigma that stole Ember from him, Perci makes a daring decision: to join Lost and Found, a reality television show known for reuniting separated loved ones.

As cameras capture every heart-wrenching moment, Perci's journey becomes a desperate quest for answers, fraught with peril and fueled by unwavering hope. Armed with nothing but sheer determination and an unbreakable spirit, he braves the untamed wilderness, facing wild animals, unforgiving elements, and the relentless pursuit of the truth.

Join Perci in a breathtaking tale of love, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit. Will Perci's courage be rewarded, or will the secrets of the jungle forever keep Ember out of his reach? Prepare to be captivated by a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page. Lost and Found: Into the Jungle is a pulse-pounding adventure that will leave you yearning for more, as you witness the power of love in the face of unfathomable challenges.

"This review is not enough to remark on this astounding, dazzling, and immersive work of pure literary genius... Without a doubt, the very first line... the very first paragraph... all the way to the last two words of the book will send shivers down your arms." – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Highly Recommended” award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company

Northern New England, summer, 1688.
Salem started here.

A suspicious death. A rumor of war. Whispers of witchcraft.

Perched on the brink of disaster, Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance, struggle to survive in their isolated coastal village. They're known as healers taught by the local tribes - and suspected of witchcraft by the local villagers.

Their precarious existence becomes even more chaotic when summoned to tend to a poisoned woman. As they uncover a web of dark secrets, rumors of war engulf the village, forcing the Hammonds to choose between loyalty to their native friends or the increasingly terrified settler community.

As Resolve is plagued by strange dreams, she questions everything she thought she knew - about her family, her closest friend, and even herself. If the truth comes to light, the repercussions will be felt far beyond the confines of this small settlement.

Based on meticulous research and inspired by the true story of the fear and suspicion that led to the Salem Witchcraft Trials, THE DEVIL'S GLOVE is a tale of betrayal, loyalty, and the power of secrets. Will Resolve be able to uncover the truth before the town tears itself apart, or will she become the next victim of the village's dark and mysterious past?

**** Early Reviewers are Enchanted with 'The Devil's Glove'! ****

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "From its opening lines this historical novel from Grindle (Villa Triste) grips with its rare blend of a powerfully evoked past, resonant characters, smart suspense, and prose touched with shivery poetry: 'Nothing will lead you to guess what sweet familiars we were, thirty years ago in Massachusetts, where they called me Witch,... Powered by telling historical detail, vivid visions, and an urgent sense of empathy for its characters, The Devil’s Glove will dazzle readers who appreciate immersive, lyric historical fiction open to possibilities." –BookLife Reviews, Editor's Pick

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This was a read I could not put down. Now I want more on Resolve’s life. I want to read more! I hope there is more books to come!" –NetGalley Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Lucretia Grindle's writing is a wonder. After reading only a few paragraphs, I knew The Devil's Glove would be a novel I loved. Grindle's descriptive narration is entrancing - stirring yet delicate, never heavy-handed. Her dialogue and characterization are skillful and immersive. Lucretia Grindle is truly a master storyteller." –NetGalley Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Readers will be mesmerized by 1688 scenarios of Native American and village life, as well as the increasing belief in witches which, ultimately, led to the witch trials in Salem." –NetGalley Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This story was awesome! I was lost from beginning to end ... The author did a fantastic job of writing this book ... I couldn't put it down until it was finished. I wanted to find out if Resolve was able to help solve the mystery. Can she before it's too late?" –Netgalley Reviewer

Sacred Flow

May the poetry in this book serve as a reminder to honor and respect your sensuality.
Consciously use your senses to understand the world around and within you.
Release past shame or guilt from your body and heal.
Forgive yourself for having shared your physical temple with strangers.
Bathe in the power of your creative and life-birthing center.
Allow the free expression of body movement in the form of dance.
Be like the element of water which adjusts and accepts without seeking to control.
Faithfully trust and go with the currents of life by transforming the urge to resist change.

Embrace the sacred flow within to answer the necessary questions:

• Who am I?
• What is the meaning of life?
• Why am I here?

Let the answers which arise manifest as your legacy to this world.

Sacred Flow is the sixth in a series of seven poetry books. It is composed of poems associated with topics of the sacral chakra. The sacral chakra is the second chakra. It is associated with yin and feminine energy, sexual connection, sensuality, pleasure, relationships, creative expression, emotions, sensitivity, and fluidity.

The Chakra System

According to the Vedas (ancient Indian sacred texts), the physical body is composed of seven primary energy or vortex centers called chakras. Chakra is the Sanskrit word for wheel. The seven main chakras run along the spine-beginning with the root chakra and ending with the crown chakra. The main chakras are:

• 1 Root
• 2 Sacral
• 3 Solar plexus
• 4 Heart
• 5 Throat
• 6 Third eye
• 7 Crown

Each chakra has a different color, element, sound, mantra, function, location, major organ, and association. The flow or blockage/imbalance of subtle energy in each chakra determines the health or disease of the individual body.

Sacral Chakra information:

Sanskrit name: Swadhisthana or Svadhisthana
Color: Orange
Element: Water
Sound: Vam
Mantra: "I Feel"
Practice: Dance, tantra yoga, psychotherapy
Function: Healthy sexuality and sex drive, sensuality, pleasure, emotional awareness, connection, free expression of creativity, and fluid movement
Location: Below the navel
Organ: Kidneys, bladder, ovaries/testicles, lower abdomen, sacrum, pelvis and bodily fluids
Dysfunctions when imbalanced: Overwhelmingly emotional, moody and impulsive, pessimistic, feelings of guilt and shame, overly sexual, poor boundaries, self-critical, guarded, lack of creativity, low libido, addictive personality, irregular menstrual cycle, lower back pain, sciatica, kidney problems, sexual disorders, impotence, and fertility issues.

"Cultural anecdotes along with a cast of well-developed characters create a memorable tale examining our differences and the commonalities that unite us all. 5 Stars!" –Gail Ward Olmsted, author of Landscape of a Marriage

Tropical Depression is the final standalone novel in the Equal and Opposite Reactions Trilogy (which includes Equal and Opposite Reactions and Hail Mary), and is a poignant comedy cultured in the petri dish of human relationships.

After being deported from the United States, Lupe and Ascensión Guzman have returned to Krukrulitos, their Nicaraguan jungle village at the foot of the giant volcano Momotombo, upon whose slope a vast geothermal plant has been built to power the tropical metropolis of León.

Lupe and Ascensión struggle to readjust to life with Ascensión's large, overbearing, over-opinionated extended family whom they must support with their jobs at the Momotombo plant. They grieve privately for the American-born child they left behind and Lupe suffers from debilitating depression that makes her the object of derision among Ascensión's relatives.

But the young couple finds an unexpected friend and ally in the chief hydraulic research officer of Momotombo, an expatriate American woman with long-simmering family issues of her own that have made her into a knowledgeable veteran of emotional volcanoes and jungles of the heart.

"Nutshell is a genre-bending thriller that offers readers a birds eye view into the rigors of med-school through the lens of a supernatural-tinged, multi-generational drama." –Vine Voice

During Dust Bowl days in west Texas, a country doctor with shaky credentials delivers a baby, a so-called "monster," acceptable parlance of that era indicating a newborn with multiple birth defects.

Later, Ivy Pettibone is mistakenly thought schizophrenic due to her garbled speech, landing her in a mental institution. There, she weaponizes one of her unusual birth defects, allowing her to emerge as an alpha female among the inmates.

In a parallel story merging decades later, Chase Callaway, grandson of Ivy's delivering "doctor," enters medical school planning on a career in psychiatry. While working as an aide in the mental institution, he strikes up a friendship with Ivy whereupon their lives become intertwined. After observing a surgical procedure with its instantaneous success, Chase alters his path toward specializing in general surgery. There, he ignores warning signs that he might be headed in the wrong direction. As Chase builds his shell of emotional protection to combat the "sins of commission" that are encountered in surgery, his armor includes one rusty bolt - his relationship with a distant physician-father who never finished his surgical residency.

Relationships shift and coincidences abound, raising the question of metaphysical explanations. Is the Callaway family haunted by a 13-generation curse? Is Ivy a designated guardian angel for Chase? Or, is the saga a simple tale made complex by quirky events?

"Isabel will steal your heart with her hopeful spirit." -Kerry Chaput, author of Daughter of the King

1934. Isabel longs to escape her squalid San Francisco neighborhood. While her mother struggles to make ends meet and her older brother serves with the CCC at Yosemite, she manages the household and comforts her younger sister with stories about an idyllic imaginary world. Desperate for a taste of freedom, she takes matters into her own hands-with tragic consequences.

Distraught, she flees to Yosemite, where she falls in love with its majestic beauty. Inspired by Enid Michael, the park's only female ranger-naturalist, Isabel hikes, learns new skills, and discovers an inner strength she never knew she had. But even as she relishes her independence, she hides her grief, along with a terrible secret she fears will destroy relations with her family. And when she receives upsetting news from home, Isabel must decide if she can assist her family without sacrificing her chance at a new life.

Rich with historical detail and lyrical prose, The View from Half Dome is a moving coming of age story about hope, forgiveness, nature's healing power, and the courage to overcome societal boundaries and grow, regardless of age.

Three boys, linked by a terrible secret, grow into adulthood while sharing an unshakable bond.

David, the survivor of an abusive childhood, attempts to forge the perfect nuclear family. Instead, his wife's devastating miscarriage and David's scandalous infatuation with Jackie, the sister of his best friend, destroys his marriage. A second attempt at a stable life is cut short when David is murdered in a robbery gone wrong. Proclaimed a hero, David's life appears to have ended with a noble sacrifice.

Now released from their earlier pledge not to take revenge on David's father, the remaining two friends are determined to seek justice. James, the successful investment advisor, leaves the details to the brilliant Finch, an itinerant wanderer temporarily returned for David's funeral. After an early attempt fails, Finch's clever new plan will ensure a devastating reckoning provided there is enough time for it to unfold. To achieve his goal, Finch must also control his long-suppressed love for David's beautiful widow while keeping secret the truth about how David died.

Through career changes, marriages, divorces, infidelity, family secrets, tragic accidents and dramatic renewal, The Boys builds to a surprise climax as each of the men's lives is shattered and rebuilt.

Two classics, The Lovely Bones and The Beach, meet in this girl-and-her-backpack story—except this teenager, Carlie, isn’t merely traveling.

Carlie steals ten thousand dollars from her parents to get as far from them as possible: Southeast Asia. There, the Lonely Planet path of hooks, heat, alcohol and drugs takes on a terrifying reality.

Landing in Tokyo in the late 1980s, teaching English and practicing tai chi, Carlie has the chance at a journey she didn’t plan for: one to find the self-respect ripped from her as a child and the healthy sexuality she desires.

On the cusp of sixty, after a lifetime of supporting the aspirations of others, would-be artist Tina Gabler is feeling a sense of urgency to take her own ambitions seriously and put her creative talents to the test. Temporarily unattached, Tina takes a position with former prime-time news anchor, Peter Bright at his home in the Thousand Islands. Aging and frail, Peter is trying to finish a book about the decline of objectivity in photojournalism—a meticulously documented exposé of iconic but staged photographs that defined “reality” for an increasingly lazy and credulous public that, Peter believes, demands stories more than facts.

As Peter’s research assistant, Tina tracks down not just the provenance of his photos, but also the unidentified child in a Roman Vishniac photograph and Peter’s estranged daughter, a Cree girl he adopted during the notorious “Sixties Scoop” in Canada. But in trying to create happy endings for other people’s children, she must reexamine her relationship with her own father, and the quest for collective versus personal achievement that has brought her to this unsettled moment.

Funny, searching, and gorgeously written, Burning and Dodging entertains as it reveals how the stories we construct about others support the stories we tell about ourselves.

An Idaho farmer who earns a second chance at life finds that the past has a hard time letting him go. A young girl navigates funeral-goers, family, and the unusual circumstances of her grandmother’s death in Pennsylvania. A risk-averse young man must make a bold move after stumbling into a nightmarish government biohazard. An aging alcoholic vigilante is asked to find common ground with a teenager in a secret witness protection program.

These and six more short stories continue and intersect with 50 States, the debut anthology that surprised readers with 50 thought-provoking stories across different genres. Together, these new stories stand on their own and expand upon a growing body of work that takes place across the American landscape.

Ten Threads is a brisk 125-page companion to Richard R. Becker’s award-winning debut, 50 States. It is presented as a Kindle exclusive, a glimpse into his next anthology and future novel.

A Second Helping of Crazy

In A Second Helping of Crazy, author John D. Ottini has collected thirteen of his most memorable stories in one volume. Three stories were previously chosen as Finalists in the annual Royal Palm Literary Awards competition, and the rest are a selection of the author's personal favorites.


Stories included:


Tormented Heart: A husband discovers that fulfilling his departed wife’s final request is more than he ever bargained for. Life among the Fireflies: The simple and seemly idyllic farm life of elderly grandparents masks a dark and deadly secret. True Confession: A code of ethics which condones murder. Blame it on the Weather: A father’s revenge is bestowed upon an unlikely suspect. Killer Karma: What goes around will more than likely come around. Elevated Madness: A casual meeting in the elevator of a downtown office building turns into madness. One Shot to the Head: A romantic dinner on Valentine's Day becomes an evening that ends in humiliation. No Return Address: A retired postal worker’s past indiscretions come back to haunt him. Things We Can’t Control: Sometimes losing a bet, means losing a friend. Words to a Kill: When a wife’s post-accident behavior troubles her husband, his brother makes an unorthodox suggestion to help cure her problem. Hell to Pay: A couple of unruly youths discover that’s it’s never a good idea to pick on an elderly woman with nothing to lose. Remorse: A husband learns the hard way that murder is not something to be taken lightly. The Butcher: A butcher with an appetite for women and a fetish for collecting unusual objects.

In a split-second, Patrick was gone; that moment would haunt Alexander forever. "Parallel Lives" is an enthralling novel that tells the story of Alexander Eastgard and his best friend, Patrick Close. Alexander is an athlete and a scholar with an adventurous spirit and an intense fascination with the past. When Alexander's rival, Hector Gonzalez, causes Patrick's death, the tragedy torments Alexander for the rest of his life and sets in motion a chain of events that darkens the lives of those around him- Helen, a woman of great beauty and astonishingly poor judgment; Mark, her devoted son; Julia, the Harvard undergrad whose romance with Mark proves unexpectedly dangerous; and Giulietta, the prescient but lovelorn fortune-teller- across two generations. This is an unforgettable novel filled with compelling characters. It is the story of a passionate, illicit affair, the apprehension and imprisonment of a drug lord, the descent of his son into addiction, a suicide with no body, and a hidden gun that falls into the wrong hands.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review of Books
2022 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite

There are those who are born into loving families and then there are the less fortunate who must forge their own families through strong friendships.

At a local small library in New York City, one such family was born. And just like so many capricious happenstances in life, this family unit embraced newcomers and grew exponentially. But this clan was also charged with far more than spreading love and joy and a sense of belonging. This clan was formed by divine Providence to help save the planet.

Gabrielle Bernstein, the MC of Like a Lily Among the Thorns, is a woman in her twenties and has started her career as a librarian at a NYC public library. Abandoned by her father as a young girl and now orphaned by her deranged mother, Gabby longs for a family connection. Coincidentally, she finds this connection at the same time she inherits a B&B in Vermont from her estranged and now deceased father. This enchanted inn is under the watchful eye of goddesses of myth and legend who have been tasked to save mankind from destroying itself and this planet. These goddesses will use their powers to try and stall the onslaught of the effects of droughts, floods, and rising temperatures. But as a safety net they have collected human saviors all over the planet to erect safe havens at high altitudes away from flood waters and blistering temperatures.

Woven through this tale is Gabrielle’s inherent understanding that she must be grateful, mindful, and present in this journey called life.

"A vibrant, superbly written tale. It's a fast-paced, tightly knit, family drama with a female protagonist at the heart who, despite painful adolescence memories and present financial and personal hardship, has the courage and tenacity to confront her life's challenges head on." –Helen Trepelkov, author of Post Graduate Studies in Motherhood

"With its fast pace, well-developed characters and plot twists and turns, Reckonings is a story you won't soon forget." Gail Olmstead, author of Landscape of a Marriage

For all her adult life, Roxy suppressed the impact of two traumatic events—being abandoned by her mother at the age of twelve and being raped by her boyfriend, Spider, at eighteen. She never told anyone but her best friend about the rape. Though happily married to Carl, they both long to be out from under the thumb of Carl’s domineering father, for whom they both work. And she’s convinced that her first play—being staged at the community theater with her movie-star friend from high school in the lead role—is the ticket to that better life.

But now Spider is back, a successful land developer with a proposal to revitalize the town and solve the theater’s financial woes. When he takes an interest in Jewel, Roxy’s eldest daughter whose paternity she’s not entirely sure of, and engineers a big win for Carl in a private poker game, Roxy knows he’s up to his old tricks. She’s determined to expose him before he can harm her family or her beloved theater.

Karen E. Osborne traces the treacherous path between good intentions and poor decisions rooted in the shame of toxic secrets.

When his family is plunged into poverty during the Great Depression, Ben Taylor takes a job with the US Civilian Conservation Corps developing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A tragic accident puts him in a dilemma: does he let someone else take the fall for what he did so he can keep his position? The repercussions of his decision plague him all the way to the Battle of the Bulge in World War II where Ben is reunited with an old friend from his time with the Corps. Inspired by actual events and the people who once lived in the Smoky Mountains before it became a National Park, this saga explores how people use stories to hide uncomfortable truths and the lengths they’ll go to protect their home and family.

"Lovett’s prose is elegant and descriptive... the reading experience is a rich one filled with feelings of regret, grief, and longing. An engrossing, well-told tale of a father and daughter separated by decades." – Kirkus Review

When Reverend David Wilder gets a letter from the daughter he's never known, he realizes that an old promise is a debt he might not be able to repay. His quiet life in the mountains of Western North Carolina will never be the same again. What would happen to his parish?

Molly has always felt she never quite fit in with her family. Nobody will tell her what happened to her mother, and she suspects that Daddy is not her birth father.

She'll stop at nothing to find the answer.

A secret from a tragic past meets the longings of a lonely present.