Two Confederate soldiers are
trapped behind Union lines as
Sherman
marches to the sea.Injured
and evading capture, they find shelter in a church with a brave
minister and his “family.”Thankful
for the preacher’s act of compassion, one soldier commits to
maintaining the cross atop the church’s steeple as long as it
stands.The intense story
tells of the two soldiers’ hardships, the fate of their rescuers and
the struggle to fulfill one of the soldier’s promises by future
generations.The soldiers,
their descendants and those who protected them make sacrifices that
consecrate the church grounds and make it a place where miracles occur
and prayers are answered. The
events that transpire there range from ghostly appearances to the
thwarting of a murder. Those
who are impacted by acts of faith and duty truly have the right to
thank The
Cross on Cotton Creek.
A Place No
One Should Go, Keana-eno-pa-watchee
Suspense (Novella),
Double Edge Press publishing
A
thrilling short story,
By "Reviewer"Lynn"(VINE
VOICE)
Keana-eno-pa-watchee- is the Indian way of saying "A Place No One
Should Go" but do some listen. Ben Callison is an arrogant, self
centered, controlling person. One who insisted his family go on weekend
camping canoe trips twice a month. It was something his father commanded
and like his father he demanded it of his family.
Camping on private property owned by his boss there was one camping spot
that Bill, one of his co-workers, told him about but to go no further
past it. That's like telling a kid not to do something. Did Ben listen?
After Bill had been there it wasn't long he killed himself... or did he.
Is Ben putting his family in danger taking them to a new spot instead of
their old stand- by? When an old Indian warms him of the evil that is
present at the campground does Ben take it seriously? As the night edges
in, is the terror real or is it all in Bens mind? Is what he is seeing
real or a figment of his imagination? Will they make it back out alive?
Does anyone survive "Keana-eno-pa-watchee"?
This short story has a sinister twist to it that is not one that I would
call scary but one that leaves the reader wondering right to the very
end. This would make a great made for T.V. Movie that would have the
viewer looking behind them at the slightest noise. Occasional coarse
language and hints at sexual situations.
Ghost Story! Imagine
being skeptical of the existence of ghosts, only to find they are real
and that by accident you've carried two unwanted spirits home.
In The
Hangin' Oak,
a happy prosperous couple
finds their lives and futures upended under the influence of two
apparitions thrust forward in time 140 years. Forced to cope with the
reality posed by each other, the fortunes of humans and specters lead
them to forge a relationship to help solve both their problems. In this
character driven novel, set in the modern South, moments of humor and
heart mixed with drama and suspense will urge the reader to re-examine
the question "Are there such things as ghosts?"
What people say:
"The Hangin' Oak
is a gritty,
modern-day ghost story that will make you believe. Havlin's suspenseful
plot, insightful heart-felt observations on relationships, and
infectious sense of humor combine for a compelling read that will keep
you turning the pages."
Elizabeth Spann Craig, Author of A Dyeing Shame
"Havlin takes his reader to a place he knows well, the swamp and
scrub of Florida. Too narrowly defined as a "ghost story," The
Hangin' Oak combines
early Florida history with the natural mystery that is still the
"old Florida" many of us remember and still visit.
Robert W. Fulton, PhD., Author of But...You Know What I Mean
A story
of a woman's betrayal and her struggle for emotional independence - and
the place, the people, the mystique that helped her.
In September on Echo Creek, a single ethical concession by
Gaylynn Nelson, coerced by her fiancé, forces her on a trip, igniting a
dizzying series of events. Her "vacation" changes the lives of
friends and family in her Manhattan home and in the mountains of rural
North Carolina. A character driven novel, September on Echo Creek
tells how an affluent socialite is confronted by her conscience and life
style in this story of cultural clash and betrayal. During a thirty-day
period she is forced to accept that her future is threatened by those
who profess love for her, not an acknowledged adversary. With the help
of friends, old and new, Gaylynn faces redefining who she is - and
survives an attempt on her life.
Reviewers and readers say:
"Havlin's characters jump off the page and into your heart. The
story beckons to you calmly, then holds you inside like a passenger in a
runaway truck to an O'Henry ending,"
"The book and CD combo is a
great idea from two rising stars in the publishing and music
world."
"Its strong feminine
characters steal the show. Hurray for writing with a heart."
"Pace. At last an author has
rediscovered it. In DL Havlin's September on Echo Creek,
the plot draws the reader in carefully and quickens the story to a
suspenseful conclusion. It's good to read a book that's first pages
aren't so overloaded it loses its punch. Put this book on your buy
list."
Do you
like to laugh? Do you have limited time? Do you enjoy quality fiction?
Do you hate putting a book down at a critical moment? Then this
short story collection is for you!
Go to the Table of Contents and select a story that you can read in the
time you have available! Each story has been "timed" by using
the average minutes ten individuals took to read each story. These
entertaining short stories will make you laugh and maybe shed a tear or
two. Whether you're 27 or 72 you'll enjoy DL Havlin's tales and the
"one liners" that separate the chapters.
