Books published by Authors Press

The inspiration for Saint Agnes' Garden came from the book The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux by Therese Martin. Saint Therese referred to herself as "e;a little white flower"e; because she had learned in a revelation from God that, in this world, we are all different kinds of flowers: We are not meant to be alike. We are all loved equally by God whether, in His eyes, we are a rose or a wild violet.The main character, Jodie, is definitely a wild violet. She lives her life for the Lord and what she believes He is calling her to do. Originally from Biloxi, Mississippi, Jodie and her mother must make their own way after Jodie's father left them. They relocate to Terre Haute, Indiana, and must try to fit in to this strange northern city.This novel illustrates how hard it is for young women to navigate the early years of adolescence and how loving the Lord makes it a bit easier for them to know what they're truly meant for. The author hopes that, through this novel, people will understand that children are all valuable and precious in the sight of the Lord.

The story is set in the recent present and it quickly becomes apparent that the story-teller Paul is subject to many of the same insecurities and confusions prevalent in society generally. He attends the funeral of his estranged mother where he meets one of her ex-colleagues - an interesting older man: James. It is whilst staying in James's cottage in the far reaches of a Yorkshire moor that Paul meets and becomes associated with the small community who live together around the cottage in an isolated location called the Mount. Ostensibly there to complete his latest book (based on the life and works of Sir Walter Scott), Paul is soon distracted from his task becoming intrigued by the nearby characters and their uncommon beliefs and behaviour. Very soon he finds he is deeply attracted to his next door neighbour and despite his affair with her he feels shocked and surprised in equal measure by her apparent lack of moral restraint and the way she flouts convention. However, given his lack experience with the opposite sex and the distortions of his childhood he has little with which to compare the emerging situation. It is only when the celebration associated with the Solstice takes place that he begins to comprehend the primitive context in which he finds himself and the possible implications.By way of his mother's research, recently unearthed by James and through the friendship of a local notable landowner called Richard St. John Smith, a story emerges that began centuries ago concerning a band of gypsies and their relationships with Richard's ancestors. He discovers that the peculiar mix of conditions that prevailed also involved one of his own antecedents. Unfortunately a tragic occurrence cuts short his stay in the cottage, forces an end to his infatuation with his neighbour and abbreviates the possibility of his future research.Although Paul's is the voice of the book his frailties are increasingly apparent and may be seen to serve as a catalyst for many of his actions and the options he chooses.

How do you react to unexpected events in your daily life? Do you panic when devastated, or do you see opportunities for growth? Do personal disasters destroy you, or do they make you stronger? And are your eyes open to behold the wonder and the beauty of life, even as you grieve?In Our Visible God, author Patricia Aldridge-Hinkle shares her own touching and heartfelt life narrative-a narrative about a very happy woman whose life has been filled with both grief and intense joy and thanksgiving. Her love for God and for others has enabled her to see God's hand and guidance leading her through tough times with courage and with confidence in her Lord. Through her journey, God teaches her how to praise Him even in her darkest days.With faith, we can see God revealed both in ordinary and extraordinary situations, and seeing God is not necessarily a supernatural event-though it can be if God chooses to make it one. Most of the time seeing God is an exciting state of mind and an attitude. It can put a smile on our faces and a bounce in our strides as we are led daily into ministry to others, for "blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8).

A Tie Between People offers advanced students of Japanese a hard-to-find learning resource: lively stories geared to their knowledge level. Designed to challenge and entertain Japanese language students at the intermediate level and higher, the lessons feature Japanese texts, English translations, grammar notes, exercises, and vocabulary. They will enthrall, inform, and make in-depth studying enjoyable. While learning Japanese, you will discover how: a novelist solved the mystery of a missing horse without even seeing it; a Japanese newcomer to an Ainu village learned to talk to townspeople; a foster child left his Japanese orphanage for a fateful destiny in America; a heavenly princess lived among humans but returned to the moon.Professor and Japanese language expert Seiko Kawakami M ieczkowski has used her two decades of college-level teaching to assemble this collection of stories and lessons. Whether you are a college student or an individual learner, you will find that this reader brings Japan to America, bridging time and distance to give great insight into Japanese language, culture, and history.