Books published by Koehler Books

NON-FICTION BOOK AWARDS 2018 GOLD MEDAL WINNER ';And when in the grips of a public tantrum, amidst the horror and humiliation of him shrieking and splayed out on the floor while strangers recoiled in shock, my mind lurched towards an inescapable truththat I want out from this nightmare. I want out from this child.' So begins the turbulent ride of one parent's decision, crafted in despair and desperation, to abandon traditional interventions for her autistic son in favor of a ';hands on' approach of repeatedly exposing her son to real-world settings. Autism Uncensored is an unrestricted portal into the mind of someone who had no intention of sacrificing her career or life for Autism, unaware of the many ways it would irreversibly redefine both. As she clarifies at the outset, ';this is not the story of a miraculous breakthrough or recovery,' Zack is still very much autistic and always will be. It is instead the true, real-time account of her decision to allow Zack to indulge in the very behaviors that formal therapies sought to extinguish, to disclose Zack's diagnosis in public settings, and to repeatedly expose him to real-world situations and override his tantrums regardless of public ridicule or scorn. Autism Uncensored goes where no other book daresrevealing the private disgrace and self-blame about having a ';defective' child; the near disintegration of marriage; the failure of the traditional behavioral interventions; and the mercenary way in which service providers prey on parents' desperation for a cure. It is a personal manifesto about how a socially integrated life is attainable regardless of whether a child overcomes the major limitations of Autism, sparking a new conversation which goes beyond simply accepting persons with Autism for who they are, but considers pushing them beyond their comfort zones to learn who they are capable of becoming. An unstoppable ride with jolting twists and turns, Autism Uncensored will leave you exhilarated, informed and still gasping for air.

Arc of the Comet, a lyrical, evocative examination of promise, potential and loss, follows Conor Finnegan, a handsome, charismatic, athletic young man, and Tom McIlweath, a shy and insecure Everyman desperately seeking harmony and acceptance. Over the course of several years, their fates overlap as Finnegan learns the lessons of hubris through a brilliant college career and then on to Capitol Hillimposed by an unwillingness to compromise his ideals, while McIlweath struggles with his own fuzzy and indistinct future. First loves, lost loves, friendships crafted in the crucibles of shared space and shared pressures defined their journey. In the process, they come to separate conclusions that place them once again in disparate places, with disparate expectations of whatcomes next.

Carter Rossi moves to Cape Charles, Virginia, for the same reasons as many of the town's residentsto find solitude and reboot his life. Carter quickly discovers an eclectic mix of new arrivals and historic families. Despite political and cultural differences, the groups coexist in harmony. Carter meets the mysterious and beautiful Rose Portman, a parapsychologist who is attempting to find out why Cape Charles is a hotbed for paranormal activity. Could it be the asteroid strike? She is on a quest to discover whether one of the town's resident apparitions is her long-lost great aunt, who died mysteriously around 1920. Rose and Carter's journey is sometimes hilarious, sensual, and spiritually insightful, bending the edges of imagination and reality.

Wisdom From The Jazzman was inspired by the author's nightly motivational segment on his radio show, starting in 2001. Each segment is based upon life experiences and wisdom learned through his spiritual journey. Once he began the series he realized through the many emails, phone calls and comments from those he came in contact with that he was helping people navigate their way through life. Marriages were being saved, finances restored, business decisions improved, attitudes changed, relationships were energized and life looked better. This book is a motivational and spiritual road map to overall success that will open eyes free minds and motivate you towards your realizing your dreams.

My Inflatable Heart is a collection of short stories about life and the pursuit of happiness. Many but not all of the stories tell of the author's work with disabled kids as the director of Young Life Capernaum in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Through this work, Koehler learned things about himself and the people that God called him to serve, as well as the "normal" people of the world. These stories will challenge the reader to think beyond the typical boundaries of religion and spirituality. Koehler questions everything and wonders about things that are mysterious or right next to you. He attempts to cross the divide between the world we live in and the place we call Heaven. How is it possible for God to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things? Can disabled people become God's disciples? These questions and many more are grappled with by Koehler, aided by a heart that expands and contracts like a hot air balloon.

From the Ground Up is the journey of real estate magnate Dan Hoffler, a person from a very modest family, a kid with average grades and a big smile, who succeeded in business on the force of personality and a strong belief in himself.

Virginia Is for Mysteries is a collection of sixteen short stories set in and around the state of Virginia. All stories are written by Virginia residents with “murder” in mind. Each is a member of Sisters In Crime writers group. The idea of a themed anthology is popular in mystery writing groups and Virginia Is for Mysteries can be compared to Chesapeake Crimes, Fish Tales, Fish Nets, or Best New England Crime Stories.

…a fun read. Serious yet prepared with a light and accessible touch. Highly informative. It covers a substantial range of material in a jargon-free manner while explaining core ideas, a rare trait! The volume will appeal to a broad range of people including patients, parents and many practitioners of different stripes. It is filled with solid, superbly practical advice and wonderful nuggets….radiates interpersonal and emotional honesty which adds to its convincing nature….Rarely will one encounter someone who so thoroughly enjoys working with mildly as well as profoundly troubled and difficult adolescents and their families, and conveys by word and action the respect he has for those individuals and their families…deserves to be, and I hope will be, published by a popular press for a broad audience.” 

On a flight from New York to Houston, Alex Stockton, a successful young lawyer, meets Reverend Morse. He is in dire need of a lawyer to represent one of his foster home house parents, Jose Gonzales. The Reverend believes that Jose was falsely accused of sexually molesting Chris Jackson, a teenage boy, in Crosstown Park. He convinces Alex that Chris Jackson made the allegation against Jose because his uncle, Voodoo, is seeking revenge against the Reverend for disrupting his illegal drug and prostitution activities. Alex's instincts take over and her long buried memories of her foster home background surface. Before the plane lands she has taken Jose's case- pro bono. She has six weeks to discover what happened in Crosstown Park between Jose and Chris. She teams up with Nic Wright, a handsome former cop-turned-security-company-owner, to save Jose and the poor children at Shepherd's Cottages. As the case progresses, Alex's life and perfect trial record is threatened. Not to mention her lifelong dream of becoming a judge. What she really needs is a witness...

Altitude will fly you over eight moves that will change the trajectory of your life. Altitudes theme is Your Next Move Changes Everything. The chapters reflect what every person struggles with: how to craft a life of meaning and purpose.

Billy Blue Sky is the story of a 10-year-old boy named Billy Pearlman, nicknamed Billy Blue Sky by his mother, Linda. Billy is smart, charming and intuitive beyond his years. He also happens to have Down syndrome. After open heart surgery, Billy seems to possess a new power that has profound effects on other people, changing their lives completely.