Books

The SoMa was an area of the city that was plagued by poverty, homelessness, drug and alcohol addition, and violence. At sundown a carnival-like atmosphere emerged. It featured dope peddlers, panhandlers, prostitutes, and the down and out. Emotionally damaged lost souls moved chaotically through the streets. People passed with hollow eyes pushing shopping carts filled with their worldly belongings and raged at the top of their lungs against an invisible adversary. Hustlers whispered, “what do ya need?”as they slithered from the shadows. Sirens wailed, lifeless people lay passed out on the sidewalk, and occasional gunshots cracked above the constant hum of activity.

The SoMa is also an area where hundreds of recent immigrants from everywhere around the globe huddle together in cramped single rooms or substandard housing doing their best to survive and hoping to get a shot at the American dream. Most of the churches and community centers had headed for higher ground when the flood of blight began to breach the levees.

Henry Thompson is a most engaging and sympathetic character. He seems to perfectly illustrate the concept of grace under pressure. I found myself so involved in all his concerns, including the passages about Post Office procedures, which I thought were fascinating and informative. I was rooting for him to defeat his foes in a noble and gracious manner. Henry Thompson is a type of Everyman Hero whose struggles and victories are very compelling, because most of us can identify and empathize with him.

—Roberta Tennant, M.A.
Editor-in-Chief
Falcon Books

In Mt. Diablo’s Shadow (Volume 1, 2 and 4)– An Anthology of Prose and Poetry Compiled and Edited by Kati Short, Poet Laureate, City of Brentwood

In this age of electronic readers and books on computers there are still writers who yearn to have their work produced on paper in ink. We bring you some of them. The poetry, stories and non-fiction pieces in this anthology are created by writers ranging in age from sixteen to ninety-six.

In Mt. Diablo’s Shadow (Volume 1, 2 and 4)– An Anthology of Prose and Poetry Compiled and Edited by Kati Short, Poet Laureate, City of Brentwood

In this age of electronic readers and books on computers, there are still writers who yearn to have their work produced on paper in ink. We bring you some of them. The poetry, stories and non-fiction pieces in this anthology are created by writers ranging in age from sixteen to ninety-six.

In Mt. Diablo’s Shadow (Volume 1, 2 and 4)– An Anthology of Prose and Poetry Compiled and Edited by Kati Short, Poet Laureate, City of Brentwood

In this age of electronic readers and books on computers, there are still writers who yearn to have their work produced on paper in ink. We bring you some of them. The poetry, stories and non-fiction pieces in this anthology are created by writers ranging in age from sixteen to ninety-six.

Soleirolia soleirolii is an enchanting story about a 3-year-old boy and his mother as he journeys through a time of happiness, to a time of sadness, and back to a time of happiness, once again.

Readers of all ages will enjoy this beautifully illustrated heart tender keepsake story.

A Food Secret Just For You brings awareness to the healthy and holistic rewards of growing and eating homegrown food while contemplating the potential lack of rewards when eating unhealthy food. From pouting to smiling, the children in this book have a secret to share with you!

For ages 2 to 6.

Our First Garden is a delightful story about a father and son who start their first home edible garden together. From planning to growing, harvesting to giving thanks, they inspire and encourage us to follow along in their garden footsteps.

For ages 2 to 6.

Several planes were smoking. I saw a plane from one of the groups take a direct hit, and go down. I saw no parachutes. I was trying to make myself as small as possible. My steel helmet was pulled down over most of my face. I couldn’t see much, but I didn’t have to worry about German fighters attacking us in all this flak. I had a flak vest under my seat and my legs were pulled up and tight under my body. This was not the way I intended to spend my birthday!”
—Wayne Whiting – Tail Gunner

In Occupation Europe–Lou Satz tells it like it was during his year of duty with the U.S. Army of Occupation in post-WWII. Satz, a 19-year-old sergeant, was one of the first soldiers in the newly formed Constabulary Corps. This elite corps was thrown into the mass confusion of conquered Europe and assumed responsibility for policing more than 16 million men, women and children in Germany and Austria. They provided security to civilians, hunted black marketers and Nazis, assisted in rebuilding local governments, and provided border security.

Satz reveals the personal side of his experiences, including a chance encounter with the famed Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal and his efforts to aid displaced persons. Satz also shares the experiences of some of his friends including a battle-hardened soldier who chose to remain in Austria and a young Austrian girl whose family had resisted the Nazis. Rarely has anything been written about this critical time in history. Satz fills in the blanks for us.