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POEMS TO PONDER
THE DRAGON AND THE ROSE
Both Good and Evil share the blame
When mortals dare to play the game.
But Good shall always win the night
When love transcends our deepest fright.
Come Wizard weave your secret charm
And keep us safe from spells that harm.
Hold at bay the unknown force
That's wielded from a hidden source.
Man so frail yet brave of heart,
Will boldly swear to do his part.
Yet ancient vows still rule our fate
From far beyond the Dragon Gate.
Both Good and Evil share the blame
When mortals dare to play the game.
But Good shall always win the night
When love transcends our deepest fright.
Come Wizard weave your secret charm
And keep us safe from spells that harm.
Hold at bay the unknown force
That's wielded from a hidden source.
Man so frail yet brave of heart,
Will boldly swear to do his part.
Yet ancient vows still rule our fate
From far beyond the Dragon Gate.
PROMISE TO THE LIGHT BRIGADE
At thirty and four
I was sent off to war
For The Times, St. George, and the Queen.
But all truths were laid bare
Pain and death waited there
Foolish pride and man's greed intervened.
Was it just for the key
To the church by the sea
That men died so brave and so young?
With blind faith each one fought.
Precious freedom they sought.
And their courage shall not go unsung.
I witnessed it all
As they went to the wall
As they charged up that valley outnumbered.
I'll let no man forget
The dark hell that was met.
By the honored, the gallant, six hundred.
Garrick Allen,
Special Correspondent-The Times
At thirty and four
I was sent off to war
For The Times, St. George, and the Queen.
But all truths were laid bare
Pain and death waited there
Foolish pride and man's greed intervened.
Was it just for the key
To the church by the sea
That men died so brave and so young?
With blind faith each one fought.
Precious freedom they sought.
And their courage shall not go unsung.
I witnessed it all
As they went to the wall
As they charged up that valley outnumbered.
I'll let no man forget
The dark hell that was met.
By the honored, the gallant, six hundred.
Garrick Allen,
Special Correspondent-The Times
LEONORA'S LAMENT
You look at my eyes but see my heart.
You hear me even when I can’t speak what I feel.
But best of all is when we can be alone-together.
Each in his own separate world, yet touching.
And though you love me in your own special way
You must answer a call that I don’t understand
And seeing your back as you walk out the door
Is the saddest thing I know.
So don’t speak of tomorrow for you may not be here,
But tell me what you can about today.
You look at my eyes but see my heart.
You hear me even when I can’t speak what I feel.
But best of all is when we can be alone-together.
Each in his own separate world, yet touching.
And though you love me in your own special way
You must answer a call that I don’t understand
And seeing your back as you walk out the door
Is the saddest thing I know.
So don’t speak of tomorrow for you may not be here,
But tell me what you can about today.
Click to read an excerpt from the book!
Click to read an excerpt from the book!
THE DRAGON AND THE ROSE
He was the Dragon of Normandy.
She was the rose of Flanders.
They met in the North of England, and together
they changed the course of human events.
Sir Branoc Valtaigne, ordered to Northumbria by King William II, fights to keep peace along the Scottish border. He is a formidable warrior, wise and battletested, but as he honors his vows to God, king, and country a young woman’s smile proves to be his undoing.
Martanzia Verheire, tricked into standing as good faith hostage for Flanders, seeks freedom from castle Bamburgh and love from Sir Branoc. As she clings to the Celtic dragon statue given to her by her mother, she leads them all to the brink of an era where true magic will be gone forever but where dreams can still come true.
(cover art by Nicola Martinez)
E-book or paperback available September 2009 - (Check back here for updates or subscribe below)
He was the Dragon of Normandy.
She was the rose of Flanders.
They met in the North of England, and together
they changed the course of human events.
Sir Branoc Valtaigne, ordered to Northumbria by King William II, fights to keep peace along the Scottish border. He is a formidable warrior, wise and battletested, but as he honors his vows to God, king, and country a young woman’s smile proves to be his undoing.
Martanzia Verheire, tricked into standing as good faith hostage for Flanders, seeks freedom from castle Bamburgh and love from Sir Branoc. As she clings to the Celtic dragon statue given to her by her mother, she leads them all to the brink of an era where true magic will be gone forever but where dreams can still come true.
(cover art by Nicola Martinez)
E-book or paperback available September 2009 - (Check back here for updates or subscribe below)
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LADY GALLANT
Disowned by her father and still mourning the death of her fiancé, Josephine Posey joins Florence Nightingale’s brigade of nurses bound for the Black Sea. Thousands of British soldiers desperately await these angels of mercy and a new life awaits Josie. It is amidst the chaos of death and despair that she finds a spark of hope, lighting the flame once more inside her soul.
In search of the truth, Garrick Allen, one of Britain’s first war correspondents also journeys to the Crimean Peninsula. To him the soldiers seem all but abandoned by Queen and country, and as he smokes his cheroots and makes friends with a bottle, he writes his bold but honest dispatches for The Times. Not wanting anything more than to finish his job and go home, Garrick is blind-sided by a nurse with attitude who offers him a new slant on life and a reason to love.
(cover art by Nicola Martinez)
E-book or paperback available NOW! - (Check back here for updates or subscribe below)
Disowned by her father and still mourning the death of her fiancé, Josephine Posey joins Florence Nightingale’s brigade of nurses bound for the Black Sea. Thousands of British soldiers desperately await these angels of mercy and a new life awaits Josie. It is amidst the chaos of death and despair that she finds a spark of hope, lighting the flame once more inside her soul.
In search of the truth, Garrick Allen, one of Britain’s first war correspondents also journeys to the Crimean Peninsula. To him the soldiers seem all but abandoned by Queen and country, and as he smokes his cheroots and makes friends with a bottle, he writes his bold but honest dispatches for The Times. Not wanting anything more than to finish his job and go home, Garrick is blind-sided by a nurse with attitude who offers him a new slant on life and a reason to love.
(cover art by Nicola Martinez)
E-book or paperback available NOW! - (Check back here for updates or subscribe below)
IRON HEART
England: circa. 879 A.D.
In the time of King Aelfred the Great
With the heart of a warrior and the soul of a poet, Faran Kilbraun travels far from home in search of the sword and shield of his ancestors. Protecting the ancient relics was his responsibility. Now, to regain his honor, he must recover the stolen artifacts and battle a life-long enemy.
Following the accidental death of her cruel husband, Leanora Wrenn is wrongly accused of his murder. Forced into exile, a small north shore island becomes her place of lonely refuge. When Faran discovers Leanora's remote sanctuary, both their lives are changed forever.
Destined to become comrades-in-arms, they fight side by side. Ending up in one another’s arms, they find redemption and everlasting love.
(cover art by Nicola Martinez)
E-book or paperback available 2011! - (Check back here for updates or subscribe below)
England: circa. 879 A.D.
In the time of King Aelfred the Great
With the heart of a warrior and the soul of a poet, Faran Kilbraun travels far from home in search of the sword and shield of his ancestors. Protecting the ancient relics was his responsibility. Now, to regain his honor, he must recover the stolen artifacts and battle a life-long enemy.
Following the accidental death of her cruel husband, Leanora Wrenn is wrongly accused of his murder. Forced into exile, a small north shore island becomes her place of lonely refuge. When Faran discovers Leanora's remote sanctuary, both their lives are changed forever.
Destined to become comrades-in-arms, they fight side by side. Ending up in one another’s arms, they find redemption and everlasting love.
(cover art by Nicola Martinez)
E-book or paperback available 2011! - (Check back here for updates or subscribe below)
Click to read an excerpt from the book!
