Crossing Silver Creek is a collection of personal narratives that create a story cloth of poetic prose. These narratives are sewn together with the common thread that truth, beauty and goodness can be found in the most unlikely places, from the crustaceans that lurk beneath the surface of a creek to the feelings that are dredged from events long passed.
Crossing Silver Creek is an honest journey through the events of one person's life beginning with childhood and the doldrums of summer, and stopping along the way for discovery, reconciliation, and celebration. Like any journey, within the pages of this text are hidden moments of clarity, moments that guide and direct the author past some of the most difficult roadblocks. The author explores these moments and invites the reader to share in them.
Crossing Silver Creek will challenge readers to look at life and to see the truth beauty and goodness that lies therein. More than just a collection of narratives, this text is an energy that fuels the reader to see the gifts that are at hand and to celebrate that which is the everyday world.

Bliss Wiant went to China in 1923 with the lofty goal of some day introducing hymns to Chinese Christians that would not sound foreign to them. It was a goal that occupied much of his life. The locale of his work was Yenching University, which was arguably the premier institution of higher education in China. There he established a department of music, and enabled students to discover and develop their musical talents. There also he taught students who had never before seen a western musical score, to sing and to love Handel's Messiah and other great music of the west. In less than 10 years after its first performance, the reputation of the university chorus was such that it was invited by the government of China to present the Messiah in Nanking, the national capitol, as the finale to a two-week exposition of the arts.

A major milestone in the pursuit of his life's goal was reached in that same year (1937), when a hymnal (English Title, "Hymns of Universal Praise") was published. This was the culmination of years of collaborative effort involving scores of individuals. Not only was the hymnal a uniquely inter-denominational achievement, it also included for the first time, a substantial number of original, indigenous hymns.

Wiant's work in China produced in him a great love for the people as well as a deep admiration for their culture, which he saw both as misunderstood and unappreciated in the U.S. Consequently he devoted much of his energy in the years that followed to being a cultural ambassador, representing China to his own countrymen. An important manifestation of this was his work and that of his wife, Mildred, in translating into English a number of the Chinese hymns that first appeared in Hymns of Universal Praise. Several of these are now found in hymns used in the U.S., in effect closing a circle begun when Wiant went to China in 1923.

"Lati knew his stuff and before the sun was high we were on the trail of a small herd. These elephant had fed into thick thorn scrub. We could hear them up ahead, close, but we couldn't see them as visibility was close to nil. I reached for some dirt to sift through my fingers and track the breezes. The elephant were almost stationary, languidly browsing. Judging from the contented purring of their stomachs, they had no idea we were there. We inched closer, the heat and the tension oppressive. Twenty yards; ten yards; ten feet. We could see them, but couldn't make out one end from the other, nor could we see any ivory. Big gray slabs of wrinkled hide was all that was discernable, and even that seemed to pulse and dance out of focus in the heat and thorn. Lati touched my shoulder, motioning to back off. At mid-day the breeze was bound to give us away. We backpedaled, guns ready...."

The countries of East Africa were getting independence in the 1960's and the Teachers of East Africa Program, run by Columbia University, was one vehicle used to expand the staffing of the secondary schools so these countries could quickly muster the manpower necessary to run their own affairs. I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the teachers, and this book is the story of my four years spent in Tanzania: teaching, hunting and touring. In the process I had many wonderful experiences with the people, some close calls with the elephants, climbed an active volcano, presided over a polling station in the first Presidential election in Tanzania, and hunted with ear gatherers.

I tried to skim Dan's book after we returned from Africa. But it's not the sort of piece you should skim. I really enjoyed all of it, but especially the writer's voice and consciousness -- young, male, enthusiastic, brash, reflective, smart, brave, appreciative and oh so full of life! I loved it!

Dr. Rudy Martin, retired, Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington.

I want to add that Dan's writing brought back for me the absolute beauty and wonder of East Africa.

Dr. Gail Martin, retired Antioch University, Seattle, Washington

The Great Depression of the 1930s was a challenging time for most families- especially those in the "Dust Bowl" states such as Oklahoma. This is a true story of a young boy born just three months before the "Crash of 1929", told with reflections on his growing up in Ada, Oklahoma, during the 1930s and 1940s as his and other neighborhood families struggled for survival and then recovered as the nation began to experience the "Happy Days are Here Again!" promised by a new president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The book covers the childhood and youth years- ending with high school graduation when writer recognizes that he has "miles to go before I sleep". Young Oliver "hawked" newspapers in Ada's downtown business area as a seven-year old, moved on to paper routes and other jobs and learned important life skills through family, church, work, Scouting, neighborhood activities, and especially, as he became "the eyes" for a loving, blind grandfather who, despite that handicap, ran a small neighborhood store and taught the young man how to "see with the mind's eye".

People and events remembered from childhood days are sometimes part fact and part perception. The people existed and the events occurred. The blending of reality with the thoughts and impressions left in the mind of a young child become the memories of an adult and are shared so that today's generation and future generations will know what life was like in that era. These are reflections on the joys and trials- neighborhood incidents, play, the murder of a neighbor, falling in love- memories of one person from the generation which was the smallest in number of all recent generations and one which is rapidly disappearing.

This is the story of a secondary school principal who makes a difficult decision to give up the security of his profession to follow his spirit guide's advice to purchase a remote run-down hunting and fishing lodge in Alaska.

Making the transition from wearing a suit and tie and shaving every working day to wearing hip boots, a wool shirt and growing a full beard was a pleasant change.

Sabo enjoyed the years spent working with the teachers and students at various schools, but dealing with mechanical problems such as generators, boats, motors and airplanes, although at times exasperating, was a significant change of pace from dealing with the behavior problem of 900 students and their parents.

Reviews

"Fabulous, this book is true to the Alaskan lifestyle." - Bobbie Breithaupt, Travel Agent, Susan Parr Travel

"A great book, full of adventure. I was fascinated with the book, and I could not put it down." - Suzanne Eaton, Vice President, Client Manager, Premier Banking, Bank of America.

"Everyone should read it." - Dave Waterbury, retired.

"Very enjoyable reading." - Steve Gilchrist, Owner, Landscape Northwest.

"If you have ever wanted to follow your dreams but have been afraid to do it, Barney's book is a must read. This book is for pure people pleasure and looks at how different we all are and the good in most of us. As you read, you will experience emotions of laughter, tears, fear and a zest for life in a beautiful land. Enjoy! I did." - Gail Frick, Investment Representative, Ed Jones.

"I read the book twice. A great story of modern day adventure of someone not afraid to live their dream." - Don Wolf, Owner, Wolf Woodworks

The life and Times of Dr. J. P. Eustace is an account of how a man with faith in God, a positive mental attitude, dedication to unselfish service, and a commitment to educate the poor, triumphed over colonialism and mainstream religious doctrine to become one of the greatest West Indians of the twentieth century. His life story embodies the history of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for almost all of the twentieth century. And, although his initiatives in education were made without regard for political influence or financial rewards, they are generally recognized as having significant impacts on societies in the Caribbean, North America, and Europe.

John Parmenas Eustace was born in Mayreau, St. Vincent, then a British colony in the West Indies, in 1905. He obtained an early education under a system that groomed him for life among the elites of British colonial society. With his family roots in the middle class elites, and also in the powerful European plantation-owners class (plantocracy), one would not have predicted that the young John Eustace would mature to be a revered name in the lives of the masses in his homeland, and a contributor to the struggle for political liberation in the Caribbean.

The author examined the life of Dr. J. P. Eustace within the context of Christianity and twentieth century history. Third World struggles against colonialism and imperialism, world wars, the communist-capitalist cold war, international banana war, Rastafarianism, West Indies Cricket, and Caribbean music (Calypso, Reggae, and Soca) illustrate the times in which Dr. Eustace lived, and the pages of the book. Consequently, this book will appeal to a wide readership, including Christians and non-Christians alike. Furthermore, it will be particularly useful to those interested in Third World political and economic development, and for developing individual plans to meet the challenges of modern life.

The lessons of the Life and Times of Dr. J. P. Eustace are many. But the greatest lesson of all is that we can make wise decisions based on unwavering belief and willingness to take positive actions for the glory of God. This lesson is timeless in appeal and if heeded will contribute to a full and useful life in this world.

The book is intended as an educational source for both children and adults. It will be particularly enlightening to those seeking to understand Caribbean history and its connections to international politics and colonialism, students of third world economics, investors, and others with interest in the Caribbean, particularly in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Readers will laugh, cry and rage as Elizabeth Feinman, passionate about her job, her students and the issues of the day, tumbles from grace the more deeply involved she gets in trying to improve all three.

Set in a junior-senior high school in the nineties, this story reveals what passes for standards and discipline and how a school administration, eager for national attention, can cook the books, shut down criticism, avoid critical evaluation and rid itself of whomever it cares to. The narrative, which spans four decades, touches on raising the mantel for women, introducing sports to girls and adapting to societal changes. It then follows a school district's efforts to rid itself of a thorn in its side.

As Ms. Feinman stands up to career ending challenges, readers will no longer believe that teaching is easy; teachers don't care; top-down management improves what goes on in classrooms; tenure protects teachers; and that a strong professional association is unnecessary if teachers are good at what they do.

The book "Seven Months as a Transient" appeals to a wide range of readers both young and old, men and women. Many people have asked or at least considered asking the question to transients, "why don't you get a job and somewhere to live?" Have they ever considered the thought, maybe the person doesn't want to, or it's quite possible they're happy as they are. It could be like this book, "Seven Months as a Transient", where the author lived on the streets completely by choice rather than consequence.

This book serves to satisfy curiosity for those who have been interested at some point in their life, of how a person on the streets lives, and what they go through. Of course each individual person living on the streets experiences different occurrences like anybody, but have we ever read a candid step by step seven month journey like this one?

Finally the EMT's were able to transfer my unconscious body to the Trauma One helicopter. The helicopter rose with a swooshing sound and began the flight to the Jacksonville University Hospital Trauma Center.

While Allan Ogot's circuits of influence have been very wide, and while he has participated in conferences and forums around the world, he has never yielded his intellectual and personal anchorage in Kenya - though he has had numerous opportunities to accept distinguished chairs overseas. Extraordinarily, Allan Ogot has sustained his incredible level of service and scholarship through shifting and challenging conditions within Kenya and within Africa, navigating changing economic and political circumstances. His steady hand and persistent commitment to the highest ideals of scholarly engagement and community provide remarkable model for all who are dedicating themselves and will dedicate themselves to Africanist scholarship. This autobiography provides a commentary on the history of Kenya as seen through Allan Ogot's life experiences.

What's Shaking The School reveals the school community through the eyes of a seasoned educator and school leader. With candor and caring, humor and pathos, the experiences of one elementary principal shed light upon other questions we have all pondered:

How do students at school react to home situations, outside events, teacher personalities and curriculum?

What do young people want to know about maturation?

How do they view the adults who work with them?

What is the most positive, powerful thing that can happen for a child at school?

How do parents react when their child is affected by school situations?

How do teachers and administrators cope with curriculum changes, student challenges and "difficult" parents?

Are all those hours teachers spend over report cards really worth it?

How does the school secretary keep smiling?

Is there any power in the principalship?

How one person dealt with the forces that impact our schools is the main theme of What's Shaking The School. This school principal kept a daily journal as she worked through her twelve years in two large Victoria schools. Memos, letters, student work and journal entries give immediacy and integrity to this very personal account of a role everyone has opinions about and few actually understand. Neither a manual nor a simple collection of amusing anecdotes, What's Shaking The School will appeal to anyone who has pondered the real work of its appointed leader.