Surfers read the patterns of the sea like others read a book. For them, the organization of swells and currents and the curling folds of the waves are elements of a natural language, as coherent in structure and meaning as any taught in school. Each of the eighteen stories in this collection is a raw glimpse of surf life-from sliding into cold, stiff neoprene to experiencing the ecstasy of the Pure Art of Surfing. Most previously published in magazines over the past thirty-five years, the stories in this collection capture the movement, mythology, fantasy, and philosophy of surf life and culture on the sweet and ragged wild edge of beauty.

A family trip turns into a deadly adventure when Punkin and Boo stumble onto the operations of a ruthless gang of marijuana smugglers. When the gang discovers that Boo's dad is there to buy land for a resort, they kidnap the girls' families to keep them from discovering the gang's secret pot gardens. With the help of an undercover DEA agent, the girls escape into the untamed Sinkyone Wilderness on the wild Lost Coast of northern California. They face much danger as they seek to elude the gang, find their parents, and bring the criminals to justice. Pursued by a desperate gangster known only as "El Fuente" and some very evil fallen angels, the girls discover anew the reality of God's protecting hand over them, and the wonder of lost souls coming to know their Savior, They also find unlooked-for help from some mysterious treasure hunters, a guardian angel, and their old friend Jack Wilson, as they solve the mystery of the Lost Coast.

New Jersey and the Great War (PB) by Richard J. Connors, Ph.D. With this insightful analysis, Richard J. Connors Ph.D. commemorates the contribution of the State of New Jersey and its citizens on the centennial anniversary of World War I. Because of its coastal location and much-needed industry, New Jersey played a significant role both prior to and during America’s declared involvement. Historical detail brings to life pre-war America and the daily lives of those who would sacrifice so much. From immigration to industry and infrastructure, we see the factors that contributed to the war effort. Well before America’s formal entry to the war, supplies and volunteers to European forces shaped public perception and involvement and laid the groundwork. Once war was declared, the bulk of New Jersey’s National Guard units, draftees, and volunteers served in two US Army Divisions, the 29th and the 78th; their roles in particular are meticulously researched. New Jersey and the Great War offers a fresh look at the background and aftermath of a state uniquely poised in its preparation for world-wide war. (2017, Paperback, 146 pages)