In 1659, fourteen-year-old Hannah Pryor is troubled by the persecution of Quakers by Puritan Boston's leading citizens, one of whom is her father, especially after learning of her deceased mother's friendship with a Quaker woman.

This is the history of Mary Dyer (1611--1660) whose efforts to seek and find 'freedom to worship' led eventually to her death. Her quest began when she and her husband sailed from 'Old' to 'New' England in 1635. They were soon disillusioned by the intolerant practices and beliefs of the Puritans, who considered all truth could be found in the Old Testament -- and only there. Variations, from Puritan interpretations of the Ten Commandments, were punished by cruel torture and/or death. Banished from Boston for protesting such rigidity in belief and practice, Mary was among the group who founded Rhodes Island, where freedom in belief and practice of worship was established.

When Terry Croteau was twelve years old, tromping around the woods on family outings, looking under leaves for frogs and salamanders, and relieving herself behind trees, she had no idea she’d end up spending over half year doing the same thing from Georgia to Maine. . . in her fifties! What causes a midlife baby boomer to leave her job, sell the house, farm out the furniture and cram all the leftovers in a ten by ten foot storage unit and carry thirty-five plus pounds on her back over 2174 miles? Well, your guess is as good as mine, but that’s what she did. Join Terry, (trail name ‘Bluebird’) as she prepares, then walks, crawls, trips, and falls her way up the Appalachian Trail, (AT) from Springer Mountain, GA to Baxter Park’s Katahdin, in ME. Allow yourself the experience of hiking the AT by living vicariously through Bluebird’s journal entries and reflections. Experience the routine and the totally unexpected, in the life of a long distance thru hiker. Learn where a good sense of humor, sweat, tears and a ‘Don’t give up!’ attitude might take you. Realize how success can be measured more keenly by your attitude than by your accomplishments, that believing in ‘you’ is half the battle, the other half is putting one foot in front of the other. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, approximately 1,150 northbound thru hikers began their trek in 2006 (GA to ME) of the 1,150 hikers, 659 individuals, a little over half, made it to Harpers Ferry, W.Va. (Bluebird was number 501) Maine’s Katahdin greeted 30% of the original 1,150 hikers, with a total of 349 completions in 2006. You will connect with some of those people in Terry’s journal. It doesn’t matter if you’re young, old, male or female, you will appreciate what you find between the cover pages of this book. The author reminds us that, “Life isn’t over till your six foot under and if you’re on this side of the dirt and breathing, you’re alive! So, for God sake and your own, live!”

About the author The author goes by the nom de plume Leoni Robens, loves writing poems of love, valour, knights in shining armour, giants, mermaids and all sorts of fairy folks. She has won a scholarship in English and won certificates for elocution, drama, singing and handwriting. The author loves cooking, gardening, painting and singing and has sung in her mother-in-law, Heather’s choir for many shows performed on stage. Her favourite authors are George Mac Donald, William Shakespeare, Lewis Caroll, Enid Blyton, Frances Hodgson Burnett and Hans Christian Anderson and her favourite book is Alice in Wonderland. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce. At present she is a housewife, but still continues writing these enjoyable poems, to entertain adults as well as young minds with some fun and magic. She believes that the “PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD” and hopes that one day her pen will bring out the best in song, dance and dramatics to be performed on stage by budding enthusiastic young actors, which would add another feather to her cape. She lives in Mumbai with her husband, son, mother and adorable pet African grey Romeo as well charming moustache Parakeets Charlie Brown and Alice Liddle. Her published books- “A Fairy’s Quill: Poetry Book for Children”, “Maguk World- Wonderland Fairy Carousel of Poems”, “The Maguk Well” & “MAGIC COMPOSITIONS! Stories reflecting sea creatures and sprites of the earth!” are quite popular among young readers. This one “THE WHISPERING WILLOWS” based on the Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame surely will not disappoint her readers. Happy Reading into the marvellous land of Mr Toady and his friends unforgettable adventures of the Wild Wood Yonder! TEARS LIKE SUMMERS TEMPEST! Tales like stories of the Wind in the Willows have secrets of trees like Willows of mystical symbolism. Different types of trees have their own meaning, depending where they grow and tales have been woven around them over the years. The wild wood creatures Mr Toad along with his friends Mr Water Ratty, Mr Moley, Mr Otter and Mr Badger show us, how true friendship is unshakable and its foundation so deep like its sustaining roots-powerful, nourishing and so strong that binds us with consolation of facing the most difficult and most terrifying challenges, also sharing moments of sweetness and tranquility. Overcoming all our temptations, vices and using our talents and usefulness to help our family and also to bring out our fruits of labour into sprawling branches of ambition, for others to share, enjoy and spread the meaning of Whispering Willows “May you cry tears so big, joyous and unpredictable like Tears of a Summers Tempest!”

"BoxedMan - I'm gonna make a movie, why are you laughing?" is the story of Nicholas Pasyanos's declaration, commitment and eventual completion of this improbably farfetched journey. The Walter Mitty that lives in us all taunts us throughout our lives to do something out of reach, and it is oh-so tempting. Nicholas succumbed to the siren call and jumped into the deep end of the pool, with the expectation he would learn to swim in the process. This journey could be attributed to mid-life crisis, dreamer thinking or insanity onset; take your pick. Nicholas heard all of these theories as he shared his desire with friends. With the help of divine grace, countless blessings, mini-miracles, inexplicable random occurrences, and the aid of an Academy Award winning editor, his film was completed. Then, the reality struck of entering countless film festivals, acceptance to some, and rejections from most, which is how it goes. But hey, how many people can claim an official rejection letter from the Cannes Film Festival? Beyond the self-deprecating, casual narrative, BoxedMan is an entertaining, inspirational and informative story of the journey that is making a movie.