The Anvil

Book One of the Hammer Springs series

My latest book, historical fiction of the Forgotten War era.

This story began with book 3 when it was only one book, but needs must and four books it will be.

Meet Sam Graves and Jimmy Vauhn, blood brothers and polar opposites. As they wait to be drafted, Hammer Springs is rife with things to take their minds away from war. But when Sam falls for a girl (and she falls back), things go from bad to worse.

Hammer Springs is a near-coastal town on the gulf of Mexico in northern Florida. Be warned, it’s 1949 and 1950 in this book. Race relations and racial words were different then (I restrained myself from the truly ugly words, but…).

Note that handsome devil on the cover. That’s my 18-old-father (he wasn’t my father yet, and wouldn’t be for another 17 years). He lent his face to the character, but that’s all.

Originally, I tried to write Sam as me at 18, but he became a totally unlikable, hyper-immature, jerk of a character, so now he’s his own man, striving for a future he doesn’t think he can have.

This is a new adult novel (Amazon made it a young adult novel, because they don’t recognize New Adult yet), that according to a couple beta readers, can be enjoyed by any age. So buy it. For yourself, for your friends, for your family, for strangers… just buy it!

Note, Sam will be growing and maturing through the series. He’s fairly clueless in this one, but each book moves him further into maturity and closer to faith.

Always Look for the Magic

It’s a wonderful sentiment and an even better book.

Bonnie Manning Anderson, in an ode to her father, wrote a charming book with a wonderful theme; that magic is all around us, particularly in relationships.

The fictionalized story of how her father found his love for magic, and the zany ways he goes about learning to be a magician during the prevails of the Depression, will bring a smile to your face.

Bonnie is a delightful woman with a unique sense of humor and viewpoint on full display in this wonderful book for readers 6 to adult.

Bonnie has her next book coming out soon, this one for adults (not an adult book, but a book for adults).

Always Look for the Magic is now available as an audiobook, as well as ebook and paperback.