The Oxford Connection

Betrayal. Murder. A conspiracy unravels in the shadows of the Cold War’s end.

Maggie Stewart never imagined that her quiet life as a Master’s student at Oxford University would entangle her in the dark, personal turmoil of her Russian professor, Nicholas Stowkovsky. When Nicholas’s wife vanishes under suspicious circumstances during a trip to former East Germany, Maggie is pulled into a web of intrigue far beyond the academic world.

Desperate to find his wife, Nicholas embarks on a dangerous journey to Germany, where his fate and Maggie’s become dangerously intertwined. As secrets are exposed and tensions rise, their paths collide in a final, explosive confrontation.

Das Einzige Kind / The Only Child

Christian is the epitome of the modern working youth who goes out with the love of his life, Yolanda. He finds meaning in the realm of family relationships, where he reconnects with his half-sister Amelia on a holiday to Sweden. Through his working relationship, he meets his boss, who is his uncle when he works as a scientist. As he gains in popularity with his acting career, he is able to forge his career as a scientist too at the same time. The book emphasizes the importance of real day romance and family relationships in a modern working world.

Guess Who? Murder in a Village

In the stillness of a quiet village night, a murder shatters the peace. A newly appointed detective, along with his determined partner, Officer Smith, is sent to unravel the mystery. As they delve deeper, they uncover secrets that suggest there’s far more to this village than meets the eye.

With a dead body, five witnesses, a cunning murderer on the loose, and a myriad of questions, the detective team faces a daunting task. Will they catch the killer before time runs out? Get ready for a thrilling game of Guess Who!

The Bittersweet Voyage of the Golden Ship Hatteras

THE BITTERSWEET VOYAGE OF THE GOLDEN SHIP HATTERASBy Ira David Wood IIIA deeply moving love storyset on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.A writer’s loving tributeto a place, its history, and its people.“An absolutely beautifully written love story! David Wood writes with the grace of the greats in this compelling novel about life on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Every word and page is to be savored in this historically authentic novel that will make you smile, laugh, sigh, cry, and cheer. The characters are colorful and believable, and perfectly placed in the narrative. This is more than a love story. It’s a rich and lively history lesson from an author who has spent much of his life listening to the people who have lived in this magical place.”Bill Leslie, composer of ten musical albums and author of the 2008 book Blue Ridge Reunion.“Love should dance,’ an unforgettable woman says toward the end of this powerful book, David Wood’s timeless love song to the Outer Banks, a book where his words dance. Wood, a wonderful director and actor, once again brings his storytelling art to the novel genre in this fine book. It’s the real thing.”John Railey, author of the Outer Banks top-sellers The Lost Colony Murder on the Outer Banks: Seeking Justice for Brenda Joyce Holland and Andy Griffith’s Manteo: His Real Mayberry.

The Basic Economic Framework of Sustainability

The number of questions related to climate, pollution, mass extinction, threats from technology, are on a rise. How to understand our place within the environment, how to create a link between our economy and the environment, how to evaluate natural resources compared to market values?

This book is seeking answers to the questions what sustainability means, what happens when our economy, our practice, our life, our political-economic establishment are unsustainable, if the reasonable and theoretically optimal use of resources does sum up to sustainability on the global scale, how technology affects sustainability, if there is anything missing from the Demand-Supply graph.

My work intends to answer the less pronounced questions like how to make decisions if our way of life is sustainable or not; in case our answer is not, what we should take into consideration when we look for the way forward.

The Roadside Fairies Save Christmas

Christmas, a time of joy for Father Christmas, his elves, and the creatures who all support this special magical time. Preparations have been planned meticulously to ensure that on Christmas Eve, Father Christmas and his skilled reindeer fly all over the world to deliver their gifts.

Jouka, a reindeer of high standing with the herds, has been requested to meet with Father Christmas. Excitedly, he bids farewell to his family and gallops off. Not long into his journey, he sees a flash of light coming from underground, feels an unknown sensation, and falls to the ground, unresponsive. Who or what has done this to such a beautiful creature is not known, and why at such a crucial time? An evil presence begins to be felt by all in Lapland.

Unexpected Endings

There are said to be two types of writers: those who meticulously plot their stories before ever setting pen to paper, and those who dive headfirst into a blank page, trusting that meaning will emerge through the process. I firmly belong to the latter group.

When I began writing proper short stories – rather than scribbles on the backs of bus tickets – I never imagined they would one day form a collection. But as the stories accumulated, I realized there might be enough to satisfy the growing number of readers who had enjoyed them and were eager for more.

My imagination is a restless and untamed force, often pulling me in unexpected directions, making each story a new adventure in creativity. I delight in experimenting with words, stretching and reshaping them into fresh contexts. Unexpected Endings is driven by this love of storytelling, blending my interests in science and folklore – two endless sources of inspiration.

In this collection, you’ll find stories like Azrael, where a goldfinch holds far more meaning than meets the eye, and Light and Dark, where nothing is quite what it seems.

The Bitch in Disguise

One woman portrays two different faces. One looks angelic, while the other is out for what she can get. She has an insatiable lust for sex and does not really care who gets hurt along the way; she cannot see that she is doing anything wrong. But the tables do turn on her, and she has to live and pay the final price.

Edna the Witch Is At It Again

Anyone who has read the first Edna the Witch book will know how amusing she happens to be. If you are reading about her for the first time you will see how she has a way of living that is the opposite to ours. Edna is very funny and gets into all sorts of trouble. She has a different take on life and who wouldn’t when; you are centuries old. Edna can be hilarious when she’s bossing everyone around and can always drum up a spell to sort anyone out who upsets her. Sometimes she’s an adorable character and sometimes she isn’t. We’re often left wishing that we could use her methods when someone upsets us. But, no, only Edna can get away with it.When Edna gets into trouble, she can’t understand what all the fuss is about. No-one can send her to her room, stop her allowance or ground her, because Edna is Edna and ultimately, she’s in charge! Some of the things she does are unbelievable.She goes uninvited to the King and Queen’s coronation, tells the captain of her holiday aeroplane how to fly and chooses another way to travel home. What will she do next?

Reinforcing the Meeks Family Bubble, Against People with Sharp Pins

Mr. Meeks is practically giddy: he’s finally won back the woman of his dreams. Together, they embark on a brand-new adventure, continually adding joy to their close-knit family bubble. Mr. Meeks, once doubtful he’d ever know the joys of fatherhood, now finds himself relishing the unexpected bliss of being both a father and a grandfather.

Life for the Meeks Family is brimming with good fortune: from a lucky raffle win to a swiftly expanding business, and from rediscovering a forgotten holiday home to uncovering the spoils of a long-ago bank robbery. Yet, amidst the highs, life throws its challenges their way. Three funerals and a rushed wedding leave the family clinging to each other for support, navigating the waves of emotion together.

Through it all, the Meeks Family exemplifies love, honour, and remembrance for those no longer with them while eagerly supporting those yet to come. This heartwarming tale is a celebration of life, love, and family – a poignant reminder to cherish what we have and to hold tight to those we love, never letting go.

Equines and Engines

Veterinary nurse Esther Willard loves her work and enjoys spending time with horse trainer Morgan and farrier Brock. However, an unexpected confession nearly shatters the friendship she’s always cherished.

When tragedy strikes, it takes a series of destructive events and looming danger to force a decision that changes her life forever. Just as she begins to find her footing, a shocking twist arrives in the form of a motorsport-obsessed stranger who ignites her passion for both horses and engines. But can she handle a man who constantly reminds her of the past?

As doubts and mistrust plague their long-distance relationship, unforeseen circumstances threaten to destroy any hope of a future together.

In this story of friendship, emotional turmoil, and courage, Esther must confront her grief and face the lurking evil. Will she stand alone, or will she find the strength to overcome it with him by her side?

Art of Love

A new term begins at the Worcester Institute of Fine Art, where the world-famous paintings aren’t the only thing catching attention. Professor Philip Denton, the strikingly handsome art historian, notices a young student lurking in the shadows. But this isn’t just any student: she’s destined to become a master of fine art. Behind her baggy clothes and quiet demeanour, though, lies a web of secrets Philip has yet to uncover.

Meanwhile, the seductive and manipulative Alexia Millward has plans of her own. Determined to keep the divine professor for herself, she uses every wicked trick in the book to ensnare him. Amidst these schemes, Olivia Whitmore, a lonely, isolated teenager burdened by tragedy, wonders if she will ever find the happiness and love she’s never dared to dream of. Will her life ever be normal again, or is she caught in a drama far more dangerous than she realizes?