Books with author Gary P Cornelius

Dancing with Gogos is the story of one man’s effort to make a difference in a collection of Zulu villages in rural South Africa, while fulfilling a life-long dream of serving in the United States Peace Corps.It’s the story of learning a new language, of immersing oneself in a different culture, of leaving a love 15,000 kilometers behind and discovering the unexpected chance to find a new one half a world away. It’s the story of South Africa’s history of apartheid and the effects of that sorry legacy on tens of millions of black Africans who to this day struggle to leave behind 500 years of oppression. Gary Cornelius and 35 other would-be volunteers find themselves in a remote village in Mpumalanga Province as “trainees” for nine weeks of grueling learning before they can be sworn in as volunteers in “CHOP” – Peace Corps South Africa’s Community HIV-AIDS Outreach Program – to assume front-line positions in the battle to reduce spread of the disease in a country with one of the highest rates in the world. It’s an adventure none will ever forget.

Dancing with Gogos is the story of one man’s effort to make a difference in a collection of Zulu villages in rural South Africa, while fulfilling a life-long dream of serving in the United States Peace Corps. It’s the story of learning a new language, of immersing oneself in a different culture, of leaving a love 15,000 kilometers behind and discovering the unexpected chance to find a new one half a world away. It’s the story of South Africa’s history of apartheid and the effects of that sorry legacy on tens of millions of black Africans who to this day struggle to leave behind 500 years of oppression. Gary Cornelius and 35 other would-be volunteers find themselves in a remote village in Mpumalanga Province as “trainees” for nine weeks of grueling learning before they can be sworn in as volunteers in “CHOP” – Peace Corps South Africa’s Community HIV-AIDS Outreach Program – to assume front-line positions in the battle to reduce spread of the disease in a country with one of the highest rates in the world. It’s an adventure none will ever forget.

"A stirring story of Berlin teens' contributions to the Resistance." - Kirkus ReviewsWhile chaos reigns over WW II Berlin, seventeen-year-old Liddy returns to her family's bakery only to be confronted by a new customer—Keppler, a Nazi officer. Marek, a young man with a secretive past, labors just a few paces away in the kitchen, but where do his loyalties lie? With the Nazis? With Liddy? Liddy's father, Klaus, secures a night job as a prison guard where anti-Nazi dissident, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, is being held. Klaus smuggles out the pastor's letters, but tensions rise as Keppler establishes a tenuous relationship with Liddy's young brother, Willy. Does the Nazi officer wish to recruit Willy, or is Keppler there to spy on Liddy's family? From air raids to the Hitler Youth, Liddy becomes enmeshed in a world of spies intent on betrayal. When Liddy makes a critical mistake that endangers a loved one, she faces a decision that puts her own faith on the line and her family's safety in jeopardy.Inspirational content (I): Content of an inspirational/religious nature.

Will Leonardo da Vinci ever allow their paintbrushes to touch the famed wall? Apprentice Dom dreams of adding to The Last Supper, if only fellow apprentice Romolo would get out of his way. But instead, Leonardo wants Dom to build and test his inventions. Alas, from diving suits to gliders, success is hard to come by. All are disappointed—from Leonardo to young housekeeper Fiorella.Dom becomes key researcher of the lives of Jesus’ disciples, as well as keeper of Leonardo’s many drawings. But when some military drawings go missing—feared sold to French enemies—Dom becomes a suspect. Competition, sabotage, and betrayal take center stage as the apprentices’ dreams are shattered. If only they could develop persistence and forgiveness, and realize they’re more than just disciples of Leonardo. Could it be their lives would become eerily similar to the very disciples they’re so anxious to paint? D. P. Cornelius’ second Christian novel, following The Baker’s Daughter, illuminates the lives of Leonardo da Vinci as well as Jesus’ disciples. Doug is a Twin Cities, Minnesota native, retired from careers at Target, American Express, and 3M. When not writing, he enjoys time with his wife of 41 years, two children, three grandchildren, complacent old dog, and frolicsome new cat Selah.

Dreams - sometimes they change the world, sometimes they just plain fall through. Over the course of a weekend at grandpa's farm near Luverne, Minnesota, 14-year-old Josh Lindstrom gets in touch with his dreams as they spend their time inventing, and grandpa relates the stories of some of the great Minnesota inventors. Success, however, does not come easily. So, is there anything to be learned from the inventors that preceded them, especially those of the aptly named Greatest Generation? Josh and his grandpa discover together that when it comes to dreams of inventing, failure is okay. As Minnesota inventor Earl Bakken had said, "Failure is closer to success than inaction." Some surprises are revealed along the way, and the unexpected ending soars with a heartfelt and compelling, once-in-a-lifetime, encounter. An appendix featuring profiles of the Minnesota 80 serves as a resource of the state's key inventors.

Will Leonardo da Vinci ever allow their paintbrushes to touch the famed wall? Apprentice Dom dreams of adding to The Last Supper, if only fellow apprentice Romolo would get out of his way. But instead, Leonardo wants Dom to build and test his inventions. Alas, from diving suits to gliders, success is hard to come by. All are disappointed-from Leonardo to young housekeeper Fiorella. Dom becomes key researcher of the lives of Jesus' disciples, as well as keeper of Leonardo's many drawings. But when some military drawings go missing-feared sold to French enemies-Dom becomes a suspect. Competition, sabotage, and betrayal take center stage as the apprentices' dreams are shattered. If only they could develop persistence and forgiveness, and realize they're more than just disciples of Leonardo. Could it be their lives would become eerily similar to the very disciples they're so anxious to paint? D. P. Cornelius' second Christian novel, following The Baker's Daughter, illuminates the lives of Leonardo da Vinci as well as Jesus' disciples. Doug is a Twin Cities, Minnesota native, retired from careers at Target, American Express, and 3M. When not writing, he enjoys time with his wife of 41 years, two children, three grandchildren, complacent old dog, and frolicsome new cat Selah.