Books published by publisher Strand Press

I was inspired to write this book when I was at Seaside Heights with my granddaughters Brianna and Na’Asia. We were standing on the shoreline, Brianna on my right side and Na’Asia on my left, and a big unexpected wave came and almost took Brianna out to sea. In an instant, Na’Asia was yelling, “Bree!” I had to reach down and grab her because she was tumbling with the wave as it was receding. So for the rest of the day, we joked about Brianna and her new sea family.I am a proud grandmother of six grandchildren. They all bring a joy to my world. I want to give a special thanks to my son Willie J. Harper for giving life to the story through his illustrations. Special thanks to my two oldest granddaughters, Na’Asia and Brianna, who have inspired me to write this book. All children should be encouraged to think big and reach high.

It was exciting for us to develop this book by creating words and illustrations to go along with the letters, using hockey as a backdrop. In the making of this book, we have learned that you can accomplish anything that you put your mind to. You will never get anywhere or accomplish anything without at least trying and doing something you are passionate about. Let us all look for God's blessing in whatever we do.

It was exciting for us to develop this book by creating words and illustrations to go along with the letters, using hockey as a backdrop. In the making of this book, we have learned that you can accomplish anything that you put your mind to. You will never get anywhere or accomplish anything without at least trying and doing something you are passionate about. Let us all look for God’s blessing in whatever we do.

Hurled into the time flow by a banishing spell, 13th century Edmund lands into the USA, 2007, in answer to Leona's fervent prayers for help to save her town.The corporation employing the townspeople has left, the bank foreclosures have created whole streets of empty houses, people are leaving in droves... the town is slowly dying.A black magician in his old time, Edmund is forbidden to do any magic if it is not for helping other people. He discovers and is fascinated by the magical powers of Internet and wants to bring instant relief to the townspeople, but Leona, who does not trust their dependency on magic, forbids him to do so.

Thomas Shipley Presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who Thomas Shipley has been endorsed by Marquis Who’s Who as a leader in his industryDuring my engineering days (1950 to 1965) with General Electric Company, writing about evolving technology and industrial automation activities was extremely important. Those who could use and needed automation didn’t know anything about it, machinery equipped with the new systems was much more expensive, and labor unions in the manufacturing sector, quite strong in those days, were adamantly opposed to its use. For these reasons, the company gave engineers, not known to be effective communicators, formal instructions in a wide range of subjects, one of which was effective presentation (oral and written). We were taught writing skills, but the importance of knowing what we were writing or speaking about was emphasized. It was more important to know the subject—what we were writing or speaking about and to write or speak with clarity—than it was to have journalistic abilities to be able to present the story in the very best manner. My objective in writing or speaking was generally to describe some automated phenomenon, improvement in a production cycle, or the production of a miraculous product that I had witnessed, and readers of the publications, extremely interested in the advances being made in automation and machining technology, read my stuff and that of others religiously. It was only necessary to write with clarity and to avoid “engineering-speak.” In the ’80s and early ’90s, small-computer technology was advancing rapidly, and machine manufacturers and users of the machines thirsted for information. I was engaged by a trade publication to inform readers about these advancements. The editor sought me out because of copious material I had written about computers and automated machines—using words and terms that were understandable to interested people who were not engineers or professionals in industry.

The Rainbow Tree, standing in the center of the village, has branches so large and so high that no one can see the top of the Rainbow Tree. The villagers do not know that a family of monkeys lives in the Rainbow Tree. The leaves on the Rainbow Tree are all different sizes colors and shapes. The monkeys are also different from each other and have learned to get along with each other.A very young, boy monkey named Reuben likes to ride on his mother’s back, just as many baby monkeys do. His mother tells Reuben to hold on tight so that he will not fall, but Reuben wants to play with the older monkeys, even though he isn’t old enough yet to jump from branch to branch. Reuben decides to sneak away from his mother while she is asleep. Reuben jumps from one branch to another branch and then jumps again—but then he misses the tree branch and begins to fall! Can the Rainbow Tree rescue Reuben?In this children’s story, a small monkey named Reuben ignores his mother, jumps from branch to branch in the Rainbow Tree, and falls—learning a valuable lesson in the process.

The Rainbow Tree, standing in the center of the village, has branches so large and so high that no one can see the top of the Rainbow Tree. The villagers do not know that a family of monkeys lives in the Rainbow Tree. The leaves on the Rainbow Tree are all different sizes colors and shapes. The monkeys are also different from each other and have learned to get along with each other.A very young, boy monkey named Reuben likes to ride on his mother’s back, just as many baby monkeys do. His mother tells Reuben to hold on tight so that he will not fall, but Reuben wants to play with the older monkeys, even though he isn’t old enough yet to jump from branch to branch. Reuben decides to sneak away from his mother while she is asleep. Reuben jumps from one branch to another branch and then jumps again—but then he misses the tree branch and begins to fall! Can the Rainbow Tree rescue Reuben?In this children’s story, a small monkey named Reuben ignores his mother, jumps from branch to branch in the Rainbow Tree, and falls—learning a valuable lesson in the process.

This is a story about a boy that chose to live life in such a negative way. He would bully others around him hoping to get attention to gain friends. Big Bully Bob discovered that he would receive attention but not the type of attention that he was really seeking. Big Bully Bob became lonely, bored, and nonproductive. Big Bully Bob had to make better decisions. Find out what Big Bully Bob’s decisions were and what changed his life forever.

This is a story about a boy that chose to live life in such a negative way. He would bully others around him hoping to get attention to gain friends. Big Bully Bob discovered that he would receive attention but not the type of attention that he was really seeking. Big Bully Bob became lonely, bored, and nonproductive. Big Bully Bob had to make better decisions. Find out what Big Bully Bob’s decisions were and what changed his life forever.

During a time when men think the stars are little children of the moon, thirteen-year-old Zim-ri is sold into slavery by his uncaring, debt-ridden father. After he is taken from his home, Zim walks in line with the other captives to the noble city of Ur, where he will learn his fate. Along the way, an old woman from his village stumbles in the line ahead of him. Zim rushes to Mara's side and promises the guards he will help her on the journey. As the two quickly bond, Mara teaches Zim how to see the world differently, deal with his fear of demons, and celebrate his talents. When Zim and the group finally arrive in the ancient city, Zim does his best to fit in while he and his ox work in the shadow of the great ziggurat where illness, sandstorms, and the unfamiliar laws make existence a challenge. More adventures wait outside Ur's walls, including robbers and a treasure, but Zim longs for just one thing: a family who loves him unconditionally. In this compelling young adult tale, a teen sold into slavery must build a new life for himself, thwart evil villains, and save a life, all while searching for the kind of happiness and acceptance he has always wanted.