Books published by publisher Riverton Press

(Available in Color or B&W - click both format arrows - or Color Kindle) “They painted our planes black, we wondered about that, then they put flame arrestors on our engines. We were told the cabin would be completely blacked out, the cockpit windows were darkened, and we would be doing mainly night work…” LCDR Howard Miner, VP-54 This coming-of-age story follows the exploits of a WWII Navy seaplane pilot who, flying in huge planes painted entirely black, became one of the first to fly night missions. From boxes of journals, photos, and artwork comes a true story filled with colorful descriptions of exotic locations, sea rescues, and the humor that was intrinsic to a Navy squadron’s daily life while at war in the South Pacific. His is a tale of seven buddies, all pilots who flew at night, slept and got into mischief by day, then repeated. Wartime was unpredictable, and whether landing on a tropical isle where the women he saw from the air turned out to be topless, or dropping wing tanks containing a strange new substance called “Napalm,” this was clearly a very different world than he had known as a college student in Indiana. Their seaplane odyssey stretched from the Solomon Islands to the northern tip of the Philippines and included a full range of missions, from search, attack, and bombing runs, to daring sea rescues. Howard’s journey through training and tours of duty is skillfully captured in his art and narratives. The descriptive verse from the artist’s viewpoint gives us a creatively told and intriguing portrayal of WWII’s Pacific Theater. * * * * "Sketches of a Black Cat" is a unique and fascinating memoir of a World War II combat aviator ~ with original and previously unpublished sketches and photographs. This artfully crafted book is a must read for anyone in search of a new and completely different view into the world of war in the Pacific and on the home front during America's greatest conflict." ~ Larkin Spivey, military historian and author. * * * * “From boxes of notes and drawings comes a book illuminating a WWII pilot’s experiences as part of the Black Cat Squadron…accounts of support missions, rescues of airmen and interactions with indigenous island peoples told in vivid but unembellished detail…a handsome volume that reads breezily and is punctuated with photos and drawings from Howard’s war years. ~ Mike Francis the Oregonian * * * * "Wonderful and beautifully real stories such as this are dying every day as we lose our WWII veterans. Kudos to Ron Miner for preserving and sharing with the rest of us the gold of his father's journals, photos, and drawings to bring us such a compelling look at life during the war. This is not only a valuable and insightful historical document but a dramatic and warm personal story." ~ Don Keith, WWII author * * * * “... Howard Miner’s memoirs are a wonderful view into the world of a patrol squadron at war. Miner sees the war through the eyes of an artist, revealing details of day-to-day life that are often overlooked in war time narratives. A wholly enjoyable story!” ~ Stewart Bailey, Curator, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum * * * * " “As a former flight engineer aboard a PBY in WWII… I can truly say I felt as though I was on Howard’s Catalina…so many similarities to my own experiences. I can almost hear the drone of the engines in synchronization. Many episodes were warm and compelling. I highly recommend this book to vets, historians, and students. You won’t put down Sketches of a Black Cat till you’ve read it cover-to-cover!” ~ Win Stites, VP-91, VP2-1 served in both Atlantic and Pacific regions during WWII, Former President PBY Memorial Foundation and Museum

Nurses work in the foxhole of the healthcare battlefield. Their work is emotionally grueling andphysically draining. This easy-to-follow book offers a new skill set to cope with the challengesof nursing and sustain compassion in the long term. Backed by scientific evidence, the bookteaches mindfulness and compassion practices to lessen stress, enhance relationships,improve patient care, and reduce patient risk. With a new understanding of everyday mindfulness and compassion, nurses can overcomethe myriad contemporary challenges inherent in the workplace—and in their own lives.This book will show you how to: Nurture others without depleting yourself Overcome compassion fatigue and burnout Decrease frustration and job overwhelm Reduce mistakes through managing attention Respond rather than react to crisesRevive your love for your profession

Truth or consequence. For Phoebe McCabe, it's not a choice, but a reckoning. For gallery owner Phoebe McCabe, life would be perfect if crime didn’t run in her family—literally. Both her brother and her love interest are Robin Hood thieves hunted by Interpol for stealing from the black market and giving to museums, an idea almost noble enough for Phoebe to live with. Only she can't. Once she begins questioning how much of the stolen treasures actually reach their intended destinations, Phoebe is caught in a vortex of danger and deceit.She races to Italy to investigate accompanied by her favorite friend-who-can’t-be-trusted, Sir Rupert Fox, and, Max, her godfather. Clues plunge them into the jungles of Jamaica, entangle them in secrets and lies, and finally force Phoebe to face what she's been avoiding all along. Saving her own neck is only part of the problem. "Some very unexpected twists & turns, revs up the storyline. Its one of those books where you'll say I'll read just a little more and before you know it, it's one in the morning. This was definitely worth waiting for, so don't miss it!" --Amazon reviewer

1177 BC: During the reign of Pharaoh Ramses the Third, Seshta, a 13-year-old dancer in the Temple of Hathor, dreams of becoming a famous entertainer. Horus, the brother of her heart, is content as a toymaker’s apprentice. Reya, at 16, has joined Egypt’s army with hopes of becoming a hero. When Reya hints that Egypt is in danger from foreign nomads, Seshta and Horus don’t take him seriously. How could anyone challenge Egypt? Then Reya disappears. Seshta and Horus set out to find him—and discover a darker plot than they ever imagined. To save their friend, Seshta and Horus spy on merchants, soldiers, and royalty, and start to suspect even The Eyes of Pharaoh, the powerful head of the secret police. Will Seshta and Horus escape the traps set for them, rescue Reya, and stop the plot against Egypt in time? Set in ancient Egypt, the ideas in this book resonate today, while the power of friendship will touch hearts both young and old. Suitable for ages 9 and up.Praise for the Eyes of Pharaoh:Likable characters and some surprising plot twists keep you wanting to know what will happen next....fast paced mystery that has so much history and culture hidden in plain sight…. You won't be able to put the book down until you learn what happens to the three friends.I teach a gifted class of fourth and fifth graders. Using this historical fiction has been a window into Ancient Egypt—its people, culture, and beliefs. My class enjoyed doing research on Egyptian gods and goddesses, and hieroglyphs. Projects extended their knowledge of this fascinating time and place. I also highly recommend it for its fast paced plot, interesting and "real" characters, and excellent writing. ...exciting action with interesting characters, a brisk plot line and historically-accurate details of the book's setting. ... An intriguing mystery embedded within a book full of beautiful writing.... Evocative descriptions which make you feel like you're right there, running through the markets with Seshta or sitting by the river watching the fishermen....fast paced plot, interesting and "real" characters, and excellent writing.Chris Eboch is the author of over 60 books for children, including nonfiction and fiction, early reader through teen. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who travel with a ghost hunter TV show, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. Her writing craft books include You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers, and Advanced Plotting. Chris also writes novels of suspense and romance for adults under the name Kris Bock; read excerpts at www.krisbock.com.

Winner of the Benjamin Franklin AwardFor the first time, four-year-old Julian is old enough to take part in the grape harvest on his family's vineyard. Through Julian's wonder, The Grapes Grow Sweet offers a captivating glimpse of growing up on a family vineyard in wine country. Readers follow the development of the grape from bloom to harvest, and see up close the animal and plant life of the vineyard.

Women of Valor: Polish Resisters to the Third Reich provides a unique and inspiring perspective on the extraordinary Jewish and non- Jewish women who risked everything to defy the Nazis. In this highly readable and educational collection of true stories, educator, public-speaker and author Joanne D. Gilbert celebrates the heroines of World War II who not only fought the horrors of the Holocaust, but survived well into their 80s and 90s living lives of commitment to the human spirit and human rights. Winner of the 2015 Gold FAPA (Florida Authors and Publishers Association) President s Award in Biography.

They say there is magic in the woods. You don’t believe it? Just ask the trees."I was blown away by the emotional journey I was taken on in both the real world and the realms beyond." - Reedsy Discovery. Jessica must confront the supernatural forces that haunt an enchanted forest deep in the Irish backcountry. Her one hope is to learn to use magical elixirs. The green one makes you invisible. The blue one changes your form. But the red elixir is the most valuable of all. It takes centuries to make, yet one drop transports you to other realms. Jessica never knew of such magical elixirs. At least not until her parents sent her to Ireland to spend the summer. Having lost her boyfriend in a tragic accident, she was unable to shake the suspicion it was her fault. She didn’t think a new country would change anything. But as she and her younger brother explore the lands around their Aunt and Uncle’s manor house, they discover a beautiful forest which seems the perfect escape. Filled with old, gnarly trees and carpeted with lush moss, the forest slowly reveals its secrets. Then, one moonlit night, Jessica hears a quiet, troubled voice among the sound of wind whispering through the branches. Three brothers, from a noble estate two hundred years past, have been cursed and need her help. Jessica finds herself in a race to save the lives of the handsome brothers while preventing a war between two realms she never knew existed. Her only hope is to use the red elixir to travel to the land of Derfaria and confront the evil Keeva. But unless she can put her personal loss behind her and open her heart to a new love, she doesn’t stand a chance. Forest of Lost Secrets is a modern day adventure full of supernatural beings. If you have ever believed that a forest in the moonlight is magical, then this story is for you.

Remember the magic of bedtime stories? When you write for children, you have the most appreciative audience in the world. But to reach that audience, you need to write fresh, dynamic stories, whether you’re writing rhymed picture books, middle grade mysteries, edgy teen novels, nonfiction, or something else. In this book, you will learn:How to explore the wide variety of age ranges, genres, and styles in writing stories, articles and books for young people.How to find ideas.How to develop an idea into a story, article, or book.The basics of character development, plot, setting, and theme.How to use point of view, dialogue, and thoughts.How to edit your work and get critiques.Where to learn more on various subjects.This book focuses on the craft of writing for children. It will help you get started, through straightforward information and exercises you can do on your own or with critique partners. If you’ve been writing for awhile but feel your writing education has gaps, this guide can help you work through those weak points. The author shares examples from her own work and teaching experience, as well as interviews and advice with published writers and industry professionals. Whether you're just starting out or have some experience, this book will make you a better writer – and encourage you to have fun! The fascinating world of Kid Lit awaits!

A whimsical, rhyming tale about a Christmas Eve snowstorm which buries one house so deep that Santa winds up passing it by. James and Alissa, the family's two children, spend Christmas Eve arguing about who will get the most presents. Meanwhile Janie, a big-hearted, lumbering dog, and her sidekick, a little white cat named Nell, brave the snowy night in an adventure to rescue Christmas for the family's two children. After failing to grab Santa's attention on his busiest night of the year, Janie and Nell wrap some of their most treasured pet-toys and set them under the tree for their beloved little humans. Labeling the well-loved toys with scribbled tags, Janie and Nell hope that these gifts will be a last-ditch effort to save Christmas morning. Santa finally does arrive, leaving gifts for James and Alissa. When the kids open the gifts wrapped clumsily by Janie and Nell they conclude that these are very special gifts intended by the dog and cat for each other. The story ends with a happy lesson about love and magic, and sharing from the heart.

Travel back into the history of West Virginia with three students as they solve a fascinating mystery. When young Ginny Lucas and cousins Chelsea and Brad discover an antique horseshoe pendant, the trio begin a dangerous trip through time, first landing in the caves of the ancient mound builders. Next the trio lands on Blennerhassett Island, on the eve of the Burr conspiracy, where they narrowly escape with their lives. When the teenagers arrive in Harpers Ferry, they witness the rowdy crowd at the grisly hanging of John Brown. They get caught in the crossfire between the Hatfields and the McCoys on the Tug River, and even experience some of the mine wars at Blair Mountain.