Liz is a young woman and a promising painter. Beth, her aunt, is an established painter. This story is about their lives. Beth is missing near the Black Hills where she owns a large ranch. Jake, their ranch foreman, calls Liz with the news of Beth's disappearance where she is studying in North Carolina. Liz is studying art at a college near the beach home and property the family owns. The family's pasts are intertwined with an old gold mine, visions, swampland, and ancient hills of South Dakota. Secrets are revealed as the story continues. Visions called mirrors guide Liz. Since childhood, both she and her aunt Beth have painted messages at the bottom of their paintings. This is the way to help Liz solve problems with their lives, past events, and the lands they own. Along the way, she meets Ben Kelly, a Native American. He is a professor at the university and does archeology research. Their lives intermingle, both learning about each other's pasts, lifestyles, and ideals. Jake is not only her foreman as Liz soon discovers family secrets after Beth's body is discovered in the old gold mine. Many characters keep the storyline moving in several directions.
Across the years, four people, caught up in the maelstrom of a family secret, attempt to come to terms with its aftermath. From London to Athens, from Thessaloniki to Paris, their various trajectories form an intricate story like the many layers of a sumptuous cake. An inner journey and at the same time a kaleidoscope of perspectives, which has at its heart the never-ending search for redemption. An enthralling portrayal of complex emotional turmoil. I marvelled at the bold handling of time. Not only does it make the reader poignantly feel they are transcending time and space, it makes a kind of spellbinding music out of the juxtapositions and leitmotifs lyrically woven throughout the narrative. Dr Graham Frankland, academic translator and editor, author of Freud’s Literary Culture Christina Moutsou is a Cambridge graduate in social anthropology and a psychoanalytic psychotherapist working in private practice in London. Her collection of short stories has been published by Routledge in September 2018 with the title Fictional clinical narratives in relational psychoanalysis: Stories from adolescence to the consulting room. Layers has been translated into Greek and published by Archetypo in March 2018 with the title, Black Cake.
You’re never ready for calamity to strike. Carol Kent and her husband Gene were devastated by the news that their son killed his wife’s ex-husband. Gene and Carol were buoyed in their faith by eight principles, gleaned from the story of Abraham and Isaac: Over the course of eight chapters Carol explores the power of unthinkable circumstances, relinquishment, heartache, community, hope, faith, joy, and speaking up.
Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries in the world. This book traces the country's expansion southward during medieval times, its resistance to Muslim invasion, and, under energetic leaders, its defense of its independence during the European scramble for Africa. The author is concerned not only with kings, princes and politicians but also includes insights on daily life, art, architecture, religion, culture, customs and observations by travelers.
Now They Lay me Down to Rest Hodgie’s Story By: Connie L. Aiken and Thomas M. Aiken About the Book New York State Police Investigator Thomas M. Aiken was asked to reopen a 22-year-old cold case homicide in August of 1994. It involved a little boy who was abused, beaten, tortured, and starved literally to death. A little boy who never felt the love or protection of a mother in his short life with the fatal strike occurring just before his third birthday. As they began their grueling investigation, they discovered one lie after another by the professionals that were trusted to protect these children, allowing a murderous monster to walk free for 22 years and horrendously abuse six additional siblings. Until a caring and dedicated prosecutor, tenacious investigators, and world-renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, put all the broken pieces together and obtained justice for a little boy who no one ever thought anyone would ever care about. All the while during the non-stop gathering of evidence and statements, this book also includes a couple of other chilling homicides that were intertwined during this investigation with all of this adding up to a made for TV movie. Now They Lay me Down to Rest was written from the perspective of Connie, Tom’s wife and mother of six children, who navigated her way through a 30-year career involving over 100 homicides and 700 horrendous child abuse cases all coming home to her. One case in particular, the story of Hodgie, has always been on their minds and in their hearts. They knew someday they wanted to write a book about this case to bring awareness to help children that are in similar situations. Their goal is to educate police, CPS, doctors, teachers, neighbors, and anyone who is in a position to observe children being abused or hear their cries, and to give them the courage to speak up and take action. Comments from October 4, 2021 Lecture at the University of South Carolina Beaufort: “The knowledge of the presenter and how he presented it. It was fascinating, horrifying, and enlightening.” “The most moving and deep presentation I have ever attended…outstanding!!!” “Unbelievable how evil people can be. True evil in this world…frightening!” “Extremely informative. The instructor’s work experience. More than I expected. Excellent” “Totally riveting! Created multitude of emotions! Yes, I cried during the “I Miss You Daddy” video/song. But touched at the passion and dedication to help make a change when evil lives among us! Continued success and bless both of you for your caring and dedication. I look forward to your book! As an aside…makes me angry!” “Yes, this class has too many WOW factors to adequately recognize here. I gained a high level of appreciation for the focus, determination, and professionalism of our civilian police forces and especially the detectives who work to solve these horrific and unsettling crimes. I have not attended a more interesting (even though the crime was horrific and unsettling) and engaging class. The presenter was fabulous mainly because he was genuine and forthcoming in so many ways.” “What these officers go through…it is hard to imagine being able to turn if off outside of work.” Comments from May 2, 2022 Lecture at Clemson University: “Excellent..!! Want more by these folks.” “Would love other classes taught by Mr. Aiken.”
Satan's layers is like the smoke detector in the house. You really don't think about it until it goes off. Satan is a clever architect in trying to keep us from knowing and serving God. He consistently and methodically places layers of sin upon us in such a manner that years can go by before we notice just how much of an effect he has had in leading us astray. This book is the smoke detector hopefully sending a very loud alert to you that Satan is very busy placing those layers on your soul every day and it will not place your physical life in jeopardy, or perhaps could, but will place your eternal life with Jesus in jeopardy. So, react to the alarm and take measures to be safe. Satan's Layers tells of one Christian's journey away from, and back to, the Lord and hopes that his journey helps you start your journey back to the Lord as well.
