Bøger af John Lack

John Hoff had a gift. At least he thought he might have a gift. He wasn't certain where or when he received that gift. He wasn't even certain that the capability really existed. Despite the lack of clarity, whenever the spirit moved him, John would offer a transitory reprieve to anyone who had already passed on. At first, the brief holidays from eternal boredom would take the form of a simple bike ride or a day on the ski slopes. Then John's engagements with the spirit world changed. But for all his secrets, John Hoff was an unusually normal young man. An unusually normal young man indeed.

In "Genes Skunks and Heroes," Allen Hayes ponders the enormity of the question, "What has to happen for people to treat each other better?" Follow his story, as an incredible, yet plausible, series of events conspire to place him in the position to deliver an incredible gift that will shape the course of mankind. From his initial brush with mortality, Allen Hayes adopted the unsupportable belief that he would be the first person to escape the inevitability of death. A poorly founded conviction for sure, but more a matter-of-fact opinion than a fanatical obsession. A bizarre series of events combine to deliver him to the doorstep of a life altering decision. The young man is faced with a choice to knowingly put his own life in mortal peril to forever change the path of humanity for the better. The trials of his ordeal imbue him with an unparalleled perspective. His unique viewpoint provides a platform for him to consider the question; What has to happen for people to treat each other better? The difference between the enabling of a quality life and the mere duration of a lifetime, frames the internal conflict, only he can resolve.

Brian Evans is born with a special gift. The priceless endowment comes for free. Soon he enters a world dominated by scarcity. The future politician is introduced to the unyielding economic forces of supply and demand. The inexorable powers, facilitated by a scarcity shaped world, are center stage in this humorous economics oriented parable. Brian learns the painful lesson that scarcity is everywhere. The influence of scarceness cannot be circumvented, at least not in the long run. Then again, everyone knows what economists and non-economists alike say about the long run.

As the handywoman of choice for the small town of Bassville, Thelma Nature was known and trusted by the community. The poor, widowed mother of one was also known for the loss of her newlywed husband. Fred Nature's untested heart could not withstand the throes of consummating their marriage. The seemingly healthy young man died on their wedding night. The vacuum left by his untimely death defined the next thirteen years of her life. Mother Nature abhorred that vacuum. But Thelma always knew that someday her life would change for the better. Although not taken by fanfare or folly, she had a dream. She had a dream of a better life. Then one day, that dream came true.

Francis Flanders came of age on the familiar streets of Paebety, South Dakota. From day one, he could lay claim to being the youngest in his class at Paebety Elementary School. Being the biggest child in school made him easy to notice. But it wasn't his size or his age that made Francis a noteworthy lad. It was how he bargained his way through adolescence that makes him worthy of note. A boy who braved the loneliness of growing up and negotiated soul saving settlements with his heritage, friendships, authority, the ten commandments, war, relationships, drugs and fidelity, while coming to terms with a candid assessment of his own shortcomings. And he did it all without the help of the internet.

Arthur Finger is the third son of Eliot Finger and Barbara Hand. The young man was famous in Miller's Crest. As the result of a series of unfortunate events, he was known far and wide as the middle finger. Arthur had his head in the stars. His young mind was filled with the wonders of the Universe, Space, Gravity and Time. He plotted his own path through the Cosmos. His goal was to become an astrophysicist of note. But Arthur Finger was also born with a gift. A secret capability passed down from generations through the women of the Miller and Hand families. An enigmatic talent that would change the course of mankind.

The Context of My Life is a comedic love story frozen in time by a scantily supported, overreaching judicial gag order. Thirty-five years later, John Davis is free to narrate a tale about a boy who meets a girl and falls in love. John is a likeable, well-meaning, straight-arrow college student with a tendency to self-destruct for reasons that he readily identifies as his shortcomings. His shortcomings are; a lack of patience, sarcastic wit, poor organizational skills, and the knack for saying the wrong thing for incredibly obscure reasons. He has a strong desire to stay simple and focused in order to excel in the important areas of his life. The timetable for John's emotional growth and maturity shifts into overdrive upon leaving the relative safety of his upstate New York home. With his entry into the brave new world of college life, he is faced with the complexities of navigating communal living, befriending a gay roommate, and grasping the depths of evil personified. The bulk of the evidence will lead to the verdict that John handles each challenge and not only survives but thrives on his often potholed journey to adulthood. John's simple observation that "you can't tell the impact you are having on others until you take a good look at yourself" is a harbinger of the growth and understanding that is stirring and will eventually reveal itself.

A Tale of Two Richards, living two hundred years apart. Both are selected to take the helm of a secretive unnamed enterprise. One man is deceived into a lifetime of service. The other surrenders rather than facing a life of loneliness and uncertainty. One serves the living by returning the unclaimed wealth of lost and detached family members. The other serves the deceased by sharing their lost thoughts and dreams with the living. The product of different eras, they share the same challenges and face the same threats. One succeeds by overcoming the harsh realities of destiny. The other overcomes insurmountable loss by forgiving his detractors and pursuing his fate. Both men secretly make immeasurable contributions to the world around them. In the process they selflessly stay true to their purpose, avoiding the materialistic trappings of being, without question, the richest and most influential men ever to walk the planet.

Dr. David Paine was the proud father of six and an in-house psychiatrist for a fine wine importer based in North Texas. His life changed forever with the divorce of his schoolyard sweetheart. He begins a normal day with a simple plan to do nagging household fix-ups and enjoy a friendly game of golf. Unwelcome surprises change that plan and land him in his friend's funeral home along with his former teacher from "Our Lady of the Bad Haircut" Elementary School. Together they share three final days of earthly awareness navigating the unknowns of being dead while preparing their souls for something more. David's words breathe life into the first person narrative comedy. He shares his unique perspective on these dual tragedies while negotiating the escalating fallout linked to two of life's most shocking events. Throughout the ordeal he remains eternally thankful for the divine preservation of his offbeat sense of humor.