Books
Word Forge Books prides itself on bringing you the world through words, with titles that intrigue, explore and celebrate what’s wondrous about the world. In this too-busy world that flies by so fast we miss half of it, give yourself the gift of time with a good book. Fresh ideas from a unique perspective, fictional characters you’ll come to know and love—and all in a small, portable package that’s ready to use anywhere—no batteries, cords or earphones required!.
Stalker in the Woods
By 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Softcover
176 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9771329-4-2
$12.95
Life’s been quiet for Hattie Farwell and her huge dog, Wolf, since the loss of Hattie’s friend Annie. But things are about to heat up in Plumsteadville.
Forced to sell 100 acres of her property when money gets tight, Hattie’s sensitive to who might move into the new development built there. But she quickly strikes up a warm friendship with young mother Donna Atkins. Donna’s two lively girls bring the energy of youth back into Hattie’s world, and Wolf finds them wonderful playmates. Hattie and Wolf soon become very fond of the little family of new neighbors.
Before long, though, strange events have Hattie asking some disturbing questions. Who is the bearded stranger who seems to be stalking her new friends, and what could he possibly want? Is there something darker lurking beneath the surface of her new neighbors’ sunny life? And could all this have anything to do with the strange rash of unexplained murders taking place around Hattie’s normally peaceful home?
Whatever’s going on, Hattie doesn’t like the strong feeling that the lurker means them harm, and Wolf seems to have the same idea. Follow our sleuths through the pulse-pounding climax that turns the woods of Bucks County into a frightening place! Learn more…
Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them
Contemporary nonfiction: An anthology of 11 true-life stories
WINNER: 2010 Muse Medallion – Cat Writers Association
Edited by Mary A. Shafer
6 x 9 Softcover
128 pages, 25 photos
ISBN 13: 978-0-9771329-2-8
$12.95 (25 cents of each copy sold is donated to Animal Welfare Karpathos, a private volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing neglected, abused and injured animals in the Greek Islands.)
Everyone loves a story about well-muscled retrievers barreling after thrown balls or elegant, long-haired cats commanding the attention of all in a room. But what about those less fortunate companion animals, whose experiences have robbed them of the wholeness of their “perfect” pet peers? After all, it’s easy to be happy when life has been safe, kind and protected, but it takes a special kind of critter to triumph over brutal circumstances that would make most people give up. In Almost Perfect, eleven writers share true tales of courage, ingenuity, perseverance and inspiration on the part of companion animals that have become disabled either through hereditary/congenital conditions or injury. Meet Simon, a three-legged barn cat whose indomitable spirit and unquenchable purr propels him through an unbelievable string of difficulties. And Cagney, a paraplegic rat who serves as muse to a surprised grad student. Then there’s Pink, a Mexican Hairless dog with remarkable healing powers.
You may laugh, you may cry, but you’ll certainly never forget these heartwarming stories of animals who have overcome physical limitations to live happy, productive lives that enrich those of their human companions. Learn more…
Mission: Murder
By Betty Kerr Orlemann
WINNER: 2008 “IPPY” Silver Medal – Best Regional Fiction
5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Softcover
336 pages
ISBN 13: 978-0-9771329-1-1
$12.95
With the single impact of a hit-and-run incident, octogenarian Hattie Farwell is forever jolted out of a comfortable retirement in rural Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and into the world of high-stakes political intrigue when her best friend since childhood is killed leaving a concert in nearby Philadelphia. Suddenly, a grieving Hattie is drifting amid a web of deceit and the uncomfortable dynamics of the family her friend left behind.
Meanwhile, the incident begins to look less like an accident and more like murder. But who would kill sweet, gentle Annie…and why? Once Hattie convinces the police to investigate, their efforts turn up more questions than answers, and her patience wears thin. Finally, aided by Annie’s two granddaughters and her own huge dog, Wolf, Hattie sets out to pursue her own ideas about what might have happened to her dear friend.
Between Wolf’s nose for trouble and Hattie’s determination to solve the murder no matter what it takes, she finds herself navigating an unsavory—and increasingly dangerous—path to the truth. Tag along as America’s latest unlikely sleuth uncovers the ugly underside of political campaigns, marital infidelity, and more than one old family secret that someone will stop at nothing to keep hidden. Learn more…
Devastation on the Delaware:
Stories and Images of the Deadly Flood of 1955
By Mary A. Shafer
Edited by Rebecca Valentine
Revised Second Edition
Historic narrative nonfiction
6 x 9 Softcover / 496 pages
126 historic photos, 25 maps, charts & diagrams
Informal Notes section, extensive bibliography
Appendix, fully indexed
ISBN 978-09771329-0-4
August 18-20, 1955: Three terrifying days and nights still remembered with awe in the Delaware River Valley. Record-breaking rainfall—almost two feet in some places—from twin hurricanes abruptly ended a withering drought, but the relief was short-lived. It was overshadowed by terror and destruction that tore away bridges and snatched people, still sleeping, from their beds in the middle of the night. The only book devoted solely to this record-setting flood on the Delaware River and many of its tributaries, this comprehensive documentary covers the most heavily affected areas on both sides of the river between Port Jervis, New York and Trenton, New Jersey. Author Mary A. Shafer interviewed more than a hundred survivors and eyewitnesses to bring the events to chilling life in this definitive account of a tragic weather disaster that changed life in the Delaware Valley forever. Learn more…
- Finalist, History category – 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards
- Notable Book, Reference category – 2006 Writers Notes Magazine Annual Book Awards
- Finalist, U.S. History and Nature Writing categories – 2006 USABookNews Annual Awards competition
$19.95
Frankie, The Walk ‘n Roll Dog
by Barbara Gail Techel
The true, inspirational story of Frankie, a dachshund whose life started out like any other dog — walking on all four paws — until a spinal injury leaves her paralyzed. Frankie is custom-fitted for a wheelchair and learns to keep on rolling. Her zest for life will have you cheering and inspire you with hope that all things are possible, despite life’s challenges.
Awards:
- National Best Book 2008 from USA Book News
- Merial Human-Animal Bond Award from Dog Writer’s of American Association
- Editor’s Choice award from AllBooks Review
- National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist
ISBN 978-09800052-0-2
8.5 x 8.5 Softcover
Profusely illustrated
Young Readers (but older folks like it, too!)
52 pp., Retail $14.95
Shipping $3.00
Frankie, The Walk ‘n Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby’s House
by Barbara Gail Techel
Frankie the Walk ‘n Roll Dog keeps rolling along in her doggie wheelchair. This paralyzed dachshund’s unabashed spunk and her healing, exuberant spirit, are a gift to everyone she befriends. In this true, inspirational story, Frankie tells how she became a registered therapy dog and shares her visits to Libby’s House, a senior facility where many residents are affected by Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. Frankie teaches us that everyone has a story worth hearing, and that patience, listening and compassion open our hearts to what matters most: love.
Awards:
- National Indie Excellence Award
ISBN 978-09800052-4-0
8.5 x 8.5 Softcover
Profusely illustrated
Young Readers (but older folks like it, too!)
56 pp., Retail $14.95
Shipping $3.00
Special Critter Bundle
- Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them
- Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog
- Frankie, the Walk ’N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby’s House
Total Retail Value $42.85
Special Bundle Deal: $35.00 + FREE SHIPPING
Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States
By Rick Schwartz
416 pages, 200+ historic photographs and maps
8.5 x 11 Hardcover
ISBN 13: 978-0-9786280-0-0
$27.95
The first book-length reference that collects the MidAtlantic region’s surprisingly violent 400-year recorded hurricane history. It features many human interest stories detailing how Americans past and present have dealt with natural disasters. An unforgettable collection of storm tales told in chronological sequence. More than 80 profiles of significant tropical cyclones dating back to Jamestown, are presented in short sections, making convenient reading for today’s busy lives. Though the book focuses on Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, you don’t need to be a weather geek or an East coast resident to enjoy this fascinating book. Written for a general audience, Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States explores lessons learned and the challenges ahead as our planet’s climate changes. This accessible title provides a window to the region’s hurricane past, helping everyone understand the role tropical cyclones have played in our nation’s history, and serving as something of a meteorological crystal ball to its future.
Miranda and Starlight (Revised Edition)
By Janet Muirhead Hill
Illustrations by Pat Lehmkuhl
168 pages, 21 line illustrations
5-1/4 x 7-3/4 Softcover
ISBN 13: 978-0-971416147
$12.00
For Young Readers – Miranda Stevens is sure that if she just had a horse of her own, it wouldn’t matter that she’s been sent to live with her grandparents and go to a school where she has no friends. She doesn’t think twice before taking Christopher Bergman’s dare to ride the most beautiful horse she has ever seen. The dire consequence of that action begins a chain of adventure that tests her courage and spawns unexpected friendships. A roller coaster ride of adventure and emotion will keep the pages turning for both boys and girls in this first title in the Starlight series. Writer’s Notes Magazine Book Award winner
Danny’s Dragon: A Story of Wartime Loss
By Janet Muirhead Hill
Illustrations by Pat Lehmkuhl
188 pages, 14 line illustrations
5-1/4 x 7-3/4 Softcover
ISBN 13: 978-0-9772525-0-3
$12.00
For Young Readers – Ten-year-old Danny struggles with the various stages of grief as he remembers good times with his father, who was killed in action in the Iraq war. To escape a reality he can’t accept, Danny turns inward. In his vivid imagination, his horse—a gift from his dad—morphs into a dragon, on which he flees to adventures far from his painful life.
To add to his grief, financial problems caused by his father’s death force Danny, his sister, and their mother to leave their beloved Montana ranch. Danny struggles to accept his new life, and to understand himself, his family, and the world. He must come back to reality, though, when he starts his new public school in Denver and comes face to face with the “enemy” — a boy from Iraq.
A timely, engaging, can’t-put-it-down read, as well as a great tool for helping young readers deal with life’s painful realities, such as working through grief.
AWARDS:
- Eric Hoffer Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing
- A Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Award Finalist
A Horse to Remember
By Juliana Hutchings
Photos by Isabelle Hutchings
172 Pages, 4 photographs
5-1/4 x 7-3/4 Softcover
ISBN 13: 978-0-9772525-1-0
$12.00
For Young Readers – Hilary Thompson has lived and thrived in the city the whole 13 years of her life. After her family relocates to the small country town of Lewisberg, Tennessee, she feels as if her world has stopped turning. When she begins working at the local stables owned by Susan Collins, she meets Satan, a wild mustang stallion who belongs to Susan’s rebellious son, Jeremy. Satan seems as lonely and out-of-place in his new surroundings as she is in hers.
When Jeremy fails to tame Satan and his mother threatens to sell the horse, Hilary resolves to tame him. But can a girl who knows nothing about horses gain the trust of an aggressive mustang? And will she be able to keep her efforts a secret? Encouraged by a new friendship and suffering the aggravation of a new rival, Hilary spends increasingly more time with the stallion. As her affection for the mustang grows, Hilary learns about horses, people, and the greatest lesson of all: unconditional love.
The Artist’s Wife
By Betty Bowers
210 pages
5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Softcover
ISBN: 1-930596-36-7
$14.95
An inside view of an artist’s life and a behind-the-scenes look at a thriving creative community, The Artist’s Wife also explores issues of personal growth, raising creative kids and living in a working artist’s household. These brief essays, while personal and reflective in character, are written with a light hand. Though the book is focused on family life in the heart of the Door County, Wisconsin, arts community, anyone who summers at a cottage anywhere will connect with the reflections of The Artist’s Wife.
All the wild and lovely spots where tourists like to go face similar issues of increasing density of use, abuse of resources and changing the face of local culture. From Cape Cod to the Oregon coast, from New Hope to the Northwoods, the same issues resonate: preserving the fragile ecology while maintaining the distinctive features that attracted the visitor in the first place, and honoring it all through the artistic life. An inspiring affirmation of the importance and healing qualities of following the creative urge.
Rural Routes & Ruts: Roaming the Roads of Rural Life
By Scott Schultz
160 pages
10 x 7 Softcover
ISBN-13: 978-1930596-30-6
$16.95
The meaning of rural living is changing rapidly in America. What once meant farming and living off the land may now mean “McMansions” in a subdivision. Writer Scott Schultz captures the essence of the vanishing rural lifestyle through stories about the family farmer, and his struggles and triumphs through the years. Many of Schultz’s stories center around his family farm, Veefkind, its history and the many faces that have occupied this special corner of the world. Schultz’s heartwarming stories will strike a chord in the heart of those who have chosen to make a living off the land. It will appeal also to those who wish they were farmers, who’ve dreamed about a life close to the land, and those who once did but no longer can.
