Kirjahaku

Sometimes, life pushes you to the brink. In his poignant memoir, Two Towers, T.D. Arkenberg navigates readers through a personal perfect storm. A resurgence of his father's long-dormant cancer and chaos at his job in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks serve as the backdrop for a private struggle with a secret hidden for thirty-seven years. The story opens on Christmas Eve, 2001. Alone, he stands in his empty childhood home. Two months earlier, his father succumbed to cancer after a lengthy struggle. Five weeks after that painful loss, his mother's unexpected death shattered his world. The double-barreled blast toppled his towers of strength and unconditional love at a time he was barely treading water. Only weeks before his parents' deaths, his professional life descended into turmoil. Nineteen hijackers commandeered four commercial jets, unleashing unspeakable terror on US soil. Two towers collapsed into piles of twisted steel, a dusty grave for thousands of innocent souls. Two of the planes belonged to his employer. Eighteen colleagues were killed and thousands of others were soon without jobs. His leadership would never be more severely tested. Friends don't know how he survives. Neither does he, especially with the added burden of a dark secret. As his world starts to crumble, fate offers a lifeline. Jim, a facilitator of a men's coming-out group guides him through the process of accepting his sexuality. With towers collapsing around him, Jim might be able to save him from becoming another casualty. Two Towers stands as testament to duty and the power of love.

Sometimes, life pushes you to the brink. In his poignant memoir, Two Towers, T.D. Arkenberg navigates readers through a personal perfect storm. A resurgence of his father's long-dormant cancer and chaos at his job in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks serve as the backdrop for a private struggle with a secret hidden for thirty-seven years. The story opens on Christmas Eve, 2001. Alone, he stands in his empty childhood home. Two months earlier, his father succumbed to cancer after a lengthy struggle. Five weeks after that painful loss, his mother's unexpected death shattered his world. The double-barreled blast toppled his towers of strength and unconditional love at a time he was barely treading water. Only weeks before his parents' deaths, his professional life descended into turmoil. Nineteen hijackers commandeered four commercial jets, unleashing unspeakable terror on US soil. Two towers collapsed into piles of twisted steel, a dusty grave for thousands of innocent souls. Two of the planes belonged to his employer. Eighteen colleagues were killed and thousands of others were soon without jobs. His leadership would never be more severely tested. Friends don't know how he survives. Neither does he, especially with the added burden of a dark secret. As his world starts to crumble, fate offers a lifeline. Jim, a facilitator of a men's coming-out group guides him through the process of accepting his sexuality. With towers collapsing around him, Jim might be able to save him from becoming another casualty. Two Towers stands as testament to duty and the power of love.

In 1980, college sophomore Alec Van Horne approaches his final months as a teenager dreading the shame of eternal celibacy. But to lose his virginity he must first break out of the closet. He hatches a plan. Stay on campus over summer recess and spark a romance with a handsome upperclassman. Alec's mother has other ideas. Wracked with fears of mortality, Audrey decides that Paris is the perfect consolation prize for turning 50. Still viewing her youngest offspring as a child, she insists that Alec accompany her and his father, Walt, to Europe. There he'll learn he's not the only one with a dark secret.Determined to be a miserable traveling companion, Alec finds romance instead. A hunky New Englander, Conor Walsh, is taking a gap year abroad before starting law school. Lifted from Alec's fantasies, Conor suggests a road trip to Normandy...on a motorcycle. The picturesque Norman coast fuels the young men's passions. But Alec's immaturity threatens the relationship. Inexperience, insecurity, and a sexy Swedish boy make him doubt Conor's sincerity. There's also Audrey. Will she let her boy grow up or doom him to a life of regret?My French Summer is a coming-of-age story with all the ingredients of a great romance: grand adventure, luscious European settings, delicious cast of supporting characters, and a plot with plenty of surprises. Young love set in Paris and the French countryside will enchant readers of all ages who will laugh, cry, and root for Alec and Conor.

Few humans lead an extraordinary life. I've come to that conclusion from years of scrutinizing the tribe of upright walkers. My credentials? I'm a cat.And with that bold assertion, Fluff invites readers into his exceptional feline world. We meet the outspoken tabby as a kitten. He lives with his mother and siblings in a cardboard box in the heart of Brussels. Charmed by exotic tales of a seasoned street cat called Grumps, Fluff dreams of adventure. But he can't quite muster the courage to venture out on his own. His family's disappearance forces his paw. He sets out with Siamese newcomers, Penelope and Odysseus. Once posh and pampered housecats, the brother and sister won't survive the urban jungle without their new friend's help.The trio encounters unexpected dangers: two- and four-legged villains; their own naivet ; and a city swarming with animal traffickers. Strays are disappearing from the streets, Fluff's family among them. In their bid to save the catnapped felines, the three companions become targets themselves. Adventure turns into a harrowing game of intrigue where they're both cat and mouse.Set in the picturesque European capital, My One Extraordinary Life entertains with lush descriptions, sinister scoundrels, and lovable heroes. Nonstop action and fur-raising twists make Fluff's memoir a 'pawsitively purrfect' page-turner.My One Extraordinary Life is the seventh book from T.D. Arkenberg. Independent Publishers, ScreenCraft, Eric Hoffer, and CIPA are among the many organizations that have honored his writing. T.D. studied at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the London Business School. He and his husband live in the Chicago area along with Puhi, the precocious Belgian tabby who inspired this story.Visit www.TDArkenberg.com

Few humans lead an extraordinary life. I've come to that conclusion from years of scrutinizing the tribe of upright walkers. My credentials? I'm a cat.And with that bold assertion, Fluff invites readers into his exceptional feline world. We meet the outspoken tabby as a kitten. He lives with his mother and siblings in a cardboard box in the heart of Brussels. Charmed by exotic tales of a seasoned street cat called Grumps, Fluff dreams of adventure. But he can't quite muster the courage to venture out on his own. His family's disappearance forces his paw. He sets out with Siamese newcomers, Penelope and Odysseus. Once posh and pampered housecats, the brother and sister won't survive the urban jungle without their new friend's help.The trio encounters unexpected dangers: two- and four-legged villains; their own naivet ; and a city swarming with animal traffickers. Strays are disappearing from the streets, Fluff's family among them. In their bid to save the catnapped felines, the three companions become targets themselves. Adventure turns into a harrowing game of intrigue where they're both cat and mouse.Set in the picturesque European capital, My One Extraordinary Life entertains with lush descriptions, sinister scoundrels, and lovable heroes. Nonstop action and fur-raising twists make Fluff's memoir a 'pawsitively purrfect' page-turner.My One Extraordinary Life is the seventh book from T.D. Arkenberg. Independent Publishers, ScreenCraft, Eric Hoffer, and CIPA are among the many organizations that have honored his writing. T.D. studied at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the London Business School. He and his husband live in the Chicago area along with Puhi, the precocious Belgian tabby who inspired this story.Visit www.TDArkenberg.com