Ken Lord

In "When Dawn Hides Shadows, it Unveils Secrets," the tranquil town of Sunrise, Iowa, is rocked by an explosion at Millie's Diner. Jack Wagner, a courageous local, risks his life to retrieve a mysterious package from the blaze, sparking a quest for answers. Set in 1933 during the Great Depression, the story weaves through the lives of the town's colorful residents, each hiding secrets that link to the diner's fate. As Jack and Sheriff Jim Sandusky investigate, they unravel a tangled web of intrigue, suspicion, and hidden vendettas. With a backdrop of community resilience and the pursuit of truth, the narrative builds toward a dramatic climax, exploring the themes of perseverance and the consequences of past actions.

Machias, Maine-wild blueberry capital of the world, where the land teems with moose, puffins, yellow birch, and balsam fir. Every summer, the town celebrates its Revolutionary War heritage with a reenactment of a historic ship capture, while the small, sweet blueberries are baked into pies or savored with cream. As the population swells from June to September, seafood reigns supreme, and the daily lives of lobstermen revolve around hauling in the state's prized delicacy: lobster. Frank Trask, a seasoned lobsterman, is approached by siblings Alan Townsley and Marjorie French, who ask him to ferry them to Cross Island. There, they search for their mother's grave, hoping to untangle the complex lives of their parents, Vernon and Bernie Townsley. Frank grows increasingly intrigued by Alan's recollections-fragments that feel misaligned with reality, raising more questions than answers. Meanwhile, the cryptic remarks of One-eyed Bennie, a local eccentric, only deepen the mystery. Vernon Townsley and Bernice Jennings came from vastly different worlds. Bernice, an only child of Boston Brahmin wealth, graduated from Emerson and taught school in Augusta. Vernon, the son of a Kansas farmer, aspired to study at Johns Hopkins but fell short. Instead, he worked the docks in Baltimore before enlisting in the Army. After being wounded in France, Vernon met Bernie at Togus Military Hospital. A romance blossomed, only to be torn apart by anger and Vernon's search for a lost love. Fate brought them back together on Cross Island, where they married, built a family, and faced heartbreaks that would shape their lives.

A turn of the century story of man (Brad Watson) meets woman (Carol Taylor) but woman has responsibilities and obligations (children, mortgages, single motherhood, business disaster). He is a retired serviceman who is now a truck driver; she is a florist with four children. He is carrying memories of a lost love. She's over-the-barrel both emotionally and financially. But both aren't exactly what you might think they are-until something happens that she simply didn't expect. This is a story of spiritual awakening that begins with an emergency delivery, is seasoned by a fire, is enhanced by salvation, is melded in some of the fancy places... and a few not so fancy and is proved under duress. It also has to do with acceptance and recognition that there are many good years yet to be had.

Teenagers Bradley Featherstone and Ida Mae McLeod are in love... or so it seems. Ida's father, Angus, has vetoed the marriage until his daughter is older. Bradley faces the draft for the Civil War when his father Henry decides to take Homestead Act land in Oregon. They leave Ohio by canal boat and embark upon a long journey across the country by river and by land-without Ida Mae. Rufus Lindsay is also interested in Ida Mae but waits until Bradley is out of the picture to pop the question. But Rufus has a second interest. So does his mother. Both involve Albert Bartlett, the banker. Sarah Pearson, the "Whispering Wind of Massillon" is busy collecting stories and seeing that the appropriate people are hearing them. But she doesn't know that someone on the boat has offered to marry Bradley. Or that Bradley has been shanghaied into the Union Army. Or that the Featherstone family has missed the boat that will take them west to the departure point of the wagon train. Both experience some extraordinary things before they meet again... and when they meet.... Well, let's just say it doesn't quite happen the way you'd expect. This is a mid-19th century story of love denied, ambition, deception, war, intrigue, accomplishment, and a twist you didn't see coming.

Did you ever hear of the Salami Technique? No? Then perhaps you have never spent any time in jail for using it. Ira Sanderson did. With it, he ripped off a bank for $100,000. The irony is that he could have taken more. But now Ira has been caught, tried, and sent to Susanville Prison for a decade. Hiram Sanderson, Ira's twin, visits his incarcerated brother faithfully, generally combining it with a family trip to a California recreational vehicle park with his converted Greyhound bus. The two concoct a means of escape for Ira. In the process a man is killed and Ira returns to the scene of the crime that put him in jail, the City of Bellson, intent on settling the score with six women who had a hand in putting him away. One of those women is Carole Price, the wife of the Bellson Chief of Police. Carole was the court-supplied counsellor at Ira's trial and had a strong hand in sending Ira to Jail. But she isn't the only one. There's the Mayor's secretary, the accountant who discovered the theft, the girlfriend of the bank's president, and a couple more women who learned not to walk without looking over their shoulders. But there's a kink. It starts with an announcement in the paper of the number of people to be killed, and as each is killed, a message is written on her forehead and a code is inscribed on another part of her anatomy. That code must be deciphered to identify the final victim, the Chief's wife. A few other people are killed. Ira is no respecter of persons. Even his brother's wife and children are imprisoned by a pair of heavies as a guarantee that the breakout will be successful. There are people in this story who implore God's mercy. You'll want to meet them and perhaps listen to their message.

He sits eating breakfast, nursing a cup of coffee, and performing a western ritual-raising his baseball cap and running his hands through diminishing hair. He does this whenever somebody approaches. The cap, gray to match the clothing he wears, is marked in red with the words "The Intimidator." On his arms are tattooed "Intimidator," and "Invincible," respectively. Thus begins a killing spree motivated merely by annoyance at the foibles of people living their lives. And he leaves a calling card. Police veteran Charlie Creehall is attacked by an assailant using a zip gun. Left to die in a field, young boys discover him. Charlie is a mentor to children and a member of a top-notch motorcycle club The same is true for Bradley Gibbons, whose only sin was that he was proud of his pickup truck. Of course, he had a "big mouth" and ran afoul of "The Intimidator." Copycat Marty Srzynski, a washed-out Navy Seal, has scores to settle, but wouldn't use a zip gun. He has demolitions experience. He also likes snakes. He works at the lumber mill, has a bevy of paramours, and a chip on his shoulder much larger than those produced at the mill. Chief Price is given an invaluable gift. But Doris Odland, a widow with a blunderbuss, makes his life interesting. She rides down Main Street, ends up in "court" and there speaks her mind. Too bad she was killed in Marty's plot to assassinate the Chief. The shrink, Dr. Carole Roberts, helps Price to investigate Duggie Hanson and Marty Srzynski. There are also Mayor McCheese and the Radio Amateurs who search for Marsha Randall, who right now is recoiling from a snake bite. A relationship develops between Roberts and Price. This is a mystery story with two avowed killers who have different motives but a relationship between them that is destined to upend the City of Bellson, California. It deals also with spiritual matters, which may seem an odd combination.

Police Chief Quentin Price is called to the scene of a bloody murder backstage at the Bellson Theater. Steve Gossman, playing Willy Loman, has been executed with a 12-gauge buckshot load at the end of the play, Death of a Salesman. Who wanted Steve dead? Nobody. Well, nearly nobody. His wife Mildred wanted him questioned about the death of her parents. And she wondered about the perfume on Steve's shirt. Did someone she knew want Steve dead? It was Ben Tilden's turn to play the part this night, but he was ill and Steve agreed to substitute. The two of them were friends, had a working relationship, and shared interests in shooting. Did somebody get the wrong actor? Who? Might it have been Arnie, the Building Inspector? He had a beef with a Vegas gangster; that would have given him motive. Might it have been Alice, the counselor who had something going with both Ben and Karla, Ben's wife? Might it have been Larry Dole, the theater landlord? Might he have had a motive? State Police Major Alton Douglas was convinced that the real target for the night was Ben. And what about the shirt that Ben exchanged with Steve? Why did it happen then? There was a deadline. Was that before or after the Vegas muscle men demanded a hundred thousand dollars? Was that before or after Arnie and Karla met in the roadhouse? And what about the Mercedes? Shakespeare said, "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones." The Bible says that the destination of those who do evil will be Hell, without recourse. This story is about good and evil. The evil is evident-the murders (via commission and omission) and those involved. The good is the good news and redemptive power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Barry, the illegitimate son of Judy, is a perpetual lawbreaker and has spent much of his life in prison. Judy, his mother, kept his existence from Harold when they married. Once he learned about Barry, Harold insists that Judy notify the court of Barry's guilt. Barry is convicted and threatens his mother. Harold and Judy change their names to Howard and Jessica and head for Vermont. Rebecca has lost her husband Jason to a subway killer and leaves New York City to relocate to a job in Vermont. She changes her mind once she has arrived and takes over a now defunct diner, the scene of a murder/suicide. Howard dies. Jessica meets Carlton. Sheriff Gabe has an interest in Rebecca. But then Barry attacks Jessica. The story has a mixed ending that you may not expect.

This book contains three novelettes and one commentary. Four are fiction. The commentary is on a Psalm.

The story is a romance. The basis is scriptural. There are children involved. There is a major decision that must be made by the protagonist. There is a major snowstorm. There is a series of plays by the scorned lover. And when it's all over, God is honored.

This book contains novelettes and short stories with a spiritual theme.

This book contains four spiritually-uplifting stories that demonstrate faith and the love that God provides.

This book contains four novelettes plus one short story. All are uplifting and spiritually-focused.

This is a collection of four inspiring stories, western stories, bride stories, that have a scriptural basis.

This is the second of Ken's series of novelettes with a spiritual theme. There are three novelettes of the mail order bride movement (Oregon, Montana, and Colorado) and one short story of Australia.