Kevin Mooney

Experience the raw, lyrical intertwine of the poetic duality of grief and glory, of physical death and spiritual life, of continuance in the face of the worst type of trauma that a human can endure, a parent suffering the innocent, sudden physical death of a happy child in childhood. Embrace also the greatest gift that suffering parent may receive, the intentional, faithful continued growth in an unbreakable relationship with that beautiful child, who is not only elevated into spirit, but also one blessed with the gift of intercession who is active, current, present and alive, walking beside her father across the span of a midnight to morning on the south beaches of Jekyll Island, GA as they work through and share their current lives and experiences, counterbalance the pain, and build upon their daily miracles.

At 102 years of age, Louise Tobin is one of the last surviving musicians of the Swing Era. Born in Aubrey, Texas, in 1918, she grew up in a large family that played music together. She once said that she fell out of the cradle singing and all she ever wanted to do was to sing. And sing she did. She sang with Benny Goodman and also performed vocals for such notables as Will Bradley, Bobby Hackett, Harry James (her first husband), Johnny Mercer, Lionel Hampton, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Peanuts Hucko (her second husband), and Fletcher Henderson.Based on extensive oral history interviews and archival research, Texas Jazz Singer recalls both the glamour and the challenges of life on the road and onstage during the golden age of swing and beyond. As it traces American music through the twentieth century, Louise Tobin's story provides insight into the challenges musicians faced to sustain their careers during the cultural revolution and ever-changing styles and tastes in music.In this absorbing biography, music historian Kevin Edward Mooney offers readers a view of a remarkable life in music, told from the vantage point of the woman who lived it. Rather than simply making Tobin an emblem for women in jazz of the big band era, Mooney concentrates instead on Tobin's life, her struggles and successes, and in doing so captures the particular sense of grace that resonates throughout each phase of Tobin's notable career.

Book four in the Exuma Series, "Exuma Diamas Regns" is the last in this lyrical series authored by Father and Daughter, Kevin and Kayleigh Mooney, tracking their continuously and miraculously evolving relationship following Kayleigh's tragic accidental physical death at fifteen and transition into her higher life in her Father's arms; writing through her Father's hand, they blend their writing styles as she leads her Father through the hurricanes of grief that fall daily like the diamond rains on Saturn, criss crossing the dimensions between Heaven (Exuma Infinite), and the physical plain, proving what one of faith wants to believe in.

Kayleigh Mooney was physically killed in a horrible, innocent car accident at 15, leaving an earth sized physical hole in her grieving family, filled and overflowing now in her abundant spiritual presence. in her continuation of her life, she and her father continue writing together, as she uses his hands and his pen to blend their writing styles. This is the third lyrical book of family love and unbreakable bonds in a series that includes "Exuma Infinite," and "Ceili Cay, Exuma;" in this third book, a sister sends her brother letters from Heaven by writing with her father, keeping their eternal bond strong and connected; continuing to teach him about his life as well as teaching him about the vibrant beauty of the Higher Life, with its color, and oceans, its whales, the universe and all of its majesty.

In this lyrical sequel to "Exuma Infinite," Kayleigh continues to carve out a piece of Heaven in the turquoise waters and magical cays of Exuma, naming her piece of paradise, "Ceili Cay." Though tragically physically killed in a horrible car accident and transitioned into her spiritual body at the age of 15, she lives both in Heaven and on the physical plane in her body of light with her family. The love between Kayleigh and her family remains unbreakable as they continue to build their relationships, despite the accident. Kayleigh and her Father chart their continuous growth through a blending of their writing on these pages as she remains currently present and active with her family, leading them through the turmoil of tragedy and towards the Higher Life.

A lyrical journey of love between a Father and his Daughter, after his Daughter is tragically physically killed in an innocent car accident at the age of fifteen; she steps upon the shores of Exuma Infinite and scouts out the shores of Heaven for her family, remaining present, and leading them to the Higher Life. Heaven is many things. She takes her Father there when he can raise his vibration high enough, though still tethered to his human body, and for each day moving forward, reconciling and struggling with immeasurable grief. She dances there, skipping stars across the turquoise water. She lives there, as she lives here, on both sides of the veil, a guardian angel protecting and leading her family home, home to a beautiful world where this beach glows pristinely in its immortality.

A dynamic and caring sea turtle, she was living and laughing in the sea when she was attacked, turning her beautiful brown shell purple. Though feeling very alone by the experience, she survived, and in time, empowered herself through the waves to return to the beach of her birth. This is the story of the courage to speak and the power to use one's voice. Not as rare as one may think, Purple Turtles are incredible creatures, crossing the oceans with their grace and changing lives as they share their stories and their strength to become even more brave and beautiful.