Field of Memories

A Tapestry of Heartwarming Short Stories

 

Autobiographical Short Stories, Historical Non-Fiction

Date Published: December 2, 2025

Field of Memories is a deeply evocative collection of autobiographical short stories and vignettes, chronicling the author's journey from childhood through adulthood. The book is artfully structured as a tapestry of memories, with each narrative thread representing a formative experience, a cherished relationship, or a poignant lesson learned along the way. Through this structure, the author, D. L. Norris, invites readers to traverse the landscape of her life, exploring the moments that have shaped her identity and worldview.

Norris's writing is imbued with a profound sense of nostalgia, celebrating the warmth and comfort of family bonds, the innocence and wonder of youth, and the resilience that emerges from overcoming loss. The stories span several decades, beginning with the author's earliest years and progressing through significant coming-of-age moments, family traditions, and historical events that have left an indelible mark on her life. Central to the narrative is the enduring influence of the author's mother, whose presence and guidance serve as a touchstone throughout the collection. The joys and sorrows of growing up are explored with sensitivity and insight, highlighting the universal experiences that connect us all.

A key theme in "Field of Memories" is the importance of preserving family stories for future generations. Norris emphasizes how these stories serve as a bridge between the past and the present, allowing us to honor our heritage and pass on valuable lessons to those who come after us. The narrative is enriched by vivid character sketches, introducing readers to a cast of neighbors, teachers, friends, and relatives who each contribute to the rich tapestry of the author's life. These characters are portrayed with warmth and authenticity, reflecting the complexities and nuances of real human relationships.

Throughout the book, Norris reflects on universal experiences such as childhood innocence, friendship, grief, forgiveness, and the bittersweet passage of time. Her stories are interwoven with poems and reflections, offering readers moments of both laughter and tears. The inclusion of poetry adds a lyrical quality to the narrative, deepening the emotional resonance and inviting readers to pause and contemplate the themes presented.

Ultimately, Field of Memories is a celebration of legacy, love, and the power of storytelling to connect generations. Norris's writing encourages readers to reflect on their own lives, to cherish the memories that have shaped them, and to recognize the enduring value of sharing stories with others. The collection serves as a reminder that our experiences, both joyful and sorrowful, contribute to the fabric of who we are, and that by honoring these memories, we can find meaning, healing, and connection.

About the Author

 

 D. L. Norris is a distinguished author and motivational speaker, widely recognized for her insightful contributions to literature and personal development. With a prolific career spanning several decades, Norris has explored themes of health, emotional wellness, family dynamics, and cultural history, earning her a devoted readership. Her acclaimed novels, “The Long Way Home,” “Where the Heart Is,” and “Old Books and Faded Dreams: Collector’s Edition”—are celebrated for their vibrant, humorous stories and authentic portrayal of real-life events and mindsets inspired by her beloved Scandinavian heritage.

Norris’s writing is characterized by its warmth, wit, and ability to capture the complexities of human relationships, drawing from her own experiences and family traditions. Through her work, she invites readers to reflect on the importance of resilience, hope, and unconditional love, weaving together narratives that resonate across generations.

She and her husband, Quincy, reside in the picturesque city of Hartford, Connecticut, where they continue to inspire others through their commitment to storytelling and community engagement.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

X

BookBuzz

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

iBooks

Publisher

Rate Your Date

 

A Primer for Selecting Healthy Partners 

Self-Help, Nonfiction

Date Published: November 16, 2025 

Rate Your Date provides the first complete survival kit on how to meet, date, and romance sexual partners

Increase your sexual aptitude with secrets on finding eager partners, why they are eager, and what turns partners off. Don’t guess, get the facts, and be ahead of the game. Avoid common dating mistakes that sabotage sex. Become an expert at charisma and persuasion. Simple and rapid steps empower you to give and receive affection. Less focus on how to make love, and more focus on who, when, where and how much to make love. Stimulating strategies take the mystery out of mate-searching. So, if you’re tired of lonely nights and empty dreams of erotic partners, forget the pornography. Open doors of opportunity for dating-singles, for couples in sexual distress, and for individuals tired of repeating bad relationships. Let the science of behavior be your guide. Now you’ll have at your fingertips a blueprint for dependable love connections.

 

About the Author

 

 Dr. Douglas Ruben is a forensic and licensed psychologist and national consultant in Applied Behavior Analysis, Personality Theory, Addictions, Rehabilitation, and Parenting. Locally, he conducts forensic evaluations and conducts a family and individual behavior therapy practice. He has conducted over 6000 forensic evaluations. His seminars on forensics, parent empowerment, schools, Personality Disorders, and Adult Children of Alcoholics appear nationwide through different seminar organizations. He literally has given over 3000 workshops across the United Stated from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine. Dr. Ruben is author and co-author of over 73 scholarly and self-help books and over 100 professional articles. Among his practitioner-books include Behavioral Forensics: Using Applied Behavior Analysis in Psychological Evaluations, Behavioral Guide to Personality Disorders (DSM 5), Tantrum Survival Kit: The Definitive Guide to Tantrum Management; Effects of Bad Parenting and What to do About It; Treating Adult Children of Alcoholics-A Behavioral Approach; Assessing and Treating Addictive Disorder; Avoidance Syndrome; Handbook of Childhood Impulse Disorders and ADHD; Reassessment in Psychology; New Ideas in Therapy; Current Advances in Psychiatric Care; Transitions: Handbook of Managed Care; Family Addiction; and Aging and Drug Abuse He co-edited four books with Dr. Turner including Readings in Aphasia; Readings in Muscular Dystrophy; Readings in Cerebral Palsy, Homebound Teaching, and Behavioral Management in Public Schools: an Urban Approach. His self-help books recently include Evil Inside Use: Dangers of No Impulse Control, Parent Guide to Children of Alcoholics, 25 Secrets to Emotional Self-Healing; Forever Sober, No More Guilt-10 steps to a shame-free life, Bratbusters: say goodbye to tantrums and disobedience, and Pandemic Family Communication. He has been in private practice for 43 years.

 

Contact Links

YouTube

BookBuzz

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

 

With These Hands

 

Crime Thriller

Date Published: December 3, 2025

At the age of 13, Aurelia’s entire life changes when her parents begin to align themselves with the Juarez Cartel, running drugs and trafficking women through Rio Bravo, their small town off the Rio Grande River. Determined to get away from this life, Aurelia collects years of evidence on the cartel.

At the age of 17, she is forced to run when her parents arrange a marriage to a cartel member. After working with the FBI to take down most of the cartel, she is placed in a protection program. Unbeknownst to her, the Juarez Cartel has rebuilt and is stronger now than before.

In a twist of fate, Aurelia is kidnapped, forced to marry Diego, son to the leader of the cartel, and produce an heir. Diego, who becomes an unseen ally, along with Aurelia begin to align themselves with individuals throughout Mexico to take down the cartel. They will fight, blackmail, and kill to protect those they love.

In an act of desperation, Diego makes the ultimate sacrifice and enlists the help of Daniel Zimmerman, a U.S. FBI agent and Aurelia’s first love. On the day of the raid, will everyone make it out of Mexico alive?

About the Author

T.R. Motley. I have lived in Oklahoma all of my life. For the last 28 years now, I have dedicated my life to taking care of my family and other families as a nurse. I worked in the Pediatric ICU for 25 years taking care of extremely sick children. There were highs, when I was able to place a child in his parent's arms after a being on life support to watch the smile on both of their faced for a very long time. There were lows, when I placed a child in their parent's arms, which would be the last time they would ever hold them.

My love of books started as a teen when life was not the best, and I would place myself in the characters shoes and get lost in the story. As an adult, it was my escape from reality in a sometimes cruel world. Along the way, my own stories began to swirl in my head. I always wanted to put those stories on paper, but needing to be a responsible adult, took the safe route.

On my last week in the PICU, my fellow coworkers and I went on a float trip. Several people asked if we had it to do over again, would we still have become a nurse. Surprisingly, only two people said they would. When going around and asking what everyone would have done instead, I said I would have become an author. Silence ensued for a minute, before there was a chorus of, "Go for it!" Two months later, I did a ton of research and started my first novel. Seven months later, I had a completed piece of work. Months of beta reading and changes along with and editor, helped round out what my book has become.

Now, twenty years later, I am pursuing that dream of storytelling.

Aurelia's story is about overcoming any obstacle, even when being pushed down from every angle for most of her life. It is about seeing some of the worst circumstances in life, facing those head on and fighting back to make her life better. It is about believing that just because you were born into a certain life, you can fight for what you want and make your way out. It is about finding love in the worst circumstances and having life ripped away once more. It is about a woman fighting in a man's world and excelling. It is about finding friends in the misted of tragedy and realizing sometimes people will fight for you just as hard.

We see the mark drug cartels not only leave on the U.S. and Mexico in general, but in the lives of real people. We see how easy human trafficking and bringing drugs in from Mexico can be. We learn that people are so greedy for power and money, that they allow these things to happen. People that should protect us. This is a powerful story of how Aurelia, who is immersed into this world, not only fights for herself, but others who have been drug in along with her. There are powerful characters that Aurelia meets along the way who join forces to not only help her with this fight but become the family she never had.

This is a romantic suspense novel, appropriate for ages 18+ (adult only).

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

YouTube

Purchase Link

Amazon

Ceremony of Innocence

 

Literary / Historical Fiction

Date Published: 12-02-2025

Publisher: Scrivener Quill

It is June 1924 when an inquisitive but skeptical Gemma Danforth graduates from Wellesley College. Despite a loving family, an idyllic New England girlhood, and family summers in the Hamptons, little had assuaged her doubts Now, with college behind them, she and two classmates leave America bound for post war France where they will be immersed in the pulsating culture of European modernism. While in France, she reunites with her Paris based parents, and, in Nice, amidst its creative ferment, she falls in love with Rhys, a British aristocrat and ex-pat journalist. During this year spent along the Cote d’Azur, encounters with Sara and Gerald Murphy, Somerset Maugham, Zelda, Isadora Duncan and others, adds a depth and richness to the ambience of le midi. And so begins the process of displacing her doubts.

She and Rhys return to American where their values collide with antithetical and alien attitudes. It is these experiences that come to challenge long-held beliefs and provide a vivid counterpoint to their recent immersion in the Modernist aesthetic and world view.

Resolved to return to France, Gemma shares a final day in America with Gerald Murphy at his ocean front Hampton estate. As this unhurried afternoon unfolds, it becomes clear that Gemma’s skepticism and doubtfulness have been replaced with a clear-sighted maturity and hardened resolve. The next morning, aboard the Ile de France, Gemma and Rhys sail for France. 

Excerpt

“To us, America felt provincial, naïve, and unsophisticated. And there was, and there remains, a certain harshness to daily discourse. By 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment had passed. Prohibition was, and is, in full effect. Although this had been represented as a single-issue campaign, I saw it as a harbinger of evolving intolerance and threatening societal restrictions, ones which I personally found alien.

“But in moving to Antibes we were able to share in the vibrant efflorescence of modern culture that subsequently engulfed all it touched. Some of this seemed to have been a spontaneous outpouring, but was surely catalyzed by the concentration of artistic and creative talent that had populated that small area of southern France.

“I’m confident that some of this free expression was a result of the war’s end. Additionally, the secular traditions of French society, very different from the rigid religious influences plying early twentieth-century America, even encouraged it. It seemed that French culture afforded the liberty for one to be oneself without concern of retribution or shame.

“Likewise, I couldn’t have anticipated that our social circle would become one in which ideas were paramount. That’s not to say that visible and tangible accomplishments, even simple objects, weren’t important. Rather, they became conveyances for the expression of the new ways of thinking and seeing that had permeated our shared reality and become our common language.

“I was aware there were those who thought of us as affluent dilletantes who had traveled

 

About the Author

Stephen Asher is a graduate of UCLA and was subsequently educated at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, and St. Catherine’s College Oxford. His professional life was spent as a neurologist, often walking the fine line separating the mind from the brain, a vantage point which encouraged a perspective molded not only by the scientific and the rational but also shaped by the aesthetics of the senses. It is this unity of world view that fashions one of the novel’s central themes.

Asher and his wife were drawn to Idaho’s arid vistas, glistening rivers, and rugged skylines. As a travelling angler, he has pursued Atlantic salmon throughout their natural range, has sought sea run brown trout in Patagonia, and steelhead in his home waters in the Pacific Northwest. He and his wife have cycled much of France, and, during quiet times at home, he enjoys music and plays cello.

Previously, he has published essays, and short pieces in the British sporting literature. He is a member of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Society, the Barbara Pym Society, and is a proud supporter of PEN America. He lives in Idaho with his wife, adult children, and his bird dogs.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Purchase Today

Ceremony of Innocence

 

 

Literary / Historical Fiction

Date Published: 12-02-2025

Publisher: Scrivener Quill

It is June 1924 when an inquisitive but skeptical Gemma Danforth graduates from Wellesley College. Despite a loving family, an idyllic New England girlhood, and family summers in the Hamptons, little had assuaged her doubts Now, with college behind them, she and two classmates leave America bound for post war France where they will be immersed in the pulsating culture of European modernism. While in France, she reunites with her Paris based parents, and, in Nice, amidst its creative ferment, she falls in love with Rhys, a British aristocrat and ex-pat journalist. During this year spent along the Cote d’Azur, encounters with Sara and Gerald Murphy, Somerset Maugham, Zelda, Isadora Duncan and others, adds a depth and richness to the ambience of le midi. And so begins the process of displacing her doubts.

She and Rhys return to American where their values collide with antithetical and alien attitudes. It is these experiences that come to challenge long-held beliefs and provide a vivid counterpoint to their recent immersion in the Modernist aesthetic and world view.

Resolved to return to France, Gemma shares a final day in America with Gerald Murphy at his ocean front Hampton estate. As this unhurried afternoon unfolds, it becomes clear that Gemma’s skepticism and doubtfulness have been replaced with a clear-sighted maturity and hardened resolve. The next morning, aboard the Ile de France, Gemma and Rhys sail for France.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen Asher is a graduate of UCLA and was subsequently educated at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, and St. Catherine’s College Oxford. His professional life was spent as a neurologist, often walking the fine line separating the mind from the brain, a vantage point which encouraged a perspective molded not only by the scientific and the rational but also shaped by the aesthetics of the senses. It is this unity of world view that fashions one of the novel’s central themes.

Asher and his wife were drawn to Idaho’s arid vistas, glistening rivers, and rugged skylines. As a travelling angler, he has pursued Atlantic salmon throughout their natural range, has sought sea run brown trout in Patagonia, and steelhead in his home waters in the Pacific Northwest. He and his wife have cycled much of France, and, during quiet times at home, he enjoys music and plays cello.

Previously, he has published essays, and short pieces in the British sporting literature. He is a member of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Society, the Barbara Pym Society, and is a proud supporter of PEN America. He lives in Idaho with his wife, adult children, and his bird dogs.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Purchase Today

Kind Kids

 

 

The Adventures of Hurley, Pearl, and The Pink Soldiers of Kindness

Children's Book

Date Published: October 10, 2025

Publisher: Gatekeeper Press

Hurley and Pearl are a brother and sister duo who usually get along but, like all siblings, sometimes struggle with their emotions. One day, when Pearl’s singing pushes Hurley to his limit, a family conflict teaches them both an important lesson: kindness begins with understanding and taking responsibility for your emotions.

With Mom’s loving guidance, Hurley and Pearl learn the power of pausing, breathing, and reflecting before reacting. They discover that kindness can heal hurt feelings, bring people together, and make everyone feel seen and loved. Inspired by Mom’s story of spreading kindness through small pink toy soldiers, the siblings embark on a heartwarming mission of their own—to brighten others’ days, one soldier at a time.

At school, Hurley comforts a classmate with a pink soldier after a tough moment on the playground, while Pearl lifts the spirits of a substitute teacher who feels overwhelmed. Through these small but powerful acts, Hurley and Pearl realize that kindness doesn’t just help others—it also fills their own hearts with warmth and happiness.

Their journey is about more than sharing toys; it’s about spreading love, empathy, and connection to everyone around them. Along the way, they discover a simple truth: kindness can change the world, one thoughtful gesture at a time.

Complete with a heartfelt letter from the fictional Colonel Michael T. Pinkerton, Kind Kids inspires young readers to share their own adventures of kindness. This delightful and empowering story encourages children to take small steps to make big impacts in their families, classrooms, and communities while reminding them that kindness to others begins with being kind to themselves.

Perfect for parents, teachers, and children alike, Kind Kids is a touching exploration of sibling dynamics, emotional growth, and the ripple effect of simple, kind acts.

 

About the Author

My name is Jenna McDonough, and in addition to being a children’s book author, I work with both adults and children to help them better understand and manage their emotions. I am the creator of the Peaceful Kids App—the first-of-its-kind emotional intelligence app designed to teach children and their caregivers how to integrate tools and techniques for emotional regulation into daily life. Organized by both age and emotion, the app offers meditation, mindfulness activities, somatic resets, breathwork, and binaural beats. It also includes an Adult Meditation Library and is home to two of my signature courses: Highly Meditated and Introduction to the Healing Arts.

Beyond the app, I guide adults in identifying and releasing stuck energy through meditation, sound baths, and custom-designed healing experiences. I also developed coaching programs, such as Lifestyle Design and a proprietary program for high school juniors and seniors, as well as for any young adult navigating a transition year, to help them prepare with confidence for life beyond the classroom.

My professional journey began in education. I hold a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Communications Journalism from Florida Atlantic University, and started my career as an Elementary ESE teacher. While I found teaching deeply fulfilling, I also experienced firsthand the challenges of burnout, which inspired me to seek balance through meditation, mindfulness, and yoga. As my life evolved and I became a mother, I continued to deepen my personal practice, remaining committed to wellness while shifting my focus toward family.

During the global pandemic, I witnessed the surge of anxiety and stress across all ages and felt called to expand my work. What began as a personal passion evolved into a mission: to equip others—children, parents, and adults alike—with the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges with greater peace, presence, and emotional intelligence.

In recognition of my dedication to wellness and emotional regulation, I have and continue to serve as a member of the 2024 and 2025 Forbes Health Advisory Boards.

Contact Links

Website

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

LinkedIn

Purchase Link

Amazon