BarkingBoxer Press
The Future of Sports Fiction
THE BUTTERFLY TREE: An Extraordinary Saga of Seven Generations
The Butterfly Tree: An Extraordinary Saga of Seven Generations is about family ties that bind us across time—and the universal quest to rise to a higher purpose and then lift the next generation upon our shoulders. It is about deep roots and strong branches, literally and figuratively, and about a single “family” tree being grafted from three disparate—and multiracial—lineages, and made more majestic because of these unions.
This page-turning tale, told in short fast-paced chapters, takes readers on a sweeping adventure aboard the Mayflower and the Underground Railroad; under The Big Top of an 1860s American circus and inside a small high school athletic shed secretly inhabited by a homeless teenager in the 1980s; from the battlefields of the Civil War to the jungles of Vietnam; from 1620 to 2020.
The seven generations in these pages are not all related by bloodline, but are bound together by love and friendship—and by a kitchen table that was borne from The Butterfly Tree. Each protagonist overcomes personal adversity before rising to help another, and in doing so a single “family” tree is grafted from three disparate—and multiracial—lineages, and made more majestic because of these unions.
“A Literary Triumph”
CONNIE HALPERN
Mrs' Figs Bookworm
THE SLUMMER: Quarters Till Death
In 2083, Benjamin Brandt is among the millions of “slummers” who are relegated to poverty and struggle on the outskirts of society. As a minority growing up in the gritty underbelly of Cleveland’s Industrial Valley, Ben sees the way genetically designed “elites” live only from a distance: from the shadows of public spaces people like him are forbidden to use, and on TV, where he watches the enhanced athletes compete at an extraordinary level. For years, a national track championship has inspired Ben to ferociously cultivate his own talent as a runner.
As Ben logs miles through the potholed, darkened streets of his community, an idea takes hold of him that could turn his highly stratified society upside down. He isn’t prepared to lead a revolution; however, he is prepared to run like a slummer with nothing to lose.
“This is the first running book I've read that I think, wow this is like peeking into my brain and my way of thinking.”
CHRIS SOLINSKY
Former US Record Holder - 10km (26:59.60)
THE HUMILIATION TOUR
The Tall Tale of Billy Ball
In this humorously poignant coming-of-age story, a star high school cross-country runner finds himself the subject of a humiliating life. Billy, entangled in a web of bureaucratic idiocy and in trouble with the law, enters into a quirky and tumultuous relationship with his attorney, and later with a saucy pink-haired co-worker, only to discover his empty pursuits mask his real struggles and the angst of growing up.
Percolating within him, he comes to realize the one true love of his life—his childhood best friend. He uncovers his athletic potential with her support, and the haunts of an ancestor who had a similar gift. Through his great grandfather’s story—one of unfinished business played out during the Great Depression—Billy is led back to race on the world’s grandest stage…Boston.
“I love this story and wish it for everybody.”
BILL RODGERS
American Marathon Legend
THE THREE HARES: Bloodline (Book 1)
Ethan and his friends decode a series of cryptic riddles from an ancient treasure map. Their discovery entangles them in a centuries-old struggle between warring secret societies.
It soon becomes clear that Ethan is not just an adventurous teen who accidentally stumbles upon a shadowy world.
He is a catalyst… a spark which ignites the resurgence.
The Three Hares is a smart, twisty adventure mystery, one that will keep you reading until the remarkable end.
“Very highly recommended for both school and community library collections.”
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
THE THREE HARES: Reynards Dream (Book 2)
Ezra Reynard returns with rage, reinforcements, and a dream. As the school year wraps up, an unexpected announcement echoes through the halls. Students are dismissed early, and a new school system is to be introduced after the summer. But first, they must take a test... one which will define their entire futures.
Winslow Falls is teetering on the brink of disaster, and their only hope is lurking within a three-hundred-year-old cypher.
“Page after page the tension builds, and the pace quickens as this author unleashes the forces of creativity on his target audience.”
TOME TENDER (blog)
