“We were like twins,” Barbara says of her relationship with her late brother, “We just happened to be born five years apart.”
Jon’s death in 2004 was not the beginning of her struggle. In 2000, Jon, a dedicated workaholic attorney, suffered a debilitating stroke. With diligence and focused determination in the wake of her own medical struggles, Barbara worked with Jon to accomplish the impossible: bring Jon back from a vegetative state and to a new creative, productive lifestyle. Thanks to her perseverance and fidelity to what she calls “The Process,” she succeeded. Together, the brother and sister team worked on a variety of literary projects after Jon’s stroke. They started with BOKURU (authorHouse, June 2005) an adventure-mystery that follows protagonists James Henderson and Nancy Bronston as they search for clues to the mysterious death of her father, a world famous archaeologist working in Uhuru, a fictional East African country. When Jon passed in June 2004, Barbara continued, fulfilling her promise to Jon to complete their works, publishing BOKURU on the anniversary of his passing. BOKURU was inspired by the tireless efforts of the dedicated field archeologists who made their discoveries of ancient man in the inhospitable barrens of Africa.. Jim finds himself embroiled in an adventure investigating the twists and turns of both modern death and ancient death. The journey takes them to the banks of the Bokuru River, "the place of the ancient past" where he investigates not only Dr. Bronston's death, but what was found in the desolate field camp.
Adam's Eve- A Handbook for the Social Revolution, released in May 2006, is a non-fiction presentation which explores the history of the woman's movement, the effects of the social revolution that has followed the changes initiated by the women's movement, the cultural basis of our decision-making in terms of social style, and important aspects for making informed decisions in personal, legal and financial arenas in our lives today. The effects of the social revolution have caused the most significant changes in human culture and society in the history of mankind. These effects have had far reaching effects on our personal relationships, financial affaris, families, friends and work environments. Beginning with the women's movement in the late 60's and early 70's, this social revolution was supported and propelled by federal legislation including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. As a result, men and women in America and around the world have found themselves in a new culture where women have established careers and personal status beyond the home an d family life. Our culture has now found itself in a transition from traditional roles and values, expanding into new territory beyond the expectations of preceding generations. The historical, legal and personal issues in our lives are discussed in this handbook to provide valuable insight for both men and women in handling decision-making pertinent to our lives today. Received Foreword Magazine's Silver Award, Book of the Year 2006.
Sadie's Secret - a real story - released December 2007 is a fictional presentation of Mike Byrnes' journey from agnostic to believer in the existence of humanoids in the Swamps of Florida's Everglades. The authors explore how the area near Myakka River State Park may have become a state park woven together with themes of belief, spirituality and environmental concerns through the story of the life of Sadie Sutton, the oldest living resident of Palmetto County, her friends and the Seminole Indians in the Semoinole Indian River Slough.
These books may be purchased through this website in the family book store or at authorhouse.com, barnesandnoble.com or amazon. com. Barbara is also available for presentations on the creation of BOKURU titled “A Stroke of Genius,” "Adam's Eve," "Sadie's Secret" and "The Galapagos Islands - Darwin's Treasure" as well as photography exhibits... "Garden's of the Caribbean" and "Presby Iris Garden" also ask for "Award Winning Photography." Other subjects available... Available for career day and children's story hour readings of "Uncle Jon and Stuffy the Cat."
