Commotion in the Pews | Thoughts and tirades that don't fit into any of my books. A collection of items of limited interest to anyone.

Hey, It Has Been A While

Posted on August 16, 2026 by Joseph Courtemanche

If you were wondering where I went, I just finished narrating audio book #50, editing a novel I wrote so my beta readers could beat me to a pulp, and an assortment of household tasks.

Some fiction coming soon.

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The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 28

Posted on June 28, 2026 by Joseph Courtemanche

This month I’m presenting the Gospel of Matthew. I hope you enjoy it, and consider buying one of the audio books listed on the right side of the page.

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The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 27

Posted on June 27, 2026 by Joseph Courtemanche

This month I’m presenting the Gospel of Matthew. I hope you enjoy it, and consider buying one of the audio books listed on the right side of the page.

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The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 26

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Joseph Courtemanche

This month I’m presenting the Gospel of Matthew. I hope you enjoy it, and consider buying one of the audio books listed on the right side of the page.

Posted in Uncategorized

The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Joseph Courtemanche

This month I’m presenting the Gospel of Matthew. I hope you enjoy it, and consider buying one of the audio books listed on the right side of the page.

Posted in Uncategorized

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An assortment of stuff, but a lot of Bible content, including all 4 gospels narrated by me!

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INTO THE FOXHOLE by Daniel Navarro

These pages began as real journal entries, written in the middle of struggle, confusion, and rebuildingThrough powerful storytelling and the unique lens of animal archetypes (The Fox, The Bull, The Wild Mare, and more), Daniel gives language to something many people feel but can't explain:The version of you that helped you survive…isn't always the version of you that helps you live.This audiobook is for:The man who learned to stay strong but doesn't know how to be presentThe veteran who brought the war homeThe survivor who can't seem to "turn it off"The person who has built a life… but still feels like they're bracing for impactYou won't find easy answers here.But you will find:Honesty where there used to be silenceLanguage for what you've been carryingPermission to stop pretending you're fineAnd a path… not out of your story, but through itBecause sometimes…The pit you tried to escapebecomes the place you finally understand who you are.And what once felt like a foxhole…might just become holy ground.Step in.Take your time.You might find more of yourself here than you expected.

Purchase your copy here

VOYAGE OF THE DEVILFISH NOW AVAILABLE

Originally published as Voyage of the Devilfish, and first conceived as The Titanium Coffin, this expanded and revised Author’s Edition reflects Michael DiMercurio’s intended direction for the novel. The earlier edition was released under traditional publishing constraints with significant editorial changes. This version returns the story to the author’s vision, substantially updated and now more than 20% longer, delivering a deeper, more complete and fully realized narrative.

The Kaliningrad is the ultimate Russian Republic submarine, now prowling beneath the Arctic ice under the command of the brilliant and dangerous Admiral Alexi Novskoyy.

Sent to stop him is the U.S. Navy attack submarine USS Devilfish, commanded by Michael Pacino.

His orders are to destroy the Russian submarine.

VOYAGE OF THE DEVILFISH PURCHASE HERE

BOOK #47 IS NOW ON SALE – EVERY NEW COP SHOULD READ IT

101 Useful Tips for Rookie Police Officers is a practical manual rooted in the author’s many years of experience in law enforcement. It contains a wealth of advice on making it through field training, life survival, safety tips, and much more. It features snippets of valuable insight from several experts and law enforcement veterans such as psychologist Dr. Katherine Kuhlman who appears on national media to discuss mental health in law enforcement. Police Chief Neil Gang, a renowned keynote speaker and creator of the “Asher Model” for Officer Wellness, also imparts some of his wisdom.The author has been through a lot and has also included personal awareness methods not dealt with in detail in law enforcement training. Written in an easy, conversational style, this manual is a must-read whether you are newly graduated from a police academy or are a seasoned officer, the author ensures that there is something for everyone to relate to and take on board.

101USEFUL TIPS FOR ROOKIE POLICE OFFICERS

101 STRESS-BUSTING TIPS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

The job is tough. Stress is natural and real. But you don’t have to let it break you.

If you’re a first responder, stress isn’t just an occasional inconvenience—it’s a consistent opponent. You don’t have the luxury of ignoring it because, left unchecked, it will wreck your health, relationships, and career.

I’ve been there. As a Marine Corps veteran and former law enforcement officer, I’ve felt the weight of this career—the long shifts, the trauma, the frustration, the exhaustion. I’ve also learned, sometimes the hard way, what it takes to push through and rise above.

This book isn’t here to give you fluffy self-care advice that doesn’t apply to your world. You need real, practical tactics to keep your mind sharp, your body strong, and your spirit unshakable.

Inside, you’ll get:

Practical stress-busting strategies you can use right now, not after you’ve hit rock bottom.
Straight talk about mindset—because staying mentally fit means fighting against the all-too-easy victim mentality.
Fitness, sleep, and nutrition hacks designed for the unpredictable life of a first responder.
Tools to deal with toxic leadership, burnout, and trauma—without losing yourself in the process.
Real-life lessons from someone who has been in the trenches and fought his way back.
No nonsense. No fluff. Just 101 powerful tools to keep you in control—because your career, your health, and your life are too important to leave to chance.

It’s time to stop letting stress call the shots. Let’s get to work.

PURCHASE 101 STRESS-BUSTING TIPS HERE!

LOOKING FOR SPACE: MY PICKENS JOURNEY

Sometimes a town chooses you.Looking for Space is a story of triumph over adversity for one boy growing up in a small town, and an intimate look at how the community embraced a newcomer and helped him find his way.When Charles lost his father at age ten, he was uprooted from everything familiar and eventually moved to Pickens, South Carolina—a place he barely knew, yet one that would come to define him. In the foothills of the Blue Ridge, among red clay fields and close-knit neighbors, he began the long work of healing and becoming.It is also a tender portrait of how a Southern town can shape a life. The rhythms of 1970s Pickens—its public schools, church pews, football games, and front porches—offered not just comfort, but direction.Alongside his personal journey, Charles opens a wider lens to reflect on the region’s natural beauty, cultural traditions, and the local figures who helped define Pickens County’s identity. The result is both an intimate memoir and a tribute to the quiet strength of place. Rooted in gratitude, Looking for Space is a love letter to a town that still knows the value of showing up for one another.

ON SALE NOW AT AUDIBLE

LION OF THE SEVEN SEAS NOW ON PRESALE

LION OF THE SEVEN SEAS by MICHAEL DIMERCURIO

(releases 25 November 2025)

In the aftermath of a vicious sea battle with the Chinese fleet that ends in a nuclear blast, the presidential project submarine Silversides is dispatched on a search-and-destroy mission against the resurrected submarine Panther, recently converted by the Iranians to fire hypersonic electrical grid-killer missiles at the U.S. East Coast.

Anthony Pacino, the Silversides’ chief engineer, is forced to abandon his mourning the loss of the love of his life and driven to fight to the death for his country, the mission and the crew. Returning also are the rich characters of the Silversides and former admiral and current Vice President Michael Pacino in this epic tale of undersea warfare.

Purchase LION OF THE SEVEN SEAS HERE

DOMESTICATED TERRORISTS IS NOW AVAILABLE ON AUDIBLE

When his client is railroaded in a DC court, Sam Lapidos decides to give up the practice of law and renew his long dormant interest in exploring nature. His maiden journey into the woods miscarries when an assassin tries to kill him. His friends rally to his defense and gather in his home. His attackers develop their own conflicts, as incompetence, confusion and dissension rile their ranks. What happens next is known only to the author and his listeners.Now, from the narrator: all the Max Cossack books are great fun and I'm sure you're going to like this one as well. They stand alone, or you can do the series. I've done a few of them for Max and I love them.

Purchase DOMESTICATED TERRORISTS AT THIS LINK

THE SUPERHERO HANDBOOK FOR COPS

American police officers are the real-life counterparts of our beloved fictional superheroes and superheroines.
The best cops…
• perform the law enforcement mission nobly, with honor, principle, and compassion
• practice excellent discretion, tempering the letter of the law with the spirit that animates it
• still believe in, and are proud symbols of, truth, justice, and the American way
• restrain their exercise of power according to Constitutional safeguards and agency guidelines
• behave “with malice toward none; with charity for all,” ensuring that the American justice system extends its protection and dignity—without discrimination or favor—to each and every community within our society
If you aspire to be the very best cop you can be, then this handbook has been designed especially for you!
“The Superhero Handbook for Cops” combines timeless wisdom with the newest research and technology to provide a powerful, comprehensive training program that nourishes the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and ethical dimensions of law enforcement officers.

Purchase it here!

WISDOM FROM THE BATCAVE is now an audio book!

WISDOM FROM THE BATCAVE by Rabbi Cary Friedman I am willing to bet you've never considered the theological and moral imperatives that drive The Batman to do what he does. Well, thankfully, Cary Friedman has done just that and written a book on the topic.Want to be a hero?Many people don't know where to start on their quest to be a hero. They watch Batman and gain inspiration, but don't know where to go from there. How can you save the world without knowing 127 forms of martial arts?The truth is you don't need to dodge bullets or drive a batmobile to be a hero. Wisdom from the Batcave analyzes the life philosophy that emerges from Batman comic books and shows how anyone can live a heroic life by following Batman's philosophy.In 18 lighthearted chapters (such as "How to Triumph over Adversity," "The Value of Inspiring Others," "A Better Definition of Victory"), the Batman's example is used to teach profound truths. Focusing on relationships with self, others, and the larger community, Wisdom from the Batcave uses the experience of the Batman and his allies to illustrate how to live a super, heroic life.Here is your invitation to enter the Batcave and learn from the personal example of the Batman himself.

available for purchase at this link

SUB TALES 4 is now available on Audible

I am honored to have narrated all 4 of the Sub Tales books to date, and hope to knock out Sub Tales 5 before February 2026. (Full schedule, a true blessing!) These are great books, and I’ve been on some of the subs in the book for “road trips” to different places we won’t talk about. It allows me to be very authentic about narrating the work, as I can literally smell what they’re talking about and see it before my eyes in most cases.

Sub Tales 4 is the latest offering by brothers Charles and Frank Hood in their prolific output of nonfiction books about the US Submarine Force. Like the three volumes preceding it in the series, Sub Tales 4 offers a detailed recounting of some of the most pivotal and poignant moments in the rich history of the Silent Service. Arranged as an anthology of individual short stories, the book covers many subjects with prose, photographs, maps, schematics, and other illustrations to complement the narrative.

Purchase your download here for Audible

AMBUSH OF THE DRAGON is now available

There is only one way to reunite a country that has been split by two bloody civil wars in thirty years, one of them nuclear: savage their external enemies and leave them so weak they cannot interfere with the union until stability is achieved. The newly reconstituted China – now the Federated States of the New Middle Kingdom – has a strike plan that will leave both the Russians and Americans bleeding and desperate to survive.

For there to be any hope of American and Russian vengeance, old allies, resurrected schemes from decades ago, and a plan as innovative as the 1942 Doolittle raid on Tokyo must all be put in motion. A cast of both new and favorite characters, driven by decorated submarine combat veteran Lieutenant Anthony Pacino, is forced to fight for not only his beloved submarine Vermont and the lives of his shipmates, but the fate of the Western world in an epic battle of undersea warfare.

Click here to purchase AMBUSH OF THE DRAGON

THE GENERAL’S PRINCESS by Caryn Hacker Buechel

This one’s a little different, because it has romantic/sexual abuse situations. It is not a Christian book, but I accepted the contract because it deals with human trafficking and our need to defeat it. The backstory is important to me: but I met the author through a friend, and the fact I speak Arabic was what clinched the deal. Seems my 40 years of study paid off.

Cara is almost fifty, and nearly penniless. She needs a fresh start and when a unique job falls in her lap, she moves to Saudi Arabia to work for the royal family, never dreaming the change would quickly spiral into a nightmare where she is alone and powerless, trapped in the crosshairs of a human trafficking ring.

The unlikely kidnapping of a young, American female triggers a risky military rescue with General Sam Kennedy leading the Special Forces team into Riyadh, ultimately throwing Sam into Cara’s world where she is enmeshed in the spinning wheels of this deadly rescue mission, managed from the White House Situation Room, and exploding in real time within the opulent Royal palace.

Unravel the threads of survival, courage, and unexpected love in this gripping tale of resilience against the odds.

The General's Princess

HIGH JINGO

High Jingo begins with a young couple in love “spelunking” in a cave that isn’t really a cave, but an abandoned mineshaft, a relic of a Gold Rush that wasn’t really a “rush” but more of a Gold Kerfuffle that never materialized. The couple is assisted by a beer-loving husky dog which eschews the normal protocols of an archaeological dig and willy-nilly unearths an artifact with Hebrew letters on it. And the reader thinks, “This is not your every-day story!”And that reader is correct. Once again, three generations of the Wilder Bunch take us on an historical, occasionally hysterical, adventure. The story is as old as pogroms in Eastern Europe and as new as Jewish students being abused by pro-terrorist elements paying full tuition even at 4th rate diploma mills. A ripping yarn, full of love, courage and righteous anger, it careens from Medieval Hungary to Israel to a small rural town in Minnesota and up the road to St. Paul. As the old movie line goes, “Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

HIGH JINGO is now available on Audible

SIMPLE GRIFTS is here for your enjoyment

It's the busy season, but what a delight that the third book of Summer 2024 is now available. SIMPLE GRIFTS by Max Cossack is a fun book to say the least. I have read every one of Max's works, and was honored to be allowed to record this book. (I'll be doing more in the coming months.) If you haven't read/listened to any of his books, start today: he's brilliant.Here's the summary: Professor Soren Pafko has made a life and career out of lying, conniving, manipulating, and abusing everyone in his path. So far, it’s working great: he’s Chair of his College’s Department of Comparative Literature; he’s leader of the local chapter of the Democratic Communists of America; and when he wants to cheat on his wife, he’s got his pick of women who think he’s the second coming of Che Guevara. In short, his life is peachy. But when he flunks local yokel Gus Dropo’s teenage son for a politically incorrect classroom comment, everything in Professor Pafko’s world begins to go hilariously wrong.

Purchase Simple Grifts here

SUB TALES 3 NOW ON SALE

Sub Tales 3 is the third entry in the "Sub Tales" series written by authors and brothers Charles and Frank Hood. The Hoods have established a niche in the storytelling of exploits both famous and obscure in the captivating history of the US Submarine Force.

Sub Tales 3 comprises 18 original lengthy stories that cover a wide variety of topics, historical figures, and eras. From tales of heroism and courage under duress to more lighthearted discussions about the Silent Service, Sub Tales 3 is crammed full of interesting details that are sure to please the submarine veteran or enthusiast.

You'll ride with the legendary submarine captains Howard Gilmore and Whitey Mack.

You'll circumnavigate the globe with the men of the USS Gudgeon and the USS Archerfish.

You'll stand alongside the pharmacists mate tending to the medical problems of his fellow World War II submariners.

You'll learn about the taming of the atom to create the first atomic bomb and then come to understand how one mans vision of the peaceful use of nuclear power came to transform the US Navy.

You'll take detailed looks at the operations of the second US nuclear submarine, the USS Seawolf, learn about the amazing career of the man largely responsible for the rescue chamber that saved submariners aboard the USS Squalus in 1939 and go aboard the NR-1the unique mini-sub that combed the ocean depths.

Sub Tales 3 contains several heart-pounding tales of men skirting death aboard submarines; not all episodes ended well, but the brave actions of those who stayed at their posts or found novel ways to mitigate disaster will inspire you. .

Get your download of Sub Tales 3 here

Click here for the audio book of MENTAL HEALTH FIGHT OF THE HEROES IN BLUE

Once a job of serving their community by providing safety, police officers could rest relatively easy knowing their efforts were worth the sacrifice. However, over the past decade, the trade-offs between the rewards and risks of policing have increasingly sloped toward the latter. Today, officers are routinely being confronted with more pressure and scrutiny because of unfortunate bad actions by a few of their own. Then they still encounter constant threats of danger, and continued exposure to the darkest corners of society. It is no surprise that policing remains one of the most stressful occupations on the planet – stress that dramatically increases suicide risk among this population. There currently exists very little avenues police can turn towards for help with such a unique problem. This is detrimental because of not only the suicide risk, but it affects an officer’s capability of being the upstanding hero the citizens want.

This book was written by a police officer who, speaking from personal experience, and sourcing the help of trusted experts, walks anyone through the steps law enforcement officers can take to be shielded from having mental breakdowns and God forbid, become a suicide statistic.

Mental Health Fight of the Heroes in Blue Audiobook By Scott Medlin

THE FISHER KING’S APPRENTICE is now on sale at Audible

Casey's life is in peril at every turn as one extraordinary event piles on top of another. With the help of the Wardens, he finds himself in the middle of ancient wars and dangerous voyages. Is there a legend that isn't based on real history? Is there a myth that is not rooted somehow in truth? If there is, Casey has yet to discover it in his quest to keep the Enemy from the life-liquid... of the Blood King.

Based on a true story.

Purchase the FISHER KING'S APPRENTICE

MORE SUB TALES is now available on Audible

More Sub Tales will entertain and inform the reader about key moments and milestones in the evolution of submarines. Learn about the many ordeals, sacrifices, and brave acts that represent the proud legacy of this underappreciated segment of our Armed Forces. Each story has been carefully vetted by more than two dozen veteran submariners for accuracy, and in most chapters, additional authenticity has been gained by interviewing actual participants. Care has been taken to omit what needs to remain classified, but in no way does such safeguarding get in the way of captivating storytelling.

Available on Audible.com

THE CORN SIEGE

Average Americans were told, "You will own nothing, and be happy." They are not happy, but now they have nothing, so have nothing left to lose. But what to do? A mysterious 'Corn King' proves to be the catalyst. The 'Corn King' explains how activist-soldiers like Saul Alinsky have targeted them, and reveals how Americans can turn the tables on their oppressors using the same tactics that were used against them.

Individuals are tired of being chewed up and spit out in the progressive's bid to create a 'perfect society, ' but is it too late to do anything about it? In The Corn Siege, America finally ruptures, the rage spreading from 'fly over' country in a great wave that ultimately reaches the coasts, threatening to drown them.

The Corn Siege is satirical fiction, not prophecy. It glories in skewering the people who don't believe we need farms because we have grocery stores. It mocks the people who believe you can plant a cow and harvest lettuce. In The Corn Siege, people get what they deserve: the harvest of the kinds of seeds they actually planted.

Buy it now on Audible

PANIC SWITCH

The oily and brackish waters of the Russian Northern Fleet submarine base part for the passage of the colossal special purpose Omega II-class submarine Belgorod, on a mission to hold the United States hostage. This gigantic submarine is armed with three Poseidon unmanned submersibles, each with a 10-megaton warhead. Her goal: placing them offshore in US ports in a nuclear-blackmail chess move.

In response, the United States dispatches the newest special operations attack submarine, the Virginia-class USS New Jersey, which lies in wait to follow Belgorod under the polar icecap. Because every submariner knows that what happens under the ice...never happened.

Legendary former admiral and current National Security Advisor Michael Pacino and his son Anthony, a combat-decorated veteran of undersea warfare, return in this epic novel of submarine-versus-submarine warfare.

Get The Audio Book Here

WHIRLWIND now available

A king’s downfall and a love that transcends war

Spurned by potential suitors, Miriam travels to Jezreel to care for her cousin’s son. There, the precocious seven-year-old works his way into her heart. When Arameans swarm the land like locusts, Miriam focuses on the safety of her young ward but promises adventures beyond the city walls when the war ends.

Gershon, a quiet and kind vintner, is happily building a life for his wife, son, and aging parents. But when his wife dies during childbirth and war looms on the horizon, he must make a decision—will he take a new wife before his heart can mend?

Meanwhile, Dov, a young officer crosses paths with the “bird girl” he remembers from the past. That she is a beautiful woman matters not, as he is a career soldier. Unexpectedly charged with leading Ahab’s army against the Arameans, Dov anticipates death and defeat in Samaria, but when a prophet pledges victory, Dov vows to fight to the end.

When an unlikely victory brings freedom, a bright future seems imminent. Then one afternoon Miriam witnesses a tragedy and must flee with the boy to keep them both safe. With henchmen on their trail, will they find refuge—and her heart the home she’s longed for?

Purchase WHIRLWIND here

The US Navy’s On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 2: War in the Pacific

The US Navy's On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 2: War in the Pacific is an historical novel based on the unknown true-life story of the "On-the-Roof Gang". It is a sequel to The US Navy's on-the-Roof Gang, Volume 1: Prelude to War.

This second volume begins with the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and documents the contributions of the On-the-Roof Gang during World War II. It focuses on the wartime stories of the On-the-Roof Gang intercept operators, some who were stationed in Hawaii, some who survived a tortuous existence in a POW camp, others who had to evacuate their intercept sites, and still others who performed intercept operations while at sea during some of the most famous naval battles of World War II.

PURCHASE IT HERE

Prelude to War The US Navy’s On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 1

The US Navy's On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 1: Prelude to War is an historical novel based on the unknown true-life story of the "On-the-Roof Gang", the US Navy's fledgling radio intelligence organization in the years leading up to World War II. It is based on the real life of Harry Kidder, a US Navy radioman who first discovered and deciphered Japanese katakana telegraphic code while stationed in the Philippines in the 1920s, discovering the he was listening to Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) radio communications. Kidder strongly believed in the future of radio intelligence, and a chance meeting with Lieutenant Laurance Safford led to the birth of the Navy's Radio Intelligence community.

Kidder taught others the nascent art of intercepting IJN communications on the roof of the Main Navy Building in Washington, DC. From 1928 to 1941, 176 sailors and marines attended this training and were then stationed as radio intercept operators around the Pacific. These men would become known as the On-the-Roof Gang and were charged with keeping track of the IJN as they prepared for war with the United States. The circumstances of America's entry into World War II hinged on success or failure of the On-the-Roof Gang, and Harry Kidder knew this.

On-the-Roof Gang: Prelude to War concludes with the "date which will live in infamy", December 7, 1941.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Purchase it here!

RAIN by Dana McNeely now available!

In ancient Samaria, Aban anticipates his rites of passage with excitement and dread. He yearns to join the priesthood of Ba’al Melqart, unlock the power of the rain god, and hear the deity’s voice. He’s been warned the licentious ceremony can take a dangerous turn, but as eldest son of the high priestess, he holds a privileged position. If he can make it through the ceremony, one day he’ll rise to high priest.

On the eve of the rituals, Aban’s mother confesses a dark secret about the bloody sacrifice demanded by Melqart. Aban may have escaped the flames, but if he is to save his brother, Aban must take his destined position of power as soon as possible.

When the mysterious prophet Elijah interrupts the rites, overturns the idol, and curses the land with drought, Aban’s world is shaken. The current high priest and the king appear powerless, but even more confusing is the fact that the rain god does nothing.

Against his better judgment, Aban conceals the strange prophet’s whereabouts, forfeiting the high priesthood. Now an enemy of the relentless Queen Jezebel, Aban has little time to question his fading commitment to Ba’al Melqart as he and his loved ones flee. But the conflict in Samaria is much larger than just a high priestess and her sons. Soon, Aban will have to choose a side in Yahweh’s war against the Ba’als—and it may cost him his life.

Purchase RAIN on this link

DIGITAL DREAMS NOW ON SALE

In this surreal landscape, dying legends haunt sheltered keeps, young boys reconstruct ancient giants, astronauts push the boundaries of the solar system, and metal nightmares reign over faraway rocks. Alluring and compelling, Digital Dreams is a multifaceted blend of mystery, imagination, and devotion—as thrilling as interstellar exploration, and as dangerous as another day at the office.

Buy Digital Dreams via this link!

REASONED RESILIENCY: A RATIONAL DEVOTIONAL FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

Reasoned Resiliency: A Rational Devotional for First Responders is unique in that it combines a spiritual message with practical advice for a daily dose of uplift. Nondenominational, and applicable to all spiritual philosophies, it probes the spiritual values of the reader and encourages them to grow in their resilience and wellness. The authors are both Senior Mentors for NAVIGATING ADVERSITY (an internationally recognized program for improving resilience for First Responders) and chaplains within that program.
This devotional is an ideal gift for a First Responder, and should have a place in every desk, ambulance, fire rig, and patrol car for those times when a spiritual lift, and some resilience building is needed. There is a devotional for every day, because an uplift is an important part of working in a field that takes a piece of you each time you put on the uniform.

REASONED RESILIENCY is now available at Amazon

SUB TALES: STORIES THAT SELDOM SURFACE

Packed with 40 gripping stories from the annals of US submarine history, Sub Tales attempts to convey some of the drama, adventure, and humor that has typified service aboard the submarines of the US Navy over the past 100+ years. Included in this edition is a completely new story about polar bear sightings by submarines and a new description of an unlikely rescue at sea by the Seadragon! The 40 stories are accompanied by a bonus section that includes seven “submarine lists” that will be certain to entertain the listener. As a compendium, the book may be listened to in any order. Stories vary in length from short to medium to long. You decide the listening order.

SUB TALES: STORIES THAT SELDOM SURFACE

LOST BITS is now available

The last thing K-404 remembers is a happy home with the human child Ele, whose care is his primary purpose. So, when he wakes up in a landfill of tossed-away technology, his only thought is to reunite with his family.

This world is not his own, though. It’s a wasteland of desolate buildings, flying metal disks, and monstrosities that keep themselves active by stealing another bot’s power.

How did the world get this way?

And why was he discarded?

Hampered by imperfect memory, an obsolete body, and limited battery life, 404 sets out to find his home. Joined by other castaways, he faces off against scavengers and monsters, only to encounter greater threats.

Pursued, outsmarted, and manipulated on every side, 404 teeters on the brink of annihilation. His only chance of survival? Those bits of himself—the connections—he hasn’t lost.

Click here to buy a copy of LOST BITS

SPIRITUAL SURVIVAL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

The noble "calling" that once meant everything to you—has it become the burdensome "job" you can’t wait to get free of?

Have you lost your idealism?

Do you wish you could recharge your batteries but you don’t know how?

Would the idealistic recruit you used to be recognize the bitter, angry veteran you’ve become?

The career of policing is the most demanding there is. Cops confront situations that challenge some of their most deeply cherished notions and beliefs. A cop faces incredibly daunting tasks every second s/he wears that heavy badge. Many lose faith. They forget the ideals that brought them to the career. They no longer believe in God, in people, and, most importantly, in themselves. These challenges and disappointments are almost always spiritual in nature.

Policing is a spiritual vocation. It’s a common phenomenon that the same families produce cops and clergy in abundance. The two careers are expressions of the same basic instinct—a desire to live for something higher, to serve an ideal, to minister to humankind, and to refine one’s character through a career of service.

Spiritual Survival for Law Enforcement provides a solid, substantive foundation for nourishing the soul of the cop and replenishing his or her reservoir of idealism and spirituality. Jam-packed with exercises, tools, and insights, this is your one-stop practical guide to restoring inner peace and clarity. This book will show you how to:

Become emotionally and spiritually resilient
Understand what you truly need to heal your inner wounds
Find new meaning in the career
Rekindle your warrior spirit
Replace anger with peace, resentment with satisfaction
A "must-have" for all new and seasoned law enforcement officers!

Purchase SPIRITUAL SURVIVAL FOR LAW ENFORCMENT HERE

KEEPING IT ALL TOGETHER

Public safety professionals rely heavily on the love and safety found within in their homes. Theirs is an emotionally taxing job, requiring a great deal of support and encouragement from the ones who love them most. Their wellness has always been a priority, but what about their loved ones? They need just as much care and consideration as the first responders in their lives…maybe more.

Wellness has been defined in broad strokes for centuries—until now. This book clarifies a holistic perspective of what it means to be healthy while revealing common roadblocks to resilience and the resources needed to prevent each one. It’s not enough to provide self-care training to public safety. We must acknowledge and respect the time and effort their loved ones give to their communities as well.

Using personal stories and a diverse array of peer-reviewed behavioral, psychological, and organizational research, the authors present an evidence-based model for building physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional, financial, spiritual, social, and professional capital. This same whole-life approach to wellness is also used in the first responders’ edition of Navigating Adversity. Now their loved ones can learn to master the tools proven to build resilience on the home front, while helping our public safety professionals serve the community.

Purchase KEEPING IT ALL TOGETHER at Audible

WHAT IS KOSHER? is now available in audio book

The term "kashrut" refers to the Jewish religious dietary laws derived from the Torah. The term "kashrut" is derived from the Hebrew word "kasher" meaning "fit" or "acceptable". From the word "kasher", we derive the word "kosher" in its anglicized form. But before we discuss what kosher is, let’s discuss some ideas as to “why” kosher exists.

Why, after all, would a religious faith be concerned about what people eat? This audiobook answers these questions and provides the student or curious individual with the basics of what kosher is and why it is observed by religious Jews around the world.

Purchase WHAT IS KOSHER? at this link!

RACE: A NOVEL

Race is a window into death and life investigated by a detective who has his own choice to make between heaven and hell.

Roman Diego, a thoroughbred assistant trainer, is found dead in his tack room at the Rainier Meadows Racetrack. Is the confused, barely covered young woman who had awakened next to the dead man a killer?

As Detective David James investigates the death of Roman Diego, a syringe containing a mystery liquid is discovered. The mystery deepens as the list of suspects gets longer. Who would want to kill Roman Diego, one of the "good guys"?

In this raw, romantic, and redemptive novel, David James searches for a common denominator between the suspects and the victim as the motive becomes harder to ignore.

RACE On Sale Now At This Link

POOPIE SUITS AND COWBOY BOOTS

Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots: Tales of a Submarine Officer During the Height of the Cold War, now in its fifth edition since 2017, has earned a popular place in modern submarine literature for its engaging style and pacing. Set in the throes of the Cold War during the Nixon administration, the story follows the journey of Frank Hood through training and eventual deployment as a junior officer aboard a fast-attack submarine (USS Seahorse [SSN-669]) based out of Charleston, South Carolina.

The final product is our best effort yet in telling Frank’s compelling coming-of-age story during the contentious 1960s. While biographical in form, Frank’s story serves as a scaffolding of sorts to allow detailed side explorations of the basics of US submarine history; fundamental submarine systems such as sonar, propulsion, diving, weapons, and periscope functions; the intense training and repetition required to gain qualification in submarines; and the colorful traditions of the US Navy.

The book is replete with dozens of funny stories as well. It’s an enjoyable story that not only informs the reader of all things submarine-related, but also includes a number of cultural references that made life during that turbulent period both difficult and memorable.

POOPIE SUITS AND COWBOY BOOTS available at this link.

DARK TRANSIT NOW AVAILABLE

Lieutenant Anthony Pacino reports aboard the “project boat” USS Vermont two years after having survived the catastrophic sinking of the Piranha. Pacino quickly learns that Vermont’s missions are all ultra-secret with the boat reporting only to the sub force commander, the national security advisor, and the president: Vermont does the dirty deeds that need doing in deadly silence and obscurity.

After Vermont misses the mark on an easy mission, there are questions asked about her ability to conduct the next mission, one that is vital to the security of the United States and the future of the submarine force. Vermont is tasked with stealing a revolutionary submarine that the Russians are testing with an Iranian crew because it’s too risky to use Russian sailors. It’s a high-stakes gamble for all involved, with the losers vanishing if things go wrong, the winners validating a world-changing technology.

Pacino is part of the mission to steal the submarine, but the toughest obstacle is a wolf-pack of Russians coming to the defense of the Iranian submarine. Getting it back to the United States for evaluation becomes secondary to surviving an exchange of missiles and torpedoes in an underwater battle that threatens to let the final genie out of the bottle.

Click here to order the audio version of DARK TRANSIT

NAVIGATING ADVERSITY is a great gift for your First Responder

Wellness has been defined in broad strokes for centuries - until now. This book clarifies a holistic perspective of what it means to be healthy while revealing common roadblocks to resilience and the resources needed to resist each one. Using personal stories and a diverse array of peer-reviewed behavioral, psychological, and organizational research, the authors present an evidence-based model for building physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional, financial, spiritual, social, and professional capital. This tactical approach to self-care is a lifelong resource that first responders can call upon so that when critical incidents occur, they are prepared to navigate adversity.

NAVIGATING ADVERSITY

THE SQUARE PEGS

Irving Wallace herein presents the stories of “some Americans who dared to be different” - crackpots, perhaps, all of them, but also exceedingly diverting people to meet, know, and watch as they pursue their peculiar activities. This picturesque and wacky crew is brilliantly dealt with in these nine chapters:

THE SQUARE PEGS

THE WARDEN-WATCH

asey has stumbled upon a secret: "Big Foot" is real, after all, but its place among the Warden-Watch turns out to be far more mysterious than the myth itself. As one so-called myth after another turns out to be rooted in fact and reality - albeit in wholly unexpected ways - Casey finds himself craning his neck to catch a glimpse...of the Blood King.

The Warden-Watch is the first installment from the Annals of Myrtle and the Blood King. Learn more at www.thebloodking.com.

Purchase THE WARDEN-WATCH here

The COVID QUARANTINE CANTINA

A collection of short stories written by seven award-winning authors during the first four months of the COVID-19 lockdown. Each author brings a unique perspective to the crisis, and the results are spectacular. There is science fiction, Christian apologetics, horror, drama, suspense, and a dose of comfort. Produced daily during the first 13 weeks of the lockdown, you can see the change in thinking, hopes, and frustration that the public was experiencing.

While written from a Christian world view, it's not preachy. In fact, it's far from traditional Christian fiction and brings a breath of fresh air to the flash-fiction world from accomplished authors. Also available in print and audio book, this was a labor of love for the authors and it shows through the carefully crafted stories.

Hit the link to purchase your audio version of THE COVID QUARANTINE CANTINA

ASSAULT ON SAINT AGNES

You really need a copy of my award-winning debut novel, Assault on Saint Agnes.
When terrorists assault Saint Agnes Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, they expect to find a congregation of lambs. They get Bobby Kurtz instead.

An unrepentant cold warrior, Kurtz destroys the terror cell with violent finality. Against his will, Kurtz is pulled back into the life he left behind decades before. He reluctantly picks up the burden of hunting the terrorists in our midst. He risks his life, and his marriage, in a single-minded pursuit of victory over evil.

Working with a shadowy government agency, Kurtz uses all of his skills and experience to foil a plan that would plunge the Twin Cities back into the Stone Age. The final battle rages across the plains during a Christmas Eve blizzard in a story that will leave the listener pleading for more of Kurtz and his team of experts.

Buy ASSAULT ON SAINT AGNES here!

NICHOLAS OF HAITI

Nick Bacon is a life interrupted. When his commercial airline flight explodes over Utah, killing everyone on board but Nick, his miraculous survival draws unwanted attention. The press can't get enough of his story while the FBI is convinced he planted the bomb that took down his plane. All he wants is a place to heal and time to let the world forget him. Unable to return home, Nick accepts an offer to join a missionary medical team and flees to Haiti.

But Nick’s new life in Haiti is haunted by visions. He's forced to examine his sanity and faith in a world of turmoil and chaos among a people he’s never met before. Aided by Andre, his Haitian translator and protector, Nick confronts the dark forces battling for his soul, and the soul of the abused little girl he’s only seen in his dreams.

Because in Haiti, there's more than just Nick's sanity at risk. The fate of the world may now depend on Nicholas of Haiti.

Click here to order your audio version of NICHOLAS OF HAITI

VERTICAL DIVE

With his unrelenting suspense and explosive combat scenes, USA Today best-selling author Michael DiMercurio has redefined the modern submarine thriller. Now he returns with a new novel of the silent war on terror being waged under the sea...

During NATO exercises, the French Navy unveils the capabilities of Le Vigilant, a nuclear submarine so advanced that it can elude almost anything in the water. But France’s maritime marvel is about to become its own worst enemy. A band of Algerian terrorists has hijacked Le Vigilant. They mean to wipe Paris and every major French city off the face of the earth - and then turn their missiles against the great Satans of the United States and Russia.

Two subs are called into action: the USS Hampton, captained by veteran sub warrior Burke Dillinger, and the USS Texas, commanded by iron-willed Peter Vornado. Paris is being evacuated. Time is running out. And the coming conflict will pit the ultimate in technological weaponry against pure courage, skill, and determination...

Click here to purchase a download OF VERTICAL DIVE

TERMINAL RUN

One ship could revolutionize submarine warfare as we know it: the USS Snarc. A robotic combat sub carrying no crew, the Snarc has proven unbeatable in sea trials. And now it has fallen into the hands of an unseen enemy.

The Snarc's first casualty: the nuclear sub carrying the son of former admiral Michael Pacino. The only man who can match wits with the Snarc, Pacino reenters the game in a high-tech underwater battle unlike any that's been fought before, one that could engulf the world in war and bring him face-to-face with his nemesis....

TERMINAL RUN is available here

ATTACK OF THE SEAWOLF

The nightmare fear of the US had come true. One of our finest submarines, the U.S.S. Tampa, on a top-secret spying mission, had fallen into Chinese Communist hands. The Communists, fighting for survival in a savage civil war, now held not only the sub, the crew, and the gutsy Commander Sean Murphy hostage, but US power and prestige as well.America had one last desperate card to play. The most advanced submarine in the world, the still untried U.S.S. Seawolf, under the command of maverick daredevil Captain Michael "Patch" Pacino. The Seawolf had to steal back the Tampa from where it lay guarded by the entire Chinese fleet armed to the teeth with technology from the bankrupt Russians.

ATTACK OF THE SEAWOLF by Michael DiMercurio

PHOENIX SUB ZERO

The Hegira is the finest super-sub that Arab oil money can buy. But the U.S. Navy is only now learning just how good this undersea sword of Islam is. Already one American sub has been destroyed, and another crippled, as the Hegira breaks out of the Mediterranean and heads toward America to deliver its lethal payload.

Now it's up to Captain Michael Pacino and the USS Seawolf to find the enemy sub and destroy it -- in the ultimate battle between the most advanced weapons technology on the planet and the sheer force of human courage.

PHOENIX SUB ZERO Available Here

PIRANHA FIRING POINT

The East China Sea. Six Japanese submarines are attacked and believed destroyed. To the world, it seems like an accident. But to one man, former submarine commander Dick Donchez, it is the first act of war. He alone knows the truth: That the old guard of Red China has stolen the subs to wage a massive attack against the new Free China.

PIRANHA FIRING POINT audio book version at this link

BARRACUDA FINAL BEARING

A volatile new state calling itself Greater Manchuria emerges out of the political and military strife of Asia. Thanks to the connections of its brash leader, it boasts an atomic arsenal. Japan, threatened by its proximity to nuclear disaster, shocks the world by launching a sophisticated preemptive strike against its new neighbor.

Worldwide outrage at this aggression provokes the UN to blockade the trade-dependent nation. But Japan is ready - its sub fleet is armed to the teeth and thoroughly equipped to destroy the blockade. With the world now at the boiling point of all-out war, Admiral Michael Pacino gives his captain a "mission impossible" order to sink the Japanese submarine fleet. The gamble is desperate. The gamesmanship razor-edged. The warfare awesome....

Barracuda Final Bearing

THREAT VECTOR is now available

Submarine commander Aiexi Novskoyy has been sprung from prison by a multibillion-dollar organization with a very special mission in mind. The company has designed a new submarine - the Vepr - which they will use to wreak havoc on international trade. To test its new weapon, Alexi must sink a cruise ship carrying the entire brass of the US Navy - effectively decapitating the American fleet.

The legendary USS Devilfish is called in to stop the catastrophe, only to be ambushed by the ultra-advanced Vepr. With the Devilfish down, the Navy sends Captain “Kelly” McKee and the newest sub in the US arsenal to hunt down and destroy the super sub. What they don’t realize is that Alexi has his own plans, which have him heading straight for the shores of America.

Click to order THREAT VECTOR

EMERGENCY DEEP

US Navy submarine commander Peter Vornado is at the top of his game in underwater warfare when a devastating illness takes him out of the service - and almost to the grave. Without duty, honor, or something to fight for, his life is as good as over.

But the CIA needs a man like Vornado....

A terrorist cabal has acquired a scrapped Soviet sub from the Cold War - a technologically advanced failure still able to outrun any torpedo or enemy vessel and strike at will. With a nuclear payload, it will enable the terrorists to fire directly on Israel - and throw the world into chaos. All that remains is to modernize the sub with the latest technology.

Only one man can infiltrate the group, take the helm, and stop a holocaust - a man who has already stared down death, and is ready to do battle once more....

Click here to get your audio version of EMERGENCY DEEP

MISCONCEPTIONS by Colleen Scott

It's mysterious. And she's too curious.

In this pro-life Christian romantic suspense novel, it's the near future. Dominique, an investigative TV news reporter, is sent to solve the mystery of why the birthrate in the United States has dropped precipitously...everywhere except a few small pockets. Undercover at an Ohio hospital, she sidesteps oddly incompetent police and finds herself in a stew of kidnappings and murder threats.

Her investigation takes a radical turn when she meets Dr. Joseph Armstrong. His attention makes her heart flutter, but his theory about the birthrate decline makes her heart stutter. It's too strange to even consider, but it's her only lead. Is it romance or a mismatch?

Dominique follows the trail into the dangerous underworld of black-market adoptions as Joe and his family are unwittingly drawn into the web of deceit and murder. And when the truth comes out, more than just her story is on the line.

Purchase your copy of Misconceptions here!

2015 Winner, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

2013 2nd place award winner, Athanatos Ministries Christian Novel Contest

2013 Finalist

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If you'd like to email me directly (versus using the comments section) you can do so via: headdoofus@commotioninthepews.com