New from PTP Book Division

List Price: $11.95

5" x 8" (12.7 x 20.32 cm)
Black & White on White paper
218 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1986942294

ISBN-10: 1986942295

BISAC: Fiction / Native American & Aboriginal

This story traces the life of a half Navajo infant boy abandoned by his birth mother on the steps of a Catholic Navajo Mission School. The mission’s staff cared for him during early childhood. Betty, the school’s cook was Navajo and named the abandoned child Atsa. Interpreted definition is eagle. Atsa was born mute causing social challenges he was forced to confront. A retired college professor widower eventually adopts him. Atsa displayed high level academic prowess and this trait combined with sign language and written responses allowed him to transcend his disability and achieve a medical degree from The University of New Mexico on a full academic scholarship. His adoptive father adds significant input to Atsa’s life combined with his formative years, as Sister Cynthia served as Atsa’s surrogate mother at the mission school and influenced Atsa’s progression through adulthood.

Coming soon...

Ezra’s Story; Saving Canis lupus

Raymond Greiner

List Price: $11.95

5″ x 8″ (12.7 x 20.32 cm)
Black & White on White paper
130 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1548658595 (CreateSpace-Assigned)
ISBN-10: 1548658596
BISAC: Fiction / Action & Adventure

The historical development of the human species has impacted our world with numerous changes, which have altered natural ecological formats beyond what could have been perceived during ancient human history. Humanity has inundated the Earth with such vastness it has caused disarray and loss of natural balance among what are viewed as lesser beings. The terrestrial non-human life forms have been challenged to adapt to the ubiquity of human imposed negative influences. Wolves have been an earthly presence for nearly a million years functioning the same as they do currently. Wolf and human character traits are amazingly similar. Ancient human hunter-gatherer civil design formed and operated exactly like we observe present day wolves. Tribes were small in number, socially connected, and completely reliant on unity and harmonious function installed as a means of survival. The wolf pack is a perfected uniform social order and these wolves are among the most adaptable planetary organisms. They function and survive in the harshest climates and remain a presence especially in high latitudes. I was inspired to create a story displaying the importance and necessity of predators like wolves to be allowed opportunity to continue as a viable species. Ecological balance is dependent on predatory animals as a means to gain longevity. Natural science has only recently truly understood the importance of wolves in the arctic and other remote regions of the world. It’s a hope as the human species confronts its future wolves will be included.

You Are Invited...

Submission Guidelines*

The Path

The Path to Publication Group publishes the literary publication – The Path. You are invited to submit short stories, essays, novellas, book reviews and poems for inclusion in the semi-annual issues.
The theme for each issue varies. Please consult our website for the most current information: www.pathtopublication.net and www.thepathmagazine.com. Past contributors will receive a call for submissions by e-mail, automatically.

1. Short stories and essays – over 2500 words
2. Poetry – 1 page

Please polish your manuscripts to the best of your ability and, of course, have someone else edit your work before sending to Path to Publication. Do not format your work: no page numbers, no headers or footers, no footnotes, no paragraph indentations (skip a line for paragraph spacing). Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word or RTF form. Font: Times New Roman – size 12. All submissions must be submitted electronically, as e-mail attachments, to: mjnickum@thepathmagazine.com.

Deadline for Issue #9 is May 31, 2015

All rights are retained by the author, and there will be no compensation for accepted work at this time*.

*Because we are staffed by volunteers, we can only compensate our writers in exposure to our audience.  Our columnists enjoy great publicity for their own blogs, books, websites, and projects.  Many find great reward in doing something good for the world of literature and literacy. You may also purchase add space to further promote your work.

Conflict

Does your story need conflict? Maybe, maybe not but conflict is the one aspect of a story that is sure to raise interest, cause a reader to take sides and, in general, portray a true-to-life situation. Much of our lives, from early childhood, have involved some type of conflict, be it sibling rivalry, teen competition, adult competition and rivalry for jobs, mates and other facets of our lives. So, to speak, conflict is a normal part of life.

Conflict boils down to five main areas:

a.      Man against self: A person deals with conflict within him/herself when ones decides whether or not do “do the right thing”. Do I keep that beautiful ring lying on the sidewalk or try to find its owner?

b.     Man against man: We are well aware of the conflict of man against man—just watch the evening news.

c.      Man against society: People have fought to break from social mores since we lived in caves. There have always been do’s and don’ts, often called taboos. Women, for generations, were raised to believe that ‘decent’ women wore dresses. Now, that is no longer true, women wear dresses, slacks, jeans, shorts or whatever is comfortable or fitting for the occasion.

d.     Man against nature: Humans have conflicted with nature since time began. The most notable conflict comes from the weather. We have conflict with dust storms, tornadoes, blizzards, floods, hurricanes and all other manner of foul weather that can be damaging or life threatening.

e.      Man against God: This is the trickiest one in that it assumes a belief  in, or at least a grudging recognition of, the Almighty. No God, no conflict, no problem, right? No so fast—there are always forces that cannot be explained, whether they’re supernatural, chance or “dumb luck”. These areas of conflict are covered here.

OWAA

Earlier this month, I was elected to the OWAA Board of Directors for a 3 year term.

New websites

Check out my new websites for kids:
http://www.asktheanimallady.com/
http://www.askthenaturelady.com/