MARY THE MARVELOUS )   A fantasy story for younger readers about Mary's adventures in the Land of the Neathers where everyone was sure she was wonderful (Ages 6-12)
THE CURSE OF UBAR   A fantasy story for younger readers about young Tarquin Rafi's quest for three golden keys and the royal siblings who wanted them, as told by Tarquin Rafi's wizard, Sayed (Ages 6-12)
MARVELOUS ME!   History for growing up readers, the amazing adventures of the real Captain John Smith, told in (mostly) his own words (Ages 12-16)
THE FIRST FORT   History for growing up readers, the true adventures as chronicles at the time of William Ruffin, a 16-year-old who came to the New World with the ill-fated French Huguenot colony in 1564 (Ages 12-16)
THE MOONCHILD MURDERS   Patti, with her "keen analytical mind" and her love of nature's creatures, agreed to a summer camping trip with her two difficult cousins, but then she discovers a body as well as a very handsome fellow camper. (Ages 12-16)
THE OFFKEY MURDERS   Melissa, an excellent pianist in her last year of high school, and all her cousins take music lessons from domineering Aunt Alicia, but those lessons end when Aunt Alicia is found dead. (Ages 12-16)
MURDER AT KICKIN' TRAIL RANCH   For five years Kate, her brother, and her parents have spent a month riding their horses along state trails, each year in a different state, but this Tennessee summer also includes murder as well as some romance.(Ages 12-16)

"MARY THE MARVELOUS"

by Isabel Moen

No one at home called Mary Sue "marvelous" until she and her dog find themselves by accident in the land of the Neathers, a land where "not nice" is not allowed. Everyone there seems to know her and are so glad that "Mary the Marvelous" and her Perfect Pooch have come to help King Dindy in his time of trouble.  He is under threat of war from evil Queen Bea.  Mary Sue certainly doesn't want to disappoint them, so she agrees to try.  It is not a simple thing, but there are others to help like the acrobatic Hank Prince of Pranks, the very royal  Princess Lollipop, and  Mr. Tom with his tricks that are not magic but "simply convenient."

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'THE CURSE OF UBAR"

by Isabel Moen

Based on an idea of Lefric Ekenrose

Sayed the Wizard has warned young Tarquin Rafi about those three golden keys as Tarquin and his men are about to steal the third.  The Caliph of Ubar, his brother and his sister have each secretly promised Tarquin Rafi ships and gold for a key, thinking there was only one. However, the keys were said to belong to the gods of Ubar, and a wizard knows the danger of meddling in such things.  yet Tarquin Rafi continues the dangerous quest. What, asks Sayed who tells the tale, is the point of having a wizard along if you don't pay attention to his warnings?  

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"MARVELOUS ME!"

The Life of Captain John Smith

by Beverly Enwall

Captain John Smith was saved by Pocahontas, but that was a very small part of the amazing life that he led.  It was so remarkable, and he was so remarkable, that for a long time people didn't believe half of what he said.  Not everyone likes being around remarkable people, especially when they are not very modest.  But today historians are finding that, remarkable as his adventures were, they were also true.  If he boasted about himself, unlike most people who boast, John Smith was only telling the truth.  And to help younger readers better understand some of what he did and saw, there are numerous pictures, some of which he drew himself.

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THE FIRST FORT

by Beverly Enwall

William Ruffin of Rouen, France, was 16 years old in 1562 when he sailed for the New World.  The French Protestants (called Huguenots) were persecuted in France, so they hoped to find gold and buy the King's favor. In order to avoid the Spanish who "owned" so much of the New World, they landed north of Florida, on the coast of South Carolina.  They hastily built a fort and left 27 volunteers there, William among them. Outside the fort the country was beautiful and the Indians friendly, but inside the fort things went so badly that Willliam would have to flee the fort to the Indian village where he met the Spanish.

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"THE MOONCHILD MURDERS"

by Isabel Moen

Patti has found that having a "keen, analytical mind" as her teachers call it might be a great help studying science which she loves but it has not done much for her social life. The summer camping trip with her two cousins, Jolene and Juliebelle, was supposed to help, but camping with two battling sisters is no help for anything,.  At Golden Groves campground, however, things begin to change for the better, at least for Patti, with the arrival of a very handsome camper who is smart enough not to be roped in by Jolene.  Then, on her morning nature walk, Patti finds a corpse. Who better to look for clues than someone with a "keen, analytical mind" like hers?

   Each chapter ends with a picture or two of natural wonders mentioned in the story.

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"THE OFFKEY MURDERS"

by Isabel Moen

All of Melissa Brewter's cousins have to take music lessons from domineering Aunt Alicia, but only Melissa really likes them, not because she is her Aunt's star pupil but because she loves filling a room with music.  Just as they are all getting ready for the annual recital, Melissa's Uncle Hank, long gone from their hometown and his three brothers and their families, pays them a surprise visit, which pleases all of them except Aunt Alicia, who is seldom pleased with anything.   Then, the day after the recital Aunt Alicia is found dead. All the Brewsters are suspect, and some dark family secrets come to light as Melissa, her little brother and her cousins try to search for clues.

  At the end of each chapter, is a picture or one of the composers that Melissa has mentioned.  And formats with audio add a 30-second excerpt of his muisic

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