Coastal Treasure

Jake Forrest returns home to Fernandina Beach, Florida to settle his late Father’s affairs. While inventorying the home, he uncovers cherished reminders of two magical summers during the 1970’s.   

At a time when the country was torn by the Vietnam War and the effects of Civil Rights legislation, young teens Jake Forrest and Rory Perkins build a raft to explore the salt marsh. The boys navigate into uncharted experiences including a friendship with a mysterious older black man, Amos George, and his giant cat. However, this inter-racial friendship is soon scrutinized by the town’s bigoted sheriff. 

Embracing their new freedom, the boy’s traverse the inlet waterways pursuing big fish and adventure. Undaunted by a dangerous encounter with a savage shark, their odyssey places them in the path of a deadly squall.  The resulting tempest not only uncovers the secret of forgotten smuggler’s treasure, but also triggers a tipping point for Jake’s grieving mother who fears she’s lost another son. 

Jake and Rory’s ingenious efforts to salvage the treasure garners the attention of the town’s menacing tyrant, setting in motion a destined confrontation with grave implications for the boys and Amos George. 

Under Construction.........The Find Machine

At an otherwise uneventful boat show, a young man approaches a booth with an intriguing hawker beckoning the crowd forward. The odd carny with a British accent claims to have the world’s only Find Machine.  A portal to retrieve the dear ones and irreplaceable objects that have been lost. Lon is desperate and having exhausted all traditional methods is drawn by the huckster's enthusiastic pitch. Despite his ardent skepticism, he longs for what seems like an impossible reunion. Does the carny possess a bridge to forgiveness and restoration, or is he an extraordinary grifter fleecing the final measure of worth from wounded souls?  

Full of interesting characters, poetic justice and genuine desperateness to find that lost something, The Find Machine will appeal to readers who appreciate the concept of a "do over".