About Me

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After retirement, for two summers I worked as a tour guide at the Umpqua River Lighthouse in Oregon. This opportunity enabled me to learn more about that lighthouse than any of the others I've seen. Although I have personally visited and photographed over 300 lighthouses in the United States and three Provinces in Canada, the Umpqua River Lighthouse has special meaning for me. That Lighthouse inspired me to write two fictional books with the characters working, living, and enduring the challenges of lighthouse keeping. All pictures posted in this blog were taken by myself, unless noted otherwise.

Book Info.

I hope you will find time to enjoy my books. Preview the book covers below at the right side of page.

Book #1: "The Wickie and the Umpqua Lighthouse." Detail: "The Wickie and the Umpqua Lighthouse" is an 1860's story about the lighthouse keepers and their families at the Umpqua River Lighthouse. It will stir your emotions and warm your heart. Discover the challenges they met but never expected, and their determination to maintain navigational aid to mariners on the Oregon coast. (Wickie is a nickname used by the early lighthouse keepers at the Umpqua River Lighthouse in OR.)

Book #2: "Spirit of The Lighthouse" is a sequel to The Wickie. Detail: Jesse Fayette, assistant keeper at the Umpqua River Lighthouse, finds himself alone to operate and maintain an Oregon lighthouse after the accidental death of his head keeper. After notifying the Lighthouse Board and requesting help, he is surprised but must deal with an acquaintance, Red Saunders, who believes the lighthouse is haunted.

Book #3: "Unexpected Moments" has a different theme than those of Book #1 and #2. Detail: Dan and Megan, as well as their old friends Jim and Anna, experience unexpected moments of hardships and tragedies in Arizona and California. Will they survive these unexpected moments and find any hope for their futures?

All of my books are available on Amazon.

07 September 2017

A Massive Storm


This week I find it hard to post this blog and write about lighthouses. My thoughts are focused more on my family and friends who live in Florida. As I write this, there is a massive storm approaching that state. We all have experienced storms in our life, some worse than others. I have gone through two tornadoes and the outer limits of the recent Hurricane Harvey. However, none of these were life threatening for me or my family. 

Recent weather reports about Hurricane Irma and pictures of her projected route show it to be the largest and most powerful hurricane of record. If the storm continues to be as large across it as of the time of this writing, and its eye should hit around Miami and travel north, the storm could cover the entire state of Florida. If so, this storm’s path would enable it to touch every lighthouse (32) in the state. To my knowledge, this event could be a first. More important but drastic, the hurricane would impact every life in some way (21 Million +) in Florida.

Although most lighthouses were built to withstand severe storms, unfortunately, most homes were not built to stand against a category three or higher hurricane. 

I pray that your family, friends, and mine will be wise and evacuate to a safe place until after the storm.


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