If You See Him, Let Me Know

Heralded by Publisher's Weekly as "a writer to watch" with a "magnificent sense of character and ear for dialogue", Todd London returns with If You See Him, Let Me Know, a stunning novel set at the crossroads of two generations--one marked by what it witnessed, the other by what it missed. It's August 1974, the eve of Nixon's resignation. Jerry Rosen is facing prison for a messy, white-collar crime. Before sentencing, he has to tell his son Philip, a teenager at a theatre camp in the Midwest. To the suburban kids at Friedkin camp, history is a game of dress-up. Tragic world events get retold as stage musicals--World War II as South Pacific, the Holocaust as Fiddler on the Roof. Anne Frank is a role to play--Philip's friend Kathy Klein plays it to the hilt. For Jerry, who served as an army medic in Germany, and for the camp's compassionate matriarch Lila Sahlins, the past can't be sung away. Jerry's confession unearths secrets that will change the course of Philip's life and trigger a pair of haunting disappearances. "This is a killer coming-of-age story: gripping and compassionate. I haven't stopped thinking about it." - Lisa Kron, Fun Home, the musical "…An engrossing journey, culminating in a denouement that is surprising, gratifying, and eminently moving." - Kia Corthron, The Castle Cross the Magnet Carter "Todd London is a master conjurer of the lost--of lost youth, lost promise, lost Chicago, lost America." - Adam Langer, Crossing California "A novel that harrows the heart." - Octavio Solis, Retablos

Il-i-ad That Lad

… Long ago in a far distant and different – though maybe not so – world, 1,250BCE, yet-to-be Greeks tried to retake that world’s most beautiful woman, Helen of Troy, ‘the face that launched a 1,000 ships’ (actually 1,034). She’d been seduced/abducted by Paris, the Trojan prince. If she existed she may have been an excuse for colonial conquest, like the non-existent ‘weapons of mass destruction’ of Iraq 2003, as Troy was a key trading centre. Or the war may have been due to widespread famine, thus mass migration in the Med.
This innovative take on Homer’s ancient epic Iliad uses a stream-of-consciousness style within a traditional ten-syllable rhyming structure. There are very graphic descriptions of one of our bloodiest wars, but also magic, as the god(desse)s interweave throughout, dispensing miracles for their favourites, nobbling rivals. Zeus, on Mount Olympus, plays chess master, pulling the strings, alongside Fate. And there are wonderful similes from the natural world.
Given new resonance by the continuing war in Ukraine, Troy’s timeless lessons are unfortunately likely to become more, not less, relevant with increasing competition for shrinking resources, and now that the crises of global heating and nuclear Armageddon threaten practically all life on the planet. The futility of war and destruction has always been humankind’s Achilles Heel! The ancient Greek earth-mother goddess GAIA has largely become (G)reed, (A)rrogance), (I)gnorance, (A)ggression. The power-brokers of our brave new world are descendants of those peoples past – do we have enough of whatever wisdom they had to survive?
If you like Greek mythology or history-fantasy or similar, you’ll love this modern twist on a tale of long ago…

Imaginary Order

Mothers: for nine months we are one, yet they remain a part of us, not apart from us, forever.

Told through the eyes of her daughter, Nani, Imaginary Order is the story of a mother’s psychological struggle to regain her life after a near fatal-accident. Their journey together, first to Switzerland, then Italy through to Amsterdam morphs into a redeeming story of self-discovery, independence, and the inevitable severing of the eternal child who hides within us all. 

Imagine

At first glance, 58-year-old Hannah Dragé might be mistaken for a free-spirited hippie, often found immersed in meditation, adorned with crystals, and carrying the scent of incense. Her daughters, Amelia and Charlotte, share a relationship best described as distant. Though often lost in daydreams or music, cross paths with Hannah’s fiery temper, and you’d soon forget her tranquil exterior.

Haunted by a sense of unfulfilled destiny, Hannah frequently felt like an outsider, even within her own family. This sentiment led her to find solace in conversations with the spectral realm. The key to understanding and, more importantly, altering her life, however, was handed down to her following her parents’ demise: a family heirloom, a book of magic.

Upon opening the book, Hannah’s dormant magic is reignited. She is introduced to her spirit guide, Ferdinand, a shapeshifting dragon capable of taking on a striking human form. Women from the mythical land of Jardine appear, committed to guiding Hannah in wielding her rediscovered magic—a power once suppressed by a curse placed on Ferdinand. Assisted by the spectral wisdom of her great-grandmother, Hannah embarks on a journey to free Ferdinand from his curse, discovering along the way an affectionate half-brother, Olwen, residing in Germany. Together, they work to decipher the enigma of Ferdinand’s curse in Imagine’s enthralling tale.

In Bed with a Russian President

The murders of the politicians have shaken Russia. During the investigation, the trace led to Britain where the crimes have been worked out and executed. The next victim is the Russian president. The joint work of the police of both countries, the unique qualities, bravery and wisdom of the Russian president, the magic which will help everybody to protect themselves and to become happy and to love, stopped the crime.

In God's Footprint

Ridge Mason’s world was just a remote and secluded corner of Northwest Tennessee that lay barricaded between a mighty river and a beautiful lake. Yet it knew no boundaries. Only moments after taking his first breath, Ridge suffered the most devastating loss a child could ever experience – the death of his mother. Yet it presented no barriers to him. His father and uncle, by contributing equally to his rearing, made sure of that.

As a young man, Ridge’s life on the enchanting body of water had become so rich and colourful that he thought he could never be torn from it. But when the beautiful and alluring Madelyn Fleming entered his world, it was suddenly turned upside down. The unusual and complicated situation this created, forced Ridge to abandon the only place on Earth where he ever wanted to live, in order to save the one he loved. Fearing he would never be able to return home again, Ridge was almost torn apart by his insatiable love for Madelyn and the lake that never stopped beckoning him. When it appeared that only a miracle could appease the two opposing forces, that’s exactly what happened.

In Green Pastures

In 1917, war rages on in Belgium and France, and German bombs fall on East London. Two sisters, Florence and Nell, living in Stratford, arrange to leave the city for the tranquillity of the North Essex countryside.

For Florence Mundy, fleeing personal demons and the imminent return of Harry, departure from London cannot come soon enough.

Nell Ashford has the safety of her five children on her mind while George is away at the Front.

In Halstead, lying peacefully in the Colne Valley, they find new challenges, friendship and pain as well as personal fulfilment. Florence discovers salvation and hard work in the newly formed Women’s Land Army while Nell takes on the role of breadwinner to her family.

But they cannot escape the consequences of the Great War and the arrival of German Prisoners of War changes the dynamics of Halstead life and Florence’s future prospects as the armistice approaches.

In Search of a True World View

Will utopian teachings and totalitarian regimes shape the future of humanity? Ronald Fagerfjäll, nestor among Sweden’s financial journalists, does not believe that at all. Religions only reflect a bygone era when men guarded herds of cattle and young women became barter for creating bonds between clans. And totalitarian regimes were formerly the general norm because something better had yet to be invented. An infallible leader quickly stifles the ability of his subjects to solve problems.

The obsolete is cleared out as economic, technological, and cultural evolution continues relentlessly, driven by millions of change projects and billions of free citizens. In knowledge economies, neither feverish fantasies nor feudal structures fit in. We cannot know our future with any certainty, but still, we create it ourselves by solving one concrete problem after another.

What does an evidence-based history of humanity look like? Our biological development was first and foremost a result of a fierce struggle for survival higher up in the food chain, first as scavengers and then as hunters. It required ever better ability to cooperate as well as constant development of weapons and tools. The fact that some 40 ice ages and countless volcanic winters passed during millions of years pushed the early people close to extinction and accelerated cultural development.

From this eye of the needle came Homo Sapiens, a species which could meet the threat from nature with innovations, stories, and cultures. Fagerfjäll has been working on his history book for four decades, but it is only now, when researchers have been able to take a closer look at both the life itself and the history of the planet, that the tale has been completed.

For anyone who doubts humanity’s ability to deal with today’s problems, this is a vaccination against pessimism.

In the Course of Dreams

In the Course of Dreams offers a profound odyssey into the heart of existence. Through poetic ruminations, it delves into timeless quandaries: life’s purpose, the essence of justice, the bounds of freedom, and the eternal dance of good and evil. Despite the weight of these themes, a luminous thread of hope weaves throughout, crafting a tapestry that is both current and eternal.

Inciting Change

Whilst being homeless for two years and living on the peripherals of society, many an hour was contemplated to realise what is paramount in one’s life. Together, with the support and help from specialised agencies, I now have been housed and working for 13 years.

Eternally grateful for prayers answered, I hope that through the sharing of my words, others can gain insight and inspiration from a different world of thought and experience. It is hoped that the reader may realise that “coupled with consistency, the right support, love, and timely opportunities, one can conquer adversity!”

To those currently struggling with adversity in their lives, whatever their circumstances may be, I sincerely pray and hope for a better tomorrow. I regained my faith in God and humanity and pray you do too. If my words have by some measure helped in the process, I am humbled.

Indigo Ashes

Indigo Ashes is a collection of poems conceived as a journey.

The journey of a man, a soul, a human being and his experience on this planet.

The search for the meaning of his own

existence, the questions and the struggle with

the divine, the fights for his spiritual and

physical survival, loves and broken heart,

disappointments, illusions and suffering.

But also joy, courage, daring, wonder, redemption, deliverance, and finally, peace.

Infiniti

Like many other books, this book is about a journey. But unlike other books, the destination of the journey is the point where the parallel lines meet. The narrator is locked inside the book. The only way he can get out of it is by persuading one of the other characters in the book to finish off the writing process for him. But before he can do this, he has to make a journey.

On his travels, there are a number of waypoints where he must stop and collect materials which are pasted into the book. When the book is completed, he can leave the book by delivering it to the individual whom he will meet at the point where the parallel lines meet.

This journey, which is accomplished across his lifetime, takes him from the birth of Christ to the near future, with the author bending time by complex double time schemes, riddles and mathematical formulae. Every waypoint appears incredible at first, but we are in the world of weaving narrative into fiction but not fantasy. Every one of the waypoints is historical fact.

There is no trickery. The narrator does indeed take us to the point where the parallel lines meet. It had been staring at us in the face all along.