Circles in the Wind is a poetic chronicle of the “back to the land” movement of the 1970s and the counterculture of the late 1960s. The novel documents the wanderings of Blackjack, Red Dawge, and Memphis Dennis across the country, from commune to commune, through hobo camps, and into remote mountain hideaways. From the story of the Rainbow hippies to the loner Houndog Tom and the gardens of Gentle Rain, the novel weaves an intricate tapestry of the life and times of those who sought an existence outside the mainstream. The stories move through time and space, circling back to their own beginnings, and becoming the Deja Vu. Free on Kindle.

In 2014, I traveled around the country to inform my first cousins about the new information I had researched about our grandfather on ancestry.com. A secondary purpose of the trip was to cross off many items on my bucket list. What happened on the trip is the subject of this book. The trip covered twenty-five thousand miles around the country from Indio, California, circumventing the country in a counterclockwise fashion.

What I discovered about our country is its magnificent beauty. From the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean resides more geographic beauty than anyone can comprehend. The stunning farmland that we possess is just unmatched in the world. The majestic mountains in Colorado and Wyoming are so impressive that one cannot get enough of their magnificence. The great national parks, the Grand Canyon, and Mount Rushmore are sites that are too incredible to capture in words. At the same time, Americans have blighted the landscape with heaps of used cars and abandoned houses. It is unsettling to learn that some people just have no respect for the land they possess.

Aside from the geography of our country, we have some of the most gorgeous cities in the world. From Chicago to New York to New Orleans to Charleston and Savannah, the tremendous architectural differences of our country are something to behold. Getting around these cities was challenging, but a sound guidance system helped me enjoy our great cities.

My trip took me to the site of many of our great American authors whose books I taught for years as an English teacher in a California high school. I wanted to see the boyhood home of Mark Twain and the home he had built in Hartford, Connecticut. His life and wisdom were things I admired as a teacher. I also wanted to see Walden Pond, the cabin Henry David Thoreau lived in, and the homes of Emerson, Alcott, Longfellow, Hawthorne, and Melville, among others. I was satisfied that I could validate what I taught about these authors. I learned that Thoreau was quite a gardener, making gardens for the authors Emerson and Hawthorne.

My great adventure also took me to the doorsteps of many of my first cousins on my father’s and mother’s side of the family. I shared with them the knowledge I had gained from research about our ancestral past. The cousins’ reactions to what they learned about their grandfathers were something none of them knew during their parent’s lifetimes. The ancestral past was essential to me because I was unsure of the origin of both sets of grandparents, and learning what it was allowed me to share this with my family. How people reacted to this information was significant.

I also ventured into our country’s historical past and visited those places where the foundation of our country was laid. It was essential to know about the founding fathers of our country, what they believed, and how they lived. I share with the reader my observations of America in the year 2014. $12.99 on Kindle.

This awe-inspiring odyssey transcends the boundaries of time, culture, and the human spirit. Jo describes her participation in VETS (Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions) programs as she experiences the healing power of plant and animal medicines in Mexico. She writes about being a Sundancer on the Lakota and Menominee reservations. Her clear narrative delves deep into the portals of consciousness and realms of the sacred.

Amidst the chaos of war and the aftermath of conflict, Jo shares stories of her work and life in Kurdistan after the invasion of Daesh/ISIS, and her deployment on HKIA Military base in Afghanistan.These chapters provide a stark contrast to her work and travel in the peaceful countries of Malta, Nepal, New Zealand and Thailand.

In this riveting memoir, Jo’s life path unfolds as a kaleidoscope of profound encounters as she seeks answers to her life’s purpose while navigating the grief of losing her son, and others close to her.

From remote Alaska to remote Australia, to the mountains of China with the Shaolin, “Traveler Between Worlds” offers a unique glimpse into the character of courageous individuals and mysterious landscapes.

Join Jo in “Traveler Between Worlds” which serves as a companion to her first book, “Traveling Off the X” and her poetry book, “CLASH-Poems From Conflict Zones” by Jo Patti. Artwork by Denali Schmidt. $9.50 on Kindle.

Torn between family, a demanding husband, and emotional upheaval, can an aspiring young actress find the courage to embrace her passion and independence in the face of overwhelming obstacles?

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, the youngest in a family of six children, Reedy Gibbs was tormented by her mentally disturbed eldest brother and learned to survive by staying out of the way and doing as she was told. After graduating high school, she moved to Chicago to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Caught up in the big city excitement and her new life, she meets a handsome but troubled musician and gets lured into his stoner lifestyle.

Receiving tragic news from home, her life spirals out of control. Grief and fear cloud her judgment, and she allows herself to be seduced into marriage.

Always the pleaser, she goes along with her husbands dream of living on a Northern California commune, even though her heart longs to be in the city pursuing her dream of acting professionally. After years of living as hippies, they buy land of their own and build a rock house with their bare hands, and Reedy gives birth to two children. She endures years of living without electricity, plumbing, or a telephone; however, these hardships do not deter her from her dream. Finally, she endeavors to stand up for herself and begin life anew as a working actress and single mother.

A memorable adventure filled with vibrant characters, hardships endured, and inner strength revealed, Reedy’s memoir will take you on a journey that will inspire and amuse, but, most of all, will fill your heart with hope that all difficulties can be overcome. Free on Kindle.