By Carole Howard and the Library Staff
Local author Judith Horky’s third book, “Ageless! Never Too Old, Never Too Late,” is a forthright and inspiring look at what it’s like to be a woman growing older in a world that idolizes youth. It is a how-to, goals-oriented and uplifting book based on the experiences of Judy and other women, always presented in a compassionate, non-judgmental way. It’s filled with warmth and humor – for example when her granddaughter pointed at her age spots and said, “Grammy! You’ve got polka dots on your hands!” This book will help aging women open doors marked Emotional, Spiritual, Physical and Mental – and feel better about themselves in the process.
Judy and her husband Jim moved to Pagosa what she calls “16 amazing years ago.” They enjoy our remarkable mountains and lakes, dancing and music, their friends and family, and their dog Jesse.
Doug Roberts has written his two newest novels – “Deep Springs” and “The End of Childhood” – under his full name D. William Roberts. “Deep Springs” will be of special interest to locals because it is a sci-fi story set in Pagosa Springs and dedicated to the residents of Archuleta County who “would rise to this occasion if it ever developed.” It’s also a military action adventure where the author drew heavily from his experiences in the Army.
“The End of Childhood” is book three of the Long Shadow series. The first two books were written by the late Wesley Arlin Brown. Set in Tucumcari., New Mexico, is the story of his grandson’s entry into adulthood in what the author calls “one of this country’s last bastion of the Wild West.” The author and Deb, his wife of 35 years, live in a home they built on two acres in Aspen Springs after his retirement.
Retired family physician and hospice doctor Pamela M. Kircher, M.D., has written an updated version of “Love is the Link,” first published 18 years ago. Pam had her own childhood near-death experience (NDE) at age six, and since then her life experiences have encompassed virtually the whole field of NDE. The book covers from a spiritual perspective Pam’s own experiences and those of others who have shared their stories with her. This edition contains updated nomenclature and a new final chapter discussing recent research and the general acceptance of NDE, as well as the path of hospice in the U.S.
Pam moved here from Houston in 1994, and served as medical director of integrated health care services at Mercy Medical Center from 2001-2006. At that time, she and her husband Mark split their time between their house in Durango and their ranch on Trujillo Road in Pagosa, where they now live full time. For more than 20 years Pam has spoken across the U.S. and internationally about NDE and hospice.
Local author Ray McComber has written two novels, both based on real people. The first is an adventure story called “RatPack Airlines” about the men in the Special Operations squadrons throughout Southeast Asia. The story of these heroes is fiction, but it is based on fact and Ray’s own experiences in the Air Force and in Vietnam. “RatPack Airlines” was an Air Force gunship, a military DC-3 equipped with multiple large machine guns, during the Vietnam War. The tale is partially autobiographical, as one of the men uses his outdoor skills learned while living in northwestern Nebraska ranch country, as did Ray.
“Eye of the Wolf” is a thriller based on the life of a physicist named Sergei Zhukov as World War II was starting and the Germans were on Russia’s doorstep. He developed a long-range sniper rifle and used it so successfully that he was high on the SS’s list of agents they wanted captured and killed. His granddaughter once worked for Ray, gave him access to her grandfather’s notes in Russian, and translated them. Ray is a computer science expert with an MBA in international finance. He and his wife Nancy moved from Chicago to Pagosa in 2000 where they now enjoy golfing, skiing and hiking with their dog Trevor.
The four authors have generously donated copies of their books to your library for your reading pleasure.
