A decision must be made—maintain a comfortable position in a career he no longer loves—or take a massive leap of faith. Giving up everything he’s ever known, Leo sells his business, purges every possession that won’t fit into a single backpack and sets off into the world in pursuit of answers.Equal parts social philosophy and travel adventure,First Train Out of Denver takes the reader on an around the world quest for meaning in a seamlessly senseless world. Along the way, Leo accepts a challenge from another former Army Ranger to see how far they can travel together in three weeks with nothing but a backpack and one hundred dollars to raise awareness and funds for a veteran charity. By any means necessary, the two friends traverse two continents and film an award-winning documentary along the way. In true nomadic hobo fashion, the pair stow away on coal trains, talk their way onto a boat, hitch rides, and walk their way over eight thousand miles in twenty-one days, raising nearly thirty-thousand dollars for their fellow veterans.First Train Out of Denver brings the laugh-out-loud, gritty Ranger humor readers loved in his first book, Lest We Forget, and combines it with the raw, unrelenting introspection readers related to in his second book, On Assimilation.

First Train Out of Denver

Politics & Social Sciences

Jenkins, Leo

Philosophy

Blackside Publishing

When terrorism, politics, and the violence of men lunge too far, heroes arise. What happens when an ordinary American shows up in Manhattan after the worst terror attack on America soil since Pearl Harbor? The day that changed the world—September 11, 2001—propelled America into the long war, the Global War on Terror. Like many Americans who serve our country, Chaplain Bob Ossler donned his firefighter turn-out gear, boarded a plane, and made his way to Manhattan to help in any way possible. He was escorted onto the smoldering, quaking heap, dubbed “The Pile.” Entering into the Gates of Hell—the crematorium and morgue for nearly 3000 beloved souls—an electrifying chill of horror shot through him.
Trained as a professional first responder, Ossler served five tours of duty during the cleanup at Ground Zero after 9/11. Bob’s eyewitness vignettes recount the questions, fears, struggles, and sacrifices of the families and workers overwhelmed by despair. Chaplain Ossler conducted over 300 mini-memorials for the fragmentary remains carried off the Pile. He comforted the mourners, the frightened, and the heartbroken laborers sifting through millions of tons of carnage for the remains of their friends, the unknown dead—and their faith.
From the broken fragments of glass, steel, and men, Chaplain Ossler’s mosaic of God’s grace unveils the outpouring of generosity, heroism, and unity from people who stepped up to do “something.” Ossler honors the ultimate sacrifice and bravery of first responders who rush toward terror to save lives.
What do Ossler’s insights reveal about finding meaning and purpose in the thick of chaos and personal tragedy? Chaplain Ossler chronicles the best of humanity—acts of courage and goodness in the midst of unimaginable devastation. As terrorist attacks continue to assault humanity, "Triumph Over Terror" reveals how your spirit can triumph over terror’s reign, and how you can help others suffering from trauma and loss.

Triumph Over Terror

Biographies & Memoirs

Ossler, Bob

Heck, Janice Hall

Professionals & Academics

The haunting poetry of The Ghosts of Babylon is as near to the crucible of war as you can get without wearing Kevlar and camouflage.
Every war triggers the question—what’s war like? The Ghosts of Babylon offers eyewitness accounts of warriors who lost their innocence dueling in the sands of the Iraqi inferno or fighting in the chilling Afghan mountains or on the khaki-colored plains. Wounds enshrouded under the bandages of headlines and sound bites will never bridge the gap between soldier and civilian.
Only a soldier poet lays bare the honor and horror. Only a veteran reveals the physical and mental battles waged by the warrior caste. Only the war poet distills the emotions of those who tasted bravery and terror, love and vengeance, life and death. Based on the experiences of a U.S. Army Ranger turned private security contractor, these powerful poems capture the essence of Jonathan Baxter’s twelve military and civilian deployments.
Jonathan reveals the contradictory nature of deployment in a war zone—exhilaration, monotony, ugliness, and occasional beauty. From ancient times to present day, war poetry telegraphs a dispatch across the ages about the universal experiences of war—brotherhood and bereavement, duty and disillusionment, and heroism and horror. No history mirrors the brutal realities and emotions of armed conflict than the shock of war erupting from the warrior poet’s pen.
Jonathan resurrects the ghosts and gods of soldiers past. His poignant memorial to fallen brothers transmits the shadowy presence and ultimate sacrifices of the coffined to the fortunate un-coffined. The Ghosts of Babylon strips away the cultural varnish of the ‘enemy,’ painting the bitter irony of every day lives caught in the crosshairs of terror, chaos, and death. From moving to startling to soulful, these masterpieces provoke you to think about the truths and consequences of those who risk their lives on the frontline of freedom—for you, their friends, and our country.

The Ghosts of Babylon

Baxter, Jonathan

Leaders & Notable People

Has life passed you by? And you fit in—nowhere? 
"I gave the best years of my life to a cause—to a belief that proved false. I loved living on the edge. The thrill of standing the watch. Rushing into harm’s way on behalf of my country. For over 22 years and with pride, I represented America by wearing the cloth of the nation. When my service was all over? Life had passed me by and . . . I fit in — nowhere." — Senior Chief Petty Officer Brad Genereux
Is forgiveness and peace within the grasp of those who spent their lives pursuing the next mission on behalf of their country? Brad Genereux traces two parallel journeys—one through the inferno of war in Afghanistan, and the other through the healing purgatory of the Camino de Santiago. Juxtaposed between a combat zone and The Way of Saint James, experience two adventures and the two lives of one man. Willing to sacrifice his life to aid the Afghanis, Brad’s candid account chronicles the challenges to carry out missions while operating under a complex chain of command, Afghani corruption, and deadly sabotage by the Taliban. 
After Genereux retired from the military, he faced the arduous pursuit to assimilate into civilian life and to make sense of the unexpected deaths of three family members. Brad revisits dark demons imprisoning his spirit and the peace and healing unlockedon The Way of Saint James. A Soldier to Santiago: Finding Peace on the Warrior Path shadows the reflections of a war-hardened man devoid of identity and purpose and his search for answers, hope, and himself on a 769-kilometer trek over the Pyrenees and across northern Spain. 
Are you searching for peace and purpose? 
Experience the camaraderie of warriors deployed to the battlefield and the esprit de corps of Camino peregrinos as they triumph over the inner battles of the spirit. Are you suffering from isolation, hypervigilance, nightmares, or insomnia? Join Brad in the Spring or Fall on The Way to find peace on the warrior path.

A Soldier to Santiago: Finding Peace on the Warrior Path

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Genereux, Brad

Esser, Dr. Christine Bridges

Mental Health

Fifteen years have passed since a car bomb blew up seven-year-old Ella's father, a colonel in the Air Force. One minute her daddy was there. The next? He disappeared, leaving only a charred shell of a vehicle and a burnt hubcap clacking down a Turkish street. Gone. As if he never existed at all. The percussion of her father's violent death still ricochets in the present. Ella yearns for healing and peace from the emotional shrapnel embedded in her heart. Drawn back to Turkey--a place she swore she left behind--Ella seeks to solve the mystery of who killed her father--and why. When she meets Murat, a handsome Turkish man, she almost hopes for a new beginning--until she discovers family secrets that torture Murat and shake Ella to her core. Will the war in her soul close her heart to receive or give love--or forgiveness? Ella faces two choices. Stay anchored to a bitter past or seek a new ending. Can Ella move past old wounds? Or, is the damage too shattering, making healing impossible?

The Orphan Maker's Sin

DeHerrera, Holly

Literature & Fiction

A bad back laid up energetic Aendi Hannah, who's likely going stir crazy. Poppy and Sadie fix up the rooms for guests staying at the Aendi Hannah's bed and breakfast in Middlebury, Indiana. While cleaning the guesthouse, Poppy and Sadie discover a key behind a broken baseboard. Who hid the key that looks like a skeleton's bony finger, and why?Their crazy quilt clues-an old cast iron key, 70-year-old letters promising a great treasure, a lost, buried time capsule, and a hidden, secret room-lay out no real pattern or direction. The trail grows cold, like the back burner on Aendi Hannah's big, old gas stove.Twelve-year-old, amateur sleuth Poppy worries: Will their snoopery discover any new leads to follow? And how will the Old Order Mennonite, junior detectives find time to solve this mystery while attending school, cooking meals, and taking care of a household, plus guests?Are the mystifying lock and treasure lost forever? Or are Poppy and Sadie on a wild goose chase in this cozy mystery in the children's Middlebury Mystery series?

The Key in the Wall Mystery (Middlebury Mystery)

Children's Books

DeHerrera, Holly Yoder

Confused? Brokenhearted? Lonely?You Are Not AloneGrieve with Hope in the Midst of Sorrow I lost a child. I can't breathe . . . How will I survive? Nothing prepared Samantha Evans for the shock and horror of miscarriage. What about you? Are you . . . <ul> <li>consumed by this life-altering loss-and no one understands</li> <li>bewildered by grief's turbulent ride</li> <li>overwhelmed by the traumatic, unexpected reality of losing your baby</li> <li>feeling pushed by loved ones to "get over it" and to "move on?"</li> </ul> One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage and the devastation is seldom fully processed or verbalized. Avoiding religious clichés and pat answers, Sam rips away the societal mask of taboo to voice delicate details others shy away from. With humor, transparency, and love, Sam shares from her heart to yours her hard-won insights. From the practical to the spiritual, Love Letters to Miscarriage Moms <ul> <li>explores the complicated emotions of pregnancy loss</li> <li>shares intimate stories of others-their dreams lost, lessons drawn from brokenness, tips to survive, and letters of love from moms and dads written to you</li> <li>validates your unique grief experience and explores "Who am I now?"</li> <li>suggests ideas to manage the dark days of the miscarriage announcement and post-miscarriage 'firsts'</li> <li>lays bare legitimate, burning questions about the fire of suffering, and spiritual doubts and challenges to your faith</li> <li>identifies lies and negative self-talk that complicate your grief</li> <li>encourages you to lean into healthy grieving and self-care</li> <li>examines the lives of Biblical characters who suffered deep loss</li> <li>points you toward comfort, healing, and a renewed hope for the future</li> <li>empowers your heartbreak as a vehicle of compassionate service to others.</li> </ul> Special features include: <ul> <li>reflection questions to process your miscarriage</li> <li>memorial suggestions to honor and remember your baby</li> <li>clichéd sucker punches and platitudes to ignore that minimize your mourning</li> <li>journaling space to record feelings and thoughts as you read</li> <li>coloring pages to decrease emotional distress and give your racing mind a rest</li> <li>tips for friends and family on how to support a grieving mother.</li> </ul> Whether your miscarriage, stillbirth, or infertility happened yesterday or 50 years ago, Sam assures moms: You are not alone and you are worthy of God's love.

Love Letters to Miscarriage Moms: You Are Not Alone (You Are Not Alone: Grieve with Hope Book Series)

Evans, Samantha

Women's Health

Old Order Mennonite cousins, Poppy and Sadie, suspect “A re-e-a-a-al criminal!” is staying at Aendi Hannah’s bed and breakfast. Then a missing dog, a mysterious code, creepy creaks, and a floating light in the dark of night only make Poppy and Sadie more jumpy and suspicious of their strange, elderly guest. Even trusting Aendi Hannah wants to keep an eye on her snowy headed guest.
After spotting wads of green bills in Ms. Lindy’s large trunk, the sleuthing cousins wonder: Was Ms. Lindy just released from prison and is she a thief? To figure out what this little old, Mennonite grandmother is up to, the junior detectives spy on their mysterious guest. Why has Ms. Lindy come to Middlebury, Indiana, and what is the puzzling stranger searching for in Aendi Hannah’s root cellar?
Confused by Ms. Lindy’s odd behavior and an accidental discovery in an old-timey recipe journal, the nosy amateur sleuths hit a dead end. Will Poppy and Sadie’s snoopery solve the mystery surrounding Ms. Lindy’s past in this cozy mystery in the children’s Middlebury Mystery series? 
The Middlebury Mystery series includes: 
Middlebury Mystery Book Club Questions: Talk about each book, or even more fun: Start a book club and read the Middlebury Mystery series with three or four of your friends.
A closed Facebook group, Middlebury Mystery Series Book Club, to provide homeschoolers, teachers, tutors, parents, and grandparents with ideas to inspire great conversations about this mystery series and to explore important life-application principles. 
3-D Reading Activities for Homeschoolers and Creative Parents 
Old-Timey Mennonite recipes in The Root Cellar Mystery

The Root Cellar Mystery (The Middlebury Mystery Series)

Animals

Pinpoint Your Passion (Find Your True North)

Self-Help

Rose, Gloria

Happiness

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Books by Blackside Publishing