Ronald Rand is known throughout the world as an actor, author, educator, poet, and painter. He is also a traveler, having visited more than two dozen countries as a US Cultural Ambassador. His new book, The Marsh in May and 30 Poems with 29 Paintings by Ronald Rand, is an immersive experience that taps into human experience through word and paint.

While praised for his post-modern and post-Impressionist style at the easel, Rand's poetry draws from the masters he first heard read to him by his mother, to his contemporaries. His words and phrasing are unique and draw the reader in, as do his landscapes and portraits. This book, available on the Lucky Shoe Press imprint of Sunbury Press Books, is another of Rand's methods to embrace life, in all its joys and mysteries.

Best known for his role as former mentor Harold Clurman in the long-running Let it Be Art!, Ronald Rand has appeared in dozens of films, stage productions, and television programs. He founded and published "The Soul of the American Actor" newspaper, has received a series of Fulbright Awards, and received the Jury Best Actor Award at the Bitola 26th International Monodrama Festival in North Macedonia. His upcoming work includes the production UBUNTU, the film "Group Paradise," and "Ibsen," the first opera of Henrik Ibsen.

Ronald Rand lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

While not the first literary detective, Sherlock Holmes is one of the most read, viewed, and heard. Holmes has been depicted more than 250 times; with his partner, Dr. John Watson, the pair have not only captured the imaginations of mystery (and non-mystery) lovers, but also authors, the world over. 

Fan fiction about Holmes and Watson dates back to the 19th century, often featuring playful, satirical, or even harsh wit. On this episode of Milford House Mysteries & Histories, Tory Gates sits down with P.A. O'Neil as she recounts her fascination and her identification with Watson.

Two Sides of the Same Coin: In-between Stories of Sherlock Holmes and John H. Watson comes from O'Neil's pen, a series of tales that take the good doctor's point of view. We follow Watson, mustered out of the British Army after being wounded, not quite himself as he navigates Victorian England and tries to find his place once more.

"On That Last Day" chronicles Watson's meeting with a potential flatmate, the enigmatic Holmes. In the stories that follow, including "The Curse of the Scottish Play," "The Case of the Venetian Glass," and others, O'Neil fashions tales in the tradition of Arthur Conan Doyle, but more from Watson's frank and direct view. O'Neil also offers her inspiration for these stories, and her assessment of Watson, his place beside Holmes, and how the pair never seem to die.

P.A. O'Neil is originally from Southern California. Her writings have appeared in numerous anthologies, journals, and magazines. A further collection of Holmes and Watson works can be found In for a Penny. She is also the author of Witness Testimony and Other Tales. She is a member of Sound of the Baskervilles and the John H. Watson Society. Her piece "The Great Burro Revolt" won her the 2023 Mustang Flash Fiction Award. 

Her writings can be found through Clarendon House Books -- she now lives in Olympia, Washington.

Edward V. Bonner is a man of many passions. From his early years in the steel town of Hazelwood, Pennsylvania, Bonner has combined his love of history, literature, and education with sports. A lifelong martial artist with a specialty in Shotokan Karate, Bonner has participated in numerous tournaments across the US, operated his own school, and still instructs, primarily younger students. He has also competed in several triathlons and running competitions.

With degrees in Aeronautics and Business, Bonner has worked for US Airways (later American Airlines) for more than three decades. He is the author of The Final Resting Place -- Calvary Cemetery on Sunbury's Local History Press.

Speaking with host Dr. Lawrence Knorr, Bonner talks about his life and times, and what is on his horizon.

Andrea van de Loo has lived a life with many experiences and transformations. In a series of short chapters, Andrea brings out her more than 80 years of human experience in "The Pressing Stones: The Healing Journey of a Nazi's Daughter."

Andrea's early life in the Netherlands during the Second World War is recounted, and in particular, that of her father. He joins the SS in an act of self-preservation. Convicted of war crimes, he serves time in prison and a mental institution.  Unable to deal with her early trauma, she lives the first half of her life dissociated from her innermost feelings.

Also documented are travels to Paris and later to India, where Andrea meets the Mother, the spiritual companion of Sri Aurobindo, and lives at the experimental community She inspired, Auroville. Andrea's experiences in her ongoing search for self lead her to California, and her long relationship with a shaman, Hara Ra.   

All through this book, Andrea discusses her psychological journey, her struggles, her process of grief, and also the past of her father. Available through Untimely Books, The Pressing Stones is a remarkable, honest, and unapologetic memoir. 

Andrea van de Loo lives in Santa Cruz, California.

In a land of hard-bitten lawmen, Ed Earl Burch may be the toughest of them all. An aging, but still difficult and dangerous character, Ed Earl has worked both sides of the law. Now, he's back in the borderlands of West Texas and Northern Mexico, where a shadow of his past has again arisen.

A series of grisly, straight-razor murders leads Ed Earl to believe that a man he thought he'd killed is still very much alive. With his ex-Army Ranger wingman Bobby Quintero, Ed Earl has to navigate gun runners, drug dealers, racist gangs, cartels, and fellow cops with questionable allegiances. Then add to the mix a femme fatale boss, who, like Ed Earl, is in the sights of the killer.

Jim Nesbitt knows these backcountry lands as a journalist, horseman, pilot, and hunter. The Fatal Saving Grace is the fifth of the Ed Earl Burch series, which includes The Last Second Chance, The Right Wrong Number, The Best Lousy Choice, and The Dead Certain Doubt. You can find out all about Jim at his website. A diehard Tennessee Vols fan, he lives in Athens, Alabama.

Two brothers are traveling from Iowa to Indiana for the funeral of their father. On the way, their reminisces paint a portrait of the man, with colors Midwest rural life might not expect.

The life and times of Wilbur Rife are replete with abuse, alcoholism, exotic dancers, crime, tragedy, persistence, and love. The testament by one of his sons tells a tale of survival but also of navigating life in an uncertain time. 

Douglas Rife earned bachelor's and master's degrees in History at Iowa State University. He is the author of more than 25 books and is a developer of products for educators and school administrators. His passion for American history has led him to republish local histories, preserve historical sites, and assist in drafting legislation to protect cemeteries in his home state. You can find out more about this pursuit at the website Gravely Speaking.

He lives in Bloomington, Indiana.

In this personal memoir, Eric Gnezda tells of his passions: music, running, and service to others. His life journey has been one with the expected twists and turns, joys, heartaches, and all in between. Through these experiences, Eric discovers life's true meaning and provides hope for a world with renewed humanity and true empathy.

An award-winning singer and songwriter, Eric is the creator and host of the acclaimed PBS series, Songs at the Center. His music has been featured on ESPN, All Things Considered, and Entertainment Tonight. Eric was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work in TV journalism and taught public speaking at the college level for twelve years. He also travels the country to speak before corporations, trade associations, and general audiences. 

You can find out more about Eric Gnezda at this website.

Detective Oliver Tucker is dead...but he's not done solving crimes, including his own murder. In the first of Tj O'Connor's Dead Detective series, "Tuck" must navigate the afterlife to help his widow, Professor Angela Tucker, and their dog Hercule find his killer and solve a deeper mystery. Gold coins, mobsters, a psychotic hitman, and a possible Civil War burial ground are all part of Dying to Know, the first of a four (soon to be five) volume series. 

Tj O'Connor brings Tuck and the gang to life in a compelling series of novels, described as "Topper meets the Thin Man" by some. An award-winning author of mysteries and thrillers that include The Hemingway Deception, Tj is an international security consultant who has served overseas in times of war and draws on his experiences and contacts for accurate and exciting works.

A native of the Hudson Valley of New York, Tj now lives in Virginia. You can find out more about him and his books at this website. 

Diana Long is a widow facing middle age, and has rented out her East Hampton home to boarders. Needless to say, the parade of tenants that passes through at times reads like a Rogue's Gallery, with characters, incidents, and the occasional dog who make Diana's home their own...temporarily. 

In Three Rooms, Shared Bath: A Landlady in the Hamptons, Eileen Obser takes the reader in Diana's shoes as she traverses the famous, exclusive Hamptons in the late summer of 2008. The restaurants, shops, and events that make this part of Long Island unique are viewed as affairs beyond take shape. These include the Olympics and the rise to prominence of a certain politician from the Midwest. 

Along the way, Diana considers life after her late husband, Gary, and the close friendship of Frank, a reporter who at times thinks he knows better than Diana. Then, these tenants, the erratic Basia, Teresa, Kenneth, and others, make Diana's life less-than-typical. Through all this, Diana knows she has decisions to make.

Eileen Obser does indeed own a home in East Hampton, and still has one tenant. A Queens, New York native, Eileen has lived on the island since 1975. A writer since childhood, Eileen is also an essayist and educator. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from Stony Brook University. Her writings have appeared in The Washington Post and Newsday, plus numerous magazines and anthologies. Her memoir, Only You, was published by Brown Posey Press as a second edition in 2019. You can find out more about Eileen at her website.

Robert "R.B." Swift has marked a half-century of journalism, best known for his coverage of the State House in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He is the author of three books on Colonial American History, including Life, Liberty and Death on the Appalachian Frontier, released by Mastof Press in 2024.

Speaking with host Dr. Lawrence Knorr, Swift discusses his interest in history, his journalistic career, and his writings. A native of western New York, Swift is a graduate of Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, with a bachelor's degree in American Studies. He lives in the Harrisburg area.