Titles by: Tom Orrell

It’s the 1960’s and Jake is a resourceful young man who cleverly pulls off a huge heist in the nation’s capital. He wisely invests and diversifies his stolen millions in cash and leaves no clues. He bides his time and eventually slips out of the country. He tries to vanish from the authorities that he knows will eventually and relentlessly pursue him. He stays one step ahead of the law and his travels take him literally around the world during the next three decades. Along the way, he meets a beautiful New Zealander and marries this woman of his dreams, and they eventually start a family. Despite his wealth and happiness, he longs for what he knows he will never have, which is a chance to permanently settle down and relax. Ever mindful that he is a fugitive from the law, he eludes his pursuers and eventually makes his way back to America with his new family. Throughout this lively narrative we gradually come to empathize with this fellow on the run. In the end, the inevitable lessons of life finally confront Jake and he makes the best of his situation. "A Life Most Richly Deserved" is a rollicking adventure that spans the many miles and years experienced by the flawed but thoroughly likable Jake. He thought he had it all figured out, only to learn that life’s most valuable lessons can never be avoided. This story brings home certain undeniable truths in life, which are indeed sometimes unavoidable, even in spite of the best intentions. However, once his past catches up with him and justice is finally served, ultimately he has the last laugh and we are left cheering for him.

"Not Alone Out Here" is a good old-fashioned ghost story. This fictional tale is told primarily in a first person narrative style. A young widower, John Clark, moves his family away from Richmond out to the rural Virginia countryside to start his life over. Initially he feels comfortable there in Madison County, as it is the same area where he grew up as a boy. He is an independent building contractor and the tragic accidental death of his beloved wife, Abby, from the previous year has scarred him deeply. He is also haunted by a recurring mysterious nightmare that began in his youth. This is instrumental in the déjà vu theme that runs throughout the story. John’s young family consists of two young children, Reese and Kelly, and a small dog, Boo-Boo. He buys an old farmhouse and settles down, quickly fixing up the old place and starting his small home repair and renovation business. It doesn’t take too long before some strange occurrences commence, and these gradually build as the story progresses. John and the children seem especially susceptible to witness these alarming paranormal events. John is a skeptic by nature and it’s not long before he begins to revise his views on such matters. He eventually meets some very strange local characters and becomes fully engaged with these beings of the afterlife. He researches and reads all he can to try and gain an understanding of what is going on, and more importantly – why these things are happening. The fear is very real and one can feel the dreaded apprehension growing. More than once John understandably begins to question his own sanity. He finally is able to get some professional help to solve his problem and uncover the secret origin of all the trouble. We come to admire John in his struggles, and he emerges as a hero of sorts. The story progresses and builds to a surprising climax that will both surprise and satisfy the reader. Again, remember the theme of déjà vu is instrumental to the story. This story illustrates the power of one’s imagination, particularly where the reader is left to fill in the blanks. That too, of course, is by design. All things considered, it’s an engrossing, entertaining scary fictional tale that is sure to please people everywhere. You may have to remind yourself that this is just a fictional tale.

"Shenandoah Whispers And Echoes" is a historical fiction novella that is actually a story within a story. Right away the reader is drawn in with a mysterious and unexpected discovery in the present, then flashes back to the past by means of an old handwritten journal. It gives a unique, first person account of life in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in the latter half of the 19th century. In the words of James Randolph Wise, this simple Southern man’s experiences are set against the backdrop of the Civil War and its aftermath and serve as the focal points of this candid and bittersweet tale. It is constructed within the framework of actual historical events as it takes great pains to stay true to history. It was a simpler, purer, less complicated era and time slows down. Through this thoroughly engrossing narrative we experience the triumphs and tragedies of this boy growing into manhood along with his family, experiencing the American Civil War and its aftermath in a whole new light. This topic as told from that perspective make the book rather fresh and unique. This story exposes some of the myths and injustices about the war in the Shenandoah Valley. Some of the revelations of that war may shock the reader with indignation, but rest assured that the fine line between fact and fiction is often indistinguishable and not often pleasant. It’s the story of gradual change in one man and in a nation. Most importantly, it’s a tale of resilience and determination of the human spirit in both the best and worst of times. Southerners can readily relate to and identify with this tale. It is a story set in a time and place that deserves revisiting. This book espouses the universal themes of family, honor, truth, faith, love, war, and tragedy. These themes all have a time-tested track record of wide appeal among people everywhere - regardless of age, religion, sex, race, education, income, or geographic region. As for a specific core target audience, this story has the definite potential to appeal in particular to Southern folks with deep family roots in the old South. "Shenandoah Whispers And Echoes" will haunt your conscience and genuinely move you.

"Shenandoah Whispers And Echoes" is a historical fiction novella that is actually a story within a story. Right away the reader is drawn in with a mysterious and unexpected discovery in the present, then flashes back to the past by means of an old handwritten journal. It gives a unique, first person account of life in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in the latter half of the 19th century. In the words of James Randolph Wise, this simple Southern man’s experiences are set against the backdrop of the Civil War and its aftermath and serve as the focal points of this candid and bittersweet tale. It is constructed within the framework of actual historical events as it takes great pains to stay true to history. It was a simpler, purer, less complicated era and time slows down. Through this thoroughly engrossing narrative we experience the triumphs and tragedies of this boy growing into manhood along with his family, experiencing the American Civil War and its aftermath in a whole new light. This topic as told from that perspective make the book rather fresh and unique. This story exposes some of the myths and injustices about the war in the Shenandoah Valley. Some of the revelations of that war may shock the reader with indignation, but rest assured that the fine line between fact and fiction is often indistinguishable and not often pleasant. It’s the story of gradual change in one man and in a nation. Most importantly, it’s a tale of resilience and determination of the human spirit in both the best and worst of times. Southerners can readily relate to and identify with this tale. It is a story set in a time and place that deserves revisiting. This book espouses the universal themes of family, honor, truth, faith, love, war, and tragedy. These themes all have a time-tested track record of wide appeal among people everywhere - regardless of age, religion, sex, race, education, income, or geographic region. As for a specific core target audience, this story has the definite potential to appeal in particular to Southern folks with deep family roots in the old South. "Shenandoah Whispers And Echoes" will haunt your conscience and genuinely move you.