Barred Owl Publishing to Donate To Help Joplin, Missouri

June 16, 2011 - PRLog -- The manuscript for D.A.Blankinship ’s third book : “Phontaine’s Gifts” was completed on May 22, 2011. Hours later, a storm system passed over Blankinship’s home and continued east becoming an F5 tornado just 30 miles away in Joplin, Missouri. This storm destroyed about a fourth of the city of Joplin, and has been categorized as one of the deadliest storms in the history of the United States. Ironically, “Phontaine’s Gifts” is a story about violent and unrelenting storms wreaking havoc in North America - a fictional story that has taken on a realism for the people of Joplin. The staff of Barred Owl Publishing and D.A. Blankinship are providing readers, libraries, students, and book clubs an option for helping the people of Joplin, Missouri rebuild their lives. Barred Owl Publishing will donate 10% of the proceeds from the sale of any D.A. Blankinship book from their website. Proceeds will be divided equally and cash gifts will be given to Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity, Joplin Recovery Fund, Joplin Tornado First Response Fund, and Red Cross. Barred Owl Publishing offers three books by D.A. Blankinship: “Phontaine’s Gifts”, “The Scoloderus Conspiracy”, and “Woodcliff Anthology”.
“Phontaine’s Gifts”, the anticipated prequel to “The Scoloderus Conspiracy”, is a forceful tale about wide-spread devastation in North America and how people cope with the overwhelming crisis. How can anyone prepare for a time when water, food, medicine, and shelter are more valuable than diamonds? How do you find answers when electricity is gone, the Internet has vanished, and computers are useless? The answers are closer than we think; however, we may be taking them for granted. Blankinship takes us into the plans of a technology entrepreneur who has ominous doubts about entrusting computers and the Internet with the information vital to surviving a national disaster. He lets us participate in the struggles of a grocery store manager when thousands of people crowd into his empty store, desperately searching for food. He takes us for a ride in an RV that has been stripped to load supplies and people for a cross-country journey to make a last stand against desperation. And, he puts us inside the closed rooms where government leaders argue about how to handle the crisis. This powerful tale about the ruin of America and the people caught in the tragedy, is told through the experiences of three families; their struggles and triumphs as they confront the end of civilization. Meet people who deny it is happening, those who are not prepared, and those few who will live because of “Phontaine’s Gifts”.
“The Scoloderus Conspiracy” begins three centuries after global cataclysms reshaped the Earth. The United Americas Trade Federation, in their quest for a unified continent, seized land and absorbed the former territorial governments of North America. The Libre Voyageurs oppose the Federation and defy their authority over the land. They have a daring plan to defeat the Federation, and they are willing to risk anything. When a key Federation military leader vanishes and hours later his wife dies in an accident and his daughter disappears, the Federation's leadership draws on every possible resource. The government's Chief Delegate recruits Professor Taylor, an expert in reason and deduction, to join the team that is working to solve the mystery, recover the leader, and foil the enemy's plans. This book is for people who enjoy thinking. If you like to get into the 'thick' of things and talk about politics, or news in science catches your attention, you will enjoy Scoloderus. If you like to figure out how a story will end; Scoloderus will be a major challenge for you -- down to the very last page.
The ““Woodcliff Anthology”” is a collection of short stories that introduce readers to people and places that are familiar and yet a little unusual. These stories explore some of life’s big questions, including the courage to defend the innocent, personal freedom, the meaning of justice, life in the here-after, the power of forgiveness, the misuse of gifts, and the interventions of angels. Each story makes a great dinner conversation, and a very stimulating discussion for a book club or a classroom. This book is a great Sunday afternoon read – full of stories that lift you to a higher realm and give you a reason to see beyond the humdrum. Take time to settle into your favorite chair, and tune out the world as you wander through the lives of people facing life-changing decisions and making amazing discoveries about themselves.
To join Barred Owl Publishing and D.A. Blankinship in helping the people of Joplin, go to www.tenparinc.com. Whether you are a D.A. Blankinship fan or are just now discovering his books, you will find something here to enjoy for yourself or to give as a gift – and you will know you are helping the people of Joplin, Missouri.

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Barred Owl Publishing produces books, anthologies, poetry, and graphics for people who enjoy thinking