joeclass3

[joeclass3]

She was just a kid - but she didn't wait.

“Hold on!”  Diving toward the edge of the swelling creek Hanna grabs ahold of her little brother’s wrist. One second Marcus is laughing, playing along the edge of the swollen creek.  Then he’s neck-deep in water. Hanna shouts, “I got you!” Marcus sputtering and kicking is scared she will. Clenching her teeth Hanna pulls him up the bank.  “Don’t let go!”  Hanna refuses to quit.  Not her…

[joeclass3]

Rule One: Know What You’re Walking Into

Evening at Gemini’s, the hanging filament bulbs give an amber glow to the inside of the bar. Low-level laughter and conversation echoed through the establishment. A platinum-blonde strolled in. Not a care in the world, she popped her gum, sounding like the poppers adolescent boys threw at each other on the 4th of July. Tossing her hair over one bare shoulder and pulling off a pair of dark…

[joeclass3]

Truth Wears the Crown: Why Integrity Matters

No sugarcoating. No fibs. Not even the little ones grown-ups call ‘harmless.’ Tiny little Anya, four years old, wild blonde curls dancing in the sunlight when she ran. When adults looked her in the eye, they could see something missing in most people – honest, heartfelt emotions. At Happy Trails Daycare, Anya’s preschool, all the kids loved to share stories. Milo swore he’d flown in a rocket…

[joeclass3]

🚚 “Timing’s all off,” Jim muttered, cigarette dangling, engine sputtering like it had secrets to tell. Bobby Jo needs the truck. Jim’s not sure if it’s for her—or that no-good boyfriend. But under the grease, smoke, and grit, there’s something worth saving. Maybe the truck. Maybe more. ⠀ 🔧 A story about second chances, stubborn hearts, and the engines that keep us going. ⠀ 📖 Read now. #Fiction #ShortStory #HopeAndGrit

[joeclass3]

One post. One friend. A lifetime of trust—shaken. When Gwen sees Rob’s inflammatory social media post, it’s not just political—it’s personal. The Post explores how a single moment online can fracture years of friendship, and asks: can we still reach across the divide before silence becomes permanent?

[joeclass3]

Truth Is Always Stranger than Fiction

On paper it didn’t add up.  At 2:07 a.m. on Tuesday morning, the red-and-blue lights blinded me, shining bright in my rearview mirror on a Amador Valley Boulevard. 18, barely legal, full of arrogant confidence. Holding a California driver’s license and current residency, Beaverton, Oregon, near the Washington Park Mall. Washington state plates on the car, registration near expired. A Dublin…

[joeclass3]

When an aging coin collector discovers a strange coin outside a small-town store, he has no idea what secrets it holds. A quiet moment becomes the start of something far more unusual in this atmospheric tale of mystery and memory.

[joeclass3]

🚨 Book Launch Alert! 🚨

I’m thrilled to share that my new book, Stories, Anecdotes, and Real Life, is now live on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)! 🎉📚 This collection brings together heartfelt stories, personal experiences, and reflections that speak to everyday life — the funny, the meaningful, and the unexpectedly profound moments we all share. Publishing through KDP has been an empowering journey, and…

[joeclass3]

🚨 Book Launch Alert! 🚨

I’m thrilled to share that my new book, Stories, Anecdotes, and Real Life, is now live on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)! 🎉📚

This collection brings together heartfelt stories, personal experiences, and reflections that speak to everyday life — the funny, the meaningful, and the unexpectedly profound moments we all share.

Publishing through KDP has been an empowering journey, and if you’re thinking of doing the same, here are a few ways I’m promoting my book (and how you can too!):

✅ Tap into your network – Ask your community to spread the word.

✅ Get social – Share quotes, cover art, and behind-the-scenes writing moments.

✅ Set up your Amazon Author Page – Helps readers connect with you and builds credibility.

✅ Ask for reviews – Genuine feedback helps new readers discover your work.

✅ Use KDP promo tools – Run free or discounted promos to boost visibility.

📖 Grab your copy of Stories, Anecdotes, and Real Life here 👉 https://a.co/d/6VpI1U8

And if you’ve been sitting on a story of your own—why not publish it? KDP makes it possible.

#StoriesAndRealLife #KDP #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthor #NewBook #BookLaunch #AuthorJourney #WritingCommunity #AmazonBooks

[joeclass3]

Have you ever had an experience like this one? Let me know in the comments!

[joeclass3]

Check out my book! Now available on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/BOCXVY81KZ

[joeclass3]

German Chocolate Cake – A Perfect Way to Celebrate Your Birth

Today, my thoughts turn to birthdays. Dad is 77 today, living through the Vietnam War, the Challenger Explosion, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. I don’t know about you, but birthdays are a big deal. Being forgotten about on a milestone birthday, like 16 or 21? That’s not something you forget. Nor is it something you get a do-over for. You only turn <insert year here> one time. Gen-Xers feel…

[joeclass3]

Swimming through Cultural Slime

Two restaurants, one time for brunch, the second for an early dinner. Four retail stores, which included a stop at Target. One stop for gas. All that in less than twenty miles, round trip. Our smiles, sincerity, and caring attitude, netted us various replies, like “Wow! Thank you for being so considerate.” “I really appreciate your being so cool about this.” And my personal favorite, “You guys…

[joeclass3]

Armadillo. Egret. Squirrel. Rainbow.

Not what I expected to see on my walk this morning, traversing almost five miles in less than two hours. An armadillo, on the trail, watching and sniffing the air, waiting for me to pass by. An armadillo! Squirrels? I expect to see these little tree rats scurrying about, gathering nuts and whatnot. But a nine-banded armadillo? Staring at me? Not even! The armadillo surprised me, but not the…

[joeclass3]

Invited to Mrs. Ellington's Estate

“Julian! Welcome. Please won’t you come in?” Sandra, opening the door let out a surge of cool air. It was the middle of July in Alabama and here Julian wore a long-sleeved, button-down forest green shirt buttoned up at the wrists, black jeans, and Birkenstocks with his stark white socks. Sandra Fredrickson, a co-worker, invited him to her husband’s celebration of his twentieth year in the switch…

[joeclass3]

Be Nice

Honestly, I didn’t think much of it, until a few hours later it was repeated. “You both are so nice!” The sentiment echoed through the evening and into the next day without so much as either on of us thinking about it. Which made we wonder, what happened? Have we become so jaded, thanks in large part to social media, political biases, and previous years of social distancing that we’ve forgotten…