Jef Huntsman

Whether we're behind the wheel or in the passenger's seat, cars sometimes take us places we don't expect. Ride along on a nostalgic road trip in these twenty-eight true and could-be-true tales of muscle cars, first cars, and dream cars by Jack Remick, Rachel Barham, Lynne Burnett, S. L. Clarke, Neil Dabb, Patricia DiMaio, Matthew J. Ence, J. Anthony Gohier, Janine Harrison, Jef Huntsman, Fiona M. Jones, Tim Keller, Kamal E. Kimball, Stanley L. Klemetson, Jessica de Koninck, Mike Langtry, Marjorie Maddox, Keri Montgomery, Stephen Page, Marilyn W. Richardson, Felicia Rose, Patty Somlo, Isaac Timm, Chadd VanZanten, and E. B. Wheeler.

"Time is like a river of passing events, and swift is its current." This collection of award-winning poetry and prose from the League of Utah Writers takes the reader on journeys through the currents of time, warming in the glow of nostalgia, weathering grief, finding hope for the future, or hoping that the past doesn't catch up. Featuring fiction, non-fiction, and poetry from Virginia Babcock, Elizabeth Watson Barnes, Robyn Buttars, Denis Feehan, Matthew Funk, Brenda Birch Gallaher, Krystal Gerber, Robin Glassey, Lorin Grace, Amanda Hill, Josie Hulme, Jef Huntsman, Lorraine Jeffery, C. H. Lindsay, Christine McDonough, Chris Todd Miller, John Saporito, Valarie Schenk, Richard Timothy, Marie Tollstrup, Johnny Worthen, and Bryan Young.

Just as life seemed picture perfect the nail ripped from the wall and the frame shattered on an unforgiving floor. The author', Jef Huntsman's youngest son's life spiraled into the unknown after a massive seizure on the kitchen tile. Then, with the family still reeling from the shock of that, Jef has a massive cardiac arrest while doing nothing more strenuous than taking his son to school. But it's more than that. He shares his story to hopes the reader will find your own positive coping mechanisms during times of great tragedy, holding on to the belief that things can get better. We as humans seek ways to cope with disaster-the death of loved ones, loss of legs, debilitating diseases, or feelings of mortality. Jef used humor, laughter, smiles, and sarcasm to pull him from the reality that things in life are not always fair. Those gifts provided short, then eventually longer breaks from the the tragedies that had struck. Think about this: one-third of his heart was nothing but dead, black muscle. He was given three to five years to live. Twenty years later, the author's still pounding in fence posts at his ranch and singing every morning. Here's what that says to you: Never abandon hope. Never forget that there is a shinning star even in the most desperate of human trials.

The rugged expert tracker and psychologist, Carson, and his wacky shaman friend, Hub, race from the high desert village of a missing 7-year-old autistic girl, Seronia, to the jungles of ancient Mexico following a disappearing trail. As more children disappear without a trace and wild girls try repeatedly to kill them, their search intensifies. The journey becomes sinister and somewhat mystical as they discover an isolated newly build Mayan communities run by a self proclaimed re-incarnated Mayan Queen. Seronia's life hangs in the balance as she giggles unknowing of her fate.

An eclectic collection of poems ranging from silly to touching, to thoughtful. Bald Cats and Deaf Elephants will make you laugh at the human circumstance.

Annie's sister, Tia, is missing. The police have basically given up, the PI she hired was worthless, and Annie decides Carson is her best, and last, shot at finding her sister. Carson's not so sure he's interested; he was looking forward to a long stretch of alone time on his ranch, enjoying starry nights and the mesmerizing glow of a good fire. Reluctantly, he allows himself to be pulled into the fray. As a psychologist and uniquely trained ex-Marine, Carson has uncommon skills for ferreting out missing persons. His best friend, Hub, is an incredible computer hack, and a shaman who occasionally receives inspiration from a dead rock star. Carson is highly skeptical. Annie's sister, Tia's, story evolves alongside Carson's, revealing glimpses of a beautiful young woman. She initially clings to her latest loser boyfriend but develops into a brave, though reluctant leader with grit and courage. A simple absent sister evolves into a far more sinister plot as Carson and Hub encounter confrontations, political intrigue, cross country drama, and a Jamaican climax in a race against time to rescue Tia.