From a cancer survivor comes this poignant and heartfelt book of poetry in which the author kicks and screams as Death tries to drag him toward the abyss. Genuine and human, full of strength and weakness, humor and despair, doubt and faith. The author asks the ubiquitous question, Why me?' and What did I do to deserve getting cancer? Anyone who has cancer or loves someone who has cancer should read this book. If the author learned anything from his experience, it's that one does not fight cancer; one surrenders to the cure. The fighting comes afterward during recovery and rebuilding. Throughout his grueling ordeal, the author felt as if he were barely a hand's grasp out of reach of the Grim Reaper.

2,000 years ago, an itinerant Jewish preacher named Jesus was condemned to be crucified--an all too familiar spectacle in Jerusalem in those days. By chance, a man named Simon, from Cyrene, was compelled by Roman soldiers to help Jesus carry the heavy cross through the crowded streets to Golgotha. What did Simon witness? What did he and Jesus talk about? Eager to learn more about his unfortunate companion, Simon returned to Jerusalem the next day. What he learned changed his life forever. Ever since, the descendants of Simon have safeguarded an incredible secret. A book for everyone, no matter what you believe. Praised worldwide for its timely and necessary message of love and compassion.

Praise for The Gospel of Simon:

In a world where media relentlessly enflames fear and hatred, here is a quiet voice espousing the triumph of love and peace. --Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate

This books reminds us that we are called to be bearers of love, for there can be no faith without love. --Cardinal Edward Egan of New York

John Smelcer writes with the voice of Jesus. Until now we only thought we knew this story. --Daniel Berrigan, Jesuit priest, social rights activist, and author

As this book shows, there are many similarities between Christianity and Buddhism, such as the practices of compassion, love, contemplation, and tolerance. --The Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize laureate

Smelcer gives us a Jesus who condemns those who abuse the name of God to gain wealth or power, as well as anyone who fosters injustice and inequality, oppresses or enslaves others, and incites hatred, intolerance, bigotry, and violence. --Coretta Scott King (MLK's widow)

This book belongs among the classics of religion, if not in a class all by itself. A masterpiece capable of changing the world. --W. P. Kinsella, Academy Award winning author of Field of Dreams

John Smelcer challenges the certitudes of our times and offers a blueprint for religious peace. --Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz, Center for Christian Jewish Understanding

A book that reminds us again and again of Jesus's gospel of love. --Saul Bellow, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature

May this book bring a lot of benefit to people who read it. --Thich Nhat Hanh, author of Love in Action

This may be exactly the way it happened. A tour de force. --Tom O'Horgan, director of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar

An ambitious reimagining of the most familiar story in history. --Chayym Zeldis, Tel Aviv University

Enlightened, compelling, and blessed by grace. The timeless message will resonate with modern readers. --Marcus Borg, author of The Heart of Christianity

Smelcer reveals new dimensions of the Christian story. --Bishop John Shelby Spong

This is a collection of stories from the Ahtna Indians of Alaska, collected and retold by tribe member John Smelcer. Numerous illustrations by Larry Vienneau accompany the stories and numerous pictures of the Ahtna Indians and the storytellers are also included. The book's Foreword is by Gary Snyder. Each story is introduced by John Smelcer. A comprehensive bibliography of works on Alaskan mythology and folklore is included at the end.

A beautiful and moving story of courage and love.--Ray Bradbury

Praise for The Great Death:

An amazing story.--Frank McCourt

Gripping and poignant. . . . An unforgettable survival tale.--Horn Book

A beautiful, poignant story.--Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize winner

Graphically illustrates the effects of a plague on isolated peoples.--School Library Journal

An engaging tale of survival.--Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Trap:

An unforgettable story. Brilliant!--Ray Bradbury

A gripping example of talented storytelling. Unforgettable.--Tony Hillerman

Praise for The Edge of Nowhere:

More psychological depth than Robinson Crusoe.--Frank McCourt

Praise for Alaskan:

Smelcer is Alaska's modern-day Jack London.--W.P. Kinsella

A celebration of the diversity of cultures. Undeniably important!--James Michener

An indispensible contribution to Alaskan literature.--JD Salinger

This writer speaks from the land, and for the land, and the people who belong to it.--Ursula K. Le Guin

Deneena Yazzie's love of the woods and trail come from her grandfather, who teaches her their all-but-vanished Native Alaskan language. While her peers lose hope, trapped between the old and the modern cultures, and turn to destructive behaviors, Denny and her mysterious lead dog, a blue-eyed wolf, train for the Great Race--giving her town a new pride and hope.

John Smelcer is poetry editor of Rosebud and the author of more than forty books. He is an Alaskan Native of the Ahtna tribe, and the last surviving reader and writer of Ahtna. John holds degrees in archeology, linguistics, literature, and education, and formerly chaired the Alaska Native Studies program and the University of Alaska (Anchorage).

Seventeen-year-old Johnny Least-Weasel knows that his grandfather Albert is a stubborn old man and won't stop checking his own traplines even though other men his age stopped doing so years ago. But Albert Least-Weasel has been running traplines in the Alaskan wilderness alone for the past sixty years. Nothing has ever gone wrong on the trail he knows so well. When Albert doesn't come back from checking his traps, with the temperature steadily plummeting, Johnny must decide quickly whether to trust his grandfather or his own instincts. Written in alternating chapters that relate the parallel stories of Johnny and his grandfather, this novel poignantly addresses the hardships of life in the far north, suggesting that the most dangerous traps need not be made of steel.

Smelcer clearly knows his way around Alaskan mountains.--David Roberts, author of The Mountain of My Fear

Praise for Edge of Nowhere:

A survival story, but one with a strong heart.--ForeWord Reviews

A thought-provoking and moving coming-of-age story.--Publishers Weekly

Another gripping literary triumph for Smelcer.--Midwest Book Review

Praise for Lone Wolves:

A beautiful and moving story of courage and love.--Ray Bradbury

An engaging tale of survival, love, and courage.--School Library Journal

[Smelcer] promises to further solidify his status as 'Alaska's modern day Jack London.'--Suzanne Steinert, Mushing

Powerful, eloquent, and fascinating, showcasing a vanishing way of life in rich detail.--Kirkus

Combines good old-fashioned adventure . . . with heart-tugging moments of clarity and poignancy that recall Julie of the Wolves.--Booklist

A compassionate and inspiring tale . . . highlights the importance of family, community, and heritage.--Midwest Book Review

Brothers Sebastian and James Savage decide to climb one of the highest Alaskan mountains to prove themselves to their father. Inspired by true events, Savage Mountain is not a story of father-son reconciliation, but a touching story of two brothers who test their limits and learn that no matter how different they might be, the strongest bond of all is brotherhood.

John Smelcer is poetry editor of Rosebud and the author of more than forty books. He is an Alaskan native of the Ahtna tribe, and a skilled mountaineer. He divides his time between Talkeetna, Alaska, and Kirksville, Missouri, where he teaches in the department of communications studies at Truman State University.

In a world where the media relentlessly enflames fear and hatred, here is a quiet voice espousing the triumph of love and peace. --Archbishop Desmond Tutu

This book shows the many similarities between Buddhism and Christianity, such as the practices of compassion, love, contemplation, and tolerance. --The Dalai Lama

This may be exactly the way it happened. A tour de force. --Tom O'Horgan, director of Jesus Christ Superstar

May this book bring a lot of benefit to people who read it. --Thich Nhat Hanh, Love in Action

A book that reminds us again and again of Jesus' gospel of love. --Saul Bellow

2,000 years ago, an itinerant Jewish preacher was condemned to crucifixion. A man named Simon, from Cyrene, was compelled to help Jesus carry the heavy cross. What did he and Jesus talk about? Eager to learn more about this rabbi, Simon returned to Jerusalem the next day. What he learned changed his life, and gave his descendants an incredible secret.

John Smelcer is the author of over fifty books, many translated and published worldwide. With Russian Orthodox Archbishop Benjamin, John contributed to the revised map of global Christianity in the tenth edition of Living Religions (Mary Pat Fisher, Ed.), and with the Dalai Lama, he coauthored a poem on compassion. Dr. Smelcer's education includes postdoctoral studies at Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard, where he studied Buddhism, Islam and Sufism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity, including the historical Jesus of Nazareth.

This is a collection of wise sayings and words of wisdom culled from the works of men and women from around the world and from various religious and wisdom traditions. The author, John Smelcer, has added to these timeless gems some of his own hard-earned pearls of wisdom and advice. The objective is to help others come to grips with their own trials and tribulations and find peace and happiness in their lives. The small size of the book allows readers to keep the book handy, in pocket or purse, for quick reference.

Praise for John Smelcer:

Smelcer's anger about these stolen children is apparent but controlled, and he provides a well-judged balance of horror and hope, with the friendship among his protagonists giving the book heart. --Horn Book

A poignant story of colonization and assimilation, something I know a little bit about. A masterpiece. --Chinua Achebe

Smooth, cadenced telling. . . . The four protagonists are accessibly teen, which gives their plight an immediacy. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Smelcer's prose is lyrical, straightforward, and brilliant . . . authentic Native Alaskan storytelling at its best. --School Library Journal starred review

A spare tale of courage, love and terrible obstacles. --Wall Street Journal

A thought-provoking and moving coming-of-age story. --Publishers Weekly

Heart-tugging moments of clarity and poignancy that recall Jean Craighead George's Julie of the Wolves. --Booklist

This writer speaks from the land, and for the land, and the people who belong to it. --Ursula K. Le Guin

Kiska's home in the Aleutian Islands is a peaceful paradise until Japan invades in 1942. Soon after, a US naval ship arrives to evacuate everyone in her village to an internment camp almost 2,000 miles away--where they are forgotten. Informed by true events, this is the story of a teenage girl who steps up when her people need a hero.

John Smelcer is the author of over forty books, including essays, story collections, poetry, adult novels, and six YA novels.