The River Keeper and Other Tales
(Updated February 18, 2025)

Illustrated by Andrea Alemanno

While each of these seven tales might be considered to be a fable, like all good fables, each addresses a theme relevant to our lives today. Themes of sacrificing of one's own life for the greater good, to the power of truth to break through hurtful intentions, to how wishing for things designed to help others can have disastrous results, to what an afterlife might be like and choices we might still have to make. This collection of tales introduces the reader to the imaginary Kingdom of Imlay, a world still filled magic, mythical creatures great and small, some good and some bad. Characters, both young and old, face making decisions which will affect those they hold dear. Original and thought-provoking, these stories will stimulate the intellect and engage the imagination.

Published by Subplot, an imprint of Amplify Publishing Group. The book was released on February 18, 2025.  Click here to read reviews of the book.

One can order the book on either Mascot Books or Amazon.

Tale 01—"The River Keeper" The idea for this story came after reading the Spring 2021 issue of Wake Forest Magazine, a quarterly periodical published by my alma mater. The main story was about a fellow who is the River Keeper for the Yadkin River.  The name of the main character in my story, Ya, pays homage to the Yadkin River, a river on which I spent several idyllic Saturday afternoons floating down the river.

Tale 02—"The Morning Song" Perhaps I am giving away my love for The Who and their first rock opera, Tommy. Unlike Tommy, the main character in this tale, a young boy named Tysten, was born deaf and mute. His loving parents propose an idea for helping their son gain the ability to hear and speak, but it comes with disastrous consequences.

Tale 03—"A Dream for a Dream" I was in the middle of a recording project for a dear friend when I started writing most of these stories. Just as we were finishing the recording sessions, he was called home by the Good Lord. But I finished his collection of tunes titled Three Little Words. It was through this project he had his dream of releasing a CD of his original songs fulfilled, even though he wasn’t around to see it—or would that be to hear it? And I had my dream of producing a CD for someone else and meeting more talented musicians fulfilled.

Tale 04—"Aurora's Ring" Several years ago I retreated to the front deck of my beach place for happy hour. Along with my favorite beverage, I had my guitar. I picked it up and out came a song, which became “Aurora’s Ring.” After recording the basic tracks, I asked a friend if he would be interested in contributing some vocals and a lead guitar part. He turned the song into something really special. What was even better? He suggested we put together a concept album centered around Aurora’s story. Its title? Dragon’s Door—A Tale of Ring and Sword (Mindsongs Musique, released on December 25, 2022). And there is something unique that sets this book apart from others in the same genre. Several years ago after an idyllic day on the beach, I wrote a song titled “Aurora’s Ring.”  After recording the basic tracks, a friend contributed vocals and a lead guitar part.  He then suggested we compose a concept album centered around Aurora’s story.  It’s title?  “Dragon’s Door—A Tale of Ring and Sword” (Mindsongs Musique).  This gave birth to the short story of the same name included in this collection of tales.  And the CD was mastered at Abbey Road Studios!

Tale 05—"The Pit of Truth" This tale wins the contest for being the first of these stories to be written, some twenty years before all of the other entries in this collection. It is an allegorical look at events that happened to me. And many of the characters were modeled after key individuals in that terrible time . . . Seth the Dog and Lilly the Cow. Enough said.

Tale 06—"The Day After Tomorrow" This tale was simply a response to a thought. What kind of story could I write around this title? Then it struck me. What might life be like if we could peek into the future?

Tale 07—"The Innkeeper" The final tale in the collection ties together stories from my two earlier collections. The character Mims was introduced in the story titled “Old Mims,” the last story in Seven Sides of Self (She Writes Press, November 2019). The assignment he is given for his next and presumably last incarnation is to write a certain book, The Chronicles of the Second Coming, a book that serves as the focal point of “The Last Sunday of Summer,” a story from Faraway and Forever (She Writes Press, July 2023).

Click here to view the Electronic Press Kit.

<< Return to the Mindstreets Web page