Biographies & Memoirs

Cruising the Mediterranean

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A shared passion for exploration. The Mediterranean trip of their dreams.
There’s no better time for adventure than right now.

Enthusiastic explorers Al and Sunny Lockwood treasure the challenge and excitement of travel. From train rides through the Smokies to campouts in Yellowstone, they’ve documented their travel adventures to critical acclaim. With retirement, they expand their horizons and ship off for a new adventure in the heart of the Mediterranean.

Come along with Al and Sunny as they experience the dazzling beauty of the Greek Isles, the mouthwatering delights of Italian cuisine, the unique calls to prayer chanted from Istanbul’s minarets.

You’ll hold your breath riding the sky-high Acropolis lift, marvel at the lacework canals of Venice, and lose yourself in the rich wares and aromas of the Grand Bazaar.

Their daily excursions will expand your mind and deepen your understanding as you find yourself immersed in the Mediterranean’s vibrant array of cultures and history.

In Cruising the Mediterranean you’ll discover:
– Personal reflections, insights and humor
– Intriguing facts about Mediterranean history, landmarks and cultures
– Tips for pacing your daily outings to conserve energy and maintain interest
– Ways to adopt an adventuresome spirit so that obstacles or disappointments
don’t ruin your pleasure
– The emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual benefits of travel and much,
much more!

Cruising the Mediterranean is a breathtaking travelogue for explorers who refuse to let
aging limit their adventures.

If you like warm personal stories, cultural journeys, and actionable tips for planning your own cruise adventure, then you’ll love Al and Sunny Lockwood’s inspirational memoir capturing the heart of the Mediterranean.

Buy Cruising the Mediterranean today and join them on a timeless, unforgettable journey!

Meet Al & Sunny Lockwood

Al and Sunny Lockwood met after he’d retired from engineering and she’d retired from daily newspaper reporting. They spent much of their time exploring California, Al with his camera and Sunny with her notebook and pen. But a serious car wreck changed their lives.

In 2012, while they waited at a red light, a driver paying more attention to her phone than her driving, slammed into them at 60 miles per hour. The collision totaled both cars and filled the Lockwood’s summer with doctor appointments, pharmacy visits, and endless wrangling with insurance companies.

The wreck also woke them up to the reality that life is fragile and there’s no guarantee you’ll have it for long. “We decided to stop putting off our travel dreams for some day in the future,” Sunny says. “We’ve made ‘someday’ today.”

Their first dream cruise was through the Panama Canal.

Then Al and Sunny visited Amsterdam and cruised the Mediterranean, stopping at Venice, Athens, Istanbul, Ephesus, and various Greek islands.

Together Al and Sunny have visited more than 30 countries.

“We write to encourage people to make their travel dreams come true,” Sunny says. “We want our readers to know that travel enhances health and enriches life. So step out of your everyday routine and take a chance on adventure and fun.”

The House On Dogbone St.: The Story Of A Resilient Woman Who Overcomes Limitations, Breaks Generational Abuses And Ultimately Triumphs

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In The House on Dogbone St., Julia Duthie takes us on a walk through the tumultuous life she was destined to endure.The feeling of treading on eggshells for the little girl who had no choice but to navigate one of the most dreadful paths that life could offer, displaying her resilience and go-getter attitude no matter what obstacle was thrown her way, is fascinating. We cannot blame her for being naive in some circumstances as the two people meant to protect her were in a world of their own. One, in a depressive trance, while the other was never fully present.

However, from start to end, her story is a lesson for every one of us. Ignorance takes no blame in this journey as Julia made the best of what she had and what she thought to be right. It is the advantage taken by elders and those who camouflaged their real personas that are the actual culprits of a life filled with scars at every turn. How she turned those dents into beautiful blooms is the intrigue of it all. Walk her path through this great rendition to encounter neighbours and teachers who stood in the shadows and shed a slight reflexion of hope toward her direction, never knowing how much it would finally mean to her and what she would eventually become.

Although it is a triumph to be celebrated, the unwelcome demons she collected along the way sometimes threaten to manifest themselves and take her back to a state of defeat. But will she follow suit? Find out in her extraordinary memoir.

Meet Julia Duthie

Julia lives in Surrey with her two children, her partner Kathryn and her Beagle, Brodie. Over the years, she has both built and led numerous businesses, has been an artist and nurtured other artists in the competitive world of the music industry. She has also had the privilege of living and working in the US and India. Given she started her career at a local leisure centre; a job she took in order to use its laundry facilities to wash her own clothes, her origin story is something of an enigma.

Cruising Panama’s Canal

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Who would have guessed that it would have taken an almost fatal car accident to motivate Al and Sunny Lockwood to take a cruise ship vacation to the Panama Canal?

Riveted by their near death experience. this charming couple decided to make their bucket list dream cruise vacation come true, and now they want to share it with you!

Come along with them as they share intimate details of their 17-day odyssey from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale via the Panama Canal. Sunny provides the facts. Al adds delicious humor. A perfect recipe for cruise travel fun!

Get a firsthand look into what ocean cruising is really like: the service, the staterooms, the entertainment, the surprises, and of course the food — from endless buffets to amazing gourmet dinners and decadent desserts, Al’s enthusiastic descriptions will have your mouth watering.

Stand on the bow of Holland America’s MS Zuiderdam with Al and Sunny as they share the sights, sounds and feelings of transiting the Canal; watch as the sun rises over the Pacific Ocean and then sets into the Atlantic on the same day. Miraculous!

Let Al and Sunny be your guides to exotic ports of call such as: Zihuatanejo, Mexico, Putarenas, Costa Rica, Cartagena, Colombia and Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.

Learn about the building of the Panama Canal and how the locks actually work as huge, modern ships squeeze into 100-year-old chambers to take the world’s most famous short cut.

What readers and experts are saying about this book:

“Their writing is inviting, funny, contagious and just flat out a joy to read.”
Amazon top reviewer William D. Curnett

“The pages just flew when I picked this book up.”
Janice Condit

“Al’s descriptions of desserts made me want to rip the pages out and eat them!”
Karen Zaccheo

Finalist in the 2014 National Indie Excellence Awards

Whether you are thinking of a Panama Canal cruise, looking for a humorous and heart-felt travel memoir, or are an armchair traveler seeking a fun and entertaining read about cruise travel, you are going to love Cruising Panama’s Canal. Order your copy today!

Cruising from Boston to Montreal (Bargain Book)

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Discover historic wonders and modern delights guaranteed to enlarge your heart and expand your understanding of Canada and its people.

Veteran travelers Al and Sunny Lockwood share their adventures and misadventures on this scintillating cruise of exploration.

Join them for an unforgettable journey through part of the largest country in the Western Hemisphere.

In “Cruising from Boston to Montreal” readers will:

– attend a rousing baseball game at Boston’s Fenway Park

– Learn Alexander Graham Bell’s involvement with Canada’s first airplane flight.

– Visit the Prince Edward Island farm that was the setting for the Anne of Green Gables books.

– Discover how lobster graduated from barnyard feed to gourmet fare.

– Sail Canada’s greatest waterway, the mighty Saint Lawrence River.

– View breath-taking cathedrals and romantic lighthouses.

– Discover Halifax’s heart-breaking connection with the Titanic tragedy.

– and much more.

This travel memoir will introduce you to the fascinating heroes, stunning beauty and staggering tragedies that have helped shape Canada’s Maritimes, Quebec City, and Montreal.

“The first-person descriptions read with the drama of fiction and the excitement of journal writing….” – Midwest Book Review

Meet Al & Sunny Lockwood

Al and Sunny Lockwood have traveled by foot, car, rail, air and cruise ship. They’ve camped in national parks, hiked mountain trails, photographed springtime flowers in Death Valley and wintry surf along the rugged beaches of Northern California.

They’ve watched July 4th fireworks over Lake Tahoe, explored the Taos Pueblo and ridden the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad through forests ablaze with autumn colors.

They’ve ridden Scotland’s amazing Falkirk Wheel, Norway’s Flam Railway, and Ushuaia’s train at the end of the world.

They’ve photographed Gibraltar’s Barbary apes and Gentoo Penguins frolicking in the surf on Falkland Island beaches.

From North Carolina’s Outer Banks to New Orleans’ Bourbon Street and Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, Al and Sunny love to wander and wonder and enjoy.

Everywhere they go, they capture unforgettable moments with their cameras and notebooks, moments to share with their readers. Their work has been published in magazines and newspapers. It has been recognized with awards from the National Federation of Press Women, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, Seven Sisters Book Awards, and The Independent Author Network Book Awards.

“We write to encourage others to travel, to take a break from their ordinary routine and discover the many rewards of traveling with your eyes wide open,” Sunny said. “Go somewhere new, even if it’s only in the next county. And have fun exploring the sites, the sounds and flavors of the place. You’ll be amazed at how much fun you’ll have.”

Al added, “We also write to share the wonder of our own travels. To help you feel what it’s like to be on a cruise ship, or wandering the back alleys of Venice, Italy. We hope our books give readers a real sense of our travel adventures.”

The Real Jack Ryan: Former CIA Analyst Tells The Real Life Story of the US Government’s Top Secret Spy Agency

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Hear the real-life story of the popular fictional CIA Analyst.

Everything in this book is 100% true. The CIA made only minor redactions.

What’s it really like behind the walls at CIA’s mysterious headquarters in Langley Virginia? Learn about the real CIA, in this book.

Would you like to sit and have coffee with a CIA officer and pick their brain? This book is a similar experience. It is a collection of 52 short stories, centered around the questions that most people ask me when they find out that I am former CIA.

This book is designed to be easy-to-read and accessible to all. It is a relatively quick read with short, digestible stories focused on my personal CIA story and the reality of the CIA, in contrast to what we see in the movies.

Would you like to see the unexpected road sign telling you where CIA headquarters is located? Or an example of a classified CIA cable? Some interesting and illustrative photos like these have also been included.

Have you ever dreamed of working at the CIA? This book also gives advice on how to get a job at the CIA.

⚠ The CIA “does not object to this book.”
That’s the CIA’s equivalent of “Two Thumbs Up” from Siskel & Ebert, right?!
(Author’s note: To make sure I don’t end up in jail, I should clarify that no, it isn’t. The CIA and the US Government did not endorse this book, in any way. Their only contribution was to insist on deletions!)

Excerpt: ◆ “I bit into a hamburger. Grease dripped onto a sheet of paper. This was no ordinary piece of paper. It was TOP SECRET. This was my first time seeing a TOP SECRET document, which should have been a momentous occasion. But we were in the middle of a crisis simulation, and there’s no time for a lunch break during a crisis! So, my first TOP SECRET document doubled as a grease napkin. This combination of state secrets and burger grease perfectly summarizes my experience as a CIA analyst. As The Real Jack Ryan.” ◆

Want to hear the real story?
Then this is the book for you!

This book is not affiliated with the Central Intelligence Agency, The Jack Ryan series, Jack Ryan Enterprises Ltd, Tom Clancy, or Paramount Pictures Corporation.

Meet Scott Schlimmer

A decorated former CIA analyst, Scott Schlimmer is author of “Stories from Langley: A Glimpse Inside the CIA,” his freelance articles have been read by more than one million readers, and he is a foreign correspondent for the media. He has received a National Intelligence Award and has earned multiple Exceptional Performance Awards from the US Government.

Finding Ourselves in Venice, Florence, Rome & Barcelona

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Do you dream of riding a gondola along the canals of Venice? Tossing a coin into Rome’s Trevi Fountain? Join Al and Sunny Lockwood as they explore these and other fascinating cities, gathering travel memories for a lifetime.

Their informative, entertaining memoir shows how seasoned travelers can see the world while savoring all the excitement, romance and adventure they desire.

The Lockwoods capture magical moments as they travel on their own by foot, bus and train. Their enchanting, entertaining experiences prove that being young at heart is all you need to relish our beautiful world.

Whether you long to travel for enlightenment or escape or if you simply enjoy armchair travel, this warm personal odyssey will sweep you away to beautiful places and pleasure-filled adventures.

Along with the Lockwoods you’ll
* feel the mist on your face in early morning Venice,
* hear the deep, resonant church bells of Florence,
* walk where Colosseum gladiators once battled,
* savor intensely flavorful gelato,
* inhale spicy incense in a Barcelona fortuneteller’s shop,
* and discover what Al and Sunny learn: that exciting, transforming travel is not the exclusive province of the young.

These two find practical ways to see the world while shepherding their energy and travel funds.

Their refreshing, easy-to-read memoir will have you searching for your passport.

Grab your reading glasses and bon voyage!

Meet Al & Sunny Lockwood

Al and Sunny Lockwood have traveled by foot, car, rail, air and cruise ship. They’ve camped in national parks, photographed springtime flowers in Death Valley and wintry surf along the rugged beaches of Northern California.

They’ve ridden Scotland’s Falkirk Wheel, Norway’s Flam Railway, and Ushuaia’s train at the end of the world.

They’ve photographed Gibraltar’s Barbary apes and Gentoo Penguins frolicking in the surf on Falkland Island beaches.

Everywhere they go, they capture unforgettable moments with their cameras and notebooks, moments to share with their readers. Their award-winning work has been published in magazines and newspapers.

“We write to encourage others to travel, to take a break from their ordinary routine and discover the many rewards of traveling with your eyes wide open,” Sunny said.

Al added, “We also write to share the wonder of our own travels. To help you feel what it’s like to be on a cruise ship, or wandering the back alleys of Venice, Italy. We hope our books give readers a real sense of our travel adventures.”

Cruising the Mississippi

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In crossing another travel adventure off their bucket list, two retirees take a fascinating river cruise and find the heart and soul of the American South.

Born travelers Al and Sunny Lockwood seized their dreams of exploring America’s natural wonders. From hiking Sierra Nevada mountain trails to photographing wildflowers in Death Valley, they’ve documented their fascinating journeys to critical acclaim.

A serious car wreck changed their lives. They stopped postponing their dreams of ocean cruises.

Now, these veteran travelers embrace a new travel adventure: a river cruise up the magnificent Mississippi.

Join Al and Sunny on the decks of an antebellum paddle-wheel riverboat as they experience the culinary delights, rich architecture, breathtaking vistas, and famous hospitality of southern culture.

You’ll visit lavish plantation mansions, honor the fallen at Civil War memorials, and be swept away by the magical beat of authentic New Orleans jazz. Before the journey ends, you’ll witness how the couple’s first impressions are challenged, changing their hearts forever.

In Cruising the Mississippi, you’ll discover:
-Fascinating histories of riverside cities
-Little-known facts about famous landmarks
-Personal reflections and insights from their daily experiences
-Tested travel tips and advice for embarking on your own river cruise adventure
-The lifelong benefits of immersing yourself in different customs and cultural experiences
-A detailed tour of the historic paddle-wheel riverboat, and much, much more!

If you like cultural exploration, American history, practical travel insights, colorful characters, and authentic personal stories, you’ll love Al and Sunny Lockwood’s illuminating exploration of America’s mightiest waterway.

Buy Cruising the Mississippi today and embark on a breathtaking adventure for the young at heart!

Coffee Cups & Wine Glasses, Hilarious Secrets to Heal a Broken Heart & Get Your Life Back!

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Discover the One Word that will Change Your Life.

This inspirational collection of ingenious tales that include schemes for getting your life back is woven into a series of hilarious triumphs filled with love, grief, and mischief. High-spirited shenanigans will motivate you to move ahead after a loss, breakup, or divorce. No matter what you’ve been through, every reader (you) will achieve a heightened sense of happiness and a deeper level of confidence than you ever imagined. This book supersedes everything you’ve been told about healing.
Uncover unusual secrets for getting on with your life after a big disappointment or being dumped. You’ll be motivated to revitalize your life in ways you never thought of. Spoiler Alert: You’re going to learn more than how to fake your death and dance naked, with dignity. (You’ll love those chapters.)
Wine glasses raised here.
You’ll not only learn how to tie knots when you’re at the end of your rope, refocus your energy, and outsmart a bear; you will find remarkable ideas to enhance your notoriety before you croak. Begin rejuvenating and basking in self-appreciation and exhilaration. Learn how to get there in one spectacular day!
PLUS: a sure-fire plan for moving forward.
Discover the one true secret to living a meaningful life. You can laugh, you may cry, but you will ultimately be entertained and redirected. You’ll find that you’re not alone.

This Book is Full of

  • Encouragement
  • Enlightenment
  • Recipes
  • Affirmations
  • Life Hacks
  • Travel Flub Fixes
  • Fun facts about potatoes, dogs, cows, turtles, dolphins…
  • Gut-busting inspiration to create happiness all around you
  • Gleeful tactics to escape humiliation, balconies, & boredom


If you enjoyed bestsellers like Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, where she takes her life out of the comfort zone, you’ll love Coffee Cups & Wine Glasses‘ real-life examples of haphazard accomplishments. It’s nothing like the book He’s Just Not That Into You, where Greg Behrendt gives you the courage to walk away. You’re probably already walking. Coffee Cups & Wine Glasses is more like: Dance, Rejoice, Laugh, Live, Excel, and Get Your Life Back – no matter who isn’t into you.

  • It’s a Journal
  • It’s a Vision Board
  • It’s entertaining, comical, and inspiring


You deserve more than an old mattress and day-old coffee. Follow the 10 simple steps to getting over Richard Cranium (AKA Dick Head) and learn to live as if you’re going through Hell. Hint: Keep going.
Coffee Cups & Wine Glasses is the perfect gift for yourself, your girlfriends, and anyone who needs reassurance, a comical boost, a kick in the rear, or a reason to believe how brave, lovable, and magnificently courageous they are.
Be Brave. Scroll to the top and click the “Buy Now” button to find proof that your life can be rewarding and fulfilling!

Meet Debbie Seagle

Debbie Seagle lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia near most of the things she loves: family, friends, dirt, water, and mountain air. She has lived in several countries and all around the USA working as an airshow director, marketing director, operations manager, and Top Secret senior technical writer for some of the world’s unknown oracles.

Debbie authored a Sunday column in the New Orleans Times-Picayune, was a US Embassy newsletter author/editor/publisher, events director, teenage lifeguard, young military wife grocery-bagger for tips, shampoo girl, united airshow grunt (UAG), senior census field manager, and systems trainer to assist in finding bad guys.

When she isn’t hiding at the cabin writing to you, Debbie enjoys being with her family, scuba diving, snow skiing, sailing, gardening, hiking, kayaking, hanging with friends, and good wine in a magnificent wine glass. She once shared a bottle of $1,600 wine with a celebrity. It wasn’t any better than her favorite $28 bottle. That was a life lesson.

She has degrees and certificates for various other obscure vocations, but her lifelong endeavor to become an accomplished juggler has not transpired – yet. Someday she will DOiT.

Random Facts about me (from Debbie Seagle):
1. I’ve jumped out of an airplane 3 times (with a parachute).
2. My Indian name is “Little Whirlwind.”
3. I played the clarinet in the high school concert band.
4. Colonel Sanders touched my boob.
5. Don Hoe grabbed my butt.
6. Bill Clinton winked at me.
7. I had lunch with Nicholas Sparks. He talked to me.
8. I hung out all day with Jeff Foxworthy (once). He signed my sign.
9. Davy Jones & I spent a day at his horse stall. He sang a song to me. My life is complete.
10. I still sometimes twirl a fire baton.
11. I was married to a US Marine and moved 42 times.
12. I’ve been interviewed on TV and radio 72 times.
13. I’ve been to Camp David twice.
14. I planned an international gala ball in the Eiffel Tower.
15. I have 3 sons and 8 grandchildren (so far).
16. I once could do back walkovers on a balance beam.
17. I call my bathroom The Jim. I go to The Jim every morning!
18. I’ve touched 4 US Presidents (I shook their hands, ok?).
19. I’m an expert in fitted-sheet folding.
20. Bananas make my throat itch.
21. I love my truck.

Many Million Dreams Ago: A Recollection of Romances

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Three Lovers. Three lessons.
Many Million Dreams Ago defies a typical “romance memoir” by dealing with the deeper consequences of discovering such feelings too early on. Its realism is recounted in three eras of a life gone awry from self-harm, codependency, and casual intimacies.
Through the endless pursuits of a hopeless romantic in trying to find his other half, we join him on his journey towards an idyllic destiny.

Meet Dre Carlan

I’m a 36-year old caregiver from Ferndale, Michigan. As an avid writer and musician, my sole purpose in life is to remain tapped into that creative center we all have within us while trying to capture the universal human condition with as much honesty as possible.

Forever On Pointe: A True Story

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Dancing was her life. Until a paralyzing virus threatened to shatter her dreams.

Forever on Pointe: A True Story is the fascinating account of one woman’s ever-evolving journey from the intense world of professional ballet to the bloody streets of the Hungarian Revolution to the glittering nightclubs of Montreal. In this intimate and revealing memoir, Agota Gabor shares how grit and determination allowed her to attain her wildest dreams.

As a young girl, Agota intends to become a professional ballerina in Budapest, but her dream is shattered when she contracts polio. Through gruesome therapy and iron willpower, she learns to dance again, making a living as a dancer in Canada after her home country erupts in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

Agota forges ahead to achieve a prosperous and dynamic life, working as a chorus girl in Montreal casinos and nightclubs. But she wants more than just the glitz and glam. After going back to school, Agota becomes a television journalist and works with her foreign-correspondent husband as they live the expat life, traveling across the world from Hong Kong to Jakarta to London. Agota’s roller-coaster life continues as a mother and a businesswoman, as she runs a successful communications firm and makes a killing in real estate.

Meet Agota Gabor

Agota Gabor grew up in Budapest, Hungary and attended the Ballet School of The Hungarian State Opera House. After fleeing Budapest with her mother during the Hungarian Revolution, Agota settled in Canada where she became a dancer in Montreal. During the 1960s and 70s, Agota worked in television production, eventually going back to school to receive a degree in journalism from Ryerson University. After travelling the world as a freelance reporter and becoming a mother, she founded The Gabor Group, a media company specializing in public awareness campaigns, digital communication, and video production. In 2020 she wrote a handbook on communications and media interviews. Forever on Pointe is her debut memoir. Agota lives in Toronto.