ActonHale

Our books are safe and enjoyable for all ages. And they are carefully designed to be easy to read.

 

Middle Grade

 

The Early Life of Beautiful Joe

Beautiful Joe, a good dog, tells the story of his life. He spent his first year with a vicious owner who abused him. His second year begins his real life: living with Miss Laura and her family and the menagerie of animals they love. Joe becomes a hero when he stops a hateful burglar.
Paperback:   Amazon   ($12)   184 pages

 

The Later Life of Beautiful Joe

Beautiful Joe continues the story of his life. He moves with Miss Laura to a farm in the country. He learns all about horses, chickens, cows, and sheep. Tragedies strike for several humans and animals. Joe attends the wedding of his beloved owner. And he reminisces about his fortunate life.
Paperback:   Amazon   ($12)   185 pages

 

The Afterlife of Beautiful Joe

Beautiful Joe has passed on. He lives on a special island for animals, where he happens to be President! He hopes to be reunited with Miss Laura. A sad human boy visits with his own dog who has passed on. He then tells the story of what it is like to befriend Joe on this heavenly island.
Paperback:   Amazon   ($12)   193 pages

 

Young Adult

 

A Family Question

Imagine you could get true answers to any questions, past, present, or even future. What would you do? Troubled Jake Novak bravely takes that chance. But he soon learns he is already on a self-destructive path with unimaginable consequences for his family. Angelic figure Rolly Jones guides him through his questions and answers, from shocking revelations to redemption, all while playing a round of golf on a crisp October day.
Paperback:   Amazon  ($12)   228 pages

 

Mahalo My Bodyguard

Movie star Brandi Martin visits Maui for a peaceful weekend. Unfortunately, she is stalked by a pair of hateful paparazzi. She hires a bodyguard, Kyle Makua, so she can safely tour art galleries, go whale watching, and bicycle down from a volcano. Despite the fact that Kyle is an ex-Navy Seal, the weekend turns out to be not so safe. And one younger member of Kyle's support team, Eva Cevallos, is secretly in love with him. Beauty, brawn, danger, and romance: Maui No Ka 'Oi.
Paperback:   Amazon  ($12)   250 pages

 

Bussing Tables (cracking jokes)

Jin and Ramón take turns trying to make us laugh as they bus tables on a busy Friday night. Colligan's restaurant is full of characters, including eccentric waiters, a wise bartender, a monstrous dog, and a disgusting dishwasher. And nasty customers are humored as all the busy bussers vie to win the combined ante in the toady pot.
Paperback:   Amazon  ($12)   198 pages

 

Discussion Guides

For librarians, teachers, parents, parent-teachers, book groups, and overzealous readers.

The Early Life of Beautiful Joe (PDF)

The Later Life of Beautiful Joe (PDF)

The Afterlife of Beautiful Joe (PDF)

A Family Question (PDF)

Mahalo My Bodyguard (PDF)

Bussing Tables, Cracking Jokes (PDF)

 

Business

 

Workplace Writing 101:

The professional self-study workbooks to privately improve your writing at work.

 

Technical Writing

Technical work can be complex. Technical writing does not have to be. Clarity is achievable with a little effort.
220 pages, 42 lessons, 248 exercises
Paperback:   Amazon  ($17)
Contents

 

Advanced Topics

How to write effectively in the workplace: flow, rhetoric, narrative, persuasion, graphics, and presentations.
252 pages, 42 lessons, 170 exercises
Paperback:   Amazon  ($17)
Contents

 

Essential Skills

How to write well in the workplace: punctuation, usage, grammar, clarity, style, influence, and email.
204 pages, 42 lessons, 198 exercises
Paperback:   Amazon  ($17)
Contents

 

Grammar Review

A thorough review, from proper use of parts of speech to special topics important to writing correctly at work.
240 pages, 42 lessons, 208 exercises
Paperback:   Amazon  ($17)
Contents

 

Also: For multilingual professionals fairly new to using English in the workplace, Proofread.com provides two free online courses: Basic English Usage and Hearing Irregular Verbs.