The Long Road To Here

A Novel of Adventure, Reflection, and Second Chances

Emily and Jake embark on a six-month journey to Port Isabel, Texas, seeking a break from their routine lives. They quickly become part of a close-knit community of Winter Texans, spending their days on the sunlit beaches of South Padre Island and their evenings enjoying local gatherings.

As they immerse themselves in this new environment, they confront unresolved personal challenges, including strained family relationships and past grief. Through meaningful interactions with local veterans and the discovery of a mysterious journal from the 1960s, Emily and Jake are prompted to reflect deeply on their future. Ultimately, they must decide whether to return to their former lives or embrace the possibility of a fresh start in this welcoming community.

After losing his mother and feeling an ever-widening distance from his children, Jack Callahan makes an impulsive decision—he leaves behind his life in Illinois and heads south to Port Isabel, Texas. With only his loyal dog, Cardi, and aloof cat, Millicent, as company, he embraces the solitude of RV life, believing it will bring him the peace he desperately seeks.

But Port Isabel has other plans.

As Jack settles into this quiet coastal town, he finds himself drawn into an unlikely circle of travelers, each carrying their own burdens. Among them is Melanie, a woman with her own scars, whose presence stirs something Jack thought he had lost. With every sunset, ghosts of his past rise to the surface—an unsent letter, a long-lost friend, and a reckoning he never expected. He begins to realize that redemption isn’t about erasing the past but finding the strength to face it.

In the rhythm of the tides and the quiet moments between strangers, Jack learns that healing isn’t about running away—it’s about finding the courage to stay.

A Final Poem

A Warrior’s Last Words follows the extraordinary life of Nakano Takeko, a warrior bound by honor, duty, and an unwavering commitment to the samurai way. Born into the Aizu Domain in 1847, Takeko defies societal expectations, mastering the naginata and embracing the teachings of Bushidō under the guidance of her father and the finest samurai sensei. From childhood, her relentless determination carves a place for herself in a world dominated by men.

As the Boshin War erupts, Takeko gathers a battalion of women warriors to defend Aizu against advancing imperial forces. Facing insurmountable odds, she launches a rebellion against the ruthless warlord Matsunaga, leading daring raids and forging alliances that turn her warriors into a symbol of defiance.

Her journey culminates in a final confrontation within a burning fortress, where Takeko faces Matsunaga in a duel that will decide the fate of her people. Even in victory, she understands that the burden of war never fades. As the smoke clears, she reflects on the warriors she has lost, the battles she has won, and the sacrifices that shaped her. The novel closes with a haunting final poem, echoing the legacy of a warrior who fought not for conquest, but for the right to exist on her own terms.