Bøger af Kimberly Thompson

"Welcome Home, Baby Girl!" When we met, Uncle Larry had huge alligator tears in his eyes and long lanky arms that he wrapped around me tightly. He choked a bit when he said to me, "We've waited a long time for this day, but you've finally made it back home! You've come back to us!" Home? Home... Yes, it took me a long time, but I finally made it back home. Most people don't get second chances, but Kim did. After finding her birth family and answers she'd longed to hear, the journey to healing began. Through many tearful conversations with her lost family, she learned much. But nothing could have prepared her for the lessons that were still in store for her. From dealing with rebellious children, family members who turned their backs on her after her first book, Gypsy Phoenix: A Birthright of Hope, was published, and a husband who was dianosed with a disabling illness - it's all included in Gypsy Phoenix: Good 'Nuff. Walk the path with her, fall in love with the family she never knew she had, and grow strong with her as she learns valuable lessons of life. Kimberly Thompson is the author of four published books; both Gypsy Phoenix autobiographies; A Birthright of Hope and Good 'Nuff, as well as two published fictional Christian romantic novels. The: Legend of the Swamps: series begins with Uncle Frank and the Search for the Alligator King, and continues in A Mess of Fish. Her third installment in the: Legends: series, Summer in the South, is due to be released later in 2013. Kim and her husband, Keith, currently live in Baskin, Louisiana.

Book One of the: Legends of the Swamps: series. It's almost the end of summer, and seventeen-year-old Julien is seated around the campfire with his sister and six cousins, waiting for Uncle Frank to begin his story. He's the best storyteller in Louisiana, and tonight he's got something really good-the story of the Alligator King. But first, he has to go back even further and tell another story-that of Eagle Hawk, who became a man and set off to follow his vision, where soon he meets a beautiful Irish girl and falls in love. "But what does this have to do with the Alligator King?" they all want to know. And Uncle Frank just puffs on his pipe and grins. The Alligator King is the first novel in the Legends of the Swamps series by Kimberly Thompson. The old (although no one knows exactly) Uncle Frank weaves fact with flair to create a tale worthy of a late-night campfire. Get caught up in the mystery as the boys and girls lean forward in their seats, ready to hear what happens next, begging to interrupt Uncle Frank and ask the question: did this really happen? You can decide for yourself, because this is where Uncle Frank's epic tale begins...

It was a tiny scrap of paper, in my grandmother's handwriting, faded and yellow-with answers to my past written all over it. "Why?" I asked. Why would she save this? "We thought you might want to find her one day... she sent a message to you... she said to tell you that she loves you very much, and she didn't want to leave you. She knitted a little outfit for you... did you ever get it?" Growing up with the broiling heat and frequently unpredictable subtropical weather of Louisiana was the easy part; not knowing who she was or where she came from was the hard part. Relinquished at birth, Kimberly lived life into her thirties always lacking what she truly wished for - answers to her past. Watch Kimberly's story unfold as she discovers unconditional love and forgiveness, which finally offer her the freedom to take flight like a Gypsy Phoenix. Whether you have experienced adoption personally, or just someone you know, this powerful story will speak to the lost and encourage those who have questions to continue seeking answers. Kimberly Thompson lives in Baskin, Louisiana, with her husband, Keith.

Book 4 in the: Legends of the Swamps: series."'De pat'way to true healin' ain't always 'de easy one; in fact, sometime... sometimes, it's 'de hardest one of all. But for a body to have 'dat healin', it's necessary to travel 'dat pat'."Uncle Frank never spoke these exact words to Julien - or the others - but his implications were all too clear. The Alligator King - and Julien's search for him - was elusive, at best. But Julien felt that if he didn't continue his quest, his hunt for this being, then his own spiritual healing would never come. And he was right - Uncle Frank knew it as much as Julien felt it.His exact words to Julien were those of advice, but not direct instruction, and Julien would have to search out the direction he was being led in for himself. His dreams, his visions and his waking, walking nightmares all pointed down the same path - that which would bring peace to his troubled spirit and rest to his weary soul.During the course of his search, Julien - and those with him - would purchase much more than they had bargained for in the beginning - but was it worth it? Of course it was. There were events in the lives of post-Civil War heroes, of daring adventurers and sly devils dressed as men. There were Indian secrets and tribal customs. There were ocean voyages and homelands left behind.Healer is about being bold enough, and brave enough, to do the things required at the time of need, and accepting truth as truth.

Book 5 in the: Legends of the Swamps: series. Handed over to neighbors during the American Civil War for safekeeping, Lizzie finds herself in a worse situation than she could have imagined or feared. She makes her way farther south, to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she becomes the owner of the most successful nighttime establishment, La Trouvialle. By day she is mother to her younger sister, but by night she is the owner and operator of La Trouvialle. The separation of her two lives is beginning to take its toll on her spirit, mind and body. The war between the states took her whole family, save she and her sister, and this life is stealing her soul; she knows she does not want it forever. Especially not for her sister. She must find a way to leave it. Again, the Alligator King makes his presence known, but Uncle Frank gives no clue as to the identity of the curious phenomenon. Still he weaves in and out of the lives of their family, intertwining the present and the past as he does so. Springing from this ancestry is a breed of people called Louisianians - those who chose to mix themselves in a blend of souls who loved the landscape, the hardships and the wonder that became Louisiana. And the Alligator King is an integral part of their story - they just don't know how... yet.

Book Three in the: Legends of the Swamps: series. "Danny?" She stood and walked to him, not believing her eyes - not really. "Yes, Angel - Harvest Wind, it's me." "What are you doing here?" she asked. "I came to see your father." No one knew what he was doing in the village, until he made his presence known by standing firm and waiting. Patiently, but not idly, his time was spent learning. In one moment of hurry, Daniel Kacey's life was changed. He'd injured himself and been rescued - by his future bride; at least, that's what he'd been telling himself. But was she really the one? Uncle Frank - that old storytellin' pipe puffin' dragon - was at it again. He gave hope of future revelation to teens and tweens, but would what he gave be what they expected? He spoke of girls on rooftops, Indians in villages, campfires and confessions... where exactly would he go? No one knew... but they all eagerly awaited the information; especially Julien, who was still suffering visions - waking dreams - about a monster-man-thing who could speak to him when he was alone. And only when he was alone.

Book Two in the: Legends of the Swamps: series. "What's happening to me?" Julien questions his uncle. Uncle Frank knows, but he isn't telling. Julien's visions are becoming more real than his waking reality, and the secret of his visions are locked away in his ancient uncle's tales. But will he survive them long enough to find out what's really going on? Visiting with Uncle Frank is always a good time; he has character, age, and wisdom... plus lots of good stories! Inside his mind are chapters and chapters of family history... those of the Kacey Clan and the Indian tribe, plus new members - both blood related and not. The post-Civil War tales keep the teenagers intrigued... those of the Indian, Irish, English, African and German descendants who make this untamed land their own. The rich heritages they were born with intermingle with each other's and forge a new breed of peoples called Americans. Still, the one question the teens all want an answer to is the one of the Alligator King. Elusive and seemingly uncatchable, everyone wants to know who he is... Imagine if you will, a swampy setting and an old man puffing away on cherry-soaked tobacco. He speaks of yesteryear as if it were yesterday... and puts you right in the middle of every situation with his ability to draw you in with no more than a puff of smoke and a heavy Cajun accent.

The man in the hooded cloak ran into the bayou, and the Preacher followed. It didn't matter that the hooded man had friends in low places; friends that might want retaliation; he followed anyway. Three young women with three different paths softly step into each other's lives; one to be a wife; one to be a huntress; and one to be a Healer Woman. He didn't care if he was chosen; he was sick of the visions. He didn't want any more of the dreams, or nightmares, or whatever they were called. He only wanted answers now. Uncle Frank is still weaving yarn by firelight... those who gather will have experiences to last two lifetimes... What happens next? Read on and see...