Poison. Saints. Lepers. Nectar.

And other short stories.

Poison. Saints. Lepers. Nectar. is the story of war weary medic Jonathan MacCumber and his spiritual journey back to humanity. Along the way he becomes a cobra catcher in Siam, sojourns with mystics in India and lives with lepers in Hawaii. MacCumber doesn’t seek out adventure, but rather follows the path provided him as he learns about living other faiths and the value of a quiet, useful daily life. Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity all become part of his spiritual evolution. Available here.

van Gogh's Missing Journals

Vincent van Gogh is one of the most discussed artists of all time—and for good reason. There is an air of mystique in his work and a great tragedy in his death. This new historical novel uses the novel idea of three undiscovered journals to tell a poignant story about the nature of the creative process.

The first of these three journals delves into the artist’s early life. Author Terrence James Coffman deftly weaves in historical facts about Van Gogh with fictional anecdotes about his childhood in the tiny town of Zundert. In his journal, Van Gogh opens up about the death of his stillborn brother and the effect it had on his family. As he comes of age, Van Gogh turns his attention toward becoming a missionary. The second of his three journals shows how that mission eventually morphs into a dream of becoming an artist.

The last journal is the most powerful and recounts the most famous moments of Van Gogh’s life. As Van Gogh moves to France and begins experiencing the events that eventually lead to his death, Coffman gets inside the head of the incomparable painter and examines the legacy he left for the world. Available here.

100 Artists of the Midwest

I am featured in a new hardcover book entitled, "Artists of the Midwest". It features several artists from Wisconsin; Fred Stonehouse, Jan Serr, Tom Uttech, Mark Mulhern, Mary Bero, Clare Malloy, myself and other prominent Wisconsin painters and sculptors.

This expansive book takes a fresh look at 100 living artists from the Midwest, their personal stories and inspirations, along with several examples of their works. A wealth of urban settings, wide plains, flourishing cities, rushing rivers, and placid lakes are source material and inspiration for the artists. These works show how each artist interprets life. They explore the richness of the homegrown imagery of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin - their culture, society, and environment. They are delineating our stories for future generations in oil, pastels, sculpture, and other media. Their works are displayed in over 600 full color images. This book is essential for all who appreciate or practice art today. Available here.