A Medieval Life is the historical but fictionalized story of Cecilia Penifader, a peasant servant living and working in an English manor house in the fourteenth century. The novel takes a meticulously-researched look at the daily routines of peasants, the conditions in which they lived, and the divisions between those who served nobility and those who worked the land. Through Cecelia the narrative attempts a comprehensive look at the lives of the lower classes in England at the time.
Touching Spirit Bear is the story of Cole, a young man raised in an abusive home who, facing jail time, agrees to a parole officer's suggested sentence of effective exile to an Alaskan island. The punishment, a Native tradition, helps Cole to find direction in his life by driving him toward the brink of death after an encounter with a bear living on the island. Cole is able to collect himself and strive for meaningful life.