Diane Ganzer Baum
the home of "Patrick the Wayward Setter"
and so much more!
Home
Welcome to my website!
Feel free to stay awhile and browse!
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Coming SOON!
Finding Atticus
Loyalty comes with a price, but who is the one willing to pay it...and endure the consequences?
Willow Pond Farm was a haven for Ritchie back when he was a lost, rebellious teenager. When he inherited it, it was his decision to continue to offer it as a safe haven for children in need of a place to stay...
Summer and Sierra are two sisters whose horrific past culminates in their being removed from an abusive mother and placed into foster care at Willow Pond Farm.
A chronic worrier, Summer has a secret fear that only increases her anxieties during her stay, while Sierra, feeling protective of her older sister, can only wonder what they did wrong to end up being taken away from the only home they have ever known in the first place.
One night, Sierra encounters a stray coonhound dog whose elusive nature has her determined to win over his affections. It is during a tragic, but heroic rescue that the true nature of the dog she has named Atticus is revealed...
this is the sequel to "Back to Willow Pond," which was a semi-finalist in the 2018 Minnesota Book Awards!"
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Now Available at: amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com
both in paperback and e-reader form
Back to Willow Pond
Ritchie lived a life filled with uncertainty and abandonment. Although over the years, he tries to do "the right thing," he falls short, mainly due to his wild lifestyle that includes living hard, partying too much and being irresponsible. His role in his stepfather's accidental death sends him to a group home for boys, where he learns that life is about more than just being a hellion. Needing to face his past, he finds someone worthy of his love for the first time in his life. However, it's that same past that catches up to him in his present...forcing him to make a decision that will either save him --or destroy all that he holds dear.
Nominated as a semi-finalist 2019 Minnesota Book Awards!
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Just published for Kindle!
don't have a Kindle? No Problem! Get the app from the Kindle store that will allow you to download to ANY device! it's FREE!
(Just look under the photo of the book's cover on the amazon page)
“when you look at yourself in the mirror, who do you see?”
Andy had it all. A home. A wife. Two kids. A successful career. Andy also had a drinking problem. Because of that, he lost it all, becoming homeless. Then his world caved in completely when his wife and daughter were killed...ironically, by a drunk driver.
Sammy also had it all. Beautiful wife. Beautiful home. From the outside looking in, it was a seemingly great life. Sammy lived his life with wild abandon. No one could tell him what to do or how to do it. Until the night he became the impetus for massively changing the dynamics of the future of four people, one of whom was his best friend. Suddenly, his sweet lifestyle became his worst nightmare.
This is the story of loss and determination. Of hitting rock bottom and climbing back up. Of letting go and of forgiveness. Because when that landslide hits...you have nothing left to do but to hold on...and hope you'll survive...
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Available NOW in paperback! and on Kindle/NOOK!
nominated by the 2017 Minnesota Book Awards for best novel/short story!
"The Summer of the Pelicans"
A child, caught up in the foster care system after being abandoned by her drug-using mother, must come to terms with her past. It is through a series of unlikely events that intersect her with the lives of others, who give her a chance to leave a memorable legacy of love behind...
order from www.amazon.com
or
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now available:
the sequel to "Prairie Winds," (which was nominated for Best Novel/Short Story of 2016 by the Minnesota Book Awards!)
"le fleur de terre"
just as it is thought that no two snowflakes are alike, can two people, separated by distance, find each other as well as happiness on a vast prairie?
Laura was a mail order bride from a small town in North Dakota who moved to Morris, Minnesota to start a new life. Her first marriage was abusive and left her with a secret she had no wish to share with anyone, even after her husband's untimely death from the deadly influenza that was taking over after the Great War.
Enter John, a young veterinarian from Minneapolis who was transferred to the same small town on the edge of the prairie. Although he is considered an eligible bachelor for their young daughters by the older womenfolk, he only has eyes for Laura, who considers herself damaged goods.
Laura believes that once John finds out her secret, he will want nothing to do with her. What will it take for John to convince her otherwise? How can two people find the "happily ever after" they have been searching for all along?
available NOW on Kindle as well as NOOK
only$3.99 per download!
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A new "Chicken Soup for the Soul" story about a mischievious kitten named "Miss Snuggles"
"I Can't Believe the Cat Did That!"
only $10.00 in paperback! Order one today through www.amazon.com
also available on Kindle!
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Now Available!
"Down the Street & Around the Corner"
Imagine being able to go back in time...to correct past mistakes or to meet up with that "someone special..."
"Why couldn't we have found each sooner?" Have you ever asked yourself this question when you've finally found "Mr /Ms Right?" In this story, Sara has the chance to see what life could have been like when she goes 25 years into her past. Can she correct the mistakes of her object of desire's path...before it's too late? Which is more important--to do 'the right thing' or Love?
available NOW on Kindle/Kindle for PC through www.amazon.com
only $2.99 per download!
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Nominated for the 2016 Minnesota Book Awards (novel/short story)!
Now Available! Kindle / NOOK and paperback!
a heartwarming story about tragedy and courage on the Minnesota prairie in 1918
A story of love, courage and determination
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder...back in 1918, it was known as shell shock. For Theodore Dahlgren, coming home to Morris, Minnesota from the Great War was a huge transition from wounded soldier back to small town farmer. Gone were the idyllic days of farm life on the prairie as he once knew it. In it's place was a cold, dark hell from which he couldn't escape.
For Clara Dahlgren, all of her best made plans were torn usunder. Seeing the love of her life rendered to doing nothing except drinking his life away, she was determined to save their farm and family- no matter what. Not war, or even the dreaded influenza that also struck during that time, could change that.
As the winds of change sweep through the Minnesota prairie, lives are built up and torn apart, but Love always remains.
$10.00 paperback
$2.99 per download Kindle / NOOK
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Also:
Chicken Soup for the Soul: the Dog Did What?
Look for a story that I have written about Patrick, my infamous wayward setter!
available through www.amazon.com or direct from www.chickensoup.com
only $14.95
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And...
Losing a job often brings panic and uncertainty. Days turn into weeks, then months. You do everything right...fill out applications, update resumes, go to hiring fairs and still, no word from anyone. Bills pile up, money runs out...then what?
Bill was terminated from his truck driver job due to a misunderstanding that sent him into a downward spiral of self pity. Withdrawing into himself, he uses alcohol as a retreat, leaving his wife, Tracy, to pick up the pieces. Just when they thought they had an answer, Bill's health fails and once more, the uncertainties of "what if...?" keeps Tracy awake at night.
While Bill's resolve is weak, Tracy's becomes stronger as she determines that being positive is what will help them to find that elusive dream of once again having a secure life. It is her faith in the goodness of others, God and many small miracles that eventually becomes the answer to her prayers!
Exclusive to Amazon.com's Kindle or Kindle for PC only $2.99!
Download today!
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Also a must read!!
"50 to Life"
Domestic abuse. The silent killer that is only heard, seen and felt by the victim. Until it is too late!
In reality, it affects us ALL!
“You’re not good enough!”
“You’re nothing without me…”
“When will you ever learn…?”
“You’re so ugly, no one else would have you!”
“You’re worthless as a human being!”
It is said that actions speak louder than words. In Sara’s world, they scream at her. They hurt her. They threaten her very existence!
Sara’s abusive past left her disillusioned enough to believe that getting married would be the stuff that dreams are made of. Instead, she finds herself living every woman’s nightmare: an abusive relationship that once again has her counting the days until things can somehow be “normal.” But when one has been abused all their life, what is considered normal…and how much can a person take before their spirit breaks?
Despite the hurdles placed before her, Sara is determined to not let him break her spirit. Once her children are born, however, she realizes that she is in it for the duration. It is only after many years of daily reminders of how unworthy she is that she realizes that courage is what will save her life.
available in both paperback ($10.00 each)
and Kindle ($2.99 per download) by www.amazon.com
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Also--two great reads, only on Amazon Kindle or Kindle for PC
named one of the Best Books of 2013!
...imagine growing up, watching your mother slowly destroy herself and all she holds dear, abusing meth. It is insidious...it is deadly. This book chronicles the life of a young girl through adulthood. No one should have to live through what she did!
Exclusively available on Kindle or Kindle for PC at www.amazon.com
(available for worldwide distribution in many languages!)
And:
Ever wonder what life ‘on the road' is like?
Rob convinced the love of his life, Elizabeth, to become a truck driver. Despite the fact that she is a “chicken sh*t wussy,” she gives it her all. Not rain, not snow nor dead of night interferes with truckers and their destination. Unfortunately, it’s the long days, the sleepless nights, the rules and regulations of the road, not to mention truck stop fare, that quickly make her realize that even love has it’s limits.
In a world still dominated by men, she proves she can do what’s required of her, provided it’s sunny, flat and 75 degrees! The real test comes later, when given a diagnosis of cancer. Stepping away from her job, she now needs to deal with the absence of her husband during a winter that proves brutal for the upper Midwest.
The dedication that truckers have for their jobs vs. what waits for them at home makes for an inspiring story. From the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains to the farm fields of the Midwest to the coasts, come along on this tale of love, laughter and tears. Buckle up, now!
only $2.99 per download!
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Great for dog lovers & readers ages 7 and up!
another wonderful dog story--if you loved "Patrick," you'll want to read this!
in paperback! Kindle/Nook editions also available- $2.99 per d/l!
Dakota is a Labrador retriever pup whose life began with abuse and neglect. Just when it seemed like she was doomed to a life of sadness, along came her hero in a boy named Alex. With Alex, she learns what trust is as they become best buddies, exploring the farm and the adventures that await them down the trail. That summer, a mysterious "something" has been discovered in the lake by Alex's house. Although the townsfolk in the small town of Hibbing, Minnesota speculate on what it could be, no one really knows...until Alex is confronted by it one hot, summer day. Although fearless, not even Dakota has faced a danger as bad as this in all her life. Can she protect the boy who has changed her life for the better? And just what is in that lake that has everyone talking?
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"There, but for the Grace of God,
(plus a few good friends & family)
...Go I"
available on Kindle/NOOK and paperback!
"I don't live...I exist!"
Read stories of those who were one a step away from a sad existence--and of others who never even made it that far!
Stories of alcoholism that will change your mind about how we as a society view "wet houses."
Stories about a life of constant partying--until that life is changed after a "death" experience followed by drugs, booze and women who left that life empty...
A story of a homeless man who gave up on himself, but others still had faith in him...while another died, leaving nothing behind but a memory.
Stories of second chances that will make you realize.....
and there, but for God's Grace, it could have been you or someone you know.
This book is controversial in that when one thinks of alcoholics, one is reminded of people stumbling around, slurring words, driving drunk, being an embarrassment to others...the list is endless. We all know an alcoholic in some way. Our common impulse is to turn away from them, cast them out of our lives, tell them to shape up or ship out. Many do leave; the future for them is bleak; life has no meaning any longer.
This book tells of those who have walked that road and who have been given A SECOND CHANCE. For some, that second chance made all the difference towards turning their lives around, for others, it just prolongs what they already know: that they will drink until they die.
I encourage any and all to read these testimonies before judging, before condemning, and realize...that it could have been any one of us...but for the grace of God!
here's an excerpt from the story:
I don’t believe there is one person unscathed in society by alcoholism. The deceptive fingers of that friendly little bitch, Lady Alcohol! She embraces anyone who may be lured by her charms. She coddles, she coos, and she teases and tantalizes all. Many, who, for the first few times they come to know her, become enchanted by her ways. And those who don’t, seem to think they are the right ones. How does that work? Soon, the many, however, they realize they can’t live without her overtures. For the many, she becomes a way of life at the expense of family and friends, of occupations, and finally, of themselves. Eventually, the evil Seductress has robbed someone of everything they have held dear.
You either are an alcoholic, you are related to one, are married to one, are friends with one, were friends with one, or have been affected by the actions of one, which include drunken driving accidents that may have stolen the life/lives of someone you know.
Alcoholism is insidious, it is ugly, it is relentless and for some, it never releases it’s hold on the one it has taken hostage.
You are about to read true stories of alcoholics who have been given a second chance and are trying to stay sober, of some who have also been given second chances, but can’t stop drinking no matter what and finally, stories of some whose life has turned it’s back on. These stories will hopefully make you think a little more about alcoholism’s effect on society and the people it crushes.
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Intrigued yet? to order:
or
available on Kindle thru amazon ($3.00 per d/l) and NOOK at Barnes and Noble as well as paperback!
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Also available from:
and
"Walking in God's Shadow"
Are you "sick and tired of being sick and tired?" Many people have turned their lives around using equine based therapy. This book focuses on Changing Gaits, a ranch located in Brook Park, MN. Through the use of horses, many have overcome the barriers in life that keep them from proceeding forward. Things such as alcoholism, drug addictions or emotional issues/behaviors. Guy Kaufman, founder and executive director, has "been there, done that" in his own life. His compassion and ability to reach out to others is a must read for anyone and everyone who would like to face the world with a different perspective!
Come, experience the experience!
Kindle/NOOK editions available to download also- $2.99 per d/l!
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Whether you're young or old, these stories will make a great addition to your home library, Kindle or NOOK!
- little girl lost: one woman's journey into meth, as seen through the eyes of a little girl: imagine growing up, watching the only mother you have, destroy herself. Meth takes away lives, dreams ...desires.
- Patrick the Wayward Setter: An English setter puppy whose mind knows only mischief....
- A Christmas Miracle: Patrick proves that at Christmas, miracles are possible!
- Summer School Blues: More adventures of the wayward Patrick, who needs to enroll in obedience school!
- Called to Serve: Straight from current events: An 18 year old's decision to enlist in the USMC brings real issues to the forefront in Patrick's family.
- Hope Survives: The true story of a young girl's survival from emotional and physical abuse at her mother's hand...it IS true--names CAN hurt you! Also on audio CD narrated by Sammantha Befort
- Llama Tails: Ricky's Adventure: What is beyond the forest? Ricky decides to find out in this gentle farm tale!
- Steel Destiny: In this western historical fiction, a pre-Civil War horseshoe shapes history for all those who have contact with it! Also on audio CD, narrated by Jim Rogers.
- Trail Boss: The Quest: Set in 1858 Minnesota; a man's mission to get back what was rightfully his!! Sequel to Steel Destiny. Also on audio CD, professionally narrated by Jim Rogers.
- By Chance or By Choice?: The continuing story of Colt Shepard. Haunted by his past, he thinks that leaving his current situation will resolve matters. It only complicates it when he is implicated in a shooting that leaves a man dead, and a legacy on hold!
- The Adventures of a Kitten Named Raspberry, and other tales
- Raspberry's adventures will leave cat lovers astounded, from camping, to swimming in Shell Lake, to dressing up for Halloween! Other stories of animal fun are included also!
- There, but for the Grace of God (plus a few good friends & family) Go I: true testimonies from alcoholics whose lives have been changed forever by the seductress known as Lady Alcohol. Read of some who thought they had it made...until life intervened.
- 50 to Life: Domestic abuse. It happens. Unfortunately, it is still an issue that is not talked about enough. Not until it is too late. This is a story about Sara, who marries who she thinks is her hero. Shrotly after she says "I do," she realizes that he rhero has a heart of stone whose power and control of her nearly takes her life.
- Bug Guts: A Trucker's Tale: Adventures of life on the road, as told from a lady trucker's perspective.
- love letters from roger: "Be careful what you wish for...you might just get it all, and them some you don't want..."
Roger has been alone since his divorce some twenty years before. He has declared to any and all who has ever tried to fix him up that he will die a grumpy old man.
One cold, January day, out of boredom, he places an ad on an online service called Craigslist, looking for a quick fix for his raging hormones.
She answered, looking for something more. (older readers, please) - Down the Street and Around the Corner: What if...
you had the chance to go back in time with the hope that a love now kindled could have been realized earlier? Would you? Set in 1983...how many memories will this story have YOU remembering?
“when you look at yourself in the mirror, who do you see?”
Andy had it all. A home. A wife. Two kids. A successful career.
Andy also had a drinking problem. Because of that, he lost it all, becoming homeless. Then his world caved in completely when his wife and daughter were killed...ironically, by a drunk driver.
Sammy also had it all. Beautiful wife. Beautiful home. From the outside looking in, it was a seemingly great life. Sammy lived his life with wild abandon. No one could tell him what to do or how to do it. Until the night he became the impetus for massively changing the dynamics of the future of four people, one of whom was his best friend. Suddenly, his sweet lifestyle became his worst nightmare.
This is the story of loss and determination. Of hitting rock bottom and climbing back up. Of letting go and of forgiveness. Because when that landslide hits...you have nothing left to do but to hold on...
“when you look at yourself in the mirror, who do you see?”
Andy had it all. A home. A wife. Two kids. A successful career.
Andy also had a drinking problem. Because of that, he lost it all, becoming homeless. Then his world caved in completely when his wife and daughter were killed...ironically, by a drunk driver.
Sammy also had it all. Beautiful wife. Beautiful home. From the outside looking in, it was a seemingly great life. Sammy lived his life with wild abandon. No one could tell him what to do or how to do it. Until the night he became the impetus for massively changing the dynamics of the future of four people, one of whom was his best friend. Suddenly, his sweet lifestyle became his worst nightmare.
This is the story of loss and determination. Of hitting rock bottom and climbing back up. Of letting go and of forgiveness. Because when that landslide hits...you have nothing left to do but to hold on...
“when you look at yourself in the mirror, who do you see?”
Andy had it all. A home. A wife. Two kids. A successful career.
Andy also had a drinking problem. Because of that, he lost it all, becoming homeless. Then his world caved in completely when his wife and daughter were killed...ironically, by a drunk driver.
Sammy also had it all. Beautiful wife. Beautiful home. From the outside looking in, it was a seemingly great life. Sammy lived his life with wild abandon. No one could tell him what to do or how to do it. Until the night he became the impetus for massively changing the dynamics of the future of four people, one of whom was his best friend. Suddenly, his sweet lifestyle became his worst nightmare.
This is the story of loss and determination. Of hitting rock bottom and climbing back up. Of letting go and of forgiveness. Because when that landslide hits...you have nothing left to do but to hold on...