If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

A Lilac Autumn

by Daniel J. Moon and Gary L. Campbell

128 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-1592; ISBN 1-4120-1214-7; US$17.50, C$20.00, EUR14.50, £10.00

A romantic poetry novel about two ordinary people who stick together side by side for better or worse. True love does exist.

Read more!

about the book      about the author      sample excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book This book is about two ordinary people who find each other and fall in love, sticking side by side through whatever happens. All that matters in this world is each other, nothing else has any significance except for their love for each other. True love is out there and it will find you if you want it to. Love is Simple.

---

About the Author Daniel J. Moon - I have been writing for years. I love to write and I hope that it helps those who read it. I was born in Annapolis, Maryland and I have been all over this world. I currently live in New Jersey. Gary L. Campbell is a wonderful father and friend who loves to write and help others achieve their goals. He currently lives in New Jersey.

---

Sample Excerpts

September 5 - The Trip

I trace the stars in the sky with my hand and I spell out your name in the sky.

I draw your face with a finger in the air, as I watch you fly high above me.

You float down to me on angel wings and kiss away the pain that made me weak.

The kiss from your soft lips warms me and breathes new life into my aching lungs.

Kiss me again with your angelic lips and touch me again with your heavenly hands.

Take me away with you into the sky and let me fly with you into the starry night.

You are the only one who knows what it is like to love and to lose.

Your love gives me sentimental wings, so please kiss me again.

Touch me again and take me away, for you are all that I need.

Beep, beep, beep.

Jon rolled over and opened up his eyes. Grace wasn't there. He had dreamed that she was there with him, sleeping in his arms. She had to go home and get ready for work. He missed her intoxicating smell and the taste of her soft, sweet lips. Jon walked into the living room and started to clean up the dishes from last night that he had left there. He was having such a wonderful time last night that he had forgotten about them. She made him crazy, in a good way. Nothing else mattered when he was around her. There was nothing else that was of any importance. Only her.

Jon finished putting the dishes away and then he started getting ready for work. Jon walked back towards the bathroom and he could still smell Grace. Her scent still lingered in the air, floating through Jon's body and filling up his lungs with her intoxicating presence.

He walked into the bathroom and undressed. The impression of Grace's hands and lips were still on his body. He could still feel her touching him. She was always with him. He got into the shower and as the water ran over his body, Grace's scent lifted up off of his skin and mixed with the steam from the shower. It filled up the room with the smell of lilacs. Her smell.

Jon got out of the shower and dried himself off. He looked into the mirror and he saw the reflection of Grace in his eyes. Jon stared into the mirror, hypnotized by the reflection of her angelic beauty.

He went into his bedroom and got dressed for work. He left a little bit earlier than usual. He wanted to stop by Perkin's for breakfast. He opened the front door and he stepped into the hallway, turning around to lock the door.

"You have a good time last night, huh?" A voice behind him asked.

Jon turned around and he saw his upstairs neighbor, Mr. Hu standing there. He was smiling brightly at Jon with an allknowing twinkle in his eyes.

"I had the most wonderful time last night," Jon said. "I felt so good and happy."

"Ah, girl make you feel all tingly," Mr. Hu, said with a nod. "Make you happy inside."

"Yeah. She is wonderful."

Mr. Hu smiled and said, "She very special. You take good care of her."

"I will," Jon said. "You take care now, Mr. Hu."

"Yes," Mr. Hu said with a smile. He waved to Jon as he headed back up the stairs.

Jon locked his door and walked out to his car. He got in and headed towards Perkin's. When he got there he parked near the door. The parking lot was pretty empty this early in the morning. Jon walked through the front door into the lobby and Tammy greeted him.

She smiled and waved at him. "How's it going today, Jon?"

"I am excellent Tammy," Jon said with a smile. "How are you doing this morning?"

She shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes. "Just working, ya know."

"Yeah," Jon said. "I know all about that."

"Follow me, hon."

Tammy turned around and started heading towards the back of the restaurant. Jon followed, watching her curly red hair bouncing up and down. She led him to his usual booth and placed a menu on the table. Jon slid into the booth and took off his jacket, placing it next to him on the seat.

"Here you go," Tammy said with a click of her pen. "I'll go get you some coffee.

"Thanks, Tammy."

Tammy turned around and headed back towards the kitchen. Jon sat there and gazed at the menu. He felt something rubbing against his shin. He put the menu down and looked under the table. He saw nothing under there.

You know phantom limb syndrome, where when you first lose a limb, you can still feel it there. Jon had phantom Grace syndrome. Even though she wasn't there, he still felt her rubbing her foot up and down his shin. Like she did the last time that they were there a few nights ago.

When she wasn't around, he still felt her touching him. He still heard her melodic voice. He still smelt her lilac scent. She was like a guardian angel, always hovering over him. Holding him. Protecting him.

"What can I get for you, hon?"

Jon blinked and looked up, seeing Tammy, who was hovering over him with her pen and pad ready in her hand.

"Oh, I'll have the Everything Omelet, with a side of hash browns."

Tammy wrote on her pad. "Is that all?"

"Yes," Jon said. "Thank you, Tammy."

Tammy put the pad back into her front pocket and set down his coffee, which was on a cart next to her. She took the menu and headed back towards the kitchen.

Jon poured himself a cup of coffee and stared out the window. My guardian angel is sitting out there watching over me.

After Jon finished eating, he said goodbye to Tammy and headed to work. He got in his car and turned on the radio.

".... You're beautiful, when I'm in your arms. You're beautiful when I'm in your heart. If you make it to the sky, don't wave goodbye. Pick me up on your wings so light. Fly me through the never-ending sky. Kiss my lips and get me high. Beautiful.... beautiful...so beautiful.... so beautiful in my eyes."

Jon just caught the tail end of the song, but he felt just like the guy singing that song. He felt beautiful when he was with Grace. She gave new meaning to the word beauty.

Jon eventually got to work and parked in his designated spot. He walked into the building and headed towards his office, when Valerie cut him off. She was a temp, who started a couple of months ago.

"Hi, Valerie." Jon said with a smile. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Jon." Valerie said with her brown eyes twinkling. She had a little crush on Jon that started when she started working at Titan Computers. She always bit her lip, with her head bent and her eyes shyly looking up at Jon, whenever she talked to him.

"Bob wants to see you in his office," Valerie said still biting her lip.

Jon looked quizzically at Valerie. Bob never called him into his office. "Do you know what he wants?"

"No, he just told me to tell you to go to his office when you came in."

"Okay, thanks."

"Okay, bye."

Jon continued walking down the hall and headed towards Bob's office. Valerie was still standing there watching him walk away.

Jon walked to Bob's office and knocked on the door. He heard Bob's voice say, "Come in, it's open."

Jon opened the door and stepped into Bob's office, shutting the door behind him. Bob had a pretty nice office. He had a gold nameplate, a mahogany desk and a bunch of other knick-knacks that he brought from home to give the place a little color, like old trophies and such.

Bob was writing something when Jon walked into the office and he looked up when he heard the door shut.

"What's up, you sly fox?" Bob asked with a mischievous smile on his face.

"Not much," Jon replied. "How have you been?"

Bob got up out of his chair and walked over to where Jon was standing. "Not to shabby. Same old, same old."

When he reached Jon he extended his hand and Jon shook it. Bob turned back around and walked back to his desk. He asked Jon over he shoulder. " You want a drink?"

Bob always had a bottle of scotch or something in his top drawer. Just for whenever he wanted a drink, which was quite often.

"Sure," Jon said. "I'll have a little."

Bob gave him a devilish grin and took two glasses out of his desk, along with a bottle of scotch. He poured two glasses, pouring a little bit more into his own glass. He walked back over to Jon and handed him a glass, raising his in the air.

"Cheers, buddy."

Then Bob took the whole thing down with one quick swallow, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. Jon just looked at him and shook his head, smiling.

"Thirsty, Bob?"

Bob gave him an innocent, hurt look and shrugged his shoulders.

"What?"

"Nothing, Bob. Don't worry about it."

Bob shrugged and walked over to his desk, putting his glass down on it. He walked back over to Jon, rubbing his hands together, smiling.

"So, what have you been up to you dirty man?"

"What are you talking about, Bob?"

Bob gave him a look that said, 'C'mon, you know what I'm talking about.'

"I know that you've been seeing an awful lot of that Grace girl lately."

"Yeah, I have. And?"

"Well, tell me all the details Casanova!"

"There's nothing to tell, really."

"Bullshit! I know that you've got some stories. C'mon, you can tell me."

"I don't think so, Bob."

Bob looked surprised and he squinted his eyes, looking at Jon quizzically.

"You've never held back on any of your other girls," Bob said with a confused expression.

"Grace is different," Jon explained. "She's more to me than just a trophy. A conquest. I love her."

Bob looked deeply into Jon's eyes and he saw the change in him. He saw the love that was burning inside of Jon and he knew that he was serious. He was taken aback. He had never seen Jon like this before.

"Wow," Bob exclaimed! "You're serious."

"Yeah, I am."

"Alright cool," Bob shrugged. "Well, get back to work then, slacker."

Jon hadn't even touched his drink. He handed it to Bob, who shrugged and gulped it down. Jon left Bob's office, closing the door behind him.

Work passed by rather slowly, minutes turning into hours. Jon was thinking about Grace and spending time with her. She made him feel so alive, so happy. There was nothing that he would rather do than spend time with her. He couldn't wait until work was over, so that he could go see her.

5 o'clock finally rolled around and Jon headed towards the bar. He walked in and he saw Grace standing there behind the counter. She looked as beautiful as ever. Jon smiled and headed for the bar. He got up to the bar and he noticed the tears in Grace's diamond eyes. His smile faded.

"What's wrong, angel?" Jon asked with concern in his voice.

He took her hand in his and slowly rubbed his thumbs up and down her small, beautiful hands. Grace looked up at him with tears running down her face. Her nose was runny from crying. Angel tears are so sad, yet somehow beautiful.

She leaned across the bar and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her silken hair brushed against his cheek. Jon put his arms tightly around her and he held on.

"Why are you crying?" Jon whispered questions into her ear.

Grace let go of her hold around Jon's neck and leaned back. Jon reached over the bar and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Grace started to speak, her voice choking on her tears.

"Mm...my sister was in an accident," Grace stuttered. "She's in the emergency room at Oak Hill. She might die."

Jon felt the tears welling up behind his own eyes. It hurt so much to see her cry. To see her in pain. He grabbed her and held her, holding her tightly. Trying to squeeze the pain away. Her arms were wrapped tightly around him and her face was buried in his neck. The tears burned his skin and her soft crying squeezed his heart. It hurt so much. He could feel the pain welling up within his heart. He was one with her and her pain was his pain. He just held her, his arms wrapped around her, trying his best to comfort her. How do you comfort an angel?

"I'll take you to the hospital," Jon said with his arms still wrapped around her. "I won't leave you alone. I'm here."

"Thank you," Grace whispered through the tears in her angel eyes.

Jon walked her out to his car and helped her get in. he walked around the back of the car, looking at her through the rear window. She was staring out the window, her hand covering her mouth and her eyes watering. He got into the car and he reached out, taking her hand and gently squeezing it, letting her know that he was there. She was not alone. She returned the squeeze, still looking out the window.

Jon drove to the hospital, all the while holding her hand. They got to the hospital and Jon wrapped his arm around her shoulder, escorting her to the receptionist's desk. The receptionist was an old lady with coke-bottle glasses on a chain. She looked up at them when they got up to the counter.

"Can I help you?" she had a monotone voice that wasn't comforting at all.

"We're here to see Maryanne Stone," Jon said. "She was brought in today."

"She's still in surgery," she said in her monotone voice. "Have a seat. Someone will be out soon."

Grace's bottom lip started quivering and the sweet salt water was welling up behind her beautiful eyes. Jon wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear, "Shh. It's okay. I'm here." He lightly kissed her on the cheek. "I won't let you fall apart."

Grace grabbed Jon around the neck and squeezed tight, burying her face in his chest, crying her warm, wet tears out onto his shirt. When she pulled away, there was an imprint of her face on his shirt, written in her tears.

"I'm sorry. I wet your shirt."

Jon smiled and hugged her, "It's okay."

They sat down in some chairs by the window. Grace rested her head on Jon's shoulder. Jon's arms were wrapped around her, holding her. Comforting her. Jon looked out the window and it was raining. It was such a horrible day. Grace's pain was conveyed through the gray clouds storming outside. Jon wouldn't rather be anywhere else, except here, comforting her.

They sat there, Jon holding Grace in his arms, his heart. Jon looked up and he saw a doctor in OR scrubs coming out of the double doors. He was coming from the intensive care unit, walking towards them. From his face, Jon could tell that something wasn't right. The doctor walked up to them, his face heavy. He took a deep breath and spoke.

I'm sorry. She didn't make it. I'm so sorry." His face and voice portrayed such compassionate sadness.

At that moment, Jon heard Grace's soul screaming out in sorrow. He grabbed her and held her tightly. She was crying and screaming, "No, no, no!" Her fists were beating against Jon's chest.

"I'm sorry," the doctor said as he walked away. "I'm so sorry."

Jon's heart was filled with pain and tears were welling up in his eyes. He couldn't stand to see her like this. They sat there, holding each other, crying on each other's shoulders. Jon led Grace out to the car and put her in the front seat. She looked at him with her sad, beautiful eyes.

"Please don't leave me alone. Please." Tears were rolling down her cheeks. "I don't want to be alone."

"You will never be alone," Jon said wiping her tears. "I am here with you always."

Jon got in the car and drove her to his place. When he got there, he got her out of the car and carried her inside. He laid her down on his bed and covered her with a blanket. He sat by her side and gently brushed her hair out of her face. Grace opened her eyes and looked at him.

"I couldn't bear to lose you," she said with a sad voice. "It would kill me."

"I will always be here for you," Jon said brushing her hair. "Even in death, I will be with you always."

Grace smiled and closed her eyes, trying to shut out the images of her sister flashing in her head. Jon sat there the whole night, watching over her. Comforting her. She laid in his bed in a fitful sleep, tossing and turning, whimpering out Maryanne's name. Jon felt so bad for her. He wished that he could go back in time and change the future. He couldn't, so he did the best that he could to ease the pain that she felt. How do you soothe an angel?

---

Catalogue Information

---