PRESS RELEASE: TRAVELS WITH CHARLIZE by David R. Gross

David R. Gross Shares a Captivating Tale of His Yearlong Journey in Discovering How to Accept and Craft a New Life

Seattle, Washington --- Well known Seattle author David R. Gross practiced veterinary medicine for ten years. He returned to school and earned his PhD in cardiovascular physiology; then he taught and did research in that field for more than three decades. After retiring, he and his beloved wife Rosalie looked forward to traveling, writing, and focusing on social action causes together. In Travels with Charlize: In Search of Living Alone, Dr. Gross tells a gentle and open story of recovery after the death of his wife of fifty-two years. He knows he must go forward and face a new future, but that road carries rough spots. Memories spring up to hold him back. Revisiting friends reminds him of who no longer accompanies him. Home, to which he must return, still stores a profusion of painful memories. It is the presence of Charlize, his newly adopted rescue dog, that keeps Gross steady and willing to see a brighter tomorrow around the bend. Based on a compilation of chronicles from his popular blog, this compelling and enchanting book is scheduled to hit the shelves next month.

The dog loving couple had talked about getting a new pet, but with Rosalie’s diagnosis of lung cancer, those plans were put on hold. After she succumbed to illness in 2013, David adopted Charlize, a German shepherd rescue dog with problems of her own. He bought a travel trailer, closed his house and the duo started their travels. The two troubled souls embarked on a yearlong journey visiting parks and vistas, rain forests and deserts, family and old friends, to discover how to accept and craft a new life with each other’s help. David captured their travels in an online blog, posting photos and feelings on www.docdavesvoice.com. The traveling pair’s adventures also became the basis for a column in My Edmonds News that captivated a devoted following.


Travels with Charlize will be available in early February through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and independent bookstores. The Kindle e-book edition is currently available for purchase, soon to be followed by versions for Kobo and Nook. Dr. David Gross has published over ninety papers in refereed scientific journals and over a hundred abstracts in proceedings of scientific meetings. He co-edited three multi-authored textbooks and his single author text, Animal Models in Cardiovascular Research, can be found in most medical libraries. Since retirement, Dr. Gross has been busy writing both fiction and non-fiction. His published books include Manhunt (historical fiction), Animals Don’t Blush (a memoir of his first year in veterinary practice) and the soon-to-be rereleased, Succeeding As A Student (a self-help guide to efficient and effective studying, learning and test taking). For more information, go to http://www.docdavesvoice.com.

Dreaming In Darkness by Jessica Kristie

Dreaming In Darkness is a powerful diary in poetry, and prose. The beautiful poetry reveals a breathtaking journey through a painful hell that moves gradually upwards over a bumpy road, ultimately, leading into a state of healing.

Jessica’s poetry is a divinely classic work of art. Her flowing imagery is clear without a second of awkwardness. The poignant story is bold, a blatant display of pain, and suffering woven into the vision her words create.

The perfect order in which the poems are placed creates the sense of a diary, a fascinating collection of the poet’s most intimate thoughts.

‘Sarafina’ You shine

                 You speak
                 We listen

The author guides the reader into the myriad of emotions experienced in the victim’s abyss. ‘Induced Sleep’ finds the battered soul in a medicated state, drowning in the pain, yet here she begins to process her choices as she meets her self in the crossroads.

Still, further into the pain ‘Force Forgotten’ paints a bird’s eye view of the crime and the victim comes face-to-face with the perpetrator.

          ‘My legacy won’t be this, ’

           but yours will.

          Stew in your own sin.

This revelation frees her to search for a healing aid. The hallways greet her with doors of deception. ‘Bad Religion,’ ‘This Mourning,’ and ’Walking Wounded’ portray encounters with some disingenuous souls that clutter the pathway.

In ’Temporary Royalty’ she begins to experience the highs and lows from within a different place. Here, she sees tiny glimpses of light periodically penetrating the darkness. Later, The bud starts blossoming in ’Love Letters.’ The fabulous poet surprises with prose. The change symbolizes a less rigid environment, freedom. A different place depicted from within a different style.

‘Dreaming in Darkness’ is brilliant. This is a powerful, effective piece of art portraying the journey from pain to healing, darkness to light.

I highly recommend.

WinterGoose Publishing

Get Your Copy of Dreaming In Darkness Today!

Jessica Kristie

Dreaming In Darkness by Jessica Kristie Published by Winter Goose