Ken Hills - Author

Books for Adults
		Requiem For Black Shoes is a conversation between a retired adult and a psychiatrist. The subject is a child abuse experience involving a Catholic priest. It is a personal story with some fictional embellishments. The story leads the reader through happy childhood memories to the actual abuse scenario. It then explores subsequent relationships and illustrates how one young man's natural compass now tampered with causes the main character to lose his way and how he attempts to readjust his bearings. A cathartic experience for the author, hopefully this book will help others understand the consequences of abuse, how one such act, like a rock thrown into the water, can have an endless rippling effect. *...read excerpt...to order ...* What they're saying about Requiem for Black Shoes:** "The preponderance of news lately about the incidents of sexual abuse allegedly committed by members of the clergy is extraordinary. What gives these statistics flesh are stories like this one, which allow us to feel and appreciate the lifelong imprint and daily consequences for each victim. This is a tantalizing tale of such a person, told with sensitivity and humour, set descriptively among familiar landmarks." Pamela Verrill Walker, Lawyer *...more reviews...*

Books for Children
Through the bird kingdom, Ken illustrates how important love and respect are for all of us. He shows through his bird characters the importance of sharing, of friendship, of civic responsibility, what to do about bullies and how to develop and nurture self esteem in our children. The lyrical quality of Ken's verses appeals to the ear of the child and the vivid colours and illustrations help to emphasize these very important themes.
		Story by Ken Hills Illustrated by Rocco D. Commisso Billy Bluejay is a story about a backyard bully and how the other birds cope with him. It explores their feelings and their reactions to being bullied. Imaginatively illustrated, the story is designed to encourage young children to talk about bullying if it is a part of their lives. *to order ...*

		Story by Ken Hills Illustrated by Clif Train This children's story is a narrative in rhyme. Fully illustrated by the other grandfather (Clif Train), it was created as a gift for our grandchildren. But grandfathers and grandchildren are universal in appeal and you will easily identify with the themes and the characters. It does have a Dr. Seuss kind of rhyme and features our own grandchildren. Good for preschoolers and up to grade three or four children, it will capture their imagination and appeal to their natural affinity for rhyming and lilting sounds. *excerpts and illustrations...* *to order ...*
*New for children!*
		Story by Ken Hills Illustrated by Rocco D. Commisso Like my other children stories, inspired by my grandchildren, Milly Mockingbird is too shy to use her own voice. She hides behind others and soon forgets what she should sound like. When she chances upon her own voice, she suddenly feels comfortable and the more she uses it the more confident she becomes. Her new improved self esteem helps her to express herself in a most beautiful way. *to order ...*
Coming soon...Henrietta Hummingbird

Books for Adults and Young Adults
	BRIDGES is a collection of short stories and poetry that would appeal to both young and older adults. It is a metaphorical journey that winds through crises of the human condition. It contains lyrical and satirical poetry, often with a twist. A good read for those quiet moments of reflection, the stories and poems are based on personal experiences and general observations in which I have been involved along my own personal journey. *excerpts*... *to order ...*

	Sherwood Park This is the story of two young boys, their family and their friends, growing up in the city of Toronto in the 40's. Fiction upon fact, the story is shrouded with characteristics of the times and has both social and historical bases. Horse drawn milk and bread wagons, pommes de la route road hockey games...doctors who came to the house and stayed for tea and many other aspects of the 40's are in evidence This is a story with humour and drama, guaranteed to hold your interest to the end. *more about Sherwood Park ...* *to order ...*

Ken's new adult fiction: Requiem for Black Shoes ...read all about it ...

For ordering information on any of Ken's books, please go to the Ordering page.