PLEASE WELCOME
GRANT FERGUSON
to Having the Prime of My Life
In my early thought about retirement, it never crossed my mind to write books for middle schoolers and teens. Also, my bucket list didn’t include becoming the primary caregivers for my eighty-six-year-old father. And I never thought an emotional spark would erupt into a blaze of ideas for living without regrets.
In 2012, my wife, Dana, and I accepted and even welcomed the commitment to care for my dad. But nothing prepared us for the roller coaster of emotions. Only faith in God gave us the strength to find the know-how and resources.
During the final six months of his life, we saw through my dad’s eyes how his regrets had robbed him of joy. Instead of relishing the comforts of our home, my father focused countless hours on blame, hate, and anger towards others. And he felt powerless to change and take control of his life, decreasing his faith in God’s unconditional love and increasing his worry of eternal damnation.
Living with my father and witnessing his sorrows underscored for us an absolute truth:
Absolute truth can serve as a fork in the road of life. At that moment of decision, you may find a milepost signaling the need for change, or your mind might misdirect you like faulty GPS to a dead end.
For us, each fork in the road demanded a decision, emphasizing another inescapable fact:
My father’s struggle made us realize that you cannot ignore regrets. After seeing firsthand his misery, Dana and I concluded that if we could not avoid all disappointments, then we must learn to deal with each issue as soon as possible. But how?
We discovered it wasn’t complicated. No, it was simple.
Small choices can make big differences.
Seeing the impact of life-wasting regrets was our big spark, the significant emotional event that set us on fire. We vowed to live without regrets. That vow was our first small but essential choice that opened the door to big differences.
Through the open door, the exhilarating breeze of change swirled through every area of our lives. With our renewed minds ready to receive fresh ideas, we embarked on our quest of living without regrets.
And God made a way! In 2013, we moved into a hundred-year-old building on the Main Street of a small town at the top of the Hill Country in central Texas—loft living in the country!
Our quest included hours of reflection on God’s vision for my life.
During my corporate career that spanned nearly four decades, the ability to read coupled with imagination had enabled me to finds solutions to many of life’s challenges. Statistics showed a steady decline in reading, especially among young people between the ages of eight and seventeen.
In 2018, I published three books for middle schoolers. I packed the chapter books with mystery, creatures, and inventions, quirky stories designed with one purpose: encourage reluctant readers to read more.
God Does Not Show Favoritism (Acts 10:34 NIV)
What our Lord does for one He’ll do for others. If you’ve found yourself wondering what to do next in life, I encourage you to pray for God to show you His unique purpose for you. Then, step out of your comfort zone, step over the obstacles placed by the enemy, and step up to God’s vision for your life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grant is a former executive who now writes books that blend humor and mystery, creating fast-paced stories that include young heroes thrust into dangerous adventures with friends, robots, monsters, trolls, and even zombies. His characters show how people can still live out their full potential despite flaws and setbacks.
While he does not claim to have super powers, Grant does talk about his unfair competitive advantage, which he learned and refined during his years in the workplace. What is the advantage? Reading skills plus imagination can enable anyone to find and apply solutions to just about any of life's challenges.
Grant and wife, Dana, enjoy living in their restored 1906 building on the Main Street of Clifton, Texas. When he’s not walking his dog Rango or writing another action adventure, you might find Grant playing a hammered dulcimer or watching an old science fiction movie.
If you would like for Grant to speak at your school or an upcoming event, please use the Contact form at grantpferguson.com.
ABOUT THE CLIFTOPOLIS SERIES
All three paperback and Kindle books are available separately or together in the Cliftopolis SERIES (https://www.amazon.com/Cliftopolis-Middle-School-Mystery-Volumes/dp/1728728541/):
In volume one, Cliftopolis BELOW, eleven-year-old Preston Gustoffagus along with his friends accidentally unlock a monster's cell while exploring secret tunnels. The bite of the escaped beast transforms kids into zombies, and the monster’s mind control turns parents into slaves. The four friends, along with the unlikely assist from the school bully, must destroy the beast. But time is running out to free their classmates and parents from the curse of Cliftopolis' dark past. https://www.amazon.com/Cliftopolis-BELOW-Middle-School-Mystery/dp/1730713432/
In volume two, Cliftopolis ABOVE, the friends must figure out how they can travel back in time to wipe out the beast. The future rests on their shoulders because the adults remain under the mind control of the monster. They must find a way to cross the time barrier and stop the scourge before the monster takes over the world. https://www.amazon.com/Cliftopolis-ABOVE-Middle-School-Mystery/dp/1730715532/
In volume three, Cliftopolis BEYOND, the friends travel back in time to 1914 to find out what can be done to reverse the curse. Exploring turn of the century Cliftopolis, they discover a secret society bent on replacing workers with a legion of zombies. After making many timeline changes, they cannot predict the effect on present-day Cliftopolis. Only time will tell. https://www.amazon.com/Cliftopolis-BEYOND-Middle-School-Mystery/dp/1730716687/
THE YEARS THE LOCUSTS ATE
12/28/2020 1:00:00 AM by: JUNE FOSTER
CATHEDRAL STATE PARK, WEST VIRGINIA
12/21/2020 1:00:00 AM by: JOHN BARRINGER
PRIME OF MY LIFE
12/14/2020 1:00:00 AM by: GAIL KITTLESON
FULL CIRCLE
12/7/2020 1:00:00 AM by: JAYME H MANSFIELD
GREEN STUFF AND HUBS
12/2/2020 3:30:00 PM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
NOEL: THE CAT WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS
11/30/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
GREEN STUFF MAGIC
11/23/2020 7:48:00 PM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
WHEN GRANDMA FORGETS
11/2/2020 1:00:00 AM by: CRYSTAL BOWMAN
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF BLUE ZONES?
10/26/2020 1:00:00 AM by: SALLY JO PITTS
FIVE WAYS SENIORS CAN BOOST THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEMS
10/19/2020 1:00:00 AM by: GINNY DENT BRANT
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM JOIN 'EM
9/28/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
WALKING IN A WRITER'S WONDERLAND
9/7/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
CREAMING
8/31/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
LIFE IS THE ADVENTURE
8/24/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
QUITTING MY DAY JOB
8/17/2020 1:00:00 AM by: DEBRA COLEMAN JETER
ADAPT OR DIE
7/27/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
SAY THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS IN BLUE
7/20/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE SWEET COUPLE HOLDING HANDS
7/13/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MELISSA HENDERSON
SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!
7/6/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
FROM FICTION TO NON-FICTION AND BACK AGAIN
6/29/2020 1:00:00 AM by: GAIL KITTLESON
WHO SAID GROWING OLD IS FUN?
6/22/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MARTHA ROGERS
AND NOT TO YIELD
6/15/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
MY CULTURAL DISCONNECT
6/8/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
WHAT IS RETIREMENT
6/1/2020 1:00:00 AM by: JULIE COSGROVE
LOOKING UP OR LOOKING AWAY
5/25/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
SEEKING GOD
5/11/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
HOW OLD ARE YOU
5/4/2020 1:00:00 AM by: Rachel J. Good
IT'S NOT OKAY
4/27/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MARTIN WILES
EMBRACING MY INNER BOOMER
4/20/2020 1:00:00 AM by: BARBARA BRITTON
THE RACE FOR LILY
4/13/2020 1:00:00 AM by: SHERRI STEWART
GRANNY ALICE
4/6/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LYNNE BASHAM TAGAWA
RESILIENCE
3/29/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
LIVING WITH CHANGE
3/9/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MARTIN WILES
WHEN THE GROCERY STORE CLERK HAS TO CHECK YOUR AGE
2/24/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MELISSA HENDERSON
THE IMPORTANCE OF CREAMING
2/17/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
FRIENDS AT ANY AGE
2/3/2020 1:00:00 AM by: ERIN UNGER
IDENTITY CHECK
1/27/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MARTIN WILES
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, JOIN 'EM
1/20/2020 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
MY POSSESSIONS MATURE ALONG WITH ME
1/13/2020 1:00:00 AM by: MARIE WATTS
EYES FRONT
1/6/2020 10:51:00 AM by: TERRI MAIN
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING'
12/30/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
SANTA'S RELUCTANT HELPER
12/23/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE PURSUIT OF WEALTH
12/16/2019 1:00:00 AM by: DEBRA COLEMAN JETER
VANQUISHING THE CHRISTMAS BLUES
12/9/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
GRANDMAS THEN VS GRANDMAS NOW
12/2/2019 3:41:00 PM by: GAIL SATTLER
TECHNO BLUES
11/25/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
ADAPT OR DIE
11/18/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
CREAMING
11/11/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
When our Get Up and Go Gets Up and Goes
11/4/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
LIFE IS THE ADVENTURE
10/28/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
MY LIFE AS A BARCODE
10/21/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE QUEST FOR THIN
10/14/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE AMERICAN DREAM
10/7/2019 1:00:00 AM by: ANGELA BREIDENBACH
FROM GOLDEN YEARS TO GOLDEN BELLS
9/30/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE CHORDS THAT BIND MY MEMORIES
9/23/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
JUST BE STILL
9/16/2019 1:00:00 AM by: MARTIN WILES
PRINCE CHARMING, SPIDERS, AND CHEMO
9/2/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
GRAY IS GRAND
8/26/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LOREE PEERY
A GOOD QUESTION
8/19/2019 1:00:00 AM by: GEORGE CARGILL
LOVING THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION
8/12/2019 1:00:00 AM by: ERIN UNGER
MAKING PRETTY THINGS
8/5/2019 1:00:00 AM by: KATHY MCKINSEY
ARE YOU TOO OLD TO BECOME AN AUTHOR
7/29/2019 1:00:00 AM by: HARRY WEGLEY
ENJOY THE MEAL
7/22/2019 1:00:00 AM by: MARTIN WILES
IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME
7/15/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
KEEPING IT FRESH
7/8/2019 1:00:00 AM by: WANDA O. HOT
OVERFLOWING WITH BLESSINGS
7/1/2019 1:00:00 AM by: CLEO LAMPOS
HAVING THE PRIME OF MY LIFE
6/24/2019 1:00:00 AM by: JO MASSARO
GOLDEN GIRL
6/17/2019 1:00:00 AM by: PAT JEANNE DAVIS
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW
6/10/2019 1:00:00 AM by: CLEO LAMPOS
Food, Families, and Fond Memories
6/3/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
FOR THOSE OVER FIFTY-FIVE
5/20/2019 1:00:00 AM by: JUNE FOSTER
NEXT GENERATION
5/13/2019 1:00:00 AM by: KATHLEEN NEELY
Mimi and Bop
5/6/2019 1:00:00 AM by: Melissa Henderson
NEVER TO OLD TO START OVER
4/29/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
THE WRITER'S CALLING
4/15/2019 1:00:00 AM by: SHERRI STEWART
PLAYING THROUGH THE FOG
4/8/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO TURN OFF THE GPS
4/1/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
DON’T CALL HER MA’AM
3/25/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
When Your Past Looms Longer than Your Future
3/18/2019 1:00:00 AM by: Debra Coleman Jeter
OUR MCDONALDS
3/11/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
BORN TOO LATE
3/4/2019 1:00:00 AM by: DIANNE BARKER
PERSPECTIVE
2/25/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LISA LICKEL
IS IT THE BEGINNING OR THE END
2/18/2019 1:00:00 AM by: KATHLEEN NEELY
MY TO-DO LIST
2/11/2019 2:16:00 PM by: SHERRI STEWART
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
2/3/2019 9:07:00 PM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
MAMA, I CAN'T TAKE A BATH THERE'S A FISH IN THE TUB
1/21/2019 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
EAT RIGHT NOW LIVE LONGER LATER
1/14/2019 1:00:00 AM by: Jude Urbanski
AM I STRESSED?
1/7/2019 1:57:00 PM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
SHOULD VS WANT
12/31/2018 3:58:00 PM by: LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
I'LL BE ALONE FOR CHRISTMAS ... YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
12/24/2018 1:00:00 AM by: Julie Cosgrove
THE ONLY CONSTANT IS CHANGE
12/17/2018 1:00:00 AM by: LINDA SHENTON MATCHETT
LIVING WITHOUT REGRET
12/10/2018 1:00:00 AM by: Grant Ferguson
GROWING UP CAN BE FUN SO IS GETTING OLDER
12/3/2018 1:00:00 AM by: ELLIE GUSTAFSON
SOARING WITH BROKEN WINGS
11/19/2018 1:00:00 AM by: Linda Wood Rondeau
NEVER TOO LATE
11/5/2018 8:33:00 PM by: DIANE TATUM
The Not So Good Good Old Days
10/22/2018 1:05:00 AM by: Linda Wood Rondeau