Tom Swicegood – författare

"Paul Whiting tells his story in his own unique and engaging way, without apologies. He is a truth teller, a gifted preacher, an interpreter of the Word. Sacred Journeys is a valuable resource for every library."-Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Metropolitan Community Church

"While gays and lesbians have gained acceptance among many Christians, the same is not true within conservative churches. Paul Whiting''s writings will be of great interest to evangelicals going through experiences similar to his."-Andrew Shackleton, Evangelical Fellowship, United Kingdom

As a beautiful, young, well-to-do young woman sits upon her familys beach on the shore of a secluded island in the Florida Keys, a man clad in little more than the ancient ocean salt emerges from the waves. Gnther Prien is a young German officer stationed on a cruise ship, and Eola Pinder is little more than putty in his hands. Their encounter leads to the birth of a son, Thomas Luther, who is destined for a life of adventure as he desperately seeks the love of a father throughout some of the worst events Key West and the world have ever seen.

Toms life shapes up to be one adventure after another. He experiences an unlikely rescue as his room goes up in flames around his cribflames that may have been started by the man Tom believes is his father. Hes held hostage during a bank robbery and is nearly swept overboard from the deck of a freighter off Cape Hattaras during a major hurricane. Finally, in the midst of World War II, he finds himself carried away in a German submarinein the hands of the enemyby a man who turns out to be his father.

In this rich historical novel, an unlikely cast of characters struggles to find the strength to survive not only some of the most horrible tragedies in Floridas history, but some of the most difficult lessons individuals can learn in a lifetime.

Toes of Apollo is an exciting nautical adventure dramatizing the best and the worst about the U.S. Coast Guard. Its the Caine Mutiny on steroids! Lt. (jg) Tom Stierwell, a twenty-two year old office falls in love with the beautiful daughter of Captain Kearse, an out-of-control commanding officer on the Coast Guards Albatrosss, a unique mystery ship operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, six-thousand miles from the USA. The location is on land and ashore in tumultuous Greece where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood, where religion and greed are a deadly reality on an island of Muslim minarets and the rebuilt castle of Christian crusaders.

Dangers and conflict are faced by police officers everywhere. In a huge metropolis those threats are multiplied. Law enforcement must depend upon dedicated men and women bravely working together to keep each other safe. Or so one might expect.

Sergeant OLeary and the L.A.P.D. tells a different story.

This is the truth authorities in the City of Angels did not want printed. It is the story of a Los Angeles police officer who battled internal harassment and threats to his life yet refused to be run out of the L.A.P.D.Why was Sergeant OLeary faced with such problems? Because other police officers thought he was gay.

I better never have to work with a queer. If I do, Ill wait until some night when theres a burglary call and were in a dark building, states a Los Angeles patrolman. My .45 will accidentally take care of him. One shot to the head. No more fag. No more problem. This will be a better world.

Such threats are not idle. Homophobic officers provide drama and suspense. Uncontrolled cops in Rampart Division beat Hispanics and blacks. There are gunfights in 77th and a storm at Venice Beach. Yet, parts of OLearys story are genuinely funny. Here are tales of a deer shot and killed in the bloody back seat of a speeding patrol vehicle, of a too generously endowed academy recruit, of cops playing chicken with squad cars in Beverly Hills after midnight, and married men in blue looking for easy dates. Its all entertaining.