Gift of the Oki

About the Book

After the tragic death of his wife, Connecticut writer Jack Parker is trying to get his life back together. His chance discovery of an Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) medallion, last worn by a 17th-century explorer of North America named Etienne Brûlé, leads Parker on a dangerous quest.

Parker becomes the focus of a centuries-old curse on a Native American tribe called the Huron. As he seeks the origin of the curse, Parker is befriended by a Huron shaman named Marasqua. He falls deeply in love with Marasqua´s granddaughter, Catherine Mackenzie, an Anthropology professor from a prestigious Quebec university.

Together, the three battle for possession of the Agnus Dei with two adversaries, a Jesuit priest with a lust for black market artifacts, and his partner, a private detective who plans to blackmail the priest.

Parker ultimately learns that he has lived a past life as Etienne Brûlé. To lift the curse, Parker is regressed and endures the horror of witnessing his own gruesome murder by the Hurons in 1633.

In gratitude for discovering where the bones of Brûlé were buried, the Oki spirit woman guarding the medallion for over 350 years reveals to Parker the Why of the World -- the meaning of life and death.

About the Author

As Is a Flower is a collection of poetry written by the author from the years 1964 to 2004. It seeks to capture the most important events in the author’s life during this 40-year period. The book is a personal “thank you” to two beautiful women who have so positively influenced his life: His wife, Joanne Van Winkle, and their mutual friend, Dorothy Eisaman.