Novels
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Peter Johnson, a twenty-nine year old aspiring international correspondent and novelist, travels to Turkey in 2014 to research his Turkish, Armenian, and Syriac ancestors who were both perpetrators and victims of the 1915 massacres and deportations in that country. Using the vivid memoir of his great-grandmother as a guide, Peter teams up with his beautiful Muslim cousin, Ashti Kaya, to follow the route of his ancestors’ deportation through Turkey and Syria to their final safety in America. Along the way, Peter and Ashti learn much about the history of their families and of the region and become embroiled in the rescue of Armenian and Syriac Christians from ISIS in war-torn Syria. Profoundly affected by his experiences, Peter comes to realize that his ancestors’ capacity for good and evil is also mirrored within himself.
“,,, a timely book that gives a ring-true picture of the fate of five generations of an Armenian family after deportation. The suspenseful story is both provocative and insightful and is a must-read for travelers and students.” - Hank Ackerman, former Associated Press International Correspondent and Bureau Chief Buy from Amazon Buy from Barnes & Noble |
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Through Fire and Water - available in paperback, hardcover, kindle and nook editions
In 1854, U.S. Naval Captain George Hollins destroys a Nicaraguan town. In 1980, his descendant, Stan Hollins, returns to make amends and entangles himself in the complexity of doing good. In this adventurous tale set in one of the wildest, most beautiful, and historic regions of Nicaragua, a man struggles to redeem himself and his family name as both he and his adopted country fight for their futures. Buy from Amazon Buy from Barnes & Noble |
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The Descendant - available in paperback, kindle and nook editions
Jay Benton returns to Brazil for the first time since his birth. Recently graduating from the Harvard Business School, he feels empty and rudderless and is anxious to learn as much as he can about his saint-like Brazilian father who was killed when Jay was only two. He also wants to discover more about his Confederate ancestors who emigrated to Brazil shortly after the Civil War. During Jay’s ten-day visit to Campo Feliz, a city founded by one of his forefathers, Jay falls in love, is almost killed in a land dispute, and discovers facts about himself and his family that change his life. The Descendant is a book with strong spiritual themes of suffering, prejudice, forgiveness and grace. It is an informative book that tells the story of leprosy and of the Confederate emigration to Brazil. Buy from Amazon Buy from Barnes & Noble |
Non-fiction
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Simple Definitions of Words That Matter - available in paperback, kindle and nook editions
Simple Definitions of Words That Matter is a book of poetry written as an aid to meditation. These simple definitions, in alphabetical order, came almost spontaneously from my heart. I consider them as poetry. I hope that I have chosen words that matter to you, the reader, and that my definitions will resonate with you. Buy from Amazon Buy from Barnes & Noble |
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Before the Grass Withers – A memoir - available in paperback, kindle and nook editions
We all have our stories, and Before the Grass Withers is mine. In it, I tell of my family, in-laws, and friends who have blessed my life. I tell of my work as a university teacher in India, a refugee worker in Vietnam, a psychiatric aide at Yale, a researcher and social entrepreneur in Tanzania, Brazil, and Nicaragua, and as the President of the American Leprosy Missions and of ILEP. I tell of my many adventures and inner and outer struggles as I have sought to know God and to live a full life pleasing to Him. While I have written the book mainly for myself and my family, I hope that it might give others pleasure as well and inspire them to write their own stories. Even though we are like grass that withers, we also hope, as Jesus said, that the very hairs of our heads 'are all numbered.' For that reason, all of our stories matter, not only to us and our descendants, but also to our friends and, most importantly, to God Buy from Amazon Buy from Barnes & Noble |
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Be Good, Do Good – An amateur’s guide to making the world a better place - available in paperback, kindle and nook editions
Be Good, Do Good is a book for people who seek meaning and joy in their lives, and who desire to serve others in an honest and concrete way in today’s rapidly shrinking world. In it the author discusses what it means to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves, and he gives practical advice on how to do that. Buy from Amazon Buy from Barnes & Noble |
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The Thoughts of a Good Man - available in paperback and nook editions
The purpose of this small book is to honor the author's father, Dr. John Chester Frist Sr., and to share with family and friends, a glimpse into his faith and thoughts. “Chet” Frist was a wise and beloved family man and friend, as well as a community and church leader. He was pastor of the Government Street Presbyterian Church in Mobile, Alabama when he died on December 31, 1959. He had previously served churches in Moorefield, West Virginia, Starkville, Mississippi, and Tampa, Florida Buy from Amazon Buy from Barnes & Noble |
Leprosy
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Don’t treat me like I have leprosy - available as free download
This highly readable book looks at the progress that has been made in the battle against leprosy, and outlines both the challenges and the way ahead in the fight for social and economic integration. It will be of value not only to those wishing to look at leprosy from a non-medical viewpoint, but to those working with other stigmatizing conditions who would like to share the experience of others in fighting social isolation. Download for free |
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The social integration of people with Hansen’s disease - out of print
A chapter by Tom in the textbook Leprosy edited by Robert C. Hastings and published by Churchill Livingstone in 1994. |
