As world headlines blare war, entrenched partisanship, and negativity in almost every sector, author Leslie E. Stern uses her new novel “Dreams Fulfilled”, published by TotalRecall Publications, to shine a bright light on what humanity could be.
The Dreams Quartet is an epic novel that takes place in the 1980’s and portrays two men who help pioneer the modern sailing industry using philosophies that help them avoid potential actions that could destroy their industry – unlike the greed and ruthless corporate behavior cataloged in daily news stories.
Leslie E. Stern combines her MA in English Literature, doctoral work in philosophy, and experience as a sailor, racer, and daughter of a legendary luxury sailboat designer to immerse readers in the intriguing world of wind and water and explore the idea that novels don’t need antagonists to enthrall.
Graham Bennington, the patriarch of the American family in this new fiction saga, designs the highest quality sailboats ever seen. In “Dreams Fulfilled” the reader not only becomes entranced with the depth of the characters but learns how to sail and why boats sail, they learn how sailboats are built, and get a the behind-the-scenes look at the sailboat building industry.
Edward Oxford is the patriarch of the English family in the saga. Coming from wealth in the real estate industry, Edward dreams of a marine parts empire and creates the first aluminum masts and booms which make an extreme change in the sailboat industry. He continues to expand, building Oxford Marine, Ltd. as the largest parts conglomerate in the world.
Graham and Edward become friends during their first boat show and that friendship endures throughout their lives. But it is their children who take all their dreams of achievement and transcend them.
Graham has a daughter, Katia, whom he his forced to raise by himself due to the death of his beautiful wife. Katia has the depth of mind, emotional spirit, and forward thinking that makes Bennington Yacht Corporation more successful than even Graham had dreamed. While all the other sailboat manufacturers are closing, Katia’s imagination overcomes all the obstacles that have plagued the industry.
Edward has three sons. His eldest, Thomas, is a professor of English literature and begins the saga as a stodgy Brit with a dull-as-dishwater wife. Kevin, the middle son, becomes an international sailboat racer and is the cheeky adventurer. It is Bryan, Edward’s youngest son, who is his pride and joy from the beginning. It is Bryan who takes Oxford Marine, Ltd. to new levels.
Katia Bennington and Bryan Oxford met when they were in Middle School and they dream of each other throughout their teens, meeting again once but always missing each other as ships passing in the night.
Each book in the Dreams Quartet takes the reader further into the world of Bennington Yacht Corporation and Oxford Marine Limited, as well as the personal lives of the characters. In Dreams Fulfilled the reader is introduced to the world of sailing and the love of nature, family, and business.
“Dreams Fulfilled” is available in Kindel and hardcover editions from Amazon.com and other booksellers.

A modern day research chemist, Grace DeRosa, stumbles upon a hidden spring in the woods near Salem, Massachusetts. She discovers that drinking its water imparts fearsome mind control powers, and injects her teenage daughter in hopes of conveying special life advantages. Trouble is, the spring and its ancient secret have been protected for centuries by a coven of Salem Witch descendants, who emerge to terrify and destroy as they attempt to imprison and exploit the girl’s extraordinary powers.
The story is a product of the rich imagination of Dr. Jeff Lovell, a Chicago high school writing and literature teacher. While visiting Salem, Massachusetts on a family vacation, Dr. Lovell started pondering what would happen if the witches were really real. What powers would they have today? How would they work, how would they survive, how would they stay hidden?
The result is Dr. Lovell’s modern day tale of Grace DeRosa, a gifted research chemist, who stumbles upon the concealed spring in the woods near Salem. She discovers that the consumed water imparts unique and fearful powers to read minds, create terrifying mental pictures, and force the user’s will on others. Intrigued by these powers and hoping to use them for good, Grace injects her husband and 17-year old daughter Crissy with the water.

Tidge Mackiewicz, new patriarch of his splintered, multi-cultural family, received a trinity of orders from his dying father, Kid Scream. One order stated for Tidge to quit believing in Santa Claus and stop acting like every day was Christmas. Tidge should also abandon his belief that the Luftwaffe shot down Santa Claus on Christmas Eve in 1944 and Santa survived. Tidge’s father tried to hammer home his belief in family to his son, a last dying breath exhaling his command. “This screwed up family is yours now. Unscrew them.”
Approaching fifty, Tidge still wears a scuffed and stained Army Air Corps flight jacket given to him as a young boy by his late uncle, Brew a Navy aviator and Korean War hero who claimed it belonged to Santa Claus. Uncle Brew also believed that the jacket possessed a special magic. Several years later, his father’s orders remain unfulfilled. Tidge’s multi-cultural family his father dubbed “The Natives” is still screwed up. Everyday is still Christmas for Tidge and his belief in Santa has never wavered.
Tidge and his second wife, Wilhelmina, who he calls, Willy moved from Chicago to an elegant log home on Lake Namakagon in Wisconsin’s Nothwoods. To honor their second Christmas, Tidge suggests inviting their respective families for a holiday weekend in hopes of bringing peace to The Natives. Eighteen adults and children embrace the invitation. Tidge and Willy have planned for every contingency except a record blizzard and a surprise guest.
Tidge plans to play Santa Claus wearing an antique Santa Claus suit given to him by his Uncle Brew. As he removes the costume from a dilapidated box, he discovers four yellow, dog eared letters to Santa Claus, two faded dramatic snap shots from World War II and a poignant quotation from Immanuel Kant. It is the contents of the box along with The Jacket and the spirit of Christmas that has Tidge believing he finally has his special gift to carry out his father’s orders. He discovers he needs more.