Carpet Creatures: Tales from the Deep Pile

It all started with a carpet and a sketchpad. Storyteller Joanne Shwed has created compelling vignettes of fictional characters, each living in a moment of time. Based on portraits by illustrator Thomas A. Ekkens, who was inspired by the play of light and shadow in carpets, Shwed spins her yarns cleverly with a twist at the ends.

Backpocket Crosswords (Volume 2): Handmade Puzzles

The impetus for making the second crossword puzzle book came from a fellow editor who told Joanne how much she and her husband enjoyed doing Joanne's first volume of crossword puzzles and wondered if a second puzzle book was in the works. She fanned the fire within Joanne and ultimately helped create many of the clues.

Backpocket Crosswords: Handmade Puzzles

This book is dedicated to the Radiation Oncology Department at Seton Medical Center (Daly City, California). While Joanne and her husband Tom Ekkens waited for his radiation treatments, they (and others in the waiting room) worked on the clues, which seemed to calm their nerves, raise their spirits, and even get a couple of laughs.

Collected Poetry of Thomas A. Ekkens—Early Works

This one-of-a-kind art, music, and poetry book includes 46 original poems, a custom-designed typeface, artwork, and music.