Realms

About the Book

This is my third collection of Spirit Animal Tales. Following in the steps of The Voice Of Coyote and The Way It Was, the Spirits are still sharing their stories. Coyote, Raven, and the rest  keepin' on, with all their humor, pathos, lessons, and irony. As before, these stories run the gamet from cutely simplistic to maturely complicated. Likewise, though they are often filtered through my own mind, my experiences, my times, they are not my stories. I am a conduit, perhaps even a catalyst at times; always a chronicler of a gift given.

The one constant in each of these tales is 'Spirit'. The Spirits of Raven, Coyote, a horde of animals and humans, the earth, sky and sea intereact and form these writings. Also, I herein place two tales of long before my Quest, tales of the Dog World, one of which is deffinately a children's story. These were gifts long before I realized there were such gifts. For these, I am ever greatful and I am honored to be finaly able to share them.

 My one word of caution to the reader is this. Many ideas are covered in these books and don't be surprised if a button or two may be pushed. I find it fascinating that when people come and talk to me about the books, each has at least one particular story that has touched them. There seem to be no group favorites (or unfavorites). I see this as proof that certain stories were given for certain people.

In any event, whether you are a previous reader or would care to begin your journey through this entertaining world of Spirit, this myriad maze of manic happenstance, you are humbly invited. There are Realms without number and Coyote and the others are ready to speak. 

About the Author

Doug Hodges was born in Southern Bavria, Germany, in 1949. Coming to the United States at the age of two, he was raised in the foothills, on the high plains, and in the mountains of Colorado.

After a lifetime of experience, Doug was led on a Quest in the Big Bend country of Texas. There Spirit Raven told him to quit his job, sell most everything he owned, and go on the road. The Spirits would show him great wonders and, most importantly, take care of him. All Doug had to do was give up self and learn to flow like water. For a chronic control freak, this was the transition point of Doug's life.

Raven was true to his word and Doug flowed across the land for some 70,000 miles. He was given stories, songs, images; bonding him with the land and all the dwelllers therein, human and otherwise, more so than ever before. This 'Quest' was the foundation for his three books of tales, spanning distance and time.

Doug resides in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas with his wife,  companion, and love, Linda Rubio. There, the Spirits still speak, sharing all their bounty. And Doug keeps passing these along as best he can.