Last Keeper's Lighthouse Stories

The very nature of lighthouses captures the imagination. Being marooned on different lighthouses throughout my career has produced many memorable incidents and humorous stories. Diverse locations like Lundy, Alderney, Wolf, Sark, all have something unique to offer. Rock tower lighthouses, land lights or island lighthouses, each one is different. Cooped up on a tower and being pounded by heavy seas is not only exhilarating, but frightening as well. Fog signals can play a huge part in a good duty period and the relief for going ashore is always welcomed. The characters are what makes this book such a good read. It gets your chuckle chops in overdrive, especially at some of the antics on the lights. A month’s duty is filled with incidents and the constant change in weather conditions has an effect on everything that you do. These stories will show how hardship goes hand in glove with humour whilst aboard.

Laura's Year

In January 1976, it is an excited, but nervous family of four who board a Jumbo jet, to leave England to begin a new life in a small town, on the Persian Gulf in Iran.

Adrian, an ex-Royal Naval Officer, thought this new job in Iran would be a chance to earn big money, and although neither parent had wanted to disrupt their children’s education, they thought it was worth the risk, giving them both valuable life experiences, and a chance to see ‘something of the world.’

Once settled in their new home, with the children happily enrolled in an excellent international school, they immediately made friends with like-minded ex-pats, and got involved in an active and well-established social scene, with parties and functions most weekends, and daily trips to their ‘club’ in town, which housed a bar, and swimming pool.

Caroline and Alex, having made friends at school, as well as with some local children, who lived in mud huts, in the desert at the end of their road, also seemed happy with their lot, but Laura becomes pregnant, which threatens to disrupt their idyllic lives, and events that followed, appear to have changed Laura’s, once devoted and loving husband’s feelings towards her.

But, had Laura changed? And that was why her previously, caring husband didn’t fancy her anymore.

How was she to get their relationship back on track, when there were so many exciting distractions and choices which held his attention, which didn’t include her?

Lawrence the Lawnmower

You might think a lawnmower’s life would be boring and uneventful. Think again! These are the adventures of a lawnmower called Lawrence. Lawrence has a special friend, another mower called Laura. They share a shed with many other garden tool friends. Join Lawrence and his friends as they have their adventures. Encounters with Australian wildlife, not all of them friendly! Travelling to other places, different gardens and meeting other garden tools, some of them are not too friendly at first either.

So open the book. Join Lawrence and his friends. See how exciting and adventurous a lawnmower’s life can be.

Leaving Behind

All his life, Malcolm Tutt wanted to be found. Now on the eve of turning fifty, he realised that sometimes life may never find you and if you wanted it bad enough, sometimes you would have to go and look for it yourself. The only problem was that he would have to die, if he wanted to live.

A young woman finds out that her husband is having an affair with her best friend. She decides to confront him, but before she does, she hatches a plan to catch them in the act of betrayal. As she gets closer and closer to discovering the truth about her husband, her anger towards them grows. Like a cheap paperback novel, her life begins to unravel until one night she commits a terrible act, and in the process, finds out what a scorned woman is truly capable of.

Leaving Behind is a collection of short stories that explores the lengths that people will go to when they are desperate, each with an unexpected twist.

Legend of Ekarto: The Stones Arise

An exciting, lovable story about kingdoms, empires, war, and a family broken apart.

Ekarto, a young man from the poor Silk Village is determined to find out if the Kingdom of Eldonville is truly a real civilisation, a powerful dynasty only told in rumours and tales. With his trusty friend Ayron, they go to satisfy Ekarto’s curiosity and lo and behold Eldonville is a real kingdom! And Ekarto is the heir! But they also find out a horrible truth.

As Prince of Eldonville, Ekarto must avenge his father of his death and put an end to his uncle, Emperor Okoto, who killed his father Okarto for the throne. But how can he if Okoto has such enormous power? All that is left with the Spirits who guide Ekarto and his friends through an adventure of new friendships, battles, finding long-lost family, and an empire sought out to destroy Ekarto.

Can Okarto be avenged?

Will Ekarto survive?

Could Okoto finally get rid of all his hurdles and be the king he truly wanted to be?

Legend of the Opal Dragon

A rollicking Outback adventure set in the desert region of South Australia, where illicit Asian opal buyers enlist a couple of bushies from Coober Pedy to find the cave of the mythical Opal Dragon in the Flinders Ranges. A series of events keeps checking their progress on the way, what with camel races, black trackers and two crafty prospectors stopping their headway. Kate, a worker at the local pub, is abducted by the Asians, in an effort to force the two prospectors to reveal the cave of the opalised skeleton of the Australian dragon, Megalania priscus. The local tribal people were right on their tail and stealthily intervened to rescue Kate and spirit her away during the night. The tough Outback Police, a Flying Padre and Army reinforcements were right on the trail of the mobsters, who fell foul of the difficult conditions of the Outback, which caused their downfall. Possibly the spirit of old Arkaroo, the maker of the waterways of the Ranges, intervened to stop the finding of the dragon. As well, a rugged camel catching team saves an injured small dog, Kate learns to ride a camel well for the next races and one of the Coober Pedy protagonists, Chook, and his big dog Bitzer, deals with the knife-wielding crim in a most unusual way. Laconic Aussie humour, like the flies, pervades the story, with the opal dragon having the last laugh.

Lemons

Nothing of note has ever happened in Cockle Cove unless you can count the annual Scout Jamboree and the sudden appearance of new novices at the monastery. Things take an inexplicable turn and people disappear suddenly. A new landlord turns up to take over the Jolly Roger Pub and is not all he seems to be.The centuries-old mysteries of stashed Spanish gold and hidden tunnels are reignited and everyone follows their own clues to save the day and return things to the safety of the status quo.

Leo in Loopalloo

When Leo wakes up to find his room invaded by toucans, he and his bed are suddenly marched off out of the window and into the strange land of Loopalloo, a place far beyond the imagination.

As Leo makes his way to the heart of this peculiar place, he meets many interesting characters, including the Wheeple People and the Knitty Knitters. Leo goes with the flow of his adventure, and soon finds his way to Biggy, a big green whale that fills his heart with happiness.

But things are about to take a tragic turn, and Leo and Tigerdust, a fierce tiger cub, must find the courage to confront the new reality.

Leonard Lion is Brave

This is the story of Leonard Lion, a little cub who is full of energy and very excited for the day ahead. He lives in Africa with his four friends Ethel Elephant, Betsy Buffalo, Lucy Leopard, and Ralphie Rhino. Together they are the Little Big Five. Every morning, soon after the sun rises, they meet at their favourite place, the watering hole. They play games and have fun before heading off into the savannah to explore.

Today the game is hide and seek, but before long they find themselves swept up in a dangerous adventure. Poachers and traps await them in the dark shadows. Will they survive? The young friends will have to look after each other if they are to get out alive. Leonard Lion will need to think of a plan to save them all. Will he remember his mother’s advice? Will he be especially brave? Join the Little Big Five in the first of their many adventures.

Let God in: One Ignatian Journey

Perhaps you are a lifelong Christian as is the author, John A. Cooper. Perhaps you are thinking, "I have already let God into my life and my salvation is assured." Perhaps you are not a Christian, maybe you are Muslim, or atheist, or maintain another belief system, or no system at all. Then, this book is for you! Even if you have a relationship with God, would you open the door to your heart even wider and give up everything to live only in the love and Grace of God? Notice the cover art and symbol for the Holy Spirit, the light from the Father, and Jesus, all One God, all of the same substance. Jesus' hands reach out for you… Will you let Him into your life? Will you open the door even wider if he already lives in you? May Jesus be your Peace? John, You share yourself beautifully, both in your life experiences and in your imagination of scripture scenes, in the way you image Jesus, and how you apply those prayers to your personal and spiritual growth. This is a book that will invite all who read it with humility and courage to seek God in their everyday life experiences, with greater depth, trust, and unity. Thank you for sharing this book with me. - Bob Fitzgerald, former Executive Director Ignatius House, Atlanta, GA; currently Adjunct Lecturer, Spring Hill College; and Spiritual Director. This book is both a personal testimony and a practical guide. As in the story of St. Ignatius, the sudden loss of lifelong ambitions led to the grace of transformation, from self-confident determination to profound surrender, to the living Christ. Cooper shares a condensed version of his personal journal during the Spiritual Exercises in daily life. His notes for 32 weeks of prayer and reflection offer a very practical template for others to make their own journey of transformation. - Christopher Viscardi, S.J., Director of Spiritual Direction Program, Spring Hill College.

Let That Dark Horse Run

Have you ever wondered why someone snaps? Just lose it mentally? Forensic experts conduct investigations to answer these very questions. Sometimes there are glaring reasons and sometimes there are not. Most would never understand the depth of the mental suffering of the person in question. This of course doesn’t absolve the person from any dastardly deeds. The mind of the individual may reach a fork in the road. That mind could either take the right fork to commit suicide or take the left fork and kill those who have perpetrated the most grievous harm towards them. Or further still, they could just keep going straight and suffer horribly, dying a little every day. Did anyone know of their mental suffering? Did he or she try to obtain mental health care? But there was no one and no one cared or helped. I suppose you wonder why and how that I could possibly speculate? Please read on…

Letters to Doberitz

This unique and compelling story has laid dormant for a 100 years. Inspired by real events and based on my own family during the First World War, Letters to Doberitz is set between a German prison-of-war camp, the battlefields of France and family back in Bristol, as father and son endure very different wars. These were real people. They are my ancestors and family who left an extraordinary tale to be told. A lie is made in the name of love, with letters written compounding the deceit for years, all to protect the man that they loved. This is their truly unique story.