Hard Luck Motty

You will not be able to put this book down once you start!

Hard Luck Motty has been through everything you can imagine.

See if you can find someone who can top my life adventures!

The famous people I have met and spent time with: Hollywood superstars, sporting greats.

The family tragedies along the way.

The excitement and thrills.

The silliness.

The lessons I have learnt the hard way, in my working, sporting and fun life.

You need to read this book.

Half the Size, but Twice the Life

A biography depicting a real-life account of one woman’s incredible weight-loss story, sharing the struggles and successes throughout the journey of losing half her body weight all on her own, transforming not just herself, but her whole life—with an underlying message about going for your goals, no matter what they may be…

From Doctor to Guinea-pig

Alex was born on a Greek island and moves with his parents to Congo-Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo). He studies medicine and goes to work in a hospital in the bush with his teenage wife. Faced with seemingly unsurmountable problems he works wonders and moves to Kinshasa for the comfort of his family. He is a man married to his work, he contracts AIDS and fights the difficulty of announcing this terrible news. Truly philanthropic, he offers his body to science to test the various drugs that are created to treat this new virus. You will be fascinated by his medical exploits, and be torn between him and his wife both struggling to face the problems that life presents to them. A story about life, faith and our approach to death.

From Cholera to Ebola

"We've been invited to witness a bonfire of marijuana by the Taliban. Anyone interested?" Amid the missionaries, mercenaries and misfits drawn to the world's most dangerous and volatile hotspots stands Dr John Parker. From Cholera to Ebola is a captivating collection of true stories 25 years in the making. Whether challenging the bureaucracy of refugee camps to cradling children as they died, Dr Parker operated far from his comfort zone, from the norms of medical practice and from the decencies of humanity. His is a life that swung from heartbreaking hopelessness to sheer ecstasy as he battled PTSD to chase his next 'fix' over increasingly dangerous missions. "There are some things you cannot be taught; you have to live them."

Elephant on Main Street

This is this story of Eamon, a little boy growing up in Northern Ireland in the sixties, before he succumbed to Leukaemia, a few months short of his seventh birthday. The book describes specific aspects of his short but remarkable life, all written from his perspective. Each chapter has a footnote which charts the history of the conquest of childhood leukaemia which commenced during his lifetime. The book is based around actual events and things which Eamon said and did which have been passed down. Eamon has the benefit of perspective, so he can describe events that have yet to happen which have a bearing on the life of his family.

Bill Tutte Codebreaker

BILL TUTTE CODEBREAKER 'THE GREATEST INTELLECTUAL FEAT OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.' … a testimonial to Bill Tutte and his codebreaking discovery in 1942 at Bletchley Park. Bill Tutte was a young, gauche PhD student, yet his remarkable breakthrough and continuing endeavour against a German cipher machine more complex than Enigma led to the development of the world's first programmable computer, Colossus. Colossus allowed top-secret messages between Hitler and his generals to be read within hours, contributing significantly to the success of the D-Day landings and the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany. So secret were the functions performed by Colossus that the work of Bill Tutte and his colleagues was classified for more than 50 years after the end of the Second World War. This novel not only explores Bill Tutte's codebreaking, but also examines his 'autistic' character, his background and close relationships all woven into the pressures and diversions of life at Bletchley Park. Prime Minister David Cameron wrote in 2012: We should never forget how lucky we were to have men like William 'Bill' Tutte in our darkest hour and the extent to which their work not only helped protect Britain itself but also shorten the war by an estimated two years, saving countless lives. … I can say without doubt that Bill Tutte deserves the thanks of the British people.

Beneath the Shelter of an Ancient Tree

A voyage of family discovery reveals poverty and imprisonment in the West Country; the development of new trades in the industrial revolution; a Rabbi who doubles up as a pawnbroker; and middle-class prosperity and tragedy in the Birmingham jewellery trade. Starting with only minimal knowledge of widely dispersed ancestors this journey tracks down ancient relatives from Wales, the West Riding of Yorkshire, Somerset, Dorset, Poland and Russia. Two mayors make fleeting appearances (one in Gloucester, the other in Moonee Ponds, Melbourne). One great uncle is found to have designed the iconic gantries in the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast where the Titanic was built. A great, great, great grandfather has questions to answer about the treatment of child labour in his Calderdale spinning mill.

Starting in the late 18th century Beneath the Shelter of an Ancient Tree catalogues how and where these diverse characters lived, how they made their living, and the ups and downs of family fortunes. It comments on some of the pivotal moments that affected their progress, and draws on contemporary sources, some family memoirs, and genealogical records to build a picture of how working people and artisans gradually – throughout the Victorian era – improved their lot in life.

BATTLING A BRAIN INJURY: The life that Jack built

A pragmatic and moving account, of how the author came to terms with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and learned to live life to the full once more. The fact that the author was only twenty-one at the time makes this portrayal all the more poignant.
It is hoped that this book will reach others in similar positions and help them realise that some of the emotions they feel may be unique to them but that the frustrations they feel are felt by others and they are not alone in having these feelings. The author advocates never giving up and he is proof, that with determination, people who suffer TBIs can go on and achieve many things, he went on to complete his degree coming out with a 2:1, an inspiration indeed.

Barbwire Noose - The Story Behind the Brand

Barbwire Noose® is a movement for human rights activism and empowerment, born out of the author’s fight for better quality of life for disabled clients in government care. The brand promotes the idea of creating positive change at a governance level and encourages nonconformity in the face of injustice. Inspired by the slogan “Fear Is The Root Of All Weakness®,” Barbwire Noose® strives for a better world and offers empowering lessons on standing up against authority and fighting for change. Follow the journey of Princess Marcia #406 as she confronts government neglect and harassment in the disabilities sector and beyond.

An Old Contemptible and An Irish Pasha

This is a true story of the adventurous times and heroism of Lt Colonel T W Fitzpatrick, a latter-day hero of the 19th and 20th centuries. It is a mixture of Lawrence of Arabia, Sharpe and Hornblower but with much, much more! There are numerous different facets to his adventures, including his army experiences, police exploits, handling of riots, assassinations, terrorism and murder, along with his interactions with kings, popes, prime ministers and parliaments.

This biography takes the reader on a thrilling journey, packed with adventure, from rural Ireland to India, back to Ireland, to England, to France during World War I, and then onto the Middle East: Palestine, Transjordan and Egypt in World War II. He has blood-curdling adventures in Alexandria, Cairo and Eritrea. Finally it's back to Britain and ministerial shenanigans in the corridors of power.

An American Comedian Lost In Bavaria

Travelling is one of the great pleasures in life. You are completely anonymous which means you can act like an idiot, say stupid things, wear a big ugly T-shirt, then go home and brag about how savvy you are. But when you live in a foreign country, you’re an idiot 24 hours a day. The language is the first hurdle, good luck with that. The few things you get right celebrate them, post them on FB for your friends to see. So they think you’re doing well in your new life living abroad. After a few years, your friends will say things like “I could never live in a foreign country” and you will become defensive. “Good, then don’t move here.” But don’t give up on acclimating, over time things will get better. You will start to learn new words in another language, then use them inappropriately which will make people laugh. You’ll make new friends who you can’t talk to because a simple sentence takes forever, and no one has an hour to listen to you. People will start to wave to avoid talking to you. If you’re lucky some will speak your language and you’ll stick to them like glue. You’ll know you’re beginning to fit in when you stop asking for ketchup. But no matter what you do or how long you stay, you’ll always be a fish out of water.

Against the Grain

Frank Newman Turner, the son of Yorkshire tenant farmers, seldom ploughed a conventional furrow. Faced with a run-down West Country farm and escalating veterinary bills for an ailing herd of cattle, he abandoned the conventions of his orthodox agricultural training and set about restoring the health of his farm’s soil and livestock by working with nature, rather than against it.

His story reveals the ups and downs of going against the grain of orthodox beliefs and practices in farming, animal and human health, and militarism. What drives one to stand against a social torrent that’s rushing in the opposite direction? What can those of us carrying forward the message of environmental conservation and wholesome, sustainable food production learn from the efforts of Frank Newman Turner?