Out of the Frame

In a society ruled by strict social norms, Magdolin finds herself struggling to navigate the choppy waters of societal expectations. Despite facing criticism and rejection, even from those closest to her, she refuses to be swept away by the tides of conformity.

As a girl born into a world where she never quite feels like she fits in, Magdolin inadvertently challenges the status quo with her unconventional ways. When she enters the most prestigious school in society, she is exposed to new knowledge and a world vastly different from the one she grew up in. Through her experiences, Magdolin discovers that the society she thought she knew is full of hidden complexities and contradictions.

Over the years, Magdolin embarks on thrilling adventures, uncovering secrets and learning invaluable lessons that sharpen her skills and help her to navigate the treacherous waters of societal expectations. Despite facing numerous obstacles, she refuses to compromise her true self and becomes a beacon of hope for others who feel similarly out of place. With its relatable themes and gripping narrative, Magdolin’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of staying true to oneself in a world that often demands conformity.

Out With Time

When Charles Dickens rescued Oliver Twist from the clutches of Victorian depravity, he created villains and victims to serve his purpose. Out With Time gives some of those maligned characters a chance to redeem themselves and tell their own story. To Dickens, Mr. Bumble was the pompous beadle of the workhouse and Oliver’s tormentor. Nancy, on the other hand, was Oliver’s protector, but Dickens sacrifices her to the evil machinations of Bill Sikes. In Out With Time we learn that Nancy is not simply a hapless victim but a fighter for what is right. Mr. Bumble, it must be conceded, does only what he can.

Together, Nancy and Bumble are an odd couple but also a formidable team. They strive to return a sense of civilization to the small Kentish town where Dickens started his tale. Even before Oliver makes his appearance, we see the couple wrestling with racism, sexism and even leading the way in a refugee crisis. In a curious resonance with the modern era, this story shows that the story of Mr. Bumble and Nancy is one that is not bound to a bygone age. Their destinies may be, in part, predetermined but Out With Time gives them the space to assert their own identities in defiance of any author.

Outnumbered by Daughters

The book is an adult fictional novel, based on a young man’s struggle with sadness, tragedy, complicated romances and family life. He attempts to bring up twin girls and an older stepdaughter as a single parent through their middle school years.

He encounters all sorts of problems that readers could relate to in their own personal life, involving mixed emotions and hardship, including his own complicated and failed romances on his journey through this stage of parenthood.

He has to deal with embarrassment and overcome all sorts of new experiences as he tries to understand the problems and needs that young girls have to face as they grow up. 

The girls’ teenage years present him with a completely different set of problems, but he does at least have better success with romance, resulting in a wife, new daughter and stepdaughter finally completing his family.

Outwitting the Enemy

Andrew was recruited into the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) in 1939 for his linguistic talents and other qualities suitable for working in the Service.

By early July 1940, he had already been sent on four missions including the sabotaging of a train carrying tank engines inside Germany, assisting in the evacuation of BEF soldiers from Dunkirk on one of the ‘small ships’ and surviving a number of life-threatening incidents when bringing King Haakon and the Norwegian cabinet from northern Norway to exile in London.

In November 1940, he is persuaded to help at Camp 020 with the interrogation of German spies captured in England; a few weeks later, he completed his naval officer training in Scotland and southern England.

With the Atlantic convoys being attacked by U-boats operating out of the German-occupied ports of Lorient and St Nazaire with heavy losses, he is sent at the end of March 1941 to spy on the building of the submarine pens for a possible raid by the RAF later in the year. He narrowly avoids being captured by the Wehrmacht and returns to London with vital information.

He undergoes parachute training in May 1941 before being dropped in NE France where he is escorted by a French Resistance group to Koblenz. His mission is to deal with a member of the SIS that had become a senior officer in the German intelligence service (the Abwehr). By some good fortune, he manages to escape by Lysander back to England.

The story is a most compelling, absorbing and attractive read with strong classical elements. It has a clean plot for the time period covered which develops and unfolds through a captivating storyline; the relatable cast of characters will keep the reader enraptured up to the very last page.

Overview

An estate agent’s true stories of battles between buyers and sellers, plus a guide on where the world’s greatest treasure troves exist, and how to get them. This is also the story of a revolutionary sailing rig and, most importantly, the proofs of worlds beyond. To help his clients’ anonymity, Ian has placed this as a post-war romance, recalling what people paid for estates in those days.

Pajama Stories: Volume 2

New York’s Secret Society of 31 Platinum Grills takes a turn for the worse after Providence, the top lady DJ, is kidnapped by the jealous twins in the Secret Society. The once superb and exclusive secret society for amateur DJs has now been tainted with death, jealousy and kidnapping. Providence, better known as Lady Lucina, becomes the newest member to the Secret Society of 31 Platinum Grills for amateur DJs. She is excited after receiving a phone call from the founder, DJ Calm, who has just notified her that she is the first female to ever get voted into the secret society. Little does she know that some of the society members are jealous and unenthused by DJ Calm’s decision to vote a female into the organisation, especially since Providence has just received a ten-thousand cheque during her first performance. 

Parvon Zin Koban Hunter

Thought you knew about history? Think again. The dinosaurs were not killed off by an asteroid strike, the Koban in their thousands did that. They are still here, and have been throughout history, killing and eating millions.

But now there is only one shapeshifting Koban hunter left, and only he and his acid-tongued AI stand in the way of the Koban turning humans into nothing more than cattle. 

Alterative history with a science fiction twist.

Passcodes to Peril

Len Gorski’s new assignment has taken him to Sydney’s heartland to coach the UNSW football team in the State League. On the eve of the grand final, he is embroiled in the aftermath of theft of world-first technology from the team captain, a post-graduate research student.

The search to recover a prototype device and learn the identity of the thieves leads to violence and life-changing adventures for the team captain, his girlfriend, and her former high school sports teacher. Survival skills learned in Len’s earlier life are stretched.

Payback

In the aftermath of the Horizon Life Settlement Fund scandal, Justin Kell is waiting for the trials of the Lebanese organised crime syndicate to end and for justice to be served. When unexpected events disrupt the proceedings, Kell’s world is turned upside down as he returns to face some old adversaries.

Recently established as a private investigator, his refusal to take on the case of a missing person leads to events from his past returning to haunt him, culminating in a race against time as he tries to stop a serial killer with a taste for blood.

As the two cases converge into a dramatic finale, Kell is faced with some life-changing choices.

Perhaps a Jealous Foe

The action begins in 2000 with Louise looking at her past. Then it moves back to 1970, where Louise has everything a contemporary woman could ask for: a loving husband, two children, a beautiful home, a good social life. The family is comfortably off, and while her life is circumscribed by her domestic duties and her involvement with the church, she is content with her lot.

Then, she meets Nicholas, and everything changes. While Nicholas makes his attraction to Louise obvious from the outset, he is apparently as conventional as Louise and too inhibited to proceed with more than flirtation and verbal innuendo. 

The relationship between Louise and Nicholas develops slowly, because of the lack of opportunity, and because Nicholas seems unable to make up his mind what he really wants. When they finally make love, all is not quite as Louise had expected. Nicholas eventually also admits to the secret in his past which Louise has discovered by chance.

The story reaches its climax in a night of passion in which Louise, changes her mind, and exults in having finally got the man she loves so much.

Finally, the story returns to 2000, where the aftermath of that night is revealed.

Pet Rapport

Pets as part of the family, their inclusion in everyday life and their mishaps or adventures are reflected in these stories. Each story is accompanied by an illustration that is personally drawn by the author from a photo received from the owner and reflects their unique character and personality. Some true and real-life examples include: A cat which was inadvertently included in a parcel (but survived), a dog that was stolen from outside a shop but was restored to her owner and a rescue dog who found a wonderful home. These are all true, but there are also four fictitious and humorous examples ‘hidden’ amongst the others, which the author invites readers to discover. Adults will find these stories heartwarming and children will like the ‘happy endings’ and trying to spot which stories are ‘made up.’ A book with stories that appeal to the heart and illustrations that appeal to the eye, whatever your age and whether or not you have pets of your own.

Peter

Peter is a special boy with an all-consuming passion for aviation, and it is his dream to fly as a career. We follow his journey from school and his exam results through starting work, and eventually obtaining a place as a pilot cadet with an international airline. We share the highs and lows of his training, of being away from his close family for the first time, and the efforts of his elder brother to thwart his chances.