Pets Aplenty

Join novice vet, Paul Mitchell, in a further six months of hilarious escapades he experiences while working at Prospect House Veterinary Hospital. He's confronted by a ravenous pig while sunbathing naked in a cornfield. He locks jaws with a caiman with scale rot and battles with Doug, a vicious miniature donkey that's always sinking his teeth into him. It ends with a Christmas pet blessing which erupts into pandemonium as frightened pets and owners scatter through the pews. Throughout his adventures, Paul is loyally supported by the team at the hospital - in particular Beryl, the elderly one-eyed receptionist, and, Lucy the junior nurse - together with whom he shares this merry-go-round of mayhem. It's a gripping, fast page-turner that's guaranteed to keep animal lovers entranced.

Praise for Malcolm Welshman

‘... paints a vivid picture of many fascinating characters.'
Jim Wight, son of James Herriot

‘... brings a smile to your face.'
Sir Terry Wogan

‘Your story is a corker.'
Richard Madeley

‘... hilarious stories straight from a vet's pen will keep you chuckling.'
Stella Whitelaw

Pets Are a Pleasure

This novel is the fourth in the Pets in a Pickle series and describes the antics of young vet, Paul Mitchell, now in his second year at Prospect House, the veterinary hospital, as he continues to tackle an endless variety of pets and clients. There's an escaped griffon vulture, which terrorised staff in the garden. A bouquet of roses for Beryl, the receptionist, in which lurks a venomous frog. Dealings with Dave, the chameleon. And on the way to treat one of the Stockwells' cows, Paul is confronted by Boris, their amorous bull, who has escaped and now blocks the lane. Meanwhile in the practice cottage, Willow Wren, he and his fiancé, the junior nurse, Lucy, raise an orphaned fox cub, curb the roamings of a randy cockerel and cope with marauding badgers and the sighting of a possible lion. Fans of the earlier books will relish this opportunity to delve into more zany encounters deftly written with the self-depreciating humour that characterises Malcolm's style.

Philosophical Muse and Stuff 'n' Nonsense

Stephen Peter Oldham is relatively new to the poetry scene. In his first book, he explores the issues facing ‘Modern Man’ through poetry, muse and stories in his original style of ‘Real Fiction’. Stephen examines issues facing humanity at this time as diverse as the family unit, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health, creation and revelations of prophesy! In this unique book, there are many questions raised which may one day lead to the ultimate question. Who are we and just what is it that we are supposed to be doing here! Take your time and enjoy his rhymes or read more purposeful perhaps. Designed to entertain, Philosophical Muse will certainly make you ask questions!

Phoenix Ablaze

My heart bled into these pages,

Soaking them up

With all the rainbows and rages

Of thought-filled nights

And ill-thought actions.

My heart bled

Into your hands.

So, hold it close,

With all the rainbows and rages.

Hold it dear for the entire ride.

Pirate's Lair

Epic adventure on the high seas!

A young British aristocrat abandons his life of wealth and privilege in exchange for vengeance!

Michael d’ Argentan’s world is turned upside down when he learns about the brutal death of his beloved parents at the hands of the infamous Barbary Pirates! With a burning and passionate desire to avenge them he sets off on a desperate quest to search them out.

Along the way he joins the Bandaliers who are at war with the Barbaries. Honor, life and even love are at stake in his daring journey. A master swordsman, from one fight to another, nothing will stop him from fulfilling his mission.

The Barbary Pirates...the world’s most feared pirates of all time...UNTIL NOW!

Pluto's in Uranus!

Dave suffers from OCF – Obsessive Compulsive Fatalism.
Every day he is compelled to follow his online horoscope, and to actively seek out and participate in their prophesies.
One fated day, the signs are so compelling they embolden him to take a high stakes horse racing gamble.
The consequence of his wager will lead Dave into situations way beyond his control and comfort zone, and his path will be crossed by an intriguing hotchpotch of larger-than-life characters.
This eccentric bunch of strangers include a Benny Hill loving vicar, a transvestite, a hippy, a diamond thief, a sausage roll addicted Bank manager, an underworld female mechanic, an ’ungry man, some piranha fish, a chimpanzee and many others.
Pluto’s in Uranus! is the story of a ‘tryer’ whose lucky omens will come back to taunt him.
KUSHTI BOK!

Poems from Paintings

These poems were inspired by works of art, chosen across place and time for their intrinsic power and the challenge they present to provoke thoughts and feelings in the viewer.

Ideally, readers should find a reproduction of the painting – easily available on the internet – to contemplate, before reading the poem. The hope is that readers might become aware of previously unnoticed aspects of the work and be interested in seeing how their own responses match or indeed conflict with those of the author.

Thus, the collection aims to offer an invitation to contribute to an ongoing dialogue between the artist, the poet and the reader. All art forms open a window into other lives and ways of seeing; this interplay between the genres provides an opportunity to reflect upon much that lies beyond one’s own immediate experience.

Poems from Poems

These poems are a response to a wide range of well-known poems from across the ages. They are written in the same poetic form as the originals and offer a modern perspective on their central themes. The reader is invited to look up the original – perhaps to re-read a loved poem or to explore unfamiliar ones – and see how far attitudes have changed over time. The environment is a particularly poignant topic, as so many older poets were consoled by its seemingly enduring beauty in troubled times. Another theme is the belief in the afterlife, which was central to many of the earlier poets, and the contrast with our own largely sceptical age. There are also, of course, universal themes such as love, death, change and parting.

The tone aims to echo each original, with satire and humour mixed with more serious and reflective moods.

Porter

This is the tragic tale of two souls that had been separated at birth. They had begun their lives being left by their mother to die on the steps of a millionaire's mansion. Fortunately, the owner had found them when he had gone to water his beloved roses and had heard the babies crying. He eventually managed to adopt one of the twins, the boy. His name would be Varcy. The other twin had been adopted by an American couple.

One day Varcy had seen a girl practising her yoga on the top step of the Guildhall situated next door to the Crown Courts. Varcy fell immediately in love with her and felt as if he had always known her. One day she had gone and the Guildhall had closed its doors forever. He had mourned for her and then his life had spiralled out of control into the depths of despair.

Varcy had to attend a meeting on behalf of a friend and had seen the girl seated at the bar gazing into her champagne glass. Varcy had approached her and when Porter had spoken to him his ears had been caressed with the sound of her American accent. Porter had told Varcy that she had been a Lawyer practising in the States. They had left the hall hand in hand and their ardent life together eventually began.

Porter became a very naughty passionate provocateur and Varcy her submissive but sometimes he would not always submit and Porter had loved that. They had loved life and all that it had to offer them and it had offered them a great deal.

This amazing unconditional love story now unbolts its doors for you to enter.

Post Mortem

This new collection of pieces by Alan Blackwood can hardly be called short stories; they are gem-like concentrations or distillations of a series of images erotic, sad, darkly humorous, that Alan calls ‘vignettes.’ They will have the reader turning compulsively from page to page to find out what on earth he’s going to come up with next. It’s literature in a world of its own.

Postcolonial Metaphysics

Postcolonial Metaphysics is a debut poetry collection with a difference. The poems in this collection deal with contemporary political issues like colonialism, classism, migration, racism and social justice. This poetry collection includes introspective reflections about the philosophy of mind and the mind-body problem which draw on the author’s rich inner life. Other poems address the nature of mental illness to shed light on experiences which are often subject to stigma and misunderstanding.

Each of the poems in this collection engages with its audience and encourages readers to challenge their cherished beliefs and open their minds to new ways of perceiving the world. Overall, this powerful and moving debut poetry collection hopes to spark real change in the hearts and minds of its readership. The powerful poems in this collection are written to inspire the imagination of the readers and provide unique insights into the globalized and hyperconnected world we live in.

Potential

Thirty-year-old single dad, David Lucas, has taken up running as a therapeutic release from watching his wife die of cancer. When he sets out on his regular morning run to tackle the worst fog the Fens have experienced for many years, he is unaware that his life is to change in a way he could never have imagined. And when tragedy strikes, a chance encounter with ex-Olympic runner and coach, Charlie Greaves, presents him with the opportunity of a lifetime - a possible place in the 2012 Olympic team. But can he and will he take it? At home, his life has its problems with his live-in girlfriend and 11-year-old son at loggerheads. In the days and months leading up to the big day, and in the midst of receiving some devastating news, will he turn his back on his dream and be the father and partner his family needs? Relive again the halcyon days of that golden summer of 2012 in this exciting and compelling novel, and discover if one man, with one goal, has what it takes to go for gold.