The Extra Ordinary Women of France

This is an introduction to 27 fascinating women that have influenced the whole of French history.

France honours its famous people who have died by interring them in a mausoleum called the Panthéon in Paris. At the time of writing, there were 81 of these famous people interred there. After a visit, I suddenly realised that, of these 81 people, only 6 were women – Sophie Berthelot, Marie Curie, Genevieve de Gaulle Authonioz, Germaine Tillion, Josephine Baker and Simone Veil.

This set me off on a voyage of discovery through French history and I found 21 women of extraordinary influence, some of the present day, whom I thought merited their place in the mausoleum.

This book celebrates the lives of all 27 women – women who, in my opinion, were and are extraordinary and all of whom had a unique influence on French history or culture or the arts, sometimes all three.

Extra ordinary!

The Creative Word

We all have a name and give names to almost anything. But what’s in a name? Surely it is just a convenient but trivial label to refer to things.

Yet we need to think again. Suppose someone hears the name of a person they love. Does their name not convey something of that person’s reality? Perhaps it stirs affections or memories. Other names might evoke fear and loathing. Certainly, a name is embedded in our personal and social lives. But that also allows the name to influence how we understand ourselves and our world. A name may even be ‘constructed’ by us, which then determines how different peoples see things.

If this sounds far-fetched, consider the following.

God speaks creation into being, and also names. Then Adam names the animals. Perhaps our naming mirrors in a secondary way the creative speaking of God. Giving a name may then be part of our own constructive creativity.

None of that should surprise us. We see the flowering of the arts, literature, sciences and so much more. All this creativity achieves further order in a world which God has already ordered. It can be for God’s glory and human flourishing, or tragedy and disaster - good and evil.

If giving a name lies at the heart of our creativity, there’s more to a name than we might at first suppose.

Bats, Balls and Bigotry

In the remote outback settlement of Greenfield Plains, newly appointed schoolteacher Kevin Bell faces entrenched sexism and racism when he tries to register his pupils for a school cricket tournament. Determined to create a team, Kevin includes girls and local Aboriginal children, only to have his submission rejected by the education department’s outdated policies.

Undeterred, Kevin rallies the support of the entire district, sparking a movement that draws in the local Member of Parliament and garners attention from the national radio network. Together, the small community challenges systemic prejudice and wins the right for their team to compete.

Though their performance on the cricket field falls short of victory, the diverse group of children from Greenfield Plains earns admiration for their sportsmanship, resilience, and courage, leaving an indelible mark far beyond the game itself.

Do Lions Eat Lollipops?

Do the wild animals in the zoo eat the same food as we do?

Oh no they don’t!

Or maybe they do! Or perhaps they prefer to eat food that is natural and healthy.

Peek inside to see.

Do Lions Eat Lollipops? is a fun book for younger children, helping them to see that wild animals in the zoo prefer to eat food that occurs naturally and is less processed than the foods that are sometimes found in our daily human diet. OOPS! We know that food which is naturally occurring and organic is definitely better for us, for the environment and ultimately better for our planet. Processed foods contain additives that are less healthy for us to eat and are harmful to the environment and therefore our planet.

Do Lions Eat Lollipops? helps to educate children early on to the fact that they can make a choice between eating ultra processed foods or eating foods that are found naturally.

Even wild animals in the zoo instinctively prefer to eat naturally occurring unprocessed foods. Maybe it’s a good idea that we do that too.

A Pit of Embers

An orphaned heiress is adopted by a family of three, she is terribly miss treaded by her adopted parents, she is chained at the ankle and endures atrocious hardship while doing most chores in the household.

The only solace she finds is from the dog who is supposed to watch and guard her.

The dog is at first a menacing huge mastiff, his dame is Devil!

It's So Simple, You Could Miss It

I had turned, yellow and was passing blood, and I did not know what my condition was or what I was dying from until I heard a man say that if you are an alcoholic, and you take that first drink you will become powerless. That sometimes happens to me. Then, I knew, he was speaking the truth. I had a spiritual awaking and never drank again; I am now 40 years sober.

Jack Goes Dancing

A spinoff to the popular title Ella Plays Football - Her Game Too which was called an inspiration by Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler.

Read the inspiring story of Jack! He loves dancing so much but is picked on by the girls who don’t think boys should dance. Follow along as Jack navigates the challenges of bullying and self-doubt, determined to prove that dance has no gender.

With colourful illustrations, this heart-warming tale reminds young readers to chase their dreams and never let anyone dim their spark. Jack’s infectious passion for dance will inspire kids to embrace their unique talents and not be afraid to be different. Discover the power of perseverance in this uplifting story that celebrates the joy of following your heart.

Featuring professional dancer Craig Barber, as seen in various shows and performances throughout the UK.

Aristotle, Son of Riddlington

Riddlington has returned to his Australian Bush environment, where his son, Aristotle takes centre stage. Along with his two favourite brothers, Hieronomus and Hannibal, they unwittingly engage in numerous, highly unrecommended activities and exploits, more often than not, inspired and abetted by the Three Big Black Birds who have their own motives for anything that looks like fun, and especially if it is at the expense of the vulnerable and naïve brothers. This includes a very odd, bored cloud, fairy floss, a nut job bull, a prehistoric rocking chair, sticky black gold, Hula emus, a ridgy-didge bush race, a Ferris Wheel, suicidal termites, and a pre-wake farewell. But don’t be fooled, there is nothing silly about these rabbits!

This is the second book in the Riddlington series.

An Artist’s View

Why would I buy this book? Well, like Alice, we all enjoy looking at attractive pictures. A significant section of this work explores the World Heritage site of the City of Durham, showcasing how it appeared before modern developments began to alter the view.

If you are an artist interested in discovering the potential of dry coloured pencil, this book answers many of the questions visitors to my exhibitions have asked. I will explain how I achieve such intricate detail and atmospheric effects in my work.

I have been drawing with pencil since the early 1950s, and, unaware of any books on the subject at the time, I am essentially self-taught. I use the term ‘dry coloured pencil’ because many viewers of my work assume it is watercolour. A pencil is a clean and precise medium, ideal for achieving accuracy, where every touch leaves its mark.

One visitor once commented that my work ‘oozed tranquillity,’ drawing them into the scene and enhancing the appeal of the picture. Drawing heightens one’s awareness of the many elements that influence the choice and creation of an image.

Within these pages, I reveal the techniques I have developed to expand the potential of dry pencil as a medium. I examine the importance of composition, balance, and colour in creating images that are striking enough to be displayed on a wall for years to come.

A Family of the Old Russian Empire

In the wake of the October 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, a young noblewoman in the Russian Empire makes the bold decision to stay behind, while her family scatters across the globe. Her brother flees with the White Russian emigration to New York, while her mother and sister escape to Poland. Strangely, her brother leads his American family to believe that his sister, along with her husband and daughter, vanished during the Russian Civil War (1917–1922) and are presumed dead. But this is far from the truth.

Although his other sister’s life in Poland, marked by tragedy during World War II, is well known, the fate of his sister in Russia remains a secret. In reality, he has secretly maintained contact with her, even sending financial support. Her story is one of immense suffering and resilience, enduring exile to Siberia and eight years in a brutal Gulag, branded as a “former person,” a Soviet term for those of noble birth and supporters of the old regime.

This is a poignant saga of loss, survival, and astonishing strength in the face of unimaginable adversity.

A Vampire's Story

Aura Arrington and Evan Darlo meet by chance on a fateful night in 1716 at Mac Avers Inn, a notorious den of ill repute where no respectable lady should ever find herself. Despite his assistance, Evan is no ordinary gentleman, and his presence in such a place is far from coincidence.

Evan introduces Aura to a world she never knew existed, one far darker and more dangerous than anything she has ever imagined. Can her innocence survive the temptations and shadows beyond her reality? And has Evan finally found what he has spent a lifetime searching for, only to risk destroying the very thing that drew him to her?

Though Aura is engaged in what is said to be a love match, Evan refuses to ignore the spark that has ignited his dark heart. As those who hunt him lurk in the shadows, his pursuit of Aura could come at a dangerous cost.

Faced with an impossible choice, Aura must decide: will she remain in the light, or risk everything to journey into the darkness?

Living on the Edge

Living on the Edge: Monastic Spirituality and the Development of Inner Space offers a profound exploration of Christian spirituality through the lens of monastic tradition, tracing its evolution from the New Testament era to the present day.

Richard Norton, a theologian and former Director of Studies at the UK Centre for Monastic Studies and Culture, examines the lives and writings of pivotal monastic figures including St. Benedict of Nursia, St. Augustine of Hippo, and St. Teresa of Avila, among others. The book delves into the rich history of renowned monasteries like Subiaco, Monte Cassino, and the Peschersk Lavra in Kiev, revealing how these sacred spaces became crucibles for spiritual growth and innovation.

Living on the Edge shows how the development of monastic spirituality was neither problem-free nor straightforward, arguing that the twists and turns of this journey offer invaluable lessons for those of us living outside the cloister. Precisely because of its challenges, the wisdom of these monks and nuns – rooted in centuries of contemplation, prayer, and communal living – provide timeless guidance as we search for transcendence and greater well-being, mental health, and deeper faith.