A Stroke of Luck

The book I present to you has the working title of A Stroke of Luck or a Beginner's Guide to Being Hospitalised as a More-Mature Person and What You Can Reasonably Expect. I believe that it represents a piece of innovative non-fiction, in that it is written with a positive, yet realistic, message about being a 'hospital virgin' at a more mature age. The project has been developed through my own experience of hospitalisation recently, for treatment on a stroke. The concept is conceived via passages of digressions, examples of humour coupled with sharp intakes of inter-active discussions based on the everyday activities of a hospital ward that the reader may not be aware of, let alone expect. It is in this respect that the book is unique: whilst acknowledging that such institutions are full of medics and other professionals by definition, there is also a whole spectrum of 'bit-part' players and 'events' too, which can have either a detrimental or positive impact on the patient's recovery. Their role is examined through character development and astute observation of what actually occurs during a 'confinement': Victor Meldrew can and does 'believe it' he has too! The story itself is chronological: from pre-admission, admission, the period of the stay when time becomes meaningless and thoughts begin to wander to level of absurdity never truly thought possible, to discharge (which in itself seems a 'nasty' word to use along with 'release', terms which come in for a wry comment or two!) and after-care. Primarily, this book is written with the 'over fifties' market in mind specifically, but I would envisage it being an informative read to anyone who is new to the 'hospital game' or is simply filled with trepidation at the possibility of it.

A Suitcase Full of Boomerangs

A Suitcase Full of Boomerangs is essentially a romp around the Republic of Ireland. Tiny boomerangs are bequeathed to colourful characters encountered throughout the three-week round trip.

Narrated in the first person, the protagonist and two of her sisters manage to have a ball as they traverse the width and breadth of Ireland in a big black jeep filled with suitcases full of boomerangs. This book of travel laughs, mishaps and adventures is a light-hearted, feel-good read, intended to whisk the armchair traveller far away to another time and place – the magic that will always be Ireland.

A Suitcase Full of Koalas

A Suitcase Full of Koalas is a modern, edgy travel book set to test your wits and memory for detail. Gallivanting around London and somewhere distinctly south of the great capital in a sleepy seaside village, the author finds herself handing out tiny furry koalas to the English, to the Polish, to the Italians, in fact to anyone who cares to accept the little fellas as a gift from Australia. In her moochings over a month, she manages to meet a myriad of characters from all walks of life who practically jump off the pavements, à la Mary Poppins and Bert, and into the book.

This is a book about life and living – about the human condition and quest for feathering one’s own nest. As John Donne observed, ‘No man is an island’, but sometimes we yearn to embrace solitude and sit with ourselves and a good book. A Suitcase Full of Koalas will inevitably tickle your fancy and have you laughing on every other page. But that’s a good thing, isn’t it?

A Suitcase Full of Olive Branches

Would it really be out of the question for the coach to make a slight diversion? We heard that this tour was headed for the Northern Lights. That’s why we took it, but now we can’t seem to find those Northern Lights anywhere on the itinerary. Any idea why that would be the case? Now you are curious about this book, right? Let me enlighten you. This is a book about Italy and her beautiful northern lakes.

While travelling on a tour coach on a round trip from Milan, tiny olive branches are handed out to perfect strangers in an effort to let the Italians know that their country is not considered number one in the world in terms of World Heritage and Culture for nothing.

A Summer's Tale

An adventure about the various animal characters in A Summer’s Tale in the beautiful setting of Snowdrop Hall, home to Lord and Lady Badger and their children. The adventure is full of fun, full of imagination, loveable animal characters with lots of magic, suspense and intrigue, as well as music, a memorable experience for all, but above all, a beautiful story that will draw the readers both young and old to be part of the amazing adventure and to join in, especially with the songs.

As always, the book has a strong conservation theme, this book is interlinked to the author’s other books. But the main message is that the book gives enjoyment, hope and happiness to all. After all, we are all children at heart.

A Survival Story of Michael and Natlik

Michael’s holiday on a tiny offshore island in Papua New Guinea, where his uncle owned a copra and cocoa plantation, was like an exciting dream. It was there that he became friends with Natlik, his uncle’s house servant who taught him to spear fish, recognise poisonous plants and corals and to light a fire without matches.

However, an incredible boating and fishing trip with his uncle suddenly turned into a nightmare when disaster struck. Michael was left floundering in shark-infested waters off the coast of Southern New Ireland. When Michael failed to return home from the fishing trip, Natlik, using his sharp powers of observation and tracking skills is faced with a risky and dangerous trip across sea and through jungle to try and find his young friend.

A Tale from a Promised Land

This novel tells the story of three generations of an Australian-Sri Lankan migrant family. After a bomb explodes near two leading schools in the city of Colombo, he persuades his wife that for the sake of their children they must leave and start a new life in Australia. After her mother passes away, her father — a retired school principal — agrees to join them in Australia.

The novel identifies the travails that beset new migrants from traditional conservative Asian backgrounds to a western oriented materialistic culture, which now accepts migrants from multi-cultural and multi-lingual backgrounds but expects the new arrivals to assimilate and integrate with the society of which they now form a part.

This novel provides deep insights into socio-cultural and psychological barriers encountered by a first generation of Sri Lankan migrants after their arrival in a new country. Through the combined interactions of a few protagonists, the novel depicts the struggles of socio-cultural adjustments, gains and pains of a South Asian migrant family who try to adjust their lives in a country with western socio-economic and cultural values.

A Tale from All My Sisters

The seventy-two individual short stories in the book are based on the tales of seventy-two real women. 

These tales are a reflection of the diverse lives and dilemmas that many women all over the world today face, and the inner strength that women can have to overcome adversity. 

The book begins with a story of a woman who leaves everything she has behind and takes the leap of faith in moving to England in the early 1960s. It then follows different women, covering issues such as homelessness, cancer, adoption, death, motherhood and transgender. It highlights the reality that age, race, religion and class are not the only difficulties that women all over the world encounter.

A Tale of Crystal Visions

There’ll be song and laughter, music and dance

This night is so young, dreamer of sweet dreams

There be playful romantic song per chance

Before the morning where the dawning gleams

Our souls are like diamonds

with facets cut by the masters

We are capable

We expect the unexpected

And we think the unthinkable

And each time we stay connected

Life becomes more incredible

We do undoable doing

And find the unfindable

And time in mindful thinking

We reach, grasp the unreachable

We stand amazed at new meaning

At new found realizations

At new found paths we are treading

And always there are new questions

We then learn the unlearnable

Question the unquestionable

We achieve the unachievable

And find that, we are capable

A Tale of Fire and Ice

Set on another world, the evil and cunning Syagonus Sly receives news of her brother’s death. With a crystal dragon as her ally, she recruits the king of the ice giants, Stalan Icenclad and his army to wage war against the people responsible…

Eitak, Sirod Spa and Bones continue their adventure which takes them to the home of the giants. 

A Tale of Fire and Ice takes the reader on a journey from the icy kingdom of Ketafrost, to the fiery depths of Kidder Doon. We meet new allies in the form of the fire dragon, Smote and the king of the boulder giants, Bron. There is adventure and intrigue, dragons, giants, monsters and fairies. The story has magic, love and war and leads to a fierce showdown which pits giant against giant and dragon against dragon. The outcome is never certain and the conclusion will leave you wanting more.

A Tale of Two Pixies

A story of, how at times, people shoot themselves in the foot, metaphorically speaking, only to wonder who inflicted the wound.

Then, wouldn’t you know it, along comes help from an unusual quarter...

But, of course, many things can happen in a quasi-world.

You never know who your neighbours are these days, but you always know when there’s something odd about them.

Funny that...

A Taste of Home: An Indian Bengali Cookbook

This is a recipe book with a difference! This cookbook is a collaborative project between the author and her children so it has a special, personal touch. The author and her family are from Calcutta, West Bengal and the range of mouth-watering recipes in this book are unique because they are only found in Indian Bengali Hindu home cooking. These recipes cannot be found in any ordinary Indian restaurant anywhere in the world and once you and your friends try them, you’ll know why these recipes are different and will want to come back for more!