Pooky Beaumont and the Wizard's Dastardly Plot

In this gripping tale, we follow the journey of Pooky, a compassionate young girl growing up in the Victorian era. Despite her kind heart, Pooky struggles with severe stomach issues, which leave her feeling isolated and alone. She longs for meaningful friendships, but finds herself without companionship.

Her situation takes a turn for the worse when she becomes the victim of bullying at the hands of two boys, Hecter and Rocky. To make matters even more dire, Pooky finds herself trapped in an abandoned factory, under the control of a malevolent wizard.

As she navigates this perilous situation, Pooky must summon all of her courage and ingenuity to find a way out. With the help of unexpected allies, she embarks on a thrilling adventure filled with danger and suspense.

Problem Solving For Individuals and Companies

This book is a life-changing experience that will project yourself forward by solving problems at all levels both for individuals and companies.

You will find that it entitles you to further enhance your lifestyle with increased opportunities as well as health improvements.

It will also propel you into something that allows you to escape from all types of problems that have perhaps held you back from moving forward, in assisting you to achieve the life that you desire. This will also explain the magic and power that can be achieved from the universe, as well as teach you how to negotiate anything that you desire.

You will also begin to understand and use the hidden untapped power that lies within you.

Psalms Together: A Journey of Faith

This book is based on the Psalms which is one of the most well-known parts of the Bible.

It is formed of a number of weekly studies from March 2020 at the beginning of lockdown, to strengthen, encourage and bless those receiving the studies in their Christian faith during that time. The studies continue and there is more to come!

Each chapter title begins with an active verb for everyone to make a response as they consider their individual journeys of faith.

The book is written in an easy conversational style to encourage each reader to be able to respond to the Lord in what they are learning from each section. There are additional Bible references for further study.

It is hoped that the different human emotions, struggles, mind tangles, difficulties and circumstances found in these Psalms will encourage readers to find faith, hope, peace and joy in the Lord as they read and study. May the different emphases reflected in this book bless each reader with a unique experience on their individual journeys of faith.

Reaper

The devil is back and angrier than ever. Jethro has lost everything, including Indie – the other half of his soul. With the struggles of a new era and an enslaved world, Jethro must fight his way to revenge. His only goal is to kill the Bravillia King, the man who took from him something even more precious than Indie.

With a new team of friends and a new life, Jethro is confronted with a heart-wrenching decision that could change everything.  

Reels and Deals - Angling for Business

John Sellens, electronics and mechanical engineer, international businessman, and avid fisherman!

John’s career at Thorn EMI Electronics started in design and trials with UK Military and Defence at home and to over 100 territories globally. He became Manager of International Sales & Marketing Asia and Pacific region, later managing Thorn EMI Electronics’ corporate activities in Riyadh, residing in Saudi Arabia for several years. After senior positions in the defence industry, John’s career moved into fire and security systems becoming managing director of UTC Fire Safety Middle East based in Dubai, responsible for group business in the Middle East, Central Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, Russia and the CIS. He led a successful and motivated international team – some dedicated fishermen amongst them.

Reichsburger Resurgence

The Reichsbürger Movement (Citizens of the Reich) have been gaining momentum in Germany for some time. This was witnessed by us all in December 2022 when German Polizei raided several locations arresting leading figures within the country including an aristocrat, a member of parliament and military figures to name but a few. Almost half of arrests took place in the southern states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. The Movement’s strategy was to overthrow the current federal government and replace it using violence if necessary.

“Reichsbürger Resurgence” commences slightly earlier in September / October 2022, as investigations initially focussing on a diamond smuggling operation soon progress into a credible threat of international consequence. It becomes apparent the Reichsbürger Movement have a sophisticated operation deep in the hills of Bavaria which following decades of planning as far back as WW2 is only days away from full implementation to not simply overthrow the Federal government but world domination their ultimate goal.

The efforts of a small group of individuals faced with the task of preventing the success of the Reichsbürger plot is told here and just perhaps some of the information gleaned from these events aid the authorities in the near future. Fact can indeed be stranger than fiction at times!

Return to Hunterville and the Mānuka Honey Shop

Vulnerability, emotion, passion, lust, kindness, caring, tenderness, commitment, respect and the incredible power of a smile – this is William and Aoife’s love story. William is a quiet and reflective man from Hunterville in New Zealand, escaping rural loneliness. Aoife is a beautiful and trusting woman from Galway in Ireland, escaping an abusive partner.
They fortuitously cross paths for the first time at Nonna Russo’s cooking class in Naples, Italy. Their relationship starts very slowly, but in just 10 short days, total strangers quickly become inseparable lovers as they are intoxicated by ‘la bella vita’ of Naples. William and Aoife embrace the Napoli café culture, go to an opera for the first time, go horse riding on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, experience aperitivo, visit jaw-dropping museums and churches, and swim down at the waterfront. They give kindness, respect and a friendly smile wherever they go. They are gifted the same by the people of Naples.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Seven weeks after a painful and emotionally charged farewell in Naples, Aoife is reunited with William on his farm in New Zealand. William proposes, Aoife is pregnant, there is a wedding and a funeral. As William walks from the Hunterville Cemetery, an old lady beckons him over. What she says has unimaginable consequences for William and Aoife’s journey ahead.

Revolving Door

Quietly reflective, the beautifully written poems in this slim volume offer a welcome respite from the noisy insistence of modern life. The language, now simple and direct, now rich in associations, double-meanings, and imagery, has its own natural rhythm and appeal regardless of subject and rhyme. Intriguing, absorbing, thought-provoking, the poems are innovative and fresh and the intensity of the verses in places will undoubtedly strike a chord with readers of all kinds - both established readers of poetry, those who read poetry now and again, and those turning to poetry for the first time. Largely relating one person's take on how it is to be in the world, the poems address such aspects of life as time, being, loss, culture, and contingency. The collection is divided into three sections - non-rhyming poems, rhyming poems, and a concluding section of lighter, more humorous verses, with each of two additional poems serving as foreword and afterword.

Rosella, Snowflake and Mary

Old King Frederick lived in a country called Philiphia with his three children: Rosella, Snowflake, and Mary. He wanted to leave his crown in the right hands. Whoever out of his three daughters brings him the greatest treasure first will become the queen. Princess Rosella was the witch of the family. She loved: magic wands, pointy hats, cloaks, cauldrons, broomsticks, diamond mobile mirrors, and flying books. Snowflake loved: winter dresses, winter, ice-skating, snow fairies, polar bears, ice creams, and northern lights. Mary was great at painting. She was a rainbow princess. She had a rainbow magic wand, a magic paint set, a collection of colourful dresses, and a lot of friends. All three princesses imagined themselves to be the queens of the kingdom.

I wonder, who will be the queen?

Rotting Man Goes to Town

Rotting Man Goes to Town deals with an adult relationship; which is in deep trauma from the outset of the story. Its technique is predominately dual narration, going from him to her vantage points. There are two sides to every story. Some of the language is hard-hitting, with angry scenes or mindsets, including some swearing. Political incorrectness exists in parts. The emotions are raw. It is a compelling and authentic read. It begins badly. How will it end?

The initial setting is in America, with flashbacks to Britain, meant to counter the: hurt, sadness and anger, by the use of the device of injecting past comedic episodes. Levity and tragedy are seen in animal antics. Thus, the humorous scenes are meant to bring a balance to the novel overall.

With the exception of the animals’ names, which remain true, all human names have been changed.

Senior Pleasures

Overnight Tom Hartley became a grieving widower after years of happy marriage and rebuilt his life by making new friends and taking up new interests. He moved house and set up a gardening club which also helped elderly residents and arranged walks and other social activities. After a number of close friendships with lonely ladies, he fell in love with neighbour Helen who had been working with him on the gardening club. Concerned about Tom’s over-friendly nature, Helen insisted on a one-year engagement and that they should continue to live in separate homes for Tom to prove that he could resist temptation. All went well until a glamorous widow moved in next door and began making advances.

An unexpected event brought about a change in plans and Tom and Helen had to sell their homes and move to a rundown property requiring months of hard work and expense to restore. Despite their problems the couple have fun together and their love blossoms. 

Shakib Arsalan’s Why Muslims Lagged Behind and Others Progressed

In the fall of 1928, the Imam of Java, a certain Mohammad Basyuni Imran, had a letter delivered to the Lebanese author and scholar, Shakib Arsalan. In his letter, Basyuni Imran requested Arsalan to explain the reasons for the backwardness of Muslims of the time compared to other nations. Furthermore, Basyuni asked Arsalan to suggest what they need to do to join the ranks of nations that have overtaken them and, in many cases, rule over them.

Arsalan published his response in a series of articles written for the Cairo-based Islamic journal, Al-Manar. Subsequently, these articles were combined and published in a book in 1930 with the title: Why did Muslims lag behind? And why did others progress?

In his response, Arsalan begins with an analysis of what has gone wrong. He addresses the belief of some that Islam is to blame for the backwardness of Muslims. He goes on to give examples of how advanced nations progressed while holding firmly onto their religious beliefs.

In simple, elegant prose, Arsalan takes the reader on a fascinating walk through history. There are references to pre-Islamic times and the early Islamic period, French colonialists in North Africa and their efforts to convert Muslim populations to Christianity, goings on in the British Houses of Parliament on the issue of transubstantiation, and much more.

The latter part of the book has examples of recent (1930s and earlier) achievements of Muslims when they set their minds on doing something.

It is a measure of the merit and excellence of Arsalan’s words that his book has never been out of publication. It remains among Arabic speakers as popular and relevant today as at the time it was first published almost a century ago.