Dragons Out!

Learn about software testing in a fun way, by reading stories about dragons and knights. The book is a great read for children on their own, with their parents, or as an additional reading in schools. It is also for anyone who wants to know what software testing is, they will enjoy this book tremendously.

The book talks about adventures of two children, Laura and Tom, who tumble into dragons annoying villages and castles. They learn about different dragons and how to defeat them with the help of knights. The children grow into exceptional dragon experts.

Stories are explained in information technology and software testing terms and concepts, e.g. a dragon represents a software defect, and knights represent testers and developers. Reading parallels is an easy-to-understand way of learning.

In this book, Kari Kakkonen combines his passion into fantasy and software testing in a new and fascinating way, creating an enjoyable experience for the readers.

The book is suitable for ages of 9-99, although it is written for children.

“I love the idea of bringing testing and dragons together. Explaining testing ideas in this way is great for new testers to give them a broad idea of the depth of testing. The stories can sit on their own for children as well, and may encourage them to think about how they could test some of the apps they use.”

Janet Gregory, DragonFire Inc, co-author of three books on agile testing.

Draw Me a Fish

The world was falling into a downward spiral and there seemed to be no stopping to it. The news was bad on TV and the radio all the time. People from the city were getting sicker and sicker with illnesses that didn’t have a name yet.
Needless to say that the village’s infrastructure could not bear the load of more new arrivals. The fresh settlers were using the lake as, a public swimming pool, a bathtub and as a washroom, and the streets as a playground for their children.
Does this image stir some odd feelings inside of you?
Do you believe that we can just sit back and let go?
Well, I don’t!
What about another chance to turn the odds towards a better tomorrow, one that resembles our children books’ images, a place where it is still possible to dream of pink clouds in a blue sky.
What about teaching our children to do so, in an easy and smooth way. If we start today, before tomorrow, we have better chances to make that dream come true.

Drawing Breath

A book of memories.

Growing up in the 1950s and 60s, childhood is peppered with untold freedom and strict codes of behaviour. There are fears of not being accepted, not conforming and for those suffering from gender dysphoria, there is nowhere to turn.

A convent education brings Jennifer intense friendships, unrequited love and tussles with belief and disbelief in a higher being. She finds diversion in play acting and searching for adventure in the role of her alter ego.

Emerging from the protective arms of a white middle class family, she confronts the harsh realities of life with a charismatic young man as her cicerone. After four years of teaching bring feelings of inadequacy, of not being up to the job and finding no place in heterosexual British society, Jennifer decides to start afresh and to leave England.

Drawn to the Light

Drawn to the Light is a captivating memoir that chronicles the life of an empathic child born into a loving and psychic family. From the author’s birth, readers will follow her journey of discovering spirituality and finding her place in the spiritual world.

This book is a collection of powerful experiences, ranging from psychic and spiritual to the everyday moments that shape us into who we are. Through sharing her story, the author hopes to inspire others who are also on their spiritual path.

While the author’s spiritual journey began in earnest when she joined a Spiritual Development and Meditation Group in 2001, her growth has continued to flourish in the years since then. In this book, readers will find inspiration and guidance for their own spiritual journey.

With quotes from spiritual luminaries like Neale Donald Walsh and Natasha Hoffman, Drawn to the Light offers a unique perspective on the difference between religion and spirituality, and how finding one’s own spiritual truth can unite us all. This memoir is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of their own spiritual path.

Dream Animals

Let the golden dream animals, created by artist Diane Maybey, invite you into a world of soothing lyrics and imagery. Allow the unfolding of each beautiful creature to take you into the calming depths of rest. Dream Animals is a bedtime story for dream-time peace.

Dream Is Another Word for Hope

“It seemed, at the time, back on the 29^th of July 1996, that the newspapers’ black, thick and bold headlines were screaming – you could almost hear the foul cries.

Talkback radio programmes didn’t discuss any other topic but that one and the TV networks – ALL TV networks – were working around the clock, sending their best reporters, trying to outdo each other: crews from around the globe – even from the USSR – assembled in Beijing, China’s capital, and in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Switzerland was in shock – after all, the Schmidt family members were Swiss citizens and held Swiss passports…”

This is how Uri J Palti begins his amazing novel – a delicate love story well-spiced with ingenious and unbelievable spying.

From the first chapter to the last, you won’t be able to put Dream Is Another Word for Hope down, eager to find out how the story develops and how it ends…

Dreamcatcher

Everyone wishes their dreams could come true, but what happens when they are under attack?

Eager to evade the looming consciousness of her dreams, Galen Valentine strives to beat the strongest, darkest and most twisted power that exists—the Dreamcatcher. Galen is prophesised as a saviour meant to save her dreams, but is torn between two rivals keen to win her over and earn her undying trust. Does she fight for her own survival, or does she wage a war for love?

From dream to enemy to lover, Galen Valentine is stuck in her own mind, and the only way out is to wake up.

Drip & Drop

Drip and Drop are water gargoyles, and they are brothers. Like all brothers, they argue with each other, but no matter what, they look after each other. Although in Drop’s case, he finds he has to look after Drip more than often, since Drip can, well, be a bit of a drip at times. The two brothers live in an island that has an oak tree growing on it, which holds a secret – though why am I telling you this, I don’t know, as Drip and Drop prefer to be in a nest in a tree. As I tell you the story of Drip and Drop, you will learn about their lives and meet their friends, Plip and Plop, not to forget dear Daisy Deer, and you will decide on whether Daisy Deer’s little baby, Dusty, is a boy or a girl. So, are you ready to know more about the water gargoyles as well as meet Mr Robin and Mrs Owl? Because if you are, not only will you know what they look like, you will also know where to find them. And you just might end up meeting Drip and Drop.

Drip And Drop Go On Holiday

In the second book of the water gargoyles series, Drip and Drop have decided that they needed a holiday by the seaside, where their cousins Splish and Splash live. Drip and Drop are water gargoyles, as well as brothers, and like most brothers, they tend to look after each other. But in Drip’s case, Drop finds that he has to look after more because Drip can be a bit of a drip at times.

Drip and Drop have decided to go on holiday as they want to visit their cousins, Splish and Splash, as they haven’t seen them for a while now. Along the way, Drip and Drop meet different gargoyles, such as the hedge gargoyle and the giant sea gargoyle, with its big booming voice, and not forgetting dear Sandy the sand gargoyle, who is rude too. They also meet Mrs Damselfly and her husband, Mr Dragonfly, along the way, as well as visit a pub with Chris and David, who own the Hastings that Drip and Drop travel on part of the way. Whilst on holiday, Drip and Drop explore the seabed, coming across a Hurricane and a Spitfire that have coral growing over them as well as hearing about the haunted forest from Mrs Owl, and learning the names of the three ghosts that live there and of course, of Uncle Dippy Wippy. Children of all ages will enjoy this book, especially when reading it with their parents, or grandparents, as I’m sure it will fill you with delight and laughter, as I tell you more about Drip and Drop the water gargoyles.

Driving a Cat to Portugal and Building a House When We Get There

While waiting to board a plane for our annual holiday, my wife and I exchanged a few words,Me: ‘Where’s Faro?’Wife: ‘Portugal.’Little did we know, that fleeting conversation would lay the blueprint for our future. Soon, the allure of Portugal would not only inspire our next holiday destination, it would beckon us to transform a passing fancy into a permanent address in the sun-kissed hills of São Brás de Alportel.Amidst our major life decisions, the laughs, the frowns, the ups and downs, Marli (our much loved cat, who was prone to car sickness) takes centre stage. From her early years in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, UK, to her sunlit retirement in Portugal, Marli’s journey mirrors our own, from idealism to realism, (with pit-stops at Bafflement, Bliss, Disappointment and Delight).Follow our tale from whimsical date-night daydreams to the concrete steps of buying land and building a home in a foreign country. This narrative isn’t just about relocating- it’s a candid and humorous exploration of love, hope, challenges, and the sheer unpredictability of life.We had a dream, we had each other, and we had Marli.What could possibly go wrong?

Driving Mister Crazy

While waiting for her Australian visa to arrive, Jane leaves Zimbabwe to spend a year in England caring for the eccentric Mr Hazey.

‘You have to wear a seatbelt, Mr Hazey, it’s the law.’

‘Well, I don’t.’

Jane is tempted to return to Africa immediately, but stubborn pride makes her linger, long enough to meet Dr Bower. An awkward attraction develops, and several colourful characters embark on the bumpy rollercoaster ride – an outdated stately home – haunted secret garden – hidden past and impossible love affair.

Drivin’ Daughters and Parkinson’s

“I have Parkinson’s Disease…”

The words kept hitting me like a hammer on my forehead.

Parkinson’s Disease… PARKINSON’S DISEASE… PARKINSON’S DISEASE.

When Marco Preshevski was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, his life fell to pieces. He had just turned 30 years old.

Drivin’ Daughters and Parkinson’s is the remarkable story of Marco’s rollercoaster journey through life before, during and after his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. Beginning on that fateful day in March 2001, Marco tells the fascinating story of how Parkinson’s Disease slipped into his life, how it made its presence known and the unending battle he has fought balancing symptom relief with side effect control, using various medications and cutting-edge surgery.

Marco explains in detail the destructive psychological consequences he experienced at the hands of Parkinson’s and the devastating effect this had on his personal relationships. Often going into deep, intimate detail, Marco tells us how Parkinson’s Disease drove him to the edge of his life, until he discovered the reason for his existence on earth.

Told through the eyes of an ‘ordinary’ man, Drivin’ Daughters and Parkinson’s is a fresh look at personal experience of this difficult-to-handle medical condition. Hilarious, wholly inspirational and at times difficult to believe, this book should be read by anyone whose life has been touched by Parkinson’s, by those who want to understand the disease better and by those who want to appreciate the patient’s point of view.