The World According to Stoopball

In the Bronx of the 1930s, paradise for a kid was stickball in the street or roasting potatoes in a vacant lot. Nuns ran school with a firm hand, while the restless work ethic of immigrant communities shaped life at home. Long before the digital era, young people ruled the world of play. But they grew up quickly against a backdrop of war. Retired Rear Admiral (USNR) Joe Callo revisits his youth and offers insight on the pursuit of meaning in an over-circuited modern age.

The World According to Stoopball

In the Bronx of the 1930s, paradise for a kid was stickball in the street or roasting potatoes in a vacant lot. Nuns ran school with a firm hand, while the restless work ethic of immigrant communities shaped life at home. Long before the digital era, young people ruled the world of play. But they grew up quickly against a backdrop of war. Retired Rear Admiral (USNR) Joe Callo revisits his youth and offers insight on the pursuit of meaning in an over-circuited modern age.

A Coven of Cats

A Coven of Cats tells the true story of the author’s longstanding love affair with cats. It begins with her experiences of growing up with cats, from the age of four, and continues with the narrative of her ongoing relationship with felines, culminating in her (and her husband’s) love affairs with Burmese: animals that combine the best (and worst) features of cats, dogs and monkeys!

The book is full of humour, high drama and the tragedy of loss. The central characters are the cats but the story revolves around the intimate relationship between cats and their human staff.

A Coven of Cats demonstrates how enriching it can be for humans to share life’s ups and downs with these animals. Far from the aloofness sometimes ascribed to felines, this book shows how loving, exciting and rewarding life with cats can be.

A Coven of Cats

A Coven of Cats tells the true story of the author’s longstanding love affair with cats. It begins with her experiences of growing up with cats, from the age of four, and continues with the narrative of her ongoing relationship with felines, culminating in her (and her husband’s) love affairs with Burmese: animals that combine the best (and worst) features of cats, dogs and monkeys!

The book is full of humour, high drama and the tragedy of loss. The central characters are the cats but the story revolves around the intimate relationship between cats and their human staff.

A Coven of Cats demonstrates how enriching it can be for humans to share life’s ups and downs with these animals. Far from the aloofness sometimes ascribed to felines, this book shows how loving, exciting and rewarding life with cats can be.

The First 1,000 Days

This book traces the history of the child’s brain during the 270 days of pregnancy plus the first two years of life. Its author, the neurobiologist Yehezkel Ben-Ari, is one of the most renowned specialists in autism and childhood epilepsy. It gives us the keys to learning to detect disorders linked to brain development. Contrary to popular belief, many neurological and psychiatric illnesses occur before the age of two, particularly during pregnancy and birth! A decisive period to prepare for the health of the future child, provided you have the right information.

This great scientist also tells us the story of his life, which shaped his work as a researcher, guided by the sense of commitment and a non-conformist spirit essential to innovation in science.

The First 1,000 Days

This book traces the history of the child’s brain during the 270 days of pregnancy plus the first two years of life. Its author, the neurobiologist Yehezkel Ben-Ari, is one of the most renowned specialists in autism and childhood epilepsy. It gives us the keys to learning to detect disorders linked to brain development. Contrary to popular belief, many neurological and psychiatric illnesses occur before the age of two, particularly during pregnancy and birth! A decisive period to prepare for the health of the future child, provided you have the right information.

This great scientist also tells us the story of his life, which shaped his work as a researcher, guided by the sense of commitment and a non-conformist spirit essential to innovation in science.

The Plan

Abuse in every form… physical, psychological, sexual, emotional and even spiritual... descends upon her. A story of facing down demons, both inner and those that seek you out. They come under the cover of darkness. A battle bordering on unbelief… Can it be survived or do you succumb to the evil that continually surrounds you, that seeks to possess you..?

Not a fight, not an altercation, but a war to the death. There is no way to come out of this unscathed. The scars will be plentiful, but invisible. The fight has lasted decades, but these hellish forces did not count on her endurance. After what the darkness considered successful attacks, after knocking her down so many times, robbing her of every conceivable ounce of hope, snatching away her dignity, convincing her that her time had run out… they never saw it coming.

When you are drowning… you learn to walk on water…

More Narratives from “The Law and I”

In this captivating sequel to The Law and I, the author delves deeper into his 44-year journey (1970-2014) in the legal profession. From finding a flat with his wife before starting his articles to the intricacies of his experiences at Radcliffe’s, where he completed his training, this book offers a candid and insightful look into the life of a solicitor.

The author bravely shares the mistakes he made early in his career and his initial approach to using the law for his clients. He explores the evolution of evidence presentation, including the use of videos, and provides fascinating details about judges, magistrates, probation officers, and the prisons he encountered. The book also showcases the author’s unique experiences managing a smallholding while practicing advocacy.

Throughout the book, the author presents a diverse array of clients, including relatives and prisoners, and shares his colleagues’ perspectives on the law and lawyers. He offers a glimpse into the inner workings of his office during court proceedings, the evolution of law books over his career, and the compensation he received over the 44 years.

The author also discusses various types of crimes and how he represented them in court. Finally, he shares his insights on the future of the law, the potential consequences of court closures, and the impact of reduced legal aid.

A Sisterly Adventure

Jackie and Claire, the inseparable sisters, are back for another whirlwind adventure – this time across the Atlantic to Canada. What begins as a simple wedding invitation quickly unravels into a series of mishaps, misadventures, and memorable moments that test their resilience, humour, and sisterly bond. From a creepy 15^th-century inn with locked doors and no reception in sight to navigating the wilds of Canada, these two are anything but ordinary travellers.

A Sisterly Adventure: On Their Travels Again is a heart-warming tale filled with laughter, unexpected detours, and the kind of mischief only siblings can get up to. As Jackie and Claire face each new challenge with wit and tenacity, readers will be drawn into their lively escapades and reminded that the best journeys are those shared with loved ones – even if nothing goes quite as planned. Join these spirited sisters as they discover that adventure, like family, is full of surprises.

Hunter’s Manual

Presenting an essential almanac for every hunter, this book invites you to share in the outdoor adventures of an Australian whose passion for hunting with his rifle has taken him far beyond his native shores.

Join him by the fireside as he imparts techniques and secrets that will enhance your own quests for trophy game. Experience the humour in his self-deprecating tales, highlighting the lighter side of this unique sport.

Most importantly, become captivated by the magnificent wildlife and the skills necessary to immortalize them both on film and as prized additions to your trophy room and freezer. This book is not just a guide; it’s an invitation to the heart of hunting and the celebration of the natural world.

Beyond the Sea

An extraordinary tale of a merchant mariner, Born in British India unfolds during the final dark days of World War II. This gripping narrative includes high seas murders, showcasing courage and seamanship in stormy weather, and harrowing experiences like being stuck in ice in the North Atlantic.

The story takes readers through visits to Chinese ports during Mao’s China in the 1960s and recounts the sinking of the S.S. Pegasus in the Arabian Gulf. It details the perilous task of loading crude oil amid the Iran-Iraq tanker war and the misfortunes of the MV Marienfels, which caught fire, lost its rudder, and drifted aimlessly in the Atlantic.

The mariner’s adventures include spending seven days adrift on a dinghy in the Indian Ocean, witnessing Captain Gregg violating the U.N. oil embargo on Apartheid South Africa, and thwarting armed piracy on an oil tanker voyage from Nigeria to Uruguay. He also survived encounters with urban guerrillas in South America.

Born in British India is a testament to resilience and adventure on the high seas, capturing the indomitable spirit and relentless determination of a life spent navigating the world’s most treacherous waters.

Shadows – Another Life

A lifetime of strange occurrences has led the author on a journey of discovery. Only by looking back into the past can he make sense of a lifelong interaction with the phenomenon, a journey where he recounts the dreams, visions, and experiences of high strangeness that have tormented him for much of his life. He describes a pattern of encounters with the phenomenon that from childhood to more recent times has changed everything.

Through it all, a journey to reconcile science, organised religion and spirituality is recounted. A journey as a career scientist, being the eldest son of a Priest and Master Mason and incorporating an extended period studying and training in the martial arts. Here is a true story that has never been told until now.