Teaching in Tongren, China

Since the accession of Xi Jinping as the supreme Chinese leader, the empire has been becoming increasingly aggressive, to the point of bullying. Its so-called “Belt and Road Initiative” seems designed to lure poorer nations into a debt trap, forcing them into subservience to Chinese demands. Its huge fishing fleet is encroaching upon the legitimate fishing grounds of many other nations. It is seeking to expand its territory to include almost the entire South China Sea, Taiwan, parts of India, Japanese islands, etc. Indeed most of “China” is conquered territory. Chinese efforts to control Australia have been extraordinary.

Yet is this the whole story? This book describes just how wonderful the Chinese people can be. The students I taught at Tongren University were amongst the best I have taught anywhere. It was not hard to love them.

The town of Tongren is itself quite beautiful, surrounded by conical hills and built around the green, winding Li Jiang River.

The Deconstruction of Humanity’s Voice, But We Are Still Standing

Playing his clarinet inside one of London’s most exclusive members’ clubs reminded him of the privilege the elites can enjoy, but also the illusive duality of his identity, as the echo of his clanging Ashanti beads around his wrist, the scent of shea butter and sandalwood oil immersed upon his mahogany brown skin, reminded him of his true African identity.

Jesse Yaw takes us through his journey as a young black man, exploring the racial constructs of relationships and modern society. With its destructive perceptions of class, race, truth, and equality, coloured by the trajectory of historical discrimination, and prejudiced western norms that have been embraced by the global community, Jesse seeks to explore the psychological impact that assimilation to westernised ideologies of beauty, governance, education, economy, law, class, and politics has on humanity. And what that consequently means for his self-determination.

He acknowledges that, for too long, negative perceptions have cast a dark shadow upon black lives and subdued black potential. For these destructive perceptions to be removed from the eyes, lips, minds, and hearts of the global village, the re-education of the human mind is central. Jesse deconstructs the subconscious voice of the human mind, and establishes the unaltered truth of who we really are.

The Gap Between Two Kingdoms

From a very religious country, Saudi Arabia, I moved to the United Kingdom. I had a cultural shock and I was moved by the details of British lives there. What was my perception? Where have I been? What are the changes that made me a new person after my journey to proceed with my postgraduate studies? Here is my book and there is definitely a gap between the two kingdoms.

The King of Jesolo and Other Short Stories

Dive into The King of Jesolo and Other Short Stories as the author navigates a vivid mosaic of adventures across the globe. From unexpected friendships formed in distant lands to seemingly harmless escapades that take unforeseen turns, each tale offers a unique glimpse into the world’s diverse tapestry. Sail the tempestuous Italian and Greek seas, where in one thrilling episode, a boat’s mast teeters dangerously close to the water. Embark on a spiritual sojourn to Greece’s revered Mount Athos. Whether it’s the vibrant streets of South America or the historic trails of Europe and Asia, these stories capture the essence of travel, the surprises it holds, and the connections that bind us.

The Story of Lord Leon and the Gaffer Above

The Story of Lord Leon and the Gaffer Above is a true story to inspire you on the journey of life. Leon Parrish’s story will show you that anybody can transform their own world.

If you have ever wished that you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, then the author has a simple message for you: why spend your life wishing when you can fulfil any dream by just doing things yourself?

So jump aboard the train of self-belief and make it happen. Enjoy Leon’s journey, and more importantly, find ways to enjoy your own. And always keep smiling.

The Unspoken Identity

What will you do upon waking up and discovering that you have two vaginas, two cervixes and two wombs? How would you feel? How do you explain it to your friends and family?

This and many other questions led to the story you are about to read. Elizabeth a young vibrant lady, full of life was just like many of you. However, she never knew that her challenging health journey as a young woman growing up was all part of the big discovery that would unfold later in her adult life.

Elizabeth, curious in her nature, decided to seek answers for her chronic pains, fatigue and recurrent infections. She knew something was not quite right but could not confirm what it was. Read her story to discover how she was diagnosed with this rare biological abnormality and her quest to share her findings with the rest of the world.

The Red Thread

The Red Thread is the true story of an expat woman’s struggle to complete her family while living in India.

After shunning infertility treatment and adopting her first child, Sarah knows that family is created from love not DNA, so she sets out to replicate the fairy-tale experience of her daughter’s adoption from Cambodia. But things are not as straightforward this time.

After choosing a baby to adopt, Sarah comes up against the risks of child trafficking and an imminent Cambodian law change that will shut down all adoptions and potentially subject her baby to life in an orphanage for the years to come. As Sarah battles government bureaucracy to free her child, the only thing that binds them together is the Buddhist red threads tied to both their wrists that symbolise courage and bravery.

The Red Thread is an emotional journey of a mother’s battle to get to her child. It is a tale about one woman’s commitment and perseverance to overcome hurdles, and her blind hope to help a child. It is a story of love.

To Hell And Back For Charity!

From an almost completely impulsive moment of madness, self-employed family man Brian Morgan decided to leave his family behind and embark on a crazy challenge of walking 335 miles in 12 days, all in aid of a good cause.

Battling against the odds and thwarted right from the start, exciting adventure soon became a grueling journey of pain and despair. Hampered by storms, injuries, dehydration, trench foot, cramp, crippling blisters and more, staying on track seemed ever more unlikely day by day, yet somehow through sheer determination and pure willpower he triumphed in what he set out to do as failure was almost inconceivable!

“I never set out to write a book” said Mr Morgan, “but so much happened along the way and with barely a dull moment, I just felt I just had to share my experience with others. One thing that kept me going was the pure kindness from some of the most amazing people I met, and the generosity and thoughtfulness of one man in particular just blow me away as you’ll find out!”

When ‘Will’ is More Than ‘Won’t’ - Your Journey Begins

I’ve always been a dreamer, wanting more from life than it was giving me, whilst still making the best of what it did.

I never thought in my darkest moments, or wildest dreams, that one day I would, with my partner of ten years David, find myself in a Land Rover we called Lizzybus driving around the world.

If I had imagined this, it would have been nothing like the reality of it, of blistering hot desserts, snow-covered mountains, civil wars, and uprisings, with our life depending on each other and Lizzybus.

From the very first moment I stepped foot on African soil, I wrote about the reality of living two feet from your other half 24 hours a day. The intimacy, hygiene, isolation, and loneliness, so far removed from my life to this point. But slowly, without even realizing it, it became part of me, and me it, seeing only the wonder, the joy, and the privilege.

Dancing in the Rain

It's often said that life is not about sheltering from the storm, but dancing in the rain. And this old adage has certainly been the driving philosophy of how Diana Crevatin has chosen to live her life, even in the face of crippling multiple sclerosis (M.S.), which she was diagnosed with at just twenty-seven. Faced with the worst news of her life, she chose not to let anything hold her back and has continued to live her life to the fullest. Even now, over thirty years later and bound to a wheelchair, she chooses to 'dance in the rain'. Now, for the first time, Diana has chosen to share her story firsthand. Whether you're in a similar predicament yourself or reading out of curiosity, this book will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.  

Me

Ron Pearson was born in Bramley, Leeds on August 12, 1924. He began writing this book on August 12, 2021, his 97^th birthday. After a childhood beset by illness, he left school at 14, and took a job packing parcels in a multiple tailoring factory, not for him. He moved on to packing parcels general muggins at an advertising agency at 50 pence a week, which he loved. His career in advertising was interrupted by a four-and-a-half-year spell in the army on ‘Special Operations’. Returning to civvy street, his career culminated in being appointed Managing Director and then Chairman of one of Yorkshire’s most respected advertising agencies. He was a local actor for almost 50 years including the renowned Bradford Alhambra and Playhouse.

There are some sad moments outnumbered by many hilarious ones. Ron’s beloved wife, Pat, died in 2017 after 66 years of happy marriage.

The list of ‘celebrities’ he has met is impressive, including Princess Margaret, Prince Charles, Hollywood’s Marlene Dietrich, George Raft, Sir Ralph Richardson, George Best, Jackie Charlton, Harry Worth, Alan Bennett etc.

Stones on the Camino; or, What It Was Like

Lilly, a senior lady, would never have dreamt of doing the Camino de Santiago. Yet, one day, she just took off and started this arduous pilgrimage, walking 800 km all alone through the north of Spain. Lilly’s handicaps, as a result of previous brain surgery, made traveling on her own sometimes hazardous.

On these pages, she draws the reader into the beautiful, peaceful, and happy pilgrim world, relating some of the incredible stories she heard. She listens to Stuart when he talks about the agonizing search for his younger brother at Ground Zero, and to Alexander from Peru, who had twenty siblings, all by the same mother. We hear about the lady who was struggling to get away from an abusive, narcissistic partner.

At an almost hidden level, this story lifts a few veils off Lilly’s own marriage. We also get to know David, who saved Lilly’s life during a night of thunderstorms, which was, by the way, not the first time her life was in danger. David returns in quite an unexpected manner in the last few pages of these Camino tales, adding more magic to an exceptional journey.