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Heavy Rainbows
An extraordinarily true-life account of a left-handed forklift truck driver who, after a catastrophic life changing accident, became a right-handed professional artist. Heavy Rainbows conveys an honest, no frills autobiographical account of how a single unforeseen event completely changed the direction of Mark’s entire life, and the subsequent adventures that followed involving devastating lows and euphoric highs that are unique, engaging, and inspirational.
Firsthand experiences and events that influenced Mark’s development as a person are told chronologically, culminating in a collection of artworks that convey powerful emotionally charged contemporary issues such as global warming, mental health, and animal welfare. Each chapter incorporates humour and satire, that contrast with episodes of dark, life changing experiences, offering the reader a thought-provoking unpretentious slice of reality, underpinned by art, to convey an in-depth personal story involving triumph over adversity.
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Midnight Train From Georgia
Midnight Train from Georgia chronicles the incredible rise of Gladys Knight and the Pips from their origins singing in a small Atlanta church to their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. When two families’ destinies intertwine at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, they discover the extraordinary musical talents of their children. Young cousins William Guest, Eleanor Guest, Gladys Knight, Brenda Knight, and Bubba Knight unite their heavenly vocals to form The Pips gospel choir.
We follow William Guest from his formative years in Atlanta, where his love of music is kindled by evenings listening to his family perform rhythmic gospel songs on their porch. The Pips’ journey takes them from these humble back-porch jam sessions to struggle and sacrifice on the road to stardom. With faith, fortitude and William’s grandmother’s lessons to guide them, the group overcomes adversity through the transcendent power of their music.
Midnight Train from Georgia is an inspiring tale about the bonds of family, church and music. It’s a story of poverty to fortune, innocence to experience, and childhood friendship growing into Hall of Fame synergy. Their sweet harmonies touched millions over decades, but it all started with kids finding their voices in a small Georgia choir.
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#The Travelling Panda
Keep your eyes open. Life can be a rollercoaster, but it’s always an adventure! From car beds to tents, pain to padded pants, middle-aged housewife to a traveling Panda… there are many roads to travel, sights to see, and adventures to be had. Do you need to seek them out or simply fall into them?
What adventure awaits around the next corner or across Europe? The only real limitations are those you place on yourself, so live each day to the fullest and revel in every moment; memories are what we leave behind.
#The Travelling Panda is a story of plans gone awry, unexpected escapades, and finding the extraordinary in the everyday. Join Panda and be inspired to uncover your next adventure… or recognize that it’s already happening!
After all, it’s your road, but where will it take you?
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Dad’s New Dress
An email wings its way across the sea and the desert arriving in Suzie's inbox one normal Wednesday afternoon.
What she discovers about her father in this email comes as a surprise to say the least.
Follow her story as she struggles to cope with her emotions in the present and her memories of the past.
Feel her turmoil as she examines her family relationships and tries to cope with the changes in her life.
Will Suzie come to terms with her new-fangled father? Will they start to rebuild a relationship?
Find out in this story, full of light and dark moments, about an ordinary woman with an extraordinary father.
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Over the Hill
This book tells the story of modern day pioneering. It chronicles a family’s move to rural Ireland in the last decade of the twentieth century, and describes their struggle to begin with nothing and build a home on the side of a valley in the hills of County Clare, using a mixture of stones gathered from the fields and concrete.
The family were determined to grow their own food and live as self-sufficiently as was practical, despite the poor soil. It also shows the attitudes of the time, and the generosity, hospitality, and sense of community of their Irish neighbours.
All of life is here and the book is sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, and always inspiring.
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Gemini over the Gulf
In this riveting autobiography spanning generations and continents, Maggie Hamilton shares her extraordinary story of love, loss, and the unbreakable bonds of family. From the turmoil of war-torn London to the sun-drenched shores of the French Riviera, Gemini Over the Gulf follows Maggie’s journey and the parallel life of her twin sister, Katie, separated by a twist of fate in their infancy.
As Maggie navigates the glamorous world of Parisian haute couture and becomes embroiled in a dangerous mission that could change the course of the Gulf War, she uncovers the truth about her past and the sister she never knew. Her journey is filled with passion, heartbreak, and shocking revelations that will keep readers enthralled until the very last page.
Brimming with vivid historical detail and unforgettable characters, Gemini Over the Gulf is a mesmerizing story of resilience, destiny, and the enduring power of sisterhood. Hamilton’s evocative prose and masterful storytelling transport readers to a bygone era and leave them breathless with anticipation as she moves ever closer to an impossible reunion with her long-lost twin. This is an epic and deeply moving autobiography that is sure to resonate long after the final page is turned.
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Confidentially It’s Insurance
While real-life dramas often surpass fiction in intrigue, the day-to-day operations in many professions remain largely unnoticed due to their perceived mundanity. Insurance is typically viewed as one such field. However, it’s not without its exceptions. Among the conventional ranks, a handful of field specialists find themselves in thrilling, high-stakes situations across the globe, navigating the complex world of financial coverage and advice.
This book offers a biographical account of one such individual. With nearly four decades of experience, their career spans three of the Western world’s leading and most innovative financial institutions. Their journey is marked by challenges such as navigating hostilities in global hotspots, dealing with civil unrest, overcoming travel barriers imposed by border controls and local laws, all while operating under the constraints of the Official Secrets Act. This narrative sheds light on the unexpected adventures and critical roles played behind the scenes in the world of finance.
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Where's My Leg?
When Flor Morgan mounts her Harley Davidson on what seems like an ordinary Wednesday, she is unaware that this will be her last ride for a decade.
Flor’s journey is one for which she could never have been prepared.
How does one move beyond a head-on motorway collision between a Skoda Fabia and a Harley Davidson?
Who survives, and why?
Flor is a survivor, a fighter. She battles not only to heal her physical wounds but also to overcome the mental and emotional scars that the path to recovery inflicts. Flor knew her recovery would be challenging, but she didn’t anticipate that the very systems meant to aid her would nearly be more lethal than the collision itself.
Initially written to pave her way to healing, Flor now shares her story with the hope of helping others. She recounts her experiences as she has lived them: by finding the good and the humour in the everyday. After all, you can’t lose the plot if you’re laughing, right?
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Every Day a Thread
At just 17, Bismillah made an audacious choice to marry a young Englishman, defying her traditional Muslim family and father’s guidance. Yearning to pursue studies, she embarked on an extraordinary journey spanning turbulent historic events. From surviving World War II Japanese occupation in Malaya to overcoming 1960’s British racial discrimination in Birmingham, Bismillah weathered profound challenges that shaped her unlikely destiny.
With poignant insight, she reveals the outsized influence families wield upon access to education and life chances. Through grit and grace, Bismillah surmounted societal barriers to become an education inspector in England, later hoping to contribute to Malaysia’s education initiatives, Bismillah returned to Malaysia to face unexpected challenges.
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My Wartime vs. Pandemic
Everyone now knows what life is like during a Pandemic but if you have ever wondered whether living through it is better or worse than living in a World War, this little book is for you.
In this contest of war versus pandemic, personal recollections illustrate what life was like in the years immediately preceding the Second World War and the changes that occurred after the outbreak of hostilities.
It was not a game of two halves. There was a lengthy interval of seventy-five years between the end of one event and the start of the other. In both cases there were some own goals, a lot of off-sides and numerous penalties, but the referee leaves it to the reader to decide which side won, if any.
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American Coastguards, UNST & The B.P. Oily Blacks (1978)
A few stories encountered mainly in the 21st century as a result of working on construction sites. Humour, still having to deal with the good, the bad, and the nasty! 2018 saw the demise of one of the biggest players: Carillion. How many companies went into receivership like my old company? How many others in the 21st century? Was the philosophy Carillion followed replicated by the Post Office?
In 2023, in his autumn statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt highlighted receiving payment times by the big companies. I can remember those immortal words: ‘spell redundant’, ‘P45, boss’. The American eagles were just laid off! Subcontractors are worth more dead than alive.
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Sol’s Texaco
Sol’s Texaco is a moving memoir set in the Italian-American neighbourhood of Larchmont, an affluent New York City suburb, in the early 1960s. Through the eyes of Tony, a young boy growing up in a close-knit community, the story revolves around a local gas station, Sol’s Texaco, which becomes a central hub of life lessons, adventures, and the awakening of a young boy to the realities of the world around him.
Through vivid anecdotes, Tony shares his experiences of friendship, baseball, and the trials of youth under the mentorship of Sol, the gas station owner, and Linroy, who both set Tony right when it came to racism and made a man out of him. The memoir beautifully captures the essence of childhood, the struggles of fitting in, and the importance of tolerance and community spirit. Raised in shadow of Italian mobsters, this book delves into the ingrained racial prejudices of the time, showing how these are often imparted in early childhood by those closest to us, but also offers a message of hope and responsibility: even those shaped by such a situation can rise above it and become mentors, helping to create a more just and understanding world.
As Tony navigates the complexities of racial and cultural differences, he dreams of escape and self-discovery, his path intertwined with music and the allure of distant Australia. Sol’s Texaco is more than just a story about a boy and a gas station; it’s a heartfelt journey through the formative years of a young life, shaped by the people and places that leave an indelible mark on one's identity.
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