The Governor General Cleaned My Shoes

“Even before I was born, I was trying to do things my own way. I made life difficult for my mother, Jess, who was confined to bed for the last trimester of her pregnancy. I had disappointed my father, Geoff, by insisting that I be born a day earlier than his birthday, and I had mercifully waylaid their plans to call me Elizabeth.”

So begins my story that has me watching rockets going up at the Woomera Rocket Range, beating the boys at marbles (and winning the prized milky white marble with coloured orange waves), nearly being run over in a toilet, swimming with a snake on my way to inspect a very dead horse, setting tongues wagging in Canberra in a Commonwealth car and eliminating plastic bananas from Australia’s entire eastern seaboard. And yes, the Governor General did clean my shoes.

A Bipolar Life Well-Lived

It never dawned on me that I was getting ill, but what was happening to me was very real. Living in a world of make-believe, I was convinced my imaginary visions were genuine. I had delusions of grandeur, thinking I was all-powerful and the centre of everything. But I was not a monster; I was a lost soul. My story involves a struggle with mania and depression in the context of my life in England and France. How, despite my handicap, I held down a job abroad for 8 years and how, after 8 years of marriage to a Frenchman, I supported my daughter as a single parent. My memoir gives insight into living with mental illness. It is an autobiography concerned with memories of childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

A Moment in Time: Childhood Memories

Melinda’s journey begins in the bustling streets of Bristol, where childhood memories of candy-filled visits to Sid’s shop and daring paper rounds paint a vivid picture of innocence and adventure. As she navigates the challenges of growing up in a tight-knit community, Melinda’s life is a testament to resilience and the enduring spirit of youth. Her story is a nostalgic exploration of simpler times, filled with the sweet taste of frozen Mars bars and the camaraderie of schoolyard friendships.

From the lively streets of Totterdown to the serene landscapes of South Wales, Melinda’s tale is one of love, loss, and the indomitable human spirit. She faces the trials of adulthood with the same determination that saw her through childhood adventures, finding strength in family, work, and the occasional act of kindness. A Moment in Time: Childhood Memories is a heartfelt memoir that captures the essence of a life lived fully, marked by the highs and lows that make us who we are. Join Melinda as she reflects on her past, embraces the present, and looks forward to the future with hope and grace.

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.

The Kingdom Is Yours

‘I’ve still got the diaries somewhere, scruffy from stuffing them in my handbag and covered with something just short of scribble. Five or six diaries. What was happening was earth-changing. I felt compelled to record it as faithfully as I could…’

Linda Appleby

During the 1990s, Linda Appleby, a brilliant university academic, kept a journal that combined a sharp sense of what was happening in – and in some ways, to – the world with an unintentional timeline of her own mental breakdown, which culminated in a stay at Cambridge’s Fulbourn Hospital in the early 2000s. Current events from the period – the long war in the former Yugoslavia, the hostages in Lebanon, the Good Friday Agreement, the rise of Tony Blair – are intertwined with Linda’s professional, domestic and romantic concerns. The result is an honest and unapologetic record of a keen mind gradually broken by a combination of external and internal pressures.

Through it all, Linda’s care for her children, her strong religious faith – which, though Christian, extends to a more than passing interest in both Muslim and Hindu beliefs – and academic grounding in philosophy somehow saved her from total disaster, and the book ends with a few entries in the mid-2000s, when Linda, having left Fulbourn, had been able to make a new life for herself in Cambridge. A few of the poems she was writing at the time are included in the book.

The Dublin Marilyn House

Jackie Devoy, the ‘Dublin Marilyn,’ invites you into her vibrant world filled with color, passion, and a touch of Hollywood glamour. In The Dublin Marilyn House, Jackie shares her inspiring journey of self-discovery, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams.

From her humble beginnings in Dublin’s inner city to her adventures on reality TV and her unique Marilyn Monroe-themed homes, Jackie’s story is a testament to the power of embracing individuality and finding joy in life’s unexpected turns. With heartwarming anecdotes, design tips, and a sprinkle of Irish charm, this book will leave you feeling uplifted, inspired, and ready to create a life as colourful as Jackie’s.

Finding Yourself Through Loss

I’ve come to understand that loss, while taking much, can also give. It can offer hope, strength, and most importantly, love. Such is the boundless love of God, who loved us so deeply that He gave His one and only Son to die for all of us—yes, all of us, including you—no matter what you have done (John 3:16). Sometimes, His love arrives shrouded in the darkness of loss, but even then, His promise remains unchanged: He came so that you and I may have life, and have it in abundance (John 10:10). So, beloved, as loss has taken from you, I ask: what has it given in return? Remember, perception is everything.

Jim Wyllie's 'Flashing Lights'

From a Lake District farm to the pulsating heart of London’s nightlife, Jim Wyllie’s ‘Flashing Lights’ charts an extraordinary path through UK clubland in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Wyllie’s ascent is nothing short of remarkable: from entertaining holidaymakers at 16 to becoming the youngest Nightclub Manager in the Star Circuit’s history at 18, before becoming the owner of groundbreaking bars, restaurants and nightclubs in London’s West End.

This memoir offers a kaleidoscopic view of an era, blending hilarious anecdotes with personal reflections and cultural insights. Wyllie’s narrative defies simple categorization, presenting an easy read that invites deeper contemplation. It’s an intoxicating mix of showmanship and psychology, combining the spectacle of Barnum and Bailey with the wit of Del Boy, the insight of Freud, and the candor of Bridget Jones.

Jim Wyllie’s ‘Flashing Lights’ captures the highs, lows, and everything in between of a life lived in the spotlight. Whether you’re nostalgic for the golden age of clubbing or curious about the machinations of nightlife, Wyllie’s story promises to enthrall and enlighten, offering a vibrant glimpse into the era that shaped modern club culture.

The Reluctant Outsider

This is the story of a life that took an unexpected turn, leading to priceless treasures and profound awakenings. George Dexton’s journey begins with the decision to emigrate to a distant land, followed by the commitments of marriage, raising a family, and starting a new business. As he battles for success and recognition, George’s marriage collapses, plunging him into a period of overindulgence and recklessness that eventually leads to the downfall of his business.

In the aftermath, an unexpected mystical experience brings confusion, spiraling George into depression and a deep philosophical quest. He explores the unknown depths of his mind, searching for meaning and freedom from what feels like a futile existence. Reluctantly pushing forward, he reaches a point of no return, still seeking a sense of purpose in a world that seems blind to his struggles.

Jalal Al-Ahmad

Jalal Al-Ahmad was a well-known writer in Persian literature and a man about whom a lot of criticism was directed. Because he was a favourite supporter of Mr. Khomeini, the streets and schools in Iran were named after him. This book attempts to examine his works, what he said and his life using existing documents.

Jalal Al-Ahmad was also a part of our contradictory society, and he was raised in it. He reflected his thoughts in his books, because he could as well have been tired of this contradictory life and looked for a better uniformity. He was against monotony and loved to create changes by moving in different directions to entertain himself. He was indifferent to the results, thus his contradictory works and writings shouldn’t be taken at face value. One must try to draw the truth out of contradictions.