From a Lost Land: The Last Rhodesian and Other Tales

This is a series of tales, mostly in chronological order, about the short Rhodesian colonial period up to 1980, after which time the country became Zimbabwe. The tales in the book have very little political content and are not a critique on colonialism or post-colonialism. They show the lives and feelings of ‘ordinary people’ affected by the ‘winds of change’ in Africa, which were predicted by British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in his famous speech in February 1960 in the Cape Town Parliament. The rapid changes in Africa were caught up in the initial stages at the end of colonialism in Africa after World War Two. Many of the newly established post-colonial regimes began their operations under the influence of the harsh realities of Marxist–Leninism and other forms of totalitarianism – and many of those countries still follow their versions of the ‘revolution’ – with varying degrees of success. From a Lost Land is not a biography, but many of the tales are based on one extended family. Each tale provides a link to following tales, not necessarily in the immediately following tale. Some of these ‘links’ are names but some refer to artefacts which still exist in families of those mentioned in the tales.

From Chaos to Order

At the age of 37, a true experience of life after death set the author on a journey to find answers to many questions. Why are we here? What is our purpose? What is this life all about?

Eleven years later, after the passing of the author’s 25-year-old daughter, many of her questions were answered in the most fascinating way she could have ever imagined.

From Cholera to Ebola

"We've been invited to witness a bonfire of marijuana by the Taliban. Anyone interested?" Amid the missionaries, mercenaries and misfits drawn to the world's most dangerous and volatile hotspots stands Dr John Parker. From Cholera to Ebola is a captivating collection of true stories 25 years in the making. Whether challenging the bureaucracy of refugee camps to cradling children as they died, Dr Parker operated far from his comfort zone, from the norms of medical practice and from the decencies of humanity. His is a life that swung from heartbreaking hopelessness to sheer ecstasy as he battled PTSD to chase his next 'fix' over increasingly dangerous missions. "There are some things you cannot be taught; you have to live them."

From Doctor to Guinea-pig

Alex was born on a Greek island and moves with his parents to Congo-Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo). He studies medicine and goes to work in a hospital in the bush with his teenage wife. Faced with seemingly unsurmountable problems he works wonders and moves to Kinshasa for the comfort of his family. He is a man married to his work, he contracts AIDS and fights the difficulty of announcing this terrible news. Truly philanthropic, he offers his body to science to test the various drugs that are created to treat this new virus. You will be fascinated by his medical exploits, and be torn between him and his wife both struggling to face the problems that life presents to them. A story about life, faith and our approach to death.

Half the Size, but Twice the Life

A biography depicting a real-life account of one woman’s incredible weight-loss story, sharing the struggles and successes throughout the journey of losing half her body weight all on her own, transforming not just herself, but her whole life—with an underlying message about going for your goals, no matter what they may be…

Hard Luck Motty

You will not be able to put this book down once you start!

Hard Luck Motty has been through everything you can imagine.

See if you can find someone who can top my life adventures!

The famous people I have met and spent time with: Hollywood superstars, sporting greats.

The family tragedies along the way.

The excitement and thrills.

The silliness.

The lessons I have learnt the hard way, in my working, sporting and fun life.

You need to read this book.

Holloway

Holloway was a closed category A prison supposedly for women who had committed murders and were considered to be dangerous criminals. What was unknown was that many women were placed in Holloway due to the abuses and crimes related to and should often have been blamed on men. Historically such injustices and inequality were often linked to cases such as the Suffragette movement and the Irish Republicans, however, in modern times women found themselves to be remanded or imprisoned in Holloway for petty crimes, as a place of detention when there were immigration issues and for reasons that were beyond the understanding of those involved. Here are the stories of women who were abused by the laws and society one hoped were there to protect rather than punish them further. These remarkable women formed deep friendships, loved and cared for each other despite being thrown into a place of fear and intimidation.

Hottentot Venus – The Story of Saartjie Baartman

I Am Thilda

It is the summer of 2019 when Thilda’s world falls apart. The pain in her leg is not growing pains, but in fact a rare form of cancer. The revelation is followed by a period of operations and tough cancer treatments. She is forced to accept a new reality: trips to hospitals, treatments, and unbearable pain. But suddenly, something unexpected occurs. A chance encounter at her hospital leads to an unexpected friendship. Thilda begins to paint, take pictures, selfies, and talk about her days with her new friends. The result is a moving book about a unique young girl’s journey with cancer, about her family’s unfailing support, and a strong bond of friendship.

In At The Sharp End (Stories From The Front Line Of The Music Business)

Anyone interested in music will consider this to be essential reading! Covering every genre, it provides intimate inside stories about many artists, songwriters, and music execs never previously documented. Those included are KYLIE MINOGUE, BURT BACHARACH, GEORGE MARTIN, BOB GELDOF, STOCK/AITKEN/WATERMAN, SIMON COWELL, RONNIE WOOD, JUSTIN HAYWARD, GRAHAM GOULDMAN, LEO SAYER, PAUL JONES, JASON DONOVAN, SINITTA, ALLAN CLARKE (The Hollies) and many more. Revelations: How Kylie nearly missed her big chance; when Simon Cowell lost it all; how George Martin signed The Beatles out of pure sympathy; the rise and subsequent disappearance of Clive Calder – the wealthiest man in music; what motivated Bob Geldof to stage the greatest show of all time; where the classic songs originated from: Burt Bacharach, Elton John, Lieber and Stoller, Neil Sedaka, Gene Pitney, Randy Edelman, Tony Hatch, Tony Macaulay, Roger Greenway, Les Reed/Barry Mason plus modern day songwriter of the year, Jamie Hartman.

In Search of Mina Wylie

In 1912, against a backdrop of growing feminist and national movements, the Australian public united behind a fundraising campaign to send two female swimmers to Stockholm to compete, for the first time, at an Olympic Games.  Coogee resident, Mina Wylie, was one of those women, and after winning silver at the 1912 Olympics she went on to become one of the greatest swimmers Australia ever produced.  Her career coincided with a growing view of beach culture and swimming as essential to a unique Australian way of life, and Mina became a role model for the vigorous and healthy ‘Australian Girl’.   As one of the first female sporting celebrities, she typified the new modern woman as she travelled to Europe and the USA, maintained an independent lifestyle and disregarded societal conventions.  In 1975, Mina was selected as an Honoree to the Florida based International Swimming Hall of Fame.  When her request to the Federal Government for expenses to attend the induction ceremony was denied, a nationwide fundraising campaign launched Mina back into the spotlight.  Sixty years after the Australian public had sent Mina to the Stockholm Olympics, the populace re-embraced the forgotten champion and sent her to Florida to take her place amongst the Greats of international swimming.   The book rediscovers Mina Wylie, a woman who twice inspired a nation, sixty years apart.  And a woman who was determined not be written out of Australian sporting history.    

Jack the Ripper

I fired my second editor in 2016 after 10 years, and I asked: “Why are you changing my book and putting in voices he supposedly is hearing in his head like a schizophrenic?” Louise responded, “Well he would have to have been crazy to carve up those women in that way.” I resonated “If he was a schizophrenic, then I’m a schizophrenic, you’ve been brainwashed by social media, he was a killer!”

Then I hired my third editor/proofreader, Harold Winberg, who translated technical instruction manuals into six languages. I knew he would pay close attention to details and not change, or distort the message. To understand one’s psyche, as a trained psychologist I know, you have to start at the true beginning. You can’t just jump into London 1888 during the Jack the Ripper murders and begin chapter 1 there because it’s thrilling, at first glance he would appear a deranged psychopath, at the least.

John or Jack was already a skilled horse slaughterer at age 17, he could slit the throat and sever the vocal cords of horses with a sharp knife – a silent killer.

Oh, a knife, The Ripper, why is a knife so much scarier than a gun? Because it’s personal and intimate.