Saving the World, One Mix-Tape at a Time

Nicky is sixteen and lives in a dull Northern town in 1978, but science fiction, music, and his colourful friends give him a sense of purpose. Then, he meets Angela, everything changes, and he takes teenage alienation to a whole new level. Saving the World, One Mix-Tape at a Time is a coming-of-age story set in reality… and beyond. Nicky, aimless and at odds with his parents, finds solace in science fiction and his quirky misfit friends. His problems are simple: he knows too many kids named Paul, he wants to date a girl, and he has far too much on his mind. However, when he meets Angela, his reality is turned upside down, and nothing is as it first seems. As Nicky navigates the tough year of 1978, he discovers that life is full of surprising alternatives and that sometimes the most unexpected and strangest events can change our lives forever.Told through Nicky’s vivid experiences and misadventures with his friends, Saving the World, One Mix-Tape at a Time blends sci-fi, punk rock, and the bittersweet memories of first love. It explores themes of adolescent angst, friendship, and the transcendent power of imagination during a time of turbulent social change and literal teenage alienation.

Secrets or Lies

Chrissy and David were living the dream, with their deep love for each other and their two beautiful daughters, their world seemed perfect. However, fate dealt a cruel hand, and they faced an unimaginable tragedy that left them without their beloved girls.Katie and Jessie had every reason to look forward to a bright future filled with joy, indulgence, and privilege. Growing up on a picturesque ranch, surrounded by love, lush greenery, and the stables they adored, life couldn’t have been more idyllic for the two sisters.But beneath the surface of this perfect existence, there were secrets waiting to be uncovered…

Der Wache Mann / The Awake Man

Daniel, a globe-trotting sweets and chocolate taster, embarks on a flavorful journey that takes an unexpected turn when he meets Naomi, an aspiring singer in Japan. As Daniel immerses himself in his passion, purchasing candy to bring back to Munich, his wife Diane harbors suspicions of infidelity. Unbeknownst to Daniel, Diane is entangled in her own affair with Mr. Schalter, one of Daniel’s business associates. As relationships unravel and new connections form, Daniel finds solace in his correspondence with Naomi and his close bond with his daughter, Lisel. Through the twists and turns of love, betrayal, and self-discovery, this story emphasizes the paramount importance of cherishing the relationships that truly matter.

Die Zeit der Frau / The Time of the Woman

Rita, a modern woman, forges an acting career, while her partner Karl writes scripts. She meets many people – her Uncle Fred, Bertha, Peter, Edwina – and moves with Karl from Boston to Switzerland for his work.Her childhood imagination springs to life when the circus comes to town. As Uncle Fred falls for Yuki, Rita connects with her, making a pen-pal. Relationships interweave between the cast, underscoring the busy modern world where paths constantly cross.Traveling from Boston to Munich stirs Rita’s longing for the mother she never met, and motivates her search. Karl eventually wins an Academy Award, but accepts it without attending, in his signature style. Through it all, Rita and Karl’s bond endures, a rarity in these turbulent times.

Happy Belated Birthday

Sally Sparks is a woman in her blossoms, a writer, and a life adventurist.In her strife for keeping her freedom, reputation, and social stability, she uses creative means. A connection to her past life, brings conflict into her present relation with a young lover and forces her to take some major decisions regarding her personal life.

The Colour of Covid

As Melbourne endures some of the planet’s longest pandemic lockdowns, three disconnected lives spiral toward intersecting turmoil. Family man John Clark fights to hold career and relationships intact while opinionated libertarian Jimmy Bulwark rages alone against heavy-handed government restraints. By chance these childhood acquaintances reunite just as forthright executive Nicky Chan gets callously downsized.United in outrage over Nicky’s mistreatment, John and Jimmy impulsively intervene despite clashing worldviews that once kept them estranged. But social tensions run high and resources grow scarce as the crisis persists year after chaotic year. Personal principles get tested as the trio bonds through tribulation, forced to reconsider their stances on virus safety versus freedom and civil duty.Follow the tumultuous trajectories of three complex personalities as isolating upheaval strains relationships and erodes security. With compassion and humour, this revealing drama bears witness to everyday people persevering through a surreal epoch of ominous viral threats, social polarization, economic devastation, and uncertainty plaguing our planet.

Homeless Companions

Harmony Harringdon is a teenager with her whole life ahead of her. She is beautiful, sweet, and talented. Harmony and her best friend Jake Butler are inseparable. As the pair grow from children to teenagers, their friendship becomes love. They weren’t to know what fate has planned for them. It would all become too much for Harmony, despite having Jake there to support her.Fleeing the shame and devastation she believes she has caused, Harmony leaves all she knows behind her. Bearing witness to the cruel realities of life, this time fate is kind and brings Harmony a Carnival.With newfound purpose, Harmony’s talent and tenacity propels her on an unexpected journey. However, all Harmony longs for more than anything is for something or someone to save her.

Empire Close

Empire Close unfolds in a quaint cul-de-sac of six 1950s detached houses in a mid-sized English commuter town, where Ted has always felt part of a close-knit community.As 1997 dawns, Ted, now retired and wheelchair-bound, reflects on the past 45 years in Empire Close. He fondly remembers a time when a strong British identity was the hallmark of the neighbourhood, a trait he held dear. However, he’s witnessed a gradual transformation that leaves him feeling isolated and nostalgic.With the death of the last original neighbour, Ted grapples with the reality that he may be the last ‘true’ Brit left. His internal struggle is profound, as he wrestles with his beliefs and identity, yet never fully confronting their deeper implications.An unexpected turn of events dramatically upsets Ted’s world, challenging him to confront both his past and his future. This journey of self-discovery brings Ted to a pivotal crossroads, where he must reconcile his past actions with their unforeseen impact on his life.The story navigates the complexities of identity, community, and change, leaving readers to ponder André Malraux’s notion: ‘When man faces destiny, destiny ends and man comes into his own.’ As the narrative unfolds, Ted’s journey towards understanding his destiny and himself takes intriguing turns, leading to a thought-provoking conclusion.

Greeted by Kindness

Can you always trust Kindness?The ghost writer of her autobiography thought so. The government that made her Lady Kindness and its minister thought so too.Kindness definitely believed it, but fact checking left some big questions unanswered. Whatever Kindness believed, it does matter that you are who you say you are.

The Top Valley Enigma

In The Top Valley Enigma, a tale unfolds of a wealthy American conservationist whose solitary and zealous nature leads him to Australia. Motivated by the discovery of ancient human remains and the threat of a new coal mine, his journey takes a turn when he meets a businesswoman from the United States in Melbourne. Their shared interests spark an unexpected partnership, and together they embark on a captivating adventure.

Their journey is marked by serene yachting days and a mesmerizing visit to the Great Barrier Reef, experiences that deepen their bond and become pivotal in their lives. The duo aligns with local conservationists and discovers a cattle farm that is crucial to their quest, revealing significant archaeological finds of early human life.

Meanwhile, the shadows of a complex past, including a major share trading deal, lurk behind the American conservationist. As their mission to thwart the coal mine gains momentum, they become entwined in a web of past endeavors in conservation. This ignites a wave of revenge from individuals with long memories, profoundly impacted by his previous actions. The Top Valley Enigma masterfully weaves a story of archaeological discovery, environmental activism, and the intricate play of human connections and past deeds.

The Smallest Show on Earth

From the 60s through to the present day Patrick Church has worked in the cinema from Peterborough through to Bury St Edmunds. In The Smallest Show on Earth he takes us through that experience in an autobiography that draws the reader into the trials and joys of a being a projectionist screening blockbusters like ‘Jaws' and a curious period of Indian films where half the time is spent splicing the films back together.The role of projectionist was always a low paid, but with the advent of TV and bingo and other demands on people's time it also became a precarious one as the decades rolled by. Sometimes Patrick had to plead his case as cinemas changed hands from ABC, to Odeon and bingo conglomerates, just to keep his job going and the buildings in operation. The fact that he succeeded is testament to his love for cinema and this passion shines through in this engaging book.

The Pleasure Cats of Nova Playa

The Pleasure Cats of Nova Playa is a story of sex, drugs, alcohol, violence and techno music. Set in the fictional sun soaked Mediterranean resort of Playa Nova where underground, under town, cats mirror the excesses of the sunseekers above. Into this bustling, vibrant underground city arrives the beautiful Napoleona, a charming and cunning cat with a past, but with her eyes fixed squarely on the future, and in particular the coming winter. In the summer the cats feast and party, but the cold desolate winter threatens to thin them out. She encounters new dangers, especially Count Luciano, the second in command to King Louie, gangsters with pretensions of nobility. The pursuit of power and pleasure seems to have no bounds in this subterranean city. How far will Napoleona go to ensure the party never ends?