All Because of Daisy

Terence Roberts came to live in Ireland as a middle-aged working man in search of something. He took a gamble when he could have easily stayed comfortable and resigned to the only life he knew. On reflection, he didn’t really know himself as he approached his 50^th birthday and he couldn’t see a purposeful future. Everything had been lost amidst the pace and chaos of urban living and life’s natural disappointments. But in rural Ireland, he found himself in a totally different world, finding what was important in his own life whilst rediscovering innocence and hope. Through unique characters, both human and in the field, he was entertained, educated and inspired.

All Because of Daisy was written initially for his family and close friends to help explain why he left them to come to live in Ireland and why he stayed. Thanks to his new environment and eye-opening experiences, he begins to make sense of his own life, his past, present and future. He also concludes that while modern-day life is far from simple and is emotionally expensive in many ways, it can also be beautiful and priceless when seen through fresh eyes… but to do that, sometimes you have to take a gamble.

Alamein to Berlin 1942–1945

This diary and narrative was written by Signaller F. Horsfield of the 7^th Armoured Division. After serving two years in the Middle East, he returned to this country for fourteen days’ leave then rejoined his regiment and later took part in the invasion of France.

Africa in the 20th Century

The author of this book was privileged to live in West and East African countries for over 25 years, followed by a close relationship for a further ten years. There was mutual respect, while a shared sense of humour made the majority of time such a worthwhile environment to both work and play. During the author’s time in Africa there were major changes of colonies to independence, and he witnessed the respect between the nations.

Today, the relationships between peoples of different colours are so important to all our lives; sadly, we still have far too many who cannot accept this. Fundamental cultural changes of this kind take time, and it would be true to say that not enough progress has been made over the past few years.

In many areas of life, it will be the younger generations who will lead. For this reason the author hopes that this publication will be of interest to them as they continue to grapple with the problems of climate change. The book stresses discipline as a vital aspect of life; perhaps we need more of this to counter our apparent concentration on materialism.

Abductions From My Beautiful Life

‘There is a shapeshifter asleep in my head. And when it wakes you won’t recognise me as my children’s mother, my husband’s wife, or the writer, veterinarian and advocate that I am. You won’t recognise me as someone who is alive to adventure and beauty.’

Anita Link was thirty-two years old, and six days into motherhood, when she experienced a psychotic episode and was trapped on the wrong side of sanity for the first time. It took months in hospital, medications, electroconvulsive therapy and psychological therapies to fully recover. And then, a few years later, it happened again.

This memoir is a look into what can happen to a person’s thoughts, emotions and behaviour when they are ravaged by a severe mental illness. Anita writes compellingly about what psychosis, mania and catatonic depression can feel like. Her authentic narrative of recovery reveals the hard work it takes to return to normal life after being stolen away from it by highly stigmatised symptoms.

Anita has survived these abductions and returned to her beautiful life many times. This is her story.

A War Time Childhood And This is the Way I Saw It

I am in my eighties and have enjoyed reading books all of my life. I believe that those of us who enjoy reading books should write one and this is mine.

As a child growing up during the Second World War, family members over the generations have often asked me about my memories of that time.

This is how I remember it.

A New Home and Other Stories

What could happen when you leave behind the life you have known and travel to a faraway country? Would you go to a place where everything feels different, and no one speaks like you do? Have you ever thought about what that must be like? Join Lina and her family on their adventures to a new home. This historical memoir will take you on a road of fulfilling dreams and the troubles along the way.

A Midwife's Memoir

Following a long career as a midwife and then a community midwife, Carol retired in 2016, but she found she missed the excitement of bringing new life into the world, the joy and fulfillment of helping mothers to be, and the sheer pleasure of working in a small community.

She decided to record her experiences in this book as a tribute to all the wonderful mums and dads she gave help and advice to; some of the highs and lows, amusing and sometimes heart-breaking stories, and the unusual and unexpected events that occurred during that long career.

A Man of Two Superpowers

Brainwashed by the school propaganda at the end of Stalin’s rule, Yakov Grinshpun becomes an ardent young patriot. Unable to reconcile the communist ideals with the anti-Semitism he encounters throughout his school years, Yakov dreams of a way to escape the shell of propaganda.

A move from a shtetl to college in the city of Odessa opens his eyes to the realities of Soviet life: lack of freedom, harsh economic conditions, and the double life he is forced to live as a teacher. The idea of emigration is planted in his mind and grows into a desperation to leave the socialist “Paradise.”

After living in a socialist zoo for decades, would he be able to escape and put roots in a capitalist jungle?

A Man of Two Superpowers is an engaging, intimate, and moving memoir of struggle, depression, and accomplishments—sprinkled with humor and self-deprecation. This story gives an inside look of a transformation of a patriot into a “traitor” and the struggles an immigrant must overcome to become an American.

“A Man of Two Superpowers is a powerful book about perseverance, resilience, and the huge human spirit. As a daughter of a Holocaust survivor, I found it particularly moving and relevant regarding today’s immigrant experience.” –Laura Zam, author of The Pleasure Plan

“A Man of Two Superpowers is the perfect memoir for our times. It makes a solid and poignant case for the U.S. as a land of freedom and opportunity. Yakov Grinshpun makes the best possible argument for welcoming immigrants. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have neighbors like him. And we would be the worse for it.”–Caren S. Neile, Ph.D. author of Florida Lore

A House in the Countryside

“Did I want to die with the knowledge that I hadn’t given it my all? No, I did not…”

This is the true story of William Halstead, a carefree and happy guy who succumbed to a horrific, relentless, and sometimes life-threatening gambling addiction. This eventually led him down a dark path towards serious mental health issues. A House in the Countryside is a short but compelling insight into the mind of an addict, the resulting psychological problems, and the impact this is having on many similar lives throughout society  – an awful disease from which happiness can be found again.

A Glimmer of Hope

This is a true account of what I thought was a second chance of love and happiness after a sequence of life altering events. I was ready to begin a new chapter in my life, and that is exactly how it began. Little did I know that my vulnerability was being taken advantage of, for what I thought was a blossoming new relationship quickly turned into a violent and fearful fight for survival after three years.

I have recorded my story in the hope to raise awareness about domestic abuse but to also show any survivors that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Here is my story.

A Crude Vision

A tale of unlikely success: of a man’s journey in oil exploration across four continents before he climbs the foothills of the London Stock Exchange. An often lonely voyage of ambition and irrational perseverance, where knowing who you’re not is just as important as knowing who you are.

“The particular morning, standing in silence in my punt, musket in hand, looking out southward to the end of the earth that was the Caspian Sea horizon, I concluded that we must sell.”

A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie

A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie is a heartwarming and honest autobiographical book that tells the story of a woman’s life-changing journey alongside her partner, who has come out as transgender and now goes by the name Cassie. Through this compelling and intimate memoir, readers will gain insight into the challenges and triumphs of managing family life, raising children, and navigating a shifting dynamic in a long-term relationship. The author’s candid reflections on their journey together to explore new dimensions of love and intimacy, provide a refreshing perspective on gender and sexuality. From attending LGBT Pride events to exploring nightclubs and meeting supportive people along the way, this book is a tribute to the joys and surprises of life’s unexpected journeys. With humour, compassion, and love, A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of gender identity, and the transformative power of human connection.