< Back Jina Dcruz Lightning in a Bottle Book blurb... Lightning in a Bottle captures the essence of a reticent poet’s introspective journey, unraveling the complex emotions and curiosities that shape our lives. Each poem invites you to pause, reflect, and engage with themes that challenge the ordinary and explore the extraordinary. It’s a collection that will stir your imagination, spark deep contemplation, and leave you with a sense of wonder about the world around you. An evocative blend of thought and feeling, this book turns fleeting moments into lasting impressions. Purchase here

< Back Stephen Pollock Exits Exits is a collection of poetry by Stephen Pollock. The collection features a diverse range of poems, each exploring themes of mortality, nature, and the human experience. The preface sets the tone, reflecting on the inevitability of death and its impact on human perspective. Pollock’s poetry captures the transient beauty of life, the cycles of nature, and the promise of renewal, reflecting contemporary challenges of climate change, war, and global crises. Each poem is accompanied by artwork, creating a rich interaction of visual and literary art. The poems include Arachnidæa: Line Drawings, Seeds, Leaves, and Syringe, which explore the fragility of life and the destructive forces of nature and humanity. Arachnidæa: Line Drawings uses the imagery of a spider’s web to reflect on mortality, control, and the passage of time. Other poems, such as Zombie Fires and War Crimes, examine global and historical tragedies, from climate change to human cruelty and war. War Crimes for example recounts a childhood memory of burning a butterfly, drawing parallels to humanity’s capacity for violence and destruction. Each poem provides a unique lens through which we can examine the human experience. The book also features an extensive artwork index, showcasing a variety of images drawn from nature. From photographs of dewdrops on a web, to mixed media images of cicadas and tropical palms, the artwork adds depth to Pollock’s poetry. Overall, Exits by Stephen Pollock is a beautiful and moving collection, and a must-read for anyone who enjoys poetry and art alike. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A breath-taking collection of poetry and art that offers profound insights into the human experience. Purchase here

< Back B.D. Murphy The Last Dwarf Book blurb... Times are hard for Hallr, the last dwarf. Hunted constantly by witches, his best chance for a meal is fighting and scavenging the grim spoils of human wars. Alone, he desires a place without being attacked by witches. Meanwhile, a small band of seekers risks everything for the chance to find the dwarven city of Molgan. There is Milfred, a blacksmith desperate for the secrets of dwarven steel, his apprentice Agnarr, the witch healer Sheyla, who hides a dark past, and Kaleb, a giant-sized kid with a knack for puzzles. Their combined quest leads them to the very gates of Molgan. But the legends only tell a small part of the story. The ancient city holds the dragon-guarded treasure they believed had already been looted. Still, it also has a terrifying history: it was abandoned after a brutal attempt by witches to seize control. The danger that exiled the dwarves is not gone; it’s merely dormant. They came to find a city and its secrets. Now, they must decide if they are prepared to protect it before history repeats itself and all the answers are lost forever. A dragon doesn’t buy anything, so why is gold a treasure? How does a city inside a mountain feed its people without a single farm? And what dark truth drove the dwarves from their legendary home? Purchase here

< Back Robert Richardson 3 4 1 Book blurb... At its core, 3 4 1 delivers a powerful message: even in the face of uncontrollable circumstances, there is hope for justice, resilience, and love. Purchase here

< Back Jackie Ewing Life Lessons from a Late Bloomer - Vignettes of a Small-Town Girl A fascinating journey of self-discovery, by author Jackie Ewing Life Lessons from a Late Bloomer - Vignettes of a Small-Town Girl is an intimate memoir by Canadian author Jackie Ewing about her life, loves and adventures, from a small town to the big wide world. The book follows her journey from student to teacher, mother and wife; and across the globe as she travelled extensively from Canada to Kuwait, Mexico, London and beyond. Ewing talks about her experiences of teaching all over the world, her love of children and her passion and dedication to the profession. She recalls fond and funny memories of teaching ‘her kids’, and how even in the most challenging times, she attempted to bring joy into the classroom. She talks about many challenging situations throughout her life, including the breakup of her marriage, and a terrifying scare with breast cancer. All told with love, affection, and lots of humour. There are many wild and funny moments, including her first foray into a strip club, and an encounter with a wild bear while pregnant. The book comprises ten chapters, each with a life lesson at the end of the chapter. The key life lessons are: Embrace yourself; Choose people who value you; Go the extra mile; Adapt and be flexible; Suck all the marrow out of life; Get down off that high horse; Bet on yourself; Just keep getting back up; What other people think of you is none of your business. For many of us, life can be tough, unforgiving, demanding and relentless, and these are wise lessons to live by. As a forty-something woman myself, I wished I had this advice twenty years ago! Overall, this is a light-hearted, fun and inspiring self-help book, full of anecdotes and useful advice from a woman who has lived life well. Ewing writes with such honesty, warmth and humour, and it was a joy to read. The book will appeal to readers who enjoy self help books, humorous fiction and women’s fiction. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A light-hearted, fun and inspiring self-help book. A joy to read and highly recommended. Purchase here

< Back Laura Foley Sister in a Different Movie Laura Foley’s Sister in a Different Movie is a poignant, deeply personal collection of poems that weaves together threads of family history, memory, grief, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of loss. Dedicated to her sister Claire, the book is both a tribute and an exploration of the complexities of sibling relationships, set against the broader backdrop of familial trauma and healing. Foley’s poetry is marked by its clarity and emotional honesty. The collection opens with the evocative line, “A sister is like yourself in a different movie, a movie that stars you in a different life,” setting the tone for a meditation on parallel lives and the ways in which siblings both mirror and diverge from one another. Throughout, Foley’s language is precise yet lyrical, as seen in poems like “Small Certainties,” where she reflects on her father’s wartime trauma and its lingering effects on the family: “I was lucky—born fourth of four girls, so Dad had a little more time to get over the war... I learned instead to seek joy in the smallest ways, lining up my toy cats—small, bright certainties in a world still trembling from what came before.” The collection is rich with sensory detail and vivid imagery, from the “western-facing ocean of afternoon sun” in “The River House” to the “aromas of puddings, soda bread baking” in “Sister in the Old Country.” Foley’s poems often juxtapose moments of beauty and comfort with undercurrents of pain and loss, such as in “Dust of Snow,” where the simple pleasure of snowfall is shadowed by memories of war and personal grief. The book’s structure, moving from childhood memories to the present, mirrors the process of remembrance and healing. Foley’s ability to find grace and meaning in the midst of sorrow makes this work both universal and deeply individual. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A moving, beautifully crafted collection that invites readers into the intimate spaces of family life, loss, and renewal. Purchase here

< Back M. E. Torrey Fox Creek Book blurb... The beloved, biracial daughter of a Louisiana planter is sold into slavery and must somehow survive while caught between the world of the white elite and the brutality of slavery. Purchase here

< Back Angie Bailey Believe Abigale believes there is more to life than the dull, grey world she inhabits, by author Angie Bailey Thirteen-year-old Abigale Johnson was born into a family of Never-Believers. A family who did not believe in Christmas, or birthdays, or fun, adventure or magic. A family whose life was dull and grey. But Abigale was a little different from the Johnson’s. She had dreams of a better life, and a life a little less grey. So Abigale spent most her time tyring to avoid her family, particularly her brothers who were the meanest of the mean, and teased and taunted Abigale every single day. One day, on a dreaded train trip to visit her despicable and very grey Aunt Violet, Abigale’s life changes for ever. After a knock on the head, Abigale discovers an alternate Fae world of wonder and magic, fae-folk, and Believers. Whizzing along on the Faedora magic train, Abigale meets lots of new friends and discovers Christmas and other wonderful celebrations. At thirteen, Abigale has her first ever birthday party, full of love and laughter. But not everyone on the magical train is happy with Abigale’s arrival, and they plot a sinister spell to extract her from the train during the next pink moon, putting her life in mortal danger. As Abigale’s new friends try to save her from doom, they soon discover Abigale has some important royal connections, and even her despicable Aunt Violet is not quite who she seems. Believe is an imaginative and enchanting novel. Well written by Angie Bailey and full of wonder, mystery and magic, the book has fabulous characters and a magnificent plot. This book will captivate both adults and younger readers. The book is the first part of a series, and we can’t wait to read the next instalment in Abigale’s magical journey. Star Rating: 5 Stars Summary ‘An enchanting novel, with fabulous characters and a magnificent plot. This book will captivate both adults and younger readers.’ A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ Purchase here

< Back Alexander Fernandez Above the Ashes In 1689, fifteen year old Sybil Radella Cotterill is trying to escape the witch-hunters in Plymouth, England. After her mother is killed, Sybil boards a ship to the New World, with her friend and fellow-witch, Constance Chandler. The young women settle in Salem Village, Massachusetts, but fear and hatred of witches has followed the colonists to the New World. As the women try to keep their witchcraft secret, they witness innocent young women killed during the Salem witch trials. When Constance is accused of carrying out the devil’s work through witchcraft, she is sent to her death without a trial. Sybil reveals her true identity, and she is hanged alongside her friend. Sybil uses her powers to evade death, but the towns church leader, Minister Kendrick, casts a spell to make her sleep for three hundred years. In California, three hundred years later, vampires, witches and the undead are accepted in society, and live and work in mutual respect with humans. Vampire, Marcelo, discovers an ancient necklace in his car, which leads him to the Salem Witch Museum. At the museum, Marcelo discovers an old casket with Sybil sleeping inside. Sybil wakes from her three hundred year slumber and Marcelo takes care of her in a world that is now beyond recognition. As Sybil’s powers return, she sets out to find and seek revenge on Kendricks descendants. But Kendrick isn’t far behind, and has a sinister plan to harness Sybil’s powers and take over the world with his dark magic. Above the Ashes is a fantasy fiction novel by Alexander Fernandez, and the first book in the Blood and Hexes Trilogy. The book follows the journey of a witch named Sybil who wakes from a three hundred year slumber and seeks revenge on the man who killed her friend. Fernandez takes the reader on a journey from the sixteenth century to the present day, and from England to Massachusetts, and all the way to Peru. With witches, vampires, demons and dark magic, this is a gripping dark fantasy fiction novel, with a unique and modern twist. With a blend of dark fantasy fiction, adventure, and a touch of romance, this novel is an excellent choice for readers looking for a fresh take on the traditional witch trope. Star rating : 5 Stars Summary : A spellbinding and gripping read, with a fierce protagonist and the beginnings of a tumultuous love affair. Purchase here

< Back Paula Welch The Jewel Thief Book blurb... Jubilee Jones returned to her home town of Bowral to face an uncertain future. She felt adrift and alone. Time ticked by slowly in Bowral, alone with her thoughts. On her mother's advice she decided to do some gardening. One day, while digging up some dead rose bushes in her back garden, Jubilee inadvertently dug up an old biscuit tin. Expecting to find animal bones inside, she instead found eighteen pieces of ornately exquisite jewellery. Emeralds, rubies, diamonds and pearls sparkling up at her from within the tin. Jubilee knew she could not keep them, but her curiosity prevented her from handing them to the police straight away. Compelled to know when they were buried and by whom, Jubilee asks her cousin Meg for help and together they begin to unravel the mystery of the biscuit tin. Surprisingly, their research leads them to their mysterious great-grandfather. Jubilee and Meg' head to England, where they hire a campervan and set off across England in an attempt to uncover the past. During their travels around England, Jubilee and Meg trace the descendants of the five families robbed in 1939 and learn how their lives had been irrevocably changed by the robberies committed by their great-grandfather so long ago. But sometimes the past is best left buried. Was their great-grandfather also a murdered? As the story of the stolen jewellery spreads around Hatton Garden old sins are brought back to life as more than one criminal is unearthed. By the time Jubilee's journey draws to an end, she finally finds her place in this world, along with love and happiness. Purchase here

< Back Leon Conrad Story and Structure: A complete guide An essential read for anyone interested in writing and storytelling, by Leon Conrad ‘Story and Structure: A complete guide’ is a handbook for anyone interested in writing and storytell ing. It tells the untold story of what makes a story, a ‘story’. Conrad describes his approach, which is based on six primary symbols (inspired by Professor George Spencer-Brown’s book ‘Laws of Form’), as a simple, visual way to analyse and compare different story structures. The six sy mbols approach is a useful way to understand how story works, how and why structures differ, and why story is a much wider phenomena than most people underst and. It has the potential to help us not only understand stories better, but also to underst and ourselves better. He provides examples of 18 distinct story structures, some well-known and some less well known , from across different cultures and eras (from the earliest written records to the present day). Conrad describes the methodology of the approach and applies it to different story structures, as well as describing the implications for the approach, and how the methodology can be applied in the practice of writing, from poetry to creative writing, teaching and anthropology. ‘Story and Structure: A complete guide’ by Leon Conrad is a comprehensive, well-researched and insightful handbook. The book is well structured, and easy to read and understand. This book will help readers appreciate the importance of story structure, and will help anyone to write better stories. It is an essential read for anyone interested in writing and storytelling, includ ing writers, storytellers, teachers, poets, and readers. I really wi sh I had read this book ten years ago, when I started my own writing journey. Star rating: 5 St ars Summary: A fascin ating insight into how story works, which will help readers appreciate the import ance of story structure. Purchase here

< Back Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato Three Days Grace Three Days Grace by Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato is a tense, psychological drama that delves into the tangled web of family secrets, trauma, and the search for identity. The story is set in Paris and unfolds over three days, bringing together a cast of characters whose lives are bound by shared pain and unresolved conflict. Nick, a young American living in Paris, is forced to confront the death of his estranged father, Gene, and the wounds left by a childhood marked by abuse and silence. The story brings together Nick, his mother Lynne, her wife Susan, the enigmatic artist Laslo, and Marc, a Parisian friend, for a family gathering where they are forced to confront the ghosts of the past. Nick’s struggle to reclaim agency over his life and body is both heart-breaking and inspiring, while Lynne’s mix of guilt, denial, and longing for redemption is both sympathetic and infuriating. Donato’s narrative is particularly effective in highlighting how trauma reverberates through generations, shaping relationships and identity. The characters’ attempts to protect themselves and each other often result in further harm, a cycle the novel examines with honesty and sensitivity. The novel’s structure, with shifting perspectives and timelines, mirror the characters’ fractured memories and the nonlinear process of healing. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, often serving as a battleground for the characters’ competing truths. Three Days Grace does not shy away from difficult subjects, but offers moments of hope that healing is possible, even if the past cannot be undone. Overall, a powerful and beautifully introspective novel exploring the devastating impact of child sexual abuse. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A haunting, unflinching portrait of family, trauma, and identity. Purchase here