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Revolving Door
Quietly reflective, the beautifully written poems in this slim volume offer a welcome respite from the noisy insistence of modern life. The language, now simple and direct, now rich in associations, double-meanings, and imagery, has its own natural rhythm and appeal regardless of subject and rhyme. Intriguing, absorbing, thought-provoking, the poems are innovative and fresh and the intensity of the verses in places will undoubtedly strike a chord with readers of all kinds - both established readers of poetry, those who read poetry now and again, and those turning to poetry for the first time. Largely relating one person's take on how it is to be in the world, the poems address such aspects of life as time, being, loss, culture, and contingency. The collection is divided into three sections - non-rhyming poems, rhyming poems, and a concluding section of lighter, more humorous verses, with each of two additional poems serving as foreword and afterword.
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Roger the Boxer
This book tells the story of the extraordinary life of a man from North London, from 1960 to 2020. He battles his way through life, mostly in a catastrophic manner. To the reader he openly admits his faults and mistakes, from violence, cocaine, sexual differences, prison, and to Northern Ireland and back to London.
Whilst reading this book you will feel joy, sorrow, then more joy. You will want to love him, hit him, then love him some more. It’s an enjoyable read for everyone to learn from his mistakes and understand how he turned his life around to success.
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Rosella, Snowflake and Mary
Old King Frederick lived in a country called Philiphia with his three children: Rosella, Snowflake, and Mary. He wanted to leave his crown in the right hands. Whoever out of his three daughters brings him the greatest treasure first will become the queen. Princess Rosella was the witch of the family. She loved: magic wands, pointy hats, cloaks, cauldrons, broomsticks, diamond mobile mirrors, and flying books. Snowflake loved: winter dresses, winter, ice-skating, snow fairies, polar bears, ice creams, and northern lights. Mary was great at painting. She was a rainbow princess. She had a rainbow magic wand, a magic paint set, a collection of colourful dresses, and a lot of friends. All three princesses imagined themselves to be the queens of the kingdom.
I wonder, who will be the queen?
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Rotting Man Goes to Town
Rotting Man Goes to Town deals with an adult relationship; which is in deep trauma from the outset of the story. Its technique is predominately dual narration, going from him to her vantage points. There are two sides to every story. Some of the language is hard-hitting, with angry scenes or mindsets, including some swearing. Political incorrectness exists in parts. The emotions are raw. It is a compelling and authentic read. It begins badly. How will it end?
The initial setting is in America, with flashbacks to Britain, meant to counter the: hurt, sadness and anger, by the use of the device of injecting past comedic episodes. Levity and tragedy are seen in animal antics. Thus, the humorous scenes are meant to bring a balance to the novel overall.
With the exception of the animals’ names, which remain true, all human names have been changed.
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Senior Pleasures
Overnight Tom Hartley became a grieving widower after years of happy marriage and rebuilt his life by making new friends and taking up new interests. He moved house and set up a gardening club which also helped elderly residents and arranged walks and other social activities. After a number of close friendships with lonely ladies, he fell in love with neighbour Helen who had been working with him on the gardening club. Concerned about Tom’s over-friendly nature, Helen insisted on a one-year engagement and that they should continue to live in separate homes for Tom to prove that he could resist temptation. All went well until a glamorous widow moved in next door and began making advances.
An unexpected event brought about a change in plans and Tom and Helen had to sell their homes and move to a rundown property requiring months of hard work and expense to restore. Despite their problems the couple have fun together and their love blossoms.
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Shakib Arsalan’s Why Muslims Lagged Behind and Others Progressed
In the fall of 1928, the Imam of Java, a certain Mohammad Basyuni Imran, had a letter delivered to the Lebanese author and scholar, Shakib Arsalan. In his letter, Basyuni Imran requested Arsalan to explain the reasons for the backwardness of Muslims of the time compared to other nations. Furthermore, Basyuni asked Arsalan to suggest what they need to do to join the ranks of nations that have overtaken them and, in many cases, rule over them.
Arsalan published his response in a series of articles written for the Cairo-based Islamic journal, Al-Manar. Subsequently, these articles were combined and published in a book in 1930 with the title: Why did Muslims lag behind? And why did others progress?
In his response, Arsalan begins with an analysis of what has gone wrong. He addresses the belief of some that Islam is to blame for the backwardness of Muslims. He goes on to give examples of how advanced nations progressed while holding firmly onto their religious beliefs.
In simple, elegant prose, Arsalan takes the reader on a fascinating walk through history. There are references to pre-Islamic times and the early Islamic period, French colonialists in North Africa and their efforts to convert Muslim populations to Christianity, goings on in the British Houses of Parliament on the issue of transubstantiation, and much more.
The latter part of the book has examples of recent (1930s and earlier) achievements of Muslims when they set their minds on doing something.
It is a measure of the merit and excellence of Arsalan’s words that his book has never been out of publication. It remains among Arabic speakers as popular and relevant today as at the time it was first published almost a century ago.
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Shine
Ever wondered about the mystery of creation? Do you often feel like there’s more to life than what you’ve been told? There is! Dive deep into the magical stories of love, adversity and adventure. Join the journey of a Sun named Shine as he asks the Very First Question and is presented with a peculiar answer. Follow along with the adventure of a Magician and a Fairy Queen who intend to save their town by reminding the King that love is stronger than fear. Transform with a Secret Keeper who must decide if keeping secrets is his True Purpose and learn, ponder and explore universal concepts such as the Law of Attraction, the Chakras, the Star Signs, Intuition and the Elements as you discover things you didn’t know you knew!
Every single person on the planet has within themselves a unique gift, something valuable and priceless to share with the world. Let these poems remind you of what lies dormant within your heart. Be brave enough to accept your light and let…it…SHINE.
Something magical happens when you let your heart lead the way. -
Shoot for the Face
Jason Rogers couldn’t remember the last time he had slept soundly. After surviving 20 years in the high-octane world of Russian investment banking, he knew that his time there as the high-flying international banker to the oligarchs was coming to an end.
The bank he’d built from scratch in the 90s, Falcon Capital, his pride and joy, was being assailed on all sides by shadowy forces in Russian society with impeccable government connections, the “siloviki”. To compound matters, his chief risk officer had approved a loan to an oligarch, Ari Kandinskiy, who was down on his luck and had all but gone broke. His efforts to recover desperately needed funds from the stricken oligarch would pit him against powerful interests in Moscow – including Ruslan Akhmatov, the mercurial emissary of Russia’s most troublesome regional governor.
Desperate times would call for desperate measures. Jason Rogers would have to call one final time on the services of Dmitry Ovchinnikov, the Siberian hitman who was a little rough around the edges and dressed like an American cowboy – but who had proved so terribly effective at neutralising his client’s enemies over the years and despatching them to cemeteries all over Russia.
Dmitry Ovchinnikov’s capacity for violence and appetite for dispensing his own, unique brand of “justice” would result in some of Moscow’s most bloody executions in recent memory. It would trigger an orgy of revenge killings which would see the body parts of prominent members of the Russian underworld scattered all over the white tablecloths of that city’s finest restaurants.
Would Jason Rogers come to regret the murderous gang war that he had unleashed on the streets of Moscow? Would he become one of its victims?
Only time would tell…
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Simone’s Choice
Imagine you are in a bar celebrating your birthday and your freedom as a newly divorced man when your eyes meet those of a stunning blue eyed blonde. The connection is instant and electric. Finally, after such a long and desperately hard road, could true love be within your reach?
This is deeply personal and moving true story written by author David John Baird about Michael, a 51-year-old professional, and the torrid and steamy romance that nearly destroyed him and his belief in finding the “one”.
In this semi-biographical romance thriller, Michael meets Simone, a bubbly Italian on the eve of her return to Singapore. They exchange numbers and embark on a cyber romance of Skype dates and instant messaging. He is over the moon when she announces she has a job in Sydney and is moving to be by his side. Their romance is passionate and raw, honest, and deeply authentic. The story, in Michael’s words, is an insightful account of his thoughts during their flourishing romance.
However, the constant interruption by Simone’s ex-boyfriend Marco arouses his suspicions and what happens next, no one could anticipate.
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So How Will You Sleep?
Do you want to sleep in a tree like a koala?
How about at the bottom of the ocean like a whale?
Or upside down in a cave like a bat?
Discover how different creatures go to sleep at night and imagine yourself snuggling down with them at bed time.
You can also try and spot the playful caterpillar hidden on every page.
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SOE Agent Code Name LILLY
Mary Dumont is a third officer in the Women’s Royal Naval Service working at the Admiralty Communications Centre in London in 1942 where she is recruited by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) to become a wireless operator-saboteur. Parachuted into France, Mary joins a small band of resistance fighters where she leads a double life, a schoolteacher by day, a wireless operator by night; all goes horribly wrong, Mary is captured and tortured by an SS major who is determined to obtain both her codes and the names of her companions. Mary makes a daring escape during an air raid, unknown to her, German Intelligence has infiltrated SOE, a double agent known to Mary has also been parachuted into France to capture a Dutch scientist who is escaping to England with plans for the German V1 flying bomb. Evading capture, Mary’s resistance cell must get the scientist to England before he can be handed over to the Gestapo, but first Mary must eliminate the German double agent. Just when she thinks it is safe on returning to England, Mary and her companions discover the identity of the traitor within SOE, they must try to eliminate him before he can return the scientist to the Germans.
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Songs From The Mansion House Garden
Through the ages we have lived in a split society of the haves and have-nots. Songs From The Mansion House Garden is a poetic look into the lives people lead, some through wealth, others religion or through nature, and how we perceive each other. Each will have an opinion on wealth; whether it is a necessity or a creator of each life.
By the end the reader can make their own decision on the author’s thoughts.