Beneath the Shelter of an Ancient Tree

A voyage of family discovery reveals poverty and imprisonment in the West Country; the development of new trades in the industrial revolution; a Rabbi who doubles up as a pawnbroker; and middle-class prosperity and tragedy in the Birmingham jewellery trade. Starting with only minimal knowledge of widely dispersed ancestors this journey tracks down ancient relatives from Wales, the West Riding of Yorkshire, Somerset, Dorset, Poland and Russia. Two mayors make fleeting appearances (one in Gloucester, the other in Moonee Ponds, Melbourne). One great uncle is found to have designed the iconic gantries in the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast where the Titanic was built. A great, great, great grandfather has questions to answer about the treatment of child labour in his Calderdale spinning mill.

Starting in the late 18th century Beneath the Shelter of an Ancient Tree catalogues how and where these diverse characters lived, how they made their living, and the ups and downs of family fortunes. It comments on some of the pivotal moments that affected their progress, and draws on contemporary sources, some family memoirs, and genealogical records to build a picture of how working people and artisans gradually – throughout the Victorian era – improved their lot in life.

Benevolence the Tree

Benevolence is a tree that helps everyone who comes to her. But who will help Benevolence when she is in need? 

This is a fun, short, wholesome rhyming story that endeavours to educate young readers about the important role of trees in our world.      

Benito's Truth

Amidst Peru’s rebellion against Spanish rule and an impending blockade by the Chilean fleet, the Viceroy of Lima and its priests devise a plan to safeguard the fabled Treasure of Lima. Captain Bennett Grahame, commanding the HMS Devonshire, is entrusted with this crucial task and instructed to return once the coast is clear. However, fate intervenes as Bennett falls deeply in love with Teresa, the enchanting daughter of the Viceroy. Their passionate affair leads to unforeseen consequences – Teresa loses her virginity, thwarting her father’s carefully arranged marriage plans and resulting in her exile to Spain on the galleon Santa Katerina Isabella, destined for a life in a distant monastery.

Driven by his unwavering love, Bennett embarks on a daring pursuit of the Isabella, defying all odds to rescue his beloved Teresa and confronting the Spanish Captain in a fateful showdown that forever alters his path. Cast into the realm of piracy, Bennett embraces his new persona as Benito ‘Bloody Sword’ Bonito, a fearsome figure renowned throughout the Spanish Main.

Compelled by both love and ambition, Benito sets sail from the Caribbean, in possession of the legendary treasure said to be hidden in a Queenscliff cave in colonial Australia. A tale of love, piracy, and insatiable greed unfolds, spanning from the shores of the Iberian Peninsula to the distant reaches of Australia’s colonial past. Revealed through the perspectives of Benito, Teresa, and their son Benjamin, Benito’s Truth offers a breathtaking account of the events that truly transpired—a narrative so incredible, it defies the boundaries of fiction. Prepare to discover that truth can be more astounding than any tale ever told.

Benjamin's Birthday

Everyone loves toys, although nowadays they are becoming more and more sophisticated and electronic.

But for really young children, the old favourites are still the best. Teddy bears and all forms of cuddly toys are what toddlers seek. So, what would they give to be able to play with them if they came to life.

Benjamin Roy is a typical fun-loving five-year-old who can’t believe his eyes when a glove puppet in the form of a grey and white rabbit gives him a wink and comes to life.

Benjamin’s Birthday is the fourth in the series, following Benny’s Arrival, Benny and Teddy’s Day Out, and Benny’s Sports Day.

Benji Yahoo And His Friends: The Disco

The summer break has ended, so Benji and his friends return to Crossom Dale School for a new semester. On arrival, they receive the news that the school is including a drama class in the new term. The pupils are thrilled with the news, especially when Principle Sannen announces that there is a disco on the forthcoming Friday to introduce the new drama teacher Sylvester Appleyard. Benji and his friends are really excited, for they have never been to a disco before. But when Benji's school rival, Victor, begins to taunt Benji on his lack of dance skills, plus, along with his wily friends, puts on an amazing disco dance display in the canteen, making the girls cheer loudly in admiration, Benji and his friends feel humiliated. The pressure is on. Can Benji, Denny, Quarter, Qui Qui and Millie learn to dance by Friday? ... Or will Victor and his wily friends laugh them off the dance floor?

Benjy and the Butterfly Air Show

Being a beautiful butterfly is a lovely existence – spending your days fluttering from flower to flower and supping tasty pollen. But it can also be a pretty scary existence since you represent a tasty meal for many birds, dragonflies, spiders and lots of other adversaries.

There is a lot of danger out there and you have to be very careful, very watchful and very skilful in your manoeuvres to avoid being picked off.

In this little book, children will learn to name many of the butterflies they see each summer in England and also learn about the hazards that butterflies face on a daily basis – including coping with the British weather!

The book is designed to be proactive for young children when read with an adult and involves the child taking a role in each page, responding verbally and physically as well as singing along with the butterfly song!

Bertha Spankle

Bertha Spankle is a clumsy soul who dreams of seeing the world. These tales take her on heart-stopping adventures, which teach her to follow her dreams.

Bertha finds herself in many life-changing situations, but manages to persevere… you never know what you are capable of until you try!

Bertie’s Amazing Tales

Dear Reader,

Bertie was inspired by my own daughter, Ellen, whose daddy always called her ‘Bertie’ when she was little (and indeed, even when she was not so little!)

These stories are often, but not always, based on things that happened to Ellen as she was growing up ... I will leave it to you to decide which events are real, which are made up and which are a mixture of both.

Great-Aunt Jacinda’s house was a very real place ... as are Bertie’s many, many cousins. Again, I have mixed reality and imagination with most of the characters in the stories ... and as before, it is for you to decide where reality ends and imagination takes over – or should that be the other way around?

So, I hope you enjoy reading about Bertie and I hope Ellen’s memories of her childhood are as magical as Bertie’s.

With love ... and keep reading!

Moya Banks

X

PS: Pirates for ever!

Betrayal

Can you mourn someone and despise them at the same time?

Anna believes she has the perfect life. Happily married with four beautiful children, she is content spending her days looking after her family whilst her husband focuses on his career.

Stephanie, a career-driven businesswoman, thrives on her independence but is fiercely loyal in her relationship.

When tragedy strikes one cold December night just before Christmas, it is revealed that Anna and Stephanie’s lives are more entwined than either of them could have ever imagined. Are they both able to overcome lives full of deceit and learn to trust again?

Betrothed

Audrianna has been betrothed to Prince Henry to be the next queen of Nadeau. But, according to Nadeau law, they both must wait six years before they can be married. As far as Henry and Audrianna are concerned, they don’t mind waiting because neither one like each other. Pulling pranks and talking sass to one another seem to be the only way they know how to behave. However, when the castle is invaded by the marauding Andjety, Henry and Audrianna are forced to flee together to escape the murderous plans of Zymjai, the witch. Now, forced to trust one another to stay alive, they travel throughout the countryside, and discover intriguing friends to assist them. Can they look past the contempt they have for one another to allow their allies to help them retake the castle? Also, what is the strange noise that keeps howling every night in the castle? What dirty trick does Henry play on Audrianna? What secret has he kept from the princess? Does the king have an ulterior plan for the two of them?

Betty’s Bedtime Adventure

Betty has been told that her grandad is gone forever, but she knows that he isn’t. She believes he is up in the stars. So instead of lying in bed, asleep, she is looking through her telescope, fuelled by chocolate biscuits, hunting the night sky for him.

But Betty quickly realises that there is a problem.

A big one!

All the stars look the same. So, full of disappointment she makes a wish upon a star...

Follow Betty on her adventure to find her beloved grandad, learning the comforting lesson that people we love will always be with us, no matter how far away they may seem.

What do you wish upon a star?

Between Friends

Between Friends explores, in thirty-six texts, friendship in the modern world across a range of scenarios. Several texts investigate the special nature of male sporting affinities while others reveal the pleasures and disappointments of friendships with literary writers. The collection’s concern with the neuroses of masculinity is evident in ten vignettes devoted to male clothing, bodily adornment or sports equipment. The last six stories, mostly based on archival photographs, imagine scenarios of extreme male anguish or difficulty.

Overall the collection is a provocative psychological study of sometimes unconventional relationships which takes readers to a new level of understanding of the bonds between individuals. A particular strength of the work is its vivid powers of evocation – of scenarios, events and relationships – and its witty and often humorous expression of the significance of the situations recounted. Ranging over a wide spectrum of social and sporting subjects and interactions – from boxing to fashion, from the gym to home situation, from war to peace, from exotic places to familiar environments – the stories’ varied styles and forms aim to capture the particular flavour of the experiences recounted.