Past Sounds

This is a book about classical music – for people who say they love music “but don’t understand how it works”, as well as for performers and music students of all ages.
Proposing that deeper enjoyment begins with an understanding of music’s basic structures, the book describes how the simple template of earlier dance-songs was adapted by composers writing music for instruments. The instrumental sonata became one of the great formal frameworks of western music: in symphonies, concertos, chamber music and solo sonatas, it dominated concert music for some 250 years – yet it is little understood by many music lovers. To simplify this vast field, Past Sounds singles out for study “sonatas” for piano trio – piano, violin and ’cello. These instruments have well-contrasted and easily identifiable sounds, and as the story unfolds the reader is introduced to many rarely heard but beautiful works for piano trio.
This is a lively, clearly-written narrative as well as a handbook for subsequent listening. The book has two distinctive features. Firstly, technical terms are carefully explained, and for those not familiar with music notation, audio clips in an accompanying website reproduce the actual sound of the music described. Secondly, in a broad historical sweep from mid-18th to 20th centuries, the development of the sonata is followed in its context of contemporary arts and literature – demonstrating how the sonata idea of classical music well deserves to be understood and valued as a western cultural archetype alongside other great artistic and literary forms.

Paw Print Puppy

One day, a long, long time ago, a puppy was born. His mom and dad quickly noticed that the puppy had unusual powers. Now at this age, most dogs yelp more than bark, but Paw Print Puppy let out a ferocious bark. The two strangers at the door, who were obviously up to no good, asked each other, “How big do you think that dog is?”

Peace of Wild

An enticing book for children of all ages.

Can animals communicate?

Can their voice be heard to make their plight known?

Are there still magical and mystical beings hidden from us?

Meet the charming animal characters representing endangered species, read their interesting, exciting, and informative adventures and stories.

What exactly is Javerwop?

The wonder of the wild, the magical and mystical all await you within the pages of this book!

Unfortunately, with the wonder, magical and mystical come the dark foes!

Which side will you take?

Will you answer the plea to help?

Mankind seems determined to destroy our beautiful world. They use and abuse nature’s abundance with no thought for the future.

Lady Eleanor and many of her animal friends have witnessed and experienced first-hand the devastation and destruction that can result.

Will people listen to their pleas?

A Fusion of Fact and Fiction

Peas Are Green

Peas Are Green written by Angelique Pesce is a short story that points out differences in color and how something different can contribute to so many important things in life. It's a story about a little boy who realizes these differences and learns the good these differences can bring to him.

Peeko the Penguin Looks for Love

A baby penguin called Peeko goes on a journey to find someone to love as he thinks his family doesn't love him. Will he meet big, white monsters on his journey? Will he ever find his way back home? Will he ever find someone to love him?

Percival and the Hall of Mirrors

Follow in the footsteps of brave, young Percival, the Papillon dog, as he fights for his great king Louis XIV, in seventeenth-century France. Teaming up with his animal friends, such as Marcel the Mouse and Thierry the Tortoise, and his human allies, Percival has to navigate dangerous waters in order to ensure the safety of the king and France. Bursting with historical facts and detail and a smattering of French, Percival and the Hall of Mirrors is both educational and fun. It is livened up with great illustrations. Seventeenth-century France is brought to life in this animated illustrated children’s adventure.

Percy the Plastic Bag

Percy is a proud plastic bag and wants to work hard, and he loves to carry things for people. After leaving the Feed Me Supermarket, Percy is happy to be heading out to have a life of usefulness. Unfortunately, things don’t work out quite the way he thought they would. After Percy helped carry some cupcakes to the fete at the village green, things take a terrible turn for the worse, and Percy finds himself in all sorts of trouble. Plastic pollution is having a serious effect on our environment and wildlife. This story is about the travels of some plastic characters who find themselves going from being useful to no longer needed and getting themselves into all sorts of difficulties. It is both funny and sad and is written in a way to highlight awareness to single-use plastic. Have you ever wondered what really happens to some plastic after it is used and no longer needed? Where does it go and how does it get there? Through the eyes of the plastic characters and their humorous and tragic adventure, it is hoped in a fun way, to bring a greater understanding to children about the responsibility we have to protect our world against plastic waste.

Perhaps a Jealous Foe

The action begins in 2000 with Louise looking at her past. Then it moves back to 1970, where Louise has everything a contemporary woman could ask for: a loving husband, two children, a beautiful home, a good social life. The family is comfortably off, and while her life is circumscribed by her domestic duties and her involvement with the church, she is content with her lot.

Then, she meets Nicholas, and everything changes. While Nicholas makes his attraction to Louise obvious from the outset, he is apparently as conventional as Louise and too inhibited to proceed with more than flirtation and verbal innuendo. 

The relationship between Louise and Nicholas develops slowly, because of the lack of opportunity, and because Nicholas seems unable to make up his mind what he really wants. When they finally make love, all is not quite as Louise had expected. Nicholas eventually also admits to the secret in his past which Louise has discovered by chance.

The story reaches its climax in a night of passion in which Louise, changes her mind, and exults in having finally got the man she loves so much.

Finally, the story returns to 2000, where the aftermath of that night is revealed.

Pet Rapport

Pets as part of the family, their inclusion in everyday life and their mishaps or adventures are reflected in these stories. Each story is accompanied by an illustration that is personally drawn by the author from a photo received from the owner and reflects their unique character and personality. Some true and real-life examples include: A cat which was inadvertently included in a parcel (but survived), a dog that was stolen from outside a shop but was restored to her owner and a rescue dog who found a wonderful home. These are all true, but there are also four fictitious and humorous examples ‘hidden’ amongst the others, which the author invites readers to discover. Adults will find these stories heartwarming and children will like the ‘happy endings’ and trying to spot which stories are ‘made up.’ A book with stories that appeal to the heart and illustrations that appeal to the eye, whatever your age and whether or not you have pets of your own.

Peter

Peter is a special boy with an all-consuming passion for aviation, and it is his dream to fly as a career. We follow his journey from school and his exam results through starting work, and eventually obtaining a place as a pilot cadet with an international airline. We share the highs and lows of his training, of being away from his close family for the first time, and the efforts of his elder brother to thwart his chances.

Peter Wyngarde: A Life Amongst Strangers

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE LIFE STORY OF ONE OF THE GREAT TELEVISION AND STYLE ICONS Peter Wyngarde: the name elicits memories of an actor with worldwide renown and instantly adhesive star quality, who was to hit his professional zenith via his starring roles in the smash hit TV series, Department S, and its equally successful spin-off, Jason King. However, when this imperial phase of his career took a downturn during the mid-1970s, he stoically dusted himself off and returned to the theatre--the scene of so many of his earliest triumphs. There he enjoyed continued success until a late-period revival came with the role of General Klytus in the 1980 blockbuster, Flash Gordon. Ordinarily, this book would end there. The fact that it doesn't reveals an unusual dichotomy: it splits Wyngarde's life into two, almost equal, parts. From the late 1980s, the author came into his orbit as the long yearned-for, missing piece of the puzzle: namely a strong, dependable sounding board and, increasingly, his soulmate. To those who have been content to view Wyngarde as a two-dimensional figure on a TV screen, or merely as the subject of media gossip, this book will come as a revelation--and no doubt a startling one, as it will shatter many long-held myths and preconceptions. And yet in spite of her closeness to the subject, the author has refused to place him on a pedestal: her exploration of his life and career is as honest as it is eye-opening. While she does not shy away from Wyngarde's more difficult characteristics and painful life experiences, the thread running through the book is a story of love and devotion that is deeply touching and ultimately heart-wrenching. "This is an intimate biography that is elegantly crafted, intensively researched, and presented with the utmost honour." Steven Berkoff

Philosophical Muse and Stuff 'n' Nonsense

Stephen Peter Oldham is relatively new to the poetry scene. In his first book, he explores the issues facing ‘Modern Man’ through poetry, muse and stories in his original style of ‘Real Fiction’. Stephen examines issues facing humanity at this time as diverse as the family unit, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health, creation and revelations of prophesy! In this unique book, there are many questions raised which may one day lead to the ultimate question. Who are we and just what is it that we are supposed to be doing here! Take your time and enjoy his rhymes or read more purposeful perhaps. Designed to entertain, Philosophical Muse will certainly make you ask questions!