Astounding Agnes, The First Girl Guide

Meet Agnes Baden-Powell, the clever girl who grew up to be the talented and energetic first president of the Girl Guides! Learn about her family, early life, skills and talents in this book, for children aged six and up.

Agnes was an unconventional Victorian woman who loved sports and nature. She promoted outdoor education and activities for girls and young women long before it was fashionable. Agnes worked tirelessly to establish Girl Guiding and grow the organisation. She penned numerous articles and traveled extensively to convince people about the benefits of joining.

Sadly, Agnes did not receive much recognition during her lifetime. She was later sidelined and excluded from leadership positions. A campaign to see her receive more recognition for her achievements and to celebrate her legacy is gaining support. Hopefully this book will create more awareness of this astounding woman’s contributions to the Girl Guiding movement, which continues to inspire and empower girls and young women today.

“I think it’s great! It will be a delightful, inspirational children’s book! Agnes was the most remarkable woman and it’s so good that her talents and achievements are being given due recognition. I wish Catherine Gritz every success with it.” From Gill Clay, Agnes’s great-niece.

Astral Empire

In the 1^st century AD, Rome is a superpower with a vast empire, countless military victories and numerous enemies. But it is about to face its greatest threat yet: an invading species from another galaxy, known as the Hagrans.

This race of beings has been observing Earth for decades and is more advanced than any adversary Rome has ever encountered. With their eyes set on eventually claiming Earth as their prize, they invade Rome and enslave its citizens, using them to transform the city into a Hagran capital, with the intent of decimating all the humans on Earth once they have fulfilled their purpose.

But the Hagrans underestimated the resolve and ingenuity of their prey. Now the fate of Rome and of the world, lies with an unlikely hero: an ordinary blacksmith, named Gannicus.

Blending science-fiction, historical fact and inventive creativity, Astral Empire is a thrilling, action-packed saga that will take you on a wild journey to brave new worlds.

Astrid Book II: Good people do bad things

Astrid has been through ten years of fighting, ten years of killing, and is exhausted. She doubts whether she now even has the strength to fight any more but is desperate to find a way to bring the conflict to an end.Her country is sophisticated and technologically advanced but is bordered to the north by a belligerent dictatorship that has made threats of war. She was an actress and had been filming on the day an unprovoked attack took place; she witnessed friends being killed, and on that day, she gave up her dreams and became a nurse. However, another incident a couple of years later changed her, and she joined the military and became an assassin. She now uses her acting skills to move through enemy territory becoming different characters to avoid detection, blending in and hiding in plain sight.Then an enemy general becomes aware of her and pursues her as she makes her way out. Will she survive?

Astrid Book III: The Early Missions

Astrid Peterman is fighting with regular forces and has already shown herself to be a skilled fighter, driven in her desire to push back the invaders and seek revenge. She proves herself and is taken on by Captain DeSalva to become an assassin. She must further prove herself as a young woman in a male-dominated world. She decides that she will have no red lines, and nothing will be off limits when she is on a mission.

Riedel enters the enemy country as a deep cover spy, easily able to pass himself off as a native, and whose sole mission is to find out what the wonder weapon is.

Brigit Malaya, the enemy officer also has to prove herself, not only by fighting against her enemies, but in fighting against the deep-rooted misogyny in her country that devalues women. She works her way up through the ranks by virtue of brutal combat and is hardened by it; her ambition overriding her humanity, and all the while she is unaware that she is being watched and admired by the country’s dictator.

Astrid Book I: War Changes People

In her youth, Astrid had dreamt of becoming an actress. But once war breaks out, she gives up her dreams to fight for her country. She retains her acting skills and uses them to her advantage, and she will do absolutely anything to ensure the success of her missions.The war has degenerated into regular small skirmishes, but her commanders know that there will inevitably be a major assault that will overwhelm them. The only thing that is keeping the onslaught at bay is a policy of assassinating those enemy officers who show talent.But an enemy general has become aware of Astrid and is determined to stop her.

At Night, the Lanterns Cry

As the relentless war draws to a close, Oulyia’s fate hangs in the balance. With one final chance to repel the Covenant and save their land from the invading hordes, Oulyia rallies its last remaining army. But what if they fail? The weight of uncertainty looms heavy as their ultimate destiny teeters on the brink.

Pesan understands the slim odds and the painful reality that he was denied the chance to join the fight, unlike his brother. Yet, regardless of the war’s outcome, he knows he cannot remain with a family that neglects him and life itself. As the war for Oulyia nears its conclusion, Pesan’s own journey is about to unfold, with its own trials and tribulations.

In the gripping narrative of At Night, the Lanterns Cry, the ceaseless escalation of conflict unveils the profound impact of rulers’ pursuits on nations and their people. Allegiances are tested, friendships strained, and ideologies challenged as the characters navigate a world pushed to its limits. Prepare for an enthralling tale where the stakes are high, and the consequences of personal ambitions reverberate through the lives of nations.

Atlantis Rise

On an earth split in half by an ancient curse, Ali and her team are cast into the centre of Atlantis’ rule.

Ali and Yuki are coming to the end of their training and will graduate to become Atlantis guardians. But their second-last mission does not end well. Their captain gets some bad news: his brother Ray, also a captain, is missing. Ali and the rest of the team fly home to their drowned capital, but the news only becomes worse.

Ali is already nervous enough about the graduation, but now Atlantis’ power awakes when she comes into contact with the old magic. This is not the only force to waken; dark powers are rising too. Ali is marked, putting herself and the team in danger as the power-hungry group called Descendants of Hades become more than legend. Cracks in their world are beginning to show; trouble could leak into the human half, starting a war with past powers that never really went away.

Time is running out and Ali will need all of her friends and magic to combat this terrible threat.

Au Revoir, Mate!

My name is Dougay Roberre. My passport reads: Douglas Roberts. I don’t think either is real. At age three, my parents fled France to go into witness protection. I grew up in Sydney, Australia, among the sun, the sand, and the surf. As I neared forty, I had a yearning to discover my French roots, selling my Bondi Beach apartment and buying an attic apartment in Nice on the Cote d’Azur. I can speak French, though not read nor write it. I can use my fists – as a teenager I was taught to box. Without academic qualifications, I take whatever employment comes my way. I am a man for hire. I looked to where the car had stopped. On the footpath was a dark form – a non geometric shape. Curiosity aroused, I crossed to it. It was a person. I turned the body over and she moaned, “Don’t phone the police. Don’t phone the police.”

Audrey

‘Hello?’

‘I bet anything that you are pacing up and down right now, thinking of excuses to cancel on me tonight. Am I right?’ It’s Veronica. Audrey looks out the window as if expecting to see Veronica with a pair of binoculars.

‘No!’ Audrey is not at all surprised at how well Veronica knows her.

‘Great, pick you up in fifteen, babe. Mwah.’

Audrey Mills resides in New York City, The Parkway, a grand old building that has become home for Audrey, for almost four years. Known to be somewhat of a recluse, Audrey works at a small florist just a few blocks from where she lives, and except for a few close friends, she generally prefers to keep to herself, spending most of her spare time reading and playing her grandmother’s piano.

As Audrey stands there, mesmerised by the intricacy of the artwork, she is entirely unaware that a stealthy William has walked up behind her.

With his eyes fixated on her flawless profile, William allows several moments to pass before deciding to announce his presence.

Aussie Men Are the Pits

Trying to figure him out? Copping the wide-eyed stare across the room? Haven’t heard from Mr. Super-intense? Sick of never being asked for a simple coffee? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. And it’s not your fault. It’s his.

Auston the Sidecar Dog Saves Christmas

Follow the adventures of Auston the Sidecar Dog in his travels around the globe. Children will enjoy his first book presenting the story of Auston and Santa Claus on their Christmas Eve travels in the magical scooter and will also learn about geography at the same time. This is a fun and delightfully illustrated book to be enjoyed by children and parents alike.

Australia We Didn’t See

A reception is being held at the prime minister’s official residence, The Lodge, to celebrate democratic multiculturalism in Australia, when a young guests suddenly attacks the prime minister.

Walking through the parkland to a jeweller to buy his wife a birthday present, the prime minister meets several seniors enjoying the sunshine. He also meets a man from Iraq who has no job but has been offered one by a terrorist group.

The prime minister also meets a young man who has a brother living in Bradford, England, connected to a formidable terrorist group responsible for terrorist acts all over Europe.

Trying to get his motorcade through a large crowd of protesters, the prime minister walks out to plead for access to his next appointment. A lunatic shoots for fun and hits him in the shoulder.

The story involves ASIO, terrorist recruitment, spy agencies and international connections.

Will the terrorists prevail? Will the prime minister survive?

Will China cause trouble next to an American Naval Base and RAAF Base?

All this, and much more, is revealed in this gripping political thriller.