10 Days of Dad

Dad and I rarely saw eye to eye. We fought so much when I was growing up, I think we yelled ‘I hate you’ more than ‘I love you’.

But Covid-19 changed all of that...

It was meant to be an enjoyable holiday, the cruise of a lifetime, but really it was the giant floating petri dish that allowed Covid-19 to dock on Australian shores.

Through tragedy, came forgiveness and second chances.

Dad, you are a cockroach – an atomic bomb couldn’t kill you...a virus named after a beer has no chance...

1984 – Diary of a 16/17-Year-Old

Transport your mind back to 1984 – an era where there were no mobile phones, no internet, no nothing...

Immerse yourself in this poignant diary of an innocent 16/17-year-old... living every day to the max! 

Enjoy reading her intriguing, witty and delightful diary... 

3 Boys, 2 Dogs, 1 (Ex) Husband and Absolutely No Idea

‘I never thought, when I met my husband at 18, got married at 25, had my third baby at 30 or even two years ago when I started writing this book, that I would find myself in the position I am now… a single mum to three boys, two dogs with a now ex-husband.

This is a brutally honest account of life since I weed on that stick. Pregnancy, haemorrhoids, cabbage leaves, mum mates, tantrums, holidays, hormones, sex, dogs and divorce.

This is definitely not a guide to parenting but it may make you feel a little less alone on the journey.’

A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie

A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie is a heartwarming and honest autobiographical book that tells the story of a woman’s life-changing journey alongside her partner, who has come out as transgender and now goes by the name Cassie. Through this compelling and intimate memoir, readers will gain insight into the challenges and triumphs of managing family life, raising children, and navigating a shifting dynamic in a long-term relationship. The author’s candid reflections on their journey together to explore new dimensions of love and intimacy, provide a refreshing perspective on gender and sexuality. From attending LGBT Pride events to exploring nightclubs and meeting supportive people along the way, this book is a tribute to the joys and surprises of life’s unexpected journeys. With humour, compassion, and love, A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of gender identity, and the transformative power of human connection.

A Glimmer of Hope

This is a true account of what I thought was a second chance of love and happiness after a sequence of life altering events. I was ready to begin a new chapter in my life, and that is exactly how it began. Little did I know that my vulnerability was being taken advantage of, for what I thought was a blossoming new relationship quickly turned into a violent and fearful fight for survival after three years.

I have recorded my story in the hope to raise awareness about domestic abuse but to also show any survivors that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Here is my story.

A Midwife's Memoir

Following a long career as a midwife and then a community midwife, Carol retired in 2016, but she found she missed the excitement of bringing new life into the world, the joy and fulfillment of helping mothers to be, and the sheer pleasure of working in a small community.

She decided to record her experiences in this book as a tribute to all the wonderful mums and dads she gave help and advice to; some of the highs and lows, amusing and sometimes heart-breaking stories, and the unusual and unexpected events that occurred during that long career.

A New Home and Other Stories

What could happen when you leave behind the life you have known and travel to a faraway country? Would you go to a place where everything feels different, and no one speaks like you do? Have you ever thought about what that must be like? Join Lina and her family on their adventures to a new home. This historical memoir will take you on a road of fulfilling dreams and the troubles along the way.

All Because of Daisy

Terence Roberts came to live in Ireland as a middle-aged working man in search of something. He took a gamble when he could have easily stayed comfortable and resigned to the only life he knew. On reflection, he didn’t really know himself as he approached his 50^th birthday and he couldn’t see a purposeful future. Everything had been lost amidst the pace and chaos of urban living and life’s natural disappointments. But in rural Ireland, he found himself in a totally different world, finding what was important in his own life whilst rediscovering innocence and hope. Through unique characters, both human and in the field, he was entertained, educated and inspired.

All Because of Daisy was written initially for his family and close friends to help explain why he left them to come to live in Ireland and why he stayed. Thanks to his new environment and eye-opening experiences, he begins to make sense of his own life, his past, present and future. He also concludes that while modern-day life is far from simple and is emotionally expensive in many ways, it can also be beautiful and priceless when seen through fresh eyes… but to do that, sometimes you have to take a gamble.

An Apprentice's Life

My book is about my Engineering Apprenticeship which was during the years 1960-1966. My apprenticeship was in the Royal Ordnance Factory in Woolwich, the ‘home’ of the Royal Artillery, and the biggest gun being made at that time was the 120mm Tank Gun. The smallest was the 81mm Mortar. Included in my book is my life outside the factory, and some of it is set in beautiful parkland where my mates and I would get up to all sorts of pranks. There is included on my part an attractive woman down the canal.

Angel O’Clock…

On the edge of mortality, a profound transformation occurred within Matthew Johns. They came to a realization: events they once believed simply occurred to them were, in reality, orchestrated milestones leading them toward a greater purpose. The introduction of a soulmate in their life acted as a beacon, illuminating their newfound spiritual path.

Delving into this spiritual realm, Matthew Johns cultivated a deep and intuitive bond with The Divine. Their blossoming psychic understanding opened a sacred dialogue with Spirit, unveiling profound truths. Through their exploration of Angel Numbers and numerology, they discerned that Time wasn’t merely chronological, but a divinely orchestrated symphony. In this grand tapestry, ‘coincidences’ have a role, but it’s synchronicity that wears the crown.

Join Matthew Johns on a journey of discovery, where the wisdom, love, and guidance of Angels and the spirit-realm continually shine through. By embracing this presence and seeking its signs, readers are invited into a majestic dance choreographed by the Divine – a harmonious blend of destiny, partnership, and co-creation. In this world, Spirit Guides are ever vigilant, always ready to lead the way. All one needs to do is reach out and trust in their unwavering guidance.

Anxiety is Not Me

Life would be easier without anxiety but it also wouldn’t have anywhere near as much depth.

Ever feel like you’re different because you suffer from anxiety?

Ever feel like no one understands you and your actions?

Are you seeking guidance on how to coexist with the condition or maybe you have a loved one who suffers from anxiety and you would like to understand them better?

As you navigate your way through the shedding of old beliefs, old habits and the old you, I am here to aid the uncovering of your new form.

The journey will be rocky. It won’t always be pretty but it will be magic and I’m so excited for you.

Raise the questions. Awaken your spirit. Set your soul on fire with purpose. And you will walk away belonging.

Learn to love yourself wholly and bring your shadow self into light. Discover the endless positives and possibilities of living with anxiety without allowing it the power of taking the driver’s seat.

Delve deep into these pages and allow yourself to become completely open-minded and vulnerable and you will unlock a new, brighter perspective of life with anxiety. If nurtured correctly, it can create such awareness that we otherwise wouldn’t have the sense to feel. When you focus your attention, it can be a great gift.

This is my story – the journey back to myself. The raw, the real, the messy and the chaos of everyday living with anxiety, written to promote the normalisation of mental health and offer you exactly what you seek. Support, comfort, advice and above all else, a new perspective on life with anxiety.

Always remember, YOU ARE NOT ANXIETY.

Anyway... I Forgot to Tell You!

Medicine can be both fascinating and terrifying.

This statement can be applied equally to those who practise medicine, but also to the ‘lay’ person who observes from afar but eventually, and sadly inevitably, becomes enmeshed in it. Usually as a reluctant patient.

Erik Hagen has been practicing medicine for the last forty odd years. He has been involved in country General Practice, Emergency medicine, Retrieval medicine with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and also in motor sport medicine at both the national and international level, especially in the fields of Formula One and World Rallying.

This collection makes up the second volume of short stories, the first being “Imperfect Recollections; Memory Fragments from and Ageing Medico”, published in 2020.

Some of the stories are just that – stories; but some of the subjects are possibly more reflective than the first book, attempting to examine the questions that confront us all.

Perhaps that kind of musing afflicts all of us who have fewer years ahead than behind us or perhaps it is just that we are vain enough to imagine that we have something worth saying.