Books
Painting Snails : Stephen John Hartley
A Rock & Roll Doctor’s Tale
From guitarist in seminal punk band NOTSENSIBLES, to engineer, to A&E consultant, Stephen John Hartley’s PAINTING SNAILS uses the annual cycle of his hillside allotment as a framework to chart his incredible achievements.
The story begins on his birthday – an Indian summer’s late September Saturday. In a eureka moment, he resolves to write a book from birthday to birthday.
Told with concise vernacularity and searing Northern humour, his tale recounts: his engineering apprenticeship; years spent making a living out of busking; running a DIY back room record label; playing in numerous dead-end 3-piece bands; restoring old vehicles and travelling to America.
Within this easy read, there are threads of family life and a stoic non-conformism, then, almost 100 pages in, we are thrown into the ‘Emergency’ chapter – a gripping account of Hartley and his team saving the life of a man in cardiac arrest. We learn of his unlikely late entry into medical school against almost impossible odds and his arduous progression to becoming an A&E consultant, including a courageous whistle-blowing episode.
The book is beautifully designed and illustrated, drawing on the author’s passion for letterpress and woodblock printing.
Always compassionate, never bitter and at times harrowingly sad, this book breaks new boundaries in 21st century literature.
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Time Bomb Ticking : Hyrum Laney
Time Bomb Ticking
Espionage was nothing new to Captain Larry McGraw and the crew of the USS Charlotte, a Los Angeles–class fast attack submarine. But this mission certainly was.
Docked onto the hull of his sub was the new, state-of-the-art Advanced SEAL Delivery System, complete with 16 highly trained SEALs.
Orders from the White House were simple, yet clear. Penetrate the Bo Hai Bay–a mere hundred miles from Beijing–and linger while the SEALS conduct nighttime missions.
Simple, as long as they weren’t detected. But if spotted inside the shallow bay, the orders were clear. McGraw couldn’t let the Charlotte or the ASDS fall into Chinese hands, even if it meant destroying both.
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Only Rock is Real : Sandra Miller
Only Rock is Real
Starting a new medical career at the Grand Canyon Clinic, Dr. Abby Wilmore hopes to regain her confidence after emotional struggles drove her away from her Phoenix, Arizona practice and her fiancé.
Now better, she tackles the medical challenges of an unusual rural location, with cases involving everything from squirrel bites and sexually transmitted diseases to suicides and bubonic plague.
Unbidden, she finds herself pursued by a persistent park ranger as she tries to get along with the physician in charge of the clinic, an aloof and skeptical man with hints of a tragic past.
Immersed in the stunning geology of the canyon, Abby re-awakens and tries to restore herself through her work and connections with the new people in her life.
Her path is complicated by her physician partner’s sudden illness, his revelations, and the threats from a violent former patient who returns for revenge.
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The Assembly of Thirteen : Omayra Vélez
The Assembly of Thirteen: The First Two Companions
For hundreds of years, the Athany, once a peaceful race of giants, created to arbitrate Justice to the people of Quetza, has been cursed to obey the royal Falesto Emperor.
The new Emperor has been systematically committing genocide of all nonhuman races using the Athany as a murderous weapon.
A vow by an Elder from each race has started a chain of events meant to break the curse and start the Assembly of Thirteen to choose a new leader for Quetza.
The Assembly requires four Companions, eight Gift-Vessel magi’s, and a Priest—in a country without religions and all the Gift-Vessels ordered to serve the Emperor.
On earth is the future leader of the Assembly, June Dunbar, a hurt and broken woman living a lonely life in Livermore, California.
The second companion in the Assembly is a cursed and murderous Athany named Kara, who after hundreds of years as an assassin chooses to risk her life to painful death for a chance for life.
Two unlikely protectors of life who need to choose to live.
The two must fight Soldiers, Destroyers, and Demons that are in the way to find the Gift-Vessels, who must accept their roles in the Assembly of Thirteen.
Lucy’s Legacy : Tia Day
Lucy’s Legacy
Caitlin Beck is a complicated twenty-one-year-old college student with a dark past. A past made elusive to Caitlin herself after a traumatic event at the age of five had induced a highly complex case of Dissociative Amnesia Disorder.
But all things considered, Caitlin’s life appears to be moving along as planned. She has just moved into the dorms at Mary Mackland University, where she will fulfill her dream of becoming a Child Psychologist.
Along for the adventure is Caitlin’s adoptive sister, and college roommate, Luciana “Lucy” Capelli.
Lucy’s parents adopted Caitlin at the age of twelve after Lucy had befriended Caitlin at the local Rec Club in Richmond, Virginia. Lucy’s friendship gave Caitlin hope during a time when all hope was lost. In fact, Lucy saved Caitlin’s life.
And now, as Caitlin adapts to the new and exciting life of a college-coed, her future looks quite promising, indeed. But there is just one problem…
Caitlin’s past isn’t done with her yet, and after it tragically collides with her present, those in Caitlin’s past will soon find out that Caitlin…
…isn’t done with them, either.
Lucy’s Legacy is a captivating story of love, loss, and revenge. Narrated by a highly complicated and justice-driven protagonist, Lucy’s Legacy, will have you begging the question of when, if ever, murder is justifiable.
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Beyond the Wicked Willow : M.J. Rocissono
Beyond the Wicked Willow: Chronicles of a Teenage Witchslayer
Frankie Fretini has had a horrible year.
And, just when he thinks things are looking up, well…all heck breaks loose.
It happens in home-ec class just moments after the girl of his dreams, Jenny Moran, invites him to the annual town carnival.
Still dazed from the unexpected invite, Frankie accidentally plasters the face of school bully, Brick McDuddy, with a giant scoop of chocolate mousse. Embarrassed, and fuming mad, Brick plots to deliver his painful revenge at the carnival.
When Frankie, and his pals, Sam, Beef, and Bookworm show up to meet Jenny, Brick and his nasty bootlickers, Harold “The Horrible” Dunson and Billy “Scat” Pile, chase them into the eerie tent of an old Gypsy fortuneteller named Mala.
Trapped with nowhere to run, Frankie makes a pact with Mala not knowing that he and his pals would be swept through her crystal ball to Medieval Italy.
Now, their only hope to return home rests in Frankie’s hands. He must kill the evil Italian witch, Il Strega Diavolo, and rescue Mala’s twin sister, Tsura.
But, can Frankie find the courage to face the Strega?
The Moon Tree : Anthony Conway
The Moon Tree
The Moon Tree is a saga of love and the search for meaning in time of war.
Historically accurate and carefully researched, Anthony Conway has drawn on his own military experience and an extensive knowledge of Asia to produce a big novel. The characters, their struggles, tragedies and triumphs will stay with you long after reading.
Rangoon, Burma, Christmas 1941: A world on the edge. Mikey, a young American with the Flying Tigers, meets Hannah, an English girl. Among the British forces rushing to defend the frontier, is Harky, a young Gurkha soldier with a head full of dreams.
All their dreams will be tested to destruction as the Japanese Imperial Army invades, setting in motion wars and revolution that will reverberate for decades, tumbling the old order.
Understanding the nature of the journey they all now face, a mysterious Chinese Colonel tells them the fable of The Moon Tree, giving them hope that beyond the ruins they can find home.
From the jungles of Burma and the partition of India, to the rice paddies of Vietnam and the streets of Cultural Revolutionary Hong Kong where the Red Guards try to provoke the British and justify a full-scale invasion, the story is a powerful, absorbing account of a time of violent change, and of the men and women caught up in it.
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Same Red Dirt : Pat Conrad
Same Red Dirt
When as a young man Pat Conrad gave up a good job and left the United States in search of greener pastures in Australia, he didn’t know what he would find—or even if he would come back at all.
During the next thirteen months, his freewheeling spirit and thirst for adventure brought him in contact with a parade of unforgettable characters.
With refreshing honesty and a keen wit, Same Red Dirt recounts Pat’s experiences working at Sydney’s infamous Callan Park Mental Hospital, where he spent time among some of the world’s most criminally insane; his escape to the sandy beaches near Sydney; his hair-raising experiences down the red dirt roads of Australia’s rugged Outback; and his series of unusual jobs as he made his way throughout the country.
In this “R-rated Christian memoir,” Pat shares how his bad choices along the way, and his desire to fill a hole in his heart, led to a major change in his life.
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Thanks for Asking : Mike Larsen
Thanks for Asking: Equipping God’s people with answers to life’s tough questions
Why does God allow suffering? Why am I here? Why do I exist?
Over my years as a pastor, I’ve heard some tough questions asked about the Bible and about God. These were hard questions my church congregation had, and these were also difficult questions my congregation heard from people they encountered.
They needed answers.
To help equip our church to be on mission, our pastoral team solicited questions from our church family about faith, people, and life. 1 Peter 3:15 became our guide post for the series: “In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
This series would prove to be inspired by God. We asked, and many questions came in. Why do bad things happen? What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Our church had so many questions for God, and we knew that others did, too.
If you have questions, but are struggling to find the right answers, “Thanks for Asking” is the perfect place to start. This practical, approachable resource will help guide you to find solid, biblical answers to your questions.
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The Food Bank Britain : Ray Barron-Woolford
The story of how one man established the UK largest food bank.
This must-read book for anyone with an interest in the food bank and food waste sector tells the true story of how food banks started in the UK and USA and what is driving demand, how to establish your good food bank or pantry operation with great tips on what works and what does not.
This book is also NOT afraid to be critical at the way the sector is becoming increasingly just another store on the high street and Ray pulls no punches.
Food Bank Britain book also publishes for the first time the staggering number of hungry people who are criminalised every year with average jail term 2 weeks, plus a £150 fine .
This should be in every library and place of learning and on the desk of every CEO, politician in the land.
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