Böcker utgivna av Austin Macauley Publishers

Today, China is so important. We need to understand why this empire (it is not a country) acts as it does. What are its intentions? This book is not a political analysis, but simply a record of one westerner's experiences teaching English in Chongqing. Nevertheless, being part of the daily life of ordinary people has given rise to valuable insights. Chongqing is a major city with some 17 million people: it is not a backwater and was China's wartime capital. But it is important for another reason. The popular mayor when the author began his time there was Bo Xilai, a rival to Xi Jinping; his subsequent removal and imprisonment says a lot. The author's daily experiences were fascinating, a real privilege to visit such interesting places and to meet so many wonderful people. These should be shared, which is what this book does.

An intense romance developed out of an illicit and highly sensual affair of more than 10 years which survived many hurdles. Freed from the ties of work and family by retirement and bereavement, the couple embark on a trip of a lifetime around the coasts of Europe, with its idyllic beaches, historic cities, fascinating art galleries and ancient sites. This is a gripping and highly readable novel full of wit, fun and escapist pleasures, but with disturbing happenings which raise serious issues of love, estrangement and loss.

"Truly I say to you, this day thou shalt be with me in Paradise." Jesus gave to only one person such a promise. So who was he? Was he a follower of Jesus? No! Was he one of the Sanhedrin? No! Was he a rabbi? No. he was none of them. Instead, those words were addressed to a thief dying on a cross alongside Jesus. From his cross of death, Dismas spoke up in defence of Jesus, stating that they deserved their punishment, but that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Dismas then asked Jesus to remember him when he came into His kingdom. Jesus responded promising Paradise to Dismas that very day with those wonderful words, "Truly I say unto you, this day thou shalt be with me in Paradise." Dismas, what do we know of him? ln truth, not much. We know his name, Dismas, that he was a thief being executed for his crimes, and that he spoke up in defence of Jesus and was greatly rewarded for it. With so little known about him, it has enabled me to explore his life as I have imagined him to be. This is a work of fiction, but based on historical fact. Read it, be as one with Dismas. You may shed a tear or two as you read it. I did as I wrote it. Enjoy.

Cocoplums are sweet but friends are sweeter. Put them together and you have a treat! Puppy loves his Cocoplums, but he really needs company. There's only thing for the little guy to do. Go on a 'friend search.' How hard can it be to find a friend? Puppy is about to find out.

A book of memories. Growing up in the 1950s and 60s, childhood is peppered with untold freedom and strict codes of behaviour. There are fears of not being accepted, not conforming and for those suffering from gender dysphoria, there is nowhere to turn. A convent education brings Jennifer intense friendships, unrequited love and tussles with belief and disbelief in a higher being. She finds diversion in play acting and searching for adventure in the role of her alter ego. Emerging from the protective arms of a white middle class family, she confronts the harsh realities of life with a charismatic young man as her cicerone. After four years of teaching bring feelings of inadequacy, of not being up to the job and finding no place in heterosexual British society, Jennifer decides to start afresh and to leave England.

Love? In a Cottage is the story of two middle-aged people from very different backgrounds who meet as the result of an advertisement placed in the lonely hearts section of a national newspaper. Marlene Sugden is a secretary working in London whose life has changed very much for the worse in a few months. Firstly her father, who she has loved and cared for over many years, dies then her best friend marries and immediately emigrates to Australia and, as a final straw, Marlene's boss retires and her new boss is a snappy and difficult man. Marlene dearly wants a husband and a home to care for and in her desperation, she places an advertisement in the Evening Standard. "Lonely unmarried woman, good cook and homemaker seeks kind-hearted, single middle-aged man with view to matrimony if suited". Deep in the Herefordshire countryside, Donald Evans sits reading a two-day-old newspaper as he eats his meal of baked beans straight from the tin. His eye is caught by Marlene's advertisement. He is single, mid-40s and kind-hearted if it does not cost him anything. Donald hunts out a piece of notepaper, sharpens his pencil and replies to Marlene's advertisement.

Old man Joe Farr, a recluse living on the mountain which overlooks the small Welsh valley of Cwmhyfryd, dies alone after succumbing to his third heart attack. The vicar of that parish is given the duty of calling Joe's son, Jack, estranged from his father and home for 20 years and now living in Oklahoma, USA, to inform Jack of his father's sad death. He also has to inform Jack that he is now the recipient of over £5,000,000 and a newly built Spanish-style hacienda house which confuses Jack as there was never any money in his family. The only way Jack can inherit is to return to Cwmhyfryd and meet the people responsible for this strange bequest. Jack does so - only to confront the same anger and hatred he lived through from the people when he lived here before - including having to deal with his former fiancée who jilted him at the altar. Just as Jack thinks his life is calming down, he finds a murdered woman on his living room floor. A second murder, also implicating Jack, is committed and Jack is now the subject of a police investigation.

Raised by adoptive parents in a small community, Narfi simply doesn't fit in. Shocking violence and tragedy force him to flee the only life he has known, pursued by agents of the Chancel Of The Crooked Cross; religious zealots intent on destroying the indigenous Celtyth culture. All he has for guidance is the last instruction his adoptive father gave him - a clue to help him find his true name and destiny. It points him west to the lands of the Celtyth. So begins a perilous journey of freedom gained and lost; suffering; enlightenment and discovery. On his travels, Narfi confronts friendship and loss, finds his true name and encounters a lost people, who teach him about his magical heritage. With their help, he makes his way into his homeland; back to a world and family he never knew. Yet he finds himself in the centre of a storm...

Who does not love an adventure? Follow me, Bella, on my trip around the Big Apple; who knew they were so many fun things to see and do for a little unicorn like me? When I found myself alone in one of the biggest cities in the world, I knew what I had to do. Katie, my best friend, told me all about the Big Apple and I cannot wait to tell you, so come on, what are you waiting for? Let us enjoy this adventure together.

The staircase in Dormec House, a Ministry building, is certainly elegant, but to Arthur Timkins, messenger, one of the quota of variously disabled employees, it is the scene of an encounter that changes his life miraculously. Selected as one of Professor Knowle's guinea-pigs in a pilot trial to enhance intelligence, he is whisked away to a world beyond his wildest dreams. Workers at Matcham Grange, from kitchen staff to the Professor himself, treat Arthur kindly. Everything that puzzled him slowly clears, he is like a man emerging out of thick fog into sunlight. This new life comes to an abrupt end. By the merest chance, Arthur left the Grange before the explosion that kills all his companions: his brief experience of luxury is over. Hunted down by the spies responsible for destroying Matcham Grange, he changes identity with the tramp killed by a bullet intended for him. Grief-stricken and suffering physical hardship, he owes it to the Professor to reach the Ministry, proving there is one guinea-pig left. An outcast from society, after a hard journey, Arthur has to convince headquarters that he is the real Timkins, not a spy impersonating him. The transformed Arthur is taken to Dormec House. The psychiatrist (who had selected him) swears that no one will recognise the down-trodden slow-witted messenger in this handsome, well-heeled executive, but someone does, on that very staircase...

A collection of thoughts I was unable to articulate. From the happy to the grim. From the abstract to the clear-cut. Art without words is just expression. Words without art are just information. Disclaimer: you will not find this book informative.

The Pleasure Cats of Nova Playa is a story of sex, drugs, alcohol, violence and techno music. Set in the fictional sun soaked Mediterranean resort of Playa Nova where underground, under town, cats mirror the excesses of the sunseekers above. Into this bustling, vibrant underground city arrives the beautiful Napoleona, a charming and cunning cat with a past, but with her eyes fixed squarely on the future, and in particular the coming winter. In the summer the cats feast and party, but the cold desolate winter threatens to thin them out. She encounters new dangers, especially Count Luciano, the second in command to King Louie, gangsters with pretensions of nobility. The pursuit of power and pleasure seems to have no bounds in this subterranean city. How far will Napoleona go to ensure the party never ends?

Charles Dickens was once described as the first global literary celebrity, and as one of the greatest humourists that England has produced. He was also a passionate advocate of justice for the poorest and most vulnerable in society, and had a lasting influence on political reform and economic justice in Britain. In this detailed but lucid book, Michelle Cottam explores the life, times, and works of Charles Dickens. By charting the course of his life, and examining the major historical forces shaping his childhood, the city of London and Britain, this book sheds new light on the meaning of his work, as well as why he continues to be such an enduring and adored writer.

In this first book of a series, country boys Billy and Lionel meet an elf, Alfred. They are invited to his village hidden in the local bushland. This starts a series of adventures and even joining a cooking class with Chef Lou Mae. As they get to meet more of the community they realise there is another world down here. Madam Erle causes all sorts of problems and Billy saves the town from a horrible flood. It is a wild ride for the boys.

Before I Forget is more of a medley than a memoir. It chronicles the affairs of the American University of Beirut during an under studied period comprising and following the Lebanese civil war. In recording his perception of selective periods in his lifetime the author focuses on his AUB experience and documents his text with email exchanges with university officials. He exposes his personal experience as a student, an administrator and faculty member of AUB during a period that spans over the administration of fourteen presidents (from John Paul Leonard to Fadlo Khuri), several of whom he was closely associated with. During this period, he served in central capacities including: president of the Faculty Association, President of the Worldwide Alumni Association, Assistant Dean and chair of the Senate Steering Committee. In his engaging style the author draws attention to what he considers an association of AUB with US interests. The book also chronicles the difficulties and strivings the author faced since his family was forced to leave his homeland. It discusses the changes the author experienced moving from Lebanon to the US as a foreign student as well as the lifestyle adjustments he had to undergo when returning to Lebanon after graduation.

First, you met Mr Mouse and his friends Frog and Bee in the wonderful storybook The Tales of Mr Mouse and Friends by Jacqueline Mead. Now meet his children. Mr Mouse met his match in the first book (Chapter 5, Mr Mouse Meets his Match) Mr Mouse and Hilda married and had 12 children: 11 sons and a daughter. In the first book, you met the children briefly as they got into trouble on a day out on a raft (Chapter 10 Coastguards Save the Day). This book introduces each child, through the use of adjectives we learn that Fletcher is fun and fast, Brian is brave and brainy. We learn their favourite thing to do and their favourite colour. Hidden in each picture are three objects for your child to find. Each illustration brings to life the child as we see Iain invent a robot and Edgar measuring a very large egg. Enjoy this book with your child as they learn new words, fall in love with the children and have fun too. In the next adventure book the children will have their own story to tell, meet the children now but hold on tight, things are going to get a lot more fun.

ENGLAND, 1381. Richard II - King of England is sending Sir John Lard to Prague to hand over his birthday present to Princess Anne. During his trip, he visits some beautiful and exciting places in a faraway kingdom called Bohemia, where he also listens to some people including Wenceslaus IV, King of Bohemia. They are pleased to tell him many amusing stories which he wants to share with you. Sir John is especially fascinated by Prague, the old capital, which is sometimes called the City of the Spires. This city is full of enchanting palaces, churches and monasteries. There is also a new stone bridge and a lovely cathedral which make Prague one of the most amazing cities in the world. However, the roads are not always safe and danger awaits at every step. Once Sir John even faces death but...

A collection of honest, vulnerable poems written from the perspective of a heart-broken nurse. Through faith, and by taking one day at a time, she learns to overcome her struggle with mental health and faith, and to finally accept that it's okay to not be okay. Through a mixture of written poetry, hand-illustrated artwork and photography, You Are Not Alone examines experiences and understandings of struggles with mental health from multiple angles and aesthetic mediums, drawing to the surface the rich emotional details of our inner lives. By turns, a riveting exploration of mental health, the importance of seeking help, guidance and reassurance, and a profound reflection on the challenges of faith in God through meditations on scripture and prayer, these poems will help readers to better understand their own struggles and to find a path to happiness and to God.

Do you think hate is a stronger emotion than love? How can I forget my problems? In China, they say that the first bird out of the tree gets shot. "Tea with Kong Zi (Confucius)" is a work of historical fiction based on the great teacher's Analects in the form of a collection of dialogues between modern-day manager Pete (the book's author) and Con (Confucius) on topics such as character, loyalty, integrity, success, and greed. Peter Alatsas, an experienced international manager and consummate traveller, has written a simple and pleasant "value guide". "My inspiration was corruption and lack of ethical moral character in leadership," he says. He also mentions that Confucius would never have engaged in active dialogue, unlike the Socratic way, because in Chinese culture the master is always above his students. This is one big difference between China and the West. For Confucius, questioning was the role of the teacher. Having studied the Analects and the literature that Confucius based his knowledge on, Alatsas tries to be practical and to the point being of Spartan origin brevity is the philosophy. In the end, Confucianism was more of a pragmatic wisdom than a philosophy. Among the dialogue, the reader can find creative cartoon images that bring the author's ideas to life.

How many pairs of shoes does your grandad have? My grandad had more shoes than there are days in the week. I'm not exactly sure why he needed so many pairs of shoes but he never went barefoot, always wore shoes and was ready for any adventure. Sometimes he would get his indoor shoes mixed up with his outdoor shoes or sometimes he would forget he had four pairs of sneakers, so he bought another pair. He liked to take all his shoes on outings, some happy and some sad. Although my grandad has passed away, I will always have the memories of his shoes and the great adventures he and I had together.

Where will your imagination take you? Rose is a young girl, living a happy life with her mummy and her grandparents. Travel with her in this book into the world of imagination and see how anything can take you on an adventure! Playtime can be found anywhere!