Fortis Published Books
Dreams of Gold
Colleen Wagner
Memoir
The Journey of a South African Woman is an evocative and richly illustrated coffee table book by Colleen Wagner, chronicling her remarkable true-life journey from a small town in South Africa to her retirement dream on the south coast of Spain.
This book, adorned with a multitude of photographs, is a testament to Colleen’s resilience, ambition, and the transformative power of following one’s dreams.
The photographs not only illustrate Colleen’s personal evolution but also capture the vibrant culture, landscapes, and people of South Africa and beyond.
Her journey is marked by moments of triumph and despair, learning and unlearning, and ultimately, self-discovery.
Throughout her journey, Colleen forged powerful connections with people from all walks of life. Her narrative is interwoven with tales of friendship, a story not just about personal success but also about empowering others, especially women, to pursue their dreams against all odds.
Dreams of Gold is more than a memoir; it is a visual and emotional odyssey that captures the essence of Colleen’s life.
Life in my Father's Shadow
Rocio Velásquez Dresser
In the backdrop of 1960s Colombia, the author’s world is defined by her father, a notorious figure known simply to most as ‘The Doctor.’
Dr. Velásquez is a rebel, a man of principles and a prodigious communist organizer in the Americas with ties to Fidel Castro and Che Guevara and a prime target of the CIA with a bounty on his head.
The ‘Doctor’ is forced into hiding leaving his daughter grappling with the void, bereft of the father she adores. Amid the chaos of the era, in an attempt to find him, she unravels the intricate tapestry of his clandestine life that intertwines politics, loyalty, and familial bonds.
As the eldest of four siblings, she shoulders the responsibility of helping to raise her brothers and sister, witnessing her mother’s sacrifices to safeguard the family.
‘Life in My Father’s Shadow,’ paints a poignant portrait of loss and redemption, exploring the depths of the author’s yearning for a father she feels she barely knows as the book delves into the fervent political landscape of Colombia.
A powerful, ravishing story of loyalty, political commitment, belief, hope and family bonds.
Mañana
Wayne Connell
Memoir
This is an authentic, no holds barred testament of the author’s experiences in Spain. In this candid account, he lays bare the complexities of relocating, establishing a business, and raising a family in a foreign land. Connell shares the challenging, and sometimes complex, realities of Spanish laws, customs and traditions. His story unveils the treatment he endured and the profound distaste he harbours towards the nation, and particularly the corruption of its administration.
Connell delves into the stark and often dark aspects of an antiquated system, and the snares and pitfalls to avoid if you want to hang onto your wealth and not run home with your tail between your legs.
The author is speaking directly to those who invested their life savings in the pursuit of a sunnier existence in Spain and lost, but he also salutes those who dared and won.
This memoir is not for the faint-hearted or for those who can only harbour idealistic notions of Spain as a carefree land of flamenco, tapas and sangria. Put away your rose tinted glasses. It is a forthright account of the real Spain through the eyes of one of life’s great observers.
Camino de la Alhambra
Steve and Luci
Travel Guide
In 2023, amidst the crowds on the renowned Camino de Santiago, three seasoned pilgrims embarked on a quest to breathe new life into the spirit of the Camino.
Altea, infused with the vibrant tapestry of the historic Moors and Christians, appeared to be the perfect starting point as their journey wound its way southward, through the captivating regional landscapes of Alicante, Murcia, Almeria and Andalusia, culminating in the majestic embrace of Granada, a city steeped in centuries of rich heritage.
Introducing the compelling pilgrimage of Camino de la Alhambra, this original guidebook crafts historical and cultural narratives of the towns and cities along the route, each stage carefully dissected, kilometre by kilometre. A comprehensive list of accommodation from charming rural hotels to humble albergues and campsites, all meticulously colour-coded for easy navigation.
With full-colour photographs, this guidebook is a must have for any adventurer, and for those who yearn for the familiar Camino feelgood factor from years gone by.
A Dangerous Way
Ken Scott
Crime Fiction
In his last few years in the Royal Marines, Saxon was based in the UK, finding former colleagues who for one reason or another disappeared off the radar.
That’s his speciality – he finds people.
Sax is off on his travels once more, on the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain, a long-distance pilgrim’s footpath known as The Way of St James.
He has a chance meeting with an Irish girl and a priest in the Basque Country, in the foothills of the Pyrenees and within a few days the girl has been reported missing.
Saxon enlists the help of his old Bootneck mate, Dave Valentine and they discover a link to a Nigerian sex trafficking gang, who the Spanish Guardia busted wide open just a few years prior.
Is it possible that some of the gang escaped justice and are now operational again?
The Argentine Affair
Sandra Lefort
Memoir
Sandra was 50 years old when a good friend told her there was a bestselling book in her.
‘Not a chance,’ Sandra said, ‘I have too many friends who don’t know anything about my life. They’d run a mile if they did!’ Sandra always knew there was a story there, a real life love story for sure, the tales of prostitution, unwittingly smuggling £7 million worth of cannabis in a caravan from Morocco, drug running from Peru, an attempted murder and a spell in a French prison was the stuff of fiction in any author’s eyes, except… not even the most imaginative of novelists could have dreamt this one up.
Now, more than 30 years later, she has decided to tell it how it was. She wants to set the record straight..This is Sandra’s story, a story of love and heartache, of sexual encounters and awakenings, of betrayal and broken hearts and dreams, a book about a woman always on the look out for adventure, no matter what the risks.
Odd Poles and Baggy Trousers on the Camino de Santiago
Paula Rooney
Travel Memoir
In 2022, Paula Rooney embarked on a life-changing journey when she hiked 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago across Spain.
Over the course of 36 days, she experienced a range of emotions, from the joy of making new friends to the pain of blisters and hunger.
Her journal chronicles the highs and lows of this unique pilgrimage, with vivid descriptions of the breathtaking scenery and the kindness of strangers along the way.
When she arrived in Santiago and stood before the magnificent cathedral, surrounded by love, Paula knew that her life would never be the same again. Join her on this transformative journey to Santiago.
Despite It All
Madison Alexander Day
Memoir
Madison’s upbringing was a tumultuous journey, marked by perpetual hunger and unrelenting fear.
With their father frequently away for work, Madison and her brother Robbie were left in the care of their chronically alcoholic mother, whose sadistic tendencies, and physical, mental and sexual abuse, jeopardised their safety in the pursuit of attention.
What they didn’t know at the time was that their mother had Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
Despite these harrowing circumstances, the siblings knew they had to stick together, face the challenges of their childhood and show remarkable resilience in order to survive and make it to adulthood.
A unique and honest account teeming with deception and cruelty, this book plunges the reader into a relentless whirlwind of secrets and betrayals as it delves deep into the darkest corners of human nature.
The Truth (The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth, so Help Me…)
Peter E. Saunders
Memoir
Peter Saunders was raised in a devout Catholic family in London, an upbringing fraught with oppression and abuse. Unable to find support in adulthood, Peter set up a major national charity for adults abused in childhood.
He battled with the Church for many years over its persistent denials and cover-ups regarding abuse throughout its ranks across the globe.
Peter made no secret of his views and was astonished to receive an invite to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican in July 2014. The meeting was amicable, and Peter was asked to join the Pope’s child protection commission, but it led to some bizarre and challenging consequences.
Meetings with high-ranking government ministers, officers of the United Nations, senior clerics, and a constant media platform gave Peter a strong voice. This was not welcomed by everyone and he inevitably came up against powerful, sinister forces.
Bluenose Bobby and Grandpa's Magic Scarf
Bob Davison
Children's Fiction
Across generations of football fans there are a million memories of matches, goals and great players from more than 100 years of history. Imagine if it were possible to turn back time and relive the sights and sounds of those iconic matches! Which one would you choose?
Bluenose Bobby is a young Rangers fan. His grandpa has told him stories of famous games and players from a bygone era and Bobby dreams of what it would have been like to be there and see them.
Imagine if he could travel back to any game in Rangershistory? Well perhaps he can, because his grandpa has a secret in the shed at the bottom of his garden. A silk Rangers scarf. When Bluenose Bob puts that scarf around his neck,something magical begins to take place.
Because it Didn't Stop When it Ended
Patricia M Wennell
Memoir
The true story of a relationship between Hilary, a therapist, and Patricia, a woman who suffered horrific abuse in her childhood. It was a different kind of relationship from what Patricia had known. It was one where abuse had no place and where trust could grow, allowing the process of therapy to do its best work. In this moving account, the author recounts how she connected with feelings she vaguely knew.
Using prose and poetry taken from the pages of her journal, Patricia illustrates how the relationship enabled her to find and reach out to the little girl hidden deep within and whom she had disconnected from because of the abuse.
A trauma so damaging and long-lasting that it didn’t stop when the abuse ended, causing her emotions to be frozen in time. With Hilary’s dedication and commitment, and Patricia’s determination, the deep inner sense of badness, guilt and shame she had existed with begins to reduce as she learns to trust that Hilary will be ‘there for the long haul’ and ‘with her every step of the way, through so much darkness and so much pain’, enabling her to begin to love and accept herself.
I hope There's a Kettle in my Room
Paula Rooney
Travel Memoir
This is the inspirational true story of a 55-year-old woman who puts the ghosts of the past behind her and determined to discover a sense of freedom, embarks on a solo backpacking trip around Europe.
45 trains. 14 buses. 10 countries. 16 beds. a cable car and a tin boat in an underground cave.
She travelled to mountain tops, across the Swiss Alps, melted in Venice, felt emotional in Ljubljana, fell in love with Czech and was surprised with Germany.
All the while, searching for a decent cup of tea and hoping there’s a kettle in the room.
Titch - Life in One Sentence
Sharon Waite
Memoir
After a turbulent childhood, young Sharon Waite finds herself doing well with her studies. Determination to succeed finds her with a career and a partner. They eventually buy a home together, but, after their twins arrive, life changes and Sharon moves out for the safety of her and her twins.
Rightfully as a single mum, she claims benefits to put a roof over their heads and food on the table. Things pick up again when she meets Mark. With his contribution to the household, they are comfortably bringing up their growing family. That is until the authorities inform Sharon she is being investigated for benefit fraud.
Sharon immediately signs off benefits and gets a foot on the ladder in property management. But it’s too late. The damage has been done. She is astounded when armed police arrive at her door to arrest her. A prison sentence is handed down and she enters, not only a prison cell, but a whole new chapter of life without her family.
Through her diary entries, Sharon takes us through the doors of women’s prisons and draws the reader into the relationships that exist behind the four walls of captivity.
50 Years a Yogi
Roxanne Louise Swan
Memoir
In this amazing true story, Roxanne vividly captures what it’s like to endure the trauma of life in Minneapolis in the 60s and 70s.
Surviving in a family with alcoholism when the rules of life exploded, those around her had to make up their own solutions as they went along.
This remarkable woman bravely met that crazy world head-on without a map. Her writing has a great sense of style, laced with compassion and gentleness.
The reader will be struck by how tough she was and still is, a true survivor from her early days. She builds a sense of curiosity as she keeps us following the golden line of her story to find out where she ends up.
Await the intrigue as she discovers enlightenment and, by doing so, shows us where to find it.
A Decade with Dave
Ann J Graham
Memoir
Written from the dual perspectives of both a victim and her abuser, chronicles ten years in the life of a strong, confident woman who slowly loses her identity to the man in her life. Josie dreams of a happy and peaceful life and looks forward to a future with Dave. But, she is gradually groomed to accept his cunning narcissism to isolate, demean and destroy her.
When Dave feels his position is threatened, neither Josie nor her property are safe from his violent outbursts.
Escape is impossible because he always finds her, and mental and physical abuse awaits her.
He chisels at her until she is a quivering wreck, unable to think of herself as being anything more than inadequate and his accusations keep her in a perpetual state of confusion and self-doubt.
John West
Eric West wanted to put World War II behind him.
He never wanted to talk about the debacle at Dunkirk.
He never wanted to relive the retreat from Cassel in 1940 and his capture at the hands of the occupying German forces.He wanted to blank out the horror of that journey to a POW camp deep in the heart of Eastern Europe and the subsequent four years of his life where, along with other Dunkirk veterans, he was incarcerated and brutally used as a forced slave labourer for the Third Reich.
He never spoke about his Long March Home in the winter of 1945.
So why, in the 1980s, after a lifetime of helping and healing others, did the psychiatrist, Dr Eric West, decide to revisit the scenes of his worst nightmares?
The Garden of Eden
Ann J Graham
Memoir
This book is based on the true story of life behind closed doors for what appeared to be an upstanding religious family.
It spans three decades, the 50s, 60s and 70s, and tells of a mother and father who constantly battled.
Their two children lived with tension and fear of what was to come next.
What caused the dysfunction – religion, disappointment or pure rage and the need for revenge?
Who Cares?
Ann J Graham
Memoir
This is a true story written through the eyes of a mother who wanted to rescue her son from his turbulent life. After four years in the Army and some family disagreements, Paul was parted from those closest to him.
When she brought him back from a disaster in Germany, the medical profession had to be persuaded that he was suffering from a mental health issue. Lives were turned upside down due to a series of unforeseen events and complications until normal life resumed.
Or did it? Who cares enough to help a young man rise from the depths of despair?
The World in Bullshit: Fooling Most of the People, Most of the Time
Will Rowlands
Probably the biggest lie most people still believe is that the world is overpopulated.The Malthusian theory of overpopulation has been completely disproven over the past two centuries. So why are we brought up believing it is true?
When one understands the answer to this question a few things begin to make sense. The economic collapse facing the world is now a mathematical certainty. It will be blamed on war, COVID19 and the evils of nationalism.
None of this is true. What if the state of the economy, the COVID19 response, the relentless rise in climate alarmism and the debunked theory of Malthus are all intimately connected?
In February 2015 the United Nations calmly announced to the world its goal to replace capitalism. It is a plan so diabolical it takes a 15-year-old girl with pigtails to sell it to the public.
The World in Bullshit: Covid 19: Setting the Trap
Will Rowlands
Are you one of the millions of people who have developed an uneasy feeling that there is something desperately wrong with the world?
Government policies and medical advice seem to make no sense and media propaganda has reached preposterous levels. Are you struggling to believe that a government might not care about its own economy, or its national debt, or might even be willing to harm its citizens?
This book demonstrates beyond doubt that effective treatments for COVID-19 were suppressed while the media was cranking up fear levels. The lies and medical malpractice that cost thousands of lives are crimes against humanity – Nuremberg level violations.
All at Sea
Andrew Morrissey
Memoir
Working in the oil industry and earning big money meant the author’s dreams were measured by possessions, houses and cars.
But all that crashed and he lost everything, including his family. In this book, Morrissey has opened his heart and bared his soul to the reader.
It’s a journey through the ups and downs of life on and off-shore.
The author recounts dark days which caused him to contemplate suicide and who and what it was that changed his life for the better.
Relative Truth
Caroline Walker
Love is blind, or so the story goes. This book is based on a true story, my story. A young girl falls in love with a musician who writes a song about her, with another who almost kills her and with a third, the love of her life.
He turns out to be a big-time drug dealer and a career criminal who runs protection rackets. It’s set in South London, of course. Things turn sour when she, now a Valentino model in Italy, finds out she is pregnant and must make a choice between her son and her man.
Years later, following a New Bond Street armed robbery and a stitch-up by the police, they cross paths again, only this time she is training to be a barrister and he is in jail. This story is about how she fights the system to get her man out and back where he belongs…
Heroes of Lamsdorf
Compiled by Ken Scott
Memoir Anthology
What was it like being an Allied POW in World War II? What was it like being captured and transported to a brutal environment controlled by a Nazi regime, hell-bent on world domination?
In this remarkable book, the families of the prisoners from one of the biggest POW camps in Europe, give an insight into the harsh conditions in Lamsdorf and in the forced labour work camps beyond.
The stories are unique, first-hand accounts from fathers, grandfathers and uncles who are no longer with us.
A labour of love and respect from family members determined to keep their loved ones memories alive.
Simply Fate
Mark J Graham
Fiction
What if you thought you’d won the world’s biggest lottery jackpot? What if the UK media swarmed to your local town, in search of the winner?
What if you’d mislaid a potentially life changing lottery ticket and your forever dream was slipping away?
With a staggering £245million at stake, a life of private jets, travelling the world, multi-millionaire status and a dream you’ve had your whole life slipping away, I MUST find this ticket to the life I know I’ve been waiting for my whole life.
It will bring me nothing but happiness…right?
Two Cops and a Robber
Jill Owens
Memoir
It had been a tough shift for Police Sergeant Jill Evans, but back home she tries to relax and enjoys a hot, strong coffee. The telephone disturbs her peace and tranquillity.
A bank raid, an armed robber and a name she knows only too well. The conversation brings her world crashing down. Her partner, the father of her unborn child, has been leading a double life in more ways than one.
Cruel deceptions and then a crippling battle with the police force she has served impeccably for 17 years. It’s a battle she will struggle to win as she encounters a big boys’ club – the network that condemns her at every turn and navigates her journey in a bid to discredit her.
They want her punished for the crimes and lies of others, they want rid of her and they will stop at nothing to make sure they get what they want.
The Girl with the Flower
Janrose Kasmir
Autobiography
It was recognised as one of the most iconic photographs of its time. The ultimate confrontation: the flower and the bayonet. At the height of the anti-Vietnam war protests in America, a young peace campaigner, Jan Rose Kasmir, confronted the National Guard armed only with a chrysanthemum.
It was the 60s, the time of free love and mind-bending drugs, flower power and the hippy movement. Did you ever wonder what happened to the flower child in the photo?In her long-awaited and highly acclaimed autobiography, Jan lays it bare. In an honest and frank account, she pulls no punches and talks about the sex and the drugs, her stays in state mental institutions, the death of her sister and the collapse of her family, which she would spend a lifetime overcoming.
Yet, she never forgot about what she believed was her role in life – a peace campaigner, first and foremost.Through the gloom and despair emerges inspiration, a true story of love, of how she managed to prise herself from the jaws of self-destruction, and ultimately learn how to love her daughter and most of all, herself.
Twenty Years a Stranger
Deborah Twelves
Is it possible for anyone to really know another person?That is the question Grace King must ask herself when she receives an email informing her that the man she has been married to for the last twenty years is an accomplished con-man, leading multiple lives with at least four different women.
In a split second, Grace’s world is torn apart. She is forced to face up to the fact that her marriage is a sham and the enviable lifestyle she enjoyed with Daniel was all based on lies and deceit. With Daniel suddenly threatening to go bankrupt, Grace decides to turn amateur detective in an attempt to salvage anything she can from her old life and avoid financial as well as emotional ruin, but can she cope with what she finds out?
As increasingly disturbing secrets about Daniel emerge, events spiral out of control and Grace begins to see just how far he is prepared to go to protect those secrets. A dangerous game of cat and mouse ensues, but it is clear there can only ever be one winner. Pushed to breaking point, Grace is about to discover what she is truly capable of.
Based on true events, this compelling story is filled with twists and turns and sadness and laughter that will keep readers gripped until the very last moment.
Ghost of a Stranger
Deborah Twelves
Grace King is rebuilding her life and putting the past behind her, about to embark on an adventure that will take her across continents to the distant shores of Madagascar.
She knows the truth now and it can’t hurt her anymore. But what she doesn’t know is that the biggest secret of all is still out there.
Unknown to Grace and against all the odds, her ex-husband Daniel Callaghan survived that night on the boat and is determined to have his revenge.
His ‘death’ provided him with an unexpected opportunity to escape his problems and gave him the perfect cover to stalk his prey at leisure.
But as Daniel returns to his old tricks, drawing more women into his twisted world of lies, deceit and manipulation, he is about to find out he is not the only one playing the Lying Game.
Everyone has secrets. And the past doesn’t stay buried forever.
The Five Amigos
Emily Louise Douglas
Children's Fiction
Join Tom, Stephanie, Olivia and Ali and a dog called Kiko on their incredible first adventure in the beautiful Spanish town of Altea.
There’s some buried treasure out there somewhere, will the five amigos solve the mystery and return the treasure to its rightful owners?
Die Reisende Karnaval
Saamgestel deur
Nadia De Kock
“Sandra se treë word al hoe ligter terwyl sy oor die dennenaalde stap, tot sy nie meer haar voetstappe kan hoor nie, asof sy begin sweef het. Selfs vir háár voel dit soos ’n geskenk.” – Uit Marita van der Vyver se Die wonderwerk.
Nes vir Sandra, werk dinge nie altyd uit soos ’n mens dit graag wil hê nie. Die feesseisoen is dikwels ’n antiklimaks, ’n teleurstelling, irritasie of selfs onhoudbaar, en Kersfees ’n geleentheid waarteen baie mense opsien. Die karakters in hierdie verhale het ook uitdagings om te hanteer: Sandra spandeer Kersfees alleen in die vreemde; Retha kruip agter haar masker in ’n kronkelende UIF-ry weg en in die openingsverhaal word Magdel se planne om New York te besoek deur die pandemie gekortwiek.
In die titelverhaal besoek ’n reisende karnaval die klein Rondeberg en word Melinda met die verlede gekonfronteer. Laastens, in ’n outobiografiese vertelling deur Corlia Fourie, onthou sy ’n kleintyd-Kersfees. Die begin van die verlies aan kinderlike onskuld word op bekoorlike wyse oorgedra.
En ten spyte van die uitdagings kry die karakters hierdie Kersfees elkeen ’n waardevolle geskenk.
Sinner to Saint
Garry Henshaw
Autobiography
In this highly acclaimed autobiography, Garry Henshaw lays his past bare.
He documents the violence and the drug abuse and the incredible sex parties as he takes the reader on a rollercoaster of a ride, from London in the late 70s and early 80s to San Francisco, Benidorm and Malaga where he now lives with his two beloved bulldogs.
While he admits that he worked very hard on his transformation from sinner to saint, his persona of Mr Hyde, still lurks within.
My Journey Through Hell
Karen Slater
Autobiography, Abuse, Addiction
“By the grace of God, I’m lucky to be alive.” Karen Slater.Karen grew up believing she was worth nothing, told by her parents on a daily basis she was a useless excuse for a human being. She was beaten and abused and exposed to the dangers of a rough council estate in Newcastle’s West End.
Glue sniffing was her first escape until she found a new friend at the bottom of a vodka bottle. As she left the family home and made her way into the big wide world, it seemed only natural that the father of her child would take over the violence where her own father had left off. But he took it to another level as one particular assault with fists, boots and a hunting knife left her for dead.
Her life became a drunken blur as she spiralled out of control and eventually there was only one way out. She was found just in time and in intensive care she watched a slowing heart monitor and begged her God to let her die.And then something strange happened as almost immediately her heart rate began to improve and a spiritual surge coursed through her body.
She found hope and optimism and someone somewhere was talking to her, telling her that this was rock bottom and the only way was up. As she drifted in and out of consciousness spoke to her, told her that she had something to live for, a purpose, because why should people be made to suffer the way she had?
She had to live, had to talk to the abused, help the victims of domestic violence, those who had been raped and the alcoholics and the addicts. The day she left hospital Karen Slater bought some exercise books and some pens and began to write. This is her story, her message to the world.
The Girl in the Pink Shoes
Jessica Harrington
Autobiography
Child Abuse
Jessica Harrington grew up not really knowing her biological father. He was something of an enigma, living in a country thousands of miles away. She was very much part of a single-parent family, relying on her mother for everything. That is, until her mother’s boyfriend stepped into her life.
The Girl in the Pink Shoes is a harrowing and graphic account of a young girl’s physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather, already a convicted paedophile. Jessica Harrington thought she would be protected. After all, wasn’t that what mums were supposed to do?
Jessica’s mother betrayed her and looked the other way. She allowed the devil himself into her daughter’s bedroom.
What followed was years of the most horrific abuse imaginable, brutal rapes, video recordings from hidden cameras, and introductions to other paedophiles.
Warned that if she ever breathed a word to anyone, she would be tortured and killed, there was never a safe place to hide from the horrors she faced on a daily basis.
Bullied at school, raped and beaten at home, Jessica saw no way out and tried to take her own life. But even then, the abuse and the torment continued for many years.
An incredible story from one of life’s true survivors that will leave a lasting impression long after the last page has been turned.
The War Within
Ken Scott
A true story of a forbidden love affair, a bastard child and an interfering church that removes the child from its parents and separates them by force.
Told to Ken Scott in 2009 by a journalist, the author returned to the villages and places and miraculously found surviving family members who verified that the remarkle story was indeed true.
Before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Juan Francisco enters the priesthood and finds himself part of Franco’s mobile blessing squad, giving Mass to the troops and the last rites to the Republican prisoners about to be shot.
This is the story of the war within Spain and the conflict of the morals and beliefs of a priest and his duty to General Franco.
Cycling the Camino de Santiago
Ken Scott
Four long distance cycle virgins prepare and plan for a 1000 kilometre adventure on the Camino de Santiago.
An incredibly honest and inspiring account of their highs and lows, their accidents, arguments and late night drinking escapades during fourteen days of peace, tranquility and mayhem.
This book is full of useful information on different routes, terrain, accommodation and places to avoid.
It’s the cyclist’s Camino Bible, much like John Brierley’s guides are to the hiking pilgrims.If you have cycled the Camino, or plan to, this book is a must.
Don't Die Yet, Dad
Ken Scott
Self-Help
A word of warning: if you can’t take criticism and don’t like to hear the truth about yourself, then don’t buy this book.
Be honest, you’ve noticed those extra pounds creeping on, you’ve noticed those extra inches around your waist and perhaps you’ve realised that your sex life isn’t what it once was. It’s called middle-age and welcome to the club my friend.
In this lifestyle change guide, I introduce to you a quarterly routine involving daily exercise and sensible eating which will transform the whole way you look at your life, your children’s lives and also your grandchildren’s.
In short, we want to hang around a little longer to enjoy the nicer side of life and, particularly, our families. You’re a great guy, right? Everyone loves to be around you right? Well, stop being such a selfish bastard, clean up your act and hang around a bit longer.
Soldier, Prisoner, Hunter, Gatherer
Don Woods
War Memoir
This is the incredible WWII survival story of Kiwi, Horrie Woods.
The story is based on Horrie’s wartime diaries, where he meticulously detailed the good times and the bad times and the harsh, downright desperate times as he lost his mates in the New Zealand 19th Battalion on the foreign soils of Greece and Crete, in the POW work camps of Stalag VIII-B Lamsdorf and on the infamous winter death march in 1945.
As a boxer before the war, Horrie was one of life’s fighters, but little did he know he would be pitched into the greatest fight of his life; a fight that would last five long years.
A chronological, historical account of an ordinary young man from Gisborne and the pivotal role he and his mates played in Hitler’s downfall, with special focus on how the Kiwi fighters delayed Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of Russia. This operation was arguably the turning point in World War II.
The World's my Oyster
Book 1
Daz Tait
Travel, Adventure
Meet Daz Tait, a young South African with a taste for adventure and a love of the sea. In his early twenties he said he would sail the world’s oceans and his late father’s words were etched into his brain. “A man is only as good as his word,” he said, “if you make a promise to do something then make sure you get it done.”
He knew that every man’s life began and ended the same way and that it was only the details in between that distinguishes the man from the mouse.
He wanted to explore and discover new worlds and he had a plan, a plan that involved a joint venture with his best mate, working like crazy to save every penny to buy that dream boat, all so that they could sail away from the safety of modern living and embrace a life of risk and adventure.In this book, the first of a sensational trilogy, our intrepid hero sows the seeds of his dream by stepping off the hamster’s wheel, ending a relationship with a girl he truly loved and setting sail into the jaws of uncertainty.
The World's my Oyster
Book 2
Daz Tait
Travel, Adventure
After his highly acclaimed first book in the trilogy, the World’s my Oyster, Daz is back with Book 2.
We left our intrepid explorer shipwrecked in the picturesque bay of Baleeira on the south-west tip of Portugal with a broken boat and a broken heart. A year of introspection has passed since the loss of his beloved Hitrapia and Daz has decided to head back to sea. He no longer has a boat, but he won’t let a mere detail like that stop him from following his dream of circumnavigating the globe.
His new plan is to attempt the venture as crew aboard other skippers’ yachts, but it’s not all plain sailing. Daz Tait doesn’t suffer fools gladly, and unfortunately some of the boats he finds himself on are skippered by said fools. In sailing, as in life, things rarely go to plan, so strap yourself in and prepare for a rough ride.
In this book, Daz traces his steps halfway around the world from the Canary Islands to Australia. Exploring some of the most beautiful and unique places on earth including the Galapagos and the fabled islands of French Polynesia in the South Pacific.
The World's my Oyster
Book 3
Daz Tait
Travel, Adventure
Daz Tait travels across two continents and two oceans on the last leg of his daunting quest to circumnavigate the globe.
In the final book of this trilogy, Daz makes an emotional visit to South Africa, the country of his birth, visits Machu Picchu and sails in the midst of the annual humpback migration off the east coast of Brazil, but his chances of reaching the finishing line in the Caribbean are jeopardised when he is robbed and left penniless and without a passport in Chile.
The Monster i Loved
Shannon Clifton
Memoir
Shannon Clifton has waived her right to anonymity in this highly acclaimed, dark but deeply inspiring book. Raped by her father from age six and pregnant at eleven and again at thirteen, he kidnapped her and went on the run as the net eventually closed in around him.
Shannon’s story is not an easy read; she goes into graphic detail about her sexual, physical and mental abuse, which included being burned with an iron, hit with a hammer and even stabbed.
Her father told her “it was something all fathers do with their daughters,” and for a time she believed him. Shannon wrote this book to start making sense of her childhood and is currently studying towards a degree in Forensic Psychology to help understand what makes people evil.
“It was a painful journey,” she explains, “but it was worth it because I want to help others who have been through similar experiences.”
Shadow Man
Terri Brown
Horror
Toni returns to the town of her abusive upbringing for the funeral of her long-missing high school friend. She only has one thought on her mind – pay her respects and leave.
But a strange text has brought all of her high school friends to this one point and they soon realise that all is definitely not what it seems.
There is more in the darkness here than just shadows.
Coming to terms with her mother’s abuse and the terrors of her upbringing, the ghosts of Toni’s past become more than metaphorical – they become dangerous. Fighting them, a terrifying dark daemon and a serial killer that is closer to home than any of them suspected, Toni learns some steep lessons about friendship, love and just how much she is capable of.
But will it be enough to save her friends?
The Possession Legacy
Trevor Dalton
Horror
Llewellyn, the first Prince of Wales is a legendary warrior who seems invincible in battle. His struggles with the Normans and his prowess on the field of combat seem almost superhuman. There are many rumours and even his own brother cannot understand the reasons for his strength. Llewellyn travels to Carmarthen where he learns of Merlin’s prophecy and his own ultimate heritage, to become a vampire.
Whilst fighting a Norman knight he is bitten by a female mosquito. The mosquito is crushed underfoot by the horses of the combatants and spends the next 500 years trapped. In the present day there is a tremendous storm which alters the course of the river and releases the mosquito. She is awakened and begins her quest to procreate and establish a brood of her own.
Sarah and Lynette are both bitten by mosquitoes and become strangely linked. The characters that form the basis of the story all find themselves in Wales at a hotel and their lives become interwoven as the story unfolds. Sarah discovers her own vampire heritage and also her links with Lynette. The bloodlust she has inherited from Llewellyn and the needs of the mosquito brood mother lead Sarah on the rampage of killing that seals her ultimate demise.
And Then the Penny Dropped
B.P. Kennedy
Fiction based on a true story
After twenty-three years of marriage, a husband abandons his family, thrusting his wife into a legal struggle she never wished to face.
As she uncovers the extent of her husband’s hidden wealth, she places her faith in her attorney and the British legal system, only to soon realize that she is merely a pawn in a complex legal game.
This narrative, inspired by true events of betrayal, injustice, desire, and sorrow, follows Ms. Kennedy as she becomes embroiled in a multi-million-pound fraud while grappling with a fight that seems unwinnable.
In the midst of this turmoil, she begins an affair with her lawyer. What leads a destitute and heartbroken woman to believe that, despite her losses in court, she can ultimately prevail in the larger battle?
Deeper Darkness
Trevor Dalton
Horror
A Deeper Darkness is the chilling sequel to Trevor’s debut novel The Possession Legacy and sees Lynette come of age as a full blood descendant of the Vampire Llewellyn.
From her first infection by mosquitoes in Wales to her full possession this book follows the growth and development of a modern vampire.With her first taste of blood, Lynette is determined to fulfil her birthright and collect the combined experiences of the world.
Can she be stopped? With William the sibling of David and a mysterious child, Jay, as her only realadversaries, it’s unlikely.
To compound the problems she causes Lynette is a vampire with more than a thirst for blood and this story races from Wales to London, Bangkok and Spain to the final gathering in Shirley in the Midlands. Will the disease of Vampirism end here?
Die jongste suster en ander slim meisies
Corlia Fourie
Fiction
Hierdie is unieke en opwindende verhale uit Afrika. Hlaulu neem die inisiatief om te ondersoek waarom die bosdier soveel vrees by almal wek, terwyl Tombi ‘n reus konfronteer en op ‘n vindingryke manier van twee reuse ontslae raak.
Ukuhleka bewys aan haar vader dat sy in staat is om al die mans wat om haar hand meeding, te oorwin. Laledi bly getrou aan haar melodie, selfs al word sy gestraf, en Dabeda moet ‘n plan ontwikkel om haar vryheid te verkry.
Ganekwane gebruik verhale soos Sjeherazade om te oorleef, en daar is ook ander meisies, soos die middelste en jongste susters, wat dapper en slim veg vir oorlewing. Vir hierdie fantasieverhale het die skrywer inspirasie geput uit beide Westerse sprokies en die ryk Afrika-oorlewering.
Die verhale is geskik vir beide kinders en volwassenes, of dit nou voorgelees of self gelees word. In sommige van die verhale word die belangrikheid van stories beklemtoon.
Under the Spanish sun
Reinette Visser
Fiction
Claudia Baxter sets out on an expedition from Cape Town to Altea, a serene coastal town located on the Costa Blanca, in search of a treasure that has intrigued South Africans for generations. Following the British triumph in the Boer War in 1902, President Paul Kruger fled South Africa and made his way to Europe, marking a significant historical moment. It is widely believed that he took a considerable portion of the nation’s gold reserves with him, which remains buried on a farm in South Africa to this day.
Some speculate that Kruger transported the gold to Europe, where he eventually died in Switzerland, leading to the possibility that it may still be held in a Swiss bank account. Alternatively, it could be concealed elsewhere in Europe, potentially along the Mediterranean coast of Spain, which Kruger’s ship would have navigated. Numerous individuals have devoted their lives to discovering the so-called Kruger Millions, including Ivan Baxter, Claudia’s father.
A revelation from her father on his deathbed leads Claudia to suspect that he harbored more knowledge about the treasure’s whereabouts than he ever shared with his family, motivating her to journey to the Costa Blanca in search of the truth. Is she embarking on a fruitless endeavor, or is she on the brink of solving South Africa’s most profound mystery? An unforeseen alliance with a charismatic young Spaniard propels this adventure forward.
Set against the backdrop of the shimmering blue Mediterranean and a charming seaside village, this fast-paced narrative promises to deliver delightful holiday reading. All the restaurants and bars mentioned in the book are actual establishments frequented by the authors, who have named most characters after friends and neighbors, and Ken and Reinette are pleased to report that they have yet to encounter any legal issues.
Keepers of the Causeway
Ken Scott
Fiction
Historians suggest that a fraternal organization, which predates the Freemasons, has adopted the philosophies and rituals of the mysterious ‘Keepers’ of Holy Island.
The members of this brotherhood approach their duties with the highest level of seriousness, acting as judge, jury, and executioners, which has resulted in a notable increase in the number of ‘undesirables’ they eliminate.
Ashley Clarke’s closest companion has vanished, with his last known whereabouts linked to Holy Island, prompting the former police officer to initiate an investigation. On a bleak, stormy evening, he makes his way across the causeway, only to encounter the local residents who remain steadfast, claiming that his friend has never set foot on their revered island.
As the tide rises and envelops the causeway, he finds himself cut off from the mainland, confronting an unparalleled sense of isolation.
Best Sellers
Released: 28 June 2021
Author: Jessica Harrington
Jessica Harrington grew up not really knowing her biological father. He was something of an enigma, living in a country thousands of miles away. She was very much part of a single-parent family, relying on her mother for everything. That is, until her mother’s boyfriend stepped into her life.
Released: 19 May 2020
Author: Jill Owen
This is a true story. It had been a tough shift for Police Sergeant Jill Evans, but back home she tries to relax and enjoys a hot, strong coffee. The telephone disturbs her peace and tranquillity. A bank raid, an armed robber and a name she knows only too well. The conversation brings her world crashing down. Her partner, the father of her unborn child, has been leading a double life in more ways than one. Cruel deceptions and then a crippling battle with the police force she has served impeccably for 17 years. It’s a battle she will struggle to win as she encounters a big boys’ club – the network that condemns her at every turn and navigates her journey in a bid to discredit her. They want her punished for the crimes and lies of others, they want rid of her and they will stop at nothing to make sure they get what they want.
Released: 15 December 2019
Author: Shannon Clifton
Shannon Clifton has waived her right to anonymity in this highly acclaimed, dark but deeply inspiring book. Raped by her father from age six and pregnant at eleven and again at thirteen, he kidnapped her and went on the run as the net eventually closed in around him.Shannon’s story is not an easy read; she goes into graphic detail about her sexual, physical and mental abuse, which included being burned with an iron, hit with a hammer and even stabbed. Her father told her “it was something all fathers do with their daughters,” and for a time she believed him.
John West
Eric West wanted to put World War II behind him. He never wanted to talk about the debacle at Dunkirk. He never wanted to relive the retreat from Cassel in 1940 and his capture at the hands of the occupying German forces.
He wanted to blank out the horror of that journey to a POW camp deep in the heart of Eastern Europe and the subsequent four years of his life where, along with other Dunkirk veterans, he was incarcerated and brutally used as a forced slave labourer for the Third Reich.
He never spoke about his Long March Home in the winter of 1945.
So why, in the 1980s, after a lifetime of helping and healing others, did the psychiatrist, Dr Eric West, decide to revisit the scenes of his worst nightmares?