KOVACS, Frank

ISBN 978-1-923265-17-2
PAPERBACK

Invisible Scars Somalia

 

A true story of an Australian soldier living with the effects of PTSD

Africa, 1984: Al-Shabaab militants succeeded in smuggling weapons and equipment into Somalia from Ethiopia, unimpeded. The US President Ronald Reagan authorised a shadow team of international soldiers to spy on the movement of rebels and arms fl owing into Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital.

An Australian Regular Army soldier, together with two British military personnel, seconded by the US to join a CIA special agent and an Ethiopian female warrior to infi ltrate to Luuq, a rural town and staging area for Al-Shabaab rebels in Central Somalia, on a clandestine mission. Their call sign was ‘Delta One.’ Their secret and urgent mission was to observe the movement of rebel forces, their equipment, and ammunition, then report back directly to Langley. During the mission, the team needed to cover their own tracks in case the proverbial hit the fan.

Staying one step ahead of the rebels was easy, whilst racing against the clock, until the team wound up in a horrendous ambush against superior rebel forces.

For a nation, unaware of the effects combat has on its soldiers, life for the Australian soldier returning from Somalia became harder after discharge, as he battled the complexities of PTSD and alcoholism in civvy street. Haunted by the nightmares of his time in Africa and racked by guilt from driving his wife and family away. He discovers help at the Repatriation General Hospital, Psychiatric Ward 17, in Adelaide, South Australia.

However, there was another enemy at play. The lure of Soldier of Fortune work would set him in action again

STRATTON, Abigail

ISBN 978-1-923443-11-2
PAPERBACK

ISBN 978-1-923443-12-9
HARDCOVER

Life Through Art

Revive creative freedom, heal from trauma and embody spiritual wisdom

You don’t need to be a technically good artist to use art as a vehicle for healing or self-realisation. All you need is your preferred art medium and a willingness to move across the page in whatever way you’re called.

In Life Through Art, Abigail shares the personal experiences that guided her to embody an art healing modality. That is, a method of visual art where the individual relinquishes the urge to control the outcome on the page in lieu of liberating what their intuition seeks to express. It is a stream of consciousness approach to artmaking which promotes healing benefits beyond the satisfaction of executing a particular image.

Through original art, poetry and incisive self-reflection, the author explores the connection between being creative, healing from trauma, and becoming more aware of the spiritual world. This is offered as a guide for how we can use art healing to flow into a more fulfilling path.

Little Book of Big Book Marketing Tips book cover

About the Author

Abigail is a writer, fascinated by the relationship between art and spiritual healing. Art-making is what helped her become more aware of the spiritual world and spiritual healing helped her connect even deeper with her intuitive art practice; She marries the two to unlock the beauty in every day.

She holds a Bachelor of Communications from University of Technology, Sydney as well as an Advanced Certificate of Energy Healing and a Teaching Certificate from the Ashati Institute of Energy Healing. Abigail published her first book; My Horse Is My Guide in 2024.

Visit abirose.net to learn more.

NELDNER, Brian

ISBN 978-1-923386-34-1
PAPERBACK

ISBN 978-1-923386-35-8
HARDBACK

Table of Eight

A Life in Service to Humanity

Around Every Table of Eight, a Refugee Story Connects Us All.

From the post-war refugee crises to the African droughts of the 1980s, Table of Eight chronicles Brian’s extraordinary journey at the intersection of faith and global humanitarian aid. Through innovative tripartite partnerships—uniting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), host governments, and receptive NGOs—Brian played a pivotal role in providing refuge, resources, and hope to displaced populations worldwide.

Drawing from his experiences with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), an ecumenical organization founded in 1947, Brian sheds light on ground-breaking interfaith outreach efforts, from the Middle East and Hong Kong to the Indian subcontinent. He recounts his contributions to international cooperation, including the establishment of the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR), advocacy for landmine bans, and strengthening UN mechanisms for aid delivery.

With unwavering faith in the power of miracles and a commitment to the ethos of the Good Samaritan, Brian reflects on the transformative role of church agencies in saving millions of lives during some of history’s darkest moments. This memoir is not just a testament to his life’s work but a call to action—to see the humanity in others, step into the gap, and make a difference.

This is a story of compassion in action, a legacy of faith through service, and an invitation to believe in the extraordinary.

HARKNESS, Anthony

ISBN 978-1-923386-93-8
PAPERBACK

Just A South Sydney Lad

 

The Everyday Adventures Of A Maroubra Boy In 1950s and ’60s Australia

Against the backdrop of the sixties, when British music invaded Sydney streets and TV colonised loungerooms, a Maroubra boy took his Dad’s advice and ‘got on with it’…

Jump aboard the everyday adventures of a Maroubra boy in 1950s and ‘60s Australia where Sunday Mass, getting on the punt and sitting on the hill for the match of the day at the SCG was a holy trifecta.

And amidst a time when floggings by teachers, schools suspiciously burning down, headless chooks running about backyards and boxing gloves were part of a Maroubra childhood … this lad had plenty to get on with.

As he revisits the memories of his youth, Anthony will tell you exactly why he was glad to be a South Sydney lad!

Little Book of Big Book Marketing Tips book cover

About the Author

Anthony Harkness was born in the same year Princess Elizabeth became Queen (1952) and grew up in the Sydney suburb of Maroubra – a child of the fifties and a teenager through the sixties. His school days moved from slate to sharpened pencils, from knibs and inkwells to fountain pens and finally the ubiquitous Bic biro – the last implement being regarded as the work of the devil by his teachers.

Anthony has been at various times a teacher, a senior school assistant principal, a rugby league coach, and a singer in two rock ‘n’ roll bands. He has degrees in Education, Economics and Theology which makes him well suited to explore the sweet mysteries of life on spreadsheets and/or metaphysical essays.

He has published in academic journals and written for community radio on the Sunshine Coast. He reached the national finals of ‘The Spoken Word’ poetry competition in 2021 with his original poem ‘Wine Wisdom’.

An anthology of poems is presently underway. ‘Just a South Sydney Lad’ is his first novel.

Contact:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tony.harkness.56
Instagram: @tony_harkness_writer

MCCULLOCH, Glenn and REILLY, Peter

ISBN 978-1-923265-07-3
HARDCOVER

Donald Simpson

Neurosurgeon and Humanitarian

DONALD SIMPSON WAS A REMARKABLE MAN.

This biography, written by two former trainees, and later colleagues, tells the story of his family background and academic career in neurosurgery, from Adelaide to Oxford. It covers the many aspects of his life – from medical research and historical interests to working with disabled and sick children and his humanitarian activities. It also contains many contributions from people who knew him and many stories about him, some humorous, some surprising but always “Donaldesque”. The unique character of Donald Simpson, neurosurgeon and humanitarian, shines through.