ISBN 978-1-922957-52-8
PAPERBACK
Join the kid who never gave up as she attends her first netball team try-out!
Will her lucky purple socks prove to be lucky?
Will she make the team?
Or, will she practice with family and friends help make the difference?
ISBN 978-1-922957-21-4
PAPERBACK
Oddly Enough is the story of an Englishman who emigrated to Australia in 1959 to work as a teacher, and, subsequently, as a psychologist, university professor and researcher, in which capacity he has established an international reputation for his work on how bullying can be countered in schools. This led to his becoming recognised internationally, travelling and lecturing worldwide, and receiving the Order of Australia Medal in 2021.
Oddly Enough is written as a flow of consciousness of events as they are remembered and reflected upon from childhood to old age. It is meant to amuse, as well as shed light on significant historical, social, and cultural issues of his time; such as social class; family life; schooling and education; Britain in wartime; National Service; emigration; university life; and adapting to the Australian culture. Finally, it addresses existential questions on the nature of self and the sheer oddity of existence.
‘This fascinating book succeeds in being three things: a personal document of a fulfilling life; a social history covering England and Australia; and a vivid description of the author’s research and practical work in the area of school bullying. Ken Rigby writes frankly and often amusingly about all these matters. This is a compelling read which will be of interest to anyone interested in personal biography, education, and indeed life in general!’
Peter K Smith
Emeritus Professor, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK
‘Oddly Enough is a refreshingly honest autobiography charting Ken’s journey from working class schoolboy to leading international academic, and the characters he meets along the way. It’s a fascinating insight into how his school years and national service helped shape his own approach to classroom teaching, and the inspiration for his research into bullying in school and effective intervention methods.’
Jo Earp.
Editor, Teacher magazine, Australian Council for Education Research
‘This book is captivating and interesting, not only for those who know Ken personally; but also to the bullying research community, which has become very numerous. A fascinating line goes from his own school days, and reflections on authority, to pioneering, world class research on school bullying, and further to the existential question about self and its becoming. And it is so well written, as usual.’
Professor Erling Roland
University of Stavangar, Norway
ISBN 978-1-922957-01-6
PAPERBACK
In autumn 2016, as Lexie Scotland approaches her 37th birthday, she stumbles across a letter written by her estranged father 27 years earlier. Still reeling from the loss of her childhood sweetheart, Luke, and the recent death of her Nan, the letter reignites a fire within her to find her father. With the help of her best friend AJ, that possibility becomes a reality. However, beneath the surface, Lexie is plagued by nightmares that threaten the future she has been trying so hard to build.
In the End is a story about love, loss, friendship and finding your way in the darkest of times.
Sarah Rodgers was born in Grantham, England. Her family moved to Australia when she was 13. After graduating from the ANU with a Bachelor of Commerce, Sarah moved to Sydney where she lived and worked for 25 years. She returned to Canberra in early 2015.
When she is not writing, Sarah enjoys running her coaching business, spending time with her family, watching AFL and cricket, walking, dabbling in photography, reading a good book, and sharing a well-made cup of tea with loved ones. In the End is her first novel.
ISBN 978-1-922957-07-8
PAPERBACK
Cassy is the first of her generation born into a Christian Lebanese family after they emigrated to Australia, and she was set to be the golden grandchild. But when it was discovered that she had cerebral palsy, the promise of her wonderful future vanished, and a veil of shame descended.
Now an embarrassment to the family, Cassy was hidden away from the community, just tolerated at home, and told she was an embarrassment, useless and would have no future. Her innocence protected her from realising she was unwanted, so Cassy put everything she had into living her life to its fullest. Once Cassy bravely stood up to her oppressors and became an independent individual, she would never be held back again.
Light at the End of the Tunnel is an autobiography chronicling Cassy’s journey through hard times and tough lessons supported by good friends and personal achievements. She hopes to inspire by sharing the lessons she has learned to build on your inner strength and fulfil your dreams.
ISBN 978-1-922890-85-6
PAPERBACK
After a life of tragedy, Alana joins the Australian Federal Police and soon meets CIA operative Nathan Collins, the man she expected to spend her life with, though that too turned to tragedy. Nathan contacts his estranged wife for assistance after three years apart when he is deployed to Spain and Morocco for an extremely dangerous assignment. One involving the staged assassination of the leader of a system not made accountable for a multitude of crimes performed by counterfeit men under cloaks of righteousness over the centuries. The threads of sexual and religious tension weave between Nathan and Alana, brought back together to execute this audacious plan.
Will the assassination attempt of the most powerful religious leader in the world bring the distraction required to detain them? Could this be the bridge they need to revisit their marriage, something they both secretly desire?
A Token Gift is threaded with political, religious, and historical facts.
ISBN 978-1-922803-65-8
PAPERBACK
“Don’t waste time looking back, that’s not the direction you’re going anyway.”
Utter Nonsense, consisting of 7 members, was formed in 1980 and played gigs around Melbourne until they released their first EP in 1983, before touring the country.
After the release of “Changes Must Be Made”, they became a household name and were featured on several variety television programs nationwide before disappearing.
Mitchell Truce formed a Ska band with his high school friends and chose to drop out of school and follow his dreams. Starting in grungy, underground venues and pubs, Utter Nonsense was fast known as the ‘all- inclusive’ fun, new band with a UK sound. Their loyal fans, the Rude Boys are in danger of becoming overrun by the racist and violent National Front skinheads.
To complicate things even further, Mitch finds out that it is his girlfriend’s brother who is heading the local Nazi regime and causing most of the trouble at their gigs. The band tour the country focusing on their music and climbing the charts all the while facing the highs and lows of friendship, success, fame, and brotherhood.
Within 24 hours of celebrating an international tour opportunity, tragedy strikes the band, and all their dreams are left blowing in the wind.
ISBN 978-1-923156-02-9
PAPERBACK
In 1942, at age 16, Violet Middleton falls in love with an older man and in turn falls pregnant. Violet never disclosed to her parents who the baby’s father was and they are devestated that their squeaky-clean reputation in the small town they reside in will be tarnished forever so Violet is sent to a maternity home in Sydney where she is forced to give up her baby.
Violet spends the remainder of her years hurdling tragic events in search for her daughter. Violet’s search appears to be at a dead end, until an unlikely visitor shows up during Violet’s last living days and offers to help with the search but what she discovers will leave you questioning every personal relationship you have ever had.
ISBN 978-1-923214-46-0
PAPERBACK
Four modern day Australian scuba divers come across an old rum barrel; they drink from it and find themselves in England, 1818. In hopes to find their way back home they board a tall ship but soon realize they are under the command of “Benito Bloody Sword Bonito” the most blood thirst pirate on the high seas.