In 1943, following the Armistice in Italy, many Prisoners of War were released by their guards but found themselves fugitives in a country over-run by the Germans. One such prisoner was known in Italy as Luigi. Realising that the Allies were not yet in his part of the country, he decided to walk from Padua in the north to reach the front-line in the south. During the course of his arduous journey through the backwaters of Italy he was hidden and given sanctuary by two Italian farming families. In 1949 he took his fiancee to meet them. Sadly, having survived the war he died in 1959 leaving his Italian friends unaware of his tragic death.

Van ongenooi na ingenooi is werklikheidsfiksie gebaseer op die ware verhaal van trauma en verlies en uiteindelike aanvaarding in die lewe van ’n jong vrou en haar gesin. Dit is ook die verhaal van ware vriendskap. Ná ’n besoek aan ’n chirurg word ulseratiewe kolitis by Tanja gediagnoseer en sy moet hoor dat dit reeds haar rektum en kolon aangetas het. Die dokter hanteer egter nie die saak as spoedeisend nie, verseker haar dat sy maar kan gaan vakansie hou. Die uiteinde is katastrofies. Tanja se kolon perforeer en sy sterf byna aan inwendige bloeding. Tientalle besoeke aan die hospitaal volg en sy moet vir die res van haar lewe met ’n stomasak saamleef. Ná haar ontslag besef en ondervind sy watter letsels die ongenooide siekte, trauma en aanhegsel aan haar liggaam en emosies laat. Van ongenooi na ingenooi is ’n boek vir:

• Vroue op die eensame reis wat in Noodgevalle of ’n onkologiekliniek begin het, waarna jy met jouself, God en jou medemens moet gaan saamleef
• Dié wat al deur groot trauma moes gaan, asook hul gesin en veral vir hul lewensmaat.
• Lesers wat hulle in ’n “nuwe normaal”bevind – in ’n liggaam wat waarskynlik nooit weer soos vroeër sal lyk of wees nie
• Die lewensmaats van vroue soos Tanja, asook die familie en vriende van ernstig siek mense

Killing at its Very Extreme takes the reader to the heart of Dublin from October 1917 to November 1920, effectively the first phase of Dublin's War of Independence. It details pivotal aspects at the outset, then the ramping up of the intelligence war, the upsurge in raids and assassinations. Vividly depicting mass hunger-strikes, general strikes, prison escapes, and ruthless executions by the full-time IRA 'Squad', amid curfews and the functioning of an audacious alternative government. Intensity builds as the reader is embedded into Commandant Dick McKee's Dublin Brigade to witness relentless actions and ambushes. The authors' unprecedented access lays bare many myths about key players from both sides. The tempo escalates with deployment of the notorious Black and Tans and Auxiliaries, as well as a host of cunning political and propaganda ploys. Desperate plights and horrific reprisals are portrayed, the effects of mass sectarian pogroms and killings. Tthe sacking of Balbriggan, the killing of Sean Treacy, the death of Terence MacSwiney, and the capture and execution of teenager Kevin Barry. As in the authors' previous works the pulsating tension, elation, fear, desperation, hunger, the mercy and the enmity leap from the pages. The harrowing circumstances suffered by those whose sacrifices laid the bedrock for modern Ireland, and whose own words form the book's primary sources, are recounted in unflinching detail.

Tommy Kennedy IV's final autobiography enters the millennium years with energy, pace and sincerity. Immediately, we are swept into the heart of London's Notting Hill and into the hypnotic centre of its vibrant music scene. Tommy's management of the bands in his care is in equal measure affectionate, creative and dedicated. Characters such as Big Alan Clayton, The Assassin and Whiplash Jackson, Steve Dior, Alan Blizzard, Billy Idle, Rainbow George are presented in vivid techno-colour against the kaleidoscope of a cascading sub-culture. The writing sparkles with anecdotal humour as we observe their interactions which are always interesting, sometimes hilarious and often tragic. When a series of tragedies manifest into his own life Tommy reacts with his characteristic optimism and the unexpected events do not serve to dampen his passion for adventure. It is the birth of his son which gives Tommy a new lease of life, transporting him into an era where his ego is relinquished in favour of altruism and a more conscious way of living. This is what makes this volume a must read, as despite the many adversities we are never presented with a tale of victimisation. On the contrary, the work emerges as a celebration of community cohesion, freedom and friendship. This volume ends in 2020 as Tommy reaches his sixtieth year. The ultimate message for his readers is that they, like Tommy, can move forward confidently with a realisation that even a global pandemic will not and can not diminish the human spirit.