Mike Ledingham has been a farmhand, soldier, real estate salesman, small business operator, armed security guard and caregiver. Once a Grunt is an offbeat collection of 10 short stories loosely based on his experiences in the Infantry and the SAS and beyond. They reflect his keen enjoyment of the funny side of life, his total lack of respect for bullies and self-important wallies, and his deep empathy with the underdog.

Steve Braunias travels off the grid to capture weird and wonderful goings-on in small-town New Zealand. Full of fascinating - and sometimes disturbing - stories about people living in 20 places - from Kawakawa to Mosgiel, and across the seas in Samoa and Antarctica - their lives, loves, aspirations, and sometimes dark secrets. Searing insights and honesty from New Zealand's most awarded journalist - this book will be talked about!

Judith O'Reilly, author of the hugely popular blog and book Wife in the North embarks on a year long social experiment in the witty A Year of Doing Good. Fed up of New Year's resolutions involving diets and exercise abandoned on January 2nd, Judith is attempting to be good. For one whole year. She embarked on a mission to do one good deed every day. Some called it a social experiment. At times she called it madness. Juggling family, friends and a variety of neighbours in the small Northumberland village she calls home, she recounts the ups, downs, moments of doubt and sheer bloody hard work of doing good. From the small - babysitting a friend's child, clearing up her neighbour's dead mice and feeding her friendship cake Herman the German, to the slightly larger - trying to raise GBP10,000 for charity with her Jam Jar Army and teaching a severely handicapped child to write - she describes what she learns along the way: that no good deed is too small and that being good makes you happy. Well, most of the time. 'A funny, uplifting and admirable book' Observer 'Banish January blues with A Year of Doing Good by Judith O'Reilly who resolved to do one good turn day. . . utterly uplifting' Woman & Home 'Fizzing with energy Judith's writing is open-hearted and funny. . . though not a guide to doing good, Judith's story may inspire you to do a little more for others this year' Express 'Glorious sincerity. . .the admiring accounts of others' lives, the detailing of the deeds gladly done or furiously resented, the unending chaos of family life - all are rendered honestly, colourfully and occasionally hilariously' Lucy Mangan, Sunday Times A Year of Doing Good inspires the reader with the day-to-day journey of meaning, gratification and joy that comes from contributing to the lives of others in so many creative ways. For those who want to put "do unto others" in the centre of their lives and reap the unexpected benefits of happiness and health, this is the book for you. Elegantly written, the words jump off the page' Stephen G. Post, PhD, author of The Hidden Gifts of Helping Judith O'Reilly is a writer and journalist. Her first book Wife in the North was based on her blog of the same name and was a bestseller. Her second book, a novel, is living in a drawer. Her third book is this one. She is married with three children, and for one year she tried to be good.

"I am so very sorry..." The words were out. My mouth was dry, my heart was thumping, and my despair was clearly visible. And so began Trudie and Lloyd Thompson's heart breaking 12 year journey of IVF treatment, losing a business and even bankruptcy. Through all of this, their love and their relentless enthusiasm kept them strong, and now they are sharing their unique and uplifting story with you. The twists and turns of fate, including an appearance on a TV home makeover show, brought Trudie and Lloyd closer together, and ultimately their courage brought them their most treasured dream; a family. Dreams Do Come True is a story of that courage, a story that proves that with love and determination, anything is possible.

Both a riveting courtroom drama and a real-life thriller, "A Just Defiance" tells the story of four young black South Africans who were arrested for a string of political murders in 1987. In gripping prose, Peter Harris--the white lawyer who defended the men--describes how he came to understand, while constructing the case to save the defendants from the death penalty, the chain of events that led them to undergo training at ANC camps in Angola and return to their homeland to execute some of the apartheid regime's most notorious collaborators. The shocking twists and turns of the high-profile trial kept the public in suspense during the dying days of apartheid.
Harris's account of the trial is intercut with flashbacks to instances of the cold-blooded brilliance and deadly efficiency of the squad's operations. We see Nelson Mandela recently released from Robben Island as he begins negotiations that will eventually lead to the assumption of power by the ANC. We read about bomb-making and assassination attempts by both the ANC and the South African police. A critical and popular success in South Africa, this book is a tale of people driven to extremes by injustice and repression, and of ordinary citizens caught up in extraordinary events. Finally, it is the story of a country's search for reconciliation, one that captures the moral vertigo of South Africa's violent apartheid years.

This is the story of one man's experience of the devastating effects of a major stroke and his attempts to recover from it. It is also the story of a dog's experience of life with unpredictable, irrational human beings and his attempts to deal with all of that. Eric Sinclair is a writer and education consultant who has worked in schools and colleges in West Africa, Turkey, Germany and the UK. For ten years he was Head Teacher of Kirkwall Grammar School in Orkney, and subsequently Head Teacher of Aboyne Academy in Aberdeenshire. Since suffering a major stroke in 2004, he has undertaken voluntary work for The Stroke Association as well as for the NHS through Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to The Stroke Association.

'Every journalist who is not too stupid or too full of himself to notice what is going on knows that what he does is morally indefensible' In equal measure famous and infamous, Janet Malcolm's book charts the true story of a lawsuit between Jeffrey MacDonald, a convicted murderer, and Joe McGinniss, the author of a book about the crime. Lauded as one of the Modern Libraries "100 Best Works of Nonfiction", The Journalist and the Murderer is in equal measure fascinating and controversial, a contemporary classic of reportage.

2012 NATIONAL OUTDOOR BOOK AWARD WINNER

Anything Worth Doing tells the unforgettable true story of larger-than-life whitewater raft guides Clancy Reece and Jon Barker, two men who share a love of wild rivers and an unbending will to live life on their terms, no matter the cost.

Clancy s motto, Anything worth doing is worth overdoing, leads them into a decade of beautiful and beautifully strange river adventures. Then, on June 8, 1996, in pursuit of a 24-hour speed record they intend to share only with a handful of friends, the men launch Clancy s handmade dory, his proudest possession, onto Idaho s renowned Salmon River at peak flood of an extreme high water year. This time the odds catch up with them.

With clarity reminiscent of Krakauer s Into the Wild, whitewater veteran Jo Deurbrouck carries us down the West s great rivers and into the hearts, minds and homes of that rare breed for whom security is optional but freedom and passion are not. Anything Worth Doing taut and efficient, yet rich with insight is destined to become an adventure classic.

A Common Thread is a collection of sixteen brave and honest accounts of fertility issues and miscarriage. Each journey is unique; yet each contributor shares truthfully from their heart the highs and lows they have been through; how their journey has affected their faith and how God has brought them through. Although the physical, emotional and mental toll can be unbearable for those who find themselves facing these battles, there is hope. Within this book you will read the stories of those who have experienced successful IVF, failed IVF, multiple miscarriages, miscarriage after having children, adoption, miracle births, and those who have never been able to have children. Although we all experience the journey differently, we all share 'a common thread' of understanding. You are not alone.

Heard the one about the airline that has introduced 'corpse cupboards' on new planes to cope with the number of people who die in the air? Heard the story about the First Class air hostess who got fired for sitting on the face of a passenger during a long haul flight? Heard about the amount of knickers and false teeth that are left behind in the body of the plane? Heard how pissed-off stewards put laxatives in your drinks? Heard about the pilot who ran out of runway? Heard of the disabled passengers who miraculously walk again? No? Then you haven't read Air Babylon. Do you know the best place to have sex on a plane? Do you know how to dress for an upgrade? Do you know that one drink in the air equals three on the ground? Do you know who is checking you in? Who is checking you out? Do you know exactly what happens to your luggage once it leaves your sight? Is it secure? Are you safe? Do you really know anything about the business that you entrust your life to several times a year? Air Babylon is a trawl through the highs, the lows, and the rapid descents of the travel industry. It catalogues the births, the deaths, the drunken brawls, the sexual antics, and the debauchery behind the scenes of the ultimate service industry - where the world is divided into those who wear the uniform and those who don't...

Truth sees no boundaries and sooner or later it comes out and expresses its need to be acknowledged. Relationships are needed and sustained throughout our lifespan and need sustenance through nurture, understanding and support. This incredible story, narrated with simplicity and humour, carries the reader through extremes of human emotion and relationships. It is a compelling story of a father's true horror, isolation and survival in his daily struggles to rear his two adoring and beautiful daughters. Upon the inevitable breakup of his family, in court every attempt for the revelation of the truth is thwarted as he tries to put forward his experiences only to suffer injustice at every step of the nightmare that unfolds in front of him. He advocates and instigates a campaign for equality and justice in the treatment of parents and grandparents through the halls of power only to be physically and emotionally drained by the very men he saves from self destruction. He challenges and exposes the incompetence of the system, the state, the legal profession only to be excluded from the media at every step of his struggle to survive while being wiped from government files and dubbed as a threat to the very same system that tried to destroy him. But truth runs much deeper and much closer to the heart, where life itself, the unconditional love of his daughters and friendships are continuously challenged.

What would you do if your whole world came crashing down? Broken promises of love. Deceits of life. Safiya is deep in despair and nearing self-destruction. But a chance opportunity to escape suicidal misery beckons her. Millions said it is the land of wishes . Mecca - Saudi Arabia. Millions said it is a life changing journey . Hajj - the pilgrimage. England to Arabia. Thrown into garments resembling a death shroud she embarks on the Hajj and enters the spellbinding world of ancient Islamic practices. To save herself. Alongside three million foreign and unpredictable pilgrims she makes her weeping wish in the celestial palace of Mecca. She camps with Ethiopian peasants and Arab Kings, faces the supernatural in the deserts and catches a spine-chilling glimpse of the end of the world. She uncovers love for a man she has never met and hatred for a hidden enemy. She risks her life for a fleeting obsession and steps into a perilous ritual where others had been killed. But will her wish come true? Or will it end badly? Three Thousand Miles for a Wish is a deeply moving, mystical and powerful story of a young woman s real-life quest for happiness. It captures the soul with remarkable potency as it takes the reader, in a way never done before, on the greatest trip on earth. Visit www.threethousandmilesforawish.co.uk for more information.

Dit is nie 'n gewone lewensverhaal die nie. Jy as leser word geneem op 'n begeleide toer deur die diepste tonnels van dominee Klasie se binneste. Daar deel jy die gedagtestrome wat niemand tot dusver kon ken nie; daar bevind jy jou saam met "oom Klasie" in 'n nuwe oorlogsone: "Dikwels is dit angs wat in ons lewe oorneem. Angs vir verlies … Dan ontspring emosies wat vir ons laat voel dat God ver is, iewers daar bo en ons hieronder alleen en vergete" Klasie is tegelyk 'n geestelike leier, wat daagliks die saak onstuimig met God moet uitklaar, hy kan nie anders nie. Om verlies gelowig te hanteer, is nie gebruikersvriendelik nie. Jy moet jou siel skoonskraap, maar juis so kry God opnuut kans om jou innerlik te lei om grense oor te steek, verby die oorlogwrakke vorentoe. Hierdie innerlike grensoorlog gee ons 'n kyk in die hart van die mense wat agterbly – wat die verlies moet hanteer. Uiteindelik besef 'n mens: Klasie Steenkamp se storie is die van almal wat verlies ervaar het – die dood, siekte of onmag weens skielike werkloosheid. Dit kan ook jou storie wees.

The remarkable true New Zealand stories of Australian whaler William Thomas as told to his grandchildren in the 1890's. These fantastic tales span the course of 90 years and have William unwittingly embedded at key important and historical moments in Southland and Otago's history. Along with other fascinating adventures William brings the past back to life in his unique story telling. His marvelous tales are humorous, bizarre and sometimes tragic but always gritty, genuine and down to earth in their narrative. Edited and Arranged by David Dudfield Forward by Lloyd Esler

Includes . . . - Lee Shelton's murder of Billy Lyons in St. Louis, which inspired the popular song "Stagger Lee" - The vigilante killing of the "town bully" of Skidmore, Ken McElroy - The kidnapping of millionaire Robert Greenlease's son in Kansas City - The Kirkwood City Council massacre - Serial killings of 13 young women in Kansas City by Lorenzo J. Gilyard

BETTY WHITEonEVERY DOG HAS A GIFT "This book gives us some specific examples of the unique therapy that dogs provide when it is needed most. Enjoy a good read, after which I'm sure you will appreciate your own dog even more."
As anyone who has ever gotten home after a long, hard day and been greeted by their dog and that soulful look of adoration will tell you: Dog love is one of the best kinds of love there is. In "Every Dog Has a Gift," founder and executive director of The Good Dog Foundation Rachel McPherson explores the inspiring work that dogs are doing to help humans cope with a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional problems. Millions of dogs around the world are heroes every day. These therapy and service dogs (and often quite ordinary, "uncertified" dogs just like your own):

bring their healing presence into hospitals and hospice centers; provide a calm and centering "home base" for autistic children; and serve as the perfect audience for kids who need help practicing and improving their reading skills.

In telling these stories, "Every Dog Has a Gift" pays homage to the gift that each and every dog possesses: the ability to bring the healing power of unconditional love into our lives.

Dogs are truly one of God's finest creatures, a marvelous gift for us humans. In the perfect follow-up to "A Prince among Dogs," Callie Smith Grant compiles a delightful collection of true stories that celebrate the dogs in our lives. These stories will touch our hearts, renew our spirits, and show us how God made these wonderful creatures for unique purposes.
Readers will love these uplifting glimpses into the lives of ordinary and extraordinary dogs and the people who love them. The stories are warm, captivating, and ideal for a good curl-up-and-read or a perfect gift for any dog lover.

Fifteen-year-old Sara and her beautiful sister, Rachel, are too young to legally drive a car--but are approaching spinsterhood in Utah's secret polygamist Blood of the Lamb community. Having long since reached the "age of preparedness," they will soon be married off to much older men chosen by the hidden sect's revered Prophet.

As Sara, chosen to become her uncle's fifth wife, grows more distraught over her impending incestuous marriage, she begins to scrutinize the faith she has followed blindly her entire life. But for Rachel, who will be married to one of the many powerful community leaders vying for her hand, disobeying the Prophet means eternal damnation. Her friendship with the newest member of the community, the young and handsome Luke, starts as an attempt to save his agnostic soul, but ends with the pair falling helplessly in love. When Rachel is forbidden to see him, her absolute faith in the Prophet is severely tested.

When Rachel's future husband is finally announced, violence erupts, and the girls must find the strength to escape the only life they have ever know...before it's too late.

Claire Avery has woven a stunning tale that could be ripped from today's headlines. Shocking and empowering, "Hidden Wives" is a page-turning debut that will stay with the reader.

On a Sunday night during Homecoming weekend in 1999, Neenef Odah lured his ex-girlfriend, Maggie Wardle, to his dorm room at Kalamazoo College and killed her at close range with a shotgun before killing himself. In the wake of this tragedy, the community of the small, idyllic liberal arts college struggled to characterize the incident, which was even called "the events of October" in a campus memo. In this engaging and intimate examination of Maggie and Neenef's deaths, author and Kalamazoo College professor Gail Griffin attempts to answer the lingering question of "how could this happen?" to two seemingly normal students on such a close-knit campus. Griffin introduces readers to Maggie and Neenef-a bright and athletic local girl and the quiet Iraqi-American computer student-and retraces their relationship from multiple perspectives, including those of their friends, teachers, and classmates. She examines the tension that built between Maggie and Neenef as his demands for more of her time and emotional support grew, eventually leading to their breakup. After the deaths take place, Griffin presents multiple reactions, including those of Maggie's friends who were waiting for her to return from Neenef's room, the students who heard the shotgun blasts in the hallway of Neenef's dorm, the president who struggled to guide a grieving campus, and the facilities manager in charge of cleaning up the crime scene. Griffin also uses Maggie and Neenef's story to explore larger issues of intimate partner violence, gun accessibility, and depression and suicide on campus as she attempts to understand the lasting importance of their tragic deaths. Griffin's use of source material, including college documents, official police reports, Neenef's suicide note, and an instant message record between perpetrator and victim, puts a very real face on issues of violence against women. Readers interested in true crime, gender studies, and the culture of colleges and universities will appreciate "The Events of October."

The true story of an ordinary policeman who served in the South African Police Force at the height of apartheid. With graphic scenes of violence and sex, it exposes the realities of being in the police force in the seventies and eighties when brutality was commonplace and men didn't cry. Johan Marais was also a witness to and participant in several incidences of police corruption and brutality. He developed a serious drinking problem and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, but it took a suicide attempt before he would admit that he had a problem. He consulted a doctor who recommended that he should write down his incredible life story. The result is Time Bomb. Not for the faint-hearted, this is story that needs to be told.

What on earth would make someone decide to put their whole life up for sale... on eBay? When Ian Usher decided that it was time to leave the past behind and move on to the next chapter of his life, that is exactly what he did. The results were surprising, entertaining and challenging. However, the auction was only the beginning of the adventure. What does someone do when they have sold their life? Well, just about anything they like really Armed with a list of 100 lifetime goals, and a self-imposed timeframe of 100 weeks, Ian embarked on what could truly be described as the journey of a lifetime - a global adventure spanning six continents, two years, and almost every emotion. From the amazing highs of achievement, happiness and love, to the terrible lows of disappointment, loneliness and despair, come along and enjoy the rollercoaster ride of life, as experienced by one traveller who is simply looking for a new start.

There are books about penoplasty (penile enlargement) but none from men who have actually undergone the procedure. I have appeared on television and been interviewed in magazines about my operation.