AustLit

'The Otto Bin Empire: Clive's Story is a tellingly poignant short story from bestselling author Judy Nunn.

'To the members of the Otto Bin Empire – the homeless men and women who gather around the plastic bins near the docks – Clive is an enigmatic addition to their ranks. Intelligent, healthy and always well presented, even Clive struggles to understand why he finds himself at the bottom of the barrel. How did it happen?

‘I’m just a bloke going through a period of adjustment,’ he tells himself, ‘I’ll be back on my feet soon.’

'But as the weeks turn into months Clive slowly adjusts to his circumstances. He finds tolerance, acceptance and friendship and slowly begins to see humanity in its purest light . . .'

Source : publisher's blurb

'The second of Judy Nunn’s captivating short stories featuring the homeless men and women who gather around the plastic bins near the docks, is a heart-warming tale of friendship and community.

'For eight years now Oskar the Pole has been a widower. As a homeless vagrant, pushing a supermarket trolley through the streets of life, he cuts a lonely figure.

'But Oskar has a talent. He can play chess, and he can play it well.

'Every afternoon, at the giant chessboard in the park, Oskar becomes a star, a master, the undefeated champion . . .

'The second of Judy Nunn’s captivating short stories featuring the homeless men and women who gather around the plastic bins near the docks, is a heart-warming tale of friendship and community.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'The third of Judy Nunn’s short stories featuring the citizens of the Otto Bin Empire is an inspirational tale of finding family in the unlikeliest of places . . .

‘I have no family,’ Adam said, the blue eyes in the baby face now ice-cold. ‘I have no mother and I have no father.’

'Adam is just fifteen years old when he stumbles upon the Otto Bin Empire, a community of homeless men and women who gather at the colourful wheelie bins down near the docks.

'The teenage runaway is fleeing from his violent, alcoholic father, and now has one goal: to stay lost.

'But parents can come in all shapes and sizes - as Adam is about to discover, following a chance encounter one winter night . . .'

Source : publisher's blurb

'The fourth short story in Judy Nunn's Otto Bin Empire series is a heartfelt tale of love, tragedy and the universal need to belong.

'Down by the docks the homeless men and women who call themselves the ‘Otto Bin Empire’ gather together for companionship and support. But a recent newcomer always keeps himself to himself. Reginald, it turns out, is a poet and he simply wants to observe.

'Only two members of the ‘Empire’ dare to approach him: a vivacious teenage runaway named Sally, and the scruffy stray kelpie that hangs around the bins.

'Both the young woman and the dog are about to inspire Reginald’s life and work - in more ways than he ever imagined …'

Source : publisher's blurb