AustLit

'Handloom weaver Henry Wakefield, his wife Sarah and their five children live in abject poverty in northern England in the early 19th century. He hates the new factories and won’t let his family work in them. He clashes with Sarah, a factory agent, a local priest and reformers, and son Albert runs away. They move to Manchester and are even worse off, living in a cellar in a terrace and have another little mouth to feed.

'Henry’s passion for money overrides his hatred of factories and he starts one of his own, but it is beset with problems. The Wakefields, or rather Henry eventually becomes quite wealthy, and this has a devastating effect on the family. Albert is caught stealing and is transported to New South Wales. Her baby’s death, Albert’s unknown fate and society parties become too much for Sarah, who hears voices and is taken to the lunatic asylum. Son Benjamin falls in love with an orphan girl and they have a baby. Henry is furious.

'Family members have had enough. Sarah, who got out of the asylum, and Albert, who returned to England unbeknown to Henry, plan a fiery night at Henry’s factory. But he keeps his money there and goes inside to retrieve it. Albert tries to rescue him. ' (Publication summary)

'Long ago, in a land called Boulania, in the village of Emstemshun, lived the Moone family. Frim and Solara and their two sons, Rommic and Laniard, our protagonist, who has discovered a place he keeps secret. There is a mountain range between this glade and the ocean, Laniard has never seen. The story begins the day Laniard has a surprise encounter, there, with the Princess Caspia, from the land of Chyldum. She has come to Boulania, with a group of about 250 people, mostly men, which includes her brother the Prince, Domrand. Despite both having been raised in peaceful environments, there is animosity in their meeting. On her return to the encampment, from atop the mountain, Caspia sees her brother, tied to a tree. Apart from her brother, Caspia does not know anyone well, especially the three men her father has designated as the leaders of this expedition, who have their own agenda. Their names are Olaff, Kleem, and Jyreethum. After her shock subsides, the puzzle remains; not only of why this has happened, but also what can she do about it? Laniard and Caspia meet again the next morning. She tries to ensure Laniard will help rescue her brother. He takes her to Emstemshun to enlist the help his brother and father would provide, with several of their friends.'   (Publication summary)

'Who can you trust when crime and corruption take over your town?When a body washes ashore in sleepy Queens Bay, Maggie Ashburn, chair of the town council's planning committee, is soon convinced the drowning is linked to dodgy developments proposed for her shire. Fearless, feisty and frequently obnoxious, Maggie must take on the shire president, his lackeys and his developer mates to uncover the truth, but she has secrets of her own to hide, as well.' (Publication summary)

'Perversity, adversity and zombies... In a world infected by Zvirus and the slackers of the undead, the battle is on to make a final stand, and a final hope amongst despair, loss and Spam. As the threads of love, trust and purpose unravel, what remains to cling onto, when the fat Z belches? Excerpt: And so, 160 characters herald the txt apocalypse. No four horsemen, no rising of the dead, no trumpets of angels, just a single ding. It poly morphs; any device soon infected by its ultra-frequency hatred. Much more virulent than Ebola, more deadly than Anthrax; Zvirus. The irony; our scientists who could have found a cure were so stuck in their own intrawebs, spidery Zvirus swept through them first. And the kicker? You didn't catch Zvirus on the train, plane or bus, you clicked here. Uploaded into the deep bowels of the dark web, there wasn't any time to go beyond author uncited, malice unknown.And that malice turns husband against wife, sister, brother. Children tear apart children. Love became the rarest of things. It became our one true thing, helping Sam and me survive, together. Until Zvirus took Sam from me...' (Publication summary)

'Former black ops agent Tom Stiles is about to face the most personal - and deadly - appointment of his career.

'Returning to be with his partner and twin daughters, Stiles finally has a shot at a normal life. But soon, death wraps its claws around his life once more, as a member of the Chechen Mafia is demanding a dangerous favor from him.

'Trying to balance his new responsibilities and protect those he holds dear, Stiles is drawn in to a criminal syndicate with links to international terrorism. But does he still have what it takes to finish the job, and make it out alive?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Before Rupert Murdoch married Jerry Hall and Tony Abbott was Prime Minister of Australia, enterprising shoe salesman Bert Smith got an offer he couldn't refuse - to live the high life in Melbourne's premier suburb? Toorak! There was a catch, however... He had to tell everyone within cooee that he was a prince - a Toorak prince! And that's when all the fun began for Bert! ' (Publication summary)

'This story is a combination of the stories, my daughter and me created and the stories that my Grandma used to tell me when I was a child. It is about friendship, respect, sense of humor, working as a team, working together towards a common goal. The story is about a Prince who is able to talk to all creatures. This is his first Adventure. I don't want to say more. Enjoy it and please give me your feedback on it.' (Publication summary)

'By the same author who brought you belly laughs and silent tears in “Grey Liberation Day” is a new set of verse for over 50s. “Ho Manifesto!” is to baby boomers what “All Right Vegemite” is to dinkum Aussie children. This hilarious collection of poems turns stereotypes and clichés upside down, sets the English language on itself and ruins your favourite fairy tales! ' (Publication summary)

'Where is Denny Jones? Why has this incredibly talented young artist just up and disappeared into thin air, leaving no explanation for his frantic mother and older sister Sam? Sam decides to go and search for her brother and finds herself embroiled in a roller-coaster of events she is completely unprepared for. She unexpectedly finds true love along the way as her search for Denny leads her into the seedy haunts of Sydney's underworld. Sam's love life is far from plain sailing though, and her Christian faith is put to the test as she learns to trust in God's Word for the strength to face the challenges that lay ahead.' (Synopsis)

'Australian nurse Anne Donnell is off to World War I. Anne can hardly believe her eyes when she sees a fluffy little dog poking its head out of a soldier's kit bag as he boards the ship. Dogs aren't allowed on a ship of war. Will Stitcher be discovered and tossed overboard?Arriving in Greece, Anne is thrown into a world of injured soldiers, guns and bombs. Some will live and some will die. Some will suffer from maladies both physical and mental. Gentle, brave Anne is there through it all, in this true account of a young nurse gone to war.' (Synopsis)

'From the darkness can be heard the cry of contemplation.

'An eclectic mix of poetic styles spanning a vast array of subjects from an imagination unleashed.

'The original photographs represent the mental imagery inspired by the poetry.' (Publication summary)

'Who is planning to murder Jillian West?

'Somebody, somewhere, somehow believes her life is in danger and that she therefore needs protection.' (Publication Summary)

'A group of zealots from a distant island is making a move on Jaria, where a group of Kriites with animal bond-mates live. It will soon be up to Talon to find a way to fight back. With a newly awakened icetiger for his companion, Talon is finally learning the magic of his people, including telepathy and shape-changing.

'Talon is a nineteen-year-old Kriite man who follows the wolf-god, Sy-tre. For this, he and his people are hunted by slavers who worship the jealous fire-god, Zeidarb. After Jaria is attacked by the Zeikas, Talon embarks on a mission to seek help. Before Talon even understands the power within him, there are demon summoners after him. He is horrified to learn that the Zeika leader plans use Talon’s body and mind to further his ambition for power.

'Due to his bloodline and abilities, Talon is both the greatest threat and the greatest boon to the Zeika’s god-given mission to enslave or kill all Kriites. Talon’s actions and faith will make all the difference between the two. ' (Publication summary)

'It had been five years since that fateful summer that Hope had spent on the magical Greek island, a summer that had changed her life forever. These days her life was ordered and she was calmly happy but she would never forget the beautiful green-eyed man she had to leave behind. He had helped her see her worth, she had at last understood what it was like to love and be loved in return.

'Since her return to Melbourne her art career had been resurrected, and she was healthy again.

'After only five years in London Jason had managed to build a small empire. He worked almost all hours of the day with Hope’s hazel eyes in his memory. He stayed in touch with her hoping she would never forget him because he did not want to forget her.

'He had worked very hard with the hope that he could be in her life again and this time with something to offer her, to be able to give to her what he could not give her back then, when they had met on that fated Greek island.

'He wanted to go to her but it had been five years, would she still want him the way he wanted her or was her friendly talk over the phone only friendship and nothing more? ' (Publication summary)

'Cathy was in Grade Six, way back when. What did happen that year? Who was Dracula really? Did Rusty, her dog, ever get a new home? Would he be saved in time?

'My Year With Dracula brings you a great read for year five and six students.' (Publication summary)

'Dudley is an adventurous duck who is looking for a new home. When he finds a beautiful waterhole filled with lilies who invite him to stay, he thinks he’s found the perfect place.

'But he wonders why no other ducks live in this quiet spot. His mother always told him to listen to his instincts. Is there something lurking beneath the water?

'Dudley the Lucky Duck is a delightful story for children aged three to five years.' (Publication summary)