In this thrilling sequel to Lottie and the Land of Dofstram, M A Haggerty weaves an intriguing tale of spells and battles, loyalty and betrayal. Lottie Montmerencie's life is never dull as she continues to find herself involved in one fantastic adventure after another, ably assisted by her friend Penny and her talking pets Allsorts and Scruffy.
Chasms of Delight is rooted in chemist John Mann's fascination with psychedelic, narcotic and euphoriant drugs. He sets out a colourful history of their discovery and use, telling the story of mind-altering drugs, their contribution to the work of poets and artists, the iniquities of the drug trade and the popular use of drugs in the 60s and 70s.
In the land of Enchantria, there is an ancient prophecy handed down by the imperial wizard eons ago and passed down from generation to generation. The prophecy states that, during an age of darkness in a year of a constant moon, to a mortal woman who is queen and a mortal man who is king will be born an enchanted boy child. This child, himself destined one day to be king, will have the power to bring light to all creatures great and small. He will right the wrongs done in the name of evil, he will restore the land to its earthly form, and he will forever drive the darkness from the hearts and souls of all beings. Six beings, all born on the same day but to different lives, have their futures inexplicably and inexorably connected to serve the prophecy. Two princesses, one the golden-haired daughter of a good king and queen, and the other the raven-haired daughter of a witch-queen bent on revenge and power. Two half-bloods, both exiled from the tribes of their parents, find each other and form a lifetime bond of friendship and alliance, pledging to protect the child princess. And, finally, two mortal enemies born in the deepest reaches of the dark forest, one half-animal/half-man with only death and suffering in its heart, and the other a member of the "gifted tribe," whose abilities will mean the balance of power between the powers of light and darkness. As they grow, their lives are all set upon the same path--to locate and obtain a magical device of unspeakable power, the diamond scepter. It is said that the scepter can make a weak enchanter strong and make a strong enchanter invincible, but legend has it that the scepter also controls the mythical Iron Army, an undefeatable army of indestructible soldiers. Both sides want the scepter--the agents of the light want it returned to its rightful place in the Crystal City, but the agents of the darkness want its power to destroy the light and rule of Enchantria.
A MENSA member who is on a constant quest for new understanding of everything about him, Jim Emerton, who describes himself as a writer, poet and philosopher, has travelled much of the world, from Nepal to Turkey and from Russia to the USA. In the world of international long-distance pigeon racing, he has been a byword for more than thirty years. His adventures have given him plenty of material for verse and philosophical observations covering every subject from the mysteries of the universe to life, death and love. Now for the first time Jim has assembled all his writings in one volume. "As a reflective, poetic and deeply philosophical person, I work from the inner nature of my mind. As an introverted thinker, it becomes a pure way of being."
In the climactic third and final book of the epic fantasy series, Lottie must once again return to the fantasy world of Dofstram in a spectacular showdown with the evil forces of Zanus. When Lottie Monterencie started a quiet job in a library, she had no idea of the incredible and dangerous new world she would discover. Discovering that her parents are imprisoned in the realm of Dofstram by the power-hungry Zanus, Lottie was forced to enter this strange world to save them. Now Lottie is faced with her greatest test yet as she returns once again to the hidden realm that lies within an old grandfather clock. Lottie and her allies must prepare to fight for the last time but first they must embark on a terrifying mission to the depths of Zanus’s dungeon. Despite the help of her talking pets, Scruffy and Allsorts, Lottie faces the warped creations of the witch-creature Imelda and the ferocious Crocanthus and she begins to doubt that she will make it through alive… In The Battle for Dofstram, the trilogy reaches its epic conclusion as the hordes of foul creatures led by Zanus collide with Lottie, King Alfreston and their allies in a dramatic final confrontation. With the odds stacked against her, will Lottie survive her final adventure?
The evil thugs of Idi Amin's Uganda and the fanatical bombers and machine-gun-toting terrorists of Mumbai make The Crocodile's Teeth a gripping tale of one man's survival and resourcefulness set against a background of tyranny, terror and hardship on two continents. Sam Thaker was born to Indian immigrant parents in Uganda in the days when it was one of the most beautiful, fertile and contented countries in the world. Then Idi Amin swept to power, and under his tyranny Sam's paradise became a hell on Earth. Having been forced by Amin's thugs to give up their home, Sam's thriving airline cargo business and most of their money and possessions, he and his family began a new life in England as near-penniless refugees. But Sam was a survivor. Ignoring his bank manager's patronising advice to open a corner shop, he decided instead to build on his experience in the cargo business to start up a London-based air freight company. Realising the immense potential of the Indian import market, he returned to the land of his fathers to build an international company which eventually opened offices in eight Indian cities. Along the way he and his wife were caught up in the wave of terrorism which struck Bombay in 1993 and again in 2008, and narrowly escaped the floods which struck the city in 2005 and drowned more than 5000 people. The Crocodile's Teeth is a fascinating portrait of survival and resourcefulness against a background of tyranny and terror on two continents.
Spiritually speaking, the realm of the water is deep and powerful. It is not easy to understand. However, it is the most spiritualised realm, because the Spirit of God was on the face of the water before the Heavens and the Earth were separated from the waters.
Jim Emerton bred and raced birds for 40 years and had birds return to the loft from as far as 879 miles away. Now in retirement from active racing, he devotes his time and energies to sharing his experiences, his observations and his expertise with the rest of the fancy. Here in one volume is a comprehensive collection of his thoughts about pigeons and pigeon racing, ranging from short pieces originally written for the leading fanciers? magazines to full-length articles and interviews. What unites us in principle is the common good of the sport, and with this in mind I do what I can for others ? it all oils the cogs of the sport. Some will see me as a know-all, yet I am a quiet little man making my mark, that's all. What is true is that I have made a life study of pigeons, and as a teacher I like to impart knowledge and experience? My aim is purely to tell it as it is to me, and if this is illuminating to others, then so be it.?
A collection of detailed personal letters by a soldier serving in the First World War collated into one of the most complete visions of life in the trenches.
When Shahnaz refused to accept the abuse, she was plunged into violent conflict with her family, who condemned her for bringing disrespect on their name by trying to win her independence. They repeatedly assaulted and humiliated her to make her toe the line. After she left her second husband to get away from the beatings, they imprisoned her in her own bedroom. When they later tricked her into joining them in Pakistan she was beaten, stripped of her possessions, threatened with shooting and drowning and put under house arrest. It was only through her intelligence and extraordinary courage that Shahnaz was eventually able to win her freedom and her family’s respect and start building an independent life in England with her daughter and third husband. Now Shahnaz (she has used a pen-name to avoid embarrassment for her family) has written her extraordinary, compelling story.
