Riding Africa

 

Riding Africa is a new book from author and traveller Michael Howard-Kyan.

Michael's family were inveterate travellers and as a child he was lucky to be able to enjoy many holidays in a variety of locations.

So it wasn't surprising that Michael also developed the travelling bug, a need to explore places both near and not so near.

In his early twenties, having qualified as a newly minted surveyor, he took the decision to take some time out, to take a sabbatical time out to set out on an adventure of his own.

And so it was that in 1981 Michael decided to set out on an adventure of a lifetime; a motorcycle trip across Africa.

Ever since his father had bought him a motorbike as his student transport, he had developed a love of motorbiking so a motorcycle trip on the African continent was a natural choice. 

He prepared for his adventure with meticulous detail, finding a certain amount of joy and excitement even in the planning.

He wasn't even sure that he could make it across Africa, even having a bailout plan if things were to go wrong, his bike fail him or whatever. But his faithful mechanical steed did not fail him and, together, they succeeded in their cross continental adventure.

The store is very well told and Michael takes his readers all the way, you are with him when people throw rocks at him, when he is accused of spying, thrown into a police cell, has to deal with a variety of mechanical issues and minor details (!) such a sand dunes that had decided to block roads and the like.

He also met  some nice people, including a very smartly dressed Algerian official who proudly took him for a walk through his gardens of which he was justifiably proud.

He met with fellow adventure travellers and a wide variety of characters as he made his way through Africa.

The book is copiously illustrated with a wide range of photographs and maps.

Michael used his travels to raise money for Oxfam.

It is published by The Book Guild at £19.95 in hardback. 

The Quarant

 

The Quarant is a novel by author Graham Bullen.

He takes his readers back to the year 1348. In January of that year an earthquake and a tsunami have brought devastation upon the city state of Venice.

Malin Le Cordier is a highly successful English maritime trader sails into Venice. He has plans to bring about a coup at the behest of Edward III and Genoa.

He has only a limited period of time to bring the coup about. Can he keep the plot secret from his loved ones, even though this made him feel guilty.

However, things are not quite as simple as he believes, for Venice is a city of intrigue, plots and revenge.

Within Venice there is a very powerful force at work. A force that seeks revenge against Edward III and this powerful force is fully aware of the coup plot and is monitoring Le Cordier's every move.

Will the coup succeed? Or will the plotters meet with a bad end?

It's published by Matador at £9.99. 

Flight Path

 

In Flight Path E J Pepper writes a dramatic and disturbing novel which was the winner of the 2017 Exeter Novel Prize.

We meet Sophie. Sophie's life has apparently been highly successful. She and Miles have had a 30 year long and successful marriage which has produced twin girls.

Sophie and Miles have a wonderful circle of friends and Miles is a highly successful educator.  

But an allegation of sexual abuse against Miles destroys everything.

What should Sophie believe? The allegations against her husband, or the word of her husband?

Is he an innocent abroad or an extremely devious, manipulative predator?

He and his family face the humiliation of Miles' trial. Will he be found guilty or innocent? And even if he is found innocent, would that really matter because, after all, who wins in such a trial?

But what about Sophie? Does she have secrets from Miles that might also bring about the destruction of the marriage?

It's published by Matador at £9.99.  

Your Stools are Safe in Our Hands

Your Stools are Safe in Our Hands is probably a first from author and biomedical scientist and author Edie Watney Judd, a amusing novel set in the world of biomedical laboratories.

It's a satirical comedy written around the subject of the yearly UKAS inspection.

Some of it is fiction, some of it is fact and some is probably faction, a combination of fact and fiction!

Paperwork, the job would be great, without all that paperwork, but UKAS needs to see the paperwork for their inspection visit.

Marvel at the presentations, learn about the values of the laboratory, and the strange, interesting and sometimes utterly bizarre colleagues that occupy the laboratory and UKAS.

The book is educational and amusing. 

As well as being a biochemist, Edie Watney Judd is a published author and a member of the Society of Authors.

It's published by Matador at £7.99.

Penguin Beach

 

In Penguin Beach by Lawrence Prestidge we meet Clyde. Clyde is a penguin. And he absolutely being a penguin!

He is the main attraction at Penguin Beach, which is a centrepiece at London Zoo.

None of the visitors can resist the strutting, posing star of the penguin show, Clyde.

But then disaster strikes for Clyde! Because now, there's a new penguin on the block, Diego, who has come to London from Spain.

Diego leaps, jumps and back-flips and the visitors just love him. But why are the other penguins also impressed by Diego?

This is Clyde's Penguin Beach! He works hard to regain centre spot and to drive Diego out of the limelight and out of Penguin Beach for good!

However, Clyde realises that he has gone too far and he has inadvertently put Diego's life in danger. So it's up to Clyde and his penguin friends to find Diego and bring him back to safety. Or will a variety of gorillas, snakes and the bad guys thwart them?

It's another great book for children from Oxfordshire's Lawrence Prestidge, with fantastic illustrations from G. William.

It's published by Matador at £7.99.  

Self Enquiry

 

Self Enquiry A Testimony is the personal testimony of Michael  J. Vincent in which he explores a "profound, radical and powerful practice with a simple message."

Michael uses stories from his life to show how all of our experiences (from the trivial to the intense) can become a deep resource for us to draw from in our search for the truth of life.

He shows how the practice of self enquiry can dampen the anxieties, doubts and fears that impact upon our lives.

He shows his readers how we can  move forward to peacefulness, fulfilment and positive actions.

He points out that there is no doctrine, there's not a belief system, nor is it a crutch, a mask or a sticking plaster. 

He reveals that self enquiry is, instead a way to help you believe in yourself.

Michael J. Vincent is an author and an artist and a qualified Reiki therapist.

The book is published by Matador at £8.99. 

Poleaxed

In the novel Poleaxed Peter Tyrer, emeritus professor of community psychiatry at Imperial College, London, takes his readers back to 1967.

An ordinary English town is hit with an extremely unusual event, as people suddenly start to fall victim of a mysterious illness, poleaxed and many of the victims die.

What is causing the disease? Virus? Bacterium? Poison? None of the experts knew and leading medical experts had started to argue amongst themselves.

However, an anthropology student who has recovered from the disease and two junior doctor combine forces to learn what is causing the disease.

Eventually the three realise that the ailment really only has the most severe impact on those who are suffering from severe anxiety.

They believe they have found the cause and they believe they have found the sollution. But have they correctly identified the cause? And if they have, will their sollution work? Or are they too late?

It is a pacey, exciting read which is solidly based in realistic scientific knowledge.

And it was written before COVID-19 became known.

It is published by The Book Guild at £8.99.